"Kyon-kun! Time to get up! C'mon!"
Sigh. Not again. Why does she insist on waking me up every morning? Just as my eyes were about to open, I felt an intense sharp pain in my lower body as my sister jumped on my bed.
"AHH! Jesus! What was that?!"
I doubled over in pain beneath my sheets as my sister recoiled, unsure of what has happened.
"Kyon-kun what's wrong? Where's Shami~~?"
I found it hard to breathe, let alone talk, as my hands clutched my stomach. It seems my courteous little sister has just unknowingly jabbed my crotch with her knee. Ugh, I felt like I was going to throw up all over the place, but the feeling was intermixed with pain all throughout my abdomen. I'm sure I don't need to describe this feeling further to you. Just keep in mind that it hurts like hell.
"Agh. Not here. Go away."
My voice was slightly high pitched. She scampered out of the room as I continued to writhe in harrowing agony. I gained my senses after about 10 minutes of focusing on the sudden pain thrust on me this morning. Man, am I tired. Why am I always so tired?
My pajamas where soaked with sweat. I must have been having a bad dream. Well, I can't remember anything at the moment, so no need to think about it. Bad dreams are better left forgotten anyway.
I made my way out of my bed and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for school. Sigh. It's going to be tough today.
As I walked up the slope to North High, a strange feeling came over me. It's like I had forgotten something at home, you know that feeling? You can't shake it, but you can't for the life of you remember what it would be. I ignored it after a while as I diverted my attention to slowly climbing the slope.
"Yo!"
A harsh slap on my back coupled with this greeting marked the arrival of my jovial friend.
"Yo."
Taniguchi slowed his pace to match mine as he continued to talk.
"Hey Kyon, you look tired. Long night?"
"Yeah I guess. I'm always tired."
"I don't know how you can be tired when you have a girl like Asahina-san to stimulate your senses."
"Yeah, just sometimes I feel exhausted no matter what. And don't talk about her like that."
I don't like when he talks about my girlfriend in that manner. It’s not polite or proper. It seems he’s always got girls on his mind, and especially Mikuru. That's why half the time I feel like punching him in the face.
"Sorry my man. Ooh, A+ girl on the loose up ahead, see ya!"
He took off running up the slope, following the poor girl who had unknowingly scored so high on his hotness meter. That guy is hopeless.
Haruhi was already in her seat staring out the window when I arrived at class 2-5.
"Yo."
I tossed my bag on my desk and sat down while turning toward her.
"Hey." She answered.
She seemed a little down, but that was typical Haruhi. We still had some time before class started. A small mob of North High sport jackets approached me.
"Good morning."
"Hey Kyon."
"Yo Kyon!"
Koizumi smiled his gracious smile, as he, flanked by Taniguchi and Kunikida, greeted me. This is two times too many to see stupid Taniguchi this morning. Oh well.
"Yo guys."
"Are you going to come watch the basketball game at lunch with us Kyon?"
"Nah, you guys go ahead. I promised Mikuru-chan I'd eat with her today."
"Man. You spend so much time with her these days."
Well, what do you expect, the most pleasant air of the goddess Asahina Mikuru is something I intend to be indulged in for eternity. I'm glad she had accepted my confession, or else SOS Club meetings would have gotten even more awkward. As I was thinking this, that air of forgetfulness came over me again. Why is this feeling coming back? I know I remembered everything today, and if I forgot some SOS Club thing, than Haruhi would remind me of it.
"Well Koizumi, I spend enough time with you after school everyday."
"That's correct, I guess."
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders as he turned to the other two.
"Too bad you guys aren’t in the SOS Brigade. It's pretty lonely with only 4 members. Maybe you guys should come some days."
"Yeah right Itsuki! I wouldn't join that nutty club even if there were four Asahina-sans in it!"
"That reminds me, Suzumiya-san, are we having a Brigade meeting today?"
