The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya

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“Would you like something to drink?
Mori, who served as our waitress in
bottle as she smiled at me. Looks like
approve of offering alcohol to minors, b
wine before, but humans are supposed to
bad if I turned down Mori while being fa
“Ah, what are you drinking by your
that too.”
Per Haruhi’s request, a glass of wine
Somehow, I have a feeling that this w
That day, I discovered that Asahi
alcohol, Nagato was like a bottomless pit
My own memories were rather hazy
much, but I recall Haruhi drinking from t
“Man, you’re the best! I’ll leave Mi
some serious maid training. This girl real
I vaguely remembered Haruhi shoutin
The real maid, Sonoh Mori, had line
bowling pins and presented us with exp
the fake maid who was only on duty i
table, her face completely red.
Nagato continued emptying the alcoh
no idea how her body processed alcoho
bit as she emptied bottle after bottle like
Yutaka looked at her with great intere
“Are you sure you’re fine?”
The sight of him talking to Nagato in
my memory.
That night, I completely passed out a
Koizumi’s help. Koizumi told me afterw
He also mentioned that I, along with
disgraceful behavior, but I had no reco
pretend that I never heard him tell m
Koizumi’s typical jokes.
Because what happened the next day
our minds.
On the morning of the second day, a

Page144

?”
her maid outfit, held a long and narrow
e some kind of wine. Can’t say that I
but I decided to try a glass. I’d never had
o be a little adventurous. Besides, I’d feel
aced with that charming smile.
rself over there, Kyon? I want some of

was passed to everyone.
was when the nightmare began.
ina had absolutely zero tolerance for
t, and Haruhi was a hopeless drunk.
y since I got cocky and drank a bit too
the bottle as she slapped Keiichi’s head.
ikuru here as thanks for inviting us. Do
lly needs help.”
ng something along those lines.
ed up the wine bottles on the table like
pertly sliced apples for dessert. Asahina,
in the club room, was collapsed on the

holic beverages Mori brought over. I had
ol, but her complexion hadn’t changed a
a whale drinking seawater.
est.

n a concerned voice tugged at a corner of

and was able to reach my bed only with
ward with a mocking smile on his face.
Haruhi, had engaged in some sort of
ollection of any such thing, so I’ll just
me that. We’ll just say it was one of

y pushed all that stuff to the corners of

storm showed up out of the blue.

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A horizontal rain pounded on the walls
trees around the villa shook as though the

“Rotten luck. A hurricane had to show
as she looked out the window. We were
hold a meeting to discuss what we would

We had already eaten breakfast. Kei
morning. Apparently, he had a hard time
but impossible for him to get out of be
explanation.

Haruhi turned to us.
“But you know. Now we’re really
storm. A once-in-a-lifetime situation. Ma
Asahina flinched as her eyes darted
though this was business as usual.
The waves had been perfectly calm
warning. Definitely beyond acceptable c
still this bad in two days, we’ll have b
because of Haruhi’s will. A closed circle
Koizumi smiled in an attempt to reas
“It appears to be a fast-moving hurri
the next two days. It’ll suddenly disappea
“That’s what the weather forecast s
about a hurricane coming yesterday. Wh
out of?”
“It was a coincidence,” Koizumi
phenomenon. One of the signs of sum
hurricane every year.”
“I was planning on exploring the i
Haruhi said in a bitter voice. “Can’t do a
we can do indoors.”
I guess that Haruhi had completely
her focus had shifted to having fun. I app
to cross over to the other side of the is
organism washed up against the cliff.
Koizumi offered his opinion.
“I believe there is a game room. I’ll
prefer mahjong or billiards? I’m sure the

Page145

as strong gusts howled ominously. The
ey were possessed by ghosts.
w up now of all times,” Haruhi muttered
e in Haruhi’s room. We had gathered to
d do today.
iichi had been absent from the table that
e getting up in the morning, and it was all
ed before noon, according to Arakawa’s

on a remote island in the middle of a
aybe something will actually happen.”
around. Koizumi and Nagato looked as

yesterday, yet now we had a high wave
conditions for going out in a boat. If it’s
been unwillingly trapped on this island
e. It couldn’t be.
ssure us.
icane so conditions should improve over
ar the way it suddenly showed up.”
says. But there wasn’t any information
hose head did this storm happen to pop

i said calmly. “An ordinary natural
mmer. We get at least one large-scale

island, but we’ll have to cancel that,”
anything about that. Let’s find something

forgotten the purpose of this trip since
preciated the change, since I didn’t want
sland to find the carcass of some huge

l ask Keiichi to let us use it. Would you
ey could also prepare a Ping-Pong table

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if we asked.”
Haruhi approved.

“Then we’ll have a Ping-Pong tourn
determine the first SOS Brigade Ping-Po
for everyone on the ferry ride back. You’

The game room was in the basemen
and billiard tables in addition to a rou
Koizumi’s relatives running a casino on t
for gambling.

“Who knows?” Koizumi said with
sliding a folded-up Ping-Pong table over

Incidentally, Haruhi won the Ping-Po
match with me. We then moved onto a m
was the only SOS Brigade member who
of learn as we go. The Tamaru brothers
the mahjong session a lot more animated
her own winning hands that didn’t make
and “Pseudo-Outside Hand” and “Perma
after victory. It was amusing so we let he
for money.

“Ron! Probably around ten thousand
“Suzumiya, that’s capped at eight tho
I surreptitiously released a sigh of
optimistic mind-set. It would be best to
this rate, there wouldn’t be any fishy se
any aboriginals storming out of the fores
in the middle of the ocean. Nothing w
outside.
With that in mind, I decided to relax.
the Arakawa-Mori servant combo appe
Koizumi. We would need a few more c
happen.
That’s what I wanted to believe.

