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Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume1 Chapter2 1

2013-10-28T07:27:49Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>Tuesday of Storms. </noinclude>Part 1.===

Rumours circulate quickly.

By noon the next day, every high school student had learnt of the fact that Yumi had rejected Sachiko-sama.

"Tsutako-san, did you tell?"

"Of course not. These things are far more amusing watching than participating."
In that case, the Roses probably proactively spread the rumor, fueling the fire with their peculiar sense of humor. Of course, there was the possibility that Sachiko-sama was the originating source, too.

It wasn't that I wanted to track down who spread the rumor so I could complain, especially because we had made no mention of the topic being secret, but since this was an obstacle for my desire for a peaceful life, I think I at least had reason to complain.

First came the stares of classmates, who, upon meeting eyes with Yumi, must have thought, "as if," and then looked away. No one spoke directly to her.

"'There's a weird rumor circulating about you, but you shouldn't pay it any heed.'"

Katsura-san concluded during class.

The students in the same class already knew how Yumi looked, but because they didn't know the gap between truth and fiction, they settled into a pattern of being confused, and then gradually accepting that it was probably a baseless rumor.

However the reverberation among the students who didn't know Yumi (and granted, those people were far more common) was great.

A person of such magnificent traits that Sachiko-sama would shift gears after being rejected by Toudou Shimako-. The rumor took on a life of its own, and many people gathered in front of the first-year peach-class room during recesses.

"That they need someone to tell them who's the subject of the rumor is fortunate, but painful."

Tsutako-san mumbled as they put away their textbooks after the fourth-period class.

"Indeed. I feel conflicted."

Yumi laughed drily. As Tsutako-san said, Yumi was the perfect image of ordinary, so people who had come to see someone that stood out like Shimako-san had to be pointed in the right direction.

Her classmates, however, were being thoughtful, and so they constantly guarded her with "Yumi-san is not here right now." Because of this, she was able to walk out through everyone and even go to wash her hands.

"Alright, then I have some advice too. Don't be in the classroom during lunch."

Tsutako-san spoke quickly, while smiling peacefully and acting like she was simply having a normal conversation.

"Why?"

"I caught news that the newspaper club was intending to interview Yumi-san. The newspaper club is persistent. They have a lot of sensationalist, paparazzi drama-lovers."

"Fueh…"

She turned pale. Paparazzi would be like, those people that ask, "Did you really marry?" or "Did you really divorce?" or something out of the blue, right? Sachiko-sama is powerful in her own right, but the newspaper club seemed like something she preferred to be away from entirely.

"Understand? Okay, then, pick up your lunch."

Tsutako-san pulled out Yumi's boxed lunch from her bag, hanging from the side of her desk, and, forcing Yumi to grab ahold of it, began pushing her.

"Oh? Yumi-san where are you going?"

Katsura-san asked curiously, as they usually always ate together.

"I'm borrowing Yumi-san for a second."

Tsutako-san answered in Yumi's stead. Then, she swiped her own lunch and urgently whispered, "Hurry hurry." As if she were saying, "Hurry or the newspaper club'll arrive."

"Woah."

Just as they walked out in the hallway, three students whose appearances screamed "newspaper club!" were standing in wait.

"… Too late."

Tsutako-san's regretful voice only reached Yumi's ear.

Camera, tape recorder, memobook… Of course, despite calling them "paparazzi" earlier, they did not have a hand microphone or one of those shoulder cameras.

"Oh, gokigenyou, you were part of this class, too?"

The one in the lead noticed Tsutako-san and began speaking. Newspaper club and photography club, as expected, they'd had previous relationships.

"Gokigenyou, and what matter brings the newspaper club here today?"

Even though she knew everything, Tsutako-san smiled, feigning ignorance.

"We came to interview Fukuzawa Yumi-san. Delightful timing, would you mind calling her here?"

"Umm. Yumi-san, Yumi-san… is."

Acting senile, Tsutako-san looked back into the classroom without giving Yumi even a single glance. Her eyes scanned the peach-class room, beyond the door from whence they had come.

The classroom was in the midst of getting ready for lunch. Some clumped their desks together and laid down table-cloths, some distributed milk and bread and other such ordered food, students from other classes joined in... all in all, it was chaotic.

"Ah, I think she might be Yumi-san, over there?"

Tsutako-san acted like she was adjusting her glasses and pointed to the furthest reaches of the class.

"I'll go call her, wait one second."

Just as Yumi was wondering what Tsutako-san intended to do, she took a step into the class, then stopped, abruptly, and turned around, as if remembering something.

"Natsume-san, you were in a hurry, correct? There is no need for me to keep you waiting, go on ahead."

"Huh? … Ah, yes."

As Tsutako-san had deliberately looked into Yumi's eyes and winked, she assumed that meant her.

"Then I will go on ahead."

Yumi gave Tsutako-san and the newspaper club members a quick bow and left the scene. As she walked down the hallway, she thought of Natsume Souseki -> Fukuzawa Yukichi -> Fukuzawa Yumi, and clasped her hands in realization. The connecting point was the figures on printed money.

Even so, she wondered what Tsutako-san was going to do. Because it was her, she might be able to weasel out by claiming, "I got the wrong person," but despite claiming things were more interesting as an observer than a participant, she was pretty caring.

As Tsutako-san was gone, she wondered where to go. As she walked down the stairs in such thought, a voice called out.

"Yumi-san. Over here."

When she looked down the handrail, she noticed a white hand beckoning. When she leaned out to look, Shimako-san's face popped out.

"Let's eat lunch together."

Yumi rhythmically skipped down the stairs, relieved to see that angelic face.

Shimako-san led Yumi to her personal seat.

"Do you eat here every day?"

Here was behind the auditorium. One cherry blossom tree stood among the gingko in an obscure place. There, the two opened their lunches and sat.

"Only seasonal. When the weather is nice during the spring and autumn."

"The summer?"

"This cherry blossom tree, it gathers a lot of caterpillars, and I am not too fond of that. But the gingko falls soon after, and that I do eagerly wait."

Shimako-san wistfully stared up at the gingko trees while plucking taro out of her varnished, square lunch box. It was slightly off balance from how she looked like a Western-style doll. The talking about gingko, the tasteful lunch box, oh and, incidentally, the boiled potato balls, too.

"… You are a bit odd, Shimako-san."

"Am I? But as long as they do not get squished, gingko do not smell too awful. And that is why the gingko pathway is a sight of misery."

"Shimako-san, does that mean you happen to take home uncrushed gingko nuts?"

"Precisely."

Shimako-san laughed happily, fufufu.

"Why do you like gingko?"

"Yumi-san, do you hate them?"

With the question turned, she thought. Hmm, she had no idea people actually ate them.

Until today, she thought it was like the shiso leaves for sashimi platters, or like the decoration placed on savory egg custard.

"I love things like gingko and lily and soya beans. My parents always say it is unlike a normal teenaged girl, but I think taste preference is affected by your environment, don't you? Because I was raised by them, I like bitter tastes, most likely."

When I asked, I learnt that Shimako-san's house is almost purely Japanese-style architecture, with no Western-style rooms. Image-wise, though, I would have guessed a great, chalk-white mansion complete with a grand piano. Also, a lunch of club sandwiches or fried chicken seemed to suit her looks better.

"Not what I look like?"

Shimako-san asked, staring intently at Yumi's face.

"Mm, a bit, but it's unexpectedly interesting anyways."

Told so honestly, Shimako-san giggled and responded, "Yumi-san, too."

"I am honestly glad we were able to become acquaintances."

The two of them looked at the sky.

The clouds slowly flowed across the clear sky.

Sky-blue and the white of clouds, and below that, the sun's rays shone through the yellow gingko trees, casting a golden sparkle upon the ground. If I were a painter, I would have been able to paint that scene into a giant canvas. Or if I were a poet, into a poem, or a song, if I were a musician, saving that scene for eternity.

"Shimako-san, why did you reject Sachiko-sama?"

When she spontaneously asked, Shimako-san responded, "Should I not return that question to you?"

"That's right, we both did the same thing."

Even so, it wasn't as though their affinity got closer. She felt that Shimako-san and her approach to Sachiko-sama was completely different.

"In my case."

Shimako-san looked up at an oblique angle, still in thought.

"I am not a fit for Sachiko-sama. Conversely, Sachiko-sama is not a fit for me, either."

"In what way?"

"I like Sachiko-sama, but we look for different things in our partners. Subsequently, what we can offer one another differs."

"… That sounds too complicated for me."

"Sachiko-sama said the same thing. She understood what I meant to say, but that it was too vague. Even I would have to admit that it is simply a vague feeling that I have."

What you can offer the companion and what you seek from a companion. Because it is a one-on-one relationship, it makes sense that a concurrence of that would be of the utmost importance, but-.

"If Shimako-san was no good, wouldn't that mean there is no one who could fit with Sachiko-sama?"

"I do not know. Of course, because such a person is so hard to find, she probably is still left with no petite sœur. But Rosa Chinensis and Sachiko-sama do face each other, as you saw. Compatibility is possible."

"I see…"

Then perhaps that would mean Shimako-san complemented Rosa Gigantea well, thought Yumi. After all, rather than two-timing, it was a decision borne out of taking a careful look at herself and her opponents.

"Well, shall we return?"

Shimako-san stood up. Fifth period would start in five minutes.

"The newspaper club also has class, so it should be safe."

As a consequence of the conversation earlier, Yumi took care not to step on gingko nuts.

She had never paid the ground much attention, but upon closer inspection, the fallen gingko nuts looked like ripe plums.

"In the case of Sachiko-sama, I think her shock was far greater when you rejected her than when I did."

"Why?"

"I believe she felt it coming, in my case. We acted as temporary sisters, so I am sure she had come to notice that we would not be perfect fits."

But in the case of Yumi, she had supreme confidence.

"But she didn't seem to have been that shocked?"

"She is a contrarian who absolutely despises losing. So when she is truly vexed, she refuses to show it."

The two of them lined up and walked up the empty stairs. They overtook the meticulous old teachers whom were entering their classrooms with a greeting, and the chime rang. They had arrived in front of the classroom with a minute to spare.

The newspaper club as well as other students had, as Shimako-san expected, already cleared out of the hallways.

Shimako-san spoke as she opened the rear door.

"Yumi-san and Sachiko-sama may be compatible fits."

Yumi mumbled, "What are you saying," as she stepped in and looked at the backs of the students who had arrived earlier.

How could Yumi be a fit and Shimako-san, who could even describe Sachiko-sama as a contrarian and sore-loser, not?

Sheesh, Shimako-san is definitely an odd-ball.

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Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume8 Chapter5 3

2013-10-10T16:59:46Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>Farewell Address and Formal Reply. </noinclude>Part 3===

The beginning was boring, but the ending was wonderfully amusing. – That was how Sei would remember the graduation ceremony.

At least nothing had happened to make her nod off. Her mouth wasn't dry either. So she obviously hadn't been drooling.

Sachiko's face, sloppy with tears, was worthy of her respect, and the way it let Rei enter the scene like an action hero from a children's TV show was also satisfactory. It would have been better if Youko smiled more, but if she let her emotions out who knows where it would have ended.

It was hard to make allowances for those sort of things. While the audience had been deeply moved by Sachiko, if Youko had then burst into tears it would have almost certainly been boring. Besides, Sei was never going to jump in and read the formal reply alongside a crying Youko. The same undoubtedly went for Eriko.

That didn't mean they were uncaring. Youko, Eriko, Sei. Unexpectedly, the three of them got along well together. When it came to dealing with other humans, everyone was different. Every group had its own way of getting along.

In Sei's case, a hands-off relationship seemed to work well. Shimako seemed to be the same way. Nothing more needed to be said about the failure of Sei's overly-close relationship with Shiori.

When both parties understood the unspoken rule of not delving too far into the other's territory, they were able to get along well together. With Youko, sometimes she'd enter in too far, and then they'd argue. But it was because she was always thinking of what was best for the other person, and they'd built their relationship with this understanding, so their friendship didn't collapse.

(When you find something precious, take a step back from yourself.)

The words that her onee-sama had spoken on this day one year ago came back to her. Sei looked up at the ceiling.

Back then, she'd been nervous about the year that lay ahead of her.

But the year had gone by in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, but still an incredibly fun time.

She could hear the intro to the traditional graduation song, "Aogeba Toutoshi."

Sei couldn't really identify with the lyrics.

Maybe some day, decades later, she'd be able to see the teachers' efforts as a "great struggle." But at this moment, she didn't see it as something she should be "deeply indebted" for.

(And all this "hold your head high, make your name, strive.")

Since the song had been written during the Meiji era, the lyrics were bound to contain some anachronisms. But wouldn't it be better if it just said to live a happy, healthy life, without all that career stuff? It was just begging to be mocked.

But this time was a little bit different. Because of Yumi-chan's extraordinary kindness, Sei decided to sing "swiftly" as "sweetly."

So she did, and, hmm, that was strange.

Even including the teachers she hadn't liked and the painful memories, the entire lot could all be bundled together and described as sweet.

Lots of things had happened, but in general, she had good memories.

As she thought this, she felt she could sing.

(Now is the time to say farewell with an eternally grateful heart.)

Even with those words of farewell on her lips, she wasn't overcome with emotion. Yesterday, she'd informed her classroom of her departure. She looked out through the windows of her classroom at the budding trees, and then through their branches to the sky.

If she could carve into her mind that she had been there, then that was enough for Sei.

There were no people she needed to inform about her departure.

She wouldn't say, "Farewell," to the people she held dear. If they felt the same way about her, then Sei thought that they would surely meet again one day, even without any specific plans.

After the final bars of "Aogeba Toutoshi" died down, the music teacher started playing the opening to the school song.

The very familiar Lillian's school song was more suited to a Sei-ntly place than a gymnasium.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume4 Chapter6 2

2013-10-08T09:24:52Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>The first of January. </noinclude>Part 2.===

I was up until one on New Year's Day, but I was still awakened at seven o'clock by my mother.

But, this was customary in the Fukuzawa household on New Year's Day, so I had to get up, rubbing my eyes.

Well no, actually, stumbling down while rubbing my eyes wasn't allowed. First I had to brush my teeth, wash my face, and of course I had to change out of my pajamas. When I finally finished dressing myself, we were to gather in the only Japanese-style room in the house.

After all, we have to prepare ourselves for the upcoming year on New Year's Day.

When we became middle-schoolers, the ban on watching Kouhaku Utagassen[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes#gantan] was lifted, so ever since then it became customary to exchange "Happy New Years!" greetings deep in the night. Even so, we still maintained our tradition of waking up in the morning and once again exchanging greetings before eating our ojuu. Then we received a sip of otoso, and opened our ojuu.

"Alright, I'll be taking mochi orders."

