Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Maria-sama ga Miteru

2008-10-02T00:31:36Z

72.53.7.163:

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

== Synopsis ==

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

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

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

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

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

== Updates ==
*October 1, 2008
**Seki-sama, where are you?! Are you getting your remaining wisdom teeth pulled like Rosa Foetida? Hope you are feeling better.
*September 24, 2008
**Sorry, flight back to uni is tonight. That's what I've been up to.
*September 19, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 4 Part 2 added.
*September 17, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 4 Part 1 added.
*September 16, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 3 Part 3 added.
*September 14, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 3 Part 2 added.
*September 13, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 3 Part 1 added.
*September 12, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 2 Part 4 added.
*September 11, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 2 Part 3 added.
*September 10, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 2 Part 2 added.
*September 3, 2008
**Well I posted this in my profile page but I figured (belatedly) I should mention it here, because I'm sure most people don't bother to check that. I was sick (apparently with a really bad allergic reaction to some sort of combination of grass and fungus and trees) for about three weeks, which delayed me after August 23. Still managed to squeeze a chapter out three days later, because that's around when my medication kicked in. Then I got my wisdom teeth pulled, and that's absolutely frayed my nerves (I hate things in my mouth, so the stitches are driving me up the wall), so I haven't been able to concentrate on anything much. And I've got the other half of my mouth still waiting o_O So I'll try to gather myself and resume translating, but yeah, that's why I fell off the end of the world as of late.
*August 26, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 2 Part 1 added.
*August 23, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 1 Part 3 and Part 4 added.
*August 22, 2008
**Volume 5 Chapter 1 Part 1 and Part 2 added.
*August 20, 2008
**Still sick, but Volume 5 Prologue added.

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

== Maria-sama ga Miteru/マリア様がみてる by Oyuki Konno ==
=== Volume 1 - Maria-sama ga Miteru/マリア様がみてる [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v01_cover.jpg|thumb]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Monday of Uneasiness
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter1_4|Part 4]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter1_5|Part 5]]
* Tuesday of Storms
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter2_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter2_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter2_3|Part 3]]
* Anxious Wednesday, Friday of Battle
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter3_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter3_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter3_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter3_4|Part 4]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter3_5|Part 5]]
* Spicy and Bitter Weekend
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter4_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter4_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter4_3|Part 3]]
* The Hot Second Week
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter5_4|Part 4]]
* Waltz-like Sunday
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter6_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Chapter6_2|Part 2]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume1_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 2 - The Yellow Rose Revolution/黄薔薇革命 [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v02_cover.jpg|thumb]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Best Sœur
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter1_4|Part 4]]
* The Returned Rosary
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter2_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter2_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter2_3|Part 3]]
* Unexpected Consequences
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter3_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter3_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter3_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter3_4|Part 4]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter3_5|Part 5]]
* Just what is going on?
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter4_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter4_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter4_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter4_4|Part 4]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter4_5|Part 5]]
* Fighting Maidens
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter5_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter5_2|Part 2]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter5_3|Part 3]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter5_4|Part 4]]
* As long as it ends well
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter6_1|Part 1]]
** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter6_2|Part 2]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 3 - Forest of Thorns/いばらの森 [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v03_cover.jpg|thumb]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Forest of Thorns
** The semester exam and the paperback
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter1_4|Part 4]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter1_5|Part 5]]
** The White Rose
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_4|Part 4]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_5|Part 5]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_6|Part 6]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter2_7|Part 7]]
** Who's Suga Sei?
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter3_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter3_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter3_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter3_4|Part 4]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter3_5|Part 5]]
** If I could meet Eve
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter4_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter4_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter4_3|Part 3]]
* The White Flower Petal
** Springtime Buds
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter5_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter5_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter5_3|Part 3]]
** Summer Greenhouse
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter6_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter6_2|Part 2]]
** Autumn Love
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter7_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter7_2|Part 2]]
** The last flower of winter, and then
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter8_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter8_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter8_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Chapter8_4|Part 4]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume3_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 4 - Rosa Canina/ロサ・カニーナ [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4|(Full Text)]]===
[[Image:MM_v04_cover.jpg|thumb]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Prologue|Prologue]]
*Rosa Canina
** A lonesome warmth
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
** Rosa Canina?
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter2_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter2_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter2_3|Part 3]]
** What do you think?
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3_4|Part 4]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3_5|Part 5]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter3_6|Part 6]]
** Raison d'etre for sœur
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter4_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter4_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter4_3|Part 3]]
** A modest secret
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter5_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter5_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter5_3|Part 3]]
* Nagakiyono
** The first of January
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter6_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter6_2|Part 2]]
** The hatsumoude on the second
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter7_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter7_2|Part 2]]
** With the archenemy
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter8_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter8_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter8_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter8_4|Part 4]]
** By onee-sama's side
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter9_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Chapter9_2|Part 2]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume4_Postscript|Postscript]]

=== Volume 5 - Valentine Gift - Part 1/ウァレンティーヌスの贈り物（前編） ===
[[Image:MM_v05_cover.jpg|thumb]]
* [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Prologue|Prologue]]
* Surprise chocolate
** Research
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_4|Part 4]]
** A gift from a rare visitor
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_3|Part 3]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_4|Part 4]]
** Outsider
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter3_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter3_2|Part 2]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter3_3|Part 3]]
** The thirteenth of February
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter4_1|Part 1]]
*** [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter4_2|Part 2]]
*** Part 3
** St. Valentine's prank
* The Yellow Rose complication
** 18:50, Eriko
** 19:18, Yoshino
** 19:30, Rei
** 23:10, Eriko
** 23:10, Yoshino
** 23:10, Rei
* Postscript

=== Volume 6 - Valentine Gift - Part 2/ウァレンティーヌスの贈り物（後編） ===

=== Volume 7 - Beloved Times - Part 1/いとしき歳月（前編） ===

=== Volume 8 - Beloved Times - Part 2/いとしき歳月（後編） ===

=== Volume 9 - Cherry Blossom (Sakura)/チェリーブロッサム ===

=== Volume 10 - Rainy Blue/レイニーブルー ===

=== Volume 11 - Holding a Parasol/パラソルをさして ===

=== Volume 12 - Vacation of the Lambs/子羊たちの休暇 ===

=== Volume 13 - One Page of Midsummer/真夏の一ページ ===

=== Volume 14 - Cool Breeze/涼風さつさつ ===

=== Volume 15 - Ready, GO!/レディ、GO！ ===

=== Volume 16 - Variety Gifts/バラエティギフト ===

=== Volume 17 - Ciào Sorella!/チャオソレッラ！ ===

=== Volume 18 - Just a Normal Day/特別でないただの一日 ===

=== Volume 19 - In Library/インライブラリー ===

=== Volume 20 - Sister Audition/妹オーディション ===

=== Volume 21 - Rose Mille-Feuille/薔薇のミルフィーユ ===

=== Volume 22 - Blank Map of the Future/未来の白地図 ===

=== Volume 23 - Other Side of the Frosted Glass/くもりガラスの向こう側 ===

=== Volume 24 - Masked Actress/仮面のアクトレス ===

=== Volume 25 - Big Door, Small Key/大きな扉　小さな鍵 ===

=== Volume 26 - Crisscross/クリスクロス ===

=== Volume 27 - In Search for You/あなたを探しに ===

=== Volume 28 - Frame of Mind/フレーム　オブ　マインド ===

=== Volume 29 - Crown of Roses/薔薇の花かんむり ===

=== Volume 30 - Twinkle, Twinkle, Twirl/キラキラまわる ===

== Project Staff ==

*Project Administrator: ''None Designated''
*Project Supervisor: [[User:Seki|Seki]]

=== Translators ===
'''ACTIVE'''
* [[User:Seki|Seki]]

Incidentally, I'm not really looking for another translator, at least not for the time being. Call it selfish, or arrogant, or whatever, but I'm relatively confident at this point that I can power through all of MariMite by myself, which would keep the style the same, throughout.

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

=== Editors ===
'''ACTIVE'''
* [[User:Ribonizer|Ribonizer]]

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

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter3 2

2008-09-14T20:37:55Z

72.53.7.163:

===<noinclude>Outsider. </noinclude>Part 1.===

"Ah, Yumi-chan?"

After school.

Would you call it habit? After finishing cleaning duties, Yumi realized her legs had absent-mindedly carried her to the Rose Mansion.

"Are you alone?"

Rei-sama seemed to have come straight from class, as she grinned in her school coat while holding her bag.

"Long time no see. Speaking of which, I have something I wanted to give you. … Hold on, -hmm."

She tried to sort through her bag, but she seemed to have decided that scouring through her bag while standing was difficult, so she said, "Well, let's go in for a bit," took Yumi's hand and went inside.

"Uh, umm."

It was bad enough that Yumi had come by the Rose Mansion, wasn't it really bad if she actually went in?

But Rei-sama bounced up the stairs without any care, and breaking free and escaping wasn't an option. So Yumi resigned herself to following Rei-sama upstairs. As long as Sachiko-sama isn't here, she thought.

"Ooh, first!"

When they entered the room, Rei-sama turned on the lights after that gleeful exclamation.

"I'll prepare the teakettle."

Out of habit, Yumi dashed to the electric pot.

"Don't worry about it."

"Okay."

She tossed the old water from the pot, rinsed it, and filled it with new water. Then when she plugged the cord into the electric socket, it began making a dull, "I'm boiling the water now" sound. After that, she rinsed the dish rag, drained it, and wiped the table. She wanted to mop the floor, too, but she was afraid of the dust rising and decided against it.

"Well, I'll be going now, then."

When her cleaning habit came to an halt, she suddenly realized, "Why am I here?" and wanted to get away.

"Hold on. Thanks for doing all these chores, but that doesn't mean you have to go as soon as you're done, you know?"

"Umm, but, aren't you all going to have a meeting now?"

Because Rei-sama has club activities today. But she came straight to the Rose Mansion, so there must be something planned today.

"Well, we are."

Rei-sama laughed as she pulled out the seat next to her and beckoned for Yumi to sit.

"But I said I had something I wanted to give Yumi-chan, didn't I?"

"Oh."

She'd completely forgotten. That's right, that's why she came to the Rose Mansion.

"Here."

Rei-sama took something out of her bag and placed it in front of Yumi. It was a book, like a thin magazine.

"This…?"

[[Image:MM_v05_06.jpg|thumb]]
"I was thinking of handing it to you when I ran into you, so it was in my bag the whole time. A cookbook for pastries. There're a lot of recipes for handmade chocolate, and the directions are really clear, so it should come in handy. The recipe for Rei-san's specialty chocolate truffles is pasted somewhere inside, too."

"But, Rei-sama, won't you need this, too?"

"Don't worry. The important bits… well mostly just the ingredients, I jotted them down. And I have a bunch of other books like this, anyways. Or do you not need it anymore?"

"Nonsense."

"OK. Then, let's keep it a secret from Sachiko and surprise her. How about this?"

Rei-sama was lively, because it was her field of expertise. Her handsome looks got in the way of this image, but she was always caring to begin with. After all, she'd been able to get along with that Yoshino-san for this long.

While they were leafing through the chocolate pastries book, filled with color photos, the door suddenly opened behind them.

"Sa-Sachiko-sama…"

They'd been so absorbed they didn't notice the footsteps on the stairs, so the two of them hurriedly stood up and quickly hid the book under their bags.

"- Why are you so surprised?"

"No, nothing. At all."

Since she'd gotten up anyways, and the electric pot had finished boiling the water, Yumi poured tea for the two second-years.

"Yumi, how about yours?"

Sachiko-sama coldly asked.

"Ah, I'm about to leave."

"Do you have something to do?"

"… Yes, kind of."

Because she couldn't answer "well it's uncomfortable staying here." Truth be told, she didn't mind if she stayed until Minako-sama or Shimako-san arrived, but Sachiko-sama seemed to be in ill spirits today. If she milled about and displeased her any further, it would be horrible, she thought. When Sachiko-sama was this stressed, you had to exercise extreme caution. You wouldn't guess it from how she usually conducts herself, but she did have a tendency to enter full hysteria.

"Then quit milling about and go."

Ouch, pretty harsh.

"Sachiko, stop acting like that. I pulled Yumi-chan in here."

"Rei?"

Sachiko-sama raised her head a bit, looked Yumi and Rei-sama, then said, "I see," and sipped her tea.

What do you have to do, or why did Rei-sama pull Yumi in, she didn't ask anything. It would be troublesome if she had persistently asked her, too, but it was just as awkward when she didn't ask anything at all.

"Well, excuse me."

When she headed toward the door after a quick bow, Rei-sama said, "Wait, Yumi-chan," and stopped her.

"Sorry, could you stop by the chrysanthemum class and hand this to Yoshino?"

"Yes?"

She was handed that book. The title was hidden because it was flipped, but it was still an audacious way to have gone about things. To Yoshino, she said, as she winked out of Sachiko-sama's view.

(… Which means she's letting me borrow it.)

Instead of "thank you very much," Yumi answered, "Alright," and left the room. Sachiko-sama wasn't interested at all by what Rei-sama would give Yoshino-san, and just sat still, elegantly sipping her tea.

Right as Yumi went down the stairs and went to open the door, it was opened from the other side, and she bumped into Shimako-san, who'd stormed into the building.

"Sorry."

Luckily, the only damage caused was that what they were holding fell to the ground.

"I was trying to come here as soon as I could after cleaning duty, but a number of things delayed me-"

While she was explaining why she was in such a hurry, Shimako-san began picking up the scattered documents. Yumi also helped.

"Oh, this-"

Noticing an unfamiliar book among the scattered documents, Shimako-san said, "Oh."

"Yumi-san's? So you're making chocolate for Valentine's Day after all?"

