Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume6 Chapter5 6 (section)

===<noinclude>The Crimson Card. </noinclude>Part 6.===

The crimson card was like a joker.

It was entirely up to me how I used it to alter the outcome of today's treasure hunt.

Even so, I still didn't have any definite thoughts about how I should use the crimson card. I didn't have the nerve to innocently present a card that I hadn't legitimately found to the Rose Mansion.

But I did get a slight sense of superiority out of it.

Today, the only thing my classmates were talking about was the Valentine's Day treasure hunt.

Because Sachiko-san, who had to hide one of the treasures, was in the same class as us the conversation naturally turned that way. Everyone, regardless of whether they were participating in the event or not, voiced their opinion about where she had hidden her treasure. During the lunch break, amongst the crowd of students who came to give chocolates to someone in the class there were also some who came to watch Sachiko-san. They were probably planning on following her if she left to hide her card.

But Sachiko-san didn't move.

Perfectly understandable, considering she had already hidden her treasure. And it had already been unearthed.

During the lunch break, Sachiko-san was called to the hallway a number of times. There weren't as many as last year, but there were still students wanting to give her chocolates this year too. They were all first years who hadn't heard about her bad behavior last year. Ignorance is bliss.

Even so, Sachiko-san seemed to be much gentler in her rejection of the chocolates this year when compared to last year. Maybe she had matured, or maybe her anger was proportional to the number of chocolates. 

Then again, when Sachiko-san accidentally stumbled upon a student who was trying to give the same chocolates that she had refused to Hasekura Rei-san, with only the name on the card changed,  her temper flared. You can't help but think that people who first decide they want to give chocolates on Valentines Day, and then try to find someone to give those chocolates to, are putting the cart before the horse.

I watched the patterns of Valentines Day relationships with cool indifference. 

But as the end of the school day approached, my indecision grew. 

Little by little, I started to realize the magnitude of the crime I had committed. 

The angel inside me said that even now, there was still time. That I could go to the greenhouse and bury the card.

The devil inside me whispered that it would be such a waste to let the card that I had worked so hard to get slip from my grasp.

Besides, if I returned the card, what would become of me?

Would I return to how I was this morning, before I got my hands on the card?

That wouldn't happen. – The answer was obvious.

Time can't be undone. My memories won't be completely erased.

(I won't reclaim my innocence by burying the card) 

I thought that this was divine punishment.

By taking hold of the card, I had lost the ability to enjoy the treasure hunt.

I can continue to hold onto this card and not let anyone else near it, or I can return it to where it came from and withdraw from the treasure hunt. Those were the two paths that remained open to me.