Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume4 Chapter4

Raison d'etre for sœur

Part 1.

"Why do you look so depressed?"

In front of the Rose Mansion, someone tapped Yumi's shoulder from behind.

"… Rosa Chinensis."

The face she hadn't seen in a while was the same as usual. Kind, composed, welcoming you to cling to her while crying, and certainly belonging to the type of person whom you could devote everything to, that sort of face.

"You'd come?"

"Oh, I attend school almost every day. I've just decided to spend my extra time on studying, until I'm through with exams. … It's cold, shall we go in?"

Rosa Chinensis opened the door and invited Yumi. She was trying to gather herself enough to go in, so she was relieved she could relax and enter.

She'd gone to the Rose Mansion after school almost every day. But lately, Yumi found it difficult to come. And today even moreso.

The time had come. The Wednesday, two days before the election. In the afternoon today, the election speech presentation assembly would take place in the stead of classes. But Yumi didn't know what she was actually supposed to do. And it was frustrating. And it was the first time she'd felt this way, so she didn't know how she was supposed to deal with it. And no one was around to help her. And then she depressed herself, and fell into a bottomless pit with no way to get herself out.

And on top of it all, Rosa Canina and Shimako-san's problem was, well, to be a bit impolite and harsh, simply adding to the filled bucket, so her head was a mess. Yumi wanted the election to be over and done with quickly, or else she felt like her body would fall apart, too.

It was hard to tell if Rosa Chinensis could tell how Yumi felt, as she rhythmically climbed the stairs.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

How light.

And after climbing, the biscuit door on the right opened.

"Onee-sama."

As soon as she saw Rosa Chinensis, Sachiko-sama rushed over.

"Gokigenyou, Sachiko. Have you been well?"

"Yes, of course."

(-What?)

Seeing Sachiko-sama answer, Yumi couldn't believe her eyes.

Sachiko-sama was smiling.

She'd come in after Rosa Chinensis, so she was able to see Sachiko-sama's face the whole time. And Yumi'd watched Sachiko-sama the past two weeks. So she could affirm it. Yes, it'd been a while since Sachiko-sama had looked this lively.

(Why?) Rosa Chinensis magic.

(Because she saw Rosa Chinensis…?)

It felt like she'd been bitten by a fox.

In the second-floor room was also Rei-sama, Shimako-san, and Yoshino-san, the people who'd usually been in the room as of late. But it was just tens of minutes away from the speech presentation, so they were all busy with the final checks, like making sure their over-the-shoulder signs wouldn't slide off, or double-checking their speeches. Rosa Chinensis said she didn't need tea, so Yumi sat down next to Sachiko-sama.

It felt extremely boring. Even though she tried greeting her, Sachiko-sama never glanced in Yumi's way. She was always looking at Rosa Chinensis.

(Well, they have been together longer.)

But with such a different reaction, she couldn't help but begin wondering why she was here. Such dangerous thoughts slowly invaded her mind.

Rustle rustle.

Her heart felt like it was being laid waste.

Dying up like a worm that wandered onto hot asphalt, turning into something unrecognizable from its original form.

"Well, we'll be going ahead, then."

Rei-sama and Yoshino-san announced to everyone before they left.

Yumi thought.

In Yoshino-san's case, because they were blood-related cousins, she wouldn't be bothered so much by being left alone. Of course, Rei-sama was so glued to Yoshino-san that such a thing would never happen.

"I should go, too."

Shimako-san stood up, too. Of course, Rosa Gigantea wasn't by Shimako-san's side. But Shimako-san was the same as always.

(I'm such a fool.)

There was no point in comparing with other people. Sisterly relationships were all different, and she knew that already.

Only the crimson rose family remained in the room.

But it became depressing being there, so Yumi stood up, too.

She hoped that maybe Sachiko-sama would pay a bit of attention to her if she stood up, but it was futile. Like they were filling up their lost time, Sachiko-sama and Rosa Chinensis kept conversing, and they didn't even notice Yumi leave the room.

(I'm still such a baby…)

She thought, as she walked down the stairs with a slow tempo.

