Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume32 Chapter7 1 (section)

===<noinclude>Forgotten Things. </noinclude>Part 1.===

What did she say?

When she heard those words, it was as though something had smashed into the top of her head.

"Supports..."

It wasn't just Yoshino that muttered that word, but also Touko-chan and Noriko-chan.

So Yoshino thought that all the people that heard must have received an equally large shock. At the words of the previous Rosa Chinensis, Mizuno Youko, that came out of Shimako-san's mouth.

To wit, 'The petit soeur supports.'

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That took place shortly after the completion of the search of the first floor storage room for Sachiko-sama and Rei-chan's lost items.

It was when the four people that were left (the White Rose sisters – Shimako-san and Noriko-chan, as well as Touko-chan and Yoshino) were climbing the stairs to the second floor, after Yumi-san had left in a rush, apparently on some urgent task.

Despite walking in front, the conversation that was taking place behind her back between Shimako-san and Touko-chan seemed to be quite serious, so she was making an effort to listen to what was being said.

It was difficult, because our ears aren't as efficient at hearing sounds from behind. Making matters worse, the sound of footsteps on the stairs was accompanied by the creaking sounds of the old staircase itself. Given those circumstances, it was hard to make out what was said, but it seemed like Touko-chan was troubled because she wanted to do something for her onee-sama, Yumi-san, but wasn't able to do anything.

And the advice that Shimako-san gave regarding that was the aforementioned phrase, 'The petit soeur supports.'

Yoshino was frankly amazed. It felt as though God had come to visit and was knocking on the door of her heart. Either that, or using the telephone.

Hello, are you alright?

Now that Yoshino's heart had been called upon, she stopped to think about it.

Had she been able to act as Rei-chan's support? Hadn't it always been the opposite, with Rei-chan acting as the support that she leaned against.

Since Yoshino's successful heart surgery, her physical reliance on Rei-chan had lessened. But that's probably not what she was talking about when she said 'supports.' It was more about emotional support.

The petit soeur didn't have to do anything. Because just by being there, she would provide support.

So when the conclusion was that the petit soeur didn't have to do anything, Yoshino honestly thought that was wrong. Apologies to Youko-sama, but that's not the sort of thing you say to someone who's able bodied.

Certainly, there could be petit soeurs who didn't have to do anything.

But if you're not firmly planted on the ground, or twisting, or limp, there's no way you could be able to support anything.

Which was she? The former or the latter?

Having started to think about this, Yoshino couldn't just stand around idly.

"Sorry, but I have to leave too."

Taking her coat and bag, the first step was to leave the Rose Mansion.

She hadn't thought about it.

And now it was too late.

She couldn't confidently say whether or not she had been a good support for Rei-chan for these past two years.

As Yoshino thought about the good and bad points of herself as a petit soeur, the preponderance of bad points jumped out at her.

I get it, that's enough. – Yoshino took a step forwards.

Anyway, as long as she's thinking, she should think about what she could do for Rei-chan. That would be much more constructive.

Out the door, Yoshino dashed down the path to the library. Why was she running? It's not like she had to hurry home.

(Ahh, is that it.)

Her thoughts were racing, and they were being expressed through her feet. Tomorrow was the graduation ceremony. Rei-chan wasn't going to be a high-schooler for much longer.

(That Rei-chan.)

Rei-chan was leaving, but she hadn't forgotten anything in the Rose Mansion.

If she had found anything, Yoshino could have delivered it to her neighbor. Although it wasn't like Rei-chan to be that negligent. Although Yoshino had hoped, just a little bit, that she had been.

But the only thing to come out of it was Yumi-san's ribbon. 

They didn't find so much as a single eraser of Rei-chan's.

'I no longer have any attachment to this place,' was the sort of thing Rei-chan would say to Yoshino, but it made her feel incredibly lonely.

There was nothing left undone, and nothing left unsaid. 

Yumi-san had told her that last year, prior to graduation, Youko-sama had taken her to Milk Hall and asked her to take care of Sachiko-sama.

And as for Rei-chan's onee-sama, Eriko-sama, she had called Yoshino out and said all she had to say. Of course, Yoshino hadn't meekly accepted this and had fought back.

But as for Rei-chan?

Who was there that she could leave word with?

(Ahh.)

As she thought about it, Yoshino felt the darkness closing in, until it seemed like she was standing in total darkness.

In reality, she was standing on the path lined with Ginkgo trees, with the Spring sunlight streaming through the branches.