I must admit it was pretty hard for me to fall asleep – I considered over and over the option of catching an incurable disease or the possibility of breaking one of my legs while falling off my bike. Because I wasn't the best of actors, all I could've done would've been to actually hurt myself in order to be able to skip school. But my self-preservation instinct finally triumphed over my already harmed pride and I just forgot about having a choice in this matter. Even if I were to be hurt, Haruhi would still get angry and put me through even more unreasonable demands to comply; that, if I wanted to see sunlight again (1).
I woke up with a headache and headed to the school over the hill as usual. I kept telling myself nothing would change, but I had a somehow bad feeling about that particular day. As I was chatting with Taniguchi, my thoughts were wandering away making me become absent-minded. Unexpectedly, Haruhi was not in such high spirits today and she seemed rather sulky. I became worried as this was the first time when during a brigade activity she was suddenly losing her vibe. Shrugging off my concern, I just concluded she was having her period and let her be, not wanting to mess with the devil. The classes passed and I was surprised to see her head for our clubroom with a fierce look in her eyes – I think she was feeling it too, the fact that that was not exactly a brigade activity, but another club's. Like the king of a small country, she went to confirm the small property, to see if it was still in her hands. But Haruhi knew no small uneasiness, so after a quick glance and nod, she cheerfully headed to the Manga clubroom, calling for me to follow. Koizumi was already there, and it seemed Asahina-san was sick, so she hasn't come the whole day. Haruhi shook her head in disappointment, but then said Asahina-san was a very useful member who was allowed to rest for a day once in a while. (Liar! Since that shota serves you tea you couldn't care less!)
"It's great to have you back! I was slightly afraid Kyon-kun wouldn't come back again, but as thought I'm glad to be making business with Haruhi-san!" the president said while winking to Haruhi.
"Look! Look! The first three pages are finished!" happily announced Ritsuka.
Koizumi took a step towards Akiko-san's desk and browsed the pages while lightly smiling. He then politely said:
"As expected, the work of a pro."
Akiko-san only nodded, and eyed me. Seeing I had no choice, I gulped and approached, staring at those cursed pieces of paper. Mine and Koizumi's face were really accurate, drawn close one to another. And they were… sparkling.
"Shuu tried really hard to make them sparkle, you should be thankful!"
Now she speaks in third person?! What kind of creature is she?!
"But even so Kyon-kun's face looks slightly dumb – he'll look more refined later on though, right, Akiko-san?" commented Tamura-san.
"That is to be taken as obvious. A man will truly shine only when a certain event occurs in his life, therefore we have to reduce his shining until that point. Do not worry Kyon-san, you will shine." said Akiko-san in a language I could not really comprehend, except of the main idea which annoyed me.
I noticed Koizumi had been behaving properly, refraining from his usual taunts and silently sitting in his corner. If I said I wasn't pleased I would've lied, though it was almost impossible for me to understand the reasons for his behavior. I wisely thought not to let my guard down yet, being well aware of his deceiving nature and his acting skills.
But even so, the fact that Haruhi wanted us to pose for a rather immoral manga wasn't gone, and my heartbeats increased, waiting for the guillotine to chop my head down. After a few minutes of drinking tea and chatting, we were ready (NOT!) to resume our job for which we weren't even paid. Hayashi-san said we would both get complementary copies, but who would want to take that thing home?!
"Now, now, here we go again!" chanted the said club president.
"Let us cooperate today as well." added Akiko-san. "First off, I want Koizumi-san to sit on the floor."
"Sit"? Is he a half-demon-dog esper (2)?! Ritsuka swept the floor around, and Koizumi sat down, without any complaint, leaning his back unto the wall.
"Now, please bend your legs from your knees, while distancing your legs more and keeping your feet on the floor. Kyon-san, please sit between Koizumi-san's legs, but keep your legs straight."
Huh?!
"I'm sorry if not having explained properly. You should be sat so Koizumi-san will be able to hug you from behind."
……………….. [no thoughts, no words were coming out of my mind] But as my silence and stillness was prolonging, I felt a dark aura growing wildly behind me, and I knew the end of my life was near. However, Haruhi didn't say anything. In a very un-Haruhi-like way, she waited. Being confronted to this absolutely new situation, I found my body moving by itself and carefully sitting in the indicated position. As I did so, Koizumi didn't even dare chuckle. Was there something I was missing and everybody else knew?!
