Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume20 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 2.===

In front of the Rose Mansion entryway, there were already guests assembled. In the window of the door, a person's figure was reflected. That form was projected onto the inside floor of the Rose Mansion. The appearance was accepted but Noriko wanted to know who was there.

If one was to check a clock, after another five minutes it would be 2PM. The commencement time had been written on the formal invitations, along with an exact greeting.

"It's almost time." Shimako-san muttered.

"What should we do, I'm a little nervous."

"Noriko, how is it that you are nervous?" She realized such restlessness cannot be easily calmed.

"But, our future comrade might be here."

"That's true. But for us, all we can do is help Yumi-san and Yoshino-san, if only just a little." Creeeak. Creeeak. That kind of sound was heard coming down the stairs. When one turns to face it, until a little while ago the scene above us could have been seen. Hidemi-san had returned.

"You brought the name tags." This was the Confectionery Society's empty box that had had name tags tossed inside. They took them out one by one and placed them on the desk. The students lined up silently, by order of school year. Hidemi-san somehow had seemed to be low-spirited just a little while. Something on the second floor had inconvenienced her? It was at that time that Shimako began to get worried.

Something caught Noriko's eye. "Hi... Hidemi-san. That name tag... you don't mean..." Pointing at Hidemi-san's chest, Noriko cried out. She need not have so deliberately pointed it out. Hidemi-san had stuck the blank square plastic name tag on. Compared to the schedules and name tags that would be distributed to the invited guests, there was hardly even the tiniest difference. On closer inspection of the name tag that had characters crammed together on white cardboard with a black magic marker, "First-year Peach Group, Takachi Hidemi" had been written.

"Yes." Hidemi-san's shoulders sagged. Reluctantly, Mami-sama was also attending the tea party. One could make a case that she had snuck in to collect data for the newspaper club.... But if you thought about it, that wasn't necessarily true.

Recently she had been persuaded.

"Huh? Hidemi-san, isn't it a rule that you can't participate?" Shimako-san mysteriously asked. Hidemi-san was saying she fervently disagreed with the state of affairs by way of her making a face.

"It's not like that." It was not like such a rule actually existed. It was fifteen minutes before the commencement-if the tea party attendants were made to wait, it was natural they would be bewildered.

"That's a problem." Shimako-san voiced her earnest sympathetic concerns. However, after running up to the second floor, Hidemi-san's removal proved to be an impossible appeal. Something like "reluctance" was given as a response. Hidemi-san herself had already consented.

"Perhaps she'll make for an ideal candidate." Noriko also cheered her encouragement. Because of this, for Shimako to consider herself a wonderful Onee-sama, she must bite her tongue.

"An ideal candidate she says..." she muttered and sighed. Hidemi-san stood facing her.

"Because such circumstances have arisen, it won't be possible to be away from the Rose Mansion much during the tea party." When they had planned the party Mami-sama and Hidemi from the newspaper club had both agreed to come and help out, but if Hidemi was attending the tea party, such help will be curtailed, is what Shimako thought.

"It's okay, right? If something happens, Noriko or I can go. If it's something like office work or routine duties, don't worry about it. Please allow us to take your place greeting people." At Shimako-san's words, Hidemi-san offered no resistance. "Okay," was her only initial response.

"Well then, at two o'clock, please begin the reception. I will humbly meet with Yumi-sama or Yoshino-sama, at two."

"I accept."

"To quote Mami-san, 'Your job will be to receive the written invitations and student notebooks. After confirming the person in question, please present their name tag.' So that's it, and thanks again."

With her head lightly hung, she staggered up the stairs. Given such a knack for "infiltration for the purpose of newspaper reporting" it was difficult to judge whether or not she would be successful. Nevertheless, it was worrisome.

At any rate, when two o'clock eventually arrived, Noriko opened the entryway door and invited in the guests. "Sorry it took so long. Please come in!" At Noriko's greeting, the guests responded with, "Good day."

"Although it's lengthy, please come this way and form a single file line for reception." While Shimako-san was guiding traffic in front of the desk, Noriko was counting off "1... 2... 3..." In all, twenty-five people had entered the Rose Mansion. As there were neither late arrivals nor absentees, the door was closed for the moment. Such a thing was quite wonderful.

