Disclaimer: I do not own Haruhi Suzumiya or anything related.

This is dedicated to my friend and partner-in-crime, Patty.

A/N: I rewatched the anime and found that Koizumi said that he was aware on how to use his powers. That, I don't believe for this story, because somehow, I recall that he said in another situation that he thought he was going mad when he first found out.

That, and I recall what Nagato said about the possibility that what Koizumi says isn't exactly accurate.

I do hope you had a wonderful Christmas/winter break! Here we go! :)

Title: The Origin of Koizumi Itsuki

Synopsis:

He was. And that was what he knew. He didn't know why. But he was chosen. Koizumi Itsuki searches for the reason why he was.

Chapter 3

School the next day was the least of my concerns. I woke up with a throbbing headache.

I would call in sick, but that really wasn't my style. A regular student wouldn't probably say this, but I liked going to school. I was really more of an academic kind of person.

However, I must have forgotten that today was gym class.

Today, our gym teacher, Yamada-sensei, insisted on having a more "fun" first lesson.

"Alright everyone! I know you're all tired of running laps on your first gym class. So instead of running, we're gonna play baseball!"

Really. Isn't baseball also about running laps? Or bases, something like that.

In reality, we didn't do anything of the pro-league sort. It was more of a pitch, hit and catch session.

I sat under the shade of a tree on one side of the field, watching as the class took turns in playing the roles of pitcher, catcher and batter. It was one of those days when you could've sworn it was still summer.

Also, I wanted to stay in a secluded area for a period of time to think about things.

Truth be told, I believe that something in me has changed. No, not puberty, mind you, but something. I just couldn't seem to grasp what it is.

You may already know this, but I've been waking up in the middle of the night every single time. It was as if I'm dreaming someone else's dream. That is to say, I have not dreamed about anything I remember when I'm in my awake and conscious state.

Another, I don't know why, but I seem to keep on hearing that girl's voice inside my head. This had me worried a bit. Hearing voices inside your head isn't a good sign. It's a one-way ticket to loonsville.

Also, I've been seeing visions. Even when I'm consciously awake. I don't know what they are, but there was always this flash of light and a gray world.

I wish someone would tell me what exactly was going on.

"You seem to be in a very contemplative mood, Koizumi-kun."

Yutaka Tamaru.

"I think you should join the class now. You're about to be called any minute." He smiled.

He's right, I suppose. I must go back to where my class is. I wouldn't want to get in trouble with Yamada-sensei. His muscles looked like he could crush my bones into a fine heap of calcium carbonate. I walked back to the field, just in time to hear Yamada-sensei call out my name.

"Koizumi, you're up as batter. Kurosaki, pitcher. Tamaru, you're the catcher." He growled "Move it, people!"

It seemed that he did not notice me disappearing during the first half of his class.

I suited up for batter as Tamaru Yutaka took his place as catcher beside me. The pitcher, Kurosaki, was a tall, muscular student who looked more like a senior high student who kept on repeating junior high. He frowned in concentration as he aimed the ball.

"Okay! On my signal, pitch!"

Kurosaki flung the ball with all the strength his arm could muster. I saw the ball's trajectory move closer towards me. I can hit this pitch.

Then suddenly, everything happened in slow motion. The ball curved slowly in midair. The sounds of cheering were muffled by another sound that I know was only inside my head.

"So…many people…"

That voice again.

"Dad, how many people are in this stadium?"

Wait. I'm not your dad!

"About twenty-thousand?"

There are only around twenty-five people in this class!

Flashes of light. Topaz eyes. Dark brown hair.

Smack. That was the ball hitting my head.

I opened my eyes to a huge ceiling fan hovering over my head. I must be in the nurse's office.

"Glad to see you're awake."

Yutaka Tamaru greeted me with a smile.

"You had all of us worried there. You should've seen Kurosaki. He was shivering in fear when you passed out."

The image of the brutish Kurosaki cowering in fear seemed to amuse me.

"Anyway, I just came by to bring you your things. Class is finished for today. The nurse says no serious concussion happened."

