# Normal Girl

## A Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu fanfiction

### by Brian Randall

Disclaimer: The series begun with the light novel 'The Melancholy of Suzumiya
Haruhi'/'Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu' is the creation of Nagaru Tanigawa. No
disrespect is intended with the creation of this work.

Note: May contain spoilers up through book eleven.

* * *

After the events at the start of my second year of school, it had crossed my
mind that I had become desensitized to strange and probably even dangerous
occurrences. It seemed to me that nothing could go so badly it would upset me
-- that things were going to move forward in a safe, comfortable way.

It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but in some senses, I started to think that
things were a little bit boring.

That's not really a complaint, though -- considering how alarming that last
incident was, I've had quite enough excitement! If there's one thing I've
learned, it's that I don't enjoy anything when it puts my friends at any form
of seeming risk. Asahina-san being kidnapped, Nagato being threatened by her
superiors, strange alien lifeforms awakening Yasumi to protect us -- as she
thankfully did....

While I had a thought at one point that I would enjoy such things, when they
come at the expense of my friends, they are not 'fun' in the slightest.

So the boredom that I settled into after that was actually welcome, in many
ways. Oh, I wouldn't complain if some interesting things were planned, but I
felt that my mind might in some ways actually be starting to echo the thoughts
of someone else -- that I wouldn't mind being surprised a little bit.

Even so, the surprises I would be more interested in experiencing are
perfectly fine when they're limited to what normal human beings should
experience. For Asahina-san, something she can enjoy without the pressure of
struggling to become the stronger, more confident person I know she's destined
to grow into. For Nagato, something she can experience because she feels like
it, not because of strange orders from a superior -- in the Brigade or
elsewhere. And for Koizumi, being entirely honest, his 'job' doesn't strike me
as fun.

So if a certain troublemaker conspires to do something that's exotic, but
within the bounds of reason -- say, a mystery tour of a haunted castle in
Europe, this upcoming summer -- I'd accept that with unflinching complaint.
Wouldn't that satisfy everyone's desires? Even, I'll admit ... my own?

This all led to a sense of complacency. I came to realize that I'd accept
almost any strangeness, and after what I'd seen Yasumi do, I wasn't really
_afraid_ of anything anymore. It wasn't like I came to see life as 'too safe
to be interesting' -- though I could understand why someone would think that.
Just because Yasumi _is_ there, should we need her, preventing the outlandish
and undesirable things that we cannot understand from destroying us....

There is still the possibility of danger in the real world anyway. Mundane
things can still be threats -- I look both ways before crossing the street as
any sensible person should. I obey my teachers and my parents when they give
me instructions.

And ... well....

...in that vein, I have made small steps toward bridging a certain distance.
The threat of cram school is the biggest one looming on my personal horizon --
a storm-front from my mother that threatens to crash down on my idle days.

While I'm not the slightest bit concerned about enemy espers or aliens
attacking us on our European trip ... the threat of missing it because I must
attend cram school is very real. And that is a storm I wish not to weather.

_That_, of course, is why I finally caved. I could have asked in the clubroom,
with the others there. I could have mumbled a request at school, before the
club came into the picture.

But because she had asked -- really! -- I followed her instructions and called
her up when I was alone to ask for her help.

My mother was initially suspicious about the effort I put into cleaning my
room, fixing me with a speculative frown and tapping the brochure from a cram
school against her lower lip pensively over my antics, which included far too
little studying and homework for her tastes.

That ire vanished the instant Haruhi knocked on the door. But a clean study
space is more effective, I explained earnestly.

My mother spared a moment to study Haruhi's outfit -- neither of us were
wearing school uniforms, naturally. I was wearing the same sort of outfit I
would for a weekend outing with the club-- Well, okay, I hadn't done my
laundry so I was dressed _maybe_ a _little_ bit better because my nice clothes
were what was left.

The same seemed true for Haruhi, with her hair back in a tiny ponytail, and a
trace of makeup-- Not that she needed it--

To study! It wasn't required for study!

Undoubtedly she was planning on going out with her parents later!

I'm sure that explains everything! It's not worth further thought-- But once
she arrived and produced her math book, my mother offered a charming, pleased
smile that I hadn't seen since....

Anyway, we studied, agreeing to make it a regular thing. Since I had dressed
up a little bit -- entirely on accident -- I continued maintaining that image
to avoid her chiding me for 'letting myself go' or something. Likewise, she
continued to dress a bit more nicely when she was with me for studying than on
our weekend expeditions. Logically, studying would put less wear on nicer
clothes, though, so maybe that was it?

Surprisingly enough, while she agreed to study with me more regularly, she
didn't bother reiterating that she was doing it as her obligation as the chief
of the brigade. She didn't harp on it being exclusively to keep me from
ruining the trip this summer. Her only explanation when my mother asked
(during one of her every-thirty-second checks on us for snacks, tea, and
water) was:

"Why wouldn't I want to help Kyon when he asked?"

Well ... I wouldn't mind Haruhi not repeating those other points constantly,
and found that answer entirely adequate, personally.

