Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume20 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 1.===

Well, she didn't have very high expectations. Having appeared at the meeting place at the appointed hour, the Rosa Chinensis sisters and the Rosa Gigantea sisters only made a total of four people.

"Did Yoshino-chan leave already?" Sachiko-sama asked Yumi.

"Yes. She isn't in the match, because for the time being she's only tentatively in the Kendo Club. But because she went with Rei-sama and company, she was excused from cleaning duty." Although they normally hold matches at the school on Saturdays, this was the regional tournament for high schools. Yumi and her friends, who were ordinary students, would be attending class through the fourth period, go to homeroom, and after cleaning duties were finished they would gather at the entrance. All of which was identical to last year's regional tournament, though the group members had changed. Sachiko-sama and Shimako-san and Yumi were returning. Noriko-chan was joining the group this year. Youko-sama and Sei-sama from last year were absent. More than an entire year had passed since that time.

"The others... I guess they won't be coming, huh."

"Seems like it." The bouton's five little sister candidates, because it was a fun outing, had been asked if they wanted to come and help out. Although they had been invited, not a single one had come.

"Yumi's three sister candidates, and Yoshino-san's two, no matter what they might have added, they should still have come." That appeared to be her standpoint but, there was Yoshino-san, who had said, "You're fired." to one girl. Another person had already left in tears. Probably neither would be coming.

"We've waited five minutes. Let's go." As this was Sachiko-sama's judgment, no one opposed it.

"Yoshino-san wasn't able to introduce Torii Eriko-sama to her sister," Shimako-san said while walking.

"Yeah." Yumi also nodded. Probably because Yoshino-san had still not met up with Eriko-sama, it certainly seemed like she wouldn't be able to now. However, if those two candidates couldn't come to the match, it seemed it was only a matter of time before, "I wasn't able to make it," would be the reason for all of them.

"If you think about it..." Sachiko-sama muttered. "Noriko-chan was quickly able to commit. Touko-chan and Kanako-chan as well, when they changed their minds, they certainly understood why they were doing it." Somehow, compared to the five sister candidates, they at least have valid excuses.

"I'm sorry."

"There's no reason for Yumi to apologize. Surely, those girls are just your average female high school students. If possible though, it needs to start with you leading them properly."

Even if I had wanted to guide them, there's nothing to be done if they choose not to come. I'm only able to pull them so far. Onee-sama, I can say with confidence that these candidates were terribly inadequate. Yumi thought they were shameless.

"That was probably a flight-of-fancy, wasn't it?" Noriko expressed her opinion.

"Flight-of-fancy"

"To be with a Rose or a Bouton. They were only acting on their longing. 'I want to approach her, if only a little.' They were thinking that was what they wanted. 'If I can be by her side, only wonderful things will happen.' It was that kind of a flight-of-fancy. But, such a thing has no basis in reality."

"They became disillusioned?" It reminds me of Shouko-chan a little bit, Yumi thought. For her, if she became a little sister to a Bouton, she believed it was possible to glitter like in a photograph.

"If it was a flight-of-fancy, didn't they come to realize it? Until now, if they were longing for the Rose Mansion, they hadn't actually thought about what they would do when they got there. Since they simply hadn't thought it through - to one day be abruptly thrust into the real world would be baffling. The tea party guests were like that, they would have been happy." It was just an educated guess, but Noriko-chan ended her supposition. It certainly seemed like what she'd described, Yumi thought. If that was the case, about this time they would probably have hurt feelings. Those poor girls.

In the park that surrounds the civic gymnasium, there were mainly three types of uniforms worn by the wandering girls and boys. A familiar scene was unfolding. When they arrived at the assembly hall, more seats were filled than there had been last year. As expected, they were divided into couples who seemed like they could do nothing but sit. Thus, the Red Rose sisters and the White Rose sisters decided on where they would meet after the match ended and they broke into two groups. On the way to finding their seats, they each bought and carried a sandwich and a carton of milk coffee. [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter4|*]] With a "Let's Go!" the two began to search for a pair of empty seats.

"Look, Onee-sama, over there," Yumi pointed and then ran.

"Huh, Yumi?" From what she could tell from behind the rows, she thought she'd discovered a pair of chairs that had not been taken. However, there was also the possibility that someone had simply put down their bags to reserve their seats. First she approached the scene.

"..." Okay. No personal affects. "Um, these aren't taken, are they?" she tentatively asked the person in the next seat.

Then that person answered, "If you want to sit, leave the sandwich."

"..." Was this the Oitekebori spirit? [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter4|*]]

"Why is Sei-sama here?"

"Because it's probably going to be interesting. Or so Eriko heard."

"E...Eriko-sama?" The absent "Eriko-sama" was simply repeated in question. It wasn't that she called out in particular. But nevertheless, from Sei-sama's side, a voice responded.

"Yes." Whoa. It was the person in question. She raised her hand in terribly good humor.

"Go...Gokigenyou, Eriko-sama." Although it was natural that Eriko-sama would be here, when she appeared before Yumi's eyes she honestly thought, "Oh, Yoshino-san you really should not make such rash promises."

