The Awakening of John Smith: Chapter Five
Sep. 3rd, 2016 11:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points: Haruhi Suzumiya AU
Chapter Summary: 'Kyon' rejoins the world and has some explaining to do.
Word Count: 2730
Rating: T
Note: I haven't read everything, so this probably is not canon compliant.
'John' here got a little chatty.
Chapter Summary: 'Kyon' rejoins the world and has some explaining to do.
Word Count: 2730
Rating: T
Note: I haven't read everything, so this probably is not canon compliant.
'John' here got a little chatty.
I tumble back into the world face-first, and don't particularly want to move. The tatami is far too comfortable.
"Are you...Kyon?" Koizumi's cautious voice. So I've landed about where I wanted to. Well, that's a pleasant surprise. It's nice knowing I can actually aim. Considering I'm still having issues remembering how I'm supposed to do this stuff.
"Of course it's him! I told you he'd be back." Haruhi, you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice. Which is not something I thought I’d ever say.
"Yes and no, but we'll go with yes. It's the easiest answer." I probably have to sit up at some point, don’t I? "What about everyone else, are they…?"
"I made sure they'd all be here ready for you to return. They refused to tell me anything, but I've been ordering them around anyway." That's our Haruhi. All proud about that and everything. "What are you?"
"That's a difficult question—but before this, I should probably mention that while odd people like us exist, most of us are found around you, so all the weirdness in your life isn't representative." I don't want her suddenly making everyone interesting. "And anyway, it's normal people that make interesting people unusual by contrast. So if everyone was interesting, it'd probably feel boring too." I struggle into a sitting position and stare at Koizumi, who looks like he's swallowed a lemon. For once, I have a point that he doesn't have a quick response for. Go me. Haruhi looks oddly thoughtful.
"Anyway, it's a little like Koizumi, I guess, except more so. As an Esper, he's pretty much a normal guy until he's in a certain space, which is where his powers kick in. The same's sort of true for me, except it's absolutely true. No matter where he is, he's still an Esper. When I'm in a world, I am completely normal. I stop being what I am, apart from the ability to notice any changes in the world, and a bit of a push to make sure that said changes never happen or undo them." I can't tell her everything, because I still can't remember everything. "If a particular version of me in a world gets killed, it's as if I've never existed there, but I don't actually die. You brought me back, Haruhi, but since you weren't sure exactly how to do it, I'm not the version of me you remember. I'm more…a composite of the different versions of me, and your impressions of me, with my powered form peeking through just a little bit." Yeah, I know, eloquent, but human languages don't exactly have the words for this sort of thing. Now I know why the rest of them had such troubles trying to describe themselves early on.
"You're a slider, aren't you?" Haruhi asks, staring at me in wonder.
"Well….partly. You saw the slider when I left. Though we're called 'World Walkers'. Right now, I'm…sort of partly a Walker, which is really weird, because I don't think it's ever happened before. The very nature of Walkers kind of says that shouldn't happen."
"Is it dangerous?" Nagato asked softly. I knew what she meant. Is this dangerous to the status quo we've grown used to?
"No. I'd feel it if that were the case. In fact, when Haruhi found me, I felt it. Which was kind of freaky." Freaky, and natural. Like I did it all the time. Which, apparently, I did.
"I was worried!" Haruhi yelped in her own defense as multiple stares turned in her direction. "What, because I'm this…whatever, I'm not allowed to be worried about my friends?"
"I think using your powers to bring your friends back is going a little overboard. Not that you've done anything else in the time I've known you, so maybe that's just to be expected," I comment, still trying to get my breath.
"I'm somewhat insulted that some really powerful people think I need babysitters. Are you really all my friends, though?" Haruhi asked softly. I didn't need to glance in her direction to know that her eyes were certainly not dry.
"I'd like to think so," I volunteered, after a sudden, shamed silence came over the group. "I mean, it might have started as a necessity, but I'd like to think that everyone really cares, and not just thinks of you as an unstable goddess. Either that, or my life is pretty sad. But then, I'm pretty much just a manufactured personality, so feel free to ignore anything I say."
"I do that anyway," Haruhi answered, poking fun at me, but that in itself was a good sign.
"Manufactured how?" Koizumi asked quietly, staring at me. I didn't particularly like him looking at me as if I was an especially interesting lab rat, but that's the Esper for you.
