Maria-sama ga Miteru Twelfth Novel - Vacation of the Lambs, Part 1

Maria-sama ga Miteru, Kohitsuji no Kyuuka - Lamb's Vacation.

Introduction

The first half of this novel has been translated. You can find it here. The translation is by a non-native English speaker so it tends towards the literal, but it is perfectly understandable and quite enjoyable. Since the first half is translated, I have taken no notes on it whatsoever. (Not entirely true - I took a few, but then thought, screw that, they can read the translation for themselves. LOL) My notes pick up immediately after the translation ceases. There will be many and various switches of tense and person, and even outright typos, because I am much too lazy to care about such things and its going to take me forever to type the notes up as it is. Point them out at your own peril. -_-

I found this book to be alternating between utterly delightful and irritating as hell. The bits where it bogged down almost killed me - but the end is wonderful and totally makes up for the slow bits. I think it'll make a fine anime, even if they cut the edges off. But I fear Sachiko will come off as a complete jerk no matter how they do it, because for a lot of this novel, she's a jerk. It really pushed the limits of my Sachiko-fandom, let me tell you...

Because there is as yet no anime, no manga, no Drama CD, I have tried to synopsize every scene fully. I have *not* translated the book for you, because I want to have a life, not homework, but I think I've managed to tell you everything that goes on - with emphasis on the fun, the yuri and the significant. 46 pages of notes and after typing it up, it's 28 pages long - if you have never thanked me before, *now* is a good time. Seriously.

This novel has got a fair dollop of fanservice. Sean Gaffney pointed out that it's the equivalent of the onsen episode of every crappy anime ever. Interestingly, I had been wondering about Konno Oyuki right before I started reading this book - how did she feel about people slashing her characters all over the place - it's of some interest to me how authors take it when people do weird shit with their original characters. For instance, J.K. Rowling has said that she doesn't mind fans slashing hers, (although she *has* read several, and has been quite surprised by her fans "creativity") on the whole she won't read HP fanfic for her mental well-being, but she doesn't care if they do pair 'em up. Anything to keep fan interest high. So, I wondered how Konno-sensei felt about it. This novel answers that. She doesn't mind...in fact, this novel *strongly* encourages Yumi x Sachiko. Very strongly. She practically beats you to death with the yuri bat. If nosebleeds were a literary technique, Yumi would have had anemia. (Which is actually a very funny doujinshi I own, now that I think about it...)

Anyway - go to the above link, read the translation and catch up with Part 1 immediately afterward. :-)

Part 1


A Message of Pressed Leaves

1 (continued from the translation linked above)

Sachiko introduces Yumi to the property managers as her younger sister. Sawamura Kyo and her husband Gensuke have been with the family forever. They greet Yumi warmly and encourage her to relax and rely on them while she's there.

The driver, Matsui, has to return to town - he thanks Yumi for the food. As he drives away, Yumi feels a little lonely. She sort of expected him to be there the whole week.

They enter a large hall and go through to a terrace where Kyo serves them tea and scones with homemade strawberry jam made by a local woman. Kyo asks after "the master" and "the little master". Sachiko replies that her grandfather and father are well. Kyo then asks after Sayoko-ojousama. Sachiko says that she's fighting off a cold, but otherwise well. Yumi thinks that Kyo and Gensuke must really have been with the family forever, if they think of Sachiko's father and mother as the little master and mistress.

Kyo says to Yumi-sama, that there's an express package that was delivered for you. Yumi is like, "huh?" Kyo brings out this heavy package. As she opens it, sweat begins to roll down Yumi's back - it's a 5k bag of rice, sent by her mother. (Good rice, but really...) Sachiko thinks this is absolutely hysterical - she is literally doubled over with laughter, holding her stomach. She says that no wonder Yumi and Yuuki are such great people - they were raised in such a family... Yumi wonders if that's a compliment, she doesn't know, but Sachiko seems to be having a lot of fun.

Sachiko tells Kyo to use this rice the whole time they are there, since Yumi's mom's onigiri was made with it and they were so delicious.

