The US version of The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya was released on 19 November 2013. It was originally published as two separate volumes in Japan, but this version features both volumes for the price of one.
Description[]
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.
There's been a freshman who has broken through the SOS Brigade enrollment examinations Haruhi put out. It's so nice to be able to push all the busy work to someone else now. But something's bothering me: why haven't I heard from Sasaki since that meeting?
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.
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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4]
Summary[]
First Part[]
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[]
Nursing Yuki
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 confronts the Sky Canopy Dominion interface
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.
The conference breaks down
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.
Sasaki visits Kyon
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))
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.
The cover of Rainy Day translated
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.
Final Part[]
α line[]
On Thursday the SOS Brigade has a meeting with their newest addition, Yasumi Watahashi. Haruhi orders the SOS Brigade to teach Yasumi all they know, beginning with Mikuru's tea-making skills. After serving tea to everyone, Haruhi orders Yasumi to redesign the SOS Brigade website. Not being able to stand occupying the same room as Yasumi, Kyon asks Itsuki to play catch with him in the courtyard. Kyon and Itsuki talk about their new member. A paper airplane flies down from the clubroom telling Kyon that Yasumi found his "MIKURU" folder. When they return to the clubroom Yasumi has left. Mikuru is in awe at how cute Yasumi was. Upon returning home Kyon finds Yasumi in his room. She states that she just wanted to see Kyon's room and leaves.
Friday, Kyon finds a letter from Yasumi in his shoe locker asking him to meet her at 6 PM in the clubroom. Not knowing what to expect, Kyon asks Haruhi for advice and later takes her advice to look for Yasumi during lunch. Not finding her, he heads to the clubroom and finds Yuki reading. He asks her what Yasumi is. She replies that she is "nothing." Confused, Kyon heads back to the classroom.
After school Yasumi doesn't appear in the clubroom, but there is a flower in a vase that Mikuru says she brought. Kyon bides his time until the rest of the Brigade leaves. While they are walking towards the exit, Kyon claims he forgot a pornography book that Taniguchi lent him. He heads to the clubroom where Yasumi is waiting. They hear a knock on the clubroom door. There are three people there: Kyouko Tachibana, the mysterious time traveler, and another version of himself. Yasumi pulls their hands to touch and...
β line[]
On Thursday Haruhi talks to Kyon about how worried she's become over Yuki's illness. She tells Kyon to go to the clubroom after school in case any new members show up. On his way he chats with Taniguchi about how Kuyou acted during their dates. Following that conversation he heads to the clubroom where a mysterious girl awaits him.
The mysterious girl claims that she made a mistake and runs outside of the clubroom. Kyon goes after her. She turns around and says they will meet again. Kyon notices a flower in a vase that he's not seen before. No one shows up to the clubroom and he heads home. He gets a call from Sasaki saying they will meet tomorrow to settle everything. She asks him who would he choose to be normal between herself and Haruhi. Reinvigorated, Kyon heads to sleep.
Friday Kyon is awakened by his sister. He heads to school where he has an ordinary day. After school he bikes to the park by the station where Sasaki, Kyouko Tachibana and Fujiwara are waiting. Kuyou is nowhere to be found. They take a taxi and return to North High. During the ride, Fujiwara again antagonizes Kyon and Sasaki.
At North High, Kyon begins walking as usual when he notices that he is in closed space created by Sasaki. Trapped, he has no choice but to continue walking to follow Fujiwara and Kyouko Tachibana. Fujiwara reveals their destination: the SOS Brigade clubroom.
Instead of the room being empty as planned, there are two people inside: the mysterious girl Kyon saw the day before and another version of himself. The mysterious girl pulls their hands to touch and...
Reunited line[]
Time travelers face off
Haruhi in trouble
The two versions of Kyon are combined into one whole body. Yasumi Watahashi disappears.
Fujiwara had an argument with an unseen woman. He was surprised that she broke regulations or undid prohibitions before he could. He ranted that she had called him an "unscheduled abnormality" and wondered who had summoned "her" there.
Kuyou appears.
Koizumi makes an appearance. He received a letter like Kyon did in the α line and met his alternative version. They merged. Because the area contains Haruhi's closed space, he was able to enter, and bring Asahina (big) with him. Tachibana is surprised, because Haruhi's capture should have prevented her from creating space, but Haruhi had created another body, Yasumi Watahashi, and this other version of Haruhi can still create closed space.
Fujiwara is upset that Asahina (big) would interfere with his plans. Fujiwara knows that altering the past and future isn't possible, unless he uses Haruhi's powers. Fujiwara reveals that he is doing it so that he can reunite with her, as his older sister. Asahina states that she does not have a younger brother, but implies in Fujiwara's timeline, there is another version of her, which Fujiwara seems to have "lost". Asahina says this would be a serious time crime, and Koizumi begins displaying his esper powers.
Fujiwara orders Kuyou to bring Haruhi there and kill her so that they can move her powers to Sasaki. Kuyou suspends Haruhi on a cross above the courtyard and then drops her to the ground.
While Koizumi battles the others, Kyon leaps out the window and grabs Haruhi as she falls, intending to shield her with his own body. Right before hitting the ground they are caught by a Celestial. Kyon is then transported to a university campus where a college-age Haruhi is meeting Kyon. He's pulled back and lands on Haruhi's bed.
Haruhi wakes up and throws her covers on Kyon's head for privacy while she changes. Kyon looks at her alarm clock to see that it is one month in the future: on the one year anniversary of the SOS Brigade. Looking outside, they see the other three members waiting. Itsuki throws a present for Haruhi into the room, informing her that Kyon picked it out. Kyon catches and gives it to her. They head outside to meet the rest of the Brigade members. Haruhi thanks them. Kyon confirms what has happened and Mikuru takes him back to 8 PM the Friday the events happened.
Kyon rests on Saturday and calls Yuki and Itsuki to talk about what happened Sunday evening. Nagato is well again. Itsuki reveals his theory about timelines and alternative futures. He also reveals that Yasumi was created by Haruhi's subconscious in order to protect Kyon and Yuki from harm in the β line. They leave Kyon's house and he goes to sleep.
Monday in the classroom, Haruhi reveals that Yasumi visited her over the weekend. Her claim is that she's still in middle school and thus can't join the Brigade. They have one more day off from Brigade activities so Kyon goes to shop for Haruhi's present. Upon reaching the station he finds Sasaki waiting for him.
Sasaki thanks him for preventing her from becoming a god-like being. She says she misses talking with Kyon during their middle school days and reveals that she was asked out a little while ago. Being in shock, she couldn't give an answer. Wanting to talk about it with Kyon, she came over to his house on Wednesday. They part with Kyon resolving to say "Hey again, close friend" when they meet next.
The next day Kyon walks to school and meets Tsuruya. She invites them to view flowers next month at her house. Immediately afterwards Kyon meets Kunikida and Taniguchi. Kunikida talks about how much he admires Tsuruya and reveals that she was the reason he came to North High. He thanks Kyon for giving him the chance to meet her.
The SOS Brigade meets in the clubroom. Mikuru is upset and stays by the flower Yasumi brought. Haruhi comes in and they begin planning their next activity: a stage show at the Tsuruya flower viewing party.
