Maria-sama ga Miteru

Chapter 78

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It all started with something trivial. Perhaps a pa.s.sing statement from Sachiko-sama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Say, Shimako, when are you going to bring Noriko-chan?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Pardon?"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako asked, uncomprehending. She thought it was with the same tone of voice she used in the cla.s.sroom when she didn"t understand a question.

 

 

 

 

 

"I thought I heard you say Noriko, but - "

 

 

 

 

 

Mindful of the steam rising from the kettle, Shimako turned around still holding the teacups.

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes, that"s unmistakeably what I said. And since I was asking you, the "Noriko-chan" in this case would be Nijou Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

Was she in a good mood or a bad mood? Sachiko-sama politely moved the conversation forwards. Speaking as though ordering the conversation towards a conclusion that she already knew.

 

 

 

 

 

"What of Noriko?"

 

 

 

 

 

If the conversation were about Noriko, then it wasn"t as though Shimako had no idea what it was going to be about.

 

 

 

 

 

No, it was more accurate to say that she had some expectations. However, she hadn"t yet had time to practice her answers to the antic.i.p.ated questions, which was troubling.

 

 

 

 

 

It was lunch time, much like any other.

 

 

 

 

 

The two boutons in Shimako"s grade had not yet made their appearance, so it was only the three Roses in the mansion they lent their name to.

 

 

 

 

 

As it was just the three of them, they weren"t actively engaged in conversation, nor was there the awkward silence that came when there was nothing to talk about, instead they were going about their own business and occasionally trading remarks, as they would on most other days.

 

 

 

 

 

A pleasant guitar melody from the folk-song club came drifting in through the window that faced the courtyard. Rei-sama was reading a new novel, Sachiko-sama was writing something in her student diary, and, as the "heating" light on the kettle had just gone out, Shimako had reached out for the teacups.

 

 

 

 

 

It was at that point that Rosa Chinensis, Ogasawara Sachiko-sama, had made her remark. So, to Shimako, it was nothing more than a feint.

 

 

 

 

 

"As I was saying, when are you going to bring her to the Rose Mansion?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama closed her student diary and put it back in her pocket.

 

 

 

 

 

"To the Rose Mansion?"

 

 

 

 

 

As she asked for confirmation, Shimako turned her back on the other two Roses and resumed her task.

 

 

 

 

 

The water was poured into three cups, then the teabags were set drifting.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako idly watched as the teabags slowly stained the water inside the white cups.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a crude way of making tea, but Shimako was abiding by Sachiko-sama"s request of, "Anything as long as it"s quick." Her fourth period cla.s.s had been PE, so she seemed to be prioritizing appeasing her thirst over taste.

 

 

 

 

 

June had arrived, along with the fine weather that precedes the rainy season. Even without PE cla.s.ses, cool water and tea seemed to taste better.

 

 

 

 

 

So as not to keep Sachiko-sama waiting, Shimako carried a teacup across to her immediately after taking the teabags out.

 

 

 

 

 

"Obviously I meant to the Rose Mansion. Where else would you be taking her?"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako swallowed her reply of, "To an exhibition of Buddhist statues." It didn"t seem like a smart joke to make.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shimako, Sachiko"s saying that you should properly introduce her to the group. You understand, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

Rosa Foetida, Hasekura Rei-sama, joined the conversation, her explanation attempting to cut through the confusion. She, like Sachiko-sama, was a third-year.

 

 

 

 

 

"Understand? &h.e.l.lip; Yes, however."

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying her own teacup, Shimako sat down in an empty seat.

 

 

 

 

 

"By becoming your pet.i.t soeur, she became Rosa Gigantea en bouton. She"s no ordinary first-year student."

 

 

 

 

 

By becoming your pet.i.t soeur. Rosa Gigantea en bouton. No ordinary first year. - Sachiko-sama"s words caught in her heart like small fish bones in the throat.

 

 

 

 

 

"What is it, Shimako? Is there something you want to say?"

 

 

 

 

 

After finishing her tea, Sachiko-sama raised an eyebrow. So Shimako nodded, "Yes." If she didn"t clear up this misunderstanding now, those small bones would remain stuck.

 

 

 

 

 

"Umm &h.e.l.lip; Noriko isn"t actually my pet.i.t soeur."

