The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (First Part)

The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (First Part) (涼宮ハルヒの驚愕(前)) (Suzumiya Haruhi no Kyōgaku (Zen)) is the first of two Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novels that continue the story from The Dissociation of Haruhi Suzumiya.

A Kindle version of the book is available in English.

Development
The novel's original release date was July 1, 2007. Two weeks before that date it was changed to "TBA" - no information has been given as to why it was pushed back.

In August 2009, Nagaru Tanigawa, the writer of the novels, announced that he was once again starting work on the novel.

In February 2010, Kadokawa Shoten announced in the April 2010 edition of The Sneaker that the first part of the novel would release in the next issue that would be released on April 30, 2010. The preview would feature the first chapter of First Part (fourth chapter throughout the story). In the June edition, Kadokawa said that the novel would be released by the end of 2010 and that the story was approximately eighty percent done at the time of publication. The story was finished in late fall 2010.

In The Sneaker Magazine, February 2011 edition, the editor-in-chief Koichi Sakamoto announced that the story will be released on May 25, 2011 in a two volume "simultaneous release". He also announced that there would be an "unprecedented worldwide simultaneous release". The novels were available for sale in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea in addition to domestic publication in Japan for a total of 5 countries. The release was delayed 6 months so that the novels would be translated for a simultaneous release.

Both books are available in a "First Press Limited Edition" version that were sold beginning on May 25, 2011 only in Japan. This version includes both books as well as a 64-page color booklet containing the Rainy Day short story by Nagaru Tanigawa, a look inside the workplace of Noizi Ito, a special story behind the creation of the first novels, and artwork drawn by Ito, Gaku Tsugano, and Puyo for 1200 yen. On June 15, 2011 they were sold separately for 580 yen apiece.

Summary
Where Haruhi goes, trouble follows!

The two storylines from The Disassociation of Haruhi Suzumiya continue, introducing a new inductee into the S.O.S. brigade who may be more than just the eager freshman she appears to be. As the two realities converge, the SOS Brigade learns that the new member may have the ability to bring the two story "timelines" together... and save the world in the process.

This book was originally published as two separate volumes in Japan, but the U.S. version will feature both volumes for the price of one.

α line
On Tuesday, Kyon meets Itsuki on his way to school and they talk about the prospective members of the SOS Brigade. Kyon suggests that around six students will come to the clubroom after school and Itsuki suggests less than that. During school, Kyon aces the math quiz that Haruhi tutored him for the previous day.

After classes, Kyon gets another lesson from Haruhi, who wants to wait for the new members to arrive. In the clubroom are nine students (Itsuki, Mikuru, Yuki, and six freshmen) waiting for Haruhi. Haruhi has Kyon, Itsuki, and Mikuru leave the room for the second round of testing. Kyon grabs a copy of Haruhi's test and reflects over it with Itsuki and Mikuru in the school courtyard. They return after 40 minutes to find that all of the students have already left at Haruhi's order.

On Wednesday, Haruhi is late to school due to making a lunch for reasons she doesn't understand. She and Kyon talk about the final trial in the SOS Brigade application tests. They don't have a lesson after classes end.

There are only five applicants remaining. Haruhi takes them to the sport grounds, declares the final trial is a marathon, and starts running. As Haruhi sets no number of laps or time limit, the applicants can do nothing but run until they collapse from exhaustion. However, shortly after Haruhi declares the marathon over, a girl crosses the finish line. Haruhi declares that this girl is the only one to pass the test. They arrange for her to come to the clubroom the next day. She leaves and the SOS Brigade returns to the clubroom.

Haruhi reveals that she didn't plan for anyone to join the Brigade, but that girl was too good to pass up. Trying to pinpoint why she seems familiar, Kyon asks Haruhi how her name, Yasumi Watahashi, is pronounced. The pronunciation is similar to the Japanese for "It's me", and Kyon realizes the girl who called him while he was bathing Saturday night was actually introducing herself as Yasumi Watahashi.

