Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume11 Chapter6
Visitor
Part 1
"Sooner or later" came surprisingly quickly, and it brought someone unexpected to her.
Saturday.
They'd completed the first stage of cleaning the classroom and Yumi had ventured away from the school building to dispose of the rubbish. The school's PA system echoed through the cloudy sky.
"High-school second-year pine class Fukuzawa Yumi-san. Please report to the staff room immediately."
Yumi thought, "Hey, the person they're calling has a name just like mine," as she set the garbage bag down in the collection area, but then she realized.
"Huh?"
"I repeat – "
The PA system called for Fukuzawa Yumi-san once more.
"Uh, uh, uh."
Fukuzawa Yumi from the second-year pine class. The only person that could be was herself.
This was the first time her name had ever been called over the school PA system, and a light panic set in. She picked up the garbage bag she'd just set down, turned around and took three steps forward before realizing what she'd done and putting the garbage back. Thankfully, she was on her own, so no-one saw this.
"What to do?"
Yumi stopped to think for a moment.
Wait, it wasn't only students that had done something wrong that were called for over the PA system. But recalling those close to her that had been summoned, like Satou Sei-sama during the "Forest of Thorns" strife, or Torii Eriko-sama during the "Yellow Rose" paranoia, they had all been surrounded by the pungent scent of scandal.
"Maybe this has something to do with Touko-chan … ?"
But the bad rumors had stopped completely when she brought Touko-chan in to the Rose Mansion. It didn't seem likely that the teachers would only have found out about this now either.
On top of that, she was being told to go to the staff room. Not the educational guidance room or the school principal's office, but somehow more befitting of Yumi's lowly stature.
"They said 'immediately,' so I guess I have to go."
Even after thinking about it, she saw no alternative. She wasn't brave enough to go home and pretend she hadn't heard. Yumi started walking back towards the school building and saw Shimako-san's classmate Katsura-san running towards her, brandishing her schoolbag.
"Wah, it's Yumi-san!"
Yumi didn't know why, but Katsura-san seemed shocked to see her, like she'd just seen a ghost.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't really know what's happening, so I came running back because I really wanted to tell you about it most of all, and then I saw you."
Katsura-san took hold of Yumi's hand and squeezed tightly.
"What did you want to tell me? Is it about the announcement?"
"What announcement?"
"Over the PA system … right?"
Apparently they were both talking about different things.
"I told you, I've just run all the way back from the school gate. There's no way I could have heard any announcement."
Katsura-san said, puffing her chest out with pride.
"The school gate?"
Yumi asked. What possible reason could Katsura-san have to run all the way back here from the main gate?
"Right, the gate, the gate. I was so surprised, I had to come back. Pretty impressive, hey."
"What are you talking about?"
"The prince. Weren't you listening?"
Wasn't she listening? That was the first time Katsura-san had mentioned the word 'prince'.
"The prince came to the school gates in a bright-red pumpkin sports-car. I wonder who he's here for. Wearing a suit and all, he looks so much more dashing than before."
A bright-red pumpkin sports-car. Totally incoherent. However.
"The prince … "
Yumi could only think of one person who could be a bright-red pumpkin sports-car driving prince.
The prince of the ginkgo nut country, Kashiwagi Suguru. Sachiko-sama's cousin, and provisional fiancé. Until Touko-chan's appearance, he had been Yumi's number one rival.
Last year, he had been recruited from the neighboring boys school to play the role of the prince in 'Cinderella' for the Yamayurikai executive's school festival production.
"The first-years were asking, "Who's that?" The second and third-years were all telling them, "It's the prince, the prince." There was a huge group of people looking on, like some boy-band photo-shoot."
Then Katsura-san got excited and wanted to tell someone all about it, and before she knew it she'd run all the way here. Kashiwagi-san had obvious good looks, the type that were incredibly well-received at an all-girls school.
"Was Kashiwagi-san by himself?"
"When I saw him, he seemed to be waiting by the car alone. That's the impression I got."
Katsura-san leaned against the wall of the school building and crossed her legs. Then she flicked her bangs.
"Oowah."
Yumi could picture it in her imagination. He would have been fine just waiting in the car, but no, he was the type of person who just had to get out of the car and grab everyone's attention. Since he was a narcissist who knew just how good he looked, he'd unashamedly adopt that sort of pretentious pose. Basically, the prince character. And the fairy-tale prince was most definitely never shy.
"So, what do you think, Yumi-san?"
"What do I think? Cinderella's absent."
If Kashiwagi-san was the prince, then Cinderella was Sachiko-sama. That was the play's cast, there was no way to shift the roles around. Incidentally, Yumi had played Older Sister B, one of Cinderella's tormentors.
"Don't you think he could be here for you? After all, you were last year's Miss Cinderella."
" … And this is the prize, huh?"
