Maria-sama Ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter 1 1

Everyone's Farewell Presents Part 1

"I'm sorry, what was that again?" Yumi asked in front of the M Station gates. Before checking herself in the mirror, she had heard—quite well—a perfectly reasonable answer.

"'I worry because sometimes you act boldly.'"

Just like rewinding a cassette tape, Sachiko-sama replayed a few words. Impressive, but unfortunately not the answer Yumi was asking for. Just a few words before that.

"No, before that," Yumi said.

"Before that? Well, 'Even if your shoulders slump low, keep your spirits high.'"

"A bit more."

"A bit more? 'The field trip starts tomorrow, huh'. . . ?"

"No, not that."

Hey, that's all the way back to when we rode the bus from in front of the school to the M Station North gate! That's rewinding the tape too much. At most, maybe one minute ago, not five. Yumi thought she might be playing innocent, but contrary to that, her onee-sama's face held a serious look.

To either side of the couple, people rushed hurriedly by. Some people caught the train here, others got off the train. In the evening, the area around the ticket gate was crowded with people returning from school or work.

"I asked if there was anything you'd like as a souvenir. And then you said?"

"Didn't I say: 'For you all to return safely is a souvenir better than anything'?"

"Yes, you said that."

Yumi was staggeringly happy to hear those words. Because after one week, she could be "a souvenir better than anything." But . . .

"Then I don't know what I should buy and bring back. You said, 'If you feel so strongly.' After that preface, didn't you say something?" Yumi thought she had misheard, so she asked again. "What did you say just now?"

"What? 'Roma Manjuu or Firenze Senbei'?" Sachiko-sama answered, without hesitation.

"Is that what you said?"

That's what she said. Definitely.

(What should I do here? Laugh it off as a joke?)

Yumi was lost. It seemed futile; could she laugh it off smoothly? If she laughed at something meant to be serious, Sachiko-sama could be rather annoyed. Two choices: make the wrong choice and it would determine her onee-sama's mood. Now, which one? It was too hard for Yumi to decide. As soon as she tried to laugh, "ha ha," Sachiko-sama folded her arms and grumbled.

"We did not buy any last year. Should you have the opportunity, please buy either one of them."

". . . Where are they sold?"

"I could not buy any, so how would I know?"

"Ah."

(I wonder if it wasn't a joke.)

"Have a fun trip."

And then, as if to bring the topic to an end, Sachiko-sama straightened Yumi's tie. Because of that, Yumi could not make any further inquiries. After their token display, her onee-sama departed.