Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume10 Chapter1 1

Peppermint Candy. Part 1

It all started with something trivial. Perhaps a passing statement from Sachiko-sama.

"Say, Shimako, when are you going to bring Noriko-chan?"

"Pardon?"

Shimako asked, uncomprehending. She thought it was with the same tone of voice she used in the classroom when she didn't understand a question.

"I thought I heard you say Noriko, but – "

Mindful of the steam rising from the kettle, Shimako turned around still holding the teacups.

"Yes, that's unmistakeably what I said. And since I was asking you, the 'Noriko-chan' in this case would be Nijou Noriko."

Was she in a good mood or a bad mood? Sachiko-sama politely moved the conversation forwards. Speaking as though ordering the conversation towards a conclusion that she already knew.

"What of Noriko?"

If the conversation were about Noriko, then it wasn't as though Shimako had no idea what it was going to be about.

No, it was more accurate to say that she had some expectations. However, she hadn't yet had time to practice her answers to the anticipated questions, which was troubling.

It was lunch time, much like any other.

The two boutons in Shimako's grade had not yet made their appearance, so it was only the three Roses in the mansion they lent their name to.

As it was just the three of them, they weren't actively engaged in conversation, nor was there the awkward silence that came when there was nothing to talk about, instead they were going about their own business and occasionally trading remarks, as they would on most other days.

A pleasant guitar melody from the folk-song club came drifting in through the window that faced the courtyard. Rei-sama was reading a new novel, Sachiko-sama was writing something in her student diary, and, as the 'heating' light on the kettle had just gone out, Shimako had reached out for the teacups.

It was at that point that Rosa Chinensis, Ogasawara Sachiko-sama, had made her remark. So, to Shimako, it was nothing more than a feint.

"As I was saying, when are you going to bring her to the Rose Mansion?"

Sachiko-sama closed her student diary and put it back in her pocket.

"To the Rose Mansion?"

As she asked for confirmation, Shimako turned her back on the other two Roses and resumed her task.

The water was poured into three cups, then the teabags were set drifting.

Shimako idly watched as the teabags slowly stained the water inside the white cups.

It was a crude way of making tea, but Shimako was abiding by Sachiko-sama's request of, "Anything as long as it's quick." Her fourth period class had been PE, so she seemed to be prioritizing appeasing her thirst over taste.

June had arrived, along with the fine weather that precedes the rainy season. Even without PE classes, cool water and tea seemed to taste better.

So as not to keep Sachiko-sama waiting, Shimako carried a teacup across to her immediately after taking the teabags out.

"Obviously I meant to the Rose Mansion. Where else would you be taking her?"

Shimako swallowed her reply of, "To an exhibition of Buddhist statues." It didn't seem like a smart joke to make.

"Shimako, Sachiko's saying that you should properly introduce her to the group. You understand, right?"

Rosa Foetida, Hasekura Rei-sama, joined the conversation, her explanation attempting to cut through the confusion. She, like Sachiko-sama, was a third-year.

"Understand? … Yes, however."

Carrying her own teacup, Shimako sat down in an empty seat.

"By becoming your petit soeur, she became Rosa Gigantea en bouton. She's no ordinary first-year student."

By becoming your petit soeur. Rosa Gigantea en bouton. No ordinary first year. – Sachiko-sama's words caught in her heart like small fish bones in the throat.

"What is it, Shimako? Is there something you want to say?"

After finishing her tea, Sachiko-sama raised an eyebrow. So Shimako nodded, "Yes." If she didn't clear up this misunderstanding now, those small bones would remain stuck.

"Umm … Noriko isn't actually my petit soeur."

It was said at the exact moment that the idly listening Rei-sama had the misfortune of bringing her cup to her mouth to take a sip, therefore:

Splutter!

The next instant, a splendid stream of black tea came spouting out of her mouth, like she was a fountain statue.

"No way. Then, then, then, then, the rosary!?"

"I haven't given it to her."

After Shimako answered, it was Sachiko-sama who spoke next.

" … Nobody would believe it."

While frowning slightly, Sachiko-sama took a handkerchief trimmed with lace from her pocket and patted down her face and hair. Regrettably, she had been sitting directly across from Rei-sama, so had been struck with a shower of black (Darjeeling) tea. Still, the fact that she could retain her composure while being embroiled in such a dreadful incident was quite admirable. As expected of a princess.

"Not believe it … Is that so?"

"That's not the correct response. Why are you dilly-dallying?"

"Dilly-dallying … "

While that expression wasn't exactly uncommon, it still seemed new to Shimako.

Was she really dilly-dallying? It was true that she had been exposed alongside Noriko in front of the first-years at the Maria ceremony the other day, which surely led to this misunderstanding that was coming from all sides.

"How long do you think it has been since the Maria ceremony? About half a month. We've entered into June and changed into summer uniform – what on earth have you been doing?"

Sachiko-sama shifted her shoulders back and puffed her chest out.

Even if it was called a change of uniform, the color and the design didn't alter much. It used a lighter type of cloth, and there was the choice of short sleeves, but that was the extent of the changes. The ivory collar and long black dress that was Lillian's signature kept going strong as the seasons changed.

Incidentally, the three people called Roses currently on the second floor of the Rose Mansion had all opted for long sleeved uniforms.

At first glance, everything looked as it always had. But something had changed.

Shimako and Noriko's relationship, as well as something closer. Due to the events of the Maria ceremony, their connection was out in the open. However, there hadn't been any visible progress. A friendly second-year and first-year student. That was the truth of the matter.

But the people surrounding them apparently expected something more than that.

"Do you wish to include Noriko in our group?"

