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Maria-sama ga Miteru

2012-08-30T04:24:27Z

Nochgo: /* Series Overview */

[[Image:MM_v01_cover.jpg|200px|thumb|MariMite volume 1 cover.]]

Maria-sama ga Miteru (マリア様がみてる) is a Japanese light novel series written by Oyuki Konno (今野緒雪（こんのおゆき）) and illustrated by Reine Hibiki (ひびき玲音). The series is published by Shueisha under their Cobalt imprint. Many of the short stories which were later also included in the novel series were first published in the Cobalt magazine. The series has currently 36 published volumes. The spin-off light novel series Ōshaka-sama mo Miteru (お釈迦様もみてる) about Yumi's younger brother Yūki and his schoolmates at Hanadera have since August 2008 six published volumes.

''Maria-sama ga Miteru'' is also available in the following languages:
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru_%28Fran%C3%A7ais%29|Français (French)]]

(Note: Translation progress varies for each version.)

== Story Synopsis ==

Maria-sama ga Miteru's story revolves around the students of the Lillian Catholic school for girls, and can be considered character-driven, focusing on interactions between the characters rather than any sort of ongoing plot or goal to attain. At Lillian Girls' School, there is a tradition known as the sœur system (sœur being French for "sister"), in which a second, or third-year student, the grande sœur ("big sister"), will give her rosary to a junior student, the petite sœur ("little sister"), and promise to look after them and guide them.

When the story begins, Yumi Fukuzawa, a first-year at Lillian, is praying in front of the Virgin Mary statue near the school entrance when she is suddenly approached by a cold second-year student named Sachiko Ogasawara who straightens Yumi's uniform ribbon. This seemingly simple act of kindness stays with Yumi the rest of the day, and she speaks of her meeting with Sachiko to her friends during class and lunch. After school is over, Yumi's classmate Tsutako Takeshima meets with Yumi to show her that she took a photograph of Yumi's meeting with Sachiko earlier that morning. Yumi asks if she can have the photo, but Tsutako says she will give her the snapshot under two conditions: one being that Tsutako can display it at the upcoming school festival, and two being that Yumi get Sachiko's permission to do so as well. Yumi agrees to this, which sets in motion a series of events involving the entire Yamayurikai — the student council of the school. A few weeks after first meeting Sachiko, Yumi accepts Sachiko's rosary and therefore agrees to become her petite sœur.

This officially inducts Yumi into the Yamayurikai where she assists them in school matters at the same level as the other two petite sœurs — Yoshino Shimazu, and Shimako Tōdō — who are the petite sœurs of Rei Hasekura, and Sei Satō respectively. Through her activities in the Yamayurikai, Yumi becomes closer to the other members and generally finds her experiences with the group to be enjoyable. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria-sama_ga_Miteru Synopsis from wikipedia.]

'''Warning:''' Suffice it to say, this series is considered yuri, having various mentions of lesbian relationships. They are not, however, particularly graphic. If you find this sort of topic offensive, look away.

== Translation ==

=== [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

'''Translators are asked to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on''' (see [[Format_guideline#Translators|the Guideline page]] for usage rules).

=== Format Standards ===
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Format|Maria-sama ga Miteru specific formatting]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes|Maria-sama ga Miteru translation notes]]

== Updates ==
* 10 June 2012
** Started translation of volume 10
* 29 April 2012
** Finished translation of volume 27
* 15 January 2012
** Finished translation of volume 31
* 31 August 2011
** Finished translation of volume 28
* 17 April 2011
** Finished translation of volume 30

[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Updates|Past Updates]]

== Maria-sama ga Miteru/マリア様がみてる by Oyuki Konno ==
'''You can find the EPUB and MOBI version of the Volumes in the forums [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=4955 here].'''
=== Volume 1 - Maria-sama ga Miteru/マリア様がみてる [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v01_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter1|Monday of Uneasiness]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter2|Tuesday of Storms]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter3|Anxious Wednesday, Friday of Battle]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter4|Spicy and Bitter Weekend]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5|The Hot Second Week]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter6|Waltz-like Sunday]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 2 - The Yellow Rose Revolution/黄薔薇革命 [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v02_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter1|Best Sœur]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter2|The Returned Rosary]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter3|Unexpected Consequences]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter4|Just what is going on?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter5|Fighting Maidens]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter6|As long as it ends well]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 3 - Forest of Thorns/いばらの森 [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v03_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Forest of Thorns
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter1|The semester exam and the paperback]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2|The White Rose]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter3|Who's Suga Sei?]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter4|If I could meet Eve]]
* The White Flower Petal
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter5|Springtime Buds]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter6|Summer Greenhouse]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter7|Autumn Love]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter8|The last flower of winter, and then]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 4 - Rosa Canina/ロサ・カニーナ [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v04_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Prologue|Prologue]]
*Rosa Canina
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter1|A lonesome warmth]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter2|Rosa Canina?]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3|What do you think?]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter4|Raison d'etre for sœur]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter5|A modest secret]]
* Nagakiyono
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter6|The first of January]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter7|The hatsumoude on the second]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter8|With the archenemy]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter9|By onee-sama's side]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 5 - Valentine's Gift - Part 1/ウァレンティーヌスの贈り物（前編） [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v05_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Surprise chocolate
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1|Research]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2|gift from a rare visitor]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter3|Outsider]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter4|The thirteenth of February]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter5|St. Valentine's prank]]
* The Yellow Rose complication
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter6_1|18:50, Eriko]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter6_2|19:18, Yoshino]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter6_3|19:30, Rei]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter6_4|23:10, Eriko]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter6_5|23:10, Yoshino]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter6_6|23:10, Rei]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 6 - Valentine's Gift - Part 2/ウァレンティーヌスの贈り物（後編） [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v06_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* First date triangle
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Chapter1|Order]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Chapter2|Hors d'oeuvre]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Chapter3|Main]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Chapter4|Dessert]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Chapter5|The crimson card]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Chapter6|Rosa Chinensis' best day of her life]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume6_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 7 - Beloved Times - Part 1/いとしき歳月（前編） ===
[[Image:MM_v07_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume7_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Yellow Rose at Full Speed
** In the Beginning
** Rabbit and Cat and Wolf
** Umbrella Maker's Wife
** Yellow Rose Rebellion
* Very Busy Days
** Monday
** Tuesday
** Wednesday
** Thursday
** Friday
** Saturday
** Freebie
* A Short Interlude

=== Volume 8 - Beloved Times - Part 2/いとしき歳月（後編） ===
[[Image:MM_v08_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume8_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Will
** Lost Item
** Farewell Gift
* As the Years Pass By
** Just Before Graduation
** Eriko, Sei, Youko
** Farewell Address and Formal Reply
** Towards the Light
* Hold One of My Hands
** Spring Breeze
** Autumn Bonds

=== Volume 9 - Cherry Blossom (Sakura)/チェリーブロッサム ===
[[Image:MM_v09_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume9_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* The Cherry in the Ginkgos
** Falling Cherry Blossoms / Exam Failure
** Maria and Maitreya
** Rosary or Juzu
** The Maria Ceremony Inquisition
* BGN (Background Noise)
** If the Cherry Blossoms Fall
** 8 – 3 = Right
** Worrisome First Year
** Behind the Scenes of The Maria Ceremony Inquisition

=== Volume 10 - Rainy Blue/レイニーブルー ===
[[Image:MM_v10_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Rosary Droplets
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter1|Peppermint Candy]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter2|Raindrop]]
* Yellow Rose Warning
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter3|Suspicious Clouds]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter4|Signs of Rain]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter5|Rainy Blue]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter6|Premonition]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume10_Chapter7|Smile, Smile]] - In Progress (1/3)
** Sweets
** Blue Umbrella, Red Umbrella

=== Volume 11 - Holding a Parasol/パラソルをさして ===
[[Image:MM_v11_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume11_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Prologue
* The Girl with the Yellow Umbrella
* Classmates
* Welcome
* White Umbrella
* Visitor
* Beneath a Clear, Blue Sky
* Postscript

=== Volume 12 - Vacation of the Lambs/子羊たちの休暇 ===
[[Image:MM_v12_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume12_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter0|Prologue]]
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter1|Plans for the Summer Vacation (夏休みの予定) ]] (unfinished)
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter2|In the Dream of Seeing Cabbage Butterflies (紋白蝶の見る夢は)]] (unfinished)
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter3|Midsummer Greetings with a Pressed Leaf (押し葉の暑中見舞い)]] (unfinished)
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter4|The Rich Princes and Princesses (お坊ちゃま、お嬢様)]]
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter5|Searching in the Mist (霧中模索)]]
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Chapter6|Songs of an Angel (天使の歌)]]
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Epilogue|Author's Epilogue]]
*[[Maria_Sama_Ga_Miteru:Volume12_Translator's_Notes|Translator's Notes and References]]

=== Volume 13 - One Page of Midsummer/真夏の一ページ ===
[[Image:MM_v13_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume13_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Operation OK For Short (Tentative)
** Offer and Plot
** Cunning Boy
** OK, Let's Do It.
* Together With the Old Gentleman
** Working With Resignation and a Dustpan
** As Far as the Meeting Place
** Search for Takuya-kun!
* Rosa Foetida ☆ Illustrated Diary
** 〇th of July (Saturday) : Sunny
** △th of August (Sunday) : Cloudy
** Ⅹth of August (Saturday) : Sunny

=== Volume 14 - Cool Breeze/涼風さつさつ ===
[[Image:MM_v14_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume14_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Prologue
* The First Step
* That's a Problem
* Setting Aside the "Bread Incident"
* Finding Me
* The Battle for Hanadera
* Postscript

=== Volume 15 - Ready, GO!/レディ、GO！ [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v15_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Chapter1|Remaining Cuteness of Today's Enemy]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Chapter2|Everything Prepared?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Chapter3|Friend's affection and Onee-sama]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Chapter4|Casting Aside Embarrassment of One's Parents]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Chapter5|Joker, Anchor]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume15_Chapter6|Penalty Game Speculation]]
* Postscript

=== Volume 16 - Variety Gifts/バラエティギフト [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v16_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Chapter1|Variety Gift I]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Chapter2|Variety Gift II]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Chapter3|Variety Gift III]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Chapter4|Variety Gift IV]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume16_Chapter5|Variety Gift V]]
* Postscript
<br>

=== Volume 17 - Ciào Sorella!/チャオソレッラ！ [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v17_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter1|Each and Every Farewell Gift]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter2|Going out at the Beginning]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter3|Leisurely Dialogue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter4|The Mouth of Truth's Complaint]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter5|The Capital of Flowers Is What Kind of City?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter6|Resounding! Leaning! Melting!?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter7|The Parakeet's Hint]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter8|From the Water Capital to the Island Nation]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter9|Souvenir Report]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Chapter9.5|The Absence of Rosa Chinensis en Bouton]]
* Postscript
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume17_Translator's Notes|Translator's Notes and References]]

=== Volume 18 - Nothing Special, Just a Normal Day/特別でないただの一日 [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v18_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Chapter1|Shock]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Chapter2|Are you changing?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Chapter3|What will happen? What will we do?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Chapter4|Ah, Misunderstanding]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Chapter5|Dramatics]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume18_Postscript|Afterword]]

=== Volume 19 - In Library/インライブラリー ([[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19|Full Text]])===
[[Image:MM_v19_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter1|In Library - - I]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter1.5|Silent Night's Vision]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter2|In Library - - II]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter2.5|Joanna]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter3|In Library - - III]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter3.2|Chocolate Coat]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter3.3|Yasuko]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter3.4|Masumi]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter3.5|Asaka]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter4|In Library - - IV]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter4.5|Cherry Blossom Folk Tales]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter4.5.1|--- Magic Among the Cherry Blossom ---]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter4.5.2|-- The Door of Cherry Wood --]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter4.5.3|-- The Burial Among Cherry Blossoms --]]
***[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter4.5_Epilogue|Cherry Blossom Folk Tales - Epilogue]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter5|In Library - - V]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter5.5|Library Book]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume19_Chapter6|In Library - - VI]]

=== Volume 20 - Sister Audition/妹オーディション ([[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20|Full Text]])===
[[Image:MM_v20_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter1|-- Right or Wrong -- ]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter1.2|Maria-sama's Star]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter1.3|Maria-sama's Planet]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter2|Welcome to the Tea Party]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter3|Interim Report]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter4|The Crucial Battle]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter5|Harvest]]
*Postscript

=== Volume 21 - Rose Mille-Feuille/薔薇のミルフィーユ ([[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21|Full Text]])===
[[Image:MM_v21_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Prologue|Prologue]]
*Yellow Rose Panic
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter1|The result of 100 battles?]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter2|Panic Attack!]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter3|The Bout's Whereabouts]]
*Reverie of the White Rose
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter4|Two Peaceful People]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter5|The Heaviness of Reverie]]
*Rosa Chinensis's Sigh
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter6|After-Finals Prize]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter7|High Tension and Roller Coasters]]
**[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Chapter8|A Mille-Feuille of Sighs]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Postscript|Afterword]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume21_Translator's Notes|Translator's Notes and References]]

=== Volume 22 - Blank Map of the Future/未来の白地図 ([[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22|Full Text]])===
[[Image:MM_v22_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Chapter1|An Unexpected Visitor (予期せぬ客人） ]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Chapter2|A Little Bit of Something（何となく、の中には）]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Chapter3|Of Strange Things（ひょんな事から）]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Chapter4|Even though it's Christmas（クリスマスなのに）]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Chapter5|Rose Dialogue（薔薇のダイアローグ）]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume22_Afterword|Afterword]]

=== Volume 23 - Other Side of the Frosted Glass/くもりガラスの向こう側 ===
[[Image:MM_v23_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume23_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume23_Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume23_Chapter1|Onee-sama's Lead (お姉さまのリード)]]
* In One Year's Time (一年の計)
* Stopping In Along the Way (寄り道と道すがら)
* Full To Bursting At the New Year’s Party (新年会てんこ盛り)
* Nearly Far? Or Distantly Near? (近くて遠き？　遠くて近き？)
* A Chill Breeze (冷たい風)
* The Heart In the Frosted Glass (心のくもりガラス)
* Afterword

=== Volume 24 - Masked Actress/仮面のアクトレス ===
[[Image:MM_v24_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume24_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Yellow Rose, Hardball Fight
** Riding a Bicycle
** Contest
* Masked Actress
** The Opening Ceremony's Spoiled Child
** Explanatory Meeting and Clandestine Meeting
** First Year Camellia Class is Normal
** Beneath the Mask
* A Moment of Honesty

=== Volume 25 - Big Door, Small Key/大きな扉　小さな鍵 ===
[[Image:MM_v25_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume25_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Key Holder
** Sometimes Falling, Sometimes Pulling
** Slightly Slipping Away
** Proposal Together With Arrival
** What I Wanted to Hear
* Keyhole of the Heart
** Pitiable Person
** Fortunate Interview
** In Her Pocket

=== Volume 26 - Crisscross/クリスクロス ===
[[Image:MM_v26_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume26_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Crisscross
** Good Morning Chocolate
** Sentimental First-Year Camellia Class
** Ahh, Tea Party
** A Shortcut and Dropping In on the Way
** The Blank Map's Valley
** The Red Card's Outlook
* Map Stroll
** Meandering
** X-Mark

=== Volume 27 - In Search of You/あなたを探しに [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v27_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter1|Warrior Demands a Response]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter2|The "Absentee's Chance" Girl]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter3|Unexpected Words]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter4|At the Outset of the Date]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter5|"Why?"]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter6|Amendment, Overwriting and an Old Photograph]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter7|The Door That Opened]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume27_Chapter8|When Tomorrow Comes]]
* Afterword

=== Volume 28 - Frame of Mind/フレーム　オブ　マインド [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v28_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_BackCover|Back Cover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter1|Frame of Mind 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter2|April Deja-Vu]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter3|Frame of Mind 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter4|Three-Leaf Clover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter5|Frame of Mind 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter6|Sprouts in Dry Wood]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter7|Frame of Mind 4]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter8|The Yellow Thread]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter9|Frame of Mind 5]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter10|The Awkward Princess]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter11|Frame of Mind 6]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter12|Bouton of Light]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter13|Frame of Mind 7]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter14|The Greenhouse Fairy]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter15|Frame of Mind 8]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter16|The Doppelganger Story]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter17|Frame of Mind 9]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter18|A Roll of Film]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Chapter19|Frame of Mind 10]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume28_Postscript|Afterword]]

=== Volume 29 - Crown of Roses/薔薇の花かんむり [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_29_Cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_BackCover|Back Cover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter1|Onee-sama, Rosary and Petit Soeur]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter2|Conversation Stories]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter3|Not Here]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter4|Burning Bridges]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter5|Santa's Refreshments]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter6|The Miracle Worker]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Chapter7|Would You Like to Waltz?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume29_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 30 - Twinkle, Twinkle, Twirl/キラキラまわる [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_30_Cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_BackCover|Back Cover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter1|Scattered Sunshine]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter2|Frivolity and Self-Loathing]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter3|Those Two, On the Other Hand]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter4|Star Up Teacup]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter5|What Kind of Groups?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter6|Distant Desire]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Chapter7|Amongst the Stardust]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume30_Postscript|Afterword]]

=== Volume 31 - Marguerite Ribbon/マーガレットにリボン [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v31_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_BackCover|Back Cover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter1|Marguerite Ribbon 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter2|Debut]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter3|Marguerite Ribbon 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter4|A Rival is Fine]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter5|Marguerite Ribbon 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter6|Buying Florentine Senbei]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter7|Marguerite Ribbon 4]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter8|The Problem of Adding "-San"]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter9|Marguerite Ribbon 5]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter10|My Siblings]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter11|Marguerite Ribbon 6]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter12|Yumi-chan's Illustrated Diary – Future Volume 1]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter13|Marguerite Ribbon 7]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter14|Yumi-chan's Illustrated Diary – Future Volume 2]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter15|Marguerite Ribbon 8]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter16|Memories of the Blue Umbrella]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume31_Chapter17|Marguerite Ribbon 9]]
* Afterword

=== Volume 32 - Pre-Graduation Tableau/卒業前小景 [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v32_Cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_BackCover|Back Cover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter1|Laughing While Reminiscing]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter2|Onee-sama's Racket]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter3|Me and the Interviewer]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter4|Graduation Group Photograph]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter5|Sweet Bun Feast]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter6|Support and Skinship]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter7|Forgotten Things]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter8|What's the Person Beside You Doing?]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume32_Chapter9|The Ribbon's Path]]
* Postscript

=== Volume 33 - Hello Goodbye/ハローグッバイ [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33|(Full Text)]] ===
[[Image:MM_v33_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_BackCover|Back Cover]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Prologue|Prologue]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter1|Today's Goal]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter2|The Green Bird and the White Flower]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter3|Grand Entrance]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter4|The Problem of Adding "-San"]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter5|Parting Gift Trio]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter6|Soloist's Adlib]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter7|Connecting Chains]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Chapter8|Continuing Path]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume33_Postscript|Postscript]]
<br>

=== Volume 34 - Little Horrors/リトルホラーズ ===
[[Image:MM_v34_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume34_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
* Chapter 1: "Little Horrors - I" / リトルホラーズ―I
* Chapter 2: "Chinami-san and Me" / チナミさんと私
* Chapter 3: "Little Horrors - II" / リトルホラーズ―II
* Chapter 4: "Picking up a Handkerchief" / ハンカチ拾い
* Chapter 5: "Little Horrors - III" / リトルホラーズ―III
* Chapter 6: "An Honest Lie" / ホントの嘘
* Chapter 7: "Little Horrors - IV" /リトルホラーズ―IV
* Chapter 8: "One Pair" /ワンペア
* Chapter 9: "Little Horrors - V" /リトルホラーズ―V
* Chapter 10: "Dream of a Butterfly" /胡蝶の夢)
* Chapter 11: "Little Horrors - VI" /リトルホラーズ―VI
* Chapter 12: "Extra:Little Panic" /おまけ・リトルパニック

=== Volume 35 - Step/ステップ ===
[[Image:MM_v35_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
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*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

=== Volume 36 - My Nest/私の巣 ===
[[Image:MM_v36_cover.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

== Project Staff ==

*Project Administrator: ''None Designated''
*Project Supervisor: ''None Designated''

=== Translators ===
'''ACTIVE'''

* [[User:Enn_are|NR]]
* [[User:Sukoshi|Sukoshi]]
* [[User:hasekura_rei|hasekura_rei]]

'''K.I.A.'''