Miss Cinderella was an earlier award. But recognition as a heroine was the only prize she'd received for having the good fortune of going from unknown first-year student to Sachiko-sama's petit soeur.
"The prince probably just came to pick up Touko-chan."
They were both Sachiko-sama's relatives. They referred to each other as "Gentle brother" and "Touko," so it wasn't strange that he'd come to pick her up.
"Maybe you're right. That's kinda boring though."
Katsura-san joked, but she seemed refreshed now that she'd said what she wanted to say. Completely the opposite of when she'd come running up, Katsura-san said a polite farewell of, "Well then, gokigenyou."
"Ah."
Katsura-san had started walking back towards the school gate when she suddenly stopped, spun around and said to Yumi:
"So, what was the announcement that you were talking about, Yumi-san?"
"Ah – !"
Yumi cried out.
"Sorry, Katsura-san, I've got to go. I'll tell you all about it next time."
She quickly wiped the soles of her indoor shoes on the mat, then flew into the school building. Thanks to Kashiwagi-san, she'd completely forgotten about it.
Ah, but even so.
Since the announcement had said 'immediately,' just how much tardiness would they accept?
Part 2
About a dozen people had gathered in front of the staff room.
"Ah."
Yoshino-san spotted Yumi and raised her arm.
Just like the other times, students other than the one called had spontaneously gathered at the designated location.
Taking a rough survey of the people in front of her, there was Rei-sama, Shimako-san and Noriko-chan. They'd probably hurried over when they heard "Fukuzawa Yumi" called. It felt like they'd all dropped everything to come here.
As she looked at each of their faces, Yumi thought, "They're good friends alright."
Touko-chan was nowhere to be seen. Although Yumi hadn't really expected Touko-chan to be worried about her. Still, she was a bit disappointed by her absence. Well, it was after school on Saturday, so perhaps Touko-chan had gone home already. Even if she was still on campus, it was possible that she was somewhere where she couldn't hear the announcement – .
Setting that aside for now.
Yumi had no idea whatsoever why she had been called here, and while she was still trying to figure out what sort of expression she should have, a group of students encamped near the door to the staffroom made their way over to her. The mood wasn't right for a greeting of "Gokigenyou," so they simply bowed to their target.
( … Thanks for everything.)
The newspaper club's Mami-san and the photography club's Tsutako-san could always sniff out when something was happening, and as expected they had both gathered here.
The rest were probably just curious onlookers. They had their backs to her, so they hadn't noticed that Yumi had arrived, clumped together in a circle like a dumpling.
"It's Yumi-san."
One of them noticed her and whispered to the others, and the dumpling fell apart in the twinkling of an eye. Like the blossoming of a flower bud, a single young lady appeared in the center. That person was –
"Rosa Chinensis!?"
"Gokigenyou, Yumi-chan. It's been a while."
She was wearing a dark suit that blended in with the Lillian's school uniforms, so Yumi hadn't noticed someone in street clothes mixed in among the group. It was indeed Rosa Chinensis. Well, more accurately, it was the former Rosa Chinensis, Mizuno Youko-sama, magnificently taking center stage like "The Birth of Venus," as she turned to Yumi and smiled.
"Wh-what on earth brings you here!?"
Yumi rushed over to her. Youko-sama slowly moved forwards to meet Yumi. Youko-sama really felt like an adult, perhaps due to her light makeup. It seemed unbelievable that until just three months ago they had worn the same school uniform.
Her muted matte pink lipstick coated lips informed Yumi:
"I came to see you. I'd like you to come with me."
"Huh? But I was called to – "
Yumi pointed at the staff room right beside her, and Youko-sama smiled wryly.
"Took you a while. I was the one that asked the teacher to do that. It seemed the quickest way to catch you."
"Wh-wh"
"Why? Because I'm in a race against time."
Youko-sama spoke quickly.
"Hey, Yumi-chan, if you could help Sachiko, would you?"
"Yes."
Yumi didn't know what was going on, but to the question of whether she would help Sachiko-sama, the answer was always an unconditional yes.
"Then come with me."
Youko-sama took Yumi by the hand, opened the door to the staffroom and informed them:
"Teacher, Fukuzawa-san's here, thanks for all your help."
"Okay."
One of the teachers called back from inside. Apparently she'd made full use of her status as a former pupil and Rosa Chinensis to convince the supervisor and broadcasting club to summon Yumi. That was the ever-practical Youko-sama.
"Here, Yumi-san."
They set off walking down the corridor and Yoshino-san popped out in front of them and held out a schoolbag.
"Youko-sama said she was taking you away, so I rushed back to the classroom and got it."
It was indeed Yumi's schoolbag.
"Thank-you."
As she took the schoolbag, Yoshino-san gave Yumi's hands a quick squeeze.