After tea Sachiko goes into the front room to play piano. Yumi follows. It's a 10-tatami room (about 30 sq meters or 35 sq. yards). No sofa, but there's a dining table with 6 chair, a fireplace and upright piano. Sachiko asks what Yumi would like her to play and without thinking Yumi says Gounod's "Ave Maria". Sachiko begins to play from memory.

It's an important piece to Yumi. Last spring, Sachiko played it for the 1st-year's welcoming ceremony and in that moment, Yumi was enchanted by the one called Ogasawara Sachiko. One year later, this same woman is her onee-sama.

Yumi's memories continue:

Although Sachiko probably doesn't remember it, just before they became soeur, they played a short phrase of this piece together in the music room. It would be impertinent to call it a "duet", but Yumi played the tune, while Sachiko played the left hand part. To Yumi, this is a precious memory. Therefore, of all the many "Ave Maria"s, this is the version she loves best.

Sachiko's fingers move across the keyboard as if they are dancing. It was fitting that a beautiful onee-sama play this song of praise to Maria-sama.

At some point Kyo and Gensuke had entered the room to listen, so when Sachiko finishes, the three of them burst into loud applause.



2

Upstairs there are three bedrooms. Kyo and Gensuke will share while they are there, so they each have their own bedroom. Yumi would prefer to share one, but Sachiko says that she tends to read at night and doesn't want the light to bother Yumi. Yumi thinks that that's a nice way of asking for alone time, so Yumi sucks it up.

Saying that she's going to pack, Sachiko goes into her room. Yumi wants to stay with her a bit more, but doesn't have the courage to follow her. Not wanting to be left in the hallway by herself, she goes into her room.

The room is an 8-tatami room, with toilet and bath. Phone and TV excluded - it has the feeling of an old hotel room. The bed is a full, there's an antique armoire, chest of drawers, desk and chair. The walls are white plaster, with dark wooden beams and pillars. From the open window a pleasant breeze blows through the curtains. Yumi puts her basket in the corner and rolls on the bed.

Here she is, at Sachiko's summer house.

What would happen for the next week?

Now that she was actually here, Yumi's nervousness and excitement increase. Other than the managers Kyo and Gensuke, they were completely alone. At school, Sachiko was Rosa Chinensis for everyone, but here Yumi would have a monopoly on onee-sama.

"Yay!" she banzais, when suddenly she hears a knock on the door. She can't tell which door, but then Kyo calls out "Yumi-sama?". She jumps from the bed and answers the door. It's Kyo with her cooler bag and lunch box all washed. Kyo proceeds to ask her about the menu for the bentou. Kyo asks if the onigiri had umeboshi in it - Yumi think she has ESP. Kyo wonders what Sachiko ate of the bentou and Yumi tells her one of each. Kyo sighs heavily and Yumi worries that she's perhaps fed Sachiko something she shouldn't have...but then, Yumi didn't see Sachiko's face explode or anything.

Kyo apologizes, she was just trying to plan the lunch and dinner menu - that's why I asked. Yumi offers to assist. Kyo, very firmly refuses. You're the mistress's little sister which makes you a daughter of the Ogasawara house. I'll be scolded if you helped. Kyo tells Yumi that lunch will be at 12:30 and takes her leave.

Yumi checks her watch - two hours to go, but she just had two scones and tea - she can't imagine being hungry. She changes out of her dress into a t-shirt and denim skirt.



3

When Yumi goes down for lunch, Sachiko doesn't show. Kyo says that Sachiko said she wants to lie down a little, she doesn't want any lunch. Kyo asks Yumi whether she would like to eat on the terrace or in the main room. Yumi doesn't care, so Kyo suggests the terrace, since the weather is nice.

Yumi sits at the table, thinking that she and Sachiko won't be eating together. Kyo explains that Sachiko does this every year - when she arrives, she rests until dinner. Probably the travel sickness medicine makes her feel tired. Kyo asks belatedly if there's anything Yumi doesn't care for and Yumi assures her she'll eat anything.

