Volume 7 - The Intrigues of Suzumiya Haruhi

by Tanigawa Nagaru

  I cautiously lowered my gaze to the toothpick on the table. There was a small, yet visible, mark on it, like a small speck of dirt.

  “Oh, come on!” Haruhi said. “An all-guys and all-girls pairing? How boring!”

  That’s too bad. Truth to be told, the morning pairing really wasn’t of much importance to me. If only Koizumi hadn’t picked a marked toothpick, he would very well be grouped together with Asahina-san and Nagato. Since I couldn’t allow this potential two-timing, it was vital that he and I pick a marked toothpick. That’s why I calmed down after knowing I would be grouped together with Koizumi.

  After that, all of us stood up and prepared to leave. Needless to say, it was my duty to settle the bill. A habit can be such a dangerous thing. How I loathe myself for picking up the bill so naturally!

  “I’m sorry you have to do this again, Kyon-kun. Thank you.” Asahina-san’s apology was the only thing that made me feel better. Koizumi also said something to that effect, but when coupled together with such a situation, and a happy smile to boot, how could you expect me to feel appeased?

  All he said was:

  “If you ever run out of money, I can always find a part-time job for you.”

  As I was about to leave the coffee shop, Koizumi approached me and told me more about this “job”.

  “It’s an easy job, really. After you get used to it, I’m sure it’ll be a piece of cake for you. The salary is absurdly high too, this I can guarantee you.”

  Thanks, but no thanks.

  An image of a devil hiding behind that smiling face suddenly flashed into my mind, as I found myself signing a mysterious guest book and brought into a mysterious research facility. As I was blindfolded, modifications were done to my mind and body, allowing me to temporarily receive esper powers. I’m sorry, Koizumi, but I’ve had enough of sealed spaces. I don’t want to be stuck in another one of those gray worlds again, thank you.

  “I’m also working on that part-time job. You can work too, if you wish. It’s not something stressful, don’t worry.”

  I think I’ll leave that kind of work to you.

  “Only you can do something like that,”

  I quickly replied, trying to exit this conversation as soon as possible. I wish to remain a normal human without special powers, be it real or manufactured, thank you.

  “Hmm…” Koizumi said as his lips curled upwards, revealing a smile.

  “If you ever change your mind, be sure to give me a call. I can teach you the basics, and even go beyond that, if you wish.”

  For some reason, Koizumi’s choice of words sounded strange and peculiar today. I had a feeling that he would be mentioning something I didn’t like should I play along with him, and for that one reason alone my gut told me to reject his offer all the way till the end, lest I end up falling into a trap. Sometimes, a man’s just gotta trust his gut.

  Haruhi was waiting for me outside the coffee shop.

  “Meet here at 12.”

  Nagato was positioned at Haruhi’s right, as Haruhi curled her left arm around Asahina-san’s waist, grinning maniacally.

  “Listen up. I don’t care what it is, you have to uncover something mysterious today! Maybe you could try the sewers, since we’ve never been there before, or try counting the number of stripes in pedestrian crossings to see if they’ve mysteriously increased! As long as you put your hearts into it, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something interesting! If you do something half-heartedly, you’ll never achieve anything!”

  You know, you’ve been the target of two aliens and a time traveler now, and yet you’re still in the dark about it… Oh, I give up.

  Now if I were competing in a scavenger hunt, and the object I was supposed to seek was “something strange”, the first thing that I would drag all the way to the finish line would be Haruhi. Come to think of it, someone normal like me being a member of the mystery-ridden SOS Brigade was perhaps the strangest thing of all. While Haruhi pressured us to look for “mysterious things”, I found myself wishing for nothing more than a normal high school life. Reality is always so paradoxical, it seems.

  Haruhi dragged Nagato and Asahina-san across the streets and parted ways with us. I tightened my scarf and turned to Koizumi.

  “So where do mysterious things appear?”