"… Mm. I don't know. Well, I borrowed it from Rei-sama, in any case, but I'm just looking through it, for now."
"I see."

Placing the documents under her arm, Shimako-san flipped through it.

"Come to think of it, I do recall everyone talking about this in the classroom."

After a quick smile, Shimako-san closed the book and held it out. As she received it, Yumi thought, she's probably not going to give Rosa Gigantea chocolate.

"If I knew Yumi-san would be here, I wouldn't have had to hurry so much, after all."

Farewell, said Shimako-san as she went up the stairs.

(Oh, that's right.)

When she left the Rose Mansion and entered the courtyard, Yumi finally realized.

The two "outsider" first-years had not gone to the Rose Mansion in quite some time. Which made Shimako-san in charge of most of the chores. Not that the upperclassmen were forcing the job onto her, but she must have felt it awkward to have the upperclassmen clean the room and pour her tea. So Shimako-san, despite being encumbered as it was with class and committee obligations, was doing her best.

When onee-sama and sister end up being separated for one reason or another, other people are hit by unexpected repercussions, Yumi thought.

She couldn't just become absorbed in her own problems.

She tried to reflect on her actions.

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|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter3_1|Part 1]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter3_3|Part 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter1 2

2008-08-25T01:03:16Z

72.53.7.163:

===<noinclude>Research. </noinclude>Part 2.===

And a few days later.

"Valentine's Day?"

Yumi didn't expect anything to begin with, and Shimako-san tilted her head, asking, "What do you mean?"

"… Umm."

Scratching her non-itchy head, Yumi thought.

How predictable. Shimako-san was clearly not the kind of person who gave chocolate to people on the fourteenth of February every year.

"Oh, Yumi-san, even I know about Valentine's Day."

She giggled politely. Oh, that's good, Yumi sighed, relieved. She didn't know what she'd do if she had to explain Valentine's Day from scratch.

"Saint Valentine, or Saint Valentinus, there're lots of pronunciations, but in Japan they call him 'Valentain' don't they."

"Vale…?"

"Valentine. The name of an Italian saint that was martyred. February fourteen is a holiday for him."

"Mmm."

Shimako-san's explanation sounded extraordinarily genuine and dignified.
Regretfully, she wasn't able to ask about this in the sanctuary. Instead, they were in the dressing room inside the gymnasium. It was the break-time before physical education, so the thighs and underwear appearances of other students leapt into her eyes.

Yumi'd paused in the middle of changing for the conversation, so she hurriedly shed her petticoat and put on her knee-high, black spats. Then, she took off the three-quarter sleeved v-neck shirt that she wore instead of a one-piece or a babashirt[http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes#babashirt], and put on a white collared gym shirt that had "1 Peach 33 Fukuzawa" sewed on to the front. And with her arms exposed, she felt goose bumps all over. Not that she could do anything about that, it was retribution for keeping herself too well cared for on a daily basis.

"I don't know when or how the holiday arrived on Japanese shores, but chocolate is very unrelated."

Having finished changing, herself, Shimako-san bundled her soft, cotton-like hair with a plain, thick black rubber band, and then tightened a hachimaki that matched our class color – peach. Shimako-san often looked soft and impossible to restrain, but in truth, she always walked around with a straight back, and no matter the weather, she carried herself without ever letting down. Like she's always tense. She looked like such an angel, but you could never figure out what she was thinking, so in a way she was quite mysterious.

"Then, you're not giving Rosa Gigantea chocolate?"

Lowering her voice, Yumi whispered in Shimako-san's ear.

"Oh, that's what you meant."

Shimako-san smiled, finally piecing together what Yumi had meant. She'd been asked, what are you going to do for Valentine's Day? But Yumi thought, wouldn't you normally immediately think about chocolate?

"Chocolate…"

"Yup. Shimako-san became Rosa Gigantea's sister a little earlier than me, right? So I was wondering what you planned for Valentine's Day."

Would you call it research? She wanted to gather as much information as possible and come up with a masterful plan, was the idea behind her asking around. But Yoshino-san was completely unreliable.

"… I'd not given it any thought."

"Probably."

She didn't feel disappointed at all. Because Shimako-san was a question mark from the start, so she'd given up before she'd asked.

Yumi and Shimako-san's image of Valentine's Day was too different. After all, she talked about Saint Valetine. She'd probably never done something as mundane as sending a gift of chocolate. … Probably not even to her father.

"I'm sorry I couldn't serve as a reference."

Shimako-san concluded the conversation the same way as Yoshino-san and stepped out of the dressing room.

Even with a sweatshirt and a jersey training pant, February physical education was tough. The light jogging to warm bodies up didn't work, because cold air drifted through the space in the cloth, so it ended up being more of a war of attrition. Blowing hot air into her cupped hands as she ran, Yumi simply wanted to avoid jamming her fingers.

Because today, they were going to play basketball.

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|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_1|Part 1]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume5 Chapter1 4

2008-08-25T01:00:53Z

72.53.7.163:

===<noinclude>Research. </noinclude>Part 4.===

"Chocolate for onee-sama? Yes, I gave her some last year, why?"

After finishing cleaning duty, Yumi had run to the martial arts building at the back of the school and caught Rei-sama before club activities began.

"Ah, umm, I was hoping for some references. Umm, you didn't… give her a super large chocolate cake, did you?"

"Oh come on. I can't bring that to school."

Rei-sama cackled, then mumbled, "Yoshino must have talked," while looking proud. Oh, no. Rei-sama doesn't get how Yoshino-san feels, at all. She wasn't bragging about the super large chocolate cake, but rather quite the opposite.

But Yoshino-san's agony wasn't important here, so Yumi felt sorry for her, but decided to leave it aside.

"Indeed."

She concurred, laughing, hahahah.

"Just a trite thing. Something that fits in a bag."

Using her thumbs and index fingers, Rei-sama made a square. It was around the size of a book. Something that size could be called "trite," and it would be perfectly safe to bring to school.

In a sense, her treatment of Yoshino-san and Rosa Foetida was wildly different, but on the other hand, the only person she could make a super large chocolate cake for was her neighbor. And of course, to Yoshino-san, that could also be called a "heavy burden."

Finally, someone I could use as a reference, Yumi thought. Tsutako-san was right, after all. Indeed, things went smoother by asking people who were first-years last year. Plus, since it was in the past, there was the added bonus of knowing the effects. So she could ask the onee-sama who received the chocolate, and would be able to set up a perfect Valentine's Day.

Last year, Rei-sama was the sister of a bouton, like Yumi, so she was the perfect person to ask. And the only, because there was no way she could ask Sachiko-sama, whom she was going to give the chocolate to.

"So what was it?"

She asked, excited. Pure chocolate by a famous chocolate company? Adult-flavored chocolate bonbons?

"What was it? Oh, the chocolate?"

In Yumi's mind, she was already thinking back to the department store's chocolate display. High-class chocolate in modest-looking boxes seemed like such a perfect fit.

"Umm, if I may ask, for reference' sake."

What would she do if she were told, they were dried-plum-sized chocolate worth several hundred yen? But the opponent was Sachiko-sama, so cheap chocolate might not fit her tastes. But at the same time, Yumi decided that if she'd have to use up her New Year's money, she would, and that's when Rei-sama answered.

"Bitter chocolate truffles. I think six in a box."

"Truffles."

What an expensive echo. The little, dried-plum-sized chocolate in the department window might have had that name, too, yes, and they were absurdly expensive.

And Yumi, being a commoner, quickly began calculating in her head.

If they were 200 yen each, it'd be 1,200 yen.

300 yen would be 1,800 yen.

400 yen would be 2,400 yen.

500 yen would be- she stopped. She felt a bit faint. Because for a commoner, the thought of six balls of chocolate costing 3,000 yen was unbelievable.

Even though she attended a ladies' school, it was troublesome to be bundled up together. Because each household had different fortunes and assets. She knew this from the start, but when she visited Sachiko-sama's house over New Year's, it was really hammered home.

Even though they both lived in Japan, and both attended the same school, they were really, really different in terms of value. Not that she was dissatisfied with her home, or anything.

"What's wrong, Yumi-chan?"

"I feel faint."

Little bills were flying around chocolate like butterflies, in her head.

"Did the thought of giving Sachiko truffles exhaust you?"

"Umm, something like that."

"Don't worry, it's not that bad, give it a shot?"

"---"

Not that bad? Maybe Rei-sama, who seemed like someone closer to her in terms of class stature, actually wasn't? Give it a shot, she said. Yumi felt like withering.

And, the more expensive it became, it also felt like she was going further and further away from her original intention of giving Valentine's chocolate. Maybe that was a vulgar way of thinking, though.

"I'll write the recipe down for you."

Rei-sama pet Yumi's head and smiled.

"Re, recipe?"

"If you want to make truffles. I'll help you a bit, just keep it a secret from Sachiko."

That's when Yumi realized.

"Um, umm, do you mean, how to make truffle chocolates, when you said recipe?"

"Mm?"

Rei-sama's confused face spoke volumes. The chocolate Rei-sama gave Rosa Foetida was, like what she gave Yoshino-san, handmade.

"What, Yumi-chan?"

"… Nevermind."

Yumi mumbled. There was no need to confess having made the wrong assumption.

Rei-sama was superhuman. On one hand, chocolate truffles. On the other hand, chocolate cake. And she made them both almost simultaneously.

But, in the end, it wouldn't be much of a reference, after all. It wasn't something to brag about, but the most Yumi'd ever done with baking was help her mother bake doughnuts by taking them out of the moulds. So to tell that sort of person, here, try making chocolate truffles? Skill was a bigger problem than money.

Rei-sama said she'd help, but if it ended up with her doing most of the work, she wouldn't be able to make truffles next year. And if Rei-sama did more than half, it would lose the "handmade" part of the gift. But all that said, Yumi'd never even imagined making truffles by hand.

"Thank you very much. I'll think about it."

Yumi bowed her head and dashed away. She'd underestimated things, fixating on chocolate, and now she felt like she had nowhere to go.

<noinclude>
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|-
| Return to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter1_3|Part 3]]
| Forward to [[Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume5_Chapter2_1|Chapter 2 Part 1]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume3 Chapter2 2

2008-07-11T05:21:22Z

72.53.7.163:

==2.==

The homeroom teacher was supposed to talk about rather important things like how to get in touch during vacation-time.

But most of the students were, while acting like they were listening, completely spaced out, so the teacher simply jotted down the important things on the blackboard and ended class.

Because she'd slacked off a bit for exam studies, Yumi was afraid of receiving her second semester report card. But leaving aside things that would happen a week later, she decided to revel in the week-long exam break, where she'd not have to worry about anything like homework.

After all, exams were over.

(But, before that.)

"Shimako-san, would you like to visit Rosa Gigantea before we head to the Rose Mansion?"

A French doll neatly packing her textbooks into her bag, -Yumi called out to Toudou Shimako-san.

"Why?"

Her soft, coiled hair bounced along with her deliberate, slow-tempo movements.

"You've heard the rumors, right? I was thinking of directly asking Rosa Gigantea about them."

At first, she thought about adopting Rei-sama's stance of acting like she never knew about it. But had she not known about it, it would be okay, but knowing as much as she did now, she knew it wasn't going to be possible for her to act like she knew nothing.

So she thought. How would she feel if she were Rosa Gigantea?
Rather than people avoiding it like a bruised wound, she would feel much better if people simply asked her, outright. Of course, this was just Yumi's opinion, so she didn't know if Rosa Gigantea would feel the same. And if Rosa Gigantea felt displeasure in her asking, then she would apologize.

"I would ask at the Rose Mansion, but then it would drag the people who would prefer to stay out, like Rei-sama, into it."

"… so why are you inviting me?"

"Because Rosa Gigantea is Shimako-san's onee-sama, right?"

"Yes, of course."

After smiling, Shimako-san added, "But…"

"I think it is wrong that I would accompany Yumi-san for that reason alone."

"Wh, why?"

"Because I lean toward Rei-sama's side on this matter. Plus, if you're acting in regard to Rosa Gigantea, there is no need to bother with me, as I am simply her sister."

Yumi thought she'd heard similar words from Rosa Gigantea before. Something like Rosa Gigantea not minding if Shimako-san depended on someone else.

"But, don't you want to know?"
"No."

An immediate answer.

Because that's the sort of siblings we are, Shimako-san's words seemed to say.

(That sort of sibling, that sort of sibling, that sort of sibling-)

Is weird, she thought.

Well, it is a human relationship, so they come in all sorts of shapes. But at least in Yumi's case, she'd not like it if a first-year were to be friendly with Sachiko-sama, and Yoshino-san was bothered by the student that offered cupcakes to Rei-sama.

Rosa Gigantea and Shimako-san were very cooled down. This was clearly not simply because they were two years apart. If that were the case, the problem would have to be their personalities. Rosa Gigantea said before that she and Shimako-san were similar, so they felt at ease with each other.

"Anyways, Yumi-san, shouldn't you go?"

"Eh?"

"She doesn't know Yumi-san is looking for her, so unless you hurry, Rosa Gigantea will already be at the Rose Mansion."

"That's right…!"
Yumi grabbed her bag and hurried down the hallway.

"Later, Shimako-san."

What a blunder. It's her bad habit of being easily distracted.

They'd decided earlier to have a tea party after exams were over, so Rosa Gigantea might already have left her classroom.

The third-year classroom, or the Rose Mansion. After pondering which to choose, Yumi chose the former, and after taking a step, the school broadcast streamed some pleasant music, and then…

"Third-year wisteria-class, Satou Sei-san. Please come to the Guidance Office immediately. I repeat-"
(Eh?)

Faster than her thoughts could keep up, Yumi's body deftly changed directions. Satou Sei-san was Rosa Gigantea.

"Third-year wisteria-class, Satou Sei-san."

Her goal wasn't the classroom nor the Rose Mansion.

