Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 5 Chapter 4

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"-Anyways, while I know why everyone may become over-excited, but please conduct yourselves in a manner appropriate to a Lillian student. After all, cla.s.ses will go on as usual."

 

 

 

 

After listening to their homeroom teacher, Yamamura-sensei, with faithful ears, the students answer, "Yes." But they weren't really paying much attention. The teachers were warning them beforehand, but that was also a bit more for show, because they weren't really holding very high expectations tomorrow, either. The students were this excited, so it was far, far too late to expect that to settle down.

 

 

 

 

Homeroom was ended quickly, too. If there were any important papers to distribute, it would be more definite if they were distributed the day after tomorrow. She's a veteran as well as a Lillian alumni, so sensei knew exactly how we felt and would act.

 

 

 

 

"That's all."

 

 

 

 

Stand, bow.

 

 

 

 

After homeroom, the teacher disappeared on the other side of the door. And Yumi, who'd sprung up and hurried out, was stopped by a cla.s.smate.

 

 

 

 

"Yumi-san, we don't have to clean the music room today."

 

 

 

 

"What?"

 

 

 

 

"The contracted floor cleaners are in today, so feel free to spend time as you please."

 

 

 

 

She was in Yumi's cleaning group, so she knew why Yumi was in such a hurry.

 

 

 

 

"Thank you, gokigenyou."

 

 

 

 

She was told to "feel free to spend time as she pleased," but Yumi dashed out to the hallway anyways. After all, it wasn't a warning about her hasty departure. Rather, Yumi had always been visiting a certain place before going to the music room lately, and so she was actually being told that she didn't have to scurry to the music room after she was done.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow awaited a joyous Valentine.

 

 

 

 

As well as a somewhat suspenseful Valentine.

 

 

 

 

Moving her legs forward, she began silently singing impromptu.

 

 

 

 

Trotting down the hallway, and then resuming her trot after going down the stairs. After entering the courtyard, she went straight to the Rose Mansion. And it didn't feel like anyone had gotten there.

 

 

 

 

"Safe."

 

 

 

 

Creak, creak, creak, creak, she climbed up the stairs, opened the biscuit-shape door, and walked straight toward the electric pot and began setting things up.

 

 

 

 

When she glanced at the sink, she noticed there were no dishes awaiting cleaning. s.h.i.+mako-san had probably stopped by during lunch break and finished that. With that aside, Yumi went to open the windows for ventilation. She did a light sweeping of the floors, wiped the table, rinsed the was.h.i.+ng rags, and was done. She didn't have cleaning duty at the music room today, so she didn't really need to hurry back to the school, but she didn't feel comfortable staying here. So she began leaving.

 

 

 

 

-And then.

 

 

 

 

"Are you gongitsune?"

 

 

 

 

"Gyah!?"

 

 

 

 

The person who'd been standing in the shadow of the door suddenly spoke, so Yumi almost had a heart-attack.

 

 

 

 

"- Haven't I been telling you to start using 'kya'?"

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip;R- Rosa Gigantea."

 

 

 

 

Yumi'd also thought that most people can't control what they say when they're surprised. "You didn't even notice me standing by the entrance when you flew into the Rose Mansion, so I was wondering what was going on."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea coldly said.

 

 

 

 

"So, what is this? Yumi-chan's sense of aesthetics? Coming here every day without being seen, cleaning everything up, and then leaving?"

 

 

 

 

"Umm."

 

 

 

 

She wasn't really doing this every day. Because if homeroom ended late, or if s.h.i.+mako-san beat her here, she didn't come.

 

 

 

 

"Oh well, not really my place to say anything. &h.e.l.lip; It would be coa.r.s.e to dampen Yumi-chan's sense of self-satisfaction."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea groaned as she stretched, and then began walking down the stairs. But Yumi couldn't let those words be, and she quickly pursued.

 

 

 

 

"Umm, am I making a mistake!?"

 

 

 

 

"Hmm?"