She said incidentally, it was not only Sei-sama that Eriko-sama had invited.

"When seen from the back it's possible to think that..."

When Sachiko-sama finally arrived, to the person sitting next to Eriko-sama, she greeted her with, "Onee-sama." That's right; she was addressing Youko-sama. During the school festival it had not been possible to visit with them. And now before her the set of all three former Roses sat, so today she could make the time.

(Oh.) She had brought along her two best friends. Then, Eriko-sama told how today was the day she had been looking forward to. It's only natural: if Yoshino-san could've introduced her little sister, she would've said, "Please look upon her." Then she would feel drunk with victory and would have happily waited for the evaluation of that little sister. Anyway she would have, if she were able to introduce her. This... will not be pleasant.

"Yumi-chan. How is Yoshino-chan faring?" As soon as Yumi was seated, Eriko-sama stretched her body and asked.

"How's that?" She must exercise discretion in her response. Eriko-sama was speaking glibly. Although she was being made to speak, it was not necessary to say too much. All the while, Sei-sama and Youko-sama, who sat nearby, remained silent and listened. How would Yumi get through this crisis? It was interesting and they wanted to see the outcome. Why is this happening? And yet, they were both smiling.

"When she saw the box of sweets, she felt resentful, right?" Ah, that.

"I'm very sorry, but as her best friend it's not possibly for me to say." As she was convinced that a discussion of Yoshino's little sister was perilous, her interaction became awkward.

"I'm disappointed. By all means, I wanted to see her."

"I, I can't say anything, but..."

"I understand without your having to say so. If you could only see Yumi-chan's face." Youko-sama and Sei-sama could not endure anymore without bursting into laughter. In a small voice, Sachiko-sama said, "Idiot." The first round, no matter who was judging, would have been declared Yumi's loss.

While Yumi was holding her sandwich, Eriko-sama was forgiven. But immediately after finishing eating and the last droplets of milk had been sucked loudly through her straw, round two had begun.

"By the way, what kind of girl is Yoshino-chan's little sister?"

"Who knows." Incidentally, it seemed that before coming here the three former Roses had supped at a family restaurant. Sei-sama's "leave it~" must have been a joke. But, while letting her mind wander a bit, as expected, one piece had been eaten.

"Yumi-chan, don't play dumb. Didn't you just say that Yoshino-chan is your best friend? As a best friend, it's not that you don't know." It figures. Even though she should have been more attentive, she may have already tipped her hand.

"That's because, I haven't been introduced yet." However, the key point here was Yumi's knowledge of "what kind of girl" she was. As this was something she was incapable of knowing, there was no way she could answer.

"Probably, Rei-sama doesn't know either... I don't think. Also, Eriko-sama is probably the first person Yoshino-san will notify." Hearing this, she seemed to have become more relaxed. Eriko-sama ended the second round too quickly. You could say it was a tie game.

"You've created a good smokescreen, Yumi-chan. Well, that's fine. The longer the anticipation, the greater the payoff. No matter how long you hope to delay it, the matter should be settled by the end of the day." Even though she merrily gave a beautiful smile, it was strange and frightening. Eriko-sama was serious. It seems she means to settle this today, in this hall, by any means necessary.

She wanted to send a telepathic message to Yoshino-san to "run away." It seemed like no matter where she might have run to though, Eriko-sama would have definitely followed.

"So... Yoshino-chan's little sister, which one do you think she is? Didn't she have three candidates? She should be somewhere in this assembly hall...." To kill time until the start of the match, Eriko-sama had hit on a terrible pastime.

"Oh, that's good." She began to feel dreadful, since in reality only the Rosa Chinensis sisters knew that none of the soeur candidates had come. Why did Sei-sama and Youko-sama have to reply "Let's do it!" with great alacrity?

"Ah, umm..."

"Don't give us any hints, you'll spoil the fun. Yumi-chan and Sachiko should stay silent." There aren't any hints. Because there is no candidate. Even if she had wanted to give a hint, she could not have done so.

It was just too ridiculous. Sachiko-sama silently took out a paperback book and began to read. Already, one had escaped. If possible, Yumi wanted to escape too but the Sei-sama sitting next to her reached out and gripped her arm tightly. She was forcibly dragged in by her peer. Apparently, while seeing Yumi's reaction, she had anticipated such a contingency. She seemed persistent, but after seeing her complexion, she knew Yumi wouldn't be able to offer a hint.

"Ah, so it's me." Sei-sama won at Rock, Paper, Scissors. First of all, she pointed. "From the side facing us, the girl in the third row."

"That girl who is pinning back her bangs? No, Sei. That's a second year. You've probably seen her: she's in the Newspaper Club."

"Ah, That's Tsukiyama Minako's little sister. Well, how about the girl next to her." That neighbor happened to be the newspaper club's rookie, Hidemi-chan. It wasn't that the possibility didn't exist, but she probably hadn't become Yoshino's little sister. Since she had been instructed not to give hints, she of course didn't say that.

Next it was Youko-sama's turn to choose. "What about the girl sitting next to Shimako? Certainly, she had gone to the Yamayurikai's play."

