Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume26 Chapter2 1

Sentimental First-Year Camellia Class. Part 1

Normal.

In the first-year Camellia classroom, Rosa Gigantea en bouton was troubled.

"Gokigenyou."

This morning she had arrived at school a fair bit earlier than usual, and left only her bag in the classroom before heading out again to give Shimako-san her chocolates. So when the final review meeting was over and she returned to her classroom, she met most of her classmates for the first time that day. Naturally, she returned their greeting with a "Gokigenyou" as she took her seat, but it was only one of them – Matsudaira Touko – that caused a look of confusion to cross Noriko's face.

That day.

Last Saturday.

On the way home, she'd felt a vague sense of uneasiness, so she got off the bus early and returned to school. It was as though Touko's expression when they'd parted had been calling her back.

Even now, Noriko thought her decision had been correct. When she got back to school, she found Touko alone in the courtyard, crouched down and counting aloud.

No, she hadn't been alone the whole time. Rosa Chinensis had been with her until just before that point. She'd left when she saw Noriko in the hallway, through the window, with a look that seemed to say, "I'll leave the rest to you."

Noriko wasn't able to ask what had happened when they passed each other. Rosa Chinensis had a stern expression that made it impossible to inquire.

The usually elegant, domineering queen's expression showed no leniency whatsoever. It almost seemed like she was the most relieved that Noriko had returned.

As Touko kept counting, Noriko touched her shoulder. At that moment, Touko had looked like she was about to cry — or maybe she'd been crying already.

Something must have happened between her and Rosa Chinensis. But Noriko couldn't imagine what that might be.

It was probably related to Yumi-sama. This was pure intuition, with nothing to base it on, but it felt right. It would explain why Rosa Chinensis had looked so uncompromising, and why Touko had been so devastated.

Because Rosa Chinensis and Touko both loved Yumi-sama. So only a fight about Yumi-sama would make them lose their composure.

Right. At that time, Touko had been different to her usual self.

She'd latched on to Noriko's hand and called out her name, like a drowning person deliriously grabbing on to a helping hand.

(At the time, I thought she was going to open her heart.)

But after that, they hadn't really talked much, and parted ways at the train station. On Monday, Touko had completely returned to her usual self.

What on earth had happened that Saturday afternoon? It almost seemed like a dream.

"Touko."

Noriko tried calling out to her.

"Wha~at?"

There. She'd responded with a fake smile, like normal.

"Are you participating in today's treasure hunt?"

"Who knows."

Either she was still deciding, or she'd already made up her mind but didn't want to say. Either way, she was intentionally being vague, avoiding the question, and running away.

"It's not something you should worry about, Noriko."

Noriko.

That was another thing worrying her.

Since Monday, Touko had been calling her "Noriko," without an honorific. So she had to conclude that what happened on Saturday hadn't been a dream.

What on earth was Touko thinking?

She wasn't saying anything, even to her new best-friend, Noriko.

So then.

What if, right now, Touko herself was still in the middle of her own crisis?