Volume 6 - The Wavering of Suzumiya Haruhi

by Tanigawa Nagaru

  “There’s nothing I could do if Goddess Nagato is not willing to wait ten years for me. Despite this, I just hope I can move her with my heroics.”

  Such a conclusive deduction. You should at least consider my position. Even if you don’t care about me, you ought to consider how busy the rest of us are going to be for the end of the year.

  “Is it inconvenient for you?”

  It’s not exactly inconvenient for me. I was free as a bird tomorrow, and most probably Nagato was as well. So, it’s not inconvenient at all. At this rate, I’ll really be forced to go and see your heroics.

  “That’s great, do come. Though it’s a friendly match, it is going to be a duel to the death. Tomorrow’s match would be the annual match between the American Football teams of my school and the neighboring boys school. The outcome of the match would affect how we spend the New Year. If we lose, we would be greeted by a hellish winter vacation. There will be no rest for us even in New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Everyday besides the regular practice, we’ll simply get more practice.”

  Nakagawa sounded really serious, maybe even tragic. But for me it’s all none of my business. There was a mountainload of troublesome stuff I needed to take care of before the end of the year, and it’s only a few days before the snow mountain mansion field trip.

  “Kyon, it’s fine if you’re busy. All you need to do is just bring Goddess Nagato over. That’s all that I ask of you. If she refuses, then I would truly give up. But as long as there’s a one-to-a-thousand chance, I’m willing to take it. If I don’t try, a dream would just be a dream,”

  Yeah, you sure can talk big. Yet my weakness was my inability to say mean stuff,

  “Alright then.”

  I laid on my bed and sighed a breath that somehow never came out,

  “I’ll call Nagato later.”

  I have a feeling Nagato won’t say “no”,

  “Where’s your high school? If Nagato says OK, then I’ll bring her over,”

  Maybe I’ll bring someone else as well… it’s fine if I bring a few more people, right?

  “Thank you, Kyon. I’ll remember this debt I owe you,”

  Nakagawa then cheerfully told me how to get to his school, and when the kickoff for the match would begin,

  “You truly are a natural matchmaker! I’ll have to hire you as our host for our wedding! No! I should name my first child after you…”

  “Bye,”

  After a cool farewell, I hung up the phone. If I let Nakagawa continue with his ramblings, I’m afraid holes would be bored out of my head already.

  I placed the home phone receiver on my bed and picked up my cell phone, trying to look for Nagato’s phone number in my address book.

  And so, the next day came very quickly.

  “You’re too slow! How can the person who made the appointment be the last to arrive? Are you sure you even want to go!?”

  Haruhi pointed at me with a smile on her face. The location was in front of the familiar station, which has become the official meeting point of the SOS Brigade. The other three - Nagato, Koizumi and Asahina-san were all waiting for me as well.

  Originally, I had intended to just bring the silent Living Humanoid Interface along, but like I said, it just wasn’t possible for the two of us to watch the game alone. No matter how tight a net is, it will always have holes. If the brigade commander were to find out we went without her, god knows what kind of weird punishment she would come up with. Just thinking about it was enough to give me shivers. I might as well drag the others along into this, so after calling Nagato, I proceeded to call the other three. As to why they all agreed, it could be either they just happened to have some free time, or they were just simply curious about this guy who fell in love with Nagato at first sight.

  As it was in the middle of the chilly winter, everyone came wearing thick clothing

  As it was in the middle of the chilly winter, everyone came wearing thick clothing. Asahina-san’s outfit was worth a mention. Wearing that white artificial fur coat, which could either be furry or fluffy, she looked so cute, like an innocent white rabbit. If one were to fall in love at first sight, one’s target ought to be Asahina-san instead.

  As for Nagato, she simply wore a simple hooded coat over her uniform and placed the hood over her head. As expected from the alien created doll, she is able to resist such freezing Earth temperatures.

  “…”

  Though she was about to see the person who had confessed to her, she still remained expressionless.

