Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume9 Chapter9
Behind the Scenes of the Maria Ceremony Inquisition
Part 1.
Yumi was already nervous.
The four instigators, plus Touko-chan, had gathered before 7:30 in the Rose Mansion for a final meeting, which had just ended. Since they had to arrive at school before the two leading actresses in order to set out their net.
"Yoshino, you're in charge of escorting Shimako to the chapel when she arrives."
"Roger."
"Yumi-chan, you're to wait by the first-year shoe lockers and let us know as soon as Nijou Noriko arrives at school."
"Okay."
Rei-sama briskly confirmed their assigned roles.
"Now, Touko-chan."
"Ye~s. I've got to get the juzu."
She was in high spirits. Even her ringlets seemed to have gained extra bounce somehow.
"I wonder if Nijou Noriko will have brought the juzu today."
Not a morning person, Sachiko-sama spoke lethargically.
Indeed. The juzu. That was the main point. Without it, they couldn't proceed with Rei-sama's rewrite of the script, "The Maria Ceremony Inquisition."
"Ah, but, it's always been kept hidden in her bag, even up to yesterday. She was probably planning on waiting until Rosa Gigantea had some free time after the Maria Ceremony to return it to her."
"Huh!?"
What did you just say Touko-chan? That you've been peeking inside your classmate's bag every day?
(They're friends, friends.)
Yumi shook her head, and recited this in her mind.
"Well then, let's pray for success."
Everyone nodded at Rei-sama's words, then scattered to their assigned locations. There wasn't another meeting organized. The next time the five were all assembled would probably be during the event itself.
Yumi hurried to the shoe locker room.
On the way, her eye was suddenly caught by the statue of Maria-sama at the end of the corridor. Unlike every other day, Maria-sama was adorned with a floral necklace. Today was the Maria Festival.
When she was young, today of all days she'd try to be a good girl, and not fight with her friends. But this year, she found it a bit difficult to look Maria-sama straight in the eye.
Yumi hoped that once it was all over, she'd be able to properly confess to Maria-sama.
She was looking forwards to being able to proudly proclaim, "That's my friend."
(– But if things go south, that won't happen!)
She spotted Shimako-san ahead of her down the corridor, much earlier than they'd expected her to arrive at school.
"Oh no."
Yumi immediately hid behind a pillar. If they met here, their plan would go awry right at the start. According to the script, Yoshino-san was supposed to get Shimako-san to assist her because Yumi was late to arrive.
(W-what should I do … )
She had to get to the shoe boxes so she could watch for Nijou Noriko. But Shimako-san was in her way. There weren't that many people that had arrived at school just yet that she could try and fool Shimako-san into thinking she was just another face in the crowd either.
(Well, in that case I've got no choice.)
Yumi turned back, climbed the stairs, then walked towards the main entrance before descending the next set of stairs, taking the long way around.
"Fukuzawa-san, quiet in the hallway."
Thanks to the teacher's warning, she hadn't managed to escape unscathed. Looking at her watch, it was 7:45. Nijou Noriko generally arrived a bit after 8, but that was just an average, so there was some variation either earlier or later. Especially for students who caught the bus from the train station, traffic problems that caused a 10 to 15 minute delay were a common occurrence.
Descending the stairs, as she was turning towards the shoe-boxes, Yumi caught a glimpse of Shimako-san from behind, in roughly the same spot Yumi had been before her detour, and looking none the wiser.
(Sorry.)
Instinctively she clasped her hands together.
"… What are you doing, Yumi-san?"
"Oowah."
Her heart jumped.
"Ma-mami-san."
"Gokigenyou. Did something happen to Shimako-san?"
"No, not at all."
"Really?"
"Yeah … "
"Well, okay. But it's definitely smelled like something's been going on these last few days. It seems interesting, but I haven't dug too deeply, instead waiting to see how it turns out. Especially since you've reserved me a front-row seat."
"Ahahaha."
So that's how it was.
It would be pointless trying to deceive her. Mami-san was playing the role of Shimako-san's assistant today. When it happened, she'd know the inside story.
"Um, Mami-san."
"I know, I know, keep it a secret from Shimako-san. But in return, when it's over, I want the full story. An interview with Rosa Chinensis or Rosa Foetida to accompany the article in the "Lillian Kawaraban.""
"I can't promise anything, but I'll have a word with my onee-sama."
"Okay. I'll keep quiet for today."
The way she airily walked away showed she was looking forward to it. But Yumi, still startled by these events, didn't have time to enjoy herself.
"Gokigenyou, Yumi-sama."
"Gokigenyou, Rosa Chinensis en bouton."
It looked as though there were always first-years who knew all about the Yamayurikai members even though they'd only just entered high-school, as Yumi was greeted by a succession of students she didn't know while she waited near the first-year shoe boxes. Although the polite juniors were actually quite cute.
"May I inquire as to who you're waiting for?"
The end result was that one of them approached her.