But as they say, it ain’t over till the fat la

Page146

nament. A round-robin tournament to
ong champion. The loser has to buy juice
’re not allowed to hold yourself back.”
nt. It was a spacious hall with mahjong
ulette wheel and baccarat table. Were
the side? This seemed to be a prime spot

an innocent smile on his face. He was
from the wall.
ong tournament after a fiercely contested
mahjong tournament. However, Koizumi
knew the rules, so it turned into a game
joined in halfway through, which made
d. Haruhi distorted the rules to make up
e any sense, like “Two Color One Void”
anently Two Away,” and declare victory
er have her fun. Plus we weren’t playing

points!”
ousand.”
relief. I should have adopted a more
o enjoy this trip in a normal fashion. At
ea monsters popping out of the ocean or
st. After all, we were on a remote island
weird would be able to come from the

. Keiichi Tamaru and Yutaka along with
eared quite normal for acquaintances of
characters before anything strange could

ady sings. I don’t know exactly which fat

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lady is doing the singing or where she’s
I find out where she is, I’d love to put he

The trouble came on the morning of t

We spent the second day having fun and
even worse that night as we held a banqu
like a replay. On the third day, I woke
hadn’t woken us up, Haruhi, Asahina,
sleeping.

I opened the curtains. The storm
morning of the third day.

“I wonder if we’ll be able to go home
I splashed cold water on my face to
straight line and carefully walked downst
The other members were already sitti
and Asahina looked about as bad as I did
same as always.
The brothers Keiichi Tamaru and Yu
reached their limit after consecutive ha
bottle upside down over their glasses. Ha
circumstances, but alcohol only served
recklessness, which only made my hea
alcohol again with such reckless abandon
“I’m going to stop drinking wine.”
It appeared that Haruhi had learned
declaration with a grimace on her face.
“For some reason, I have no memo
that an incredible waste? It’s like I lost
drunk again. We’re going alcohol-free to
Normally, high school students shoul
should praise Haruhi for a relatively de
drunken daze was pretty damn sexy so
alcohol altogether.
“Let’s do that then.”
Koizumi immediately agreed with he
the cart that had our breakfast.

Page147

planning on doing her singing, but once
er out of commission for a whole year.
the third day.

d gorging ourselves, and the weather got
uet so similar to the previous night it was
e up with a killer headache. If Koizumi
, and I would probably have kept on

was still pouring down on us on the

e tomorrow.”
o clear my head until I could walk in a
tairs, making sure I didn’t trip.
ing at the table in the dining hall. Haruhi
d while Nagato and Koizumi looked the

utaka weren’t here yet. They might have
angovers. I recalled Haruhi turning the
aruhi was arrogant enough under normal
to power her up to unrivaled levels of
ad hurt more. I resolved to never drink
n.

d her lesson yesterday as she made her

ory of what happened after dinner. Isn’t
that time. Yeah, I’m never going to get
onight.”
ldn’t be drinking anyway, so I suppose I
ecent proposal. But yeah, Asahina in a
I couldn’t say that we should get rid of

er like a sycophant as Mori came in with

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“Could you refrain from serving alco
“Understood.”
Mori bowed respectfully as she set pl
The Tamaru brothers had yet to show
finished eating. We knew that Keiichi h
the morning, but Yutaka’s absence was s
“Everyone.”
Arakawa and Mori appeared befo
composed face was slightly disturbed. I h
“What is it?” Koizumi asked him. “Is
“Yes,” said Arakawa. “Something th
have happened. A short while ago, Mori
Mori slowly nodded before she picke
“The room wasn’t locked so I went
to be found.”
She spoke in a voice that sounded
tablecloth as she spoke.
“The room was completely empty. Th
slept in.”
“And then I tried to reach the master
no response.”
Arakawa’s words made Haruhi drop
“What’s that? So Yutaka is missing a
“To be frank, that would be correct,”
“You can’t get into Keiichi’s room? I
“I hold the spare keys for the othe
exception. The master holds the only spa
documents concerning his work inside.”
The bad feeling gnawing at my gut h
a third of my spirit. The master of th
younger brother who had disappeared.
Arakawa bowed ever so slightly.
“I intend to proceed to the master’s r
to accompany me. I sense a sort of unr
naught.”
Haruhi shot me a quick look. Is she tr
“We should go take a look.”

Page148

ohol tonight? Soft drinks only, please.”

lates of bacon and eggs on the table.
w up in the dining hall by the time we’d
had an extremely hard time getting up in
somewhat odd.

ore us. I could sense that Arakawa’s
had a really bad feeling.
s there something wrong?”
hat could be considered a problem may
went to check Master Yutaka’s room.”
ed up where the butler had left off.
inside, but Master Yutaka was nowhere

d like bells ringing. Mori stared at the

here were no signs that the bed had been

r over the intercom. However, there was

the glass of orange juice in her hand.
and Keiichi isn’t responding?”
” said Arakawa.
Isn’t there an extra key?”
er rooms, but the master’s room is an
are key. It’s a precaution since there are

had expanded into a dark cloud covering
he manor who wouldn’t wake up. The

room now. If possible, I’d like everyone
rest. Though I hope my worries are for

rying to tell me something?

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Koizumi immediately stood up.
“He could be ill or in some other c
getting up. It may be necessary to break t
Haruhi hopped out of her seat.
“Kyon, let’s go. I’ve got a bad feeling
too!”
The look on Haruhi’s face was extrao

I’ll make this quick.
We knocked on the door to Keiichi

wasn’t any response. Koizumi turned th
open and stood like a wall that impeded o

We’d checked Yutaka Tamaru’s roo
said, the bedsheets were untouched, mak
spent the night in that room. Where ha
cooped up in Keiichi’s room?

“If the door is locked from the insid
the room.”