 

 

 

 

Thump, thump, thump, thump, the stairs sounded.

 

 

 

 

"Because, self-satisfaction, dampening&h.e.l.lip;"

 

 

 

 

"I said those words, yes?"

 

 

 

 

When they reached the bottom, Rosa Gigantea finally turned to Yumi.

 

 

 

 

"You know, I think Yumi-chan's just charging ahead with your emotions. Like a mother doing ohyakudo for the success of her child."

 

 

 

 

"Ohyakudo."

 

 

 

 

She'd seen that acted out in historical plays. She couldn't remember if it was a s.h.i.+nto shrine or a Buddhist temple, but people with wishes would go back and forth to pray. If she remembered correctly, sometimes they'd have conditions, like not being caught doing it.

 

 

 

 

"But you shouldn't stop someone doing ohyakudo and say 'come come, that's eerie, so stop,' either "

 

 

 

 

Said Rosa Gigantea, who was saying she shouldn't be doing so, but had already done it.

 

 

 

 

"Eerie?"

 

 

 

 

"Yep." "How direct."

 

 

 

 

"Well you followed me because you wanted to hear me be direct, didn't you?"

 

 

 

 

"Umm."

 

 

 

 

Yumi didn't think that was her exact reason, but it wasn't wrong, either.

 

 

 

 

"Rather than a mother doing ohyakudo or cold-water ablutions, I'd prefer a mother who'd make me warm dinner every day."

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

"Just my personal opinion. Because my mother's more like the former, so a delinquent child is too heavy a burden for her. &h.e.l.lip; Umm, but that's an example, my mother doesn't actually use sorcery, so you don't have to worry there."

 

 

 

 

"Uhhh."

 

 

 

 

Wow, she was able to understand Rosa Gigantea before, but now the conversation was taking quite the detour and was going beyond her grasp.

 

 

 

 

And that's when s.h.i.+mako-san came in through the door, having finished her cleaning duty, so the conversation abruptly ended. Of course, it might have been ended in Rosa Gigantea's mind anyways.

 

 

 

 

"Ah, onee-sama."

 

 

 

 

Noticing Rosa Gigantea, s.h.i.+mako-san smiled like an angel. She was already like an ephemeral beauty, but her smile was on a different level. Even though they were of the same age, how could people be so different?

 

 

 

 

"I pa.s.sed."

 

 

 

 

No preface. Rosa Gigantea faced s.h.i.+mako-san and made a V with her hand, in a peace sign.

 

 

 

 

(Eh&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;? What?)

 

 

 

 

"Congratulations, onee-sama."

 

 

 

 

But s.h.i.+mako-san's bouncy reply made Yumi realize what happened. Rosa Gigantea was accepted into her first-choice school.

 

 

 

 

(Oh, so that's what happened.)

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea wanted to let s.h.i.+mako-san know first, and that's why she'd come here.

 

 

 

 

Because the way she looked at s.h.i.+mako-san was gentle and kind. It wasn't the old-man version of Rosa Gigantea that'd generally been teasing Yumi.

 

 

 

 

"Congratulations."

 

 

 

 

She felt bad for intruding on their world, but she felt compelled to say that word, being a bystander.

 

 

 

 

"Thanks, Yumi-chan."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea patted Yumi's head, then tossed her front hair and laughed.

 

 

 

 

"Gosh, it was tough. I mean I didn't plan on going to university at all, so I only started studying after the turn of the year. But whatever, I'll be a student at a women's college this spring."

 

 

 

 

She only had one university she was aiming for, so she was set. Still, she managed to get into a university after a little more than a month of studying, so Rosa Gigantea was definitely superhuman.

 

 

 

 

"Then you must feel relieved." "But Eriko and Youko aren't done yet, so&h.e.l.lip;"

 

 

 

 

Yumi didn't even think about Rosa Foetida and Rosa Chinensis there. But Rosa Gigantea didn't seem to notice she'd called her friends by their names, either.

