I woke up frightened in the middle of the night, and barely remembered I went to sleep right after eating lunch, and that because my mother had insisted – I had just wanted to shut my mind down for a while, stop thinking about unnecessary things. However, my dreams haven't been that pleasant, and my head ached once again because I had slept too much.

Dizzily, I got up and turned on my computer, put on my headphones so I won't disturb anybody and started to listen to some old songs. I felt horrible and did various things in order to keep myself away from over-thinking, praying that morning would never come. Was Haruhi having bad dreams and destroying things in an alter reality because of me? Was Koizumi struggling to fight off some light giants because of my selfishness? I was never really self-conscious, but I couldn't help feeling a little guilty. I have never seen Koizumi being so straight-forward before, usually he would've spoken a half of hour before actually telling me the truth, but today… today, there had been no time to be wasted (well, yesterday…). What did Haruhi really want? Only this question, I couldn't understand, neither answer.

I felt asleep again close to dawn and slept for an hour or so before my sister noisily woke me up. Without having done any homework, without being able to eat breakfast, I dragged myself to school, not even an ounce of hesitation in my steps; I didn't feel like I had a choice, I felt like a puppet being manipulated from the shadows. And there was one more thing… the back of Koizumi slowly fading away.

Arriving at school, I couldn't believe my eyes when Haruhi didn't even greet me and banged her head to her desk, instantly falling asleep during homeroom. I didn't feel like talking to her either, but still, it made me feel strange for some reason. I checked again, but it was indeed Haruhi and not Asakura sitting behind me. The classes were terribly boring, but I had my eyes wide open because of not sleeping properly and so, feeling very tired, I had some sort of the taste of "Koizumi's medicine".

Adding up to that, he was a top student – how could he keep that up? I hated admitting it, but I had been thinking about Koizumi a lot lately. Why, you ask? Well, that's because whenever I thought about how Haruhi was insane, my head was starting to spin. I thought that until now me and Asahina-san had been Haruhi's only innocent victims, considering Nagato was Nagato and Koizumi seemed to be enjoying everything. But it looked like he actually wasn't. It was undeniable he found some things and Haruhi herself interesting, but for that he had to live in an endless lie.

And so, after the classes ended, Haruhi finally faced me and told me without even looking into my eyes:

"Mikuru-chan has called in sick today as well. I'm… worried about her."

WHAT?! Asahina-san has…? We should visit her right away!

The truth is I was very worried about this… what if she went back to the future? What if she had been kidnapped? I had to do something!

"Kyon, I have made a promise to the Manga Club. You'd better stop fooling around today, for Mikuru-chan's sake!"

How's that for her sake?! We have to hurry up to her place!

"No you're not going!"

Excuse me?!

"I'll go later with Yuki, that's why I have to finish fast today's business! Just do whatever they tell you, got it? I'm sick of yelling at you every day!"

YOU are sick!? And why can't I come see Asahina-san?

"Because you're annoying!" Haruhi meaninglessly said in my face, because she couldn't name the exact reason for denying me my happiness.

I was getting angry, and my anger kept bottling inside.

"Welcome again!" said Hayashi-senpai when we reached the manga clubroom.

Koizumi was already inside, sitting on a chair and sipping a cup of tea, with a slightly melancholic expression on his face. Ritsuka was strangely happy as usual, the killer was silent and Tamura-the-bitch chirped around Koizumi, probably asking him embarrassing stuff. I felt the need to see Nagato and hear that everything was alright. However, that wasn't to happen that day.

"If you are ready, can we start now?" asked Akito.

"Of course, go on." said Haruhi.

"We should do those important parts already." said the president pensively. "Akiko-chan, please."

"Yes, I understand."

I finally realised that the person called Shuu was missing. Not that it made any difference, but I had my doubts, either way.

"Then, let us start. Kyon-san, I would like you to stand over there."

Okay, I think I can do that.

"Koizumi-san, please face Kyon-san and take his head in your hands. Kyon-san, please lower your head."

Great. Koizumi's hands grabbed my face and held it tight, like he was afraid of it falling off. I could finally feel his desperation. He was staring straight into my eyes, with a clarity I thought him unable of displaying. The real gaze of Koizumi. The squeals were drifted far away, but that didn't mean I didn't feel bad yet again. Haruhi was giving off that bad vibe as usual, and I didn't understand why. I especially avoided complaining, in order for Koizumi to establish if this was the thing upsetting Haruhi and turning the world upside down. However…

"Perfect! Can we film you guys at night? We would make billions!" joked Hayashi-senpai.

