Had it already been a full year? It didn't seem like it could have been, but at the same time Konata felt like it had been much longer since her life had changed. Going back and forth between her own world and countless others, in different planes of space and time, she really was losing track of the days. It had caught her completely off-guard when Kuroi had started talking about starting their third and final year of high school already.

And, of course, seeing as their second year had ended, it was time for their foreign exchange student friend to leave. Konata, Tsukasa, Kagami, and Miyuki had all come to the airport to see him off.

Konata thought back to the day they had met Jason. Just a new transfer student, who happened to ask them for directions. She now knew it wasn't just a chance encounter, he had come for the sole purpose of recruiting her into the organization. Her exact memories of the day were a bit fuzzy, as were all her memories before that first trip outside. She had adapted so well to living in anime that she could barely remember what everyone had looked like normally.

Everyone else thought he was just a typical American exchange student, with some exceptional talent in Japanese as well as athletics. Konata didn't think about it much, but now that she did, she realized she was the only one here who really knew who he was, what he was really like. And he had spent a year in this world just to train her.

Thinking of it that way, Konata almost felt that she must be someone special to get such attention. But no, she was sure this was typical procedure for new recruits. The organization had millions of members, they could divert some of their resources exclusively to training. She didn't know any other new recruits, anyway...

Unless you counted Rei. She had been a new recruit, the mission she had taken with Konata was the first one she had been a part of... And she didn't have a personal mentor. But then again, Eclipse was allied with NERV completely, it wasn't a secret arrangement, so that was a special case. And Rei already had combat experience, at least as far as giant robots were concerned.

That mission, back in January. Even after four months, Konata still didn't know what to make of it. Not that she was in any position to question Eclipse's strategy.

So this was it, then. Jason was going 'home' (wherever he was going to be living next, at least) and Konata would be on her own for a while. Just like how things were supposed to be, according to the Lucky Star anime and manga. It was going to be lonely not having anyone around to talk to about her second life. Could she manage?

Chapter 13

Teach Me Where To Go

This was Tsukasa's first time at Narita International Airport - well, to be more correct, any airport at all. Whatever travelling her family did, they usually took a train or a car. The crowds were bringing back some of the more unpleasant memories from Comiket a few months ago. At least she wasn't alone this time - everyone had come with her.

They stopped to check the list of flights. Jason was rolling a large black wheeled suitcase behind him, and carrying a backpack. So that was everything he had brought with him to stay a year in another country? It didn't seem like much.

"Let's see..." he said, scanning the list. "Oh, there. Just one flight to Burlington today. Looks like it's on time."

"It's been very nice to meet you, Ellis-san," Miyuki said.

"Thanks, it's been great to be here. I'm going to miss all of you, but feel free to call if you ever want to talk again."

"Well, come to think of it, you've never given us your home number. Or your address," Kagami said.

"Oh, well... Don't bother with those. Just call me on my cell."

Someone announced that the flight would be boarding in 15 minutes.

"Well... I guess this is goodbye, then," Jason said. "It's been fun."

"Yeah! Um... Do you think you'll ever come back? Just to visit?" Tsukasa asked.

"That could be fun. Maybe over the summer or something." He picked up the handle of his suitcase. "So maybe I'll see you all again. I hope I can, at least. Bye."

He started walking away towards security. They stayed a while to watch him go through, when suddenly Konata said, "Wait just a minute. I need to go talk to him."

"Okay then..." Kagami said. She watched as Konata ran off to meet up with Jason.

"I wonder what that's about," Miyuki said.

Kagami didn't say anything.

"Hey. We can still work together, right?" Konata said.

"Of course. I mean, I'm going much farther away than they realize, but it's really no hassle to keep meeting up every night." He turned to her. "You knew that, right?"

"Yeah..." Konata hesitated a while. "So where are you really going?"

"I heard there was a zombie apocalypse somewhere. A total worldwide epidemic. I thought I'd work on it back in the good old United States, though." He laughed a bit. "So I guess I am going back to America, after all."

"Sounds like fun. No more school for you, then."

Jason smiled. "Just how I like it. I'm so tired of having to study so much just to get average scores..."

"And I have to go back to school each day, study, do all of that..." Konata said, her voice trailing off with the lack of enthusiasm.

They waited a while in the line in front of security. Jason looked back once at the others, who were still standing back a ways. Kagami seemed to be watching them, while Miyuki and Tsukasa were just talking to each other.

"So what do I have to do to do that?" Konata said. Jason turned back to look at her. She continued, "Like just go from place to place, taking the more time-consuming missions. You know. What you do."

"Do you even realize what you're saying, Konata?" Jason said in shock. "You'd be leaving everything behind here - "

"I've already thought about it. This is the best choice for me." Her tone hadn't changed. She was completely calm, as usual.

"You'd be leaving all your friends behind. Your family. You've got a good life here. You'd really give it all up?"

"Are you trying to talk me out of this?" she asked.

"I'm just stating the facts."

"I've already thought about everything. I didn't say I thought it would be easy. But other than them... My friends, and everyone..." Konata was looking around aimlessly, staring at the floor, the walls. "All that I have left of high school is my senior year. Then we all go to college, probably in completely separate parts of the country, and then we get jobs... I don't even know what kind of job I want. There's nothing I really want to do besides... well, this."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

Jason thought for a moment. The line was moving, they were getting close to the gate. "I suppose it could be arranged. If you really want to go through with this..."