Koizumi stroked his chin as he put o
unusually terse voice.

“We have no choice. We must break
critical factor, depending on the situation

And so we bunched together and r
being Koizumi, Arakawa, and myself. N
something, but we couldn’t let her use
people. The three female members of
watched from the side as we three males
My shoulder blade was on the verge of sc

The door finally sprang open.
The momentum carried Koizumi, Ar
fell down, and then—
Yes, we have now returned to the
present. Back to telling the story in real t
………
……
…

Page149

condition which is preventing him from
the door down.”

g about this. Come on, Yuki and Mikuru

ordinarily serious.

i’s bedroom on the third floor but there
he knob but the solid oak door wouldn’t
our progress.
om on the way there, but just as Mori
king it highly unlikely that anybody had
ad he gone? Were he and Keiichi both

de, that means there must be someone in

on a thinking face before speaking in an

k down the door. Time could become a
n.”
repeatedly slammed into the door. We
Nagato could probably pick the lock or
e her funky magic in front of all these
the SOS Brigade and Mori the maid
s slammed into the door again and again.
creaming in pain when—

rakawa, and me into the room, where we

opening scene. Finally returned to the
time.

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And once that flashback had concluded
away from Keiichi, who lay with a knife
the busted lock. I marveled at the sturdin
doors were shiny… or yeah, I’m trying to

Arakawa kneeled next to his master’
Keiichi’s neck. He then looked up at us.

“He has passed on,” he said in a com
professional.

“Ah, ahhh…”
Asahina’s legs had given out and
suppose that was only natural. I felt like
face was feeling like a real blessing right
“It appears that we’re in quite a predi
Koizumi circled around Keiichi to
crouched down, carefully reached out
Keiichi’s suit.
His white shirt was stained by a dark
“Oh?” Koizumi said in a dubious voi
I looked over. There was a notepad
gone through the suit and pierced the
person who committed this act of vio
doesn’t appear that the ladies here wo
Though I suppose Haruhi and her ridicul
Koizumi spoke in a pensive voice.
“Our first priority is to preserve the
the room.”
“Mikuru, are you okay?”
It wasn’t that surprising for Haruhi
apparently fainted. She was sitting on th
against Nagato’s thin legs.
“Yuki, we’ll carry Mikuru to my room
I suppose that Haruhi talking like a
considered a sign of how upset she was.
Asahina’s arms and dragged her off towa
Once I was sure they were gone, I tur
Arakawa’s hands were clasped in
grieved expression on his face. Mori sto

Page150

d, I lifted myself off the floor. I looked
e stuck in him, to scrutinize the door with
ness of the newly built mansion; even the
o escape reality here.
’s body and placed his fingertips against

mposed voice, perhaps because he was a

she was sitting out in the hallway. I
doing the same. Nagato’s expressionless
t about now.
icament.”
o the side opposite Arakawa. Koizumi
t, and gingerly touched the jacket of

red liquid blot of irregular shape.
ice.
in Keiichi’s shirt pocket. The knife had
notepad before entering his body. The
olence must have been fairly strong. It
ould have been capable of such an act.
lous strength could have pulled it off.

scene of the crime. For now, let’s leave

to sound concerned since Asahina had
he floor with her eyes closed and leaning

m. You take that arm.”
a person with common sense could be
Nagato and Haruhi each grabbed one of
ard the stairs.
rned to survey my surroundings.
prayer over his master and he had a
ood to the side, looking down in sorrow.

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And Yutaka Tamaru was still nowhere to
“Well, then,” Koizumi said to me wi

you noticed? This situation is exactly wh
I already knew that.
“And at first glance, it would appear
Since this doesn’t look like a suicide.
“Furthermore, it happened in a sealed
I turned to look at the locked window
“How could the culprit commit the c

his escape?”
Ask the culprit.
“Indeed,” Koizumi concurred. “We’l
Koizumi instructed Arakawa to call t
“Please go on ahead to Suzumiya’s ro
That seemed like a good idea. There

I knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
The door opened a crack and Haruh

strained look on her face.
“Where’s Koizumi?”
“He should be here soon.”
Asahina was sleeping on one of the t

passing by to want to kiss that sleeping fa
she was still unconscious, so I couldn’t d

Nagato was sitting in a chair next to
tomb. Keep it up. Don’t leave Asahina’s

“Say, what do you think?”
Haruhi’s question appeared to be dire
“What do you mean?”
“Keiichi. Is this a murder case?”
If one views one’s current situation f
be able to derive the answer. I gave it a
find the master of the manor lying comp
of a knife sticking out of his chest. A mu

Page151

o be found. It was storming outside.
ith a thin smile back on his face. “Have
hat you would call a closed circle.”

that we have a murder on our hands.”
.
d room.”
ws.
crime in this inaccessible room and make

ll need to ask Yutaka about this matter.”
the police, then he turned back to me.
oom. I’ll be there shortly.”
wasn’t anything I could do here.

hi peeked out. She invited me in with a

two beds. You didn’t have to be a prince
ace, but she had a pained expression and
do anything about it.
o her like someone keeping watch over a
side.

ected at me.

from an objective standpoint, one should
try. We broke down the locked door to
pletely still on the floor with the handle
urder in a sealed room on a remote island

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in the middle of a storm. Too perfect.
“Looks like it.”
After a few seconds of time lag, Haru
“Hmm…”
Haruhi lifted one hand to her forehea
“Unbelievable. I never expected som
Her murmured words were also hard

how badly you wanted something to happ
“That’s ’cause I wasn’t expecting som
Haruhi grimaced before quickly chan

worrying about what to do in her own
celebrating. Since I wouldn’t want to
victim.

