Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter6

Resounding! Leaning! Melting?!

Part 1

Tuesday.

Today's plan was the San Marco art museum and Pisa.

Because the art museum can get crowded, they left their hotel at 8 a.m.

The road was full of pedestrians yesterday, but uninhabited before the shops opened. In the cold morning air, deserted streets around the Duomo gave it a mysterious mood. Of course, it was the difference between a decorated cake and an ice cream cake.

They arrived at the San Marco art museum at 8:30. Although they did not know exactly how long they would have to wait until it opened, two or three groups of tourists had already gathered near the entrance. It would have been hard to find the plain door of the entrance without them. This should be the place, an art museum in a monastery.

They walked along the collonade while looking at the beautiful courtyard.

Up some stairs, inside was Fra Angelico's "Annunciation."

This fresco was painted on the wall over 500 years ago, yet still held its beautiful colors. "Annunciation" was a theme frequently painted by many artists. Comparing what was in front of her eyes with an illustrated reference, Yumi thought that she liked Fra Angelico's "Annunciation" better. The beauty of the colors, such as the vividness of the angel's wings, was magnificent. As was the pure face of Maria-sama as she received the divine message.

She suddenly remembered a scene from a play at her kindergarten Christmas party, the nativity of Jesus. At that time, the archangel brought lilies when descending to speak with Maria-sama.

"Do not be afraid."

And then revealed that the savior dwelled within her body.

Someone ordinary would be surprised. But Maria-sama was not ordinary, so she accepted this incredible fact. No, it probably was because she was an accepting woman that god chose Maria-sama.

"It's so beautiful."

Like Shimako-san standing in front of the "Last Judgement", Yumi found it difficult to leave. Because it could not be "loaned" to other art museums like a framed oil painting, this art piece could not be seen unless you came here. Conversely, for as long as this artwork existed, you could see it if you came here.

"Hey, let's go, Yumi-san."

Yoshino pulled on her hand, so she eventually managed to move.

Yumi thought it would be nice to come again someday and gaze upon this Maria-sama.

By the way, in the kindergarten play, Yumi played one of the three wise men who came to celebrate the birth of Jesus. She didn't remember a single one of her lines.

Just as they went outside after gazing upon the fresco, some tourists arrived on a large bus.

Part 2

After about one hour's train ride from Santa Maria Maggiore station, they arrived at the central Pisa station.

It was around 1 p.m., so they stopped in at a fast food restaurant by the station to fill their stomachs.

It felt like the famous hamburger chain was all over the world. These young Japanese people nowadays. They ate burgers and fries while exchanging cries of "ah, nostalgic." Hm. Well, things were rather americanized.

The bus leaves from the front of the station. Since the bus does not accept cash, you have to purchase tickets ahead of time from the tobacco shop. Right after you get on, you put the ticket into a machine that stamps it with a "ka-chunk." This is the same as the railroad.

The entire class was able to board a single bus, either because they had already eaten lunch when the train arrived and thus avoided the crowd, or because they got there just after the earlier bus had left.

Jostled by the bus for around 10 minutes. They arrived in front of the Duomo piazza, where there was the leaning tower.

As they got off the bus, the second-year Pine class all exclaimed simultaneously:

"Oh wow, it really is leaning!"

Probably everyone who came here uttered the same words, but in different languages. "The tower is leaning."

Most of the people who visited this place already knew that the tower stood diagonally. Even still, after confirming the lean with their own eyes, the shock escaped their mouths. Really, how can it not collapse?

"I thought Pisa had just the leaning tower, but..."

"Right. How many other buildings can we see? Uh, wait a moment. Looks like there's the Duomo, baptistery, art museum."

Said a classmate who had pulled a guidebook from her bag. Pisa is a maritime kingdom from ancient Roman times.

Coming to the lawn side of the leaning tower, Katori-sensei stopped and looked back at the queue.

"Well then, it's free time from now until 3:30. I think you all know this, but don't miss it. If something happens, come to this area. Because I'll be strolling around here. Now then, the folks who wanted to climb the leaning tower, assemble at 1:45. And, dismissed."