When everyone placed their chopsticks on the ojuu food, Yuuki stood up and began taking note of how much mochi everyone wanted. At the same time, father stood up and walked to the kitchen. In our household, it was customary that grilling mochi and boiling soba was done by the men, so mother and I didn't move. That said, it wasn't like we were supposed to happily eat while waiting. In the meantime, we'd prepare the ozouni for the mochi, and set up oshouyu and nori.

"But his unusual obstinacy is such a bother."

Whispered mother. Usually you could just toast mochi in a microwave, but mochi is better when it's grilled on an iron, my father said, and so we did it the old way. As a result, the one who washed the irons with carbonized mochi was his assistant. Poor Yuuki, he was destined to become the victim of father's obstinacy on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The living room had a television, like it was from a completely different era, and it showed things like the first sunrise of the year, a shouchikubai, or an announcer wearing a kimono. The morning newspaper that was placed in the sideboard after father had finished reading it was thicker than usual, being the New Year's edition. And from those small differences from the normal day, you could feel that New Year's Day was a relatively special occasion, I think.

And while we dug ourselves into the horigotatsu while eating mochi and osechi, and sipping tea, the New Year's Cards would be distributed. Usually the postman would be riding around in a bike at this time of day, but during New Year's, the job is instead taking by university part-time workers. So even if a stack of postcards were placed in the mailbox, sometimes you never heard them coming, and you'd only realize it later.

It was the job of children to retrieve the New Year's Cards. –Or rather, more like a hobby. It was like trying to get a magazine you were waiting eagerly for. It was a pain to write them, but receiving them was a joyful occasion. Who sent me a post card? I wanna see! And so Yuuki and I alternated peeking out of the house and checked the mailbox every ten minutes.

After a number of whiffs, I coincidentally opened the door and saw the onii-san placing the stacks in our mailbox. Well, I say onii-san, but he didn't look like he was that much older than me.

"Thank you for your troubles."

We greeted each other, and he handed me to postcards directly. There were two stacks. The part-time nii-san, before moving on to the next house, stopped by the mailbox a few steps down, and placed a stack into my father's office's mailbox. It was ten forty in the morning.

Me first, we probably looked like, as we scrambled into the house and began dividing the cards.

To father, to mother, to me, to Yuuki, and then to father's office, they were all mixed together. Oh, and a few that had been accidentally mixed in, that were supposed to be sent elsewhere. As a result, the postcards were split into six mountains, and piled up before each respective person.

"Yumi, read your cards later."

Yuuki cautioned, not stopping. But even so, when you saw the name of who wrote you the card, wasn't it normal to want to flip to the back?

"Father, father, Yuuki, me, father, mother, father, father."

When she resumed working, to catch up, this time she was warned, "Quiet."

"Think it in your head, it's distracting."

"Yuuki's like a mother-in-law."

"Anyone would complain like this if their son had a wife like Yumi."

Giving up, I started saying, "father, father, mother, Yuuki," in my head.

(Huh…?)

But when she split a card to Yuuki, she felt like the name on the card was familiar. And it stuck her mind because the card was to Yuuki. Yumi thought, most high-school cards were from classmates or club-mates, but it wasn't a name she'd heard from Yuuki's mouth-.

(Who was it?)

But she couldn't double-check, because Yuuki stacked more cards on top of it.

She could have asked Yuuki, can I see who that was? But it would have been wasted effort if she'd been wrong, so she forgot about it. There're plenty of people with similar names, after all. And if Yuuki asked her about a card sent to her, she wouldn't feel too comfortable, either. Privacy is important.

Of course, almost half of the cards sent to our household were to father. And if you counted the cards sent to his office, how many is he receiving? It was overwhelming. Because, if you're receiving cards, it also means you're sending around that many, too, right? Becoming an adult is dreadful. Even our mother, a housewife, received far more than we did.

Having finished splitting the cards, Yuuki and I took our shares, split up a bit, and sat down on the sofa. It wasn't like "whoever has more cards is more popular," but it did put a bit of pressure on the other person. Luckily, we were about the same, judging from the thickness of our stacks. I was happy that the number of cards I received went up along with my New Year's gift when I became a high-schooler. Even though I wasn't a part of any club.

Instead of reading them in order, I looked for one name.
Ogasawara Sachiko.

The person I love the most at school.

Silently apologizing to Yoshino-san and Tsutako-san, I skipped past their cards, and as I began to worry, "Maybe she didn't send me one?" I found it.

"B, brushwork…"

Would it be called India-ink painting? It was a relatively simple postcard, with a plum flower painted using faint hues, and on top of it, with black India ink, "Happy New Year's," and "Best regards for the year," and then the year, and then "New Year's Day." The little stamp pressed to the side was Sachiko-sama's "Sachiko," in a brilliant scarlet accent.

"How refined…"

When I remembered the card I'd sent out, my face felt like it was on fire. It was bad enough that I hurriedly wrote it because I'd forgotten about it until the second-semester closing ceremony, but the New Year's card that I'd begged father to let me print off of his computer was rather scrambled and noisy. I should have just used a template that came with the word processor software, but I ended up adding a bunch of things, and in retrospect that was a bad idea. The letters were extremely fancy, and I used way too many colors.

Your personality showed in your New Year's cards. I carved that into my brain.

The first phone call we received for the new year came when mother was hurrying me about my Yamanashi decision.

"It's from grandmother."

Wait right there, she scolded, before she picked up the receiver.

"Happy New Years. It's Fukuzawa."
Her voice was an octave high. Oh, mother, her voice was in New Year's mode, too.

"Ah, yes. No, not at all. Thank you for looking after her all the time. Has she been bothering you much?"

Wait right there, I'd been told, so I couldn't return to my room. Plus, I'd finally finished writing the thank you cards, and had stumbled down the stairs to go to the bathroom, so the air conditioner in my room was still on.

(I hope it's not a long phone call.)

I tried to reason out who the caller might be, by concentrating on the receiver. From the speech mannerism, I could tell it wasn't grandmother. And it was someone "looking after" someone other than mother.

"I see. Please guide her in the future, too. … Please wait a second. I'll switch to her."

Still holding onto the receiver, mother bowed toward the phone, pressed the hold button, and turned to me, "Yumi-chan."

"Me?"

She wouldn't say "please guide in the future" to a friend of mine. But I couldn't imagine my homeroom teacher calling-.

(C, could it be…)

"It's Rosa Gigantea."

"Eh?"

"Rosa Gigantea, right? Satou-san. My, the Roses are so polite have such a proper way of speaking."

"---"

I forgot to mention that mother was a graduate of Lillian Girls' academy. She was a regular student who never dealt with the Roses, but her admiration of the Yamayurikai staff was extraordinary. She would probably be shocked beyond belief if she were to see how the real Rosa Gigantea acted, so I didn't deny it, simply agreeing, "Yes, she's so wonderful."

"Hello, it's me."

"Ah, Yumi-chan? Did you hope for a moment it was Sachiko?"

"… No. Happy New Year's."

"Happy New Year! Kingashinnen![http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes#kingeashinnen] Bonne année! Boy, how joyous, how auspicious!"

"…"

Even in the new year, Rosa Gigantea's old-fashioned methods were still in good health.

"Did something happen?"

"I wanted to hear Yumi-chan's voice."

"Huh?"

"- Is a lie hohoho-"

"Did you call me to be the first to tease me?"

Rosa Gigantea might do it, seriously.

"Of course not. Getting right to the point, do you have any plans tomorrow and the day after?"

"What do you want?"

"I'm bored. Wanna go on a date?"

"Date?"

"Other people call it a hatsumoude[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes#hatsumoude]."

"I'll go!"

I immediately OK'd it. This invitation was my wish. A hatsumoude with the Yamayurikai members.

And maybe I'd be able to see Sachiko-sama in a kimono.

"So, will it be the second or the third?"

"Are you open on both? Because it's a one-night two-day lodging course?"

"Lodging?"

"- Though by lodging I mean at a friend's house, so it's free. But, it's a sleep-over, so make sure you have your parents permission."

"Friend's house?"

"It's a big house, but their family is out for the second and the third. So, we're going to barge in and help out with house-keeping, kind of. You know, if the young people are happily partying the night away, it'll ward robbers away."

"W, wait a second."

An unexpected development.

And it was far, far more enticing than staying at home or going to Yamanashi.

"Mother."

I turned to mother, who was listening not two meters away.

"Can I go to the Yamayurikai lodging?"

"Lodging, on New Year's?"

Mother looked dubious, at first, but I implored her enough that she finally reluctantly allowed me to go.

She'd allowed her son to go, so she probably felt guilty if she didn't let her daughter go, too. After all, our household is based on the fundamental of "boys and girls are equal."

Plus, Rosa Gigantea seemed like such a lady, that adults adore her. And so with a senpai like that, she doesn't have to worry as much about me. Of course, if she knew how Rosa Gigantea really is, maybe she would worry.

Finally, the kicker was that I was already hesitant on going to Yamanashi. She was probably worried about the prospect of leaving me at home alone anyways, on a level totally different from "boys and girls are equal." So me going to a friend's house put her at ease. Either way, I'm the kind of daughter that'd go anyways, even if they were to tell me, "Don't go," so I'm sure that just added to her worries.

"Rosa Gigantea, she's given me permission. I'll participate."

I jumped back on the receiver, panting.

"Roger. See you, then, we're meeting at M Station tomorrow at two. In front of the convenience store before the ticket gates, you know what I mean?"

"Roger-"

She quickly took a mental note.

"Give mother my blessings. I'll be taking care of her tomorrow, like that."

"Yes. Then, tomorrow."

After hanging up, I remembered I forgot to ask who else was coming. It seemed like I was definitely excited. I felt a bit inconsiderate, as she might have wanted me to call the other people and spread the word.

(I hope onee-sama's with us.)

Ahh, and as I thought such a thing, my heart really went into Happy New Year mode.

My brain was so filled with rapture that, even though Yuuki and I usually did rock-scissors-paper to see who put the thank you cards in the mailbox, this time I went ahead and did it on my own accord.

I felt bad for grandmother, but I thanked her for coming back from Narita.

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Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume11 Chapter5 1

2013-10-01T09:35:34Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>White Parasol. </noinclude>Part 1===

Even by June 20, Sachiko-sama still hadn't returned to school.

A whole week. In all her time as petit soeur, Yumi had never known Sachiko-sama to be absent from school for so long.

Yumi tried asking the third-year pine group's homeroom teacher about the reason for Sachiko-sama's absence, but for some reason she wouldn't answer. She did, however, reassure Yumi that Sachiko-sama wasn't ill.

At the very least, it looked like Sachiko-sama hadn't been cursed with a cold by the heavy rain on the day of Yumi's apparent rejection, or caught a fever after getting mad at her petit soeur for not listening to what she was saying.

But if it wasn't due to illness, then why on earth was Sachiko-sama absent?

One of the first words that came to mind when talking about school absences was truancy.

But Sachiko-sama wasn't that kind of person. She hated running away. If there was an obstacle placed in front of her, she was the type of person to attack it and move forwards.

"Just what's going on – "

Yumi mumbled, laying her cheek down against the table.

After school in the Rose Mansion.

Having just completed two trips up from the first floor, to bring the cardboard boxes full of documents from last year's school festival up, some minor aches remained throughout her body. At times like this, the lethargy made its way to her head, and Yumi ended up saying whatever she was thinking.

"Hey, Touko-chan."

Yumi grabbed the sleeve that was in front of her and tugged gently.

"…"

But the owner of the arm within the sleeve pretended to ignore her. If this were a comic, it felt like the word "patience" would be written behind her in bold lettering.

"Hmm."

But when that sort of thing happened, it was human nature to become even more stubborn. Even though she hadn't done anything yet, Yumi knew she had the attention of the girl beside her. And what would the younger student do, when the older student toyed with her a bit?

"Hey, hey."

"Ahh, so annoying. Won't you just leave me alone already?"

Her patience finally coming to an end, Touko-chan shook off Yumi's fingers that had been gripping her sleeve.

"I worked up my courage and tried ringing her house, but Sachiko-sama wasn't there – Touko-chan, you know something, right? Couldn't you just tell me?"

"Who knows?"

Her expression said she knew but wouldn't tell, as she pointedly arranged the documents in front of her.

After all that had been said, Touko-chan had decided to come to the Rose Mansion and help out at lunchtime and after school on days she didn't have club activities. She was a temperamental person, so there was some unevenness in her work, but overall she handled things easily enough and earned a passing grade as an assistant. So as long as she kept her complaints to a minimum, there wouldn't be anything to object to – although since she was there for a fixed-term and getting all the tea she could drink in lieu of pay, it would be inconsiderate to be anything other than grateful to her.

Although they were in the same room and sitting around the same table, Shimako-san and Noriko-chan didn't join in the conversation. They were watching Yumi and Touko-chan's back-and-forth out of the corner of their eyes, whispering to each other things like, "Yumi-san's like a clingy drunk today." … Even though she could hear them perfectly.

Thump.

Oh, Touko-chan. She shot up and rushed over to Rei-sama, who had just now entered the room.

"Rosa Foetida."

Finding no support from the White Roses, Touko-chan seemed to have changed her battle plan.

"Oh, what is it, what's the matter?"

"Please listen to me."

Batting her eyelids, she snuggled in against Rei-sama. It was most fortunate that Yoshino-san wasn't there. Fortunate for Rei-sama, that is.

"Rosa Foetida, is Yoshino-sama still at the martial arts hall?"

Noriko-chan asked, having risen from her chair. It was probably best to know before she started preparing the tea leaves and cups.

"Yeah, I think she'll be a little while yet. The faculty adviser and club president were both there today, so I left ahead of everyone. Oh, black tea? What to do, I was in the mood for some coffee today. Ah, it's alright Noriko-chan, I can make it myself."

"No, no, let me get it."

This sparked a discussion between Rei-sama and Noriko-chan about who should make the coffee, which devolved into, "I'll do it," "No me," until Touko-chan forced her way in, saying, "Listen to what Touko has to say."

"Sorry. What was it you wanted, Touko-chan?"

" … Please swap seats."

Since she'd had to wait, the tension had completely drained from Touko-chan, but she pulled herself together, focused her strength in her eyes and asked.

"Swap seats?"

"Sitting next to Yumi-sama is no good for Touko's mental health."

Hoho, although she seemed to listen cordially, Rei-sama rejected Touko-chan's plea surprisingly quickly.

"No can do."

"Why not?"

Touko-chan scowled. The feeling was one of, "How dare you not agree when I asked you so nicely."

But Rei-sama was accustomed to Yoshino-san, so she was completely unperturbed by this.

"The simple answer is that Touko-chan is an assistant that Yumi-chan brought along. I'm sorry, but we can't involve ourselves in that at all."

Rei-sama sought support and Shimako-san raised her head from her writing and nodded. Noriko-chan, who was making Rei-sama's coffee, shook her head, making an appeal to Touko-chan about something.

