Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume33 Chapter1 2

Today's Goal. Part 2.

Yumi was on her way out the door, having picked up her bag and called out 'I'm off' when her mother responded with 'Wait Yumi-chan' and came running up to her.

"I've already got my tissues."

In other words, Yumi was saying that she wasn't a child anymore. 'That's not it,' her mother said as Yumi turned to face her.

"Huh?"

"But first of all, face away from me."

Having just turned to face her mother, Yumi's shoulders were grabbed by her mother and she was turned back around. Something that she couldn't quite see and didn't understand was making her feel nervous. Turning only her head, Yumi peeked at what was happening and saw her mother holding something in her left and right hands, and striking them together.

"What's that?"

"Flint and steel. You don't know the Shinto fire-purification ceremony? These are cleansing sparks."

Her mother opened her hands, showing her what appeared to be a rock and a piece of metal.

"Geeze, it's like a scene from a historical drama."

Right, right, like when the chief constable says to his wife, 'I'm going out,' and then there's the click-clack as she does this.

By striking the flint against the steel, sparks would appear. According to the Shinto religion these would have a purifying effect, so it was something that actors or salesmen would have done to them before going to work, or travelers would use to pray for a safe journey. Well, at least now Yumi understood their purpose and how they were used. She understood, but –

"Why do we have these things in our house?"

It was a simple question. After all, her father did run a small architectural firm, but you'd hardly call him a salesman. In her seventeen years as a daughter in this household, Yumi had never before seen her parents hold a single fire-purification ceremony.

"Originally they came from your father's parents' house. But I remembered we had them in the storeroom, so I went and looked for them the other day."

"Why?..."

The first answer had just raised the fresh question of why her mother went to the trouble of finding and using them.

"When I saw you heading off to school on the day of the student council elections, I felt like I had forgotten to do something. Then, a few days later, when I was watching a repeat of a historical drama I heard the click-clack sound. It hit me like a bolt of lightning."

And then her mother had waited for an opportunity to use them. But it seems a historical drama really was the impetus for this, after all.

"Today's a special occasion, so it's appropriate, right?"

As Yumi's mother finished explaining, and returned to chatting, she once more turned Yumi's body around so they were facing each other.

"But it's not my graduation ceremony."

"Even so, you've got a big job ahead of you, right Yumi-chan?"

"Yeah."

Click-clack. Having the sparks scatter behind her back was one step forward. Although there was no scientific basis for it having any effect, just having someone willing to do that for her made Yumi feel better.

"Take care."

"I'm heading out."

The muscles along Yumi's spine felt somewhat refreshed as she stretched. That kind of feeling.

Having just left the front door, Yumi saw her father as he returned home.

"Oh, you're on your way out?"

"Yeah."

Yumi's father had recently taken up jogging in the morning. Although he would occasionally visit building sites or customers' homes, he felt like he wasn't getting enough exercise because he had a home office.

"Give it your all. Well, Shimako-san and Yoshino-san will be there for you if you need them, so I'm sure you'll be alright."

As her father focused on patting her on the shoulder, Yumi could see his stomach bulging out, just a little bit.

"Hehehe, I'm off now."

After waving to her father, Yumi jogged towards the bus stop.

She had only spent a little time with each of them, but adding up all the time spent dealing with her family meant it would be close as to whether or not she would make it in time to get on the bus she had planned on catching.

Turning the corner on Persimmon Street.

Her field of vision widened, and the blue sky flew into sight.

It looked like the weather was going to be fine today.