Seeing Haruhi and Nagato eating non-stop, Sakanaka-san’s mother continued to prepare more and more treats for us. For some reason, our topic had suddenly shifted to Sakanaka-san’s dog, and we laughed as she told us about Rousseau’s past antics. Rousseau was slumped by Sakanaka-san’s side, as he cocked his ears, as if trying to understand what we were saying. In the end, however, he seemed to lose interest, as those black eyes of his began drooping. Asahina-san was looking tenderly at Rousseau, her eyes full of affection.
“You’re such a good owner, Sakanaka-san. Your dog must be really happy now.”
Maybe humans weren’t allowed to keep pets in the future? But to tell you the truth, I would choose Asahina-san over a pet any day. Clad in a maid uniform, and greeting me every day, from “Good morning” till “Good night”, wasn’t that better than having a pet? Plus, wasn’t that what a maid was supposed to do, as opposed to brewing tea in club rooms?
Ah who cares. It’s all just a part of my fantasy anyway.
So in the end, all we did today was visit Sakanaka-san’s house, play with her dog, take him out for a walk, let Asahina-san recite some Buddhist Scriptures while clad in a miko outfit, and taste the delicious cooking of Sakanaka-san’s mother before returning home. In other words, it was just like visiting a friend’s house to play.
After that, I thought that what really happened would remain a mystery, as the incident slowly disappeared from my mind and Haruhi’s…
However, a few days later, something unexpected happened.
It was Friday. Everything had ended, including the dreaded end of term exams and intramural sports. Now all that mattered was to wait for the class distribution and spring holidays. The graduation ceremony had already been held back in February, and one third of North High students had already left, making the school seem more peaceful than before. After the holidays, however, the new stressful term would begin, and many things would change.
The first thing that would change would be my status. I wonder if I’ll have anyone to call me senpai? But come to think of it, I doubt anyone would join the SOS Brigade. I wonder what Haruhi thinks of this?
After the second period, I found myself looking out of the second window from the back, as I enjoyed the warm, spring sunlight. I was beginning to stretch my arms when:
“Kyon.”
The person sitting behind me said as she jabbed me with her mechanical pencil.
“What is it?”
If you want me to persuade new members to join the SOS Brigade, you can forget it.
“That’s not it. There’s something else I have to tell you.”
Haruhi said as she pointed her mechanical pencil towards the front of the class.
“Sakanaka-san didn’t turn up for class today. Didn’t you notice?”
“I didn’t… Is that so?”
“Yeah. She’s been absent since this morning.”
That was really shocking, hearing Haruhi talking about our other classmates! The only others she had ever talked about were the idiot Taniguchi and Asakura Ryouko.
“She’s one of our clients, remember? I had originally wanted to ask her if she had resumed her original route, and how Rousseau was doing. Didn’t you notice she wasn’t here at all? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten all about her and her adorable dog, and those delicious treats too!”
Normally, I would have been glad that Haruhi had finally shown some concern for a female classmate, but if she hadn’t told me about this, I wouldn’t have noticed at all. Sakanaka-san had indeed asked for our help to investigate a certain ‘forbidden area’ where dogs dared not approach near her home, but what’s that got to do with her being absent? Sure, we did leave the whole case unsettled, but I don’t see any connection between that and being absent. After all, being absent once in a while is hardly out of the ordinary.
“Maybe it’s because of the change in seasons that she caught a flu or something? Besides, it’s almost the end of the school term now. Skipping a few days of class is hardly surprising.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
Faced with my solid deductions, Haruhi can only agree.
“The same goes with me. If it weren’t for the SOS Brigade, I would have skipped school entirely. But, that doesn’t strike me as something Sakanaka-san would do. She’s not the type to suddenly turn the calendars red – or at least that’s what I think.”
For someone who uses our holidays for SOS Brigade activities, I don’t think you follow the calendar too strictly either.
“Hmm…”
Haruhi said as she bit her pencil.
“Let’s go check that place out one more time, shall we? We’ll have Mikuru-chan dress as a nurse this time.”