I looked at the upperclassman sleepin
“How’s Asahina doing?”
“She should be fine. She just fainted.
just like Mikuru to faint. Though at least
Haruhi’s mind appeared to be elsewh
A murder in a sealed room on a remo
chances of such a thing happening durin
Brigade, not an occult society or a myste
to Haruhi, the core principle of the
supernatural. Our present circumstanc
though I have to say that it’s a totall
experiencing something happening.
Did this happen because Haruhi desir
“Hmm. This isn’t good…”
Haruhi got up from the bed and began
She reminded me of a mischievous
wrong. Like a person joking around abo
actually happened. I didn’t feel too good
Well, what to do?
I would have loved to go to sleep n
productive to escape reality. We needed
I wonder what Koizumi planned on doing
“Yeah, I can’t just sit around waitin
stood before me.

Page152

uhi sighed in response to my answer.

ad as she plopped down on her bed.
mething like this to happen.”

d to believe. Weren’t you talking about
pen?
mething to actually happen.”
nging her expression. She appeared to be
n way. I was relieved that she wasn’t
end up playing the role of the second

ng with the face of an angel.

. I have to admire her meek reaction. It’s
she didn’t go into hysterics.”
here as she spoke.
ote island during a storm. What were the
ng our trip? However, we were the SOS
ery novel association. Though according
SOS Brigade was to search for the
ces somewhat matched that principle,
ly different story once you’re actually

red so?

n pacing around the room.
s boy after an April Fool’s prank gone
out something bad happening and then it
myself.

next to Asahina, but it wouldn’t be very
to come up with a way to deal with this.
g.
ng,” Haruhi said in a firm voice as she

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I suppose I should have expected this
face as she shot me a challenging look.

“I need to check something. Kyon, yo
“I don’t want to leave Asahina here li
“Yuki’s with her so she’ll be fine. Y
for anyone. Got it?”
Nagato coolly stared at Haruhi.
“Yes.”
She responded in a monotone voice.
Her lifeless eyes met mine for a brie
an angle where only I would notice—I th
I doubted that anything dangerous
something were to happen to worsen th
there silently. As proof I recalled the me
society president’s room a short while ba
“Let’s go, Kyon.”
Haruhi grabbed my wrist before s
hallway.
“So where are we going?”
“Keiichi’s room. I didn’t have time t
the scene again.”
I recalled Keiichi lying on the floor
blood sticking to his white shirt and
something you want to stare too closely a
Haruhi continued to talk as she walke
“And we need to find out where
building. Besides…”
We caused quite a commotion. If Yu
it would be quite odd for him not to s
possible reasons for his absence.
I spoke up as Haruhi dragged me up t
“Either Yutaka was the culprit and a
also a victim… right?”
“Yep. But things could get ugly if Yu
“I’d say that they’re already ugly eno
Haruhi gave me a sideways glance.
“Hey, Kyon. Excluding the Tamaru

Page153

s. Haruhi had a serious expression on her

ou come with me.”
ike this.”
Yuki, you lock the door and don’t open it

ef instant. She nodded ever so slightly at
hink.
s would happen to Haruhi and me. If
his situation, Nagato wouldn’t be sitting
emory of when we went to the computer
ack.

stepping out of the room and into the

to look around earlier so I want to check

r with a knife in his chest and the dried
d hesitated for a moment. That’s not
at.
ed.

Yutaka went. He may still be in the

utaka had nothing to do with the murder,
show himself. There could be only two

the stairs.
already escaped the villa or Yutaka was

utaka isn’t the culprit.”
ough regardless of who the culprit is…”

brothers, the only people in this manor

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would be Arakawa, Mori, and the five o
of those people. I don’t want to suspect
over to the police.”

She sounded awfully solemn.
I see. She’s worried that one of us w
that possibility. Asahina was out of the q
better job. As for Koizumi… Now that
closest one to Tamaru. He’d mentioned
much more relevant than complete strang
“No.”
I poked myself in the head.
Koizumi wasn’t an idiot. He wouldn’
in this kind of situation. I doubt that h
murder just because we happened to be in
Haruhi’s the only crazy person we ne

Arakawa the butler was standing erect
floor.

“I contacted the police and was instru
He bowed respectfully. The doorway
the door, and we could see Keiichi’s to
arms.
“When will the police get here?”
Arakawa responded politely to Haru
storm passes. According to the forecas
tomorrow afternoon, so I suppose they w
“Hmm.”
Haruhi kept glancing into the room. “
“What would you like to know?”
“Did Keiichi and Yutaka not get alon
Arakawa shifted slightly from his per
“To be honest, I do not know. For I h
week.”
“The past week?” Haruhi and I asked
Arakawa slowly nodded. “That wou
butler, though I was merely hired to

Page154

of us. That would mean the culprit is one
my own brigade members or turn them

was the killer. I hadn’t even considered
question and Nagato would have done a
I think about it, Koizumi had been the
being a relative. That would make him
gers like the rest of us.

’t purposely commit such borderline acts
he would be crazy enough to commit a
n a closed circle.
eed around here.

in front of Keiichi’s room on the third

ucted not to allow anyone inside.”
y was still open since we’d broken down
oes through the space under Arakawa’s

uhi’s question. “It depends on when the
st, the weather will have improved by
will arrive sometime in that vicinity.”

“I have a few questions.”

ng?”
rfect butler posture.
have only been working here for the past

d.
uld be correct. I am, in fact, an actual
be a part-time, temporary butler. Our

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contract was for a brief two weeks during
“So it was just for this villa? You we
“That would be correct.”
Arakawa the butler was only serving

this island. That opens up some possibilit
It appeared that Haruhi had the same
“Does the same go for Mori? Was sh
“It is just as you say. She was hired a
That’s rather bold. Keiichi hired a b

vacation. I have a feeling that wasn’t th
butler and maid, huh…

A minuscule doubt was tugging at th
falling off. I scooped it back up. And t
face. All I could see was an old gentlem
That was probably the correct judgment c

I kept my mouth shut and smothered
to that guy when I see him later.

