Maria-sama ga Miteru

Dropping her glance onto her clipped stack of copies, Rosa Cinensis Ogasawara Sachiko-sama coolly said.

"I am not going."

"Pardon?"

"I said, I am not going. By the way, would you please do something about your inattentive replies?"

Even if you tell me to do something about it... And I cannot take back now what I have blurted out of my lips-- f.u.kuzawa Yumi, who had finally got accustomed after three months of bearing the rather heavy t.i.tle of Rosa Chinensis en Bouton, thought to herself.

The Rose Mansion[1] had nothing like air-conditioners to refresh one"s mind, so all the windows were opened. As a result, cicadas" dry cries attacked from all around like TV broadcasts.

The rainy season had finally ended, and it had turned remarkably hot.

The season was already mid summer.

Sachiko-sama"s beautiful forehead was also slightly moistened by sweat drops like freshwater pearls.

Leaving that aside.

For the moment, what Yumi had to do was to ask to repeat onee-sama"s unbelievable words that reached her ears just now. I am not going. This line could not be neglected.

"But, onee-sama, your promise..."

Yumi reached out her body and pressed on with her words, and Sachiko-sama lifted her head off the printouts and gave a sigh.

"In no case am I trying to break my promise. However, Yumi, your pose is as if you are going to jump on me."

"...Why shouldn"t I?"

Yumi mumbled with her slightly pouted lips. She knew full well that she was really like a racing horse behind the starting line, with her heart anxiously crying aloud being quicker, quicker.

The gate was the final tests. Only if they are over, Yumi convinced herself as she drilled on her studies with all her strength, reached the final day today unscathed, and had her spirits all hyped up. It was just natural to dash with all her power like a boar, towards something right in front of her that she had been waiting for so long. -- Though the a.n.a.logy somehow turned from a horse into a boar.

"I have been waiting for so long... Amus.e.m.e.nt park"

Exactly.

Now the topic of discussion between the Red Rose sisters was about the suspended Amus.e.m.e.nt Park Date. During the rainy season, the issue became the centerpiece of a complicated big fight between the sisters, but the rain had been lifted, and the sisters had reconciled. Therefore Yumi thought it was natural to bring up the issue again. However, Sachiko-sama didn"t seem to think likewise.

"I am not saying I will never go, am I? I am only suggesting that going right now seems a little..."

"That is not true. Onee-sama, you have just flatly said "I am not going.""

"Stop picking words for me. How defiant you have become lately! I mean "I am not going right now," and you have made such an ruckus over my omitting the "right now.""

"Ruckus? Then you should choose your words with greater attention, onee-sama. Each one of your words is rubbing against my timid heart."

"Oh my, I am so surprised by a timid heart talking back like this!"

Sachiko-sama hit the stack of printouts onto the table. Shocked by such force, Rosa Gigantea Toudou Shimako gave a cute little cry.

The Red Rose sisters" conversation was so exciting that everybody else"s existence faded off. In reality, however, all six of Yamayurikai[2]"s executive members had gathered in this conference-room-c.u.m-salon, on the second floor of the Rose Mansion, the headquarters of Lillian Girls" Academy student council.

It was the afternoon of the last day of final tests. From the day after began the post-exam break, and everyone was summoned here to make various confirmations on events happening in the summer vacation.

"Is it really a good idea to leave the two like that?"

In a low voice Shimako asked the Yellow Rose sisters, who took no notice of the Red Rose sister"s debate.

"They are having a quarrel between close sisters, so we are not b.u.t.ting in." Rosa Foetida Hasekura Rei was pushing the core of her automatic pencil, as she put checkmarks onto the printout she was reading.

"Even if we do not interfere--?"

Rosa Gigantea en Bouton Nijou Noriko raised the same question seriously.

"Let them be, let them be. Fights of intimacy, that"s all."

Rosa Foetida en Bouton Shimazu Yoshino, having the same experience but more composure than Yumi as a pet.i.te soeur[3], said nonchalantly as she supported her chin with her knitted fingers.

"Fights of intimacy?"

The White Rose sisters exchanged glances and c.o.c.ked their heads. The two might not be able to understand through experience what it means by "quarrels between close sisters" or "fights of intimacy." They were brand new sisters, having transferred the rosary for less than a month

The problem was, Yumi has heard all of their talks.

However, it was in fact fights of intimacy, so Yumi could not protest a thing.

When the strong bonding was confirmed, Yumi could now do even things impossible when their emotions didn"t quite reach each other. Rather, Yumi would like to try everything. Before, Yumi could only watch unbelievably at Yoshino and Rei-sama exchanging snaps. Now that Yumi realized that it felt good to speak straight about her feelings, and it did her body no good to swallow back her words, Yumi decided to do exactly that.

Even onee-sama"s little retorts was enjoyable to listen to.

"Anyway,"

Sachiko-sama said as she touched her teacup with her finger and pulled her finger back.

"Oh, seconds? Just a moment."

Yumi stood up and hurried to the electric pot. Onee-sama had a couple of preferences about food, and cooled tea didn"t suit her taste.

"Great that you know."

"Well..."

I am your pet.i.te soeur after all. Sachiko-sama returned a smile on her face, delighted that her feelings got through.

"See?" Yoshino said to Shimako. "Not even dogs or bacteria can withstand the smell of sisters" fights."

