Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume23 Chapter1 (section)

=== Part 3 ===

Because of, for example, intruding on this year's (emotionally it was from about one year prior, therefore something like last year) New Year's Day and also going to play at the vacation house, her parents gave permission to go to the Ogasawara's New Year's party unexpectedly easily.  

This was after the Fukuzawa residence's evening meal.

"But, whenever you intrude, because it's one-sided, there isn't any excuse, right? Next time, why don't you get Sachiko-sama to come to our house?"

While wiping the dining table with a tablecloth, Yumi's mother said that, tacking on "although small" at the end. But, for Sachiko-sama, since she was not very fond of her spacious house, somehow this point was alright. It's a yearning for a house that understands where family members are, which had been said before. But, even if she were talking to an adult, to say, "That's probably being humble," undoubtedly wouldn't be taken seriously.  

"Hey, Yuuki won’t come, you know right?"

Facing toward the kitchen in order to put away the chopstick holder and pot stand, Yumi called to her brother who going in front holding an earthenware pot. Incidentally, today's main course was oden.

"What? Because last time I went?"

Yuuki turned around.

"Yeah… from that."

Somehow or other. One year before it became the same pattern didn't it? Maybe it's just an uneasy feeling.

"I won't go."

For the time being, putting the pot down on the gas cooking table, Yuuki sighed and laughed.

"About that, even though I was brought along by Kashiwagi-sempai somewhat against my will, you know."

At the name, 'Kashiwagi', Yumi's heart skipped a beat. Though it skipped a beat, for some reason or other, and more or less whenever also, it seems palpitations enter like echoes, not in the way of a simple heart skip. It doesn't go as far as a stab in the heart, but whatever his plans, he is an indiscriminant heart-stabbing fellow. 

Regarding Kashiwagi-san, who can be called a rival even though he already set aside Sachiko-sama, there are various things she was about to think. Nevertheless, now, due to the Touko-chan affair, the matter of the promise with him was caught in her heart the most. 

(When next questioned, I will reply.)

The thought came out, and her heart still skipped.

Though, whether probably heart-skipping, or probably heart-stabbing, if it is noticed by Yuuki, for Yuuki to become unexpectedly suspicious would not be unusual. Therefore, while Yumi returned the chopstick holder and pot stand to the proper locations, "Got it," she said, and turned her back to her brother as she left the kitchen.

But.

"Is that because Kashiwagi-san might also come?"

Returning to the living room, Yumi's mother was waiting with twinkling eyes. It seems like  both children's conversation had been heard.

"Well…?"

Because Yumi honestly didn't know, and couldn't come up with just a vague response, subsequently she persistently continued along.  

"Isn't he Sachiko-sama's cousin?"

My, my. Lately, what with one thing after another, the Fukuzawa residence incessantly called on the matter of Kashiwagi-san, and it was due to her follower-of-each-new-fad mother who wouldn't bring it to an end until she was completely pleased.

"Nevertheless, Kashiwagi-kun is a male."

While Yumi's father had his eyes on the newspaper's television section, looking disinterested, he muttered. 

"The New Year's Party, isn't it female-only?"

Said, also while feigning a disinterested appearance. Yumi's father had reliably caught the details of the written invitation. Female only. That, considerably important.

"Well then, Touko-chan is. Maybe she is invited, right?"

Touko-chan. That name, as well...,  where Yumi was at now, her heart skipped. She had not yet talked about the tale of refusal by Touko-chan at home.

''"Yumi-sama, because at your home you can talk about anything, right?"''  Though that was what Touko-chan had said, there were many reasons even this was an unexpectedly unspoken matter. 

"I have no idea. How should I know whether Sachiko-sama invited her or not."

"Well if it's Yumi-chan, why not do some information gathering, right?"

Mom, that would be improper for a little sister. Although she was a little sister to someone from inside the academy, because they didn't live together, she didn't grasp if it would be an impossible thing to do.

"Since the invitation arrived, we haven't yet talked."

Though she had talked with Yoshino-san and Shimako-san on the phone.

"Eh, why is that?"

"After all, I had thought that I would make a telephone call response, after receiving Mom and Dad's permission!"

"Yumi-chan, aren't you being too serious? Hey, are you ok?"