  We had two hours to search for something mysterious. In this freezing cold weather, Koizumi smiled and said coolly, “Even if I were to tell you where, I’m sure you wouldn’t like it. Nor am I willing to go to such a place. Let’s just take this opportunity to take a stroll and chit-chat a little.”

  Koizumi was surprisingly quiet the whole time. All we did was look at some carp in an aquarium, before proceeding to flip through some magazines at the convenience store. No matter how you look at it, both of us looked like ordinary high school students.

  As for the dialog exchanged between us, this was mostly limited to stuff like the term-end exams, the drama shows which aired yesterday, and the sort. Hearing him talk so casually did nothing, but increase my suspicion. Or was I wrong?

  “I want to become someone who appears to be a normal high school student on the outside, but in reality is an esper on the inside. That’s why, in my opinion, appearances are very important.”

  Koizumi spoke as we slowly crossed the streets. “I never once thought that I would be an esper forever. Sometimes, I wish that I could just gift wrap my esper powers and give them to someone else, freeing myself of both my powers and my burden.”

  Am I supposed to be relieved upon hearing that?

  Koizumi smiled at me and continued. “I don’t have these thoughts often, only sometimes. If I were given the choice right now, I would undoubtedly choose for things to remain how they are. Being able to come in contact with cosmic beings, being able to communicate with those from beyond this time plane; I don’t think there’s anything more amazing and awe-inspiring than that. But of course, your experiences far outweigh mine.”

  If I were you, I’d include you in those ‘amazing and awe-inspiring’ experiences.

  “From my point of view, even though being an esper is strange and unexplainable, it’s neither amazing nor awe-inspiring. One day, I’m going to graduate from being a high school student, provided that Suzumiya-san does not repeat her grade. That’s why I try to enjoy life as it is right now, both as a high school student and as an esper.”

  All I want to do is enjoy a peaceful high school life. However, I will say that you’re pretty praiseworthy of your actions during the summer and winter co-ed incidents.

  “That’s because I’ve been a member of the ‘Organization’ for about 4 years now. If I hadn’t received any esper powers at that time, I would not have transferred into North High, and would probably be engaged in some activity that does not concern the fate of the world right now.”

  “Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing?”

  As the traffic lights turned green, both of us proceeded to cross the streets.

  “I have no idea if I transferred here due to my esper powers or some other-worldly powers, but it doesn’t really matter, right? I’m already here, after all. And although you constantly say that the SOS Brigade is a silly club, you’ve never once regretted joining it, have you? If you were truly fed up with it, you could write a letter of resignation. I suppose I could help you hand it over to Suzumiya-san.”

  Koizumi said this as his lips curled upwards, as if mocking me.

  “Just forget it.”

  Koizumi ignored me and continued on with an amused voice.

  “You’re like a totally different person now. I still remember the first time meeting you and Suzumiya-san, and the good vibes I felt from all of you back then. And then, I was promoted to Vice-Commander… But let’s just forget about that for a moment. Do you still remember what I said during the Snow Mountain incident?”

  Of course I do. Even if you eventually forget it someday, I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life. And if you dare to go back on your word, I’
ll make sure to combine forces with Haruhi and crush you with full force.

  “I’m greatly relieved then. Even if I do contract amnesia one day, at least someone will be there to remind me about it.”

  Koizumi smiled as he said:

  “Nagato-san almost said, ‘I hope such a situation won’t befall all of you again,’ back then. If something like that ever happens again, I’ll surely help all of you out, so don’t worry.”

  Upon hearing this, I suddenly felt relieved that aside from Nagato, there was somebody else I could rely on. “I think this goes without saying, but the desire to protect Asahina-san has always been present within everyone. Without knowing it, you suddenly get the urge to protect her. I think this also qualifies as a ‘power’, no?”

  After crossing the streets, Koizumi abruptly stopped and looked at his watch. Taking a hint, I too looked at my watch, and found out that we had in fact been strolling around for quite some time. It was almost time for us to gather again. Just as I was about to head for the station, Koizumi suddenly said softly,

  “As for the other Asahina-san, although I will be protecting her as a part of the ‘Organization’, please be careful. That Asahina-san may be different from the other Asahina-sans.”

