The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya Read Online Free Page B

when it reached the batter. Really vicious, just like Haruhi’s personality.



The second batter, after receiving advice from the leadoff batter, gripped his bat to bunt. But after hitting two fouls, he also struck out.
    I was getting worried. At this rate, the game might not be decided until the last inning. However, the meat of the order delivered. The third batter landed a solid hit on Haruhi’s pitch. If you keep throwing fastballs in the strike zone, you’re going to give up hits.
    The ball sailed far above Nagato, who didn’t move a muscle, and disappeared outside the ballpark.
    Haruhi glared at the third hitter circling the infield as though she were Queen Medea, just betrayed by Jason.
    In any case, we were now one run behind.
    We proceeded to give up a double to the cleanup hitter, and an error by Kunikida on the fifth hitter left runners on first and second. The sixth hitter landed a Texas leaguer inside right field to bring in a second run. The seventh hitter drilled one down the third base line, but Tsuruya scooped it up effortlessly and delivered a laser to throw the batter out. Finally time to change sides.
    The score at the end of the first inning was 2–0. It was surprisingly close. Except I didn’t want us to put up a good fight. We needed to give up ten runs pronto so we could go home.
    Our fifth, sixth, and seventh batters, my sister, Koizumi, and Kunikida, went down one after the next, and we found ourselvesback out in the field for the bottom of the second before we could even catch our breath.
    It appeared that the opposing team had perceived that the outfield was our weakness. They began focusing exclusively on hitting fly balls. Every time, Taniguchi and I would dash to the outfield to try to catch the ball. We were successful around 10 percent of the time and it was excessively tiring. Well, it was a small price to pay for saving Asahina from her predicament. After all, she still looked cute when she was all frightened and huddled into a ball.
    And so in the end, we gave up five runs this inning. 7–0. Three runs to go. The game should be over next inning.
    Top of the third inning. Our turn to go on the attack.
    Tsuruya, with her long hair tied behind her back, was keeping it alive with foul balls. She appeared to be a person with good reflexes, but eventually, she popped the ball up behind her and the catcher caught it. She returned, tapping her helmet with the bat.
    “That’s a toughie. It was all I could manage to get the bat on the ball.”
    Haruhi creased her brow as she watched, seeming to be deep in thought. Nothing good ever happens when she’s thinking.
    “Hmm. It looks like we’re going to need that.”
    Haruhi puckered her lips and slowly motioned to the umpire.
    “Hey! Time-out!”
    She then grabbed Asahina, sitting properly with a megaphone in her hand, by the neck.
    “Eek!”
    Haruhi disappeared behind the bench, dragging the petite, gym uniform–clad girl with her. Both of them had been carryingsports bags with them, and it soon became clear what had been inside those bags.
    “W-Wait…! Suzumiya! St-Stop… it!”
    I could hear bits and pieces of Asahina’s adorable shrieking.
    “Come on! Get undressed! We’re getting changed!”
    The wind carried Haruhi’s booming voice to us. This again, huh?
    When Asahina finally reappeared, she was wearing an exceedingly appropriate outfit for this event. A sleeveless shirt and pleated miniskirt ensemble in bright blue and white. She held yellow pompoms in both hands.
    A cheerleader in every sense of the word. Where did they get an outfit like that? It’s a mystery.
    “Looking good there.”
    Kunikida commented in a carefree manner.
    “Mikuru, can I take a picture?”
    Tsuruya chuckled as she took out a digital camera.
    I should mention that Haruhi was wearing the same outfit. She could have just worn it by herself… but I didn’t feel that way. Asahina in a cheerleader outfit was, quite frankly, a ridiculously adorable