"No. I have cleaning duty and then I have cram school for my grades. Kyon, are you coming this time?"
"I don't know. Probably not. I might just skip it today and go to Mikuru's place."
Both Haruhi and I had started going to the cram school together because we agreed we needed to get our grades up before semester, we were both pretty close to the bottom in our class. But after going to the cram school a couple times, I'd started to prefer to just skip it anyway, it didn’t help much to be there. Haruhi still went and let me copy her notes.
The chime for the beginning of the day rung as the small crowd of three went back to their seats. Okabe-sensei came in energetically to start the lesson. I had no urge to pay attention, as daydreams of my past dates with Mikuru entered my mind.
Haruhi was asleep about 15 minutes into the lesson. I turned around and poked her with my mechanical pencil, as I had been instructed to do by her whenever she started sleeping.
"Hey, wake up."
"W-wha? Agh... yeah yeah. Thanks Kyon."
She rubbed her eyes and focused them toward the chalkboard at the front.
The chime signaling lunch finally came as both Haruhi and I were about to die from sleep deprivation and boredom. I turned around and started to take my bento out of my bag. Haruhi did the same with hers.
"Are you just going to sit in here and eat alone again?"
I was worried about her always being alone. She could easily get some friends, but she just didn't seem interested.
"Yeah."
"Why don't you come and eat with Mikuru and me?"
"No. I don't want to disturb you two. You go ahead and have fun. Really."
"B-but-"
"No, really it's ok. I'm fine."
Her eyes shifted downward as she set her bento on her desk, and took out her chopsticks. Well, if she doesn't want to, then I'd just take her advice and go enjoy my lunch with Mikuru.
I left the room and carried my bento to Mikuru's classroom a floor up, in the senior hall. As I entered I heard an excited squeal as Mikuru skipped toward me with an air of happiness no one can fake. She was just adorable.
"Kyon-kun!"
She jumped on me as she threw her arms around my neck. That feeling of familiarity hit me again. What was I forgetting?
"U-uh. Hey."
I put my arms around her and hugged her. This is the part of my day where I can relax, when I can be with Mikuru. She really is the greatest thing in my life right now.
"Hey there Kyon-kun! Looks like someone's happy to see you!"
Tsuruya-san came out from behind Mikuru as she winked at me.
"Take care of her like always! You guys are so cute together!"
She bounded out of the room, brushing past us. Mikuru gently softened her grip, as her head rested against my chest, her eyes closed, her mouth in a delicate smile.
We released our embrace as she took my free hand and walked me over to her desk. We sat down together and unwrapped our bentos. I proceeded to eat casually; I didn't want to stuff my face in front of her. She was so cute as she worked her chopsticks and ate with small chews.
"So Kyon-kun, what do you want to do after school? Suzumiya-san said we didn't have a club meeting today."
"Well, I do have cram school, but I would rather be with you Mikuru."
She blushed.
"Aww. Kyon-kun. You shouldn't do that just for me, I'll feel bad."
"Nonsense. I want to be with you, and that's that, my little Mikuru."
I snuggled up against her cheek as I said this. I was pretty comfortably romantic, if I do say so myself. Didn't think I'd ever be able to act like this, but around Mikuru, it seems instinctual.
She laughed nervously and blushed even more furiously as I kissed her pink cheek softly. Sigh. This life I've come to lead, things just seem like they're going my way. I have to say I'm pretty happy.
Just then the feeling of forgetfulness washed over me again. It demolished the happiness inside of me, like I shouldn't be here, like there was something I had to do, or something I forgot. I did my best to ignore it.
We finished eating and conversing as the chime rang again. I hugged her goodbye, and left her classroom to head back to room 2-5.
Haruhi's head was down on her desk. She must be sleeping again. It seems that that is all she does, she's always tired. Like me. The only time I'm energized is when I'm with Mikuru.
"Yo. How was lunch?"
"...good."
