Epilogue - Vol 2

By the time the school's festival started, we weren't that busy any more.
Actually I think the most fun of any event occurs during the preparation stage. Once an event
starts, everyone is so busy that no one notices time passing by. Very soon it's time to conclude
and clean up. So before that happens, let's enjoy this free time! At the very least, I'm free today
and tomorrow; I hope no one will yell in my ears during my relaxation period.
As for Haruhi, the only person who just might complain about this peaceful time, she's in her
bunny suit again, passing out flyers at the front gate. I kinda want to know how many she'll
manage to pass out before teachers and administrators step in again.
I walked out of the club room, striding towards the lively campus.
My heart, filled with unrest just a while ago, finally seemed to have settled down. Koizumi
believed that, and Nagato also promised, so there shouldn't be any problems right now. Because
Shamisen can't talk anymore, this is what I needed to confirm that everything is back to normal.
The current Shamisen is as silent as Nagato; I felt that it would be inhumane to chase him out, so
I thought I would keep him as a pet. Also, my sister is very excited about having a stuffed toy
that can move about on its own, so I told my family that "the previous owner decided to move."
This male cat would sometimes make meowing noises, but that was what it sounded like to my
ears, maybe it really did talk... Eh, nevermind.
In terms of disappearances, those who were wearing weird costumes from several days before
did not actually participate in the festival.
I've seen the pamphlet passed out by the executive committee, and they weren't on there. I've
also spied on possible club rooms (such as the Theater Society), and failed to find anything. Who
were those people?
"Hmm."
I unconsciously murmured to myself, while walking leisurely in the school's building.
What if there were supernatural people walking around the school? What if they were also
wearing futuristic clothing? Right, just like Nagato.
Had it been really like that, then Nagato-san might've dressed like that to conceal her true
identity from Haruhi, if only to give her the impression that clothing like those only appear
during festivals.
Nagato has always been the silent type, so I have no idea if any of this is true. But it's very likely
that another sort of conflict is happening outside of my knowledge, perhaps happening in a very
relaxed manner. Even if we're on the verge of Earth's destruction, I believe she'll still remain
silent. If I ask her directly, she might tell me. But, I think she would just say something that is
incomprehensible using the language available to humans, and I don't think I have the intellect to
try to comprehend what she might say.
Hence, I chose to be silent myself. Especially to Haruhi, I believe I should keep my silence.
Change of topic. Our movie is currently playing in the viewing room. I believe only ours and the
Movie Research Society's film are being played. This is after Haruhi made a huge protest to that
club, and they finally gave in and agreed to show our movie along with their production. Hey, it
couldn't be helped, only that room has a projector. I have to admit they were looking very
troubled until the very end, but still, they, as well as anyone else in this world, don't seem to have
the ability to reject any decision from Haruhi. So in the end, they were practically forced to show
our low quality movie that has commercials in the middle.
Since we're at this topic, I should also let you know that according to the student executive
committee, the SOS Brigade still isn't an official club. So "The Adventure of Asahina Mikuru"
isn't on the official list of events. Looks like we won't be able to win the first prize after all. I
think all those votes intended for us will probably go to the Movie Research Society instead.
Oh yeah, remember that midnight movie that supposedly gave Haruhi the idea of making our
own film? After some research, I discovered that it didn't win the Golden Globe Award. It was a
black and white promotional movie which was shown in the Cannes Film Festival called "Only."
She must've been crazy to think this film would win any award. To confirm this, I even rented
the film. It turned out that I fell asleep within the first half hour. So I have no idea whether the
content is fun or boring. I think I'll attempt it again before I return it.
Since it was a rare opportunity, I also watched the play from class 1-9.
Koizumi was smiling the whole time during the play. His character was someone who died very
stupidly at the end; the stupidity level rivaled that of Haruhi's movie. But somehow it seemed to
be quite popular. Maybe I was unconsciously putting it down because the actor was Koizumi.
His acting wasn't really acting, it seemed more like him just representing himself normally. That
was probably another reason why I didn't think it was so good.
After bowing to the clapping audience, Koizumi winked at me as a reply. Of course I ran away
from his wink as it reached me. As for Nagato's class, I was going to make fun of them too.
However, I didn't expect that there was already a long line to the fortune telling room. I took a
small peek inside. Under the black drapes, in the middle of several girls dressed in black, I saw
Nagato's white and expressionless face. She put her hands on the crystal ball, talking to the
customers in a tone without much emotion. Nagato, please, just help them search for lost items
and don't do anything else.
About all those abnormalities caused by the movie, they all seemed to be fixed by adding "This
story is a work of fiction" at the end. But this world can't just be fixed by a simple saying like
that, can it? Haruhi, Asahina-san, Nagato, Koizumi, and I are all still here, aren't we? How is
"There is no relation to any real people" even true? Maybe someday, all of us would live out our
own lives, but at least the SOS Brigade still exists right now, both its chief and its members.
Ahh... How should I put it? Sometimes I would think, maybe all of this is a giant lie, and Haruhi
really doesn't have any powers, it's just a joke made up by Asahina, Nagato, and Koizumi. Those
doves were merely painted; Shamisen talking was just ventriloquism or a hidden microphone;
and cherry petals in Fall, plus the Mikuru Beam were just special effects.
Even if it's really like this, I still can't say much to this.
"So there's no way that it's possible."
No matter what now, that kind of situation isn't exactly happy. I think everyone being stranded
together is much more relaxing than being stranded alone with Haruhi. I'm glad I'm not the only
SOS Brigade member.
Even if I'm the only normal one.
The classroom clock entered my line of sight, and this place has already become a place to relax,
just like the 1-5 classroom.
Ah yes, now is not the time to space out, it's almost time. How can I waste this precious discount
coupon? Not to mention I'm also interested in what she's wearing.
I quickly ran towards the meeting place decided with Taniguchi and Kunikida. The plan was to
visit the udon place waited upon by Asahina-san.