Volume 7 - The Intrigues of Suzumiya Haruhi

by Tanigawa Nagaru

  The head that always has short hair nodded, slightly.

  Nagato, whose instructions were used to iron out the details of time and space, and Asahina-san, who was the faithful executor, made up this team of Aliens and Time Travelers. No matter how big Koizumi’s Agency is, they have no chance of winning. Except I’m not sure if they even plan on fighting.

  Nagato, Asahina-san and I went to the entrance to put on our shoes. In that cramped space, we crowded and squeezed together. Last month, when I went with Asahina-san (Big), I had forgotten my shoes. That lesson reappeared clearly before me now. Her high heels were in the exact same place they were four years ago, obviously the work of Nagato. It’s not like I can return them to this Asahina-san, so I guess I’ll just ignore them.

  “Um, December the eighteenth… what time?”

  Nagato’s answer was exact to the second; Asahina-san nodded her head.

  “We’re going now. Kyon-kun, close your eyes. ”

  And — —

  Time moved. That very familiar dizzy feeling that makes me want to puke. Even though my eyes are closed, it feels like something is flashing. It’s comparable to staring at the sky and ascending, along with that unpleasant feeling of rising fast and losing track of what’s up and what’s down. Just like riding on an out-of-control roller coaster and being thrown around ten times, losing focus and feeling very weird, I was almost at my limit…

  My soles finally landed on the ground again. The gravity pulling me down feels so comfortable.

  “We’re here.”

  Nagato said softly.

  I opened my eyes gingerly, and was startled.

  I found myself standing in front of the school gates.

  I quickly tried to remember what happened before. On Tanabata four years ago, I came through time on the direction of the Nagato still in “Standby Mode”. Coming back to the eighteenth with Asahina-san, I had gazed at the black world Nagato had created and walked under a street light……

  ……and we had landed in the middle of all that.

  That “Me”, changing himself as the world changed, was saying something to a Nagato with glasses on. I can even see the shadow of Asahina-san wearing my jacket. This isn’t too good, because no matter how you look at it, this is just way too close.

  “Don’t worry.”

  Our Nagato said in monotone.

  “They can’t see us. A soundproof barrier has been set up.”

  That means, to “Me”, Asahina-san and Nagato (with glasses), we’re just soundless, transparent people. This doesn’t need clarification from Nagato, because she’s here with us. Pity.

  Asahina-san was blinking non-stop.

  “Um…… who’s that girl? It’s an adult, why is she here?”

  From here, they’re only silhouettes. As expected, Asahina-san doesn’t get it. If she could imagine that her future self would appear here, it would be too unnerving. As I was contemplating whether or not to tell her, something happened that made that thought disappear like dust in the wind. Even though I knew it was coming, it still gave me goose bumps watching it as a spectator.

  Suddenly, someone appeared from the shadows. It passed softly by us and by the time I realized that it was Asakura Ryoko, she was already running, no, charging at “us”. Her knife was at her waist as she charged us in a hostile fashion.

  Asahina-san (Big) yelled something, but it was too late, “I” had been stabbed, just like I remember.

  “Ohh.”

  That looked painful. I didn’t notice it before, but when Asakura is waving that knife around, she’s very detestable. Full of bloodlust, she stuck the knife into “my” body without hesitation. Luckily, Asakura Ryoko can only be convicted of attempted murder.

  “I” fell.

  “Eh…… Oh! Kyon-kun!”

  Asahina-san started yelling too, and she started to run to “Me”. “Ah……!” as she immediately ran into the invisible wall, and she stopped, looking on miserably. I think she’s forgotten I’m right beside her in the heat of the moment. Her eyes only saw “Me”, and I still don’t know if I should be pleased or jealous.

  “Nagato-san!”

  Looking at Asahina-san, Nagato bobbed her head.

  “The barrier’s dissolved…… It ends now.”

  Asahina-san ran over, Nagato also started working. Faster than the night wind, she grabbed Asakura’s knife right away. Asakura’s yell rang out, a mixture of hate and fright. I also ran towards the old me. Oh, great, now “I” look horrible.

