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

===Part 5.===

"Shouko-chan, do you have a minute?" When the hour-long tea party was beginning to come to a close, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton called on her. When she finally noticed, there was a strange kind of beckoning from the other side of the door. Shouko hastened to reply "yes" and stepped forward.

"Can you lend me a hand?" was asked with a subdued voice. Although Nijou Noriko-san who happened to be passing by called out, "can I help you with something?" Yumi-sama asked Noriko, "Well, could you get me another cup of black tea?" and then she faced Shouko. "Actually, I need to request an errand. It involves leaving the Rose Mansion..."

"An errand? That's fine. Where am I going?" As Yumi-sama was one of the organizers, she was not likely to be able to leave the Mansion with impunity. Shouko understood this and accepted the request. "If I'm able, I'd like to help."

"You saved me. The where is a clubhouse. After you get to the Photography Club room, there is something I'd like you to bring back."

"The Photography Club?" Upon hearing that phrase, her heart was made to soar.

"You know where the clubhouse is, right?"

"Yes." She nodded with vigor. What should I do? She became flustered. "But, I... am not a club member." Although she eagerly searched for an excuse to refuse with, none were forthcoming.

"It's okay. When you enter the clubhouse building, it's on the second-floor. When you find the Photography Club's club room, knock on the door. There should probably be someone inside. Ask if it is possible for that person to give you something for me. So, pretty easy, right?"

"Y-yeah." She easily agreed to go; she couldn't say it was unpleasant. If she had not wanted to do it, it would have been necessary to give a reason. There was no helping it. Shouko psyched herself up.

It wasn't that it was unpleasant. Only, what if there is someone there... Thinking about it, I might want to run away. Before she entered the Rose Mansion, it had seemed impossible to have a meeting here. Somehow, she had been able to prepare herself just in case.

"I understand. What is that you would like to have brought?"

"A picture frame. Something bought on a school trip. It has a marble pattern, so it should be recognizable." A picture frame at the Photography Club. Such an item being there is hardly surprising, but why would it need to be retrieved at this moment?

"That's right. It'll be all right as long as you bring it by Three-thirty." Yumi-sama checked her wristwatch as she said this.

"Three-thirty? But that's only thirty minutes from now." Shouko was getting more and more uneasy.

"That's true. Do you think you won't be able to find it that soon?" I don't doubt it, but if it takes too much time to find this inconveniently placed location...there's no helping being late I don't think.

"If you run out of time and can't find it, it's all right to come back."

"Well then, I'm off." Her shoulders were pushed in encouragement and Shouko climbed down the stairs. Although various unclear points remained, I'm going to try and go anyway. The stairs seemed to want to say something: a creaking sound was made.


It was dim in the clubhouse-the corridor was not lit. As it was already Saturday after school, it seemed there weren't really any club activities going on. After confirming with the building map that was drawn at the entrance, she climbed to the second floor. The Photography Club room sat next door to the Newspaper Club.

The door was ajar; only one person was inside. She was sitting with her back to the door. That person...it was someone Shouko knew. Just as she knew she'd be.... It was this person's aura she'd felt. Before Shouko had time to knock, the person turned around.

"Oh." She smiled. She was not at all surprised. Her reaction was as natural as if they had promised to meet here today. "It's been a while, first-year, Chrysanthemum Group, Naito Shouko-chan."

Despite the fact that eight months ago she had not introduced herself with her last name, Takeshima Tsutako-sama knew. She also knew Shouko's present class name, or if she didn't know she surely guessed correctly.

"When did you learn about me?"

"Quite a while ago. As soon as you entered in April maybe. During the Treasure Hunt, you were a middle school student. Indeed, I shouldn't have been able to find you."

"I apologize for that meeting. I was embarrassed. It was not possible to meet with Tsutako-sama more naturally."

"No, no. It was the same for me, since I wasn't able to approach you until today. It's mutual." After bowing deeply and silently to each other, Tsutako-sama said "Please" and pulled a chair out for Shouko to sit.

The Photography Club's club room was actually much narrower than she had previously thought. It was probably around a four and a half tatami mat-room. Because there was a desk and shelf and things like that, it felt considerably smaller. Yet it was possible to have club activities in here; she surveyed the room and admired it. In the wall, she spotted a door. When she had entered, it had not been through that door—there was another. Probably that place served as their darkroom. So this was also a front room. The faint odor of chemicals lingered.