"Of course, we're grateful that you came to help out. But, how to put this … we shouldn't be moving things around too much while Sachiko's not here. Having said that, this was Yumi-chan's request, and we are short-handed, so you're here as Yumi-chan's exclusive assistant, and that's how it is. Sorry."

Right. Sorry, but that's how it is.

Because Touko-chan was someone that Yumi had scouted to help out. She didn't have to get agreement from everyone to bring an assistant. When Shimako-san first started coming to the Rose Mansion, nothing had been said to the then-Rosa Gigantea, Sei-sama.

Of course, if someone said that they were totally opposed it, then it would be discussed further. In this case, there was a one-month time limit, and neither of the Roses (discounting Sachiko-sama since she was absent) had offered a dissenting opinion.

"You're not … going to listen."

Touko-chan's face went bright red, like a boiled octopus, and she started slowly backing away.

"Don't worry, it's no big deal."

Yumi beckoned Touko-chan over, pulling back her chair, but Touko-chan didn't stop backing away.

Backing, backing.

"That's no good. For us."

Backing … Thump.

Touko-chan's back collided with the biscuit door.

That was the impetus. Like she'd been struck by something, Touko-chan did a quick about-face, opened the door and flew out.

"Touko-chan!"

Yumi wasn't sure what had rubbed Touko-chan the wrong way, but there had probably been something building up that she just couldn't stand any longer.

While Touko-chan possessed the signature ability to ascend or descend the stairs without making a sound, this time she proved that she could make quite a racket when agitated.

Now then, what to do about the current situation?

"Yumi-chan."

Rei-sama said softly.

"While you're at it, why don't you stop by the clubhouse, and pick up the manga club's schedule."

"Roger!"

Yumi cheerfully responded, then left the room.

Assuming that it was necessary for someone to chase after Touko-chan, Yumi had been thinking that she should probably be the one to do it.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume1 Chapter5 1

2013-09-30T21:47:47Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>The Hot Second Week. </noinclude>Part 1.===

It was the next Wednesday that Tsutako-san told Yumi that Sachiko-sama was strange.

"Strange…?"

"Well, maybe strange is a faulty expression. Not her usual self."

"They're both basically the same thing."

The school festival was only three days away, so most students were running around wild. Most classes were moved to the mornings this week, so that the afternoon would be freed for individual activities, such as club work, committees, and groups. The last spurt.

On the path to the different club houses, Yumi was told this.

"So, strange in what way?"

"She's like a fish-paste cake."

"Fish-paste cake?"

Tsutako-seemed to want to say that Sachiko-sama's attraction was as a proud and haughty princess, an al dente that still had a wick. Yet, right now, Sachiko-sama was simply a hollow fish-paste cake, without that tough wick. She stared off into space, sighed, and at the end of that-

"She even came to the photography club looking for me."

Tsutako-san bit into her handkerchief, frustrated, "That's not Sachiko-sama."

"Even if it involves her, she's more the type to call people to her."

"I don't think it's about type or suitability?"

Tsutako-san's aesthetic sense was peculiar. But anyways, that meant Sachiko-sama had gone to Tsutako-san's photography club house to settle something.

"And guess what she said? 'If you want to use the photo of Yumi and I for the school festival, you may go right on ahead.'!"

"Sachiko-sama…"

That, was definitely strange. The usual Sachiko-sama would not allow such a thing if the person desiring something did not bring the topic up in person. Even if she heard about it from other sources, if the person did not come directly, she was strict, in that she would utterly ignore it.

"Anyways, this is, happily, yours. Congratulations."

Tsutako-san lowered her shoulders and handed Yumi something.

"Ah, this."

It was the two-shot photo from last Monday, of Sachiko-sama fixing Yumi's scarf. Come to think of it, this was how it all started.

"She looks different now than she used to. I wonder what happened to Sachiko-sama."

Tsutako-san said, as she stepped over the newspaper sheets for a class that had spilled working on their sign board to the hallway. Yumi did not have such confidence in leaping over things, so she walked around everything.

Yumi felt she knew "what happened" to Sachiko-sama.

That Sachiko-sama had become fish-paste cake or a wick-less pasta was because she met Kashiwagi-san on Saturday.

"Also, Yumi-san. About the newspaper club, I heard."

"The newspaper club? That they stopped asking about an interview?"

"Yes. Apparently that was because of Sachiko-sama, too."

Because of Sachiko-sama, sounded ominous. It seemed certain that Sachiko-sama had pulled strings.

"Last week, Yumi-san was in dire straits, because you were being chased around, right? Maybe because she felt a bit responsible when she found out, Sachiko-sama spoke directly to the newspaper club captain. Because they're both second-years, it was probably easier for her to negotiate things."

"But I don't think they would pull back just because Sachiko-sama asked."

"Exactly. I heard Sachiko-sama took the interview in Yumi-san's stead. For the promise that they wouldn't chase Yumi-san around."

"Eh…!?"

She had no idea. That Sachiko-sama had unbeknownst to her, shielded her. Even though they met every day, she never noticed.

Tsutako-san said the newspaper club had become silent, because they had received the full story.

"Half of the article is already complete. Whether Sachiko-sama can make Yumi accept the rosary before the school festival, or not. And, whether she becomes Cinderella, or not. They're just waiting for the aftermath."

"You're knowledgeable."

"The newspaper club is in the neighboring room. When I'm developing photos by myself, I hear them talking, whether I want to or not."

"Whether you want to or not."

"Indeed, even if I don't."

When they finished descending the stairs and reached the first floor, they split left and right to head to their respective ways.

"Don't you, somehow, feel of an uneasiness looming?"

Tsutako-san spun around and asked.

"Uneasiness?"

"You know. You hear about it all the time. A strict person becomes nice all of a sudden, and then they vanish. When you suddenly receive something, it turns out it was as a memento. Or something."

"Oh come on, it's not an omen."

Yumi chuckled. The newspaper club had drawn back in the middle of last week. Sachiko-sama became strange on Saturday, so they were unrelated.

Plus.

Sachiko-sama would not run away. –Yumi believed her.

Sachiko-sama would never run away. Because, she promised.

On the second floor of the Rose Mansion, Sachiko-sama had drawn up a chair next to a window and was staring outside.

The cotton curtains were swaying, a telling tale of the visitations of the soft wind. Sachiko-sama's straight hair also swayed a bit around her ears.

Sachiko-sama didn't notice Yumi entering the room. She remained staring out, like an imprisoned princess.

"When did you come?"

Eventually, the princess noticed Yumi.

"About ten minutes ago."

"I see."

"Has no one else arrived?"

"They're probably busy with their class business, I think? How about Shimako?"

"… Environmental Care Committee."

"Ah."

Even the residents of the Rose Mansion did not spend their entire non-class lives devoted to the student council. They all took part in other clubs or committees, so when they were inquired upon, they would appear there.

"Sachiko-sama, are you in any clubs…?"

"No."

Her answer came back matter-of-factly. Since she was stuffed with obligatory lessons her entire life, it might have been a result of that. As a result, the two people with no class or club or committee activities milled about in the Rose Mansion.

Sachiko-sama quietly sighed out the window.

She was probably thinking of Kashiwagi-san. –She intuitively thought.

Such a gloomy sigh was not befitting of Sachiko-sama. Yumi gathered her wits and asked.

"Sachiko-sama."

"Eh?"

"What is the matter?"

"Matter…?"

Maybe she had been intending to be acting as usual. Sachiko-sama replied, her face expressing, "What is she talking about?"

"Umm, you seem to be distressing over something."

"If I were, would you save me?"

As she was asked with a straight face, Yumi timidly responded, "If it's within my power."

"Then, accept my rosary."

"Eh!?"

"You would help, if it were in your power, correct?"

Sachiko-sama stuck out her rosary, as if saying, "Here." Looking over it again, it was sparkling and beautiful. But, it came with heavy baggage, and she couldn't simply say, "okay," and accept it.

"If there is anything else-."

"This is all I request of Yumi."
Without any further ado, the rosary was stashed back into her pocket. She had simply tried saying it, it seemed.

"Do you dislike it that much?"

Her desire to have Yumi accept the rosary was not based on the pure intent of making Yumi her little sister, that much was certain. As long as she could seduce Yumi by the fixed date, Sachiko-sama could extricate herself from the Cinderella role.

"Of course."

She had not specified about Kashiwagi-san, but Sachiko-sama had understood the meaning behind the question and answered in kind.

"But you have practiced with him a number of times…"

"It is not a matter of getting used to it"

Sachiko-sama spoke, as if spitting venom.

But that was opening a whole new set of problems. After all, Rosa Gigantea's plan was to have Sachiko become used to men.

"I hoped, maybe it would be alright, if I met him. … But that was not the case."

Sachiko-sama sighed, again.

Yumi thought.

Was it not the case because Kashiwagi-san was a man. Or was it because it was Kashiwagi-san.

It seemed the same, at first, but she felt it made a difference.

Sachiko-sama seemed to feel that there was, in fact, a difference.

*****

Time passed, pressed onward by the sighs.

There were many things that needed to be done and still more than people wanted to do, so there was no choice but to flutter around wildly in the last three days. Even after receiving entire afternoons from the school, people were too greedy, so they were unable to use their time as wisely as possible.

Last spurt, Yumi memorized Cinderella's lines at home, rather than watch television. During recess, she practiced the dance steps with Shimako-san on the courtyard grass.

She didn't know herself why she worked this hard, but Yumi was the backup for the Cinderella part, so she felt obligated to do her best, for emergency's sake.

But what was that emergency? But because emergencies were extremely rare, she decided not to think about it.

And the day of the time limit crept ever closer.

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|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter4_3|Chapter 4 Part 3]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5_2|Part 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume1 Chapter2 2

2013-09-30T20:58:51Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>Tuesday of Storms. </noinclude>Part 2.===

Apparently Japan was around the only country that introduced a system such as "cleaning duty" to school. In the US and Europe, schools were thoroughly ingrained as "places in which to learn." -I forget the exact details, but I vaguely remember a foreign commentator mentioning that on television.

(Certainly.)

It was a strange feeling, in that she was polishing the school's floors, but her mother cleaned her bedroom. You could put it off as being linked to home economics class, but the cleaning process for a school and an ordinary home was too different.

Perhaps it was a matter of morals. Return things you borrowed in a clean fashion.

By the way, while Yumi was quite ordinary in that she was not particularly fond of cleaning, for some reason she disliked it much less while in the music room.

Possibly as a result of soundproofing, the floor was made of a packed, felt-like material, meaning there was no need for water mopping nor the weekly waxing. Because the walls were made of a special soundproof material, they only needed to be dusted once in a while, and as the chairs and tables were built-in, there was no need to move them around.

You simply needed to move around the special vacuum cleaner, rinse the top of desks, and clean the blackboard and the scaffold around the windows. The usual portraits of Mozart and Beethoven were left up to the supervisor for the room.

"Yumi-san. Shall we leave it at that?"

Said the classmate in the same cleaning group, as she shut a window.

"Yes…"

Normally, she scurried off immediately upon finishing cleaning duties. But today she felt like taking her time.

"Everyone may go on ahead, I'll take care of the cleaning diary."

If you were to step out of the school now, you would run into the end-of-school peak. She didn't mind crowded buses, but having become the center of rumors, she did not have the courage to jump out into the open on her own. But, she had no place else to go to spend time.

"Then we shall stay with you until it is completed. It would not be suitable to leave Yumi-san alone, after all."

The kind classmates offered to help.

"But you do have club activities, do you not? All I have left to do afterward is to go home, and I did hand over diary duty yesterday, so I'll take care of it today."

When Yumi insisted, the other three discussed among themselves, "Shall we leave then?" and then left the music room.

"Gokigenyou."

"See you tomorrow."

Tap tap, their footsteps faded into the distance at a rapid pace.

So as to not disturb the plaits in their skirts, so as to not toss their white sailor scarves into disarray. They were actually so busy that such standards had slipped their mind.

"Ahh. I'm so bored."

Having no attachment to a club or a committee left her quite lonely at this time of day.

The class' presentation was to be an exhibit about the "path of the Cross." They intended to reproduce 14 pictures from the proclamation of Christ's execution, to his walk to Golgotha hill, to when he was buried after crucifixion, and then place captions under each of those pictures. However, as honest Lillian students should, they had already completed most of their preparations over the summer. Maybe everyone had realized that they would become busy for their respective clubs as the school festival drew closer, thus preparing for the inevitability that they would not be able to extend much of a hand to their classroom exhibit.

"I wonder how much time I should take."

It would be bone-headed to take so much time that her departure coincided this time with the club-activity students.

"Oh, I should go hand in the diary."

However, she did not yet want to move. She could hear the excited sounds of students still moving to classrooms or club houses or the gymnasium beyond the half-opened door.

Yumi absent-mindedly opened the cover to the piano. There was nothing to be afraid of, even alone in the piano room.

-Maria-sama protects this school, after all.

Because of this, there were no horror stories of midnight pianos or Beethoven's eyes at Lillian.

Mi-.

With her right index finger, she pressed down the higher Mi key. Yes, she thought everything started from that sound. Yumi drew up a chair and properly faced the piano.

It had been quite some time since she had last touched a piano. She had attended piano school once a week for the six years of elementary school, but as it never managed to become a significant part of her, she quit as she entered middle school.

Mi-.

She played the same sound once more. This time, depending on her memory of sound, she tried to reproduce that song she heard half a year ago. If it were just her right index finger, she could somewhat reproduce the melody.

Fa-.

So-ReMi-.

This was Gounod's Ave Maria.

Half a year ago, Ogasawara Sachiko-sama, introduced as Rosa Chinensis en bouton, played this piece for the freshmen during the Yamayurikai-sponsored freshmen welcoming ceremony. That was the first time Yumi had encountered Sachiko-sama.

Having been played on an organ inside a sanctuary, the sound echoed deeply and stained a part of her soul. Sachiko-sama, who was playing the piece, looked almost like Ave Maria herself.

Even after the performance, Yumi was unable to take her eyes off of Sachiko-sama. Not just her lovely appearance, but the way she carried her each and every conduct with dignity, and with her upper-classman tone of voice, she was absolutely beautiful.

She wanted to become a person like Sachiko-sama.

She wanted to get even an inch closer to a person like Sachiko-sama.

When she thought so half a year ago, she did not imagine in her wildest dreams things would end up like this. No, not even yesterday, at this same time, had she even imagined this.

Her school life just changed drastically. –Just as she leaned into the piano with such thoughts, she saw something at the edge of her vision.

"☆×■◎※△――――!?"

Before she could even begin to recognize what had appeared, an indescribable and curious sound jumped out of Yumi's vocal chords.

That was because a human hand had reached out from behind her, toward the keyboard. There could be no helping her heart leaping out of her chest.

"What a sound you make, as I were attacking you."

She jumped, once again, when she looked up at the face of that hand.