(This isn't good.)
She was totally standing out. Even though Yumi had been chosen for this task on the basis that Nijou Noriko would walk by without noticing her. What had she done to attract this much attention?
(Maybe I should move.)
Since she didn't have to worry about being spotted by Shimako-san, Yumi decided to move from the shoe-box room to the hallway adjoining the room. But even then, her situation wasn't all that much changed, so Yumi moved further back to the point where she could just make out the entrance and resumed her stakeout.
(Black, longish bob cut … )
As 8 o'clock approached, Yumi grew steadily more nervous. The face that she'd been intently searching for had not yet appeared. Yumi wouldn't have mistaken her in a line-up of students, but it was possible that she could have slipped past unnoticed in the crowd.
(Maybe I should have waited by her shoe box, even if I did stand out.)
Just as Yumi was starting to head back, a girl walked past her.
(Huh … !?)
She seemed to sparkle for a moment, as though someone were saying, "It's her." Yumi rubbed her eyes and looked again, but there was no fluorescent paint or gold thread, just a girl in a normal school uniform walking away from her. But there was no doubt that it was Nijou Noriko.
(Ah, ah.)
With her legs in a tangle, Yumi frantically chased after her. The plan was that Yumi would report to Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama, who were waiting in a different corridor, after confirming that Nijou Noriko had entered into the first-year camellia classroom.
Unaware that she was being followed by an older student, Nijou Noriko walked calmly along the corridor. She had no idea what was going to happen to her today. – On that point, Yumi could sympathize.
(Hm?)
She suddenly stopped in the middle of an empty hallway.
(What is it?)
Thinking she'd been spotted, Yumi immediately looked for a place to hide, but unfortunately there was nothing large enough for her to hide behind.
(Outside?)
Nijou Noriko was looking out through an open window.
Indeed, the weather was fine today. Just like Maria-sama's soul.
(Even so, what's with that expression?)
Even from a distance, her face looked gentle and kind. Or, to put it another way, she looked happy.
After Nijou Noriko had departed carrying her bag, Yumi went over and looked out the window from where she'd been standing.
"–"
She knew she'd lost.
No, it had never been about winning or losing. But it was the final realization that she should entrust Shimako-san to this first-year, Nijou Noriko.
Framed by the rectangular window, she could just make out the figures of Shimako-san and Yoshino-san carrying cardboard boxes full of medallions.
Part 2.
Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama walked side-by-side.
Ahead of them was the first-year camellia class. The classroom that Nijou Noriko was in.
Yumi followed along a couple of steps behind them, unsure of her place.
Would it really all be resolved peacefully after starting with an attack like this?
Perhaps being given this chance to come clean would be a nuisance to Shimako-san. Perhaps she'd prefer to have an uneventful time at school, nestled close with Nijou Noriko as her petit soeur.
"What are you mumbling about, Yumi?"
"Um, nothing."
"Yu~mi-chan. I don't want to hear it if it's something we can't do anything about at this point."
"Ah, right."
There was no point saying it if they weren't going to listen.
Sachiko-sama told her to stand back a bit, so reluctantly Yumi stood next to the wall about 5 metres away. Looking idly out the window, Yumi played the role of "person waiting for someone." She probably wasn't putting enough effort into her acting for it to look strained, or like she was hamming it up. Instead, she'd taken on the role completely.
"Would you mind calling Nijou Noriko-san over?"
Sachiko-sama said to a student in the vicinity of the classroom's front door.
"Alright."
The student seemed completely shocked by the sudden appearance of the two Roses, but quickly straightened up and responded.
"Please wait here a moment."
Handling it splendidly.
At the same time their messenger disappeared into the classroom, Touko-chan quietly left her stand-by position in the hallway and entered through the rear door.
(Oooh, it's started … )
There was no turning back now. All she could do was give it her best and not worry about the outcome.
Nijou Noriko emerged from the classroom. She seemed slightly confused when she saw Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama, as though they weren't the people she expected to have called for her.
"Gokigenyou. Are you Nijou Noriko-san?"
Rei-sama broke the ice.
"Yes … ?"
Nijou Noriko responded carefully, as though trying to sound out her opponent's state of mind.
"Hmm."
Sachiko-sama looked her up and down.
"So this … ?"
The conversation was hard to follow from Yumi's vantage point, five metres away. Although, if it followed the script, she should know what they were saying even if the volume was a bit low. But if they were ad-libing, they were doing very well. If the world came with a remote control, Yumi would be pressing the volume-up button.
(Ah!)
Rei-sama had just done an audacious ad-lib. She'd grabbed Nijou Noriko's chin, angling her face left and right, up and down.
"What are you doing!"
Her voice was so loud that it reached Yumi. Nijou Noriko brushed away Rei-sama's hand, glaring at the older student. Quite the strong appearance.
