Notes on the Seventeenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Part 2

Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel 17, "Ciao, Sorella!", Part 2


Leisurely Dialogue

1

Her eyes were open before the wake up call came. The sound of rain came to her ears. It was dark, maybe because of the weather, or was it because the curtains were closed. Either that, or it was still night and dawn had not come.

Getting up and, walking over next to the window, would soon confirm what it was, but her eyelids and body were heavy and she rolled herself up in the blanket. Her nose was cold.

"That's right, Yoshino-san!"

As soon as Yumi remembered what had happened last night, her eyes flew open. However, when she looked at the next bed, there was no one there. It had the feeling of a cast-off shell, as the blanket retained an impression of a body that had slept there.

"B...bathroom?"

But the sheets had no bodily warmth. Yumi thrust her hand into the impression to confirm. Some time had passed since she had snuck out of bed. At least about five minutes it seemed.

"W, wh...." She spit out, as she immediately she got a bad feeling. What if, when during the time she E: Yumi) had crashed, she (E:Yoshino) had collapsed, unconscious? She stumbled over to in front of the bathroom, and opened the door. And then.

"...!" Was the key inside?

"Yoshino-san!?"

If she had gone into the bathroom feeling unwell, she would not have taken the key inside. Unless there was a rule in the Shimazu household like that?

"Yoshino-san, jeez, are you okay?"

Bang, bang, bang, she struck the door. There was no answer. Her breath catching in h her throat, she wouldn't be able to recover from this. If it was like that, whatever Yoshino-san asked she probably should have trusted the teacher last night.

"What should I do."

As she decided to call for help she moved away from the door, as she turned she noticed it.

Where the curtains met there was a slight light.

(Huh?)

The sound of rain still continued. That could be heard coming from the inside of the bathroom.

"Y, Yoshino-san?"

When her ears began to absorb it properly, she could hear it mixed with the sound of humming.

No way.

Yumi stood in front of the door. Whereupon the sound of rain stopped and the door opened.

"Sorry, Yumi-san. Did you need the toilet?"

"--"

From inside, wearing a bathrobe came Yoshino-san, her hair soaking wet. Her mouth opening and closing Yumi shook her head back and forth.

"Oh? Then, if it's okay I'm going to dry my hair." So saying, Yoshino-san turned around and went back into the bathroom, while Yumi squatted where she stood. She didn't believe it. Just a few hours ago her condition had been so bad, and now, there Yoshino-san was, all better as if nothing had happened, taking a shower.

A glance at her wristwatch told her that it was 6:30 AM. She had the fuzzy feeling of wanting to return to bed, but she couldn't settle down.

(Worrying has put me at a disadvantage.)

It wasn't that she was saying that her relationship with a friend was the disadvantage. It was her own view of last night.

(I'm up thirty minutes earlier than planned.)

If Yoshino-san's physical condition was good, then maybe everything was turning in a good direction for her 17th year; very quickly she wouldn't be Fukuzawa Yumi, but a sage. Going through Lillian, one probably would find lessons about Jesus-sama indispensable.

"Ah -, that was refreshing, Thanks for waiting, Yumi-san." Yoshino-san came out of the bathroom in good spirits; Yumi was driven to voice a word of complaint.

"Um, uh."

At which Yoshino-san considered and was already answering, "Didn't I tell you that it was always like that, that if my forehead was cooled off and I slept I'd get better."

"I heard you, but." But, I was still worried, wasn't I. That's normal.

"Before I took my shower, I took your school uniform out of the bathroom and hung it in the closet so it wouldn't get damp."

As she spoke, Yoshino-san opened the curtains and turned on the television. Of course, the newscaster was speaking fluently in Italian. Not to Yumi, but to the screen, Yoshino-san said, "You were worried, huh. You're the only classmate I'll show weakness in front of."

When such a killing expression is said, one's feeling probably will be "It's fine."

It's fine.

She could understand a bit, Rei-sama's feeling that Yoshino-san wielded herself.

Yumi also spoke, not to Yoshino-san, but to the television.

"I was really worried."

When the television news informed them two minutes later that it was seven o'clock, the room phone rang.


2

At seven-twenty, when they arrived at the dining room, they found that most of her class had already been seated and had begun their meal.

"Yumi-san, Yoshino-san, here."

In the dining room, Tsutako-san and Mami-san waved their hands. Like "We've got you two empty seats".