So we fell into a comfortable pattern -- and why not? -- until the second week
or so of studying at least every other day together. My marks on the latest
test already reflected what I considered an admirable increase, though my
mother (and Haruhi) both labeled it merely 'a good start.'

At that point, though I had not expected anything out-of-the-ordinary, my
mother noted that our session had run longer than normal struggling with some
physics questions. Haruhi staying for dinner wasn't anything particularly new,
but when it was time for her to leave, she suggested that I could repay my
tutor at the very least by walking her to the train station.

Well ... a small price to pay, wasn't it?

And so we walked together to the train station, just the pair of us, and then
parted at the turnstiles, agreeing to meet tomorrow for more studying.

I had, in all honestly, probably become _too_ complacent. I didn't expect
anything out of the ordinary, and so when a car pulled up to the curb as I
left the terminal, I was not _very_ surprised to see a woman of probably my
mother's age wave at me, calling, "Um, you're the one called, 'Kyon,' aren't
you?"

"That's not my name, but that's me," I agreed, curious about these new
arrivals. What, members of Koizumi's agency?

A man stepped out of the car on the driver's side, nodding to me sternly. He
was probably my own father's age, though looked much heavier. This pair looked
surprisingly average -- a salaryman and his wife, at a glance. I still wasn't
afraid, though I did want to find out more.

The 'salaryman' gave me a cautious smile and asked, "Would you mind coming
with us for a brief ride? I think we have a bit to discuss...."

And ... maybe because things had been so calm lately, instead of ignoring the
pair, I shrugged and asked, "Haruhi related?"

To which the couple replied in perfect sync, expressions firming with resolve:

"Haruhi-chan related."

So ... just a little bit overconfident that nothing could go wrong, I shrugged
a second time and agreed, "Why not?"

After all ... what was the worst that could happen?

* * *

A few minutes later found me sitting in the back seat of the car, an
uncomfortably awkward silence forming between myself and the couple sitting up
front. The 'salaryman' was driving somewhat aimlessly around, not quite
circling the block, but not heading anywhere in particular.

"So ... what's this about, then?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

"Alright," the woman said crisply, twisting around to try and turn back to
face me as much as she could from her seat. "I'm afraid you may have heard
some things about Suzumiya Haruhi, and ... I can't honestly know what anyone
else has told you. But you deserve to know the actual truth!"

So -- members of the organization that Tachibana Kyouko had abandoned, then?
Trying to sway me again? Well, that wasn't likely to work. I knew enough about
who Haruhi was to disregard some stranger telling me how she was dangerous ...
but I wasn't about to jump out of a moving car. And, anyway, I knew I couldn't
be in any _real_ danger without Koizumi stepping in, or if required, perhaps
Nagato.

I failed to keep the skepticism from my voice as I asked, "What are you going
to try and tell me, then?"

Looking mildly affronted, the woman's brow furrowed faintly before she gave an
abrupt shake of her head. "She's a sweet girl, with an occasionally rough
exterior," she insisted.

Wait, what? That wasn't what I expected.

"She is!" the woman insisted, nodding resolutely.

"I ... expected to hear something else," I admitted in surprise. "It's
refreshing not to hear that she's 'dangerous' and 'unstable' -- or that she
cannot be trusted with the power she has."

At this, the woman looked even more confused, before brightening. "Oh-- Oh,
that ... club she's in charge of-- No, despite that appearance, I assure you
that the side she presents to you as a study partner is her true face!"

...what?

"She's well behaved usually," the man added, breaking in and nodding, though
he kept his gaze on the road. "Sometimes she gets excitable -- nothing
serious, and I'm certain it's no more than a phase!"

What the hell was going on here? For all of my confidence that there was no
danger, I was completely unprepared for ... this. Were these rival members of
Koizumi's Agency, perhaps? Then again, why just try and puzzle it out?

"So, who are you with?" I asked suspiciously. "I don't believe you're aliens.
You don't act like I'd expect time travelers to. I don't think you have
psychic powers, either ... but I believe you might be from some shadowy
organization!"

"I-- Those--" The woman looked confounded for a moment, hanging her head. "So
... she talked to you about those things?"

Well, less and less as time went on and she found less outrageous things to be
just as much fun, but: "Yes, of course."

"I-- It's not serious!" she said with unexpected fire, clenching a fist and
shooting me a look of solid determination. "It's only-- Well, she's young and
curious, but that doesn't mean anything! It's a harmless interest, like
watching old monster movies, or being a fan of video games!"

"Completely harmless!" the man agreed with unexpected vehemence. "It's not
something you should let blind you to her true, positive nature!"

Where were these people even coming from? "What exactly are you trying to
convince me of?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Look," the man declared earnestly, stopping the car at a light and turning to
face me. "I'm sure you've heard things -- probably awful things -- but you can
ignore that! She's a _good_ girl, and she looks up to you!"