* [[User:Seki|Seki]]
* [[User:Harunako|Harunako]]

'''M.I.A.'''
* [[User:Kurokaze|Kurokaze]]

=== Editors ===
'''ACTIVE'''

(none, beside some occasionally passing readers)

'''M.I.A.'''
* [[User:Ribonizer|Ribonizer]]

=== Contributors ===

* Erica Friedman of [http://okazu.blogspot.com/ Okazu] for translations of volumes 15 through 19 and
* Rei and Sukoshi of [http://okazu.blogspot.com/ Okazu] for translation of volume 20 and 21.
* Update: as of May 19, 2010, translations no longer hosted on Okazu.

== Series Overview ==
* Volume 1 - マリア様がみてる (April 24, 1998, ISBN 4-08-614459-X)
* Volume 2 - マリア様がみてる　黄薔薇革命 (February 3, 1999, ISBN 4-08-614554-5)
* Volume 3 - マリア様がみてる　いばらの森 (April 27, 1999, ISBN 4-08-614591-X)
* Volume 4 - マリア様がみてる　ロサ・カニーナ (December 1, 1999, ISBN 4-08-614661-4)
* Volume 5 - マリア様がみてる　ウァレンティーヌスの贈り物（前編） (March 3, 2000, ISBN 4-08-614695-9)
* Volume 6 - マリア様がみてる　ウァレンティーヌスの贈り物（後編） (April 25, 2000, ISBN 4-08-614715-7)
* Volume 7 - マリア様がみてる　いとしき歳月（前編） (February 2, 2001, ISBN 4-08-614817-X)
* Volume 8 - マリア様がみてる　いとしき歳月（後編） (April 3, 2001, ISBN 4-08-614841-2)
* Volume 9 - マリア様がみてる　チェリーブロッサム (July 27, 2001, ISBN 4-08-614895-1)
* Volume 10 - マリア様がみてる　レイニーブルー (March 29, 2002, ISBN 4-08-600078-4)
* Volume 11 - マリア様がみてる　パラソルをさして (July 1, 2002, ISBN 4-08-600136-5)
* Volume 12 - マリア様がみてる　子羊たちの休暇 (December 25, 2002, ISBN 4-08-600210-8)
* Volume 13 - マリア様がみてる　真夏の一ページ (March 28, 2003, ISBN 4-08-600243-4)
* Volume 14 - マリア様がみてる　涼風さつさつ (July 1, 2003, ISBN 4-08-600284-1)
* Volume 15 - マリア様がみてる　レディ、GO！ (October 31, 2003, ISBN 4-08-600337-6)
* Volume 16 - マリア様がみてる　バラエティギフト (December 25, 2003, ISBN 4-08-600360-0)
* Volume 17 - マリア様がみてる　チャオソレッラ！ (March 31, 2004, ISBN 4-08-600399-6)
* Volume 18 - マリア様がみてる　特別でないただの一日 (October 1, 2004, ISBN 4-08-600484-4)
* Volume 19 - マリア様がみてる　インライブラリー (December 25, 2004, ISBN 4-08-600527-1)
* Volume 20 - マリア様がみてる　妹オーディション (April 1, 2005, ISBN 4-08-600568-9)
* Volume 21 - マリア様がみてる　薔薇のミルフィーユ (July 1, 2005, ISBN 4-08-600609-X)
* Volume 22 - マリア様がみてる　未来の白地図 (December 22, 2005, ISBN 4-08-600704-5)
* Volume 23 - マリア様がみてる　くもりガラスの向こう側 (March 31, 2006, ISBN 4-08-600743-6)
* Volume 24 - マリア様がみてる　仮面のアクトレス (June 30, 2006, ISBN 4-08-600784-3)
* Volume 25 - マリア様がみてる　大きな扉　小さな鍵 (October 3, 2006, ISBN 4-08-600823-8)
* Volume 26 - マリア様がみてる　クリスクロス (December 22, 2006, ISBN 4-08-600859-9)
* Volume 27 - マリア様がみてる　あなたを探しに (March 30, 2007, ISBN 978-4-08-600895-2)
* Volume 28 - マリア様がみてる　フレーム　オブ　マインド (June 28, 2007, ISBN 978-4-08-601034-4)
* Volume 29 - マリア様がみてる　薔薇の花かんむり (October 2, 2007, ISBN 978-4-08-601075-7)
* Volume 30 - マリア様がみてる　キラキラまわる (December 26, 2007, ISBN 978-4-08-601110-5)
* Volume 31 - マリア様がみてる　マーガレットにリボン (April 1, 2008, ISBN 978-4-08-601144-0)
* Volume 32 - マリア様がみてる　卒業前小景 (October 1, 2008, ISBN 978-4-08-601214-0)
* Volume 33 - マリア様がみてる　ハローグッバイ (December 26, 2008, ISBN 978-4-08-601244-7)
* Volume 34 - マリア様がみてる―リトルホラーズ (July 1, 2009, ISBN 978-4-08-601305-5)
* Volume 35 - マリア様がみてる　私の巣　(December 25, 2009, ISBN 978-4-08-601363-5)
* Volume 36 - マリア様がみてる　ステップ　(December 28, 2010, ISBN 978-4-08-601481-6)
* Volume 37 - マリア様がみてるフェアウェルブーケ (April 28, 2012, ISBN 978-4-08-601631-5)

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter5 2

2011-07-14T19:55:08Z

Nochgo: /* What Kind of Groups? Part 2 */

===<noinclude>What Kind of Groups? </noinclude>Part 2===

Yuuki's body had more or less recovered by the time Rei-san and Yoshino-san returned.

"Sachiko-sama, I'm deeply sorry for making you worry."

Yoshino-san faced Sachiko-san as she apologized. Yuuki could hardly believe his eyes. Incredibly, she had skipped over to meet them, twirling the jacket she was no longer wearing around in her hands.

What kind of magic had been used to bring about a full recovery in Yoshino-san? From listening to her conversation with Sachiko-san, it became apparent that she had spewed. Although Yoshino-san hadn't phrased it quite that crudely.

"And you too, Yuuki-kun."

Yoshino-san said, turning towards him.

"I'm sorry. For lots of things."

The predatory look she had had in her eyes when she grabbed Yuuki by the arm right before he was about to go on the teacup ride and the possessed look she had had about her as she continuously spun the teacup's wheel had both completely disappeared. Yoshino-san smiled sweetly, looking like a completely different person.

"It's okay. It looked like you were going through some tough times yourself, Yoshino-san."

Yuuki was relieved to see that the stormy atmosphere between Rei-san and Yoshino-san had dissipated.

The foundations were strengthened by adversity, or, rather, their petty squabbles vanished when something important came up.

After all, they hadn't actually been fighting, but there had been a cloud over them. And everyone else had been dragged into it. A certain amount of collateral damage was to be expected.

"Where's Yumi-san?"

Yoshino-san asked Sachiko-san, as though she had just noticed that Yumi wasn't around.

"She went to the roller-coaster with Suguru-san."

"Oh, really? That's good."

Upon hearing Yoshino-san say, "That's good," Yuuki also thought, "That's good." If Yumi were still here then it would have meant that the meaning of Yoshino-san's message had been lost.

After sitting down on the bench in the gap between Yuuki and Sachiko-san, Yoshino-san said:

"I'm feeling kind of hungry."

(Huh?)

"I want to get something to eat."

(Huh!?)

Was it normal for someone who had just vomited up the entire contents of their stomach to want to fill that space so quickly? Wouldn't it be better to give the stomach a rest for a little while? At any rate, she had recovered quickly. Too quickly.

"Wait here, I'll go find you something easy to digest."

Rei-san said, then walked off. Were there any limits to her tolerance? Yuuki watched Rei-san's shrinking figure with respect.

"Yuuki-san. Is it alright if I ask you to watch over our bags?"

Hearing his name called, Yuuki spun around. He was being asked to watch over their bags, which meant –

"Yoshino-chan and I are going to go for a short walk. We won't be long."

"… Okay."

Judging by the puzzled look on Yoshino-san's face, this was something that Sachiko-san had decided on her own, not something that they had discussed.

"Well then, I'll leave these to you. Let's go, Yoshino-chan."

Regardless, it was a request from a senior. Yoshino-san followed along, even though she looked unsure.

"Wait. Wouldn't it have been easier for me to leave instead?"

By the time he'd realized what had happened, Sachiko-san and Yoshino-san had already left their bags with him and started walking. Left behind, the teenaged boy evaluated his situation objectively and slumped his shoulders.

Alone, sitting on a bench, looking after three women's bags and one women's jacket. If there were just one person's worth then it would look like he was watching over his girlfriend's belongings, but there were three bags. There was no easy explanation.

So then, would it be better to be embarrassed by the situation (as seemed proper), or to act defiant and adopt a, "Yes I'm looking after three women's bags. So what," attitude? If Kashiwagi-sempai were in his position then he'd probably respond with, "It's tough being popular," but there was no way Yuuki would be able to pull that off, so it was useless as a point of reference.

Yuuki slowly surveyed the area of the park around him. Everyone was so wrapped up in their own enjoyment that they didn't spare a single thought for the teenaged boy sitting alone on the bench. Much less what he was looking after – .

"Ah!"

Yuuki called out. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he had seen the fleeting likeness of someone he knew.

"Uh, uh, uh."

It was just for an instant. And then they'd disappeared behind one of the buildings. But he was fairly certain it was them.

"Wait!"

Yuuki stood up, ready to give chase. If he were to dash off now, he was certain he'd catch up to them. After all, his quarry was a girl who was simply walking along.

"Ah."

But three bags and a jacket were literally weighing Yuuki down.

"Ah – geeze."

Sachiko-san had told him to mind their bags, so there was no way he could just leave them behind.

What to do, Yuuki. How will you weather this crisis!?

"No choice."

Fukuzawa Yuuki made his decision and started running.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter2 2

2011-07-13T23:17:10Z

Nochgo: /* Frivolity and Self-loathing. Part 2 */

===<noinclude>Frivolity and Self-loathing. </noinclude>Part 2===

The kindergarten aged boy sitting in the seat in front of her was constantly exclaiming "Wow!" and "Cool!"

At first he was excited just to be on a steam train, which he'd only seen in picture books before (apparently), then when it started moving he took great joy in the park scenery that coalesced around them, then called out reassuringly after confirming that his parents were sitting beside him.

(Ignorance is bliss.)

As she gazed at the scenery without noticing it, Yoshino let her own deep sigh join the rushing wind. It wasn't that she found the boy annoying or foolish. If anything, it was closer to envy or nostalgia. Yoshino had been that ignorant and determinedly excited when she woke up this morning.

Yesterday, after it was determined that they would be going to the amusement park, Yoshino couldn't stop herself from getting excited. Thoughts of going on the rides with Rei-chan, and what they would have for lunch, thrilled her – so much so that she awoke before her alarm clock went off this morning.

But despite that.

(How did things end up like this?)

Yoshino desperately wanted Maria-sama to tell her how she could turn things around, so that she could grab hold of Rei-chan's arm and innocently say, "Look at that," and "Wow," like the boy sitting in front of her.

Yoshino had arranged to meet with Rei-chan at 8:10am.

Having excitedly woken up over two hours before that, she had a leisurely breakfast, tried on the clothes she had picked out to wear last night, changed into a different pair that she thought might be better, then eventually went back to the first set of clothes. Despite taking such a long time to get dressed, there was still plenty of time left over.

Because she had so much free time, she started thinking unnecessary thoughts, which led to the cracks starting to form and the beginning of her sorrow.

"Hehehe."

Yoshino thought that her brain had probably melted from excitement. Upon reflection, it was obviously a mean-spirited practical joke, but at the time she was only thinking that it would be a bit of fun. Like the anticipation of going on a school field trip.

Yoshino finished all her preparations for going out, then at 8:05am got back into bed and pulled the blanket over her head.

When 8:10 rolled around and Yoshino still hadn't come out of her house, Rei-chan would enter the Shimazu house, and Yoshino's room, as usual.

(Yoshino, what are you doing? Wake up already.)

Just as Rei-chan pulls down the blanket:

(Buh!)

Yoshino, already dressed to go out, would poke out her tongue.

(Geeze, Yoshino.)

(Hehehe. Did I scare you?)

The two would look at each other and laugh. – Well, that was Yoshino's plan, anyway.

Still wearing her jacket and with the blanked pulled over her head, Yoshino started to boil, but she kept enduring it. A little bit of patience is always needed before something fun.

However.

No matter how long she waited, Rei-chan still didn't appear in her room. When she lifted up her blanket to take a look at the clock, thinking that perhaps it hadn't been five minutes just yet, Yoshino saw that it was 8:20am.

"Don't tell me Rei-chan overslept?" Yoshino thought as she got out of bed, but then she heard the sound of someone walking up the stairs, so she hurriedly got back in bed.

The sound of knocking on the door was quickly followed by the door opening.

Now, come to me.

Yoshino was waiting for the blanket to be ripped off her bed. Instead.

"What are you doing, Yoshino?"

The voice she heard was not Rei-chan's.

"Mother!?"

Naturally, when Yoshino pulled down the blanket the person standing there was the woman that had given birth to her.

"Where's Rei-chan!?"

"As she was leaving, she said she'd go on ahead since you weren't there on time."

"Huh."

"Hurry up and chase after her. Really, going back to sleep after you'd woken up so early."

Explaining that she hadn't gone back to sleep would be a pain, so Yoshino said, "I'm off," and flew out of the house. As she ran towards the bus stop, Yoshino cursed Rei-chan for making her do this.

Turning the corner, she caught sight of someone up ahead. The long, jeans-clad legs that poked out of the short, off-white trench-coat were moving briskly.

"Rei-chan."

Rei-chan stopped walking when Yoshino called out to her.

"Why'd you go on ahead of me?"

Yoshino complained as she ran.

"Because you weren't there at the time we'd set. I waited five minutes for you."

Rei-chan brazenly fixed Yoshino's bangs when she caught up. Damn it. It seems her hair got messed up while she was hiding under the blanket.

"But you usually come and get me."

If Rei-chan were to say, "I'm sorry,", then Yoshino was prepared to say, "It's my fault too." But that didn't happen.

"Why are you acting so spoiled?"

When Yoshino heard that, a switch was flipped inside her.

What's wrong with acting a bit spoiled? When Rei-chan graduates she wouldn't be able do her usual routine of waking me up just in time to get to school.

But Rei-chan wouldn't let it go. It was probably ''because'' she was graduating, that she didn't want Yoshino to rely on her anymore.

Perhaps it was due to their different positions. The one heading out on a journey wanted to cut off all ties, while the one left behind wanted to cling to them.

"Ahh!"

Rei-chan cried out. The bus had sailed past them right at that moment. There was no-one waiting at the bus stop. It didn't look like anyone was getting off either, since the bus kept on going until it disappeared from view.

"Ahh"

As she listened to Rei-chan's despondent cry, Yoshino said:

"There's nothing we can do about it now."

"There's hardly any buses on a Sunday."

Rei-chan scratched her head.

"This is your fault, Yoshino."

"What?"

Sure, she hadn't been out in front of her house at the time they had agreed to, but that just meant Rei-chan should have come and got her. It had been Rei-chan's decision to wait five minutes, then leave without her, so she had no right to blame her. Even now, it was because of a choice she had made. If Rei-chan hadn't stopped when Yoshino called out to her, instead continuing to walk along in silence, she would have caught that bus.

"… Honestly."

Rei-chan studied the timetable printed on the bus stop, then looked at her watch and sighed theatrically.

For argument's sake, let's say Rei-chan did make it here on time and Yoshino still hadn't come, would she have got on that bus?

That's cold, Rei-chan. Yoshino curled her lower-lip as she looked at Rei-chan's profile. If that is how it's going to be, she wont open her mouth until the other side apologize first.

The next bus wouldn't be here for about twenty minutes. Rei-chan didn't attempt to talk to her, so Yoshino remained silent as well.

When they finally boarded the bus, it moved at a sluggish pace. The only possible reason was that the roads were packed. Looking out the front window, Yoshino saw all makes of cars, both big and small, filling the road to the train station. Even when the lights turned green, there was no hint of movement.

"Yoshino."

Rei-chan spoke, for the first time in thirty minutes. Thinking that Rei-chan was about to apologize, Yoshino responded with, "Yes?" and turned towards her. However, the next words out of Rei-chan's mouth were:

"Don't you have something to say to me?"

– That.

"Good morning, Rei-chan."

Yoshino forced a smile.

"That's not it."

Rei-chan was waiting for something else, but Yoshino said, "That's all," and shut her out.

It's a shame, but Yoshino wasn't going to be the first one to say, "I'm sorry," today.

As she absentmindedly watched the red light on the car in front of them, Yoshino thought, "At this rate, we're not going to make it to the amusement park by opening time."

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter2 3

2011-07-13T23:14:54Z

Nochgo: /* Frivolity and Self-loathing. Part 3 */

===<noinclude>Frivolity and Self-loathing. </noinclude>Part 3===

They began their time at the amusement park with everyone riding the steam train together. When they disembarked, Noriko thought that it had been a splendid idea from Yoshino-sama.

At the very least, it had been for the White Rose sisters. Squeezed into that single carriage with the rest of the passengers, they felt the vibrations of the train track as they were quickly whisked around the grounds. The gentle caress of the wind coming through the open windows upon Noriko's face had relaxed her. If it had just been the two of them, the situation would have seemed more serious, so much so that she would have been conscious of how she was breathing.

