Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume9 Chapter5
The Maria Ceremony Inquisition
Part 1.
The angels sang as they walked.
They went in order of height, the archangels with wings, the flower-bearers with baskets of flowers hanging around their neck, the little angels, all of them costumed kindergarteners.
The angels had paraded the considerable distance from the kindergarten to the middle- and high-school buildings. – To pay a visit to all the Maria-samas within the campus.
They'd been blessed with good weather for this year's Maria Ceremony, and the clear blue sky spread out forever without a single cloud in it, like their heavenly mother's soul.
All the statues of Maria-sama had been adorned with flowers for today. The one that lived in the small grove near where the ginkgo-tree path split was no exception.
The usually white Maria-sama statue was, for today only, covered in flowers of many different colors. Noriko hadn't been expecting this, so was startled when she saw it on her way to school.
As she was heading to her classroom, Noriko looked out the hallway window and saw Shimako-san walking outside. She was carrying a medium sized cardboard box, walking quickly in the direction of the chapel.
"Shima … "
Noriko started to call out to her, but stopped. Her mind was likely occupied with thoughts about the Yamayurikai organized first-year welcoming event.
(I wonder if we'll have a chance to see each other after it's over.)
Noriko still had the juzu that she'd borrowed in her school bag. She'd been bringing it to school every day in case there was a chance to return it, but the opportunity had never arisen.
Borrowing Sumireko-san's magnifying glass and looking at the juzu while thinking of Shimako-san had become Noriko's daily routine.
Her soul felt cleansed just looking at those crystal beads. There was a tiny Buddha inlaid in the conspicuously larger bead just above the purple tassel. The Buddha was carved out of ivory or something similar, and though it was about the size of an adzuki bean, the detail was so fine that each of his fingers were clearly visible. The profoundly benevolent expression stirred the human heart. Wicked thoughts were forbidden when looking at Buddhist images, but it was such a splendid juzu that Noriko would unintentionally think, "This must be worth a fortune," when she held it.
"Noriko-san, have you heard from Rosa Gigantea what today's entertainment is?"
When Noriko arrived at her desk, a couple of her classmates came over and asked her this. Since they didn't have classes today, there weren't that many people in the first-year camellia classroom just yet.
"Entertainment?"
"For the welcoming ceremony the Yamayurikai are hosting after the mass, of course."
They all laughed innocently.
"It's a tradition that the executive members put on some kind of performance. Last year, when she was a bouton, Rosa Chinensis played Ave Maria on the piano. Shimako-sama can play the piano too, right? I'm sure it'll be good."
(Huh … even the Roses are going to a lot of trouble.)
Noriko liked watching amateur talent shows, but then Shimako-san was added into that mix, so of course her interest was piqued.
(I see. So Shimako-san's good at the piano … )
Her classmate's offhanded comment had been surprisingly informative. She also filed away the fact that the Roses' petit soeurs were called boutons.
At that moment, one of the students near the door came over to Noriko and said:
"The Roses are here to see you."
"Ah, okay."
Noriko walked out into the hallway thinking it would be Shimako-san, but there were two unexpected people waiting there.
(– Red Rose and Yellow Rose.)
Roses were Roses, but the color was different. It was the two third-years that Noriko had seen some time ago walking in the courtyard with Shimako-san. From memory, their titles were Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida.
"Gokigenyou. Are you Nijou Noriko-san?"
The tall girl with short hair, Rosa Foetida, asked her amicably.
"Yes … ?"
Noriko stood up straight and answered, not knowing why she'd been called out here. Sadly, while she had no interest in the Red or Yellow Roses, they were two grades above her. It would be a lie to say she was unafraid of them.
"Hmm."
In contrast to her partner, Rosa Chinensis looked Noriko up and down, appraising her.
"So this is Shimako's … "
Her casually arranged, long, glossy hair swayed gently.
"She's still a bit raw … although."
"Ah!"
Rosa Foetida suddenly grabbed Noriko's jaw, pointing her face in various directions.
"What are you doing!"
Noriko brushed off Rosa Foetida's hand.
"Oh, she's got some fight in her. Wonderfully fierce."
(What's up with these two… ! Treating me like some sort of animal!)
"She'll do, you think?"
"I suppose."