"Good day." Offering a greeting, Yoshino-san took a seat. Then a waiter-like man came by and inquired what the two of them would like. They could only catch the beginning "Bon giorno," but it was obviously some kind of greeting, so they responded with "bon giorno" too.

"What would you like to drink is what he said." Tsutako-san instructed. This time, breakfast was buffet style so, one ordered a drink first, it looked like. In any case, what great power of hearing. When the words were spoken so quickly like that, Yumi couldn't understand a thing.

"We didn't understand him either. But the teacher from the first-seating Wisteria class told me. Hey, what are you going to have?"

"What?" There wasn't any menu, even if she said that. As she thought that, Yoshino-san ordered without hesitation.

"Caffé au Lait, please."

However, the waiter inclined his head sideways.

"Tsutako-san, what's in your cup?" Yumi asked.

"Caffé Latte."

"Then, I'll have that too. Caffé Latte, please."

Yoshino-san continued. "Me too."

The time for ordering passed properly. If you thought about it, Caffé au Lait was a French drink.

Tsutako-san and Mami-san met each other's glance and smiled. Obviously, those two had heard earlier from the Wisteria group teacher about caffé latte. No one was that smart from the beginning.

When she returned to her seat with bacon and eggs and a croissant sprinkled with sugar on her plate, the caffé latte had been placed at her seat. Because she didn't think there were enough vegetables, Yoshino-san poured a glass of tomato juice and brought it back.

"Can you drink this?" Because of what had happened last night, the service was unexpectedly good. "Well? I owe you from last night."

Pouring the caffé latte into her own cup, Mami-san changed the subject. Since she didn't have her usual memo pad for taking notes, this was just a normal conversation.

"The shower isn't easy to use, huh."

"Ah -, how does the toilet even drain?"

It seems that, after Mami-san had used the toilet, she had called Tsutako-san in to the room for consultation. Certainly Yumi too had been lost at first, looking for a Japan-style lever. When she had noticed the large square button in the wall (the size of a writing desk drawer) it has left a big impression. This was definitely a different place.

"Speaking of the toilet, don't you think the seat is cold?"

"Yeah. When I went to sit down I was like 'hyah'."

"Hey, so did you not sit down?"

During breakfast, maybe it would be better to cut this subject short.

"Speaking of that, did you bring an alarm clock?"

Last night in a panic, Yumi had arranged for a wake up call. So.

"The television turned on. Right?" Mami-san and Tsutako-san glanced at each other as they spoke.

"Really?"

"It was on the recording, wasn't it? When it becomes time, the television turned itself on."

"...I didn't notice." No, wouldn't have known, because she never thought to turn the TV on last night.

"It's cool, isn't it? Because of that, we've had a valuable experience."

The other two had finished their breakfast earlier, so with a wave of their hands, they left their seat. Those who had come afterwards came later, searching for a seat.

"Is this okay?" From their own Pine class, it was Michiyo-san and Itsue-san. Little by little they were beginning to see the faces of students from Sakura class.

"Sure, go ahead." Yumi and Yoshino-san greeted the two with bright smiles. The waiter came over greeting the new customers with "Bon giorno".

"He's asking you what you want to drink." But where they had learned that, they did not say.


3

Coming out to the first floor foyer at eight-thirty, they got on to the waiting bus, once inside they said a brief prayer and took their seats.

Today they had a single guide for their classes, to show them around. She was riding on the Pine class's bus, a Japanese woman old enough to be their mother, who had come to Italy with her husband who worked there, about seven years earlier.

"From here, we're going to go to the Vatican City. First we'll go to the art museum. After that, we'll investigate Saint Peter's Basilica. Everybody's feeling well?"

"Ye-es." Foremost, answering with a voice louder than anyone's, was Yoshino-san. Like a kindergartner who wanted something, she raised her hand.

"...What. You're not going to tell the guide about last night are you?"

Even though she hadn't said anything, Yumi could feel the weight of her gaze from the seat next to hers, where Yoshino-san felt the sudden need to make an excuse.

"Anyway, I'm in the best shape now."

"Is that so."

A small peace sign. Well, better that she decide that her health and mood are good rather than bad. That wasn't limited to Yoshino-san.

"Before I forget, I have a few matters to communicate. Regarding using some of the things in your room, I have two or three things I'd like to call to your attention and explain." Checking her memo, the teacher began to talk. A kind of homeroom.

"The alarm clock is attached to the television. If you're not confident about how to work it, you can push the Reception button on the telephone and request a wake-up call."