 

 

 

 

 

It was said at the exact moment that the idly listening Rei-sama had the misfortune of bringing her cup to her mouth to take a sip, therefore:

 

 

 

 

 

Splutter!

 

 

 

 

 

The next instant, a splendid stream of black tea came spouting out of her mouth, like she was a fountain statue.

 

 

 

 

 

"No way. Then, then, then, then, the rosary!?"

 

 

 

 

 

"I haven"t given it to her."

 

 

 

 

 

After Shimako answered, it was Sachiko-sama who spoke next.

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; n.o.body would believe it."

 

 

 

 

 

While frowning slightly, Sachiko-sama took a handkerchief trimmed with lace from her pocket and patted down her face and hair. Regrettably, she had been sitting directly across from Rei-sama, so had been struck with a shower of black (Darjeeling) tea. Still, the fact that she could retain her composure while being embroiled in such a dreadful incident was quite admirable. As expected of a princess.

 

 

 

 

 

"Not believe it &h.e.l.lip; Is that so?"

 

 

 

 

 

"That"s not the correct response. Why are you dilly-dallying?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Dilly-dallying &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

While that expression wasn"t exactly uncommon, it still seemed new to Shimako.

 

 

 

 

 

Was she really dilly-dallying? It was true that she had been exposed alongside Noriko in front of the first-years at the Maria ceremony the other day, which surely led to this misunderstanding that was coming from all sides.

 

 

 

 

 

"How long do you think it has been since the Maria ceremony? About half a month. We"ve entered into June and changed into summer uniform - what on earth have you been doing?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama shifted her shoulders back and puffed her chest out.

 

 

 

 

 

Even if it was called a change of uniform, the color and the design didn"t alter much. It used a lighter type of cloth, and there was the choice of short sleeves, but that was the extent of the changes. The ivory collar and long black dress that was Lillian"s signature kept going strong as the seasons changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Incidentally, the three people called Roses currently on the second floor of the Rose Mansion had all opted for long sleeved uniforms.

 

 

 

 

 

At first glance, everything looked as it always had. But something had changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako and Noriko"s relationship, as well as something closer. Due to the events of the Maria ceremony, their connection was out in the open. However, there hadn"t been any visible progress. A friendly second-year and first-year student. That was the truth of the matter.

 

 

 

 

 

But the people surrounding them apparently expected something more than that.

 

 

 

 

 

"Do you wish to include Noriko in our group?"

 

 

 

 

 

"What are you saying? That you can"t make up your mind until you"ve heard our opinion?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama looked displeased as she flicked her long black hair over her shoulder.

 

 

 

 

 

"Then, let me tell it to you. Shimako, is there anyone other than Nijou Noriko that you would want as your pet.i.t soeur?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko-chan"s your number one, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama provided the follow-up question. Shimako didn"t fully understand the meaning of the phrase "number one."

 

 

 

 

 

If she was being asked which first-year she was closest to, then that was indeed Noriko. While that was true, and even if she subscribed to the idea that she should take a pet.i.t soeur immediately, she was still a bit reluctant.

 

 

 

 

 

"What are you worried about? With Noriko, things will be fine. Compared to someone like my Yumi, she"s far more level-headed. No-one will oppose it."

 

 

 

 

 

It seems Sachiko-sama was talking about things like academic record and fort.i.tude. But Yumi-san had a certain charm that no-one else had. And it was undoubtedly because Sachiko-sama recognized this, that she had wanted Yumi-san as her pet.i.t soeur.

 

 

 

 

 

"Although I don"t really mind if you bring someone other than Noriko-chan."

 

 

 

 

 

"In other words, I should choose a pet.i.t soeur soon?"

 

 

 

 

 

"For the continued stability of the Yamayurikai, every day I eagerly await the announcement of Rosa Gigantea en bouton, wouldn"t you agree?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama provoked her with intentionally innocuous words.

 

 

 

 

 

"It"s a tradition, you know. Rise to the challenge."

 

 

 

 

 

So said Rei-sama, who had never been baptized in that tradition. The previous Rosa Foetida, Torii Eriko-sama, had called out to her not long after she"d entered into high-school, and making Yoshino-san her pet.i.t soeur was simply the enactment of a decision that had been made many years prior.

 

 

 

 

 

"Let me think about it some more."

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako said.

 

 

 

 

 

"For how long? If possible, I"d like to see this matter settled before summer vacation."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama was slowly starting to resemble the former Rosa Chinensis, Mizuno Youko-sama. Probably because she admired her, and wanted to be like her.