"…"

Being too serious, my worried mother says. Something our parents say,'' 'a bit off point isn't it?' ''While tilting her head, Yumi turned toward her room. Well, because she was raised by such parents, this sort of daughter might not be ready.

"I say she's ok. Only she won't use the telephone like a high school student daughter in front of her parents, though I also think, 'why is it?' Because Yumi is odd."

Yuuki who observed his elder sister picking up the telephone handset extension before climbing the stairs, sneakily advised mom.

Definitely. Though not a private telephone, she was feeling that she wanted to do the call alone in a location that didn't have people nearby. Nevertheless, that her younger brother saw though her thoughts, is a bit of a shock.

She entered her room, and Sachiko-sama answered when she made the call to the Ogasawara residence. 

"For today, I think that I handled many phone calls."

I see. So, steadily around the time the invitations were arriving, during which might have come attendance responses and inquiries -- it was making arrangements sort of things.

"Some time ago, there was a call from Rei. She will be able to come together with Yoshino-chan, she said. Hakone seems already ok, right?"

As I thought, Rei-sama had time also with Sachiko-sama, Yumi and the others' same road race, was apparently a topic that came up. If speaking of Yoshino-san's New Year's, it's race spectating. Although it should be that she didn't do it even once yet, for the sake of excessive impact there had been input as to whether they would do so every year. 

Incidentally, speaking of Yoshino's summer, it is climbing mount Fuji. This also is the same on the right.<ref>No idea what she means, but that's literally what the text says: これも右に同じ。</ref>
 
"And what about Yumi?"

She was being asked by Sachiko-sama about her attendance, Yumi gripping the phone tightly with all her strength nodded ascent.

"Of course, I will be coming."

"I'm glad. Though if it was limited to Yumi, erasing the''' 'come and join us' '''part of the invitation with a slash, and '''absolutely''','' 'shall I rewrite it?' ''was greatly thought about."

Sachiko-sama said, and her flowery laughter was heard coming from the telephone receiver.

If it was limited to Yumi, absolutely, she had said. Yumi didn't think Sachiko was being cheeky.

If it was limited to Yumi. If it was limited to Yumi. In her mind, many times over, it repeated, and she turned completely red. As she thought, doing the call in her room seems like it was the correct choice.

There was a meeting about the matter two or three days afterward, Sachiko-sama said.

"An invitation went out to Touko-chan also, you know."

Because she was completely  unprepared, unexpectedly the word called Touko-chan had turned up, again her heart had reacted with a thump.

"...Is that so?"

Yumi murmured. Because she couldn't see Sachiko-sama's face, while she stayed silent,  she thought about what Sachiko-sama was intending on the opposite side of the telephone.

"It was on my own discretion. I apologize, it was without consent from Yumi."

"No, it's ok."

If she tried to think about it, it might be that event's personal items and route from the station were less important, than to a large extent wanting to have asked about this.

"It might be that she won't come."

"Right."

"Even so, I say I think it's good that she comes. Though I don't know if Yumi's shock at having been rejected still remains, it probably won't steadily cause action from Touko-chan's side."

While even if in the end, she might not be able to become souers with Touko-chan, regarding this condition of separation ending, in order that it not become mutual, Yumi also was feeling it.

If you take and erase a word called souers, perhaps like with the current Kanako-chan, she might be able to build up a good relationship. Now that she knew her feelings, therefore, as for not calling out to Touko-chan with little-sister, it is a very mature thing. However, this situation of continuing to have a back turned is said to be less than good.

Although not giving up was also important, probably it's already become a choice, that time for also thinking about her companion's feelings and resigning oneself is a significant thing.

At any rate, if onee-sama is waiting.

"Do you not speak because you are shocked? Because, having said for everyone to try to watch over you from a distance, I am beginning to become meddlesome right from the start?"

Sachiko-sama said, and it was as if she read Yumi's thoughts.

"Onee-sama,  are you also a person with supernatural powers?"

"I don't have super natural powers or anything, you know. But, it is because I'm your onee-sama."

Onee-sama.

"Therefore. I am good, you know."

Meddling, she said. Although saying that, it's absurd, while she's said to brim with self-confidence, she has superbly understood. 

"Yeah."

Yumi let out a small laugh.

I am good, you know, she said.

If it were limited to Onee-sama.


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