Editing Maria Sama Ga Miteru:Volume12 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 2===
<!-- page 59 -->

"Wow, that's some effort!"

Yumi was putting on her sandals and leaving the foyer, when she found Yuuki outside retrieving the newspapers. Yuuki looked up and down his sister's looks, and laughed out.

"Thanks for your compliment!"

Yumi pouted her lips a little and stared at her brother. It was a seventeen-year-old maiden's innocence to refuse to respond with a smile and a "You're right!"

"Welcome. It really looks good on you. The best performance so far, in fact."

"The last sentence is not needed!"

Sure it is a compliment to be praised that her clothes look good on her, but Yuuki's compliment didn't sound at all pleasing. Yumi rolled her fist into a ball, and threw it straight towards the head of her brother, who was returning with a newspaper in one hand.

"But hey, you didn't wear a one-piece normally, did you?"

Yuuki laughingly raised his arms to guard his head, and barely escaped.

"My uniform is a one-piece."

"No one would put this in the same league as a uniform, would they?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Yumi quietly loosened her fist.

In fact, she knew full well: she would be embarrassed wearing this newly bought, white, French-sleeved one-piece.

Maybe she was not used to wearing it. She was confused by this different self from normal.

The feeling was a little like the next day after having her hair cut. She could not even get used to herself in the mirror. How would other people look at her? She was worried. Even when she was complimented "It suits you well," she would get doubtful whether others were talking about their true feelings.

That was why she overreacted beyond her control upon the slightest wording stimulus. It was pitiful for Yuuki to be there by chance and play on the delicate topic of dressing, but under his sister's light hysteria outburst, Yuuki could only swallow down his misfortune and accept whatever was to come.

"About this one-piece,"

Yuuki mumbled with his arms crossed. Did he not receive his lesson and continue to babble? Yumi thought, but she was so curious of Yuuki's comment that she decided to listen.

"... in it you look like a cabbage butterfly<ref>紋白蝶, kanji directly translated as "white-background striped butterfly"</ref>."

It was neither a compliment nor a compliant, just plain impression. But Yumi was drawn into such description very much.

Cabbage butterfly.

A one-piece like a white butterfly.

It was of a simple design, with no lace or patterns, but only a ribbon at the back. The lack of decorations makes the one-piece look very elegant.

Of course, Yumi made this very conscious choice so as not to embarrass the Onee-sama together with her. However, Yumi could never push away her doubts: was the person wearing the one-piece the real misfit? Was it a good idea for someone like her to wear the one-piece? However, if it was a one-piece like a white butterfly, Yumi's feeling became much less heavy.

Light, soft and gentle.

A cabbage butterfly commonly seen on a cabbage field represented Yumi much better than a glorious birdwing butterfly.<ref>アゲハ, scientific name "Ornithoptera"</ref>

However, Yumi just could not give her thanks to the bragging Yuuki. It was too shameful to give Yuuki the impression that her feelings took a U-turn due to just one comment.

"There is no stripes on this one-piece though."<ref>Translator: Cabbage butterfly in Japanese literally means "white-background striped butterfly".</ref>

"Is that supposed to be a joke?"

"Sheesh."

Yumi laughed out despite herself. Yuuki joined her in laughter. It was an uninteresting feeble joke, but once they started laughing, they could not stop themselves for a while.

"Hey, Yumi-chan. The lunchbox."

Mom who walked out of the door handed Yumi the temperature-preserving case with an amazed expression. Dad was taking the car out of the garage, and trying to parallel-park right in front of the house.

5:30 am.

It was early morning, so the roads were empty. In 15 minutes, they would arrive at M station with quite some spare time. The meeting place was at the station gate. Okay. Everything was on schedule.

To avoid feeling cold in the air-conditioned train carts, Yumi pulled a light green cardigan around her neck. Oh, a hat. Also, never forget to bring along the white parasol she bought with all her savings just this summer.

"Anything missing?"

"Nope."

Yumi lifted her travelling bag. It was a rectangular cane basket Mom used when she was young.

"Handkerchief, tissue, purse... you have them with you?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. See?"

Yumi thrust out her hip and showed Mom a small shoulder bag that shaped like a pochette. All the small things were inside the bag.

"Are you sure you haven't missed anything when arranging your baggage for the last time? If you find anything missing, call us. We will send it you by home delivery."

"Oookay."

Mom kept sticking behind Yumi and talking about things Yumi should be careful about. No matter how old Yumi would become, Mom would probably take care of every detail like treating a kid.

"Sachiko-sama would be taking care of the train tickets, right? Remember to pay Sachiko-sama back the train fee, as soon as possible!"

"Okay, okay."

Taking everything along, Yumi got into the car's back seat.

"Madam , where would you like to go?"

Dad turned back from the driver's seat and smiled.

"M Station, please."

"My pleasure, madam."

After the door was closed, Yuuki walked near the car and knocked on the window.

"What?"

Yumi drew down the window, and Yuuki poked her cheek with his pointing finger.

"Relax, relax. It is a just summerhouse, right?"

''Do I look so tense?'' Yumi followed Yuuki by poking her cheek, and realized that her face muscles were growing tense from some time ago.

"It is not like you are going to a battlefield. So just sit back and relax during this short vacation treat."

"...Thanks."

Yuuki left the car, so Dad quietly started the car.

"This brother of yours is pretty reliable, isn't he?"

"Yeah. I even felt defeated."

Well, though she felt defeated from a long time ago.

Looking back, Mom and Yuuki were still standing in front of the house. They were facing the car and waving, despite that they had turned very small already.

(Relax. Relax.)

Yumi gave a slight effort to mimic Yuuki, and repeated the word in her heart.

''Right. No point to get tense all over.''

''It is just a summerhouse, right?''

''It is a trip to enjoy some fun time with Onee-sama, right?''