"Okay, I'm not entirely clear on the details. I think I need to be a Walker to actually tell you any of this stuff. Same thing as I can't access all of my memories of the other people I've been. But…someone was needed in this particular world to stop the change, and I was the best Walker for the job. I mean, ugh, how do I put this…" It's like having a word on the tip of your tongue, except you can't quite remember it, and it's driving me insane. "…Each of us Walkers, if we enter a world, we suddenly have always existed there. Like, we had a past, a birth certificate, everything. Depending on the world, that's different. There are a few overarching characteristics, but…I've been superpowered and a woman before, though I don't actually remember much about those worlds. A lot of it is about blending. Here, I was going to be a completely, utterly normal skeptic. And that was the right character for the part. Or something."
"Like casting parts in a play," a soft, musical voice guessed, and I nodded, smiling at Asahina.
"I…think so, yeah." I frown at the tatami mat. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea that I'm nothing more than a character that I'm playing. No matter how true it is."
"How'd you get stabbed?" Koizumi, of course, getting to the heart of the matter. Haruhi must have mentioned that part.
"…This part, I don't remember really well at all. I've got two sets of memories, both fuzzy, and…well, I'm not sure how any of this works out." I sigh. Time for more confusing explanations. "One of my memories is of a trial. I think it was in the space in between worlds, which means it was probably the Walkers putting me on trial."
"What for?" Haruhi looks shocked. So she doesn't remember, after all. I'd wondered.
"I have no idea. Well, no, that's a lie. It was something about loyalty. Maybe they wanted to recall me or something and I didn't want to leave. I don't know. Walkers are in charge of all dimensions, so one in particular…it's bad if it's lost, yeah, but not something that can't be worked around. But I like this world. I like all of you, and I'm willing to put my life on the line if that's what it takes." Wow, I sound so fierce and determined I impress myself. Everyone's all looking shell-shocked. I smile as I look at all of them. "What? It's not like none of you have saved my life before-not that you remember. And I like having a purpose and working together with everyone—even Koizumi." Asahina and Nagato, of course, are no trouble. And Haruhi's…Haruhi.
"If I'd gotten a guilty verdict, this version of me would've been executed. No one would remember me, and it's uncertain whether or not I'd even have remembered all of you. In essence, it would've been easy to get me to do what they wanted." Haruhi looks outraged for my sake, and even Koizumi looks a little shaken. Asahina, darling that she is, puts one cute hand on my arm to comfort me.
I shiver. Here comes the part that…that downright scares me. "Some part of me remembers the trial. I'm not sure how the verdict went. But another part of me remembers being escorted to the courtroom, and then suddenly…" Flash. The thump of bodies, dropping to the floor. "I'd apologize, but I don't have anything to feel sorry for." Blood. Pain. Falling.
I snap out of it, breathing heavily. That's actual, genuine concern from this crazy group that I'm a part of. "S-sorry, I…I felt like I was back there. It…felt real. I'm not sure…" I try to stop hyperventilating, and eventually succeed. "Suddenly my guards were dead. Someone stabbed me. Dying is another way for our existence to be forgotten, so…no one remembers what we do. We don't get funerals or anything, because no one remembers we were alive to begin with. I don't know who it was, only that it was the last person I expected, and they knew…knew that I was a Walker, and were targeting me specifically. And Haruhi. She's in danger, as is this world. I don't know what they want, but…how would they know I was a Walker when none of you, even, knew?"
"Are there entities in your organization who would wish for more data to analyze?" Nagato, quiet. I remember Asakura and shudder. She's just kind of always terrifying, and I really don't want to remember cold steel right now! Then again, being stabbed is exactly how I died this time, too, and may I say that I've decided that I really, really don't like deaths by stabbing?
Haruhi's looking between the two of us like we're speaking in code. I guess, in a way, we are.
I reach deep inside for the answer, since it's not bubbling to the surface like everything else, and can't help the slight chuckle when I actually find it. "Turns out we weren't actually interested in Haruhi at all." Despite her reaction when she'd learned of her 'powerful babysitters', now she looked offended. Damn it, Haruhi, make up your mind. "The only reason I was even here was that she, um, no offense, tends to be a bit unstable, so to keep the world the same, someone needed to keep an eye on her."
"Those jerks! I can be stable if I want to!" Haruhi was gearing up for a rant.