After school on Wednesday when the audition application process was closed, the final number of applicants was fifteen from the first-year, combined with ten from the second-year. Because at first they'd planned to have no more than twenty from each, all of the written invitations could be delivered. Was the difference in the number of applicants from the first- and second-years probably due to the fact that, since they were only shooting for two Boutons, the first-years felt they were more committed to the outcome? Or did it have to do with how many days remained in your campus life for a first-year versus a second-year? In either case, if one were to divide the first-years and second-years up in a folk dance because they could only dance with an opposing grade, even if the number isn't equal they won't care.

They had noticed when preparing the actual room that because of the number of people scheduled, having it work as something like a buffet line seemed rather good. They were thinking that sort of thing while carrying in the desks. However, when you thought about it, it wasn't much like a lottery. Even though Touko had been able to apply and participate, regrettably, Noriko felt her absence keenly. In the end, Touko had not applied.

"Once a person has finished at reception, please advance in line, and climb the stairs to the second floor." No mistake, it was plainly stated as the foundation of fundamentals. The worn down stairs had been used so the group didn't swarm the entrance. They received written invitations and student notebooks, confirmed their application and handed out name tags. It was a simple operation but, a challenge in avoiding boredom.

They finished receiving the second-years and they'd begun to move to the second floor. As she was helping to organize the first-years, Noriko who'd entered Lillian at the high school level, and since the classes were mostly separate, there were students she didn't know.

"Good day. Welcome to the Rose Mansion."

"Good day, Noriko-san. Thank you for your hard work." Even though she didn't herself know this or that person, the other party certainly knew her. Since becoming Shimako-san's soeur, this sort of thing happened frequently.

"Thank you, it seems like this will be a wonderful meeting." Before, Noriko had thought it bothersome but lately she had been rather enjoying the exchanges. When she spoke, because she was Rosa Gigantea's little sister, she wasn't seen as anything but that. Because Shimako-san was in the Yamayurikai, such is where the relationship had been born. In other words, Shimako-san had connected her through this loving relationship. She thought it was important.

The last girl to come to the reception table had soft shoulder-length hair." First-year, Chrysanthemum group, Naitou Shouko." She was an unremarkable girl... but on closer inspection she thought, "Ah, how cute."

Since Yoshino-sama had said various things, what kind of strong candidate might appear, she thought. As usual she would be cute, and as such refined with a tender facial expression, either way she must be affectionate, was the kind of person she was hoping to find.

For Shouko-san, being in Rose Mansion was a rare treat. She snaked about and investigated the vicinity. Since she was curiously investigating everything, she had ended up being last.

"Here's your name tag."

"Oh, thanks." Shouko-san temporarily stuck it to the chest of her uniform. After hesitating at the desk, Shouko-san asked, "Other than the tea party attendees, who else is here?"

"Come again?" While collecting the written invitations, Noriko twisted her neck around. What was it the girl had asked? "Umm... the Lillian Kawaraban reporting team is here... is what I'm thinking."

Thereupon, the nearby Shimako-san who'd been listening replied. "With the exception of the attendees, only those two who are holding the tea party. Noriko and I are doing this for the two journalists in the Newspaper club, because they are also attending the tea party. I don't think it's anything to dwell on."

"The newspaper club... And..."

"And? If perhaps you mean Rosa Chinensis or Rosa Foetida, they will not be attending today." Noriko anticipated the answer. With the exception of those two, the "And" she was referring to was not hit upon. But, Naitou Shouko-san had indicated an "and" so it might possibly have been someone other than the Roses.

"No, umm..." Shouko-san looked down and hesitated. Afterwards, "I see," was spoken and voluntarily the conversation was ended.

"Shouko-san?" There was probably something else she had failed to say. Thinking that, Shouko-san looked up with a smile and laughed.

"I'm sorry, I've taken up your time. I had better get upstairs, I've made everyone wait." Already the figure of the person with the naturally curly hair disappeared up the stairs. Noriko silently watched the back of the figure take her leave. She tapped on Shimako's shoulder.

"Well, if it was something important, I'm sure she'll state it properly later."

"I think so."

"Yes. Well, let's go up stairs as well." "It's all right" was the thought that was nodded with a smile. Noriko also climbed the stairs to the second floor. The tea party had begun.