Volume 7 - The Intrigues of Suzumiya Haruhi

by Tanigawa Nagaru

  It can't be, that's like a spirit appeared.

  “…This is just what I think, but, it's like Nagato hasn't figured me out yet.”

  Asahina-san took a long breath, looking somewhere near my chest.

  “In the clubroom, when everyone's around, you can't sense it. But when you're alone with Nagato-san, you can see it vibrating in the air. It was like that last month too. When we came back from the past, and I woke up and found Kyon-kun gone, I felt she was silently staring at me then too.”

  What do you mean? No matter how I think of it, Nagato would never hurt Asahina-san.

  “Mhm, I know. Nagato-san doesn't think like that. This is just my own observations… But, I know this for sure, Nagato-san looks as if she is concerned about me.”

  What a broken explanation. I don't get it.

  Asahina-san's facial expression made it seem as though I just scolded her. In a lonely voice, she said,

  “Nagato-san, she appears as though she wants to be like me.”

  “?” Goes me.

  “Like, going on random missions aimlessly with Kyon-kun and the like. I'm always doing that, right? Nagato-san's always been watching us. It was like that during Tanabata, and during the endless summer too…”

  In the past year, many marks have been left by the SOS Brigade. Of us, the most capable is Nagato.

  “I think the reason Nagato-san changed the past was this mentality too. Nagato-san always helps others, unlike me, who always needs others to help me.”

  Asahina-san blew a breath into the palm of her hand, then, with a "hmn!”, nodded her head.

  “After thinking about it, I guess it makes more sense now. The vibes I felt from Nagato-san. Maybe Nagato-san just wants to become like me.”

  Again, my mind started to fantasize. One in which I went toward the clubroom as usual, but there was Nagato in a maid uniform waiting for me, happily steeping tea. One even therapy couldn't fix. Then she would, smiling, carefully place the teacup in front of me, and then, holding the serving plate, ask me how it tastes…

  If Nagato was like that, I wouldn't complain. But then where would the Nagato that sits at the side of the table reading go?

  "I suspect even Nagato-san doesn't know about it. So, it'd be better if I just left. Otherwise, she'll become unstable.

  Asahina-san has a sincere look. She's not wanting to stay away from Nagato's house, but is actually thinking of Nagato. We already know what the abnormal Nagato is like, and we both know what causes it. In the end, she set a limit on herself. Reject synchronization. She wanted to be able to depend on herself to resolve the problems. Is Nagato's ideal Asahina-san? Someone different from her, one who, when glitches occur, goes about doing her thing without actually knowing about what has happened. A time traveler.

  That's extremely paradoxical. Asahina-san is going crazy over knowing nothing, while Nagato is depressed due to knowing too much.

  I lifted my head and looked at Nagato's room.

  “Yeah…”

  Perhaps Asahina-san's thesis is in fact true. No matter how I think of it, the people with sharper wits are generally female. Haruhi and Tsuruya-san might just have a little too much.

  Nagato has Nagato's advantages. That's more than enough, but I didn't realize that this was a difficult situation. Even if I went and asked her, she would just pretend to know nothing.

  It's also possible Asahina-san's just thinking too much about this. Maybe Nagato doesn't really care. Maybe she just doesn't have a book to read occasionally, and just stares at Asahina-san without any definite purpose. But since Asahina-san is this worried, I can't just say that she's wrong.

  “Got it. I'll go explain to Nagato. We'll figure out where you're going to sleep on the way back.”

  The most that could happen would be her sleeping at my house. It's not like we can't find another place for her to stay.

  “Oh, yeah, I have something to show you. I found another letter in my shoe-locker.”

  As I took out the letter, Asahina-san had a look that resembled one I would see on a person looking at the exam booklet before the exam.

  “Ah, this…”

  She pointed to the last part on the instruction letter.

  “That's the Mission Code. The most important thing.”