I met her eye. "Yeah, but that'd be boring." She stopped midway through her next sentence, blinking as if I'd slapped her. I can't remember being this straightforward with her before, but then, I couldn't be, could I? Right. That makes sense.
Koizumi chuckled. It's interesting that even after he doesn't have to keep up the charade, he's still got a perfectly maintained personality. Or maybe that actually is his personality. If so, that's kind of scary. I'd like to be able to think it's not actually natural. "Well, I would assume that all of our organizations did a lot of research on you, since you appeared to be normal and Haruhi would hardly have taken interest in you if you were, as you looked, perfectly normal. If we didn't know, that means that you become exactly what you appear to be in whatever universe you appear, correct?"
"Yeah, and I only know what I am when it's needed for a particular world and job." The sudden thought jumps into my head that some 'jobs'—looking after Haruhi, for instance—would be pretty much lifetime commitments. In which case, how old am I….? On second thoughts, I'd rather not know.
A sudden clutch at my arm brings me back to Miss Asahina, who's looking worried about me. She's sweet. "I-if no one in this universe could've known…th-then that just leaves people who weren't from this universe, right?"
Oh.
I frown. "Just one problem. A reaction from Haruhi is the last thing that we'd want, since it would involve destroying a plane we've sworn to protect. As best we can, anyway. And I'm pretty sure that's the impression I got. And then my guards were killed, or whatever. Their actual forms, which means they ceased to exist, not whoever they became in whatever world…" I realize my voice has become more emotionless, distant, as I spoke. Half-Walker, seriously…no.
No. It can't…
"The only one who actually vaguely remembered me," I continue slowly, "…was Haruhi. Which means when I'd been dragged out there, she began to suspect who…sorry, what…I was. It's the only way she could've remembered, even with my powers. The fact that none of you remember means that none of you knew who or what I was. I'm going to guess that when Haruhi started talking about me, all of you asked your organizations about me, right? Did they have a clue?"
Now Koizumi's frowning, and he looks distinctly troubled. Maybe his personality is a little more complicated. I can deal with that better. Because really, someone who's smiling all the time is not someone I can trust. "I…couldn't say for sure, but it sounded like that wasn't the case."
"I'm pretty sure my superiors were genuinely shocked. And scared," Asahina offers.
I turn to look at Nagato, who unblinkingly shakes her head. That's enough for me.
"We can't rule anyone out, probably, but…it's more likely that it's someone I know, then." If only I really knew them. This issue of memory's beginning to become problematic. "We don't have the entire Walker organization against us, which is good, because I don't think if that was the case that we'd even have a chance." Maybe sounding a little depressing and/or glum, but honestly, it was just realistic. The numbers are huge, and they could be anyone. And if they were particularly freaked out, they would just blow the world. Even if that sounds irresponsible and against everything that they stand for. What sort of weird place had I come from anyway? "They'd never sanction something like that. If I had to guess, the allowing all of you to come to my trial was supposed to be some sort of amazing kindness. Most people don't get to say goodbye when we leave, especially if we're being pulled in for misbehavior or whatever. Upsetting Haruhi wasn't in the agenda. We're probably dealing with a rogue." Which was still pretty bad news.
"What would that entail?" Koizumi, stop pulling the face like we're going to be thrown into a war. You're scaring our lovely Asahina. Though, perhaps you're right. Maybe, to some extent, this is a war.
Before I can answer, Haruhi shakes her fist. "I'm allowed to be angry if people are wanting to execute my brigade!"
I can hear her begin to say friends before chickening out, and hope the others hear it too. I smile slightly and nod. "Yeah, just don't go destroying anyone's universes. People would have a right to be angry back."
"How irresponsible do you think I am?" Well, given your track record…I'm better off not answering that question. Instead I turn back to Koizumi's question.
"I don't remember what my powers are, exactly, though it does include healing, because otherwise I'd be dead by now. And they could be anybody, though they probably know what they are. If they're a rogue, then it's possible, if painful, that they can also assume different forms. It hurts me enough to try to go between Walker form and…what I am now. They have to be able to tolerate a lot of pain. They probably also got messed up in a reset somehow, and figured out some way to hide from the other Walkers. They might even be able to take several of the forms they've had over the years." My shoulders slump a little, but then I smile. “Well, we’ve dealt with a lot of things so far, even if none of you remember that, and this time we’ve even got Haruhi helping us out. We’ll deal with this.”
