[Aebliss]

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

And here's another Goddamn Update.

Goddamn. I'm tired.

Spoiler for September the Fifth, Day 4: Hallway- Pitiful:

Pitiful

Well, I guess I’ll just go home. There’s not much I can do with the meeting being cancelled, after all.

So, I’ll just deposit my hard-fought-for indoor shoes in my locker, and be on my way.


When I round the corner to the left of the clubroom, a small body runs straight into me, knocking me back about half a meter. I manage to keep my balance. The owner of the small body, however, ends up sprawled on the floor.

[Note: I realize that Kyonko is taller than both Yuki and Mikuru, but it’s more the impression she gives off that makes her seem “small”. Also we need a CG here, one that we’re going to use for a basis for a LOT of other ones. For some reason, they’re going to have a tendency to run into each other like this. Why? Because it’s hilarious.]


Girl: Owwww…


It’s Girl A, from this morning. I reach out my hand to her, but the minute she notices who is offering her help, she scoots away several meters. It’s kind of cute, actually.


Girl A: You…! What do you think you’re doing, hogging the hallway like that?


I could ask you what you’re doing running like that in the hallways. You’re liable to trip over your… visitor’s… slippers.

She isn’t wearing visitor’s slippers, but instead is wearing ordinary indoor shoes. What’s more, I get an impression of newness from her uniform…

Hmm? She pulls down on the hem of her skirt, almost absentmindedly. The look in her eyes is telling me I should probably scrutinizing her.

…Right.

I’ll just…

[DECISION POINT HERE]

1) Say goodbye.
2) Apologize.

Not a Jerk, Really


Kyon: See you around, then.


I’m just going to go home and pretend this never happened. It’s too much trouble otherwise.


Girl A: Wh--? Hey! Is that how you treat a girl you just knocked down?

Kyon: Goodbye~.

Girl A: Jerk!


She calls after me as I walk off.

…Do I deserve that? She was the one who stole my shoes in the first place, leading to this situation, and, furthermore, she was the one who just ran into me.

Do I really deserve that?

I don’t, by the way.


Measure for Measure

Regardless of whether she got new indoor shoes or not, I kind of get the feeling I was a bit too mean this morning.

Although she was the one who was stealing my shoes in the first place. In fact, she probably stole those ones she has now, too.

For that matter, she was the one who just ran into me, so her being knocked onto the floor is entirely her fault.

In fact, why am I apologizing at all?

Can’t I just pretend this never happened and go home already? Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.


Girl A: *ahem*


…And while I was ruminating on whether or not to just walk away, she got up by herself.


Girl A: You know, you’d think a person would say that they’re sorry when they knock a girl down.

Kyon: Hey, I could have fallen over too, at the speed you were running.


In a hurry to go somewhere?


Girl A: …I guess you’re right. Sorry about that.


Kyon: Whatever, it’s okay.


There, now if she’s going to be reasonable it should be easy to escape without much trouble.


Kyon: I was just on my way home, so I’ll be seeing you—

Girl A: Hey, hold on a minute.

Dammit!


Kyon: …What?

Girl A: Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you left me stranded with no shoes this morning!


Not this again.


Kyon: You were trying to steal my shoes!

Girl A: Yes, but, um, only because someone had stolen mine!

Kyon: Who on earth would want to steal someone else’s indoor shoes?

Girl A: I was trying to steal yours!

Kyon: There couldn’t possibly be another person out there who’s that strange. Besides, why were you so intent on my shoes? If you were really just trying to replace your stolen shoes, there was no way you would have picked ones that clearly belonged to a guy! If you were really just trying to replace your stolen shoes, there was no way you would have picked ones that clearly belonged to a guy!

Girl A: Well, I, uh. …You know, you’re probably the only person who might believe me if I tell you.

Kyon: Oh?


I can’t see any possible answer that would make sense, but given that she’s so willing to steal indoor shoes, I don’t expect an answer that would make sense.


Girl A: …I’m actually your gender-reversed alternate from another dimension who somehow wound up stranded in this one, and that’s why I was trying to take your shoes in particular.


…A long time ago, I would have believed her immediately. Last year, I would have laughed.

Right now, I’m aware that there’s a large possibility that what she says is true.

If so, exactly what does that mean?

[Note: I’m kind of wondering if it’s a good idea to drop this suggestion on him this early, but that’s why I post these things here in the first place.]

Kyon: Are… are you serious?

Girl A: …No, no, of course not.


She sticks her tongue out at me.


Kyon: H-hey!


I was actually scared for a minute there. Still, who comes up with crap like that, other than Haruhi? Maybe this girl is a cousin or something.


Girl A: Hah. You’re entirely too gullible. I thought so.

Kyon: …Exactly what was the point of that?

Girl A: I don’t know. Actually, in repayment for stranding me without shoes—

Kyon: There were visitor’s slippers! And explain what you have on now!

Girl A: I’d like you to help me carry a computer monitor out to the gates.

Kyon: …Why should I? I have no obligation to repay you for anything, whatsoever.

Girl A: …Please, I really need the help. …I’ll even pay you…


She pulls out her wallet, which is, oddly enough, exactly like mine. Except that it’s pink.

…


Girl A: Um. Seventy yen?

Kyon: …Sigh. Okay, I’ll help you.


If she’s trying that hard I can’t just leave her alone like this.


Girl A: Thanks a lot!

Kyon: It’s no trouble. Where is this monitor?

Girl A: Um, well. It’s in the Computer Society clubroom.

Kyon: Wait. Why on earth would they let anyone take any of their precious hardware? Unless…


You’re stealing that, too?!