"Please come to the Guidance Office immediately."
It was next door to the faculty room.

(But, why…?)

After confirming the words on the plate hung out in front of the room, Yumi felt terrified.

For Rosa Gigantea, who's a role model for students, to be called out to the room where teachers "guide" students on how they "conduct" themselves. It was incomprehensible. Even Yumi felt mortified by this, and she wasn't even the one being called! She couldn't imagine how humiliated Rosa Gigantea must be feeling.

Even so.

"Oh? Yumi-chan got called on, too?"

That Rosa Gigantea showed up bright and sunny. She slowly lumbered over opposite the hallway Yumi had dashed. It seemed Yumi had arrived faster than the person who was called.

"Then, that would mean the reason I was called was for homosexual adultery!"

"What…!"

She didn't think it was the time to be joking around. That said, the sight of girls stalking a cackling Rosa Gigantea from a distance was rather disturbing. Most of them were freshmen, but the newspaper club captain was also among them. It was a group of students that had heard the broadcast and couldn't restrain themselves from finding out what was going on.

"Yumi-chan, would you happen to know why I've been possessed by these stalker-ghosts?"

"Happen to know… Well, roughly, I guess."

There's Rosa Gigantea for you, picking out some brilliant word choice. "Stalker-ghosts." -Not that she should be admiring that right now.

"W, would that mean… Rosa Gigantea, you didn't know about the uproar…"

"What happened?"

This time she had a serious look on her face. That's a big-shot for you, I guess. Even though she had no idea why she was called out to the guidance office, she was still as cheerful as ever.

"That's right. I was actually wanting to ask, too. Rosa Gigantea, did you write 'Forest of Thorns'?"

"Forest…?"

As Rosa Gigantea tilted her head to the side, the door behind her opened.

"Ahh, Satou-san. You've arrived. Come in."

The guidance sister poked her head out the door and urged Rosa Gigantea to enter.

"Yes. … Well, Yumi-chan, talk to you later."

In contrast to Rosa Gigantea, who was so full of composure she even winked before going through the door, Yumi felt her heart sink. As for why, she only caught a glimpse, but inside the guidance office was the academy principle, the middle-school and high-school principle, the third-year official, and the homeroom teacher for the third-year wisteria class. If that sort of line-up were to stare at her, Yumi thought she'd blurt out "I'm sorry!" even if she hadn't done anything.

"Yumi-san."

Yoshino-san split through the stalker-ghosts and rushed over to Yumi, hair swaying. With that as a trigger, the tense atmosphere loosened, and the mass of nervous girls broke up a bit. But no one felt like leaving, so they milled about in front of the faculty office and the guidance office. They all seem to intend to wait until Rosa Gigantea came out.

"What did Rosa Gigantea say?"

Yoshino-san, too, heard the broadcast and had rushed over.

"… She was as cheerful as always. Also, she didn't seem to know why she was called."

"She didn't know?"

But it was this big, Yoshino-san was surprised. Even if it wasn't up to the first-years' scope, it must have reached the third-years by now.

Just then, a shadow crept forth, stooped low, like a scrambling mouse. That uniform-wearing mouse stopped in front of the guidance office, then leaned against the door. Like a ninja trying to blend into the wall.

"… You know, the guidance office uses sound-proof walls and doors."

Yoshino-san, watching, pointed out.

"Oh, dear, I'd become so engrossed. It's not like I was trying to listen in, or anything, ohohohohoho…"

Mouse, ninja, also known as the newspaper club captain, Tsukiyama Minako-sama cackled, hiding her embarrassment.

"Ohohohohohohoho."

Her hand held up to her mouth made the shape of a fox.

"I can't help but notice, that here is the sœur of Rosa Foetida en bouton, Miss Shimazu Yoshino. And the sœur of Rosa Chinensis en bouton, Miss Fukuzawa Yumi. Gokigenyou."

"Go, Gokigenyou."

They couldn't just ignore a greeting from a senior, so Yumi and Yoshino-san answered back, then quickly turned to their right.

Yoshino-san probably accidentally spoke, because this Minako-sama was the type of person you really didn't want anything to do with. When you deal with the newspaper club, anything ends up becoming exaggerated a hundred or a thousand times over.

"My, you don't have to run, do you?"

Minako-sama placed a hand on each of their shoulders, then spun them around.

What happens when you turn around, then get turned around again? Yes, correct, you return to your former position. And that former position happened to be right in the face of Minako-sama.

"Running away means you have something to hide from me, because it would be a bother if I found out, right?"

Minako-san's eyes glittered.

"N, no."

"How absurd."

The two of them shook their heads. She wasn't quite as stubborn as Sachiko-sama, but talking to her was probably about the same. They open their mouth, and before you know it, you've been swallowed whole.

"Leaving that aside. You've showed up at a good time. Can you tell onee-san what you two feel about this 'White Rose Incident'?"

She suddenly switched her energetic voice to a purr, and sidled up to them. In a way, this was even scarier. And she already titled this the 'White Rose Incident'… It was a lot more easy-going than the 'Yellow Rose Revolution,' but that must mean she's having trouble finding out what's behind things this time.

"Don't say anything, Yumi-san."

Yoshino-san prodded Yumi with her elbow.

"I know."

She didn't need to be told, because she already intended to say nothing. She could imagine how much trouble she'd cause Rosa Gigantea if she said anything.

If the "Lillian Kawaraban" was to have "A conversation with insider source Fukuzawa Yumi-san," she'd have to pack her bags and go off on a journey, alone.

"How distrustful. I'll have you know, I've reconsidered since the last time, and so I'm restraining myself a bit."

"Last time…"

Would that be publishing Yoshino-san and Rei-san's surveys the wrong way. Or would that be when she wrote a tearful shoujo love story based on Yoshino-san's returning of her rosary to Rei-sama.

"Actually, I'm in a bind. With so much time taken up by exam studies, this Tsukiyama Minako had no idea about this uproar until this afternoon. See, if the newspaper club's behind the times, that's no good, right? And break starts tomorrow, so I'd like to have a big, concise wrap-up next week, you know? So could you lend me a hand?"

(… Wow.)

She hasn't reconsidered, at all.

"If you could lend me a hand, I could help out Rosa Gigantea on 'Lillian Kawaraban.'"

If you can't push, pull. Minako-sama dangled a beautiful meal, this time. But as much of a glutton as Yumi may be, she wasn't foolish enough to- enough to-

"Is it okay to watch your lovely Rosa Gigantea get expelled like this?"

"Ex, expelled!?"

Yumi leapt at the suspicious bait, the needles behind it in clear view.

"Yumi-san, calm down."

Yoshino-san grabbed Yumi's shoulders and pulled her back.

"But, if Rosa Gigantea becomes expelled!"

"Calm down and think about it. The school wouldn't expel someone just for writing a novel."

"… Ah."

Yumi spat the bait out from her mouth.

Calm down, calm down. She was about to become food for the newspaper club.

"Are you sure? I wonder."

Minako-sama laughed.

"Our school forbids working, you know? If she wrote a novel and received stipends for it, that would clearly be against school rules."

"Working is just prohibited on a basic level, if you get permission, you can work."

Surprisingly, Yoshino-san re-thought or something, and began verbally firing back at Minako-sama. They were a rare, but there were students at Lillian who received permission to work, based on their reasons for needing the jobs. Aiding their household with money, or wanting to cultivate specific skills, for instance. Specific skills such as serving tea or flower arrangement or having an apprenticeship for dancing, some even act in troupes to improve their acting skills. Of course, no matter the case, the students are receiving money from outside, so the school requests a meeting with the student and a guardian and finally gives permission after discussions.

"Do you think Rosa Gigantea received permission? That's why she got called here, didn't she?"

"… Well."

But Yoshino-san, despite fighting bravely, couldn't continue. Well it's futile, trying to fight with words against the newspaper club captain.

"Of course, you don't usually get expelled for a single breach of the school rules, but that's not to say it never happens."

She danced around the point so much that Yumi found herself struggling to keep up. In other words, she wanted to say that you could get expelled for breaking the rules a single time.

"According to my data, one student was working in a sex-service-related store a few years ago, and after being called to the guidance office, she was expelled that day."

Data, what data was she talking about?

"But, sex service and novel writing are on different levels altogether."

Yoshino-san responded after gathering courage. But a cold smile came back. "Oh?"

"That just depends on the person. Selling your body or selling your mind, what's the difference?"

"… Umm."

They're clearly different, but it was hard to explain. If Tsutako-san were here, she'd probably be able to win this sort of argument.

The first-years who were in the distance ended up hearing the uncommon phrase "sex service" and had begun whispering among themselves.

Gosh. At this rate, rumors of Rosa Gigantea working a sex service job and getting called to the guidance office because of it could spread.

"I can use the 'Lillian Kawaraban' to call the attention of the faculty, if you'd like. Please don't expel Rosa Gigantea."

"But, we really don't know anything."

"Oh, Yumi-san, but you were to speaking to Rosa Gigantea just now. So what is it? 'Forest of Thorns.' Did Rosa Gigantea write it? Or did she not?"

Yet, she'd already decided Rosa Gigantea had written it just moments earlier. Tsukiyama Minako-sama was investigating again.

(This is a different sort of scary from Sachiko-sama's close-up.)

Slow, deliberately approaching. She found herself being backed into the wall.

As expected of Minako-sama. Rather than attack the visually less imposing and more brittle-looking Yoshino-san, she chose to attack Yumi. She knew how to read people. Yoshino-san might look weak, but she was actually quite strong and level-headed.

"I really, really don't know anything."

When Yumi closed her eyes and shouted, the wall behind her fell.

"Yumi-san, behind, door, opening!"

Yoshino-san's advice was as fruitless as that of a foreigner just learning Japanese, and Yumi was sucked into the black hole that suddenly opened behind her.

"Hieeeh-"

Why did she go to the door, or, why didn't the door open outwards, or, why did the door have to open with such great timing. As she fell backwards, she lamented the string of bad luck that caused this situation.

(And I'll end up hitting the back of my head, and become even dumber!)

"Woah!"

Foomf.

(… foomf?)

Yumi was saved in the nick of time by something soft. Her head didn't hurt, and her body seemed to be leaning backward, but her indoor shoes were still on the floor.

"Yumi-chan, you're pretty heavy…"

"Eh."

She heard a familiar voice from behind her. What saved her by countering her weight was none other than Rosa Gigantea. Maybe it's the scent of her shampoo, when Yumi turned around, she was face-to-face with a smile that fit perfectly with the scent of mint drifting in the air.

"Rosa Gigantea, Rosa Gigantea, … I,"

"Sorry. I don't think I can hold you up any longer."

Rosa Gigantea heaved, and made Yumi stand on her own. She had to hold Yumi without any forewarning, so apparently she'd been using an awkward posture, so even Rosa Gigantea was a bit winded.

"Plus, if we crumbled to the ground hugging each other in the guidance office, it'd be a bit awkward."

Yumi's heart leapt when Rosa Gigantea whispered in her ear. On the other side of the opened door, the principles and the sisters were watching, mouths open.

"Sorry for the disturbance. Excuse us."

Rosa Gigantea politely bowed to the teachers inside, forced Yumi to bow with her, and then left the room.

"I've gotten the gist of the 'Forest of Thorns' Yumi-chan was talking about."

After smiling a bit bitterly, Rosa Gigantea raised her voice for the stalker-ghosts (although now they're just wandering ghosts).

"I'm sure you all are wondering about it, so I'll tell you now, sorry to disappoint, but I'm not the one that wrote 'Forest of Thorns.'"

[[Image:MM_v03_04.jpg|thumb]]
Now that the scene was over, the girls began mumbling to each other, clearly disappointed. Gosh, what did they follow Rosa Gigantea for?

"Oh, Yoshino-chan, you worried for me and came, too?"

Rosa Gigantea smiled happily and called to Yoshino-san.

"Uh huh. And is that true?"

"True. True. I just found out about it, after all. … And so, we can't offer any stories to the 'Lillian Kawaraban.' Sorry, Tsukiyama Minako-san."

And she doesn't forget to throw the newspaper club gentle sarcasm along with a check. You won't hear the end of it if you try to turn this into an article. Even Minako-sama probably didn't have the courage to go against a senior, and a Rose on top of that. Especially because this wasn't even newsworthy.

"Now now, let's be off now."

Yumi in her right hand, Yoshino-san in her left hand, and drawing both shoulders to her, Rosa Gigantea happily began walking.

"To where?"

"The Rose Mansion? Didn't you two come to pick me up?"

"Oh yeah, the tea party!"

She'd completely forgotten, because of the broadcast.

What was everyone thinking as they waited at the Rose Mansion?

Rosa Chinensis, Rosa Foetida, Sachiko-sama, Rei-sama.

And Shimako-san-.

"It's hot."

Icy wind was blowing outside, but Rosa Gigantea said a very unseasonal thing, and smiled.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume3 Chapter1 5

2008-06-28T23:31:48Z

72.53.7.163:

==5.==

Deciding that they wouldn't be able to solve anything by thinking without any new information, the four decided to breakup and leave the Rose Mansion.

After all, none of them had actually seen the book yet (save Yumi, who'd seen Katsura-san holding the book from a distance), so guessing and pondering would lead nowhere.

It was already past three.

After saying farewell to Rei-sama and Yoshino-san, who'd decided to purchase "Forest of Thorns" at a bookstore near their homes, Yumi headed by bus to M Station with Sachiko-sama.

There was a big bookstore inside the station. They had an abundance of Cosmos Book Collection products, so even if it were a heavily-anticipated book, it probably was unlikely to be sold out, Rei-sama had advised.

Sachiko-sama stood silently next to her in the rumbling bus.

"I wonder if it's really Rosa Gigantea."

"… I doubt it."

"Why do you think so?"

"No reason."

Whenever she tried to start a conversation, it would end up one-sided like this. And in the end, Sachiko-sama would just resume staring out the window, so Yumi began wondering if her existence there was a bother.

