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

===Part 3.===

"We thank you for coming today.

For this meeting, the Lillian Kawaraban composed the invitations. Though we're the one's that want sisters, we don't have any relation to the people who wrote them for us. 'Let us provide a place to meet' is what we want to do here. Although an hour and a half is indeed a short time, most of us are given plenty of time to make close friends in school. But for those people who do not get the opportunity, we would like to receive you for the chance to deepen their friendships."

...While giving this ridiculous greeting Yoshino thought, "How many invited guests can we expect to keep with such a serious, formal greeting?" more importantly, aren't we too busy to evaluating, to deepen any friendships?

Look, that second-year student is checking out the face and name of that girl whose eyes resemble plates.

Anyway, the guests entered the room in order and took their seats. After drinking one cup of tea, they made self-introductions. When there was free time they were encouraged to move their chairs. At that point, the students were asked if could they take their seats. They're probably thinking this is the key that divides victory from defeat, because everyone moved frantically.

It was 1:16PM.

As the number of first-years was greater, if you thought about it, realistically a second-year student had the advantage and it becomes something like a market. But it isn't that simple: several first-years are obviously only aiming for one second-year. Therefore, even though it was only 1:16PM, they had some time to find a suitable partner, it seemed.

Look, that first-year student. Plainly, she had eyes only for Yumi-san. Because of the sheer number of people greeting each other, she could only be seen for two seconds here, and five second there. It would be thought considerate to approach this person.

"...That is all. This tea party is going to set a good precedent." Even though the guests were restless, Yoshino brought it to a close in a suitable place. No one liked a long speech. Her head bowed to the light applause and Yoshino took her seat. During the greeting, Shimako-san and Noriko-chan concluded the tea preparations, the purpose of which was for Yumi-san and herself to distribute.

"Umm, I can help..." Yumi-san was targeted. A first-year student was beginning to approach and lifted her hand to help.

"I appreciate it truly, but I can manage."

"Please sit down everyone." Because one person dashed out, suddenly "Me too!" "Me too!" was heard and everyone jumped up from their seats. This was only a narrow assembly hall. If they all stood up and converged on the same place, how could they continue? But if you thought about it briefly, it was understandable. Finally people settled into their seats.

For practical purposes, Yoshino carried up the tray. She poured out five cups of black tea. That's serious! When it started it looked like a great migration of Water Buffalo, she watched in awe and her hand almost slipped instinctively.

"Here, please don't get up." Was this an announcement in a bus that was approaching a stop, a tsukkomi might have quipped [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter2|*]]? Still, this attempted riot of good intentions was received and their feelings were conveyed. Most first-years started to stand up, only one girl remained seated calmly and their eyes met.

Smooth curly hair. Yoshino noticed and they exchanged smiles.(Hehe...) It was strange but she was flattered and liked it. Because of that, it didn't come across as unsociable. In Yoshino's case, because the idea comes across as somewhat devious, even though there were hands saying, "I'll help," it's still attractive. She wanted to doubt that this was some way of "earning points."

Nevertheless, even though the plan at first had been for an elegant tea party from beginning to end, somehow it had ending up being like a slapstick comedy from the start. According to the schedule, it was not going well.

While the tea brewed, the self-introductions began. Suddenly a "leadoff batter" in the guest's introduction ball game was needed, and because it was an awkward situation, Yumi-san stood up from the organizer's side.

"I'm Fukuzawa Yumi, from the second-year Pine group. I have no favorite subjects in school, or any I'm particularly bad at. I basically get average points. My Onee-sama is Ogasawara Sachiko. Umm... the end."

What... was that? Yoshino stared at her smiling best friend's usual humble self-introduction. Saying you get average points is not the way to sell yourself at all. Moreover, giving your older sister's name... everyone here knows her name.

"I'm Shimazu Yoshino, a second-year in the Pine group. I belong to the Kendo club. Since there might be first-years who aren't aware of it, I had an operation on my heart last year and I was able to shed my image as a weak person. My favorite writer is Ikenami Shoutarou. My hobby is watching sports. My wish is to have a little sister as soon as possible. Since I haven't thought about it until now, by all means, someone who has free time announce your candidacy..." [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter2|*]]

With this challenge, she didn't make it a "command" like the character "rei" (command) in Rei-chan's name. Meeting Rei-chan's eyes, ready to refuse any caller at the gate, Yoshino faced it head on.

"I'm Yamaguchi Mami from the second-year Pine group. I serve as editor-in-chief for the Lillian Kawaraban. We thank you for always reading with interest. As you know the newspaper club has helped with this tea party from the planning stage. If this tea party is successful in finding a cute little sister or two, it will only be an extra bonus and we will be lucky. That it was possible to join this circle of friends, gives me strong feelings. Thank you for your consideration."<!--(E: Mami ends with "yoroshiku onegaishimasu")-->

"I'm Takachi Hidemi, a first-year in the Peach group. Until this project came about, I didn't give much thought to getting an older sister. But now because of the newspaper it seems interesting and I can't help it. If I'm able to meet someone, I would like it to be someone who would help with my newspaper club activities; she would assist with great understanding. Therefore, having an older sister is really quite a boon."

As expected, because she wasn't able to say something like, "I was reluctantly sucked into this...." she chose her words carefully as she introduced herself. But.... Once again, such an introduction did not sell herself at all. Hidemi-san implicitly said, "If you become my older sister, it'll be a problem." It was something like throwing a ball to a base to check to a runner.

[[Image:MM_v20_125.jpg|thumb]]

They continued on with the general participants' self-introductions. Since they weren't accustomed to being in the Rose Mansion, it was like they were straining, or they wouldn't give themselves the chance to slow down in fear of slipping and saying something crazy. Only in their self-introductions did they feel safe. There was scarcely a promising candidate that had been caught in Yoshino's net.

Around that time, that girl with the light hair stood up.

"Naito Shouko, of the first-year Chrysanthemum group." Ahh.... This girl. Yoshino's body unconsciously leaned forward. "When I attended middle school, I longed for the Yamayurikai. Even if I'm only able to become acquaintances with them, I'm happy."

(During the time she attended middle school, her real elder sister had been betrayed by Torii Eriko-sama of the Yamayurikai. Now she can take her slow revenge, and she's happy.)

Yoshino thought to herself, half in jest. But such thoughts are actually somewhat meaningless. Yoshino could not find a single thing about Naito Shouko she disliked. She was a pleasant girl. Perhaps Naito Katsumi's will had been quashed from the beginning.

"Hey." she touched Yumi-san's arm, who was sitting next to her. She was wearing a different expression - she'd found Naito Shouko.

"I found her..." Yumi-san subdued a laugh and muttered. Yoshino was quite impatient. I found her... she had said. But found what?

Perhaps she means she found a little sister.