Koizumi, defined by Haruhi as a mysterious transfer student, is of course an unnatural person, and this ‘Organization’ that he belongs to is even more suspicious. Could they be taking us to some secret research lab of theirs, trying to perform live autopsies on Haruhi and Nagato?
“I have a very rich distant relative.”
Koizumi gave a harmless smile.
“He’s so rich that he can buy himself an uninhabited island and build a mansion on it. The fact is, he’s already built the mansion. It just went through the opening ceremony a few days ago, but as no one was willing to travel that far to such a place, he’s decided to invite some friends and relatives over. And this is where I came in.”
Is the island that bizarre? I started to recall the story of “Robinson Crusoe” I read a long time ago.
“No, it was supposed to have been an uninhabited island. Summer vacation is approaching, and if the SOS Brigade is going on a trip, it would be more fun if we go there together. The owner of the mansion seems to welcome us coming as well.”
“And that’s how it is!” said Haruhi.
She gave out a smile that would get us in trouble.
“A lone island! And a huge mansion! This is a rare situation! I can’t wait to go there. This is the perfect stage for the SOS Brigade!”
“Why?” I asked, “What does a lone island and mansion have to do with your favorite mysterious events?”
Alas, Haruhi is already lost in her own world.
“A lone island in the middle of the sea! And a mansion! Koizumi, your relative is really understanding! Hmm, I think I’ll get along well with him.”
The only people who can get along well with Haruhi are mostly weirdos. The mansion owner must be a very weird person.
I couldn’t tell if Nagato had heard what Haruhi had announced; it was easy with Asahina-san, who had stopped eating, with an astonished look on her face.
“Don’t worry, Mikuru-chan. You can have all the pickled fish you want there! Am I right?”
“I’ll try and arrange it.” Said Koizumi.
“That’s how it is.”
Haruhi took another colored armband from the drawer of the commander’s desk. I have no idea how many she’s made.
“Towards the lone island! A lot of interesting things await us there. As for our mission there, I’ve already decided!”
She said while writing on the armband with the felt-tip pen. The letters looked scribbled, but it seemed to say “Master Detective”.
“I’d like to hear what you’re plotting.”
“Nothing really.”
Don’t try to deny it without even flinching!
Haruhi left after being satisfied with her announcement, Asahina-san and Nagato also left the club room and headed home. Only Koizumi and I remained behind.
Koizumi flicked his hair parting and said,
“It’s true. Even if I didn’t suggest it, Suzumiya-san was bound to find somewhere to go anyway, am I right? Since summer vacation is quite long. Would you rather go searching for Tsuchinoko in the mountains instead of walking along the seaside?”
“A Tsuchinoko… ? …Forget it, don’t actually go and explain what it is. I know that much, at least.”
“Three days ago, I happened to find Suzumiya-san in the bookstore in front of the station. I saw her staring hard at a map of Japan while looking through some sort of mysterious magazine that deals with Unidentified Mysterious Animals.”
A field trip in search of UMAs, huh? This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but the scary thing is that Haruhi would actually expect to find something mysterious.
“It seems Suzumiya-san intended to return home with something. I had a feeling she would start with Mt. Hiba first. That being the case, it would be better for us to have a sunbath by the seaside. Besides, I already had somewhere in mind.”
How coincidental for you to have somewhere in mind. On the other hand, however, between watching the girls in swimsuits by the seaside; and climbing the hills in the bright sunlight, the difference is like heaven and hell.
“The key is that this is a privately owned uninhabited island, a so-called ‘closed circle’.”
This I had to ask about. Asking about what you do not understand is the best policy.
“What’s a ‘closed circle’?”
Koizumi’s smile was not that annoying. If it was, then the problem lay with the other person’s eyes. Even I knew that.
“Perhaps there’s a similarity……” Koizumi smiled and paused for a while, “I guess it would be more appropriate to call it a ‘Sealed Reality’?”