Girl A: …

Kyon: You are, aren’t you? You kleptomaniac! I should change your name to “Thief!”

Thief: Hey, hey, that’s not fair! I have a legitimate reason for stealing this monitor!

Kyon: Like you had a legitimate reason for stealing my shoes?

Thief: …! Okay, you’re right. But this is seriously important. I’m not just some random thief.

Kyon: Fine, fine. Let’s just stick with “Girl A”, then.

Girl A: …?


Inside the Computer Society clubroom, which is suspiciously empty…


Girl A: One of the empty clubrooms has this ancient computer we figured we could use, but I, uh, tripped and fell down the stairs, and smashed the monitor to bits, so…

Kyon: So you’re stealing one from here? Also, they never miss a club meeting. Why are they in here?

Girl A: My friend managed to… distract them, shall we say. I was on my way here to quickly grab the monitor, but I ran into you instead.


She glares at me. I choose to ignore her.


Kyon: …These monitors are all flatscreens… they’re light, even for you. Why do you need my help carrying it?

Girl A: That’s just it, I don’t. I want you to carry it for me while I keep on the lookout for the Computer Society… they’ll probably be on their way back soon, since I messed up the timing.

Kyon: …You know, I could be doing that. Why do I need to carry the monitor?

Girl A: Hey, you already agreed to help me. You’re not going to back out now, right?


She looks up at me, doe-eyed.


Kyon: Sigh, fine, I’ll carry it. I expect to be paid that seventy yen in full, though.


CSP: That bitch, I can’t believe she—hey! Where do you two think you’re going with that?!


The minute I step outside the door, too.


Girl A: Oh crap. Run!

Kyon: You don’t even need to tell me!

CSP: You fools! Stop gawking and get after them!

CS Minions: Yes, president! Right away, sir!


…It would appear that being in the Computer Research Society doesn’t allow them much time to exercise regularly, as Girl A and I managed to leave them far behind.

So, in this way, we made it to the gate earlier than I thought we would.


Kyon: Pant… pant… I think we… lost them…

Girl A: Yeah… heh… somehow… pant… mind if I… hold onto you… for support…? I think I’m gonna… pant… collapse…

Kyon: Yeah… go right… ahead… but don’t complain if I… pant… fall over too.


It would appear that we’re a little out of shape too. Funny. You’d think a thief would be used to running away.


Girl A: Shut… up…


A few minutes pass while we catch our breath. We must look like such lunatics, having run out of the school at top speed, only to stop at the entrance.

…Didn’t I do this just the other day?

I wonder what Girl A could even be up to, stealing a computer like this. She says she has a friend helping her, too.

…I suppose they could be planning to sell it somewhere, but she said that the computer itself was old… And if they need to use a computer for something, wouldn’t it be easier to just go to a library?

I glance at her sweating face. …She’s actually kind of cute, now that I think about it. Although, from this angle, something about her seems… familiar? What was it she said earlier?


Girl A: What are you looking at?

Kyon: Nothing. So, now what do we do?

Girl A: Dunno… It—er, Kitsuko should be here, but… I don’t see her anywhere. …I guess she had to run off herself, or something.

Kyon: …So, should we wait here, or can I just go…?

Girl A: We all promised to meet up later, so I guess that’s where she’ll be… Yeah, you’re done. Thanks for your help, by the way. Here’s your seventy yen.

Kyon: Thank you very much.


Girl A picks up the monitor with a little difficulty. It must be kind of awkward for her to carry something like that.


Girl A: Well, now that our transaction has been completed, I’ll be on my way. See you.

Kyon: Hey, hold on a minute.

Girl A: …What?

Kyon: If we’re going the same way, I’ll carry that for you for a while.


Ignoring her protests, I relieve her of the monitor.


Kyon: Where are you heading?

Girl A: That café near Kitaguchi Station…

Kyon: Right, let’s go.

Girl A: …Why are you still helping me? For that matter, why did you even help me in the first place?

Kyon: Well, you asked, right?

Girl A: I demanded. It was a completely unreasonable demand, and you could have just walked away.

Kyon: How should I say this… I’m used to taking orders from unreasonable women.

Girl A: That can’t be the only—


Her voice is cut off by a shout from the direction of the school.


CSP: There they are! Get them!

Kyon: Oh crap. Run!

Girl A: You don’t even need to tell me!


And we ran out the gates and down the hill, carrying that monitor and looking like idiots. I’ll be surprised if someone (like that poor Computer Society) doesn’t report us to the police.

Bah, crappy ending.

I don't even know how this turned out. Tell me, please.

Okay, this is the kind of instalment I love! Keep 'em coming, please! ^^

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

Spoiler for September the Fifth, Day 4: After School- Walking Home:

Walking Home Alone


I once heard that it’s actually easier on the human body to go uphill than it is to go down, but despite knowing that, I can’t help but feel as though the opposite is true.

I’m walking home now, alone, and at an earlier time than I usually do. This marks a monumentous end to my hectic first week back at school.

…Am I wrong for expecting something more?

With all that happened this week, what with the ripple noises, the temporal distortions, the mysteriously appearing food in my fridge, and the intruders (Haruhi’s “mutant”), I half thought there would have been something more… sinister at work. But so far, nothing has really happened.

…I wonder. Could all of those things be connected somehow? Is there something building up in the background that I’m not aware of…?

It’s possible. I should probably call Koizumi or Nagato tomorrow and talk about all this, though I don’t think they’ll want to hear about my fridge.

Or is all this just my imagination, and I just want something big to happen?

…A few years ago, that definitely would have been true. But now, I don’t know.

What do I want? What do I want out of life?

