Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter1 1 (section)

===<noinclude>Onee-sama, Rosary and Petit Soeur. </noinclude>Part 1.=== 

In the middle of winter, a mere 30 minute difference in morning bus departure time meant a world of difference in ambient temperature.

You could say that this was obvious, since the sun would have had less time to warm the Tokyo atmosphere, but as she rode the bus that looped between the north gate of M station and Lillian's Girls Academy she couldn't dismiss it so simply.

She had thought it worthwhile checking if the bus that left at 7:30 was the same as the one that left right on 8:00. The peak-time for middle-school and high-school students heading to school was around 8:00am, so the bus was usually loaded to 200% capacity with students packed in tight and hanging on to overhead straps or handrails. Naturally, the heat was incredible. On days when you were carried through to the general vicinity of one of the heating ducts it was so steamy that you wanted to take off your muffler and gloves, but there was no room to move, so all you could do was endure until you arrived at the Lillian's Girls Academy bus stop. – That was the scene that usually played out around Yumi on her trip to school these days.

(Oooh, it's cold)

So then, the only conclusion you could draw for why Yumi was now shaking as she sat in a deserted bus was that she had caught an earlier bus than usual. Even so, there would normally be more students catching this bus, but the one immediately before it had been running late and scooped up all of the students waiting on the platform, which meant that when this bus departed it only had about ten students on-board. It sounded like the heater was turned on, but its rattling did very little to warm the air.

Yumi placed her hand over her chest as she looked out the window. Underneath the layers of her gloves, coat and school uniform was a small weight. The cross that hung from her rosary was listening intently to the rhythmical thudding of her heart.

By following the line of thought that led to her catching an earlier bus, Yumi arrived at this rosary.

(… Today's definitely the day I give this to Touko-chan)

As a result of that decision she had been assailed by waves of various emotions, including nervousness, excitement and sorrow, to the extent that she opened her eyes an hour earlier than usual this morning. In spite of  her exhaustion from their long trip yesterday, Yumi had awoken without the aid of her alarm clock.

And once her eyes were open, there was nothing she could do. At the very least, her emotions made going back to sleep impossible, so Yumi turned the heater on with the remote control then quietly crept out of bed while it was still dark. It seemed a waste to spend the extra time on 'image training,' so she decided to head to school early instead. And when she arrived at M station, Yumi realized that by missing the morning peak she had also avoided various people asking her about how yesterday's date went.

The bus stopped in front of the gates to Lillian's Girls Academy. Ten girls, including Yumi, filed out of the rear doors of the bus, all of them students at Lillian's. Yumi was last off the bus, and as she stepped down, she turned and look inside the bus. The lone middle-aged woman who remained in one of the priority seats looked ill-at-ease.

Of the nine other students who got off the bus with her, none of them seemed to be smiling. Naturally, they recognized her as Rosa Chinensis en bouton, but they just gave a slight nod and then hurried off ahead of her. They all had their reasons why they had to arrive at school early. Yumi saw them off with a smile, then slowly walked after them.

Yumi glided smoothly across the pedestrian bridge, when usually she would have to trudge in order to keep pace with those around her. Of course, there had been days when she had to arrive early as part of her Yamayurikai work, but she'd never arrived at school so early without a meeting or task scheduled. It didn't matter when she arrived at the Rose Mansion today, so the feeling of being rushed was absent.

Yumi spotted a small sprout growing in a corner of the pedestrian bridge. The wind may have carried it there, since it was in a spot where dust had gathered. In spite of how cold the air felt on your skin. The pedestrian bridge was, just a tiny bit, closer to the sun than the ground, and perhaps it had good exposure to sunlight. Spring would soon be here.

As she passed through the tall gates, the number of people Yumi could see walking in front of her increased. Students who caught the bus that looped in the opposite direction blended together with those who walked to school. Sprinkled in amongst these were a few university students and members of the teaching staff, who weren't wearing uniforms.

After walking down the path lined with trees, now stripped back to their branches, the statue of Maria-sama appeared. Normally Yumi was just one in a crowd of people when she passed by here, and was always mindful of the people behind her, but today it looked like she'd be able to take her time.