What’s the point of having someone dress up as a nurse when they don’t even have basic first aid skills? Why don’t you just admit that you want more high-class treats?
“That’s not it, you fool. I want to see JJ. Haven’t you ever wondered if his fur will grow back after being completely shaved, like a sheep?”
Haruhi began twirling her pencil in her hands in a bored fashion, as the bell for the third period rang.
School progressed as usual, with nothing eventful happening. Soon school was over.
Koizumi and I were once again playing chess in the clubroom, while Asahina-san, dressed in the maid uniform that was much more suitable for her compared to the miko costume, was busy brewing tea.
Just then Haruhi, who was supposed to be late due to class duty, barged in the room and shouted:
“Kyon, it’s exactly as I thought!”
Even though Haruhi said so with a smile on her face, I could detect an aura of anxiety radiating from her. I had a bad feeling about this.
“I finally know why Sakanaka-san is absent from school. She says that she’s not really well today.”
“But the truth is, the one who’s not really well is JJ. She even brought him to a vet, but even they couldn’t diagnose what was wrong with him. Sakanaka-san was really worried about him, and therefore decided to skip school. When I talked to her over the phone about it, it seemed that she was on the verge of tears. She hasn’t eaten anything since this morning, since JJ didn’t, and that made her feel even worse—-”
“Calm down.”
That was all I could say, faced with Haruhi who was talking non-stop, but my comment seemed to further anger her. She glared at me as if I were someone who refused to save a dying person, and said:
“What’s wrong with you? JJ’s sick, and yet you can still sit down here peacefully and continue drinking tea? JJ hasn’t drunk a sip of water so far today, and that has further weakened him!”
If drinking tea is an offence, then Koizumi and Asahina-san should be equally found guilty. Furthermore, how was I supposed to know you would come barging in here, and that so many things had happened in the Sakanaka residence?
“As I was doing class duty, I suddenly had the urge to phone Sakanaka-san, and when I did—-”
I am shocked. That’s the second time Haruhi has said something that surprised me. I wonder when had they exchanged cell phone numbers?
“Now’s not the time to be doing class duty.”
Haruhi said as she withdrew her cell phone from her pocket.
“There really is something there! I bet that it’s this thing that caused JJ to fall sick! Didn’t Sakanaka-san say that before? Other dogs in the neighborhood have also mysteriously fallen ill.”
Now that you mention it, there was something I wanted to confirm.
“If it’s the same disease they’re having, then —-”
“It’s the same sickness all right.”
Haruhi interrupted shakily.
“I just heard from Sakanaka-san that when she brought JJ to the vet, he said that he had treated dogs with the same disease a few days ago. Curious, she pressed on, only to find out that the dogs in question were Higuchi-san’s.”
Who’s Higuchi-san again?
“Oh, you’re such an idiot, Kyon!
Didn’t Sakanaka-san tell us about her the day she came to visit our clubroom? Higuchi-san’s the one who has many dogs. She lives near Sakanaka-san, and one day one of her dogs fell ill. Weren’t you paying any attention then?”
Well, pardon me for not being attentive enough! I bet that you forgot all about her until you just made that phone call minutes ago! Why are you blaming me then? And, even though Rousseau is sick now, why do you seem so excited about it?
“What sickness is it?”
“Didn’t I say earlier? It’s an unknown sickness.”
It seemed that Haruhi had forgotten all about the Commander’s chair, as she continued to talk while standing upright.
“Even the vets are baffled. Physically, he’s perfectly fine, but it seems that he’s too unmotivated to do anything. The same goes with Higuchi-san’s Michael! They won’t even budge to eat!”
Haruhi shot her glance straight at me, as if suggesting, “it’s all because of you that they’re sick now, you moron!” I avoided her glare, and checked what the other Brigade members’ reactions were.
Asahina-san had apparently freaked out after learning that Rousseau was sick, because she was tightly hugging the tea tray in her hands. Nagato had lifted her gaze from her book, and was quietly listening to what Haruhi had to say. Koizumi had already put the chessboard back in its box.