...how would they know that? Haruhi? Looking up to _me_? I wanted to laugh,
but was stunned with confusion! Oh, for the comforting familiarity of a study
session with Haruhi -- those were making so much more sense in comparison!

"And don't give _any_ heed to the rumors of what she did in middle school--"
the woman added, prompting the man to flinch, not meeting my gaze. "That kind
of thing is harmless. She was just playing around and it never got serious--
But you -- you're different! You can establish something meaningful with her,
so don't get scared away or deceived!"

...huh?

"What we're trying to say," the man added insistently, "is that our daughter
is a _normal_ girl, behind everything! So don't be put off! From what we can
tell, you've been a very positive influence on her!"

"Not that she needs a lot of positive influence," the woman interjected
anxiously. "So whatever happens, stick with her! Your efforts will be
rewarded!"

...what the hell!?

"Now, she's never dated anyone as long as you, so -- for her sake and yours,
we just want that to continue! You need to know you have our support!"
Haruhi's ... mother? ... declared.

"Wholeheartedly!" the ... father? ... agreed.

"Behind her excitable exterior, she's honestly a very sweet, normal girl!"

Well, that put paid to my expectation that I could handle anything! Such
remarks left my speechless, unable to remark anything sensible at all. What
kind of image did Haruhi's parents have of her, anyway?

After listening to a few more minutes of reassurances and insistence that I
should not give up on Haruhi -- as though I were close to any such thing! --
and reminders that I should 'keep' dating Haruhi....

When did we even start 'dating,' though?

...anyway. After listening to an overwhelming amount of similar encouragement,
they finally dropped me off outside of my house and said they hoped to meet me
officially soon, before hurrying to their own home, evidently trying to beat
Haruhi there.

"Kyon-kun!" my sister chirped, peeking out the door. "What happened?"

I still didn't know the answer to that one!

* * *

The next day at school, arriving after Haruhi as always and dropping into my
seat, I was rewarded with the subject of the previous night's discussion
prompting me: "What's going on with you? You look like you haven't rested
enough!"

Instead of properly answering the question, I asked her, "Haruhi, what are
your parents like?"

That caught her off guard for some reason, and she blushed faintly, scowling.
"Boring people," she declared flatly. "They don't much understand me, so I
don't really talk to them. I disagree with my mother a lot ... especially when
it comes to cooking. Didn't we already talk about that at one point?

"Or did you forget? That's annoying, but if you were more worried about Yuki
at the time, I'll forgive it-- She _was_ very sick, after all...."

"Well, her you have mentioned," I agreed, shaking my head slightly, ignoring
Taniguchi's (pointlessly) envying sigh as he spotted us and plodded toward his
own seat. "But ... well, you've met my mother, and you know--"

"If you insist," Haruhi cut me off, shaking her head sharply. "I'll warn you
again, they're really boring people! My father especially! But fine -- today
you can study at my place instead of us going to yours, so you can meet my
parents. I guess that's only fair ... well, I could try and argue that your
mother's hospitality was helping you study, but...."

I was prepared to tune out whatever remarks she has about my study habits and
poor grades, but she said nothing of the sort, instead trailing off into a
thoughtful silence.

"Is it ... that you want to taste my cooking?" she wondered.

"More than I want to meet your parents," I answered without thinking. Wait,
that might have been the wrong thing to say!

If anything, she looked relieved, almost smugly satisfied. "I see," she
allowed, smirking. "Well, in that case you can stay for dinner, but the price
you must pay is meeting my parents!"

"I'm sure they're at least interesting enough to abduct a student off the
streets and drill him in how to take care of you," I could not prevent myself
from grumbling.

"Bah! I _wish_ they cared or understood me that well," Haruhi grumbled,
shaking her head. "But that's aside from the point-- Tomorrow night, then,
since I can't study with you _every_ day. I have to plan things for the
Brigade, too!"

...that wish may have been closer to reality than you cared to admit, Haruhi.
But then again, weren't my parents worried about me the same way?

So ... I supposed I could see where it all came from then.

"I'm sure your parents really care about you," I chided her. "I don't always
appreciate my mother grousing about my grades, but don't you agree with her?
Isn't it entirely reasonable to think your parents do the same for you?"

"Y...yeah, but," she started, before furrowing her brow, looking puzzled.
"I.... Well -- meet them for yourself, and you'll see!"

"It's a date," I agreed.

"You bet it is!" she snapped, before we fell silent -- a sound punctuated only
by another of Taniguchi's suffering sighs, and a collective shrug from the
rest of the class. After being familiar with our antics so long, I suppose it
only stands to reason that they take something like this in stride.

....

...did I just inadvertently ask Haruhi out on a date, to meet her parents, in
front of the rest of the class?

"Y...you'd better show up," Haruhi muttered, face reddening as I turn to stare
at the front of the class.

"If I don't, I'm sure your parents will find me and abduct me to make sure I
follow through," I mumbled in return.

"I'd like to see that-- Er, I mean.... Yeah, right!"

Well ... they say truth is stranger than fiction, so maybe 'normal' is
stranger than 'paranormal,' too!

* * *