 

 

 

 

The university exam dates differed depending on the universities, so some people had even finished last year, while others will be waiting until graduation. Of course, most schools had their exams take place during January and February.

 

 

 

 

"But, anyways, it looks like I can enjoy myself to the fullest tomorrow."

 

 

 

 

Snap, crackle. Rosa Gigantea cracked her white knuckles and let the somewhat pleasant sound echo off the ceiling.

 

 

 

 

"Then I shall have to do my best for onee-sama, too."

 

 

 

 

s.h.i.+mako-san forced a smile.

 

 

 

 

Knowing Rosa Gigantea was going to partic.i.p.ate, she may decide to change her hiding place. Placing it in an easier spot? No, probably the opposite.

 

 

 

 

s.h.i.+mako-san knew Rosa Gigantea understood her. So if she hid it in an obvious spot, it'd be too easy. And Rosa Gigantea wouldn't be able to have fun.

 

 

 

 

"I'll be waiting."

 

 

 

 

She looked completely excited. Rosa Gigantea was like a child when she was like this.

 

 

 

 

Like, I won't let anyone else get Rei-sama's card! Well, it's a harsh way of putting it, but Rosa Gigantea wasn't like Yos.h.i.+no-san in that regard, because Yos.h.i.+no-san would use any means necessary to win. Rather, Rosa Gigantea was more the type of person to enjoy the treasure hunt, itself, so the harder the better.

 

 

 

 

Then how about herself? Yumi thought, but she didn't really know.

 

 

 

 

Thinking is hard.

 

 

 

 

She didn't know how she felt, so it was even more difficult imagining how others might feel. Or maybe she didn't know how she felt because it was herself.

 

 

 

 

That's when she noticed a person was standing on the other side of the wooden door to the courtyard, the person's shadow visible through the ornamental gla.s.sing.

 

 

 

 

Yumi quickly opened the door.

 

 

 

 

"Ah."

 

 

 

 

There stood Sachiko-sama.

 

 

 

 

"Onee-sama, gokigenyou."

 

 

 

 

But she knew onee-sama wasn't in good spirits, before the fact that a response never came, just by looking at her. She didn't know why, but Sachiko-sama looked particularly angry. Her whole body screamed "displeased."

 

 

 

 

However.

 

 

 

 

Why didn't she come into the Rose Mansion if she was standing outside? Just as Yumi was beginning to wonder, Sachiko-sama's mouth opened.

 

 

 

 

"You seem to be enjoying yourself."

 

 

 

 

Yumi didn't know how long Sachiko-sama had been standing outside, but their laughter had definitely been heard. "Oh. Rosa Gigantea was here, and-"

 

 

 

 

She was going to relate the news of Rosa Gigantea's university acceptance, but Sachiko-sama cut her off.

 

 

 

 

"I see. If Rosa Gigantea is here, you can enjoy yourself."

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Huh?"

 

 

 

 

"So? Since when have you hated me so much you don't want to look at me?"

 

 

 

 

"What?"

 

 

 

 

She didn't know what Sachiko-sama meant.

 

 

 

 

Because she'd never even imagined Sachiko-sama saying such words, so even if her ears could take it in, her brain wasn't able to keep up. Peoples' nervous system works better when there's a precedent.

 

 

 

 

"I&h.e.l.lip; hate onee-sama?"

 

 

 

 

She repeated the words she'd heard, and immediately doubted them. Where did Sachiko-sama come up with such a thought?

 

 

 

 

"Are you saying I'm wrong? Then why are you avoiding me?"

 

 

 

 

"I haven't been avoiding&h.e.l.lip;"

 

 

 

 

But Sachiko-sama didn't believe her.

 

 

 

 

"You are."

 

 

 

 

She stated clearly, and didn't budge. Yumi didn't intend it that way, but her actions and behavior might have been working against her.