"After that, how was it? Were you able to get your photo taken? Is it old hat to you now?" [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter2|*]] 

"I haven't become accustomed to it that easily."

"So it's ingrained?"

"Yes." While discussing her story, Shouko's interest shifted onto another topic. Until Shouko had come today, what had Tsutako-sama been doing? She must have been doing some kind of work-the top of the desk was not too cluttered. It looked like the Photography Club had been asked for a set of bound prints. They'd been able to make a simple photo album with cardboard and vinyl. Wrapped in construction paper, the package was about the size of a textbook. And then there were the two cameras that could be called her hallmark.

"You were looking for me?" Tsutako-sama had said until just recently she hadn't been able to locate Shouko. She understood that loud and clear. There was no way she could have misunderstood.

"Yes. Since immediately after Valentine's Day. But, I couldn't find you. Then the new school term came and despite looking here and there, I couldn't catch a glimpse of you. I started to feel like I was being picked on by a kitsune."<ref>(Rei: A flighty fox spirit.)</ref> Tsutako-sama laughed. "Speaking of being picked on by a kitsune, it also happened again recently."

"Recently?"

"Among those waiting in the courtyard for the Rose Mansion door to open, I saw Shouko-chan."

"Oh..." So Tsutako-sama had been there, and maybe even in point-blank range. She had been near enough to spot me in the crowd. What kind of expression did I have at the time, Shouko thought? And then at the tea party, she must have seen her application. What kinds of things was Tsutako-sama feeling?

"That was why..." Tsutako-sama said.

"Didn't you promise to take a photo of the tea party gathering? But then you didn't show. Was that...because of me?"

"It was only an excuse. At first I thought, wouldn't Shouko-chan be able to enjoy it better if I wasn't there? But then I began to think, guests other than Shouko-chan would be nearby. So that's why...." Tsutako-sama sat resting her chin in her hands. "So how did it go? Was it enjoyable?"

"Yes."

"That's great. Ah, that reminds me, the tea party? Is it over?"

"No. Yumi-sama sent me on an errand...." Shouko finally remembered. Seriously, that person forgot she needed to use something.

"Yumi-san did? What was it?"

"She said she wants me to bring her a picture frame."

"A picture frame?" Obviously the expression on her face said "I can't understand." Tsutako-sama asked her to repeat herself. She probably had no idea what was being asked for.

"Yes. One with a marble pattern. Seems like it might have been something bought in Italy...." While Shouko was trying to remember the particulars of what Yumi-sama had said, she spun around the room searching with her eyes. "But, there isn't, is there. I just realized. She just made it up." That...is embarrassing. No doubt the problem will have been corrected when she returns empty-handed. In her search, she looked inside a cardboard box on the shelf without asking first. From somewhere there came a voice mumbling like chanting the nenbutsu [[Talk:Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Volume20_Chapter2|*]] .

"Why would Yumi-san's private property be in the Photography club room? No there isn't anything. So really, the thing Yumi-san wants, what was she talking about?" That is the question. Tsutako-sama had put it to words.

"Um, excuse me." Shouko gave a rapid an apology. Without thinking, she apologized to the nenbutsu jukebox. It bothered her for a moment after hearing it. "In the first place, did Yumi-san really buy a picture frame from that shop?

"Umm... hey, Shouko-chan..."

"The thing that Yumi-sama said to come find to bring to her. I don't think she said it was a personal effect." Thereupon, Tsutako-sama formed a "wait a minute…... shape with her mouth. Did she say something wrong? When Shouko began to worry, Tsutako-sama looked down at her right-hand perplexed and choked on her words.

"She got me."

"Whaa?"

"After Yumi-san knew I had left, you were sent over."

"Huh? Someone must have told her where you were, but who?"

"Umm..." Where was the proof of that? Yet, Yumi-sama had known that Tsutako-sama was in the clubhouse. It was Yumi-sama who had sent Shouko. Therefore, she formed a hypothesis that Yumi-sama had wanted Tsutako-sama and Shouko to be able to meet. However, assuming such a hypothesis was correct, why would Yumi-sama scheme towards such a thing? It remained a mystery.

