Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume26 Chapter4 1 (section)

===<noinclude>A Shortcut and Dropping In on the Way. </noinclude>Part 1===

It was 4:10pm, and about half of the time allotted for the treasure hunt had elapsed.

The "elegant tea party" continued on the second floor of the Rose Mansion, although it had probably dropped the "elegant" qualifier.

While the event itself was about half over, the tea party had only been going for about ten or fifteen minutes, since the time it took to read the rules and the hosts' s&oelig;urs' handicap had to be factored in. Not much time had passed since Sachiko-sama's declaration that she was "Waiting for Rosa Chinensis en bouton to reveal her faults."

Anyway.

"Rosa Gigantea, what's this 'ru'?"

"What about 'ta'?"

The Rose Mansion was now busy with the clatter of treasure hunt participants as they came and went.

"It's a hint, so you have to come up with the answer yourself."

This was how Shimako-san would answer whenever she was asked. Even though Shimako-san was never going to just give the answer away, the number of people in the Rose Mansion had swelled as treasure hunt participants found the hints and rushed over. So it continued, with new groups rushing in and some staying for the tea party.

All up, there were seven white cards with hints. The "1/7" indicated as much, although there was always the possibility that some girls may have misread that as "January 7" and were running around the grounds looking for the plants used in the Festival of Herbs that took place on that date. All that could be said about such a conclusion was sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

On another note, Sachiko-sama was, obviously, still there. Yumi considered this to be a given, since she hadn't revealed her faults yet.

Yumi felt like she was being watched from all sides, as Sachiko-sama once again weighed on her mind. 

A little while ago, Sachiko-sama had jotted something down in her student notebook, but Yumi didn't think she'd done anything particular noteworthy. All she'd done since the tea party started was sit in her seat and listen to the conversation going on around her. Naturally, she'd respond when someone talked to her, but she wasn't volunteering any topics and she had to shut out the repeated pleas from the first-years: "Give us a hint."

(That's right. Reveal my weaknesses?)

It left her feeling a bit strange.

What fate would befall the red card she'd hidden as treasure? She tried thinking about what she'd like to see happen, but she couldn't clearly define one single outcome as the one she wanted.

As a petite s&oelig;ur, she wanted Sachiko-sama to find it.

As a host, it would be no fun if it was found easily.

But if the event ended with no-one finding it, then it meant that she hadn't chosen a suitable hiding spot, and that wouldn't have been "fun" either. So in that case, where was the person who would find it? She idly wondered what Touko-chan was doing right at that moment.

The more she thought about it, the more complicated her feelings became.

"Yumi-sama, should I refill your teacup? It must be cold by now, right?"

Noriko-chan whispered in her ear.

"Thanks, but I'm fine."

Yumi cupped the teacup in her hands.

Cold though it may be, there was still about half a cup of black tea in there.

"Now that I think about it, you haven't been drinking much tea, Yumi-sama."

One of the first-years pointed out.

"Is there some sort of reason for that?"

"A reason?"

There was indeed a reason.

"Oh, it's not just Yumi-san."

Yoshino-san said, seated a little distance away.

"Shimako-san and I are holding back too."

She walked over and held out her empty cup, saying, "See."

"I carelessly drank the whole lot, but I've been avoiding getting a refill. If we drank too much, we'd have to go to the restroom, right?"

Hearing this explanation, their guests nodded in comprehension. This was then followed up with a, "But."

"But we're in the same boat. What should I do? The tea was so good I've already had two cups."

Yumi hastily waved her hands at the perplexed first-years.

"You girls are free to get up and go to the restroom whenever you like. But for us … the people that hid the cards, if we recklessly left the Rose Mansion, how to put this … it'd just cause confusion, right? That's all it is. Okay?"

Yumi looked to Shimako-san for assistance, but Shimako-san was looking in a completely different direction.

"Shima&mdash;"

Before Yumi could finish calling out to her, Shimako-san started speaking.

"What is it, Noriko?"

(Noriko-chan?)

Hearing that name, Yumi also looked towards the sink. Noriko-chan had just been offering her tea a moment ago, but now she was back at the sink, by the electric kettle. This was her "home" position for today, but at least she had a chair to sit on.

"What's the matter?"

Shimako-san asked again. At that point, Noriko-chan finally noticed the gazes directed at her and, a bit surprised, said, "Ah, nothing." It felt like she was there in body but not in spirit.

"Sorry, but can I be excused for a little while?"

As she spoke, she made her way over to the so-called biscuit door, indicating that she was asking whether it was okay for her to leave the room.

"Fine by me?"

Mami-san gave her permission.

Noriko-chan had originally intended to participate in the treasure hunt, but kindly volunteered to assist instead, so she had plenty of work to do thus far. There was no way she would be denied a short break.

"My deepest apologies, when you're refraining from this, onee-samas."

Noriko-chan bowed apologetically then exited the room.

"She really must have needed the bathroom."

Mami-san mumbled, looking out the window.

Noriko-chan had carefully descended the staircase to avoid making any noise, but as soon as she stepped out of the Rose Mansion she had started sprinting, flat out, towards the school buildings.