She wanted to be some help to Sachiko-sama, she would proudly say, but in the end, she was the one that was seeking something. To be necessary to Sachiko-sama, proof of it. Because she would be crushed by anxiety without it.

So childish.

If she really liked Sachiko-sama, she wouldn't need any reparation. If Sachiko-sama could peacefully laugh, with Rosa Chinensis by her side, she should be happy, too, as her sister.

But.

If she were that splendid a person, she wouldn't be troubled like this.

Yumi opened the door and stepped out.

What's the point of a little sister? She wanted to cry.

Inhaling and exhaling the outside air. She lost track of how long she stood there, cooling her head.

The courtyard in the middle of winter, even without any snow, was frigid, and when she felt resigned to going back into the Rose Mansion because her arms and feet were getting cold, the door opened from the other side.

"Yumi-chan?"

Rosa Chinensis wouldn't miss noticing that Yumi's eyes were a bit red.

"Come here."

Rosa Chinensis embraced Yumi's shoulder and took her, not to the second floor, but to the room to the side of the first floor. This room had less windows and didn't get much sunlight, so it wasn't used much. So, naturally, it became a storage room for the Yamayurikai.

"Tell me what happened."

She placed a hand on Yumi's shoulders and peered into her eyes. Rosa Chinensis saw through everything.

"Were you scolded by Sachiko, before I came?"

No, Yumi shook her head.

"Then, did someone say something?"

"No, it's just… I."

"Yumi-chan?"

"I can't do anything for Sachiko-sama, even though I'm her sister."

But then, Rosa Chinensis tilted her head to the side.

"Can't do anything? You have to do something?"

"Because."

She didn't know how to continue. Because Rosa Chinensis easily did what Yumi couldn't do, no matter how hard she tried.

"It's alright, Yumi-chan."

Rosa Chinensis cackled. Like a bright, summer sky.

"Listen to me. Little sisters don't have to worry about that, because they're little sisters."

"What?"

Yumi's "because they're little sisters" and Rosa Chinensis' "because they're little sisters" were similar but seemed to point to radically different stances.

"If you want to help, just act normal. And when Sachiko says she wants something, just do that."

"… That's all?"

"That's all."

With rock-solid confidence, Rosa Chinensis concluded.

"I'm telling you this, with a long history of being an onee-sama. Understand?"

"… Yes."

"Okay then, I'll be heading out now. Yumi-chan, stay next to Sachiko."

"Rosa Chinensis?"

"Don't you worry, I'll be watching in the assembly hall."

Smiling like a flower, she left the room, first. She was no match for the third-year "aunts," the first-year Yumi thought.

She didn't know why, but she felt much better.

When she opened the door and stepped out, Sachiko-sama had just come down.

"You were gone far too long for a simple hand-washing, so I was worried."

"I'm sorry."

After bowing her head once, she was about to follow Sachiko-sama, but she thought it wouldn't be good to drag along such a fundamental concern, so Yumi squeezed every ounce of courage she had and spoke to Sachiko-sama from behind.

"Onee-sama, I-"

"What?"

Sachiko-sama slowly turned around. Even without Rosa Chinensis, she looked like the kind, strict onee-sama of usual.

"I, what can I do? I want to do something for onee-sama, but I couldn't think of anything, and I felt so powerless, and I-"

Sachiko-sama looked surprised, and then laughed. It was hard to tell if she was happy or thought it was absurd.

"You had such a cloudy look lately, was it because you were thinking such a thing?"

"What?"

She thought Sachiko-sama was disinterested, but apparently that was the wrong assumption. Even if it wasn't to the same degree as usual, Sachiko-sama was paying attention to Yumi.

"… Oh dear."

And she started giggling again. Unable to suppress her laughter, Sachiko-sama leaned against the Rose Mansion door and spoke.

"We were troubled by the same thing, as sœur."

"Same… what?"

When Yumi asked, Sachiko-sama confessed, "Actually…"

"I, too. Was agonizing over onee-sama."