“I see. So there can be permanent an
should be very helpful.”

Helpful for what? Haruhi nodded as t
“There’s nothing for us to do here i
move on.”
She took my arm again and stomped
“Where are we going this time?”
“Outside. To check if the boat’s there
I can’t say I’m very inclined to walk
Haruhi.
“You see, I only believe what I see
passed around through hearsay tends to
critical to obtain information from a prim
sources that have gone through other han
Yeah, I suppose that’s a reasonable
anything outside your own little world.
While I considered the usefulness of
to the first floor, where we ran into Sono
“Are you going outside?” Mori asked
Haruhi responded, “Yep. We’re goin

Page155

g this summer.”
eren’t previously employed by Keiichi?”

g as Keiichi’s butler while they were on
ties.
question I did.
he also a temporarily hired maid?”
at the same time.”
butler and maid solely for this summer
he best way to spend his money. Still, a

he edge of my mind and on the verge of
then I took a careful look at Arakawa’s
man who was the definition of sincere.
call, but still…?
that doubt. I’ll have to toss this question

nd temporary servants. That information

though she’d just figured something out.
if we can’t go in the room. Kyon, let’s

off.

e.”
k through the middle of a hurricane with

e with my own eyes. Information that’s
o be distorted. Understood? Kyon. It’s
mary source. Information from secondary
nds cannot be trusted.”
view, but you’ll end up unable to trust

f information media, Haruhi dragged me
oh Mori.
d Haruhi and me.
ng to check if the boat is there.”

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“I don’t believe it is.”
“Why?”
Mori smiled thinly before answering.
“It was last night. Master Yutaka app
the entrance.”
Haruhi and I exchanged glances.
“So you’re saying that Yutaka took th
Mori continued smiling thinly as her
“I only happened to pass him in the
Yutaka go outside. However, that was th
“What time was it?” asked Haruhi.
“I believe it was around one AM.”
We would have been inebriated and s
Was this confirmation that the suit-c
around the same time?

We opened the door, to be pelted by ra
past the door, which barely budged becau
were completely soaked within a matte
worn my swimsuit.

The gray cloudy sky looming over o
me of being in closed space. I guess I’m
monochrome world.

“Let’s go.”
Haruhi gallantly advanced through th
to her body because of it. I had no choic
gripped around my wrist.
We would probably be launched int
Helpless against the pouring rain, we
wharf. There was the possibility of fall
Even I was starting to feel the danger i
myself so I grabbed Haruhi’s wrist in
chance of surviving a fall if I was with he
We finally reached the top of the stai
“Can you see, Kyon?”
Haruhi’s words were almost carried a

Page156

.
peared to be in a hurry as he headed for

he boat and left the island?”
lips moved.
hallway and never actually saw Master
he last time I saw Master Yutaka.”

sound asleep at the time.
clad Keiichi had collapsed on the floor

aindrops. Once we managed to squeeze
use of the gale force winds, Haruhi and I
er of seconds. Guess I should have just

our heads with no end in sight reminded
m just not very fond of the concept of a

he rain with her hair and T-shirt sticking
ce but to follow. Haruhi’s hand was still

to the air by this wind if we had wings.
made our way until we could see the
ling off the cliff if we weren’t careful.
in this situation. I didn’t want to fall by
return. I figured that I’d have a higher
er.
irs.

away by the wind. I nodded in response.

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“Yeah.”

Page157

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Page158Goldenagato | mp4directs.com

The wharf was practically submerged
against the bank.

“The boat’s gone. If it wasn’t washed
Our only means of getting off this
fancy cruiser was nowhere to be seen.
Golly gee.
And so, we were now stranded on thi

We returned to the villa at the same snai
the door, we were both completely wet.

“Please use these.”
Mori had apparently been waiting
before continuing in a reserved voice.
“Did you find anything?”
“It was just like you said.”
Haruhi had a disappointed look on he
“The cruiser was gone. We don’t kno
Mori continued to smile like the glo
how she naturally looked. If she was up
was hidden underneath her calm and pro
this would be the normal reaction from a
As we apologized to Mori for dripp
and I returned to our respective rooms fo
“Come to my room when you’re fin
stairs.
“It’s better to stay together in these
eyes on everyone. Besides, on the off cha
Haruhi shut her mouth as she was ab
feeling that I knew what she was going to
We reached the second floor to find K
“We appreciate you going out in this
Koizumi had his usual smile on his
were in front of Haruhi’s room.
“What are you doing?”
Koizumi’s smile grew strained as
question.

Page159

d as giant wave after giant wave crashed

d away, somebody took it and left.”
island. I looked across the sea but the

is remote island.

il’s pace. By the time we made it inside

thoughtfully as she handed us towels

er face as she dried her black hair.
ow when it disappeared, though.”
ow of a firefly. Not sure if that was just
pset by the death of Keiichi Tamaru, it
ofessional demeanor. Though I suppose
a temporarily hired maid.
ping water all over the hallway, Haruhi
or a change of clothes.
nished,” Haruhi said on our way up the

situations. I’ll worry if I don’t have my
ance that…”
bout to say something. Somehow, I had a
o say, so I didn’t say anything.
Koizumi standing in the hallway.
weather.”
face as he nodded in our direction. We

he shrugged in response to Haruhi’s

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“I came to Suzumiya’s room to disc
wouldn’t let me in.”