I wrote on my tanazaku that I wanted to be rich and have a big house with a garden where I can give a dog a bath. Simple wishes for 16 and 25 years in advance.

…But is that all I want out of life? Is it wrong to want more than simple financial stability?

I find myself thinking things like this a lot lately. It’s probably because I never saw myself taking care of the well-being of the universe when I first started high school.

Have I said this before? I’m ruminating.

I guess all I want is for my situation to be understood by someone else. I’d like some help here, actually. All this is too big a burden for me, and the other three are little help.

I sigh out loud.

And with that, I had arrived at the bike racks without realizing it.

One step at a time. First thing I’ll do is contact either Nagato or Koizumi tomorrow, and try to figure out what the root of the weird things this past week is. Then on Monday, I’ll try to smooth things over with Haruhi. We’ll take things from there.

No point in getting worked up over something that hasn’t happened yet.

Unless, of course, it’s already happened. Or, alternatively, is happening right

*KSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH*


Walking Home With Haruhi


Kyon: Did you know that it’s actually easier on the human body to go uphill than down?

Haruhi: Really? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Kyon: You’d think so, yeah, but it isn’t, for some reason.


I’m walking home with Haruhi, an unusual occurrence. It also marks a monumentous end to my hectic first week back at school.

And so, to make sure nothing goes awry, and I really don’t have a Sunday dinner guest, I should make sure to deal with this.


Kyon: So, what’s really up? You’re not one to cancel a club meeting just because the faculty yelled at you.


A grumpy look.


Haruhi: Who gave you the right to be so perceptive? …It’s like I said earlier: Everything I try to do recently just… backfires. It’s depressing.

Kyon: And that’s not entirely true. The backfiring, I mean. Wasn’t everything we did over the summer a big success?


Actually, that backfired more than anything we’ve done so far, but…


Haruhi: I guess… but still, the past few days, they’ve been so… unfulfilling. There’s all this stuff going on, but it’s not leading anywhere. There’s no climax, you know?


I don’t know, but I can sort of understand, yeah.


Haruhi: And then, when I think like that, I start thinking about what I really want out of life. Maybe it’s just back-to-school blues, but…


If Haruhi Suzumiya starts having an existential crisis, I don’t know what will happen. Let’s try to keep that from happening.


Kyon: Well, what was it you wrote on your tanazaku again? That you want the earth to rotate backwards? And that you wanted the whole world to revolve around you?


Isn’t that what you want out of life?

Another grumpy look.


Haruhi: Those are things that are supposed to happen sixteen and twenty-five years from now! What on earth am I supposed to do in the meantime? Also, I’m surprised you of all people even remembered my wishes.

Kyon: How should I say this…? They’re the kind of wishes that are hard to forget.

Haruhi: Hmmph.

Kyon: …You know, Haruhi, I’ve been thinking.

Haruhi: What?

Kyon: What if the gods don’t just grant wishes for no reason? What if they only grant them to people that deserve them, to people who work hard for their wishes?

[Note: I stole this from Umineko, sue me, but I think it’s a fairly universal concept.]

Haruhi: …

Kyon: So if you really want the earth to rotate backwards, I’d say you should aim to make that happen.


Another grumpy look—no, wait, it’s a smile.


Haruhi: Stupid. That’s not the Tanabata wish I can actually aim for, is it?


No, I guess it’s not.


Haruhi: …Thanks for trying to cheer me up, though.



No trouble at all. The safety of the universe, and my emotional-well being, depends on it.

That’s my only motivation here.


Without either of us noticing, we had arrived at the bike racks at the bottom of the hill, and this is where our ways part, I suppose.


Haruhi: I’ll see you on Monday.

Kyon: See ya.


…

I should make absolutely sure she’s fine.


Kyon: By the way, about our search for evidence of the mutant turning up nothing… I said before, right? They’re not careless enough to let you find them in one day.

Haruhi: Stop trying to comfort me by spouting out sappy lines, Kyon. Later.


Geh. I’m rather proud of that one, thank you very much.

At least she’s back to her usual self.

I seem to have to do keep doing that a lot recently, that is, cheer her up. Maybe it really is just back-to-school blues, as I’ve been feeling much the same way recently.

Especially in how there are weird things going on with seemingly no point to them.

I’ll have to contact Nagato or Koizumi tomorrow and bring this up, but there’s no point in worrying about things until they happen.

Unless, of course, they’ve already happened. Or, alternatively, are happening right


*KSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH*


Walking Home With Tsuruya-san


Kyon: Did you know that it’s actually easier on the human body to go uphill than down?

Tsuruya: Huh, really? Never woulda guessed.

Kyon: It’s true.


I’m walking home with Tsuruya-san, who I’ve only really met once before this.

Exactly what am I supposed to talk about?

For that matter, she’s still attached to my arm. The rest of the students in the Going Home Club are staring at this blatant public display of affection. This is extremely awkward. Please let go of me, Tsuruya-san.


Tsuruya: Nope~.


Worth a shot.

I am extremely, extremely glad that Haruhi went home early. I do not want her to see me like this. Of course, since rumors have a way of getting back to her somehow, I’ll have to find a way to defuse this eventually.

Argh, and why is the only thing I can think of in this situation is how Haruhi is going to react? I can’t believe myself. I’ll never get a girlfriend like this.


Kyon: So, um…

Tsuruya: How’re things in tha Brigade?

Kyon: Uh, well, as strange as they usually are.

Tsuruya: Mikuru-chan said somethin’ about hunting all over tha school for a “mutant” o’ some kind…

Kyon: Aha. Ahaha. That’s just our Brigade Chief being paranoid of rumors.


Is she trying to push her breasts up against my arm like that? This is making it hard to think.


