As he stepped on the gas pedal once again, I was thrust even further into my seat. A fear began to creep on me as I realized I was riding in a car that was driving at a terrifying speed, yet at the same time, my stiff brain was beginning to become flexible once again.
Mori-san and Arakawa-san. I knew they were both Koizumi’s accomplices, I also knew the maid and butler appearance was just their part-time job. Yet I never thought I would meet them again in this situation, it’s as though they had expected Asahina-san to be kidnapped and sent a car to support me… Aha, that’s it,
“Now it all makes sense,”
I finally managed to speak,
“So you guys and Koizumi knew Asahina-san would get kidnapped, and so have been closely watching us while standing by in case it happens, right?”
“On the contrary,”
Mori-san said while giving a female version of Koizumi’s smile,
“Our initial target was them, not you. When we saw their car approaching you, we knew things were getting bad. We did not expect them to take such an action.”
“Who do you mean by ‘they’?”
The image of the Sneering Bastard from yesterday appeared in my head.
“Didn’t Koizumi tell you this as well? The people that have kidnapped Asahina-san are from a group that’s hostile to our ‘Organization’.”
If that’s the case, then it didn’t matter whether they were time travelers or espers, their actions were equally unforgivable.
“Why would they want to kidnap Asahina-san?”
“Maybe they were getting desperately anxious. They probably resorted to such means in order to secure their privileged position in the future.”
Privileged position?
“Yes. I think they plan to use her as a bargaining chip with the future authorities. The problem for them is that they’ve got the wrong person. They should really be kidnapping the Asahina Mikuru-san that is with Koizumi right now,”
Mori-san described something unbelievable as though it were a daily occurrence.
“It doesn’t seemed like they had planned this action properly, and this was only decided hastily. We would need to investigate why they would suddenly decide to take action now.”
The appearance of that Sneering Bastard was also quite sudden. A new group of time travelers, could that be caused by that bastard’s appearance?
As though able to read my mind, Mori-san nodded and said,
“The fact that they’ve joined forces this time means they’re serious. We cannot simply do nothing about it.”
“Excuse me, is the ‘Organization’…”
I stopped short of saying “my ally”.
“Standing on our side?”
“We simply wish to maintain the status quo, is that not enough?”
As there was nothing to bargain about in the first place, I didn’t know whether that was too little or too much. Those bastards, the people that had kidnapped Asahina-san, just what were they thinking? Or rather, who on earth were they? If they weren’t on our side, were they our enemy? And if so, what kind of enemy?
“They consist of a rival group hostile to the ‘Organization’, a band of time travelers opposing Asahina Mikuru-san’s faction, and an extra-terrestrial cosmic entity different from the one that created Nagato Yuki-san,”
Mori-san explained clearly to me,
“We had a feeling that they would join forces sooner or later, after hearing Koizumi’s report about the incident in the snow mountain. Those three forces are probably forming an alliance, no, we believe they have already formed an alliance. Suzumiya Haruhi-san was a gamble worth taking for them, it’s either win-all or lose-all,”
The whole car shook as though leaping upwards. Upon reaching a cross-junction, the black taxi charged through the traffic lights without stopping, and didn’t even slow down when going through an S-curve, continuing to move ahead at top speed.
“Then, Koizumi and you guys…”
Already feeling dizzy, I said,
“Already knew that there was another Asahina-san? And you also knew that this Asahina-san from a week later would stay in Tsuruya-san’s place?”
“If it weren’t for her, the other Asahina Mikuru-san would have been kidnapped instead, and it would have been right in front of Suzumiya Haruhi-san’s eyes.”
Things would really be bad if that were to happen. No one could know just what action Haruhi would take.
“In that case…”
The Asahina-san from the future was acting as a decoy for the present Asahina-san. In other words, in order to protect her past self from getting kidnapped, she would have to allow her future self to be kidnapped instead, right? So that’s how it is. It was necessary for Asahina (Michiru)-san to travel back to the past after all. To be honest, I could have handled all those instructions from Asahina-san (big) all on my own without any problem, but now I understood why she wanted me to bring Asahina-san along, or there would be no meaning to it. The other time traveler. The turtle and the boy. And the kidnapping. Only Asahina-san (big) would know the full story.
As I was busy going into deep thought…
“Don’t let them out of your sight, Arakawa,”
“I know.”
Their voices now directed my attention to the front of the car, I could now see the teal minivan ahead of us. Both vehicles were now cruising at insane speeds. Ever since the pursuit began, it wouldn’t have been surprising if there were three to four accidents on the way. Judging from his drifting techniques while disregarding the traffic signals, Arakawa-san’s driving skills were well beyond that of a normal butler, but more like that of a WRC driver.
The kidnappers’ car now headed towards the mountains and very soon went past the forest park, where we had our outdoor shooting for our movie back in autumn, and went even further north. There was nothing but mountainous roads there. Damn! Just what do they plan to do with Asahina-san in such a god forsaken place? Unforgivable!
My gaze remains fixed on the rear of that teal minivan. It was the same car as the one last time. The exact same model as the one that nearly ran down the Bespectacled Boy last month. There’s no mistake about it. The guys on that car were from a different world from ours.