Oh.

The sole person in front of the statue of Maria-sama was just finishing her prayers as Yumi arrived.

The student turned around slowly, perhaps having sensed Yumi's presence or heard her footsteps. The girl turned around as though in slow-motion, and the instant their eyes met her mouth made the exact same shape as Yumi's.

"Ah"

The two faint sounds overlapped each other, sounding like a voice. The two of them stood facing each other with their mouths agape. But surely that couldn't have lasted for very long. The young lady in front of her quickly put on a smile, as though her momentary surprise had never happened, and said:

"Gokigenyou, Yumi-sama."

This time around she projected her voice from her diaphragm.

Vertical hair-rolls that swayed beside her ears, a determined brow. First year camellia class, Matsudaira Touko. Member of the drama club. Yesterday, Yumi's partner on a date. And – 

"Thank-you for yesterday."

As expected. She was someone who was able to act properly even in such circumstances.

"It seems like I caught the bus just ahead of yours. As our bus was leaving, we could see the next one pulling in to the bus stop and all the students on board sighed. Ahh, if only we'd waited for the next one."

Not only that, but she seemed the same as usual.

"Yep. It was deserted."

Belatedly, Yumi smiled and walked forward. Then stopped in front of the statue of Maria-sama. Yumi's heart leapt when she passed in front of Touko-chan, but she took care not to show it. Because it was kind of annoying. It would be embarrassing to be the only one who looked as though they were getting all excited.

But the truth was, Yumi was all excited. Because the face that she had been picturing as she walked along the path had suddenly appeared in front of her. And since she didn't know why this good fortune had befallen her, Yumi couldn't help herself.

When she lowered her hands that had been joined in prayer and turned around, Touko-chan was still there. So close that Yumi could almost reach out and touch her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Yumi walked over and stood beside Touko-chan. The cross hanging from her neck asked if she was sure about this, but Yumi walked alongside Touko-chan towards the school buildings.

Their chance meeting in front of the statue of Maria-sama may have been a perfect opportunity to give the rosary to Touko-chan, but Yumi didn't think so.

In order to retrieve the rosary, she would have had to undo the buttons on her school coat.

Would have had to call out to Touko-chan to stop her from walking away.

People would have noticed. While Yumi was contemplating this, two other students had already walked past them.

But she knew immediately that these were all minor things. There was a bigger reason why she thought that this wasn't the right time.

For instance, if her coat jacket was to come unbuttoned right now, Touko-chan were to stop walking and she could see that there was no-one else around, it would still be no good.

As they walked, Touko-chan spoke.

"For some reason I woke up earlier than normal today."

So that was why she had arrived at school somewhat earlier than usual.

"Hmmm."

Despite responding indifferently, Yumi's heart fluttered. It may simply have been a problem with her sleep cycle. But there was also the possibility that Touko-chan arose early due to excitement.

The pair stopped in front of the entrance to the school building. When they entered inside, they would each go in different directions, first to change into their indoor shoes and then on to their classrooms. If there was something she wanted to say, now was the time.

"Today at lunch-time."

That was probably all Yumi needed to say for the astute Touko-chan to understand.

"Okay."

At Touko-chan's small nod of assent, Yumi added, 'In front of the statue of Maria-sama.'

Students were walking around them as they stood there talking. Some students didn't even look at their faces. Others looked inquisitively at the pair who were the center of so many rumors.

Yumi turned to leave when she was stopped by Touko-chan saying, 'Umm.'

"I have something to ask of you."

Despite the presence of a group of three first years noisily making their way past, Touko-chan drew close to Yumi and whispered in her ear.

"At that time – "

When she heard what Touko-chan said, Yumi was surprised. But judging by Touko-chan's expression, she hadn't misheard her.

Touko-chan had been thinking about the same thing.

Yumi was elated at Touko-chan's request, even more than she had been about them both waking up early.

First year camellia class, Matsudaira Touko. 

Member of the drama club. 

Yesterday, Yumi's partner on a date. 

–  And the girl who would become Yumi's petit soeur in a few hours time.