She didn't move her head as she said this straight into her desk. I sat down as Okabe-sensei began the afternoon lesson.
I proceeded to space out for the rest of the day, my eyelids slowly closing now and again before I'd snap awake. My head nodded up and down in rhythm with Okabe-sensei’s words, like I was listening to a melodic tune. The familiarity and forgetfulness kept coming back, and even if I'd push it away, it would find its way back into my head. It was bugging the hell out of me, so much so that I missed the chime signaling the end of the day. Haruhi poked me as she was leaving.
"Hey Kyon. Wake up. Day's over."
"W-wha? Ah. Yeah. Thanks. Sorry."
She made sure I was coherent and then left the room with her bag. I grabbed my bag and climbed the stairs to Mikuru's classroom. She was walking out with Tsuruya-san as I came down the hall. I greeted her with a sweet embrace, and we walked to the nearest cafe with Tsuruya-san. Mikuru clung to my arm as she walked, her head affectionately resting on my bicep. Suddenly the familiarity became so strong that I had to stop.
"Eh? Is something wrong Kyon-kun?
"N-no. It's just... I keep feeling like I've forgot something."
"Hm? Could it be homework or something?"
No, I wouldn't care that much about homework. Mikuru cutely furrowed her brow in deep thought. I loved how much she seemed to care about me, about something so trivial.
"Never mind. Let’s go in."
The three of us entered the cafe and sat down. We ordered and talked lightly about the school day.
"Sometimes I envy you two Mikuru-chan. You seem so happy together!"
"Aw. Thank you Tsuruya-san. What about you? Have you been able to make any progress in gaining enough courage to confess to Kunikida-kun?"
Oh, that's right. We had had these conversations before. I had tried to help Tsuruya-san get together with Kunikida before, but Tsuruya is so shy around him, she completely changes. He, on the other hand, is just oblivious to what is going on. For an upperclassman to take an interest in someone younger than her was unusual, but hey, since it was my situation as well, I’m glad it happens.
Tsuruya proceeded to blush and turn away from us at Mikuru’s question, fidgeting around in her seat. I volunteered yet another chance for her.
"You know Tsuruya-san, I could invite him to go on a double date with us this weekend. You might feel more comfortable if Mikuru and I were here."
"Ah! H-ha. No, that's fine! Please, I wouldn't be able to go through with that... nyorro~."
Her face was bright red as she raised her hand up to play with her hair nervously. Ah, Tsuruya-san, whatever shall we do with you?
Mikuru and Tsuruya-san drank tea while I ordered an Ice coffee. I always seemed to get coffee these days, I'm always tired. As the cool ice hit my lips, the forgetful feeling washed over me again. The coldness of the ice seeped into my mind and would not leave, seemingly trying to tell me. Remember.
I wasn't able to drink it for the rest of the time we were there.
"Are you feeling alright Kyon-kun? You aren’t drinking you're coffee."
"Y-yes. I'm fine. I'm great actually. It would be hard to feel bad with you Mikuru."
"Aww."
She blushed again as she turned and sipped her tea while smiling. Even I am surprised that I say that stuff sometimes.
I voluntarily paid the bill as we headed out of the cafe. We spent the rest of the afternoon window shopping downtown. I told Mikuru I wanted to buy her something nice, but she would not allow it, and just went from store to store with awe at some of the things in the windows.
"Kyon! Look at this!"
Mikuru came running up to me with a snow globe in her hands. She shook it, and the artificial snowflakes swished around the half sphere, pelting the little figure inside.
Artificial snowflakes...
I stumbled forward a little as the forgetting feeling collapsed onto my head with force. Something was not right. What was this? What had I forgotten?
"Kyon-kun! Are you alright? Something is wrong?"
"No no Mikuru, I'm fine. Just lost my footing for a second."
Mikuru and Tsuruya-san looked at me with concern.
"...ok."
After walking through the good parts of downtown, Tsuruya-san told us she had to go and bid us farewell.