 

 

 

 

"At first I tried to understand, because I am a bouton, but you've been interacting with Rei and s.h.i.+mako just fine. Even when you come to the Rose Mansion you leave before I come, and when I arrive earlier than usual, you dash out like you're escaping."

 

 

 

 

"That's-"

 

 

 

 

Because she was going to be late for cleaning duty.

 

 

 

 

And she was speaking with Rei-sama because she was being taught how to make chocolate for Sachiko-sama.

 

 

 

 

"What's the matter? If you have something to say, speak it clearly."

 

 

 

 

But she couldn't.

 

 

 

 

She couldn't say it was for Sachiko-sama. Because she was the one forcing everything on her.

 

 

 

 

She'd been conceited.

 

 

 

 

As Rosa Gigantea said, self-satisfaction. No, even worse, she finally realized it.

 

 

 

 

Yumi looked at Sachiko-sama.

 

 

 

 

"Why are you silent? Why don't you throw your thoughts at me? I can't possibly understand otherwise."

 

 

 

 

Onee-sama looked extremely scary.

 

 

 

 

"I'm sorry&h.e.l.lip; onee-sama."

 

 

 

 

That was all she could muster. She was ashamed of herself, for making onee-sama look like this, for forcing onee-sama to speak like this.

 

 

 

 

But no matter what, she would never hate onee-sama.

 

 

 

 

Still, all Yumi could do was watch as her vision of her most beloved person became blurred.

 

 

 

 

"Um, Sachiko-sama?"

 

 

 

 

Perhaps realizing the situation was going downhill, s.h.i.+mako-san stepped toward the door and spoke, but she was powerless in this strained atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; s.h.i.+mako, come."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea held s.h.i.+mako-san's shoulder and dragged her away.

 

 

 

 

"Why do you cry?"

 

 

 

 

With the foyer left to the two of them, Sachiko-sama whispered.

 

 

 

 

"Please, stop. Now it just looks like I'm picking on a kouhai. I'm the one that wants to cry. I'm being avoided by my sister, and I don't know why-"

 

 

 

 

"Ukk."

 

 

 

 

A strange sound was emitted from Yumi's throat. She tried to speak, but she couldn't formulate words, because it felt like a lump of meat was lodged in.

 

 

 

 

"Why won't you tell me? Is that all I was to you? Then why are we sisters? Why did you accept my rosary?"

 

 

 

 

She wanted to say that's not how it is, but her tears just kept flowing. She could tell her eyes were beginning to swell.

 

 

 

 

She felt incredibly stupid. Sachiko-sama was angry, she knew that, but she could only keep crying.

 

 

 

 

But, this was the first time Sachiko-sama had ever shown her such strong emotions, and it confused her.

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Enough."

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama said, exasperated.

 

 

 

 

"Let's talk about this again some other time. I may be high-strung, myself, so I may have been too harsh."

 

 

 

 

"Ah&h.e.l.lip;"

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama had turned around, and she looked so lonely that Yumi instinctively began following, and that was when Rei-sama and Minako-sama arrived at the Rose Mansion.

 

 

 

 

"W-What happened, Yumi-chan?" Rei-sama shouted.

 

 

 

 

"Nothing. Let's just finish the final meeting."

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama quickly went ahead, leaving Yumi behind.

 

 

 

 

"Nothing&h.e.l.lip;? Umm."

 

 

 

 

"Yes."

 

 

 

 

Minako-sama and Rei-sama looked at each other. Well, it was obvious just by looking at Yumi's face that it was clearly not "nothing." But Yumi just wanted to be left alone. It would be worse if someone acted kind to her.

 

 

 

 

"Are you two going to label me a villain, too!?"

 

 

 

 

A hysteric-sounding voice came from above.

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; eally, it's nothing."

 

 

 

 

Finally managing to wring her voice out, she ran in the complete opposite direction from Sachiko-sama, out the Mansion. She felt like she heard Rei-sama and Minako-sama's voices, but she didn't turn around.