"Anyone would shriek if someone came up silently from behind, Sachiko-sama."

On top of that, if that person were the person for whom the thoughts were about, it would be further surprising.

"I was being considerate, about not intruding on your piano performance."

Sachiko-sama pressed down on the Do key with her still-stretched left hand. It's the key you first learn to press with the thumb of your right hand when you begin learning.

"Play."

"Eh!?"

"Once more, play just as you did earlier."

"Ehh?"

When she tried to scramble off the seat, Sachiko-sama held her down by the shoulder with her open right hand.

"The rhythm is… one, two, three, four, two, two, three, four."

"Ah, umm…"

[[Image:MM_v01_03.jpg|thumb]]
Sachiko-sama notched the rhythm into Yumi's right shoulder as truthfully as a metronome, and signaled, "Start," on the third count.

When humans are told, "Start," they seem to have the trait to begin doing something. Yumi had begun playing out of momentum.

Then a second sound jumped in, intertwining itself with Yumi.

DoMiSoDoDoMiSoDo.

Sachiko-sama was playing the left hand's part. Plus, she was using the pedals, so the sound had an echo.

(It's a four-handed performance.)

Her own sound, combining with the other sound, returned to her ears in a pleasant fashion.

However, the fun feeling only lasted for a short while. Soon, she remembered that Sachiko-sama was near, and the excitement turned into fear.

The song was not designed for a four-handed performance, and because it was being played with Yumi's right hand and Sachiko-sama's left, it was a case of one person closing in on the other's personal space. Sachiko-sama's breasts kept brushing with Yumi's left arm, the glossy straight hair fell on Yumi's shoulder, and the pleasant fragrance began making Yumi feel like this was all commonplace.

Even so, the performance continued. Sachiko-sama probably would not stop for as long as Yumi's right hand could keep up the melody line.

On one hand she wanted this to last forever, but part of her also wanted this to end, immediately. Deep within Yumi, those two contradicting feelings fought.

Sachiko-sama's breathing softly swayed Yumi's hair. However, that breath was almost irritatingly calm. Unlike Yumi, Sachiko-sama was not one to be thrown in disarray from just this.

The beautiful harmony was broken.

Yumi purposefully went off-key.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't keep up with Sachiko-sama, after all."

Chuckling softly, she scrambled off the chair and turned away.

"Is that so? You were playing wonderfully."

Sachiko-sama shut the cover softly. The small clunking sound felt oddly loud in the room devoid of anyone but them.

She noticed Sachiko-sama was slowly walking toward her. The soft floor absorbed most of the sound from the indoor shoes. She thought, ah, no wonder she didn't notice Sachiko-sama entering earlier.

"Well, shall we get going?"

"Huh!?"

"What do you mean, huh. Just why did you think I came all this way?"

"Ah, why DID Sachiko-sama come here?"

"Of course, to pick you up."

Sachiko-sama raised an eyebrow, adopting an "isn't that obvious?" sort of tone.

Yumi was spared the need to ask where to, as Sachiko-sama began explaining.

"Alright? From now until the school festival, you will take part in performance recitals with everyone else. That is your obligation, after all."

Sachiko-sama's reasoning was thus.

There was a degree of impossibility to Sachiko-sama persuading Yumi within the small time frame given, before the school festival. In conclusion, in order to help make things fair, Yumi, who had no after-school obligations anyways, was to take part in Yamayurikai business.

"How unreasonable."

"What do you mean, unreasonable. The Roses were already quite aware of this. Also,"

Sachiko-sama placed her index finger on Yumi's jaw and looked into her eyes.

"Do think about it. You are the substitute for Cinderella. Of course you are expected to attend rehearsals."

"Substitute… But that's only if I accept the rosary-."

"Do you plan on missing rehearsals because you are confident you will not accept? If so, by that logic, I can miss out on rehearsals, too."

"But."

Sachiko-sama admonished Yumi with a faint, quiet voice.

"However, I will attend rehearsals. There are not too many things in the world where you can claim 'absolutely.' Plus, the bet with the onee-sama, aside, ignoring confidence and probability, there are only one or two results lying in the future. If the Cinderella role is down to either you or I, then I will practice. Even if it were to contradict how confident I feel, it is better than running the risk of being embarrassed during the actual performance."

Sachiko-sama chuckled, curling Yumi's straggling hair over her ear.

"Sachiko-sama…"

There was nothing she could say. Even if she were to refuse, raising hysteria, Sachiko-sama was certainly being reasonable. There was no doubt that, in her mind, right and wrong were organized neatly just like garbage and recycling.

Her heart constricted, have I disappointed her? It was the same feeling as the four-handed piano performance, a feeling totally different from the excitement or dread. Rather, it was a mysterious mental state, in that she felt that, left alone, she would have ended up in tears. Similar to the feeling of, as a child, having lost sight of her mother in the middle of a crowd.

Had Sachiko-sama not lifted her head that moment, Yumi probably would have latched onto Sachiko-sama and cried "I'm sorry."

"Of course."

Sachiko-sama blurted out, as if just thinking of something.

"You have your own way of thinking, so I will not coerce you. However, will you not at least come watch me practice?"

"… Yes."

"Then, take your bag."

Having been urged onward, Yumi took the bag she had left on a table, as well as the cleaning diary.

She wondered if she was allowing herself to be swept along into Sachiko-sama's pace in a nice way. However, as she tilted her head slightly, she admonished herself for such damning thoughts.

Despite her hysteric behavior yesterday, Sachiko-sama was supposed to be like Maria-sama: pure, right, and beautiful, like an artist's depiction of the perfect onee-sama. No, she had to remain like that in Yumi's thoughts.

"What is the matter? Yumi, come along."

Sachiko-sama called from the doorway.

"Ah, coming."

When she hurried over, Sachiko-sama informed her, "Be quiet," and fixed Yumi's tie.

It was the same as yesterday morning. For a moment, it synchronized with that moment in front of the Gingko trees.

"Ah."

Sachiko-sama blurted, stopped, and looked at Yumi.

"That photo. Was it taken yesterday morning?"

"Ehh?"

Unbelievably, Sachiko-sama had just remembered that scene.

"Could you not remember from the photo?"

"I could see it was myself, and that it was Yumi with me. But I could not remember when it happened. Because Takeshima Tsutako-san's photo had no date on it."

She thought, that's not the problem. There was no need to confirm once again that Yumi was too unmemorable.

"Then Yumi and I truly did just meet yesterday."

"Yes."

Yumi nodded as she shut the door to the music room. It had been mere hours before Sachiko-sama's sœur declaration. When they mentioned "warashibechouja," she had no retort.

"I feel so much better now that I remembered."

The two of them walked down the hallway together. She felt it was awkward to be walking together the same day the rumors spread like a wildfire, but Sachiko-sama seemed to give it no mind. Particularly as there was almost no one left in the corridor, Sachiko-sama probably would have disliked being shadowy about it.

"Sachiko-sama, do you fix underclassmen ties that frequently?"

In that case, Yumi felt there was no helping her forgetting Yumi. However, the answer Sachiko-sama imparted from her lips.

"Quite the opposite."

"Eh?"

"Seldom. … No, basically never. I wonder why I did such a thing."

As they walked down the stairs, Sachiko-sama wondered, truly fascinated. She had presumably kept thinking about it, as after descending one flight of stairs, she had an answer.

"I am not much of a morning person, so I am always in a daze in the mornings, so I might have subconsciously called out to you. That might explain why I could not recall the incident immediately."

"You do not seem the type to be weak to mornings."

"I am told that all the time. … But in reality, I have low blood pressure."

"Ah, low blood pressure."

It seemed like, more and more the character of Ogasawara Sachiko-sama became a mystery. Right next to her was definitely that person of adoration, but the image of her had changed quite a bit since three days ago.

Yet, normally, you were supposed to learn more and more about a person as time passed.

*****

When they stopped by the staff room to hand in the diary, Yamamura-sensei, who was in charge of Yumi's class, said, "Oh my."

"I thought there must have been a mistake, but what was that rumor true, after all?"

It seemed the story had spread to even the teachers.

"But, that is fascinating. I heard Ogasawara-san was rejected by Fukuzawa-san? But why are you two walking together? Or was it actually an OK?"

As expected of a former Lillian student. Her eyes twinkled and she asked with the curiosity of a young girl, shedding the 20-year differential in their ages.

"Umm, that's, that's-."

When Yumi became stuck, Sachiko-sama spoke out from her side.

"We apologize for making a fuss. I will leave what happened between us to your imagination."

She smiled, and then, "Well, excuse us." Sachiko-sama took Yumi's hand and walked away elegantly from the staff room.

Yamamura-sensei smiled bitterly, having had the opportunity to speak sealed.

"Sa, Sachiko-sama."

After they had walked a fair distance from the staff room did Sachiko-sama finally let go of Yumi's hand.

"There is no need to say more than what is necessary."

"But."

"The more you respond, the greater and wilder the rumors become. If you wish to explain, explain it at once, in great detail, to a large audience, rather than explaining little by little. When it is still a big fuss, be a willow in the wind."

But being able to silence people with just a smile like Sachiko-sama is impossible to replicate for a normal high school student. Sachiko-sama's reasoning was, well, quite reasonable, but difficult to put into practice.

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| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter2_1|Part 1]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter2_3|Part 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume1 Chapter5 4

2013-09-23T14:42:05Z

Roanstalker:

===<noinclude>The Hot Second Week. </noinclude>Part 4.===

Would it be a bit diagonally to the side of the auditorium, or would it be on the way to the secondary gymnasium. Regardless of how you would describe its location, an old greenhouse stood in an obscure place.

Because there was no gardening club at the moment, it was a mystery as to who tended to it, but someone was taking care of the plants inside. There was a separate, new greenhouse that was purchased two years ago for teaching purposes, so teachers took care of that one, and rarely popped in here. It was old and slightly broken down, so most students also didn't come here. However, it was not taken down, because there were some die-hard fans every year that took care of the greenhouse, and because there was no particular shortage of space, so there was no need to quickly tear down the greenhouse.

Sachiko-sama was in this greenhouse.

"Who is it?"

A voice asked, when she opened the door.

"It's Yumi."

"… Okay."

Yumi interpreted that answer as allowing her to come in, and so she stepped in.

It had been her first time taking a step in, and she marveled at how, despite being smaller than she expected, it was very tidy and packed. Even though it was a whole size smaller than a classroom, planters and pots were stacked on tables and shelves.

The western sun made the room very warm.

She avoided the hanging pots and walked down the path. A chunk of the floor here and there was cut out by squares, and from the ground there directly grew trees.

Sachiko-sama was sitting at the farthest ledge.

"Sorry for taking your spot."

Yumi moved the potted plant that was stationed next to Sachiko-sama and sat down. Sachiko-sama said nothing, and did not move to stop her, and instead, simply watched.

Perhaps Sachiko-sama came here often. Or maybe she had come here by chance. Either way, because every student was crowded around the school, a silent place like this was a precious commodity.

Now that hide-and-seek was over, now that she had found Sachiko-sama, Yumi did not know what to do next. Although she said Kashiwagi-san wouldn't cut it, she didn't think she could do anything, either.

Just being by Sachiko-sama's side. Just as she was wondering if that was enough.

"Stay."

Sachiko-sama mumbled.

"Stay here."

Then, a soft weight landed on Yumi's right shoulder. It took her a while to realize Sachiko-sama had laid her forehead on her shoulder and was crying.

At first, she thought Sachiko-sama was simply trembling. But eventually she began hiccoughing, and unable to restrain herself, Yumi embraced Sachiko-sama, who then grabbed Yumi and kept crying. Yumi stayed silently, simply patting Sachiko-sama's back like she would a baby. She didn't know why Sachiko-sama was crying, but she was sure crying was the most important thing for her to finish doing, right now.

Eventually Sachiko-sama's breathing calmed down, an indication that she had finished crying, but they remained grasping each other for the time being.

"Sachiko-sama."

"… mm."

"Please, give me your rosary."

After a period of silence, Sachiko-sama answered, "No."

"Why!"

Yumi let go and asked.

"No matter what. I've changed my mind."

Sachiko-sama's eyes were like that of a bunny, but she smiled. Perhaps crying had made her feel better, as she had returned to her usual, proud self.

"Even if he's my fiancée, it's one of those things our parents decided upon. Sheesh, what do they plan to do making our bloodline even more dense."

Sachiko-sama hopped off of the ledge and walked a short distance to the water supply. Then, she twisted the only knob and washed her face with both hands using the forcefully falling water.

"But, Sachiko-sama. You do like Kashiwagi-san, don't you?"

Then Sachiko-sama looked up. "A long time ago."

Instead of returning the handkerchief she used to dry her hands and head to her pocket, she stuck it on a comparatively clean window, then returned to sit next to Yumi.

"He… Suguru-san, is not a bad person. But he acts only for himself, but he doesn't seem to realize it. He can't understand how other people feel, nor does he bother to even think about it. That's why if he hurts someone, he doesn't understand why, and he doesn't even think about whether he was the cause. Every male in my family is like that."

Sachiko-sama muttered, the fact that they have no ill-will is the most bothersome part.

I see, there are no perfect people in the world, Yumi thought.

"So you began to dislike him after seeing his selfish personality?"

"Hmm. Not exactly, but something like that. He can only love men. Even so, he plans to marry me."

Sachiko-sama was an only child, so she would be used for arranged marriages, preferably to a man who could continue to manage the Ogasawara group. On that note, her cousin Kashiwagi-san seemed to be the perfect fit, so their parents agreed to the marriage.

"They're both public companies, though, so there was no need to forcibly pull someone from the Ogasawara group."

Apparently her grandfather was a stubborn, Meiji-born person obsessed with the welfare of his company. In that case, there was the option of simply adopting Kashiwagi-san and allowing him to inherit the company, but apparently he loved his only grand-daughter, and wished to have Sachiko-sama inherit everything.

"What do you think Suguru-san said, when he came to celebrate my high school entry? We're similar people, so our marriage will certainly succeed. That we should both live freely, without interfering with one another. When I asked, 'What do you mean?' he confessed, 'I hate to tell you this, but I can only love other men.' So he said I should fall in love with someone else, and have their child. He wanted to give everything to my child, as the future heir to the Ogasawara group. They would be related by blood anyways, so he would be able to love him like his own child. … What was he thinking? Making a mockery of people like that."

"A 16-year old high school student, to a girl one year younger."

"Too much cuteness results in a hundred times the hatred. Because of him, my hatred of men grew even stronger."

She tried to crack a joke, but it couldn't have been that simple.

Because Sachiko-sama truly did like Kashiwagi-san.

Before she could tell the person she liked, "I like you," they ended up becoming intended consorts. Even that was hard to digest, but then her hopes of a possible loving relationship was obliterated. –At the age of 15.

That would pervert your thoughts. Who cares about men!