Tsuruya: Ah, yeah, rumors can be troublesome. This one probably started with that lunatic running all around the school. I tried to use my “senpai’s authority” to stop him, but, well, he wouldn’t stop.


Ahaha you certainly have a lot of authority Tsuruya-san wait what?

I stop short.


Kyon: You actually met him?

Tsuruya: Eh? Why so serious all of a suddens?

Kyon: What did he look like? Please, I have to know, Tsuruya-san.

Tsuruya: Um, well, he was pretty tall… about Itsuki-kun’s height, and… he didn’t really look like anything, ta be honest with ya.


Someone nondescript. Hmm.


Kyon: So you wouldn’t recognize him if you saw him again?


Tsuruya-san, in thought, unconsciously leaned against me. Gah.


Tsuruya: Hmm, probably not, nah. I don’t have a good memory for faces, ya see.

Kyon: Ah, that’s okay, Tsuruya-san.

That’s too bad, but I guess it’s better that I don’t get uninvolved people involved in this. Speaking of which, can you let go now, Tsuruya-san?


Tsuruya: But if ya’d ask me what tha girl looked like, hooo boy, she’s pretty distinct. My memory of her is as clear as day, nyoro~.


Tsuruya-san ends her sentence in an extremely cute fashion as she explains about the girl wait. What girl?


Tsuruya: Obviously pretty short. Still taller than Mikuru-chan, but bless her, everyone’s taller than Mikuru-chan. Not much in tha chest department, though she made up for it by having this reaaaally cute ponytail. …Though, her personality didn’t seem too pleasant, the way she glared at me like that.


…A short, petite girl with a ponytail with an unpleasant personality.

There’s lots of those, I’m sure, but one person I’d never seen before until this morning comes to mind. A person I even gave Tsuruya-san’s shoes to.

…God dammit.

Goddammit!

She was with the intruder. So that’s why she was trying to steal my shoes!

Wait, on second thought, that doesn’t make much sense either. …Still, I’m going to have a few things to say next time I see her. Thank you very much for that, Tsuruya-san.

At that moment Tsuruya-san’s grip on my arm got even tighter, cutting off my circulation. As a result, the sensation of a pair of small, fluffy pillows pressing against me got even more intense.


Kyon: Ghhhh! I—what? What’s wrong?


For Tsuruya-san had dropped her usual smile, and was focusing on a point about twenty meters behind us.


Kyon: Tsuruya…san?

Tsuruya: Eh? Oh! Sorry, Kyon-kun! Nyahaha! Got distracted there for a minute!


She then noticed my hard-to-describe expression.


Tsuruya: Oh, am I squeezin’ ya too hard? Sorry, sorry.


Her grip loosens. Thank god, I was either about to lose my lower arm, or my sanity.


Tsuruya: Welp, c’mon then, time’s a wastin’! Let’s go!


She pulls me forward, and I have no choice by to comply.


In due course, we reach the bike racks at the bottom of the hill. This is (un)fortunately where I will have to separate with Tsuruya-san.

I tell her this, and she finally loosens her hold. I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from me.


Tsuruya: Ah, that’s fine. I usually get my driver to pick me up here anyways. Ah, here he comes now!


In any case, now that I’ve actually met one of the intruders (Girl A) I have to inform Nagato of this. I’ll be sure to call her first thing in the morning, when I’m fully rested.

I’ll have to figure out a way to explain away Tsuruya-san’s weird behavior when Haruhi inevitably finds out, also. And is that a limousine?!


Tsuruya: Er, yeah, haha, my family’s pretty well-to-do. Didn’ ya know?

Kyon: No, no I did not, actually.


I would not describe a family that possesses enough limousines to spare one on picking their daughter up from school as simply “well-to-do”. In fact, I get the feeling I may have to worry about rumors making their way to her father, or perhaps her Family, as well.

What have you gotten me into, Tsuruya-san?

Tsuruya: Welp, I guess I’ll see ya around, Kyon-kun.

Kyon: Uh, yeah, yeah, see ya.


I give a quick wave and turn towards where I park my bicycle every morning. I don’t want her driver to get a good look at my face.

A tap on my shoulder. By reflex, I turn around.


Tsuruya: Ah, that’s right. Almost forgot~.


She stands on the tips of her toes, and reaches around my neck, pulling me downward.

…! Her face is… so… close…!

And then, closing her eyes, she


*KSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH*



Walking Home With Girl A


Kyon: Did you… know that…. it’s actually easier on the human body… to go uphill than down?

Girl A: Yeah, I…. I heard something about that once. Something about how… your limbs are actually better at it…. Or something.

Kyon: …Something like that.


I’m walking home with a girl I’ve pretty much never met before. A fitting end to a weird, weird week.

I’m also carrying an LCD monitor, and panting really hard. The reason for the latter is that we’re now at the bottom of the huge hill that our school sits on top of, having run down here in retreat from an angry Computer Research Society.

…I’m beginning to regard events like this as normal. Someone help.


Girl A: God… I hate that hill.

Kyon: So do I. Every day, up and down…

Girl A: The city should just get it over with and install an escalator.

Kyon: My thoughts exactly.


My kingdom for an escalator!

Of course, then it would have been much easier for the Computer Society to catch up to us.


Girl A: Speaking of which, here they come now!

Kyon: Tenacious, aren’t they…


Girl A runs inside the bike compound, runs straight to my bike, oddly enough, and… unlocks it?


Kyon: Hey, how did--?

Girl A: You’re slow. Get on.

Kyon: Yes, mistress. Who’s pedaling?

Girl A: You, of course. You think my feet can reach those pedals?

Kyon: Good point.