So when Yumi-sama had enthusiastically asked, "Who wants to go to the haunted house?" Noriko raised her hand without hesitation. She loved Shimako-san, and they really needed to have a proper talk soon, but for now she just wanted to spend a bit more time with her friends.

Shimako-san said, "I wonder if we should go too," perhaps because she understood Noriko's feelings. As usual, Noriko's chest tightened when she saw Shimako-san smile.

Shimako-san had said that, "It's not that big a deal," but Noriko couldn't set it aside that easily. But, while still not knowing what she should do, Noriko realized that there had been nothing she could have done all along. All she could do was take the hit, but she was running away to try and avoid that.

What had been her state of mind when she first discovered that Shimako-san was the daughter of a Buddhist priest? No matter how hard Noriko tried to remember, she couldn't. Shimako-san's secret had been announced to the whole school, making it no longer a secret, then they had become soeurs, and the quiet, peaceful days had piled up one on top of the other.

Certainly, there were still many things she didn't know about Shimako-san. But Noriko had never considered that this would be one of them.

Some lively music intruded on Noriko's thoughts. It looked as though a parade had started on Main Street. The group of friends she was walking with had paused to watch as well.

The characters in their brilliant costumes sang, danced and paraded. The spectating children waved at the bears and squealed with delight. Everyone seemed to be having fun.

Still, as the parade became more and more cheerful, Noriko became more and more depressed. Or perhaps her mood hadn't changed from five minutes ago, it just seemed more or less pronounced depending on the excitement level of her surroundings. Like if someone had been walking along a flat road for a long time and suddenly there were mountains towering over them on each side, they'd think they were in a valley. That kind of thing. Probably.

(Was it a heavy burden for you?)

Even now, the words Shimako-san said to her about an hour ago lingered in her mind.

Shimako-san, standing right beside her and smiling as she shook the bear's hand, seemed incredibly mysterious.

Noriko had arranged to meet with Shimako-san at the subway's ticket gate.

They would both be taking the same JR train-line to get there, but they had delayed their meeting because it was too hard to organize a rendezvous on-board a train.

Noriko disembarked from the JR train just after 9:10am. They had arranged to meet at 9:20am, so it was perfect timing. She looked around as she walked to their meeting place, thinking they both may have caught the same train, but when she got there Shimako-san was already waiting for her.

Since Shimako-san lived further away, she had probably left earlier to make sure she arrived on time. She might seem light and fluffy, but she was actually very diligent and earnest.

"Gokigenyou."

After exchanging greetings, they walked towards the platform. From time to time they would go on outings to churches, temples and statues of Buddha together, but this was their first time going to an amusement park. Consequently, Noriko was a bit giddy with delight, although she wasn't aware of it.

"We're only changing trains once but it all looks so complicated."

Shimako-san said, as she unfolded a map of the train lines in Tokyo's outskirts.

"It's alright. I know my way around here really well, so leave it to me."

Noriko smiled, saying that, obviously, the reason she knew her way around here wasn't because she was always going to the amusement park. One of her relatives used to live in this area and they would often come and visit, and, as a child, she had often traveled to Tokyo alone to view various statues of Buddha.

"Alright, I'll follow you."

Shimako-san said, quickly putting the map back in her bag. Noriko was gladdened by that small gesture, which said, "I have faith in you."

There weren't as many people on the platform as during rush hour on a weekday, but there were more than Noriko had expected. She thought there was no way that all these people would be going to the amusement park, but predicted that about two-thirds of them would get on the same train as her and Shimako-san. Since people usually faced in the direction that the train they wanted to catch was coming from.

The train arrived not that long after, and the number of people getting on the train was roughly what Noriko had predicted. A lot of people got off the train as well, so it wasn't too crowded. They could stand normally, without brushing up against other people.

They stood opposite the door they had used to board, beside the closed door. They'd have to take care when their door was open not to obstruct the people getting on or off, but while it was closed they could have a leisurely conversation.

"I wonder if everyone's coming."

Shimako-san said softly as she looked out the window.

"It seems like Yoshino-san and Rei-sama will definitely be there."

"I'm not sure about Touko and Kanako-san. I wanted to ring them and find out, but since it was supposed to be entirely optional I didn't feel like I should."

Over the telephone it would be easy to mistake a simple question of whether or not they were going for an imposition.

"That's true. And the amusement park costs money too... Noriko, are you okay?"

Shimako-san's sudden inquiry implied that she had only just considered this. She was probably worried because Noriko lived away from her parents.

"I have money set aside for unexpected expenses, plus I still have some left over from my New Year's gift."

She curled her index finger around to meet her thumb, making the OK sign. Her hobby of viewing Buddha statues didn't usually require much money, but there were the occasional massive spikes. Like when there was an exhibition of a Buddha statue that was only shown once every few years, at a place that was too far away for a day-trip, and she had to pay for travel and lodging. Consequently, Noriko was used to budgeting and keeping some spare cash on hand.

"In my case, I thought I'd be able to pay for it myself, but."

Shimako-san smiled ruefully.

"But?"

It seemed like someone else was footing the bill for Shimako-san's fun today.

"My father gave me a special allowance."

"Your father?"

Shimako-san's father was the chief priest of the fairly large Buddhist temple called Shouguuji, and friend of Noriko's boyfriend / partner-in-Buddhist-statue-admiration, Takuya-kun. He was a cheerful and funny guy, whether he was wearing his monk's robes or not.

"Strange, isn't it? If any normal girl were in my place, she'd be delighted."

"…"

Somehow or other, Noriko felt like she understood.

Shimako-san's father would feel more at ease with a daughter tainted by the world, rather than one who stubbornly brooded over becoming a nun. And, understanding that, Shimako-san had decided to gratefully accept his money and go out and have some fun.

"I guess you never pester them for things you want, Shimako-san."

Looking at her, you wouldn't think she had any worldly desires.

"You do, Noriko?"

"I do. For Christmas, I pestered them for a 10,000 yen photobook of statues of Buddha."

"For Christmas you wanted a photobook of – "

"Statues of Buddha. It's odd, right?"

"Perhaps. A little."

While they were both giggling, the train stopped and the door they were standing next to opened. The two of them stood back and watched as the train seemed to breathe, exhaling old passengers and inhaling new ones. Then the train's mouth closed, and it resumed its rattling journey. At that point, Noriko resumed their conversation.

"I want to talk to you about Touko."

"Touko-chan?"

Shimako-san cocked her head. That name had only been mentioned in passing in their earlier conversation. Noriko's classmate, the girl who may or may not be going to the amusement park. Someone who probably considered Noriko her friend.

"I asked Touko to tell me the details about her date with Yumi-sama. This was after the report had been published in the Lillian Kawaraban. I asked her casually, without thinking about it too hard, since they were now safely soeurs."

"Ohh."

"I thought the report was just an excerpt, but I was wrong. The places they went were all in there. Then I started wondering, did that mean that anybody could follow the same trail as them and have the same date. I can't explain it all that well, but the things that weren't written in the report – their conversations and emotions – those would probably be completely different."

Noriko asked herself, "What am I trying to say?" Certainly, when she started this conversation there had been something she wanted to say to Shimako-san. But the more she talked, the further it seemed she was getting from that, to the point where she had become trapped in a maze of her own words.

But Shimako-san didn't hurry her, instead listening to Noriko's words with a calm expression. Not dragging her forwards, just waiting nonchalantly by the exit. That kind of feeling.

"When she was a baby, Touko's real parents both died in a car accident. She went to visit the location of that accident with Yumi."

"Hold on a moment."

Shimako-san interrupted her.

"Is this something you should be telling me?"

What Noriko had just blurted out may have been something she was told by Touko in confidence. It was therefore only natural that Shimako-san would want to confirm that it was okay.

"Yeah."

Noriko nodded.

"Touko said it was okay if I told you. That she knew it was painful to keep things from your onee-sama."

Actually, Touko had laughed. She said that Rosa Chinensis and Yumi-sama already knew, so there was no need to hide it anymore.

It seemed that, for Touko, the main question had been whether or not Yumi-sama knew about this. Since she had broken through that barrier and was able to speak openly with Yumi-sama, it was of no concern if the rest of her friends knew as well. If anything, she seemed revitalized by it, although that was a poor way of putting it.

"I see."

Shimako-san nodded slightly, then her expression changed to one of understanding.

"If I had known that during the Christmas party, I could have had a different conversation with her."

"Christmas party?"

Again, an old conversation was mentioned. About three months old, now.

"Back then, she asked if I would succeed my father in the family business."

"Ahh – "

That explains it. This time it was Noriko with the expression of understanding.

Touko had told her that her grandfather owned a hospital near the accident site and that her father had no plans to succeed him. Apparently she was thinking about shouldering the burden of the hospital in her father's place. Shimako-san's family ran a temple, so perhaps Touko asked because she thought it could serve as a reference.

"So, what was your response, Shimako-san?"

"I said I wasn't sure, but thought it would be better if my older brother succeeded my father."

"I see."

Shimako-san had a much older brother. He was an enigma of a man, who at one point was a Buddhist monk but now occasionally made sweets (apparently).

"But even if I had known about the accident, I still wouldn't have been able to offer any pertinent advice. Everybody is different, so my experience wouldn't necessarily apply."

At that point, Noriko equivocally said, "I guess so," and let the matter drop. People who had lived long lives had all kinds of experiences so could more easily place themselves in the other person's position, whereas someone who was only a little bit older wouldn't be able to offer much advice. Noriko knew that was the prevailing view amongst the general population.

So Noriko returned to their earlier conversation. There was something she wanted to hear Shimako-san's opinion on.

"I was useless. I'd blundered into this heavy conversation in a light, thoughtless manner. I didn't know what I should have said to Touko – "

Noriko was just as useless in this current conversation, although she hadn't yet realized it.

She believed that Shimako would smile and warn her to show more discretion in the future.

Instead, what awaited her was Shimako-san's serious face.

"When Touko-chan told you this, was it a heavy burden for you?"

"Huh?"

"Did you regret that you heard it, Noriko?"

Why was Shimako-san throwing these questions at her?

"I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"

Noriko really wasn't sure of her true feelings, but what would Shimako-san's reaction have been if she had said that it was a heavy burden and that she did regret hearing it?

Shimako-san wasn't Touko. So why was she fixated on this?

[[Image:MM_v30_p069.png|thumb]]

Suddenly, Noriko's heart started hammering in her chest.

(What was it that Shimako-san had said about the Christmas party?)

She said, "If I had known that during the Christmas party, I could have had a different conversation with her."

("If I had known that" – what was the 'that'?)

That Touko wasn't really her parent's child.

(No way.)

Noriko looked at Shimako-san.

"It looks like I'm the useless one again."

Shimako-san silently turned and looked straight at her.

"To me, it's not that big a deal. So I was going to bring it up as a casual conversation, without thinking that it might be a difficult thing to hear."

Wait, don't just keep the conversation flowing. At least, not until she'd had some time to mentally prepare herself. Just as she was thinking this, Noriko realized she already had some inkling of where this conversation was headed.

"On top of that, I haven't found a way to tactfully broach the subject."

Noriko wanted to avert her gaze. To close her ears. But she couldn't. Shimako-san had already noticed.

"But I see you've already figured it out, Noriko."

"Shimako-san."

Noriko wanted to cry, not knowing what else to do. But that was the one thing she couldn't do. Noriko desperately repeated this to herself like a mantra. Shimako-san still hadn't said anything.

"Right."

Shimako-san smiled.

"I'm not the child of my two parents."

Noriko thought that it would have kept gnawing away at her mind if she had managed to evade this conversation. Therefore, Shimako-san's choice was definitely the correct one.

Still, even if she had managed to deduce it, it was still a shock to hear the truth coming directly from Shimako-san's mouth.

She was also shocked at the fact that she was currently shocked.

Noriko was thrown into confusion, questioning why she was shocked.

Regardless of whose child Shimako-san was, Shimako-san was Shimako-san and Noriko's feelings for her shouldn't change.

So then, why was she so upset?

Was it a feeling of pity that Shimako-san didn't know her parents? Was it the shock momentarily overwhelming her sense of compassion?

A family didn't have to be bonded by blood. There were plenty of parents lovingly raising non-blood-related children. Conversely, there were also blood-related families that were miserable.

"We'll discuss this properly. Let's get off the train."

Shimako-san took hold of Noriko's hand.

"Huh?"

"This is where we change trains, right?"

When the doors opened, the two of them were caught in the crowd of passengers getting off the train. Noriko looked up and saw the name of the station and, sure enough, this was the place where they had to get off.

Even so, they both remained motionless for a while. After watching the other passengers get sucked into the stairway, they sat down on an empty bench.

"I know you've met my older brother. But, the truth is, … there was another brother, older than Masafumi."

Shimako-san spoke in past tense – 'There was another brother.'

"He was my real father."

"So then..."

The chief priest at Shouguuji was Shimako-san's –

"My grandfather. Although they're now listed as my parents in the family register."

"What happened to your real mother and father?"

"They died. Much like Touko-chan, it happened when I was just a baby."

"When did you find out about it?"

"I've always known about it – my parents explained it to me when I was very young. Perhaps they would have tried to hide it from me if my real parents had been strangers, but since their son was my father, it was bound to come out sooner or later."

Traces of their dead son's life undoubtedly remained in various places around the house. It would be hard to remove them all so that Shimako-san never saw them. It would probably be equally difficult to tell Shimako-san that he was her elder brother. And it would be nigh-impossible to keep that a secret in a place like their temple, with so many people coming and going. As the eldest son of the head priest, he would have been known to everyone in the community.

"So that's why it's not something that I find particularly worth mentioning."

Like pointing at fresh leaves and teaching her that they were the color green. Or like teaching her that a priest was a job, much like a fishmonger or chauffeur. She had been taught that she had dead parents, and living parents. That was how Shimako-san spoke about it.

"Since it was all so natural to me, I never realized that it was such a serious topic. If I had known, I would have told you earlier. I'm sorry, Noriko."

Noriko looked down and shook her head numerous times.

The reason it had never come up in conversation wasn't because Shimako-san was hiding it, but because she wasn't aware that it was special.

Even now, Shimako-san probably didn't think of it that way. Despite that, she had adopted a serious expression and spoke about the matter as though it were of importance. Noriko felt like she was the one who should apologize.

But if she apologized here, Shimako-san would be even more conscious of her feelings. Therefore, she mustn't appear gloomy.

"Noriko?"

Shimako-san was inquiring if she was alright, so Noriko smiled.

"I'm fine. It just took me by surprise is all."

Noriko rose from the bench, indicating it was about time they left. If they waited around here too long then the next train would arrive and the platform would once more be full of people.

"Okay. Lead the way, please."

"Leave it to me."

Noriko nodded, took hold of Shimako-san's hand and cheerfully headed towards the staircase.

Looking back on it, her cheerfulness has probably been a front to hide her confusion, a false bravado, as she hadn't yet regained her presence of mind.

Even though Noriko knew the area quite well, and even though they got on the right train line, they caught the in-bound train rather than the out-bound train they were supposed to catch.

As a result, when they finally arrived at the amusement park thirty minutes late, Noriko was feeling doubly depressed. No longer able to squeeze out any more bravado, she had become reticent.

The bear from the parade that had been shaking Shimako-san's hand made his way over to Noriko, and patted her on the shoulder.

She couldn't hear what the man inside the bear costume was saying, but he seemed to be encouraging her to "Cheer up."

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter2 2

2011-07-13T22:33:52Z

Nochgo: /* Frivolity and Self-loathing. Part 2 */

===<noinclude>Frivolity and Self-loathing. </noinclude>Part 2===

The kindergarten aged boy sitting in the seat in front of her was constantly exclaiming "Wow!" and "Cool!"

At first he was excited just to be on a steam train, which he'd only seen in picture books before (apparently), then when it started moving he took great joy in the park scenery that coalesced around them, then called out reassuringly after confirming that his parents were sitting beside him.

(Ignorance is bliss.)

As she gazed at the scenery without noticing it, Yoshino let her own deep sigh join the rushing wind. It wasn't that she found the boy annoying or foolish. If anything, it was closer to envy or nostalgia. Yoshino had been that ignorant and determinedly excited when she woke up this morning.

Yesterday, after it was determined that they would be going to the amusement park, Yoshino couldn't stop herself from getting excited. Thoughts of going on the rides with Rei-chan, and what they would have for lunch, thrilled her – so much so that she awoke before her alarm clock went off this morning.

But despite that.

(How did things end up like this?)

Yoshino desperately wanted Maria-sama to tell her how she could turn things around, so that she could grab hold of Rei-chan's arm and innocently say, "Look at that," and "Wow," like the boy sitting in front of her.

Yoshino had arranged to meet with Rei-chan at 8:10am.

Having excitedly woken up over two hours before that, she had a leisurely breakfast, tried on the clothes she had picked out to wear last night, changed into a different pair that she thought might be better, then eventually went back to the first set of clothes. Despite taking such a long time to get dressed, there was still plenty of time left over.

Because she had so much free time, she started thinking unnecessary thoughts, which led to the cracks starting to form and the beginning of her sorrow.

"Hehehe."

Yoshino thought that her brain had probably melted from excitement. Upon reflection, it was obviously a mean-spirited practical joke, but at the time she was only thinking that it would be a bit of fun. Like the anticipation of going on a school field trip.

Yoshino finished all her preparations for going out, then at 8:05am got back into bed and pulled the blanket over her head.

When 8:10 rolled around and Yoshino still hadn't come out of her house, Rei-chan would enter the Shimazu house, and Yoshino's room, as usual.

(Yoshino, what are you doing? Wake up already.)

Just as Rei-chan pulls down the blanket:

(Buh!)

Yoshino, already dressed to go out, would poke out her tongue.

(Geeze, Yoshino.)

(Hehehe. Did I scare you?)

The two would look at each other and laugh. – Well, that was Yoshino's plan, anyway.

Still wearing her jacket and with the blanked pulled over her head, Yoshino started to boil, but she kept enduring it. A little bit of patience is always needed before something fun.

However.

No matter how long she waited, Rei-chan still didn't appear in her room. When she lifted up her blanket to take a look at the clock, thinking that perhaps it hadn't been five minutes just yet, Yoshino saw that it was 8:20am.

"Don't tell me Rei-chan overslept?" Yoshino thought as she got out of bed, but then she heard the sound of someone walking up the stairs, so she hurriedly got back in bed.

The sound of knocking on the door was quickly followed by the door opening.

Now, come to me.

Yoshino was waiting for the blanket to be ripped off her bed. Instead.

"What are you doing, Yoshino?"

The voice she heard was not Rei-chan's.

"Mother!?"

Naturally, when Yoshino pulled down the blanket the person standing there was the woman that had given birth to her.

"Where's Rei-chan!?"

"As she was leaving, she said she'd go on ahead since you weren't there on time."

"Huh."

"Hurry up and chase after her. Really, going back to sleep after you'd woken up so early."

Explaining that she hadn't gone back to sleep would be a pain, so Yoshino said, "I'm off," and flew out of the house. As she ran towards the bus stop, Yoshino cursed Rei-chan for making her do this.

Turning the corner, she caught sight of someone up ahead. The long, jeans-clad legs that poked out of the short, off-white trench-coat were moving briskly.