Mikuru and I watched the long emerald hair disappear around the street corner as she skipped happily away. I turned to the sweet sempai at my side.
"Well, shall we go to your place?"
"...sure."
Her face turned red as she blushed. Now now my little angel, there's no need to be embarrassed anymore, we've been together for a little while now.
As we walked hand in hand to the train station, we saw Haruhi waiting for the train to our cram school.
"Yo! Haruhi! Tell sensei I'm not going to be there."
She turned and raised her hand up.
"Ok. I'll give you the notes tomorrow."
"Thanks."
She boarded her train and watched us as we waited for the train to Mikuru's neighborhood. After a while Haruhi's face turned down as she hid her eyes under her bangs, shivering a little. She must be cold. Or sleepy again. She's always sleepy.
As Mikuru's train came, she gave a small sigh of relief, as if she was expecting it not to come. We boarded and found that there were only about 5 other people on the train. We made our way to the other side of the cabin and sat together. I held her hand as her head rested on my shoulder. Ah. This is what it's about. And nothing else. Nothing.
...
"Kyon-kun. Thanks for today."
"Hm? Oh, that was fun. I wish we could go around every day Mikuru."
"I'm sorry Tsuruya-san tagged along."
"You know I have fun with Tsuruya-san, so it's no problem. I would be happy with any amount of people, just so long as one of them was you."
"Aww. Kyon-kuuuuuun..."
She said my nickname lovingly as she snuggled up to my chest.
We were in Mikuru's apartment, together sitting on the couch. My arms were around her, our hands clasped together, our fingers intertwined. Her head was resting on my chest, her eyes closed. The fire in the fireplace had died down a bit, as it cast a glow over the apartment. Mikuru was heaving up and down softly as she tried to relax. She always seemed so anxious about everything, but that's just the way she was. I didn't want her to change, for anything.
Something occurred to me though. I really should be happy at this moment. Even though I feel that I am happy, there seems to be something missing. It's the feeling of forgetting something again. It created a hole in my happiness, a hole I couldn't fill, and it would not go away. I need something to take my mind off of this.
"Hey Mikuru..."
"Yes, Kyon-kun?"
She moved her lips without opening her eyes.
"Can I turn on the radio or something?"
"Sure, right behind you there on the end table."
Taking great care not to disturb her, I twisted my upper body around and reached for the little switch on the radio. It clicked as I flipped it to the “on” position. No music came out. There wasn't any static or anything.
"Does this have batteries Mikuru?"
"It should. Try adjusting the station."
My index finger and thumb surrounded the dial as I turned it. As I was turning past the 500's into the 600's, more and more static could be heard. The music began to come out clearer and clearer. I stopped the dial on 708 FM, and heard whatever was playing previously end. A new song was starting.
I listened thoughtfully.
...
I heard the music. It was sultry and melodic. I quite liked it. It was an orchestral piece, with a strangely familiar violin playing foremost in the song.
Wait.
Familiar.
My eyes widened a bit as I started to try and pay more attention. I know this song! I had heard this somewhere before. That's weird, I don't usually listen to this kind of stuff. The noise coming from the radio began to seep into the room and swirl around my head. I laid my head back on the couch and closed my eyes.
"The sounds that I heard were some of the most beautiful sounds that had ever reached my ears. The long notes couple with short jabs, played rhythmically and melodically. Perfectly. “
My thoughts echoed in my head. Familiar. I was forgetting again. Why is this. I was beginning to be lost in the music. I don't know why, but I could not think of anything. A sound began to fill the air as a woman started singing. My mind began to fluctuate. Images ran through my mind, strange images. Images of a girl with lavender hair, a bench in a park, a beach. Snow... sand... whiteness...
The music began to die down with the woman's voice as it was fading out. I head the DJ's voice come on.
"Thanks for listening everyone out there. That was an Edvard Grieg piece, by request for a… Kyon. Ich Liebe Dich."
