# Silent Moments

## A Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu fanfiction

by Brian Randall

Disclaimer: The light novel series started with the novel 'Suzumiya Haruhi no
Yuuutsu'/'The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi' is the creation of Tanigawa
Nagaru. No disrespect is intended with the creation of this work: I'm merely a
peasant with an easel and some borrowed paints.

Note: Takes place during the anime episode 'Some Day in the Rain.'

* * *

Grinning triumphantly, Haruhi marched towards the clubroom door, one hand
reaching out to grab the knob and wrench it open before she slowed, glancing
back across her shoulder thoughtfully. Her fingertips resting on the metal of
the door-handle, she scanned across the pair following her.

Koizumi, looking as calm as ever, watching her expectantly, and Mikuru,
looking tired, but unable to conceal a small smile of her own.

Not even certain why she did so, Haruhi brought a single fingertip to her lips
in quiet warning. Koizumi nodded in understanding without hesitation. While
looking confused, Mikuru nodded her understanding as well, a heartbeat later.

Satisfied, Haruhi turned her attention to the door, opening it quietly-- And
then stepping through quickly so the pair of subordinates behind her couldn't
see the grin she was beaming at the one in front of her. His head was on his
crossed arms, turned away, and as she watched, the faintest of snores escaped
him.

Quickly mastering her expression, Haruhi spun and pointed at the bag Koizumi
carried, then turned her hand and flattened it out, palm upwards as she
quirked one eyebrow expectantly. He gave her a confused shake of the head
before suddenly brightening, ducking his head and pulling the digital camera
out.

Snatching it away, Haruhi then used her other hand to give him a shooing,
dismissive gesture, offset by her eager grin. The boy's eyes widened slightly
in surprise, but he nodded understanding and gave a crisp salute before
turning silently on one heel and marching away. Not waiting further, Haruhi's
free hand found itself clamping onto Mikuru's shoulder through the thin fabric
of the 'combat waitress' costume.

Biting her lower lip, Mikuru managed to swallow back a shriek, muting it to
the quietest of whimpers. Haruhi stepped in after her, nodding in
satisfaction, then pointing to the school uniform hanging on the rack and
making the same gesture she had given to Koizumi, ushering her towards her
outfit.

Mikuru's eyes widnened, and she glanced at Kyon, finally pointing at him
questioningly, even as her face began to redden.

Haruhi's eyes narrowed as her smile faded. She raised the camera in one hand,
quirking one eyebrow higher in warning and moving her hand in a small, quick
circle. Understanding the gesture, Mikuru winced, hurriedly rushing to the
costume rack and fumbling as quietly as possible.

With exaggerated, slow motions, Haruhi activated the camera, making a show of
removing the lens cap and checking its settings-- Breaking from her inspection
to glance at Mikuru's progress.

The older girl had finished zipping up her skirt, the heat in her face dying
down as she reached for her cardigan. The very soft sound of a book closing
made both of the other girls freeze for a heartbeat, before turning to look at
the third girl -- unnoticed until just that moment.

Her eyes as unreadable as always, Yuki tilted her face slightly, the merest
glimmer of interest in her eyes.

Haruhi's expression shifted to a scowl of annoyance, and she rolled her eyes,
pointing at the clock above the door, then raising one eyebrow in question
again. Yuki rose to her feet noiselessly, then turned to look at Kyon for a
moment, then turned her unchanged expression back to Haruhi.

Grudgingly, the brigade chief nodded her understanding before shaking her head
and pointing at the door, this time offsetting her shooing motion with a
smile. While Mikuru finished dressing, and Yuki moved to walk past them,
Haruhi connected the digital camera to the computer.

By the time she finished, she looked up to see that Mikuru and Yuki had both
left wordlessly -- one of them thinking to put their cardigan across his
shoulders. As if in gratitude, he heaved a sigh in his sleep, pressing his
face more tightly into the pillow made from his crossed arms.

Scowling, she leapt to her feet, staring at the cardigan for a minute before
nodding decisively, pacing behind him and adding her own. After a minute her
scowl deepened, and she shook her head, unsatisfied.

Her pacing resumed, this time crossing back and forth across the room on the
opposite side of the table, the quiet sound of her footsteps slowly picking up
in volume-- Until Kyon released a quiet grumble, shifting slightly.

She froze immediately, turning to stare at him with worry in her eyes-- Before
her eyes suddenly widened and a smile came to her face, brighter and more
excited than before.

Moving to the computer, she watched him carefully as she disconnected the
camera, then moved to his side. Raising it to capture his face in frame, she
schooled her expression and pressed the button, pleased at the audible click.
She lowered the camera cautiously--

He shifted slightly in his sleep, but otherwise didn't react.

Thoughtful for a moment, she took a few more pictures, more quiet clicks
punctuating the silence-- But he remained asleep.

Scowling, she took a deep breath to steel herself, unable to keep some of the
worry about what she was doing from her face. Decided on her course of action,
her gaze fixed on him still -- she gave a firm, but deliberate kick to the leg
of the table.

His eyes popped blearily open, his face still turned towards her, and the
triumphant expression on her face was replaced with a much less certain one as
she considered what she'd done....