The bus rounded the rotary and stopped at the station bus stop.

They climbed the stairs to the station, glanced at the wickets, then went into the station's building. Their objective, the book center, was on the third floor.

When they went through the glass doors, and when they went on the elevator, Sachiko-sama still remained silent.
(Did I say something bad…?)

The sight of the two of them standing together reflected off of the elevator panes.

When she looked carefully, she noticed Sachiko-sama didn't look particularly displeased, but rather she seemed to be deep in thought. If only a sign saying "Deep in Thought" were to hover over peoples' heads in such situations, then she wouldn't have to end up worrying so much.

(-As if.)

Sachiko-sama probably never thought such pointless thoughts.

The book center, occupying almost half of an entire floor, radiated a very book-store-esque atmosphere so much it felt like they were in it before they even got off of the elevator. Sachiko-sama wordlessly ploughed ahead, skipping past the magazine racks at the front and entering the store.

"May I enter a small inquiry?"

Oh, what a lady with impeccable form, Sachiko-sama asked a male employee sorting through books.

"Where might I find the new publications of Cosmos Book Collection?"

Dancing around the subject was not something Sachiko-sama would do. As always, she was cool and composed, and on top of it all, she was beautiful.

"Ah… uh, umm, Cosmos Books."

The employee was trying to recover his composure. Yumi couldn't blame him, because when he looked up, a person so beautiful it put even some models to shame was right in front of him.

(Or something like that. Gosh, I'm a totally obsessed little sister…)

Straightening herself out, she followed Sachiko-sama. Leading the way was the employee, who this time was no longer stunned, but was blushing all the way to his ears.

"Over here."

The two of them were guided to the corner labeled "Junior Novels" between the book collection shelves and the comic shelves. All of the books here had florid cover illustrations and a gorgeous mood. This was the shoujo novels section.

"Thank you. And, the 'Forest of Thorns' that was published today…"

Sachiko-sama, you're incredible. She was going to make the employee do all the work, without her laying a finger on anything. Like she was purchasing drapery at a draper, or having a diamond ring taken out of a glass case at a high-grade jewelry store. I mean, she must know about finding things yourself via self-service, taking them to the cashier and buying them, the more common way of purchasing, right?

"Is this what you are looking for, ma'am?"

(… Wow, the employee's speaking differently now, too.)

Sachiko magic. This employee, he looks under twenty, I wonder if he's ever said "ma'am" to someone before in his life.

"May I have two copies of that?"

Sachiko-sama said. She probably meant one for herself and one for Yumi.

"Yes, hold on-"

But the employee's face grew dim. The hill of books was a valley at one place, and that valley had only the thickness of one book. And that was where the employee had retrieved the "Forest of Thorns."

"It's sold out?"

Sachiko-sama asked, noticing.

"I apologize."

The employee lowered his head – he didn't have to bow so much though.

"There's no helping it."

Then I'll just have the one, Sachiko-sama told the employee, and then she turned around to Yumi.

"I'm sorry, Yumi. You'll have to find a copy somewhere else."

"Ah, yes."

Well, in Yumi's case, it was probably going to be easier for her to buy the book than Sachiko-sama. But she wondered if the book was still in stock inside the drawers under the shelf. Apparently not, though.

"We were supplied two hours ago, but they're all gone…?"

The employee seemed to have question marks floating around his head, so they must have sold out extremely fast. Yumi knew the reason. The Lillian students going home probably snapped them up like piranhas.

(There's no helping it.)

Yumi mimicked Sachiko-sama's speech in her thoughts. She would have to stop by different book stores on her bus-ride home to find "Forest of Thorns."

After paying at the cashier, Sachiko-sama went straight toward the second floor, where the wickets were, without even glancing at the year-end super-bargain show-window. Of course she wondered about Rosa Gigantea, too, but Yumi was a bit disappointed, because she was hoping for the possibility of going shopping with her onee-sama.

Well, it WAS after school, and they were still in uniforms, and Sachiko-sama probably barely had time to even stop by at the book store. But still, they were sisters, but they never went out together, so she wished they could slow down and enjoy some time together, and she thought that wasn't entirely being greedy.

"… Yumi."

In front of the wickets, Sachiko-sama fixed Yumi's tie, as always, and then spoke in an unusually doubtful voice.

"I wonder if we shouldn't."

"What?"

Because it was so abrupt, Yumi blinked, confused.

"Shouldn't… what?"

She fearfully asked. Sachiko-sama wasn't going to say we shouldn't be sisters, was she?

"Read this."

"Huh?"

She was surprised, because "this" was pointed toward the newly-purchased book that was settled into Sachiko-sama's bag.

Because.

"But you bought it to read it, didn't you?"

"… That's true, but…"

Why was Sachiko-sama having doubts about reading the last copy of the book in the store, that she'd gotten by even having her little sister give up on it?

"It feels like we're digging up Rosa Gigantea's past on the merits of simple curiosity."

"Ah."

"How do you feel?"

How…

[[Image:MM_v03_02.jpg|thumb]]
(Onee-sama's always so self-confident, but now she's asking for my opinion-)

I don't think it would be any useful.

Frantically resisting the urge to run away, she glanced up at Sachiko-sama's face, and noticed Sachiko-sama was simply awaiting Yumi's answer.

"Umm, I think."

She reluctantly opened her mouth. Yumi wasn't grand enough to ignore her onee-sama's question.

"Assuming that means what I would do…"

"Of course?"

Sachiko-sama tilted her head to the side, urging Yumi on. Her straight black hair swayed.

"I would read it."

"Why?"
"Because I like Rosa Gigantea."

"I like her, too. But still."

Because she likes her, it wasn't right to uncover things, and her role was to protect Rosa Gigantea. Yumi understood Sachiko-sama's feelings painfully well.

"Onee-sama, you said so yourself, that Rosa Gigantea probably wasn't the author of 'Forest of Thorns.'"

"Did I?"

"Yes. Then I would want to read the novel right away and find proof that it isn't her."

"And what if it turned out to be definitively Rosa Gigantea?"

"Nothing…"
"Nothing?"

"If Rosa Gigantea were Suga Sei, I would probably respect her. I might have ask for an autograph."

When Yumi finished, Sachiko-sama sighed.

"Um… onee-sama?"

Did she say something completely out of line, again? But Sachiko-sama was laughing.

"It's good, your attitude."

"?"

"You're right. I should learn from you. I should just read it, and think about it afterward."

"Um…"

She couldn't figure out what Sachiko-sama was talking about. There was no way that Sachiko-sama meant lining up together to receive an autograph from Rosa Gigantea, of course.

A bit of a summarizing, but Sachiko-sama vanished on the other side of the wicket without expounding further. If they lived closer together, like Yoshino-san and Rei-sama, it would be so much better. Because then they'd be able to share more time.

The book store she stopped by on the way home was a small family business that only received one copy of Cosmos Books on release dates, but aided by the long distance away from the train station as well as the store's rather plain appearance, Yumi was able to safely obtain a copy of "Forest of Thorns."

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume3 Chapter1 1

2008-06-20T05:37:26Z

72.53.7.163: Grammar, spelling fixes

==1.==

She had a feeling something like that was coming.

It didn't take long after the start of the semester exams, she thought. But it's a "now that I think about it" sort of thing, so that might be wrong.

At the time, she didn't give it much thought, particularly given that it was semester exam time, so she simply wondered, "What is it?" and quickly switched her mind back to a different channel. After all, for an "Academically Average" student, the scope of the Japanese history exam, or memorization strategies for the periodic table were far more important information than the hushed whispers of classmates.

Of course, her goal was "Surpass Average-ness!" but if she slipped, she could fall under it. Being in the middle was tough.

(Rosa Chinensis en bouton having bad grades would be horrible…)

First-year peach-class attendance number 35, Fukuzawa Yumi quietly sighed heavily.

The student council of the Lillian Girls' Academy High School, the Yamayurikai staff, was filled with students with extraordinary academic marks. Since Yumi was already holding a complex about her appearance amongst these students, adding academics to the list of things she worried about was painful.

As long as you attend classes regularly all the time, there's no need to cram. That was once said by her onee-sama, Ogasawara Sachiko-sama, who she bonded with during autumn, but Yumi ignored that and during the break period between exams, scanned through the reference book like an express train.

People who end up at the top of the chart academically without putting much effort simply were built differently up there. Commoners needed to study with regularity. Unless she caught up a bit to Yoshino-san and Shimako-san, her onee-sama would look bad, too.

"-Rosa Gigantea…"

(Rosa Gigantea?)

Despite that situation, Yumi still reacted to her classmates' voices.

Rosa Gigantea obviously meant THAT Rosa Gigantea.

(Rosa Gigantea, with the very non-Japanese face and stone-statuesque figure, a middle-aged man inside with an obsession with hugging, and still popular among underclassmen anyways?)

Of course, no one else was called Rosa Gigantea, anyways.

Well, she was always being talked about, so Yumi heard that name said aloud all the time. Then why'd she respond to this one? Well, it wasn't accompanied by pink heart marks, but had a more secretive tone. And that tone matched perfectly with the hushed whispers floating around.

(What's going on?)

When she looked up toward the voices, she saw Katsura-san and a number of other students whispering to one another.

Speaking of Katsura-san, she was similar to Yumi, being the type to dive into reference books before exams to cram, but for whatever reason she was expending all her effort into gossip. Curiosity, rather than the exam in front of her. Well, that wasn't too far off of her, either.

However.

(I don't know.)

Katsura-san's subject seemed to be based on the book she was holding. Yumi could tell that much, at least, by looking at them.

(…..)

Yumi placed the mechanical pencil she was holding on her textbook, and tilted her head. How does Rosa Gigantea come up when talking about a book?

(Maybe she borrowed the book from Rosa Gigantea.)

However that was more believable if it were Shimako-san, being Rosa Gigantea's little sister. But she hardly had any contact with Katsura-san, so that was unlikely.

Or maybe the book had been left behind. And the name inside the cover was Rosa Gigantea's.

(That might work.)

And because few people call her by name, she wanted to confirm the name with her classmates.

(But.)

Then you would ask Shimako-san, first. Plus, they'd been whispering for a few days.

When she glanced at Shimako-san's seat, she found her elegantly leafing through her text book, like she was gazing at a magazine. Maybe she didn't hear the "Rosa Gigantea" earlier.

(- but this isn't the time for this!)

She hurriedly looked back at the textbook, but her piqued curiosity was like lint in a drying machine – you couldn't get rid of it that easily. This personality of hers was why she was probably destined never to be able to get out of being average. Even Shimako-san, who easily took first or second in academics in the class, was completely focused on her textbook. At this rate, rather than catch up, Yumi felt like the gap was simply widening.

Maybe I should just give up on Japanese history, she mused, but she imagined the angry face of her onee-sama and threw that thought away.

It would be so much easier if she had a more suitable onee-sama for this kind of situation-. Katsura-san and others were still in a clump talking to each other.

Incidentally, Oda Nobunaga's sister, whose face was on the textbook page she was opened to, looked a bit like Sachiko-sama.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter6 2

2008-06-15T02:49:25Z

72.53.7.163: /* 2. */

==2.==

By the way.

I should report a bit on what happened afterward to Yoshino-san, who'd created a sensation by liquidating a relationship by returning the rosary to her sister.

By the time Yoshino-san made her return from the hospital, the Lillian girls' academy garden was dressed in winter, and students had largely forgotten about the Yellow Rose Revolution. Even the news of Yoshino-san's return to school was simply printed on the "Lillian Kawaraban" as a small, token "we're sorry" sort of thing. They're so mercenary.

But, Yoshino-san did it again.

This time, Yoshino-san called Rei-sama out to the Maria-sama statue (!), bowed her head, and requested, "Please make me your sister."

For an underclassman to break up a relationship was obviously a rarity, but an underclassman requesting to be a sister was also unheard of. And everyone was in an uproar again.

That said, Yoshino-san and Rei-sama come to school every day together again, ignoring all of the uproar surrounding them. Yumi couldn't have been the only one thinking they were closer than they were before the Revolution. Yoshino-san seems to be serious about starting kendo next year.

Currently, the underclassmen that were influenced by Yoshino-san's catastrophe and returned their rosaries have begun requesting to be sisters again. A hush-hush boom. A lot of them split up as a spontaneous decision, so they probably ended up regretting it as time went on. It might have been the perfect time for Yoshino-san to come back.

"Gosh, what are they thinking, anyways."

They don't have any self identity, Sachiko-sama grumbled. But Yumi could kind of understand where they were coming from.

The Roses and the boutons were the idols of the school. So people were willing to do anything to become a bit more like them. Yumi was like that just a while ago, so she could understand.

Sachiko-sama would probably never understand, for all eternity. But the Sachiko-sama that would never understand that was the Sachiko-sama Yumi loved.

"By the way, Yumi."

After school, as they walked over the fallen gingko leaves, Sachiko-sama spoke with mischievous eyes.

"From now on, if you call me 'Sachiko-sama,' I won't reply."

"What?"

"Because. You're not trying to change what you call me."

And with that, Sachiko-sama turned her back to Yumi and kept walking. She'd said what she wanted to say, after all.

"Sachiko-samaaa"

Even though she chased after her, she held steadfastly to her resolution.

"If you don't want to be ignored, address me properly."

You get it, don't you, she seemed to say, and she kept walking without even glancing behind her. Yumi played with her hair. It felt somewhat awkward.

"…e-sama."

"I didn't hear yoooou."

She was going to force Yumi to say it.
Yumi looked around. Luckily, Maria-sama wasn't looking.
"Onee-sama!"

Yumi's voice was awful clear in the middle of the gingko pathway. And then her onee-sama, as pretty as Maria-sama, turned around, answered with her own, clear "Yes?" and smiled, satisfied.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter6 1

2008-06-15T02:33:25Z

72.53.7.163: /* 1. */

==1.==

"-is what happened."