"Rei-chan."

Rei-chan stopped walking when Yoshino called out to her.

"Why'd you go on ahead of me?"

Yoshino complained as she ran.

"Because you weren't there at the time we'd set. I waited five minutes for you."

Rei-chan brazenly fixed Yoshino's bangs when she caught up. Damn it. It seems her hair got messed up while she was hiding under the blanket.

"But you usually come and get me."

If Rei-chan were to say, "I'm sorry,", then Yoshino was prepared to say, "It's my fault too." But that didn't happen.

"Why are you acting like so spoiled?"

When Yoshino heard that, a switch was flipped inside her.

What's wrong with being spoiled? When Rei-chan graduates she wouldn't be able do her usual routine of waking me up just in time to get to school.

But Rei-chan wouldn't let it go. It was probably ''because'' she was graduating, that she didn't want Yoshino to rely on her anymore.

Perhaps it was due to their different positions. The one heading out on a journey wanted to cut off all ties, while the one left behind wanted to cling to them.

"Ahh!"

Rei-chan cried out. The bus had sailed past them right at that moment. There was no-one waiting at the bus stop. It didn't look like anyone was getting off either, since the bus kept on going until it disappeared from view.

"Ahh"

As she listened to Rei-chan's despondent cry, Yoshino said:

"There's nothing we can do about it now."

"There's hardly any buses on a Sunday."

Rei-chan scratched her head.

"This is your fault, Yoshino."

"What?"

Sure, she hadn't been out in front of her house at the time they had agreed to, but that just meant Rei-chan should have come and got her. It had been Rei-chan's decision to wait five minutes, then leave without her, so she had no right to blame her. Even now, it was because of a choice she had made. If Rei-chan hadn't stopped when Yoshino called out to her, instead continuing to walk along in silence, she would have caught that bus.

"… Honestly."

Rei-chan studied the timetable printed on the bus stop, then looked at her watch and sighed theatrically.

For argument's sake, let's say Rei-chan did make it here on time and Yoshino still hadn't come, would she have got on that bus?

That's cold, Rei-chan. Yoshino curled her lower-lip as she looked at Rei-chan's profile. If that is how it's going to be, she wont open her mouth until the other side apologize first.

The next bus wouldn't be here for about twenty minutes. Rei-chan didn't attempt to talk to her, so Yoshino remained silent as well.

When they finally boarded the bus, it moved at a sluggish pace. The only possible reason was that the roads were packed. Looking out the front window, Yoshino saw all makes of cars, both big and small, filling the road to the train station. Even when the lights turned green, there was no hint of movement.

"Yoshino."

Rei-chan spoke, for the first time in thirty minutes. Thinking that Rei-chan was about to apologize, Yoshino responded with, "Yes?" and turned towards her. However, the next words out of Rei-chan's mouth were:

"Don't you have something to say to me?"

– That.

"Good morning, Rei-chan."

Yoshino forced a smile.

"That's not it."

Rei-chan was waiting for something else, but Yoshino said, "That's all," and shut her out.

It's a shame, but Yoshino wasn't going to be the first one to say, "I'm sorry," today.

As she absentmindedly watched the red light on the car in front of them, Yoshino thought, "At this rate, we're not going to make it to the amusement park by opening time."

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter2 1

2011-07-13T22:19:25Z

Nochgo: /* Frivolity and Self-loathing. Part 1 */

===<noinclude>Frivolity and Self-loathing. </noinclude>Part 1===

"Don't tell me you were waiting here for us?"

Yumi asked in disbelief.

"It's just a coincidence."

Yoshino-san answered sourly. When Rei-sama appeared from behind them she greeted Yumi's group of four with "Gokigenyou," but seemed to be forcing herself to be cheerful.

"I wonder if they've been fighting."

Even if Sachiko-sama hadn't whispered this in Yumi's ear, the tension that filled the two metre gap between the Yellow Rose sisters was obvious.

"They haven't changed a bit. No matter how much time passes, they're still acting like children."

That was an incredibly morally superior position for Sachiko-sama to take, considering she had been bickering with Kashiwagi-san not that long ago. But, thankfully, it looked like those comments hadn't carried to Yoshino-san's ears. Still with a sour look on her face, Yoshino-san poked her thumb over her shoulder and said:

"The impromptu gathering's still going on."

When Yumi turned around, Tsutako-san and Shouko-chan were standing right behind her. Shimako-san and Noriko-chan were also visible, a short distance away.

"It seems they caught the same train here."

Yoshino-san said. Although everyone had arrived at the amusement park half an hour after its opening time, Yoshino-san's use of the word 'seems' implied they hadn't arranged this meeting.

"Were the trains running late?"

"I didn't hear anything about that."

So, at the very least, Yoshino-san and Rei-sama's late arrival wasn't because of the trains.

"But there was congestion during the bus ride."

"Hmm."

They hadn't made it in time to catch their intended train due to the slow-moving bus and had lost thirty minutes. It all fit together. Still, as Yumi watched the Yellow Rose sisters walking away, she was convinced that something else had happened on their journey here. If the problem was only that they were late because they got stuck in traffic, Yoshino-san would be more animated, saying things like, "They need dedicated bus lanes," or, "There needs to be more buses." In contrast, gentle Rei-sama would never get upset over something as trivial as a traffic jam.

But enough of that. Yumi, Sachiko-sama, Kashiwagi-san and Yuuki each purchased a ticket with their own money.

Having said that, the decision that they should all pay their own way was arrived at only after a massive dispute. Sachiko-sama had announced, unprompted, that she would pay Yumi and Yuuki's share, since this was all so she could have her revenge. However, Yumi's parents were unwilling to stray from their principle that school students should each pay their own share, and the Fukuzawa siblings were unwilling to disobey their parents. In the end, they struck a deal where Kashiwagi-san would drive them, thereby letting the Ogasawara family cover the travel expenses (Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama obviously kept their finances separate, but Yumi's parents knew they were related). Back then, neither Yumi nor anyone else in her family had imagined that Sachiko-sama would be driving.

After buying an all-day pass, they waited by the main entrance for Tsutako-san, Shouko-chan, Shimako-san and Noriko-chan to join them.

"Oh."

Surprisingly, it was only then that the White Rose sisters realized the other members were present. Shimako-san looked at her watch, then quietly said something like, "I wonder if we should go in." They probably hadn't expected to meet their friends here since they had arrived late themselves. Yumi had waved at them from the ticket counter, but apparently they hadn't noticed.

Still.

(What, what?)

A pall hung over the area, as though they were holding a wake.

There should be more energy to a gathering of ten young men and women at an amusement park on Sunday. But this group seemed to have run out of fizz, like a soda can that had been opened and then left to stand for an hour. They hadn't entered the park yet, and they were all like that. Even though they had been so enthusiastic yesterday evening.

They started by greeting each other with "Gokigenyou," although no-one looked particularly happy.

The Yellow Rose sisters were fighting about something. Noriko-chan was acting reticent with Shimako-san around. Even Tsutako-san and Shouko-chan were strangely awkward. Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama were on-edge because of their bickering over traffic and driving, while the Fukuzawa siblings were exhausted from fretting over their respective seniors.

"… I suppose we should go inside."

Even though Yumi was worried about her friends, they wouldn't solve anything by standing there looking at each other. Since they had all arrived about 30 minutes late, they entered the park together, as though they had planned to do this.

"Since it turned out like this, it's a shame that Touko and Kanako-chan aren't here as well."

The amusement park date was always intended to be an optional outing, and if they happened to run into each other they could have some fun together. When they parted company last night, they hadn't been able to contact Kanako-chan and Touko had said she didn't know whether she would be able to come or not. If the park has just opened, they would have waited a while for Touko and Kanako-chan, but the park had already been open for thirty minutes so, assuming they intended to come, it was possible they were already inside.

"Surprisingly, they may have made it here when the park opened."

"It'd be nice if we met them inside."

Then let the Touko-and-Kanako-hunt begin!

"Ahh – the steam train's running!"

Yoshino-san pointed and shouted just after they'd walked though the main gate.

"You, you, and you. Let's go ride it."

As for who Yoshino-san was proposing should go on the ride with her, it was Yumi, Shimako-san and Tsutako-san. In other words, all of the second-years from Lillian's Girls Academy. By all rights, the first one to see Yoshino-san's smiling face should have been her partner, Rei-sama, but she was being completely ignored. Yumi didn't know what caused their fight, but the insinuation was quite obvious.

Noriko-chan and Shouko-chan were pulled in as well, following Shimako-san and Tsutako-san respectively. And then, just like that, Yoshino-san was in high spirits as she led the group of six.

"Yoshino. Yumi-chan's here with Sachiko."

Rei-sama was hastily chasing them, but Sachiko-sama said to her:

"It's okay. We'll all split up sooner or later, so we may as well have some fun together now."

"Indeed. The steam train looks as though it can hold ten people riding together, so does anyone mind if we join in?"

Kashiwagi-san smiled as he grabbed hold of Yuuki's arm. Yuuki shrugged himself free, saying he wasn't a child, and walked alongside Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama. Maybe older women were his type.

"Oh look, they have cars for inside the park."

"Ah. There's a bear riding a bike."

As they all traveled together, the conversation gradually picked up and the pall was lifted. There was no boisterous laughter, but it approached the liveliness of a Buddhist memorial service. Even Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san, by keeping a buffer of other people between them, were able to soften their mood. Since it was such an insignificant quarrel, there were unlikely to be any long-term repercussions.

In that case, perhaps Yoshino-san and Rei-sama didn't want to be left alone just now. The White Rose sisters and the photography club duo didn't really understand what was going on, but since they agreed to ride on the steam train they obviously weren't looking to spend some time alone just yet.

Since the steam train could take over a hundred people at a time, it didn't take long until it was their turn. Now the problem was who would sit where. Normally, the couples that came together would pair up, ie. the White Rose sisters, the Yellow Rose sisters, the photography club duo, the Red Rose sisters and the pair from Hanadera Academy.

Occasionally they'd shuffle things around, but at present they had no way of randomly assigning lots, and no-one would want to do a show of hands for who sat where.

"Yoshino-san, what do you want to do?"

Yumi asked the most problematic person directly. Thereupon.

"It's okay. I'll sit with Rei-chan."

Was Yoshino-san's response. They way she said it made it obvious that she didn't want to be with Rei-chan, but that it was the lesser of two evils. That may be true, since she would be asked to explain if she sat with anyone else. Everyone had noticed that something was up, but Yoshino-san hadn't said a single word about their fight. It must be something she wasn't proud of.

So, they all boarded the steam train and sat down with their usual partner. Yumi was happy to be next to Sachiko-sama, but found herself glancing two seats forward to where Yoshino-san sat, out of concern.

As expected, Yoshino-san was completely ignoring Rei-sama on her left, instead looking only at the scenery through the window on her right.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter1 3

2011-07-13T22:03:13Z

Nochgo: /* Scattered Sunshine. Part 3 */

===<noinclude>Scattered Sunshine. </noinclude>Part 3===

Her onee-sama sat down in the driver's seat. Then she adjusted the seat position and the angle of the mirror. It was the same thing that Kashiwagi-san had done in front of the Fukuzawa's house.

"O-onee-sama!?"

While all this was going on, Kashiwagi-san handed his card to the pump attendant and returned to the car, seating himself in the free space in the front – the passenger's seat.

"Don't worry Yumi. I've got my license."

Ahh geez. That was the exact same thing that a certain someone had cheerfully said to her some time ago. Even the pose was similar. This time, the proffered license had a photo of the exquisite Ogasawara Sachiko-sama. Yumi felt just a little bit nervous.

"Umm. When did you get your license?"

"Let's see. I didn't come to school last Friday, right? That's when."

Indeed. She had been absent. And Yumi hadn't inquired as to why.

"So this is what you had been uncharacteristically studying for – "

"Oh, you noticed? I was going over a workbook for the written exam. Normally I wouldn't have to study for that, but the test has all kinds of trick questions that I needed to familiarize myself with."

So that explained what Minako-sama had referred to as 'her eccentricities' and why they had suddenly stopped after Friday.

"Did you go to a driving school … ?"

"Yes, of course I did. I've been going since not long after the student council elections. I'd go in the evening on weekdays, during the afternoon on Saturdays and all day Sunday."

So that was why she went home straight after school.

"Then, that's why Kashiwagi-san was going over to the Ogasawara household – "

"My, you were concerned about quite a lot of things."

Sachiko-sama seemed pleased.

"I was her tutor. She was determined to get it on her first attempt, so I went over to help before her temporary license exam and final exam."

"I didn't say anything because I wanted it to be a surprise to you, Yumi."

In that case, her plan was a huge success. Yumi was completely surprised.

"You don't have to make that face, it'll be okay. I made it from my place to your house without accident."

"It would be a huge problem if there were an accident."

So why would they change and have Kashiwagi-san drive them away from the Fukuzawa household when Sachiko-sama had driven there? It seems that was done so Yumi's parents wouldn't worry about an inexperienced driver driving them around. Yumi had no way of knowing for sure, but she suspected that there had been a bit of an argument about this, and it was only after Sachiko-sama had extracted the promise that they would switch at an appropriate time that she allowed Kashiwagi-san to drive. But Kashiwagi-san had become faint-hearted once the Fukuzawa siblings were in the back seat, thinking it would be safer for them to continue on to the amusement park with him as the driver. Was Sachiko-sama's driving really that stressful?

"How long have you known, Yuuki?"

"Since my sempai sat down in the driver's seat."

"Out the front of our house?"

That was quick.

"If he had driven there, then he wouldn't have had to adjust the seat and the mirror as much as he did."

"Ah, was that it."

Five minutes earlier, Kashiwagi-san had adjusted the seat and the mirror so they were comfortable for him, in the same way that Sachiko-sama had just done. Because someone else had been driving the car just before. But only two people came to the Fukuzawa residence in this car, making it trivial to deduce the identity of the driver.

"Although I became suspicious when he said that Sachiko-sama's grandfather had lent them the car for the day."

Kashiwagi-san laughed at Yuuki's statement.

"I guess that was pushing it."

Kashiwagi-san had taken numerous young women driving in his usual red car. The ones Yumi knew about were Sachiko-sama and herself, Youko-sama and Touko. So why hadn't this car made an appearance before now?

The gas station attendants cleaned the car windows. There were three of them, and Yumi found it strange that they were doing such an incredibly thorough job. Initially, she thought it was because they were admiring Sachiko-sama's beauty, but they spent just as long on the rear windows. Apparently they were fascinated with the car itself. Was it really that rare an automobile?

"Is this Sachiko-san's car?"

Yuuki asked.

"No. Didn't I tell you? It's my grandfather's."

"But her grandfather doesn't drive. He bought this a month ago, for Sacchan."

It was nominally her grandfather's. However, it was essentially Sachiko-sama's personal car.

After filling up the tank and returning Kashiwagi-san's credit card, the attendants reluctantly stopped cleaning the windows.

"Umm."

The Fukuzawa siblings nervously asked if Sachiko-sama was really going to drive the rest of the way there.

"It'll be fine. She's passed the license exam."

Kashiwagi-san said soothingly, stifling any retort from Sachiko-sama. But there would be far fewer traffic accidents if having a license meant that you were a completely safe driver.

"Just take it carefully. After all, you've got your precious Yumi-chan on board. Right, Sacchan?"

"Of course."

That was slightly reassuring. Still, even though Sachiko-sama had said that, they didn't know what kind of a driver she was. Yumi knew that people could change when they got behind the wheel.

[[Image:MM_v30_p039.png|thumb]]

"Check front and rear."

After pointing out the front and to the mirror, Sachiko-sama slowly started to drive. The attendants got out of the way and the next car pulled in behind them.

"Blinker."

Instructed Kashiwagi-san.

"I know."

Sachiko-sama grumbled after switching on the left indicator.

"Aren't you noisy. I was just a bit slow turing it on that time."

Yumi no longer wished she was sitting beside her onee-sama. Kashiwagi-san, with his year-long driving history, was the only one who could cover for Sachiko-sama's faltering driving. To make matters worse, this car wasn't fitted with something as convenient as satellite navigation. Kashiwagi-san, with the map spread across the passenger's seat, had to rely on street signs to know where they were.

Still.

"You have to speed up, so we're part of the flow."

"Somebody said to drive carefully."

After the Fukuzawa siblings went quiet, leaving everything to Kashiwagi-san, the two-person conversation gradually started to heat up.

"Don't turn the blinker on so early."

"But you said I was too late last time."

"You have to time it just right."

"Could you be quiet for a bit?"

This had probably gone on for the entire drive from the Ogasawara residence to the Fukuzawa's house too.

"Ah – we had to turn right there."

"Then you should have said so sooner."

"But you told me to be quiet."

"It was Sei-sama that said this, but you really do have a bad personality."

"Or maybe it's because you were rushing."

Then, to top it all off, they got stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway, completing their foul mood. A sunny Sunday morning was the perfect time for an outing, after all. The congestion wasn't anyone's fault, but the extra irritation caused by inching their way along made for an intolerable atmosphere within the car. The Fukuzawa siblings tried to brighten the atmosphere by talking about cheery things, but no matter where they tried to steer the conversation to, the fatigue still remained.

So, not only did the Red Rose sisters, Kashiwagi-san and Yuuki arrive at the amusement park thirty minutes after its opening time, no-one was in a good mood when they got there either.

"We didn't make it in time, even though we left home two and a half hours ago."

Sachiko-sama muttered ruefully as she locked the car. This was the part of her personality that hated to lose coming out. Although it was unclear who she was competing against.

"Well, it hasn't been half an hour since the park opened, so we're not that late."

Cheering up her irresponsible onee-sama may be a lot of work, but if her bad mood continued then today would be no fun at all.

"Anyway, let's go and buy a ticket."

Yumi took hold of Sachiko-sama's hand and walked towards the ticket-counter, right next to the main entrance. There was a queue of about ten people in front of each of the windows. Looking around, she could see a surge of people heading this way from the train station. The sooner they bought their tickets, the sooner they could enjoy the rides.

Even so. Yumi started to feel dizzy, thinking about all the people that were going to the amusement park. After all, the people she could see now were just a small fraction compared to the people that had already entered in the last thirty minutes, and those that would come later. Probably.

"Oh?"

Even though they'd arrived massively late due to the traffic jam, Yumi saw someone she knew standing in front of the ticket counter.

"Yumi-san..."

The girl with braids dangling over her shoulders smiled weakly.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter1 2

2011-07-13T21:54:39Z

Nochgo: /* Scattered Sunshine. Part 2 */

===<noinclude>Scattered Sunshine. </noinclude>Part 2===

Then, just like that, the evening had passed and today had arrived.

There was no need to consult the weather report; brilliant sunlight streamed in through the east window. It was already sunny, despite yesterday's forecast of clouds followed by sunshine. Surely sunshine followed by sunshine.

"Regardless, I'm so happy to be going out I could just throw my hands up in the air."

Yumi scanned the newspaper's weather forecast section. The sunshine symbol was there for the whole day. The amusement park would definitely be packed.

"At least it's not raining. They probably stop the outdoor rides during heavy rain, and when they start again you'd get wet riding on them."

Yuuki said, his brow furrowed as he carried his bag down the stairs.