"I see. What a lesson!"

Hey, I heard everything! You other sisters, please stop teasing us.

"Amus.e.m.e.nt parks are crowded in the summer vacation, aren"t they?"

Sipping the freshly prepared red tea in satisfaction, Sachiko-sama said.

"Yeah..."

Yumi gave a vague reply as she served the others with the warm tea. Every place for entertainment would be the same though.

"The School Festival is coming as well, you know."

"Argh"

Yumi was out of words as the unexpected School Festival excuse was pulled out.

What is that? What is that? Sachiko-sama is lining up small obstacles on the road towards the amus.e.m.e.nt park.

"Above all, I feel most uncomfortable by the heat."

There it went, the attacks of a princess" self-indulgence.

Pulling this excuse meant the end of conversation. Then not only a date at amus.e.m.e.nt park, any outings between the sisters during the summer vacation would have been ruled out.

"Also, I go to the summerhouse at our summer resort every summer."

"For the whole time this one and a half months?"

"Not for the whole time. This year, the plan is to be from the end of July to the beginning of August."

"Then, what about the latter half of August?"

Yumi just would not let go. Taking into consideration Sachiko-sama"s grandma pa.s.sing away just a while ago, she had refrained from choosing the obon[4] period. -- Though Yumi didn"t know exactly what religion Sachiko-sama"s grandma believed in.

"The latter half of the summer vacation is spent preparing for the School Festival back at school."

"What?"

"Haven"t we mentioned it to you? This is Yamayurikai"s custom for its executive members -- voluntary school-commuting in the summer vacation."

Rei-sama said as she opened the fridge.

"Therefore, the real vacation is only at the first half."

Hearing the high-pitched sound of ice cubes from the ice-maker hitting cups, Yumi drooped her head.

What a tight schedule! Then, even if one was not uncomfortable of the heat, and the place was not crowded in the summer, one could not even squeeze out a drop of time to go to amus.e.m.e.nt parks.

"Then, the date in amus.e.m.e.nt park..."

"Let"s wait till winter."

"...I guess."

Well, the result had been clear from the very beginning though. However, Yumi had already put up a good fight in front of her onee-sama. When Yumi returned to her seat, Yoshino greeted her with face that said "Great job."

"Well, the amus.e.m.e.nt park would not fly away even if you take it easy."

"But..."

I would love to go out together in the summer. Yumi mumbled in a low voice. Yoshino tuned down her volume as she whispered.

"Listen. If you suggest somewhere you can only go in the summer, even Sachiko-sama cannot just dismiss it and say to wait till winter. I did exactly this."

Yoshino advised, somehow like a demon"s whisper. In fact, Rei-sama turned back her head upon Yoshino"s words, so the a.n.a.logy was not off the mark.

"You did exactly this? Where are you going, Yoshino?"

"He-he-he"

"He-he-he?"

"Climbing Mt. Fuji."

"What? Really?"

It was meant to be a whispered conversation in order to not get interfered, but Yumi gave a loud cry without thinking. Sachiko-sama lifted her glance, gave a stare to the two, and restarted reading her printouts.

But that would surprise just anyone. It was climbing Mt. Fuji! Mt Fuji was without said the highest mountain in j.a.pan. What a brave heart for challenges, especially for a girl who could only watch from afar at any sports around this time last year.

"It has been my dream for soooo long. It is now ten months since the operation, the doctor has granted permission, and a supervisor will be right with me."

Rei-sama the supervisor was not partic.i.p.ating in the conversation, but made a long face towards this way. It was imaginable Yoshino probably succeeded in convincing with threats, and high-handedly tore off permission from the doctor in charge.

I dare say because I am a friend. Yoshino is such a person.

In contrast, my other friend-- Yumi sneaked across the room during post-meeting free time, and stayed still beside the chair on which the beauty with fluffy curly hair sat on.

"Shimako-san."

"Oh!"

Noticing her friend who lifted her head while sticking herself onto the chair, Shimako had "since when are you here?" written all over her face as her eyes startled wide. Ignoring that, Yumi pulled on Shimako"s sleeve with "hey hey" blurting from her lips.

"Hey, do you have any outing plans for the summer vacation?"

"I am thinking of hopping around among churches and Buddha statue exhibitions with Noriko."

Shimako exchanged glances with Noriko, and smiled.

"Wonderful! This combination really suits you two."

Without thinking, Yumi nodded convincingly. These two were the rare pair among Lillian students, in that their relation started with Buddhism.

"What about you?"

"Let me see. The family custom is to visit our grandma at Yamanashi[5]. This year, however, grandma said she would come visit us, so I have no idea."

How boring that I am the only one without any plans. Rather than boring, Yumi felt envious to the others. Every pair of sisters had some time in their schedules together.

--Just at that moment, Sachiko-sama called Yumi"s name unexpectedly.

"Yumi."

"Y-Yes."

Is she showing a dissatisfied expression? Yumi hurriedly stood up and turned back as she replied. "Say it if you have any problems." If Sachiko-sama told her so, Yumi had no words to reply. If something could be done when she said so, she would say it. If doing anything would not move Sachiko-sama, then anything said would be just meaningless.

However Sachiko-sama didn"t say as Yumi expected. Instead, a phrase without a subject reached Yumi"s ears.

"Coming?"

"Pardon?"

Coming? It is the present continuous tense of the verb "come."

