Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume6 Chapter6 2 (section)

===<noinclude>Rosa Chinensis' best day of her life. </noinclude>Part 2.===

After walking back from the next bus stop, she entered the school grounds through the main gates.

Having never missed the stop before today, she didn't realize that the next bus stop was closer to the back gate until she was walking through the front gate, and by that time it was too late.

Youko's head was spinning so badly that she had come to accept that she would make these small mistakes.

Even though she was like this today, she usually conducted herself flawlessly as a senior –  possessing a brilliant mind with great judgment and leadership abilities, as well as being beautiful and kind. If her juniors were to see her in such an unfocused state, she wouldn't be worthy of the name Rosa Chinensis.

But right now she didn't have the energy to put up a front.

My stomach hurts,

my stomach hurts,

my stomach hurts,

my stomach hurts.

With each step drawing a complaint from her body that her mind had to assuage, Youko slowly walked down the path lined with ginkgo trees.

Because the pain is only temporary.

Because it'll get better soon.

I'll endure it for just a little while longer.

Let's just struggle through this like we always do.

Even with her body screaming out in pain, she somehow made it to the statue of Maria-sama.

"…"

She was intending to follow her usual custom and pray, but the scene she saw when she entered into the small garden with its fenced off grove and pond took her breath away.

(…)

There weren't enough people there to call it a crowd, but there were a fair few gathered at the fork in the path.

But if that was all it was, Youko wouldn't have given it a second thought. Because students stopped to pray on their way to and from school, this place would occasionally see a 'rush hour.' But this group seemed to have gathered for some reason other than that. Although there was plenty of space in front of the statue of Maria-sama, there were only two people standing there.

(This scene is – )

She'd seen this somewhere before. Youko racked her brain and slowly reeled the memory in. One year, no, two years ago probably. It was definitely something that she'd done. She'd asked her onee-sama, who had graduated last year, and they came down here together.

"Oh, Rosa Chinensis."

The second-year student at the head of the line noticed her, and called out to her with a 'Gokigenyou.' Rosa Chinensis thought she knew her. She was one of Sachiko's classmates. And the girl standing next to her seemed to be a first year. Probably her petit soeur, Youko thought as the girl embarrassedly imitated her older sister and greeted her.

"Please, go ahead and pray."

The two girls who had been standing in front of the statue of Maria-sama had just departed.

"Are you sure that's okay?"

It would be inexcusable to cut in front of a line of people that were patiently waiting their turn. But the second year girl at the head of the queue shook her head.

"Don't worry about it. None of us want to be a bother to the students who are coming here to pray."

The first year student held a small box in her hand. When she took a better look at the line of couples, in each case one of them held something in their hands. 

"Ahh – "

Youko finally remembered.

The small packages were chocolates.

"Today's Valentines Day, isn't it."

"Yeah.... Oh, isn't that why you're at school today, Rosa Chinensis?"

"It seems so."

With a nod, she stepped in front of the statue of Maria-sama. As always, the white face of Maria-sama smiled down upon her with profound compassion.

"That's why I came to school."

Just a moment ago, it had all come back to her.