  Asahina-san (Big)’s image suddenly popped in my mind, as I continued on forward without turning back. Even though Koizumi’s voice grew fainter and fainter, I could still make out what he was trying to say. “She is, to us —- The SOS Brigade—- more than a simple mascot.”

  That may be so. After all, you were the first one to tell me so. “That’s why,”

  I said,

  “Even if the future were to change, I don’t care. What’s important is it should start changing now.”

  When Koizumi and I reached the station, the other three were already there waiting for us. “Did you find anything mysterious?” was what Haruhi first asked. I’m sorry Haruhi, but even if we had really looked, I doubt that we would have found anything.

  “No.”

  That was the only logical answer, followed up with “Same goes with the three of you. You guys didn’t find anything either right? That makes us even.”

  “You’re right, we didn’t spot anything mysterious.”

  Haruhi replied without sighing or flying into a rage. She must be really happy today.

  “But we did have fun, trying out the various food samples offered in the supermarket, didn’t we?” Haruhi happily asked Asahina-san.

  “Y-Yea!” Asahina-san agreed as she nodded, and for a split second, her fluttering hair reminded me of the crimson butterflies which were flying about in my house’s garden right now. “We saw many interesting things, and even bought some new tea!”

  Asahina-san had a very contented look on her face, as if she had just gone on a shopping spree. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Nagato had a plastic bag, which bore the label of a bookshop, in her hand. Come on, do you guys really think that there’ll be something mysterious in a shopping mall?

  Unless you’re talking about mystery books, which can be found in the book store, of course.

  “Oh well, it’s not that bad.”

  Asahina-san said, as if unsatisfied. “If we do things in a rush, we may regret it later on. The more anxious we are, the more slowly we should try to handle things. It’s the same with driving. If we frequently accelerate, when something happens, we won’t be able to brake in time, as opposed to if we didn’t accelerate. Things like this happen because we never thought they would, and when they really do, problems arise.”

  I don’t get your logic here.

  15 Daruma dolls, also known as dharma, are hollow and round Japanese wish dolls with no arms or legs, modelled after Bodhidharma. Typical colors are red (most common), yellow, green, and white. The doll has a face with a moustache and beard, but its eyes only contain the color white. Using black ink, one fills in a single circular eye while thinking of a wish. Should the wish later come true, the second eye is filled in.

  “It’s not an easy theory, is it, Kyon.” Haruhi suddenly said. “The same can be said with a Daruma doll[15]. You would think that it wouldn’t stop rocking, and when you finally look away for that one second, it suddenly stops. That’s how mysterious things work. If you don’t turn back and look at it at the right moment, you’ll miss it altogether. You need to grasp the right moment, that’s what we mean by chance, Kyon. Chance.”

  I’m getting lost here. I have no idea what’s going on in Haruhi’s brain, but the way she worded it, it was as if she wanted me to grasp my goddess’ hair the moment it began fluttering in the wind. It’s impossible, I tell you. The only person who can grasp something as abstract as that is someone who is fed information from the future.

  “Come to think of it, where should we have lunch?”

  That’s how you answer my question?

  “I know of a new Italian restaurant which just opened opposite the bank. I’ve scanned the menu once, and from the looks of it, it looks really delicious. So, shall we get a table for five?”

  It seems that Haruhi has totally dodged the question. I felt like a Buddhist Monk reciting Holy Scriptures to a nearby cow. Aside from increasing my karma, doing so served no purpose, as no matter how I tried, the cow would not be swayed. Sometimes, I feel that the same goes with Haruhi.

  “I have no problems with that. What about you, Koizumi?”

  16 Insalata Caprese (Salad in the style of Capri) is a simple salad of sliced fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes and basil from the Italian region of Campania. It is seasoned with salt, black pepper, and olive oil. The main ingredients are similar to Pizza Margherita, but are not cooked. The dish represents the main colours of the Italian flag.