Oh, it"s after the tests, so forget about it.

The problem now is: "who" is coming to "where" ?

What if the omitted subject is the first person p.r.o.noun "I," meaning Sachiko-sama herself? In that case the destination would the most appropriately be "here" or "school." You know, it is not common to say "I am coming to Paris." "Here" is most commonly used to specify the current location. Here is not Paris, so it should be "going to Paris."

But what is the point of saying "I am coming to school (here)" ?

Sachiko-sama"s expression is in the tone of a question. Then, the subject should actually be "you" or "Yumi." Then to where is Yumi supposed to be "coming" ? Using the verb "coming" means the destination must be somewhere Sachiko-sama would be at--

Seeing the question marks flying out of Yumi"s head, Sachiko-sama changed her wordings for one more time in amus.e.m.e.nt.

"W, Wha, Wha, Whaaaat?"

Upon hearing that, Yumi"s heart nearly fell out.

Unable to decide where to place her startlement, Yumi lined up her palms facing out without any thought, and gave them a semi-circular swipe at shoulder height like a car"s wiper.

Onee-sama"s words were far beyond Yumi"s wildest imaginations, that"s why.

Exactly.

Why not come visit our summerhouse? Sachiko-sama had said.

The family shared the same surprise.

"Summerhouse!? At the Ogasawara"s?"

Dad, in the position of opening the mizuyoukan pudding can lid, opened his eyes wide. Mom was frozen with a small teapot in her hands. The time was after dinner, while the family was chatting at the sofa.

"What shall we do? Yumi still doesn"t have a pa.s.sport! If it is the last week of July, it is very close. Can we make it?"

Looking her mother being all thumbs, Yumi thought, this person is definitely the one who gave birth to me. There is no point repeating, but Yumi had said almost the same line immediately after she accepted Sachiko-sama"s invitation.

"Yes, it takes two weeks right? RIGHT?"

However, it was a good idea not to tell during dinner. From the surprise received now, it was imaginable that one of the parents would have been choked by a meat ball, and end up getting rushed to the hospital by an ambulance.

"I said it is inside j.a.pan."

The summerhouse which Sachiko-sama paid a visit every summer was on a plateau summer resort one hour and a half away from Tokyo by bullet train.

"Inside j.a.pan... Yes, it should be within j.a.pan normally. Oh my, my brain grew numb by the double shock, from the gorgeous feel of the word "summerhouse," and from the name of the Ogasawara"s!"

Mom laughed as she pinched her cheek.

But it was understandable to think first it is overseas. Yumi"s onee-sama Ogasawara Sachiko-sama was the daughter of the one and only Ogasawara Group in the world, and the family was so rich that it was not at all strange to hold a castle in every part of the world. For example, in Sweden or Graecia or Rome. Though all are just imaginations, since Yumi has never been to any one of the places.

"But the Ogasawara family will also come, right? With such close relatives by the side, will you be a bother?"

"Sachiko-sama"s father and grandpa both have a company to attend, so they will visit the summerhouse during Obon vacation. Her mother will join them at that time as well."

Sachiko-sama, who had to return to school in the latter half of summer vacation, was the odd one to stay in the summerhouse earlier than anybody else. Thinking that Yumi would feel more at ease this way, Sachiko-sama extended the invitation.

"Please~ Can I go?"

Yumi took her father"s hand as she begged. It was long since the last time Yumi teased her father for anything.

"What do you think? I have no reason to object it--"

Dad"s lips pouted a little as he looked at Mom.

"I guess so... But it would be impolite not to send formal greetings to the Ogasawara couple."

"To the Ogasawara couple?"

Well, it was a little different from staying at someone"s house to finish a group project, so it might as well be natural turn into such a big ruckus. Or rather, Yumi"s mother was one of those polite people that telephone the host family to say thanks on such trivial matters, Yumi thought to herself.

"Mom, then you are going to phone Sachiko-sama"s mom to talk things over and get convinced?"

"Exactly. ... But how exciting! Just like meeting the in-laws for the first time."

"Oh come on."

Was this kind of reaction from an Old Girl from Lillian Girl"s Academy? Even within the family living under the same roof, the males would have no clue about such thinking pattern.

"Well, why not some souvenirs? How about a combination of Ginza high-cla.s.s delicacies? But no, the other side must have been used to eating such things. Maybe some lower-cla.s.s presents might make them happier. Oh, by the way, how much shall we send as something like accommodation fee? If we send in cash, the other side might not be pleased, though. But that doesn"t mean we can send in gift certificates, does it? In fact, we have no idea how much it takes to stay in that place for one day anyway."

The panicked mom even took out the "Convenient Q&A for Everyday-Life Greetings" for help, but there is no way an item called "Tips when your child go to visit the summer-house of her (extremely rich) Onee-sama" would be recorded in such a book.

But a mother has a mother"s special concerns. Her eyes turned bloodshot as they stared straight at the book index.

This most probably started in the Traditional New Year this year, when Yumi stayed one night at the Ogasawara"s place. That time, Yumi was lured out by Sei-sama in a surprise attack, and had had no idea that the venue was Sachiko-sama"s place. To her mother Yumi fussed up the truth a little, saying only that she was on a night camp.