That Monday.

The usual peaceful days returned. … or so Yumi wished, as she found herself in the Rose Mansion after school.

(Why am I stuck being interrogated by Rosa Foetida?)

The warm Darjeeling has become iced tea. For the past hour, she'd been caught by Rosa Foetida.

"Everyone's late today."

"They've escaped. From me."

"Huh?"

"Yumi-chan knows all the details, they said. So, you have an obligation to explain."

"What the."

She was wondering why no one was showing up even though there was supposed to be a committee meeting, but apparently they'd simply pushed everything to Yumi and escaped.

"So, keep going."

"But I've already told you everything."

But Rosa Foetida kept saying it wasn't enough of an adequate explanation, and kept insisting on more commentary. Even though she was gone for a while, Rosa Foetida was back to full power.

It was a bit awkward talking to Rosa Foetida when she's down, but this sort of obsessive Rosa Foetida is something you want to avoid, too. No wonder every ran away, leaving the newcomer, Yumi.

Rosa Foetida didn't really care for most things, but when she became interested in something, she would be relentless.

"Okay, Yumi-chan? I've been left behind these past two weeks, a pitiful being. And my own cute sisters were amidst a crisis, but I never noticed. Don't you think it's obvious I'd want to make up those two weeks?"

"Uh."

But it wasn't like she had amnesia. She'd been attending school for the first week, when everything was the most chaotic, and she still hadn't noticed, so Yumi thought it was a bit odd that she would drag someone into her own uproar.

"Oh, well. But everything's back to normal, right?"

"Yes."

"Yoshino-chan's being released from the hospital next week?"

"Yes."

"That's good."

Rosa Foetida looked at her cold tea, made a face, then took it to the sink.

"Ah, I'll wash it."

"Oh? Sorry."

Yumi caught up with her and rolled up her uniform sleeves.

Sheesh. She was finally being acquitted.

It was like guidance counseling (not that she'd actually experienced that), being interrogated one-to-one, and it wasn't particularly pleasant. Compared to that, putting her hand to an icy sink was nothing.

"By the way, Rosa Foetida?"

"What?"

"Rosa Foetida… um-"

Seeing Rosa Foetida humming happily made her want desperately to ask. Her swollen cheek, why she was absent for a week, and why she was at the hospital. But there was the matter of privacy, so she didn't feel comfortable asking. Then Rosa Foetida looked like she understood, and opened her mouth.

"Oh my, Yumi-chan, did you think I was pregnant, too?"

"Eh? Rosa Foetida was pregnant!?"

Yumi was so surprised she splashed water on herself. Rosa Foetida looked completely exasperated.

"I said 'did you think.' Of course I wasn't. I don't have a boyfriend."

"You don't?"

"I don't. I've been attending a girls' school since kindergarten, how am I supposed to meet one? Even the teachers are all grandpas and grandmas."

"All, but…"

Well, that's true, she thought.

"Some of my classmates were worried about that, though, I wonder why?"

I wonder why? That was probably because of Rosa Foetida's behavior. Even as she dried off the sink with a rag, her heart beat rapidly. Talking about pregnancy was exciting for a high school freshman.

"Do I need to carry around my dentist's medical certificate?"

The second wave of surprise. It was a good thing she'd finished washing.

"What, you didn't know? I had my wisdom teeth pulled."

Rosa Foetida opened her mouth wide and showed her the holes at the back of the left side of her jaw.

"Gosh, a bit of rice got stuck in it, it was horrible."

"Ehhhhhhhh!?"

Well, it went like this.

She didn't like the drill sound at a dentist's practice, so she'd always meticulously brushed her teeth and all. Rosa Foetida was proud she had never had to see a dentist. So the wisdom teeth popping out, being completely unrelated to brushing teeth, was like an unfortunate accident. It probably would have been better if she'd immediately gone to a dentist, but she just couldn't take the sound of drills, and so she'd been unable to step through those doors. She was like a phantom.

"I know you might laugh, 'it's just a dentist!' But I'm frightened to death by them. I wondered whether it'd be alright to just die from wisdom teeth if I'd never have to see them."

"…"

Yumi could understand how she felt, though. But either way, you usually don't die from wisdom teeth.

"Plus, having people finding out that I'm scared of dentists at my age would be humiliating as Rosa Foetida."

"Um… then you holding your swollen cheek and having teary eyes…"

"It probably hurt so much I was at my limits. … Oh, I ran into Yumi-chan?"

"You even said 'Yumi-chan' to me. And-"

Then Yumi stopped herself. She'd feel humiliated if she found out Yumi knew she'd gone home with her indoor shoes.

But, that might mean she had no idea she ran into Yumi and Yoshino-san at the hospital? When she brought it up, she mentioned she didn't see anyone in a Lillian uniform.

"Oh, so it was Yumi-chan? And Yoshino-chan was in that hospital, too?"

She was like Urashima Tarou[[http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter6_1#Urashima], Yumi thought. Those two weeks are simply vacant, for her.

In the end, Rosa Foetida was so embarrassed by her inability to see a dentist she'd kept it a secret from her family. So her father panicked at the sight of Rosa Foetida groaning with a fever and called an ambulance. Luckily she was brought to a general practice, so there was a dentist, and they were able to pull the wisdom teeth out there. And her father found out, of course.

"But he did call an ambulance, right? So he said, don't come back immediately. He is the mayor, so he's a bit proud. So I stayed in the hospital until my fever went down, for his sake."

"He sounds like a great father."

"How?"

She asked dubiously. If you same something off-handedly I'll kill you, was written all over Rosa Foetida's face.

"Right-"

He was willing to look bad for someone he loved. Yumi thought that was lovely.

==Translators Note==

===Urashima===
*An old Japanese folk tale about a fisherman who rescues a turtle, receives an invitation to an undersea castle, is given a box as a gift (but told never to open it), ends up opening it, and finds himself pulling a Rumplestiltzkin.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urashima_Tar%C5%8D]

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter5 2

2008-06-12T06:50:22Z

72.53.7.163: /* titles */

==2.==

Yumi had never even watched a kendo match on TV.

So she had no idea how Rei-sama was supposed to win, but Sachiko-sama filled her on while they were watching.

First, that it was a team match, rather than an individual one.

While there were matches to decide individual winners, in this case, the four schools chose five people to represent them. In order of strength, the five were titled Taishou, Fukushou, Chuuken, Jihou and Senpou, and the Senpou[[http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume2_Chapter5_2#titles] fought the Senpou, the Taishou fought the Taishou. And Rei-sama was Lillian's Taishou.

Even though these schools were considered the top four, their students changed year to year, so there was rarely an occasion where you could definitively say one school was the absolute best. Takurazawa school, which won last year, had their Taishou, Fukushou and Chuuken all graduate, so most people didn't expect them to be repeat champions.

The favorites this year were Oonaka girls' high, and Lillian girls' academy. Unfortunately, we'd lost last year at the semi-finals, but this year Hasekura Rei returned as a Taishou, after being the Fukushou as a first-year student.

Because there were only four schools, each match was a semi-final and a final. They drew for matchups and, luckily, Oonaka and Lillian weren't paired.

The fencers from the four schools entered the floor and sat, encircling the fighting area.

Yumi glanced at her wristwatch.

Two in the afternoon. The surgery was hopefully going well.

Yoshino-san's surgery was supposed to have begun at nine. Yoshino-san had apparently painstakingly insisted that the surgery be held today. At first, Yumi thought she didn't absolutely need to have it be today, but Yoshino-san probably had her own reasons for fixating on this date. It might be something you'd never know until you end up in that situation yourself.

She expected an athletes' pledge, or that someone important would make an announcement, but the match actually simply started. The first two combatants stood up, and the referee blew a whistle.

"It's exciting."

After emptying the pack of coffee milk, she put the box under her seat to keep it out of the way. The sandwiches had already been settled into their stomachs at a ratio of Yumi: 4, Sachiko-sama: 2.

But, Sachiko-sama, like, for one of her sandwiches, the olive oil was soaked into the bread, or she had another sandwich with white and brown bread, but she didn't like the brown bread because it had caraway in it. She was full of complaints, so Yumi ended up having to finish everything. Maybe she was picky because she was a rich princess, but Yumi thought Sachiko-sama's mother must have a hard time packing lunch like that. Ah, because it was Sachiko-sama, it was probably a maid or something.

"Don't wander about, watch the match."

Sachiko-sama suddenly grabbed Yumi's jaw and turned her back to the matches, like a shower lever.

(Gosh- when Sachiko-sama does something like that, it just makes it even harder to concentrate!)

That said, she found herself sucked into the matches anyways. The matches continued, and the Oonaka and Takurasawa Taishou stood, facing each other.

As expected of the Taishou, even for a newbie like Yumi, their superior skills to the previous four was evident. And for whatever it was worth, they seemed to have more vigor, too.

Along with a clean PANG! sound, the Oonaka Taishou stepped back. Simultaneously, the three referees lifted a white flag.

"That meant it was a clean blow, right?"

After watching four matches, Yumi was getting the hang of things. Even if it looked like a good hit, unless a flag went up, it didn't matter.

"It was a brilliant strike to the mask."

Sachiko-sama gasped in admiration, and praised the Oonaka Taishou.

"You're pretty knowledgeable about kendo?"

"Suguru-san used to do kendo."

"---"

Suguru-san, meant full-name Kashiwagi Suguru. He was Sachiko-sama's cousin, a third-year student at Lillian's neighboring Hanadera Institute, student council president, and a handsome, intelligent young man. Plus, he was Sachiko-sama's fiancé, as decided by their parents, preferred males… Anyways, he's a rather awe-inspiring person.

Speaking of which, what happened to Kashiwagi-san? Did they extinguish their engagement?

The first semi was a 4-1 rout by the Oonaka girls. Next, the Lillian students stood up.

Rei-sama.

Was radiating willpower, even though it was just the Senpou match. I'll definitely win! You could feel her determination.

Maybe it was because she was preparing herself for the kendo matches, but Rei-sama looked different than normal, sporting a scarier face than usual.

[[Image:MM_v02_11.jpg|thumb]]
The Tsukimigaoka high school we were against was a private coeducation school, so you could hear throaty voices whether they won or lost. It was in stark contrast to the pure-yellow cheers of Lillian.

The Senpou and Jihou were both defeated by Tsukimigaoka, but the Chuuken and Fukushou both won. Next was the Taishou, Rei-sama.

If they lose, they fall to the consolation round. If they win, they go to the finals against Oonaka. It was all down to the Taishou.

"What pressure…"

"Don't worry, she'll win. If she loses here, she wouldn't be able to face Yoshino-chan."

Yumi thought Sachiko-sama's words were on the mark.

Rei-sama stepped into the fighting circle with her mask, bowed to the Tsukimigaoka Taishou, and the match began.

Rei-sama was beautiful, standing tall with her shinai in front of her. She wanted to show Yoshino-san this scene.

(Oh shoot, I should have brought a camera.)

How clumsy, to realize it now. Just as she was humbled by her guilt, she noticed a flash from the audience.

"Tsutako-san…!"

"Oh, Yumi-san. Gokigenyou."

She turned around for an instant, hearing her name, but then immediately returned to concentrate on the match. As expected of the photography ace. She'd never let a chance for a good photo go by. On second look, the newspaper club captain was by her side. She, too, looked immersed in reporting.

(I'll ask for a copy of the photo later.)

She was glad she was friends with Tsutako-san. Actually, when she asked about it later, she found out the Roses didn't even bother thinking about cameras, simply relying on Tsutako-san. Rather than a newbie using a disposable camera, a semi-pro using an advanced camera was certain to produce better photos. Plus, if they left it to Tsutako-san, they'd be better able to focus on the matches.

The Taishou match was, as Sachiko-sama predicted, dominated by Rei-sama. She pounded away with mask and torso shots, to the point where Yumi would have readily raised a flag. The Tsukimigaoka Taishou was forced into a more defensive game, but because she was the Taishou, she might have been driven by pride to swing back every so often.

"Brilliant."

Sachiko-sama yelled at her side. Simultaneously, three red flags went up. It was too fast for Yumi to have noticed, but Rei-sama's forearm blow had been clean.

"Sachiko-sama is really athletic."

Sachiko-sama smiled bitterly at that.

Anyways, Lillian got past the semis, and Rei-sama had a win under her belt.

"Huh…?"

It was rather late, but a question suddenly formulated in her head.

"At what point would Rei-sama count as having won?"

Did that mean Lillian winning? Or Rei-sama winning all of her matches? Or-.

"Yoshino-san didn't mean that sort of victory, I think."

Then, what did she mean? As Yumi tilted her head to the side, the finals match began. There's almost no time for rest.

During the finals, the Senpou went to Oonaka, the Jihou went to Lillian. Chuuken draw, Fukushou Lillian, and so Lillian was ahead.

"If Rei-sama wins, we win!"

Excitedly, Yumi grabbed Sachiko-sama's arm, but Sachiko-sama didn't look very pleased, so Yumi quickly pulled her arm away.

"That's not it. I don't mind the arm."

"Eh?"

"That's not good."

She had no idea what was wrong. Lillian was ahead with two wins, one loss and one tie, and Rei-sama was next, so it was like presenting a club to an ogre.

"Oonaka's Taishou is really strong."

"Strong?"

"They had to have three wins by Fukushou."

"They had…!?"

She was talking as if Rei-sama was going to lose.
But, they were two and two against Tsukimigaoka, so Tsukimigaoka was a stronger team than Oonaka. So Rei-sama, who beat the Tsukimigaoka Taishou, was certainly going to beat the Oonaka Taishou…

"That's not how it works."

If it were Tsukimigaoka versus Lillian, everything was primed for Lillian to win. But it was simply that the Lillian first-years were nervous at beginning the match, so they didn't show their full potential.

"The Oonaka Taishou is a rank holder."

"Rank holder?"

"Yes, around san-dan."

"Rei-sama?"