Driving at an insane speed, the kidnappers’ car now left the tarmac road and entered a really mountainous road. Arakawa switched gears elegantly and followed them closely behind. The roads were basically carved out from the edge of a cliff, and the curves were just wide enough to accommodate two cars drifting past it, they weren’t even equipped with safety rails. If either driver lost concentration for even a moment, they would plunge with the car straight into the depths of the ravine.
As though trying to distract our attention, a cell phone rang, but it wasn’t my cell phone. Mori-san took out her cell phone and answered,
“Understood. Everything will go according to plan,”
She gave a simple reply and then hung up, and then said to the front seat with an elegant and clear voice,
“Arakawa, we’re almost there,”
“No problem,”
Arakawa nodded and said with a very reliable voice, and switched to a low gear, disengaging the engine. Before I could even ask what he was doing,
“WHOA!”
The car came to a rocky unpainted round curve, just before the road turns into a corner. From that corner where we were headed, a police car rushed out, and did a beautiful drift before stopping horizontally across the road, blocking all access forward.
Without anywhere to go, the minivan was forced to brake, creating a cloud of dust as it decelerated rapidly. When one of its wheels stuck over the cliff for a moment, my heart nearly stopped, but the kidnappers were just as skilled at driving. Forcibly shifting its position, as though performing a car stunt, the minivan spun for one and a half turns, creating an annoying screeching sound. It nearly bumped the side of the police car when it finally came to a halt in a parallel position.
Arakawa-san also did th
e same and stopped the car in a parallel position, albeit slowly and safely. Surrounded from both sides, the only route the minivan could go was straight down the cliff.
“Arakawa, stay here and standby,”
Upon saying that, Mori-san opened the door and stepped out of the road. I followed her and got out as well, as I was about to rush to the minivan, Mori-san grabbed me by the shoulder.
Mori-san stopped me with a look in her eyes, then said to the kidnappers’ car in a clear voice,
“Please turn off your engine and step out of the car. There’s still time for you to comply.”
She still said in a solemn tone, yet it sounded different from the one I heard in the lone island mansion or in Tsuruya-san’s snow mountain mansion.
A police officer stepped out of the police car, and I was stunned to see the person wearing that tidy police uniform. Under that police hat raising his thumb towards me was the face of Yutaka-san, the younger sibling of the Tamaru brothers. Sitting on the driver’s seat was his older brother, Tamaru Keiichi-san, who gave me a polite salute with his friendly face.
So were they the ones who Mori-san had spoken on the phone?
“Release Asahina Mikuru-san at once. Your plan has failed. There is no need to make things any more complicated than they already are.”
Mori-san’s authoritative voice had shifted my attention back to the minivan. As the windows were coated with a dark film, the interior could not be seen. Just as I was about to lose my temper and rush towards the minivan, even if it means giving it a kick, the engine had already gone silent and the slide door had also begun to move. Does this mean they no longer intend to resist?
But, when I saw the kidnappers reveal themselves, my eyes were widened with astonishment. The kidnappers, who remained silent, were not some tough-faced macho-men, but a group of young men and women you’d find anywhere in the street. Even if I were to remember each of their faces, the biggest impression they made would be that they didn’t look sinister at all.
However, those doubts were soon cast off into the distance when I saw Asahina-san looking exhausted inside the car. Carried by the last woman to come off the car, Asahina-san seems to have lost consciousness as her eyes have closed, looking completely like a clay statue.
Absolutely unforgivable!
I was once again stopped by Mori-san for trying to rush over again.
“I’m sure you all understand now, but allow me to repeat this again: If you even lay a finger on her…”
My legs softened at the sight of her sinister-looking smile. Who would have thought that such a beautiful lady would have such a terrifying smile? This makes the smiles Haruhi makes whenever she has something in mind pale in comparison.
Perhaps sensing I was nearly petrified, Mori-san turned towards me with her maid-like smile once again, and then turned back to those bastard kidnappers,
“Release her and I will let you go. It doesn’t matter whether you return to your own organization or wherever. Otherwise…”
Mori-san’s smile was now more terrifying than before, I think I’m about to faint. If I were one of those kidnappers, I’d probably shrink into a pea upon seeing such a smile.
Yet those kidnappers weren’t intimidated at all, but simply snorted and released Asahina-san. The Sleeping Beauty Asahina-san now leaned against the wheel and sat on the ground. These kidnappers merely saved their asses by treating her as though she were a fragile object. If they even dare try to toss such a beauty, I’m seriously gonna yell like mad and give those bastards a taste of my fury.
“I will have the towing company return the car to you later. Please walk down the mountain from here.”
Mori-san pointed solemnly towards the cliff. Though she asked them to “walk down the mountain”, but the problem was that they had no climbing equipment. She was basically giving them hell, but for some reason, I felt extremely satisfied.
