Chapter 91: I

What exactly is a Mohican?

Etymologically, a Mohican is a branch of Native Americans.

The Mohicans, an Algonquian-speaking people, screamed “Kǔ yě kǔ yě” as their scalps were torn away, living in the Catskill Mountains along the upper Hudson River.

Once regarded as a hairstyle for decadent individuals and a symbol of hippies, rebellious youth during that era, who saw through the illusions of the world, simply grew Mohawks.

But now, when someone says “Mohican,” the first thing that comes to mind is probably that wild, colorful, bizarre hairstyle and the pitiful screams of a nobody.

Yet in this quintessentially Japanese school setting, who besides that one person from the end of the century would ever wear such an unconventional, abstract hairstyle?

Even if fashion cycles back, nostalgia isn’t supposed to mean this.

Jia Ji stared blankly at the students in uniform laughing and chatting below, their Mohawks swaying—he was no longer sure.

“Maybe there’s no such thing as a Mohican. Maybe everyone is a Mohican.”

Soon enough, it seemed, those normally law-abiding students would swell up like balloons, donning spiked leather jackets and pants, riding motorcycles and terrorizing the neighborhood, as if they’d stepped straight out of a Mad Max set.

“What’s going on?”

Jia Ji turned to Yuki for confirmation.

“Information diffusion.”

This time, Yuki pointed at him, then at Asahina, who was equally stunned, and added:

“Worldwide.”

“No way. I just mentioned it once that day, and now alien-world information is spreading like an infection?”

The girl nodded, then shook her head.

It wasn’t just the spread of alien-world information—it was also Jia Ji’s sudden impulse to train Asahina.

Asahina, outwardly an ordinary high school boy living a plain campus life, actually bears one of the two greatest causalities in this world; any slight change in him would alter the past, present, and future across every plane of time.

He has neither superhuman strength nor superhuman intellect—he was merely dragged into the group by Haruhi Suzumiya against his will. What would happen now that he’s begun training?

No one could predict it before things turned bad.

“Don’t they notice it themselves?”

“Information…”

“I understand.”

Jia Ji paced restlessly in his room; his plan to quietly wait out the summer in the Haruhi world until that event occurred now looked doomed.

“Is it still possible for me to go back in time with a time machine and stop myself from saying that?” he proposed a new hypothesis.

“Existing time-travel methods cannot affect you.”

Yuki said calmly.

As an “alien,” “anomaly,” and “superhuman” within the SOS Brigade, Jia Ji had spent these days behaving impeccably, fully embracing his role of “entertaining Haruhi for fun,” committing not a single act out of line, even rarely confronting the “god” directly.

Like he’d been given the “outsider” profile, which included Furukawa’s request: “Just go along with Haruhi’s wishes.” He suppressed his personality and power—yet precisely because of this, the “intense collision” the Information Integration Consciousness expected never occurred.

After all, greater power means greater danger. With Haruhi’s abilities, even the slightest misstep could trigger an interstellar war on a cosmic scale—no, perhaps countless aliens and alien civilizations had already perished during her bored daydreams in class.

Their behavior was like covering a lid, conspiring to deceive the higher powers. If they could hide it forever and quietly prevent all strange events, perhaps it would be a good idea.

Perhaps.

Yet compared to that, his influence on Asahina, Furukawa, and Yuki was far greater; against Haruhi, the overwhelming subject, his impact was negligible.

The plot’s direction changed almost nothing—he added nothing, subtracted nothing; he was a boulder dropped into a calm pond, yet not even a ripple stirred.

“What would happen if I suddenly vanished right now?”

“Unknown.”

Maybe the students turned into Mohicans would revert soon after he left—or maybe never. But either way, letting this continue would only grow worse.

…………

The weather forecast predicted heavy rain today, but the students of North High already knew by instinct.

Against the scorching summer sun, unlike the usual dry heat, a stifling, humid air struck them—and so did the aura brought by someone.

Dazed, zombie-like, brows furrowed, his oppressive aura even lower than today’s weather, evoking discomfort and fear—anyone could see at a glance that his mood was terrible.

Students passing by quickened their pace.

According to the upcoming plot, he was supposed to visit the president of the Science Research Club’s home for a true alien combat tournament, then, just before summer break, visit Furukawa’s “relative’s” island for some amateur detective roleplay.

Once all that ended, he’d be free. But under these circumstances… could he still wait?

When Haruhi burst into the activity room, full of energy to announce today’s schedule, she noticed that the spiky-haired boy seemed unusually strange—he kept absentmindedly picking up and putting down the black Go stones, looking deeply agitated, and his tea, usually never finished, remained untouched.

As soon as she entered, Jia Ji fixed his gaze on her, posture ready—as if he had something urgent to say.

His role in the SOS Brigade was unclear to everyone: “We’ve only known him a few days,” “He just talks to us sometimes,” “He’s like a ghost member who’s there and yet not there”—an inexplicable sense of distance lingered, contrary to Haruhi’s original intent in dragging him into the brigade.

“You may speak.”

Haruhi waved her hand, generously deciding to hear him out before deciding his fate.

“I’ve never been happy in the SOS Brigade!”

“What are you even trying to say?” The girl was utterly baffled by his sudden outburst.

Thunder rumbled.

A thick bolt of lightning split the dark clouds; summer downpour poured down. White light flashed. Distant thunder rolled slowly. The world blazed bright.

A towering figure rose from the white light, resolute, determined—no one could stop him from speaking the next words—

“Haruhi Suzumiya, I’m quitting the SOS Brigade!”

Prepare to explode!





(End of Chapter)