I didn’t know how funny my expression was, but Koizumi was giggling.
“I was kidding. A ‘Closed circle’ is a mystery term. It means a situation in which all direct contact with the outside world has been lost.”
Explain so that everyone can understand!
“This is a setting most commonly seen in classic detective novels. For example, if we were to go skiing before the harsh winter……”
Oh yeah, didn’t Haruhi say she wanted to go to the snowy mountains?
“Going to the snowy mountains for a field trip is not too bad, but what if then, the largest blizzard ever on record were to arrive?”
If we were to go there, one would check the weather report first.
“That’s the problem. We’re surrounded by the blizzard and thick layers of snow and there’s no way off the mountain, and there’s no way for people to come up as well.”
Then think of something!
“There’s no other way out. That’s why it’s called a ‘closed circle’. Under these circumstances, something usually happens. I guess, the most common event is that someone gets murdered. So the stage is set. There is no way out for the suspect and the other people, and no new characters can enter from the outside, let alone the police. It wouldn’t be fun if we had to resort to scientific forensics to rat out the suspect.”
As usual, what is this guy trying to say?
“Ah, sorry about that. In other words, Suzumiya-san’s theme for this trip is to be involved in such a mysterious event.”
That’s why she chose a lone island?
“Yes, a lone island. I was thinking, she’d probably conjure a condition in which the island is somehow sealed off, and during this time when no one can escape, someone would get murdered. A hilltop mansion in the middle of a blizzard or a lone island in the middle of a tropical storm are the perfect ingredients for a ‘closed circle’, where there is no way for the authorities to get involved. The ultimate stage for a crime mystery.”
“You seem to be enjoying this.”
Haruhi doesn’t just lose control during the summer, but you don’t have to go encourage her further. And I’m not saying this out of jealousy of not getting the vice-commander armband.
“Because I like such a stage as well.”
I didn’t want to argue with him, but I had to say this, I don’t like it at all.
Koizumi ignored my preference, and continued as though reading a thesis,
“Think about those ‘Master Detectives’. Normally, those with normal lives rarely get involved in inexplicable murder cases.”
“Makes sense.”
“Yet why is it that these novel detectives happen to get involved in these puzzling cases one after another? Do you know the reason?”
“Because if they didn’t, there would be no story to write.”
“Exactly, your answer is absolutely correct. These things only happen in the fictional world of novels. Yet to say such realistic things would just take the fun out of it, since Suzumiya-san intends to be in the world of fiction.”
Thinking hard, that was the reason why she founded the SOS Brigade.
“In order to encounter such surreal and mysterious events, one needs to go to a suitable location. Because that is how the detectives in these novels end up in these events. So, one must become a major player on the stage itself. If one desires to have these events come to thei
r doorstep, they must either have a relative who’s a brilliant detective, or they must be a police officer themselves, or wait till they publish a series of novels themselves.”
That makes sense. I know Nagato loves science fiction novels, but I never knew she liked mystery novels as well. As for Haruhi, I guess she probably loves both.
“For an outsider to play the role of a detective, one needs to be dragged unexpectedly into these circumstances, and to solve them in the swiftest manner possible.”
“They can’t just have things incidentally happening to them all of a sudden.”
Koizumi nodded,
“Yes, reality seldom develops like in novels. The chances of an intriguing sealed room murder in the school are very low. So, Suzumiya-san must be thinking of going to a place with more favorable circumstances.”
The idiom “turning something on its head” came to mind suddenly.
“And that location is the stage for this field trip - the lone island. For some reason, most people would find this the most suitable stage for a murder mystery.”
What do you mean by “most people”? Your “most” is probably a minority.
“Thus, strange events often happen where master detectives appear. This is not coincidental, but rather, these detectives possess the supernatural power to summon events to themselves. It is not the events that draw the detectives, but rather it is the presence of these detectives that creates such events.”