 

 

 

 

Or rather, she couldn't.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"'All of your worrying and perplexing will simply pave the way to a better future, both next year and the year after.'"

 

 

 

 

As she ran down the hallway, s.h.i.+zuka-sama's words kept repeating in her mind.

 

 

 

 

(It was no good, s.h.i.+zuka-sama.)

 

 

 

 

How could she expect good memories now?

 

 

 

 

Her self-hatred and her despair, along with her tear-drenched, sloppy face, no matter how many years and month pa.s.sed, she would never be able to look back upon this and smile.

 

 

 

 

"'Then why are we sisters?'"

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama must have lost patience with Yumi this time, once and for all.

 

 

 

 

Yumi was absorbed in finding a place to be alone. From Rei-sama's expression, she could guess she looked to be in a bad shape. There would probably be some people left in the cla.s.sroom, so she couldn't go back just yet. They'd try to get to the bottom of things, and that'd just make things worse.

 

 

 

 

Anyways, she didn't want to see anyone.

 

 

 

 

Eventually she found herself at the corner of the building, where the emergency exit in front of her blinded her with its green lamp. Yumi opened the door and stepped out.

 

 

 

 

The cold air felt a bit painful, but that was just a surface thing. Avoiding the students leaving through the rear gate, she hurried to that place. Because she knew most people didn't go near it.

 

 

 

 

The old greenhouse, it'd been a while since she'd come by. It hadn't changed much. The flowers had all wilted, so the leaves were by their lonesome, so it looked a lot more dreary, but as it was, most people avoided coming here, so no one had bothered to fix any of the cracked gla.s.ses. So even though it was a greenhouse, she wasn't here to be cheered up.

 

 

 

 

It was a crumbling greenhouse, but it was a good windbreaker, so she was able to settle down.

 

 

 

 

The day before the school festival, Sachiko-sama had also come here, escaping from Kas.h.i.+wagi-san and everything he symbolized. Come to think of it, Rei-sama had come here, too, after Yos.h.i.+no-san had returned her rosary.

 

 

 

 

She wondered why. Did this greenhouse have the power to heal wounded hearts?

 

 

 

 

"-Rosa Chinensis."

 

 

 

 

They were there, between the dead branches and the skinny trees sleeping winter away. They weren't in a pot, but rather were growing from the ground, where someone had pried away a piece of floor tiling. The greenhouse was darkening, but it seemed like there was a single spotlight s.h.i.+ning down upon them, so Yumi could see them clearly.

 

 

 

 

It wasn't like there was a nameplate, but Yumi knew. Because someone she loved had taught her. Yumi stepped close and placed a hand on that strong trunk. That's when she realized she'd come here to see that rose bush.

 

 

 

 

"So, you bloom every season."

 

 

 

 

But unfortunately, the red flowers from back then weren't there. She realized she was bitterly smiling. It almost looked like there was some kind of apocalypse.

 

 

 

 

"I wonder if onee-sama hates me, now."

 

 

 

 

Her feelings for Sachiko-sama hadn't changed since that day she was taught about this plant. No, maybe it was even stronger, the more she'd come to know Sachiko-sama. But then, how did things come to this?

 

 

 

 

Thump, thump. She raised her head, hearing the knocking sound from outside. Her eyes, barely getting used to the darkness, made out Rosa Gigantea through the dirty gla.s.s.

 

 

 

 

"I knew you'd be here."

 

 

 

 

She walked around and poked her head in through the entrance. What an uncommon occurrence: Rosa Gigantea asked, "May I come in?" before she took a step in.

 

 

 

 

"I wondered if you'd prefer to be alone, but Yumi-chan is scared of the dark."

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; I'm sorry I'm such a bother."

 

 

 

 

How strange. She'd been so adamantly against seeing anyone, but the moment Rosa Gigantea appeared, she felt relieved and comforted.

 

 

 

 

"Not at all, not at all."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea chuckled, walked to Yumi, and also squatted down by the Rosa Chinensis bush.

