Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume6 Chapter3 6 (section)

===<noinclude>Main. </noinclude>Part 6.===

Shizuka-sama said farewell, and started to leave.

Having just finished singing Ave Maria, she wasn't going to go back to the Rose Mansion. She had things to do, she said.

"Ahh, what about the cake?"

Shimako called out to Shizuka-sama, thinking it would bring her back.

"My gift to you."

Looking back quickly, Shizuka-sama smiled.

"Huh?"

"Or maybe your reward for cleaning up."

If Shizuka-sama continued on her way home, Shimako would have to return the room in the Rose Mansion to its original condition by herself. It was like some kind of punishment game, except the task wasn't taxing and the compensation was cheesecake.

"If there's too much, you could share it with someone."

"Haa."

Even if she took it home, she doubted whether her parents would eat it. So she was left wondering if she should refrigerate it, or eat it all herself. So, for Shimako, it was like a punishment game after all. If it had been Yumi-san or Yoshino-san, it would have been decided quite simply and there would be no problem.

"I don't know about you, but I had fun today. I wanted to tease you a bit, Shimako-san."

"Tease?"

"I acted unconcerned, but I held a bit of a grudge from when you rejected me."

Shimako had been asked to be Shizuka-sama's petit soeur after Rosa Gigantea graduated. That was probably the rejection she was speaking of.

"So I snapped at you and showed off – but I wasn't good enough to pull off a perfect villain."

"… I like you, Shizuka-sama."

Words that take you by surprise are often close to the truth. Until now, she hadn't really considered whether or not she liked Shizuka-sama, but it was probably the case.

She liked Shizuka-sama.

As a human, she was likable.

"Thank-you. Me too."

Shizuka-sama blessed Shimako with a smile that contained no hint of sarcasm, then walked up to her and took her hand.

Her warm hand. It felt comfortable, as though they had known each other for a long time.

It was strange, but that time when Shizuka-sama had visited the Rose Mansion, she had adapted to the atmosphere as though she had always been there. 

"It's ironic. If Rosa Gigantea didn't exist, we may have become soeurs... although we both care deeply for Rosa Gigantea."

"But Rosa Gigantea does exist."

"Right, so we're both happy."

Shizuka-sama let go of the hand she was holding.

"Later."

"… Shizuka-sama."

"Right, before I forget. I'm the type to hold a grudge, so there might still be some payback to come."

"Scary."

"Indeed. You should prepare yourself."

Shizuka-sama turned and disappeared down the hallway. Shimako waited five minutes thinking she might come back, but that wasn't the case. It seems like the payback she spoke of wouldn't be happening today.

With her spirit uplifted and her body wearied, Shimako descended the staircase and headed towards the Rosa Mansion.

For some reason, her steps felt leaden. She had certainly been strung out and spun around by Shizuka-sama, but she didn't mind that. When they had been together, she had a spring in her step and things had been simple. Time had ceased to have any meaning as she was assaulted by various emotions.

Now, walking down the empty hallway, she remembered the words of Shizuka-sama.

Perhaps I'm the one that has disappeared.

She had a premonition of what it might be like if she had to leave here prior to graduation, like Shizuka-sama. Leaving behind your good friends, abandoning your studies mid-way through them and seemingly running away. The image of this overlapped with her present self walking alone through the school buildings perfectly.

It's better not to want something, if you're only going to lose it in the end.

It's better to be carefree, so as to be able to leave here at any time.

But, contrary to that sentiment, she had accepted Rosa Gigantea as her onee-sama and become good friends with Yumi-san and Yoshino-san.

After all, no man is an island. If some kind person offers you a hand, it's not weakness to take hold of it.

In her heart, Shimako cursed Shizuka-sama. Why did she desert her? Here, now, being alone was the hardest thing to endure on their date. Tidying up the Rose Mansion, running at full speed through the school, delving into the darkness within her heart, all of these were trivial compared to the loneliness of being left by herself in this place.

Shimako was afraid of the school.

Without the students, the school was definitely just a container.

She was afraid of losing the people she loved.

She was afraid of being alone.

Shimako started to run. She had to get out of here quickly.

She was going to go back to the Rose Mansion, get her belongings and go home. She could come to school early tomorrow and do the cleaning then. At any rate, she didn't want to spend a second longer than necessary before escaping this solitude.

From the school building to the courtyard, then from the courtyard she tumbled into the Rose Mansion. But still her feeling of loneliness hadn't disappeared. The Rose Mansion was the same as the school buildings. Or perhaps worse, since she was more attached to this place.

The staircase swayed wildly as she ascended. It was the first time she had climbed it so violently.

If she were to stop, it felt like the loneliness would catch up with her and she wouldn't be able to move again. She understood that she was only chasing after herself, but that did nothing to calm her.

Shimako opened that extremely familiar door.

And then.

"Ah, welcome back."

A voice she hadn't expected called out.

"…. Huh?"

The shock was too great, and Shimako couldn't believe what she saw in front of her.

What was going on?

The room was warm, and there was someone elegantly sipping tea at the table.

"I saw your bag was here, so I thought you'd come back and decided to wait. Where did you go? … Wait, why are you looking at me like that?"

[[Image:MM_v06_p133.png|thumb]]

For a dream or an illusion, it was quite real. If that person was here, they would probably be eating the whole cheesecake with a fork.

And that's what was happening.

"Onee-sama....?"

"Bingo! But why would you need to confirm it? You can see that just by looking at me, right? Or did you think it was a raccoon or fox in disguise?"

She wouldn't have minded if it was a lie or an illusion.

But this was the genuine Rosa Gigantea.

"Ahh – "

Shimako's body gave way, and she collapsed on the floor.

"Wh-What's wrong!?"

Startled, Rosa Gigantea hurried over to help but she had lost the will to stand up.

"Shimako?"

"Onee-sama... I was"

She clung to her and cried.

She couldn't hold back the words any longer and they came spilling out, in a loud voice as she called out frantically.

Hurting.

Lonely.

Scared.

Although still confused, Rosa Gigantea held her in her arms without saying a word. Now, what she needed most was to be held in those arms. Why are you here? Why are you crying? They didn't need words to ask each other these questions.

The room was warmed by Rosa Gigantea's presence in it.

She had left her loneliness on the other side of the door.

And Shimako finally found peace of mind in Rosa Gigantea's arms.