Episode 2, the REAL first episode! Kyon had believed in ghosts, demons, espers, aliens, time travellers and secret government organisations for some time, but with his graduation of middle school, all those beliefs left him. He knows they cannot exist, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want it to happen. If only things like those could just pop up in front of him…

 

It’s the first day of high school and Kyon has just introduced himself to the class. Sitting right behind him is Suzumiya Haruhi. In her introduction, she asks if anyone in the class is a time traveller, slider, alien or esper. Obviously with this kind of introduction (and Haruhi was being serious) anyone would think she’s weird. Kyon tries to approach her, but is asked if he’s an alien. He says no and Haruhi immediately tells him to stop wasting her time.

 

Kyon makes a few friends quite easily and he is informed of Haruhi’s abnormal behaviour in middle school. During the first month, Kyon observes Haruhi’s good grades and athletic ability, and thinks of what it would be like if she had a normal personality. He also notices that Haruhi’s hair changes everyday, supposedly as some form of alien counter-measure. Another peculiarity is that Haruhi has no shame, and sees boys as ‘potatoes’, in Kyon’s words, changing when there are guys around.

 

Despite all Haruhi’s abnormal ways, Kyon still gets the urge to approach her. He begins to talk to her more often and their conversations last longer, even though Haruhi is never in a good mood. Kyon’s friends are already noticing that Haruhi talks for longer with Kyon.

 

One day, it is decided that everyone will be assigned new seats. Kyon receives a window seat, second from the back. He is quite pleased with this, until Haruhi winds up in the seat behind him.

 

The conversations go on until Haruhi actually smiles in excitement. She decides to organise a club that hunts abnormal and mysterious things. She forces Kyon to help her, and does not even hear Kyon’s words as he complains. Haruhi uses the literary club’s clubroom as her own. There they meet Nagato who does nothing but read all day. Quite mysterious indeed… Haruhi recruits her, as well as a second grader (second grader of high school which means 11th grader), Mikuru Asahina. In my opinion, she is far too fragile and afraid of everything. Haruhi explains her reason for recruiting her – her cuteness and big chest. However, after pointing this out, she gets pissed because Mikuru’s is larger than hers. Finally, Haruhi names the club the SOS Brigade.