Several minutes later, with me beginning to wonder when the heavenly presence of Asahina-san and that idiotic walking smile everyone knew by the name of Koizumi would make an appearance, Haruhi kicked the door open and rushed past me, carrying the bag she had brought with her, full again. The angry scowl was still wreaking havoc on her pretty face as she whizzed past me like a rocket. Without a single word, Haruhi left the school for that day.

I decided to go and check up on Nagato. I was starting to get really worried about her, what with all the strange things that had been happening to her and who knows what punishment Haruhi had inflicted upon her for messing the new costume.

Nagato was standing in the middle of the room, nearly dressed, pulling up the last part of her school uniform, her skirt. She stopped halfway through pulling it up to look up at me, leaving her pale upper thighs and colourless panties fully visible for me. She stared at me for a moment before she stood up straight, pulled her skirt up and fastened it on tightly around her slender waist.

I gulped nervously. It's funny how seeing a girl's panties is a lot more embarrassing to see than seeing the same area covered by something like a bathing suit. I mean, I've seen her wearing a lot less, but seeing her underwear just fills you up with shame. Maybe it's because bathing suits are meant to be seen, unlike underwear. Hey, they are called underwear for a reason… Can't believe it took me that long to figure that out. Jeez… I should just stop here, before my crossed wiring causes a major malfunction.

"Uh, are you okay?" I asked. I gave the back of my head a lazy scratch, while I diverted my gaze from her obsidian eyes.

"…Yes."

"G-good."

"…"

"You know what, I think we can call it a day and leave. I sincerely doubt Haruhi's going to come back. So we'll just leave a note for the others… That is, unless you want to stay here and read?"

"No."

"Oh, okay. Well, see ya then," I said with a shrug. I walked over to the table, past Nagato who kept her eyes locked on me, and took some paper and a pen to quickly scribble a note. When it was done, I walked towards the door. On my way, I picked up my bag, which I'd left against the wall next to the door, and turned to leave.

I walked out and held the door open for Nagato. She hadn't moved at all.

"Well, are you coming out or not?"

The phantom-like girl silently glided past me out into the hallway, carrying her own bag.

I closed the door and slipped the note between it and the frame, since I had nothing to stick the damn thing on the door with. I made sure it was fully visible. I hope it doesn't fall off or anything. It would be terrible if Asahina-san came here, didn't notice it and waited here for hours. I wouldn't mind if it happened to Koizumi. Heh. But it'd be even worse if the two waited here together, so I took all the time I could to make sure the note was secure but still fully visible.

When I turned around, I found Nagato watching me dutifully like a dog behind me to my surprise. She was holding her bag in her arms like she had with the tray, holding it to her chest. Her fine brow was furrowed slightly. And there was something weird going on with her lips… dare I think it? Was she giving her lower lip the smallest of bites?

"Hey, are you okay? Seriously?"

"…Yes."

"Okay then, I guess I'll be going then. See ya."

I started walking away, telling myself nothing was wrong, that I should enjoy the few hours of freedom I had received, but nothing could relieve me of my anxiety.

I was just about to turn around to say something to Nagato, when I felt the slightest of tugs on my sleeve.

"Wait…" the quiet voice of Nagato said.

I turned around in shock at the sudden connection between us. Seeing Nagato like this was starting to stress me out considerably. What is up with her? She looks so lost and confused, for her, that is. Her shoulders are sagging slightly, there's a lot more colour in her usually pale face, and she is actually fidgeting with her bags straps! FIDGETING!

"I would… like to go to the library again."

"Oh… okay."

I guess I could go… I didn't really have any plans for tonight anyway…

We stood there for awhile, until I had had enough and started walking out. Nagato followed me like a loyal dog.

"You know, you can go to the library all by yourself if you want to," I said uncertainly as we walked down a flight of stairs.

"I am aware of that," came the monotone reply.

Then what? You want me along? Not that I'm really against this, but it just seems so out of character for you. Didn't I make a promise to go with her someday? I can't even remember anymore.

I had a feeling I'd met a Nagato like this before, a long time ago, in a different place. But the strange sense of déjà vu disappeared as I shook my head. Ugh, there were some things better left not remembered. The brief memories had conjured up an inexistent stabbing pain in my stomach.

I opened the door for her out of the clubroom complex, but she wouldn't go before me, so I ended up going through first. When we came outside, we continued our way through the school complex's inner yard, the mix of sand and small gravel crunching under our feet, the only sound in the suddenly quiet outdoors.

Abruptly, the crunching noises behind me stopped. I turned around to see what the holdup was. Nagato was staring up at the sky with what could only be called a shocked expression. The bag she had been holding like a precious gift from the gods slipped out of her hands.

"Nagato?"

She gave me a fleeting look before she collapsed onto the ground.

"Nagato!" I ran to her, to hold her slender body up, cradling her head carefully against my shoulder. What little colour her pale face had possessed had disappeared. Her eyes were half-closed, pupils twitching in an agitated state.

"…"

"NAGATO!!"

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!