"Unfortunately, that's Shimako's little sister," Sei-sama answered.

"Ah, yes..." Youko-sama and Eriko-sama nodded at the same time. Shimako gave them a worried glance and bowed in their direction. Noriko followed suit and bowed her head.

"They look just like a Japanese person and a westerner." The former Roses were cracking up at the joke. For Shimako who was in a far-off seat this reaction was probably unexpected.

"What about the girl standing next to Camera-chan? Is that her little sister?" Youko-sama asked Yumi. hen she looked, Tsutako-san, who had just entered the assembly hall, was accompanied by Shouko-chan.

"I haven't heard. She's definitely a first year, but…"

"Right. Well, she gets my vote because she has a cute face."

"...Huh?" In the end, they were just screwing around. From a first impression, there was nothing to base such a judgment on but her face and the way she carried herself. But, Youko-sama chose people based on their face. It had come to Yumi as a bit of a shock. She was an unexpected pushover for a pretty face. But she had already proved this by making Sachiko her little sister.

When Youko-sama made this declaration about Shouko-chan, Eriko-sama hummed to herself. "That girl next to Camera-chan, I think I've seen her before. I can't remember from where." Since Shouko-chan is Naito Katsumi-sama's real younger sister, it was likely that Shouko's features might resemble her sister's in some respects. Or mightn't she have actually met her before? Because the former Roses had graduated at the same time that girl had entered high school, there shouldn't have been a point of contact. Although Eriko-sama thought it over for a minute, eventually she gave up in lieu of a renewed search for Yoshino-san's little sister.

"My last try. Let's make it either of those two over there." With that, she pointed, and Youko-sama replied, "Ah! One of them is Yuuko-chan's daughter." [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter4|*]] And the other of the two was definitely Touko-chan. They were two people sitting next to each other, so one could even assume that they came together. But at what point had they formed a relationship? Up until today, they should have been natural enemies...

"Youko, how is it you know her mother's name?" Eriko-sama inquired. Sei-sama laughed.

"I also know it. That one over there she called Yuuko-chan's daughter... Certainly, that's Kanako-chan, isn't it?" Seeing the expression on Yumi's face she knew it had been confirmed. She couldn't help making the, "Ding-dong. That's a correct answer" expression. "I...believe I was made late because of those people? That's right. Last year about this time, there was something like this. Could it be déjà vu?" But it wasn't déjà vu. Indeed, while being hospitalized for her wisdom teeth, Eriko-sama said that even a big incident might go unnoticed on a small school campus. Here was a person who carried a unique history.

"And? That Yuuko-chan's daughter, Kanako-chan, is a first-year, yes?"

"That's right. But Kanako-chan is a different story."

"Eh? Different story?"

"She wouldn't be Yoshino-chan's little sister, is what I mean. Kanako-chan likes Yuuko-chan."

"She has a complex for her mother?!"

"Yeah, that's the feeling I get." As Eriko-sama didn't know Kanako-chan's circumstances, Sei-sama and Youko-sama enjoyed her confusion.

"What about the girl next to her?"

"That's Electric Drill-chan. That girl also isn't really Yoshino-chan's type." Pointing at the student, she completely threw out this idea. Eriko-sama finally said, "She's just not here." In reality, there were plenty of other Lillian students who had not been mentioned. Apparently the difference between the amount of personal information available on Yumi and her best friend is quite amusing.

At which point, Sei-sama said, "Well then, you may choose one person regardless of uniform or school year." Hey, hey. Gradually, the object of the search was changing. This idea penetrated Yumi's consciousness and lingered. When it came to finding Yoshino's little sister, what would happen if you remove only the lowest condition of that person being a first-year in Lillian High School?

"Umm... I think that girl." Eriko-sama recovered her good humor and pointed at a girl. This was an opponent from the opposite side. She was far away, but because she was in front, she was visible. It was a girl who had semi-long, all one length hair.

"Go on." Youko-sama grinned.

"What?"

"I like the type of person who resembles me."

"Resembles?"

"More so her bearing than her face."

Sei-sama took this in stride and said, "If she wears a barrette and had a more prominent forehead... I think her face would look alike too."

"Sigh. Well then, by all means I want to recommend her to Yoshino-chan." Apparently not as dissatisfied as she lead us to believe, Eriko-sama laughed. She tried to imagine introducing a girl to Yoshino-san to be her little sister based on the fact that she looked like her. It surely would be a pleasant thing.

"I regret that she's wearing plain clothes."

"To make matters worse, she's an opponent." True. Eriko-sama decided that Yoshino-san's little sister would not only wear a baby pink sweatshirt, but was also hidden amongst a group of students from the rival school, Ohnaka.

"That wouldn't go well." Eriko-sama sighed regrettably. Although she wanted to, she couldn't force Yoshino-san to take that girl. However, the three former Roses were able to enjoy themselves for ten minutes before the match began.

"I'm looking forward to this." Players and referees were showing up at staging area. Rei-sama and company were behind those players. She was also able to confirm the appearance of Yoshino-san carrying their luggage.

Sachiko-sama put a bookmark in her paperback book and shut it. At last, it was 2 o'clock; the match had begun.