The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa Page A

wrist movement that carpal tunnel was imminent, appeared to be having a pretty good time. She had such a relaxed smile on her face. The smile you see higher-ups flash at lesser beings. In fact, Haruhi was so relaxed that she started giving Asahina, who was a grade above her, pointers on the essay she was struggling with. If Asahina gets a C on her report it’ll be Haruhi’s fault….
    And with those memories firmly lodged in my mind, I got out of bed.
    Today was the beginning of a new term. I think.
    I’ve never been so glad to see the second term begin.
    After the principal’s speech in the gym and a shortened homeroom session, school was over. The current date was September first. I knew this because Taniguchi and Kunikida gave me such condescending looks when I asked them for the date when we were in the classroom.
    The vendors and cafeteria weren’t open today, so Haruhi had gone off to the snack shop outside the school gate. Koizumi and I were the only ones in the clubroom.
    “Suzumiya excels both academically and athletically. I would assume that’s been the case since she was a child. Which was why she didn’t consider our summer homework to be a burden at all. And there was no chance that she would ever think to share the workload with friends. Since Suzumiya is fully capable of finishing the work by herself.”
    As I listened to Koizumi’s explanation, I drew a metal chair next to the window and looked down at the schoolyard. Today was the first day of a new term, so I could have just gone home, but somehow, I ended up coming here and found myself joined by Koizumi. The most unusual thing was the absence of Nagato. She didn’t let it show, but she may have been tired.
    There’d been a shift in the local cicada populace from Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata to Meimuna opalifera . Summer vacation was over. That much was certain. However—
    “Hard to believe it was real. That we experienced the second half of August fifteen thousand–plus times.”
    “It’s only natural to feel that way.”
    Koizumi flashed a cheerful smile as he cut the deck.
    “At this point we don’t share any memories with the incarnations from the fifteen thousand four hundred ninety-seven other loops. They do not exist on this time axis. For we, the members of the fifteen thousand four hundred ninety-eighth time, were the only ones able to return to the normal flow of time.”
    However, I had been given hints. The repeated sensations of déjà vu, especially the ones at the end, may have been gifts from our predecessors. Should I even consider them predecessors, since time was more or less a merry-go-round, like those tigers that ran in circles until they turned into butter.
    Still, I am here right now because of the ones who underwent those two weeks before us. I have to look at it that way or their summers, erased by Haruhi, would have been for nothing.
    Especially the 8,769 incarnations who knew they were being reset.
    “How about some poker?”
    Koizumi was shuffling cards like a novice magician. Guess I might as well humor him.
    “Sure. What are we playing for? Don’t have any money on me.”
    “No betting, then.”
    And naturally, when it didn’t count, I scored an insane win. The first time I’ve ever seen a royal flush.
       
    If I ever get an opportunity to redo this day, I’ll remember to place a bet.

PREFACE · AUTUMN
    The cultural festival was over, and I found myself in a state of despondence as we entered the tail end of November.
    Director Haruhi had been pretty out of control during the filming, but the movie itself performed well enough at the screening. So I figured she would be satisfied and behave herself for the time being, but there was no change in her energy level before, during, or after the cultural festival.
    However, our school didn’t provide enough activities to keep the wheels in Haruhi’s mind spinning on a regular basis. The only event that had come up since was the election for student