  “Alright, let’s go. I can’t wait to see what that guy looks like. Besides, this is my first time seeing an American Football game,”

  Haruhi wasn’t the only one in a good mood as though going to a picnic, Asahina-san was also smiling happily, Koizumi maintained his evil looking grin, and I looked unexcited, while our main character Nagato carried no expression whatsoever.

  “I checked the bus routes around the park beforehand. It’ll take about half an hour to get from here to that boy’s school by bus. We can get on here,”

  Koizumi led the way speaking like a tour guide as my words dwindled.

  It’s all fine as long as you’re happy, whether it’s this guy, Haruhi, or Asahina-san.

  As Koizumi walked along, he gradually came close to my side and whispered meaningfully to my ear,

  “To be honest, you sure do have a lot of extraordinary friends.”

  I waited for him to continue, yet Koizumi only gave me a grin and went back to his duties as a tour guide.

  Nakagawa an extraordinary person? Who knows. To feel as though he’s struck by lightning just by having one look at Nagato, he must be more extraordinary than the average person in order to have such special senses.

  Walking to the bus depot, I just felt something was amiss.

  For some reason, I just couldn’t be happy.

  After riding on the privately-operated bus for about half an hour, we walked for a few minutes before arriving at that boy’s school. The game had already started.

  As I had overslept, we had already missed two buses, so that by the time we arrived it was already fifteen minutes since the game had begun.

  It didn’t seem like we could enter the school grounds, so we walked along the perimeter, and very soon came to a field that was surrounded by a barbed fence. The American Football friendly match had already started.

  “Wow~ Such a big school field,”

  I totally agreed with Asahina-san’s awestruck comment. Unlike the North High school field, which was basically a piece of flat land created from the leveling of a hill, a lot of money seems to to have been spent on building this very wide private boy’s school sports field. Besides, the place where we were standing was about a story higher than the sports field, giving us a great vantage point. Apart from the five of us, there were some old geezers that would occasionally pass by, and plenty of schoolgirls, which I suspect to be fangirls, squeezing their faces on the wire fence, and cheering away in their high pitched voices for each boy’s school.

  Listening to the smashing sound of the white and blue jerseys and helmets, the five of us found an empty spot where we could stand alongside in a row.

  Nagato remained speechless and didn’t give any reaction.

  Still silent…

  I knew absolutely nothing about American Football. I remember after winning our match in the baseball tournament, Haruhi showed us the application posters for the American Football and soccer tournaments. In the end we entered neither tournament (of course that was after going through many trials and tribulations), but just to be safe, I still went and looked up the rules. It looked simple, but it was quite complicated. Though it wasn’t hard to play, it wasn’t a sport in which we could just join in if we felt like it.

  In fact, just watching the bullfight beyond the fence proved that my choice not to participate was correct.

  The offensive side carried an oval-shaped ball that looked like a rugby ball but not quite. In order to progre
ss just one centimeter, the players would have to throw, pass, hold and charge forward simultaneously. In order to stop that ball from going one centimeter into their territory, the opposing defensive side would have to suddenly attack the opponent player holding the ball, struggling to take the ball away from him and obstruct their attacking formation. The sound of their protective pads clashing never stopped.

  In general, it was a pretty American sport.

  “Hmm…”

  Haruhi clung to the barbed fence and looked intently at the players who were now clustered into a group,

  “So, which one is Nakagawa?”

  “The one with the number 82 on his back, the white team,”

  I said according to the description Nakagawa told me. Nakagawa was the tight end, in which he’s positioned at the side of the offensive team’s line and was responsible for both blocking the defense and catching passes. Although Nakagawa is big, he’s also quick and agile. Hmm, he sure got the right position.

  “Huh? Looks like the players could switch positions, why’s that?”

  “Because the players are divided into the offensive and defensive teams. Nakagawa is in the offensive team.”