“Why not?”
“I don’t have the slightest idea.”
Haruhi pounded on the door.
“Yuki, it’s me. Open the door.”
After a brief moment of silence, we h
“I was told not to open the door for a
It would seem that Asahina was stil
towel draped around her neck.
“It’s okay now. Yuki, open up.”
“That would require me to violate the
Haruhi looked at me with her jaw dro
“Okay, Yuki. When I said anyone
Koizumi, and I don’t count. We’re all in
“That was never mentioned. I have
should not open the door for anybody at
Nagato’s soft voice sounded like a pr
“Hey, Nagato.”
I couldn’t put up with this any longer
“Haruhi’s order has been rescinded
open the door. Please.”
Nagato spent a few seconds thinking
Then there was a click as the door unlock
“…”
Nagato’s eyes passed over the area ab
the room.
“Geez! Yuki, you need to be more fle
what I mean.”
Haruhi told Koizumi to wait for her t
I was also dying for some dry clothes. I’l
“See ya, Koizumi.”
As I walked away, I had a sudden tho
Was that whole exchange supposed
were the case, it was a pretty lame attemp
Give me a break, Nagato. Your face
only assume that you’re always serious

Page160

cuss what we would do next, but Nagato

heard Nagato’s voice through the door.
anyone.”
ll unconscious. Haruhi fiddled with the

e order to not open the door for anyone.”
opped before turning back to the door.
e, I meant anyone besides us. Kyon,
the SOS Brigade together, right?”
e interpreted the order to mean that I
all.”
riestess reading an oracle to a scribe.

r so I cut in.
d. Or here, I’ll override her order. Just

g on the other side of the wooden door.
ked and slowly opened.

bove us before she silently retreated into

exible. You should be able to understand

to get changed before entering the room.
ll back off for now.

ought.
d to be Nagato’s idea of a joke? If that
pt at wordplay and not very funny.
e and expression never change so I can
s. You could at least smile when you’re

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telling a joke. You could even smile f
guarantee you’ll look better that way.

Except that now isn’t the time to be s

I took off my wet clothes and also chang
into the hallway to find that Koizumi wa
room and knocked on the door.

“It’s me.”
The door was opened by Koizumi. I
me.
“So it seems that the cruiser was gone
Koizumi was leaning against the wall
Haruhi sat cross-legged on the bed. E
current situation as she looked up sullenl
“It wasn’t there, right, Kyon?”
“Yeah,” I said.
Koizumi spoke next.
“It appears that somebody took it an
ambiguous. The one who escaped was Y
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Nobody else could have done it,” Ko
“Nobody else was invited to this isla
manor is Yutaka. It doesn’t matter how
boat and made a run for it.”
Koizumi continued in a smooth voice
“In other words, Yutaka was the cul
still dark.”
Based on the fact that there had been
bed and Mori’s testimony.
Haruhi informed Koizumi of the prev
“As impressive as always, Suzumiya.
Koizumi engaged in his ass-kissing w
“Yutaka appeared to be in a hurry as
That would match the testimony from th
with Arakawa.”
Even so, heading out to sea in the

Page161

for no reason the way Koizumi does. I

smiling.

ged my underwear before going back out
as no longer outside. I went to Haruhi’s

stepped inside and shut the door behind

e.”
l.
Even Haruhi couldn’t find any joy in the
ly with a listless expression on her face.

nd escaped. No, there’s no point in being
Yutaka.”

oizumi answered coolly.
and and the only guest missing from the
you look at it. He must have stolen the

e.
lprit. He probably escaped while it was

no signs of anyone sleeping in Yutaka’s

vious conversation.
. You’ve already heard from her.”
while I snorted for no real reason.
though he was frightened of something.
he last witness to see him. I also checked

middle of the night during a hurricane

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would practically be suicide, wouldn’t it?
“Something may have happened whi

Such as the need to flee the scene of a mu
“Does Yutaka know how to operate a
“I was unable to verify that info

conclusion from the end result. Since the
“Hold it right there!”
Haruhi raised her hand for the right to
“What about the door to Keiichi’s

Yutaka’s work?”
“Not necessarily,” Koizumi gently r

possessed both the key to the room and t
that both keys were within the room.”

“Someone could have made a duplica
I tossed that idea into the fray. Koizu
“This was Yutaka’s first visit to the
time to make a duplicate.”
Koizumi spread his arms in a sign of
A hush fell over the room as the clash
rain faded into the background.
Haruhi and I waited in silence, unab
broken by Koizumi.
“However, there would be a slight
crime last night.”
“What do you mean?” asked Haruhi.
“When I touched Keiichi earlier, his
still been alive a short while ago.”
Koizumi suddenly smiled. And then
stood next to Asahina like an attendant.
“Nagato, what was Keiichi’s body tem
“Ninety-seven point thirty-four degre
Nagato responded without missing a
Hold on, Nagato. How do you know
you answered instantly, as though you h
didn’t say any of that out loud.
The one person who might have que
but she must have been too busy thin

Page162

?
ich created the need to escape in a hurry.
urder.”
a cruiser?”
ormation, but we can draw our own
e boat is gone.”

o speak.
room? Who locked it? Was that also

refuted her. “As Arakawa said, Keiichi
the spare. Further investigation revealed

ate.”
umi shook his head.
e manor. I doubt he would have had the

defeat.
hing sounds of strong winds and pouring

ble to find anything to say, until it was

t discrepancy if Yutaka committed the

s skin was still warm. As though he had

n he turned to the reticent specter who

mperature when we found him?”
ees.”
beat.
w that without ever touching him? And
had been expecting the question… but I

estioned the prior exchange was Haruhi,
nking since she didn’t notice anything

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wrong.
“That’s practically normal body

committed then?”
“The body temperature of a human b

degrees every hour. We can use this in
less than an hour before we found him.”