"Then, why don't you have the engagement cancelled?"

"We avoided each other for a year and a half, so there was no chance to bring it up. But it was a good opportunity, so when I brought it up, he got angry."

"In front of Maria-sama!"

It all came together.

"Right."

Everything else was as she knew.

Kashiwagi-san was misunderstood to be molesting, Sachiko-sama announced that they were engaged, Kashiwagi-san went too far and got hit, Sachiko-sama fled after hitting, and Yumi chased her here.

"He doesn't know I used to like him. So he went too far."

"Too far?"

Because Rosa Gigantea seemed to have realized he was a homosexual, he tried to destroy any suspicion. Kashiwagi-san probably thought Sachiko-sama would help him by accepting a kiss. But, that calculation was wrong. He underestimated Sachiko-sama.

Sachiko-sama was right. There was no way she should be able to happily dance with such a partner. Yumi thought it was no surprise that Sachiko-sama would try to get out of dancing the entire time.

Thank you, for listening. –Saying that, Sachiko-sama jumped down from the ledge.

"Eh?"

"It was like a confession. It was hard because I couldn't tell anyone. But now I'm alright."

She said she felt so much better now.

"But, Sachiko-sama!"

But the situation was no different from before. Even home-drama-Yumi couldn't simply laugh off the matter like this.

But what could she do? What could she do to help Sachiko-sama?

"Please, give me your rosary."

Yumi asked once more. There was still time. If Sachiko-sama shook her head vertically, the Roses would accept it. It was still Saturday.

But Sachiko-sama smiled and shook her head.

"Yumi, you seem to want to switch into Cinderella for me because of what I'm going through. But I refuse. I want to do Cinderella, now."

Sachiko-sama leaned into Yumi's face and stroked her cheek.

"Right now, I just ran from him. The only way for me to make this up is to perform, tomorrow. If I can perform on the stage with him by my side, it would lay everything to rest. Let me fight. I don't want to run away anymore."

"Sachiko-sama…"

"So, shall we return?"

Yumi could not say anything more. She simply nodded, and jumped off the ledge.

Sachiko-sama neatly folded the handkerchief that was dried by the western sun, and put it back in her pocket. The tears and the moisture in the handkerchief flew off somewhere. They were certainly still in the greenhouse, but they could no longer be seen.

Along the way out, Sachiko-sama stopped in the middle of the pathway.

"Had you noticed? Over half of the plants in this greenhouse are roses."

"Eh, really?"

Because there were many that hadn't yet bloomed, she didn't notice. However, when she stopped to look, many of leaves were indeed of the rose family, and most of the flowers were roses. Roses bloomed even in the autumn.

"There are many types."

When she looked again, it was breath-taking.

From field roses, to vine roses, to even roses that looked like they came from horticultural brands. The shape and color of roses differed, too.

"This is Rosa Chinensis."

Sachiko-sama's index finger pointed at a tree right in front of them.

"This…?"

The tree itself was thin, but it was a strong tree that grew straight from the ground. Several crimson flowers to blooming, and a reinforcing army of blossoms were in wait.

"It blooms during every season."

Sachiko-sama said, proudly.

"Please remember about this flower."

They walked together through the darkening school. They walked behind the school facilities for a shortcut and returned to the Rose Mansion, where a bright light from the second floor awaited them.

A message was stuck on the door for them.

"The visitor has returned home. Make sure to clean the bottom of our indoor shoes well before entering. Bringing in the gingko smell is forbidden. →"

Under the arrow were two wet rags, wrung and hung over the side of a bucket. The two looked at each other, then carefully wiped away the gingko sap that had stuck to the bottoms of their shoes, and then entered.

For some reason, that whole cycle felt very warm.

I'm home, she wanted to say.

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| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5_3|Part 3]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter6_1|Chapter 6 Part 1]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Absolute Duo:Volume 1 Chapter 2

2013-09-13T09:36:44Z

Roanstalker:

==Chapter 2 『I am interested in you』==

===Part 1===

Kouryou Academy------

In the northern part of Tokya bay, a reclaimed land that can only be accessed by a hanging monorail exists.

Giant walls were covering its surrounding, and there was only one door entrance that corresponds with that size, and in the center of the site there is a giant clock tower soaring even from the outside of the school.

The inside of the school building and the unfamiliar school dormitory that looks from like it’s from Western Europe, it felt a little strange to call it a school. Naturally, the interior design was similar; it makes one think of the interior design of a western house, I and Tora were heading towards the classroom together but------

“Guh………!”

“What’s wrong?”

I leaked a small groan from the creak of my body; Tora did not let it hear pass him and looked towards me in doubt.

“I forced myself a little just now”

The cause was the skill he used on Imari.

That was original a skill that uses muscles but, since the middle build me recklessly used it, it has quite a burden in my body even though it was just one shot. On the opposite side of it holding absolute destructive power, if I shoot it twice then I won’t be able to move normally, it is a double-handed sword, and when I was explaining------

“I see. So that means you are a novice huh”

I’m astonished……..

“Don’t you have a kinder way to say it…………”

“None”

It was an immediate reply.

“Fuun. There is one question I want to ask regarding that technique. Why didn’t you use that once when you were training with me? …………Haa! Don’t tell me you were holding back when I was the opponent!?”

Tora pressed me with questions and I swung my head in panic

“Don’t simply misunderstand and shout. That was something I got to use just recently--------which means, it is something acquired after I couldn’t meet Tora anymore”

“………I see. It’s true you are not a stingy fool. ………….although you are an idiot”

Tora made a smile but, that last part was none of your business.

(Well, I’ll just agree for the time being………….)

“Forget about that, it’s been a long time, Tora. I didn’t think I would meet you in a place like this”

“Fuun, that’s my line”

The nature regarding <<Lucifull>>------the <<Adapt>> has a chance ratio of one over a thousand people, I heard that during the inspection before enrolling to the school.

That is why, I didn’t think I would meet him {{Furigana|Kouryou Academy|here}}.

However just like I thought in the auditorium, it is somewhat reassuring to know there is someone I know here.

“Tooru. Just now during the entrance examination---------“

“Oh, it looks like that’s the classroom”

We finished walking the long corridor, and reached the first year’s classroom.

“Oh, sorry. What were you trying to tell----“

“You over there?”

“Hn?”

When I was about to asked about what Tora said, this time I was interrupted by another person.

When I looked over, there was a beautiful straight long haired girl staring straight at me.

(This girl………where have I --------)

In addition to her beautiful rather than cute face, she has an excellent style and together with the same age as me she somehow felt more adult-like. However, the characteristic part of her was her atmosphere. Her standing figure was surrounded by a dignified air, and makes one think it emphasizes her own existence.

“------------uh! If I’m correct you, were sitting behind us during the entrance ceremony……………”

Yes, the girl that talked to me right now was the girl that warned us to keep quiet in the middle of the entrance ceremony.

“Is there anything?”

When I asked her, the girl made a slightly complicated expression.

“………………..no one would have thought there was such a tradition ceremony here. That’s why you should not feel down, and have the intentions to head straight forward in this academy. I think that is only way to look straight at her when the time comes”

“Errr huh…………….?”

“Well then, I will excuse myself”

Even though I haven’t considered the meaning on the words yet, she turned back and entered the classroom.

“What was that about…………….?”

“…………..Tooru. Your examination opponent-------- if I am correct was called Imari. She was saying, if you regret defeating her then work hard for her sake “

“I see, so that’s what she meant……………….”

Maybe because she was sitting behind us, she probably looked at me and Imari talking together friendly.

That’s why, she probably take consideration in me wondering if I was depressed.

“It’s okay, it’s because I already promised Imari. Thanks for the consideration, Tora”

“Why are you telling me that for. Tell that to that girl”

“That’s true. ----------by the way Tora, what was it that you wanted to tell me just now?”

“……………….. I don’t know. Anyways let’s go in. ……………..<small>almost all the thing I wanted to say was already taken, how can I say that now, you idiot</small>”

“a,aah………….”

I followed after Tora who suddenly turned moody for some reason, and entered inside the class.

When I entered, the desk lined up in the room were not those personal use tables used in elementary and middle school tables, but rather it was something with a wide width and meant for 2 people use.

We picked random empty seats nearby the entrance----------thinking that the line up in the side was off, I’ll just sit at the back and wait for the {{Furigana|HR|homeroom}} to start.

All the new students have not assembled in the room yet----------during the entrance exam, it seems a portion of the student got injured by direct damage and was in the middle of medical treatment------ so, there was still time before things start.

The others did the same thing as us and sit somewhere random, there were some girls talking with others seating nearby or guys sleeping already, everyone was doing everything as they please and was waiting for the HR to start.

But, because of a certain person showing up in the classroom, a commotion occurred and------

Next, everyone lost their words.

“What is it?”

Towards the same situation similar to the one during just before the entrance ceremony starting, we looked towards the person standing at the entrance------

“That girl………..”

We immediately consented.

The person that has the classmates attention stopped at was that silver girl.

“Do you know her?”

“No, it’s not like we know each other but……….”

Now that I think about it, Tora was sleeping when the girl showed herself in the auditorium.

“I saw her movements during the entrance exam, the way she carried her body and her sword handling was quite something I think”

“Hou………. That’s one interesting girl”

He made a fearless smile and looked like he was going to challenge her to match.

(This guy is still the same hot-blooded fellow………….)

After thinking that, I once again send my sights back at the silver girl.

Same like what she did at the auditorium, she did not cared about the sights coming from her surroundings and was slowly looking around the classroom--------that ruby eye stopped at a certain spot.

To me.

(Eh…………..?)

Our eyes met.

(It’s just a coincidence right………..?)

And, the moment right after I thought that, when I thought the silver girl slightly moved her eyebrows-----

“Tooru”

………..no, she said it. That was my name. There is no mistake that is my name.

(Why does she know my name………….?)

That was the first question floating in my mind.

Naturally, I have no memories of knowing any foreigners.

(…………wait a sec? I think she was looking at us in the middle of the entrance exam…………)

It’s not like I talked to her before, so I totally can get how she knows my name.

When I was having many question marks popping in my head in one sided, the silver girl was staring at me and started walking.

Without changing her expression her silver was swinging near her hips, *Chirin* together with the sound of a bell.

It was the exact reappearance of the auditorium------only the last part was different.

“………………”

The silver girl reached just beside me and although it was for awhile she was staring at me again--------she made a nod with her head and sat on the chair.

On the chair beside me.

Even though there were many empty seats, she purposely chose the one beside me.

What’s more---------

<nowiki>*</nowiki>peek*………..*peek*

She was looking at me with the side peeks for some reason. She probably planned to secretly look at me but, it was totally obvious.

“………………hey, do you know her?”

“That is my line!!”

“Sorry, this situation was confusing…………..”

One day, a foreigner I have never met or seen before, and naturally even her name is unknown to me suddenly started calling my name, sitting on the seat beside me, in addition she was conscious of me by looking at me with side peeks----------I suddenly fall into such a situation and if there is someone that won’t get confused because of this then I want someone to tell me about that person.

Nonetheless, staying not unable to understand the situation like this and also being looked at by her peeks eyes feel uncomfortable.

“………he,hey, can I have a moment?”

“--------uh!”

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirin*. The moment I made up my mind and talked to her, the silver girl turned away in tremendous speed.

“…………….”

It turned to silence just like that. It would seems, she was planning to pretend she didn’t hear my calling out to her.

(There is no choice. I’ll just find a good timing to talk to her later………)

I made a small sigh, and amused myself talking with Tora some boring stuffs.

Looking at that state, most of the commotion also returned back to the classroom------

“……………..”

<nowiki>*</nowiki>peek*………..*peek*

After a while, she was once again sending her sights to me.

(Seriously what is going on…………..)

When I was feeling uncomfortable because of that, the students that finished getting their wounds treated entered the class little by little.

Not long later, when I thought almost all the new student was assembled then------

“Haro Haro♪ and good work on the examination--☆ and congratulations on your enrollment to this school--!”

Suddenly, when I thought the sound of loud *Kara**Kara laughter sounded and the ''window'' opening, a girl came in the classroom from there.
Inside the room turned into silence, the girl stood at the teacher platform and made a pose.

“Nice to meet you, I am Tsukimi Rito----♥ I am everyone’s homeroom teacher so please treat me well for one year--! Filled with intimacy, call me Usa-sensei okay--☆”

Everyone in the class has no response. Rather, I should say how we should respond.

“…….Aryaryan, what’s wrong?”

She made a puzzled expression and the girl that self-proclaimed herself as our homeroom teacher looked around the classroom.

Having the class concentrating their sights on her with a totally different type of meaning from the silver girl, she was young and unthinkable to be a teacher---------------yes, others would agree if I were to say she was as young as our generation and believe she was our classmate if she wore a uniform.

Most importantly the most unbelievable part of her calling herself our teacher was her costume. No matter how I look at it, she was wearing a maid uniform and in addition she was wearing a rabbit ear hair band.

“Ha!? Are you all maybe fascinated by my cuteness? Iyaaa----, I was doing quite well getting use to these things but, as expected I am happy, awkward, and embarrassed if every of the new students was doing so~♪”

The self-proclaimed homeroom teacher placed her hands on her cheek and swings her head in embarrassment but---------

“No, we were just taken back…………”

“Oh I see, you all were just taken back--------Wait, eeeeeehhhh!! You all weren’t fascinated!?”

She heard my mutter and raised a shocked voice.

“No matter how and where you see it, I don’t think you were that conveniently received though…………”

“It’s because everyone was staring at me quietly ♪”

(Is it really okay for this person to be our homeroom teacher……..)

At this moment, there is no mistake everyone in the class was thinking this.

“Tsukimi-sensei, please don’t make the new students uneasy”

The one who spoke out our feelings was a male in his mid-twenties which walked into the classroom normally from the door-----it was a male named Mikuni that a played a role as the facilitator during the entrance ceremony. Looking at his tall height and has well-ordered facial features, [Hou………] there were sighs leaking out (Luckily the male isn’t like that) from left and right.

“Aaree--? Mikuni-sensei, why are you here?”

“I am the supervisor for the new student’s teacher. If you are going to play a fool then I’ll take the other side”

“Its okaaay. I plan to ride on a ride boat so leave it to me ♪”

“You’ll sink”

“Well then, let’s reform ourselves and head to self-introduction shall we--☆”

“……………………”

Tsukimi sensei completely ignored Mikuni sensei’s come-back, and started talking.

“With that said, hello hello I am Tsukimi Rito-chan. I am a young lady that has just graduated from this Kouryou academy this spring; I think am very inexperience but, I plan to do my very best so nice to meet you all♪”

(18 years old huh. No wonder she looks young-------wait, how about her teacher qualifications……………..)

I thought that but, asking for common sense in a school devoid from common sense itself is useless.

