Today. Today is... uhm...

I just know there was something important about today, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

"Hey! You're going to be late for your first day of high school!"

Was that mother calling? Hm, probably not. I'll just go back to sl-

"HARUHI! GET OUT OF BED!!"

She appeared right in front of me, scaring me senseless.

"Ah! Don't scare me like that!" I screamed at her, startled. She continued pouting, holding a lunch box in her hand.

...

CRAP! Today's the first day of high school?!

I stumbled out of bed, ripping my pajamas off like a rabid dog. Pulling my sky blue uniform on, I ran down the stairs, promptly tripping on the way.

At the bottom of the stairs was none other than my younger brother.

"Stupid Haruhi."

Oh, go away Kyon. Sometimes I want to yell at him, but I know I'd get in trouble for something-or-other.

He pointed me towards the dining room. I followed, shoving down the pancakes and pulling my shoes on simultaneously. Kyon left quickly, which was when I realised that I needed to hurry.

Racing out the door, mother called again. "Whaaaat?!" I replied in disdain.

"This," she questioned, holding my lunch box out. "Do you want to starve?"

I shook my head, grabbed it and ran off. I'd have detention at this rate.



Tiresomely I straggled into the school gates. I'm on time? Oh right, I forgot that high school starts later. Eheh.

Dashing off to the bathroom for a minute, I looked at myself in the mirror. I brushed my hair off to the sides, then looked at my watch.

"Monday," I reiterated to myself, pulling out an orange ribbon which I tied through the middle of my fringe. I took another look and then ran off to the classroom.

"Welcome to high school," the teacher began. "This is the final frontier of your schooling, but it's also the most difficult. I hope everybody here is ready for some intense studying!"

Oh, shut up already. PLEASE.

"Well then," he continued, "we should all get to know each other. As we go around the room I want you all to stand and say a bit about yourself. Sawamura-kun, let's start with you."

I tuned out around here. These people are boring, I could tell without even listening to them.

...

"Suzumiya-san? Er, Suzumiya-san?"

What? What is it?

"I-it's your turn to introduce yourself..."

Oh. Right. I stood up, stared around briefly, then pretended to not notice anybody nearby.

"From East Middle High School, Suzumiya Haruhi. I have no interest in regular humans." I could feel a few eyes spin around at the mention. Nonetheless, I continued. "If there are any aliens, time travelers, sliders, or espers around, come and see me. That's it!"

Glares came at me from all around. I could hear various whispers of "Is this a joke?" and "I want what she's smoking."

Bah. I don't care. You can all go stuff off. They DO exist, and I'll prove it!

Even the awe-struck teacher had trouble speaking, but he managed to move the introductions along to the next person.

A few hours later, it was lunch time. I stayed in the classroom, and a purple-haired girl approached me.

Asakura Ryoko, I think her name was.

"Hi!" she smiled, waving. "You can call me Ryoko! It's nice to meet you, Suzumiya-san!"

Go. Away.

I just continued staring at nothing, pretending I didn't hear her. She frowned slightly, and walked away.

After school, she approached me and tried again. "So I didn't ask anything about you earlier! Where do you live? What kind of things do you like?"

What part of 'go away' don't you understand?

She sighed. "Oh well, guess you don't like me. I'll be going back to my mother's jewelry store no-"

Jewelry? WHAT?!

I giggled. Maybe I could get to know her a bit.

"Ohh, no no!" I responded. "I do like you, I just... er... have trouble thinking of what to say. Yeah!"

She wasn't buying that. Not for one second. But if I liked her to use her then she seemed quite happy to accept that.

Wow, people are strange.

We both hurried along to her store, admiring the sights. Her mother approached me, and introduced herself. "Oh, your name is Suzumiya-san? Nice to meet you. I'm Asakura Mai!"

As if I care. I'm just here for the shiny stuff.

"Anyway," she continued, "we're having a sale here today. If you see anything you like, feel free to buy it!"

A sale. Perfect. And I'd just gotten a nice hefty chunk of allowance too.

Walking home with a bag in hand, I pulled out a shiny pearl necklase I'd bought. How to wear this, I wasn't sure, but I'd figure out soon enough.



"Mom, I'm home!" I said, walking in the door. She greeted me with a smile.

"Welcome back, Haruhi. How was your first day?"

"It was good! I met a nice girl named Ryoko," who I'm just using because her mother owns a jewelry store.

"That's good! And what's this?" she asked, pointing at the bag.

Uh. Er. Oops. Forgot she doesn't like wasting money.

"It's... a snack. I was hungry on the way home."

She looked at me suspiciously. I stared back, not sure how else to respond.

"What snack?"

"A... chocolate bar-"

"Let me have some."

...

I slowly pulled the necklase out of the bag, realising she wasn't going to let me past.

She screamed.

"FIRST YOU GO OFF AND BUY JEWELRY, AND THEN YOU LIE TO ME ABOUT IT?!"

With a kick of the foot, I was thrown outside with the door locked behind me.

At that moment, Kyon arrived home from school with a grin on his face.

"Did you waste your allowance again?"

Uh... no...

"Stupid Haruhi," he taunted, knocking at the door. I stood up, ready to kick him, when mother opened the door, and he raced inside. Instead I kicked the door. Which hurt.



Hours later, she finally let me back inside. I plopped down on my bed, worn out. Then I pulled the necklase out and stood in front of the mirror.

"This looks nice with my uniform," I said aloud, stringing it around my neck. I buttoned it up and twirled. It looked so elegant!

I turned around and looked at my bed. Oh, that looks so comfortable right about now. I haven't been too eccentric due to the late Summer weather. Bah.

Guess I should sleep. Which I shall.



Gnnrt... brr. It's cold! What's that sound...? Oh, it's just the window creaking. And there's a cat coming in...

...

?!

"Please don't be frightened," the cat said as I jumped out of my skin. "I've been looking for you."

...

What. The Hell. Is this?! A talking... cat?!

"I'm Shamisen. I'm here because you're a chosen one!"

...chosen one? Did I win a prize or something?

"You, Suzumiya Haruhi, are the defender of love and justice! Please, help me - the planet needs you!"

...

I know. This is a dream. Yes!

"Good night," I smirked, burying my head in my arms. The cat wasn't very pleased.

"Haruhi! This isn't a dream!"

"Go away, I'm trying to sleep this nightmare off!"

The cat sighed, and turned around. He flipped forward, procuring a brooch which fell lightly onto the bed.

"This," he pointed, "is your transformation brooch."

Ahh! It's pretty!

I grabbed it and ran over to the mirror, flaunting it around elegantly.

"Haruhi! This is serious!"

What? Sorry, I can't hear you. Talk louder.

"Her forces are coming to invade very soon! We must fight them!"

Ooh, this would be great with my middle school uniform!

The cat had lost hope straight away.

"Asakura Ryoko."

I turned around and looked. "What about her?" I responded.

"She's in danger."

That's nice. As long as I get discounts, it doesn't matter~

Shamisen sighed. He pointed out the window, where screams were emitting.

"We need you to help us! Please!"

Okay, okay. Fine. "What do I have to do?" I responded.

He smiled.

"Hold your brooch up and yell 'Moon Prism Power - Make-up!'"

Sounds simple enough. Watch me!

"Moon Prism Power... Make-up!"

-- Seconds later. --

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! This outfit is ugly!"

"It doesn't matter," Shamisen responded. "We don't have much time!"

[Note: The title is based on the first word of the official Sailor Moon title, "Bishoujo". By now I hope you've figured out what the two series combined here are.]