Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume26 Chapter4 4 (section)

===<noinclude>A Shortcut and Dropping In on the Way. </noinclude>Part 4===

It wasn't part of the search area, but that didn't mean they weren't allowed to go in. If those two concepts were equivalent, then it would mean that no one would be allowed in to the toilets, for example.

"Oh, you didn't have to do that."

Yamamura-sensei's desk was so quiet it was like a completely different place to lunch time.

It wasn't just Yamamura-sensei's desk &mdash; Katori-sensei's area was the same, and the situation was probably the same for Hoshina-sensei in the school infirmary. The fact that the male teachers' desks were also unchanged was a bit sad for them. 

"I told you that no thanks were necessary. I always lend my books freely, especially to my darling students."

"What if that darling student said she wanted to give her teacher chocolates?"

"Not as thanks for the book?"

From her seat, Yamamura-sensei glanced up at Chisato's face. She seemed to be enjoying this theatrical haggling.

"Because she really likes you."

"In that case, I'd gladly accept."

Yamamura-sensei said, "Thank you," and took the bag containing both the book and chocolates.

"Well then, I'll take my leave."

Chisato thought she should return to the treasure hunt, since there was still about twenty minutes left. She turned to leave but Yamamura-sensei grabbed her by the sleeve and stopped her, saying, "Wait."

"You know, I mightn't look it, but I'm actually kind of absentminded."

"Uhh."

Well, Chisato wasn't really sure about that "mightn't look like it" part, but she'd sort of got a sense of the absentminded part. Yamamura-sensei was typically quite level headed, but very occasionally she would break down in tears. It wasn't a fatal flaw so everyone just smiled and accepted it. Her imperfections made her more likeable and easier to approach, so she was popular with the students.

"There it is."

Yamamura-sensei had rolled her chair back a little bit and stuck her head under her desk, before pulling something out of a paper bag under there and offering it to Chisato.

"Here."

"What's this?"

There were various colored candies wrapped up in cellophane and tied with a ribbon.

"It's a bit early, but it's a White Day present."

"Huh?"

"It'll probably slip my mind in a month's time."

Yamamura-sensei smiled and added, "Because I'm so absentminded, you know."

"Y-you don't have to do that."

Flustered by this unexpected present, Chisato took a step backwards. Her mind had been so full of thoughts of giving a gift that she hadn't considered receiving one, so she had no idea how to handle the situation. What would her mother do at a time like this?

Making matters worse, Yamamura-sensei took Chisato's hand and slipped her the bag of candy.

"See, I like you too, Tanuma-san."

So that was it. Hearing those words, Chisato's shoulders slumped.

"In that case, I'll gladly accept it."

"Good."

Chisato didn't know how many of those candy bags Yamamura-sensei had prepared, but every student that had given her chocolates had probably received one. She was convinced that it wasn't because Yamamura-sensei would forget about it by White Day; it would be difficult for her to go around to the classroom of every student that had given her chocolates. Announcing over the school PA system that students should come and pick up their chocolates would be totally out of the question as well, so she must have decided it was better to have White Day today.

Yamamura-sensei, you're so cool.

Chisato thought that this sort of thing was why she adored Yamamura-sensei.

"You'd better get going now."

Yamamura-sensei lightly tapped Chisato on the shoulder.

"?"

"The map. You're in the middle of the treasure hunt, right? Give it your best."

"Okay."

Chisato answered energetically, and once again started to leave the staff room. She started to leave, but on the way to the door something caught her eye and she turned back again.

"What's the matter?"

Yamamura-sensei asked.

"The window...."

The curtain was caught in the closest window. She could see the part of the curtain that was caught on the outside flapping in the breeze.

The windows were opened during cleaning time and it had probably been accidentally caught there when they were closed. Chisato didn't know who had done it, but they'd probably been so cold that they quickly closed the window and not noticed.

"I'll get it."

Chisato opened the window and pulled the curtain inside.

"That should do it … oh."

Looking out the window, Chisato spotted someone that she knew quite well walking past on the path below.

"Rei-sama!"

Chisato rolled up her map to make a bullhorn and shouted through it.

"Have you finished your exams for today?"

It looked like her senior in the Kendo Club, Hasekura Rei-sama, had just arrived at school, since she was wearing her school coat and carrying her bag.

Hearing Chisato's voice, Rei-sama stopped and looked around. Then she spotted Chisato leaning out of the staff room window and waved by way of response. Then, with that, she walked off towards the school entrance looking downcast.

She looked sort of, no, really downbeat.

More than downbeat, she seemed completely drained.

"I wonder if she bombed her exam."



<span style="font-size: 300%; border: "><center>* * *</center></span>



However, Chisato's concerns were entirely misplaced.

The cause of Rei-sama's exhaustion was something completely different to her exams.