  “They’re all wearing helmets, so can they attack using that? How hard can they smash into each other? Can they do Judo throws, or can they use any combat techniques?”

  “They can use neither. There’s no such allowance, and they can’t use their helmets either.”

  “Huh~?”

  Haruhi looked keenly at the field. There was no American Football team in North High; if there was, this girl would definitely try to find a way to sneak in and wreak havoc. Who knows, she might just be able to achieve something using her instantaneous movement and explosive energy.

  “This is such an exhilarating and enthusiastic sport. It’s very suitable for winter!”

  I listened to Haruhi making her comments while quietly taking a glance at Nagato. She still maintained her empty expression, simply following the ball’s movement. To me, she didn’t seem to be really paying any particular attention to Nakagawa, but just simply daydreaming.

  The five of us just stood there and spent some time watching guys from the boy’s schools smashing into each other.

  “Um… would you like some tea?”

  Asahina-san took a flask and some paper cups out from her bag,

  “I thought it might be cold, so I prepared some warm drinks.”

  The smiling Asahina-san was like an angel! I’m so grateful! It really was getting a bit chilly standing still while watching the game.

  And so, we sipped on the excellent tea which was brewed by Asahina-san herself, and watched the American Footballers playing exuberantly in the middle of the chilly breeze.

  Just as we were immersed in enjoying our tea while watching the game, the second quarter ended and the half-time break began. Dressed in white, Nakagawa’s team gathered at the opposite end of the field. There stood a muscular man that seemed to be the coach yelling loudly at them. Though we couldn’t see clearly, we could make out someone wearing a number 82 jersey amongst the team.

  As for the match itself, if you really want my opinion, I thought it looked pretty dull. There were no elegant long passes, or running backs dashing for 30 yards across the length of the pitch. Both sides have managed to secure their first downs, and both sides have scored regularly so that the score was still pretty much level, with neither side managing to claim a decent advantage over their opponent.

  However, I so happen to know someone who hates things that were dull and boring, and her name is Suzumiya Haruhi.

  “I don’t think there’s any meaning to this at all,”

  Standing in the same spot, Haruhi began to mumble. She wasn’t alone in breathing out white vapor, as we were all doing the same.

  “Those players are better off, at least they get to run around,”

  Haruhi said while wrapping herself with her arms to stay warm,

  “But it’s just too cold for us who are just standing still. Is there a coffee shop nearby?”

  The picnic mood seemed to have been blown away by the chilly wind, since Asahina-san’s warm tea wasn’t served ad infinitum and so we had run out of it quite some time ago now. Even before then, half of Asahina-san’s trademark Warm Tea of Love had already been cooled down due to the cold wind, and so didn’t do much to help keep the body warm. Not to mention that today saw the arrival of the first wave of a cold-front since winter began. Haruhi wasn’t the only one shivering due to the cold, both Asahina-san and myself were frozen stiff as well. Nagato was probably the only person who didn’t feel cold, as she feared neither hot nor cold.

  “As expected, one can’t experience any fun if they’re just a spectator. Maybe I should join in and have some fun, I think I could be in charge of throwing the ball,”

  Haruhi’s bell-sized eyes were now squinted into thin lines thanks to the body-temperature snatching winds,

  “Seriously, I’ll freeze to death if I stop moving. Kyon, did you bring any good stuff? Like a thermal bag?”

  If I had brought that, you think I wouldn’t have used that already? If you must warm yourself up, why don’t you do a marathon around the school or do some push-ups? It’s economical and healthy at the same time.

  “Hmph! Fine, since I already have a thermal bag here anyway, and it’s a large one as well,”

  Haruhi slowly wrapped her arms from behind Asahina-san and held her tiny little neck that looked so fragile as though it’s about to break off.

  “Kyaa! Wah! Wh… what are you doing?”

  That voice of course came from the embarrassed Asahina-san.