CSP: Death to those who would shame the Computer Research Society!


I shove the monitor in the basket in the front of my bike; I’ll have to keep it steady with one hand, I guess. Girl A hops onto the seat, her arms on my shoulders.


Kyon: We’re gonna be going fast, so you might want to hold on tighter than that.

Girl A: Hmm? Sure, I guess that’s fine.


She folds her arms around my body, and I can feel a softness pressing against my back. So, she has breasts after all, huh…?


CSP: You will pay for what you have taken from us!


And now is not the time to be thinking about that!

We clear the compound just as the President and his goons reach it. A narrow escape!

CSP: Nooooooooooooooo!


His cry of anguish resounds in our ears as I pedal in an effort to gain a lot of distance. Closer at hand, Girl A is trying not to laugh.


Girl A: Pffffffffhahahahahahaha!


And failing. And, for some reason, I start laughing too.


Kyon: Hahahahahahahaha!

Girl A: Ahahahahahahaha!


We must look even loonier than before.


Kyon and Kyonko: Hahahahahahahahahaha!


What a rush.


---

The Computer Society President sat in the middle of the bike racks in tears, utterly defeated. His minions, gathered around him, offered him words of encouragement. But he paid them no heed.

Eventually, however, he got to his feet, brushed the dirt off his clothes, wiped his eyes, and lied to everyone that he was perfectly fine.


Spectacled Minion: So, uh, what do we do now, President?

CSP: Nothing. We wait.

Fat Minion: Wait?

CSP: Don’t you see? They’ll have to return to school on Monday. We can get our revenge then.


A sick, boiling laugh rose up in his throat.


CSP: Mwwwaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahhahaahaha! Glory to the Computer Reseaaaaaarch Societyyyyyy! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Fat Minion: A-Are you okay, boss?

Lightning struck. Even though there weren’t any clouds in the sky.

---


Kyon: …That’s probably what’s happening right now.

Girl A: Hahaha, that’s great. I love it!


It didn’t take long to get to Kitaguchi Station with that kind of adrenaline going through our veins.


Girl A: Seriously though, thanks for the ride, and all your help. I kind of wish I had more to offer you than seventy yen…

Kyon: It’s not really out of my way… although, you could answer a question for me, I guess.

Girl A: Sure. One question in payment, then.

Kyon: Could tell me where you got that new uniform from, just to satisfy my curiosity?

Girl A: …New uniform?

Kyon: The one I saw you in this morning was rumpled, as though you had slept in it. Also, you seem to have new indoor shoes that came out of nowhere.

Girl A: …Ah, you… noticed. Um. A friend of mine has connections, so she managed to get this to me today.

Kyon: The same friend you’re giving this stolen monitor to?

Girl A: Uh, yeah, actually.


An underground network of thieves, huh?

Girl A really seems to have trouble carrying the monitor by herself.


Kyon: You know, I could carry that for you the rest of the way…

Girl A: Oh, God, no. I mean, I’d be grateful, but the people I’m meeting, um, don’t take to strangers that well, so…

Kyon: You’re sure?

Girl A: Yes, yes, it’s fine.

Kyon: Well, see you around, then.

Girl A: See you around!


I realize as I watch her struggle with the monitor towards the café, that I never actually asked her name. I never thought of it, simply because… I somehow got the feeling I’d known her a long time?

I’d have called out to her, but… “one question”, huh?

I’m a moron.


The only thing left to do now is go home, and first thing tomorrow I’ll contact either Nagato or Koizumi, and try to figure out what the root of the weird things this past week is. I don’t doubt that they’re all interconnected.

And given the way she suddenly showed up, Girl A and her Thieves’ Guild are probably some part of this too.


And then on Monday, I’ll also have to smooth things over with Haruhi and try to avoid the attention of the Computer Research Society. …I wonder how much that monitor cost, anyway?

I certainly have a lot of things to

*KSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH*

The "walking home with Haruhi"-bit is very sweet. I liked it. ^^
"Walking home with Tsuruya" was more than a little disturbing. It worries me, and is well-written.
"Walking home with Girl A" was very funny. ^^ Nicely done! Your work is not in vain.

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

Spoiler for September the First, Day 4: Streets of Nishinomiya- The Power of Love (I):

The Power of Love (I)


Kyonko: Why are we in a love hotel!?


Wait, no, I can answer that one myself.


Itsuko and I had been loitering around the school, avoiding the gazes of suspicious teachers and trying to think of something to do, when Nagato had suddenly appeared.


Yuuki: A way to contact our original universe has been discovered.

Kyonko: Nagato, just to be clear on what you mean, could you try reconstructing that sentence in the first person?

Yuuki: …I have discovered a way to contact our original universe.

Itsuko: How is that, exactly?


It turned out that Nagato needed an internet-capable computer, a monitor, speakers, and a few hours to set his system up.


Yuuki: A cable capable of connecting myself and the computer will also be needed.

Kyonko: …I don’t think we have cables capable of connecting between human beings and electronic devices, Nagato.

Itsuko: Ah, but Nagato-san isn’t human, is he? Will an ordinary crossover cable do?

Yuuki: ……That should be sufficient.

Kyonko: Um. Okay, so, I think Asahina-senpai had some money on him… will you go with him to buy one of those? Itsuko and I will try to find a computer within the school building, I guess…

Itsuko: We will meet up at our usual café near Kitaguchi Station this evening, then.


We did actually manage to find one, lonely, old computer, in a clubroom that was equally old, lonely, and deserted.


Kyonko: You think this thing’ll even work? For that matter, could you even get Internet on it if it did work?

