The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya Read Online Free PDF Page B

second batter’s deep fly that landed between left and center for a triple. Haruhi’s red-hot pitches were as strong as ever, but if you keep throwing fastballs, you’re bound to give up hits. No wonder these guys are a lock for the championship. Following that, two hits and a fielder’s choice by Kunikida led to two more runs. Our backs were against the wall at this point. And there were runners on first and second. The game would be called after another run. And who knows what would happen to the world then.
    Clang
. The white ball shot into the air. Headed toward rightfield. Asahina was all flustered in the vicinity of where the ball would land. No time to think. I sprinted with all my might to the right side of the field for the umpteenth time. Make it in time!
    I dove. And caught the ball. The ball sat in the tip of my glove.
    “There!”
    I then threw the ball as hard as I could to Taniguchi, who had moved over to cover second. The runner had been expecting extra bases on that hit since he didn’t even bother tagging up before he started running. Taniguchi stepped on the base with the ball in his glove. Out. Double play.
    We somehow pulled it off. Man, I’m exhausted.
    “Nice play!”
    I basked in Asahina’s admiring gaze and flashed a victory sign as Taniguchi, Kunikida, my sister, and Tsuruya all walked by and patted my head with their gloves. I glanced at Haruhi to find her glaring at the scoreboard (which was basically a portable whiteboard) with a troubled look on her face.
    As I sat down on the bench with a towel over my head, Koizumi walked over.
    “Picking up where we left off…”
    I really don’t want to hear it.
    “There actually is a way to remedy the current situation. During the previous incident, when you and Suzumiya were in the other world, how did you make it back?”
    Seriously, don’t remind me of that.
    “If we use that method again, it may get us out of the current crisis.”
    “I refuse.”
    Koizumi chuckled. “You’re really starting to piss me off.”
    “I thought you would say that. How does this sound then? We just have to win the game. I just had an excellent idea. I’m sure it will go well. After all, her interests should coincide with ours.”
    And with a grin on his face, Koizumi walked off toward the white circle where Nagato was standing still. The only part of her that showed any sign of movement was her short hair swaying in the breeze as Koizumi appeared to whisper something in her ear. Unexpectedly, Nagato turned her head to look at me with emotionless eyes.
    Did she just nod her head? Her head bobbed like the head of a puppet whose strings had just been cut, before she trudged off to the batter’s box.
    I glanced left to find Asahina staring at Nagato this time.
    “Nagato’s finally…”
    Her face paled as she voiced those curious words.
    “Is something up with her?”
    “Nagato appears to be reciting an incantation.”
    “Incantation? What’s that?”
    “Um… That’s classified.”
    Asahina bowed her head apologetically. It’s fine, really. I can’t do anything about it if it’s classified. Huh, I guess something unimaginable is about to happen again.
    I could recall a thing or two regarding Nagato’s incantations.
    One unusually hot evening back in May. If Nagato hadn’t barged into the classroom that day, I would certainly be resting in a grave somewhere. Nagato had muttered some kind of incantation at a ridiculous speed to repel the attacker who had tried to kill me. Oh, right. Nagato was still wearing glasses back then.
    I wonder what she’s going to do this time.
    I found out soon enough.
    One swing of the bat. Home run.
    Nagato barely used any strength when she swung the bat yet sheconnected with the center of the pitcher’s fastball and launched it into the sky before it disappeared beyond the fence.
    I turned to look at my teammates. Koizumi had an elegant smile on his face as he nodded in my direction. Asahina’s face looked a bit