[ XXIII | Video ]
[The communicator clicks on. The floor and pantlegs are moving and an arm is swinging the communicator slightly. Clearly, Kyon lacks the skills to keep his hands away from the video button.]
[He lets out a heavy sigh.]
What are we doing, exactly?
[The booming voice of Haruhi speaks up from up ahead:] I already told you! We need more club members!
[The communicator shifts position as Kyon folds his arms behind his head. The view is now the ceiling of the high school.]
Why are we even recruiting? It's not like we do anything; we never have.
This city needs more fun things to do, and the best way to get fun things started is to get more people to organize it!
...I think you meant to say, "get more people so they can do the work for you."
Oh, shut up, Kyon!
[The sound of a door opening can be heard as Haruhi makes her way into a classroom. Kyon now folds his arms across his chest so that the view is now focused on the few desks inside the room.]
Dammit! There's nobody in this room!
What do you expect? You're notorious in Discedo for... well, exploiting people. They probably heard you coming and scurried off.
[Haruhi walks into the view of the communicator and sits on one of the desks with her legs crossed. If looks could kill, Kyon would be dead several times over.]
I wonder if Koizumi-kun has found anyone to recruit for us?
Probably n-
[A loud SLAM cuts Kyon off, and he startles slightly so that the communicator is facing the floor again.]
[Haruhi leaps off the desk and goes out of sight. The sound of the door can be heard opening again, and she screams down the hallway:] You didn't have to slam the door, you jerk! If you don't want to join our club, suit yourself! We'll have fun without you!
[Haruhi's shouts grow fainter; it seems she's run off down the hallway to tell off whoever slammed the door like that.]
It was probably just the air pressure in here. There wasn't any need to go shouting through the high school. [And he sighs again.]
[Rattling . Metal scraping against the floor rapidly, and then a sort of sliding sound. A gasp, and the communicator drops to the floor on its side. All of the desks are now neatly pressed up against the wall.]
U-Um.
[Footsteps outside can be heard, and eventually Haruhi's grumbling voice. Then:] ...Why did you push the desks up against the wall like that?
I didn't do it. You were only gone for a minute, so how would I have enough time to do that?
Well then how did they get there?!
I don't know!
[Kyon picks the communicator up from the floor but doesn't seem to notice it's recording. The view points at his chest and then to the floor again.]
Don't spend your time moving desks when you could be recruiting members!
I told you I didn't-
[That same rattling sound again. Footsteps.]
It looks like the desk was moving on its own. It didn't feel like it was an earthquake or anything, so....
Didn't I already tell you that I wasn't the one who moved the desks?
Shh!
[For a minute or two, there is silence. Kyon takes a few steps toward the other desks and leans over to inspect them.]
Well, they're not moving now.
Let's just go.
[Kyon takes the initiative and walks toward the door.]
I want to investigate this!
[Footsteps from behind Kyon and then that familiar sound of metal being dragged against the floor. Kyon whirls around, as does Haruhi. It seems the desks have moved to a different side of the room.]
Wh-What the hell is going on here?
[Haruhi takes a breath.]
I bet this place is haunted!
.......What?
The desks! They're not moving on their own! I bet there's a ghost in here that's doing it!
What are you talking about?! There's no such thing as ghosts!
Hey! Ghost! If you can understand me, give me a sign or something, okay?!
What are you trying to do?!
[Kyon stands there for a few seconds. Then, a desk rattles, and Haruhi gasps with delight.]
Look! It understood me!
We're not staying in this room! It's dangerous!
[The video cuts off.]