Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume28 Chapter8
The Yellow Thread
The systems of the world run surprisingly smoothly.
For instance, you're pushed into high-school just as middle-school is starting to get boring.
And at high-school, there's the so-called soeur system waiting, in which you pretend that a complete stranger of an upperclasswoman is your older sister. Which is amusing enough, but after a year of following your pseudo-sister suddenly it's your turn to be the older sister, which presents a new opportunity for amusement.
"And so? Despite being in the opposite direction from your house, you came all the way to the main gate hunting for a new toy, right Eriko?"
Having just arrived at school, and laughing as she yawned, was Eriko's insufferable but inseparable friend. Her name was Satou Sei.
"Such a bother so early in the morning."
"A bother? This is fun."
Eriko laughed too. She walked alongside Sei down the path lined with ginkgo trees. Watching the first-years as they arrived at school had ended for today. She'd be late for morning prayers if she didn't start heading towards class soon.
It was nearing the end of April. The weak sunlight and the pleasant breeze were just perfect. It made her want to ignore the classroom and continue walking alongside her friend forever.
"If Eriko's going all out, she's probably going to win after all."
Sei said, apparently talking to herself.
"Win what?"
"It seems the Roses are having a bet. Who will find a petit soeur first, Eriko or Youko."
"Myself and Youko? Why weren't you included?"
Eriko tilted her head. Since Sei was also a bouton, she should have been in the running too.
"No-one backed this particular horse, so it's been excluded from the race."
Sei smiled, self-deprecatingly, but it was true that she lacked direction. She liked to drift around, light and fluffy like a jellyfish.
"So? What kind of girl do you like, Eriko? Ahh, wait, don't tell me. I can guess."
Sei held up her hand in front of Eriko's mouth.
"Someone you won't get bored of within two years, right?"
"Exactly. Just what I'd expect from someone who's known me for so long."
Since kindergarten, in fact, which would make it over ten years.
"But even if someone does catch your eye, you'd still have to evaluate them during school, I guess. So it looks like Youko will be first then."
"Hey, stop trying to get in on their bet too."
"Oh, come on."
Just as Eriko was grabbing her coldly laughing friend's hand, a tall student ran past them.
"Ooh. There's a good one."
" – Looks like it."
Eriko watched that disappearing figure fondly. It was obvious from the brand-new school uniform and the uncertain manner of her tie's knot that she was a new student.
So as not to disturb the pleats in their skirts. So as not to toss their white sailor scarves into disarray.
Eriko could call out and scold her about it, but didn't. That girl wasn't the only one who was running. The first-years' classrooms were a bit further from the entrance than the older students' so she had to hurry.
On arrival at the statue of Maria-sama they found that tall first-year still standing there, praying.
On closer inspection, she looked like a boy. Very short hair and a slender figure. A sharp face with few soft features. It was only because she was wearing a skirt that you could tell she was a girl.
"What on earth could she be praying for?"
Sei smiled, even though it was something they did every day.
Indeed, that boyish girl had been standing there praying for quite some time. Even though some other first-years had stopped and prayed for only a few seconds before thundering off, probably worried about being late. Just as Eriko was starting to wonder if she was alright, she opened her eyes and took off running again.
It was then that Eriko saw it. Extending from her fingertip, a single shining thread of yellow.
It was probably a spiderweb or something similar. – Eriko smiled as she remembered the scene from earlier that day. It would be different if it were a red string, that unseen thread that was said to join fated lovers, but this was a yellow one.
From the mouth of the teapot rose steam heavy with the fruity scent of the black tea.
"What's this? You're spacing out about something, or are you reminiscing?"
"Nothing of the sort."
Eriko turned around and responded to the question that came from behind her.
School had finished for the day. The only two people in the student council building, the so-called Rose Mansion, were Eriko and her onee-sama, Rosa Foetida. Youko would probably show up soon, panting, but never late. Following that would be Youko's onee-sama, Rosa Chinensis, and Sei's onee-sama, Rosa Gigantea. As for Sei – who could tell; sometimes she'd show up for meetings and sometimes she wouldn't.
"Oh. You say it's nothing, but your expression tells a different story."
"Well I was just pouring the tea, and had come straight here after cleaning the classroom, so I was smiling thinking that this would be over soon."
There was no way to adequately explain the truth so Eriko substituted something appropriate.
"But you never look like you're doing it grudgingly, Eriko."
"Yeah. I find these odd jobs kind of fun. At home I'm coddled, so it's a fresh experience."
"So? Have you found someone you want to take as your petit soeur?"
Rosa Foetida asked, studying her face.
"Unfortunately, no."
Eriko's lips curled into a smile as she placed the cups of tea on the table.
She didn't think it was worth mentioning the first-year that she had seen that morning. It was just a passing fancy, nothing more.
"Then what did you mean when you said it'd be over soon?"
"I meant in general. First semester's generally the time to take a petit soeur."
"A petit soeur isn't going to jump into your arms while you're spacing out, you know."
"True. But if Youko or Sei find a petit soeur, then I'd be free of this too, right?"
This response earned Eriko a, "Hey," and a tap on the head with a notebook.
"I wouldn't go so far as to call those remaining 'small-fry', but if you take too long trying to land one then you'll find all the good ones have been caught."
"I know that."
This time around the notebook used to hit Eriko on the head was thrown towards her chest.
"What's this?"
She asked, catching it. Rosa Foetida responded with:
"A list of eligible first-years."
"And I have to choose from one of these?"
"Not at all. Rosa Chinensis, Rosa Gigantea and I wrote it the other day for a bit of fun. It's a list of first-years that we'd pick if we were second-years."
"… You must have plenty of free time."
"Whatever. You can use it as a reference, if you'd like."
"And Youko?"
"She hasn't seen it yet. I beat Rosa Chinensis at scissors-paper-rock."
"I might not pay any attention to what you've written."
"I know that. But still, you're intrigued, aren't you."
"I suppose so."
Eriko was indeed interested, because after a flip through the book she said, "I'll borrow this," and put it in her bag.
She could hear the sounds of somebody, probably Youko, running up the stairs.
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