ANY OTHER KEY.

[matt_doyle]

Got my writing done for the day -- 632 words of Any Other Key, an AU story for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.

If you're familiar with the movie or the book, you should recognize the beginning -- the point of divergence -- as the scene late in the movie when everyone has been re-assembled in the clubroom, and Kyon is staring at the computer. 


The world has been replaced by a non-supernatural alternate reality by Nagato Yuki, an alien composed of pure information in the form of a very quiet, almost expressionless girl. Kyon is facing his only chance to restore things to the way they were.  If he presses one button, Nagato's rescue program will run, and the world will be restored to the one he is used to.  If, however, he presses any other key, the transformation will be permanent  - most of his current friendships will never even have begun, and Yuki will be a very shy bookworm, almost the only person from his old life who still knows him at all.

So, here's the Introduction and Chapter One of the story.  I can't decide whether it should be in past or present tense, or if I ought to post it anywhere else.  Tell me what you think.

Any Other Key

 

PROLOGUE

 

No matter how much trouble it might be for me, it was impossible to make a decision like this selfishly.

 

“What about all of you?” I asked after a moment, staring around at them. “Is it really okay for me to do this? To change everything for my benefit?”

 

Asahina-san looked confused. No one had explained the situation to her. The more nervous she got, the more she looked at Haruhi – Haruhi? For reassurance? Even if she had represented the mysterious authority of the Student Council Intelligence Division, there was no way a mercurial and demanding stranger could be seen as comforting in a situation like this one! It went against the principles of common sense.

 

“Of course it's all right!” Haruhi proclaimed, as reckless as ever. “The universe is broken! It's your responsibility to fix it, and to go tell my stupid alternate self everything you told me!” She danced from foot to foot, furious and frenetic. Of course Haruhi would always choose the selfish option.

 

Itsuki tilted his head to one side, still smiling. “How to put it?” he asked. Rhetorical questions were almost as good as pointless or unanswerable ones for him. “Do you think my chances are greater in this world or the other one of reaching my aspirations?”

 

As if I could know the answer to a thing like that! Even if his aspiration was filling a corner of the room, fiendish but waiting petulantly, it was impossible to guess what twists her mind might make from one moment to the other, especially in a strange world!

 

“Ah... this one,” I said, grudgingly, with a glance at Haruhi's ponytail. He nodded, silently, but didn't say anything.

 

“Nagato?” I asked, turning to face her. I was still alarmed to see her hugging her arms, cheeks flushed, looking down – a hedonistic wealth of expression!

 

“If you would be happier there,” she started, and a voice in my ear said “Gomen,” pleasantly, as Itsuki leaned forward to double-tap the space bar.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

The next day, Itsuki was waiting for me at the school gate, still smiling. His black eyes were extremely impressive, shining blues and purples, and the swelling meant that his perpetual bodhisattva squint was no longer a matter of choice.

 

“I thought we should talk,” he said, peaceably, holding up one hand, either as a greeting or a precaution meant to deflect incoming punches. “May I take you out for a cup of coffee?”

 

“Your treat,” I said, and followed him down the hill. Undoubtedly if a look of any magnitude could kill, my glare would have decapitated him immediately, but at this point there was no longer any need to start a commotion in a public place.

 

The truth was settling in. Yesterday I would have felt differently. Nor was I the only one! Only one of those black eyes was from me. But from here on out I had to consider the kinds of trouble I might be causing others. Sorry, Present Day Asahina-san. Sorry, Nagato-san. I never intended to frighten you. Apologies for that were something I still had to take care of, although it was my understanding that Tsuruya-san was now out for my blood.

 

With any luck, I could avoid similar retribution being sworn by Asakura!

 

First, however, there was the problem of Koizumi to be dealt with. The inside of the coffee shop was quiet and warm, and despite the alarmed looks he received from the barista, we had our orders filled promptly. Please, onee-san, don't judge me so harshly with your gaze! After all, it isn't as though I am mugging him. His black eye and my skinned knuckles are merely a coincidence! And if you won't believe that, please dismiss them as unavoidable collateral damage.

 

“Collateral damage,” Itsuki observed after a sip of his drink. “I suppose that's one way of looking at all of this.”

 

I tried to consider him with the same kind of judgment usually reserved for finding a cockroach in an unexpected location.

 

“I still haven't decided whether or not I believe your story,” he said, after a moment, smiling over the rim of his beverage. It appears that whatever universe I inhabit, this grin never changes. “However, in light of your reaction yesterday, I am certainly convinced that you believe in it. The only other plausible explanation that has occurred to me would involved you engaging in a long-term campaign of stalking and information gathering against Suzumiya-san, and I don't believe that either she or I myself could have missed all the signs of such a thing. In any case, if I have destroyed a world or a potential world, or merely stranded you here, out of reach of your home, I owe you an apology. I have no excuse for what I have done.”

 

That's not true.

 

Itsuki shrugged. “Well, formal language has its drawbacks after all. In any case, I am offering no excuse, and I wouldn't expect you to accept such excuses if I did – although I would, perhaps, expect you to understand them.” His head tilts slightly, and he waits. I don't think I have ever despised that particular expression quite as much as I do now. If I'm honest with myself, being irritated with Koizumi's actions is simply a comfortable habit, and like any such habit, unlikely to change. Friendships based in rivalry are common, so friendships based on annoyance should be similar, however stupid that may sound. Somewhere beneath that smiling mask there is a sincere, concerned soul, who has helped me many times, and who exhausts himself to save the world.

 

That means only, of course, that wanting to target his bruises and punch them all again should in no way be considered a meditation on his true character. Dammit, Koizumi. If you're not breaking your facade, why should I be expected to break mine? Aren't detente proceedings supposed to be mutual?

 

“Yeah,” I said at last, hoping that the words won't come out too grudgingly. “I understand.”

 

“I'm glad,” he replied, simply. Maybe that was a shred of honesty peeking through. Certainly simple courtesy wouldn't demand such an admission at this point – not after the events of yesterday. “hen, with regard to the other conflict remaining between us...”

 

“Now I don't know what you're talking about at all.”

 

“I see.” His head bobbed, knowingly. “Well, in any case, I believe we're on even footing now. You're an interesting person, Kyon. Perhaps, if anything further develops that seems worth speaking about, we could stay in touch?” He leaned forward as he speoke, and like a magic trick, his phone appeared in his hand. Never mind, Koizumi. I'm sure it was just hidden up your sleeve, a spot of prestidigitation learned in order to make a better impression on a certain person. Indeed, many things seem unchanged from world to world. Although, I would think, here in this world your motivations might be different... but the motivations of the old world's Koizumi are unlikely to matter to me again.

 

We exchanged phone numbers, and Koizumi asked the barista for a lid for his drink before he left. However, no matter how much energy I felt I might need for the trials of the upcoming day, my own coffee had no savor. I left it on the table, and hurried, reluctantly, back up the hill.

 

After all, by now I'm late, and will have to apologize yet again to the person who was waiting for me. As of this morning, when I turned in the paperwork, I had become the newest member of the Literature Club.