"Koizumi-san, please throw your arms around Kyon-san's neck. Kyon-san, please lean unto Koizumi-kun as he is leaning unto the wall."
My all-present surprise being left aside for a while, I wondered how Akiko-san could just give out this kind of orders without any shame or embarrassment, as if it was the most natural thing ever. Koizumi did as told of course. Hey, if you are going to choke me, do it after I yell at Haruhi for all the things she ever did to me! His hands felt strangely lifeless (don't tell me you're a ghost!) Just like obeying an order, there wasn't anything more to it; this made me feel quite at ease, though it's odd admitting it. But what happened afterwards is even odder and the most embarrassing thing that I ever did. You see, as I have already mentioned, I didn't really manage to sleep properly – so, I was almost lying down, as somebody was holding me… Forgetting for a second of my situation and my surroundings, my body acted selfishly against my will and I closed my eyes… Because it was silent (the shock?!) I soundlessly fell asleep for a minute or so. I shot open my eyes and freaked out, being rashly woken up by different tonalities of "Kyaaa!".
"Awww, I just can't believe it! You guys ARE the real thing!" shouted out Hayashi-san.
"Soo cutee! Kyon-chan is soo cuuutee!" moaned Shuu as I felt the sudden urge to slap her dead.
The practical one just yelled mercilessly: "Kyon! How can you fall asleep on your job just like that!? You're to be punished!"
Why ain't you overjoyed like these crazed fangirls? Could it be that you are actually more normal…? Remembering Koizumi who was still clang to my neck, I was astonished at his capacity to fake a casual appearance. However, you ain't deceiving me – it was clear that he was trying hard not to make any funny faces or provide with fanservice in his usual manner – what are you trying so hard for?! I did tell you to do so, but to actually do it without stain like this… Just who are you, where is the real you? Are you doing it out of loyalty to your Organization? Because you want to get closer to solving the mystery that is Haruhi while using me to reach her? I couldn't possibly understand how under these abnormal circumstances somebody could repress himself so much.
"This is wonderful. Hayashi-sensei, not even in my wildest dreams have I imagined such perfect models… I am amazed with sensei finding them in our school…" obviously said Akiko-san, the only one to use such language.
Wait, what do you mean by "this school"…?
"Ahaha, we've had models before… but they weren't really in sync as you two are… they used to be quite plain so we had to imagine them more than take them as they were…" answered the said "sensei".
So that's why Akiko-san is like this… Still, to use people in this way seemed quite strange, not to say I wonder if they were even paid. Maybe they were just poor victims like us… And I and Koizumi are NOT "in sync"!
"Oh, I just remembered… Remember it, Shuu? That time."
"Shuu remembers. Our first models…" she said with a dreamy expression.
"Seems like it already passed so much… We were on our first "scouting mission" and we dressed pro-ish, scouting Akihabara…" laughed Hayashi-san.
"Yeah, and then we saw those guys on the bench, but they refused."
"Then we went to the 3rd store to the yaoi and yuri section and shot glances around, looking for people who would be glad helping us…"
"And that's how I met everybody~" unexpectedly said Ritsuka.
"It was such a strange encounter… Sensei was a second year, but Ritsuka was still in middle-school."
"When I saw him, I knew he was to be ours." laughed again the president.
"Sensei asked me and I, uh, finally accepted, and then I came here to high school in order to properly join the club… It was more like I was "made" to stay, but I came to enjoy it…" smiled brimmingly Ritsuka.
Jeez! They even corrupted a poor middle-school student…
"But with that older seme we had so many problems…"
"Yeah, we had been careless that time." said Hayashi-san with a serious expression. "When I realized Ritsuka-chan was in danger I rushed to do something, but it was too late… Fortunately, somebody else had been there…"
"Akito-sama appeared that time…" said Ritsuka with a grateful expression.
Akito-sama…(3)?! Did they have some kind of harem or something…?! These people…
"He means Akiko-chan." added the president.
What do you…?! Don't you tell me…?! I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT!!
