Free The Intrigues of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa

chance a shrine maiden’s outfit?”
    “Wha—? How did you know?”
    Because it sounded like the kind of thing Haruhi would do
. It was Haruhi’s policy, when trying to command attention, to start with costume design. Whatever stood out the most was the best, in her view. Asahina’s features by themselves were enough to draw the eye, but when decorated, their power inexplicably grew far greater. In terms of character statistics, I guess you’d call it her charm.
    “I handed out prizes to the winners, shook their hands, and took photos with them,” Asahina said, embarrassed, her hand grabbing onto the fur of Shamisen’s cheek. “Then you suddenly took me by the hand and led me to the clubroom. You said we were in a big hurry, and that I should change into my uniform, and I didn’t really understand, but I did what you said. Then you told me to get in the broom closet and jump eight days back in time, to three forty-five PM . You said you’d be waiting for me there, and that I should do whatever your past self told me to do.”
    Asahina looked down, her index finger tracing the calico patterns on Shamisen’s back.
    “Permission to use the TPDD was granted immediately—so fast I couldn’t believe it. It was like they were just waiting for my request.”
    They must have been. Asahina the Elder would have known allof this ahead of time. What I didn’t understand was why had my future self played a role in the time traveler’s plan? I knew that the other, curvier Asahina was the same individual as the one that was here with me, separated only by time. But reason and emotion are different things. How many times was she going to make the younger Asahina travel through time before she was satisfied?
C’mon, Asahina the Elder—give me something to work with, here!
    If she didn’t, I was gonna happily puke my guts out pretty soon.
    The Asahina in front of me was looking depressed again. A pained expression played over her features, not unlike the time a month ago when she was feeling shame over her own powerlessness. If that was it, she shouldn’t have worried—I was plenty powerless myself. Even now, all I could do was try to figure out who I was going to beg for help.
    The two of us sighed simultaneously, as Shamisen yawned, bored. Just then—
    “Kyon, open up!”
    My little sister’s voice sounded from the other side of the door. When I did as the voice instructed, she came wobbling into the room, precariously holding a tray with juice and sponge cake. I guess my mom was being pretty considerate, but when I saw that there were three servings, I could tell my sister was planning to stay. I realized it too late. This was a prime chance to be alone with Asahina in my room, but it sure didn’t seem like that was going to happen. I stared daggers at my sister, willing her to get out of my room, but she ignored me completely and plopped herself down next to Asahina.
    “Shami, want some cake?”
    As she watched my sister hold a little piece of cake in front of the cat’s nose, Asahina finally faintly smiled.
    I guess little sisters can be good for something. As her brother, I hoped she wouldn’t lose that innocence as she got older.
    After my sister played with Asahina for a little while, the cat sandwiched between them, Asahina and I finally left my house.
    My watch indicated six fifteen, and the sky was already dark. The first day of spring wouldn’t be until next month.
    “Kyon, what shall we do?” Asahina murmured, breathing clouds of white vapor as she walked beside me. She was walking a bit uncertainly, having borrowed a pair of my shoes. I’d figured they’d be better than her school slippers, but now I wondered if they were a bit too big for this particular Cinderella.
    “Yeah, hmm,” I said, exhaling.
    I was starting to want to have her just stay at my house—that would’ve made my sister happy, but somehow it just didn’t seem like it would work. For one thing, my parents would want to know