With the sensei's hand clap as a signal, the Pine class all dispersed into groups. Tsutako-san took the first initiative with "over here". Yumi and friends followed.

After all, this was a "sightseeing spot" of sightseeing spots. Along the roadside were lines of souvenir shops, selling a jumble of Leaning Tower of Pisa ornaments, Leaning Tower of Pisa picture postcards, Leaning Tower of Pisa T-shirts, somewhat unrelated to Pisa Pinocchio puppets, neckties printed with masterpieces, and so on.

"Hey, do you think they got permission?"

Yoshino-san laughed, pointing at a T-shirt with a drawing of the most famous mouse character in the whole world propping up the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

"More than that, I'm trying to imagine a mouse giant enough to support that leaning tower."

Mami-san said quietly.

"..."

That would be a bit scary." No, not a bit. That would be quite scary. Which would be bigger, that or Godzilla?

"Let's take a picture here"

Tsutako-san stopped.

"I wanted to take a cliche photo after I got to Pisa. Yumi-san, collaborate with me."

"Sure, but how?"

She stood where she was told, and posed how she was told. Turned sideways, with both arms extended, one leg bent at the knee, she leaned forward. Like so.

"Yes, like that. Titled 'Rosa Chinensis en bouton, propping up the leaning tower by herself.'"

"It's definitely a cliche."

Mami-san interjected from the side.

"Cliche, but totally fine. There's no point in being embarrassed when taking photos that can only be taken here. Okay, strike the pose one more time so that I can fine-tune it."

"Sure, sure."

After that, Tsutako-san had Yoshino-san strike the same pose, taking a photo titled in the same vein, "Propped up by Two Boutons." Mami-san, who at first thought these "cliched" and a little foolish, got a little envious after seeing them, and eventually joined in, propping up the leaning tower with the most serious face of them all.

"If only Shimako-san were here, then we could complete the 'Red, White, and Yellow Rose Lineup.' ... too bad."

Like a photo of the lineup during the concluding festivities of a sumo tournament. Pondering this, Yumi caught something at the other end of her gaze.

"Shimako-san is here, though."

The three remaining members of her group all said simultaneously, "What? " and turned to look around.

"Over there."

Yumi pointed towards a bunch of people relaxing in the middle of the lawn, then broke off running.

"Shimako-saaan."

"Ah, Yumi-san."

Shimako-san stood up from sitting on the lawn, and greeted Yumi with a smile. The two were happy to see each other again, and right away exchanged greetings of "Gokigenyou."

"The Wisteria class also came."

"Yes. So did Yumi-san and everyone come after the San Marco art museum? We came here first."

"Is that so."

Yumi unintentionally lowered her gaze. She asked, "Shimako-san, are you here by yourself?" after looking around.

Then. Her eyes spotted a normal tourist, sitting down by her side. At the same time that she thought, "oh, who is this person?" that other person's voice said,

"Gokigenyou, Yumi-san."

"Rosa Canina!"

The three people chasing after Yumi called out the name of the person before Yumi. Ah, so the person here was Rosa Canina, Kanina Shizuka-sama.

"Shizuka-sama!? How come?"

Yumi squatted down on the grass, spontaneously clapping Shizuka-sama's shoulders, "pon, pon." This wasn't a dream. She was real. But her hair had gotten quite a lot longer. Except for that, the Shizuka-sama that existed at Lillian Academy just half a year ago was right here.

"Because I decided to come and meet you? All of you."

Well, unless Shizuka-sama lived here in this piazza, it was rather unimaginable that they would just meet by chance here.

"You knew your schedule?"

"I have a pen pal who leaked the information to me."

"Pen pal?" No, could it be?"

Sei-sama? Yumi, Yoshino-san, Tsutako-san, and Mami-san, they all thought so. But the name that flew out of Shizuka-sama's mouth was,

"Shimako-san."

Shimako-san smiled as she said "yes."

"You two are pen pals!?"

