The future Mikuru tells Kyon where to find a certain person that he is supposed to help. Kyon and Mikuru travels back in time to the Tanabata of three years ago. Carrying the sleeping Mikuru, Kyon finds the young Haruhi herself from middle school. After helping her draw strange drawings on her school yard, Haruhi questions him on the existence o aliens, time travelers, espers, or sliders; and Kyon suggests that they might. After Haruhi leaves, Kyon wakes up Mikuru and finds that she has somehow lost her time traveling device, or TPDD. He takes her to the Yuki of three years ago and helps them return to their proper time.

After the busy island adventure with the SOS Brigade and a family trip to visit relatives in the countryside, Kyon is just settling in to relax for the final two weeks of summer vacation. Unfortunately for him, Haruhi wants to get everything she can out of the precious time remaining, in the company of the SOS Brigade. As such, the group is taken on a whirlwind tour of summer activities, from swimming pools to summer festivals, part-time jobs, and bug hunting. Finally, Haruhi has made it through her entire list, and the last day of August arrives. Though Kyon tries to make up for lost time by doing his neglected summer homework, he eventually gives in to distraction, going to bed just before midnight.