“I have the feeling you were never this naïve when I knew you,” Koizumi mutters, but it actually draws a smile from Asahina-chan, and he doesn’t directly disagree with me.
“Oh, yeah! The Brigade’s purpose, this time, is to protect the world! We won’t fail!” Haruhi pumps her fist in the air, and it’s nice seeing her enthusiasm be channeled for some good once in a while.
"Are you...Kyon?" Koizumi's cautious voice. So I've landed about where I wanted to. Well, that's a pleasant surprise. It's nice knowing I can actually aim. Considering I'm still having issues remembering how I'm supposed to do this stuff.
"Of course it's him! I told you he'd be back." Haruhi, you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice. Which is not something I thought I’d ever say.
"Yes and no, but we'll go with yes. It's the easiest answer." I probably have to sit up at some point, don’t I? "What about everyone else, are they…?"
"I made sure they'd all be here ready for you to return. They refused to tell me anything, but I've been ordering them around anyway." That's our Haruhi. All proud about that and everything. "What are you?"
"That's a difficult question—but before this, I should probably mention that while odd people like us exist, most of us are found around you, so all the weirdness in your life isn't representative." I don't want her suddenly making everyone interesting. "And anyway, it's normal people that make interesting people unusual by contrast. So if everyone was interesting, it'd probably feel boring too." I struggle into a sitting position and stare at Koizumi, who looks like he's swallowed a lemon. For once, I have a point that he doesn't have a quick response for. Go me. Haruhi looks oddly thoughtful.
"Anyway, it's a little like Koizumi, I guess, except more so. As an Esper, he's pretty much a normal guy until he's in a certain space, which is where his powers kick in. The same's sort of true for me, except it's absolutely true. No matter where he is, he's still an Esper. When I'm in a world, I am completely normal. I stop being what I am, apart from the ability to notice any changes in the world, and a bit of a push to make sure that said changes never happen or undo them." I can't tell her everything, because I still can't remember everything. "If a particular version of me in a world gets killed, it's as if I've never existed there, but I don't actually die. You brought me back, Haruhi, but since you weren't sure exactly how to do it, I'm not the version of me you remember. I'm more…a composite of the different versions of me, and your impressions of me, with my powered form peeking through just a little bit." Yeah, I know, eloquent, but human languages don't exactly have the words for this sort of thing. Now I know why the rest of them had such troubles trying to describe themselves early on.
"You're a slider, aren't you?" Haruhi asks, staring at me in wonder.
"Well….partly. You saw the slider when I left. Though we're called 'World Walkers'. Right now, I'm…sort of partly a Walker, which is really weird, because I don't think it's ever happened before. The very nature of Walkers kind of says that shouldn't happen."
"Is it dangerous?" Nagato asked softly. I knew what she meant. Is this dangerous to the status quo we've grown used to?
"No. I'd feel it if that were the case. In fact, when Haruhi found me, I felt it. Which was kind of freaky." Freaky, and natural. Like I did it all the time. Which, apparently, I did.
"I was worried!" Haruhi yelped in her own defense as multiple stares turned in her direction. "What, because I'm this…whatever, I'm not allowed to be worried about my friends?"
"I think using your powers to bring your friends back is going a little overboard. Not that you've done anything else in the time I've known you, so maybe that's just to be expected," I comment, still trying to get my breath.
"I'm somewhat insulted that some really powerful people think I need babysitters. Are you really all my friends, though?" Haruhi asked softly. I didn't need to glance in her direction to know that her eyes were certainly not dry.
"I'd like to think so," I volunteered, after a sudden, shamed silence came over the group. "I mean, it might have started as a necessity, but I'd like to think that everyone really cares, and not just thinks of you as an unstable goddess. Either that, or my life is pretty sad. But then, I'm pretty much just a manufactured personality, so feel free to ignore anything I say."
"I do that anyway," Haruhi answered, poking fun at me, but that in itself was a good sign.
"Manufactured how?" Koizumi asked quietly, staring at me. I didn't particularly like him looking at me as if I was an especially interesting lab rat, but that's the Esper for you.
