Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume32 Chapter8 2 (section)

===<noinclude>What's the Person Beside You Doing? </noinclude>Part 2.===

"That person – "

As Noriko was walking or, rather, running, along the path between the classrooms and the library her gaze fell upon a student walking in front of her. 

"Rosa Chinensis…?"

Even from a distance, you could identify her based on her graceful carriage, the long, straight, glossy black hair and her proportions. There was no mistaking it, that was Rosa Chinensis.

(Hmmm.)

Noriko hit the brakes, slowing to a walk.

If that was Rosa Chinensis, just what on earth had she been doing until now?

Since there were no classes this afternoon, the students who didn't have activities were allowed to go home. And because Rosa Chinensis hadn't participated in their search for lost items, Noriko had assumed that she would have left by now. Perhaps she had been reluctant to leave her classmates and her classroom. 

Or perhaps it was just a look-alike.

Supposing that was Rosa Chinensis on her way home, there would be no logical reason for her to leave the path and continue walking straight ahead. Like Noriko, she would have followed the path as it curved towards the left in order to arrive at the front gate. 

It must be someone else after all, then.

Noriko wanted to make sure of this, but then she remembered that she was chasing after Touko, and gave up on the idea. If Touko were to get on the bus before Noriko caught her, it would be a waste of the emotion that Shimako-san had sent her out with.

Noriko followed the path towards the left.

As Noriko picked up speed once more, she couldn't stop wondering who that person had been.

At any rate, that girl had looked just like Rosa Chinensis.

And looking that much like her, she would be a shoe-in for the 'Rosa Chinensis look-alike when seen from behind' contest at the school festival (if there was such a thing).

Perhaps she wasn't on her way home.

Noriko didn't think she had been wearing her school coat. She couldn't remember if that girl had been carrying her bag or not. Similarly, whether she was wearing her indoor or outdoor shoes was fuzzy. 

But if she wasn't on her way home, where was she going and what was she going to do?

(If she kept going straight, she'd reach the sports oval. Before that is the gymnasium.)

By now Noriko had completely discarded the 'look-alike' theory, and decided that it must have been Rosa Chinensis.

Arriving at the fork in the road, Noriko again slammed on the brakes and prayed to Maria-sama. Due to the influence of the deeply religious Shimako-san, this was something she had to do even though she was alone and didn't have time to spare. Despite being extremely fond of Buddhist statues, she was flexible on this matter.

(If you think about it.)

As Noriko resumed her run, she was thinking: It doesn't matter whether or not that really was Rosa Chinensis. It's no business of mine whether she's going somewhere unexpected. It's not like this is a game of hide-and-seek. Even so, why is it bugging me so much?

"Ahh."

That was when she finally realized.

It did matter whether that was her or not. Because if Rosa Chinensis was hiding in some out of the way spot then Yumi-sama wouldn't be able to find her.

If Touko's instincts were correct, then Yumi-sama went off hoping to meet Rosa Chinensis. And since it seemed to be a spur of the moment decision, they probably hadn't arranged to meet each other.

When you're searching for someone, limiting yourself to that person's territory is the conventional approach.

Yumi-sama would probably have started by checking Rosa Chinensis' classroom – that of the third year pine group. Even before that, she may have checked Rosa Chinensis' shoe box to ascertain whether or not she was still at school.

And if Rosa Chinensis wasn't in her classroom, but her shoes were in her shoe box, what then? The next step would probably be to check areas where students would be gathering.

Milk hall, the staff room, … Rosa Chinensis wasn't a member of any clubs, so Yumi-sama probably wouldn't check the clubhouse.

– The gymnasium. Actually, since they were setting up for the graduation ceremony there probably would be people there today. And that's probably where Rosa Chinensis was heading.

(If that's the case.)

The determined Yumi-sama could probably struggle on to victory. Although it would be a bit difficult for her.

Noriko exited the school gates just in time to see the bus arrive. She hurriedly boarded the bus that looped past M station.

"What happened?"

Touko, who had boarded the bus earlier, asked the panting Noriko that had just appeared.

"Where's Rosa Gigantea?"

The bus was less crowded now. So Touko had settled down in a double-seat.

"She's a bit busy."

"Busy, huh?"

Noriko waited until she had her breath back before she spoke again.

"She told me about the role of the onee-sama."