Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 1 Chapter 3

"What is going on, Yumi-san?"

On Wednesday morning, Katsura-san leapt at her as she stepped into the cla.s.sroom.

"Wh, what?"

Before she could walk into the cla.s.sroom, Katsura-san had grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the locker. As if she were going to discuss something evil, Katsura-san lowered her voice and asked.

"There're rumors that Yumi-san is going to be a part of the Yamayurikai-sponsored play."

"I'm just going to dance in the corner."

Yumi answered truthfully.

"But, your partner is Rosa Foetida en bouton?"

"Umm&h.e.l.lip; well, yes."

"Really!?"

Katsura-san's voice abruptly changed from pianissimo to fortissimo. The volume of the voice hurt her ears, and their secretiveness went to waste. Even the cla.s.smates who had not yet noticed Yumi took notice.

"Yumi-san, gokigenyou."

"Gokigenyou, Yumi-san."

The faces that smiled like angels began to gather en ma.s.se. Even that looks creepy in a large group.

If a group of chicks, or human babies were to come close, it'd be the same sort of freakiness.

"We were just talking about Yumi-san."

"Y, yes."

Of course, if the incident at the Rose Mansion two days ago could spread all over school before lunch the next day, it was obvious yesterday's gymnasium incident would spread even faster. After all, there were at least three times the witnesses, and there was even one student from her cla.s.s.

"Um, could you clarify everything now?"

"Did you really reject Sachiko-sama's proposal?"

"But then why are you two doing things together?"

"What sort of position do you have in the Yamayurikai?"

"Which onee-sama do you like most?"

They had held it all in up to that point, but the cla.s.smates began throwing questions like a water dam had been broken.

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

Yumi faltered amidst the advancing wave of cla.s.smates.

Even though the median level of the students were the daughters of rich estates, they were still girls. They loved gossip and rumors of 'who liked who.' If this were a case of, for example, which group or committee grabbed a school facility for their own, people wouldn't be so desperate for answers.

"What happened, Yumi-san? Please, do feel free to explain."

No matter how much she wanted to explain everything, it was impossible. First of all, there were so many questions she had already forgotten the first ones. Plus, if she answered questions one by one, there would be no end in sight. Further still, it seemed like everyone had already made up answers in their minds, no matter how Yumi were to answer.

(What was I supposed to do in a case like this?)

She thought of Sachiko-sama.

(Umm, Sachiko-sama would.)

Smile, without any hurry or panic.

"Everyone, I apologize for kicking up a fuss."

Elegantly, was, well, impossible, but Yumi felt she started fairly well. 75 points, if she were to grade herself.

"Because of a variety of reasons, I've ended up helping the Yamayurikai with their sponsored play. The reason why the staff calls on me every so often is because of that."

When Yumi explained herself clearly, everyone backed off.

After all, she had been doing nothing troublesome. Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida being kind to her, Rei-sama being her partner, all of it was because they were kind, not because it was Yumi.

"Then, how about Sachiko-sama?"

One person asked from the crowd.

"Sachiko-sama?"

"Did Sachiko-sama really ask for you to be her sœur? Rumor has it Yumi-san rejected her."

Everyone nodded, hearing that question.

"Sachiko-sama,"

Her voice became stuck as she tried to answer.

"Sachiko-sama,"

Huh? What was it? What would Sachiko-sama do?

Umm, Sachiko-sama, would probably smile, and say. -I'll leave it to your imagination.

But Yumi could not say it. I'll leave it to your imagination, means, take it whichever way you want. However, as she did not feel that way, she could not use such a reckless response.

"There's no way Sachiko-sama would choose me as her sœur."

Ah, that was it. As she spoke, she began crying.

"Yumi-san!?"

Her cla.s.smates became worried by her sudden tears.

"Oh, dear. We're sorry. We weren't asking to make you cry. It's okay, if you wish not to answer, let it be."

Yumi shook her head. She was not crying to avoid answering.

Yumi loved Sachiko-sama.

She loved her still. And because she loved her, her last bit of pride rejected Sachiko-sama.

It was too sad, if she were chosen because she happened to be there. Why could Sachiko-sama not understand?

How happy she was, being able to simply watch from afar. If Sachiko-sama had not known Yumi's name nor face, she would not have wrongfully offered her rosary. And if that hadn't happened, she wouldn't have had to act contrary to her heart.

"We're sorry. Here, stop crying, please?"

