Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume8 Chapter2

Farewell Gift

Part 1

"A final request from my onee-sama?"

As feared, Shimako-san's reaction was one of non-comprehension.

"Well, was there something she wanted to do? Or something school related she wanted you to take care of? Did she say anything like that to you?"

Yumi plowed on, not getting discouraged. Her feelings for Rosa Gigantea couldn't be put into words. Gratitude, certainly, but that word alone wasn't sufficient. The closest emotion was probably "love" after all, although it felt completely different to her love for Sachiko-sama.

So, while she'd been talking to Yoshino-san, Yumi had wondered. What sort of regrets did Rosa Gigantea have left? What can we do for her?

Yumi thought that Rosa Gigantea may have given some hints to Shimako-san. She'd agonized over it all last night, but hadn't found an answer.

"And "final request." She wouldn't say something like that."

Shimako-san muttered as she steadily packed her textbooks into her school bag. Fourth period had just finished and the students were out of their seats chatting, waiting for their homeroom teacher to arrive. Even though they were only first-years, there seemed to be more nervous energy than usual. Everyone was restless.

But it wasn't like they'd made today a half-day because of the lack of a studious atmosphere. After this, the students were scheduled to go about their regular cleaning, then return home. The chairs had been set up in the gymnasium yesterday and this afternoon the teachers would place the red and white seat covers over them, hang up the school flag, can't forget the picture of Maria-sama either, as well as all the other preparations that had to be completed for tomorrow.

"At the very least, she wouldn't tell me."

Shimako-san added, smiling.

"I see … you're probably right."

Indeed, it would be out of character for Rosa Gigantea to talk seriously about Lillian's future. Moreover, that pair of soeurs were peculiar in that they very rarely talked to each other. Perhaps now that she was about to graduate, Rosa Gigantea had even less to say to her petit soeur.

But, as she slid her pencil case into her schoolbag, Shimako-san said:

"But she might say something to you, Yumi-san."

"Me?"

Yumi asked, pointing a finger at her face.

"Yes. My onee-sama is quite affectionate to you."

Hearing those words, Yumi was shocked. Which was immediately followed by introspection.

"I'm sorry."

Yumi swiftly bowed her head. Shimako-san looked confused and asked, "Why?"

"I didn't consider your feelings, Shimako-san, and let Rosa Gigantea dote on me."

"Oh, no. I never thought about it like that. Actually, it's something I'm grateful to you for."

"?"

When Yumi raised her head, Shimako-san was looking back at her with her usual saintly smile.

"I'm not good at being doted upon. That was never a part of our soeur relationship. And since we're two years apart, Rosa Gigantea couldn't lavish her affection on her petit soeur's petit soeur."

"Her grandchild, so to speak."

"Grandchild? Ahh, right. Something like that."

With the second-years placed between them, the relationship between first- and third-years was a strange one. To Yumi, Rosa Chinensis was indulgent, like a grandmother.

"I see. Shimako-san's petit soeur will enter high-school just missing Rosa Gigantea on her way out."

"A petit soeur … I can't imagine it."

Shimako-san's gaze turned towards the window. It looked like she was reliving scenes from her past.

"But surely Rosa Gigantea would have thought the same thing when she made you her petit soeur, right?"

Shimako-san said, "Perhaps," but she didn't seem convinced. Yumi felt like she understood Shimako-san's feelings.

Having a petit soeur – it was unthinkable. She had her hands full just with herself. Where would she find the time to look after a younger student too?

"There's always the question of whether or not I'll be able to fortuitously meet a compatible younger girl. But for my petit soeur, she'll become Rosa Gigantea en bouton as a first-year."

Shimako-san seemed to think that that alone would be quite the heavy burden.

"But that's what happened to you, right?"

"Of course. But I've been wondering if I really have to have a petit soeur."

Shimako-san mournfully looked down as she spoke. Yumi suddenly felt uneasy.

"Shimako-san."

Yumi firmly grasped Shimako-san's hand.

"Oh, you surprised me. Um, … what?"

Because it had been so sudden, the captive was quite shocked.

"Shimako-san. Don't go anywhere."

"Yumi-san … ?"

"Don't go anywhere, stay here until we're third-years. So we can run the Yamayurikai together. I would hate it if you weren't there."

It felt as though Shimako-san was moving somewhere far away. Not knowing what to do, Yumi had instinctively moved to restrain her. Perhaps Shimako-san was going to leave Lillian's, and not by graduating. Not because she wanted to, but because she had to. Yumi had caught glimpses of that steadfast determination numerous times over the past year.

Rosa Gigantea had said that she couldn't save Shimako-san on her own. So Yumi wondered where that left her, Shimako-san's classmate. For now, she decided all she had to do was hold on to her.

