Editing Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume4 Chapter5 3

===<noinclude>A modest secret. </noinclude>Part 3.===

Rosa Gigantea took a few steps, then reached into the thickets by the gingko trees, grabbed the uniform collar and dragged the peeping tom out.

"Hey.  Peeping is bad."

"I'm sorry, I was just passing by, and-"

Yumi, caught, desperately tried to explain herself.

[[Image:MM_v04_04.jpg|thumb]]
Right after the results were posted, Yumi noticed Rosa Gigantea at the edge of the crowd of students.  But Rosa Gigantea, after a quick glance at the imitation paper on which the names and number of votes were written, quickly left, so Yumi, after being cut off from Sachiko-sama and others, squeezed out of the crowd and followed after.  The three boutons, having safely won their elections, were swept up in a storm of blessings, so they didn't seem like they could get out any time soon.

So, when she followed Rosa Gigantea, there was an unexpected preceding visitor, so she was immediately taken aback.  And she hurriedly hurled herself into the hedge.  Because it was a special atmosphere.  Rosa Gigantea and Shizuka-sama.

"Well, I didn't mind being seen."

As they walked back to the sanctuary, Rosa Gigantea prodded Yumi's head and laughed.

"I won't tell Shimako-san."

"You can tell, I don't mind."

"I won't tell."

"You're persistent."

"Of course."

If Sachiko-sama kissed someone, even if it was just on the cheek, she wouldn't like it, at all.  –Yumi thought.  So she couldn't tell Shimako-san.  No matter what.

In Shimako-san's stead, Yumi dragged Rosa Gigantea to the sanctuary by the hand, but in by pinching her hand a bit.  She needed to feel a bit of pain.

The sanctuary had actually been somewhat vacated by the time they returned.  They became extremely excited, and then the wildfire had been blown out.  Everyone left in threes and fives.  It was a Saturday afternoon.  As the main event had ended, they had other plans to attend to.

And in the middle of a few remaining people were Sachiko-sama, Rei-sama and Shimako-san.

"Well, first of all, congratulations."

Rosa Gigantea cackled, as she walked to them.  The "first of all" was so unnecessary.

"Thank you very much."

The three of them bowed.

"Looked like an easy victory."

"Not entirely."

Shimako-san shook her head and smiled.

For someone who wasn't as famous, Rosa Canina put up quite the fight.  Of course, the results weren't especially close, but she had certainly been up to the task.  You could say that much.

If Lillian didn't have a system of sœur, and the four candidates had been lined up at the same start line, Shizuka-sama may have beaten Shimako-san to become one of the Roses.  Of course, that was an "if."  No one could complain about Shimako-san winning the election, and becoming a Rose in her second year was a brilliant achievement.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

She had no idea when Yoshino-san had gone round-trip, as she showed up carrying two peoples' coats and bags.  And Rei-sama, upon seeing her, hurried over like a magnet, and took hers.

"Well, apologies for leaving early, but we have plans."

Rei-sama and Yoshino-san lined up like ohina-sama[http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Maria-sama_ga_Miteru:Notes#ohinasama] and bid their farewells.

"How enviable.  Hasekura + Shimazu double celebration?"

Sachiko-sama said.

"Yes."

Yoshino-san looked happy.  She was constantly smiling, as if she herself had won.

"Well, see you all next week."

"Gokigenyou."

After watching the two of them walk down the gingko pathway, hands together, Sachiko-sama grabbed Yumi's hand.  "Come."

"Onee-sama?"

"Let's have Rosa Gigantea do something onee-sama-like, for once."

She whispered, and pulled Yumi away.  When they blended into the crowd of students and looked back, Shimako-san was surprisingly crying, and just as rare of a scene was Rosa Gigantea embracing her closely.

"It might be meddlesome, but sometimes you have to be over-considerate with them.  She looks strong, but Shimako is just a first-year, like Yumi."

She's been so tense for so long, she has to be given space, sometimes, Sachiko-sama said.

"How about onee-sama?"

Yumi asked.  If Shimako-san was just a first-year, Sachiko-sama was just a year older, herself.

"Me?"

She tilted her head to the side, thinking.

"Really, I may have been too tense, too.  Then I shall have Yumi make me relax."

"Okay!"

Yumi excitedly answered, like a puppy.

"I'll do anything, go on."

Not a lie, not an exaggeration, she thought she was capable of anything, right now.  If onee-sama desired, she would bungee jump or go on a standing jet coaster, that's how excited she was.

But Sachiko-sama was far more grounded, and made an extremely simple request.

"First of all, pour me hot tea at the Rose Mansion.   And then let's eat the remainder of our lunch together."

"Huh…?  Lunch, remainder?"

"Let me confess that I only ate half, too.  I just wanted to look strong, in front of you."

Ducking her shoulders, Sachiko-sama said, "So let's eat together."

"You made me regain my appetite."

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