Certainly, Yumi-sama had mentioned the same story of the picture frame just a little while ago. But at the time, Tsutako-sama's name had not been included.

"Come to think of it, when Yumi-san was last here, she had seen this... which is why," Tsutako-sama touched the construction-paper wrapped item. "But that doesn't explain our current situation." However, when she mentioned that, it didn't really explain anything, since she didn't know the contents of the package.

"Ah, sorry. I'm also having trouble wrapping my brain around this." Tsutako-sama said, "here" and held out the parcel to Shouko.

"What is it?"

"You can open it. This is the reason you were sent here."

"This was?" Even though she said she could open it, it was taped fast so she hesitated. She would have to tear it open. What was inside? She couldn't help feeling reluctant.

"After Shouko-chan suddenly appeared again, I hastily wrapped this in case I got the opportunity to give it to you. I only had this to wrap it in." At the same time Tsutako-sama apologized Shouko flung off the wrapping paper.

What else would have been there, except of course for a marble-patterned picture frame? This was what Yumi-sama had wanted to have brought back: it bore those features.

There was already a photograph inside. A sepia-tinted beautiful photograph of two girls, opposite each other. What was discovered in the box was so sweet. Seeing this, why was her chest tightening? If you assume that Tsutako-sama had taken this, she was indeed a wonderful photographer.

"It's a present."

"What?"

"But, I promised, didn't I?" When she said that, Shouko finally realized what this was. The one girl in the photo was her elder sister Katsumi. And the other...

"It can't be. I, how can I be this pretty? And, Onee-chan, doesn't have such a kind face."

"But, this IS Shouko-chan."

"...Yes."

"And there's no mistake, it's your sister, right?"

"Yes." Shouko embraced the picture frame. Though she was near tears, she endured laughing with all her might. Because you generally cry for something like this, Tsutako-sama surely thought she was a strange girl. She didn't want that. With effort she was able to speak because there was a congenial attitude.

"Thank you very much. I will make this photo a family heirloom." With that, she sealed the fate of the photograph she would keep her entire life. But it was okay. Previously she had had a worried expression, but knowing this photo exists, it was all right.

"You're exaggerating." Tsutako-san laughed, but Shouko had been serious. Regarding the photograph, their features really did seem inaccurate somehow. She had seriously carried that kind of worry.

"But what should I do with the picture frame then?"

"Idiot. Honestly, do not take this to Yumi-san. It is for Shouko-chan alone."

"But... that...." This picture frame, doesn't it resemble the one Yumi-sama described? However, she'd been told this wasn't Yumi-sama's property.

"Didn't I tell you it's a present? Getting you this photograph took so long... I had no excuse. If it's okay, please accept both the photograph and the frame."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. It's a souvenir for Shouko-chan, it's something that I bought."

"I am so happy!" Because it was a fantastic picture frame, she was happy. But what made her far happier was the thought that during the time Tsutako-sama had been traveling around Italy, she had been thinking of Shouko, if even for a moment.

"And, by way of bribery, let us open negotiations immediately."

"Huh? Negotiations?"

Tsutako-sama laughed with meaning.

"Actually, there isn't yet a photograph of Shouko-chan. For me, when it comes to the culture festival or an exhibition, or any time there's a Lillian Kawaraban column, though the text has been written, to get a photograph for the column I have to obtain permission to publish it. Which is what I'm asking for." Having said this, the Photographer presented her with a photo album. hen she turned the cover and flipped the pages... There were head and shoulders shots and full-length portraits, as well as candid snapshots. They were all of Shouko.

Shouko walking on a carpet of cherry blossom petals. Shouko briefly under an umbrella. Shouko joking with her classmate, her head wrapped in a sports towel like a turban. Shouko playing water polo. Shouko taking the baton during a relay race in the Sports Festival. Shouko dancing in the folk dance. Shouko touting her class at the Culture Festival. Watching the end of the Tale of Torikaebaya, Shouko absentmindedly wandering around for a moment.

How could this many have been taken without her noticing?

"Please give me permission to publish these," Tsutako-sama said suddenly. Yet even if Shouko did that... Rather than directly answering, her face grew damp and finally she looked down.

