Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume27 Chapter8 3

When Tomorrow Comes. Part 3

"I used to hate you, Yumi-sama."

Touko-chan mumbled.

"Cheerful, innocent, a face that would show everything, but was never muddled."

After saying farewell to Touko-chan's grandfather, they left the hospital at about 3pm. As expected, they took the courtesy bus back to the train station, then set about retracing their route to get back home. Currently, they were being gently rocked by the train.

"No, I get as … muddled … as anyone else."

Yumi responded.

"I know that now."

"Ah, right."

After their visit to the scene of the accident, Touko-chan had been quite meek, but she suddenly came out with the 'hate' punch. Plus, she'd confirmed Yumi's muddled status. The normal response would be to say, "That's not what I meant at all," but there didn't look as though there was going to be any follow-up. Still, compared to a withering flower, one that bared its thorns as it bloomed was far more Touko-chan-esque, Yumi thought as she sat to the left of her, feeling her warmth.

"Someone who never gets muddled isn't really all that human."

Touko-chan smiled briefly, then said:

"Which is why I thought I definitely wanted to be like you, Yumi-sama. I wanted to be like you, even though I couldn't be. Because of that, I became jealous, annoyed, and hostile. I thought it'd be better if you weren't near me. But you methodically broke down all the walls I frantically put up, and kept coming."

"Please don't make me sound like some kind of monster."

"But it's true."

Touko-chan said, defiantly. She was one of the villagers frantically trying to flee the monster.

"Then that rumor started that I was a candidate to be your petit soeur."

This line she spat out, as though it had been an immense bother.

In early summer, when Sachiko-sama took a short break from school, Touko-chan had been asked to assist the school council. Also around that time, she'd been part of their performance for the school festival and was constantly visiting the Rose Mansion, which led to the rumor. Either way, Yumi had been the one to initiate both events. Yumi reflected upon how much of an inconvenience it must have been for Touko-chan.

"Everyone was just making things up. I'd never considered such a ludicrous outcome."

Touko-chan's voice rose in agitation, so Yumi took the flask from Touko-chan's bag, poured some tea into the lid and offered it to her. They'd refilled it before they left the hospital, so it was still hot.

" … Well, I suppose I may have thought about it once or twice."

Touko-chan said softly after taking a sip of tea.

"You always wanted to become like the Roses, didn't you Touko-chan?"

That vague yearning to get closer to those lovely, kind seniors who could do anything. The pure thought that she could be like that. Yumi was the same. So she knew.

"They used that rumor to good effect. Even though it was nothing like that. Even though you hated me, they said. In my mind, I desperately tried to rebut them. Which was why I only did things that would make you hate me. But instead, I kept finding myself drawn to you. Even though I knew I shouldn't, I wanted to go to you, I wanted to, and couldn't stop myself. So once more, I ran away."

Running, running, so she wouldn't be caught up in the rumor.

"But even though I ran frantically, you yourself abruptly asked me, "Won't you be my petit soeur?" I couldn't comprehend it."

"I'm sorry."

Yumi said to Touko-chan. She wasn't sure if an apology was appropriate at that point, but it was the only way to get in.

Touko-chan was angry at Yumi. Angry at the students who had thoughtlessly propagated the rumor. At the gears that didn't turn properly. At the fate she couldn't escape from. And she continued to be angry with herself.

In that case, more anger was welcome.

More, more. She should raise her voice, let her temper flare, stamp her feet and cry out.

She should let everything that she'd silently been keeping bottled up inside her come out.

Tell me all the complaints that you have, Yumi thought.

Take all the time on the train, and on the bus, all the way to M station. If that's not enough, then there's tomorrow and the next day. We can meet each day at lunch, and you can list them all, one after the other.

Who cares if everyone else is shocked. Or if they poke fun. Let them say whatever they want.

Because Yumi and Touko-chan were to become soeurs.

Once she'd let it all out, they'd fill those empty spaces with happy memories.

Like Yumi had with Sachiko-sama. As time goes by, the tough times and the sad times, as well as all the happy times, will all get rolled up together.

Soon they would be arriving at M station.

"Touko-chan?"

Either the tension had been released or she was tired from talking, for Touko-chan was peacefully dozing beside Yumi.

Outside the window, it was darker than when they boarded the bus.

Something made a clinking sound when they went round an intersection.

Was it the coins that remained in the envelope from their date money?

Or was it the rosary in Yumi's pocket?

It was a tiny, cute sound, like something whispering.

(She wants to wait until after our date for a response.)

Today's mystery tour would be completed after they went down that familiar road and returned to their starting point, M station.

(Wait just a little while longer.)

Yumi reached her hand into her pocket and gently caressed the rosary.

Tomorrow, they'd go to school.

And then.