"Why, is that so strange?"

"Well."

Because of all the things that happened with Sei-sama and Shimako-san at the time of the student council elections. Not only that, but is it okay to interpose in Shimako-san's delicate relationship with Sei-sama? And more, because Shizuka-sama found Shimako-san's hidden white card during the the newspaper club's Valentine's Day project, the two of them went on a half-day date. Somehow or other, they were friends whose relationship could not be summed up in a few words.

So, even though she can inquire, "Is it strange, I wonder?" Nobody can really say what is strange. But they couldn't think of how Shizuka-sama and Shimako-san became close friends.

"Excuse me, may I ask a question?"

Mami-san raised her hand and asked.

"I'm Yamaguchi Mami of the newspaper club. There is a rumor that Sei-sama has come to Italy. Do you have any information about that that you could share?"

After being asked this, Shimako-sama looked at Shimako-san instead of answering.

"Have you heard anything?"

"No?"

"I've not heard anything either. If she was coming, it would have been nice to get in touch with me. I gave her my house address and phone number."

So, it was bad info after all. Mami-san was obviously disappointed. If it had gone well, she could have some breaking news for the Lillian Kawaraban: an article with a three-shot of Sei-sama, Shizuka-sama, and Shimako-san. It appears that she had put the cart before the horse this time.

"You three, did you just get here? Are you climbing the tower?"

Shizuka-sama brushed off her skirt as she stood up.

"Yes, ... pretty much."

Yumi's voice had gone tiny. Actually, back at school when they asked who was going up, Yumi raised her hands and said "I'm going!" with great force. For some reason or another, she felt like a lucky charm for times like this. But now with the real thing before her eyes, she realized that she was honestly scared. Thinking "it's so big" plus "it's so tilted."

"What time?"

"At 2 o'clock."

"Well, then there's time. If you like, won't you come with me to the baptistery?"

"Actually, since I was just waiting for Yumi and friends, I haven't been inside either."

Wisteria class's free time ran until 2 p.m. It seems that Shizuka-sama and Shimako-san had already talked about it, and they were waiting for a little while before going to the baptistery if the Pine class did not come.

The clock read 1:20. They promptly bought tickets and headed towards the baptistery.

"But why the baptistery?"

Shimako-san asked Shizuka-sama. It seemed that she too had not been told why. They deduced that this had to be the baptistery since the information stand was neither the Duomo nor the art museum. Shizuka-sama made a small smile through pursed lips and said "because this is my favorite place" then stopped.

The baptistery was close to the entrance of the piazza, so going back didn't seem that far. It was a round, white, and cute building.

In front of the door, the person in charge came out to meet them. She was a young lady with pretty blond hair. Perhaps this person was what one would call an "Italian beauty." Wearing a police or guard uniform, she looked incredibly cool.

Inside was a big space without partitions. In the center was something that looked like an octagonal bathtub. This was the baptismal font.

"How's this?"

Since she was asked, Yumi offered her honest impression.

"It looks like a big bathroom."

"Hey, Yumi-san."

That's indiscreet. Mami-san poked Yumi with her elbow. But then Shizuka-sama said,

"That's Yumi-san for you."

"Huh?"

"The real answer to the earlier question. The reason that I like this place. It's because this is indeed a big bathroom."

"Haa."

While saying this answer, Shizuka-sama just grew more and more mysterious. Everyone was tilting their heads, looking around at their surroundings as if won't somebody explain this?

Then, the baptistery interior suddenly grew darker. The door, which had been open up until now, was closed with a clang.

Some tourists murmured, what's starting? The Italian beauty from before stepped to the center, quietly said "shh" as if giving directions.

The baptistery grew quiet. Then the Italian beauty clapped her hands. Clap. Clap. Then.

Claap! Claap!

It reverberated like an echo.

(Ah)

I got it. It reverberates.

Since Yumi couldn't say anything, she watched Shizuka-sama. It's a big bathroom, huh? Shizuka-sama smiled and nodded. That seems to be correct.