"Yeah, that's true."

Yumi stretched and then smiled. She was going on a date with her onee-sama. It would still be fun even if it was raining. But it was sunny. So there was no reason to complain. Bring on the packed amusement park. They'd have a fun time chatting while they waited. – The more Yumi thought about it, the more her anticipation grew.

It would soon be 8 o'clock. That was the time that Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama had arranged to pick them up from in front of the Fukuzawa house. But because they were coming by car, they could be either earlier or later depending on traffic.

"Sorry, Yuuki."

She called over her younger brother's shoulder, as he watched a taped program and fiddled with the TV remote control. Without turning around, he answered, "What for?"

"For making you accompany my onee-sama."

"Ahh."

Yuuki switched off the TV and turned to face her.

"I was a bit worried of how it ended last time; it wasn't as if I didn't understand what Sachiko-san was feeling. Either way, its not like I hate amusement parks or anything.."

Pleased that she had such a fine brother, Yumi instinctively patted him on the shoulder. He responded by running away, saying, "That feels kind of wrong." When they were young, Yumi would always be grumpy whenever Yuuki followed her around. Although she was never actually mean to him.

"Hey, Yumi-chan. Are you going to invite Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san into the house? If you do, we should probably offer them tea, right?"

Her mother was taking off her rubber gloves as she walked out of the bathroom. Based on her appearance, she had just been cleaning the bathroom.

"Don't worry about it, it's okay."

Yumi waved her right hand.

"If you're worried about their car, they can park in my office car park, since it's Sunday."

Even her father was joining in. Both her parents had taking a liking to the superficially handsome, young Kashiwagi-san. As for Sachiko-sama, they admired her like a celebrity – initially because they were brainwashed by their daughter, but then voluntarily after their first chance meeting with her. Consequently, it wasn't just the Fukuzawa children, but also their parents, that wanted to be good friends with Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san.

"That's not the problem. There's only enough time for them to pick us up if we're going to make it to the park when it opens."

If they were to invite them in to the house, it would take at least 30 minutes to an hour. Of course, there was a little bit of leeway in their travel plans. But that was there in case they got caught in traffic – they hadn't planned to spend much time at the Fukuzawa household.

"Really?"

Even as she said this, her mother was swapping out the towels in the bathroom for the nicer ones that they used when they had company. Just in case, despite what she had just heard.

"When I see you two like that, you really do look alike."

Her mother smiled, because they were both wearing their coats in anticipation of their visitor's arrival. It hadn't been noticeable when Yumi was just wearing jeans and a pink floral blouse, and Yuuki was just wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. But now that they were both wearing similarly colored denim jackets, it appeared as though they were going for the same look. Add to that their similar looking faces, and the impression of a mass-produced product was apparently quite funny. Pointing and laughing at the two children you gave birth to was either innocence, or irresponsibility.

"I'll go change."

Yuuki sullenly ran up the staircase.

"Ohh, now he's upset. Ahh, Yuuki's so delicate."

"Indeed. I wonder who he gets that from."

The words, "Not from you, that's for sure," almost made it out of Yumi's mouth but she was just able to contain them.

The Fukuzawa intercom buzzed at about the same time that Yuuki was making his way downstairs, having finished changing clothes.

"Hello."

Yumi was waiting by the intercom, having heard a car pull up outside, so was able to press the reply button almost instantaneously.

"Ogasawara here."

"Okay. We'll be right out."

Buoyed by her onee-sama's voice, Yumi swung her bag over her shoulder and hurried to the entrance. Her mother and father followed her, as though that were perfectly natural. Obviously intending to offer their greetings.

Yuuki was one step ahead of her, his butt parked on the wooden step, tying the laces of his sneakers. The denim jacket had been swapped for a beige-ish synthetic leather pea coat, and Yumi's now very different looking younger brother moved to one side so that she could put on her sneakers too. After tapping her toes into the shoes, Yumi hurriedly turned the doorknob and rushed out.

"Good morning."

Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama were standing right in front of the door.

"Morning."

"Thanks for coming today."

It was regrettable, but had to be acknowledged. The impression that Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama gave was of a beautiful couple. In comparison... Yumi glanced at Yuuki as he walked past.

"Don't mention it."

On her side of the door was the raccoon-faced duo. Although the two parties may have been genetically quite different, it seemed that there were still some things in common: The beautiful people were wearing jeans and a jacket too.

Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san both simultaneously adopted an identical expression as their attention was drawn to the area behind Yumi. Without turning around, Yumi knew that her parents had made their entrance.

Our children are probably going to be a bother to you. No, no, not at all. After exchanging the standard pleasantries, they decided to make their way over to the car.

"Oh?"

This time it was the Fukuzawa household acting in unison.

"Kashiwagi-kun, did you buy a new car?"

Yumi's father was the first one to ask. The car parked on the side of the road wasn't his usual chilli red car.

"No. This isn't mine, it's grandfather Ogasawara's car. He lent it to me, saying that I should have a more substantial car since I'm giving these ladies a lift."

"The president of the Ogasawara Group's car? Indeed – "

Her father didn't say anything further, but was probably thinking, "It looks expensive." Yumi couldn't tell much other than that it was left-hand drive and the paint was either dark green or dark blue, but it seemed that the value of this automobile was immediately obvious to anyone with even a passing interest in cars.

"It's second-hand though."

Sachiko-sama said.

Right, right. Even Yumi could tell that it wasn't brand new, since there were some light scratches on the front and sides.

"For the time being, Yumi and Yuuki-san can ride in the back."

"Oh?"

Yumi said, a little dejected, as she had expected that she would sit in the back together with her onee-sama.

"I said it was just for the time being, didn't I? We'll swap seats en-route. See, there are cars coming from behind us."

"Okay."

Even if she wanted to protest further, it wasn't worth making a scene over. Reluctantly, Yumi climbed into the back seat with Yuuki.

"Well then, we're off. I'll make sure they're home on time."

Kashiwagi-san bowed to Mr. and Mrs. Fukuzawa then settled into the driver's seat, adjusting the position of the chair and the angle of the mirror. In the passenger's seat, Sachiko-sama fastened her seat-belt and said, "Okay Suguru-san," curtly giving him the signal to proceed.

After they'd turned the corner in front of the Kakinoki-san's house and could no longer see Yumi's parents waving them goodbye, Sachiko-sama said:

"I wonder if there's a street wide enough to park the car in around here."

"Huh?"

They'd only just set off, so why did they have to stop so quickly? Kashiwagi-san chided her, saying , "Sacchan," before Yumi could ask this question. It looked as though he knew the intent behind Sachiko-sama's statement.

"Hey, Yumi. Do you know anywhere?"

Sachiko-sama asked once more, completely ignoring Kashiwagi-san, so Yumi chose to give her preference.

"A wide road?"

When she looked to Yuuki for help, he had a complicated expression that was part anguish and part bewilderment.

"What's wrong?"

They hadn't gone a kilometre from their starting point. They hadn't even made it to a main road yet. Kashiwagi-san was famous for his rough driving, but it was still a bit too early to be getting carsick.

"I've got a bad feeling."

Yuuki whispered.

"Huh?"

Yumi thought she heard him say that he had a bad feeling, but that must have been a mistake. After mishearing his first statement, Yumi cupped her ear with her hand to try and focus on what her brother was saying.

"If it were up to me, I'd say we go to the amusement park like we are now, non-stop."

Was what he said. So it looks like Yumi hadn't misheard him earlier after all. Still.

"What do you mean?"

Yumi challenged him, not understanding what was happening.

"Yukichi's bad feeling is probably right on the mark."

Kashiwagi-san spoke matter-of-factly as he turned the steering wheel.

"How rude."

Sachiko-sama said indignantly.

What, what?

Yumi gaze leapt from forwards, to diagonally forwards and right, to the right and back again, desperately trying to find some kind of hint. Even so, the conversation continued steadily, minus a single stranded member.

"All those who agree with staying like this and not stopping."

In response to Kashiwagi-san's statement, Yuuki gave a hearty, "Me," and raised his hand.

"Okay, all those opposed."

This time Sachiko-sama raised her hand. Yumi hadn't raised her hand for either option, since she didn't know what was going on.

"Two against one."

"Yumi, you should side with me, your onee-sama."

"Ah, but."

How could she agree when she didn't know what was going on. And siding with her onee-sama would mean voting to see Yuuki and Kashiwagi-san's bad feeling realized.

"There were three valid votes."

"Wait a minute. You can't just say that Yumi's vote is invalid. Someone who doesn't understand can't be expected to make a decision just like that."

Well then somebody please explain clearly what's going on. It was all because they'd ignored her earlier cries for clarification.

"If Yumi-chan did understand what was going on, she'd probably take your side, Sacchan."

Kashiwagi-san laughed derisively.

"Well, who can say."

Still, Yumi started to question the accuracy of Kashiwagi-san's theory when Sachiko-sama grumbled instead of offering up an explanation.

Realizing that she was getting nowhere, Sachiko-sama took drastic action.

"If you don't stop the car, I'm going to pull on the wheel and we'll see where we end up."

It wasn't just an idle threat, she'd already placed a hand on the wheel. Kashiwagi-san's hands were at 10:10, in other words where the numbers 2 and 10 were on a clock's face, while Sachiko-sama's hand had darted in at about 4.

"Waaaah"

Yuuki cried out.

"Stop! Stop! I get it. I'll find somewhere we can pull over and stop."

The usually aloof Kashiwagi-san begged miserably. It was almost like he was some TV comic that had just been given an overinflated balloon. Which would make Sachiko-sama the balloon – as she was thinking this, Yumi suddenly realized how dangerous a position they had been in. This was a highjacking, or, more precisely, a carjacking.

Later, after quiet reflection, Yumi realized that Sachiko-sama probably wouldn't have gone through with her threat because, seated in the passenger's seat, she would have come off the worst. However, she wasn't able to assess things that calmly in the heat of the moment.

Eventually, Kashiwagi-san spotted a gas station close to the main road and pulled in. He stopped at a pump and let out a sigh of relief.

"Hi there, fill it up."

After opening the window and instructing the attendant on what to do, he turned to Sachiko-sama.

"Don't be so unreasonable, Sacchan."

"Isn't it your fault for not keeping your promise, Suguru-san?"

Sachiko-sama took her hand off the wheel. Her recalcitrance in not removing her hand before now was incredible.

"I'm sorry Yukichi. I hope you'll forgive my cowardliness."

Kashiwagi-san switched off the engine then turned to face them in the back seat.

"Not at all. You've worked hard, sempai."

"Thanks for understanding."

"I think that fight told the whole story."

"Yukichi!"

"Sempai!"

The two guys shook each other's hands. Yumi looked on questioningly.

"Quit your grumbling. Now, let's swap seats."

Sachiko-sama unfastened her seat belt.

"Huh? Swap seats?"

Yumi's twin ponytails bounced around. That's right, Sachiko-sama had said earlier that they would swap seats en-route. So that's what this was about. Sachiko-sama had been looking for a place to stop because she wanted to sit next to Yumi as soon as possible.

(Huh?)

But, why would there be a bad feeling about that? Why would Kashiwagi-san and Yuuki oppose it?

"Oh geez."

Kashiwagi-san unfastened his seat-belt too. Perhaps he was going to buy something from the gas stand. From memory her father would just open the window, hand over his credit card and that was it. As her mind was going in circles thinking about this, both Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama got out of the car.

"Huh? What about you, Yuuki?"

Her younger brother wasn't moving at all, despite being told that they were swapping seats. Instead, he let out a small sigh.

"Say, Yumi. You have your moments of brilliance, but you're usually pretty slow."

"What?"

"You don't understand what she meant when she said swap seats, do you?"

"You two are swapping seats, right?"

Yumi crossed her fingers over, indicating that Yuuki and Sachiko-sama would be swapping.

"Nope."

"Huh? Then..."

Herself and Sachiko-sama swapping seats? That way Yuuki wouldn't have to move. But why would Sachiko-sama want her in the front seat?

"… There's one other combination."

"Huh?"

Well that was no help. Kashiwagi-san was the driver, so he couldn't change seats, and there was no other combination involving the front passenger seat swapping with someone in the back seat. The two people in the back could swap, but what would be the point of that?

(Oh)

Hold on a minute – an alarm was sounding somewhere inside her head.

(So why did Kashiwagi-san get out of his seat?)

The seat he had been sitting in was special because only someone with a driver's license was allowed to sit there. Yumi could happily sit there while they were stationary at the gas stand, but there was no way she could take hold of the wheel and drive out onto a public road. Both legally and practically. Naturally, neither could Yuuki. And – .

"Ah."

Yumi suddenly had a flashback.

(How on earth!)

That had been her reaction when a driver's license was thrust in front of her. Back then, Satou Sei-sama was still a high school student.

"Huh!?"

No way. No way!

"Took you long enough."

Sachiko-sama gracefully sat down in front of Yumi just as Yuuki muttered this. In other words, the two people in the front had swapped seats and Sachiko-sama was now at the wheel.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume30 Chapter1 2

2011-07-13T21:32:53Z

Nochgo: /* Scattered Sunshine. Part 2 */

===<noinclude>Scattered Sunshine. </noinclude>Part 2===

Then, just like that, the evening had passed and today had arrived.

There was no need to consult the weather report; brilliant sunlight streamed in through the east window. It was already sunny, despite yesterday's forecast of clouds followed by sunshine. Surely sunshine followed by sunshine.

"Regardless, I'm so happy to be going out I could just throw my hands up in the air."

Yumi scanned the newspaper's weather forecast section. The sunshine symbol was there for the whole day. The amusement park would definitely be packed.

"At least it's not raining. They probably stop the outdoor rides during heavy rain, and when they start again you'd get wet riding on them."

Yuuki said, his brow furrowed as he carried his bag down the stairs.

"Yeah, that's true."

Yumi stretched and then smiled. She was going on a date with her onee-sama. It would still be fun even if it was raining. But it was sunny. So there was no reason to complain. Bring on the packed amusement park. They'd have a fun time chatting while they waited. – The more Yumi thought about it, the more her anticipation grew.

It would soon be 8 o'clock. That was the time that Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama had arranged to pick them up from in front of the Fukuzawa house. But because they were coming by car, they could be either earlier or later depending on traffic.

"Sorry, Yuuki."

She called over her younger brother's shoulder, as he watched a taped program and fiddled with the TV remote control. Without turning around, he answered, "What for?"

"For making you accompany my onee-sama."

"Ahh."

Yuuki switched off the TV and turned to face her.

"I was a bit worried of how it ended last time; it wasn't as if I didn't understand what Sachiko-san was feeling. Either way, its not like I hate amusement parks or anything.."

Pleased that she had such a fine brother, Yumi instinctively patted him on the shoulder. He responded by running away, saying, "That feels kind of wrong." When they were young, Yumi would always be grumpy whenever Yuuki followed her around. Although she was never actually mean to him.

"Hey, Yumi-chan. Are you going to invite Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san into the house? If you do, we should probably offer them tea, right?"

Her mother was taking off her rubber gloves as she walked out of the bathroom. Based on her appearance, she had just been cleaning the bathroom.

"Don't worry about it, it's okay."

Yumi waved her right hand.

"If you're worried about their car, they can park in my office car park, since it's Sunday."

Even her father was joining in. Both her parents had taking a liking to the superficially handsome, young Kashiwagi-san. As for Sachiko-sama, they admired her like a celebrity – initially because they were brainwashed by their daughter, but then voluntarily after their first chance meeting with her. Consequently, it wasn't just the Fukuzawa children, but also their parents, that wanted to be good friends with Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san.

"That's not the problem. There's only enough time for them to pick us up if we're going to make it to the park when it opens."

If they were to invite them in to the house, it would take at least 30 minutes to an hour. Of course, there was a little bit of leeway in their travel plans. But that was there in case they got caught in traffic – they hadn't planned to spend much time at the Fukuzawa household.

"Really?"

Even as she said this, her mother was swapping out the towels in the bathroom for the nicer ones that they used when they had company. Just in case, despite what she had just heard.

"When I see you two like that, you really do look alike."

Her mother smiled, because they were both wearing their coats in anticipation of their visitor's arrival. It hadn't been noticeable when Yumi was just wearing jeans and a pink floral blouse, and Yuuki was just wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. But now that they were both wearing similarly colored denim jackets, it appeared as though they were going for the same look. Add to that their similar looking faces, and the impression of a mass-produced product was apparently quite funny. Pointing and laughing at the two children you gave birth to was either innocence, or irresponsibility.

"I'll go change."

Yuuki sullenly ran up the staircase.

"Ohh, now he's upset. Ahh, Yuuki's so delicate."

"Indeed. I wonder who he gets that from."

The words, "Not from you, that's for sure," almost made it out of Yumi's mouth but she was just able to contain them.

The Fukuzawa intercom buzzed at about the same time that Yuuki was making his way downstairs, having finished changing clothes.

"Hello."

Yumi was waiting by the intercom, having heard a car pull up outside, so was able to press the reply button almost instantaneously.

"Ogasawara here."

"Okay. We'll be right out."

Buoyed by her onee-sama's voice, Yumi swung her bag over her shoulder and hurried to the entrance. Her mother and father followed her, as though that were perfectly natural. Obviously intending to offer their greetings.

Yuuki was one step ahead of her, his butt parked on the wooden step, tying the laces of his sneakers. The denim jacket had been swapped for a beige-ish synthetic leather pea coat, and Yumi's now very different looking younger brother moved to one side so that she could put on her sneakers too. After tapping her toes into the shoes, Yumi hurriedly turned the doorknob and rushed out.

"Good morning."

Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama were standing right in front of the door.

"Morning."

"Thanks for coming today."

It was regrettable, but had to be acknowledged. The impression that Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama gave was of a beautiful couple. In comparison... Yumi glanced at Yuuki as he walked past.

"Don't mention it."

On her side of the door was the raccoon-faced duo. Although the two parties may have been genetically quite different, it seemed that there were still some things in common: The beautiful people were wearing jeans and a jacket too.

Sachiko-sama and Kashiwagi-san both simultaneously adopted an identical expression as their attention was drawn to the area behind Yumi. Without turning around, Yumi knew that her parents had made their entrance.

Our children are probably going to be a bother to you. No, no, not at all. After exchanging the standard pleasantries, they decided to make their way over to the car.

"Oh?"

This time it was the Fukuzawa household acting in unison.

"Kashiwagi-kun, did you buy a new car?"

Yumi's father was the first one to ask. The car parked on the side of the road wasn't his usual chilli red car.

"No. This isn't mine, it's grandfather Ogasawara's car. He lent it to me, saying that I should have a more substantial car since I'm giving these ladies a lift."

"The president of the Ogasawara Group's car? Indeed – "

Her father didn't say anything further, but was probably thinking, "It looks expensive." Yumi couldn't tell much other than that it was left-hand drive and the paint was either dark green or dark blue, but it seemed that the value of this automobile was immediately obvious to anyone with even a passing interest in cars.

"It's second-hand though."

Sachiko-sama said.

Right, right. Even Yumi could tell that it wasn't brand new, since there were some light scratches on the front and sides.

"For the time being, Yumi and Yuuki-san can ride in the back."

"Oh?"

Yumi said, a little dejected, as she had expected that she would sit in the back together with her onee-sama.