Didn"t a small box of confectionery she had brought with her do just fine? Yumi thought, but it seemed that her mother had her regrets, because she failed to give some formal greetings before the daughter stayed a night at her Onee-sama"s place. By the way, her shock doubled when she learnt her son had also stayed a night, though he had no relations with the Ogasawaras.

As Mom waited for her second chance, Yumi heard directly from school that Sachiko-sama"s grandma pa.s.sed away, but of course she had not brought anything with her at that time. On their way home, Yumi asked for Youko-sama"s advice, but Youko-sama said, "It is a secret burial, and that side of the family hates formalities, so it is better not to bring any gift of consolation." In the end, therefore, Yumi left things like that.

That is why Mom now insisted that "This is the time." Nevertheless, as Youko-sama had said, Sachiko-sama and her mother Sayako-obasama never minded such formalities.

"Yumi. I wonder why you are eyed on by the daughter of such a great family like the Ogasawaras? That is like marrying into a family of rank! It makes even the parents nervous to think about meeting the in-laws! So please, Yumi, choose a humble household when you get married."

Mom was so entangled in her thoughts that she began to babble things that made no sense.

"All right, leave it like this and go to bed for now."

In the end, Dad couldn"t bear to see it anymore, and took Mom up to the bed room a little earlier than the usual bedtime. A "husband stop" instead of a "doctor stop."

"What a fuss!"

Her brother Yuki sat with his legs crossed on the sofa. He was so quiet that his existence had been forgotten, but he had always been in the living room, looking cool-mindedly at the family soap opera from afar.

"Exactly."

Yumi nodded, and poured j.a.panese tea into a tea bowl. Mom had left the teapot for a long time after she poured in hot water, so the tea"s color was expectedly very thick. Greenish brown, or even moss green by now.

"Even though Mom looked like that, she must be very happy."

"I guess."

The two siblings shared a friendly moment sipping tea diluted with hot water. Considering the season, it might be better to drink mugi-cha[6], but the warm green tea didn"t taste bad. The taste was very adult, let"s put it this way.

"Summerhouse... At that time I should be having a camp at that side as well."

Maybe we will meet over there, Yuki said smilingly while hugging a cushion. Yuki was in high school second-year at Hanadera Academy, neighboring Lillian Girl"s Academy.

"A camp? Yuki, what club are you at again?"

"The Student Council."

"So you are also involved in a student council?"

"Yeah."

The two nondescript siblings, who had no relations at all with such things till secondary school, suddenly had a 180 degrees turn when they stepped into high school, as they were swept in the bewildering but dynamic school life.

Oh, but talking about the student council.

"Don"t tell me you are with Kashiwagi-san --"

Oh no, oh no. That guy alone was dangerous.

"That guy has already graduated, though?"

"Oh, I forgot."

Kashiwagi Suguru, Sachiko-sama"s cousin, was two years elder than Yumi and Yuki. This spring he graduated peacefully at the Hanadera Academy High School, and is now a student at Hanadera University.

"But exactly because he is Kashiwagi-san, won"t he sneak into the camp in the name of supervising juniors? Yuki, be careful!"

"Well Yumi, I am now unable to think of an appropriate reaction as a younger brother towards his sister"s problematic a.s.sertion here."

"Just be careful. Kashiwagi-san has said that he loved the way Yuki struggles."

"Then how should I be careful? If I struggle I just make him happier, but there is no way I"ll surrender without a fight just because of that."

"I don"t know how. Anyway, stay normal! Don"t be lured into the abnormal side!"

Yumi grabbed on Yuki"s shoulders and shook him violently, as if encouraging her teammates not to fall asleep while stranded in a winter mountain. But the twin brother was quite cool. His lips curled up a little at the sides as a faint laugh escaped.

"Do you know the meaning of the words you are using?"

"...On the whole, yes."

In the end, all the fuss the sister was making was of no use: Yuki had to protect himself. Being a boy has its own problems.

"So what will the student council do during a camp?"

"Mainly discussing the School Festival, but I guess it is also an encouragement and friendship strengthening group event?"

"Ah, School Festival."

The atmosphere became more and more pressing that the Lillians needed to prepare for theirs. The Roses, who are the high school student council heads, will take the position of leaders and executives in the School Festival, so the boutons will also be busy helping out. Above that, the Yamayurikai executives needed to partic.i.p.ate in an event as representatives of Yamayurikai. Last year, it was "Cinderella" the drama.

However, every time Yumi heard the words School Festival, she would think, how fast has a single year pa.s.sed away. Thinking back, it was exactly last year"s School Festival when she and Sachiko-sama became soeurs.

"So what are you doing this year?"

Yuki asked.

"How about your side?"

"Undecided."

"Same here."

However the Roses seemed to have already formed an idea among them. But the boutons couldn"t come to ask about it; it was a little too scary.

Why? Last year, the ex-Roses cheated the unwilling Sachiko-sama into performing as "Cinderella." Using the same logic, this year"s boutons like Yumi and Yoshino would clearly be facing the fate of executing some formidable contracts. Probably even more unenviable than last year"s.

"...What does a Boy School Festival look like? Maybe I should go to Hanadera this year to take a look."

She felt more like for pastime than for reference. Every year, Hanadera"s School Festival was earlier than Lillian"s.

Well, it"s other people"s business anyway. Yumi spoke in such a dreamy tone, but Yuki was quick to correct her.

"Not maybe; it is a must, isn"t it?"