The Italian beauty continued, crying out "Aaa." A beautiful voice. Before the first "Aaa" had disappeared, the sound of a second "Aaa" came from the ceiling. Third, fourth. All different sounds. But they formed a chord, not a muddled pile, each mutually enhanced the other sounds. They played beautiful music.

This was a place where one voice could become many.

After she finished a verse, a round of applause burst forth from the audience. That applause also echoed from the ceiling, creating the applause of a much larger crowd.

Before the door was opened, Shizuka-sama approached the Italian beauty and said something in Italian. After receiving a gesture that looked like "go ahead," Shizuka-sama stood where the Italian beauty had just been and took a deep breath. And then the next moment,

"Aaa"

A voice that sounded like it pierced the sky, reverberated throughout the baptistery.

And then a second voice. Beautiful chords.

Goosebumps.

Probably a hymn or a verse from an aria that she had never heard. It was a song that created the impression of a clear, blue, sky.

Amidst the echoes, Shizuka-sama bowed her head deeply. Unexpectedly and spontaneously, tourists from many lands applauded in a huge ovation. Some also shook her hand.

"What was that song called?"

"Improvisation. I could not think of any existing songs that would make pretty echoes."

It had to be notes that wouldn't be ruined when covered with the remnants of the previous notes as echoes piled up one on top of each other. It was the same principle as stepping on a piano's pedal.

"I wanted to try that once."

Shizuka-sama stuck out her tongue.

"You all gave me an excuse."

To say such a thing. Really, she thought it might be a present to a junior schoolmate who had come all the way from Japan.

Part 3

It was 1:40 when they left the baptistery. Shizuka-sama and Shimako-san said their farewells and split off, leaving the group of four close friends (?) to head towards the leaning tower.

The general rule for the leaning tower is to raise both hands to the sky when you go up. They left their bags in a small locker in a spot a little ways from the leaning tower. Tsutako-san took the camera hanging from her neck and put it in her bag. As a replacement, she pulled out a small camera out and placed it in her pocket. Just how many cameras did she bring?

"My heart's racing, somewhat."

It was an odd nervousness, like before riding a roller coaster.

Fewer than half of the Pine class were climbing the tower, 16 people. Did they view this number as many or few? Incidentally, it seems that Fuji class' Shimako-san did not go up. The reason was "because it is tall and scary." One had no choice but to nod at such a strong view.

Although Yumi never bothered to ask, she thought that when Sachiko-sama came to Pisa last year, she probably did not go up the leaning tower. But because Sachiko-sama's demonically stubborn hatred of losing, she would never say "it was scary." Yumi decided that Sachiko-sama would have declined by saying something like "where's the fun in climbing a tower?" or "I don't do well in tilted places?"

The time had come. In succession, they entered the leaning tower.

Inside the stone staircase, the walls were sturdy, so it wasn't as scary as they had imagined when looking from outside. Because it was a spiral staircase inside a cylindrical building, they could only focus on climbing the stairs. They could not see the landscape outside.

Although it wasn't scary, it was still hard to walk. Because it was leaning. But that was obvious.

But the human brain is too good at processing information on its own. It cannot help but correct things coming in from the eyes as if this were a properly straight building. Which is why even though their heads understood that things were leaning, their feet kept trying to stand perpendicular to the steps. But in reality, their feet were on a slope, so it felt like gravity pulled at an angle, and that was unpleasant. Depending on the place, the walls would either stick to or separate from the body. They could not get used to the sensation.

"I cannot believe you got Rei-sama to approve of this."

The stone steps had been worn smooth and slippery, which would have made the climb to this height difficult even without the lean. She can say that, but overprotective Rei-sama was not there herself. She disliked Yoshino-san's rashness more than anything else.

"I did not exactly get Rei-chan's approval."

Yoshino-san said, while out of breath.

"Because she might have misunderstood things on her own. I might have said something like 'Yumi and friends are going up the tower. That sure is brave.'"

"..."

Saying it like that, Rei-sama would certainly think that Yoshino-san was not interested in going up the leaning tower.