"I said it was just for the time being, didn't I? We'll swap seats en-route. See, there are cars coming from behind us."

"Okay."

Even if she wanted to protest further, it wasn't worth making a scene over. Reluctantly, Yumi climbed into the back seat with Yuuki.

"Well then, we're off. I'll make sure they're home on time."

Kashiwagi-san bowed to Mr. and Mrs. Fukuzawa then settled into the driver's seat, adjusting the position of the chair and the angle of the mirror. In the passenger's seat, Sachiko-sama fastened her seat-belt and said, "Okay Suguru-san," curtly giving him the signal to proceed.

After they'd turned the corner in front of the Kakinoki-san's house and could no longer see Yumi's parents waving them goodbye, Sachiko-sama said:

"I wonder if there's a street wide enough to park the car in around here."

"Huh?"

They'd only just set off, so why did they have to stop so quickly? Kashiwagi-san chided her, saying , "Sacchan," before Yumi could ask this question. It looked as though he knew the intent behind Sachiko-sama's statement.

"Hey, Yumi. Do you know anywhere?"

Sachiko-sama asked once more, completely ignoring Kashiwagi-san, so Yumi chose to give her preference.

"A wide road?"

When she looked to Yuuki for help, he had a complicated expression that was part anguish and part bewilderment.

"What's wrong?"

They hadn't gone a kilometre from their starting point. They hadn't even made it to a main road yet. Kashiwagi-san was famous for his rough driving, but it was still a bit too early to be getting carsick.

"I've got a bad feeling."

Yuuki whispered.

"Huh?"

Yumi thought she heard him say that he had a bad feeling, but that must have been a mistake. After mishearing his first statement, Yumi cupped her ear with her hand to try and focus on what her brother was saying.

"If it were up to me, I'd say we go to the amusement park like we are now, non-stop."

Was what he said. So it looks like Yumi hadn't misheard him earlier after all. Still.

"What do you mean?"

Yumi challenged him, not understanding what was happening.

"Yukichi's bad feeling is probably right on the mark."

Kashiwagi-san spoke matter-of-factly as he turned the steering wheel.

"How rude."

Sachiko-sama said indignantly.

What, what?

Yumi gaze leapt from forwards, to diagonally forwards and right, to the right and back again, desperately trying to find some kind of hint. Even so, the conversation continued steadily, minus a single stranded member.

"All those who agree with staying like this and not stopping."

In response to Kashiwagi-san's statement, Yuuki gave a hearty, "Me," and raised his hand.

"Okay, all those opposed."

This time Sachiko-sama raised her hand. Yumi hadn't raised her hand for either option, since she didn't know what was going on.

"Two against one."

"Yumi, you should side with me, your onee-sama."

"Ah, but."

How could she agree when she didn't know what was going on. And siding with her onee-sama would mean voting to see Yuuki and Kashiwagi-san's bad feeling realized.

"There were three valid votes."

"Wait a minute. You can't just say that Yumi's vote is invalid. Someone who doesn't understand can't be expected to make a decision just like that."

Well then somebody please explain clearly what's going on. It was all because they'd ignored her earlier cries for clarification.

"If Yumi-chan did understand what was going on, she'd probably take your side, Sacchan."

Kashiwagi-san laughed derisively.

"Well, who can say."

Still, Yumi started to question the accuracy of Kashiwagi-san's theory when Sachiko-sama grumbled instead of offering up an explanation.

Realizing that she was getting nowhere, Sachiko-sama took drastic action.

"If you don't stop the car, I'm going to pull on the wheel and we'll see where we end up."

It wasn't just an idle threat, she'd already placed a hand on the wheel. Kashiwagi-san's hands were at 10:10, in other words where the numbers 2 and 10 were on a clock's face, while Sachiko-sama's hand had darted in at about 4.

"Waaaah"

Yuuki cried out.

"Stop! Stop! I get it. I'll find somewhere we can pull over and stop."

The usually aloof Kashiwagi-san begged miserably. It was almost like he was some TV comic that had just been given an overinflated balloon. Which would make Sachiko-sama the balloon – as she was thinking this, Yumi suddenly realized how dangerous a position they had been in. This was a highjacking, or, more precisely, a carjacking.

Later, after quiet reflection, Yumi realized that Sachiko-sama probably wouldn't have gone through with her threat because, seated in the passenger's seat, she would have come off the worst. However, she wasn't able to assess things that calmly in the heat of the moment.

Eventually, Kashiwagi-san spotted a gas station close to the main road and pulled in. He stopped at a pump and let out a sigh of relief.

"Hi there, fill it up."

After opening the window and instructing the attendant on what to do, he turned to Sachiko-sama.

"Don't be so unreasonable, Sacchan."

"Isn't it your fault for not keeping your promise, Suguru-san?"

Sachiko-sama took her hand off the wheel. Her recalcitrance in not removing her hand before now was incredible.

"I'm sorry Yukichi. I hope you'll forgive my cowardliness."

Kashiwagi-san switched off the engine then turned to face them in the back seat.

"Not at all. You've worked hard, sempai."

"Thanks for understanding."

"I think that fight told the whole story."

"Yukichi!"

"Sempai!"

The two guys high-fived each other. Yumi looked on questioningly.

"Quit your grumbling. Now, let's swap seats."

Sachiko-sama unfastened her seat belt.

"Huh? Swap seats?"

Yumi's twin ponytails bounced around. That's right, Sachiko-sama had said earlier that they would swap seats en-route. So that's what this was about. Sachiko-sama had been looking for a place to stop because she wanted to sit next to Yumi as soon as possible.

(Huh?)

But, why would there be a bad feeling about that? Why would Kashiwagi-san and Yuuki oppose it?

"Oh geez."

Kashiwagi-san unfastened his seat-belt too. Perhaps he was going to buy something from the gas stand. From memory her father would just open the window, hand over his credit card and that was it. As her mind was going in circles thinking about this, both Kashiwagi-san and Sachiko-sama got out of the car.

"Huh? What about you, Yuuki?"

Her younger brother wasn't moving at all, despite being told that they were swapping seats. Instead, he let out a small sigh.

"Say, Yumi. You have your moments of brilliance, but you're usually pretty slow."

"What?"

"You don't understand what she meant when she said swap seats, do you?"

"You two are swapping seats, right?"

Yumi crossed her fingers over, indicating that Yuuki and Sachiko-sama would be swapping.

"Nope."

"Huh? Then..."

Herself and Sachiko-sama swapping seats? That way Yuuki wouldn't have to move. But why would Sachiko-sama want her in the front seat?

"… There's one other combination."

"Huh?"

Well that was no help. Kashiwagi-san was the driver, so he couldn't change seats, and there was no other combination involving the front passenger seat swapping with someone in the back seat. The two people in the back could swap, but what would be the point of that?

(Oh)

Hold on a minute – an alarm was sounding somewhere inside her head.

(So why did Kashiwagi-san get out of his seat?)

The seat he had been sitting in was special because only someone with a driver's license was allowed to sit there. Yumi could happily sit there while they were stationary at the gas stand, but there was no way she could take hold of the wheel and drive out onto a public road. Both legally and practically. Naturally, neither could Yuuki. And – .

"Ah."

Yumi suddenly had a flashback.

(How on earth!)

That had been her reaction when a driver's license was thrust in front of her. Back then, Satou Sei-sama was still a high school student.

"Huh!?"

No way. No way!

"Took you long enough."

Sachiko-sama gracefully sat down in front of Yumi just as Yuuki muttered this. In other words, the two people in the front had swapped seats and Sachiko-sama was now at the wheel.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter5 7

2011-07-12T21:35:34Z

Nochgo: /* Santa's Refreshments. Part 7. */

===<noinclude>Santa's Refreshments. </noinclude>Part 7.===

Friday.

The arts club delivered the signboard during the lunch break, just as they had promised.

Last year's sign had been written as though advertising a sumo wresting tournament, while this year's was written as though it were for a Kabuki play. Looking at it, you expected to see the names of some famous actors like Nakamura, Bandou or Ichikawa written on the sign.<ref>https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Edomoji contains information about the different typescripts, https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Category:Kabuki_actors on some famous Kabuki actors / dynasties.</ref>

"At first glance, it looks black, right?"

The president of the arts club said, pointing at the lettering. The two club members who had carried the signboard to the Rose Mansion had left it outside, to catch the sun's rays.

Yumi, who had come outside to receive the signboard, said, "Yep," and nodded her head in agreement, since it certainly looked black to her. Then she was asked once more:

"Even when you look closely, it looks black, right?"

"It's not?"

Touko and Noriko-chan had accompanied Yumi outside and they both shook their head, unable to see anything other than black writing.

"I thought you'd say that. Ta-dah."

The arts club president held up a piece of black imitation vellum. It was about the size of a paperback. She then brought the vellum close to where 'Graduating students farewell party' was written –

"Ooooh"

Isn't that strange. When viewed alongside something that was genuinely black, it was immediately obvious that the lettering was slightly different. It was a very dark purplish blue.

"It takes someone with a great color sense to come up with such a nice result."

The arts club president responded to this compliment by fishing for compliments by good-naturedly saying, "Praise me more."

"Very stylish."

"One more."

"Wait, best in all Japan."

"Okaaay, take it, you thieves."

Finally, there was a smattering of applause from the three girls from the Rose Mansion and the three girls from the arts club, and the handover was completed. The president of the arts club was as funny a person as ever.

In the evening, Noriko-chan and Touko went to the main gates to receive the delivery of 200 roses from the florist. But when they returned, they weren't just carrying flowers.

"What's this?"

Yumi asked Noriko-chan, after spotting the plastic bag with a pharmacy's logo on it that contained a number of small, thin boxes. Touko was currently busy placing the flowers into water-filled buckets. The flowers were red, white, yellow and salmon pink. Fifty flowers each of the four different colors.

"It's a present from a kind Santa."

Noriko-chan said, as though reciting from a textbook.

"Huh?"

"– is what I was told to say."

By the so-called kind Santa.

Still, this Santa seemed quite eccentric. Randomly appearing in the middle of March and giving an inappropriate gift to girls carrying flowers. And since Santa normally was kind anyway, he wouldn't refer to himself as a 'kind Santa.'

"It was Sei-sama, right?"

That gave them these gifts.

"Correct. It was pretty easy to figure out."

"Yeah."

Accepting the plastic bag from Noriko-chan, Yumi took the small, gold boxes out of the plastic bag and lined them up on the table. They were, unmistakeably, energy drinks. Ten of them, in all.

Now's not the time to be feeling tired. Yumi could just picture Sei-sama saying that to them.

"What's this, Sei-sama gave us a supply of energy drinks?"

"I haven't seen these ones before."

Yoshino-san and Shimako-san took a break from their work and came over to have a look.

In general, high school students didn't have much contact with energy drinks. A quick survey showed that only Yumi and Noriko-chan had tried them before.

"It looks like it has alcohol in it, so I wonder if it's okay for us to drink."

Shimako-san murmured, reading the list of ingredients.

"But, see, it says here 'suitable for people 15 years and over.'"

"All those over the age of 15 – "

Yoshino-san called out, and everyone responded by saying 'Here' and raising their hand. All present were apparently qualified to drink these.

Still, no-one reached out for a drink. The hesitation arose because taking one would mean admitting that you were tired.

In the middle of that.

"I shall drink one of these."

Jumping in at the deep end, Shimako-san opened one of the boxes with a determined look on her face. Even though it seemed like a fairly trivial matter, it probably still required a certain amount of determination to taste some (completely unknown) new drink.

However, inside the box there was a tray that protected the bottle, and the bottle came with a straw already attached to the mouth, but wrapped in plastic. Since Shimako-san hadn't encountered anything like this before, she wasn't going about opening the bottle in a particularly efficient manner.

"Here, onee-sama."

Noriko-chan handed a completed bottle to Shimako-san, who was still fighting hard. Then she took Shimako-san's bottle and finished opening it.

"This is a gift from onee-sama's onee-sama, right?"

"Yes."

Shimako-san nodded. She must have wanted to receive Sei-sama's feelings. Through her stomach.

"Oh well. I'm not really all that tired … "

Yoshino-san opened a box as well. Followed by Yumi and Touko.

Shimako-san and Noriko-chan waited for them, so they all said, "Cheers," and clinked their bottles together before drinking.

It was an anticipatory celebration. Of all they had done. And of what was to come tomorrow.

Feeling slightly flushed and tingly, the five girls walked abreast along the path lined with ginkgo trees.

"You know, my father drinks this sort of thing and says that it relaxes him. I wonder what the real story is."

Yoshino-san muttered, taking one of the empty cans out of the shopping bag.

"He keeps drinking them, even though they don't have any effect?"

Surely he wouldn't go out of his way to buy them if he thought they were having no effect whatsoever.

"But if you kept drinking this kind of thing, your body would get used to it and it wouldn't have as much effect, right?"

After hearing Touko's theory, Noriko-chan jumped on board too.

"And then you have to find something stronger – that kind of thing?"

"Yeah."

The Yamayurikai members had considered it improper to leave the empties from their energy drink party lying around, so had gathered them up to take home and dispose of. Yoshino-san had been asked to take them home, as she lived the closest to school.

The five untouched boxes had been left in the Rose Mansion with a label that read, 'Refreshments from Satou Sei-sama.' The use-by-date printed on the boxes was November of the following year, so there was bound to be another time when they all were busy and feeling tired before then. Like, for example, the school festival, or next year's 'third-years' send-off.'

"It tasted like the cough-syrup I used to have as a child."

Shimako-san smiled, reminiscing. Yumi remembered the cough-syrup as bitter medicine, so was surprised at how easily Shimako-san seemed to have drunk it.

"Didn't you think it tasted more like caramel pudding?"

"I'm not sure – "

Yumi was the only one not to endorse Yoshino-san's opinion.

"I thought it tasted more like my grandfather's medicinal alcohol."

"Do you drink that often?"

They had reached the school gates and, after a good laugh, they waved goodbye and went their separate ways.

It may just have been Yumi's imagination, but everyone seemed a little bit giddy. Even though they hadn't thought they were tired, perhaps some fatigue had set in that they weren't aware of, and the energy drinks had cleared that away.

Unfortunately, the energy drink didn't have the power to make you remember things you had forgotten. Still, it was surely better to remain oblivious and sleep soundly, than to remember it now, when it was probably too late.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter5 4

2011-07-12T21:23:16Z

Nochgo: /* Santa's Refreshments. Part 4. */

===<noinclude>Santa's Refreshments. </noinclude>Part 4.===

Tuesday.

All the exhibition space, including the auditorium entrance, the lobby and the path leading there, had been divided into areas for each of the groups participating, and all group representatives had been notified.

The program of events had also been decided, taking into account the genres, running time and sets used in the performances, and the representatives of groups taking part had likewise been notified.

Even so, some groups had come forth because they found a flaw in the arrangements or were otherwise dissatisfied with them, so you couldn't yet call it a success. These groups had been given a one day extension, until Wednesday, during which their objections would be heard and, potentially, acted upon. It was the sort of job that required a lot of nerve and sensitivity.

"I was told that the photography club and the flower arranging club wanted to trade places."

Shimako-san said. It sounded like the two club presidents had come to the Rose Mansion straight after school had finished.

"If they both agree to it, it should be fine. Did they give a reason why?"

Yumi asked, putting her bag down. She was a bit late because three girls had called out to her on the way here, and she'd had four conversations.

"Apparently there's an air-conditioning vent here."

Shimako-san said, tapping on a specific part of their rough sketch of the auditorium. Yumi and Yoshino-san gathered around to have a look.

"They didn't think it would make that much of a difference to their display, but since they have an arrangement of live flowers, they'd prefer to avoid that location. The photography club was fine with it because it gave them a little bit more space."

Interesting. They had discussed proximity to fresh water when deciding where to put the flower club, but hadn't even considered the air-conditioning vents. Quickly, they changed the group names in their draft pamphlet.

"The judo club asked what they were supposed to do about tatami mats for the stage."

It looked like Yoshino-san had picked up some extra work on her way over here as well.

"I wonder what they did last year. Did they bring them from the martial arts building?"

"I think they might have used ones from the cellar storehouse due to carrying problems"

Shimako-san muttered, looking through the notes from last year. After all, if they took the mats from the martial arts building to the auditorium, then the judo club wouldn't be able to practice. So by not using the tatami mats from the martial arts building, they could get them earlier.

"The tatami mats from the cellar warehouse, huh? Then they'll have to get permission to take them. Umm, I'm sure there's a form for that somewhere around here."

"Ahh, didn't the Koto music club get permission to use those."

Yumi raised her finger, remembering.

"I see. In that case, let's suggest that the two groups work together. There's only one stage, so there's no need for both groups to prepare it. And with more people involved, there's less for each person to carry."

After listening to the three second-years speak, Touko raised her hand.

"I'll go and tell them."

"Right now?"

Then Noriko-chan spoke, before Touko had a chance to answer the question.

"I'll go with her. Then on the way back, we can call the flower shop to confirm the order. Oh, and we can stop by the art club while we've got the chance, to see if their paint has arrived."

The pair made a break for the door without waiting for a response, so Yumi had to hastily call them to a stop.

"Wait."

Their juniors were attentive to all kinds of small details, and completely trustworthy. Still, the way they were trying their hardest at everything reminded Yumi of how she had been last year.

"I know you're worried about the signboard, but I think we can trust the arts club with that."

Yoshino-san nodded in agreement, before adding:

"As for the tatami mats, I'm attending a meeting with the sports clubs tomorrow, so I'll ask the judo club's president then. And Shimako-san's in the same class as the Koto music club's president, so she can ask her. Is that okay?"

"Yes, of course."

The goal was to utilize everyone intelligently. If there's someone appropriate for the task, then it's better to ask them directly. The key phrase was, "Don't overdo it."

"So you see, all we'd like you two to do is call the florist."

"Okay."

They seemed a tad dissatisfied, but they were smart so they quickly accepted what was happening and left. While watching through the window as the two first-years departed, Yumi mumbled:

"Last year my onee-sama said things like, 'You girls are such a great help.' I share her sentiments but I don't want a repeat of last year."

"Indeed."

Shimako-san agreed, while Yoshino-san had a grim look on her face.

"I'm sorry. Your two petit soeurs are forced to do the work of my petit soeur."

Arima Nana-chan, Yoshino-san's favorite amongst the younger girls, was in her third year of middle school. No matter how much Yoshino-san wanted to make Nana-chan her petit soeur, it wouldn't happen until April.

"Oh yeah, is Nana-chan coming to the farewell party?"

"She won't be coming. I didn't ask her."

"Oh, why not? You invited her to the Christmas party."

Under attack from her two close friends, Yoshino-san scratched her head, annoyed.

"Back then, I figured it would be okay because Tsutako-san was invited to the party. And so was Touko-chan, even though she wasn't your petit soeur then, and Kanako-chan."

But the Roses farewell party was just for soeurs. And since Nana-chan was not yet her soeur, Yoshino-san had decided that it would be inappropriate for her to participate.

"Plus, the farewell party's all about the third-years."

Yoshino-san seemed to have mixed feelings about that.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter5 3

2011-07-12T21:10:16Z

Nochgo: /* Santa's Refreshments. Part 3. */

===<noinclude>Santa's Refreshments. </noinclude>Part 3.===

There was a guest waiting for Yumi in the Rose (not Rice) Mansion.