Her cla.s.smates held out a handkerchief and embraced her. But Yumi may have wanted, more than anything else in the world, for that embrace to have come from Sachiko-sama.

 

 

"Here."

She was handed a booklet. It was bound quite simply, but it was painstakingly word processed.

"Lillian Girls' Academy Yamayuri-version Cinderella&h.e.l.lip;"

Yumi read the cover ornamentation aloud. It seemed to be a script-book for Cinderella.

"Right. I used pink and blue to highlight for you."

"So?"

"Of course, you are to remember them?"

Sachiko-sama sighed, exasperated.

"Remember,-"

Flipping through the pages, she noticed it was almost all pink. There was hardly any blue.

"Okay? Please do not make me repeat myself two or three times. If you do not wish to embarra.s.s yourself during the school festival, memorize the pink and blue, no matter what."

"Y, yes."

As she answered, her heart sank. The pink was all Cinderella's lines. The blue was Sister B. Apparently they were short on people, to the point where some people had to take on two roles at once. At some point, Yumi had been given the Sister B role.

Well, if she was going to be in Cinderella, she would gladly do one of the sister roles.

"That aside, why are you eating lunch out&h.e.l.lip; here?"

As she became curious, she bluntly questioned the three first-year peach-cla.s.s girls. As she had come looking for Yumi, and found that she was not in her cla.s.sroom, she had been guided to Yumi by Tsutako-san.

Yumi and s.h.i.+mako-san had, as they did yesterday, come behind the auditorium to escape from the newspaper club.

"Well, Sachiko-sama."

Tsutako-san ripped open the vinyl packing for the bread she had taken with her.

"There is a both deep and superficial reason."

There was no need for Tsutako-san to also escape from the newspaper club, but she seemed to have a bit of a guilty conscience for letting Yumi escape yesterday. After Tsutako-san finished explaining in detail, Sachiko-sama sounded an indifferent "ah."

"While I can understand your wish to escape from our school's persistent newspaper club, what do you plan to do when it rains?"

"We would be in trouble."

Tsutako-san, however, could escape into her photography room, so she didn't seem to care. s.h.i.+mako-san also simply was providing Yumi company, and had no real reason to be eating outside.

"It seems bound to rain tomorrow."

"Eh!?"

Yumi hurriedly looked at the sky. However, looking at the clear and sunny sky was a futile effort at seeing the next day's forecast.

"Accept my rosary. Then I will gladly be interviewed in your stead."

"You jest."

"Oh? Well, ask me anytime you want."

Sachiko-sama playfully laughed and turned away.

"Ah, Sachiko-sama. Would you like to have lunch with us?"

Tsutako-san tried to stop her, but she was refused, "Thank you for the invitation, but I will pa.s.s." That answer was quite expected, as she would have had to make the trip back to her cla.s.sroom, and then back outside, in order to eat with this group.

"I wanted to bring up the photo, but she escaped."

"There is no helping it. Sachiko-sama dislikes cherry blossoms and gingko."

"Cherry blossoms and gingko?"

Yumi asked back. Then, the act of coming to school, itself, would be a painful ordeal.

"Yes. It's a seasonal thing. Exactly the opposite of me."

The season when cherry blossom flowers bloom, the season when gingko nuts fall. Sachiko-sama becomes blue.

"Allergies?"

"No, she just simply dislikes them."

That sounded oddly familiar. -She did not get a rash or anything, she simply did not want to hold hands.

"I heard it was something like, they did not taste well."

"You eat cherry blossoms?"

"Yumi-san, you have not attended a wedding ceremony, have you?"

Tsutako-san chortled. Apparently, in certain seats, Sakurayu is presented. Yumi remembered that her wedding experience for cousins and other such relatives generally took place in churches, so such customs were not observed.

"Sometimes they are placed on red-bean buns."

Even the image of red-bean buns differed greatly from s.h.i.+mako-san, Yumi thought.

s.h.i.+mako-san loved cherry blossoms, loved gingko, loved cooked beans, loved lily bulbs.

Sachiko-sama hated cherry blossoms, hated gingko, hated sympathy, hated men.

"That is why."

s.h.i.+mako-san smiled and said.

"I am surprised, that she was willing to come here to find Yumi-san."

Even though it would have been fine waiting until after school, she wanted to hand the booklet to Yumi as soon as possible-. When she looked at the back of the script, Ogasawara Sachiko was written in pretty handwriting.