Itsuko: Well, it is not plugged into the wall, but… all the proper cabling is here, and there’s even a router…

Kyonko: It still looks like it’s falling apart. And the monitor’s ancient, too… wouldn’t it be a better idea just to steal the one in the Brigade clubroom?

Itsuko: Ah, I do not think we should interfere too much with the denizens of this world.

Kyonko: So what, we’re following the Prime Directive now?

Itsuko: I’m serious. Please, if you meet any of our other selves, do not tell them who you are. We don’t want to overtly influence anything.

Kyonko: But… you already told this world’s version of your “Agency”.

Itsuko: That’s different. They know how to keep secrets.

Kyonko: …Okay, but… what about this old hunk of crap we’re about to steal?

Itsuko: This would fall under the, ah, Desperate Times Clause.

Kyonko: …Right.


We waited inside the room for school to end. No point in being caught in the rush to get to clubs.


Kyonko: …I was just thinking. Why are we even stealing this?

Itsuko: Hmm?

Kyonko: Couldn’t the Agency just… give you a brand-new computer?

Itsuko: …Well, I’ll put it this way. They don’t exactly trust me.

Kyonko: …Okay. Next question, why are we taking this outside of the school, anyway? Couldn’t we set up the system in here?

Itsuko: Nagato-san said he’d need several hours… The school closes eventually, does it not?

Kyonko: And we needed to go outside anyway for materials, so it’s easier this way?

Itsuko: Yes, and, besides, I’m constantly getting the distinct feeling that I’m being watched. …The after-school rush seems to have died down. Shall we go somewhere where eyes are not on us?



When we tried to transport the computer downstairs, one of my legs suddenly stopped working, and I dropped the massive CRT monitor I was carrying, smashing it into pieces.


Needless to say, a new plan had to be formulated.

We decided to steal an easier-to-carry monitor from the Computer Research Society.

Obviously we couldn’t just walk in and demand a monitor… knowing what happened in my world, I’m sure we’d resurface bad memories if we did so.

So instead we just walked in and said “hi”.

Itsuko’s only instructions to me beforehand were a) to slip away when they were distracted, and b) that she’d meet me at the school gate. That didn’t make much sense until after she went up to their President and whispered something in his ear that made his eyes bug out.

…I don’t want to know what she offered to do, but we led the entire club to the back of the school. Itsuko… I won’t say what she did to distract them, it’s too…. Argh… but it gave me the chance to run back to their clubroom.

---
IF MissingShoes = False AND Samaritan = True THEN

However, I managed to run into my male self along the way. And by “run into”, I mean literally.

However… rather than brushing me off like I thought he would, (given his earlier behavior, he actually helped me steal the monitor).

I only had to pay him seventy yen for it, too! …Although that was all the money I had, after buying lunch.

…The Computer Society, however, chased us all the way out of the school, to where Itsuko wasn’t waiting for me.

I told my other self he could go, but… for some reason, he stayed with me the whole way, and even carried the monitor all the way down the hill for me.

Hell, he even biked me all the way to the café where we had agreed to meet earlier.

We only managed to narrowly escape the wrath of the Computer Society President, but… it was actually a lot of fun, somehow.

…I laughed harder than I’d laughed in a long time. I’m kind of offended he never even asked for my name, though.

……Why did he help me? Is it only because I’m a girl?

Yeah, that has to be it, right? I’d certainly never help a person I barely knew.

But… that would mean I’m… attracted to myself…?

…ARGH.

Anyway!

---

IF MissingShoes = False AND Samaritan = False THEN


However, I managed to run into my male self along the way. And by “run into”, I mean literally.

Predictably, he just waved me off, leaving me on the ground. Asshole.

I managed to get the monitor to the front gate. Itsuko wasn’t there.

I managed to find her near the bottom of the hill, near the bike racks, waiting by a taxi.


Itsuko: I apologize. They became very angry with me, and I had to grab the computer, the peripherals, and run away.

Kyonko: It’s fine. …This your usual ride? This world’s version, I mean?

Itsuko: No, I’m afraid it is only an ordinary taxi.

Kyonko: Ordinary, huh?

---

ELSE

The operation was pulled off without a hitch. Unless you consider Itsuko not being at the meeting place a hitch.


I managed to find her near the bottom of the hill, near the bike racks, waiting by a taxi.


Itsuko: I apologize. They became very angry with me, and I had to grab the computer, the peripherals, and run away.

Kyonko: It’s fine. …This your usual ride? This world’s version, I mean?

Itsuko: No, I’m afraid it is only an ordinary taxi.

Kyonko: Ordinary, huh?

---

In this way, I arrived at the café. Asahina-senpai looked particularly glad to see me.


Itsuko: So, let’s see. Is this all the hardware you need, Nagato-san?

Yuuki: Sufficient.

Itsuko: Ah, good. I wouldn’t want to go back there for a while.


Asahina-senpai was hard at work peeling the covering off of one end of the yellow crossover cable, which had been cut for some reason.


Mitsuuru: How did you two get this, anyway? You said you found the, uh, box—

Itsuko: It is normally referred to as a “tower” I believe.

Mitsuuru: The box abandoned in an empty clubroom, but this screen looks brand new.


I buried my head in my hands.


Kyonko: I don’t want to talk about it. Please.

Itsuko: Yes, now, the question is, where are we going to set this up?

Mitsuuru: Yeah, that’s what I was wondering. We’re getting stares enough as it is, with you two lugging that stuff in here.


And you playing with some cable doesn’t look slightly odd, Asahina-senpai?


Kyonko: Um, well, we need somewhere with an outlet and an internet connection… somewhere that’s open right now and would put up with us for a few hours… I’d say a hotel, but they don’t let rooms hourly, and I don’t think we could afford a room anyway…


Itsuko’s smile suddenly grew very large.


