Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume32 Chapter6 3

===<noinclude>Support and Skinship. </noinclude>Part 3.===

"Sorry, but I have to leave too."

Yoshino-sama, who had gone into the room ahead of them, held her bag and her coat in her hands. Noriko, standing by the door, took a step backwards to clear the way.

"Thanks for your efforts today."

"Gokigenyou."

Waving as she left, Yoshino-sama's figure served as a vivid reminder of Yumi-sama's earlier exit, although the situation and her appearance were different. Yoshino-sama was probably going to meet Rei-sama. Either that, or she had something else to do. Either way, she definitely left the impression that she was on a mission.

"Well, I'll be heading home too."

On the other hand, Touko's situation was different. She had the option of waiting here until her onee-sama returned, but she probably didn't want to do that because she thought she would be a bother. Or maybe she was just faithfully following her onee-sama's earlier 'You can go home ahead of me.' Having finished the cleaning of the second floor together with Noriko, Touko started making preparations to leave.

Yumi-sama's belongings still remained in a corner of the room.

"Gokigenyou, Rosa Gigantea. Later, Noriko."

Touko smiled as she stood in front of the door and buttoned up her school coat.

"Gokigenyou."

Shimako-san returned the smile. Noriko gave a small nod as she said, 'Later.'

After Touko had disappeared through the door, when they could hear the sounds of her footsteps on the staircase, Shimako-san called out 'Noriko.'

"Uhhh."

When Noriko turned around, Shimako-san was standing there holding her belongings. 'When did she do that?' Noriko initially wondered, but then moved on to questioning how long she had been spacing out, thinking about Touko.

"Umm, but that's – "

Noriko didn't understand why Shimako-san was holding her coat and bag. 

What was the meaning of this?

When Noriko looked at her, blinking, Shimako-san handed over Noriko's items.

"Shimako-san?"

"Here."

After Shimako-san put a hand to her shoulder and twirled Noriko around, she urged her onwards with a tap to her back.

"Even for friends, it's enough just to be by their side."

So please be there for her, was what she was saying.

"Touko-chan seems to be far more delicate than anyone had thought."

You could say that. She'd been damaged by her onee-sama's onee-sama's graduation.

"Is that why you said what you did to her?"

Noriko asked.

"I wonder if it came out sounding like a lecture."

"Not at all. I think Touko was glad. That you were concerned about her. I'm happy to have that kind of an onee-sama too."

"Oh."

Shimako giggled at that.

"Then I think I'm going to disappoint you."

"Huh?"

"I'm not the kind of person who keeps an eye out for others. I only became concerned about Touko-chan because you were, Noriko."

"Ehhh."

But that disappointment made Noriko feel happy. She preferred a realistic, if slightly nepotistic, person to a saint.

"Hey. Touko-chan's already left the Rose Mansion."

So get a move on, Shimako-san was urging her. But Noriko stayed where she was.

"I wanted to be able to support you last year."

"Huh?"

"When I heard Touko's words, even someone with no imagination like me could picture it. Last year, even though you were only a first year, you had to endure that alone."

Ostensibly, Noriko was saying that she knew it must have been difficult for Shimako-san. But no matter how painful it was, it was a side of Shimako-san she wanted to see but would now never have the opportunity.

"I know that's impossible. But still."

Noriko couldn't put it into words. The Shimako-san of a year ago was so pitiable. She wanted to go back in time and take hold of her hands.

"Thank-you. But although I didn't have a petit soeur, I was embraced from both sides by my friends. So I was okay."

In the way that she should be there for Touko, may be what she was saying.

Noriko hadn't been able to make it there in time, but Yumi-sama and Yoshino-sama were there for Shimako-san. Which was why she was alright.

"By the way, what is the onee-sama supposed to be doing while the petit soeur is supporting her?"

The words of the previous Rosa Chinensis. It seemed obvious that there should be a matching version for the older sister.

"Hmm, I wonder what it was… that's right, embraces and protects."

[[Image:MM_v32_p107.png|thumb]]

Embraces and protects.

"That's exactly how I feel right now."

Like a huge blanket, Shimako-san wrapped around her completely. So she was able to live peacefully.

"We follow the intent, but there's not the same skinship, you know."

Rather than staying here together, Shimako-san's kindness was such that she would probably prefer Noriko to chase after Touko and go home with her. Even as she thought it was the truth, Noriko felt strange about it.

"However."

Noriko dropped her belongings on the closest chair, then tightly embraced Shimako-san.

If she didn't run all the way to the statue of Maria-sama, she probably wouldn't be able to catch Touko now, but that was okay.

"We even have skinship, once in a while."

"Oh Noriko."

Leaving the smiling Shimako-san standing there, Noriko hurried after her friend.