  I don't know if that line's a mark or a signature. Is it possible that's some future language?

  “No, it's not a language… That's a code. It's something we specifically use to indicate someone is important. That means, no matter what happens, we must complete the task set.”

  “That's what it means?”

  After remembering the content of the letter, I said,

  “There's got to be some hidden meaning to this.”

  “That's…”

  Asahina-san slightly tilted her head, and with a face of puzzlement, replied,

  “I don't get this at all…”

  “If we disregarded this and didn't do anything, what would happen?”

  “We can't ignore it.”

  Studying the letter, Asahina-san said,

  “After seeing this code, I must do what it says.”

  Then, she turned her edgy gaze onto me.

  “Also, Kyon-kun, you will help me, right?”

  We have arrived at the place the letter indicates. The method of transportation is the bike, I don't need to say I pedaled, carrying Asahina-san, who was sitting on the back. Anyway, even though the location is in the city, we can get there by biking.

  We also took a little walk to kill some time. According to my watch, it's just after 6:10. If we follow the instructions, we need to have this thing put in place sometime between 6:12 and 6:15.

  The fact that the sun set a long time ago makes me feel a little lonely. The road is really far from any residential houses, so pedestrians are sparse and almost no one around. There's even a little shortcut off to the side that no one's bothered to fix up. The path doesn't look like a shortcut though, since if it is actually a shortcut to somewhere, normal people won't just randomly walk that way. On the hand printed map, the 'X' was marked showing a place a couple of meters away from the intersection of this road and the asphalt city road.

  It's a good thing no pedestrians were around. What we were about to do is something only delinquents would do. When all is said and done, this was a practical joke.

  We've only prepared three things. A hammer, some nails, and an empty juice box. You can probably guess what we're up to now, right?

  “Let's start,” I said.

  “No problem.” Asahina-san nodded her head.

  I, who had been hiding behind a pole, dashed toward the destination, and started to nail nails into the ground. The ground was hard, and you need a lot of energy just to put half of a nail into the ground. Especially since I can't make a loud sound, in case people nearby hear it.

  I worked fast, and finished before the thirty seconds were up.

  I put the nails into the empty box, and then returned to the pole where Asahina-san was waiting for me. And then we went to hide in a dark place a bit farther off.

  What will happen next? What will the box do? Let us observe some more.

  We didn't wait long. The time is now 6:14 in the afternoon.

  It looks like a male slowly coming down the street from the opposite direction of where we were hiding. He was wearing a windbreaker and carrying a shoulder bag. From what I can see, he hasn't noticed us yet. He was walking with his face downward, and he looked very drained. He suddenly stopped. He was looking in the exact direction the empty juice box was pointing.

  “Ha…”

  I heard a sigh. As I was thinking he was a good person who felt disturbed by some litterbugs, he walked towards the empty juice box without hesitation, decisively lifted up his foot and swung it down in a kick.

  Needless to say, the juice box didn't miraculously fly into a goal, not only that, but it didn't even move——

  “Gah—!? Wahhh.”

  “What the hell, that hurts~!” />
  It hurt so much he was rolling on the ground. He was crying so much it was like he was dying.

  “ What the..?! Who did this! Putting this… it, it hurts~!”

  Asahina-san and I stared at each other in dismay.

  This was the point of putting it there?

  “Who knows…?”

  We had a conversation using our gazes. We nodded at exactly the same time, and came out of our hiding spot. We walked down the path, pretending we were passing this place as though we occasionally do.

  “Are you okay?”

  Asahina-san said to the person laying on the ground grasping his toenail. I calmly stood by Asahina-san, and looked down at the complaining man.

  “Ah?”

  I do not recognize the distorted face that belongs to a skinny man in his mid-20s. Under his windproof jacket, he was wearing western clothing, even sporting a tie. He looks exactly like every other average, middle-class working man.

  Trying to look nice, I said:

  “Want some help?”