“Even inside last year’s graduates, Tsukimi-sensei especially has excellent grades, so she has been specially selected to be a teacher this year. Leaving her character aside, there is no shortcoming in her ability and skills so rest assured”

We heard the follow from Mikuni-sensei, and there were sighs of relief leaking out from everywhere.

“Somehow there was some very hurtful things in there but, everyone don’t mind that and lets progress efficiently okay----…………..even if I said that, since today is still the first day, it will be a quick explain of this year’s schedule and the self-introduction though ☆”

“Before that, first off the warning regarding the 《Blaze》”

“Ah, oh yeah oh yeah♪ errrr you all must not manifest your 《Blaze》 without permission from the academy okay? I’ll be very angry if you bring it out as you like. That’s all--☆well then, let’s begin the self-introductory---♪”

Thanks to Mikuni-sensei, we were safely advancing inside the first day of HR-------

Although there was another problem.

Rather than calling it a problem, I should be calling it curiosity.

That is the--------silver girl.

Turning into something troubling, the girl seating beside was sending her mysterious sights to me as usual.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stare*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

If sights could kill people then I would have been easily killed about a 100 times by now.

The surrounding was in the middle of sending their sights to the teacher platform, and only she was looking at me. She was staring quietly at me. Continuously looking.

Most likely, she thinks she was not noticed yet but, sights were something that can be found out by the latter with thoughts beyond the user.
At any rate, I completely don’t understand why she is this conscious of me.

(Is she mistaken with someone else……….?)

“------u”

(But how about the name? Why does she know my name?)

“----------ming you”

(I don’t get it)

“You, from the third row in front the one thinking about something! Hey you, from behind the midget boy!”

“Who’s the midget!!”

“Hn?”

Thanks to Tora’s shout, I noticed myself being called.

When I looked over the teacher platform, Tsukimi-sensei bulge her cheeks and looked at me.

“HnMou----, did you finally noticed? It’s your turn”

“Mine?”

“Your self-introduction”

“Ah……………”

I could hear giggles coming from here and there in the classroom.

While hearing that, I felt my cheeks getting hotter and stood up.

“Kokonoe Tooru, nice to meet you”

“…………….Kokonoe? aah, you are that rumored boy!”

“Rumor?”

“You are a rumor in the staffroom. About there is a <<Irregular>> this year☆”

<<Irregular>>--------even though it was an unknown meaning word, I at least understand it is something special.

The class started having a commotion, and I became the center of attention again.

Inside the unsettled commotion, it was now the turn of another person of attention this time.

“Well then, next. The silver hair-chan beside that stands out a lot”

“………{{Furigana|Yes|Ya---}}”

The silver girl nodded and started her self-introduction.

“Yurie=Sigtuna. Everyone, nice to meet you”

Once again, the classroom was wrapped in commotion. ………..however, the implication was different from mine.

Naturally, my treatment was close to a rare animal. As for the silver girl-----------in Yurie’s case, unlike her foreigner girl appearance, her fluent Japanese coming from her mouth was shocking.

However, Yurie as usual didn’t care about the response in her surroundings and sat down.

And once again she side peek and was looking over here---------

“--------uh!”

Our sights overlapped----------and the moment I thought that, she looked away.

But after some time passes, she once again started peeking at me using side peeks………….

Soon after the self-introductory ended, the student handbook, student cards and dormitory guidebooks were distributed.

“Did it spread to all the students huh huh? Regarding the school regulations, dorm regulations each individual please read through it when you have time later, if you don’t then I’ll scold you okay♪Also, the student card is used as a credit card so please be careful not to lose it—“

“Hee, so that’s how you buy stuff…………”

It would seem this was the living expenses.

The credit limit is one month 10000yen, and a number of people got excited after hearing that.

“Okay, okay. I understand your feelings but keep quiet---. For the last part, I will explain about the ''special system'' of this school and the dormitory room separation before I end todays talk, if you all want to make noise do it then, first off I want to talk about the special system though, it’s very important so listen to it properly---♪”

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Pan**Pan* Tsukimi-sensei clapped her hands together, and started talking about the so called special system.

“Our school exist a partner system called <<Duo>>. You all should understand from the word partner though, two people will form one group and receive lessons”

(…………<<Duo>>? Just recently, I think heard the same word from somewhere…………)

And in the middle of tracing back my memories, a question [Why is that?] came out from another student, and when Tsukimi-sensei started answering I stopped my thought process.

“When you graduate from us, you all know about the talk that you will be attached to the {{Furigana|organization’s|Don}} peace preservation team right. You all will execute the missions normally in {{Furigana|2 in one group|two man cells}} or maybe in a team with more numbers than that”

“……………even though it will probably be impossible if we are told to be active in a team immediately after graduation, so get used to it in our school, is that what you are implying?”

“That is exactly right. You sure get it Tachibana-san♪”

The one who confirmed it with Tsukimi-sensei with a dignified voice was, that girl that talked to me right before I entered the classroom.

“Now then now then, it’s regarding about the <<Duo>> but, just like I said just now, both of you will be doing a lot of different types of lessons.
So, regarding about that relation, I am sorry about the hurry but we will choose your official partners until the end of this weekend, so from tomorrow onwards good luck finding your partner to attend the classes. Fiiiiiight----☆………..ah, by any chance if you can’t decide then we will pick them for you so it’s okay to rest assured okay---♪”

(Partner system------------<<Duo>> huh………. I’ll just team up with Tora)

“………….so, the real part is from here---. Actually, after the <<Duo>> teamed up in this school, there is a rule where they will have to know each other deeply and pass time together as much as possible to strengthen their bonds with each other. Well----what I want to say is………….you will be made to share rooms in the dorm♪”

It’s true, that trust will probably be deepened if they are together for a long time.

Even though there is enough chance personality disagreements will appear, for this school that is devoid to common sense it still made sense.

(Hn, wait a sec………….?)

Toward that explanation I had a question floating out.

“Err, I have a question”

“Yes yes, the <<Irregular>> Kokonoe-kun, what is it?”

……………I wished you would stop calling me that way.

“By this ''weekend'', you said the <<Duo>> will be decided by then but,

“Fufu, nice question. Sensei is happy for you to notice that~♥ should I give you a nice pat in the head?”

“I refuse”

“Puu~ that’s regretful. ……………..well then well then, pulling myself together, including the answer for Kokonoe-kun’s question, I will start talking about the room separation for the dormitory~♪”

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chills*. The instant Tsukimi-sensei showed a smiling face, a chill ran up my spine.

It’s a premonition something is going to turn troubling.

Is that premonition by any chance-------true.

Tsukimi-sensei pointed her fingers to us, and put something worthless in her mouth.

“Until the weekend, we will have you all live with the ''current person sitting next to you''--♪”

“………..hah?”

“Which means, together with the temporary <<Duo>>. This is the school rule, so denial is useless a no no and not permitted okay☆ nee, Mikuni-sensei♪”

Towards Tsumiki-sensei who was making an “x-sign” with her fingers in front of her chest, Mikuni-sensei silently nodded and made a sigh.

“Tha,that means……..”

“Good for you, Kokonoe-kun♪”

Tsumiki-sensei made her good job sign to me.

At first I didn’t understand her words but, I also guessed it by that one sentence.

Until ''this weekend, living together with the classmate sitting beside you would mean''--------

“Yes♪You’re roommate is that silver haired beauty Yurie-chan. Male 37, female 15, that is about the number of new student but, you are the only one living together with another girl. Kyaaa--- Lucky♥ ……………ah, yeah yeah. You will be kicked out of school if you have an illicit sexual relationship so be careful. Putting it in easier words, if you do something that is hesitated to say in the {{Furigana|classroom|here}}, and a 3rd roommate is made --------“

“Like hell I’ll do thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!”

Forgetting my respect to my superior, I shouted and stood up-----

Immediately right after, the classmate that got hold of themselves after my shout, made an uproar.

[Are you serious!?] [With that girl huh, that’s nice…………..] [Kyaa---, its living together, living together]

“Wa,wait a second! No matter if it is the school rule, thinking in common sense isn’t this bad in a lot of ways!”

Inside the uproar filled with words they want to say, I panicked and protested but---------

“…………………..having a entrance exam during the school entrance ceremony, and what’s more, having a real fight taken place, do you think this school is normal?”

“……………………….”

The reply that came back made my view in front dizzy.

I placed both my hands on the table, and looked over my roommate until the weekend------once again my eyes met with her ruby eyes.

But this time she didn’t avert her eyes away----------

She looked towards me and lowered her head a little.

“Nice to meet you”

“Ni,nice to meet you…………”

This was, the start of living together with me and the {{Furigana|silver girl|Yurie}}.

(Someone save me…………………)

The reason I wished that was simple and clear, it’s because it was a complicated yet inescapable problem.

Few hours passed from the uproar in the classroom.

Moving to the dormitory in the premise, I was told about the dorm rules (the curfew, or time for eating), led to the cafeteria and after I finished my dinner quickly----------

Inside the room I was assigned to, I was------standing and staring with each other with the silver girl Yurie.

Silently.

(Please. Someone save me…………….)

Even though I wished once more, a hero that will break this situation wouldn’t appear.

Would Tora who was assigned to the room next door, unexpectedly come here to play I wonder.

…………….however even when I made such a light hope, it dispersed after hearing the slight shouting coming from the other side of the thick wall.

(Looks like he doesn’t get well with his roommate)

However right now, instead of the room next door, I have a problematic situation I raised myself.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Stare*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

(This turned into something troubling………………..)

Although I was thinking what to do, nothing will progress if I keep silent, I made a sigh and looked at Yurie.

(Now that I take a good look at her, as expected she feels like a bisque doll)

Having a delicate body structure, well-featured face, transparent like {{Furigana|snow colored skin|Snow white}}, ruby eyes, and the most characteristic part I can say of her was her {{Furigana|silver hair|Silver blonde}}………….

All of it was harmonized together, and it was suitable to be called beautiful.

The word beautiful girl is probably meant to be used for this.

But, that was not all.

A black wing angel--------

Magnificently using the two small swords, judging from the splendor way she carries her body, she was not a normal girl.

(Where did she get such a skill----------wait, now is not the time to think about that)
First off I have to do something about this silence but………..

If I were to make a self-analysis, it think my communication skills are quite okay thanks to living in a house with a large number of people coming and going. I have quite some male friends in my elementary and middle school time.

But expected to the girl I just met today, what’s more she is a foreigner, adding more to that I will be sleeping in the same room (Important) together with her under the same roof until the weekend (Currently Monday), on top of me unable to read her thoughts (This is more important) because she was expressionless, I was in front of someone who one-sided knows about me, and I have no idea what should I be talking with her.

(Otoha was the only one I have a talking experience with a girl my age………………….)

………….I feel a sister won’t be a reference in the first place.

(Let’s play it safe.........)

“Err, hey………..we are going to be living in the same room until the weekend so, why don’t we sit down for now?”

“{{Furigana|Yes|Ya--}}”

After she nodded to my proposal, the silver girl interpose the low table and made a proper seiza<ref group = "1b">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiza</ref>
(Ooh, she is good mannered…………however, I think I heard foreigners are bad with seizas but, is that not the case?)

“-------?”

“Ah, sorry”

Since I was standing up thinking although I was the one who said to sit down, Yurie tilted her small head.

I apologized and hurried to sit down straight on the other side of the table.

“This is quite a nice room”

The room dormitory was unexpectedly wide, and beautiful. There was a carpet on the center of the floor; it was equipped with a television and kitchen, and maybe because it was meant for 2 people there were two same types of clothing cases, and a two stories bed was installed.

Oh yeah.

“Errr………..lets introduce ourselves again”

“Ya—“

“Well then, starting from me who proposed this. I am------“

“Tooru”

“A,aah…………..”

Before I could name myself, my name was said before me.

Although I was a little curios about why the accent was a little different but, since she is a foreigner so that can’t be helped.

==Translation Notes and References==

<references group="1b" />

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Absolute Duo:Volume 1 Chapter 1

2013-09-13T09:35:58Z

Roanstalker:

==Chapter 1 『To this 《Shield》———』==

===Part 1===

The moment the silver girl showed herself, the sound disappeared from the auditorium similar to the moment when the sea waves draw in.

Likewise, the moment I saw her, I also took a breath and became speechless.

You definitely won’t forget her once you have seen her —— a girl with such appearance was standing at the entrance of the Kouryou Academy ceremony hall.

Her silver-blonde hair came down to her hips, her skin, as white as snow, looked pale, and her ruby-coloured eyes certainly made it obvious that she was a foreigner after a single glance.

(She’s basically like a bisque doll……)

The reason I felt that about her wasn’t just because of her appearance, which was giving off the feeling that she was an illusion.

Despite the multiple stares, I couldn’t catch a single expression cross her slightly childish face.

That silver girl, every move of hers was attracting attention — ''ring''.... walked forward as the bell rang.

''Step''.... ''step''.... in a situation where the sound of her shoes echoed within the quiet atmosphere, while furthermore having everyone stare at her, her actions and demeanor made me feel as if I was watching a scene from a film. This girl was walking forward with complete disregard for the countless stares, fixed on every move of hers.

She walked past me and when she sat down three rows in front of my position, the chain of silence was finally broken, and chatter could be heard, mixed with some sighs of relief.

“Haa…… I guess that’s what you would call a beautiful girl……”

The girl with a pony-tail who is sitting beside me said this with a sigh.

“………… Hey, can you at least reply to me?”

While my shoulder is being poked by her fingers, I face the girl.

“Were you perhaps talking to me?”

“Is there anyone else?”

While looking around, I saw that the seat diagonally in front of me and the seat behind me were empty. There was a girl reading through the school entrance pamphlet diagonally behind me.

“……Sorry, I didn’t realize it.”

As I apologized, the girl smiled.

“Fufu, looks like you are the type of person who can talk normally.”

“Huh?”

“You had a frown on your face this whole time. So I, who am sitting beside you, wanted to do something about this awkward atmosphere.”

“Ah…… I apologise again. I was concerned about something.”

“And you are telling me that your concerns weren’t a serious issue compared to that beautiful girl from a foreign country?”

“Haha, looks like it.”

[[File:Absolute Duo Volume 1 Non-Colour 1.jpg|thumb]]

I ended up making a bitter smile to her comment, which she made while putting on a meaningful smile.

“Ahaha, I can understand that feeling despite being a girl. She is such a beautiful girl, so it would be natural for you to have your eyes taken by her. ……But I wonder why she came all the way to a school like this?”

A school like this. — There was a reason why the girl with the ponytail said it like that.

The Kouryou Academy, the school I will be attending from today onward, unlike the average high school, is know for being a special technique training school.

The special technique we will be learning at this school is — battle techniques.

For harmonious Japan, it’s an extremely special school that teaches techniques which are not needed in our daily lives.

“She must have her own reasons.”

She came all the way from overseas to learn battle techniques, so that silver girl must have her own reasons.