"Yoshino-san, I can't believe the Mouth of Truth didn't bite your hand."

"It wasn't a lie."

But. It wasn't the whole truth. Not when said like that.

"Oh well, it's totally impossible. I can't go out."

They had come to a balcony-like place on the way. Mami-san stuck her face out the opening, and was now trembling in fear.

"Even just walking inside, aren't you nervous? There's no reason to stand outside. Since the earth's surface is tilted diagonally."

To be correct, it was the tower that was diagonal.

"Plus, there's no railing."

There was no railing. Which is why even if the tower wasn't leaning, it would still be "totally impossible." Because it was a world heritage site, they tried to modify it as little as possible. If this were Japan, they would have put up iron bars or something to prevent folks from falling over.

"Anyway, let's go up to the top."

Tsutako-san led, cheering on Mami-san who had suddenly lost her strength. Because there are people coming up from behind, if they did not go up or out, they would block the passage here.

They thought this place was already up plenty high. It felt like the stone steps had grown narrow. Before long, they came to a small opening. Seeing the people before them relaxing and doing as they pleased, it seems this was the final destination.

"If you think of this as three layers, the highest layer's small column connects to the second layer's long column here."

With their hand holding on the lower part, they were practically crawling on all fours. To do something so vaguely terrifying as stand up was completely impossible. At the risk of repeating the same thing, the floor was slanted. If you lost your balance and took a tumble, you were in danger of falling from the tower. There was a fence here, but it was thin and had spaces wide enough for a person to pass through easily. Your survival instinct said you should not put too much trust in that fence.

Timidly making their way through all the people, they finally found a place where four people could sit down. If they looked up, they could see a small circle placed above this big circle. There was a donut-shaped ring section upon which maybe 20 people had crowded.

Far, far below, was the tilted ground. Far away, they could see a soccer field.

From the top of the leaning tower, battered by the wind, gazing at the ground, it was a wondrous feeling. Just a small change in angle and height make a huge change in how the world looks. That's why, even with human relationships, if you can take one step ahead, and look at the same things from a different side, you can gain a greater understanding. From this place of great height, Yumi thought of great things.

"It seems there is still more above to go..."

They heard Tsutako-san say, after a shutter click and while she returned her camera to a pocket. If they looked up, it seems that it had become possible to go to the top of the column that the four of them were clinging to, thanks to signs from others who had already gone up.

The top of the tower is like a belfry, shaped more like a pipe than a column. The pipe section had a narrow walkway (also leaning), not very walkable. Sitting here was more than enough.

"That's impossible."

"Pass."

"Me too."

Mami-san, Yoshino-san, and Yumi all declared retirement. Tsutako-san who had originally asked also said softly "Oh, thank goodness." If the three others said they were going up, she didn't know what she'd do.

So with a unanimous decision to "end here", they descended the tower.

Part 4

They descended the stone steps carefully to avoid slipping. When they got to the exit, Shizuka-sama was there waiting.

"Ah, excuse me, sensei."

After bowing politely, she left Katori-sensei. That's right, Katori-sensei was also in charge of last year's second-year students, so she would know Shizuka-sama.

"I thought you were going home."

Yumi said after running up to Shizuka-sama.

"I wanted to have a more leisurely talk with Yumi-san."

So she was waiting for Yumi? Huh. It's not that Yumi wouldn't be happy to talk to her. Certainly, Yumi thought the farewell back then was a little sad.

"Yumi-san. We're heading to the restroom."

Yoshino-san said to Yumi while waving a handbag from their locker. Yumi-san, what will you do?

Yumi replied, "I'm fine." I'll wait here. Everyone go on.

"Are you sure?"

Shizuka-san asked.

"Yes. I already went at the fast food place by the train station."

After seeing the three of them off to the rear of the Duomo, Yumi and Shizuka went to the middle of the lawn and sat down. What to say after such a long time?

"Shizuka-sama, do you live near here?"