 

 

 

 

 

"Now, now. You procrastinated until the school festival, Sachiko."

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama didn"t resemble her predecessor at all. She walked her own path.

 

 

 

 

 

"Procrastinated? How rude. I wasn"t aware of Yumi"s existence until the beginning of second semester, so there was nothing I could do. Plus, I wasn"t going to mention it, but I did have the bitter experience of being rejected by a certain somebody prior to Yumi, didn"t I?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama held out her empty cup, demanding a refill. Shimako, the aforementioned "certain somebody," silently took the cup, added a teabag and poured in the hot water. Sachiko-sama"s p.r.i.c.kly acerbity was soon discarded.

 

 

 

 

 

"At the very least, I was proactive. Whether the rosary was accepted or not."

 

 

 

 

 

"Which reminds me, Shimako only became Sei-sama"s pet.i.t soeur just after summer vacation had ended. That pair dilly-dallyed for about six months."

 

 

 

 

 

Again, dilly-dally.

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah. Should we call this a White Rose tradition then?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama laughed cynically, perhaps still bitter that Shimako had refused the rosary that she had offered first, instead choosing Sei-sama.

 

 

 

 

 

"But, I will say this, Shimako. Don"t let a year pa.s.s without making Noriko-chan your pet.i.t soeur. That kind of indulgence doesn"t serve anyone."

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes."

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako felt as though they were seeing right through her. Then she realized it was some other, unknown, person"s mind that was being dissected.

 

 

 

 

 

Previously, she had had a discussion with Noriko about the rosary. At that time, Shimako had felt that it wasn"t yet a necessity for Noriko. For all intents and purposes, she had said this.

 

 

 

 

 

When she heard this, had Noriko felt disappointed? Or had she felt relieved?

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn"t that Noriko was inappropriate, but that the time wasn"t yet right. That sort of feeling. Perhaps she had wanted to avoid placing the burden of being Rosa Gigantea en bouton on a first-year student.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako didn"t want to become a huge burden to Noriko. Under normal circ.u.mstances, it was unthinkable to suggest that someone unacquainted with the school become one of its student representatives.

 

 

 

 

 

Just by being a.s.sociated with her, Noriko"s high-school life might be completely changed. To Shimako, that was something incredibly dreadful.

 

 

 

 

 

However, what would Noriko think of it?

 

 

 

 

 

At this point, Shimako regretted having unilaterally concluded that conversation. Perhaps it was something they needed to revisit to fully come to terms with.

 

 

 

 

 

Handing her rosary to Noriko.

 

 

 

 

 

It certainly wasn"t an unpleasant thought.

 

 

 

 

 

However.

 

 

 

 

 

Even without it, they were still bound together. Rosary, soeur, Yamayurikai. With each step along that path, they would be the subject of rumors, and it seemed likely that their relationship would twist into a different shape to its original one.

 

 

 

 

 

Surely it was egotism. Changing the name was simply self-indulgence. However, Shimako understood that something which hadn"t been turned over was controlling her behavior regarding Noriko.

 

 

 

 

 

"Sorry we"re late!"

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san and Yoshino-san burst into the room. Their fourth period cla.s.s had apparently been spent outdoors, and they were late as a result of that.

 

 

 

 

 

"You didn"t have to run."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama"s eyes were calm and gentle as they looked at their pet.i.t soeurs, who were out of breath with a sheen of sweat on their foreheads.

 

 

 

 

 

Watching them, Shimako felt ashamed that she couldn"t take that next step forward.

 

 

 

 

 

Even though she could see how pure and beautiful Sachiko-sama and Yumi-san"s relationship had become since the transfer of the rosary.

 

 

 

 

 

Even though she could see how Rei-sama and Yoshino-san"s good relationship had continued unaffected by the rosary exchange.

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn"t the words that kept her from going ahead. Nor was the rosary at fault. It was, undoubtedly, a question of her own inner feelings.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shimako."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama glanced her way.

 

 

 

 

 

"If you don"t object, how about asking Noriko-chan to help out from time to time?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Don"t worry. Even if you do that, you don"t have to make her your pet.i.t soeur if you don"t want to."

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama smiled at her too.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako had no immediate reply.