Sachiko-sama brought her own script book.

Plus, she painstakingly used a highlighter to mark out the Sister B lines.

"It was so unlike her."

Yumi looked at the blue sky, like Maria-sama's soul. There were almost no clouds, and she wondered how could you forecast weather in such a day.

s.h.i.+mako-san loved cherry blossoms, loved gingko, loved cooked beans, loved lily bulbs.

Sachiko-sama hated cherry blossoms, hated gingko, hated sympathy, hated men.

Tsutako-san loved photography, loved photos of girls, and was not too fond of the newspaper club.

And, herself.

She liked cherry blossoms, but she hated gingko.

And.

She thought Sachiko-sama, who would do very unexpected things, was all the more attractive because of it.

 

 

Rosa Gigantea, who was sitting by the windowsill and looking outside, noticed Yumi and looked up.

"How admirable. We didn't have to come pick you up?"

She's treating me like a pre-school child who went home without a guardian.

"Now that I've been tabbed for the Sister B part, it wouldn't be right to not show."

"Oh my, now she's talking back. Good girl."

Rosa Gigantea jumped down to the floor, laughed weakly, and rubbed Yumi's head.

"It looks like I arrived too early?"

There was no one else on the second floor of the Rose Mansion.

"Oh, don't mind that. Help yourself to whatever drink you'd like."

There was a teacup on the bay window sill that was still steaming. Apparently Rosa Gigantea had been in the middle of drinking, herself.

"What's that?"

"Just pure instant coffee with hot water. If you want to drink this, go ahead and find some sugar."

"Ah."

Then, without any further ado, she found an overturned teacup, put instant coffee in it, and poured hot water. The pot was properly seething, and with the help of sugar and powdered milk, she was able to make instant coffee taste well enough.

"Yumi-chan, did you do cleaning?"

"Ah. The chorus club took over the music room today, and they said they would clean up as they left."

Yumi answered, leaving her stirring spoon in the sink.

"The school festival is getting close, everyone's desperate."

Rosa Gigantea's murmur sounded like it was all someone else's problem.

Even the Cinderella play should be in the stages where everyone's running around on fire. Yumi worried if it was alright to be sitting around leisurely like this. After all, there was less than 10 days left, and they were still muttering about swapping roles.

"How about you, Rosa Gigantea, did you finish cleaning duty?"

It was the time of day for high school students to be cleaning, which is why Yumi had left her cla.s.smate s.h.i.+mako-san and arrived at the Rose Mansion first.

"When you become a third-year, you become better with these things."

"So you skipped out?"

"Idiot-. How could a Yamayurikai executive skip out? You'd never hear the end of it. No, we split the cleaning groups in two, and work two groups' worth per day. Well, it's possible because third-years have to clean less places, of course."

Of course, that means group sizes become bigger. It's a system to have less people do more concentrated work, rather than have more people meander around.

"Ehh, I wish we were like that."

Her speech accidentally turned casual. For some reason, around Rosa Gigantea, her pace crumbled, or more like, Rosa Gigantea somehow didn't feel like her senior by two years.

"Don't you-. But, when we were first-years, we diligently cleaned, too."

"Rosa Gigantea, a first-year&h.e.l.lip;"

"Oh, what's with that look."

As a response to Yumi's admiring sigh, Rosa Gigantea feigned an insulted face.

"I just thought, how unbelievable."

She had the presence of an eternal third-year.

"I hope that's a compliment?"

"Yes, of course."

When Yumi firmly replied thus, Rosa Gigantea laughed, "hahahahahah," sat back on top of the window sill and looked outside.

When you think about it.

Even for these confident third-years, they did have first-year and second-year lives at Lillian. Even Rosa Gigantea was an undercla.s.sman at one point, and had experienced accepting a rosary. Yumi felt fascinated, realizing that, as the ceremony came with its own set of drama, Rosa Gigantea must have also gone through a phase of doubt and worries.

"Umm."

"Hmm?"

"May I ask a question?"

"I don't like tough questions, though."

Because her previous cla.s.s was mathematics, Rosa Gigantea's brain was tired, she claimed. Even for someone maintaining a top-10 grade for mathematics in the school, she struggled fighting between mathematical formulae and the demon of sleep.

"Why did you make s.h.i.+mako-san your sœur?"

"It's not a tough question, but it is an unusual one. No one usually asks for my reasons regarding s.h.i.+mako."