β line
Haruhi make the SOS Brigade nurse Yuki on Monday afternoon. As Haruhi, Mikuru, and Itsuki cook her food, Yuki reveals to Kyon that her sickness started during The Dissociation of Haruhi Suzumiya, explaining why Emiri Kimidori was at the café instead of Yuki. Kyon goes to the bathroom, but has a text-message chat with Yuki and finds that the Sky Canopy Dominion is directly responsible. Yuki's text becomes garbled and she faints. Kyon rushes outside in a rage, running over to Kouyouen looking for Kuyou Suou. She is waiting for him in front of a rail crossing. She is looking specifically for Kyon, not Yuki, and wants him to "join her". Ryoko Asakura appears, claiming Kyon as "her prey" and saying that the Canopy Dominion has no right to his living or death, but the Data Overmind does. She instigates a knife battle with Kuyou, twisting the world into one similar to the one she fought with Yuki in during The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Emiri appears and tells Ryoko she has overstepped her boundaries. Kuyou teleports into position to kill Kyon; Ryoko saves him again. Kuyou disappears for good. Emiri reveals she summoned Ryoko, having had responsibilities delegated to her by Yuki. Because Ryoko is too deviant, Emiri will only summon her during times of emergency. Emiri informs Kyon that Yuki has been given the duty of establishing communication with the Canopy Dominion.

Kyon buys some orange juice for Yuki as an excuse to Haruhi for why he ran off, and returns to the apartment, where he discusses events with Itsuki. Haruhi declares that the SOS Brigade will meet in Yuki's room until Yuki gets better. Kyon goes home and calls Sasaki in an attempt to assemble her, Fujiwara, Kyouko, and Kuyou, hoping it will help him find the cure to Yuki's problem.

Tuesday, Haruhi arrives later than usual due to stopping by Yuki's apartment to make her breakfast. During lunch he has conversations with Taniguchi and Itsuki. Itsuki mentions that Haruhi has stopped creating any closed spaces or Celestials, since she is too worried about Nagato to feel irritated about Sasaki. He also warns Kyon that he is focusing too much attention on Yuki's problem instead of Fujiwara's plans. After school he meets with Sasaki, Kyouko, Fujiwara, and Kuyou. Kyon makes his request that Kuyou and the Sky Canopy Dominion stop affecting Yuki. All three members agree to that condition if Kyon transfers Haruhi's power to Sasaki. Neither Kyon or Sasaki would like that to happen, but Fujiwara and Kuyou continue antagonizing them, which ruins their meeting. Kyouko says that Itsuki founded and is the leader in the 'Agency'. Fujiwara mentions the process behind using the TPDD to create holes in time space while traveling.

Kyon, Sasaki, and Kuyou run into Taniguchi and Kunikida outside the cafe. Taniguchi is stricken at the sight of Kuyou, who is the girl he dated during The Disappearance. She dumped him around Valentine's Day once she realized he was not Kyon.

On Wednesday, Kunikida catches Kyon as he walks to school and mentions that all three of them haven't changed since they entered high school. After school only Itsuki and Kyon go to the clubroom. They go outside and play catch while talking about the events that have occurred. Following that, Kyon heads to his room and finds Sasaki, who his sister let inside. They talk about what her purpose in life is. Sasaki gives Kyon some confidence and leaves. Kyon then takes a bath and goes to sleep.

(Continued in The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (Final Part))

La Sorpresa de Haruhi Suzumiya

Rainy Day
Included with the limited first pressing of both Surprise novels was a short story written by Tanigawa that took place in Kyon's third year of middle school.

Story
On a day near the beginning of September Kyon lays by his school's pool as his and other classes have their final swimming class of the year. Sasaki joins him and they talk about Kyon's lack of desire to study and their plans for the upcoming high school entrance exams. Kunikida follows and inquires about how close they have gotten. He and Sasaki talk about their favorite style of music, western, and the CD Sasaki lent Kunikida for broadcast during the lunch hour. They sit and watch the rest of the students in the pool until the end of class.

Later that day Sasaki and Kyon continue their discussion about schools when the class leader Okamoto comes over and tells them to fill out their career plan forms. Struck not only by her beauty, but also by how close her face is to his, Kyon reluctantly accepts the form. She leaves and Sasaki continues her discussion, now about the flow of time. Kyon stores away the image of her smiling face in his memory.

They leave the school and meet Kyon's sister as he picks up his bicycle from outside his house. Sasaki accepts a rice cracker and apologizes for not being able to stay and play with her and Miyokichi. As soon as she and Kyon leave it begins to rain. They pull under a shutter to hide from the downpour, but their clothes are already soaked. Sasaki becomes embarrassed and asks Kyon to turn away.

Due to the uncomfortable situation and the questions Sasaki asks, Kyon can only reply with his new trademark phrase "Yare yare." It was the first, but not the last, time he muttered that phrase.