Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume33 Chapter7

Connecting Chains

Part 1.

I am a honey bee.

Actually, I'm a human, but I can transform myself into the shape of a bee with a little known spell. Pretty cool, right?

"Oh, you're a magician? I've been alive for nineteen years now, and this is the first time I've ever met one."

In truth, I came to Lillian's today to join in the congratulation of my juniors Sachiko and Rei at their graduation ceremony. But my cruel friend said that I wasn't allowed to enter the gymnasium. So I turned myself into a tiny little bee and flew off to take a look at the graduation ceremony.

"And so, how were things going inside the gymnasium?"

Let's see. It was all very exciting. But, as I was so engrossed in what was happening, I blundered and was spotted by Atsumi-sensei, who chased me outside. Ahhh, such a shame that I couldn't stay for just a little bit longer, until it was all over.

"It's not a shame at all."

Unable to take any more, Youko turned to her two dear friends.

"Can you please stop joking around? And you too, Eriko. As amusing as you may find it, can you stop indulging Sei?"

Knowing that a reaction would only spur them onwards, Youko had resolved to ignore the idiotic story that was unfolding behind her back but she had reached her limit. A bee? And magic? And an evil friend – just what kind of story was she telling?

"It doesn't bother me."

Sei laughed as she stretched her arms.

"My, someone's grumpy today. Youko."

Eriko peered into Youko's face. What Eriko had said was true, Youko was acting grumpy today and she looked away, feeling awkward.

"I'm just distracted."

In front of her eyes, a bee was flying about cheerfully.

The bee's yellow and black body shone in the blue sky.

This bee was the one that had been chased out of the gymnasium.

Youko knew this because a short while ago, Atsumi-sensei had emerged from the gymnasium and slowly unfolded some white paper object. At that point, some insect-like creature had flown out of the paper – and that insect was this bee.

Really, it was quite impressive that Sei could come up with her story about using magic to turn into a bee in order to watch the graduation ceremony based solely on those ingredients. Although half of that could be shock.

For whatever reason, the three graduates were now quite close to the gymnasium.

Eriko, who had arrived late, had cheerfully announced there would be hardly anyone keeping an eye on the back of the gymnasium, so they had decided to come here. She even said she knew a round-about way that would get them there without being seen.

After hearing that, Sei's temporarily dampened desire to sticky-beak had flared up again. All thanks to the fuel that Eriko had been pouring around.

"But, ya, know – it's strange how the person who said we couldn't go to the gymnasium is the one who's straining the hardest to hear what's being said inside."

Sei pointed her finger at Youko, who was sitting closest to the outer wall.

"That's not it. I just wanted to know where they were up to in the ceremony. Oh, they're up to the graduation song. We should get going soon."

"Get going?"

"You promised me we would when we decided to come here. Or, should I say, when the two of you dragged me down here."

Only a little bit. Despite saying this, Youko had had a wonderful time here. And since there were no doors in this wall, they hadn't been spotted by either the student receptionists or Atsumi-sensei when she had temporarily left the gymnasium. But if they waited until the ceremony was over and students were exiting, then even this place would be risky.

Youko couldn't hear exactly what was being said inside, but could sense the excitement rising, and that was enough.

"Come on, hurry up."

She grabbed Sei and Eriko by their collars.

Well then, what was next?

That's right, Yoshino-chan was going to show them something interesting.

Part 2.

The sun's rays were warm.

Sachiko instinctively squinted the instant she stepped through the doorway.

"Yumi."

In amongst the light was her petit soeur.

"Have you been waiting for me?"

Yumi came running up to her as she walked forwards.

"Yes... Here."

Yumi was holding out the black ribbon that Sachiko had left in her keeping.

Their charm. An item that would bind them together even when they were apart.

Sachiko nodded, and picked up one end of the neatly folded ribbon. Pulling at it, the ribbon stood up in Yumi's palm like a folding fan.

And then it stretched between the two of them, like a finishing line. There was no trace of where it had been tied that morning.

Just as it was about to leave her palm, Yumi pinned the free end down with her index finger. And like that, the two of them tugged playfully on the ribbon.

Once, twice, three times.

And then it was free of Yumi's hands. The two of them smiled. No words were exchanged, but they had clearly conveyed what they wanted to say.

Sachiko folded the ribbon once more, this time in her palm, and put it into her pocket. Then she reached her now empty hand into purse.

"Here, this is from me."

After saying this, Sachiko offered her tissue case to Yumi.

"Ahh."

Yumi was a bit flustered. Probably thinking that Sachiko was taking offense at her red nose.

"You'll feel better after you've blown your nose."

"Umm, this isn't…"

Yumi was probably going to say that it wasn't from crying. Sachiko used her hand holding the tissue case to gently lower the hand Yumi had pointed at her own nose.

"It's good for anything, right?"

From dry-eye to hay-fever. That was something that Yumi had said. Although Sachiko was unsure whether Yumi would remember it.

"Right. Gochisou-sama."

Yumi took the tissue that was poking out from the case. She had spoken quite naturally, but something sounded amiss.

"Gochi...?"

"Ahh, no, that's wrong. Itadakimasu, I guess."

Both of these phrases made it sound like Yumi was responding to an offering of food.

"You're not a goat, you know."

As Sachiko smiled at this, the sound of Yumi blowing her nose rang out.

Translator's Notes

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