  I wondered what would happen if Koizumi suddenly put on a face and said, ‘I’m sorry but I can’t stand ‘Insalata Caprese[16].’ Of course, this would never happen, as Koizumi would never say no to anything that popped out of Haruhi’s mouth. All he did was smile and reply with a joyful ‘Sure’.

  “It’s decided then.” Haruhi said, as if giving us the signal that we needn’t run round the city meaninglessly anymore and could finally sit down and enjoy a meal. When we reached the restaurant and were finally seated, I found my body aching all over, no thanks to Haruhi.

  Sometimes I wonder if I worry about that girl too much, just like I sometimes wonder if I’m being too nice to Shamisen. Whenever I see her looking down and depressed, I would worry about her, and think that it would be much better if she remained energetic all the time. I wonder if one day Haruhi would become just like the glass of warm water before me – neither too hot, nor too cold; neither too energetic, nor too quiet.

  As I wondered about this, my eyes shot instinctively towards Haruhi, who had already gulped down her glass of water in three seconds, and was asking the waiter for refills. Just like how it would take time for Asahina-san (Small) to grow up into someone like Asahina-san (Big), it would also take time for Haruhi to become someone like that.

  17 An Italian dish which includes a specially-prepared rice called ‘risotto’, served with chicken or beef stock and saffron, and usually together with osso buco, a stew made from veal (cattle) bones.

  After ordering Today’s Special (‘Risotto alla Milanese’[17]), I felt my wallet deflate completely, as Haruhi once again began marking the toothpicks.

  This was it, the most important moment of the day. It was because Asahina-san was concerned that I felt so anxious. Up until now, I had been constantly worrying whether Asahina-san (Michiru) would show up at the prearranged spot. Please be there!

  As I glanced around me, the first person to have finished her meal, now silently studying the menu, was none other than Nagato. She looked as if she was keenly interested in the toothpicks in Haruhi’s hand. Since I had asked for her help earlier, I knew that I needn’t worry, as I confidently went first and picked a toothpick.

  A marked one, as always.

  Nagato went next, gracefully pulling out another marked toothpick. Wit
hout uttering a word, she placed the toothpick on the table, and returned to the menu.

  “I guess there’s no need to continue drawing lots,” Haruhi said as she stuffed the remaining three toothpicks in the ashtray. Without complaining or crying foul play, Haruhi picked up the bill and began studying it. Since there was no way Haruhi would treat us, each of us paid for our own share and we left. Emerging into the cool winter air, the five of us strolled aimlessly on the streets, like fish swimming here and there in the ocean.

  As Haruhi, Asahina-san, and Koizumi went their way, Nagato and I headed for a different path. Or more specifically, the two of us headed towards the place I had arranged to meet up with Asahina-san (Michiru).

  Whenever I walk together with Nagato, my mind drifts back to the first time I walked with her like this last spring, back when she was still wearing glasses, without a sliver of emotion on her ice cold poker face. Come to think of it, it was then that Nakagawa noticed us.

  As I walked, I found Nagato silently following me two steps behind. Because I couldn’t detect her presence, I had to constantly turn back to make sure that she was still there. Of course, she would always return my gaze with an expressionless face.

  I’m sure both of us felt a sense of nostalgia, as we were headed for a place we’d both remember – the public library. After I brought her here for the first time, while she was still wearing glasses, it seemed that Nagato frequently visited this place. For both me and Nagato, this was one memorable place indeed.

  This time is no different from the other, aside from the fact that Nagato had already obtained a library card, and is no longer wearing glasses. The both of us headed silently towards the library, without uttering a single word, yet not feeling the slightest bit awkward. For me, silence was gold, and speech was silver. If it were Haruhi or Koizumi we were talking about, then I would have thought that they were up to something, but since it was Nagato, I fully acknowledge her silence as a positive point.