  “Mikuru-chan, you sure are warm. And soft as well,”

  Burying her chin under the snow-like artificial fur on Asahina-san’s coat, Haruhi glued herself to the back of Asahina-san and hugged the tiny figure of the upper classman which was well-endowed in one area.

  “Just let me be for a while. Hee hee, Kyon, are you feeling envious?”

  Of course I am. If I want to hug something so soft and warm, I might as well hug from the front.

  “Hmm?”

  Haruhi gave a jestful look,

  “Does that mean…”

  She seemed to want to say something, but then shut her mouth, and slowly inhaled softly,

  “You want to do that to Mikuru-chan?”

  I looked at Haruhi’s mischievous face, and the wide-eyed face of Asahina-san, who was being wrapped tightly in Haruhi’s iron grip. I began to think of an appropriate answer, as I was becoming preoccupied with endless thoughts, my lifeline arrived from behind,

  “If you guys don’t mind, why don’t we hug each other?”

  Perhaps wanting to join in our discussion, Koizumi carried a vulgar looking smile and gave his gross suggestion.

  “Though running in a marathon is fine, I really don’t mind having two guys hugging each other just to stay warm, you know.”

  But I do. I’ve said it many times already, I’m not interested in “the other side”. Koizumi, all you needed to do is just quietly play your part as the commentator for the game. This is just between me, Nagato and Nakagawa. Your presence here is more or less irrelevant. I might as well say this, but Haruhi and Asahina-san’s presence too was irrelevant.

  I took a glance at the other side,

  “That’s not important…”

  The important person present - Nagato - remained silent as ever, and simply looked at the field intently. She didn’t even move a muscle. It felt as though her eyes were going after Nakagawa, but even I wasn’t sure whether her gaze was focused on him.

  On the other hand, Nakagawa was the same. As part of the offensive team, whether he was active on the field or resting on the sidelines, he never once looked over to this side. I went through so much trouble to bring Nagato here, and he ignores us completely. Even now, during the half-time intermission, he gathered with the other players in a circle discussing strategy. Has his passion for this game and his desire t
o win surpassed his pursuit of love?

  Or maybe he’s doing this on purpose? If what Nakagawa said was true, if he even takes one glance at Nagato, then he would quickly lose himself. I still think he was exaggerating things, but if he’s telling the truth, then it’ll definitely be bad for his game.

  “Ah, whatever,”

  I mumbled and looked at the back of Nagato’s head, whose short hair fluttered in the wind.

  I guess I’ll wait till after this match when Nakagawa comes out of his school for him to meet Nagato. At this rate, if the second half goes smoothly and Nakagawa’s team wins, then he’ll be free as a bird.

  Yesterday, Nagato said “I can see him,” so it won’t be bothersome to arrange for them to meet. Although I didn’t want them to meet at all, I also didn’t want to be a heartless person who would mercilessly deny other people’s hopes and requests. This way I could at least ensure my ears can get some peace.

  However…!

  Unfortunately, things never quite go as one would expect. It was less than five minutes into the third quarter after the whistle signaling the resumption of the match when…

  Nakagawa was hauled off in an ambulance.

  Allow me to describe how that fellow managed to get himself wounded. Here is what happened:

  The second half began with the opponent’s turn on the offensive. Their running back had only managed to gain 20 yards and lost possession. Now it was Nakagawa’s team’s turn to go on the offensive.

  Nakagawa was positioned on the edge near the scrimmage line which was tightly watched by both sides. Standing behind the white team’s center, their quarterback seems to be making some signals to his teammates. Abruptly, Nakagawa moved from the front lines and towards the side, while at the same moment, carrying the ball, the quarterback retreated two to three steps. The opponent’s defensive guards, cornerbacks and linebackers instantly charged forward like wild beasts.

  Nakagawa sped up his pacing and cut into the hash marks, spun around and made a fake as though trying to receive a pass. The quarterback then nimbly threw the ball past Nakagawa toward the wide receiver, who was further downfield.