“Wait, Koizumi.”
I couldn’t hold myself back this time
“Didn’t Yutaka run off while it was s
“Yes, that’s what I said.”
“But the time of death was within an
“That’s how the numbers worked out
I pressed my hand against my forehea
“So Yutaka left the villa in the middl
himself somewhere before returning in
on the boat?”
“No, that would be incorrect.”
He easily dodged that one.
“Even if we allow for a margin of e
still have to assume that it happened aro
However, we were already awake and i
didn’t see any sign of Yutaka or even he
outside, that would be unnatural.”
“What does that mean?” Haruhi said
Her arms were crossed as she glared
learn anything by glaring at me. If you w
me.
Koizumi continued in a light tone
weather.
“This wasn’t a sinister murder. It was
“You don’t look too upset about it.”
“There is no doubt that Yutaka stabb
reason for Yutaka to escape.”
Well, that makes sense.
“I do not know the motive or circum
Keiichi with a knife. He probably had it
the front. Keiichi had no time to brace

Page163

temperature. When was the crime

being after death drops around a couple
nformation to estimate that Keiichi died

e.
still night?”

hour of finding the body?”
t.”
ad.
le of the night during a hurricane and hid
the morning to stab Keiichi and escape

error on the estimated time of death, we
ound an hour before we found the body.
in the dining hall by that time. But we
ear a single sound. Even with a hurricane

in a sullen voice.
at Koizumi and me. You’re not going to
want answers, tell the smiling boy next to

as though we were talking about the

s merely a tragic accident.”

bed Keiichi. Or else there wouldn’t be a

mstances involved, but Yutaka attacked
hidden behind his back as he came from
e himself so he was probably unable to

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resist at all when he was stabbed.”
He sounds like he saw the whole thin
“However, the tip of the knife had y

even touched his skin. The knife was th
pocket, meaning that the notepad was the

“Huh? What do you mean?”
Haruhi’s brow creased as she spoke.
“Then how did Keiichi die? Someone
“Nobody killed him. There was no k
way purely by accident.”
“What about Yutaka? Why did he run
“Because he believed that he had kill
Koizumi answered calmly as he rais
one of those famous detectives?
“Allow me to explain my thinking. T
Last night, Yutaka went to Keiichi’s ro
Keiichi with the knife. However, the kni
deliver a fatal wound.”
I have no idea what he’s getting at, bu
“However, this is when it got compli
stabbed. He still would have felt the f
Furthermore, we can assume that he suf
of a knife sticking out of his own chest.”
I was beginning to understand where
now. No way.
“That misconception led to Keiichi fa
either fallen sideways or backwards.”
Koizumi paused to take a breath.
“Upon witnessing Keiichi’s collapse,
What followed was simple. He could o
murder. Rather, he had merely used the
stole the cruiser, despite it being nighttim
“Huh? But then…”
Haruhi spoke up before Koizumi inte
“Please allow me to continue my
unconscious Keiichi afterwards. He rem
We were wondering why he hadn’t wok

Page164

ng happen.
yet to reach his heart. I’m not sure it had
hrust into the notepad in Keiichi’s chest
e only casualty.”

e else killed him?”
killer in this case. Keiichi ended up that

n away?”
led Keiichi.”
sed his index finger. Does he think he’s

The sequence of events went as follows:
oom with murderous intent and stabbed
ife was lodged in the notepad and didn’t

ut I’ll just listen for now.
icated. Keiichi believed that he had been
force of the knife hitting the notepad.
ffered a psychological shock at the sight

e Koizumi was going with this. Come on,

ainting. When collapsing, he would have

, Yutaka believed that he had killed him.
only escape. This wasn’t a premeditated
knife in a heated moment of rage. So he
me in the middle of a storm.”

errupted her.
explanation. The actions taken by the
mained unconscious until this morning.
ken up so we came to knock on the door

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to his room.”
So he was still alive at that time…?
“The knocking on the door woke up

However, he must have been in a daze,
get up in the morning. He was prob
approaching the door half-asleep when h

“Remembered what?” Haruhi asked.
“That his brother had tried to kill h
Yutaka with a knife in his hands, Keiichi
I couldn’t hold myself back so I inter
“Don’t tell me that’s supposed to exp
“I’m afraid so. After being unconscio
time. He believed that Yutaka had return
two late. The instant I grabbed the doo
from the inside.”
“The killer wouldn’t knock on the do
“Keiichi’s mind was still hazy so
judgment since he wasn’t thinking clearly
That’s some pretty arbitrary reasonin
“And so, Keiichi backed away from
must have told him that he was in danger
Koizumi shook his head the way a pe
“Keiichi tripped over his feet and fell
Koizumi bent his body as though he w
“As a result, the knife stuck in the no
body by the force of the handle hitting t
leaving him dead…”
Koizumi looked at Haruhi and me
before he continued in a firm voice.
“That is what really happened.”
What was that?
Keiichi died for such a stupid reas
conveniently? The whole knife perfectly
but Yutaka should have realized if he’d k
I prepared my rebuttal.
“Ah!” Haruhi suddenly shouted, wh
from?

Page165

p Keiichi and he stumbled to the door.
considering how hard it was for him to
bably unable to think clearly. He was
he finally remembered.”
Koizumi smiled at her.
him. And once he recalled the sight of
i promptly locked the door.”
rjected.
plain the whole sealed room deal.”
ous for so long, Keiichi had lost sense of
ned. We were probably only a second or
orknob from the outside, it was locked

oor if he came to finish him off.”
o he made a poor spur-of-the-moment
y.”
ng.
m the door after locking it. His instincts
r. That was when tragedy struck.”
erson would when telling a tragedy.
l to the floor. Like this.”
were falling forward.
otepad near his chest was pushed into his
the floor and the blade pierced his heart,

with our mouths wide open like idiots

son? How could everything happen so
y missing then not missing is one thing,
killed Keiichi or not.

hich made me jump. Where’d that come

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“Koizumi, but…” Haruhi said before
filled with shock. Why was she shocked
she couldn’t accept?