Asked this, Shizuka-sama said, "not so near." She pulled out a notebook from her bag. Fluently writing letters and numbers, then tearing out a page, she held it out to Yumi, "here." It was a foreign address, so Yumi did not know right away where it was. But Shizuka-sama explained that it was a town near Florence. Right now she was staying as a guest (to hear Shizuka-sama say it) in a house with my aunt and her Italian husband. While attending a private school to study Italian language and vocal music, she also was working on the various things for college admissions.

"Your parents must be relieved to know you're safe, staying with a relative."

"You think so? Still, they call often. It's troublesome. But I guess it's not strange. That they want to know that I'm happy, to hear my voice. In that manner, that also makes me happy. It means that they care. It's just straightforward and easy to understand."

"Shizuka-sama, you don't call them?"

"International calls are expensive. So it's exclusively these."

Shizuka-sama then pulled something from between the pages of her notebook.

"Ah."

A picture postcard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She had already written the address and text, and affixed the stamp.

"My parents are not good with computers, so we cannot really exchange email. If it's just a status report, it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there. What else could I do that would be better than that? That's why, whenever I come to a tourist spot like this, I buy a postcard and write a letter. E-mail is e-mail, but airmail is better, no?"

"Excuse me, where did you buy that postcard?" A souvenir shop? And the stamp? Can I run there?"

Yumi might get her wish here. The wish that she could not get at the Vatican art museum. After thinking this, she could no longer sit still. She stood up without waiting for Shizuka-sama's reply.

"What's wrong? Settle down, Yumi-san. First, sit here. You want to send a letter to Japan, right?"

"Yes."

"To Sachiko-san?"

With a deep nod, Shizuka-sama opened her earlier notebook and once again pulled something from between its pages.

"Here, let me give this to you."

What she offered was a picture postcard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, different from the earlier one. Of course, it was an unused one.

"Huh?"

It seems that out of habit, she buys several. She sends some to her Japanese friends, but she had many and never uses them all up.

"I have stamps, too."

"I see. Then, uh, please sell this to me."

"That's not very charming, Yumi-san. At times like this, it is better to just say 'thank you very much.'"

She remembered that Sachiko-sama had said something similar, a long time ago. At the venue for one of Rei-sama's kendo matches, whether to pay or not pay for a sandwich.

"But."

Shizuka-sama is not my onee-sama. There's no reason to accept it. But it felt somewhat rude to refuse it stubbornly.

"I wanted to play the upperclassman, but fine. How about I take just the postage cost?"

"Yes."

After their mutual concessions, the negotiation concluded. Yumi accepted the postcard from Shizuka-sama, and in ballpoint pen, wrote Sachiko-sama's address and name.

"Hm."

For the text of the letter, she was stumped. First of all, what should she write? If this were a New Year's card, then "Happy New Year" or "Greetings for the New Year." If this were a seasonal letter, then something like "how are you on this hot summer day," even though that was rather cliched. "Dear Sir or Madam" and "To whom it may concern" felt strange. Why did the opening greeting on a letter become the main issue all of a sudden? At first, she thought that she wanted something like a simple greeting.

"How do you say 'Gokigenyou' in Italian?"

"Gokigenyou? If it's the 'konnichi wa' nuance, then 'Buon Giorno,' I think. If it's addressed to Sachiko-san, then would 'Ciao' be okay?"

"Ciao."

"Yes. If it's 'Gokigenyou, onee-sama,' then 'Ciao, Sorella'"

Japanese "shimai" changes to "sister" in English, "soeur" in French, and "sorella" in Italian. Yumi learned how to spell it from Shizuka-sama. Then using the marker that she bought at the Milano airport, wrote 'Ciao sorella!' in big letters. Under that, 'I'm in Pisa now. The trip is fun.' written in ballpoint pen.

"Yumi-san, no little sister yet?"

Done writing, Yumi put the cap on her ballpoint pen and answered.

"Yeah, well..."

"Sachiko-san isn't nagging you?"

"Not for now."

"Ah. But soon you won't be able to say that."