"Okay, I'm not entirely clear on the details. I think I need to be a Walker to actually tell you any of this stuff. Same thing as I can't access all of my memories of the other people I've been. But…someone was needed in this particular world to stop the change, and I was the best Walker for the job. I mean, ugh, how do I put this…" It's like having a word on the tip of your tongue, except you can't quite remember it, and it's driving me insane. "…Each of us Walkers, if we enter a world, we suddenly have always existed there. Like, we had a past, a birth certificate, everything. Depending on the world, that's different. There are a few overarching characteristics, but…I've been superpowered and a woman before, though I don't actually remember much about those worlds. A lot of it is about blending. Here, I was going to be a completely, utterly normal skeptic. And that was the right character for the part. Or something."
"Like casting parts in a play," a soft, musical voice guessed, and I nodded, smiling at Asahina.
"I…think so, yeah." I frown at the tatami mat. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea that I'm nothing more than a character that I'm playing. No matter how true it is."
"How'd you get stabbed?" Koizumi, of course, getting to the heart of the matter. Haruhi must have mentioned that part.
"…This part, I don't remember really well at all. I've got two sets of memories, both fuzzy, and…well, I'm not sure how any of this works out." I sigh. Time for more confusing explanations. "One of my memories is of a trial. I think it was in the space in between worlds, which means it was probably the Walkers putting me on trial."
"What for?" Haruhi looks shocked. So she doesn't remember, after all. I'd wondered.
"I have no idea. Well, no, that's a lie. It was something about loyalty. Maybe they wanted to recall me or something and I didn't want to leave. I don't know. Walkers are in charge of all dimensions, so one in particular…it's bad if it's lost, yeah, but not something that can't be worked around. But I like this world. I like all of you, and I'm willing to put my life on the line if that's what it takes." Wow, I sound so fierce and determined I impress myself. Everyone's all looking shell-shocked. I smile as I look at all of them. "What? It's not like none of you have saved my life before-not that you remember. And I like having a purpose and working together with everyone—even Koizumi." Asahina and Nagato, of course, are no trouble. And Haruhi's…Haruhi.
"If I'd gotten a guilty verdict, this version of me would've been executed. No one would remember me, and it's uncertain whether or not I'd even have remembered all of you. In essence, it would've been easy to get me to do what they wanted." Haruhi looks outraged for my sake, and even Koizumi looks a little shaken. Asahina, darling that she is, puts one cute hand on my arm to comfort me.
I shiver. Here comes the part that…that downright scares me. "Some part of me remembers the trial. I'm not sure how the verdict went. But another part of me remembers being escorted to the courtroom, and then suddenly…" Flash. The thump of bodies, dropping to the floor. "I'd apologize, but I don't have anything to feel sorry for." Blood. Pain. Falling.
I snap out of it, breathing heavily. That's actual, genuine concern from this crazy group that I'm a part of. "S-sorry, I…I felt like I was back there. It…felt real. I'm not sure…" I try to stop hyperventilating, and eventually succeed. "Suddenly my guards were dead. Someone stabbed me. Dying is another way for our existence to be forgotten, so…no one remembers what we do. We don't get funerals or anything, because no one remembers we were alive to begin with. I don't know who it was, only that it was the last person I expected, and they knew…knew that I was a Walker, and were targeting me specifically. And Haruhi. She's in danger, as is this world. I don't know what they want, but…how would they know I was a Walker when none of you, even, knew?"
"Are there entities in your organization who would wish for more data to analyze?" Nagato, quiet. I remember Asakura and shudder. She's just kind of always terrifying, and I really don't want to remember cold steel right now! Then again, being stabbed is exactly how I died this time, too, and may I say that I've decided that I really, really don't like deaths by stabbing?
Haruhi's looking between the two of us like we're speaking in code. I guess, in a way, we are.
I reach deep inside for the answer, since it's not bubbling to the surface like everything else, and can't help the slight chuckle when I actually find it. "Turns out we weren't actually interested in Haruhi at all." Despite her reaction when she'd learned of her 'powerful babysitters', now she looked offended. Damn it, Haruhi, make up your mind. "The only reason I was even here was that she, um, no offense, tends to be a bit unstable, so to keep the world the same, someone needed to keep an eye on her."
"Those jerks! I can be stable if I want to!" Haruhi was gearing up for a rant.
I met her eye. "Yeah, but that'd be boring." She stopped midway through her next sentence, blinking as if I'd slapped her. I can't remember being this straightforward with her before, but then, I couldn't be, could I? Right. That makes sense.