 

 

 

 

 

Having Noriko, n.o.body"s pet.i.t soeur, coming and going from the Rose Mansion.

 

 

 

 

 

It was like tracing over the tracks she had taken one year previously with Satou Sei-sama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After school, a single White Rose blossomed in front of the first-year camellia cla.s.sroom.

 

 

 

 

 

Some time had elapsed since the completion of cleaning duties so there were only a few students in the corridors.

 

 

 

 

 

Even so, the motionless figure caught the attention of those who happened to walk past the first-year camellia cla.s.sroom, and they sighed either nonchalantly or openly as they observed her. - After all, it was undiluted Rosa Gigantea.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako was unaware of these glances, as she was looking out the hallway window to the scenery beyond. Day by day, the greenery on the trees was increasing.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps the clouds had darkened a bit. Maybe a shower was coming.

 

 

 

 

 

Rain wouldn"t be out of place during this season. Shimako had a folding umbrella inside her school bag.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shimako-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

Hearing her name called, she turned around and there was the person she"d been waiting for.

 

 

 

 

 

Underneath the evenly cut bangs reminiscent of traditional j.a.panese dolls, Noriko"s eyes looked somewhat surprised.

 

 

 

 

 

"What"s the matter?"

 

 

 

 

 

"There"s nothing wrong. I just thought we might go home together, if that"s okay with you, Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

However, when Shimako had arrived at the first-year camellia cla.s.s, she discovered that she"d just missed Noriko. Upon learning that Noriko"s bag was still in the cla.s.sroom, Shimako decided to wait out in the hallway until she returned.

 

 

 

 

 

"Sure, I"ll go. Oooh, I"m so happy."

 

 

 

 

 

Hearing this unrestrained delight, Shimako smiled slightly.

 

 

 

 

 

"And your errand? Have you finished it?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh? Errand?"

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko stopped for a moment, as though in thought, and then:

 

 

 

 

 

"No, it"s nothing. Touko"s just been stubbornly forcing me to run from one place to another."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko said, waving her hand as she returned to her cla.s.sroom.

 

 

 

 

 

"Take your time."

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining in the corridor, Shimako called out to the retreating figure of the bob-haired girl. Seeing Noriko so full of energy always put her in a good mood.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako had initially been a bit worried, but it looked like Noriko had adapted well to life at Lillian"s.

 

 

 

 

 

Indeed. Unlike herself a year ago, Noriko was building her own bridges. By finding a friend that she could openly communicate with, she seemed to be opening herself up to the world at large.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako was honestly relieved for that.

 

 

 

 

 

Nonetheless, as she was breathing a sigh of relief, there remained a speck of loneliness in a corner of her heart. A feeling both sweet and cold, like holding a peppermint candy in her mouth, swept through her body.

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; She said "Touko.""

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako said unintentionally, talking to herself.

 

 

 

 

 

"You called?"

 

 

 

 

 

A voice responded, and Shimako instinctively clutched her chest.

 

 

 

 

 

"Gokigenyou, Rosa Gigantea. Oh, my, I seem to have startled you."

 

 

 

 

 

Sure enough, when Shimako turned around, the owner of that name, Touko-chan, was standing there smiling, her trademark hair rolls bouncing.

 

 

 

 

 

"I"m sorry, I was just thinking about something &h.e.l.lip; Gokigenyou, Touko-chan."

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako quickly recovered from her slight disturbance and returned the greeting. Matsudaira Touko was Noriko"s cla.s.smate, and a distant relative of Sachiko-sama"s, so she was a proper young lady.

 

 

 

 

 

Even as she faced Touko-chan, Shimako found it strange that she didn"t really feel anything negative towards her. Despite the pain Shimako had felt when she heard Noriko speak Touko-chan"s name, it didn"t seem to have given rise to any feelings of jealousy.

 

 

 

 

 

Unaware that Shimako was thinking these thoughts, Touko-chan continued on.

 

 

 

 

 

"Listen to me, Rosa Gigantea. Noriko-san"s being absolutely awful. No matter how much I encourage her, she absolutely refuses to come and watch our club activities. Whenever I offer to take her, she just runs off somewhere. Could you please say something to her to get her to stop this behavior, Rosa Gigantea."

 

 

 

 

 

"Your club?"

 

 

 

 

 

Just as Shimako said this:

 

 

 

 

 

"Who"s the one being absolutely awful?"