No serious concussion? Then why have I been out cold for the entire day?

"Ah, that. Well, she also says that you looked tired. Looks like your passing out is more of a stress-induced thing."

Stress? You have no idea.

"In fact, I do. Seeing visions?"

I found myself looking at him in the eyes for the first time.

"I suppose you are wondering how I came to know of this. It was evident that you were zoning out around the time Kurosaki pitched the ball. I knew then, that you were having visions…"

Nothing could have prepared me for what he said next.

"…because I too, have experienced such a phenomenon. You're fine. You're not going mad, anyway." He smiled.

Was he pulling a joke on me? I knew he was when he said this on his introduction:

"I am an esper, and so is Koizumi-kun over here. It's nice to meet you all."

It couldn't be possible. ESP isn't real. I observed Tamaru as he looked outside the window.

Stop messing with me. How could we have both gone through the same thing?

"Believe me."

That was the first time I ever saw Yutaka Tamaru put on a serious face.

"Anyway, I better get going, Koizumi-kun. I have to be early for work today."

With a wave, Yutaka Tamaru stepped out of the door.

After he left, I gathered all my things and went to ask the nurse if I could go. She did a couple of routine checks before she allowed me to leave, and insisted that I take a three-day school leave.

Three-day school leave? I may have transferred a lot, but I have not gone absent in any of my school days.

"I'm sorry, Koizumi. But you need rest. It seems you've been pushing yourself too hard lately." She said softly. "Also, I need you to observe whether this concussion will have some side effects."

I knew that arguing would be futile.

"Don't worry, I have informed your parents and your teachers of your three-day leave. You may go now."

After hading me the prescription note, I headed outside the school grounds. It was late in the afternoon and there seemed to be no one else in the campus. Or so I thought…

"Hey."

I looked around. It was Sonou Mori.

"I heard about what happened to you." She said meekly. "I'm sorry. Taichi-kun could be very rough at times."

Taichi-kun? You mean----?

"Taichi Kurosaki. He was a childhood friend of mine."

She handed me a bento wrapped in a green bamboo-patterned furoshiki.

"I was going to give you this when we had lunch today…" she whispered. "But given the circumstances…"

Thanks, anyway. I appreciate the effort.

We started walking to the direction towards home. Apparently, she treks almost the same path as I do.

"Koizumi-kun…"

Got something to say?

"Have I met you before?"

Great. Isn't that a pick-up line?

"Oh, no." she said as her cheeks went pink. "It's just that, when I saw you back there, I feel like we were connected… in some small way."

As long as she doesn't turn this into a discussion about "The Red Thread of Fate", this conversation wouldn't be awkward. Of course, I didn't say this out loud.

She hung her head low. Was she going to cry now?

"Forgive me."

For what?

"Forgive me for making you feel awkward. This has nothing to do with that old legend..."

We have reached a railroad crossing.

"It's just that… I thought you knew about what I was going through…"

How am I supposed to know that? I'm not a mind reader!

"You may not be. But I think I am."

What?

"When I saw you for the first time, I could hear your thoughts loudly in my head."

Okay, this was just plain crazy.

"I know, I thought about that too. But soon, I could not only read your mind, but others as well."

You can? I could only imagine how annoying it must be to hear people's thoughts inside your head… Wait. I think I do know how it feels.

"Which is why I approached you."

For a moment, I looked at her. Was she in on Tamaru's ESP joke? As far as I could tell, someone like Sonou Mori wouldn't be able to pull such a prank on someone. Then again, looks can be deceiving.

She stepped over to the other side of the railroad.

"Well, I'm sorry if I stressed you out even more." She smiled. "I suppose you know as much about what's going on as I do."

Her face suddenly became sullen.

"But I was really hoping that I could talk about this with someone who was going through the same."

The wind blew as a passing train went by. And when it had passed, Sonou Mori was gone.

A/N: Well, that's it for this installment! Tune in next time! R&R's!

Cookie time: There is a reference to Harry Potter in this chapter. Which one is it?