"What sensei says is accurate. My name is actually Akito, just as Ritsuka-san is saying. As I had some issues with that man, I banged the door open, pardon my expression, and…"
"…and he shot him dead!" shouted Hayashi-san. "I arrived at the point and I was so amazed I couldn't utter a word…! I picked up Ritsuka who was trembling in a corner and I stared at the boy who held a handgun and was dressed up in a formal kimono! I thought I was inside of a manga, no joke!"
BOY?! MURDERER?! Yeah, definitely a manga…
"Then the next day, this beautiful girl came to our clubroom, saying she wanted to return something to Ritsuka-chan. I didn't know a thing, but sensei made a face I thought I would never see…"
"I have already apologized for that day, but I will do it over and over again, because sensei saved me… with a price too small to pay. Sensei agreed to help me cover up for that man's death and in exchange I were to spend my high school working for the Manga Club. But I was overjoyed I had received a second chance, the me who had fallen into darkness and had been swallowed by a foolish thing called revenge…"
As I was wondering why they were telling us everything just like this, Haruhi randomly said a surprising thing, given her usual character:
"It's good you were forgiven Akiko-chan. I… would've done the same for my brigade members."
The fact that I was in the same room with a passion killer was frightening me to the core. The fact that this person was using that tone to order people around finally made sense – from now on, another fear was to keep me from escaping this fate. The fear that Akito's obsessive loyalty for the president and the club would follow me everywhere, had I dared do anything to spoil their project.
"Then, can we please continue?" said the killer.
"Oh yeah." remembered Hayashi-san. "Tamura-san only joined us this year, so we don't have many memories together, but she is very good at manga, and she had read a lot more than Shuu or Akiko-chan."
"Let's make many memories together!"(4) answered Tamura-san cockily.
The manga club members all laughed for an unknown reason. They were freaking me out. Koizumi, who hadn't said a thing ever since, finally opened his mouth to say:
"Akiko-san, can we get up now?"
Aren't you surprised at all?! This guy dressed up as a girl committed a crime, and these people casually covered for it! I can almost hear the cicadas crying… (5)
"Yes, you are to change your positions so you can have a short break." said Akito and eyed Ritsuka, who immediately presented him with a cup of tea.
I and Koizumi stood up and cleansed our uniforms of the dust, and we received tea as well. I must say I wasn't feeling really good, but everybody failed to notice. Just as I was thinking Asahina-san would have immediately noticed, Koizumi discretely placed a pill in my hand, while avoiding to look at me in order not to arouse suspicion. Poisoning was highly possible, but I decided my headache shouldn't be let loose and I gulped it down when nobody was looking. Haruhi was busy to express her artistic views to the team and I tried to get out of my mind the fact that there was more torture to come. After a bare five minutes, Akito said it was time to get back to work, and everybody turned their attention to us once again.
"Kyon-san, I want you to lay down, facing the ceiling."
It's like you're telling me to roll around in mud! I won't be able to wear my uniform anymore after this!
"Kyon, you're annoying me." said Haruhi on a serious tone. "Why are you so obstinate in not following orders? These people are really working hard in order to achieve something, while all you did since the day you've been born was complain!"
Now, this is going a bit too far. And Haruhi wasn't joking either. While feeling her rage for a second, I reconsidered. An unknown force was making me regret upsetting her and I complied without a word. Apparently, Koizumi had nothing to do as of now so he was silent – oh, how I envied him! At least I was alone, so it wasn't that embarrassing… to some extent. My headache disappeared, and I inwardly thanked Koizumi for doing something decent once in his life.
"You can get up now." said the president while grinning. "Akiko-chan?"
"Yes. Now, Kyon-san, I want you to get as close as you can to the wall and face it."
Huh?! I reluctantly faced the wall and felt like I was a little kid being punished. I did not have the bravery to voice any other complaint, but this was because I was assuming it would be again just me.
"Koizumi-san, I want you to go and stand behind Kyon-san, and lift his arms while pinning them to the wall."
Shuu whistled and I was about to throw up. Koizumi did as told, in a very stiff manner.
"That won't do, Koizumi-san. Please lean closer, there shouldn't be much space between you and Kyon-san's back. Also, please tilt your head over Kyon-san's shoulder, as if you were saying something in his ear."