"Oh?"

"Isn"t it already a custom between student councils in Lillian and Hanadera to help out each other during School Festivals?"

"Ah!"

"What is with this reaction? Geez."

Hey, it is okay to keep such a lamentable face to yourself.

"Then Yuki, you are also coming to our school this year right? But in last year"s Lillian School Festival only Kashiwagi-san came alone, so is it that not everyone need to come?"

"We are helping in accordance to your requests."

"Ah I see. So there is actually a possibility Yuki is coming. But I hate my family staring at me. Last year Mom and Dad said they"d come, but I had stopped them no matter what."

See? Yumi asked for Yuki"s agreement, but Yuki turned silent for a while. Yumi pressed on about what the silence meant, and Yuki finally divulged with a grim face.

"...I went. Last year, to Lillian."

"You"re kidding!?"

"Kashiwagi-senpai was taking part. So I was brought along unwillingly by the other seniors."

"What?"

Unwilling or not, the fact that he saw "Cinderella" didn"t change.

"Why are you saying this after a year? Oh my, I can"t believe it!"

Yumi seized her brother"s cushion to hit him with it.

No way could she believe her brother had seen such a clumsy performance of Sister B. No way could she believe she had been kept in the dark till now, being carefree about it all the time. Yumi was completely discouraged by what a naive kid she had been.

"The subject had not been brought up again after that. I also imagined you would respond this way, so I had tried to stay silent. Humm. Even after a year, Yumi is still embarra.s.sed of it."

Even with around a year of difference in age, this formidable brother was a.n.a.lyzing the situation with a cool mind. Argh, how annoying. Or it should be how enviable. In terms of mental growth, maybe he had already surpa.s.sed her.

"You put up a good play. Very good."

Yuki said as he patted on Yumi, who turned her back towards him in a tantrum.

"Really?"

Yumi looked back and stared unbelievably at her brother"s face, thinking just when did he become so natural at comforting others. Well, Yuki had always been a gentle boy, but he had always been bad at expressing it.

"Sure. Though playing the role of a villain sister, you were too cute to be hated."

"Hey, isn"t that a problem on my performance ability...?"

"What"s wrong with that? That is not your character originally, right? Among us the reviews were excellent."

It sometimes amazed Yumi how quick-witted his encouragements were. If only I could be at least half like Yuki, speaking the accurate words fluently, Yumi thought to herself. If so, she could be a more robust and supporting pet.i.te soeur to her onee-sama.

"Are you coming this year as well?"

"Well, I need to go, I guess. No matter what plans you have on your side."

Then Yuki threw again some discouraging words to Yumi.

"This year, I will be there with you to humiliate ourselves."

It was the second day of post-exam break that Sachiko-sama phoned.

Mom received the phone first, but she had already completely recovered from the panic two days ago. Therefore she was able to be her best self and clearly greet, "Thank you for taking care of my daughter at school." Sachiko-sama also, in the tone of a dependable senior, replied, "Yumi has helped a lot, and I am indebted."

Knowing that the call was from Sachiko-sama, Yumi had positioned herself next to the receiver and listened to the whole conversation. As to the pending problem of greeting Sachiko-sama"s parents, it seemed the couple had gone out, and it was enough to just say, "Please give my greetings to your parents." Though Mom was all excited herself, the reality fell short of her expectation. The call turned out to start from the other side, but that was good in itself, in that it allowed no spare time for worries.

"Are there anyone else you would like to invite to the summerhouse?"

Yumi received the phone, and Sachiko-sama said so without introduction.

" Pardon?"

" If you want, you may invite two or three more people."

" Okay..."

Unable to comprehend the meaning behind, Yumi chimed in ambiguously. It was really out of her grasp: Why would Yumi, the guest invited to Sachiko-sama"s summerhouse, be responsible for asking other potential partic.i.p.ants?

Maybe it was custom to have a big boisterous gathering every year, and Yumi was just one of the guests? This year Sachiko-sama was not with her family, so Sachiko-sama suggested so in order to gather more people? -- Ideas swirled in Yumi"s head.

"Did you invite any others except me, Onee-sama?"

Yumi asked tentatively.

"No, I didn"t invite any others."

The situation became more and more mysterious.

"I am fine with what it is now."

Well, me too! Yumi would like to say, but stopped. Sachiko-sama had gone through the trouble of calling in, so the deduction should be she hopes to make the gathering more lively.

"Well..."

It was hard to discover what Sachiko-sama was really thinking. Sachiko-sama is perverse in nature, and would turn more and more cranky unless the correct questions were asked.

"Then, why don"t we ask Youko-sama to come?"

Mizuno Youko-sama was the previous Rosa Cinensis, sister of Sachiko-sama. Sachiko-sama"s inclination was uncertain, but if someone must be pulled in no matter what, then n.o.body is suitable except Youko-sama.

"She always looks busy, though."

Saying that should have nothing wrong, but when Sachiko-sama said "she looks busy," then that line could not be used. What about calling the other two previous Roses except Youko-sama? Not sure why, but something sounded funny.

Next, the faces of Yoshino and Shimako came up. But that would just be a common member gathering, and if Sachiko-sama really wanted so, she should have suggested without beating around the bush, "Why not have a Yamayurikai executive member camp?"

"Then, what about onee-sama"s cla.s.smates?"