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko asked, having returned from her cla.s.sroom with her bag.

 

 

 

 

 

"Quit it, Touko. Getting Shimako-san involved in this, really?"

 

 

 

 

 

As she made this comment, Noriko gently pushed Touko-chan"s head out of the way. Watching this unfold, Shimako"s chest tightened slightly.

 

 

 

 

 

Again. Again, that peppermint wind was blowing somewhere inside her.

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko, have you joined a club?"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako asked, and Noriko shook her head in rejection of the idea.

 

 

 

 

 

"I have no intention of that at all. I"ve only been invited, is all. I think it"s just that everyone"s so eager to see me integrate into this school. Although I don"t really mind. How can I put this, there"s people who make a hobby out of meddling everywhere."

 

 

 

 

 

Then without a moments delay, the chief meddler Touko-chan b.u.t.ted in with:

 

 

 

 

 

"Touko invited her to the drama club, but then the literature club, the tennis club, and the bible scripture club all asked Noriko-san to join too."

 

 

 

 

 

"The bible scripture club?"

 

 

 

 

 

Unintentionally, laughter leaked out of Shimako. It would take an incredible cla.s.smate to capture the Buddhist sculpture loving Noriko and get her to recite bible verses.

 

 

 

 

 

"I know, right."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko too laughed as she shrugged her shoulders.

 

 

 

 

 

A devout Catholic daughter of a Buddhist priest, and a Buddhist statue loving reluctant attendant at Lillian"s.

 

 

 

 

 

They were like complete opposites of each other. At first glance they appeared to be far apart, but they were actually tightly joined at a deeper level.

 

 

 

 

 

Just what was their connection? Shimako had thought about it from time to time. While it seemed to be separate from the connection that she shared with her onee-sama, Satou Sei-sama, there were also many places where it felt like it overlapped too.

 

 

 

 

 

"While high-school may seem long, it"s actually quite short. Don"t you think it"s a good idea to devote yourself to something other than studying? And yet Noriko-san won"t hear a word of it, saying that it would be a huge bother or something. It doesn"t even have to be the drama club, she could join the koto music club, or the table tennis club, or the calligraphy club, or the handicraft club, any one she wants, it doesn"t matter."

 

 

 

 

 

Touko-chan balled her hand into a fist as she made this fervent speech.

 

 

 

 

 

"Wouldn"t you agree, Rosa Gigantea?"

 

 

 

 

 

The conversation having turned to her, Shimako smiled wanly.

 

 

 

 

 

"Since I"m not a member of any clubs, my words wouldn"t be very persuasive."

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, but I"m sure you"re busy with the Yamayurikai, Rosa Gigantea. On top of that, you have your committee work as well."

 

 

 

 

 

Touko-chan linked her fingers in front of her chest, then c.o.c.ked her head to the side, as though doubtful about something.

 

 

 

 

 

"Or is it, perhaps, that you"re pa.s.sing on these clubs because you"ve reserved your time for some other planned activities, Noriko-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh - "

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako and Noriko were left speechless by Touko-chan"s words. For a moment, their eyes met. But then they looked away, as though seeing something they didn"t want to see, and decided to not hear the words that were falling upon their ears. - Silently closing the lid on the Pandora"s box that had just been opened.

 

 

 

 

 

Whether she was aware of the situation or not, Touko-chan lifted her arms up, still with her fingers linked, as though stretching her back vigorously.

 

 

 

 

 

"Well then, it must be time for Touko to go to her club activities~. If I don"t hurry, I"ll miss the vocal training~."

 

 

 

 

 

Having willfully disrupted the atmosphere in that location, the self-styled actress left the stage alone. Shimako and Noriko were left standing there, without a comeback.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shall we go home?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Yeah."

 

 

 

 

 

In that uncomfortable atmosphere, all they could do was head towards the exit in silence.

 

 

 

 

 

First they had to escape the gallery that watched on with bated breath from the hallway and the cla.s.srooms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This silence, when did it last happen?

 

 

 

 

 

Right. It was like the atmosphere that surrounded them when Shimako had walked Noriko to the bus stop, after her visit to the Shouguu temple. It wasn"t the result of eliminating all superfluous words, instead it was a heavy, painful silence since they were both hiding the words that needed to be said.

 

 

 

 

 

The lid of Pandora"s box may have been closed, but some smoke had leaked out.