 

 

 

 

"It's not like I'm part of the meeting, so I had to walk out anyways. Plus, that happened in the middle of our conversation, you know? It left a bitter aftertaste."

 

 

 

 

The conversation before s.h.i.+mako-san had come to the Rose Mansion. She still remembered.

 

 

 

 

"But wow, that felt like a complete flashback."

 

 

 

 

Fidgeting around with a dead branch she'd picked up, Rosa Gigantea sounded nostalgic. Yumi didn't know what "that" was exactly pointing to, so she stayed silent.

 

 

 

 

"Yumi-chan, you might think you're totally unlike Sachiko, but from my perspective, you two are stunningly alike."

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; That we're always one step too slow?"

 

 

 

 

"Ahh, I did say something like that before, didn't I. Well, roughly speaking, yeah, but I think the nuance is a bit different."

 

 

 

 

For example, Rosa Gigantea said.

 

 

 

 

"Sometimes you'll always feel differently about something with someone else. When that happens, Yos.h.i.+no-chan immediately brings forth an aggressive discussion, to make sure the other person knows her stance, and sometimes even to make them a turncoat. But Yumi-chan closes her mouth and leaves. Sachiko, too. You two are similar like that."

 

 

 

 

"Sachiko-sama always says what she thinks."

 

 

 

 

Yumi interjected almost reflexively. Rosa Gigantea, aren't you thinking of someone else?

 

 

 

 

"Because Rosa Chinensis really disciplined her, she's improved."

 

 

 

 

But she used to be dead silent, and tough to get along with. Hard to believe.

 

 

 

 

"But she's probably still fundamentally the same. The type that doesn't like to explain how she feels, for fear of it being rejected. Like, Kas.h.i.+wagi, she'd kept that bottled up for a really long time. So when she realizes she can speak out, she kinda flaunts it. Like, I can speak out in front of this person, that sort of thing. I guess in the end it just means she's not really self-confident."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea freely went ahead and broke down Sachiko-sama's personality.

 

 

 

 

"And, what I meant before was that Yumi-chan and Sachiko was almost exactly like Sachiko and Youko a year and ten months ago- you know, the current Rosa Chinensis."

 

 

 

 

"What?"

 

 

 

 

"I think it was right after they'd become sisters? Or maybe it was before. I didn't really care about other students back then, so I don't really remember the time and stuff too well, but it was right around the beginning of the first semester, when I saw Youko saying 'if you want to say something, say it clearly!' in really harsh tones."

 

 

 

 

"To Sachiko-sama?"

 

 

 

 

"Yup. Because you know, Sachiko, I guess her upbringing plays a part in it, but she's really bad at expressing her opinions. So she'd just silently brood over it. So one day Youko strongly told her, that's too hard to understand. And it must have hit Sachiko hard. And she started trying to express herself after that. So her hysteria is more like a remnant of that, or maybe just the kick-back from everything. And that's why no one really gets bothered by it."

 

 

 

 

"Ah."

 

 

 

 

"So she's probably getting irritated."

 

 

 

 

"Irritated&h.e.l.lip; Sachiko-sama?"

 

 

 

 

"Yup."

 

 

 

 

"Why?"

 

 

 

 

"Well, because she must feel like she's staring at herself."

 

 

 

 

That's when Yumi remembered Tsutako-san's words from some time ago. That Sachiko-sama probably didn't want a sister just like herself.

 

 

 

 

People seek things they don't have-. That was one of the reasons why she was attracted to Sachiko-sama, so Yumi knew full well what that meant.

 

 

 

 

Then, what if. What if she'd found someone close to her that had the exact characteristics she hated of herself? It would feel like she was looking at a mirror, and it'd obviously be quite discomforting.

 

 

 

 

"So, forgive Sachiko's harsh behavior."

 

 

 

 

"I wasn't even thinking about that&h.e.l.lip;" She shook her head vigorously.

 

 

 

 

"Then, you don't hate her for it?"

