Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume1 Chapter1 2

2.

"Ooh, so that's what happened."

Katsura-san (桂), who sits in front of me, just laughed when she heard the story.

"You were so gloomy when you showed up to class, I was wondering if you ran into a molester in the train or something."

"A molester might have been better."

"Why?"

"It doesn't stick with you."

"Yumi-san, it seems you haven't run into a molester."

"I commute by bus."

Students of Lillian Girls' Academy generally take a circulation bus from M Train Station's North Exit at JR town to get to school. Both of them are the same in this regard, but Katsura-san takes a crowded train to get to M Station, whereas Yumi takes a bus to M Station South Exit, resulting in the difference in pleasantry (or unpleasantry).

"Wasn't there talk about a Lillian rail car, though?"

"There is one, but you know, it's more like the Yamayurikai staff gathered everyone together so that Lillian students all crowd into the second car from the back. But because of day duties and club activities and the likes, if you leave too early there aren't enough students, so it's kind of pointless."

Apparently, though, because rumours circulated, female students from schools other than Lillian have begun using that car, making it pretty effective against molesters. Of course, there is no real method of squeezing out males, but apparently the number of gentlemen with the courage to step into a car full of young women is not very high. Plus, there is hardly any opportunity to make any suspicious moves.

The Lillian uniform uses a non-lustrous black cloth that seems like it has a drop of green, and is very refined throughout. The ivory sailor collar with a single black line is tied up as is into a tie. During this season, the one-piece, low-waist plaited skirts are knee-high. Combine all this as a set with the threefold white socks and the ballet-style leather shoes and you get a very traditional outfit, one that has a firmly-rooted popularity with ordinary people as well as, of course, the uniform maniacs.

This attractive outfit advertises a lady's upper-class stature. And sailor uniforms attract unwanted attention as is, too.

"Trains are crowded, so I always check how I look beforehand."

Saying that, Katsura-san, using Yumi as a mirror, acted out how she fixed up her forelocks and re-tied her tie. Like this, she meant.

"I see, I was so careless."

Yumi bent over her desk. Then, Katsura-san pat her head, as if saying "there there."

"Pretty much. But people that can sit elegantly as they ride to school wouldn't think of these things. Don't worry about it, it's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal."

"As long as we forget, it's fine isn't it?"

"Why?"

"Because she's the star of Lillian Girls' Academy. Stars don't worry about each and every amateur."

Stars and amateurs.

Even though it was the truth, or rather, because it was the truth, it hurt. Katsura-san's consolation was a bit of an extreme treatment.

Incidentally, Katsura is a name and not a surname. At Lillian, nicknames generally do not exist. The custom is to speak to those of the same grade as "–san". When speaking to an upperclassman, "-sama."

"There's no helping withering away when you're called upon. The only first-year in our class that can handle being spoken to by a 'Yamayurikai' staff is her."

And with that, Katsura-san shot a glance behind her. Following her line of sight, Yumi saw Toudou Shimako just step into the room.

"Gokigenyou, Katsura-san. Gokigenyou, Yumi-san."

As she greeted the two, Shimako-san elegantly advanced to her seat.

"Go- Gokigenyou."

Yumi and Katsura-san looked at each other, as if they wanted to say "what're you so embarrassed about."

Even though they're the same age, the discrepancy was enormous. Although completely unlike Sachiko-sama, Shimako-san was also stunningly beautiful.

Looking at her depresses you, making you think, beautiful people are beautiful even from when they are young. Any hope of becoming as beautiful as Sachiko-sama just by becoming a second-year high-school student is snuffed out, just like that.

"Did you hear?"

Katsura-san began whispering, so Yumi also lowered her voice.

"That Shimako-san became Rosa Gigantea en bouton? Even skipping over the 2nd-years."

It was famous. The story about Shimako-san exchanging sisterly vows with Rosa Gigantea despite being a 1st year student.

"Not that."

"Not that?"

Implying that it was the latest scoop, Katsura-san put her index finger over her lip and said "Onee-sama told me." Her Souer is a Tennis-club senpai, and I think she was in the same class as Sachiko-sama.

"Shimako-san, not only did Rosa Gigantea propose, but apparently so did Sachiko-sama."

"Ehh-!!"

"Yumi-san, you're being loud."

The two of them scrunch up over a single desk. It is a spectacle very unbefitting of ladies, but the two of them have not noticed. –Maria-sama, please forgive them, no matter what generation it is, women love rumours about other people.

The Lillian Girls' Academy's Souer system is said to have been borne out of the school's attitude of respecting the autonomy of its students in High School. As students graduate from compulsory education, in which they lived under the management of teachers and Sisters, they are expected to lead an ordered life with their own power. The Souer system was adopted so that elder sisters could guide their little sisters through this rather overwhelming time. As that system became completely immersed throughout the school, it became such that even without any strict school regulations, the pure and righteous school life was passed down from generation to generation.

Souer means sisters, in French. Presumably in order to prevent confusion with Sisters, they avoided using English. Originally every senior and underclassman was called souer, but eventually it became a way of designating two tightly bond girls. No one is sure when the ritual of vowing to become Souers through a give-and-receive of a Rosary began.

"According to the stories, Sachiko-sama proposed first, but she accepted Rosa Gigantea's hand, even though it came later."

Katsura-san seemed a bit disdainful, but she was definitely getting exciting by the rumour-mongering.

"I wonder if she just preferred white over crimson."

"That's not the point. Sheesh… Yumi-san, you're a bit weird. See? When you're in Shimako-san's class of people, you can even have your pick between two roses."

"Your pick, that's such a despicable wording."

"But, truth be told, Sachiko-sama was rejected."

"Mmm."

What a wasteful thing to do, thought Yumi.

"What do you mean 'mmm,' don't you think it's horrible?"

"Why? If you can't have two onee-sama, you do have to pick one."

"And you pick the one that came later?"

"But it's not a race."

"Yes it is!"

And thus did Katsura-san conclude the discussion, heaving a sigh. Come to think of it, I think she exchanged Souer vows the day she joined the Tennis Club.

"Speaking of which, what about Rosa Foetida?"

"Rosa Foetida is peaceful and secured with a 3rd-year, 2nd-year and 1st-year."

"I see."

For Yumi, as opposed to Rosa Gigantea and Rosa Chinensis en bouton fighting over Shimako-san, the fact that neither of them had younger sisters was more surprising.

"Either way, the reality is, Sachiko-sama proposed to her, and she didn't immediately accept."

As she said that, Katsura-san looked at the clock.

The bell will ring for the morning prayers.

Then, a hymnal will sound from the school broadcast system. Aside from the once-a-week Morning Prayer at the Church, everyone prays in their classroom. Everyone sings the hymn, listens to the principle speak, then calms their spirit and offer sprayer to God.

Please allow me to live righteously today.

However, on this day, despite praying, I had the feeling that I was about to be jarred from my peaceful daily life.