The pair looked at each other and conferred quietly. Then, after arriving at some conclusion, they said, "That's all, thanks," turned and left.
"Wait a minute."
Enraged, Noriko called to the two seniors.
"Mm?"
"You called me out here, you've come to some sort of agreement, and now you're leaving without an explanation?"
Rosa Foetida turned around and looked into the eyes of Noriko who was shaking with anger. Then she said, "She's got a point," and walked the couple of steps back to her.
"So you want to know why we came to see you? It's because we wanted to see your face – is that good enough?"
"You came to see my face?"
"Yep. We simply wanted to see your face."
"Why … ?"
"Because we wanted to see it, of course. It's not hard to answer why we wanted to see it. We wanted to see what we wanted to see, right? … Do you have any other questions?"
"No … I don't."
If they were going to answer like that, she had no idea what to ask. For some reason, she got the feeling they were trying to confuse her.
"Then in that case, I have one. Nijou Noriko-san, do you like Shimako?"
"I do, why?"
"Then it's fine. Good luck to you."
Rosa Foetida left her with that and returned to the waiting Rosa Chinensis and this time they left.
"Good luck she said … ? With what … ?"
Pondering those ambiguous words of encouragement, Noriko was returning to the classroom when she bumped into Touko-san, who was just leaving.
"First it was Rosa Gigantea, now you're sucking up to Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida as well, huh."
Touko-san said, with a look of hatred that seemed so out of place on her face.
"That's not it."
Noriko said as Touko-san walked away, but Touko-san didn't turn around.
"… Huh."
Noriko sighed in resignation. Her spirit felt exhausted. What would she have to do to get a peaceful school life?
Returning to her seat, Noriko saw that her school bag was sitting open on her desk.
(…?)
That sight made her feel incredibly uncomfortable. Noriko thought her bag had been hanging from the hook on the side of her desk when she'd left.
With a bad feeling, she hastily inspected its contents.
(Commuter pass, purse, pencil case … )
As she checked, the blood slowly drained from her face.
( … What do I do!)
The only thing missing was Shimako-san's juzu.
Part 2.
The morning was taken up with a mass for all high-school students, led by a priest from outside the school.
However, neither his sermon about gratitude nor the lovely voices of the choir entered into Noriko's consciousness. She couldn't stop thinking about the missing juzu.
(Just who would … )
She didn't want to think about that. However, when she left home, it was definitely in her school bag. Then she'd found the bag left there lying open – .
The only thing she could think was that someone had taken it.
(Just another prank? No, this is different.)
If it were just another prank, then the juzu would have been returned to her by now.
(But who? And why? Did they know it was a juzu?)
She couldn't look her fellow classmates straight in the eye. But it seemed unlikely that someone from another class would tamper with her bag, since they'd stick out like a sore thumb. Even if her classmates didn't know it was Noriko's bag, it obviously belonged to someone in first-year camellia class.
The culprit was among them.
A chill ran along Noriko's spine as she guessed at their motive.
When the mass finished, Noriko went looking for Shimako-san.
(What should I do? I have to tell Shimako-san about the juzu … )
She spent her lunch time scouring the school grounds, but in the end couldn't find the busy Rosa Gigantea.
Then, with Noriko completely exhausted and her shoulders slumping, the afternoon's event, the Yamayurikai organized new students' welcoming ceremony, began.
Part 3.
The ceremony began without any teachers or nuns present.
Lillian's Girls Academy respected the independence of its high-school students, so it was customary that the adults wouldn't intervene in the school council's events.
There were about two hundred first-years assembled in the chapel, seated by class in six blocks.
Six older students with corsages pinned to their chests, apparently members of the school council, were standing in the area where the priest had been not that long ago. It went without saying that the three in the middle had red, yellow and white roses befitting their titles. The three hanging back had pink rose corsages.
"To all first-year students, let me begin by congratulating you on entering high-school."
The student holding the mic and stepping forward looked incredibly striking. There was no need to check the color of the rose pinned to her chest, it was the senior that had brazenly appraised Noriko – Rosa Chinensis.
"Lillian's Girls Academy's high-school student council is called the Yamayurikai, after the mountain lily associated with Maria-sama's soul. Because of this, every year we hold a welcoming event for the first-years on the day of the Maria Ceremony."
Rose, lily, whatever. Fine, have a speech, but can't she wrap it up quickly?