 

 

 

 

"O-Of course not."

 

 

 

 

This time she nodded vigorously. Even if Sachiko-sama were to hate her, she'd never be the one hating back. Ever.

 

 

 

 

"Good girl."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea ruffled Yumi's hair and laughed.

 

 

 

 

"Alright, let's go back then. I don't like this greenhouse too much."

 

 

 

 

Hoisting herself up, Rosa Gigantea patted down her own skirt. It'd already become quite dark, so she could hardly tell what sort of face Rosa Gigantea had. Luckily, one of the lamp-posts littered around the school managed to reach the greenhouse, so she made it outside without tripping. There might have been a light switch somewhere, but they were easily able to get out before they could find it.

 

 

 

 

"Yumi-chan, there's a step here, so be careful."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea reached out with her left hand. Yumi took it, and then grabbed the arm it belonged to.

 

 

 

 

"What am I going to do?"

 

 

 

 

"Hmm?"

 

 

 

 

"Rosa Gigantea is going to graduate soon. What am I going to do then?"

 

 

 

 

There would be no one left to help her through tough times like these. No one who could scoot in between her and Sachiko-sama like this.

 

 

 

 

"That makes me feel so happy, Yumi-chan."

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea didn't show any signs of displeasure at finding her arm suddenly grabbed. So Yumi, despite feeling a bit bad toward s.h.i.+mako-san, decided to keep borrowing this kind arm.

 

 

 

 

"It'll be alright."

 

 

 

 

The right hand lightly pinched Yumi's cheek.

 

 

 

 

"I was worried when my onee-sama graduated, too. But you know, you'd be surprised at how everything ends up working out."

 

 

 

 

"Ends up working out-"

 

 

 

 

Will things really end up working out? She was this anxious over tomorrow, so she couldn't even begin to imagine beyond that.

 

 

 

 

"In Yumi-chan's case, you just need to tell Sachiko how you feel, even just a little more. As long as you can do that, no matter what happens, you two can overcome everything."

 

 

 

 

"But&h.e.l.lip;" "You can do it, Yumi-chan. See, we both managed to express how we feel to each other, right?"

 

 

 

 

Rosa Gigantea seemed to point to herself as a practice dummy, but that's not right. Because to Yumi, speaking to Rosa Gigantea was the real deal, too.

 

 

 

 

"Alright then, homework for Yumi-chan. Making up with Sachiko with your own strength, okay?"

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Yes."

 

 

 

 

She wasn't confident, but she replied anyways. Because Sachiko-sama and Yumi were sisters. They shouldn't need someone else to come in for them to make up.

 

 

 

 

It was just the two of them when she accepted the rosary. When it came to matters involving sisters, they had to work it out with just the two of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After stopping by the cla.s.sroom for her bag and coat, she walked home together with Rosa Gigantea. She could see the Rose Mansion lights from the window facing the courtyard along the way.

 

 

 

 

As Sachiko-sama said, they probably shouldn't speak today. She just had a gut feeling.

 

 

 

 

She rinsed her face with water using the hallway lavatory, then looked at the mirror. Her eyes were still bloodshot, but her face was much less swollen. Maybe it was because she'd been talking in the greenhouse for an hour. It would probably really become indistinguishable if she were to let the night breeze blow at it on the way home. Which meant she would probably avoid worrying her family.

 

 

 

 

As they walked along the gingko pathway, Rosa Gigantea explained that the sisters with both similar and different aspects get along best. And that most sisters were like that, anyways.

 

 

 

 

"Then Rosa Gigantea, do you see bits of yourself in s.h.i.+mako-san, too?"

 

 

 

 

"Mm? Me in s.h.i.+mako? Yeah, sometimes. I think, wow, what a pain in the b.u.t.t. But I also think she's much better than how I used to be. If I could, I'd love to free s.h.i.+mako from some of her shackles, but I can't."

 

 

 

 

"Why?"

