Editing Maria Sama Ga Miteru:Volume12 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 4===


"Yumi"

Sachiko-sama said shortly after the car made it onto the main street.

"You're the type that's strong in cars?"

"''Strong in cars'', can you be saying…? That, um, are you asking whether or not I get carsick?"

Yumi asked in return. Because of what had happened just a short while ago, she had to be cautious so as to not hear incorrectly.

"You're saying there's something else?"

"No, it's just what if by chance, you were asking whether or not I am knowledgeable about many makes of cars?"

"That's stupid, isn't it?"

Sachiko-sama let out a small laugh.

"Um, and so?"

"You can use this, if you like."

She was presented a flimsy box. Attempting to open the box revealed a row of pink pills. 

"This … is it travel sickness medicine?"

That would be natural based on the flow of the conversation.

"That's right. Since I took it at home..."

"Ah, I see."

It was a package of neatly aligned pills, but there were two empty spaces where the pills had been used up.  Now that she thought about it, there was talk about going out in Kashiwagi-san's car the other day and Sachiko-sama being terribly car-sick. 

In addition to being a car that she wasn't used to riding in, Sachiko-sama's car-sickness was probably a result of the accumulation of such unfavorable conditions as bad roads, anxiety, and Kashiwagi-san's (probably) extreme lack of skill at driving, however it seems that with this time expected to be a long-distance outing, even though it was an outing in her own car, she had still become worried.

"I'm fine."

With Yumi declining the medicine, Sachiko-sama said "That so?" and it was momentary, but a seemingly disappointed expression floated across her face. Although Yumi thought, ''I wonder if perhaps onee-sama wanted me to have done the same as her'', it was too late. The small box of medicine had already been returned to the pouch.
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While pondering if, even now, her onee-sama would be glad were she to say, "On second thought, may I have some?" and accept the medicine, Yumi was unconsciously fiddling with the zipper of the cooler case on top of her knees, which lead to Sachiko-sama pointing with her finger and asking.

"What is that?"

By that, was she referring to this matter?  The place Sachiko-sama's long white finger was pointing was just above Yumi's knees.

"This is a lunchbox."<ref>Yumi calls it an お弁当.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bento </ref>

The answer had come out sounding like translating an English sentence into Japanese.

"A lunchbox? Who made it?"

"My mom. Ah, shall we eat?"

"Is it ok?"

"Of course. She said for me to give some to onee-sama to eat as well."

She handed over bundle taken from out of the case. Sachiko-sama placed it on her own lap, and promptly set about undoing the knot.

"Yumi, isn't it wonderful. On things like outings and Sports Day<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_day </ref>, I've never had the experience of taking such a mother-made lunchbox."
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"Oh? Is it that aunt Sayako-sama cannot cook?"

It was a bit unexpected.  She gave of the impression of wearing a traditional cooking apron<ref>割烹着 - (kappōgi):  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapp%C5%8Dgi </ref> and making stews and such. Still Yumi wondered if it wasn't unusual that rich housewives didn't touch housework.

"Her cooking is skilled. But, it takes a really long time. I wonder when it was, that I experienced returning home from a trip and she still hadn't finished. And so, mostly I take something along the lines of a lunch secretly prepared for me by the servants or, intended as insurance, a lunch ordered from a caterer ahead of time."

''Wow. That's something amazing.''

"Um, then… what about the portion that aunt-sama prepared?"

"Of course, it's delicious and I gratefully accept it. But, if I eat it at the house, that isn't 'lunch' anymore. It has changed it's name to 'dinner.'"

''Well, it could be said like that too.''

"Ah, but. If it's convenience-store nabeyaki -udon<ref>鍋焼きうどん - A sort of udon hot-pot, with seafood and vegetables cooked in a nabe, or metal pot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udon </ref>, as one would expect, she can prepare that quickly."

"…"

''Hey now, isn't that because you just remove the lid and put it on the stove… Ah, is there also the process for fine-tuning the fire strength? -- at any rate, aunt-sama sure is an extraordinary person.''

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Setting that aside, Sachiko-sama appeared to have an interest in 'mother-made lunches.'  Having opened the cloth bundle that looked half-way between a furoshiki<ref>Traditionally lunch boxes are wrapped in furoshiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furoshiki </ref> and bandana, Sachiko-sama delightedly removed the plastic container's lid. 