Everything in my head stopped.
The world stopped.
My eyes shot open as I looked at the ceiling.
Ich liebe dich.
Ich liebe dich.
Ich liebe dich.
The words reverberated over and over.
My mind began playing a clip of that girl with short lavender hair playing a violin. She turned to me and softly said "Ich liebe dich".
Suddenly, all the images came into view in front of me at once and began flashing with bursts of light. What is going on? What is this? Am I awake? Is this real? Help! The music began to play, and my head began to ache as a throbbing started, going in synch with my heart beat. Stop! What is going on?! I couldn't move! Familiarity! Forgotten! Remember! Remember! Remember!
"..."
"Yuki-rin."
Yes! That's it! Nagato! That's who that is! Nagato! The violin! The dream states! The bench! The beach! The sleepover! The diary! It all came back! What had happened? This is not reality! The fire flickered in the fireplace as it was dying, creating a strobe light effect in my head that only personified my confusion.
I switched my panicked gaze to the sleeping senior on my lap. Asahina-san?! What is this?! I shot to a standing position off of the couch, waking Asahina-san in the process.
"Ow. Kyon-kun, what's wrong?"
"Asahina-san! What is this? What is going on?"
"W-w-wha? Asahina-san? Eh? I was... just... sleeping on you."
"I could see that! Why?"
"Because you... you are my boyfriend."
I stared at her. What is this. Have I just been thrown into an alternate reality? Where is Nagato? I need her to explain!
Wait. Nagato said to me in the dream state that she was being terminated. No. It can't be. She said everyone wouldn't remember her! I needed to make sure this wasn’t true before doing anything else.
"Asahina-san! Do you remember Nagato?!"
"W-wha? N-Nagato? No...?"
I took her hands and looked into her eyes, which were beginning to get teary as she saw the alarm in my face.
"Are you sure? Think!"
"Um... Y-yes... I think I don't know anyone by that name."
It was beginning to be true.
"Asahina-san! You are a time traveler, are you not?!"
She started and recoiled a bit, a gasp escaped her mouth. Her eyes widened as she lay on the couch, my hands clutching hers.
"H-ho... How did you k-know that? I haven’t told anyone..."
"You did tell me Asahina-san! This all isn't right! Nagato should be here! Koizumi is an esper, right? Haruhi created the time quake 4 years ago right?"
She again raised her expression to surprise.
"T-time quake? K-Kyon-kun, how do you know that about Suzumiya-san?"
"Because you told me! Remember? The cherry blossoms, the bench along the river? We've had adventures! We went back to Tanabata 4 years ago!"
She just whimpered and stared in frightened surprise, her mouth agape.
I let her go and stood upright. They actually did it. They actually terminated her. She's gone. Time is different now. They altered the data.
But she can't be gone. She's still trying to reach me. That song. For me. "I love you". She is still here. I need to find her. I need to know what to do Nagato.
I stared at Asahina-san, the lovable sempai was still withdrawn on the couch. The fire was dead now, and the room was dark.
"Asahina-san, I have to go. Please... excuse me."
I walked hastily to the door and put my hand on the knob before I heard a sound from behind me.
"Kyon...kun..."
I turned to see Asahina-san, now standing, with her arms extended toward out me. It was the universal gesture for "I want a hug." Wow, she really was my girlfriend, I hadn't seen Asahina-san ever take this kind of initiative. Her face was close to tears, worry written all over it. In her mind, things had just gotten a lot more complicated. Her quivering lips moved again.
"Please. Just to say goodbye."
I walked over to her and held her. She was warm. I wanted to comfort her. Another feeling washed over me, as an image flashed through my head with such speed that I only had a second to comprehend.
‘Kyon-kun’ I murmured. He stopped us right in the doorway and turned to me. 'Yuki-rin' he said quietly as he placed his hands on my shoulders. 'It will all be alright.' He said this as he pulled my body close to his, and embraced me.
