Maria-sama Ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter 3 3

A Leisurely Dialog Part 3

At half past eight, they left through the first-floor exit and got on a waiting bus. Once on board, they said a brief prayer then took attendance.

Today, the class was joined by a guide who would be showing them around, riding along in the Pine class bus. She was a Japanese lady, old enough to be their mother. She said her husband had been working in Italy for almost seven years.

"From here we will head towards Vatican City. First, an art museum. After that, we will visit St. Peter's Basilica. Is everybody in good shape?"

"Yes."

Yoshino-san was the first to answer and the loudest voice. Like a kindergarten child, she raised her hand high above her head with all her might.

". . . Hey, you didn't say anything to Guide-san, did you?" Yoshino-san asked, reclining in her seat. Yumi felt her gaze but said nothing. "In any case, I'm fine now."

"So you say."

A small peace sign. Well, even when one's health is bad, it is better to at least appear good. This goes for everyone, not just Yoshino-san.

"Oh, before I forget. I have two or three warnings and instructions for things in the hotel room."

The teacher started to talk while looking at her notebook. This was a kind of homeroom.

"The alarm clock is on the TV. Students who are not confident in working the machine can press the Reception button on the phone and ask for a wake-up call."

Sure enough, looks like there were reports of students who were distressed because they did not understand. She didn't know who they were, but Yumi was happy to learn that there were others like her.

"The string hanging from the top of the bathtub is not a switch for a ventilation fan. It is an emergency call cord. Do not pull it unnecessarily."

Upon hearing the teacher's words, about half of the students laughed. The remaining half turned pale. It was unclear how many cases there were of hotel employees coming running after students let out a small, "What's this for?" and gave it a quick tug, but it appeared to be quite a few. That included Yumi. She pulled with quite a lot of strength, but nothing happened so she gave up. She was glad she had given up, and breathed a sigh of relief. But in a true emergency, would someone have the strength to make it work? Her doubts remained.

"The toilet will flush if you push the big button on the wall," she paused, looking over the list. "I guess that should cover just about everything, yes?"

At this, they all laughed. It appears that there was nobody who had left without flushing.

Soon after the teacher finished her announcements, the bus stopped and the door opened. It was only about a ten-minute ride, so they arrived much sooner than she thought.

"Are we really here?"

There was no building outside the window. This place had an atmosphere more like the main street in front of a train station.

"Okay, everyone. Please take your bags and disembark. Because this bus will go back to the hotel to pick up the Sakura class. After getting off, please form two lines."

The guide quickly issued instructions. If you listened, the entrance to the art museum was much farther. The bus stopped here because this was the end of the queue. It was a waste of time and energy to walk all the way from the entrance to the end of the line. Knowing how far the line stretches is a skill that only a local guide who actually lives here would have.

The guide led on, carrying the Pine class flag, whereas the teacher brought up the rear. Two adults were at either end of the long line. Looking back and forth, all types of people could be seen. As expected, all roads lead to Rome; tourists had come here from all over the world.

In front, they could see a group of Wisteria class students who had left the hotel just before them. They stood out, thanks entirely to the dark uniforms. Outside of school, a group of students in uniform are hard to miss. That was probably why the school made everyone wear them on official trips: teachers could respond quickly if a student got into an accident or trouble.

"The bus ride was a lot shorter, wasn't it?" muttered Yoshino-san.

The line slowly but surely moved forward. From the main street, they turned onto a small side street, with signs of fashionable bars and apartments. Gazing at all this, Yumi found it in no way disagreeable.

"This country is relaxed."

The voice came from Mami-san, right behind her.

"Relaxed?"

Yumi looked back over her shoulder.

"Rules, morals, environmental issues, things like that." Mami-san explained while taking notes. "First of all, the road is filthy."

As if it were common for people to drop cigarette butts, paper scraps, and vinyl. The roads in Tokyo weren't particularly pretty, but people were a bit more careful about dropping garbage.

"Besides, this is like a smoker's paradise, this country." Tsutako-san added, from next to Mami-san. These days, everywhere in the world, smokers are thought of as shameful. But in the hotel lobby, at cafe tables, on the street, everyone smoked with pride.

"Another culture's rules, huh?"

Pedestrians crossed even where there was no traffic signal. Whether or not that got in the way of traffic, they would normally hurry, smoothly making their way across. The drivers were used to this, easily avoiding pedestrians without slamming on the brakes.

"I'm not saying it's totally bad."

Don't get me wrong, Mami-san said. Tsutako-san nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Because you could also say they're leisurely, big-hearted, and generous. There, look."

They looked towards where she had pointed with her chin, where an old man sat. In the space before the old man was an empty can, into which passersby put money.

"Is that. . . ?"

"The act of giving one's own fortune to another. It's not a scene we see on the streets of Japan."

Sure enough, this is a Christian country, muttered Tsutako-san. A culture that produced compassionate hearts. A culture where leniency was the rule.

It wasn't whether it was good or bad. It was the national character.

It and was just not polite to be surprised by foreign cultures. Definitely not. No matter what you say, they were travelers. From their position, they were only a brief intrusion into this land.

"It would be nice if we discover all sorts of things."

On this trip, Yumi thought. Until now, all that they knew of the world was what they had seen on their own. It was a complicated, but important thing.

"All sorts of things?" Yoshino-san replied.

What kind of thing, specifically?

"If I said lots of all sorts of things, then I meant lots of things!"

For example . . .

Just when Yumi replied, a horn blared. Involuntarily, the students all turned to see. "Ah!" they all cried out with a bit of delight.

"It's a wedding."

A bride in a wedding dress and groom in white tuxedo rode a lavishly decorated convertible.

"Oh, yeah. It's Saturday isn't it?"

The bride and groom's car was led and followed by cars full of what looked to be young people—their friends. With all their excitement, they gave more a feeling of making fun than congratulations.

"Sure is nice."

With enchanted eyes, the high school girls watched the merry-making.

Right after that, a Dalmatian, its owner dragging it by its leash, pooped while running.

". . . Sure enough, relaxed," Mami-san muttered with boredom.

From what that dog left behind, befitting of something "relaxed," it looked like it had an upset stomach.