Haruhi’s eyes drifted over toward me
looked away and turned back toward K
looking up at the ceiling for some odd re

“Eh… Never mind. I’m sure that’s w
it?”

After muttering incomprehensibly for
Asahina was still asleep, while Nagat

For now, the meeting was adjourned.
According to Koizumi, the police would
so we should have our belongings packed

After killing some time doing nothi
number of questions so I headed to a cert

“What is the matter?”
Koizumi looked up from where he w
“We need to talk.”
There was one reason I had come to K
“I can’t accept it.”
That’s right. Koizumi’s deduction h
gaping holes.
“If we go by your explanation, the co
But Keiichi was lying faceup. How do yo
Koizumi stood up from where he’d b
me.
“There is a simple reason for that. Th
a false explanation.”
I didn’t show any visible reaction.
“Figures. The only one who would h
she wasn’t even conscious. I could just
that’d feel like cheating so I’d rather
thinking.”
Koizumi’s handsome face broke into
that grated on my ears.

Page166

e freezing all of a sudden. Her face was
d? Was there a part of Koizumi’s story

e. When her eyes met mine, she quickly
Koizumi before deciding against it and
eason.
what happened. Mmm. How should I put

r a while, she fell silent.
to stared blankly at Koizumi.

We returned to our individual rooms.
be coming once the storm calmed down
d up by that time.
ing in particular, I had come up with a
tain room.

was folding his clothes and smiled at me.

Koizumi’s room.

hadn’t explained everything. There were

orpse should have been found facedown.
ou explain that?”
been sitting on his bed and turned to face

he deduction I revealed to everyone was

have eaten up that story was Asahina and
t ask Nagato to tell me everything, but
r not. Tell me what you were really

o a smile as he chuckled in a low voice

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“Then I should tell you that the expla
a point. However, the last part was differ

I kept my mouth shut.
“Keiichi approached the door with th
up to that point was true. So was the lo
when the story diverged.”
Koizumi motioned for me to sit down
“It appears that you’ve realized the t
you.”
“Just keep talking.”
Koizumi shrugged.
“We rammed into the door and destr
and Arakawa. And then the door was ope
I kept quiet as I motioned for him to k
“You should already know the end r
the door when it burst open and hit the f
knife.”
I tried to picture that scene in my min
“And consequently, the knife was dr
demise.”
Koizumi sat back down on the bed an
“In other words, the culprits were…”
Koizumi smiled as he whispered to m

I looked down at Koizumi. If I’d had a
look on my face. Koizumi didn’t seem to

“Suzumiya also realized this truth, th
herself when she was about to tell us. S
She may have wanted to protect her good

Koizumi had a solemn look on his f
was saying. My neocortex hadn’t deter
tricked by his second fake deduction.

“Hmph.”
I snorted and glared at Koizumi.
“Sorry, but I don’t trust you.”
“What do you mean?”

Page167

anation I previously gave was true up to
rent.”

he knife stuck in his chest… Everything
ocking of the door by reflex. That was

n in a chair, but I ignored him.
truth. I must admit that I underestimated

royed it. Or to be specific, myself, you,
ened. Our momentum carried us inside.”
keep going.
result. Keiichi was standing right next to
front of his body. And the handle of the

nd.
riven into Keiichi’s chest and led to his

nd looked up at me provocatively.
”
me, “Myself, you, and Arakawa.”

a mirror, I could have seen the chilling
o care as he continued talking.
he way you did. That’s why she stopped
She didn’t accuse us of any wrongdoing.
d friends.”
face. But I still couldn’t accept what he
riorated to the point where I would be

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“Your goal may have been to sell t
deduction, but you’ll have to try harder if

Didn’t I sound pretty cool just now? I
“Just think about the fundamental pr
itself. Got it? There is no way that som
under such convenient circumstances.”
Now it was Koizumi’s turn to silently
“I don’t know if the hurricane was
doesn’t really matter in this case. The p
body on our hands as a result.”
I paused to lick my lips.
“You would probably claim that the
wished for it. However, despite what she
anyone to die. That should be obvious if
this whole incident wasn’t caused by Ha
coincidence that we were here when it ha
“Oh,” said Koizumi. “So what does t
“The true culprit behind this incident
summer camp, would be you. Am I wron
Koizumi’s smiling face froze for a f
However—
A chuckling sound came from Koizu
“You’ve got me. How did you know?
As Koizumi said that, he looked at m
we were in the literary club room.
I guess my brain tissue wasn’t gra
somewhat relieved. “Back when you ask
the corpse.”
“What about that?”
“You used that temperature to estima
“Indeed, I did.”
“Nagato can be very useful. As you s
anything. You should have asked Nagato
of the body temperature. No, it wouldn’t
you the exact time of death now to the ex
“I see.”
“If you had asked for the time of dea

Page168

the second explanation with your tricky
f you want to fool me.”
I’ll keep going.
roblem here. As in focus on the murder
mething like that could have happened

y motion me on.
a coincidence or Haruhi’s doing, but it
problem would be that we’ve got a dead

e whole thing happened because Haruhi
e says, Haruhi does not actually wish for
f you’ve watched her. Which means that
aruhi. And, are you listening? It wasn’t a
appened.”
that mean?”
t… or actually this trip, the SOS Brigade
ng?”
few seconds as he was caught off guard.

umi’s throat.
?”
me with eyes that were the same as when

ay for no reason. I continued, feeling
ked Nagato for the body temperature of

ate the time of death or whatever.”

should know, she can pretty much tell us
o for the estimated time of death instead
t be an estimate. She could probably tell
xact second.”

ath, Nagato would have answered that he

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