"Oh. You won't. Well, you can approve and disapprove individual photos...." Probably because Shouko remained silent for a long time, Tsutako-sama became a little timid? She was offering a concession.

"...It's okay."

"Huh?"

"All them. It's okay. That is my answer," Shouko looked up and said. "Please make additional prints for me. Of all of them."

Tsutako-sama saw them running off Shouko's cheek. She was surprised by Shouko's frankness. But because "I can't handle this," was written on her face. Until just now she didn't think she'd be able to defend herself, but now she was able to give a smile and the album to Shouko.

"If I knew I could get an okay so easily, I would have asked sooner. In that case, it'll be in time for the School Festival."

"That's right." Shouko quickly wiped her eyes and nodded. Not announcing myself until today, my actions were blinding me to my shortcomings. Without asking why, Shouko couldn't have spoken up.

At the School Festival, if these photos could be seen, Yumi-sama's words concerning her feeling "misunderstood" would end. Such a turnabout could take place.

"I took these photos without your knowledge so you wouldn't worry. It made me truly happy. But now you'll probably be alert to being watched."

"Then..." whenever she felt something it would be "Tsutako-sama's camera" aiming at her, probably. It was likely to make her heart throb.

"Now you see." Even for one more day she wanted to continue to have her picture taken in secret. Because Tsutako is a high school girl who goes to the same school, it would be permitted. If it was an outsider and a man, the label "stalker" would immediately be applied.

"Well then." It was about time, so Tsutako-sama stood up. After checking her watch, it was three twenty-five. They had approached the end of the tea party.

"I need to take a picture of everyone as a souvenir."

"Wha..." Shouko made a pose. "It's okay, but..." Tsutako-sama, laughing, grabbed up her camera. As they left the club room, Shouko followed up in entreaty.

"Please try to take a photo of me before I notice you."

"That's impossible. Since it's a group photo, I'll have to say something like "Okay, say CHEESE!" otherwise other people would be angry."

"Whaa. That's the worst kind." It had to be taken candidly--then it was okay even if it was the worst picture.

"Isn't it okay to have an occasional plain photograph?" Tsutako-sama was saying as she locked the door to the club. She probably said this because something irresponsible had been said. "If it's a group photo permission must be got before it can be put out." But Shouko thought that to an extent it had been good idea. Since Tsutako had immediately said, "it's impossible" the idea was rejected.

"You read about the tea party rules didn't you? Only people who do not mind articles about themselves in the newspaper or seeing pictures of themselves should apply." Certainly that had been written but she didn't feel good about it. She had no choice. If it had come to that, then so be it.

"I admire your escapism." Leaving the clubhouse, because she thought they were going to have to dash to make it on time, Tsutako-sama had been forestalled. Why would she have been likely to read it?

"It was an escape when I was processing the photos and put Shouko-chan's portrait in a balloon."

"Whaaat?" Oh no, she was acting childish. Tsutako-sama sighed and said, "I know, I know. Then, of how many ever were taken, I'll chose the best one and give it to you."

"Really?"

"Really. It's a fact. It'll be a secret, okay?"

"A secret!" Shouko laughed and clung to Tsutako-sama's arm. She loved Tsutako-sama's photography. She loved Tsutako-sama.

At the Rose Mansion, even though there wasn't any student council work left, they were able to glitter for the camera. She held these things close to her heart: there was so much of herself in that album. The photos Tsutako-sama took of me, one-by-one, that was the proof.

Eventually, Shouko returned to the Rose Mansion with the picture frame by three-thirty. She had completed Yumi-sama's errand though it had become a moot point. Even so, Yumi-sama did not ask Shouko to offer up the picture frame. Given that Tsutako-sama accompanied her back, she especially let the matter drop. Tsutako-sama met with Yumi-sama and spoke briefly.

"Yumi-san, you've become somewhat meddlesome. I've lost my edge."

"What's this? Regarding what?" while laughing, Yumi replied.

"That's quite enough." At times, Yumi's meddlesomeness may have resulted in a blunder. Though putting the consequences aside, her attitude seemed to be "without some kind of meddling it couldn't have been accomplished." And considering her friend's feelings in retrospect, she appeared to be fairly happy with the results.

When she looked at Tsutako-sama's face, Shouko realized she was too.

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==Translator's Notes==
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