Whether she could do anything for Rosa Chinensis. But in Sachiko-sama's case, Rosa Chinensis was battling with universities, so there was absolutely nothing she could do. So it was dreadful.

Like, letters or phone calls of encouragement might just be adding pressure.

Or like, maybe waking up early on the day of exams to make Rosa Chinensis lunch.

Or like, bringing one of those popular exam charms from a shrine would be hackneyed.

While she was thinking of ideas, she became depressed at how powerless she was. And then Rosa Chinensis stopped by the Rose Mansion, and when she saw how cheerful Rosa Chinensis was, it instantly cheered Sachiko-sama up, too.

"Rosa Chinensis told me, 'I came to see your face.' And I felt so much better. Because it made me think of what I expect from my own sister, Yumi."

"Me…?"

"You just need to be by my side. I just need a sister that will watch me, by my side. Just be with me, and when I become lonely, hold my hand."

As she said that, Sachiko-sama grabbed Yumi's hands and held them tight.

They were warm. But Yumi no longer felt like onee-sama's warmth was lonely. Now, the warmth melted her anxiety, her impatience, and her self-hatred away.

"Rosa Chinensis said, the elder sister is the one that wraps up and protects. And the little sister is the support… and I feel the same."

"The little sister is the support?"

What an emboldening way of saying it. The little sister is the support. With that, she felt prepared to go to the far ends of the world together. Then, she wanted to become a sister who, just by being there, her onee-sama could feel at peace. That became Yumi's goal.

"But, onee-sama is truly amazing."

The dog, now in good humor after receiving kibidango[1], excitedly followed Momotarou. First, they were to head to the sanctuary, on Onigashima.

"Why?"

"Because you weren't worried about the election."

"Election?"

Sachiko-sama laughed as they walked, brimming with confidence.

"Don't worry. I'll never lose."

And for that, she needed to defeat the speech presentation in front of her, first. And three days later, the big, decisive battle would take place.

Part 2.

By the way, in the meantime.

Two shadows passed each other in a place Yumi wouldn't even think of going.

"Rosa Canina, was it?"

In front of the Maria-sama statue at the fork in the gingko tree pathway, a girl with growing, graded hair casually swaying stopped, and turned to the girl she'd just passed.

"Are you late, too? Or are you waiting for someone?"

"I was waiting for you, Rosa Gigantea. I knew you would come, no matter what, today."

The girl with cleanly cut hair said. She was still wearing her indoor shoes. Like she'd gone to the third-year wisteria class looking for her, found out she hadn't arrived yet, and run out like that.

"… An ambush. Then wouldn't it have been better to wait for me in front of my classroom, or the building entrance?"

Even if it was after noon, it wasn't the weather to wait outside for a long time without a coat. There was a slight breeze, too.

"I didn't know if you'd go straight to the building."

"You know me well."

She'd come solely for the speech presentation. So there was a high probability she would only stop by the Rose Mansion, or even just go straight to the sanctuary, where the speeches would be given.

"You know, there's no point in talking to me about the Yamayurikai election."

"I have no intention of making such a request."

"Then, what?"

Her hands still stuffed into her school coat pockets, Rosa Gigantea listlessly asked. By contrast, Rosa Canina spoke, solidifying her resolve.

"The election date. After school, on Saturday, after the results are posted, may I see you here?"

"After the results? Not if you win?"

"Regardless of whether I win or lose. May I?"

"Mmm."

After some pondering, she said "ok" and kept walking.

And after a few steps, she turned around, and said, "Shouldn't you hurry, too?" while pointing to the sanctuary, but Rosa Canina simply nodded, "Yes," and showed no signs of moving.

For a while, she simply gazed at Rosa Gigantea, walking away.

Part 3.

By the time Yumi and Sachiko-sama arrived at the sanctuary, the sanctuary seats were filled with the student audience.

According to the election management committee chief, possibly related to the fact that seats were unreserved, there were students that even skipped on lunch to grab seats immediately after fourth period, so the first-year and second-year students were quite interested in the election.