"Yumi, did you hear what I said? I asked you to invite who you want to invite to the summerhouse."

I know. I know every word of it. That is exactly why I am troubled. A desparate moan cried out from Yumi"s heart.

This question was harder tham those in any subject"s test at the finals. So difficult that Yumi would as well just want to give up and ask for the solution set. "Anyway, ask around during the post-exam break. I will ask again at the term-end ceremony." In the end, this question remains a question for homework. Even amidst all the summer homework, this question is using the most brainpower -- probably.

"I am not going."

"What?"

"I said, I am not going. By the way, Yumi. Do something to that absent-minded reply, or Sachiko-sama will get annoyed."

Some days ago, someone different had exchanged similar conversations with me-- Yumi gave a "humm" as she grabbed the mobile receiver in her room.

"Put that aside, Yoshino, you just said you are not going, right?"

"Yes I did. Your schedule of staying at the Sachikos" summerhouse is exactly the same time as our trip to Mt. Fuji."

In the end of Yumi"s confusion, she directed the "Why not go to the summerhouse" invitation call to Yoshino. The group would turn out to be the same old student body members, but that probably would not result in a big mistake. Though not really inspired by Yuki"s words, if the summerhouse visit turned out as something like a Yamayurikai camp, it might be just as good.

"Shimako and Noriko most probably would be the same."

Well, school activities would eat up most of the latter half of vacation, so it is not a coincidence at all that plans are made for the not-so-busy period.

"Moreover, our club is also having a camp. It is really tough to be both in club activities and Yamayurikai."

"I can understand."

Yumi rolled over on her bed, grabbed the milk bottle close by and shook it. From this spring, Yoshino is joining the Kendo Club to be with Rei-sama.

"Also, you are the only one who got invited, right? We won"t b.u.t.t in." Yoshino giggled on the other side of the phone.

"b.u.t.t in..."

Yumi gave a bitter laugh.

"Sachiko-sama said it would be fine to invite others. No, the tone was more like, why not invite someone?"

"What on earth is that?"

"I don"t know myself. Maybe something is amiss if there are only the two of us? Or maybe Sachiko-sama would like to have a more boisterous trip? But then, why didn"t Sachiko-sama invite her own cla.s.smates? I don"t mind at all if Sachiko-sama"s friends are there. Actually I would like to be friendly with them in the first place. Sachiko-sama"s tone felt like I can bring along anybody I would like to."

The tone was as if Sachiko-sama would provide the Ogasawaras" summerhouse if Yumi had nothing no plans to go anywhere during the summer. But it was not that Yumi would die for going to the summerhouse. She just wanted to create some memories with Onee-sama. Therefore Yumi felt something strange about this invitation, which turned out as if "there is a company resort around, so bring your friends along!"

"I don"t get it."

"You think so too?"

"Nope. I am not even trying to understand what Sachiko-sama is thinking. What I would to ask is Yumi"s feelings."

"Pardon?"

"Why do you not care a bit? Why didn"t you say that the two of you are enough?"

Yoshino shot two whys to press for an answer.

"...Nothing really. On second thought, it is not that I need to make it just for the two of us."

"No kidding! Why?"

"Even if you ask me why..."

Yumi thought back. In the New Year at the Ogasawaras" residence, it was pretty fun with Sei-sama. A little before, when Yumi visited Sachiko-sama"s grandmother"s place, everything worked out because Youko-sama was there. Maybe Sachiko-sama even found it fun to have everyone together doing something exciting, Yumi thought recently.

"Unbelievable."

Yoshino"s mumble transmitted clearly through the receiver.

For Yoshino, it was just normal to be with Rei-sama her Onee-sama, and Rei-sama was always her top priority, unreplacable by anything on earth. Therefore it nearly became her habit to say "Unbelievable" when any sister couples different from hers rubbed her the wrong way. For Yumi, the Yellow Rose sisters were the unbelievable pair. It could be called a miracle how close the two could stick together, Yumi often thought to herself.

"But if Yoshino and Shimako were unavaliable..."

What should Yumi do?

If Yumi talked to Tsutako or Mami, they would most probably jump on their feet to follow. But it was supposed to be private, and Yumi just didn"t feel comfortable to do what she wanted under the surveillance of Photo Club and Newspaper Group. On the other hand, if the two were invited on the condition of no camera and no news coverage, it would be just to cruel to them.

"Why not invite Touko-chan?"

Mumbling without much thinking, Yumi heard yet another outburst from Yoshino from the other side of the phone.

"Stupid Stupid Stupid Stupid! Aren"t you stupid or something, Yumi?"

"You don"t need to use so many "stupid" on me."

A total of five by finger count.

"This is just stupid!"

Oh, six.

"What are you up to by calling your rival out? At a place like the Ogasawara"s summerhouse, you are having your debut and away game. Under such disadvantages, do you really think you are fighting on the same ground with that cheeky hair-roll?"

"Away..."

A clever a.n.a.logy that surely from Yoshino, a sports watching fan.

"So Touko-chan is the home team?"

"Of course she is. Though not blood-related, she and Sachiko-sama are relatives."

"Oh, yes."

Now Yumi was reminded. She had completely forgotten about it.

"What is wrong with the weaker side sending salt to the stronger side to rub on his wounds?"

"E- Exactly"

Exactly as you said.

