[Jintor]

EDITJOB 2 GET

Spoiler for September the First, Day 0, Universe 1- Brigade HQ: Decision Point:

[Scene: Brigade HQ, Afternoon]

Despite my excellent first hand, and the fact that Koizumi is really, really bad at games, winning still wasn't that easy.

This is because I spent about half the game distracted, thanks to a frightening possibility that had come to mind after my talk with Koizumi earlier.

What if, instead of just looping around to the middle of August again, every single one of those fifteen thousand-odd universes just... just kept going?

How would we, or anyone, be able to tell?

For that matter, it's perfectly possible that we might be in another loop right now, and no one would be able to tell. Even if I asked Nagato, as before, she might not tell me, or be able to tell either.

Fifteen thousand versions of me, all existing at the same time, yet unable to reach one another. To talk, or to connect the dots.

But it doesn't stop here, does it?

I remember some mind-bending quantum physics theory that states that every single choice we make leads into a different universe. By this logic, there are an infinite number of “me”, all existing at the same time.

There could be a universe where Koizumi is actually good at card games. There could be a universe where Haruhi never attended North High, and I never joined the SOS Brigade. There could be a universe where I'm a--


Itsuki: Ah, well, look at that. Looks like you win again.


Koizumi's voice snaps me out of my reverie. Like I said, I only ever win when it's not important, or when it interrupts something that is.


Kyon: I'm done. It's no fun winning if there's no cash on the table, and it's no fun losing when there is cash on the table.

Itsuki: Have you ever considered winning while there's cash on the table?

Kyon: ...In your terms, I guess I would say "that is a fundamentally impossible turn of events that would never happen, ever, in a million years".


Except in the universe where it did happen.


Itsuki: Ah, that does sound exactly like me.


Even when he agrees with me he mocks me!

Koizumi packs up the cards quickly, making the pack seem to vanish with a flick of his wrists. A good party trick, if you can do it.


Itsuki: Well, I'm off. Going to go do something, then, before we lose summer entirely?

Kyon: ...

[DECISION POINT HERE]

1)"Might head into town..."
2)"I should check up on Nagato..."
3)"...I might just head home..."
4)"I still have some stuff to talk to you about..."
5)"Maybe Asahina-san's still around...?"

Easy enough.