 

 

 

 

 

It would be nigh on impossible to catch this drifting smoke and return things to how they were. Even though it was just smoke, it had tenaciously lodged itself around them, and in time would grow so suffocating that they would no longer be able to avoid it.

 

 

 

 

 

"Umm."

 

 

 

 

 

Unable to bear the gloomy atmosphere any longer, both of them spoke at roughly the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

"You go first, Shimako-san."

 

 

 

 

 

"No, after you, Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako urged Noriko to speak first. While there was indeed something she wanted to say, she hadn"t yet found the right words to use. In addition to what Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama had said, Touko-chan"s flippant remark was also circling uncontrollably around her head.

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay, I"ll start."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko gave a small cough to clear her throat before starting. Putting a hand on the lid of Pandora"s box.

 

 

 

 

 

"Well then. Despite Touko"s bizarre suspicions, you shouldn"t be too concerned. I"m not avoiding joining a club because I have some kind of ulterior motive like she was talking about."

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Ulterior motive?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Touko"s got the wrong impression, kind of like a persecution complex. Basically, she thinks I"m keeping myself free because I"m going to be doing Yamayurikai work in the near future."

 

 

 

 

 

Doing Yamayurikai work. It was, needless to say, directly related to becoming Shimako"s pet.i.t soeur.

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

"So, don"t be mistaken. I just haven"t found a club I want to join. So, at some point, there might be a club I could join, like some "Buddhist Statue Viewing Club," you know?"

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; I see."

 

 

 

 

 

"But then I was thinking that maybe I"d just concentrate on my school work for the three years of high-school. It looks like it will be pretty hard to study for an external university"s entrance exam while at Lillian"s."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko"s words picked up pace as she spoke. Shimako smiled, waited for a pause, then asked quietly:

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko. Do you want my rosary?"

 

 

 

 

 

The smile disappeared from Noriko"s face and she shook her head.

 

 

 

 

 

"Didn"t you say that the time wasn"t right?"

 

 

 

 

 

"That"s what I thought, but."

 

 

 

 

 

If you want the rosary - Shimako thought those words, but didn"t speak them. It was something that she herself was still not confident about the answer to. Since Shimako didn"t know, she thought she"d try entrusting the decision to Noriko.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shimako-san. Has somebody said something to you? About me?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako asked, without thinking. Noriko was very perceptive. Or maybe it was just that what she had been thinking had shown through on her face.

 

 

 

 

 

"I"ve felt it a bit too."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko said.

 

 

 

 

 

"I"m not your pet.i.t soeur, but sill I"ve darted in close to you. I"ve been a nuisance to you. Even though I knew it would turn out like it did - I"m such an idiot."

 

 

 

 

 

"That"s not true at all, Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

Although the topic of conversation had drifted somewhat, Shimako quickly corrected her. Since it was only the two of them, if one of them ran off recklessly they could end up in an unfortunate position unless the other restrained them. However, Noriko"s fast talking did not stop.

 

 

 

 

 

"It"s okay, I don"t mind. Event at the best of times, I"m a bit of an oddball at this school, so I guess I stand out in a weird way."

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, right, I don"t think you"ve ever looked at me like that, Shimako-san. But thinking about it objectively, it does look like I"ve become overly familiar with one of the school"s beloved student council leaders."

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko!"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako called out her name again, putting a bit of force into it. Noriko"s shoulders flinched, as though surprised, then eventually she responded with, "Yes," and closed her mouth. Things settled nicely, as though Shimako had just administered the cure for hiccups.

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko was waiting to hear her words, so Shimako informed her:

 

 

 

 

 

"If you know that I haven"t ever looked at you like that, then you should also know that the reason I"m with you is because that is what I want."

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; Shimako-san."

 

 

 

 

 

"You disagree?"

 

 

 

 

 

"I don"t. But."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko expanded her objection.

 

 

 

 

 

"But the world isn"t organized just for the two of us."

 

 

 

 

 

"That"s true."

 

 

 

 

 

What Noriko had said was correct.

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko was an adult. And in comparison, she herself - such were Shimako"s thoughts. She understood the theory well enough. However, it was unthinkable to Shimako to maintain her distance from Noriko just to avoid public scrutiny, and equally unthinkable to make Noriko her pet.i.t soeur just because of what other people were saying.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shimako-san? Is there something troubling you?"