"That's because she seems destined to have been chosen."

"Right."

Because everyone was so accepting of her overall talents, everyone probably agreed with the choice. Something like, ahh, of course.

"The complete opposite of me."

Yumi felt a bit depressed think about it.

"You're pretty timid?"

"Because I'm just a rice stalk."

"Rice stalk? What's that?"

As Rosa Gigantea seemed to have forgotten the conversation from the day before yesterday, Yumi explained. Rosa Gigantea then, remembering, started laughing in tears, "Oh, yeah." Well, the people who are told these things tend to remember these things best (or carry these words with them).

"Rice stalk, that's fine, though."

Rosa Gigantea said, as she wiped away her tears with her palm.

"What are you talking about?"

"The part where Sachiko's still clutching tightly, maybe."

Rosa Gigantea drained her cup of instant black coffee and placed the empty cup back on the window sill.

"Ah."

Really, speaking to someone smart always opens up unexpected doors in conversations. Whether they're speaking from instinct, or whether they're simply abbreviating the development and turn parts of the introduction, development, turn and conclusion poetry structure I don't know.

"Don't you think someone with the talents of s.h.i.+mako should be kept running in the Yamayurikai?"

"But that's not your answer to that question."

"If I'm answering as Rosa Gigantea, that's my answer. But personally, I have other reasons. Those, however, are secret."

Rosa Gigantea covered the center of her breast with both hands. She seems to want to say, those will be locked in her heart.

"s.h.i.+mako-san said the two of you sought similar things in partners."

"Mm, yes. That's one thing. We're a bit similar, in that we know how to keep our distance from each other, so we feel at ease together."

Rosa Gigantea didn't choose a pet.i.te sœur until she had merely half a year left in her high school career. There were plenty of wonderful people in the current crop of second-years. Yet, she decided they weren't right for her, but that s.h.i.+mako-san was.

Almost as an answer, s.h.i.+mako-san also thought Sachiko-sama wasn't right for her, but chose Rosa Gigantea. Human relations always provoked deep thought, whether they seemed simple or complicated.

"From my perspective, s.h.i.+mako might be a bit envious of Yumi-chan, I think?"

"Again, why do you keep jumping topics so much?"

Because the statement was so abrupt, the cooled coffee almost went into her trachea.

"That,"

Just when she thought Rosa Gigantea was about to speak, she suddenly hugged Yumi tightly.

"Is because I want to see Yumi-chan's cute life phases."

"Hey&h.e.l.lip; Rosa Gigantea!!"

The coffee was about to spill.

Or, more importantly, regardless of the mysterious thought process of Rosa Gigantea, if someone else were to see this scene, everything would become even more complicated.

Yet, at that exact moment, something did happen.

As she struggled to free herself while taking care to keep the teacup level, her body suddenly felt much lighter.

"The millionaire has arrived, so playtime's over."

"Millionaire?"

Sachiko-sama was standing at the biscuit-like door.

"You two looked to be having quite some fun. I walked up the stairs making quite the squeaking sound, yet you two were so busy frolicking that you did not notice me coming."

Sachiko-sama walked into the room and placed her bag on a chair. Yumi slowly edged away from Rosa Gigantea, as the situation was somewhat awkward.

"Oh come on, I saw Sachiko coming, that's why I did some service."

Rosa Gigantea said, without any hint of evil.

"Service?"

Sachiko-sama's forehead quivered.

"If I were going to seriously attack her, I'd do it where no one would see us."

Uh oh. That's not good.

She was deliberately saying things to annoy the fastidious Sachiko-sama. What should she do, at this rate she would snap, she would snap, she would snap-.

"Ahh!" Yumi yelled.

"What!?"

Rosa Gigantea and Sachiko-sama both turned at the same time.

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

She yelled, but she had nothing prepared afterward, so she stumbled. Helplessly, she exaggerated looking at her wrist.w.a.tch.

"It's already this time! Everyone will be arriving soon, right? Rosa Gigantea, are you done with your cup? I'll go ahead and wash it for you."

Ahh, why could she only do things this way? She was sure anyone else would have interceded in a smarter manner. Though it did seem they had evaded Sachiko-sama's hysteria.

"Yumi-chan, good girl."

Rosa Gigantea offered forth her cup, shoulders trembling. Judging by her unwillingness to look Yumi in the eye, she was definitely laughing. She whispered softly to Yumi.