"What lovely colors!"

Though the side dishes inside the container were leaning a bit to one side, Sachiko-sama squinted her eyes enraptured. With her having gazed at it for what seemed quite a while, Yumi was wondering if she would leave it as it was and close the lid with satisfaction, but Sachiko-sama gently plucked an asparagus and cheese bacon roll by it's toothpick, and bit into it.

"H-How is it?"

"It's delicious!"

And so, a heartened Yumi stabbed such things as fried white fish and cherry tomatoes onto a plastic fork, and spiritedly tried to smother<ref>The expression used here is:  世話を焼いてみた which means something along the lines of to trying to be too helpful. </ref> her onee-sama with service.

"Onee-sama, the onigiri<ref> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onigiri </ref>'s nori<ref> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nori </ref> , which way do you prefer it?"

"Nori?"

"Crisp or moist. My mom had been worrying about which way she would do the nori for the onigiri--"

Yumi held up the container packed with just the onigiri and then said:

"Ah, what's this… and so she made both types."

There were two each of black looking onigiri that had already been wrapped with seaweed and white onigiri that had been hand-formed, four in total. Forming a set with the white onigiri, nori had been placed into vinyl ziplock bags and included separately.<ref>nori sheets come dried out and stiff, but get soft as they absorb the moisture from the rice. So the pre-wrapped onigiri would have soft, moist nori, while the ones stored separately would stay crisp and crunchy.</ref>

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"What's the filling?"

"It's Umeboshi<ref> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umeboshi </ref>. During the hot season, it's customary at my house to use umeboshi, which have a preservative effect. Ah, that's right, it's also good for car sickness! … and so, crisp or moist, which will you choose?"

"Either is good. Speaking of which, lately it seems that even  the convenience stores stock both types, don't they?"

Sachiko-sama got out a sheet of nori from the vinyl bag and took a white onigiri. ''I wonder if aunt Sayako-sama is still continuing her convenience store runs.''

Sachiko-sama finished her in-car breakfast, eating the onigiri, and one of each type of side dish. Yumi, who had become hungry from all the activity, also finished, eating one moist onigiri and suitable side dishes. Since it would be bad if only the two of them were eating, she invited the chauffeur-san as to partake as well, though, as one would expect, because both hands his hands were occupied, he had to decline.

"But, it looks delicious, doesn't it? Since we are planning to make a rest stop on the highway, at that time like that I'd be grateful to have some."

"Or, at a time when the car becomes unable to move due to traffic congestion, right?"

Sachiko-sama smiled while unfolding the lap-blanket.

"Thinking about that, I feel like I can't wait for the unpleasant congestion!"

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In contrast to his words, chauffeur-san handled the steering-wheel lightly.

"Yumi, you should also make yourself comfortable. There is a long way yet to go."

While Yumi was returning the lunch to the cooler case, Sachiko-sama  covered, not just her lap, but her whole body below the neck with the lap blanked. Perhaps because Chauffeur-san was accustomed to this, he didn't raise the temperature of the air-conditioning.

"Although it's bad of me, I'll sleep for a bit."

"Eh?"

"G'night."

After saying that, it seemed that the moment her eyes closed,  sleeping breaths were heard.

(Eh!?)

That's... there are people who sleep for the trip's going and returning, but it was so early into their vacation that one says, "Already?!" After all, hardly 20 minutes had passed since they departed from M station.

Certainly, her feeling was that some of the enjoyment of going on a trip is the recreation on the bus until arriving at the destination. But in this way with just two of them, if one of them were to sleep, there was nothing to do.

"Onee-sama"

Still in the city, she was accustomed to seeing this scenery on her own and so it wasn't even interesting. Though there was another person in the car, you wouldn't play shiritori<ref> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiritori </ref> with the chauffeur...

"Onee-sama"

Yumi nudged her for a bit, but Sachiko didn't even stir. It was as though she had taken sleeping pills or something.

Then she realized.

Onee-sama had said she took the travel-sickness medicine upon leaving from her house.

<< May cause drowsiness >>

The usage warning floated into Yumi's head and disappeared.