“Looks like we have no choice,”
One of the kidnappers said, as though oblivious to her current situation,
“We kind of expected it, but we still failed. I guess this was all predetermined,”
Dressed in red and still sitting inside the car, the one that spoke was the woman who carried Asahina-san out of the car. No matter how I look at her, she is relatively young, about the same age as myself.
As though trying to flirt with me, that lady gave a smile like a flower blossoming,
“Nice to meet you. I never thought we would meet under such circumstances, despite this, I’m still deeply honored. I had originally planned to find a suitable occasion to pay you a visit.”
The lady made some gestures with her body language. Besides herself, the others had already stepped out of the car. The university-student like guy that came out last gave a stern face while shutting the door, and then headed for the nearly steep slope. After seeing one after another disappearing into the forest in the winter, it seems Mori-san and Tamaru Yutaka-san had no intention of bringing them to justice.
I desperately wanted to run over to Asahina-san’s side, but Mori-san’s hand still remained on my shoulder. The kidnapper lady now giggled,
“Don’t you worry. Your precious time-traveler hasn’t been harmed at all. We merely let her smell some anesthetics and put her to sleep. Who knows, she probably wouldn’t remember what had happened. To be honest, we were quite surprised that she would fall asleep so quickly. Is she used to getting knocked out like that?”
Despite the departure of her comrades, that lady - or I should say, young girl - still remained nonchalant. Mori-san, just how long do you intend to let her continue with her cockiness? She’s a kidnapper, an unforgivable kidnapper! By the way, if you Tamaru brothers are going to be dressed like that, I’m sure your costumes come with handcuffs, right?
As I was about to protest, one of the doors to the minivan that should have been empty had now opened.
“This is no fun,”
The guy sticking his head out suddenly revealed a smile five times more evil than if Koizumi were to smile evilly,
“I can’t believe we got cornered so easily. If you want your Sleeping Beauty back, you can have her. We were supposed to last for a little longer, but now things have become worse for us.”
He remained seated casually on his seat. It was the bastard from yesterday, the second time traveler with his own agenda. The Sneering Bastard continued,
“This is a predetermined event, too. For us as well, that is. So you can’t blame us.”
“You must leave as well, please,”
Mori-san said like an elegant big sister, her lips revealing a smile as deadly as a poison ivy,
“Or do you wish to remain here longer? We will gladly prepare a sleeping bag for you.”
“Don’t even bother,”
The Sneering Bastard gazed at Asahina-san, snorted loudly, and then stared at me with an evil eye.
“Our mission this time did not end in failure. We merely allowed history to follow its course. Great job guys, whether it’s you or Asahina Mikuru. Oh yeah, let me ask you, how does it feel to have your limbs manipulated like a puppet? I definitely won’t be pleased, as I hate following arranged scripts, especially ones where you already know the ending!”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind if that were to happen to me,”
The kidnapper girl said.
“You tell me, how many futures have been decided? It requires a bit of skill to follow through to the correct outcome without deviating from the intended path, you know. While anyone can dance easily, it’s very difficult having to dance correctly as instructed.”
“Hmph! You can dance all you like! I never expected anything from you people,”
“Oh really?”
The kidnapper girl said amusingly,
“I personally wouldn’t mind at all. Since our objectives are the same, let’s continue to work together!”
His handsome face distorted by hatred, the Sneering Bastard began staring at me once again. Let me put this straight, a
s a regular receiver of Haruhi’s intense glare, your staring is nothing compared to hers. If you want to play a staring game with me, you’re all the more welcome to do so.
Perhaps sensing my hostile aura, the bastard muttered,
“Fools! Every one of you! I just can’t understand. You’re all so tragically ignorant!”
The bastard held the car door handle and threw this parting shot to me,
“I’ll be back. We’ll run into each other many times, you fool! But that’s my job.”
It seems like that’s all he wanted to say, as he slammed the door shut after saying that.
No one present made any movement. Mori-san maintained her terrifying smile, and just stared at the kidnapper girl. While I couldn’t move thanks to Mori-san holding me back. The nameless kidnapper girl remained standing with a smile, then as though thinking of something, she approached the car and opened the door.
Even if she didn’t do that, I already knew the car was now empty. There was no one inside, and the bastard who basically had a sign saying “I hate you” on his face had vanished without a trace. I couldn’t care less whether he traveled through time or space, to see such an eyesore of a freak disappear in front of my eyes was a thing worth celebrating.
“I should take my leave as well,”
Clapping her hands as though accomplishing her mission, the kidnapper girl looked at the mountainous path below her,
“I guess I’ll walk back. Oh, you can do whatever you want with that car. You can keep it, it’s yours,”
“Thanks,”
After replying, Mori-san finally let go of my hand. Like a mother bird worried about its offspring left in their nest, I hurried towards Asahina-san,
“Asahina-san!”
I carried her by her shoulder, her faint breathing and slight chest movements was proof that she was still alive. I was about to turn around to swear indignantly at that kidnapper girl, but she had already climbed down the cliff.
Mori-san came to my side and approached Asahina-san’s sleeping face. She placed her fingers onto Asahina-san’s neck and smelled the side of her lips,
Volume 7 - The Intrigues of Suzumiya Haruhi Page 24