“We need to investigate again.”
Koizumi said while revealing a smile that resembled a vet trying to persuade a sick pet’s worried owner not to worry.
“This is, after all, something that Sakanaka-san asked us to help her with. Now that things have taken such a turn, I don’t think we can just ignore it.”
“T-that’s right! Why don’t we go visit Rousseau?”
Upon hearing Koizumi’s suggestion, Asahina-san furiously nodded her head.
Nagato merely closed her book and stood upright.
Every Brigade member was worried about Rousseau’s well-being. Even though we had only been together with him for a day, each member seemed to be fondly attached to him. I’m afraid that this is one of the qualities that only dogs possess.
“What about you?”
Haruhi said as she glared at me, as if picking a fight.
“What about me?”
Even if it was lazy old me, upon hearing that cute, doll-like dog fall sick, I couldn’t just sit down and do nothing. Unlike Shamisen, this was a dog born with a silver bowl in its mouth, a high-class, pure-bred Scottish Highland White Terrier. His health shouldn’t be that bad.
I ignored Haruhi and looked at the other members.
“………”
The girl who had assured me there was nothing wrong with that place had an unusually weird expression on her face. It was as if Nagato Yuki was in deep thought.
After Asahina-san had finished changing, the five of us ran out of school, as if competing in a race to the station. After reaching the station, we found the train about to depart, and after running at full speed, barely managed to get on it. Once Haruhi put her mind to something, her battle capabilities easily exceeded that of a Mongolian cavalry captain.
It didn’t take us long to arrive at the high-classed neighborhood, as Haruhi anxiously pressed Sakanaka-san’s doorbell.
“I’m coming…”
Sakanaka-san came to get the door. From what I could tell, it seemed that she had thinned down a lot, as her face was full of worry, and her eyes red from crying.
“Please come in, Suzumiya-san. Thanks for everything…”
The five of us entered at Sakanaka-san’s invitation, and proceeded towards the hall. We immediately saw Rousseau sleeping lazily on the elegant sofas. Maybe it was due to his bad mood, but the glistening luster that used to be present on his snow white fur was gone. As he slid down the sofa, he passed us without bothering to lift his head for a glance, nor did he bother to wag his tail or move his ears.
“Rousseau-chan…”
Asahina-san was the first one to approach Rousseau. She knelt down and patted Rousseau’s small nose, which in turn caused him to look back at her with his little black, sad eyes. After that, he laid down on the floor, as if too lazy to do anything else. Even when Asahina-san placed her hand on his little head, Rousseau merely responded by flicking his ears. There was something very wrong with him, all right.
“When did he start behaving like this?”
Haruhi asked. Sakanaka-san wearily replied:
“Around yesterday evening. At first, I thought that he was just tired and wanted to take a nap, but when I woke up this morning, I found him slouched on the same spot, not moving at all. He even ignored his dinner. That’s why I didn’t bring him for a walk this morning, and instead took him to the vet…”
Everything had happened just like Haruhi had said in the club room. Right now, we could confirm two things: One - the reason of the disease was unknown, and two – it was the same disease some other dog had earlier.
“Yes… Higuchi-san’s Michael is good friends with Rousseau…”
Asahina-san slowly patted Rousseau’s head, as if comforting a patient using her tenderness. Her sadness seemed infectious, as even I was beginning to feel sorry for Rousseau. In order to stop it from spreading, I secretly punched myself in the chest.
“Oh yes, there’s something I would like to ask.”
Said the shameless Koizumi.
“If I’m not mistaken, Higuchi-san’s Michael should have been infected by this disease five days ago, right? If so, how is his condition now?”
“I gave Higuchi-san a call this afternoon. According to her, Michael’s still as weak-spirited as before. Because he refuses to eat anything, Higuchi-san is forced to bring him to the vet for nutrition shots. If the same thing happens to Rousseau, what am I going to do?”