"Ni-dan."

"What does that mean?"

"… You really don't know anything, do you."

Sachiko-sama sighed, exasperated. Apparently it starts from shodan, and goes ni-dan, san-dan, etc. But in the case of Sumo, the lower numbers are stronger. –Well, she didn't say that outloud though.

"What happens if Rei-sama loses?"

Because then they would both have two wins and two losses and a draw.

"The team with the most points wins."

Currently, Lillian was winning by one point. So, if Rei-sama were to lose by one point, they'd be tied. And if that happens.

"They both send out a representative for a one-point match."

"But. If that happens, they'd both send their Taishou."

"Of course."

"Then, we'll lose…!!"

If she lost once, Rei-sama wouldn't be able to win the second one.

"That doesn't mean Rei-sama is going to lose."

"Well, true."

But, Sachiko-sama said it first. That it was bad. That the Oonaka Taishou was a san-dan and strong.
Ahh, but what happens then?

Yoshino-san, eagerly awaiting Rei-sama's victory?

Their relationship?

Actually Yumi had gone off on her own and believed that if Rei-sama showed good results here, Yoshino-san would accept the rosary again.

Rei-sama with a match victory, and Yoshino-san with successful surgery, they'd both be able to walk down a fresh, new road as sisters. And everything would end happily. Is what she thought.

"It's beginning."

Sachiko-sama quietly announced.

That's right. Yumi had to watch Rei-sama for Yoshino-san.

(If that were to happen, maybe she'd be okay with just that win before…)

When she glanced at the watch, it was four. How was Yoshino-san's surgery?

Rei-sama did her best.

Newbies couldn't tell the difference between skill. But the Rei-sama seemed more intimidating. You could feel her determination to win. Her voice was louder, too.

But.

Maybe it was the difference in skill. "What happens then" happened.

When they were locked, with their shinai against each other, and Rei-sama tried to pull off, her opponent was a split-second faster and landed a torso hit.

The gathering of black one-piece girls all lowered their shoulders, "Darn." Of course, Yumi was among them.

The match continued to a decisive Taishou fight. Both Taishou took off their masks, wiped away sweat, and set up to fight again.

Right before she put her mask back on, even though she lost, Rei-sama looked mysteriously serene. Yumi had no idea why that was the case.

Her eyes were calm, like a pool of water with not a single wave. It was completely different from eyes that have simply given up and wandered elsewhere. No, she was just not quiet, it was like she had found her wick. Like a polished, cleaned katana was gripped by her soul. Anyways, she looked completely focused.

(I wonder what happened?)

They were leading the match, but her loss put them all back at the start, so there must have been a tremendous amount of pressure. The word victory was draped over her shoulders, and she had to win in order to vindicate the efforts of the other four, and she had to beat an opponent she'd just lost to. Yumi thought that must be taking a heavy toll on her psyche.

This was it.

Even so, Rei-sama looked like she'd already won.

==Translators Note==

===titles===
*Taishou (大将), Fukushou (副将), Chuuken (中堅), Jihou (次峰), Senpou (先鋒)
*Respectively, General, Second-in-command, Mainstay, Second Guard, and the Advance Guard

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter3 4

2008-05-20T01:05:50Z

72.53.7.163: Grammar

==4.==

"Oh, that's impossible, Yumi-chan."

Rosa Gigantea laughed. Either she'd gotten used to everything or she'd decided to forget about it, but either way, she was so full of it energy that it almost seemed like her exhaustion during the noon was a lie.

"Ah… impossible…"

"Yup. When Rosa Foetida's like that, it's over. All we can do is wait for her to be revived."

"'That'?"

"'That' is 'that.' You can't tell whether she's dead or alive, and you can't tell if she's thinking about something or not. … Well, obviously she's pondering."

Yumi had arrived when no one else was at the Rose Mansion, so Rosa Gigantea seemed to welcome her with open arms and even made instant coffee for her. If her classmates found out that she'd been serviced by one of the Roses, they'd surely be envious.

"I don't remember when, but she ended up like 'that' before, and it was the first time, so were all up in arms panicking. Then she returned to normal after a week, so it'll be fine if we leave her alone, I think? Well, just consider it to be bad luck that she ended up like this when Rei's situation came up."

"But-"

Leaving Rosa Foetida, whose cheek was struck, like this? But she'd been told to keep quiet, so she couldn't tell Rosa Gigantea about Rosa Foetida's swollen cheek. Yumi swallowed her words with her hot coffee.

"Ah, it's good."

"Right? I've figured out Yumi-chan's tastes."

The coffee wasn't just handily made, but the sugar and powdered milk were dissolved in a miraculous ratio.

"Everyone has one or two things they're good at, after all."

"So one of Rosa Gigantea's talents is to figure out other peoples' tastes?"

She spontaneously asked, and Rosa Gigantea laughed out loud, like there was nothing that could make her happier.

"Well, we'll leave it at that. By the way."

After drinking black coffee from her own cup, Rosa Gigantea asked Yumi.

"Do you know what Rosa Foetida's special skill is?"

"… No."

She didn't know why she was asked that, but Yumi honestly shook her head.

"How about what she's weak at?"

"Unfortunately, no idea."

If she was asked about Sachiko-sama, she'd immediately answer, "Men." But she didn't know anything about Rosa Foetida.

"Right answer."

Rosa Gigantea reached out and pet Yumi's head. –Gosh, she's not a child, so she could do without this sort of treatment.

"Huh, but why right?"

"Rosa Foetida has no strengths and weakness."

"Eh?"

No strengths and weaknesses? What did that mean? Yumi tilted her head, wondering what Rosa Gigantea meant.

"It's like powering up Yumi-chan's average-ness at everything. Without even trying, she's capable of doing everything above average. Got it?"

"Ah… that's kind of enviable."

"Not really."

Rosa Gigantea placed her hand on Yumi's head: You don't get it. However. Yumi wondered why Rosa Gigantea's skinship was never very heart-throbbing. It was so different with Sachiko-sama.

"People are more at peace with themselves when they're good at something."

"Why?"

"Because they don't have to choose what they want to do. Think about it. If she wanted, she could become anything. But she has nothing she really wants to do. Because every field is lined up exactly the same, to her."

That causes unhappiness, Rosa Gigantea said. People who could do anything carried with them their own specific sorrows.

" Rosa Foetida always looks bored and unwilling to do things, right?"

"Yes."

But she realized that was a bit of a rude statement. Still, Rosa Gigantea also wasn't malicious, so it was alright.

"In truth, she is bored. She always knows what the result will be. She even knows how much she can do."

"She knows her limits?"

"Yup. She can do anything, but she'll never be able to take on someone who's specialized."

Even so, she was on a different dimension. If Yumi were in that situation, she'd be willing to just roll the dice for it. But she knew she'd be laughed at if she said it, so she stayed silent.

"The reason why she accepted becoming a part of the Yamayurikai staff, with its painstaking jobs and all, was because she hoped it would put some excitement in her life, I guess. I mean, she's probably happiest of us all about an eccentricity like Yumi joining, and I think the unexpectedness of making Rei her sister was a key point."

"-"

She felt sweat dripping somewhere on her body. Then, what? Rosa Foetida was so bored with life that she was happy with simplifying the criteria for her actions?

"Why're you thinking about this in such a difficult way, Yumi? People choose sisters for different reasons. I know plenty of people who chose people based on their looks."

"Rosa Gigantea… Is that why you chose Shimako-san to be your sœur?"

"Who knows?"

Rosa Gigantea deflected the question with a meaningful laugh.

"What I'm saying is, don't rely on Rosa Foetida. I mean, they're sœur, so she cares heavily about Rei, but she's not nearly as close as Rei and Yoshino-chan. Plus, she almost never becomes engrossed in anything, but right now she's been captivated. So I don't know what that is, but it's a good thing, I think."

Rosa Gigantea can laugh because she doesn't know about Rosa Foetida's swollen cheek.

"Of course, if things weren't so heavy on her side, she'd probably be the one enjoying Rei and Yoshino-chan's strife the most."

Then Rosa Foetida wasn't going to be much use either way. After thinking a bit, Rosa Gigantea reached over to Yumi's cup, said "let me try a sip," and drank.

"Ah, shall I pour you a second?"

"Really? Okay, can you pour three peoples' worth of black tea in new cups?"

"Three people?"

"Yup. Me and Yumi and one more are here."

What is she talking about?

"One more?"

"Oh, Yumi-chan didn't notice?"

"…"

Maybe she was trying to be spooky, but there were no ghost traditions in Lillian. There were none, … so she didn't have to try to scare her.

Anyways, Yumi didn't feel like probing further, so she wordlessly walked to the sink and began pouring three cups of black tea, as requested. There were no brand requests, so she used the Darjeeling tea bags, as usual. When she placed the three cups on a tray and turned around, there stood Rosa Gigantea, who'd crept up without a word.

"Gyah!"

"What. I just came to help, you don't have to sound like I'm attacking you."

Rosa Gigantea took the tray from Yumi and placed the cups on the table.

"But if you keep looking like that, I will."

After giggling at Yumi, who was still frozen in place, Rosa Gigantea hugged her tightly.

(… Like I said, it doesn't make me feel anything.)

But she kept snatching away her freedom, so Yumi struggled against it a bit with her arms and legs. But. Of course, Rosa Gigantea wasn't seriously attacking, so she didn't seriously try to get out, either.

"Ro, Rosa Gigantea, do you do this to everyone?"

Then Shimako-san wouldn't be able to hold herself. Her own onee-sama was flirting with other girls. But Rosa Gigantea separated herself and spoke.

"You question my chastity?"

And then she said, "Nope, just Yumi-chan!" then hugged her again, and kissed her lightly on her cheek.

"R, Rosa Gigantea!"

That's going too far! When she seriously tried to get out, she found herself freed with ease. But, Sachiko-sama was standing where she landed.

"-Yumi."

"Sa, Sachiko-sama."

No, this wasn't how it seemed, there's an explanation- But Sachiko-sama ignored Yumi, stalked up to Rosa Gigantea and said, coldly.

"You're going too far with your frolicking. You did it because you knew I was here!"

(The three teacups!)

For the first time, Yumi thought, "She got me!" Rosa Gigantea noticed Sachiko-sama coming into the Rose Mansion. And so she wanted Sachiko-sama to see her making fun of Yumi-. She's sadistic, Rosa Gigantea.

"Yumi-chan's soft and huggable, it might become a habit."

"If you love touching people that much, please, do hug your own sister?"

Oh Sachiko-sama, your words can be taken the other way so easily it makes me blush, too.

"Shimako? I've never even thought of that."

"Oh. Then think about it. And please stop reaching out to my sister."

"I'll think about that, instead."

Rosa Gigantea doesn't seem like she'll change. Of course, if she were the type to back down from Sachiko-sama's glare, she wouldn't have been mischievous to begin with.

"Yumi. You too."

Sachiko-sama turned around and scolded.

"Don't flail about so wildly. It just makes Rosa Gigantea happy."

"… Yes."

I don't think I did anything wrong though, Yumi thought, but she answered obediently. Because Sachiko-sama wouldn't have been pleased if she just stayed calm, either.

"Now, hurry up and wipe yourself."

Sachiko-sama took out a white, laced handkerchief from her pocket and rubbed Yumi's cheek.

She didn't react at all when Rosa Gigantea kissed her, but she blushed when Sachiko-sama stroked her with her handkerchief. The scent of Sachiko-sama's hair floated over, causing her heart to race.

Sachiko-sama was like a temple guardian demon. But her own body was quite honest, Yumi thought.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter3 3

2008-05-20T01:00:29Z

72.53.7.163: Grammar correction

"They're pretending to be Yoshino-san."

Tsutako-san said with distaste, as they walked down the hallway after school.

"Pretending to be Yoshino-san-"

[[Image:MM_v02_07.jpg|thumb]]
It was such a blunt but fitting explanation that Yumi momentarily lost her words. Miyuki-san during the afternoon was very much like Yoshino-san, or at least like the Yoshino-san image carried by the girls surrounding her. Weak, loveable, cute… Right, just like the image Yumi herself carried until recently.

"Just you watch. There'll be more."

"No way."

"I'm willing to bet on it."

Yumi didn't know what Tsutako-san intended to bet, but it couldn't have been much of a deal, so she ignored that statement and kept moving the discussion along.

"So how do you pretend to be Yoshino-san?"

"They call out their onee-sama in front of Maria-sama with a tragic face, then return the rosaries."

Yumi screamed inside when she heard that.

"Th, then, Miyuki-san wasn't the rejected, she's the one that started everything? And even though she's the one that rejected, she was crying like that?"

"Right."

Tsutako-san replied simply. On top of that, she was raising her camera and clicking the shutter every so often, so she was clearly disinterested. The topic was so disinteresting to her that even she took a "how stupid" stance.

"Yumi-san, okay? In life, even if two people like each other a great deal, sometimes it becomes necessary to split up for a bit. Can you imagine Yoshino-san returning the rosary with a smile?"

"I don't…"

"If anything, you'd imagine her silently crying, right?"

That was true. She could easily imagine Yoshino-san returning the rosary while suppressing her tears. But she couldn't imagine her laughing or even being angry while doing it. But Tsutako-san said Yoshino-san had brought up the topic of the split in a fit of anger.

"The repercussion of printing is strong. Because when you read the article, you feel like you were there."

That's right. That extra.

It was written to imply that Yoshino-san was a tragic heroine. Unable to stand her own dependence on Rei-sama. That she thought Rei-sama, the future Rosa Foetida, needed a stronger, more dependable little sister. Her fit of anger was a cover for her own insecurity.

"A tragic borne out of her elder sister being Rosa Foetida en bouton. An artistic piece."

Boutons basically are converted to being a Rose as soon as the upperclassmen graduate. That's why Roses and Bouton are often directed to choose little sisters both for their affinity as well as their character.

