Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume12 Chapter6 4 (section)

=== <noinclude> Songs of an Angel. </noinclude>Part 4 ===

True to his word, Matsui-san came to pick them up early Monday morning.

The black car pulled into the villa just as they were returning from their morning stroll.

Sachiko-sama quickly folded up Yumi's parasol and placed it on the back seat, saying, "I'm sure we'll need it when we stop for a break." One parasol for them to share.

They had a lighter breakfast than usual, probably to avoid carsickness, but to make up for that Kiyo-san gave Yumi a boxed lunch to take with them. For whatever reason, the lunch menu was exactly the same as what Yumi's mother had prepared a week earlier.

"Kiyo … "

Sachiko-sama looked conflicted when she saw the contents of the lunch box.

"You should be able to eat the pickled plum and the asparagus too, right m'lady?"

"… I suppose."

"You enjoyed everything in the lunch that Yumi's mother prepared, didn't you?"

"Alright, already. You don't have to point it out, I'll make sure I eat all of it."

"Thank-you. Incidentally, the rice balls are made from top-grade Uonuma Koshihikari rice."

Kiyo-san smiled, looking somewhat triumphant.

Hearing their conversation, Yumi finally caught on.

Sachiko-sama hated pickled plums and asparagus.

Kiyo-san must have had trouble with Sachiko-sama's picky eating habits in the past. But now that she had proof that Sachiko-sama could eat something she'd previously refused, Kiyo-san had merrily made it. And by waiting until their last day, she didn't give Sachiko-sama the opportunity to complain. A tactical victory for Kiyo-san.

"I'm sorry, onee-sama, I didn't know."

"What ever are you talking about?"

Sachiko-sama hated to lose, so she would probably never admit the truth. So, once more, she would force herself to eat pickled plum and asparagus.

"Take care, have a safe trip."

Kiyo-san and Gensuke-san said when they saw them off. They didn't say "Farewell," or "Come and visit us again," but "Take care." Because this was a place that Sachiko-sama could come back to any time she liked.

Kiyo-san and Gensuke-san waved at the car until they disappeared from sight. 

"Did you ladies enjoy your vacation at the summer house?"

Matsui-san asked from the driver's seat.

Because of all the rest she'd got yesterday, Yumi wasn't feeling evenly slightly tired despite their 7am departure.

"Yes."

"Absolutely."

Outside the window, the trees seemed to glide past.

The greenery sparkled brilliantly.

Just like on their journey here, Sachiko-sama took some car sickness medicine then quickly fell asleep, with a blanket across her lap. She had asked Yumi if she wanted some too, but Yumi declined once again. 

Listening to her onee-sama's peaceful breathing, it seemed likely that Yumi would also fall into a sound sleep at some point. 

A lot of things had happened, but it had been a fun week.

"At any rate."

With her eyes closed, Sachiko-sama smiled as she remembered something.

"My heart was beating so fast I thought it would explode back then."

"Back when?"

Yumi asked. Her onee-sama's conversation had started so abruptly that she didn't really know what she was referring to.

"At the Saionji's house, when you stepped up to sing, "Maria-sama's soul." I thought … haha."

Sachiko-sama laughed at the memory. Yumi pressed her, asking what was so funny. Sachiko-sama was laughing so hard she was crying, and she wiped away the tears with the blanket before answering.

"I thought, "What will I do if she starts doing the loach scooping dance?""

– It goes without saying, that was never going to happen.