Kyo is relieved. She says that she planned egg and chicken sandwiches for lunch with cafe' au lait. Yumi responds politely, with deference - Kyo asks her not to speak that way to her. Yumi's response is to be opposed to talking down to Kyo, as the woman is older than she is - and she wasn't born an ojou-sama. Yumi inquires if Kyo and Gensuke don't share a room usually. Kyo says that they sleep separately, but she stops smiling as she answers, and Yumi thinks that this is an area that employers and guests are not supposed talk about with the help.

Yumi commences her lonely meal. Without Sachiko she really has no appetite. There's a whole loaf of bread on the table - too much to be eaten by one high school girl.

She makes a sandwich, goes to pick it up and sees a knife and fork on the sides of the plate. Ah!, she says, There's no mistaking that this is Sachiko's house. It's too bad she can't share a laugh about this with onee-sama. Yumi feels like this is a test. So she tries to eat the sandwich with the knife and fork, but the insides keep slipping out the sides of the bread. It's a bitter fight with the sandwich...Sachiko has been accustomed to it and can gracefully transport food to fork then her mouth. Yumi gives in, picks up the sandwich, grabs a piece of lettuce from the plate and pops it into her mouth. Chicken and egg - parent and child sandwich, she says to
herself, smiles by herself. The bread is soft, the insides are fresh, its all very tasty, but it's a lonely lunch.



4

Sachiko stays in her room until near dinner. Bored, but not comfortable with looking for something to do, Yumi returns to her room and unpacks. She bounces up and down on the bed meaninglessly.

After she gets tired of looking around the room, she looks outside. The house is surrounded by tall trees. She wishes she had brought a crossword puzzle. She did bring a small guidebook, but she was already tired of reading it. Rather than stay in the room by herself, she could go outside and look at the area. But this might be reckless to do on her own. Or she could walk to a busy tourist spot, but she couldn't even guess at directions and she might become lost. Yumi sighs.

She sees a small animal, long tail, short ears. Squirrel? It has unsquirrel-like stripes. Chipmunk. She tries to coax it closer, it runs away. Bored. Hurry up onee-sama and wake up.

It turns out that Sachiko has woken up that morning feeling crappy and low-blood pressure-y. So she's a bit out of it.

Dinner includes fresh mountain vegetables - perfect. Grilled trout, tempurared mushrooms, chopped local veggies and tofu, all delicious. But, after all the day's food, Yumi really has to rally herself to eat.

Kyo doesn't forget - she uses the rice that Yumi's mother had sent.

Sachiko asks what Yumi did while she slept, Yumi tells her. Sachiko comments that left to herself Yumi's quiet, huh? Yumi replies that yes, but without you it was lonely. (After all, it was Sachiko who told her to speak her mind clearly.)

(Note: This section is written for maximum double-entendre' effect. It's not your imagination.)

Sachiko asks if she wants to play a game tonight. Yumi asks if its okay, and Sachiko says of course.

Yumi shouts "Yay!". Her whole body fills with pleasure. She stands up she's so excited.

Sachiko tells her not to stand up in the middle of dinner. Being scolded doesn't put out the pleasure out in Yumi - instead, it increases it 10x. Really, she doesn't want to play a game, but doing anything with Sachiko - that onee-sama would make time for her - that makes her very happy.

Revived, Yumi takes an appetizer. More delicious than food, being with oneesama stimulated her appetite.

***

They drag Kyo and an unwilling Gensuke into a game of Babnuke (there were only chess and cards at the summer home), but they older couople never really understand the rules. The soundtrack for the evening was classic records. Yumi wants to stay up as late as possible doing this.



5 Tuesday


Yumi wonders what kind of fun they'll have today. Her chest swells and she bounds out of bed (her actual size remains the same, the narrator helpfully comments...)

She washes her face in the ballroom size bathroom and comes down stairs. They stayed up until 12:30 playing games, after that they all had their baths, so it was 2AM or so before she got to bed. Breakfast is at 8, so she got up at 7:40 - along with all the fathers of the world who were waking for golf. Compared with a sleepless night in Tokyo, she slept plenty.

At 8, Sachiko hasn't appeared. Gensuke comes in with fresh bread, he mentions that its still hot. He's wearing a bicycling helmet - he bikes every morning to get the bread.

Kyo asks Yumi if she'd like to help.

