Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume10 Chapter2 2

Raindrop. Part 2

Thursday lunch.

Shimako was in the hallway walking towards the Rose Mansion when she ran into Yumi-san and Yoshino-san, who were also heading in the same direction.

"Ah."

Both parties exclaimed softly and, without further discussion, they all naturally started walking together. It may have been presumptuous, but that's how things were with friends. Or, rather, that's the sort of relationship that comes with time.

Rosa Chinensis en bouton, Rosa Foetida en bouton and Rosa Gigantea walked down the corridor together, each carrying their own lunchbox.

It was a scene that could be seen fairly regularly in the high-school building.

"Go-gokigenyou, onee-samas."

A first-year student greeted them shyly then ran away. Even though she'd worked up the courage to call out to them, she left before they could return the greeting.

Shimako turned around, following that fluttering white sailor collar with her eyes.

Had that girl been satisfied simply with calling out to them? Watching from a distance, bowing, and then boldly addressing them. It seemed like a rather meager happiness.

And when was it that Shimako found herself no longer satisfied by such a meager happiness?

Just having Noriko by her side still wasn't enough to satisfy her. When Noriko had been introduced to the other members of the Rose Mansion, Shimako had forgotten to feel grateful. If things kept going like they were, it was terrifying to think what kind of arrogant person she would become. Did all human desire simply result in this sort of thing?

"On one, two. Gokigenyou, Rosa Gigantea, Rosa Chinensis en bouton, Rosa Foetida en bouton."

It wasn't unusual to see groups of five or six girls lined up waiting outside the first-year classrooms. Emboldened by their numbers, sometimes they would even surround Shimako or the boutons, asking various questions.

While they didn't have the presence of Rosa Chinensis or Rosa Foetida, the boutons made up for it with their youth and friendliness. Generally, people were more likely to cheerfully call out when Shimako was with Yoshino-san or Yumi-san, rather than when she was alone. And, as everyone hoped, they would respond openly, increasing their popularity.

But today was somehow different to usual.

"Gokigenyou everyone."

Yoshino-san and Yumi-san smiled glumly as they passed the proactive first-years. Sensing they weren't in the mood to chat today, the group took a step back and watched them pass with rapt attention.

"Even hiding their sorrow, the boutons are dreamy … "

The whispered murmurings of their juniors reached Shimako's ears.

"Umm … what's the matter?"

Shimako asked worriedly, however.

"What do you mean, what's the matter?"

Shimako momentarily faltered when they both asked her, looking serious.

"Well … you're both so quiet today?"

"Quiet?"

Yumi-san and Yoshino-san looked at each other.

"That's right, you've hardly said a word, Yoshino-san."

"You too, Yumi-san, why are you looking so gloomy?"

As for Shimako, she was normally quiet anyway, so nobody pointed it out.

"Are we being quiet?"

"It's just her imagination, right?"

The pair seemed to be in denial, as they resumed walking in silence.

Shimako liked to see Yumi-san and Yoshino-san when they were in high spirits, frolicking like puppies. When she saw them joking around, it would bring a smile to her lips too. She adored them because they possessed what she did not.

But today, Yumi-san and Yoshino-san were definitely downbeat about something. It wasn't just her imagination – in their mouths and in their stride, something was weighing down on them.

As they entered the courtyard, all three of them sighed simultaneously.

"What?"

Yoshino-san said, fed up, as she stopped walking.

"What do you mean?"

Yumi-san's lips took on a sour look.

"Is there something bothering you two?"

Shimako inquired tentatively. However.

"There's no way you can talk to someone who's sighing, right?"

This was sharply pointed out by Yoshino-san.

"Especially when there's not that many different species of sighs."

Silently nodding her head in agreement, it looked as though Yumi-san and Yoshino-san's sighs were of the same 'species.'

Yoshino-san's were probably about Rei-sama.

Yumi-san's were definitely about Sachiko-sama.

They were deeply important people, so it was only natural that they would think about them.

Out in front of their sighs, the Rose Mansion was waiting for them with an open door.

"Shall we go in?"

"I suppose."

They couldn't dilly-dally in the entrance forever. However, Shimako didn't follow her friends inside.

A dark colored tabby cat ran past her feet.

"Shimako-san?"

"I'm sorry. There's something I have to attend to."

Shimako called out as she turned around.

The reason for her behavior was that, suddenly, one person's face had floated into her mind. Consequently, her legs had started to move of their own accord.