Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume7 Chapter5 2

Monday. Part 2

"Ahh, the farewell party?"

On the other end of the phone, Rosa Chinensis chuckled.

"It's actually happening then?"'

"Yes, of course."

On this end, I clenched my hand into a fist and responded forcefully.

It would be a disaster if I left it until tomorrow but then couldn't get a hold of them, so I decided to call the three Roses and ask them over the telephone. I came home, freshened myself up, changed clothes, then took the telephone receiver and holed up in my room.

The decision was easier to make than I'd initially thought, perhaps due to my experience calling Rosa Foetida's house the other day. At the very least, I thought it showed a remarkable level of maturity when compared to how nervous I'd been about calling Sachiko-sama's household. Although I had written the Roses' real names on a piece of notepaper and done a quick rehearsal.

"I didn't get an invitation, so I thought maybe it wasn't on this year."

"Pr-preposterous."

Rosa Chinensis was as sharp as ever.

"You didn't just forget?"'

"Absolutely not."

Not just sharp, but a bit cutting. Prickly.

"I see. Teeheehee."

"Yeah, we'd never forget such a thing. Teeheheehee."

I didn't say anything unnecessary, instead deceiving her with a giggle. If I got rushed and said the wrong thing, I'd only end up digging my own grave.

"Okay. Saturday afternoon. I'll keep it free. But other than Saturday, I'll be at school most days. So if the plan changes, let me know."

For the next few seconds until I hung up the phone, I could still hear Rosa Chinensis giggling.

* * *

"Ahh, the farewell party?"

Taking the receiver, Rosa Foetida wheezed as she responded.

"Um, it sounds like you're out of breath, are you okay?"

"Yeah," she said, then after a short pause, "I'm fine. I just got home, had to run all the way."'

Her breathing was ragged. It really sounded like she'd just come through the door.

"My curfew's at 7."

"I see."

Looking at the clock, it was 7:01pm. Papa Torii may have been indulgent in the past, but now it seemed he wouldn't tolerate even a single minute of tardiness. Well, his feelings were somewhat understandable.

"I'm still not getting my way on the dates either."

"That's a shame."

Rosa Foetida, Torii Eriko-sama, had just recently been charmed by a substitute teacher at Hanadera Academy and declared her intent towards him. Her father and brothers cherished her above all else, so were surely not amused by this.

"Saturday, you said? The soeurs are holding it, so of course I'll be there."

"You don't have a date?"

"I did have a date, but it's okay. We didn't have anything planned, I was just going to follow him around like usual, so this takes precedence."

"Thanks for that."

I bowed deeply, hitting my head on the edge of her bed.

"Yumi-chan, you've become quite reliable. You're almost a bouton."

In spite of that, Rosa Foetida praised me. But it was all washed away by the clouding tears and forehead pain.

* * *

"Ahh, the farewell party?"

Rosa Gigantea said, after a yawn.

"Hmm, is that a thing?"

"It is, it is."

The reaction from the Roses had all been different. Well, that showed their individuality.

"Maybe you're right. Yeah, you're right. I remember we did it last year."

She probably had an ulterior motive for forgetting, or not wanting to recall it. After losing her dear friend Shiori-san, Rosa Gigantea had to bid farewell to the onee-sama she depended upon. This time one year ago.

"Saturday? That's soon. By the way, Yumi-chan, what are you doing?"

She seemed serious, but I could hear a humming on the other end of the phone.

"What do you mean?"

"For the entertainment."

"E-entertainment?"

Unintentionally, the volume of my voice rose. Because no-one had said anything about that.

"You're kidding."

I laughed, thinking it a joke. Rosa Gigantea had a habit of teasing her juniors, so this was probably just her having fun.

"No, it's true."

Rosa Gigantea didn't laugh along with me.

"It's a tradition. Didn't you hear? Well, Sachiko and Rei have probably been busy. Plus, put those girls on the spot and they can do anything."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, the party's for the graduating onee-samas to enjoy themselves. So it's only natural that the first-years should do a performance, to liven things up."

"Huh, no way."

I'd sing if I had to, but the thought left me feeling blue. I'm no songstress like Kanina Shizuka-sama, so my singing would probably pollute their ears.

"It's up to you whether you believe me or not. Usually it's the sort of thing you'd prepare yourself, and the whole point of that sort of party performance is that you can do it anywhere, anytime. You wouldn't necessarily be told ahead of time. But I thought it might be tough for you if you were put on the spot, so I thought I'd warn my cute little Yumi-chan ahead of time."

"That's the second time you've said, "put on the spot." What on earth do you mean?"

"Last year, the first-years were put on the spot by the third-years, who asked them to get up and have a go. But those girls were able to pull it off successfully."

"What did they do?"

When I thought of party performances, what came to mind was plate spinning, magic tricks and the "Helping Hands" comedy routine – that sort of thing. But I couldn't imagine the boutons doing any of those things.

"Rei crushed an apple in her hand, and Sachiko sang as she danced a ballet routine. A solo "Dance of the Little Swans," from memory."

Hyaah.

"I've never heard anything about that."

It was a lie. Definitely a lie.

"Silly little Yumi-chan. They made fools of themselves to get a laugh. Of course they're not going to tell their petit soeurs about that. They probably don't even want to think about it."

"They made fools of themselves?"

"Of course."

An ominous laugh slipped out of Rosa Gigantea.

"Rather than admiring some serious performance, I want to laugh from the bottom of my heart."

I involuntarily let go of the handset, dropping it.

– It looked like I wouldn't be able to get away with just singing something.