"I made Sachiko envious."

"Eh?"

When she turned around, Rosa Gigantea was in the middle of stretching herself, and then she walked out, deliberately thinking out loud, "Well, I guess I'll go check downstairs."

It seemed like Rosa Gigantea was having a tremendous misunderstanding. Sachiko-sama was not one to become envious over something as pithy as an embracing scene.

Yumi put both teacups in the sink and let the dishwas.h.i.+ng detergent froth.

Sachiko-sama had pulled out the chair adjacent to the chair with her bag, had sat down, and had started reading a book.

(See.)

Sachiko-sama hardly cared about Yumi.

"Ah, there's no hot water."

It seemed like gas was not provided, so the water boiler wasn't working. She helplessly rinsed with cold water and felt thankful it was still autumn.

"The water supply freezes during the winter."

"Really&h.e.l.lip;!" She was surprised.

Not so much about the water supply freezing, so much that Sachiko-sama had been paying attention to Yumi speaking to herself. She a.s.sumed reading was a sign of shutting out her surroundings. Of course, Sachiko-sama's gaze was still upon the book.

After putting the cups and spoon into the drying basket and closing the top, Yumi turned 180 degrees to the right.

"Sachiko-sama, thank you for the scenario book during lunchtime."

She flipped a page. Extremely difficult words were packed tightly into that book, from the looks of it.

"Did you have a look through?"

"Ah, &h.e.l.lip; yes, a bit."

"Why did you lower your voice?"

Sachiko-sama finally lifted her head from the book.

"I&h.e.l.lip; don't think I would be able to memorize Cinderella's parts in time&h.e.l.lip;"

She fidgeted and mumbled. Then, a saving "of course not" cut into her despondency.

"I did not request that much."

Then "how much" is she requesting? Just as Yumi began thinking that, Sachiko-sama placed her book on the table, stood up and spoke.

"I will wear a red velvet dress with English-made frills."

What happened to you, Sachiko-sama!? -is what she thought at first, before realizing she'd heard those words before. Or more accurately, she'd read those words, in the Lillian-version Cinderella script. Right before one of Sister B's blue highlight lines. It was Sister A's line.

She did not know why Sachiko-sama suddenly said that line, but it was clear she was awaiting some sort of response. If she could not answer here, she had no doubt Sachiko-sama would be disappointed.

"I am fine with my usual skirt."

Having resolved herself, Yumi began speaking.

"However, I will wear a manteau with a golden floral pattern and a diamond broach. That is an extremely rare product, after all."

When Yumi managed to finish her line, Sachiko-sama stepped closer and stood behind her back.

"Sister, how does this hair look?"

The scene changed, and this time Sachiko-sama was Cinderella."

One danger after another. Yumi tried to remember her lines for the sake of her life. Umm-.

"Cinderella. Do you not wish you could also attend the Ball?"

"Good."

Sachiko-sama touched Yumi's shoulders.

"You've properly remembered your lines."

(Huh&h.e.l.lip;?)

I wonder what happened. My heart's throbbing.

She visited the right shoulder twice. The soft, delicate touch was a fresh sensation, totally different from "good girl" and "there there."

Maybe that was why I felt so conscious of it. Even when Rosa Gigantea patted my head, or embraced me, my heart rate didn't go up, at all.

"Everyone is late."

Sachiko-sama suddenly turned around and walked toward the door. Yumi sighed softly, relieved.

She was embarra.s.sed, as her heart was beating so fast.

"Rosa Gigantea has not yet returned from walking downstairs, too."

"Perhaps they changed the meeting spot? I will go check."

"Then, I, too."

Yumi followed after, cooling her red face with her hands.

In the middle of the staircase, Sachiko-sama stopped and turned around.

"&h.e.l.lip; be careful."

At first, she thought she was being warned about the steep stairs. Yet, she thought what she missed hearing in the beginning sounded similar to "Rosa Gigantea."

"Be careful of what?"

Sachiko-sama replied, "The stairs, of course," and walked down the remaining stairs.

(Ohh.)

She thought Sachiko-sama had worried for her just a bit.

Things don't work out quite so well in the world, though.

Yumi listened to Sachiko-sama and paid careful attention to each step as she walked down.

 

 

"Ah, there they come."

The princ.i.p.al members were all present on the first floor of the Rose Mansion. I don't know how they usually use it, but it was currently being used as a storehouse for the settings and props for the play.