  Asahina-san was crying while she held “Me” in her arms. Since she’s worried about me, I’m really happy. But hanging there, I wouldn’t mind if I died.

  She tearfully cried for “Me” as if her life depended on it, completely ignoring everyone else. I really want to thank her.

  Painfully, Asahina-san (Big) moved her gaze from the ground up and stared at me.

  “You’re here.”

  But I’m a bit late, not as in time late, but mood-wise.

  “……Hey……”

  This sound was Nagato from my memory. The someone running around that was hurting my heart. The Nagato with glasses had fallen down, and was sitting there with a look of alarm on her face. Those dark eyes’ gaze moved from the fallen “Me” to Asakura, then to the person wearing the same sailor uniform as her, then onto me.

  “Wh…… y……”

  I have an agreement with my Nagato. So, I cannot talk to this other Nagato, the one that just finished changing the world. There is only one thing I have to say or do.

  Picking up the gun that Nagato had made three years ago, I looked at “Me”. To say what I heard before, I opened my mouth and said what I remembered. This should work, because as long as it mostly fits, a little bit of difference is allowed. That “Me” completely closed his almost-closed eyes, falling to one side. This fainting scene was very exciting, it looked like “I” died. But if no one stops the blood, “I” would really die.

  Then, from now on, it’s all up to us. Even I don’t know what will happen after.

  The first thing I see is my Nagato stopping Asakura.

  “……”

  The knife Nagato was holding onto glowed as it turned to dust. Asakura wanted to run away but couldn’t move, as if her feet were glued to the ground. Nagato was speaking very fast.

  “Wh, Why? You……”

  Asakura’s body was also shining now.

  “Isn’t this what you wanted…… Today too…… Why……”

  The unmoving Asakura asked one last question, and then disintegrated like a knife just cut her into pieces. At the same time,

  “Ah?……”

  Asahina-san (Small) toppled over, looking like she was bending over my body. The softly closed eyes and the slightly open mouth said she was asleep.

  Asahina-san’s (Big) hand gently caresses the dead-tired senpai’s neck.

  “I put her to sleep.”

  The adult Asahina-san stroked her young self’s hair sadly.

  “I can’t let her know I’m here. I had to do this.”

  Asahina-san sleeps very cutely, using “my” hand as a pillow.

  “Don’t tell her about me.”

  This sleeping face is the same as the one from Tanabata three years ago, as the one on the bench in the park, the reason is exactly the same too, Asahina-san (Big) doesn’t want the her from the past see what she looks like. The back is fine, but if she walks closer, Asahina-san is not allowed to see Asahina-san (Big).

  I gazed at the unconscious Asahina-san and at “Me”.

  “……”

  My Nagato knelt and leaned over, putting her hand to the abdomen of the “Me” that got stabbed. It’s a good thing she did. Anyway, the blood stopped, and “my” pale face finally looked like a normal human’s. So, the person who healed me was her.

  Nagato casually stood up and, without wiping the blood off her finger, reached her hand out and said,

  “Lend it to me.”

  I didn’t say anything, a
nd just gave her the gun. I haven’t held it in a long time, and was glad to give it up. If anything happens, this can be used as a threat I suppose. But no matter what, I won’t shoot any Nagato with it.

  The gun-wielding Nagato points the gun at the Nagato with glasses sitting on the ground, who had been timid all along. She nonchalantly cocks and fires it.

  Nagato (with glasses) started shining as she slowly stood up. That stick-like posture was the posture of the Nagato I was familiar with. Completely different from when she gave me an application form, or when she awkwardly pulled on my sleeve while crying, different from that shy, slightly smiling person.

  Like she was proving it to me, that Nagato took off her glasses and, after staring at me, locked her cold gaze onto the other her and said,

  “Request synchronization.”

  The two Nagatos stared at each other. Counting this time, I have already seen “Me” several times before. Both Asahina-sans have also been around each other many times. But, this is the first time there has been more than one Nagato at a time. It makes me feel odd. Quite a magnificent sight.