"Umm … "

But as for Shimako-san herself. The beam of warmth emanating from Yumi's entire body coupled with the overpowering grip on her hand seemed to leave her a little bit bewildered.

On top of that.

"Fukuzawa-san."

From the side came a hand that belonged to neither Shimako-san nor Yumi, settling atop their hands like an arm-wrestling referee.

"I hate to throw cold water on your beautiful display of friendship, but please take your seat. I'd like to get homeroom started."

Laughter burst forth around them. While they'd been having their heart-to-heart discussion, their homeroom teacher had arrived and everyone else had taken their seats.

"Sorry."

Yumi hastily dropped Shimako-san's hand and returned to her seat red-faced.

What a failure, what a disgrace. Of all the things, to grab Shimako-san's hand and prattle about, "running the Yamayurikai together," and to do it all in front of her classmates.

(Ooooh. If only I could press the backspace key and erase it all … just three minutes or so.)

Her cheeks were so hot it felt like steam was coming out of the top of her head. If she were a kettle, she'd be making a loud and continuous whistle.

But maybe Shimako-san wasn't all that bothered by it – thinking this, Yumi cast a sidelong glance towards where she sat. And waiting there for her was Shimako-san's gaze.

Thank you.

Shimako-san slowly and silently formed the words with her lips, erasing all of Yumi's discomfort without the backspace key.

As long as Shimako-san understood, that was all that mattered.

Friends really were incredible.

Regardless of what the thirty other girls in the class thought, it had all been settled in one instant with one phrase from one person.

Part 2

On further reflection, if Rosa Gigantea were worried about something, and that something was related to Shimako-san, then she probably wouldn't speak about it directly with Shimako-san.

Similar to how Rosa Chinensis had entrusted Sachiko-sama to Yumi's care.

While on her way back to her classroom after finishing cleaning, Yumi spotted Katsura-san standing in front of the statue of Maria-sama. They were in different cleaning groups, and Katsura-san was obviously on her way home, wearing her school coat and carrying her bag.

"Katsura-sa … "

Just as Yumi was calling out to her, another student appeared from the path leading alongside the library and jumped in ahead of her.

"Katsura-chan!"

Yumi watched on as Katsura-san spotted the other student and crouched down. Then, oh, what's that? She's crying?

(Oowaah.)

Yumi felt like she'd just seen something she shouldn't have. But if she left, she'd only worry about it anyway.

The other girl was carrying a tennis racquet, so at first Yumi thought she was Katsura-san's onee-sama. But on closer inspection, she wasn't the person that Yumi had previously been introduced to. Inspired by the Yellow Rose Revolution, Katsura-san and her onee-sama had temporarily broken up, but they should have returned to normal within the month.

So who was that?

"She's the vice-president of the tennis club. Katsura-san really admires her."

Hearing this explanation suddenly coming from behind her, Yumi jolted upright.

"Mmm. A sad looking Katsura-san works too."

Click. The sound of a shutter closing rang out just as the tennis club vice-president helped prop Katsura-san up. Which meant that the person beside Yumi was none other than the self-styled "Photography club ace."

"Tsutako-san."

Yumi was about to voice her complaint, but Tsutako-san cut her off by raising her hand.

"Stop. I know what you're going to say, but this was Katsura-san's request."

"It was?"

"She wanted a photo of her and the vice-president. A graduation keepsake."

"Graduation … "

Which reminded Yumi of something about the person alongside Katsura-san. She thought she'd seen her somewhere before, as a classmate of Rosa Foetida's. Which made her a third-year. And graduating tomorrow.

The pair were off in their own world, not noticing the gallery watching them from less than ten metres away.

The vice-president held out the racquet, offering it to Katsura-san. It didn't look like it was brand-new. It was probably the one she always used. Katsura-san looked a bit surprised, but she accepted the gift and hugged it tight, treasuring it.

"But Katsura-san won't be able to use that for another year."

Tsutako-san added her commentary to the scene.

"Why not?"

" … Using that in front of her onee-sama would be a big deal."

Ah, right.

Katsura-san had someone else as her onee-sama, someone who was also a member of the tennis club. It was probably a pretty complicated relationship.

"Well, I've heard it was all pretty much one-way admiration from Katsura-san. So it wasn't all messed up. Still, she'll hesitate because of her onee-sama."

Yumi thought that everyone had their own dramas. Even though, usually, Katsura-san and her onee-sama got along splendidly.

"That's why it's happening now, so close to the graduation ceremony … alright, time for me to get to work."

Tsutako-san patted Yumi on the shoulder, then walked towards the girls at the statue of Maria-sama.

"Can you two look this way so I can take your photograph?"

Already turning into a professional photographer.

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