The extra spice of the fourth candidate, as opposed to the regular three-person election, had stirred things up. Of course, it was basically a test to see if the bouton really had what it took to become the next student presidents.

Rei-sama had already arrived at the sanctuary stage's wing, and she was partaking in friendly chat, surrounded by Yoshino-san and Rosa Foetida. The third-years had no obligation to take part, so they were allowed to go home in the afternoon, but Rosa Foetida came, after all. Come to think of it, Rosa Foetida loved amusing things, so there was no way she would miss this.

Rosa Chinensis sat waaaaaaay in the back. The revitalized Sachiko-sama didn't have a particular need for onee-sama's protective warmth.

(And Rosa Gigantea-)

She hadn't been seen today, Yumi thought as she glanced around, and just then, Rosa Gigantea entered the stage wing and marched straight to Shimako-san.

"Onee-sama…"

Shimako-san stood up from her candidate-reserved seat and whispered. Maybe she thought Rosa Gigantea wouldn't come.

"Shimako."

Rosa Gigantea took one final step and touched Shimako-san's cheek. Everyone thought she would give encouragement or sympathy. But there's Rosa Gigantea, betraying all expectations.

"I didn't coerce you into this. You decided this. So if you win, take responsibility, all the way to the end."

Everyone who heard it must have felt like jumping out of their seats in anger.

"Um, are you sure that's the right thing to say, Rosa Gigantea?"

Without thinking, Yumi interjected. Now it was obvious she was listening in on their conversation.

"My my my, Yumi-chan's spirits have been revived! What, my words are wrong? How so?"

"Umm, you're usually supposed to say 'good luck' or 'I'm cheering for you' or something like that."

"But that would be a lie."

"A lie-"

It sounded like Shimako-san wasn't supposed to win the election. When Yumi was about to object, someone touched her shoulder.

"It's alright, Yumi-san."

Shimako-san smiled.

"You see. Onee-sama's words just now, they're the most inspiring words to me possible, right now."

"Eh?"

When she hurriedly glanced at Rosa Gigantea, she was already looking in a completely different direction, and said, "Who knows?" Yumi took it all back, she would never understand these two.

Ten different types for ten pairs, one hundred different types for a hundred pairs, they say every sibling is different. But Rosa Gigantea and Shimako-san were definitely in a class of their own. Yumi could say that with utmost confidence.

The speech presentation began at one o'clock, after the election management committee chairman gave his quick speech.

First, the committee chairman's greeting, then every candidate went on the stage, and gave a speech in the order of their registration. None of the candidates had their speeches given by someone else. They all chose to give their speech with their own voice.

While listening to Sachiko-sama's speech, Yumi kept cheering, "Do your best," " Do your best." Even though she didn't want to miss a single word of the speech, she was too excited to actually listen.

She wanted to cry again, but she held her hands tight and stopped herself. If she cried, her sight would be too blurry to see Sachiko-sama.

(Do your best…!)

Before she went up to the podium, Sachiko-sama grasped Yumi's hand and said.

"Sit there, and watch me."

So she had to watch carefully. Sachiko-sama's hand trembled just a bit in Yumi's hand. So the least she could do as her sister was fight here, with her. Because Yumi was Sachiko-sama's support.

In the first row, they weren't doing anything gaudy, but Rosa Canina's classmates had secured all the seats and wore hachimaki[2] with "Rosa Canina" written across them. Well, her name-value was considerably less than that of the boutons, so Yumi could sympathize with their need to appeal Rosa Canina as much as possible, but she knew it was added pressure for Sachiko-sama to give the speech directly in front of her rival's fans.

But she never once looked down at her speech as she spoke, looking straight at the spacious sanctuary and drawing in the audience with her echoing voice. Sachiko-sama was always fantastic, but she was absolutely glowing as she stood in front of the audience. Her voice was so filled with confidence it almost made a lie of the trembling hand.

Onee-sama was wonderful.

No matter what happened with the election, Sachiko-sama was Yumi's Rosa Chinensis. The deep-red petals were beginning to blossom. That's how she felt.

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