Half of the room was occupied by those things, and the other half was occupied by six people holding scripts.

"Were we not having a standing rehearsal upstairs? Or was there another communication error to Yumi and I?"

At first glance, Sachiko-sama had a gentle tone, but there was clearly a feeling of objection to everyone.

"We heard you two were having some valuable time together, so we changed places in a hurry."

How regrettable, Rosa Chinensis answered. The other members had also been directed to where they stood, upon arriving at the Rose Mansion.

"Valuable time?"

Sachiko-sama and Yumi immediately looked at the culprit. Rosa Gigantea calmly looked away and began whistling.

"Because otherwise, you two don't seem to make any effort to have progress, at all."

Her excuse was extremely self-centered, but for some reason, everyone aside from "you two" agreed.

"Indeed. We found a valuable source of fun in going toward the school festival, but it has been quite uneventful. Boring."

"What is going on?"

"Sachiko has to become proactive enough to offer her rosary at least once a day."

One utterance after another, and each spoken in a completely serious tone. It was enough to make you wonder if these were indeed the top students of the school. From the looks of it, there was a fair chance that the rumors were spread by them, for fun.

"Have no concern over Yumi and I. Now, let us begin rehearsal."

Sachiko-sama suggested, looking fed up with everyone. Then, Rosa Chinensis clapped her hands, remembering, perhaps, in response to "rehearsal."

"Oh, I have to give Yumi-chan her script. I apologize for it being sudden, but we're giving you the Sister B part."

"Ah, I have a script, here."

Yumi pulled out Sachiko-sama's script from her bag.

"Oh, Sachiko, nice move."

Rosa Chinensis laughed, noticing the name "Ogasawara Sachiko" written on the back cover.

"Never you mind. I had already memorized my lines, so I had no use for it."

"Excuses, excuses. Yumi-chan, was her rosary placed in between the pages?"

"Eh!"

When she hurriedly flipped through the pages, Sachiko-sama coldly said, "Oh, how foolish, they are clearly simply teasing you," and walked where Rei-sama and s.h.i.+mako-san were on stand-by. As if to substantiate that, Rosa Chinensis was trembling with laughter.

Come to think of it, if something were stuck between the pages, she would have already noticed. Plus, Sachiko-sama was not the type to do something that underhanded.

"Okay, let's start from the top. Yumi-chan, stand at the right wing and look inward."

"Yes."

It seemed like Rosa Chinensis was the director. When she stood where she was told, she was told it was alright to hold onto her script. Indeed, Rei-sama was holding one in her hand.

"There is no need to worry."

Sachiko-sama spoke before Yumi could act.

"Yumi has already memorized her lines."

Sachiko-sama looked proud, being able to say, "There is no need to worry," and Yumi felt quite happy that she was the reason for Sachiko-sama having that expression.

Perhaps even she could work hard enough to meet Sachiko-sama's expectations, and that she was not destined to perpetually disappoint-. Just that tiny action by Sachiko-sama could excite Yumi that much.

"Excuse me-."

Just as they prepared to begin the standing rehearsal, visitors arrived at the Rose Mansion.

"Ah, I'll get it."

In any case, Yumi, knowing that she was the newest of the people there, hurried to the door. When she opened the door, six students were there, and they all quickly bowed their heads, "Gokigenyou."

"Go, Gokigenyou."

Yumi hurriedly responded.

The six were not all one group, but rather three pairs, as their haphazard ranks and different behaviors expressed.

"We're the handicraft club, if we could see Rosa Foetida."

"We're the fine arts club, if we could see Rosa Gigantea."

"We're the invention club, if we could see Rosa Chinensis."

They were stiff with nervousness, as if they were reading from their national language textbooks that they had not prepared reading for.

When Yumi told them to wait and turned around, maybe they felt she couldn't hear them, but they said, "See, it's f.u.kuzawa Yumi-san."

Maybe the others might not have appreciated this bland newcomer opening the door to the Rose Mansion as if it were her home, she repented. After all, Yumi's current standing was not even Sachiko-sama's sœur, but rather "that person who did not know her place and managed to refuse Sachiko-sama's proposal," so it would not have been surprising had people thought it awkward.

When she returned to the first-floor room and spoke to the Roses about their visitors, they replied, "Have them come in," so she awkwardly went back to call the six people in.

"Please."

"Apologies for intruding."

The six politely bowed and entered.

"But, I'm so glad."