Itsuko: I have a place in mind we could go to. But first, let’s get dinner. I hear this place serves wonderful pasta, and I believe Nagato-san still has some money left…

Nagato nods.


After a delicious meal, we made our way to Itsuko’s “place in mind”.

(I believe this is about where you came in.)


Mitsuuru: No.

Itsuko: But they have a discount for large groups! We’ll be able to afford renting a room for a few hours this way.

Mitsuuru: N-no, I am in no way going into a love hotel with you three. What if someone sees?

Itsuko: No one is going to care. No one on this side knows who we are, remember?


I had been unable to respond up until this point out of sheer shock.


Kyonko: I agree with Asahina-senpai! I’m not going in there. I refuse. I absolutely refuse.

Mitsuuru: Yes! Listen to her!

Itsuko: Oh? Can you think of anywhere else that rents by the hour, and has a discount rate?

Kyonko: Spuh. I. Fine.


H-how did you even know about this place?


Itsuko: I know lots of things. <3 Come on, don’t be shy. Desperate times, remember.


The receptionist, an older woman trying to look young, smiled at us knowingly when we entered. Don’t give me that look, you old hag.

This place is poorly-maintained and covered in cheap pink. Ugh. I don’t hate pink, but when every damn thing in the room is that color…

Itsuko managed to negotiate us a room for four hours (argh!) and we finally made it inside and somewhere relatively quiet.

Ugh. More pink. At least there’s a shower, which I’m starting to feel I need to get rid of an oncoming migrane. But, of course, the bathroom walls are transparent.

What a stereotypical love hotel. This could be part of a franchise.


Kyonko: Why are we in a love hotel!?


(No, this was where you came in.)


Itsuko and Mitsuuru were beginning to set up the computer.


Itsuko: Lucky for us, this place has an in-house internet connection. It’s mostly used for wireless connections, but simply plugging this into the phone jack should work.

Mitsuuru: …Um… what’s a phone jack?

Itsuko: Never you mind, I’ll do it all myself.


And, eventually, miraculously, the machine sputtered to life.

WxNDOWS 95.

What a piece of junk….


Itsuko: Internet is hooked up as well. So, ah, what are the plans for that crossover cable?


That’s what I was about to ask.

Nagato took the exposed of the cable and… rolling up his sleeve, he shoved it into his lower arm. Into the veins.

[Totally need a CG for this]

…

He held up the other end of the cable.


Yuuki: Plug this in.


I obliged him, plugging it into the router.


Mitsuuru: Okay. That was disgusting. That can’t possibly—

Yuuki: Connecting. Dialing… Dialing…


You run on dial-up?!


Itsuko: …Well, I never said it was a decent Internet connection.

Kyonko: Oh.


We waited for over three hours in that incredibly pink room, hearing Nagato's "dialing, dialing" over and over again. I thought I was going to go nuts.

And then, finally.


Yuuki: Connection established. Transference of data completed

Mitsuuru: ...Huh. I didn’t think that would ever work....

Yuuki: Displaying information onscreen.


Suddenly, the monitor displayed what looked to be the interior of a small, inexpensive apartment.

Displayed in the corner of the screen were, in Roman characters, “EMORI K.”


Kyonko: …We did it.


*KSSSSSSHHHHHHH*

This should make sense, but I forsee Heatth having a lot of complaints.

Hilarious. Simply hilarious. Itsuko's such a naughty girl. ^^;

Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon

Spoiler for September the Fifth, Day 4: "Hotel"- The Power of Love (II):

The Power of Love (II)


Kimidori “turned on” his eyes for us again, and displayed on the screen was the back of a man frantically working at some machine. Kimidori seemed to be sitting down behind him.


Emori: You should be able to communicate through me. Please try saying something.

Itsuko: Ah, hello?


The man froze.


Man: There we are. I am done. I have made contact with her. Love prevails.

Itsuko: Hnnnhh…


Itsuko immediately held her head as though she was suffering intense pain.


Kyonko: …Mori-san?

Satou: Hmm? Who are you? You’re not Itsuko-chan. Why is your voice inside my head? GET OUT OF MY HEAD, CHARLES


Itsuko whispered to us.

Itsuko: I would ask you to refrain from speaking while I make my report, please. It will go faster that way.

Kyonko: “Understood”, I guess.


Another voice, offscreen. It sounds like Arakawa-san.


Arakawa: …Just turn around, Mori.


Mori-san swings around in his chair.


Satou: Oh, I didn’t notice you all here. Great news! I just made contact with Itsuko-chan!


…I didn’t know Mori-san could be this dumb.

Itsuko: Actually, Mori-san, it was we who made contact with Kimidori-san here.

Satou: …Itsuko-chan? Why is your voice coming out of this boy’s mouth?

Itsuko: …It’s the nature of the connection we’ve established. Unfortunately, you’re not able to see us, and Kimidori-san says we don’t have the time to set up a system similar to the one we have here.


I should probably explain who these people are.


Emori Kimidori is a second-year I met back in June, who was posing as the boyfriend of our Computer Society President. Until today, I had no idea he was another humanoid interface, but it makes sense, in retrospect.

Satou Mori-san and Arakawa-san I both met during our trip to the island this summer. They were working as hired help at the mansion, and, as such, the last time I saw Mori-san he was wearing a butler uniform, not the… spy outfit he’s clothed in now.

It turned out that both Mori-san and Arakawa-san (who, incidentally, just walked into view, wearing khaki combat gear) were working for Itsuko’s “Agency”. Which explains their state of dress.