"Gokigenyou, Yumi-san."

Her exams were over and Tsukiyama Minako-sama was coming back to life, like an animal waking from its winter hibernation.

"Go – gokigenyou."

Yumi studied Touko's face to try and determine what was going on as she took a seat beside her. Their guest was still standing, but that wasn't a problem. Noriko-chan, Yoshino-san and Shimako-san were all in the room. It was inconceivable that no-one had offered her a chair already, so Minako-sama was probably standing because she wanted to.

"What's the matter?"

Touko was silently working on something, so Yumi asked Shimako-san who was closest to her on the other side.

"That's …"

Mindful of Minako-sama's presence, Shimako-san spoke softly. To summarize, Minako-sama had come to the Rose Mansion because she had a job for Touko and was waiting for Touko to finish because she wanted it as soon as possible.

"And then."

Shimako-san half-rose from her seat and whispered in Yumi's ear, being mindful of Touko.

"Touko-chan said she shouldn't just suddenly ask for this, and they had a bit of a quarrel. But in the end …"

Apparently Minako-sama had used her position as a senior to twist Touko's arm.

Yumi peered at Touko's hands to try and determine what kind of work she was doing. Then, without staying her hand, Touko said:

"I'm proofreading for the Lillian Kawaraban."

This week's edition was the special feature on the dates that the Valentine's Day event winners had with the next Roses. Touko was checking over the report that she had submitted and making corrections on the test print with a red pen. Yumi had done a similar thing last week, however unlike the extra edition that contained hardly any writing, it looked like this was taking somewhat longer.

"Hey, what are you going to do?"

Yoshino-san inquired, from the seat opposite.

"There's not a lot I can do."

If Yumi had been here while they were having their dispute then perhaps she could have done more, but now that Touko had already started working it was a bit late for her to be butting in.

Yumi opened her lunch-box and started to eat. Noriko-chan poured her a cup of tea and brought it over. Minako-sama was also offered tea, but she declined, saying she wasn't going to be staying long.

Ordinarily, all visitors to the Rose Mansion were offered tea, however they had decided to suspend that practice for this week as they expected there would be a large number of students coming and going. But they would still make the offer if they themselves were drinking tea, and if requested would of course serve their guests.

Just as Yumi was finishing her lunch, Touko stood up beside her.

"Here. It's done."

Touko walked over to where Minako-sama was standing and gave her the Lillian Kawaraban test print. Always the actress. Her face didn't show what was in her heart. Knowing that she was really sulking just made it all the more frightening.

Yumi closed her lunch-box and stood up. Ready to support Touko, just in case. Yumi felt that, as Touko's grande soeur, she couldn't let this go unacknowledged.

"I'm so sorry to have made you wait."

"Not at all, I apologize for rushing you."

Touko then said, "Excuse me," and walked away, leaving Yumi standing there. Touko then started heartily biting into her half-eaten rice balls, although it was unclear whether she was trying to insinuate something or just hungry.

"Still, for a third-year to come all the way out here, Minako-sama … "

It would be reading too much into this statement to interpret it as sarcasm, as in, "Have your juniors turned you into their errand girl?" Unfortunately, Yumi didn't have that sort of skill on tap, so the only meaning was what the words themselves contained. Yumi had thought that Minako-sama's involvement in last week's extra edition was some kind of exception, but perhaps she was still fully participating in all newspaper club activities.

"My juniors are all busy, so I volunteered to help. Or, should I say, I talked them in to letting me do this."

So it appears that this Tsukiyama Minako-sama isn't sensitive to such barbs, for she took it as stated and provided a normal answer. Peace and tranquility. Yoshino-san and Noriko-chan had both pricked their ears up, their hearts racing, but, of course, they went unnoticed.

"I want to be part of the Lillian Kawaraban, in whatever way I can."

Minako-sama spoke those words with pride, and there was something to admire about her unfaltering dedication to the school newspaper.

Having no reason to stay now that she had received the corrections to the test print, Minako-sama farewelled everyone with a, "Sorry for bothering you," and walked towards the exit. Thinking she should see her off, Yumi followed Minako-sama, but was stopped at the doorway by Minako-sama saying, "Here will be fine."

"Anyway, hey, did you hear?"

Minako-sama said, with her hand still on the doorknob, as though she had just remembered something.

"Sachiko-san's completely stopped her eccentric behavior."

"Eccentric..."

Is that really the kind of word you'd use to describe someone who doesn't usually cram for exams working through a book of problems?

"So, what was it all about?"

Minako-sama leaned up against her.

"I told you, I don't know."

Yumi herself had never actually seen Sachiko-sama while she was apparently cramming for an exam. So, now that she heard that Sachiko-sama had suddenly stopped, it made her doubt the validity of the earlier rumors entirely.

"At any rate, it doesn't concern me."

Yumi bundled Minako-sama out the door, sending her off with, "That's enough for today." Though she heard Minako-sama say, "Can't you do something about it?" but Yumi kept pulling on the door knob so that Minako-sama couldn't open it, and eventually she heard the sounds of someone descending the stairs. Perhaps she had remembered that she didn't have any time to waste.

Touko watched carefully as Yumi returned to her seat, relieved.

"Rosa Chinensis' eccentricities, do they have anything to do with Suguru onii-sama?"

That was a curious question to ask.

"Why would you mention Kashiwagi-san?"

It seemed quite a leap. After all, Minako-sama had said 'Sachiko-san' but she hadn't mentioned 'Kashiwagi-san' at all.

"It might be unrelated, but I heard that, recently, Suguru onii-sama has been going over to the Ogasawara house every day."

"Every day? I wonder what for."

Still, that's what you'd expect from a blood relative. Touko heard conversations that Yumi wasn't even aware of.

"I don't know. But perhaps he has some business with Sachiko-sama's father or grandfather that requires a daily visit."

"Well, who knows."

Still, there was a chance that he was going there to see Sachiko-sama. Well, it felt like that was actually the most likely possibility.

Sachiko-sama had said she had things to attend to, and then went home early every day. Yumi hadn't even imagined that it was because she had an appointment with Kashiwagi-san.

"Hmmmm."

Yumi didn't know the answer. If Touko, who just gave this report, didn't know, then Yumi didn't know either. And if Yumi didn't know, then chances are no-one else here knew either. All they could do was look at each other and think about it, although that felt like a waste of time.

And then.

"Excuse me. I'm from the story-telling club – "

"I'm from the candy-making club – "

They had to deal with a steady stream of visitors like these, and didn't have any spare time to dwell on the matter.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter5 2

2011-07-12T20:53:29Z

Nochgo: /* Santa's Refreshments. Part 2. */

===<noinclude>Santa's Refreshments. </noinclude>Part 2.===

Lunchtime.

While waiting behind the Rose Mansion, Yumi saw Sachiko-sama walking through the courtyard and waved at her, saying, "Over here."

"Gokigenyou, Yumi. By the way, what is it that's 'over here?'"

"Huh?"

What's over here? In this case, the subject of the sentence was "I" so Yumi had shortened the sentence "I'm over here" to "Over here."

"Umm, onee-sama. Didn't you come here to meet me …?"

"Oh?"

( – That response would seem to indicate a 'no' then.)

If she had come here to see Yumi, then she certainly wouldn't have asked the question about what was over here.

"You didn't read my letter?"

Yumi had suspected that she would be busy today, so she'd left the letter so there was no chance of them missing each other. It would have been better to visit Sachiko-sama in her third-year classroom during one of their breaks between classes, but people were always asking her questions about the third-years' send-off while she was in her classroom or walking down the corridors, so she didn't have any time to do her own errands during those breaks. So, as rude as it may have been, she left a note for her onee-sama asking to meet.

"Letter?"

Shaking her head. So then it was just a coincidence that Sachiko-sama happened to be walking past here? Then you'd have to say it was lucky. But was that really the case? It just seemed too good to be true.

"A letter from you, Yumi? Where did you put it?"

"In the shoe racks … in your locker … inside your indoor shoes."

"Inside my indoor shoes? Oh, I wonder how I didn't notice it. Perhaps it's still inside my shoe."

"Well, I don't really think that's likely."

Even thought it had been a light piece of paper, Yumi had folded it in four. At that level of thickness it would definitely have been noticeable when wearing the shoes, and would probably have made a rustling sound as well. Despite this, Sachiko-sama placed one hand on the wall, lifted her left foot and slid her index finger into the back of her left shoe, taking it off.

And then.

"Ah."

A folded piece of paper fell out.

However, watching this chain of events unfold, Yumi knew something was up.

"Onee-sama. I put the letter in your right shoe."

Yumi ventured timidly. Even if Sachiko-sama hadn't noticed when she put her shoes on, why would it have changed placed?

Sachiko-sama grinned.

"What a relief. It looks like you've still got some of your wits about you."

"Ehh?"

It appeared that Sachiko-sama was just testing her, for some reason. Well, at least it looked as though Yumi got the right answer.

"How is it? Isn't my brain still working fine?"

"I said you still had some of your wits about you."

Sachiko-sama held out the letter, urging Yumi to read it. Opening the paper that still retained the warmth from Sachiko-sama's heel, Yumi saw the request for a meeting written in her fairly ordinary looking handwriting.

"Which part do you think is strange?"

"Have a closer look."

Onee-sama,
During the lunch break, I'll be waiting for you behind the Rice Mansion.
Yumi.

Sachiko-sama pointed to a spot on the paper.

"Ahh."

She'd written the 'Rice Mansion,' instead of the 'Rose Mansion.' A building made out of rice? In that case, it was only natural that her onee-sama would think she was going senile.<ref>The original has Yumi writing 薔薇の飯 (instead of 薔薇の館), which makes it 'Rose Rice,' that she then imagines to be rice cooked with rose petals. I thought Rice Mansion worked better in English.</ref>

"Were you feeling tired?"

Yumi briskly shook her head.

"What probably happened was, I started thinking about what was in my lunchbox after I wrote 'lunch.'"

It wasn't an explanation she was particularly proud of, but Yumi didn't want to let that misunderstanding continue. She'd written the letter first thing this morning, and was still yet to do any homework or Yamayurikai work today. So, if she had been tired, it wasn't because of either of those things.

"Then that's fine. You don't want to push yourself too hard."

"Okay."

Her onee-sama turned to her and gave her the kind of look you would use when admonishing a baby, at which point Yumi finally turned an embarrassed red.

"What are you smiling about, Yumi?"

There was no way that Yumi could say she was overjoyed that her onee-sama was concerned about her, so she turned away. There was some work she really had to do today, so that it didn't become a huge problem in the future.

Just as Yumi was about to leave her and enter the Rose Mansion, Sachiko-sama called out, "Wait."

"You're still not thinking straight. Didn't you call me out here so that you could give me an answer to my question from Saturday?"

"Ah. That's right."

So it wasn't a matter of being tired, or overexerting herself – Yumi was just naturally absentminded.

"The answer is 'okay.'"

Yumi stopped, turned around, and used her arms to form a circle over her head.

"Thank-you for your efforts."

In return, her onee-sama made a small circle using her thumb and index finger.

That small circle was enough to fill a petit soeur full of energy.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter4 2

2011-07-12T16:18:30Z

Nochgo: /* Burning Bridges. Part 2. */

===<noinclude>Burning Bridges. </noinclude>Part 2.===

Yumi parted company with Sachiko-sama, and when she arrived at the Rose Mansion the only people there to greet her were Shimako-san and Yoshino-san.

In other words, only the second-years were there.

"Oh, what happened to Noriko-chan?"

Yumi asked, the bag she had fetched from her classroom falling with a thud.

She already knew that Touko was rehearing for the drama club's play. Touko had said she would stop by when the rehearsal was finished, but Yumi had told her not to overexert herself.

"Noriko went to the office to borrow the yellow pages."

"Yellow pages?"

"The florist we used last year has gone out of business, so we have to find another one."

Yumi was asked if she had run into Noriko-chan, but she hadn't seen her at all. Yumi shrugged, then sat down. Various documents were spread out across the table.

"Putting that aside. What happened with Sachiko-sama?"

Yoshino-san brought her chair around next to Yumi's.

And just like that, work was momentarily suspended as they rushed into chat-time. Even Shimako-san put down her document and adopted a listening posture.

"What happened? Nothing much."

"What do you mean, nothing much. She was calling you out in that letter."

"Ahh, about that."

Yoshino-san and Shimako-san looked exasperated after Yumi explained the reason behind that. Yumi would never say it, but she was wondering just what on earth those two were expecting.

"But surely Sachiko-sama had something in mind, since she asked you to meet her."

"She said she wanted to see my face."

On hearing that, Yoshino-san and Shimako-san looked at each other and said, "Mmm."

"...That Sachiko-sama."

"So I let her look at my face."

That kind of reasoning would make Yumi blush and feel awkward even if she wasn't talking about herself.

"And then?"

Yoshino-san lightly tapped Yumi on the shoulder, urging her to continue.

"Did she say what she was studying?"

"Sorry. I didn't ask."

"You forgot again!?"

While Yoshino-san was still gasping in shock, Yumi shook her head.

"Nope. I remembered, but I decided not to ask."

"Why?"

This time it was Shimako-san posing the question.

"Sachiko-sama said she'd tell me eventually, so I'll wait."

"Heey"

"You're not concerned?"

Yumi stopped to ponder at this question from her close friend.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't concerned.

Nor could she say that she wouldn't worry no matter where Sachiko-sama went, or what she did. If they had been trapped by the same inability to understand each other's feelings that they had during their troubles last year, then she would probably be badgering Sachiko-sama, trying to get information out of her.

"Well, it would just be to satisfy my own personal curiosity, so it's okay, I guess."

Regardless of whether or not Yumi knew about and agreed with what her onee-sama was doing, Yumi considered her onee-sama to be a reasonable person and was convinced there was no way she'd be involved in anything untoward. And since her onee-sama had said, 'For now, it's a secret,' that meant that at least there was a reason behind it.

"After all, when it comes time for me to know, I'm sure she'll leave an obvious sign that she wants to see me."

Yumi said, taking the letter of challenge from her pocket and waving it around.

And then.

"...Wonderful."

Shimako-san whispered.

"Huh?"

"Yumi-san, it's wonderful. That impression of solidness."

Again with the solid. Unlike Sachiko-sama, Shimako-san didn't push her in the shoulder, but she did half-rise from her chair, lean across the table and pat both of Yumi's hands.

Seated beside Yumi, Yoshino-san stuck a finger in her ear and tilted her head in an obvious display of boredom.

"For sure, it's the bulk of a heavyweight sumo wrestler. I wonder if it's the presence you gain upon becoming an onee-sama."

Yoshino-san's words were probably intended to be sarcastic or a backhanded compliment, but there was just a bit too much spin on it and it went sailing past Yumi. Instead, she seized upon a few of the phrases she heard.

First, solid. Then, the bulk of a sumo wrestler.

"I knew it, I am fat!?"

Yumi pinched at the area around her waist. As the dress isn't tight around the stomach, it was possible that she couldn't realize she was getting fat.

"Still, her airhead nature remains unchanged."

"Indeed."

Yoshino-san and Shimako-san smiled at each other. Yumi could tell they were speaking figuratively, but she still couldn't work out how what they saw in her that was 'solid.'

"Ahh, that's right."

Yoshino-san clapped her hands.

"We can talk about it now that the first years aren't here. What are we going to do about 'that'?"

"That?"

They were to discuss 'that.' However, the pronoun 'that' is mainly useful for its ability to refer to any number of things.

"When I said 'that.' I meant the talent show, the talent show."

"Ahhh..."

If they were to give a name to the talent show, it would be 'that.' Last year, for the Rose's farewell party, the three of them had risked life and limb in putting on a performance for the amusement of the graduating seniors.

"If we plan on doing that again this year, we should indirectly let the first-years know about it."

No high-school student would be able to perform a party trick on the spot if someone asked them to. Even if they did happen to know one, they probably wouldn't have the necessary props with them.

"But, you know."

Yumi sought confirmation.

"We were tricked by Satou Sei-sama into practicing for it. That doesn't mean it has to be like that every year."

"That's true."

Shimako-san nodded in agreement.

Sachiko-sama's solo ballet performance and Rei-sama's one-handed apple crushing display were just things that Sei-sama had made up. Probably.

Last year had been an anomaly. So, what should they do this year? Should they return to the way things were, or continue to trial it for another year. It deserved some consideration. Depending on their choice, a talent show performed by the first-years could become the accepted custom.

Shimako-san didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about it.

"Currently there's only two first-years, and it would be a great burden to lay on them even if they didn't have anything else going on, don't you think? But Touko-chan has her drama club commitments too. I wonder if making her practice a party performance at this busy time of year would be unfair."

"Sorry."

"My apologies."

Yoshino-san, who was still without a petit soeur, and Yumi, whose petit soeur was busy, both bowed their heads simultaneously. Shimako-san looked mortified and said, "That's not what I meant."

Still, Shimako-san had spoken truthfully. Last year, Yumi had overexerted herself and finally collapsed on the day before the party. Shimako-san and Yoshino-san wouldn't presume to raise this, but it was a bitter lesson they had all probably taken to heart.

Silence reigned for a while. The private farewell party, by itself, wasn't a lot of work, but before that was the 'Third-Years' Send Off.' While the three future Roses were the core of this effort, the first-years still had to act as their support. And since they had been first-years last year, they knew how much effort that was.

And even that was putting it lightly. For the first-years, it was brutal.

An odd atmosphere had settled around them. Their gazes shifted, as though searching for each others true intentions.

"I don't think we should perform again this year."

Finally, Shimako-san spoke, breaking the silence. In no time at all, Yoshino-san and Yumi both agreed with her.

"That's true."

It fell to them last year because they were the lowest on the totem pole. But now that they had petit soeurs of their own, nobody would want to do a magic act, or an impromptu traditional Japanese dance, or the loach scooping dance. After all, if their petit soeurs saw them performing such an act, then surely they would lose some of their dignity.

"What should we do if Rei-sama or Sachiko-sama request a performance?"

If they ask, 'What are you performing?' Like Sei-sama did last year.

"They might. Last year's performances were well received."

In that case, it would be unfair not to tell the first-years about it in advance. The more you thought about it, the more confusing it became.

They were all busy. Yet when they weren't working, it looked like they'd have this to worry about.

"Anyway, we can continue this discussion later."

In the end, the question of the talent show was shelved without an agreement being reached.

Why?

Because the squeak-squeak sound of someone climbing the stairs floating into the second-floor room.

"I'm back."

Noriko-chan cheerfully opened the biscuit door. Standing behind her was Touko. However, neither of them were holding the yellow pages.

"Looking at the advertisements and addresses, we found a number of possible matches. After calling them to find out more, we think these two meet our requirements. They should be able to fit within our budget, and they can deliver if we pre-order."

Noriko-chan reported, looking at her notebook. And then Touko added:

"But since we're dealing with flower arrangements, we shouldn't make a decision until we've seen how they handle the flowers and what the store's atmosphere is like. If you'd like, Noriko-chan and I can go and check them out on our way home – "

So that's why they took so long.