Nagato. I instantly let go of Asahina-san. She gasped in surprise, her eyes snapping open.
"Sorry Asahina-san, I really have to go. Please. Don't think about this for right now. Something is... wrong, I'll tell you later."
I turned quickly and exited, leaving her standing there, alone, in her dark apartment.
I knew I had to find Nagato, but I had no idea where. The only thing I could think of to do was to go to her apartment. I ran along the streets, exasperated, until I came to the familiar place. My eyes ran up and down the tall building that I had so often visited. I was just here for a sleep over with the SOS Brigade. With Nagato. I need to find her. Please let something happen to tell me what’s going on!
I looked at the intercom outside and pressed my thumb into the button labeled "708".
A voice came out after a few seconds.
"Yes?"
"Nagato?"
"What? No, this is Suzumiya Haruhi."
"Haruhi?!"
What?! Haruhi? What was she doing in Nagato's apartment? What was with this? This was just like an alternate reality. The fact that Nagato is missing from the timeline must mean that it has altered the state of the world. Now it's a place where Asahina-san in my girlfriend and Haruhi lives in this luxury apartment complex. I had never been to her house before, so I had no idea what kind of money or family or anything that she had. Also, it’s too bad I’m too freaked out right now to enjoy Asahina-san being together with me, I’ll have to go talk to her tomorrow or something.
"Yes, that's what I said. Is that... Kyon?"
"Y-yes. Haruhi, I know this sounds weird, but I can I come up there for a second?"
"W-what? To my apartment? Um... y-yeah, sure. Door's unlocked, go ahead."
I thought maybe there would be some sort of clue as to where Nagato might be in the apartment. I hoped that Nagato would leave some form of communication for me, like when I was lost in the disappearance world. This was strangely similar.
I ran inside and made my way with equal haste to the elevator. It seemed to take forever as it ascended up each level, one by one. It opened to the same badly lit hallway as before, when I chased after Nagato in the dream state. I went along the corridor until the number plates on the door counted up to 708. I knocked.
"Coming."
There was some rustling as if the person behind the door was hurrying to clean up, or prepare their appearance.
Haruhi answered the door in her pajamas. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her gold hair ribbon was nowhere to be found . Her cheeks were a bit red as if she were embarrassed. Wow, this is weird. Why isn’t she yelling at me or something? I need to proceed with caution here.
"Can I come in?"
"S-sure."
She opened the door all the way and stood aside as I slowly walked into the apartment. It was the exact same as Nagato's from before, only it had furniture. It was lavishly furnished in fact, and smelled of some type of spice. It was eloquent, and seemed sort of girly yet cozy at the same time. I concluded that Haruhi had been watching TV, as the television was on and there was a blanket on her sofa across the room from it.
She stood timidly by the door. As if suddenly remembering something, she jumped and looked at me.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Should I get some tea? One second..."
She started to head for the kitchen but I stopped her.
"Haruhi, do you remember Nagato?"
She looked at me as her eyes darted toward my hand which was clenched around her wrist. Her cheeks remained a crimson hue.
"N-Nagato? No. I don't know a Nagato. I don't think I ever have."
Just as I thought. Sigh.
I let go of her and she went to the kitchen to make tea. I headed over to the kotatsu in the middle of the room and sat down. Haruhi was watching some romantic show it looked like.
My eyes slithered over the room, taking it in. Now that I think about it, the walls are a different color, they are a light purple color, whereas Nagato's walls where just white. Light purple... Nagato. The curtains were open and I could see the city lights keeping watch over everything in the dark. There was quite a view from this apartment.
My gaze went around until I came upon Haruhi's school bag on another table. My eyes stopped moving.
There I saw a familiar book. I got up eagerly and walked over to it. My hands picked up the smooth book and looked at the cover.
It was the novel Nagato had been reading. The French one. L’Étranger.
Haruhi came in with a trey in her hands, a tea pot and two cups sitting on top of it. She saw me looking at the cover of the novel.