Arakawa: He’s perfectly right in saying that we don’t have time. Please, make your report as quickly as possible, and we’ll relay what information we can back.


Out of her maid uniform, Arakawa-san, seemingly a nice old woman, is completely different.


Itsuko: We have somehow found ourselves in a universe where many of the people we once knew are the opposite gender.


Mori-san and Arakawa-san look at each other in confusion.


Satou: The opposite gender?

Itsuko: Indeed. Suzumiya-san included.

Arakawa: Hmm. Does the Suzumiya-san in that universe have any trace of the power ours does?

Itsuko: Unknown, though she does seem to have, ah, similar interests, and the SOS Brigade still seems to exist in the same form.

Satou: I’d think that would confirm it, then.

Arakawa: Our suspicions? I hope not.


Suspicions?


Arakawa: Do you know how you all got into that universe, Koizumi?


Itsuko glances at me.

…What? Why did you just give me that look?


Itsuko: …No, as of yet we have no idea how we were trapped here, though I have several theories, if you’d like to hear--

Arakawa: I already said we don’t have much time.


I heard Asahina-senpai chuckling behind me.


Arakawa: Actually, if that’s the case, Koizumi-chan… you’re not going to be able to come home.


…!


Kyonko: …What, exactly, does that mean?

Arakawa: Ah, is that Kyon-chan? Good to hear from you. …You see, we haven’t yet developed the technology to slide across dimensions. We have no way of bringing you home.

Satou: What?! But you told me earlier that--!

Arakawa: That was to keep you from going ballistic! I’m sorry, Koizumi, Kyon-chan, but… until you figure out for certain how this happened, we can’t even begin to formulate a plan.

Itsuko: Which is why a theory would—

Arakawa: We can’t run off of conjecture. We’ve got to have proof. We’ve already thought that it could be Suzumiya-san behind this, believe me, and if it is him, or, indeed, any Suzumiya-san, we have even less hope.

Kyon-chan: Well… what about the Data Overmind? Shouldn’t they be able to bring us home, if we can communicate like this? Couldn’t you just convert us to data and send us across or something?

Emori: We probably could, but the process might, first of all, kill you, and second of all, Nagato-san would have to remain behind if we went that route.


And that’s unacceptable. Nagato remaining behind, I mean.

Asahina-senpai, mostly quiet until now, butts in.


Mitsuuru: Has anyone from my group contacted you? Anyone at all?

Satou: …Ah, it’s Mitsuuru-kun, right? Someone from the future was here earlier, but… he’s among the missing.

Itsuko: …The missing…?

Arakawa: …Several hours ago, the main Agency HQ was attacked… by an Avatar appearing in broad daylight.


……

Arakawa: It vanished soon after, but most people working there are considered either dead or missing.


Itsuko clenched the edges of her skirt.


Mitsuuru: So the only person my group sent… is dead? Killed by one of those figments? That’s…

Kyonko: …Could your people have gotten us home, Asahina-senpai?

Mitsuuru: That’s classified.


……If an Avatar showed up in the real world… that’s bad. That’s very, very bad.

I don’t want to know the answer to this question. But I think I already know the answer.


Kyonko: …How is Haruki doing without us?

Arakawa: …Let me put it like this. Today’s weather was supposed to be sunny and beautiful. It’s been raining since this morning, and it’s only getting worse.

Kyonko: Ah.

Arakawa: He’s the reason we don’t have much time. Things could come to a head at any minute.

Kyonko: That moron… who said he had the right to get so depressed without all of us?

Satou: It’s not just because all of you are gone. It’s because you in particular are gone that he ended up like this.

Kyonko: What are you trying to say, Mori-san?

Satou: It’s the power of love!


Please tell me I’m not blushing right now. Please.


From the other side, I can hear the noise of thunder rumbling.


Itsuko: Was that…?

Arakawa: The storm’s getting worse…. Please, listen carefully. If you want to get home, you had better find out how you got here to begin with. And please, hurry. I don’t know much time this world has left in it, with Suzumiya-san in this state…

Satou: And Itsuko-chan, don’t forget to


Static.

How is there static on an LCD monitor?

It doesn’t matter. They’re gone.


Yuuki: Disconnected.


…


Kyonko: …So. Now what are we going to do?

Mitsuuru: I guess we better get used to our new lives here, huh?

Kyonko: …You’re just going to give up?

Mitsuuru: What other choice do we have? How are we supposed to find out how we got here in the first place? Just go around and start asking people?

Kyonko: That’s better than just accepting this! I’m not going to stay in a love hotel forever! I want to go home!

Itsuko: Actually, our four hours are almost up. It’s time to leave anyway.


...She wasn't smiling at all.

…Itsuko seemed to be really shook up by what we heard earlier, about the Avatar attacking their headquarters. I wonder…?


Kyonko: Itsuko…? Are you—

Itsuko: Of course, we could just pay for the whole night here. I think they have a nice going rate for—

Kyonko: …Nevermind.

Mitsuuru: …I’d rather not stay in here longer than I have to.

Itsuko: But these beds are so comfortable.

Mitsuuru: There’s only two beds!

Itsuko: Exactly. One for the boys and one for the girls. Or if you like we could change it up a bit and—

Kyonko: Okay, it’s check out time.


I headed towards the door and waited for them there, hands on my hips.

Itsuko was doing her best to lighten the mood. After all, it’s true that we might really be trapped here forever.

But like I said, I’m not going to give up. There has got to be some way we can get home.

…Haruki’s powers are supposed to be able to do anything.

…So shouldn’t it be the same way for any Suzumiya?

…

*KSSSSH*

Glee, excitement!