“……There is also the possibility that she has been living in Japan from the start.”

“Ahaha, there certainly is. ……But she sure is a cute and beautiful girl. Oh my, I’m so jealous of her.”

“I agree with you, but I think you are quite the beauty yourself.”

“Am I? Fufu, thank you… wait, what!? W-W-Why did you suddenly say something embarrassing like that!?”

“I just said what came to my mind……”

The girl sitting beside me had her light coloured hair tied up, so I had an impression that she was a lively girl. Her face looked both beautiful and cute, and she possessed the atmosphere of a girl blossoming into a woman. I understood that she is sociable since she initiated the conversation , and judging by her ability to casually discuss difficult topics with out making me feel bad, I suspect she might have been popular during her middle school years.

“N-Normally, people won’t say that even if it comes to mind……!!”

“It is?”

“Of course it is—”

“……I’m sorry, but can you quiet down a bit?”

The cold voice which came from behind us belonged to the girl who was reading through the pamphlet.

“Ah…… I-I’m very sorry!”

“Sorry for making a ruckus.”

“It’s alright…… If you are going to quiet down, then I won’t say any more.”

Both the pony-tail girl and I faced forward after apologising.

“Cough. A-Anyway…… don’t say anything like that again, so suddenly. Depending on the person, they can get the wrong idea……”

“Y-Yeah, I got it……”

Even though I nodded—

(What does she mean by wrong idea……?)

I made a big “?” mark inside my head.

The pony-tail hair girl put her hand to her chest to calm herself down, and she asked me once again after taking a breath.

“Umm, it kind of become an awkward situation, but let’s start by introducing ourselves. I am Imari Nagakura, let’s get along.”

“I am Tooru Kokonoe. Let’s get along, Nagakura.”

“Call me Imari, Tooru.”

Imari winks at me with a smile.

After we told each other our names, Imari began the conversation anew by bringing up what must have been the most discussed topic within the auditorium.

“Hey, Tooru, what was it like for you when you sublimated with 《Luciful》?”

“I thought I was going to burn to death.”

“Pu, ahahahaha.”

Imari laughed at my reply—

“……Cough.”

Because of the cough from the girl behind us, she put her hand onto her mouth immediately, and lowered her tone.

“I felt the same, I thought I was going to burn to death.”

Imari nodded while giggling.

“Even though it was explained to us beforehand, I sure was shocked. But with this we are…… no, everyone in this auditorium can no longer be considered a normal human anymore.”

“Yeah…… Though I said that, I still don’t feel like we have changed.”

“You mean as in having become an 《Exceed》……?”

“Yeah……”

《Exceed》——

Refers to those who were given the biological enhancement nanomachine called 《Luciful》 which was made by the organisation called Doon institute several years ago.

By injecting it to those who are 《Adapt》(one in every one-thousand people), they will be able to attain a body which surpasses the limit of a human, and also due to their enhanced mentality, they will also attain the ability to materialise their 《Soul》 into the weapon called《Blaze》.

However, this issue was told to us for the first time right before receiving 《Luciful》 today, that’s why I replied to Imari in this fashion despite seeing 《Blaze》 with my own eyes, I still don’t have the feeling that I have sublimated to become a 《Exceed》.

(Though I would realise it when I move my body……)

It might have been realized it faster if I had tested my body right after having the 《Luciful》given to me, but because of the listless feeling I had due to the burning sensation, I came to the auditorium while having doubts about my 《Soul》 materialise into a 《Shield》.

……However, I don’t feel like moving around my body in here.

When I was having this discussion with Imari, I heard the sound of the speaker being turned on.

“Ah, looks like the entrance ceremony will begin.”

Soon after, the sound of the microphone test, -- [Ah……test, test] -- echoed through the auditorium.

[Everyone, silence. We will be starting the entrance ceremony shortly. I, Mikuni, will be in charge of the ceremony.]

[Silence] -- A man, in his late 20's, whom I'm assuming is a teacher, said again while standing on the stage and the noise within the auditorium settled down.

[The entrance ceremony for the high school division of Kouryou Academy will now commence. First, the chairman of our academy will be giving her words to all of you, the new students.]

The next moment the ceremony began; I was shocked.

That was because I saw a familiar person wearing a gothic style dress walking up to the stage.

(—! That’s the girl from before……!?)

Without a doubt, the person on stage is the girl who gave me the 《Luciful》.

[Welcome to Kouryou Academy, I am the chairman, Sakuya Tsukumo.]

Chairman, this girl doesn’t have the image of a chairman, and she who has or hasn’t reached the age of ten, started her speech magnificently. Her hair, as black as the abyss-black is tied into two parts, and her figure wrapped in a black dress makes me experience the same feelings as I felt during our first encounter, both enigmatic and ominous, like she was concealing something.

(I was already shocked at the giving……)

Even back then, I was thinking why was a girl in a place like this…… then she gave me the 《Luciful》 and while I was in shocked and panicking after having received 《Blaze》, she disappeared

(I never expected that she would be the chairman of this academy…… But why did a person in such position go through the trouble of giving it to me……?)

It’s certain that she wasn’t helping me.

There must be a reason behind, but I can’t think up of any.

I'm shocked and amazed by her appearance, so I'm not able to listen to the chairman’s speech.

“Looks like you are shocked about this.”

“Y-Yeah. Of course I would. She’s that small, yet……”

“There was a photo and the profile about her in the pamphlet. Didn’t’ you read it?”

“The school fee is free of charge and uses a boarding school system. On top of coming with three meals, I also saw they would be giving out daily expenses.”

“Other than that?”

I looked away silently.

“Read through them properly……”

“……I agree with that woman. Geez, why are you always like that?”

The one who entered our conversation while sighing was the male student who was sleeping at the seat front of me.

“——! T-Tora!? Why are you here!?”

[You, sitting over there. Please refrain from talking.]

I accidently said it out loud due to this familiar face, and I had the speaker warn me.

Despite closing my mouth immediately, I can hear laughter around me.

(Ugh, I stood out in a bad way……)

When I looked down with my red face, Imari asked me.

“Is he your friend?”

“Yeah.”

The boy that talked to me just before is my friend called Tora.

Even if the school we went to was different, I came to know him when both the doujo we attend to started affiliated with each other for martial arts. Also since we are the same age, we had sparring many times since junior school. Since he has a small built boy with glasses, he may look quiet, but the truth is he has a big attitude and he also has bad mouth. But there is a part of him where he is good to others, and he is someone who you can have a liking to——.

(But I never expected to meet him here……)

I didn’t see him at the latter half of middle school due to my own reasons, and since I didn’t have the chance to know where he would be going to, meeting him here was totally unexpected.

“Who are you calling your friend? We just happen to know each other, and we only happen to have met quite often.”

“……Isn’t that what you call a friend?”

“S-Shut up. To begin with, you are always——.”

Then there was a cough from behind me, and it came from the girl from before.

“<nowiki>~~~~~~!</nowiki> E-Either way at least read the pamphlet, you fool!”

Tora faced forward after shouting with a low tone.

(His self-important way of talking sure hasn’t changed.)

At the same time I felt nostalgic about his way of speech, I also felt a bit relived that there is someone I know here.

“……Oh, my bad. Continue from where you were, Imari.”

“Okay. ……Well, chairman Tsukumo originally belonged to Doon institute, the organisation that build Kouryou Academy, and I heard that she was involved with the research as genetic scientist.”

“That’s amazing that she is a scientist despite being so small…… Ah, if she is a genetic scientist, then is she involved in 《Luciful》 in some way?”

“Not sure. I don’t know that much about it……”

“……Hmph, she most likely was. The enhancement with《Luciful》is due to alteration of genetics after all.”

The one who answered instead of Imari who tilted her head in doubt was Tora that was supposed to have been facing forward.

“Kouryou Academy is a laboratory institute that was solely made for her, and the guinea pig that was gathered for that experiment is us.”

“Ugh…… You sure do say it in a disturbing way……”

To Tora’s words who decided to join back into our discussion, Imari made a stern face.

(——Guinea pig, huh……)

If Tora’s hypothesis is right, then this special technique training school which is an irregular little garden not only has the abnormal existence of 《Exceed》 and 《Blaze》, but it seems like the reason for making this place isn’t normal either.

(Well, as long as I can fulfil my aim, I don’t care what kind of place this is.)

When I thought about it like that, I naturally had myself gripping tightly.

On the other hand, it seemed like the chairman’s speech was about to end for this entrance ceremony.

From the chairman who was acting magnificently which was far off from her age appearance, she was about to end the ceremony with a voice which gave me chills.

[All of you would be acquiring different kind of techniques and knowledge within this Kouryou Academy. But please remember that all of these are to make all of you go even higher. That will serve as the school’s policy, which would be absolute. ……Lastly, I will end this ceremony by sending this word to you all.]

The chairman stopped her speech there, and looked around the new students—

and she spoke that words again.

[I pray, that you would reach to become the 《Absolute Duo》one day.]

“Huh……?”

“What’s wrong, Tooru?”

“No, just now the chairman……”

Since the ceremony has finished she should be getting off the stage, but the chairman remained at the spot.

As if she was answering my suspicions, the chairman spoke again.

[Now, we will have the new students start the traditional event of our school, the 《Qualification Ceremony》.]

“Traditional event?”

“There’s nothing written about something like that in the pamphlet……”

Looking at the schedules put on the walls, the event which would follow after the chairman’s speech should be the warm welcome from the student representative of the current students……

[Before beginning the 《Qualification Ceremony》, there is something you must do. Please confirm the person sitting next to you. The person next you will be your partner for the ceremony you would be partaking in.]

I looked at Imari, and Imari looked at me.

“So what are we going to do with the partner?”

I obviously tilted my head with questions, but I understood the answer for that immediately from the words the chairman would say next.

[From here, we will have you battle with your partner.]

“What……!?”

The moment we were told about event, I—no, not just me, but there were several gasps from various part of the hall.

[The traditional event, 《Qualification Ceremony》 that is about to start now will be the entrance test to enter the Kouryou Academy. The winner will be permitted to enter the school, while the loser would be asked to leave immediately after having 《Luciful》 retrieved back from them.]

Unlike us who are in shock, the chairman said an outrageous thing with a calm face.

After her words, the auditorium was in silence—.

Eventually, when they started to understand the meaning of her words, the new students started to panic.

(An entrance test during the entrance ceremony……!?)

Just like me, Imari wasn’t able to hide being shocked about this, and she started to mutter it while staring at the chairman with wonder.

“You are joking, right……? Even if this is a special technique training school, you can’t just make us do this on our first day…… B-Besides, what do you mean by entrance test!? Wasn’t it that anyone can enter this school as long they have the 《Adapt》!?”

“I’m curious about that as well, so I want an answer. Besides, if there were such traditional events like that, won’t it be weird that we didn’t hear about this from those who failed the test?”

Tora throws the question to the stage while putting on a rough attitude that made you think that they don’t have the relationship of a teacher and student.

But the one who answered that wasn’t the chairman, but the speaker, the man called Mikuni.

[I don’t remember saying that there wasn’t any entrance test. Though it is true that I did say you have the right to enrol the school if you have the 《Adapt》. And there is a simple reason why there wasn’t a leaked information regarding about the entrance test. In terms of the things going on in our school, we have ourselves restrain the information about us in many different ways.]

To Mikuni’s shallow smirk, I realised that the things he told us is the truth.

The auditorium gets noisy due to the panic and disturbance.

[Since all of you have understood this, I will be moving onto the explanation.]

But the girl in black dress seems like she wasn’t even concerned about it that much, started to explain the rules without hesitation.

[You are basically free to do whatever you want in this battle, — in other words there isn’t a restriction on using weapons. Of course we will permit you to use your 《Blaze》. The battle would be decided by forfeiting, or if we determine that you are no longer able to fight. Also, if the result isn’t determined within ten minutes, we will make both students fail——]

“P-Please hold on!”

[What is it?]

Even if she was interrupted from her explanation, the chairman looked towards the girl who said that without changing her expression.

“Isn’t it too much for you to reject us from enrolling just because we lose in a match!!?”

“Y-Yeah, she’s right!!”

Having that girl’s word as a start, there are many yells from various parts of the hall.

“What will happen to the future of those who lose!?” “Don’t screw around!!” “Are you going to take responsibility about this!?”

However—

[……This is just an entrance test which is present everywhere. To survive by kicking off others, a simple rule obeying the competition to survive, this is just a simple war to enrol. Though the time and detail are different.]

The chairman didn’t even flinch at the yells, and she gave a cold eyes and words where her atmosphere made the new students silent.

(Competition to survive, huh……)

To have yourself survive, you have to steal the future of those you face.

Even if it isn’t actually related to our life, it would still have your path closed if you lose, so there isn’t any mistake on what the chairman said.

“B-But why is it battling……!? Can’t we just have a normal test……?”

One of the person who can’t agree with this, Imari, asked her.

You can say that it’s the justification of the majority of those within this hall, and I also agree with her opinion.

[A day will definitely come when you would have to fight. After you are dispatched to the security maintenance squad of the Doon organisation as a 《Exceed》, there will be a time when you are placed into a battle where you have to risk your life, definitely. ……But a time like that won’t stop just because of your preference. ——You should all know that by now after hearing that much.]

“……So the 《Qualification Ceremony》 is the first decision the academy is giving us, huh.”

[That’s exactly right.]

The chairman smiled at my comment.

[If you don’t agree with the way this academy does thing, then you are free to leave this auditorium. Except, in that case, we will obviously come to the decision that you have gave up on enrolling into Kouryou Academy.]

The atmosphere within the auditorium froze.

Of course. We were suddenly told about the entrance test out of the blue, and then they told us to fight, so there was no way we could nod our head and say yes.

And if there are no restrictions to this battle in terms of using weapons, not only will you have the fear of being hurt, but you will also have the fear of hurting your opponent. If it goes wrong, there is a chance that it won’t just remain being wounded, so there was no way you can decide about this so easily.

However—having us do that while understanding what’s go through our mind is what you would call the whisper of a devil.

[Now, just before you begin, there is one extra information regarding 《Blaze》 that I will explain in order to make it easier for all of you to fight. 《Blaze》 is a weapon that was created by materialising your 《Soul》 due to enhanced will power——and also for that reason it has the trait of being able to damage only 《Soul》. So it means that you would only wear down the spirit of the opponent you have attacked, and it doesn’t hurt physically and take the life of others, so it’s a special weapon that is for oppressing.]

I wonder just how much her words had made the new students present here feel relieved and blow away their hesitation.

I can tell just by looking that there a commotion.

One by one, there are those that have made up their mind.

(It sure did become troublesome……)

My decision isn’t about whether I agree to this test or not, and it also isn’t about battling, hurting, or being hurt.

It’s about the fact that I have to take down Imari if the test was to start.

She is someone that I only met this morning.