"I'm reading that right now. It's really interesting."
"Is that so?"
I carefully turned to the page Haruhi was currently on. What I wanted to see was there. A bookmark. And what I saw on the bookmark was even more surprising, as I audibly gasped involuntarily.
On it was the cartoon drawing of Nagato from before. The one that had a chibi-like Nagato holding the chocolates. The one I had found when I had dropped her bag and all her stuff spilled out. That small scribble on a piece of paper. This time, the cartoon Nagato wasn't saying "Kyon-kun" though. In the speech bubble were the words "7 days." My mind tried to put a meaning to this. I traced through everything Nagato had said to me about her changing. I tried to remember her diary. I tried to remember what Koizumi had said about dream states. Nothing. 7 days? What?
"Do you like that bookmark? It was given to me as a present from someone. It was in my shoe locker, with a note."
"Haruhi, do you have that note still?"
"Eh? Uh. Yeah, one sec."
She went over to her bag and rummaged through her front pocket. She produced the note and showed it to me. My enthusiasm was fulfilled, as the writing on the note was Nagato's handwriting, with computer like font that spelled out “For you.”
"Do you know who gave it to me?"
"Uh. Yes. No... I mean. Not really."
Her face blushed again, and her head bent slowly downward as she put the note back. She walked over to the kotatsu and poured two cups of tea.
I continued staring at the bookmark. 7 days. What was Nagato trying to say?
"Haruhi, when did you get this? How long ago?"
Her face turned upward as if in perpetual thought, her hand came to her chin as her index finger pointed out in a Koizumi like pose.
"Hm... um... about 10 days ago, I think. Last Friday."
10 days. That's... the day I first read Nagato's diary. At least in my time line, my memory. That's the day that I learned something was wrong with Nagato. Wait. What did she say then?
"Lately there have been disturbances in my data correlation abilities. I cannot process the data I used to process easily. The Entity is non-responsive."
"Um... how long has this been happening?"
"7 days."
Then it hit me. She had said that she had started changing 7 days from that Friday. That means something happened.
"Who Nagato? Who did this to you?
"..."
"You." She said.
That means that I did something 7 days before that. My emotions went on high as I remembered this. Nagato crying in the clubroom. Her running out and me chasing her. But how would I know? I can't remember anything like that. I didn't think I had done anything weird or romantic toward Nagato at that time. Now I have the clue, but I don't know what to do. Oh, Nagato, why are you so cryptic?
Haruhi saw my grimaced face, lost in thought.
"Are you ok Kyon?"
"Haruhi, can I have this?"
I held up the book mark.
"Um. Yeah, I guess."
She looked back toward the table and sipped her tea.
"Thanks."
I put the bookmark into my coat pocket, and placed her novel back into her bag. I then turned toward her.
"Haruhi, I'm terribly sorry for barging in on you, but I forgot I have something I have to do. I'm sorry, but I must leave."
My legs moved me toward the door, but stopped when I heard a small sound from behind, a familiar sound, like one I had just heard when exiting the previous apartment I was in.
"Kyon..."
My head swiveled around to see Haruhi standing. Her face was bright red, as she was blushing furiously. Her right hand was outstretched toward me, her fingers parted, as if she were string to grab something, to hold on to something. Her left hand was clenched at her chest.
I stared back at her. Her eyes stared into mine with longing. What is it Haruhi? Do you need to say something to me?
Just as I was going to speak, her gaze lowered, along with her outstretched hand. Her bangs covered her eyes, as her faint and fragile voice came to me.
"Bye."
I stared at her again. She was just standing there. I saw her slightly starting to shake again, like she had on the train. I couldn't see her face.
"Bye."
I turned and exited the apartment while closing the door quietly. Walking to the elevator, I took a look outside. For once, I was sorry to not see snow falling. My eyes were only met with the gentle lights of the city, caressing the night in its arms.