"Good luck. Tell me all about it later."
"Okay."
It felt like Yoshino-san's power flowed into Yumi's body.
Yumi didn't know where Youko-sama was taking her, but it was to help Sachiko-sama, so she gladly went. If her hard work could help Sachiko-sama, then she'd work as hard as she could.
"Youko-sama, come and visit us again sometime."
"Next time, stay a little while longer."
The students that had previously been surrounding Youko-sama reluctantly waved and said their goodbyes. Yumi felt like she'd seen them somewhere before, so perhaps they were the former Rosa Chinensis' fan club, enthusiastic devotees of Mizuno Youko-sama.
Youko-sama looked back over her shoulder and waved briefly in response. But that was all. There were no lingering farewells, as soon as she took hold of Yumi's hand she moved quickly to leave the staffroom behind.
Youko-sama was silent as they descended the stairs and walked along the first-floor hallway. She kept walking, not saying anything about where they were going or why Sachiko-sama needed Yumi's help.
Even when they split up, Yumi going to her shoe box and Youko-sama going towards the visitor entrance, all she said was, "Well, I'll wait for you outside." She didn't seem angry, but she wasn't the usual brimming-with-confidence Youko-sama that Yumi knew.
When they rejoined in front of the visitor entrance, Youko-sama said nothing and started walking quickly.
Yumi felt like she'd only seen Youko-sama's face from diagonally behind for a while now. Perhaps it was due to the angle, but her expression looked quite stern.
"Umm."
Unable to endure the lengthy silence any further, Yumi started speaking.
"What?"
Youko-sama didn't stop walking, instead turning only her head as she questioned Yumi. Seeing her eyes for the first time in a while, Yumi bowed her head deeper than before.
"I'm sorry."
"What on earth for?"
As expected of Youko-sama, she stopped on a dime, turned and asked the question.
"You told me to take care of Sachiko-sama, and I – "
"Ah."
Should that response from Youko-sama be taken to mean that she knew the current state of affairs between Yumi and Sachiko-sama, or was there a certain amount of conjecture involved? Maybe she hadn't understood everything.
"I'm sure Sachiko's at fault."
Youko-sama said curtly as she resumed walking.
"But."
Yumi followed after her.
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't some grandiose commandment. If two people are only joined together because someone else tells them to, it will never work out. Things fall apart when it's their time to. I say that intentionally too."
Things fall apart when it's their time to. The impact of those words reverberated around Yumi's heart.
"So even if we say that you ran out of patience with Sachiko, I think that was unavoidable. But right now, I want you to come with me. And I want you to help Sachiko."
Youko-sama ran her hand through her short hair and smiled thinly.
"Even after graduation, I'll probably be her big sister for the rest of my life. That's why I've become used to doing such foolish things for her. Entering my alma mater, using the PA system for personal reasons, and now forcing a junior to accompany me."
"Ah."
Yumi had finally hit upon something.
"Don't tell me Kashiwagi-san too … !"
There was no need to hear her response. Youko-sama had dragged Kashiwagi-san into this. Even though he wasn't romantically interested in Sachiko-sama, Kashiwagi-san probably cared for her deeply, so would have happily lent a hand to help Sachiko-sama.
"What happened?"
Sachiko-sama must be in dire straits to force Youko-sama and Kashiwagi-san to take action. But Youko-sama wouldn't tell her anything. The only thing she said was:
"All I'll say is that, right now, you are the one thing that Sachiko needs most in this world."
When they reached the statue of Maria-sama, Youko-sama said to Yumi, "Go ahead and pray," then gave her a gentle nudge forwards.
"And you?"
"I'll pass for today. I prayed earlier today, elsewhere. Don't mind me, I'm just not in the mood."
"… ?"
Yumi didn't really understand, but knew they were in a rush, so she hurried over to the statue and prayed.
For Sachiko-sama to be saved.
She made the request not knowing why Sachiko-sama needed saving.
As always, Maria-sama said nothing and smiled.
But that was fine. Having her watching over them like that was enough to bring comfort to Yumi.
"I look displeased, don't I?"
Youko-sama asked, after Yumi had run back to her.
" … A little."
After she answered honestly, Yumi thought, "Ooops," but she couldn't take back the words she'd said. However, Youko-sama smiled.
"It's okay. I am displeased. It annoys me that I couldn't do anything for Sachiko, despite how much I care for her. Like I was nothing. I adore you Yumi-chan, but I'm also feeling a little bit jealous … it's complicated."
"Jealous?"
"Right. You're a big-shot. And I'm jealous of that."
In contrast to her words, Youko-sama gently embraced Yumi's shoulder as they walked together.
"Yumi-chan, do you love Sachiko?"
"I do."
"Okay. That's good."
Somehow, it felt like she'd had that same conversation with someone else recently.
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