It looked as though their talented petit soeurs had gone ahead and finished this job for them.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter4 1

2011-07-12T16:02:05Z

Nochgo: /* Burning Bridges. Part 1. */

===<noinclude>Burning Bridges. </noinclude>Part 1.===

Thursday, after school.

A gust of wind blew through the grounds of Lillian's Girls Academy.

It was the beginning of March, and the air still had a chill to it. However, the gust of wind was neither prolonged nor strong.

Winds of fortune, spring squalls, the east wind, the first storm of spring. The winds that blew during springtime were known by various names, but you couldn't use those names unless you knew which compass direction the wind came from.

Yumi walked along, enveloped by the wind. Or, perhaps, she had temporarily become one with the wind. Still clad in her indoor slippers, girls passed by her on their way home, alone or in pairs. She would soon reach her goal, the gymnasium.

Coming to a halt, she took a scrap of paper from her pocket. Countless times she'd run her eyes over the words written there.

"Yumi, Tomorrow after school, wait behind the gymnasium. Sachiko."

She'd received it yesterday, after school. After one night's wait, it was now 'tomorrow.' And, finally, after school.

It had been a long twenty-four hours.

After initially mistaking it for a challenge when she received it in the Rose Mansion, Yumi had spent the trip home weighing up what it meant. Well, not quite – what was written there was quite concise, so the meaning was plain to see. But what purpose could Sachiko-sama have for calling Yumi out, behind the gymnasium? Why were places like the Rose Mansion, the courtyard or even just outside her classroom unsuitable?

From memory, something similar had happened last year. Yoshino-san called out Torii Eriko-sama.

You're late, Musashi. Sorry for making you wait, Kojirou.<ref>Miyamoto Musashi was a samurai who, among other things, killed Sasaki Kojirou in a duel.</ref>

Even though they weren't likely to end up dueling, their meeting place still held those connotations.

Perhaps Sachiko-sama had, in some respect, transcended and was about to throw down a challenge to Yumi. Even after arriving home, Yumi couldn't put it out of her mind – she wracked her brain while eating dinner and taking a bath. She had thought that perhaps its outward appearance as a challenge was a fake and that it actually contained a hidden message, so she warmed it by the gas stove but, naturally, no new characters appeared.

Yumi thought about calling Sachiko-sama to ask her about it, but decided that if it was the sort of conversation that could be held over the phone then Sachiko-sama would have called her first. And she had probably left behind the letter because a phone-call would be an inconvenience.

That's why Yumi had been somewhat on edge ever since she arrived at school this morning.

What would she do if she ran into Sachiko-sama somewhere, before school had finished? They were in separate buildings, but there were days when they would pass each other two or three times in the hallway. If they did accidentally bump into each other, how should she react? Should she race off after a quick greeting?

However, those worries had all been in vain. Until now, Yumi hadn't seen her onee-sama at all that day. It wasn't as though she was running from place to place to avoid meeting her onee-sama, but Yumi seemed to cause a fuss wherever she went today so she had avoided strolling through the corridors.

The Lillian Kawaraban's extra edition was out.

It reminded her of events past, and the person she had become. During recess, spectators from other classes gathered. Unlike before, however, there weren't any who had come to see what she looked like, asking, "Which one's Fukuzawa Yumi?" Instead, they opened the door and said, "Congratulations," and waved at her. It was even difficult to go to the toilet, as girls who recognized Yumi followed her around. She was finally set free when it was after school.

The gymnasium was built with the sports ground behind it. Therefore, the back of the gymnasium was a 'back' in name only – actually, it was a completely open area, that anyone on the banks of the oval could look down upon. This bright, open area was completely inappropriate as a place to summon people to, so it wasn't a 'proper' back of the gymnasium.

The path Yumi was on continued to the oval, so she strayed down the left side and arrived at the gymnasium. Walking past the entrance, she noticed that both the internal and external doors were thrown open, allowing her to see what was going on inside.

The dance club were performing calisthenics next to where the basketball club was throwing a ball around. Tournaments and other events were all approaching, so various clubs had to share the gymnasium, auditorium and oval. From memory, the drama club were supposed to be using the stage after the dance club had finished.

Yumi smiled drolly as she thought this.

She had no reason to memorize the time schedule, but it was firmly embedded in her brain. Perhaps you'd call it an occupational hazard. She was a total Yamayurikai addict.

Yumi turned the corner, listening to the sound of bouncing balls. As she had expected, Sachiko-sama was waiting on the opposite side of the gymnasium to the path she had just been walking along.

Since Sachiko-sama had told Yumi to 'wait' in her letter, she probably expected Yumi to arrive first. While it was inexcusable to make her onee-sama wait, the second-years still had classes, homeroom and cleaning as usual, whereas the third-years were largely exempt from these. While Yumi came straight after completing these, she still arrived second. Sachiko-sama was forced to wait, even though she had already packed up, ready to go home.

"I suppose you'd call this the side of the gymnasium, rather than the back of the gymnasium."

Lured in by Sachiko-sama's smile when she raised her head from the book she had been reading, Yumi smiled too.

"But this feels more like the back of the gymnasium."

An athletics storehouse was built a few metres from the outer wall of the gymnasium. Sandwiched between the two buildings was a kind of passageway. Students would use this when fetching things like hurdles, or high-jump bars, or those things you use to draw the white lines on the field, but it wasn't the kind of place you'd recommend for a nice stroll. However, if you were looking for somewhere out of the public eye, a true 'back of the gymnasium,' then it couldn't be beaten.

Sachiko-sama closed her book and put it back in her bag, which was leaning against the gymnasium wall. There was no way to tell what book was inside the cover that Yumi had presented to Sachiko-sama.

"What's the matter? Calling me out here with this letter that reads like a challenge?"

Yumi held up the letter from yesterday.

"Challenge?"

Sachiko-sama looked confused as she took the paper.

"It says, 'wait behind the gymnasium.'"

"Ahh, that."

Sachiko-sama giggled, as though remembering.

"I originally intended to write, 'Wait behind the gymnasium for me, please.'"<ref>In the original, the letter has 待つ (with a large つ), which is abrupt and could be read as confrontational. What Sachiko says she intended to write was 待っています (with a small つ), which is polite.</ref>

So, then, why didn't the letter she was holding have that written on it?

If Sachiko-sama had written 'wait for me, please,' then that would have been normal. Up until now, that was the sort of letter that Yumi had received. 'Please come to the women-only New Year's party I'm hosting,' or 'Come to the library with me, please.' Therefore, if Sachiko-sama had written, 'After school tomorrow, wait behind the gymnasium for me, please,' then the 'behind the gymnasium' part may have seemed a bit strange, but it wouldn't have been a cause for any concern.

"I accidentally added the full-stop after 'gymnasium.' It would have looked odd if I wrote, 'Wait behind the gymnasium. For me, please,' right? So I stopped after gymnasium."<ref>As above, the original has Sachiko explaining that she accidentally wrote a large つ and that 待つています would look odd.</ref>

Sachiko-sama then explained that she wrote the letter using a ballpoint pen, so couldn't erase it. Nothing to get alarmed about.

"When everyone else saw the contents of the letter there was a bit of confusion – they said it read like a challenge."

It was a slight exaggeration, but Sachiko-sama handed back the letter, asking, "And you?"

"I didn't think it was a challenge, but I thought there might have been some hidden meaning."

"And did you unravel that hidden meaning?"

"Unfortunately, no."

Yumi didn't mention anything about heating the paper, but the eagle-eyed Sachiko-sama must have seen how a corner of the report paper was now a light brown color, for she laughed and said, "You really are quite funny." It seems like she took it for a joke, for Sachiko-sama was laughing quite hard, as though she had just heard a comedian's punchline.

After laughing for a while, Sachiko-sama seemed quite pleased when she said:

"I'm glad that I was able to see you today. It feels like this is the first time I've laughed or relaxed in quite a while."

So did that mean that for the last few days Sachiko-sama had been under constant tension and unable to smile?

"I'm in the Rose Mansion after school most days."

So come and visit any time you want to see my face and relax, was the unspoken invitation. Even though Sachiko-sama had retired, there was no rule prohibiting her from visiting. And having her onee-sama by her side didn't mean that Yumi was dependent upon her. Basically, there were some things she had to figure out for herself.

However. Sachiko-sama's response left Yumi dumbfounded.

"But if I went to the Rose Mansion, it wouldn't just be the two of us, right?"

"Ehh!?"

At Yumi's over-reaction:

"It's a joke."

Defusing the situation effortlessly.

"Huh?"

"Your eyes are spinning."

Was she being teased about her funny reaction? Just as Yumi started to think so, Sachiko-sama continued:

"But it's true that I wanted to have a nice, long look at your face. I remembered this place when I was searching for somewhere that would be quiet, without people coming and going. Originally I was thinking of a rooftop, but they would probably be locked after school."

"They wouldn't be locked, but they're all taken by clubs and other groups preparing for the third-years' send off."

"Ahh, that's right."

Sachiko-sama clapped her hands together, apparently having forgotten about that. Whether it was because she was no longer involved in Yamayurikai work, or because she was caught up in her much-discussed cramming for exams, it seemed as though Sachiko-sama's school rumor sensing apparatus had recently been switched off.

At any rate, since she had been called out here, Yumi figured that something was probably going on. She put herself on guard, in case Sachiko-sama was about to deliver her final requests.

But Sachiko-sama was true to her word, and watched Yumi closely. Without saying anything. As though there was nothing she wanted to say.

It felt as though the words that Sachiko-sama had in her heart were directed towards herself. As though by looking at Yumi, she was looking into a mirror and seeing her reflection. For something she needed to validate. Or something to firm her resolve.

"Onee-sama, did something happen?"

Yumi asked.

"Does it look like it did?"

"Yes."

"I can't keep anything hidden from you."

Sachiko-sama sighed through her smile. Her facial expression seemed to indicate that she was happy, rather than disappointed, to have her thoughts read.

"Has something changed at home?"

"No."

"Then is it something about you?"

"It may well be. But for now, it's a secret."

Naturally, the first thing that came to mind was the rumor that Sachiko-sama was cramming for an exam, but there was no way that Yumi could ask about it now that Sachiko-sama had forestalled this by saying it was a secret. Yoshino-san would probably be angry, asking what she was thinking, but Yumi decided that if her onee-sama didn't want to talk about it just yet then there was no need to force the matter.

"You said 'for now,' so is this something that you'll eventually be able to tell me about?"

"That's right. Eventually."

Sachiko-sama was saying that she didn't know when that would be. It could be tomorrow, or it could be a year from now.

"Well, that's okay then."

Trusting that her onee-sama would eventually tell her about this, Yumi was prepared to wait.

"Yumi."

Suddenly, Sachiko-sama stretched out her arm and pushed against Yumi's shoulder.

"Ahh!"

It was a surprise attack. Naturally, Yumi wobbled and lost her balance. She moved her right foot back to try and support her weight, but it got tangled up with her left foot leaving her in an increasingly precarious position. Yumi grasped for something to cling to, but couldn't reach the storeroom's wall. Just as Yumi thought she was about to fall, the hand that had caused this whole mess appeared in front of her eyes and she desperately clung to it with both hands.

"What on earth were you thinking, onee-sama?"

Yumi protested, having regained her balance. She had no memory of ever being treated this shabbily before.

"I'm sorry. It was a mistake."

"A mistake!?"

That was no excuse for pushing someone, for (an attempt at) making them fall over.

"You looked so solid, Yumi, that I thought you wouldn't move even if I gave you a little push. And thinking that, my hand reached out."

"Solid?"

It had been a while since Yumi had been on the bathroom scales so she wasn't quite of herself, but perhaps she had visibly gained weight. As Yumi was thinking these absurd thoughts, Sachiko-sama made a gesture as though she was pondering something, then looked upwards, drew in a large lungful of air and, finally, gave a small nod.

"Are you free the Sunday after next?"

"Huh?"

Their previous conversation had been forcibly terminated. After all, she was someone well accustomed to selfishly doing things on her own timetable. That was just a part of Ogasawara Sachiko.

"The week after next?"

It would be Sunday in three days' time, so the Sunday after next was –

"The day after the third-years' send-off."

Said Sachiko-sama.

"Yeah.... I suppose."

Yumi agreed, tentatively. With no idea whatsoever where this conversation was leading. She put herself on alert, fearful that the next poor response might earn her a kick.

"Well then, why don't we go to the amusement park?"

"Huh!?"

Sachiko-sama was a box of surprises today.

"To make some memories?"

"Make some memories?"

Sachiko-sama's stern eyes said that this was not something as lighthearted as that.

"This is revenge."

"…"

When they went to the amusement park in autumn, Sachiko-sama began to feel unwell midway through and had to retire. While she had sworn that she would have her revenge, Yumi hadn't been under the impression that this was something that would happen while she was still a high school student.

"I shall accompany you."

No matter where she was asked to go. Yumi would do her best to ensure that her onee-sama, who hated to lose, triumphed over the amusement park.

"Thank-you. But I won't ride on the roller coaster."

"Oh? What about your revenge?"

"The roller coaster was always excluded, right from the start."

It didn't look like she was going to back down on that, no matter what.

Sachiko-sama picked up her bag, ready to leave.

"Are you going home?"

"Yes. There's a tutor coming to my house today."

Standing beside Sachiko-sama as she checked her watch and calculated her estimated arrival time, Yumi was intrigued by her use of the word 'tutor.'

Sachiko-sama had supposedly stopped all her extra-curricular lessons when she was a first-year. Yumi had never heard her mention a tutor since becoming her petit soeur. This seemed to reinforce the rumor that was circulating about Sachiko-sama cramming for an exam.

"I thought I'd just see your face and then return home. But I ended up telling you about the amusement park."

As they were walking alongside the gymnasium, Sachiko-sama asked, "Why do you think I did that?" Inside the gymnasium, it looked like the basketball club were practicing their free throws.

Yumi couldn't find an answer as she followed Sachiko-sama until they stopped at the fork in the path. Yumi would continue along the path as it went past the library and towards the school buildings, while Sachiko-sama would turn here, following the path lined with ginkgo trees to the main gate.

Sachiko-sama turned only her head towards Yumi, and spoke.

"'Burn one's bridges.'"<ref>In the Japanese original, this is said in English. Hence Yumi's confusion.</ref>

"Huh?"

Since she quoted it from memory, it was probably an aphorism or a proverb. However, it held little meaning to Yumi, since this was her first time hearing it.

"Right now, I'm burning my bridges."

Leaving Yumi with these words, Sachiko-sama turned the corner.

<span style="font-size: 300%; border: "><center>* * *</center></span>

When she got home, Yumi looked it up in her English-Japanese dictionary.

– Burning one's bridges behind them.

Basically, it meant to commit yourself to a course of action which you couldn't turn back from.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter3 6

2011-07-12T15:29:33Z

Nochgo: /* Not Here. Part 6. */

===<noinclude>Not Here. </noinclude>Part 6.===

"Geeze, where have you been?"

When Yumi opened the 'biscuit-door' on the second floor of the Rose Mansion, Yoshino-san was waiting there, looking intimidating.

"What do you mean? I went to see the manga club."

Hadn't she told them about that during lunch? Yumi waved the recently retrieved questionnaire form in the air. There was no need to tell Yoshino-san and the others about her run-in with Tsukasa-san, as that didn't relate to them directly. Touko was there, just like Tsukasa-san had said, but Yumi didn't plan to tell her about their conversation either.

Yumi handed the completed questionnaire form to Yoshino-san and was walking over to the drawer to return the blank paper she had taken at lunch when she heard a frosty voice calling from behind.

"You were late, so she went home."

"Who did?"

Looking around, all the usual members were present. Shimako-san, Yoshino-san, Noriko-chan and Touko. It was Touko who spoke next.

"Rosa Chinensis, onee-sama."

"What?!"

"She waited for about ten minutes, but then she left."

Noriko-chan said, as she cleaned one one of the tea cups. It was probably the one that Yumi's onee-sama had sipped tea from as she waited for Yumi to return.

"How long ago was this?"

"About fifteen minutes ago. She said she couldn't stay too long because she had something to do at home."

Shimako-san said, her eyebrows lowered in commiseration.

"...She's gone home then."

"How unlucky is that," Yumi thought. It was only at times like these, when her onee-sama came all the way to the Rose Mansion just to see her, that she wasn't there.

"I wonder what she's going to do at home. Study?"

Yoshino-san asked, folding her arms.

"Who knows. You didn't ask her?"

"You said you were going to ask her, Yumi-san, so we all refrained from asking even though we wanted to."

That's true.

"Sorry. I haven't asked her yet."

"Ehhhh."

Yoshino-san's overreaction made it seem as though the sky was falling.

"That's why I said 'sorry.'"

Yoshino-san expressed her disbelief at Yumi's actions, so Yumi pacified her before turning to Shimako-san, who looked capable of holding a sensible conversation, and asked:

"Did she say why she came here?"

"She didn't give a specific reason. Perhaps she just wanted to see your face, Yumi-san?"

"Like she gets unsettled if she doesn't see your face at least once a day, that kind of thing?"

Yoshino-san teased from the sidelines. Yumi would have been overjoyed if that theory was true, but it probably wasn't.

"We saw each other today, but just for a moment. We walked past each other in the hallway."

"So why didn't you ask her about the rumor then?"

Yoshino-san seemed annoyed at the delay, niggling away at her.

"Because we were moving between classes. All of our classmates were around, and I didn't want to ask her about it in front of everyone."

"Ah, back then, huh."

Yoshino-san was in the same class and it didn't take her long to visualize the circumstances, so she let the matter drop.

Seeing that Yoshino-san had fallen silent, the usually quiet Shimako-san spoke.

"Touko-chan, do you have that – "

"Yes."

Touko held out something towards Yumi, as a way of informing her what 'that' was.

"What's this?"

"It's a letter from Rosa Chinensis. I've been looking after it for you."

A folded, white piece of paper was being held out to her. It looked like report paper, or similar, and was folded four times. The origami-esque manner in which it was folded gave it a completely different visual impression to the folded notes that were passed around during class.

Sachiko-sama had probably written it here, just before leaving, when Yumi hadn't returned.

"Sachiko-sama left that behind?"

So Yoshino-san hadn't known. Despite looking so self-important when she chided Yumi for her tardiness, it seemed as though Yoshino-san hadn't actually been there when Sachiko-sama came to visit either.

"What could I do? I had to go to a kendo club meeting."

"I'm not criticizing you."

"You didn't have to. Your expression said it all, Yumi-san."

Good point. No matter how dignified or well-spoken Yumi tried to be, that fact still remained. She had a face that reflected whatever she was thinking, with stunning clarity.

(Oh brother.)

Yumi took the letter from Touko and opened it immediately. Yoshino-san came over to have a look, but Yumi decided that she would read it by herself first since she didn't know what the contents of the letter would be.

Rudely turning her back on everyone, Yumi let her gaze fall on the words written there. Then.

"What's this?"

She said, without thinking. Drawn in by Yumi's voice, her friends gathered around and read the contents of the letter. They too were at a loss for words.

There were a mere three lines, written in that familiar handwriting.

Yumi,
Tomorrow after school, wait behind the gymnasium.
Sachiko.

– Was her onee-sama challenging her to a fight?