Koizumi chuckled. It's interesting that even after he doesn't have to keep up the charade, he's still got a perfectly maintained personality. Or maybe that actually is his personality. If so, that's kind of scary. I'd like to be able to think it's not actually natural. "Well, I would assume that all of our organizations did a lot of research on you, since you appeared to be normal and Haruhi would hardly have taken interest in you if you were, as you looked, perfectly normal. If we didn't know, that means that you become exactly what you appear to be in whatever universe you appear, correct?"
"Yeah, and I only know what I am when it's needed for a particular world and job." The sudden thought jumps into my head that some 'jobs'—looking after Haruhi, for instance—would be pretty much lifetime commitments. In which case, how old am I….? On second thoughts, I'd rather not know.
A sudden clutch at my arm brings me back to Miss Asahina, who's looking worried about me. She's sweet. "I-if no one in this universe could've known…th-then that just leaves people who weren't from this universe, right?"
Oh.
I frown. "Just one problem. A reaction from Haruhi is the last thing that we'd want, since it would involve destroying a plane we've sworn to protect. As best we can, anyway. And I'm pretty sure that's the impression I got. And then my guards were killed, or whatever. Their actual forms, which means they ceased to exist, not whoever they became in whatever world…" I realize my voice has become more emotionless, distant, as I spoke. Half-Walker, seriously…no.
No. It can't…
"The only one who actually vaguely remembered me," I continue slowly, "…was Haruhi. Which means when I'd been dragged out there, she began to suspect who…sorry, what…I was. It's the only way she could've remembered, even with my powers. The fact that none of you remember means that none of you knew who or what I was. I'm going to guess that when Haruhi started talking about me, all of you asked your organizations about me, right? Did they have a clue?"
Now Koizumi's frowning, and he looks distinctly troubled. Maybe his personality is a little more complicated. I can deal with that better. Because really, someone who's smiling all the time is not someone I can trust. "I…couldn't say for sure, but it sounded like that wasn't the case."
"I'm pretty sure my superiors were genuinely shocked. And scared," Asahina offers.
I turn to look at Nagato, who unblinkingly shakes her head. That's enough for me.
"We can't rule anyone out, probably, but…it's more likely that it's someone I know, then." If only I really knew them. This issue of memory's beginning to become problematic. "We don't have the entire Walker organization against us, which is good, because I don't think if that was the case that we'd even have a chance." Maybe sounding a little depressing and/or glum, but honestly, it was just realistic. The numbers are huge, and they could be anyone. And if they were particularly freaked out, they would just blow the world. Even if that sounds irresponsible and against everything that they stand for. What sort of weird place had I come from anyway? "They'd never sanction something like that. If I had to guess, the allowing all of you to come to my trial was supposed to be some sort of amazing kindness. Most people don't get to say goodbye when we leave, especially if we're being pulled in for misbehavior or whatever. Upsetting Haruhi wasn't in the agenda. We're probably dealing with a rogue." Which was still pretty bad news.
"What would that entail?" Koizumi, stop pulling the face like we're going to be thrown into a war. You're scaring our lovely Asahina. Though, perhaps you're right. Maybe, to some extent, this is a war.
Before I can answer, Haruhi shakes her fist. "I'm allowed to be angry if people are wanting to execute my brigade!"
I can hear her begin to say friends before chickening out, and hope the others hear it too. I smile slightly and nod. "Yeah, just don't go destroying anyone's universes. People would have a right to be angry back."
"How irresponsible do you think I am?" Well, given your track record…I'm better off not answering that question. Instead I turn back to Koizumi's question.
"I don't remember what my powers are, exactly, though it does include healing, because otherwise I'd be dead by now. And they could be anybody, though they probably know what they are. If they're a rogue, then it's possible, if painful, that they can also assume different forms. It hurts me enough to try to go between Walker form and…what I am now. They have to be able to tolerate a lot of pain. They probably also got messed up in a reset somehow, and figured out some way to hide from the other Walkers. They might even be able to take several of the forms they've had over the years." My shoulders slump a little, but then I smile. “Well, we’ve dealt with a lot of things so far, even if none of you remember that, and this time we’ve even got Haruhi helping us out. We’ll deal with this.”
“I have the feeling you were never this naïve when I knew you,” Koizumi mutters, but it actually draws a smile from Asahina-chan, and he doesn’t directly disagree with me.
“Oh, yeah! The Brigade’s purpose, this time, is to protect the world! We won’t fail!” Haruhi pumps her fist in the air, and it’s nice seeing her enthusiasm be channeled for some good once in a while.