Shizuka-sama's vague prediction piled on top of Yumi's own insecure hunch.

"So for now, enjoy being the one doted upon."

With those words, and the episode of Shizuka-sama's parental phone call behind them, Yumi secretly wrote on the bottom of the postcard, 'I miss you, onee-sama.' Then, so that nobody would see it, she quickly put it in her handbag and closed it. Now it was not only Shizuka-sama. The three who had gone to the restroom had returned. If it became known that she wrote such a thing, she'd get made fun of.

"It was a pay toilet. I paid the lady at the entrance."

It appears that Yoshino-san was having fun with experiences she could not have in Japan.

"I honestly used up the last of my change there."

"It was a place that you pay to use, so it wasn't dirty."

While listening to Tsutako-san and Mami-san's report, Challenger Yumi was glad for her own experience. Her goal of sending a postcard to Sachiko-sama was also a challenge, and that was fine.

"The three of us were talking on the way back. Don't you want to eat some Italian gelato?"

"While we were going up the leaning tower, Itsue-san and friends ate some."

"We missed our chance at the Spanish steps, right?"

With an invitation like that, there's no way she could refuse. Nope. She would rather take the opportunity to eat some. Yumi had quite the sweet tooth.

"Gelato shop, huh. From here go straight and you'll end up on a street lined with bars and restaurants. It's there."

Shizuka-sama said, "I think you'll find it soon."

"Huh? Shizuka-sama?"

"I was able to speak with Yumi-san, so I'll take my leave soon. I have to go back and prepare for tomorrow's lessons."

"Is that so?"

"And today's a bit warm, no?"

Yumi thought that asking more might start to feel like a serious investigation, might make things feel uneasy. If it is warm, maybe the voice will come easier, studies will advance, probably something like that.

"Oh, Yumi-san. Shall I mail your postcard for you? There are mailboxes all over the place, but when you're searching for one they can never be found."

"Ah, is that okay?" Thank you very much. That's a big help."

That said, it would be a bit embarrassing if the 'I miss you, onee-sama' line was read. But she could not say "No, that's okay" at this point, so she gently handed it over, with the Leaning Tower of Pisa photo side up.

"Be seeing you."

"Thank you very much for the postcard."

"If you can get a little sister, please send me a letter of report."

"Yes."

Yumi and friends watched Shizuka-sama head towards the entrance, then they started for the gelato vendor.

Here, a double scoop seems to be normal. Studying the inside of the glass case, they saw any varieties of ice cream lined up. Some, like chocolate, they recognized. Others had fruit and things that they did not recognize. But they lacked the language ability to understand any explanation, so they used vague "this and this"-like gestures to buy their gelato.

They moved to the side of the street and tried it right away.

"Delicious."

But compared to the ice cream from a popular ice cream shop in Japan, this was a little soft. Mami-san said softly, "This country's ice cream is leisurely." Everyone spontaneously laughed.

"So, Rosa Canina, huh."

Yoshino-san said while licking vanilla gelato.

"She was certainly considerate of us."

Perhaps she was, Yumi thought, too. Or maybe because she was told so by Yoshino-san, her simple guess made with unusual confidence. Such thoughts wooshed through her head.

"Ah. Yumi-san. Dripping, dripping!"

Her chocolate gelato was melting, flowing down the cone and hand, falling to the ground in drips.

"Wow."

She licked it quickly, but the gelato melted a rate faster than she could lick.

"Aw, I can't appreciate it like this."

She finally understood what Shizuka-sama meant by "today's a bit warm, no?" It was a short warning, a reproach, a wee bit of "mischief" from the Shizuka-sama of olden days. The essence of a person probably does not change even if they go to a foreign country. With this, she had defeated the unprepared Yumi.

"Yumi-san, look over here please."

The moment she reacted to the words and raised her head, the sound of a shutter clicked.

"Wow... you were really gone."

That was a really unattractive face. Now.

"Thank you."

Because Tsutako-san had just finished her gelato, it was easy for her to pick up a point on Yumi.

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