"Now you got it. Never ever invite her! And don"t drop any stupid ideas to Sachiko-sama!"

"You are pretty scary, Yoshino."

"You are too considerate, Yumi, so I am concerned about you. I know what term describes you best: Ohitoyoshi[7]"

"Argh--"

How harsh it is to be unable to refute. Upon Yumi"s silence, Yoshino continued her arguments with increasing vigor.

"Just tell Sachiko-sama, let"s go for the two of us only. Okay? Got it?" Overwhelmed by such pressure, Yumi could only nod on the spot for the time being--

"Well, then. Why not ask Sei-sama?"

The school semester ending ceremony had finished, and after homeroom Yumi waited for Sachiko-sama at the garden. Such was Sachiko-sama"s reply after listening to Yumi.

"Sei-sama?"

If it were one of the previous Roses, then it would be just fine to suggest Eriko-sama. Why did Sei-sama"s name come up instead then? Perhaps the incident one month ago still left a sting at Sachiko-sama"s heart? Yumi thought to herself.

That day during the rainy season, heavy clouds lingered over the sister"s just like the sky in those days. Envious of Touko-chan, Yumi ended up throwing herself into Sei-sama"s arms as if to escape from Sachiko-sama.

Now it was a summer afternoon.

The sky was clear blue. The sunshine was so ferocious that her arms sticking out of her short sleeves were burnt mercilessly.

The heavy rain that soaked Yumi"s heart and body that day now seemed like a dream. How unbelievable that only one month had pa.s.sed!

"With Sei-sama, Yumi would enjoy more, wouldn"t you?"

Unbelievable as it looked, Sei-sama often appeared whenever Yumi was in danger and extended a saving hand, Yumi came to realize. Therefore Yumi grew dependent on her. Sachiko-sama must feel a little bitter about this, Yumi faintly sensed.

Perheps it was envy? -- Yumi cheekily began to a.n.a.lyze.

But Yumi always only had Sachiko-sama in her heart, and never flirted around. Well, there was that kiss on the cheek, but to Sei-sama that was nothing but a greeting. -- At this point, Yumi started to reflect on herself honestly. Such insensitivity was already a problem itself.

"But university students are having seminars and such, aren"t they?"

Don"t know for sure, but maybe.

"Well, probably."

Sachiko-sama walked slowly along the shaded paths in the garden, while gently touching the fresh lush green bush leaves. Stealing a glance around, there was n.o.body but the two of them. Students longing for their sunny summer vacations had quick feet to go home, that"s why.

Perhaps Sachiko-sama didn"t care at all, Yumi thought as she followed behind. Even so, Yumi just didn"t feel right to invite Sei-sama. Searching frantically in her head for a subt.i.tute of Sei-sama"s name, Yumi replayed the first name that popped up for the time being.

"How about Touko-chan?"

In Yumi"s brain, Yoshino-san was yelling the seventh "Stupid." However, the words had come out of her mouth, so she couldn"t do a thing.

"Touko-chan?"

Sachiko-sama repeated with a little startle. At that time, Yumi realized something, and gave herself the eighth "Stupid" in her heart. What was the point of doing to Sachiko-sama the same thing that Sachiko-sama had once done to her? Now it would look as if Yumi was exceedingly conscious of Touko-chan.

"She is no good."

Before long, Sachiko-sama replied.

"No good...?"

Yumi probed deeper. It was all right; Sachiko-sama didn"t look like she would spew fire for the time being.

"In July she is going to Canada on a trip with her parents."

"Canada..."

How grand.

"It is better for us not to invite her then."

A summering in j.a.pan or a vacation overseas. No matter how much Touko-chan admired Sachiko-sama, putting the two choices on a scale, Touko-chan surely would choose to go overseas.

At least the situation Yoshino had scolded Yumi about could be avoided. Yumi gave a sigh of relief and looked at Sachiko-sama, to find a calm face that showed no emotions. It looked as if Sachiko-sama was in deep thoughts, and took no notice even when Yumi was staring at her.

It would be easy to ask Sachiko-sama what she was thinking about, but if Yumi raised the question, would she be intruding Sachiko-sama"s time? Yumi ended up sinking into deep thoughts as well.

Finally, Sachiko-sama felt Yumi"s stare and turned to her. Yumi plucked up the courage and asked.

"Onee-sama, do you feel uneasy to be just with me?"

"How can that ever be? How did you come a conclusion so wide off the mark?"

Sachiko-sama"s words might be tough, but she was smiling.

"To me, it is already enough if just Yumi comes."

"Oh"

What a killer line.

--It is already enough if just Yumi comes.

Isn"t it the line to drop down on Yumi"s student notebook, and take it everywhere without leaving her body for a moment?

"To me also, if just Onee-sama comes...!"

Suppressing her urge to hop up, Yumi confessed. Hey, the two of us are feeling the same thing! This is just joy above anything.

But why would Sachiko-sama think of inviting other people?

Nevertheless, under such a powerful line of "if just Yumi comes," such trivial doubts became blurred right away, and soon vanished like morning smoke.

"So just the two of us is all right?"

Sachiko-sama asked the same question again.

"Yes!"

Yumi replied energetically.

With just the two of them, it should be fun regardless of the venue. At that point of time, such was believed without a doubt.

"Did you hear that?"

"I heard that."