The humiliation had reached unexpected levels. I swallowed hardly, while my hands were gently kept on the wall by yet another pair of hands, and the breath of a certain person was tickling my ear. I could feel the warmth of his body over mine, and being so close to the bastard drove me crazy – even if I wanted to move, I wouldn't have been able to. I could feel the glare of Haruhi in my back, still displeased of something and searching for a reason to murder me. Just when I thought I was going to snap, Akito said:
"You can let go now."
Koizumi swiftly let go of my arms, while rapidly distancing himself from me. I could see he wore a troubled look, and I didn't really comprehend the reason of not showing off his usual fake smile – Haruhi was still in the room, he had a role to play, like he used to point out himself! Why wasn't he wearing his mask? Koizumi not acting like he was supposed to made me feel insecure, like something was very wrong.
"That's quite enough for today!" said Hayashi-senpai. "Three days left to go! Everyone, let's do our best and finish this off as soon as possible!"
I exited without bothering to greet anybody. I felt something very heavy on my chest and I just wanted to get home and sleep, detaching myself from this reality; it was way too painful. Such a serious fight with Haruhi, Koizumi out-of-character and not seeing Asahina-san's smile were a bunch of things I found hard to swallow. I haven't seen Nagato's reassuring figure either, so I couldn't tell if this was one of those "situations" or only me being paranoid. After saying goodbye, Koizumi followed me and after exiting the school ground, he finally spoke up.
"There is something I must tell you."
For some reason, I couldn't really face him out of embarrassment, but I bravely turned to him my blushing face and asked:
"What is it?"
"As I suspected, it's "closed spaces"… They appeared again last night and I'm afraid they'll appear again today, considering how angry was with you Suzumiya-san."
I frowned and totally forgot about feeling strange or blushing.
"You mean it's my fault?! She's getting exactly what she wants, what's her problem?!"
"I am afraid it is indeed your fault, but for now I cannot tell for sure. Either way, I…"
At this point Koizumi's voice trailed off and his features distorted again. That insecure feeling returned to me in an instant, so I asked:
"Are we currently in a crisis? Is there a danger of Haruhi trying to destroy the world?"
Koizumi shook his head as a response.
"How can I repay you for the things you were forced doing today? There is no way I could repay you, and even if you did them, Suzumiya-san was still not content. I'm afraid at this point of time, neither I know what does she want exactly. I might have been misleading you into thinking that doing everything she says is the safe way out of trouble, but now I'm not so sure about this."
You mean everything of this crap was USELESS?!
"I don't know, I don't think it was useless but…"
Snapping, I grabbed him by his collar and yelled in his face:
"Stop screwing around! You've made a fool out of me and of course there's no fucking way of ever repaying me!"
Pushing him aside, I panted heavily. I've never seen him losing his composure like this before; he just couldn't believe I was throwing a tantrum (neither could I…).
"Listen here you bastard! Do something and be sure about this goddamned situation or I'll kill Haruhi with these two hands!"
Kill Haruhi?! What the hell was I thinking when saying that?! Koizumi turned pale and turned his back against me. I could no more see his face.
"Come tomorrow as well, I beg of you. I… have to make sure of it… I… I'm very tired."
With these words, Koizumi boarded the train without turning to face me again. I felt very sad without being able to explain it. This person, no matter how much I couldn't stand him before, he was trying his best to keep up a mask everyday, while suppressing his real self. Compared to the selfish me who had been complaining from the day I was born, just like Haruhi said, this person was trying to do something. Save somebody. Save me. Please, somebody, save me.
(1) Romanian folk tale reference - in the story, the antagonist tells the hero who is trapped in a well he will never see sunlight again if he won't obey him.
(2) Inuyasha reference
(3) Akiko/Akito - Fruits Basket manga reference. Also, 'Ritsuka' is a character in a shonen ai managa/anime (Loveless) and 'Tamura Hiyori' is the fujoshi (yaoi fangirl) in Lucky Star. Just the names were used as a pun, my OCs have nothing to do with the actual characters.
(4) Loveless reference - since it's a shonen ai manga, Kyon has no idea what they are laughing about.
(5) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni reference