View source for Maria-sama Ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter 1 2

===<noinclude>Everyone's Farewell Presents </noinclude>Part 2===

It has become an established routine that whenever there is an event, the Hasekura and Shimazu families would get together and go out for dinner.

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

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

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

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

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

Even though I'll be back in a week. This is exaggerated, like a farewell party for a salaryman being relocated to a rural office. The waitress bowed her head as she entered and exited the private party room as if she did not know the reason for the party, right up to its end.

(Isn't it obvious? The youngest is in the seat of honor and the grown-ups are offering words of farewell.)

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

"Yoshino," Rei-chan called while approaching.

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

"What about the grown-ups?"

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

"Is he smashed?"

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

And with that, he unintentionally drank too much.

[[Image:MM v17 p015.jpg|thumb]]

"Yeah."

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

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

"Yeah. Let's do as you say."

Rei-chan went back through the sliding door.

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

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

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

They held hands automatically.

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

"Really."

Yoshino muttered a bit, before closing her mouth.

"Mm, what?"

"Nothing. Let's go home."

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

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

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

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

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