If things go on like this, he’ll become weaker and weaker. Thinking back about the energetic Rousseau I had met just days ago, compared to this lifeless dog lying on the ground, I suddenly realized how big the difference was. I also thought about Shamisen lying down on my bed lazily, without moving at all, but I guess they’re totally different circumstances, huh. This is worrying, all right.
“There’s another thing I would like to ask.” Koizumi continued. “Are Michael and Rousseau the only dogs who are infected with this particular illness? You seem to know many friends who have dogs in this neighborhood.”
“I haven’t asked anyone else, but it was only when Michael fell ill that the rumors spread. If other dogs had fallen ill too, I’m sure that I would have heard about it somehow.”
“Then where does Michael’s owner, Higuchi-san, live?”
“Erm, just opposite my house, three houses away… Why?”
“Nah, it’s nothing.”
Koizumi said as he finished his questioning session.
Sakanaka-san lowered her head and said:
“Spirits are really behind everything, eh? Even the vet didn’t seem to know what was going on…”
Haruhi replied with her face full of anxiety:
“There’s always a possibility… But it’s definitely strange. Plus, we can’t be sure if spirits are really the cause. Now’s not the time to be playing around though.”
From the look on Haruhi’s face, it seems that she may regret wishing for how spirits would come flying, and how she made Asahina-san dress up as a miko and start chanting some weird Buddhist Scriptures. Now you know that it’s impossible to exorcise spirits by merely dressing as a miko, eh? Haruhi is really troubled, all right.
“Yuki, did you notice anything odd?”
Even though it’s rare for Haruhi to ask Nagato anything, upon hearing her request, she politely put down her bag, walked towards Rousseau and knelt down beside a worried Asahina-san, before staring at Rousseau straight in the face.
I stood beside her and watched, not daring to even take a breath.
“………”
Nagato placed her finger beneath Rousseau’s chin, lifted his head, and looked straight into Rousseau’s smal
l, black eyes. She had a very serious look in her eyes, like a sensor trying to read data off a DVD. She brought her head closer to Rousseau, until they practically touched each other, and stared like that for 30 seconds.
“………”
Nagato slowly stood up like a drifting spirit and redirected her gaze at the original spot she was standing before. Very slowly, she shook her head.
Haruhi sighed loudly.
“Even Yuki can’t tell anything, huh. Sigh…”
I don’t know what she expected from Nagato, but it seems that the current situation is out of Nagato’s simple healing powers. Even aliens had no cure, eh? Just as I was about to despair, I suddenly felt a strong gaze penetrate my back.
I turned to look back, only to see Nagato staring straight at me. Her eyes could probably see things smaller than a microscope; she suddenly nodded, then drifted away again.
Haruhi, Asahina-san and Sakanaka-san must have missed Nagato’s actions, seeing that they were too occupied with Rousseau. But there was one person I knew who would always be watching Nagato-san’s every move.
“I think it’s time to head back.”
Koizumi whispered into my ear.
“There’s nothing we can do even if we remain here. That includes you and me.”
Koizumi gave me a soft laugh before continuing. Don’t keep on whispering in my ear. It’s gross.
“Even though Suzumiya-san has yet to explode in fury, from the looks of it, she can’t calm down either. You know what Suzumiya-san does when she’s enraged. If she does go on a rampage, I’m afraid that even I’ll be terrified. We need to end this soon, and the only one who can do that would be —-”
Koizumi elegantly turned his head towards Nagato, then turned back to wink at me. Ugh. That’s disgusting.
‘What do you mean?’ was what I was about to say, but I had a feeling that Koizumi knew that I understood what he meant perfectly. Maybe it’s because I’m a smart person overall. Why is it that I can be so smart when it comes to reading Nagato’s facial expressions or Koizumi’s hidden clues, but fail to answer every single test question? Sigh. All right then, but please note that I’m not doing this for your sake, Koizumi. I just don’t want to have Rousseau and Sakanaka-san dragged into all of this.
Volume 8 - The Indignation of Suzumiya Haruhi Page 17