  “Uh… Please. Thanks.”

  He grabbed my hand and managed to stand. Wrinkling his brow, he lifted his foot.

  “Damn. Who did that? This kind of childish prank.”

  “It was over the top.”

  I knelt down and picked up the juice box. There was an indent on one side. The nail that was secured down was also crooked due to the kick. From the looks of it, he's an accomplished kicker.

  “How dangerous.”

  I said seriously, pulling out the nail. Thanks to his powerful kick, it came out without any trouble at all. To destroy the evidence, I slipped the nail into my pocket.

  He lifted his leg and lowered it several times. Each time, it was accompanied by a wrinkling of the brow and a phrase.

  “This is quite troublesome. I don't think anything's broken… Maybe I twisted my ankle?”

  “Um," said Asahina-san, "It'd be better if we went to a hospital…”

  “I think so too.”

  He hopped on one foot towards the busy street, almost staggering.

  “Lend me your shoulder, please.”

  So as not to let him fall, I hurried to his side, and asked,

  “Should we call an ambulance?”

  “Ah, that's not required. I've called one before. To make such a big fuss over such a little thing isn't too good. Sorry, but can you take me like this to the main road over there?”

  “Eh, of course I can.”

  No matter what you say, it's my fault. I honestly want to apologize to him.

  I took advantage of the streetlights to examine the man who was grabbing my shoulder and walking slowly more carefully. He was actually a uniquely handsome man.

  “There was a problem at work.”

  On the way to the road, he started to explain about himself.

  “I shouldn't have kicked that box just because I was lamenting. I guess I deserved it.”

  “I disagree. I believe the bad people are the ones who put that mischievous thing there in the first place.”

  “I guess you're right, what kind of a prank is that? They have to do it now, of all times.”

  He looked at me and then at the taciturn Asahina-san following a few step behind, and he started to laugh.

  “That girl, is she your girlfriend?”

  I didn't have anything to say, so I probably just stared for a second or two.

  “Eh, well… Something like that…”

  At times like this, I have to say that, even if it is lying.

  “Is that so.”

  He believed what I told him without any doubts, and then reverted to his former state of looking like it hurt a lot.

  We reached the main road, and managed to call a lucky taxi by waving. This wasn't over until we got the anxiously sweating man into the back seat of the taxi on this cold day.

  “Thank you very much. Sorry for taking up some of your time.”

  No, no, it was technically all my fault. Just so you know, this Asahina-san is innocent. If you ever somehow find out who did it and want revenge, please take it up with the older her… As I thought this deep in my heart, the taxi drove away, leaving us two. I asked Asahina-san,

  “Is that all we need to do?”

  “Yeah…”

  Unconfidently, Asahina-san let out a big sigh and hugged her body.

  It was already half past six.

  There is a serious restriction on us now.

  That is, we cannot let the other Asahina-san and Haruhi see me together with this Asahina-san. If we are seen by Haruhi, we could argue our way out. But if Asahina-san (the true one) saw her doppleganger, I am sure her brain isn't so dumb as to be able to believe there is someone that looks exactly like her walking around. Worst case scenario, I bump into all of the just-dismissed SOS Brigade on their way home. That would be ungodly.

  Then again, if I trust what Asahina-san (the one from eight days in the future) said, she didn't see herself these past couple days, so there shouldn't be a problem there.

  But there is a problem. If my hard work here results in the future being easier on me, I should work extremely hard here. I can't be too optimistic… Is that the problem?

  I have no idea. Why are things always so inconvenient for me? Anyway, if the traveler this time wasn't Asahina-san (Eight Days Later) but Asahina-san (Big), everything would be solved in no time.

  I stared at the slight senpai by my side.

  Wearing a North High uniform, she scrunched her body together, looking very cold. In this chilly February wind, it must be hard to stand not having a jacket. If I was wearing that uniform, I would probably freeze to death too.

  “Should we get going?”