"…"

She suddenly felt ill. She'd never given it much thought yet, but Yumi realized that meant next year she would be Rosa Chinensis en bouton. She worried if she was capable of living up to that title, having seen Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama.

"Yumi-san, you're over thinking things. Shimako-san is Rosa Gigantea en bouton this year, so she'll be Rosa Gigantea next year."

Even though it was someone else's problem, Yumi couldn't help but feel horrified by the prospect of being in that position. It could be quite stressful for Shimako-san.

"Well, even if you're the sister of an en bouton, it doesn't mean there's no way for you to not be a Rose in the future."

Tsutako-san patted Yumi's shoulder, but she didn't know if those words were praise or extra pressure.

But. Even though the prospect of becoming a Rose in the future was enough to shiver her, the idea of not living up to Sachiko-sama was even worse. That being said, there would be pressure following her all the way until graduation for being Sachiko-sama's sœur, so she suddenly felt worried about her heart.

"Tsutako-san, you said they were pretending to be Yoshino-san, so would they have been acting?"

She asked her sudden curiosity out loud. Then, Tsutako-san looked at the tall window at the stair's landing and groaned, "Hmmm." It was well into autumn, so the afternoon sky was heavy and cold. Even so, the leaves that stubbornly stuck to the trees looked like warmth to the eyes, with their dark-colored, round forms.

"Hard to say. They're probably doing it out of seriousness, but…"

"What do you mean?"

"They're obviously just being influenced, but they probably feel like they come up with everything on their own. I mean, the matter of Rei-sama and Yoshino-san must be clearly etched into their minds. But they probably look at it is just an impetus. Even though they probably only really bothered to think about it in the past two days, they imagine that they always felt anxious about not being a fit for their onee-sama. And so this is the right time to distance themselves."

Maybe because the people in question weren't in hearing range, Tsutako-san relentlessly plowed on, criticizing the following break-up girls.

But, what if the girls had actually been anxious about it all along? Right. Just like Yumi, they always wondered, "Am I worthy of her?" and then with lack of confidence, while they mulled around in melancholy, Yoshino-san popped up, and they felt she had beaten them to the punch?

When she said that, Tsutako-san cackled and said, "If it's just chance like that, would there be three pairs in just lunch-break alone?" In that case, it did seem like things were going too neatly. Tsutako-san's insightfulness was admirable.

"You sound like you actually watched it."

"Truth be told, I did. Miyuki-san, who could line up alongside Yumi-san in a competition for 'Most Stereotypical Girl,' returning her rosary with watery eyes."

Tsutako-san lifted her camera, appealing that she, of course, captured that moment on film. When Yumi looked a bit angry, Tsutako-san justified herself, saying she had simply been passing by, emphasizing that she'd happened upon the scene while taking a walk during lunch break. But along the way, she'd also snapped photos of the other two pairs. –What a troublesome friend.

"But, why are they pretending to be Yoshino-san? Is there anything to be gained?"

As they went down the last step, Yumi asked. They were to split up here, with Tsutako-san going to her club house, and Yumi going to the Rose Mansion, but she didn't want to leave in the middle of the conversation.

"It must feel pleasant? Being a tragic heroine."

"A tragic heroine…"

Yoshino-san did have the image of a tragic heroine, and Yumi was a girl, too, so she'd imagined herself being the main character of a sad story once or twice, but-.

"I guess they're that bored of life? They wanted excitement."

Of course, that wasn't part of their calculations, Tsutako-san pointed out.

"Lillian students are fundamentally quite blessed, after all."

Students that attend from kindergarten can study all the way through university as long as they have a bit of academic skill and as long as their household assets remain in place. Of course, there're some that transfer into the academy in the middle, or some that leave to take exams for other schools, but it's the type of school atmosphere where the term "Examination War" is wholly out of place. Without examinations, the school has a rather laid-back atmosphere. Being laid-back is a lovely thing borne from surplus, but sometimes it can bring boredom.

"If days were more thrilling, this kind of disease wouldn't be so contagious."

"Disease."

"Yes, it's a disease. They're so bored and desperate that they can't find anything to do, and just when their souls are so paralyzed that they don't even know what they're looking for-"

Yoshino-san did something completely unexpected.

"It had such an impact that they had a spell cast on them without them realizing it."

"I get it, that makes sense."

Yumi finally felt like she got on the same page as Tsutako-san. If every day were dynamic, there would be no time to be bored, but not everyone lives like that. Had she not become Sachiko-sama's sœur, Yumi might have been rather bored, too. She didn't have a club she was devoted to, like Tsutako-san.

"Then would that mean the reason for the rise in popularity for the 'Lillian Kawaraban' is because it caters to the desires of the bored girls? Like they're peeking in on the daily lives of the Yamayurikai staff – something they can't do on their own?"

"That's probably a part of it. That's why as long as they report properly, they're allowed to do those things. But suddenly interviewing people without immunity, like before with Yumi-san, or printing an article without checking with the people in question is detestable."

This indignation came from Tsutako-san, who made it a habit to secretly take photos of girls in their gymnastics uniforms. Although Tsutako-san always checked with the people before using any of them, so she wasn't as bad.

"It's not right to place all the blame on the newspaper club, but Yoshino-san's actions should have been condemned, but instead it became justified, and then fashionable, and that's where the problem is."

Tsutako-san predicted, "It won't end with three pairs," and left for the clubhouse in a different courtyard.

Things were going out of hand. And she was already overwhelmed with thoughts of how to rectify Rei-sama and Yoshino-san's situation. If things were to continue to spread to other students, it was feasible that everyone would stop being sisters, and that would lead to the Lillian tradition crumbling.

(What can I do…)

Although she was heading straight to the Rose Mansion, she stopped and turned around. She thought, the number one medicine would to be settle things between Yoshino-san and Rei-sama, then report it to everyone. Impersonation crimes tend to stop when the original is solved, after all. … Even if this wasn't quite the same.

She thought the best course of action was to convince Yoshino-san to re-accept the rosary. But she was absent today, too. Rei-sama was probably at her club, but discussing it with the one who was rejected would be futile.

So her next thought was the line that connected everyone. Rosa Foetida. She didn't know why Rosa Foetida was in an ill mood, but her cute sisters were in a crisis. She thought Rosa Foetida should be willing to help. Everyone said it was hard talking to her because she wasn't herself, but in all sincerity, if Yumi explained things, she might come up with a way to solve things. And if Rosa Foetida came up with a plan, Yumi was willing to make it happen.

She was conveniently at the first floor, so she went to peek at the shoe boxes. Rosa Foetida was in third-year chrysanthemum class. Come to think of it, even though they were all in different grades, Rei-sama and Yoshino-san were both chrysanthemum, Yumi mused, as she looked through the small lockers.

(… Rosa Foetida's real name.)

She'd heard it before, but she couldn't remember. Not only Rosa Foetida, but Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Gigantea were almost never called by their real names, so she couldn't recall any of their full names, either.

[[Image:MM_v02_08.jpg|thumb]]
She had no choice but to go through attendance numbers, confirm their names, and then guess which locker belonged to Rosa Foetida.

(I'm really a fool.)

After feeling down for a moment, she pumped herself back up and began working. Just then, she noticed the figure of a student in front of her. When she stepped aside to allow her to retrieve her shoes, she noticed it was Rosa Foetida herself.

"Rosa Foetida!"

Yumi ran over, overjoyed. But she listlessly turned around, and on top of her teary eyes, one of her cheeks was quite red.

"Wh, what-"

What happened, she wanted to ask, but couldn't.

Rosa Foetida turned her face to the side again and covered her red cheek with her left hand, as if she wanted to hide it from Yumi's sight.

(- No.)

It was because the sight of Rosa Foetida covering her cheek doubled up with the Hanadera student council president. When he was slapped by Sachiko-sama, he, too, held a hand to his cheek. So Yumi immediately understood. Rosa Foetida had been hit by someone.

She only saw it for a moment, but Rosa Foetida's face looked extremely painful. She thought that such a powerful slap wasn't justifiable, no matter who the person was.

"What?"

Rosa Foetida calmed herself and asked. But asking for help from someone looking to the side was difficult. Plus, at that moment, she felt Rosa Foetida was in a bigger bind than Rei-sama and Yoshino-san.

"I'm sorry, I'm actually in a bit of a hurry. So if you want something, make it quick."

Rosa Foetida seemed to sigh.

"No, in that case it's alright. I'm sorry for stopping you."

There was no way she could make it quick, and Rosa Foetida seemed to be in a terrible situation, too, so she decided not to consult with her today.

"Yumi-chan."

Rosa Foetida turned around, remembering something, after she'd started walking away. She was still covering her left cheek.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, but could you-"

"I won't tell anyone."

Yumi quickly shook her head. Rosa Foetida might have chosen to leave at this time, when there were fewer students walking about, because she didn't want people to see her face.

"It's not like I'm hiding it, but it is a bit uncool."

"No, it's not…"

Yumi didn't really know what she wanted to say with "no, it's not," but she saw Rosa Foetida walk off to the main entrance.

"Gokigenyou."

Yumi watched her form grow smaller in the distance.

Where, when and who slapped her? There aren't very many people in the school who can hit Rosa Foetida.

(I wonder if she's alright…)

She wasn't the newspaper club, but she was definitely curious.

When Rosa Foetida vanished into the campus woods, Yumi went back into the school facilities and sighed. With Rosa Foetida looking like that, the future looked grim. She remembered what Katsura-san had said, earlier. "Rosa Foetida is peaceful and secured with a 3rd-year, 2nd-year and 1st-year." There were no definite in the world, she felt.

Yumi realized Rosa Foetida had gone home without changing her shoes when she was just about to reach the Rose Mansion. She thought about going back, but enough time had passed that it would have been futile to chase Rosa Foetida, and Yumi was already quite tired as it was.

But perhaps it was a blessing amidst all the misfortune.

The way she looked, Rosa Foetida wouldn't notice she was still wearing her indoor shoes until she made it home. After all, she seemed to be completely oblivious to her sisters' crisis.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter3 4

2008-05-20T00:58:21Z

72.53.7.163:

==4.==

"Oh, that's impossible, Yumi-chan."

Rosa Gigantea laughed. Either she'd gotten used to everything or she'd decided to forget about it, but either way, she was so full of it energy that it almost seemed like her exhaustion during the noon was a lie.

"Ah… impossible…"

"Yup. When Rosa Foetida's like that, it's over. All we can do is wait for her to be revived."

"'That'?"

"'That' is 'that.' You can't tell whether she's dead or alive, and you can't tell if she's thinking about something or not. … Well, obviously she's pondering."

Yumi had arrived when no one else was at the Rose Mansion, so Rosa Gigantea seemed to welcome her with open arms and even made instant coffee for her. If her classmates found out that she'd been serviced by one of the Roses, they'd surely be envious.

"I don't remember when, but she ended up like 'that' before, and it was the first time, so were all up in arms panicking. Then she returned to normal after a week, so it'll be fine if we leave her alone, I think? Well, just consider it to be bad luck that she ended up like this when Rei's situation came up."

"But-"

Leaving Rosa Foetida, whose cheek was struck, like this? But she'd been told to keep quiet, so she couldn't tell Rosa Gigantea about Rosa Foetida's swollen cheek. Yumi swallowed her words with her hot coffee.

"Ah, it's good."

"Right? I've figured out Yumi-chan's tastes."

The coffee wasn't just handily made, but the sugar and powdered milk were dissolved in a miraculous ratio.

"Everyone has one or two things they're good at, after all."

"So one of Rosa Gigantea's talents is to figure out other peoples' tastes?"

She spontaneously asked, and Rosa Gigantea laughed out loud, like there was nothing that could make her happier.

"Well, we'll leave it at that. By the way."

After drinking black coffee from her own cup, Rosa Gigantea asked Yumi.

"Do you know what Rosa Foetida's special skill is?"

"… No."

She didn't know why she was asked that, but Yumi honestly shook her head.

"How about what she's weak at?"

"Unfortunately, no idea."

If she was asked about Sachiko-sama, she'd immediately answer, "Men." But she didn't know anything about Rosa Foetida.

"Right answer."

Rosa Gigantea reached out and pet Yumi's head. –Gosh, she's not a child, so she could do without this sort of treatment.

"Huh, but why right?"

"Rosa Foetida has no strengths and weakness."

"Eh?"

No strengths and weaknesses? What did that mean? Yumi tilted her head, wondering what Rosa Gigantea meant.

"It's like powering up Yumi-chan's average-ness at everything. Without even trying, she's capable of doing everything above average. Got it?"

"Ah… that's kind of enviable."

"Not really."

Rosa Gigantea placed her hand on Yumi's head: You don't get it. However. Yumi wondered why Rosa Gigantea's skinship was never very heart-throbbing. It was so different with Sachiko-sama.

"People are more at peace with themselves when they're good at something."

"Why?"

"Because they don't have to choose what they want to do. Think about it. If she wanted, she could become anything. But she has nothing she really wants to do. Because every field is lined up exactly the same, to her."

That causes unhappiness, Rosa Gigantea said. People who could do anything carried with them their own specific sorrows.

" Rosa Foetida always looks bored and unwilling to do things, right?"

"Yes."

But she realized that was a bit of a rude statement. Still, Rosa Gigantea also wasn't malicious, so it was alright.

"In truth, she is bored. She always knows what the result will be. She even knows how much she can do."

"She knows her limits?"

"Yup. She can do anything, but she'll never be able to take on someone who's specialized."

Even so, she was on a different dimension. If Yumi were in that situation, she'd be willing to just roll the dice for it. But she knew she'd be laughed at if she said it, so she stayed silent.

"The reason why she accepted becoming a part of the Yamayurikai staff, with its painstaking jobs and all, was because she hoped it would put some excitement in her life, I guess. I mean, she's probably happiest of us all about an eccentricity like Yumi joining, and I think the unexpectedness of making Rei her sister was a key point."