One of the handicraft club members mumbled in the foyer.

"I had no idea what I was going to do if Rosa Chinensis came out and opened the door. But it was f.u.kuzawa Yumi-san."

"Eh?"

Yumi double-took as she closed the door.

"As much as I admire the Roses, they are somewhat unapproachable. f.u.kuzawa-san, I do not mean to offend, but you are a more intimate type of person."

"I agree, we were so relieved, too."

The fine arts club students nodded.

Apparently, they had not all agreed to arrive at the same time, but had all simply gotten stuck in front of the Rose Mansion. When they finally settled themselves down, they called in, and Yumi had opened the door. It was probably a feeling very similar to when Yumi and Tsutako-san had first come to the Rose Mansion, and s.h.i.+mako-san had called to them from behind.

"It's curious, with f.u.kuzawa-san walking in and out of the Rose Mansion, the Roses feel a lot more accessible and human."

Wow. It was a completely different reaction than she expected.

"I'm sure there are things going on that I don't know, but to be honest, I thought, it'd be nice if f.u.kuzawa-san were to become Sachiko-sama's little sister."

Ahh, I see. -Yumi thought.

She had grown timid from her own selfish imagination, but it seemed not everyone was particularly critical about Yumi. Realizing that, Yumi felt a huge burden lifted from her shoulders.

The fine arts club members had come to the Rose Mansion to discuss some finer points about the backdrops they were working on, the handicrafts club members had come to confirm the costume fitting for tomorrow, and the invention club members had come with their tricks for the magic scenes.

The rehearsal was halted once again, but Yumi had finally been able to see the serious faces of the Roses. She had a very fun-loving and carefree image of them in the Rose Mansion, but originally, even Yumi only had the serious, difficult-to-approach image of the Roses.

"There is quite a bit of help from other clubs, isn't there."

Already one completed bit of scenery was leaning against the corner of the room. Having gone through the hands of the fine arts club, it was extremely realistic, but also illusory. For her, an image of a backdrop was very fuzzy, and trying to think hard about it invoked a feeling akin to the jagged, green, vinyl leaf-like object placed in the middle of hand-rolled sus.h.i.+.

"We only formally commissioned the dance club. The rumors of the Yamayurikai executives' sponsored play spread by word of mouth, and a whole lot of people gathered and volunteered to help. We were actually intending to just wear our normal clothing and use some of the dormant backdrops in the school warehouse."

Rei-sama, who was playing the part of the witch and the prince in today's rehearsal, explained.

"Every club is already busy with the school festival, but they've been going the extra mile for us. They said, it's a good change of pace, or it's a good source of inspiration. &h.e.l.lip; Well, they make fantastic things for personal use, too."

Having a surplus of good mood and being able to have fun with something else are both probably nutrition for their products.

When their matters were complete, and everyone settled back into getting ready for the rehearsal, the six students whom were preparing to leave asked.

"Umm, would you mind if we watched?"

Rosa Chinensis happily responded, "Sure," and with that, the fine arts club, handicraft club and invention club all clumped together and squealed, "Kyaa."

(Eek&h.e.l.lip;)

For Yumi, she was about to have an audience for her first rehearsal.

"Everything is alright." Sachiko-sama said, without any hesitation, and smiled brilliantly.

"Just do as you did before."

Immediately, she felt better. Of course, she just had to do what she did on the second floor.

Miraculous.

Rei-sama was supposed to be the witch, and Cinderella was supposed to be the one having a magic spell cast on her.

Sachiko-sama had reason to say the script was of no use for her. She had completely memorized her lines, was splendid, and even those standing on the stage with her struggled to stop staring at her.

When she looked at the corner of the room, the six visitors were likewise entranced by Cinderella.

Yumi felt proud.

Isn't Sachiko-sama fantastic?

She shouted jubilantly, deep down in her heart.

 

 

After school on Friday, clothing testing for basting took place in the clothing room for the Lillian Girls' Academy high school.

"My, what a lovely Cinderella."

The ivory dress, with brilliant ornamentation of gold and silver thread, was so neat and gorgeous, and it fit Sachiko-sama so perfectly that all you could do was sigh in adoration.

"I think the breast area is too bare, is it not?"

Sachiko-sama said, worried. Then, as she rolled up the mother-in-law's dress, Rosa Foetida jumped in to respond.

"No, you aren't supposed to be packing the collar like that. It's supposed to be service."