 

 

 

 

"Because I know s.h.i.+mako too well. So I can only patch things up."

 

 

 

 

So she was envious of sisters who would get in fights because they didn't understand each other completely. And she'd poke her head into things because of that.

 

 

 

 

I kinda understood her, and kinda didn't.

 

 

 

 

As she put her hands together in front of the Maria-sama statue, Yumi tilted her head to the side. Why was it that whenever she spoke to Rosa Gigantea, the conversation would always steamroll ahead without her understanding things? At least in the greenhouse she could keep up&h.e.l.lip;

 

 

 

 

"By the way. I imagine the chocolate Yumi-chan makes being really sweet."

 

 

 

 

As she stepped on the bus, Rosa Gigantea cackled, as if remembering. Sheesh, the conversation really had a knack for skipping around.

 

 

 

 

"You're going to make some for Sachiko, right? Tonight?"

 

 

 

 

"Well, yes."

 

 

 

 

Actually, she'd just been reminded. She was really just intending to go home and finish it before dinner, but so many things happened that those plans went awry. When would she be able to take a bath, she wondered.

 

 

 

 

"I hope it turns out good."

 

 

 

 

Even as they sat down, Rosa Gigantea continued on the topic of chocolate. Like chocolate from one store should fit really well with blue mountain tea from a certain café, but it was a shame she couldn't actually try it. Or the right temperature to store chocolate. It sounded like she was just hungry.

 

 

 

 

"So, like, I prefer ones that are a bit scaled-back on sweetness. And if Western liquor is dripped in just a teensy weensy, like a hidden taste, that'd be best."

 

 

 

 

Now she got it, now she understood what Rosa Gigantea was getting at.

 

 

 

 

"Umm. Rosa Gigantea, I never said I was giving you chocolate."

 

 

 

 

"Wait, seriously!? I thought it was a given!?"

 

 

 

 

A given, just where did she come up with that? She'd already given up on receiving chocolate from s.h.i.+mako-san, too&h.e.l.lip;

 

 

 

 

"People who go pester s.h.i.+zuka-sama won't receive even store-bought chocolate."

 

 

 

 

"Woah, why do you know about that?"

 

 

 

 

And she said that without even a hint of remorse. So it left a bitter taste. She was probably going around pestering everyone for chocolate, at this rate, that Rosa Gigantea.

 

 

 

 

"Aww."

 

 

 

 

She puckered her lip and pouted like a child. Reverted back to the usual Rosa Gigantea, from to that wise high school senior.

 

 

 

 

"If you want to eat chocolate, they sell it at stores."

 

 

 

 

Especially at this time of year, they were lined up everywhere.

 

 

 

 

"I want to eat ones that're filled with love."

 

 

 

 

"Then call s.h.i.+mako-san's house. And tell her you want chocolate."

 

 

 

 

"Don't wanna."

 

 

 

 

"Then all you can do is give up."

 

 

 

 

"Don't wanna don't wanna. I'll eat Yumi-chan if you don't give me chocolate!"

 

 

 

 

"Yes, yes."

 

 

 

 

There was no use talking sensibly to her anymore.

 

 

 

 

"If I say I'll eat you, I'll definitely eat you!"

 

 

 

 

Because the bus was spa.r.s.e, her perverted-old-man mode was on full blast. She'd dropped her voice to a level that other people would barely not make out what she was saying, and her head was turned, so it must look like innocent Lillian students chatting away. That a somewhat exotic-looking girl with such a beautiful face would be spewing this sort of vulgar language&h.e.l.lip; the driver, the middle-aged men, even the silver-seat old women wouldn't imagine that.

 

 

 

 

Until they arrived at the train station, Rosa Gigantea continued to chant "chocolate" at Yumi. For some reason, she began to feel a bit sorry for her, so she decided if she felt like it, she would make chocolate for Rosa Gigantea, too.

 

 

 

 

Of course, it would probably be left-overs from her cooking for Sachiko-sama.