Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter1

Everyone's Farewell Presents

Part 1

"I'm sorry, what was that again?" Yumi asked in front of the M Station gates. Before checking herself in the mirror, she had heard—quite well—a perfectly reasonable answer.

"'I worry because sometimes you act boldly.'"

Just like rewinding a cassette tape, Sachiko-sama replayed a few words. Impressive, but unfortunately not the answer Yumi was asking for. Just a few words before that.

"No, before that," Yumi said.

"Before that? Well, 'Even if your shoulders slump low, keep your spirits high.'"

"A bit more."

"A bit more? 'The field trip starts tomorrow, huh'. . . ?"

"No, not that."

Hey, that's all the way back to when we rode the bus from in front of the school to the M Station North gate! That's rewinding the tape too much. At most, maybe one minute ago, not five. Yumi thought she might be playing innocent, but contrary to that, her onee-sama's face held a serious look.

To either side of the couple, people rushed hurriedly by. Some people caught the train here, others got off the train. In the evening, the area around the ticket gate was crowded with people returning from school or work.

"I asked if there was anything you'd like as a souvenir. And then you said?"

"Didn't I say: 'For you all to return safely is a souvenir better than anything'?"

"Yes, you said that."

Yumi was staggeringly happy to hear those words. Because after one week, she could be "a souvenir better than anything." But . . .

"Then I don't know what I should buy and bring back. You said, 'If you feel so strongly.' After that preface, didn't you say something?" Yumi thought she had misheard, so she asked again. "What did you say just now?"

"What? 'Roma Manjuu or Firenze Senbei'?" Sachiko-sama answered, without hesitation.

"Is that what you said?"

That's what she said. Definitely.

(What should I do here? Laugh it off as a joke?)

Yumi was lost. It seemed futile; could she laugh it off smoothly? If she laughed at something meant to be serious, Sachiko-sama could be rather annoyed. Two choices: make the wrong choice and it would determine her onee-sama's mood. Now, which one? It was too hard for Yumi to decide. As soon as she tried to laugh, "ha ha," Sachiko-sama folded her arms and grumbled.

"We did not buy any last year. Should you have the opportunity, please buy either one of them."

". . . Where are they sold?"

"I could not buy any, so how would I know?"

"Ah."

(I wonder if it wasn't a joke.)

"Have a fun trip."

And then, as if to bring the topic to an end, Sachiko-sama straightened Yumi's tie. Because of that, Yumi could not make any further inquiries. After their token display, her onee-sama departed.

Part 2

It has become an established routine that whenever there is an event, the Hasekura and Shimazu families would get together and go out for dinner. New Years, Setsubun, Hina-matsuri, Ohigen, Obon, Christmas. Really, any excuse they could come up with for a lively get-together. Shinto, Buddhist, Christian; they'd mix and match, it didn't matter. If situations prevented celebrating on that particular day, a few days before or after was close enough. It was a chance to get together with close relatives. It would be rude to dampen everyone's spirits.

(Well, I know they're doing this because I had such a weak body before.)

Stepping out of the restaurant ahead of everyone, Yoshino looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath. The stars were so beautiful.

In the past, I couldn't go far or play sports, so the possibility of taking this trip was unimaginable. For special days, all we could do was go to a nearby place and eat delicious food. But thanks to the surgery, this child now has a healthy body. The time had come to gradually reevaluate this rut we were stuck in. Also, father's belly was starting to resemble that of a raccoon.

(First . . . All this for a school trip? Why the big send-off party?)

Even though I'll be back in a week. This is exaggerated, like a farewell party for a salaryman being relocated to a rural office.

The waitress bowed her head as she entered and exited the private party room as if she did not know the reason for the party, right up to its end. Isn't it obvious? The youngest is in the seat of honor and the grown-ups are offering words of farewell.

She smiled a bit at the sound of the sliding door being opened.

"Yoshino," Rei-chan called while approaching.