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko asked, when they resumed walking after praying in front of the statue of Maria-sama. Apparently she was worried that something had happened. So Shimako set her own emotions aside and informed Noriko of what had occurred earlier in they day in as businesslike a manner as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

"Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida were both at the Rose Mansion. They"re extending an invitation to you, Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko made a face of obvious displeasure. Perhaps the Yamayurikai leadership had not left a good impression, having taken on the villain"s role for the events of the Maria ceremony. Remaining wary that this clumsy approach was just another opportunity to deceive her was probably the right way to feel.

 

 

 

 

 

"If you"re willing, they"d like you to help out with various things."

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; You mean, as a volunteer?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, yeah. Like a volunteer."

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako smiled. Noriko apparently thought she"d been scouted as "someone with too much free time."

 

 

 

 

 

"But, are you okay with that, Shimako-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako"s doubt had probably shown through on her face after all. Noriko"s request for confirmation had come immediately. Shimako smiled wryly as she answered.

 

 

 

 

 

"If I was opposed to it, I would have refused the job of asking you."

 

 

 

 

 

"I guess &h.e.l.lip; no, you"re right. Okay, I"ll think about it."

 

 

 

 

 

Maria-sama watched the pair walk away.

 

 

 

 

 

As though melancholic from the many difficulties that lay ahead of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Those were the events of the Friday of the first week in June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At that moment, all Shimako could do was sigh inwardly and watch over her.

 

 

 

 

 

"I"m Nijou Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

"Gokigenyou. Welcome to the Rose Mansion."

 

 

 

 

 

Three days after their conversation in front of Maria-sama, after school on Monday, Noriko accepted the invitation to the Rose Mansion.

 

 

 

 

 

Since they knew Noriko was going to be there, it wasn"t just Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama in attendance; Yumi-san and Yoshino-san were there too. The Rose families had all a.s.sembled to greet their visitor.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako knew that Rei-sama had taken a day off from her club activities to be there, and that Yoshino-san and Yumi-san had carefully cleaned the room during their lunch break.

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone wanted to give Noriko a warm, welcome feeling. But just having them express this left Shimako with mixed feelings. She still didn"t know whether she should bind herself to Noriko as soeur. Noriko had only been brought to the Rose Mansion because a loose end had slipped out and been discovered as she went around in circles on this issue.

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps she should proceed if Noriko fit in with the rest of the group, much the same way that Yumi-san had blended in after her sudden appearance during the autumn of the previous year. That seemed to be the expectation, more or less.

 

 

 

 

 

Both sides seemed more awkward than usual, but the opening of the biscuit door and the exchange of greetings had pa.s.sed without incident.

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko-chan, why don"t you sit here? Would you be fine with tea to drink?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama put on her best smile and beckoned to Noriko.

 

 

 

 

 

"No, it"s okay. I came to help out."

 

 

 

 

 

Watching Noriko bluntly deny the offer, Shimako felt dizzy.

 

 

 

 

 

There was no hidden meaning behind Noriko"s statement, she was simply putting her thoughts in to words, but it might come across as a display of defiance to people who weren"t familiar with her.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Just as Shimako had expected, Sachiko-sama had a slightly surprised expression on her face. But then Rei-sama intervened, her cheerful voice an apparent rejection of the current atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

"That won"t do at all. After all, just for today, you"re our guest here, Noriko-chan."

 

 

 

 

 

She guided Noriko from her position by the door over to the table, and, in a preemptive strike, had her sit beside Sachiko-sama. Such consummate skill.

 

 

 

 

 

"Over time you"ll learn all the everyday ch.o.r.es, but for today we"d like to chat with you. Ah, Yumi-chan, can you make some of the good tea?"

 

 

 

 

 

After raising her hand towards Yumi-san, who"d been waiting nearby, Rei-sama took her own seat. It looked like Noriko was stuck between Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida.

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay."

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi cheerfully responded. Yoshino-san too moved to support her, and before long tea was being poured into six cups.

 

 

 

 

 

It was completely different to the makeshift tea-bag tea of three days prior. Rather than mixing it one cup at a time, the tea leaves were allowed to dance within the teapot, rewarding them with an elegant scent. On account of their guest, they were using the finest tea.

 

 

 

 

 

"Shimako, why are you still standing? Have a seat."

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, right."

