Editing Maria-sama Ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter 7 4 (section)

===<noinclude>The Parakeet's Hint </noinclude>Part 4===

Even after paying once at the register, gazing at the shop's goods while waiting as friends shopped, she'd see something else she wanted. So after purchasing some more stationery, the four of them headed out towards the Duomo.

They walked along the Arno river, to Ponte Vecchio, then turned north. Changing to a westerly course after the Duomo, after going to the vicinity of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, the Arno river comes out to the south, and from that spot then returned to their hotel. This was their rough course. If they noticed a side street, of course it was okay to digress.

Brand shops were futile. They focused on small shops selling small things, gatherings of souvenir stands.  They were a little curious about what Italian department stores were like.

"Gokigenyou."

At a jumbled store that spilled out into the street, Yumi and friends suddenly heard a voice. It was a greeting in Japanese. Naturally, thinking they themselves were being addressed, they looked around left and right, but found no such person. Around here, such a greeting would be from a Lillian student or teacher.

Thinking it was just their imagination, they once again started walking.

"Gokigenyou."

Mami-san pointed, "Ah! Over there!"

There, in a store that sold leather bags and belts, probably not for sale but at the same height as items for sale, hung a birdcage. Within that birdcage was a large parakeet.

"Did it talk?"

"Probably. Gokigenyou."

Mami-san spoke to the birdcage. Then. Sure enough, "Gokigenyou" came back as a reply.

"Wow, amazing. It's so well-trained. Gokigenyou."

Talking with the bird was amusing. Everyone greeted it simultaneously. Every time, the parakeet would reliably respond:

"Gokigenyou."

Some Lillian students who came here previously must have taught it. Or it also could be students from Course B, who came from Venice.

Thanks to the parakeet, the young ladies had stopped at the store and appeared happy. The shopkeeper also grinned and with a big smile, said "Gokigenyou." Although it was doing best to understand, unfortunately, the pet bird was just imitating what it heard.

"Gokigenyou."

The parakeet continued to chatter away.

"Welcome to Florence."

Surely, as if someone suddenly pushed the 'play' button on a tape recorder, unexpected words came out.

"Coming to Florence at least once is a good thing."

Who taught it these words? They listened while starting to become amazed. Yumi was startled at the next words to come out:

"Florence senbei. Florence senbei."

"No, isn't this a handbag store?"

Tsutako-san and Mami-san both buckled over in laughter, while Yumi and Yoshino-san both spontaneously exchanged glances. Florence senbei? Is there a chance it's possibly real?

And then the parakeet emitted a guaranteed shock:

"C'mon, stop it, Satou-san."

Satou-san.

Satou-san, Satou-san. No way.

No way, Satou Sei-sama!