The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa Read Free Book Online Page B

tried to figure out which one would require fewer people.

BAMBOO LEAF RHAPSODY
    Come to think of it, May had been a pretty hot month, temperature-wise, but here we were in July, and it was even hotter. Plus, the humidity was rising at such a ridiculous rate that my discomfort index was off the charts. The cheap-looking buildings that made up our high school were completely free of any fancy comforts such as air conditioners. The interior of the 1-5 classroom felt like a burning waiting room to hell, which made you wonder if the person who designed this place understood what amenities were.
    On top of that, we were in the first week of July, with finals around the corner, so my happy feelings had wandered off to somewhere in the vicinity of Brazil and wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.
    Midterms had been quite a disaster, and at this rate, I seriously doubted I’d get a decent grade on my finals. And there was no denying that the problem was due to too much time spent on SOS Brigade activities and not enough time devoted to studying. Not that I chose to spend my time on that crap, but a rule had been established in spring that every time Haruhi said something, Ihad to go from place to place for no real reason at all, and this was now my part of normal lifestyle. I really hated how I was growing accustomed to this practice.
    We were sitting in the classroom during a break with sunlight streaming in from the west. The girl sitting behind me poked me in the back with her pencil.
    “Do you know what day it is?”
    Haruhi Suzumiya said this with a look on her face like she was a grade schooler on Christmas Eve. When she starts showing this much emotion on her face, it’s a signal that she’s up to no good. I spent three seconds pretending to think.
    “Your birthday?”
    “No.”
    “Asahina’s birthday.”
    “No!”
    “Koizumi’s or Nagato’s birthday.”
    “I don’t even know when those are.”
    “Incidentally, my birthday is—”
    “I don’t care. You have no idea what an important day it is, do you?”
    You can say whatever you want, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s just a really hot weekday.
    “Tell me what month and what day it is.”
    “July seventh… This seems like a stretch, but don’t tell me you’re talking about Tanabata.”
    “Of course I am. It’s Tanabata, you know. Every Japanese person is supposed to remember Tanabata.”
    First of all, that actually began as a Chinese tradition. And Tanabata, the Star Festival, is supposed to be next month if you go by the Chinese calendar.
    Haruhi waved her pencil in front of my face.
    “Everything this side of the Red Sea is considered Asia.”
    That’s an odd way to describe geography.
    “We’re in the same block for the World Cup preliminaries, right? And there isn’t much of a difference between July and August. It’s still summer.”
    Oh, really.
    “Whatever. We have to do a proper job of celebrating Tanabata. I always throw myself into these kinds of events.”
    I’m pretty sure there are better things for you to throw yourself into. And more importantly, why is it necessary for you to tell me this? I could care less about what you want to do.
    “It’s more fun if everyone participates. Starting this year, all the brigade members will get together for a big party on Tanabata.”
    “Don’t decide that on your own.”
    I was watching a needlessly triumphant look on Haruhi’s face as I protested, which left me feeling that it was stupid to bother to try to object.
    And once class was over for the day, Haruhi flew out of the classroom the second the bell rang.
    “I’ll be waiting in the club room! You’re not allowed to go home!” she said in parting.
    I didn’t need her to tell me to go to the club room. After all, there happens to be a person I try to meet at least once a day. The only such person.
    The other brigade members had already assembled in the SOS Brigade’s hideout, the literary club room on the second floor of the