 

 

 

 

 

Having been cautioned by Sachiko-sama, Shimako hurriedly sat down. Since Yoshino-san had already sat down beside Sachiko-sama, and Yumi-san had sat down beside Rei-sama, Shimako sat down opposite Noriko. In other words, she was the furthest away.

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko-chan, sugar or milk?"

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san held out the basket with sticks of sugar and creamer to Noriko.

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko, how do you like your tea? With sugar and milk? Or without?"

 

 

 

 

 

It"s not as though anyone would have misinterpreted Yumi-san"s words. Even so, Shimako couldn"t stop herself from acting as interpreter for Noriko.

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, I"m fine."

 

 

 

 

 

Naturally, Noriko bypa.s.sed Shimako and responded directly to Yumi-san.

 

 

 

 

 

"It tastes good."

 

 

 

 

 

Noriko drank her tea straight. Yumi-san added a stick of sugar and a stick of creamer, while Yoshino-san added two sticks of creamer and waited until her tea turned beige before bringing it to her lips.

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako too brought her cup to her lips. For whatever reason, she barely noticed the taste. Instead, she found herself excessively thirsty.

 

 

 

 

 

However, that thirst would not be abated if she were to down the entire cup of tea, nor would the warming of her stomach after the liquid had pa.s.sed down her esophagus bring satisfaction to her.

 

 

 

 

 

That cool, sweet wind was whistling around her chest. Who else was there that would understand this sensation?

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, is that true?"

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako was brought back to her senses by the sound of laughter.

 

 

 

 

 

The conversation had flowed around her. Although it did seem that it had mainly been Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama asking questions, with Noriko answering them.

 

 

 

 

 

Have you become accustomed to school life at Lillian"s?

 

 

 

 

 

What are your favorite subjects?

 

 

 

 

 

Are you having any problems at school? - etc, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rose Mansion was indisputably the Rose"s territory. There was no avoiding the fact that the newcomer would be the focus of their questions.

 

 

 

 

 

"What about your family, Noriko-chan?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama inquired.

 

 

 

 

 

"What does your father do, for instance?"

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps having run out of questions related to school life, the questions now turned to her private life.

 

 

 

 

 

"My family?"

 

 

 

 

 

Just for a moment, Noriko had a puzzled look on her face. So, without thinking, Shimako answered for her.

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, at the moment, Noriko"s living with her great-aunt. Since her family lives in Chiba, and it"s a long commute."

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; Why are you answering for her?"

 

 

 

 

 

When this was pointed out by Rei-sama, Shimako felt a bit dejected. What was she in such a hurry for? In comparison, Noriko was composed.

 

 

 

 

 

"My father"s a public servant and my mother"s a teacher. I have one younger sister."

 

 

 

 

 

As for the contents of the question, there was nothing too troubling about the answer. It was the sort of response you"d find in a textbook on the j.a.panese language.

 

 

 

 

 

"It must be lonely living away from your parents."

 

 

 

 

 

"Yeah. But my great-aunt"s a Lillian"s graduate too, so she tells me stories about the old days, which is fun. Even though we"re far apart in age, our relationship is more like friends."

 

 

 

 

 

"Wow, friends! That"s incredible."

 

 

 

 

 

"Amazing."

 

 

 

 

 

As she watched the girls smiling elegantly, Shimako felt the blood draining from her head. - What on earth was going on?

 

 

 

 

 

Smiling face piled up on top of smiling face, to the point where it looked like they were trying to manufacture something where there was nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking about it calmly, it seemed implausible that the instigators of the "Maria Ceremony Inquisition," ie. Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida, were only now discovering this personal information about Noriko. They surely knew all about her family and her living arrangements, and yet they were still asking the questions, so, on reflection, it must be deliberate.

 

 

 

 

 

In that case, this was a process.

 

 

 

 

 

Process - ? To what possible ends?

 

 

 

 

 

What possible direction were they heading in?

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, although it"s more characteristic of the Asuka or Hakuhou periods."

 

 

 

 

 

Now that Noriko had bled for them, they"d moved on to questions about Buddhist statues.

 

 

 

 

 

"I"ve seen Buddhist statues like that before but never understood the meaning. I"ve learned something."

 

 

 

 

 

The smiles kept piling up, like they were made of papier mache.

 

 

 

 

 

It seemed to Shimako as though they were trying to coat her with so many of those smiles that she wouldn"t be able to move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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