After the red rose sisters returned side by side, basking in the warm sisterhood between them, two shadows appeared from within the dense bushes.

"The Ogasawara"s summerhouse. No matter how, I want to receive an invitation. If impossible, it would be good even to just sneak a glimpse of the red rose sisters" vacation."

Bangs parted to one side[8] with a hairpin, the short-haired girl who had stopped, shut the memo pad which was open and muttered.

"But, since it"s private property, right?"

Replied the silver-rimmed gla.s.ses girl, gripping a small camera in her hand.

"We can"t freely trespa.s.s, eh?"

"Putting that aside, by the way, concealing myself in this thicket and chasing after the red rose sisters, I didn"t expect there was a visitor ahead of me."

"Geez. Me too. You appearing at times -- it"s a startling thing."

"It"s because the direction of our interest is the same, isn"t it?"

While both were laughing, they straightened their backs and worked their shoulders. It was proof that they had lurked there in the same posture the whole time.

"Wouldn"t it be better to give up here, and target either the yellow rose sisters or white rose sisters?"

As a suggestion, parted-hair girl enquired of gla.s.ses girl.

"Looks that way, doesn"t it. So, the white rose sisters?"

"If I"m not mistaken, they are going around visiting churches and Buddhist statue exhibitions or something."

"Yellow rose?"

"Climbing Mt. Fuji."

The parted-hair-girl"s interview notes were primarily chock-full of gossip related to Yamayurikai staff.

"Well, either way it only seems to be places that aren"t without complications."

"Yeah, truly. However, better to have a chance of victory from outside the summer house"s grounds, than stick to two who we don"t even know when they will head out."

"Though, it"s a problem even with churches and Buddhist statue exhibitions, right? Although shadowing is easy enough, because there are many situations where I can"t take photos, it"s a bit&h.e.l.lip;"

"Such being the case, with the Mt. Fuji climbing, what"s the chosen day? In the way of my motto, for a thorough article, thorough investigation, for that reason, though shadowing, I must climb to the summit."

"Or better yet, instead of shadowing, switch to travelling together? If we go to that extent, most likely, the yellow rose sisters will even cooperate with the investigation."

Gla.s.ses-girl turns the camera towards parted-hair-girl.

"But, though I"m not proud of it, I don"t have confidence in my physical stamina."

"Whoa. For a newspaper reporter that is fatal."

Like a cicada"s cry cut off, the shutter"s delightful sound echoed once. Due to the short time it takes to enter the school building, they probably already couldn"t be heard by the red rose sisters.

"Always, willpower moves the body to investigate, but climbing Mt. Fuji -- there is a feeling of defeat right from the start."

"With the opponent being j.a.pan"s best, anyone would be nervous."

Gla.s.ses-girl lowered the camera and laughed.

"Well, as expected, maybe the red rose sisters are the best choice. Do we try to ask Yumi to take us along? We might get an OK, you know."

"But. Having snuck a view of that situation"s two-people-in-their-own-world feeling, it"s a bit difficult to ask, right?"

"We"d be intruding, wouldn"t we?"[9]

"Yep, intruding."

The two, being f.u.kuzawa Yumi"s cla.s.smates, know just how fond she is of her onee-sama. For that alone, and beyond that -- what a thing it would be if friendship was not able to hinder their cutting in on such modest happiness, no matter how good the photos and stories to be had.

"To that point, you know, about the sisters" vacations, it"s not about getting shown, rather I want to see."

"I understand, I understand. A desire not for reporting the smiles, but for the unintentional private facial expressions."

"Just so."

Finding a kindred spirit, that"s probably what this sort of thing is called. Though the genre of both photos and newspapers are different, the pair"s preferences align considerably. [10]

"Do we sneak in?"

When they can join forces, people turn on the acceleration and become confident. Parted-hair girl, tucked her hair, cut uniformly short in advance of summer vacation, behind her ear, and grinned broadly.

"That is probably reckless. It"s an Ogasawara household owned summer house. Adequate security is to be expected."

If she went too far, one could say it"d be a big relief if there was a human being who is given to restraint nearby. On that point, gla.s.ses-girl, because she could determine the expected follow-up, could likely be called suitable.

"Especially, if it is during a high cla.s.s lady"s stay over. Of course, it"s expected to encounter a flawless security system."

"If there is a trespa.s.ser, the security company will detect it immediately and come running. No, it"s more than that, that"s half-hearted."

"Above the fence, barbed-wire with high-voltage electric current flowing?"

"That"s it. Ogasawara household employed security guards are just like sentinels guarding a gate, and also patrolling around the perimeter of the high fence ―――"

"Attending bodyguards, of course, are all uniformly handsome men in the style of Paris collection men"s models."

"Although, because the two of them are immersed in their own world, they would give no regard to such men&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;!"

The ability to imagine pa.s.sing through the defensible range, steadily swelled to be called a delusion.

"Regardless, I want to see."

"Yeah, me too."

Their dream -- the red rose sisters serene, yet beautiful, vacation relaxing at the Ogasawara household"s summer house.

Incidentally, parted-hair girl is named Yamaguchi Mami, and gla.s.ses girl is named Takeshima Tsutako.

Unknown to them at that moment, Yumi, not knowing that such a conversation had unfolded, would busily set about packing that very night.

From Monday in the last week of July, she would be departing to spend one week with her onee-sama at the highland summer house.