"Just what sort of service are you talking about?"

"The most beautiful figure possible, for the Sachiko fans, see?"

Rosa Foetida spun Sachiko-sama around and stopped her, face-to-face, with Yumi, who was in the middle of putting on the Sister B dress.

"Yumi-chan, what do you think? It looks just fine as it is, right?"

"Ah, y, yes, of course."

It might have seemed like it was a coerced answer, but being able to see a bit of her white b.r.e.a.s.t.s was far more s.e.xy and good. Even though they were all girls, she thought it was important to appreciate pretty things as pretty.

"Really?"

As Sachiko-sama leaned in to make sure, Yumi nodded her head vigorously. Although she had gotten a bit more used to it, the close-up view of a beautiful woman was still intense. Plus, today she had the added power of her clothing.

"If Yumi says so, then I shall leave it."

Sachiko-sama unexpectedly withdrew quite simply. She walked toward Rosa Chinensis, asking, "What are we to do about hair?"

"-says she. There seem to be some reasons behind that."

Rosa Foetida b.u.t.toned Yumi's back while verbally splas.h.i.+ng Yumi with cold water. Even Yumi, after all, could not have let "if Yumi says so" slip without noticing.

"Oh dear, Yumi has less b.r.e.a.s.t.s than expected. Maybe we need to have it made smaller."

The clothing for roles that had not been definitively a.s.signed had been made slightly larger than the standard high school student's size. Even though it was supposed to be slightly larger, that the waist was almost perfect while only the breast area was too big made her feel a bit sad.

When the handicrafts club member used a safety pin to note the extra cloth, this time Sachiko-sama spoke, "Wait," and hurried over.

"I am going to wear that, now."

"Eh?"

"Here, swap."

Sachiko-sama quickly took off the ivory dress and held it out to Yumi.

"Don't you forget. Who is to play Cinderella has not yet been decided. &h.e.l.lip; Come on, undress quickly."

"Sa, Sachiko-sama, that's&h.e.l.lip;"

Sachiko-sama chased her wearing only her slips, and finally cornered Yumi to the wall. No one offered help. Rather, they had all stopped working and turned to watch this amusing spectacle.

"Help!"

She was turned to her back, and her b.u.t.tons were unfastened.

"Kya-!"

We just have to talk this out, we just have to talk this out. But she never mustered the courage to start talking. She ran, so she was chased, and if she had undressed herself in the first place, she would have been spared BEING undressed.

"Ahh, Yumi-chan's cute, too. Cute, cute."

The Roses praised her like that, but they, too, clearly were looking at Sachiko-sama, who was her usual brilliant self in the Sister B attire.

"Everyone give me your handkerchiefs. Ah, towels would work, too."

Rosa Foetida grabbed a towel, rolled it up from both ends, and stuffed it into Yumi's chest.

"Hmm. One towel, or maybe two meat buns, would be necessary."

Because of her efforts, Yumi was able to acquire a wonderful ravine, but it was also very lewd.

"Umm, I think the b.r.e.a.s.t.s might be too bare, after all&h.e.l.lip;"

Yumi said, as she pointed to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, which probably would fit better if she used a push-up bra.

"But Yumi, you said it was alright just a moment ago."

Sachiko-sama tilted her head.

Well, I did say that, but at the time, I didn't think I would also be wearing it.

"Uh. Does that mean Sachiko-sama was asking me about the dress out of consideration of me also ending up in it?"

"Of course."

There was a "you just realized?" tone in her response.

Oh. That would explain her "if Yumi says so" earlier. She was a fool for becoming excited.

But, more importantly.

Sachiko-sama still had not given up about the lead role.

"Rosa Foetida, how about these?"

One handicraft club member offered two white objects. At first glance they were pincus.h.i.+ons, but its shape was more unstable and felt more like an ornament. They were also both part of one set, and she thought she'd recognized it-.

"Ah, shoulder pad."

Several people shouted at once.

"The material and size should be perfect."

"I think push-up bras have that sort of material sewn in."

"Oh? And might I ask how you know?"

"Excuse you, I do not use them."

The handicraft club was excited over talk of push-up bras, and so Yumi was unable to make any comment.

In any case, the shoulder pad was wonderfully set aside as an intended prop. Because of Sachiko-sama's phenomenal figure, regardless of whether Yumi was to act as Cinderella or Sister B during the performance, she was going to be forced to pad her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.