I looked at Koizumi with a look as though I had just stepped on a sea slug.
“Are you fully conscious?”
“I’m always suitably conscious. I didn’t come up with the connections between detectives and closed circles, I’m just trying to convey Suzumiya-san’s way of thinking. To put it simply, the whole reason for this trip is because she wants to become a detective.”
What does she need to do to become a master detective? It might be possible if she were to script and direct the whole thing, playing both the suspect and the detective at the same time.
“At least this is better than having to go to the mountains to search for Tsuchinoko or Bigfoot. I only told Suzumiya-san that I know someone who’s built a mansion on an island and is inviting guests. Of course, I don’t expect anyone to get murdered.”
Koizumi’s relaxed smile and even the shrugging of his shoulders has got me worked up.
“I’m just trying to provide Suzumiya-san with a little entertainment. Otherwise, who knows what other ideas she might conjure out of her boredom? If that’s the case, it would be easier for us to handle things by providing a stage beforehand.”
“Us?”
“This has nothing to do with the ‘Organization’. Though I did make a report just to be safe. I may be an esper, but I’m still a high school student. Furthermore, there’s nothing wrong with a field trip. It’s quite normal for high school students. Isn’t going on a trip with your close friends something worth looking forward to?”
It would be fine if Haruhi was looking forward to having a normal trip. I wouldn’t object if she’d chosen a normal hot spring or a beach near the mainland, but why pick a lone island? This is Haruhi we’re talking about, she’d probably bring in two typhoons along the way.
……Forget it, no matter how far-fetched she is, she’s not the sort of person who would wish for anyone to get killed, or there would be bodies piling up everywhere in North High already. There seemed to be other important things to consider, so I went into deep thought.
Four days and three nights by the seaside in summer. A white beach, and probably some relaxing sunshine. I think I can endure such a summer, bring it on, Mr Sunshine!
Ah yes, I’d better prepare myself for the mesmerizing sight of Asahina-san in her swimsuit.
The mansion owner was extremely generous in providing free lodging and food for us. We only needed to pay for the return trip from the island itself.
And so we met by the ferry pier at the harbor, awaiting our ferry’s arrival.
Haruhi couldn’t wait to get going already. We just had the end-of-term assembly yesterday, in other words, today is the first day of summer vacation. It seems that Koizumi’s relatives didn’t really mind when we chose to go, but to set off right on the first day of vacation is proof of Haruhi’s anxiousness. Any hope of enjoying my summer vacation peacefully without ever having to see Haruhi’s face has now been shattered. This is all because of the presence of Haruhi, and it is also the meaning of her existence.
“It’s been a long time since I rode a ferry.”
Haruhi slid her shades down and gazed at the grey sea in the distance by the pier. Her dark silky hair flew in the sea breeze as she stood by the edge of the boarding dock.
“Such a huge ship! It’s so incredible, for such a large ship to float on water.”
Asahina-san, carrying two suitcases with her hands, looked up in awe at the ferry. She wore a white one-piece summer dress and a straw hat on her head. This made her look very cute. Having the laces of a hat tied under her chin suits her. Her eyes glimmered like a child’s, looking at the old ferry as though it were some ancient wooden boat dug up by archaeologists. Perhaps ships don’t float on water in her age.
“……”
Nagato’s face remained blank as usual, staring at the corporate logo printed on the hull of the ferry. For once, Nagato was not wearing her uniform, but a checkered sleeveless shirt. Carrying a yellowish-green umbrella, she gave the impression of a weak girl who just came out of the hospital. I wish I had an instant camera with me. If I took a picture of this, I could probably sell it for a high price to Taniguchi.
“The weather’s excellent. This is great, you could say it’s the perfect weather for sailing, though we’ll be in second class today.” Koizumi said.
“That suits us just fine.”
It’s not like the cabins are that big anyway. Even though this is going to be a long cruise, we’re still ten years too early to have a private cabin to ourselves. This is, after all, a high school field trip.