My cousin, next-door neighbor, and onee-sama. I love you more than anything in the world, but, sometimes you can be the most annoying thing in the world. A tender, pitiful, precious, person.

"What about the grown-ups?"

"Mother and auntie are at the register paying the bill. Father is looking after uncle. Taking a train would be too hard, so they're calling a taxi."

"Is he smashed?"

"He's smashed. He's just so happy that you've become strong enough to go on the school trip."

And with that, he unintentionally drank too much.

"Yeah."

In elementary school, I had to come home in the middle of a trip. In middle school, my mother followed along and watched from the shadows so that my classmates would not see her. But this time, no special treatment. I have graduated from my usual spot at the teacher's side. I look forward to taking this trip in the same stride as all my friends.

"Let's take the train since we're young," Yoshino suggested, tugging on Rei-chan's shirt. Three people from the Hasekura family, three people from the Shimazu family. A total of six people cannot all fit into a single taxi.

"Yeah. Let's do as you say," Rei-chan said in agreement, and went back through the sliding door.

Yoshino looked at her wristwatch and said, "If we leave now, we should easily make it back in time for a 10 p.m. TV drama."

Rei-chan returned and made the OK sign with her fingers.

Let's go. Yoshino could only gaze at Rei-chan's back as she turned and walked towards the main street, then ran to catch up.

They held hands instinctively.

She was so happy, walking side-by-side. She realized that there was no substitute for this.

"Really . . ." Yoshino muttered a bit, before closing her mouth.

"Mm, what?"

"Nothing. Let's go home."

The reason I asked to return by train isn't because "we're young." It's because I wanted some time alone with you. But I'll never tell you.

Because Rei-chan would be delighted at the appearance of such defenselessness.

But right now, holding hands like this, I can give you a bit more "Gentle Yoshino."

Because we won't see each other for a week.

It would just be too awful if Rei-chan looked up into the blue sky and remembered the face of "Sulking Yoshino."

Part 3

It was after 10 p.m. when Noriko phoned.

"Sorry for calling at such a late hour."

"It's fine. We have all sorts of folks visiting us, so we're going to be awake for some time."

"But, Shimako-san . . ."

"Yes?"

"You're not 'early to bed, early to rise'?"

During school, Noriko called Shimako "onee-sama," but anywhere else she used "Shimako-san." Initially, after they first became sœurs, she was a bit shaky switching between the two names. She'd hesitate and it would not go smoothly, but she's settled into it now. She knew that Yoshino-san called Rei-sama "Rei-chan" in private, so the switch was possible. Even among third parties, she could easily move between "Shimako-sama" and "Shimako-san" as appropriate.

"I already checked over tomorrow's luggage one last time."

She started preparing little by little a week ago, so she was mostly done already. Although, I wonder if she's the kind of person who keeps a list of her belongings in her guidebook so that she can check it again to make sure nothing would be left behind.

"I see. Because of where you're going, you can't go back to pick up anything."

"They sell things there, but would it be easy to shop?"

But it would be a problem to forget something you needed like a uniform or a passport. Because you wear your uniform, it would be impossible to forget it. As long as you carry your passport, you can borrow from friends or procure items locally without interrupting the trip. Whether that's comfortable or not.

"Me too . . ." Noriko started. "I'm also the type to worry about forgetting things."

"I see."

"I forgot to say something at school. I'd gotten a little flustered, so, sure enough, I ended up calling. Shimako-san . . ."

"What is it?"

"Have a good trip. Take care. Well, because it's you, Shimako-san, I'm not worried about you behaving rashly or anything."

"Yes."

"I'll be here, waiting. Waiting for you to come back."

"Noriko."

She'd always thought of it as a place that she wanted to be free to fly from at any point. But now she had someone there waiting for her to return. It was a precious nest; not a birdcage keeping her trapped.

At some point, unnoticed, Lillian Girls' Academy had become a place she felt compelled to return to.

"Thank you."

Shimako savored the meaning of that word.

A nest that precious chicks could depend on.

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