"What are you saying? That you can't make up your mind until you've heard our opinion?"

Sachiko-sama looked displeased as she flicked her long black hair over her shoulder.

"Then, let me tell it to you. Shimako, is there anyone other than Nijou Noriko that you would want as your petit soeur?"

"…"

"Noriko-chan's your number one, right?"

Rei-sama provided the follow-up question. Shimako didn't fully understand the meaning of the phrase 'number one.'

If she was being asked which first-year she was closest to, then that was indeed Noriko. While that was true, and even if she subscribed to the idea that she should take a petit soeur immediately, she was still a bit reluctant.

"What are you worried about? With Noriko, things will be fine. Compared to someone like my Yumi, she's far more level-headed. No-one will oppose it."

It seems Sachiko-sama was talking about things like academic record and fortitude. But Yumi-san had a certain charm that no-one else had. And it was undoubtedly because Sachiko-sama recognized this, that she had wanted Yumi-san as her petit soeur.

"Although I don't really mind if you bring someone other than Noriko-chan."

"In other words, I should choose a petit soeur soon?"

"For the continued stability of the Yamayurikai, every day I eagerly await the announcement of Rosa Gigantea en bouton, wouldn't you agree?"

Sachiko-sama provoked her with intentionally innocuous words.

"It's a tradition, you know. Rise to the challenge."

So said Rei-sama, who had never been baptized in that tradition. The previous Rosa Foetida, Torii Eriko-sama, had called out to her not long after she'd entered into high-school, and making Yoshino-san her petit soeur was simply the enactment of a decision that had been made many years prior.

"Let me think about it some more."

Shimako said.

"For how long? If possible, I'd like to see this matter settled before summer vacation."

Sachiko-sama was slowly starting to resemble the former Rosa Chinensis, Mizuno Youko-sama. Probably because she admired her, and wanted to be like her.

"Now, now. You procrastinated until the school festival, Sachiko."

Rei-sama didn't resemble her predecessor at all. She walked her own path.

"Procrastinated? How rude. I wasn't aware of Yumi's existence until the beginning of second semester, so there was nothing I could do. Plus, I wasn't going to mention it, but I did have the bitter experience of being rejected by a certain somebody prior to Yumi, didn't I?"

Sachiko-sama held out her empty cup, demanding a refill. Shimako, the aforementioned 'certain somebody,' silently took the cup, added a teabag and poured in the hot water. Sachiko-sama's prickly acerbity was soon discarded.

"At the very least, I was proactive. Whether the rosary was accepted or not."

"Which reminds me, Shimako only became Sei-sama's petit soeur just after summer vacation had ended. That pair dilly-dallyed for about six months."

Again, dilly-dally.

"Ah. Should we call this a White Rose tradition then?"

Sachiko-sama laughed cynically, perhaps still bitter that Shimako had refused the rosary that she had offered first, instead choosing Sei-sama.

"But, I will say this, Shimako. Don't let a year pass without making Noriko-chan your petit soeur. That kind of indulgence doesn't serve anyone."

"Yes."

Shimako felt as though they were seeing right through her. Then she realized it was some other, unknown, person's mind that was being dissected.

Previously, she had had a discussion with Noriko about the rosary. At that time, Shimako had felt that it wasn't yet a necessity for Noriko. For all intents and purposes, she had said this.

When she heard this, had Noriko felt disappointed? Or had she felt relieved?

It wasn't that Noriko was inappropriate, but that the time wasn't yet right. That sort of feeling. Perhaps she had wanted to avoid placing the burden of being Rosa Gigantea en bouton on a first-year student.

Shimako didn't want to become a huge burden to Noriko. Under normal circumstances, it was unthinkable to suggest that someone unacquainted with the school become one of its student representatives.

Just by being associated with her, Noriko's high-school life might be completely changed. To Shimako, that was something incredibly dreadful.

However, what would Noriko think of it?

At this point, Shimako regretted having unilaterally concluded that conversation. Perhaps it was something they needed to revisit to fully come to terms with.

Handing her rosary to Noriko.

It certainly wasn't an unpleasant thought.

However.

Even without it, they were still bound together. Rosary, soeur, Yamayurikai. With each step along that path, they would be the subject of rumors, and it seemed likely that their relationship would twist into a different shape to its original one.

Surely it was egotism. Changing the name was simply self-indulgence. However, Shimako understood that something which hadn't been turned over was controlling her behavior regarding Noriko.

"Sorry we're late!"

Yumi-san and Yoshino-san burst into the room. Their fourth period class had apparently been spent outdoors, and they were late as a result of that.

"You didn't have to run."

Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama's eyes were calm and gentle as they looked at their petit soeurs, who were out of breath with a sheen of sweat on their foreheads.

Watching them, Shimako felt ashamed that she couldn't take that next step forward.

Even though she could see how pure and beautiful Sachiko-sama and Yumi-san's relationship had become since the transfer of the rosary.

Even though she could see how Rei-sama and Yoshino-san's good relationship had continued unaffected by the rosary exchange.

It wasn't the words that kept her from going ahead. Nor was the rosary at fault. It was, undoubtedly, a question of her own inner feelings.

"Shimako."

Sachiko-sama glanced her way.

"If you don't object, how about asking Noriko-chan to help out from time to time?"

"Don't worry. Even if you do that, you don't have to make her your petit soeur if you don't want to."

Rei-sama smiled at her too.

"…"

Shimako had no immediate reply.

Having Noriko, nobody's petit soeur, coming and going from the Rose Mansion.

It was like tracing over the tracks she had taken one year previously with Satou Sei-sama.