14.05.2017

A/N: So here it is, the third chapter. It's not something I like;I can probably do much better than this, but lately my mind has been all over the place, so this was the best I could do. I'll probably revisit this later and edit it. Thanks to all those people who follow, review and read this story.

Reviews are more than welcome at this point, so please feel free to let me know of anything I can do to make this better.

I walk my way towards the club room, taking my time, since I know that there's nothing Haruhi can possibly give to me as punishment for arriving late. There is nothing for her to do, in the first place, so there's nothing she can make me do. Naturally, the most she'll do is tell me how she's the brigade leader, and how I'm her subordinate who's supposed to be on time, etc.

As I thought, when I arrive, about five minutes later than I usually do, all she says from her position in front of the computer is exactly that. What is she even doing on it? I walk over to the computer and peer into it, only to find that it's not even switched on.

I mentally sigh and take a seat on the table. Nagato's chair lies deserted in the corner, Asahina-san's collection of various outfits lies untouched and the board games Koizumi and I played are collecting dust. This room cannot be more dead.

I glance at the bluish-purple sky outside. Am I supposed to stay like this, doing absolutely nothing, accompanied only by the melancholic Haruhi?

I decide that I might just try my hand at leaving unannounced. There's no argument to win today, since there's nothing we're doing, so in a bold move, I get up from my chair and tread towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going?"
Great, just the response I was looking for.
"Home. I have nothing to do here, Haruhi."
"You can only go when the brigade leader dismisses you."

It's strange today. The way she speaks – the fire is missing. She seems dull.

Now, I know it is perfectly normal for Haruhi to feel melancholic at odd times, out of nowhere, but this takes me by surprise. She seems quite bent on keeping the club going, which is what we're doing, so I believe her sadness is brought on by the sudden departures of our other members.

"Stay until I dismiss you."

There it is again – a voice with no spark. She sounds flat. I think of leaving anyway, but given her current mood, a closed space might just pop up.

So I stay until the sky is a few shades darker, and when she finally decides to leave, I head home.

Is this how it'll be from now on?

It's been two weeks since our first meeting without anyone else, and it's been the same everyday. Club meetings have been monotonous to the point where I think we might be experiencing something like what we did two summers back – the endless summer. I hope we aren't reliving that.

Exams are starting next week, and all the teachers are grilling us to study hard. I've not thought about what I want to do, really, but I've been studying every now and then, since I have nothing else to do. I'm surprised, honestly. I'm pretty sure that I've studied more in the past few weeks than I have in the past few years.

As I'm making my way to the club room, I realize that we are down to our last few meetings. Today is Monday, so ideally, Saturday will be the last club meeting.

It might just be the last time I see Haruhi.

I shake that thought for the time being and enter the club room. I don't greet Haruhi; neither does she, and I peacefully take a place on the table. She's sitting in front of the computer, which I'm sure is switched off.

Normally, we sit in silence, but today, she initiates the conversation.

"Ne, Kyon, have you thought about what you want to do?"
"Not really," I tell her honestly.
"Oh." Is all she says.
I don't what, but something tempts me to ask her what she wants to do.
"What do you want to do?"
She looks away for a minute, as if thinking hard.
"I don't really know," comes her reply.

I find that surprising, yet not surprising. She probably settled on an option, then changed her mind the next day.

We stay silent for a while. She just stares at the computer screen, and doesn't say anything else.

It's funny. She's changed. She seems more subdued and thoughtful nowadays. One might think that after putting up with her crazy antics for the past two years, I would prefer the peaceful and quiet Haruhi, but oddly enough, I'm actually worried.

And although some part of my mind isn't ready to fully believe it, I'm missing her too.

A/N 2: Yeah, not really helpful as a chapter. But hey, we're getting somewhere at least...