Technically, this trip isn’t a study trip or anything of the sort. A trip just for the sake of having one can’t really be counted as meaningful. Usually there’d be a consulting teacher accompanying a club’s field trip activities. There is none for the SOS Brigade. This is because we’re still not recognized by the school as a formal club. It would be surprising if a teacher had come along. In North High, you can’t even form an association if you don’t have a consulting teacher. In my speculation, even if a teacher did agree to be consultant to the SOS Brigade, Haruhi would probably find that unnecessary. Because if she didn’t, she would have abducted one already, just as she abducted us.
As I stretched my muscles, Asahina-san walked slowly to my side. Her round eyes became even rounder.
“How does that huge ship float?”
How does it float? Besides its buoyancy, I don’t think there’s any other way. Don’t they teach physics in Asahina-san’s age?
“Really? Buoyancy… you’re right. I see. So this is what they mean by ‘one is usually unaware of their surroundings’…”
What are you talking about? Asahina-san nodded her head with a serious look on her face.
Let me try asking. Just one question wouldn’t hurt.
“Ahem……Asahina-san, do ships in the future float using state-of-the-art technology?”
“Um……you think I can tell you?”
Having heard her put it that way, I shook my head. I didn’t think so. I tried asking another question,
“There’s got to be a sea?”
Asahina-san held the tip of her hat and tilted her head,
“Um, yeah, there’s a sea.”
“That’s great to hear.”
I don’t know whether she comes from the near future or distant future, but it certainly is pleasing to hear that the earth didn’t turn into a desert in the future, that is, if the sea is cleaner than it is now.
I had wanted to get more useful information from this time traveler.
“Kyon! Mikuru-chan! What’re you doing? It’s time!”
Haruhi shouted loudly, telling us it was time to board.
Speaking of which, I was late for the meeting today. As I was about to leave in the morning, I found my bag to be heavier than usual, so I unzipped it and had a look. Instead of my clothes and bathroom kit, my sister was inside. The night before, she kept shouting, “I wanna go too!”, after I let it slip that I was going on a trip with Haruhi and the rest. I spent two whole hours trying to cheer her up, but I never thought she would sneak into my bag. I yanked my sister out of the bag and interrogated her on where she hid my stuff. It took some time trying to do a good cop, bad cop routine on her as she chose to remain silent. “If you don’t tell me, then I’m not gonna buy any presents for you! I’ll use all that money to buy lunchboxes for the SOS Brigade!”
The SOS Brigade gathered in the corner of the second class cabin, chatting while eating the lunchboxes I bought. Actually, Haruhi and Koizumi were the only ones talking the whole time.
“How much longer till we get there?”
“Judging from the speed of this ferry, I’d say about six hours. According to the plans, they’ll be waiting for us at the harbor. Then we’ll ride on their speedboat for about half an hour before arriving at the lone island with the mansion on top of it. I’ve never been there before, so I’m not sure what it’s like there.”
“I bet it must be a weird mansion. Do you know the name of the architect?” Haruhi asked.
“I didn’t ask that much, I do remember him saying he hired an architect to build it.”
“I can’t wait.”
“It’d be great if it could match your expectations, but I’m not too sure myself as I’ve never seen it before. But for someone to build a private mansion on an uninhabited island, the mansion must be unique in some way. That would be perfect.”
Said Koizumi, but I certainly wasn’t hoping for that. If the blueprint design was as Haruhi had imagined it, then the architect who drew it must have been awake for three whole nights, suffering from alcohol poisoning, and nodding occasionally while drawing drowsily. I don’t want to stay in such a house, a normal inn will do for me. Just a traditional Japanese breakfast for me, thank you very much. If the mansion had a name, Haruhi would probably become a serial killer just to trigger some events.
Volume 3 - The Boredom of Suzumiya Haruhi Page 13