  “Request synchronization.”

  The Nagato that was shot repeated, the Nagato that shot immediately replied.

  “Denied.”

  Even I found this odd, let alone the Nagato holding glasses in her hand. Her eyebrows may have moved.

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to.”

  I’m astonished. Completely flabbergasted. Has anything this clear ever come out of Nagato’s mouth before? This isn’t an excuse. This explicit denial proves she has emotions, no doubt about it.

  “……”

  The other Nagato, seemingly lost in thought, quieted.

  “……”

  She’s as silent as before, as the night wind blows her hair around.

  I gently said to the Nagato from the past,

  “Go change the world back to its former state.”

  “Understood.”

  That Nagato nodded, and said, in a slightly hesitating voice that only I could understand,

  “Unable to sense the existence of the Integrated Data Sentient Entity.”

  “It’s not here.”

  My Nagato faintly said,

  “I am still connected to the time and space I am from, let me do the second adjustment. ”

  “Understood.” Said the Nagato from the past.

  “After the transformation,”

  My Nagato said,

  “You can move according to your own wishes.”

  The Nagato that was just reverted looks at me, her head tilted. Unperceivable data appears in that expression and gaze, but I can read it, no one is more clear than I as to what Nagato wants to say.

  This Nagato is that Nagato. The Nagato that appeared at the hospital that night. The one that said her own punishment was being debated and annoying the shit out of me.

  I also understand why the Nagato from the future has rejected synchronization. Nagato doesn’t want that her to tell this her what she has to do.

  Why? — Why ask why, that’s something that’s not obvious to see.

  Thank you. — That time I heard Nagato say this as the answer.

  “Kyon-kun?”

  Asahina-san spoke cautiously to the still standing me.

  “This child…… Can you take care of her?”

  She started to pick up the heavy-looking, peacefully-sleeping Asahina-san (Small). I immediately went to help, and, following her directions, piggy-backed the slender Asahina-san like before. She’s even as soft and warm as in my memory.

  “A large-scale time-quake will be happening shortly,”

  Asahina-san (Big) said, hugging her arms, her very serious face showing sharp anxiety.

  “Compared with the one Nagato-san did just now, this one is even more complicated and significant. Opening your eyes, even if you wanted to, would be extremely hard.”

  Since it’s you that’s saying this, of course I believe you, but what difference does this make?

  “The first change was only meant to start the process. In this one, we need to make time turn back to its original flow. Think for a second about where you woke up.”

  The evening of December the eighteenth, I went into the hospital where I later woke up.

  “Yes. So, we must make this turn into that.”

  Barefoot, with my jacket over her shoulder, Asahina-san (Big) slowly and quietly walked over.

  One of Asahina-san’s (Big) hands went to Asahina-san’s (Small) shoulder as she turned her head around and looked at Nagato. The Nagato that came here with me walked over to join us. There was still someone remaining like they originally were; the fallen “Me” was still lying there.

  Asahina-san (Big) reached out and grabbed Nagato with her free hand.

  “It’s up to you, Nagato-san.”

  Nagato lightly nodded her head, then stared at herself, as if they were never going to meet again. The other Nagato didn’t say a word. It might have been my imagination, but she looked very lonely. No worries. I still remember what I said then. That “Me” right there will talk to you soon enough. That punk will say this, for certain, so come visit with a clear conscience. Don’t forget to call your boss a ‘bastard’ for me.

  “Close your eyes, Kyon-kun,”

  Asahina-san (Big) said softly,

  “Don’t get time-sick.”

  I followed her advice, closing my eyes tightly.

  The next moment, I feel the world tremble.

  “Uwah — —”

  Falling heads over heels and revolving in a no-gravity zone is something I have experienced many times before. Even though I think I’m used to these sensations, this time is vastly different from all the other times. If all the other times were like riding a roller-coaster in an amusement park, this is a noisy, anarchic space shuttle I’m randomly flying about in without a seat belt. But, since my body has no mass, it is actually not being twirled around. This is just dizziness. Despite the fact that I want to see what the outside looks like, as soon as I open my eyes, it’s really like being dead drunk, very scary. The only movie I get to see is the random bits of light that came through my eyelids, lighting up the dark. The warmth of Asahina-san (Small) on my back and the feeling of Asahina-san’s (Big) hand on my shoulder are both very comforting.