We just talked for less than an hour.

(But I……)

This feeling naturally moved to my hand where I asked the chairman a question.

“……I’m sorry, can I ask you one thing?”

[What is it?]

“Our partners—, is it possible to change the opponent we have to face?”

Even though I asked her while having a faint hope—

[……Are you able to ask for the examiner to rate you by English that you are good at since you are bad at Mathematics during the test? Do you think such wish would be allowed?]

“That is……”

To the ruthless words that returned to me, I wasn’t able to continue my words.

There most likely have been someone in the past who asked the same question.

“Tooru, it’s okay. Your feeling alone is enough for me.”

Imari smiled sadly.

“Ku……!”

(Do I only have the choice to accept such an idiotic test……!?)

Even though I’m biting down my teeth hard, I can’t come up with a method to evade this.

I even felt like turning back by saying that I can’t cope with such crap.

But I can’t do that.

I came to this Kouryou Academy craving for an existence that is out of normal bounds.

To obtain the 《Power》 in order to fulfil my desire.

(Damn……!)

Even so, I’m hesitant.

I shouldn’t even be thinking about this.

But, in order to do that I have to defeat Imari.

“Imari……”

I said Imari’s name.

Just that.

I can’t say the next word.

I know that I have to say something.

……But what?

I don’t know.

I can’t think up of anything.

While I was lost in finding the right words, and right before I was able to find what to say—

The chairman moves on without any mercy.

[Fight, El Seed(Children chosen by heaven)!! And grasp hold off your own future with your own hands!!]

Her sharp words. At the same time the sound of the bell rings throughout not only the auditorium, but the whole school.

After a pause—

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

The shout from someone became the actual signal for the start of this.

After finally realising the situation they are in, several of them ran to the exit while screaming.

There are also those who are standing there because they still haven’t realised it.

And those who are willing to fight that has accepted this test and this battle shouted out the 《word that carried strength》, and there are blue-white 《Flame》 released from various places.

Sword, spear, bow, and the many weapons that has appeared within my sight. When they take it to their hand, they swung it towards their opponents.

The sound of the battle and weapons colliding echoed throughout the auditorium.

Under that situation, we were the only ones that were standing silently while looking at each other—.

And the one who finally spoke was Imari.

“I don’t like the sentence “It can’t be helped” but—there is something I must accomplish. In order to reach that goal, I want to enrol to this academy at all cost. So—.”

Imari looked sharply and straight into my eyes, and then shouted.

“I can’t give up on this path!”

She puts her hand to her chest, and 《Astar》 appeared due to 《word that carried strength》.

The 《Flame》 that was glowing in blue-white is Imari’s 《Soul》 and her 《Will》 to fight.

Imari grabbed it without hesitation.

The 《Flame》 changes into a long stick like shape, and then—right after giving out a strong glow, a 《Blade》 that has a beautiful curve was within Imari’s hand.

“Tooru, you bring out your 《Blaze》 too………!”

“……………”

Imari made her decision. But i…….

“………….there is no time. If you have no will to fight, then I will end this!! Iaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!”

At the same time with her making a spirited shout to encourage herself, Imari jumped at me.

(----------uh! Fast!!)

Thanks to explosive power powered up by the <<Lucifull>>, the distance of a few meters disappeared in an instant.

“Kuh!”

When he suddenly took a back step to dodge it, the swung down <<Blade>> graze his clothes and slashed the floor.

The deep slash mark left on the floor was not something could be thought of from a girl’s physical strength.

(This is a <<Exceed>>………….! The talk about crossing the boundaries of humans wasn’t exaggerated at all)

“You have a nice body. Are you perhaps doing something?”

“A little martial arts”

“Yes. For me it’s Kendo”

“No wonder it was a nice strike”

I returned back a slight smile back to Imari who was making a sword stance.

“Fufu, thank you. Although it is offensive to say that after dodging. ………….but I won’t miss next time”

Imari’s eyes turned serious again.

“Tooru, I’ll say this once more. Bring out your 《Blaze》………..!”

“Imari………”

I was still hesitant.

However, I know there was nothing I can do-------and the only way I have was to accept this exam.

But even if I materialize my tool, how should I fight.

My 《Blaza》 is a 《Shield》----a defense tool.

Instead of defeating, it was something to protect.

That is why in order to defeat Imari, I would need a direct attack---------I have no choice but to swing my fist, but if that’s the case then the chances of getting injured is high.

(I would want to avoid that. If that’s the case then…………)

''“I am okay with this”''

“Eh?”

“I am saying I won’t use my 《Blaze》”

“------------uh! What is the meaning of that, Tooru!?”

“If I have a need to use it then I will materialize it but, it means I have no use for it”

“Do,don’t be stupid!! Although I look like this but I am a top ranker in national kendo competitions!!”

“…………….I am not stupid. I’m saying it for real”

“---------uh! Don’t regret this!! Seyaaaaaaaaaa!!”

Imari howled and once again took a step.

Even when I avoid the slashed, the flow did not stop at there.

Immediately, the 2nd and 3rd slash was released------

But, I safely avoided all of those slashes.

“Kuh…………! Looks like you dodge well……..!”

Showing her the difference in ability and make her give up.

That was the fight I chose.

It’s true that <<Lucifull>> turns humans to <<Exceed>>.

If turning into that would make a power up in physical abilities then I also have the same condition.

If that’s the case then, I can say in the present point my ability, skills and experience has become bigger.

Imari’s sword skill is quite something

However, that’s was not something outside the zone from matches.

---But, I’m different.

''Ever since that day'', I have been walking every day to get stronger.

The path we walk is different---------and that right now has turned into this overwhelming difference in ability.

“Wh,y………….!”

The <<Blade>> was fruitlessly continued cutting the sky innumerable times.

No matter how much spirit she has, it will never fill in the difference in ability.

Immediately, Imari noticed that too and started showing impatience in her eyes.

“I can’t lose! i…………I have a goal………..!”

She clenched her teeth and said her determinations of not giving up before swinging down her <<Blade>>.

I dodged that attack in a ''paper thin'' margin, Imari missed and I took that chance to grab Imari’s wrist.

[[File:Absolute Duo Volume 1 Non-Colour 2.jpg|thumb]]

“………you should know this already. Imari can’t win against me. Any further--------is useless”

“Uh!”

“So please give up. I want you to admit defeat……….I don’t want to hurt Imari”

There was nothing harsher than the sentence I put in my mouth.

I am telling her to admit the overwhelming difference in ability and defeat.

And the moment she accepts that, Imari will have to leave Kouryo Academy.

In order not to hurt Imari, I have to hurt Imari’s heart and that inconsistently hurts my chest.

Just like Imari, I also have a goal.

I have the intention to accomplish my goal.

But even so, I swing my fist and to that girl---------I avoided hurting Imari.

That is why I planned to crush Imari’s determination and make her heart into a broken shape to end this but-----

“Don’t joke! I won’t admit defeat by. Definitely……….!”

Imari enraged.

“Most of all, there is no way I can raise the white flag knowing I was taken lightly against!!”

“Imari……………”

When I called over to her, Imari slacken her expression with a *fuu* and made a smile.

“If you want me to admit defeat then, you have to fight properly Tooru. That is what manners are”

At that smiling face, at that eyes that has strong determination in it, I was convinced.

Just as she claimed, she would never admit defeat on her own volition.

I’m really an idiot.

There is no way I can break the heart of an opponent that has such a strong determination and smiling face.

---Then what should I do?

That’s obvious.

There is only one skill that can respond to Imari’s {{Furigana|determination|heart}}.

“Sorry about that”

I put an apology in my mouth and let go of Imari’s hands before taking a few steps back to take some distance.

By ability difference, it was not essential to ''use'' it.

But Imari wishes for me to bring out my full strength.

I have to respond to that wish.

That is why I will shout-------the <<word that carries strength>>.

“《Blaze》!!”

<<Flame>> was flowing out from my chest-----

The same time with me holding it, it entangled on my arm and released a flash.

“That is Tooru’s………..”

Called as a <<Irregular>> and the only defensive type 《Blaze》 in this world------she put the <<Shield>> in her eyes and Imari could not hide her surprise.

“Just as what you can see. That’s why sorry but, in order to win I am going to use----this guy”

As if to show it to Imari, I grasped my fist strongly.

I pulled back that fist as if to shoot a bow and-----took a stance.

“Come at me at full strength! I will stop Imari’s 《Blaze》 attack-----and win!”

“Looks like you are getting serious now. ………….but! no matter how despair-like is the difference, I will not give up!!”

Imari shouted and took preparation stance.

It was extremely hard to avoid and it looks like she was planning to challenge me to a final match with that high-offensive power thrust technique.

“This is regretful………… I really wanted to talk more with Tooru. But there is no time for that, as a swordsman I will use this <<Sword>> to------!”

“Tell that to this----<<Shield>>!!”

Responding to my words, Imari made a loud spirited shout.

“SEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

Piercing through the empty space, that sword’s point approached me.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

I roared and after an instant.

GaKiiiiiiin………..! The <<Shield>> stopped the blade and the <<Blade>> bounced out from Imari’s hands being unable to withstand the collision impact.

“That just now----------was a good attack”

“I can’t act cool being told that after getting stopped but---------thank you for now”

Imari made a small smile, i------

“It’s the end”

He released his fist.

Just like shooting an arrow, he released the accumulated power.

And just as he claimed-------that became the match’s last attack.

“Are you okay, Imari? ''It didn’t hit'', so I think you won’t get wounded though……..”

I approached Imari who was still down, and kneeled down.

“U,un. I think I’m not hurt………….but, what was that just now……………?”

“It’s an impact wave”

It’s a technique that can easily take one or two bones away if it hits but, the power was not simple now that I gained <<Lucifull>>.

That’s why by stopping before-------originally it was a wind pressure level to stagger someone-------and would end at there but, it was out of his imagination to think the power turned into something that can send one flying.

But even so she did not get hurt, and I made a relieved sigh.

“Seriously, you have something that amazing…………… haaa, It’s my complete lost………..”

“I’m sorry…………”

I borrowed my hands and helped Imari to stand up.

“It’s okay. Even If I can’t become an <<Exceed>>, it’s not like all the paths have been closed off. I just have to find another path. …………….that’s why, don’t make that face”

Imari *pan* hit my butt to tell me to put in some spirit.

“Congratulations for entering, Tooru”

“……………Thank you, Imari”

Although I felt sorry I made smile, Imari also send back a smiling face and immediately--------

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirin*.

Inside the auditorium filled with loud noises, there was a clear sound of bells grazing my ears.

When I looked over to that sound, over there was------

“Ah………………”

That silver girl was standing there.

Towards us------no, ''she was looking towards me''.

Her ruby eyes filled with a certain amount of strong determination was clearly looking at me.

But, that event only happened for an instant.

A guy came from behind of the silver girl---------in order to attack his examination opponent.

“----------uh!”

The moment he swung down his sword, the guy was certain of his victory.

---but, that attack cut the sky.

That’s because that silver girl that was supposed to be there just before was not there anymore.

“Wha!? Di-disappeared………?”

It was not strange for the guy to open his eyes wide dumbfounded.

In an instant, the silver girl danced up to the sky.

Primarily, the movement of up and down with the human eye was weak.

She jumped up the instant the attack was about to close into her sights what’s more that was done in close-distance, if I was in his place then I might have lost her-------to make me think of it like that was how fast she was.

“Pretty…………..”

Gazing at the silver girl in midair, Imari muttered.

The silver girl, holding that black bladed sword----<<Double>> in each hand looks like jet black wings and our hearts were taken away by that scene.

After a while of thinking the advancement of time has slow down-----

The Angel holding those dark colored wing, crossed the path of her swords together and fell down to the ground.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Chirin*, towards the sound of a bell echoing, we got back ourselves who was looking over the matter.

“She’s amazing……….”

“Aah………….”

That way how she carries her body, her sword handling was not something learned in on day but rather it was clearly the movement of training piled up.

(Who on earth was, that girl…………..)

“Seriously, whether it’s Tooru or that girl, only incredible people gather here sheesh……………”

Imari made a wry smile while looking at me.

“Well then, if I were to stay like this then regrets will suddenly start to appear, so it’s about time I go”

The pain on my chest from hearing that was something I can’t do anything about.

“Let’s work hard together, Tooru. It’s a promise”

“Aah, I promise”

Imari nodded to my reply satisfied and was about to leave the auditorium but------she looked back.

“Ah, I have one more last thing I want to ask. Just now you said ''it didn’t hit'' right? Although in reality it you want it to hit, but if that did not happened then it means you were holding back?”

“Uh. Tha-that is……….”

Imari puffed up her cheeks a little.

“I’m ashamed……..”

“Well it’s okay. I’ll just make it as a debt”

“Debt?”

“Yes, one debt. That’s why, if there is a time were we will meet after this, then something-------let’s see, I’ll have you treat me to a cake”

“Aah, I get it. ………………it turned into something annoying for unskillfully holding back”

“Fufu, you get what you deserved ♪”

I made a nod while making a wry smile towards Imari’s lively words with one eye closed.

“Well then,------Bye-bye, Tooru”

At the end her words filled with various feelings, Imari left the auditorium.

(I definitely have to get stronger………….)

While looking at her back, I made a vow again.

However, that was not all.

That vow was something I decided to do when I determine my goal.

In order to achieve my goal, I need <<Power>>.

Seeking <<Power>> is my road, and there were no other choices.

(I just have to find another path, huh………)

Imari said that.

But, ''those are words that can be said to the living''.

I remembered ''that day''.

The day that made me started to seek for <<Power>>.

Finding another path------

''It is impossible for the dead''.

There is no other path. I can’t bear to find a new path.

“Otoha………”

I muttered my sister’s name.

''I couldn’t protect her, The name of my deceased sister.''

“Why did you have to die…………”

My sister who was still young, I want to know why she has to be relieved of her life.

Yes, I am living for someone dead.

===Part 2===

Her eyes saw the ''instant of the battle of a certain group concluded'', and the silver girl opened her eyes wide.

Even though it didn’t hit, she knows it was a fist strike with tremendous power.

The moment she was learning about that impact technique, the examination opponent who has only a though physical strength came from behind and attacked.

But, that also ended immediately.

She easily avoided the examination opponents attack and won easily, and the silver girl once again towards that group-------looked towards Tooru’s group, they were talking together peacefully.

That kind of group in this auditorium--------doesn’t look like the opponents that was fighting just a while ago, but rather it looked like close friends---------since there were no one else other Tooru and his group, the girl was interested to him and the technique just now.

“Well then------Bye-bye, Tooru”

Soon, both of them made smiles and exchanged their farewells, and Imari left the auditorium.

Tooru who was left there, brought down his sights to his fist that ended the match, and was thinking of something.

Staring at that back, the silver girl slightly raised her eyebrows and muttered.

“Tooru……..”

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