"I've been thinking about it for a while now."

"Then it'll probably still be a while before it's time for you to leave. Up until then, you'll just have to live the remainder of your life here normally. Like you have been doing. It's not too late to reconsider. But if you're serious about doing this... I'd suggest making the most of your time."

"Yeah..." Konata was thinking about what he had said. Making the most of what was left... She really would miss everyone, but there was also so much that she had to gain. It was the first time she had seriously considered what she was going to do with her life. And, most importantly, she wanted this. "So I'll see you tonight, I guess. So what are you doing once you get off the flight, anyway? It's not like you had to take a plane to leave."

"As soon as your friends said they wanted to come see me off, it was. Once I get off, though, I guess I'll just wander around the airport for a while, find a coffee shop, enjoy an iced cappuccino while I can before the end of the civilized world. Just call me once you're ready to come help out."

"I'll do that." She left, going back to her friends who had been waiting patiently throughout the conversation.

Kagami was a bit surprised from what she had seen. There was too much chatter in the airport to overhear anything - not to mention several different languages all being spoken at once, which made it hard enough. What had she expected? Something a bit more... emotional, maybe. They had left without even a hug. It wasn't as common in Japan, but Jason was American, so who knows? There was even a chance they might kiss.

She had to admit, she was a little jealous of what Konata had...

And Tsukasa and Miyuki really had no idea what was going on? It was so obvious! It had been from day one, just about.

Konata joined up with them again. "Hey, I'm all done. I guess we can leave now."

"So do you mind me asking what you two were talking about?" Kagami asked.

"It was nothing. Really."

You never have any intention of letting us know about this, ever, do you? Kagami thought. I suppose it's your choice.

The next couple of days, Konata stayed at home. She was spending most of her time playing some of her favorite old games. She wasn't really focusing on them, she just wanted to do something while she made her decision. She was pretty set on her chosen course. And yes, it would be difficult.

One day, though...

"Hey, everyone! Guess who just got accepted to Ryoo Academy?"

Konata recognized Yui's voice immediately. It was about time for Yutaka to come over to stay with them, wasn't it? Yes, she had been expecting this... It had already been a few days since she had told Jason about her plans to move out of this world, and since then she had been able to focus on little else.

Konata suspended the game she had been playing to go out and greet them. She reminded herself to act surprised.

"Hey, Yu-chan, congrats!" she said.

"Thanks, I hope it's not too much of a hassle to have me stay here..." Yutaka said. She was so quiet and nice, it was just adorable.

"It's no problem, really. In fact, you couldn't have come at a better time." And Konata meant it. If Yutaka was living here, then at least her dad wouldn't be completely alone. It was almost cruel to think of it that way, but at the same time, it was the best possible way.

Sojiro had that look of utter satisfaction and delight on his face that Konata had learned to recognize and accept as a part of his very being. Having Yutaka here was almost too much for him. "Yeah, we're really glad to have you here!" he said. "Just... make yourself at home!" He muttered to himself, "Oh man, this is going to be great..." Konata hoped she was the only one who had heard that.

"So tell us all about the entrance exams. Were they hard?" Konata asked.

"N-no, they weren't too... I did just fine!" Yutaka said.

"Hey, calm down. I never said you didn't." Konata smiled. "Remind me to introduce you to Tsukasa and Miyuki sometime... You guys would make a really great team." In Konata's scale of moe ranking, Yutaka was almost ridiculously high. At least at Miyuki's level, if not above.

"Thank you! I'm glad I get to start the year with some friends in a higher class. But, come to think of it, I already made a friend in my own class," Yutaka said.

"Really? Who is it?"

"Well, there was this girl that I met... I was feeling sick. Like I usually do... She let me borrow her handkerchief. She even took me to the nurse's office," Yutaka said. "Wait, I never gave it back to her! I hope I see her again."

"That was really nice of her," Yui said. "But I'm sure you'll make lots of new friends!"

"I don't know... I'm the only one from my middle school, I don't know anyone else. And I don't really know how to talk to new people..."I just want to make sure I get to see her again so that I can thank her for being so nice to me."

"Heh... But what'll you do if Minami doesn't get accepted?" Konata said, just to tease her. Yutaka was so cute when she got upset.

As soon as she saw Yutaka's quizzical expression, Konata realized her mistake.

"Who...?" Yutaka said.

"Uh... I mean..." Oh man, what do I mean? "I don't know, I just thought she... sounded like a Minami. You know how some people just seem like they would have a certain name, or something?" That excuse sounded really weak.

"I think I might know what you're talking about," Yutaka said, still not really sure how to interpret that. "It does seem to fit her, come to think of it."

"Yeah, but I mean, what do I know? I've never met her. For all I know, she could have green hair or something like that," Konata replied.

"What? N-no, she's completely normal!" Yutaka said.

"I was just kidding. It's only a joke."

At that moment, as she had for quite some time now, Konata did know just how Yutaka's school life would turn out. She knew about Minami, she knew about Patricia and Hiyori, who Yutaka hadn't even met yet. It was kind of fun to have all this impossible knowledge, but at the same time... It was all pretty mundane, knowing what was going to happen.

During their mission that night, Jason told Konata that the arrangements for her to leave her world were already being made. She would have until about the end of May.

And, of course, he reminded her that until then, she could always reconsider.