"Yes!" Yumi responds. She's glad to be asked - being treated like a guest dulls her body and spirit. Kyo says that she's being given the grave task of waking Sachiko up before the bread gets cold. Really, a weighty mission.

Yumi slaps her chest, tells Kyo to leave it to her and runs up the stairs. Excited, she runs up to Sachiko's room and takes a deep breath and knocks.

Even though a few hours together ago they were together, she wants to see onee-sama again - she can't get enough of being together. Because she wants to do anything to be by her side, the idea of seeing her morning face makes Yumi very happy.

Yumi knocks again. No answer. No noise from inside at all. She calls "Onee-sama." Still no answer.

She took this task lightly, but really Kyo was right - this is a serious mission.

Yumi doesn't feel confident enough to go into the room, really, but she thought maybe Sachiko couldn't hear her. She goes in.

(Once again, read all you want into this scene, because it *is* written for maximum service.)

Covered by a down comforter, in a deep sleep, Sachiko looks like Sleeping Beauty. On her messy black hair is one bare arm, making the skin look that much whiter in comparison.

Because Sachiko is so beautiful, Yumi, about to press down to shake her, stops mid-motion. It's quite a picture. "Imouto attacking sleeping onee-sama" is the title. Thank *god* Tsutako isn't here, or the shutter would be going like crazy, and they'd end up as a panel at the school festival.

Sachiko moans and rolls over.

Yumi thinks, "This is bad." Seeing such beauty, she's in real danger of becoming a member of the legion of hentai-san.

She calls Sachiko, not sure where it's okay to touch her. Eventually she settles on her shoulder and shakes her gently and tells her to wake up.

Sleepily Sachiko pulls the blanket over her head. (Argh! So cute!)

Yumi tells her that Gensuke's gotten fresh bread and Kyo has made omelets. Sachiko whines that she doesn't want breakfast, let her sleep for a little longer.

Yumi says, "Nope - I want to eat breakfast with you" and a little roughly pulls the blanket down. Sachiko is wearing a tank top night gown - in baby pink, the narrator helpfully supplies.

Sachiko is instantly grumpy, but she gives in and gets up. She tells Yumi she'll be out in 15 minutes. As she says this, she grabs the shoulder strap of her nightgown like she's going to change. After a short delay, Yumi realizes that she's being asked to leave - she says she'll wait downstairs then *bolts* out of the room, calling herself a baka. Because she was just standing there, staring at Sachiko.

Just stand there and gape, why don't you, she beats herself up and runs downstairs with a red face.



6


Yumi's all excited - what will they do, where will they go?

After breakfast, Sachiko sits on the terrace and reads - it's homework. Sachiko is not thrilled, it's a traveler's diary and she doesn't care for them.

Yumi asks if afterward they'll get a little rambunctious.

Sachiko looks puzzled and tells Yumi to do her homework - doesn't she remember their conversation about the first part of summer vacation would be relaxing, because the second half is planning for the school festival. Sachiko wonders why Yumi isn't doing homework.

Yumi says that she didn't bring her homework. She's about to snap that people don't usually bring homework on vacation, but then she realizes that to Sachiko this isn't really "vacation". It's just a summer house. Vacation is a trip overseas.

Yumi asks to borrow a book from the house if they have it, for her book report. Sachiko gets up and leads her to the library - which is of course, huge. Sachiko finds the book and comments that the theme is "yuujou" (friendship). Of course, she has read it. Yumi takes the book and reads the first line. The line and the weight of the book makes her feels that a weighty (important) story has begun.

That evening Sachiko works on English homework. Yumi writes out postcards to Yoshino and Shimako. They say, "Its lovely here - cool and quiet and we haven't done a thing." She presses unknown leaves onto the margins of the cards - she didn't bring homework, but she did bring paste for pressed leaves. That was standard for vacations. Sachiko leans over and writes the address of the house on the cards - she says so that it's easy to see that they two of them are there. Yumi wonders if this is a sign of some kind, that Sachiko is bored with her, or she'd like company.

***

Cont'd in Part 2

Tags: Maria-sama ga Miteru, Marimite, Vacation of the Lambs, Kohhitsuji no Kyuuka,Sachiko and Yumi