Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume14 Chapter5
The Hanadera War
Part 1
She didn't know if this was the case everywhere, but:
Based on the Hanadera and Lillian's school festivals, the school festival at an all-boys school seemed louder but more tasteless than the one at an all-girls school.
First of all, take the school gate.
The letters on the sign that announced the school festival jutted out over the signboard, reaching over the wall it rested against.
Once inside the grounds, there were signposts that could be called either art or scribblings, and while the trees weren't painted, they were covered with all kinds of ornaments like it was Christmas or Tanabata. But a lot of the things just left her perplexed, wondering, "Why is that there?" Vinyl records, real leather boots, swimming floats, saucepans, hats, dog leashes, etc. All sorts of things up in the trees.
There seemed to be something like a sign-in area near the entrance but everyone was just walking in unchallenged. Inside they saw some middle-aged ladies carrying shopping bags, obviously using the school grounds as a shortcut home from the shops. That sort of openness was something you'd never see at Lillian's Girls Academy.
– So with that, the six members of the Yamayurikai were met at the entrance by Yuuki, Alice and Takada-kun, and escorted into the Hanadera Academy high-school grounds.
But, really, where on earth was this place?
Ninjas handing out fliers, Tarzan running around with a signboard on his back making his trademark roar, some popular anime characters singing a parody of their show's opening theme.
This should definitely be Hanadera Academy, but it felt like they'd slipped into an alternate universe.
All the Hanadera students made an "ohh" sound when they saw the Lillian's Girls Academy uniforms. Applause sprang up from out of nowhere.
"Don't worry. Everyone's been warned not to be impolite to you ladies from Lillian's."
Yuuki explained to Sachiko-sama, who was starting to seize up. He said that if something happened, the student could be suspended or expelled, as well as punishment being levied against the club they belonged to.
Clubs at Hanadera Academy emphasized tradition, with the strong bonds forged between club members lasting beyond graduation, so any student who caused the abolition of a club would be so dishonored that they would never again be able to cross the threshold of Hanadera Academy. Anyone who caused a club to be shutdown would be so ashamed they'd naturally have to drop out of school.
After walking for a little while they came to a fork in the path. Naturally, however, there was no statue of Maria-sama standing there – in front there was a thick grove and a smallish mountain.
"Now then, Yukichi, which way should we take the ladies from Lillian's?"
Takada-kun said loudly, out of the blue.
"Let's see. How about we take the right-hand path going there, and the left-hand path coming back."
Yuuki responded levelly, but his voice was raised too.
"Sounds good, let's go with that."
Even the usually soft voice of Alice joined in.
But why did they have to speak so loudly when they were right next to each other? And in a monotone to boot.
"I get it. You want everyone to hear, right? So neither the Genji or Heishi sides can complain."
Yoshino-san said quietly.
"Ding ding. You're sharp, Yoshino-san."
Alice made a sound like an intercom and pointed his index finger in the air. Apparently even the path that students took to school at Hanadera was split between two factions.
The right-hand path they'd take going there was quite steep. It was built close to the central mountain and undulated, giving it the feel of a mountain trail. A dynamic path with trees close to the edge.
"This would make for great exercise."
Rei-sama said, stepping around a tree stump and climbing the log staircase.
"Is everyone alright? It's like this going there, but the path back is paved and smoother."
When Yuuki said this, all the Yamayurikai members raised their hands in the air and said, "Hooray." However, since the both paths were part of the Hanadera grounds they chose to restrain from more boisterous celebrations like high-fives.
They were right not to be overjoyed.
"But it takes a big detour around the mountain, so it's longer."
"… Oh."
The maidens' smiles disappeared when that statement was added.
Incidentally, the short and tough path was Genji, the long and level path was Heishi. Without walking both of them it was hard to tell which one was easier.
"Which way do you usually go, Yuuki-san?"
Shimako-san asked. As expected from the daughter of a mountain temple, she wasn't even slightly short of breath.
"I do the same thing we're all doing today. Go there one way and back the other."
Yuuki was neither Genji nor Heishi. The boy that valued neutrality became the student council president.
"On that note, I take the left-hand path."
Alice said.
"I take the right."
Takada-kun added. Very much like the two of them.
Yumi pondered which route she would take if she went to Hanadera Academy and decided that she'd probably be like Yuuki, taking one path there and the other back. Not because she was imitating her brother. The Fukuzawa siblings were both equally indecisive.
After following the hiking course a little further they finally arrived at the point where it met up with the longer but flatter Heishi path and were once again greeted with the sight of students putting on various performances.
There were students handing out discount tickets to food stalls, handing out packs of tissues with filers for music acts and plays – all the usual means of attracting customers.
A student in a panda costume was handing out lollipops to little children. When they walked past, he offered one to Yumi, even though she wasn't a kid. The plastic wrapping had indecipherable pink and yellow lettering on it.
"Th-thank-you."
The panda patted her on the head like she was a good girl then went back to the group of kids.
"Even though no-one else is approaching us because of Yuuki-kun's watchful gaze … such incredible bravery."
Rei-sama spoke with admiration, looking back at the panda.
"Perhaps he was emboldened because we couldn't see his face."
Something well worth considering.
"Even so, why did he only give me one … ?"
Yumi took a good look at the candy she'd just received. Yuuki laughed and offered his opinion.
"Cos you look the most like a child here, Yumi."
"Wha … "
Even though Noriko-chan was the youngest. And while she was at it, since she was born in April it made her older than Yoshino-san and Shimako-san, although only by a little.
"It's not so bad. You like sweets, right Yumi? The panda must have realized that."
Sachiko-sama consoled her, but didn't provide much by way of support. Since liking sweets fitted the image of a little child.
"If you don't want it, I'll take it, Yumi."
"No. Because he gave it to me."
Yumi quickly hid it behind her back.
"See."
Sachiko-sama happily said, "You're glad you got it after all, aren't you?" Darn it, she'd been completely played.
Still, since Sachiko-sama was feeling well enough to tease her soeur, it probably meant she was getting somewhat accustomed to the atmosphere. At the very least, it was a good sign.
"Don't eat it while we're walking."
"Oka~y."
Yumi opened her handbag to put the lollipop inside. But just at that moment, she caught sight of a word written on the wrapper.
(Huh.)
Surprised, another word jumped out at her. The yellow characters from the indecipherable text all formed words.
"Mystery Novel Appreciation Society … ?"
Yumi tilted her head in confusion as she read the words. How on earth were a panda and lollipops related to mystery novels? That was the real mystery.
Be that as it may, she felt like she'd heard something about a mystery novel club somewhere before...
"Yumi."
Her onee-sama called out to her because she had lagged behind, so Yumi quickly stuffed the lollipop in her pocket and ran to catch up.
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