  — — I feel a waning light stabbing at my closed eyes.

  Because I can’t resist the desire to look, I open my eyes, and see where the red light is, in reality, coming from. Revolving red lights are something only emergency vehicles have.

  What……?

  An ambulance stood directly in front of North High’s gates. Students who like action looked on from a distance while emergency personnel lifted someone onto a stretcher. There were two people following this stretcher at its high speed, two girls in fact, and I will never forget their names my entire life. Haruhi’s pale face looked frightened, Asahina-san was crying and very sad, running after the stretcher. Shortly after, an unsmiling Koizumi chased after them.

  The stretcher was immediately put into the ambulance, and Haruhi, after exchanging a few words with the personnel, got in too. The red lights started flashing again, and the ambulance began to move. Koizumi, standing beside Asahina-san who was covering her eyes, looked very serious as he talked on his cell phone. Nagato wasn’t there, but that was obvious.

  My dizziness still hadn’t gone away. To tell the truth, I wasn’t even sure where my body was at the moment.

  Some part of my body felt Asahina-san (Big) let out a huge sigh.

  “Kyon-kun, now we’ll return to the original time.”

  The movie I was watching gradually disappeared. Has the service been cut? I’ll give you something to see. Like during my three-day long memory loss, it’s a brigade leader’s responsibility to worry about the members, that’s the way it is, Haruhi.

  The dizziness started again, I really want to take some pills. Next time, I must prepare some beforehand.

  �
��Aim at the time you came from. Follow that me. It will take her a while to wake up…… Fufu, Maybe I’ll let you kiss me.”

  And with that joke, I felt Asahina-san (Big) gradually fade away.

  And — —

  When I open my eyes, I’m standing in Nagato’s living room with Asahina-san on my back.

  Nagato is standing facing me.

  “Sixty-two seconds have passed since we departed.”

  Lifting her head to look at me, she said,

  “We’re back.”

  Back to our own time and world.

  I sighed and put Asahina-san down off my shoulders. She’s really the best nominee for a ‘Make-people-want-to-kiss-your-sleeping-face’ contest. The “Me” that believes everything Asahina-san said is very impure. If this wasn’t Nagato’s room, or she wasn’t staring at me like she’s investigating me, it’s possible I might throw away feelings of shame. No, I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t.

  Picking up the teacup on the table, I downed it in one gulp. Even though when we left the tea was already cool, this tasted great. It’s kind of like drinking tea after taking a bath. It can also be compared to Asahina-san’s tea.

  ‘’Sigh’’ “Oh man…”

  Finally, I’ve finished everything from last year that needed sorting out. There shouldn’t be anything we haven’t finished. With the chapter on the world changing closed at last, the winter trip that crossed into this year is definitely finished, the only thing left is going to the temples and shrines for the first time this year. Meh, Haruhi will come up with something new in a little bit. Before that happens, these days should be quite quiet.

  By the way, the angel-like time traveler is still not awake. I don’t know what kind of magic was used on her, but she looks just like Shamisen in a warm room after being fed. Being put into this sleep that looks very happy, it’s actually somewhat pitiable. I asked Nagato to put bedding on the ground, and placed Asahina-san down to sleep on it, putting a wool blanket and a quilt on top.

  “Nagato, before Asahina-san wakes up, please take care of her.”

  Nagato regarded the sleeping visitor, then shot a look at me and nodded her head.

  Although I woke up ready for action, I am now actually really tired. The accumulated tiredness from the vacation and the time travel, if not taken care of with a bath and bed, will prevent me from getting up tomorrow at nine. My very limited reserves are slowly disappearing, like an ordinary miracle. I want that to stop. You could say what five people do in a month is small in comparison with what I’ve gone through.