Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume26 Chapter5 2

The Blank Map's Valley. Part 2

Touko wondered just what it was that she was doing.

Sitting alone at her desk, the first-year Camellia classroom seemed several times larger than usual.

Goaded into action by Sachiko-onee-sama, she'd entered the treasure hunt. On her desk was the mark of a participant — the map showing the bounds of the event.

But, right at this moment, it was nothing more than a bit of scrap paper to Touko. It had no practical use to someone that had secluded themselves in an out-of-bounds classroom.

The sounds of happy voices reached her from the hallway, but it felt like they were on a different planet. Maybe it was because the lights weren't on despite the gloom. Even so, Touko wasn't thinking about brightening the classroom.

She wasn't necessarily opposed to having the lights on in the room. It would be a simple matter to stand up and walk over to the entry, allowing her to flick the light switch. But she had no idea what she should do after that, so she didn't move.

Flicking the switch would turn on the lights and accomplish this simple goal, thereby removing this reason for staying in the room. Stepping away from the switch would open up a world of possibilities.

She could return to her seat. Or, instead of turning the lights on, she could leave the classroom.

Touko hadn't moved from her seat because once she stood up, she'd have to make that sort of decision.

If she returned to her seat after turning on the lights, what would she do then? Continue to futilely waste time in the now well-lit classroom?

If she left the classroom, what would she do then? There's no way she'd be able to innocently enjoy the treasure hunt like the owners of those happy voices.

What if she moved to a different spot, without leaving the classroom?

Like the lockers in the back of the room, for example. She could open her locker and organize the contents. Or she could take out her coat and start getting ready to go home.

Indeed, she'd be better off heading home early. Then she could stop worrying about it all.

However.

(Are you running away?)

Sachiko-onee-sama's words stopped her. If she went home now, she would undoubtedly be running away. She was participating in the treasure hunt because she didn't want to run away, wasn't she?

She had no idea what to do.

Goaded on by Sachiko-onee-sama, she'd resolved to participate in the treasure hunt and had, initially, intended to search diligently. But her resolve had quickly withered as she looked over the other participants in the courtyard.

Listening to them chatting happily amongst themselves, and hearing their shrill cries when the future Roses appeared, Touko felt she was somehow different to them. No, not "different." It was just that it was out of character for her to be there.

Right after the start, Touko noticed that a couple of girls were following her. She smirked, remembering how Yumi-sama had also been followed a year earlier. Apparently they still considered Touko to be "someone close to Yumi-sama."

They obviously didn't know that Touko had refused Yumi-sama's rosary when she offered it at Christmas, or the abuse Touko had hurled at Yumi-sama when they had parted company last Saturday. So they were still operating with the misconception that Touko and Yumi-sama had a close relationship.

(Misconception?)

Touko clenched her hands together above the map.

Right, that had been a misconception. Yumi-sama hadn't known anything about Touko's familial situation. So her rosary had not been offered out of pity.

(So why?)

It wasn't out of pity, so why had Yumi-sama chosen a fool like her?

"'A fool'?"

After saying this out loud, Touko let slip a smile.

Yumi-sama had told her to stop demeaning herself like that; to stop devaluing the person she wanted as her petite sœur.

But, after all, Touko didn't think she had that much value to begin with.

Even now, she didn't know whether she should believe Yumi-sama when she had said, "I'll be happy as long as Touko-chan is Touko-chan."

(I wonder if that still holds, after I said all those horrible things to her.)

Touko wanted to know what Yumi-sama's feelings were currently.

Thinking this, she stood up, unaware that she was doing so. The desire to track down Yumi-sama's hidden card welled up within her.

Of course, she knew that "card" did not equal "heart." Even so, Touko's thoughts were racing frantically. Where could the card be?

If it were her, where would she hide the card?

Touko drew an X on the map.

If it were her.

(There.)

Clutching the map, she flew out of the classroom.

Because she knew she'd definitely want Yumi-sama to find it.