I didn't laugh. Haruhi answered for her subordinates:

"No. That would mean more than a half of those billions would go to the SOS Brigade, anyway."

Koizumi's hands trembled and let go of my face. At that point of time, I didn't understand a thing. That was because I couldn't exactly accept Haruhi's way of thinking, neither her feelings.

"I guess it's enough of this." said Akito.

"Koizumi-kun, why did you let go before being told so?" complained Haruhi.

"I'm very sorry, my arm suddenly started aching." answered Koizumi without facing the brigade commander.

"Well, bear with it!"

The strictness of Haruhi was reaching paroxysm. WHY?! Why did she care so much about a manga made by some people she barely knew?! Why was she forcing me and Koizumi into something like this?! Surpassing the stage of a joke, the situation was worsening. After being told off by Haruhi probably for the first time, something changed in Koizumi's expression. I couldn't exactly understand what happened, but I was soon to find out.

"Kyon-san, please lay down like yesterday, and Koizumi-san, please place yourself on top of Kyon-san, using your hands and your knees as balance points."

You've gotta be kidding me!?!!?! No way in hell! I guess even Napoleon at Waterloo was happier than I was at that point. As I was already laid down, Koizumi did exactly as told, moving as if he was some sort of android. Nagato's image suddenly popped up in my head. But as I'm trying to crack jokes here, I seem to purposely ignore the people around me close to fainting over nosebleeds, the horrible feeling of the cold floor and the distant eyes of Koizumi.

"Why won't you just do it?"

"Rip his clothes off!"

"Rape him now!!!"

I could hear all of these things and still pretend I heard nothing. I hated these people and I started to stop caring at a point. But at that time, a familiar voice raised up:

"Why won't you kiss him already?"

Defiant and strong, the displeased voice of the one commonly labeled as 'god' by the 'Organization' had just given out an order to Koizumi Itsuki, adjunct of the SOS Brigade and member of that same 'Organization'. I was terrified, and couldn't understand a thing. What sort of sick fantasy did Haruhi have? Why were we playing in it? Koizumi's glance was like steel; I could see his eyes glowing dangerously for the first time in my life and finally understood that I didn't know him at all. I had no idea who Koizumi was or how he was really like. I used not to give a damn. Staring me down with something closely resembling hatred, he tilted his head and got closer to my face. I couldn't even scream in protest – his lips were instantly glued to mine. In that moment, something broke inside of me. Something small, but very important. I couldn't quite name it, but some would call it 'love'. The one standing behind us turned her head away from the reality she created herself. She couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand it as well. Not necessarily this reality, but it was her who I couldn't stand then. In a second, I stood up, pushing Koizumi aside and shouted the loudest I did in my life:

"THIS IS ENOUGH! I'M SICK OF BEING TOYED AROUND WITH! I'M OUT OF HERE! NOW YOU'VE DONE IT, HARUHI!"

I couldn't believe the expression of shock plastered upon her face. I could never forget it. Of course, anybody else was shocked as well. Koizumi looked like he was about to have a heart attack. No, wait, he wasn't… That's the mask, I can see that clearly now… Those sharp eyes were still there, and he wasn't wavering at all. It looked like he had already made his decision. I decided as well. With big steps, almost like running away I went to the door and opened it. Before exiting, Haruhi finally yelled back:

"JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO, KYON?! HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME, THE COMMANDER?! YOU'RE OUT NOW, YOU'RE OUT OF THE SOS BRIGADE!"

I suppose she didn't expect my answer, because she froze in her tracks and remained silent after that.

"Then you can count me out."

Goodbye to Asahina-san's tea, goodbye to the silent Nagato, to the mad Haruhi and eventually to the world as we know it! Why isn't Koizumi in this list?

Because he followed me, without a word it's true, and without the intention of leaving the SOS Brigade, but he followed.

I exited North High, but I found myself clueless as in what to do next. I had wanted to ask Nagato about things, but now I wasn't calm enough for that. I had wanted to visit Asahina-san and make sure everything was alright, but after being forced into something like this, I couldn't even face her. After everything that happened, I doubted Haruhi would've ever forgiven me. But the thing was I couldn't forgive her either, for doing something so meaningless. I turned to Koizumi, who was silently waiting three steps behind me.

"Can we go somewhere right now?" I asked.

"Of course. You can come to my house."

This was a different person, definitely not the Koizumi I knew. The sharp eyes, the distant look and the cold demeanor. There was not even the trace of a smile on his face.

"It looks like you still haven't got it, so I'll have you listen to it properly."

What?! How come you're speaking like this, without the usual bullshit? Ignoring me, the Koizumi who wasn't Koizumi said:

"Just follow me."