"-"

She felt sweat dripping somewhere on her body. Then, what? Rosa Foetida was so bored with life that she was happy with simplifying the criteria for her actions?

"Why're you thinking about this in such a difficult way, Yumi? People choose sisters for different reasons. I know plenty of people who chose people based on their looks."

"Rosa Gigantea… Is that why you chose Shimako-san to be your sœur?"

"Who knows?"

Rosa Gigantea deflected the question with a meaningful laugh.

"What I'm saying is, don't rely on Rosa Foetida. I mean, they're sœur, so she cares heavily about Rei, but she's not nearly as close as Rei and Yoshino-chan. Plus, she almost never becomes engrossed in anything, but right now she's been captivated. So I don't know what that is, but it's a good thing, I think."

Rosa Gigantea can laugh because she doesn't know about Rosa Foetida's swollen cheek.

"Of course, if things weren't so heavy on her side, she'd probably be the one enjoying Rei and Yoshino-chan's strife the most."

Then Rosa Foetida wasn't going to be much use either way. After thinking a bit, Rosa Gigantea reached over to Yumi's cup, said "let me try a sip," and drank.

"Ah, shall I pour you a second?"

"Really? Okay, can you pour three peoples' worth of black tea in new cups?"

"Three people?"

"Yup. Me and Yumi and one more are here."

What is she talking about?

"One more?"

"Oh, Yumi-chan didn't notice?"

"…"

Maybe she was trying to be spooky, but there were no ghost traditions in Lillian. There were none, … so she didn't have to try to scare her.

Anyways, Yumi didn't feel like probing further, so she wordlessly walked to the sink and began pouring three cups of black tea, as requested. There were no brand requests, so she used the Darjeeling tea bags, as usual. When she placed the three cups on a tray and turned around, there stood Rosa Gigantea, who'd crept up without a word.

"Gyah!"

"What. I just came to help, you don't have to sound like I'm attacking you."

Rosa Gigantea took the tray from Yumi and placed the cups on the table.

"But if you keep looking like that, I will."

After giggling at Yumi, who was still frozen in place, Rosa Gigantea hugged her tightly.

(… Like I said, it doesn't make me feel anything.)

But she kept snatching away her freedom, so Yumi struggled against it a bit with her arms and legs. But. Of course, Rosa Gigantea wasn't seriously attacking, so she didn't seriously try to get out, either.

"Ro, Rosa Gigantea, do you do this to everyone?"

Then Shimako-san wouldn't be able to hold herself. Her own onee-sama was flirting with other girls. But Rosa Gigantea separated herself and spoke.

"You question my chastity?"

And then she said, "Nope, just Yumi-chan!" then hugged her again, and kissed her lightly on her cheek.

"R, Rosa Gigantea!"

That's going too far! When she seriously tried to get out, she found herself freed with ease. But, Sachiko-sama was standing where she landed.

"-Yumi."

"Sa, Sachiko-sama."

No, this wasn't how it seemed, there's an explanation- But Sachiko-sama ignored Yumi, stalked up to Rosa Gigantea and said, coldly.

"You're going too far with your frolicking. You did it because you knew I was here!"

(The three teacups!)

For the first time, Yumi thought, "She got me!" Rosa Gigantea noticed Sachiko-sama coming into the Rose Mansion. And so she wanted Sachiko-sama to see her making fun of Yumi-. She's sadistic, Rosa Gigantea.

"Yumi-chan's soft and huggable, it might become a habit."

"If you love touching people that much, please, do hug your own sister?"

Oh Sachiko-sama, your words can be taken the other way so easily it makes me blush, too.

"Shimako? I've never even thought of that."

"Oh. Then think about it. And please stop reaching out to my sister."

"I'll think about that, instead."

Rosa Gigantea doesn't seem like she'll change. Of course, if she were the type to back down from Sachiko-sama's glare, she wouldn't have been mischievous to begin with.

"Yumi. You too."

Sachiko-sama turned around and scolded.

"Don't flail about so wildly. It just makes Rosa Gigantea happy."

"… Yes."

I don't think I did anything wrong though, Yumi thought, but she answered obediently. Because Sachiko-sama wouldn't have been pleased if she just stayed calm, either.

"Now, hurry up and wipe yourself."

Sachiko-sama took out a white, laced handkerchief from her pocket and rubbed Yumi's cheek.

She didn't react at all when Rosa Gigantea kissed her, but she blushed when Sachiko-sama stroked her with her handkerchief. The scent of Sachiko-sama's hair floated over, and heart raced.

Sachiko-sama was like a temple guardian demon. But her own body was quite honest, Yumi thought.

Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume2 Chapter3 1

2008-05-16T00:46:36Z

72.53.7.163: Corrected name

==1.==

It seemed one of the biggest reasons why the rumors spread so fast was the speed of the newspaper club. By noon the next day, every high school student knew about the catastrophe that had befallen the two whom were voted Best Sœur. It was an awe-inspiring display of speed.

"Tsukiyama Minako got us, this time."

"I didn't think she'd publish it the next day."

Lunch break.

When Yumi arrived at the Rose Mansion with her lunch box in hand, she found Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Gigantea groaning to one another while sitting across from each other.

"Sorry, could you pour us some tea?"

Rosa Gigantea mimicked the speech mannerisms of section chiefs, like in dramas. Her back was a bit stooped, and she didn't lift her eyes from the table in front of her. She was like an "old man."

"Rosa Chinensis, would you like Japanese tea, as well?"

"Yes… no, actually, I'd prefer orange pekoe, if you don't mind."

Usually she'd accept the same thing, or she would pour herself her preferred tea, but it seemed she had other things on her mind today.

"Orange pekoe."

I wonder if Darjeeling isn't sufficient? Yumi thought, as she peeked inside the cupboard, and then she found orange pekoe teabags in a glass bottle. It seemed like she knew exactly how much remained.

She poured thick blend of Japanese tea for Rosa Gigantea in a chawan, and orange pekoe in a teacup for Rosa Chinensis, then placed the tea in front of the respective requesters. After pondering over which to choose, she then filled a chawan a third of the way with the same blend of Japanese tea as Rosa Gigantea and then distilled it with boiling water.

The groaning of the two was based on the newspaper extra spread out in front of them. It was a simple, one-sided monochrome print on a B5 sheet, but it was extremely attractive nonetheless.

The headline in big letters read, "Yellow Rose Revolution." And to its side, "What is going on with the yellow roses?" was neatly printed, further engrossing the reader.

"It's like a sports paper."

Rosa Gigantea grumbled, while holding a mustard-tarama-salad sandwich to her cheek, the sort that only the most die-hard of fans actually order.

"It's rather vulgar for an authenticated high school newspaper."

Rosa Chinensis sighed, rolling her round rice ball around her lunch box. As for Yumi, sitting between them, she stuck a fork into her crab-shaped sausage and thought,

(Is that so,)

Being satisfied by the implications.

The Lillian Kawaraban used to be a more orthodox high school newspaper. She had only started reading the newspaper in depth the past two or three issues, so she had assumed it was always a gossipy tabloid.

She wondered what sort of person Tsukiyama Minako-san was, so fervently tracking down rumors about other people.

Character aside, she took the two-shot photo of Rei-sama and Yoshino-san that was used for the Lillian Kawaraban that was published ten days ago, and this time had the artistic sense to lay out the new article on a torn version of the photo. Even Yumi had to admit that was brilliant.

Speaking of senses, the two Roses in front of her. Sandwich and Japanese tea, orange pekoe and rice balls, those were mismatches, too. –Just as she was thinking about that, Rosa Gigantea started laughing, staring at Yumi's face. She was probably going through life's phases again.

"I heard Yoshino-chan's absent again?"

Rosa Gigantea returned to the topic, deciding to ignore Yumi's face, this time.

"Ah, yes. I went to the Chrysanthemum class during the class break, but Yoshino-san was absent."

"But Rei was here."

Rosa Gigantea mumbled, "she's so honest," then wiped tarama salad off of her lip with her ring finger and licked it off.

Apparently Rei-sama had appeared on time, as always, though without Yoshino-san, and had been properly attending classes since first period. Perhaps she had settled down after a night's rest, although she hadn't recovered to the point where she could outwardly look fine, which itself was quite painful to watch, opined Rosa Chinensis. Rei-sama was probably forcing herself to take everything in stride to alleviate everyone's concerns. But a newspaper with her photo plastered on its cover was unexpected, so she had been stunned, and had read the article in detail, anyways.

"Rei-sama was the one who was dumped, so her classmates'll be sensible and not inquire, but-"

Rosa Gigantea stopped there, but even Yumi knew what she wanted to say. "We're going to be bothered all day as substitutes for the questions."

Because they wouldn't say it, but Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Gigantea both looked extremely tired, even though they had only attended the morning classes so far. Even if they had been at physical education, they looked like they had run an hour-long marathon, or had swum in a pool for that long. But it was out of season for pools, and you could tell just by entering the room that their exhaustion was not sports-related.

Right. Their exhaustion was mental fatigue. They might be stressed out, too.

Perhaps they'd heard the rumors, or they'd read the extra and wondered about the future of the yellow rose sisters, or perhaps the students were simply curious, but they had attempted to hear the story from the people closest to the sisters. And when it came to people close to the sisters, the first people that sprung to mind were the Yamayurikai staff: the Roses, and enboutons and their sisters who went in and out of the Rose Mansion were targets as well. Even Yumi, who you normally would think hasn't yet understood everything that happens in the Yamayurikai, was bombarded with questions to the point where she had escaped to the Rose Mansion, so she couldn't imagine how troublesome it must be for the Roses.

"Was it like this in my case, too…?"

Yumi remembered what had happened two weeks before the school festival. The students were in an uproar over whether Yumi would become Sachiko-sama's sœur or not, and this situation felt just like that.

"It's not really an annoyance."

Rosa Gigantea tied up one of the vinyl wrappings for her sandwiches and tossed it in the waste bin. –Which, of course, meant that out of Yumi's sight, they had all dealt with all of this.

"It's a bother, of course, but it's not Rei or Yoshino-chan's fault, right? I mean, this is all simply compounded by the fact that they're popular, anyways. So don't worry about it."

The Roses were mature, she thought. They were only two years older, but they were able to coolly analyze their actions and their emotions. As for Yumi, she simply thought, "I hope it works out."

"By the way, how about Shimako? You two are in the same class, right? She didn't escape with you?"

"Everyone backs off when she smiles and answers, 'I have no clue.'"

Actually, she was probably joyfully picking up gingko nuts at the secret grove. She was almost bursting with impatience since the morning.

"I see. Beauty is a weapon. In the case of Sachiko, she's so scary no one probably wants to bother her about this."

For Yumi, Rosa Chinensis was also a beauty, in her own right. Rosa Gigantea was more of an exotic beauty, but her looks were on par with the stone statues in the fine arts room. Rosa Foetida-

"Huh?"

Speaking of which, where was Rosa Foetida? Rosa Foetida was the most likely to be irritated by all of this bother, too. She was the person Yumi expected would run here first, faster than even Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Gigantea. And Rei-sama was Rosa Foetida's sister, so the questioning would be even more severe.

"Is Rosa Foetida absent, too?"
When Yumi asked, the two Roses looked at each other and answered bitingly, "Well she's here."

"But?"

"She's in an even more otherworldly state than yesterday's Rei. She looks so disturbed I don't think anyone is willing to talk to her."

"It looks like things will keep deteriorating at this rate. I wonder what happened to her?"

Rosa Chinensis rested her head on her palm, musing, "I wonder what happened." Yumi wondered why Rosa Chinensis didn't worry more about Rosa Foetida. Anyways, it seemed like it was at least okay that they knew why Rei-sama was so stunned. Well, it wasn't good or anything, but at least knowing the cause meant there was a way to deal with it.

"Well, if they need to borrow our strength, Rosa Foetida would come and ask."

Rosa Gigantea also spoke in a relaxed tone.

"You don't have to look at us like that, Yumi-chan. If push comes to shove, we'll step in, so don't you worry. But more importantly…"

It was more of a priority to deal with Rei-sama, Rosa Gigantea declared, and Rosa Chinensis nodded.

"But you said you wouldn't interfere with household strife…"
"We said that yesterday, but the situation has changed, what with this thing being published."

Rosa Chinensis flicked the extra spread on the table with her index finger.

"This article…?"

Yumi looked down at the article. Actually, Yumi had received the article by the gingko trees and had read through it.

"It's a big problem. It's not an article, it's a novel."

The extra was slammed by all five fingers, this time.

"A novel."

"'Perhaps-.' 'Possibly-.' They're all presumptions. But it's so well-written that when you read it all, you end up assuming it's all true."

Rosa Gigantea's statement that Tsukiyama Minako should be a novelist rather than a reporter was, of course, not praise but sarcasm.

Come to think of it, the piece was indeed more like a novel than a newspaper article. On top of the blurring of truth and fiction, the writer had assumed the feelings of Yoshino-san and Rei-sama, whom were both not even interviewed. But it was so skillfully written that you would miss that fact unless someone pointed it out. Plus, people assume newspapers are written truthfully, so readers end up taking it for granted.

"You want to protect Rei-sama because a false article was written?"

"Ah…"

Yumi absent-mindedly nodded.

(I can't.)

She'd been trying to follow the conversation, by it was speeding too far ahead.

(Umm, Rosa Gigantea and Rosa Chinensis both said they were just going to watch, but because of this novel-like article, they've started wanting Rei-sama's problem solved. –I think.)

"The problem is that this has been beautified."

Rosa Chinensis stood up and, this time, poured herself a second cup of orange pekoe.

"There'll be repercussions."

Rosa Gigantea leaned back in her chair and signed, "Sheesh."

As for Yumi.

Even when she was washing the three chawan at the sink, she couldn't decipher the Roses' words, and even when she was walking down the hallway after exiting the Rose Mansion, her tilted neck didn't straighten.

"Beautify…? Repercussions…?"

But that was solved sooner than she expected.