From her position, Yumi could only see the backs of Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama. But she didn't have to see their expression to know they were pleased with what they'd seen of Nijou Noriko. They probably wouldn't have accepted someone who sobbed weakly after being assaulted as a candidate for Shimako-san's petit soeur.
According to Rei-sama's script, the two Roses would ask Nijou Noriko a couple of rambling questions before letting her go. Since the main reasons they came here were so they could remember her face, and so that Touko-chan had time to get the juzu.
But Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama were getting caught up in their acting. They were provoking her, as though they wanted to start a fight. Yumi was getting worried that they were going a bit too far.
"Wait a minute."
See, told you so. Enraged, Noriko called out to them as they were walking away. Demanding an explanation for the shabby treatment she'd received. Rei-sama returned alone to her earlier position and answered:
"So you want to know why we came to see you? It's because we wanted to see your face."
"You came to see my face?"
Crushed right at the outset, Nijou Noriko seemed to crumple, and Rei-sama asked her a question of her own.
"Do you like Toudou Shimako?"
That question was the only one that reached Yumi clearly.
"I do."
(Alright!)
Alone in a corner of the hallway, Yumi raised her fist. Even as she was jokingly wondering why she was posing victoriously, she could see a glorious future ahead.
"Okay. Good luck to you."
Having been told that, Nijou Noriko looked confused as she went back into her classroom. Touko-chan passed her on the way, and when she spotted Yumi she patted her skirt pocket and flashed the peace sign.
The juzu of fate was thus delivered into the hands of the Yamayurikai executive.
Part 3.
The ceremony took place with no teachers or nuns present.
The high-school division of Lillian's respected the independence of its students, so the student council generally operated without adult supervision.
(Oooh, this takes me back.)
Yumi peeked in through the doorway, her excitement building.
It was the afternoon following the priest's morning mass. There were approximately 200 first-years assembled in the chapel, already seated in their six class blocks. Exactly one year earlier, Yumi had got her first glimpse of her onee-sama when she was playing the organ, and was immediately drawn to her. Although at that time, she'd never imagined that one year later she would be Rosa Chinensis en bouton.
"Why are you sneaking around?"
Yumi turned around when prodded, and standing there was Sachiko-sama, having made the leap across the year-long gap. On her chest was a dazzling, deep crimson, rose corsage. Unfortunately, it was not the flower Rosa Chinensis, nor was the white one Rosa Gigantea, or the yellow one Rosa Foetida. Although no matter the flower, it could only look better when Sachiko-sama was wearing it.
"Your rose is crooked."
Sachiko-sama adjusted the salmon pink corsage attached to Yumi's breast pocket as she gently chided her petit soeur. It didn't seem much changed from before, but it was probably subtly different to her onee-sama. Or maybe it was just that she had to be doing something to calm her nerves.
"Yumi."
"Yes?"
"… No, never mind."
Sachiko-sama had started to say something but then stopped. Her hands seemed to be shaking slightly. Perversely, Yumi felt relieved when she saw her onee-sama anxious or hesitant. Seeing that side of her peek out from time to time made her all the more human, which made Yumi happy.
"You look really pretty, onee-sama."
"Huh?"
Yumi gently wrapped those shaking hands with her own.
"Let me get a proper look at you."
"… Alright."
Just as Sachiko-sama was giving her permission to look, the sound of a shutter clicking echoed around them.
"Tsutako-san."
"Personally, I'm more interested in you Red Rose soeurs."
Tsutako-san peeked in through the door and said, "There."
"More interested? Than what?"
"Mami-san's orders. She said it was vital that I got shots of Shimako-san and Nijou Noriko. And that she wanted to use the good ones in the "Lillian Kawaraban.""
"… That Mami-san."
Yumi looked over at Mami-san, standing some distance away with a salmon pink corsage attached to her chest. Even so, her deductions had led her quite close to the truth.
"Well, it's fine. She'll keep quiet during the welcoming ceremony, like she promised."
Mami-san waved gently, smiling. Formidable. Really, if she turned into an enemy, she would be a scary opponent indeed.
"Sorry I'm late."
Just before their scheduled start time, Shimako-san and Yoshino-san arrived in the chapel. The piano score for "Ave Maria" had gone missing somewhere inside the Rose Mansion, and they'd spent the lunch break looking for it.
Of course that was because Yoshino-san had intentionally hidden it, and then found it at an opportune time, in accordance with their scenario. Why did she do that? Because their plans would go awry if Nijou Noriko and Shimako-san met during lunch and discussed the juzu.
"Shimako-san was talking about playing it from memory, without the score. I had a heck of a time trying to stop her … it was a bit nerve wracking."
Yoshino-san whispered, as she glanced sideways at the white rose pinned to Shimako-san's chest.
Even though they were only just at the start, or not even there yet, the scenario was starting to unravel at the seams due to various ad-libs and accidents.
Although, reality never goes exactly to plan.
Would they really be able to pull this off neatly? The start time arrived as Yumi was worrying about this.
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