Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume9 Chapter6 4

When the Cherry Blossoms Fall. Part 4.

Since the error was obviously on her part, Sachiko-sama would naturally be angry. But this was far more dreadful than a furiously raging Sachiko-sama – such were Yumi's thoughts.

"Now where could you have been, I wonder."

Waiting for her on the other side of the biscuit door was a gaze completely lacking in intensity. No imposing stance, just her hands folded in front of her. Yumi would have preferred a scolding, but she could tell that Sachiko-sama didn't have the energy for that.

"I'm terribly sorry."

As usual, Yumi started by apologizing and bowed her head energetically. First comes the apology. Then the excuse. Just like in sports.

"Please don't respond to my question in a way that doesn't answer it."

"Okay, sorry."

"So, your whereabouts?"

She'd changed from "where" to "whereabouts." Perhaps she was going to change from "Yumi" to "Yumi-san" in the near future. That would be too terrible. Since she didn't have the energy to descend into hysterics, Sachiko-sama seemed to have changed her modus operandi to pedantic torture.

The atmosphere was such that Yumi wouldn't get forgiveness without offering up some kind of explanation.

"On my way back from dropping off the trash, I ran into some people and we started talking – "

"So you unintentionally overlooked the time we were supposed to meet?"

"Yes."

Hearing that, Sachiko-sama gave a very small nod. But her face still looked like a terrifying Noh mask.

"Who was it?"

"Um, it was a friend from a different grade … "

On the spur of the moment, she lied. Well, it wasn't a lie. Satou-sama was in a different grade after all, and friend had a broad meaning, so she was one of them too.

"I see."

Sachiko-sama sighed in resignation and the conversation ended. It looked like Yumi had been saved by the cherry blossoms.

Sachiko-sama hated cherry blossoms.

She hated their taste and watching them fall.

Buddhist priests and their robes too. – Although there were none of those at the catholic girls' school that was Lillian's Girls Academy.

But, with things the way they were, the reaction when she recovered would be frightening. And without a severe scolding, Yumi couldn't get her rhythm back either. Oh dear, familiarity was a terrifying thing.

Tee-hee.

Suddenly, the mysterious sound of laughter reached Yumi's ears. She became a bit worried, because the laugh contained a trace of malice.

Tee-hee. Tee-hee.

The unpleasant laughter echoed around the second-floor of the Rose Mansion.

"Touko-chan."

Sachiko-sama turned around, challenging the laugh's originator. It was then that Yumi finally noticed the student sitting with her back to her. It wasn't Rei-sama or Shimako-san.

"But Sachiko onee-sama, she's so funny."

Slowly, the girl turned to look at Yumi, revealing her strong-willed brow.

(Wh-what did she … !?)

Blood rushed into Yumi's head. Not due to the cold and provocative way the girl was looking at her, but the words she'd spat out.

(Sa-sa-sachiko onee-sama !?)

It was acceptable to refer to a group of older students as "onee-samas." But only an officially recognized petit soeur, who had accepted their rosary, was allowed to call a specific older student "onee-sama." That is, in Sachiko-sama's case, it was unforgivable for anyone other than Yumi to call her that.

"Touko-chan, you shouldn't be calling me that."

There, told you so. Sachiko-sama's strict and welcome guidance burst forth. But this "Touko-chan" wasn't even slightly discouraged. She played with her hair rolls, looking off into the distance blankly. Annoyingly, her actions were kind of cutesy.

"But you've a~lways been called that, it's hard for Touko to suddenly stop."

(Wh-what? She said she's always called her that? This girl.)

"At least while we're at school, call me "Sachiko-sama" or "Rosa Chinensis." Public and private life have to be kept separate."

(Onee-sama, what are you saying … !)

The impact hit Yumi like a hammer to the head. Was the delineation Sachiko-sama was making that Yumi was "public" and this Touko-chan with her ringlets was "private," or not? No, that was it. Clearly.

Public, formal, official. Public meant out in the open, and that wasn't bad, but it felt like it was no match for private, with its connotations of secrecy and concealment.

Private property, private life, private affairs… see.

(– but, more importantly.)

Sachiko-sama was an only child, so she shouldn't have a little sister in her private life. That someone not in her immediate family could so brazenly call her "onee-sama." What on earth was going on here.

"Let me introduce you, Yumi. This is Matsudaira Touko-chan, a first-year. She said she wanted to see the Rose Mansion, so I invited her."

"… Pleased to meet you."

Since her onee-sama had made the introduction, Yumi had to offer a greeting. But Touko-chan didn't even bother to look at Yumi, instead coiling herself around Sachiko-sama's arm and saying, like a spoiled child:

"Oh my. You weren't going to mention that we're related?"

"Ah, right. Actually, Touko-chan's related on my father's side of the family."

Sachiko-sama added, and Touko-chan looked at Yumi triumphantly.

"Related? I wonder how distantly."

Yoshino-san said, jumping into the conversation. Apparently Touko-chan had been introduced to her earlier, but this was the first time that Yoshino-san had heard she was related to Sachiko-sama.

"I'm Sachiko onee-sama's father's older sister's husband's younger sister's daughter."

"So basically, you're not blood related at all."

Incredible, Yoshino-san. She'd instantly understood Touko-chan's rapid-fire explanation.

"But it doesn't change the fact that we're related."

"Sure, distant relatives."

Touko-chan sparred with Yoshino-san. They glared at each other, sparks flying between them, then both suddenly looked away. Like two cats hissing at each other.

"Well, anyway, onee-sama. About today's meeting … "

Yumi nervously broached the topic, since she was late arriving. She had to defuse the tense atmosphere somehow. Sorry Touko-chan, but the best solution was for you to leave for the justifiable reason of the scheduled meeting.

"Ah, right."

Sachiko-sama clapped.

"Today's meeting's canceled."

"Huh!?"

"The kendo club's faculty member and club president were both absent today, so Rei had to go and lead the training."

"They've had some new students join and there's not that many club members that could lead them."

Yoshino-san grumbled about her busy onee-sama too.

"No way."

"So there you have it."

So there she had it.

So where did that leave Yumi, with her onee-sama nitpicking her about being late? However, it would also be foolish not to confirm the members that had been captivated by Touko-chan. When she asked, she found out that Shimako-san had also been there, but had left once she found out the meeting was canceled.

"At any rate, this mansion is sooo comfy. Touko likes it and will have to visit again."

(Hey, hey. Ask if you can come and visit. You're a younger student.)

Perhaps this was how generational change happened. Yumi's heart was filled with a phrase she'd never had cause to use before, "Kids these days …"

However, Sachiko-sama was sweet. Sweeter than a sweet bean jelly.

"Occasionally."

It was a slight rebuff, but her eyes and mouth were smiling.

"Yumi-san, you'd better watch out for that Touko."

Yoshino-san whispered, leaning in close to Yumi.

"If you're careless, you could have your onee-sama stolen."

"Huh!? Huh!? Huuuh!?"

Despite being surprised by this extreme advice from her friend, a yellow warning light went on somewhere in Yumi's heart.

(Danger.)

Touko-chan was innocently assertive.

(To make matters worse.)

"Hey, would it be possible to visit your house today, Sachiko onee-sama? It would be nice to see grandfather and Sayako oba-sama, since it's been so long."

"I suppose."

Sachiko-sama was confused, but she didn't clearly decline.

It looked like the jinx of third-years being overly indulgent to first-years applied to Sachiko-sama too.