  I waved a hand toward the old bike and asked. Asahina-san nodded her head.

  “But, where are we going? Kyon-kun's house?”

  Even though I wish we could do that, the fewer people who we have to tell not to tell anybody else, the better. As her brother, I can honestly say that my sister has the loosest lips ever. In fact, they're probably looser than a grandmother's pursestring in front of her grandson.

  “To someone besides Nagato who can take you in temporarily. Maybe that person will let you stay without asking any questions.”

  I got on the bicycle and urged the startled Asahina-san on. I carried the light, second-year student sitting sideways on the back and started in the direction of our destination.

  Where I stopped the bike was a place every person in the SOS Brigade would recognize.

  Of course, that means Asahina-san knows it too.

  “Here… Um, this can't be it.”

  Asahina-san, having jumped down off the bike, was staring at the front gate to that person's property.

  I set up the bike stand and locked it.

  “This person will help Asahina-san no matter what happens. There will never be a time when this person won't help out.”

  “B-But, we shouldn't reveal the secret——”

  “Leave it to me.”

  The huge golden gate had a modern intercom plastered on the side. Before I press the button, we need to smooth a few things out.

  “Asahina-san, ear.”

  “Okay.”

  Obediently, she tilted her head and brushed off some of her hair, exposing her pretty ear. Without meaning to, I thought of Haruhi and her ear-biting scene. I want to do that as well, but I can tell it's a bad time.

  “Ye-Yeah. I want to do that too…”

  Asahina-san blinked and said in a whispery voice,

  “Eh. But, I'm not a good actress.”

  She protests, looking like she's about to cry.

  “That's so hard…”

  Yes. She has to play the part exactly.

  To tell you the truth, I feel that there is no need for acting. Asahina-san just has to act like the normal Asahina-san. I'm sure no one will notice.

  “Anyway, that's the plan. It'll be fine.”

  I smiled at her optimistically and pushed down the button.
<
br />   “…………”

  “…………”

  Asahina-san and I silently waited for a response. The chance of the actual person replying is actually very small, so in my mind, I practiced the exchange. After I repeated it three times, a minute later, still no one had answered. They should be home. This started turning into an unlucky day, when,

  “Oy, wait a minute!”

  A large, energetic yell came out of the wall, followed by a big bang. This was succeeded by many creaking sounds as the wooden gate was opening.

  “Ya! What's happened this late at night? Mikuru and Kyon-kun. Hm? It is really you two. Oh, boy, that's not easy. Lucky you,”

  Tsuruya-san said with a huge smile on her face.

  Tsuruya-san's outfit is a bit different from the normal one I see at school.

  She was wearing a casual civilian kimono with a short shirt on top, her long, flowing hair combed back. She fits right into a traditional Japanese garden.

  Tsuruya-san let us into the Tsuruya property, then put the squared timber bar back on the inside of the closed gate.

  “Hm, but this is surprising. Kyon-kun and Mikuru out for a walk? Haruhi didn't come?”

  “There are many hidden stories in this… Wait, Tsuruya-san, how did you know it was us?”

  Since no one had answered the intercom.

  “En, there's a security camera installed out there. I can tell right away who the visitors are! After seeing you two, I thought it would be best to come out myself. Is something wrong?”

  Tsuruya-san's geta made a clip-clop sound as we walked to the main door that opened up to reveal a path resembling a shrine courtyard. She walked while smiling and said,

  “Hm? Mikuru? What's wrong, you seem so lethargic today.”

  “Actually, about this.”

  I cleared my throat and prepared to speak the lines of the script I had come up with.

  “I have a request to ask of you. Can you let this Asahina-san stay at Tsuruya-san's house for a while?”

  “Huh? I guess I could.”

  Fufu-n, Tsuruya-san let a laugh out through her nose, then proceeded to stare at Asahina-san's face.

  “Hmm, it is… Mikuru, right?”