However, it seemed Noriko was the only thinking that. The classmates around her were listening to Rosa Chinensis' words with rapt attention. For some reason, they seemed ten times more serious than when they'd been listening to the priest's sermon.
(… Shimako-san.)
Standing diagonally behind Rosa Chinensis, Shimako-san wasn't looking around restlessly like Noriko was. Since she didn't know what had happened, she stood there calm and composed.
(Shimako-sa~n. Something terrible has happened. What should I do?)
Even when Shimako-san did finally look her way, the distance was too far for her to do anything.
"As older students we happily welcome our new younger sisters. Together, let us enjoy our time at school in a manner that Maria-sama will approve of. We've been planning and practicing for what's happening next, so we hope you enjoy it."
Even if they hoped she'd enjoy it, Noriko wasn't really interested in hearing the council members sing or put on a talent show. But if it was Shimako-san playing the piano, then she might listen.
(– but it doesn't look like they're doing that.)
"We'll start with the presentation of commemorative medallions."
The mic had been handed over to the tall, short-haired girl – Rosa Foetida.
"When your class is called, line up in single file."
First-year plum class was lined up in front of Rosa Chinensis, wisteria class in front of Rosa Foetida and chrysanthemum class in front of Rosa Gigantea.
Incidentally, Noriko was in camellia class and it looked as though they'd be called last, to line up in front of Rosa Gigantea when chrysanthemum class was done.
From a distance, the medallion looked something like a pendant. It hung from a chain around the neck, like a medal.
"May the Virgin Mary bless you and watch over you."
Three people for six classes. But it didn't take as long as expected, because all they were doing was handing out the medals. Each Rose would take a medallion from the basket held by their pink-rose wearing assistant and skillfully place it around the neck of a first-year.
"Would peach class, pine class and camellia class step forward now."
While the announcement was still being made, Noriko sluggishly got to her feet. She wasn't interested in receiving a medallion, but there would be an outcry if she refused. She was worried about the juzu, so wanted this ceremony to be over as soon as possible.
"May the Virgin Mary bless you and watch over you."
Shimako-san said to each girl in turn as she placed a medallion around their neck. There were two more people in line ahead of Noriko.
(Perhaps someone's returning the juzu to my bag right at this moment.)
Noriko idly thought as she waited in line. However, all her classmates were currently in the chapel with her.
(One more.)
"May the Virgin Mary bless you and watch over you."
(Next.)
When the student in front of Noriko received her medallion and walked away, Rosa Gigantea appeared and smiled when she saw it was Noriko.
"May th– "
Shimako-san started to speak but was interrupted.
"Stop right there!"
The voice came from behind Noriko.
"That girl doesn't qualify to receive a medallion from Rosa Gigantea."
The owner of the voice stepped forward, pushing her way through the murmuring students.
"Touko-san!"
Noriko shouted when she saw her face.
"Esteemed Roses, please forgive me for interrupting this sacred ceremony."
Touko-san glanced at Noriko, then turned to the three Roses and bowed quickly. Her trademark ringlets bounced like springs.
"What is the meaning of this. Umm … Touko-san?"
"Please listen, Rosa Chinensis. Touko can't stay silent any longer."
There it was.
The certain kill, her watery eyes technique.
(Just what the heck is she going to say?)
A single bead of sweat broke out on Noriko's forehead.
"Just now, you said something about Noriko-san not meeting the qualifications to receive a medallion from Rosa Gigantea?"
"That's right, Rosa Foetida."
In her usual manner, Touko-san had succeeded in capturing the attention of the Red and Yellow Roses.
At that moment, the color of Rosa Gigantea's face changed.
(Shimako-san … ?)
Shimako-san's eyes were focused on a single point. Noriko followed her gaze and arrived at Touko-san's left hand.
(What's going on?)
Looking closer, Noriko let out an, "Erk." What Touko-san was tightly grasping would indeed have the power to change Shimako-san's complexion.
(I-I've got to get that back somehow.)
Noriko reached out for it, but Touko-san had obviously been expecting this and lifted her arm high in the air.
"This is more fitting for you."
With Touko-san's loud laughter as background music, the dazzling light coming through the stained glass windows caught the crystal juzu, making it shine brilliantly like a halo.
– Amen.
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