As she thought, there might have been reports of students who were troubled because they didn't understand. Although she didn't know who her comrades were she looked around with a happy feeling.

"The cord hanging over the bathtub is not the ventilation switch. It is an emergency call cord, so do not pull it excessively."

At these words from the teacher, about half the students laughed, while the remaining half went pale.

Though it was uncertain how many cases there were where hotel employees had come running, but at least about half of them were from students wondering "what is this?" and giving it a quick pull, she guessed. That's the kind of thing Yumi might say. Then give it a pull with some force to see what happened, but give up when nothing did. Once it was resolved, the heart would calm down. However, in the case of a real emergency it would be pulled with great force, maybe. But a question remained.

"To flush the toilet, press the large button on the wall. ...so, that should take care of everything, right?"

This time everyone smiled. There was no one who wasn't able to flush, it seemed.

When the teacher's admonitions came to a finish, the bus stopped and the door opened. They had only been riding about ten minutes, so she thought they had arrived quickly.

"Are we really there?"

Looking out the window, it didn't seem that there were any buildings. The atmosphere was a lot like that in front of a train station.

"Okay, everyone. Please take down your bags. Because, this bus is going to return to the hotel to pick up the Cherry Blossom class, right. After getting off, please form two lines in front of me."

The guide briskly pointed out directions. They were told that the entrance to the art museum was directly ahead but, that the end of the line to get in would be back where the bus was stopped. If they wanted to go in again, they could go back to the end of the line, but it would waste both time and energy. That the line was stretched out pretty far might have been a technique by the guide, who lived locally.

With the guide bearing the Pine class flag in the lead, and in the very last place was the teacher; framed by the two adults, they lined up in a long snaking line. Looking forward and back restlessly, she could see many types of people. As expected of the Rome to which all roads led, tourists from all over the world gathered here.
A little ahead, she could see the Wisteria class, which had left the hotel a little earlier. Because of the school uniforms, they looked black overall, so they were remarkable. Outside school, a gathering if school uniforms stood out. Therefore, for the school-sponsored field trip, they wore school uniforms. If a student was in a situation like an accident or trouble, because they stood out, the teachers could respond quickly.

"That bus ride was really short, wasn't it?" Yoshino-san muttered.

The line was slow, but it advanced steadily. From the main street, it became a little narrower, and fashionable bars and apartments appeared; Yumi's wasn't unhappy at all with her progress, as she could look at these.

"This country, it's so loose." The voice, lined up just behind her, was Mami-san's.

"Loose?" Yumi repeated.

"Like in the rules, or morals or environmental problems, those kind of things," Mami-san said, as if taking notes. "For instance, the streets are dirty."

It was true that cigarette butts and paper garbage and plastic had definitely fallen about. Tokyo streets weren't beautiful, but they had more conservative amounts of garbage than she noticed here.

"Yeah, it seems to be a smoker's heaven, huh, this country." Tsutako-san, who was next to Mami-san, added.

Now, everywhere one went in the world, one hunched away from smokers. In the hotel lobby, at café tables, on the street, everyone openly smoked.

"And the traffic laws, too."

Pedestrians crossed at places where there were no traffic lights. When the traffic paused, or not, they walked normally. Drivers who had become accustomed to it, skillfully applied their brake quickly to avoid the pedestrians.

"But, no one is denying that."

There was no mistaking, it was as Mami-san said. Tsutako-san nodded hugely.

"Leisurely, big-hearted, you could call it generous. Hey, look."

They looked where she gestured with her chin, at an old man who sat by the roadside; in front of the old man sat a can into which people placed money.

"That's...?"

"My wealth, which is split into portions for others. In Japan, this scenery doesn't greet one's eyes much."

After all, Tsutako-san muttered, is this is a Christian country.

Benevolence should produce a charitable culture. Another public rule that was followed loosely in this culture.

Which way was better, or not as bad. You could call it national character. Just, being surprised at foreign culture was rude. It certainly seemed so.

Whatever they said, it was they who were the tourists. They wouldn't be allowed to interfere in too much in this country.

"It's okay, we'll see a lot of things here."

That's what this trip was for, Yumi thought. Until know, they hadn't gained wisdom about the world.

First off, they had to be receptive. That was a difficult thing but the absolute most important thing, she thought.

"Many things?" Yoshino-san repeated. Like, what kind of things, exactly.

"Many things, like I said, many things."

Right, as in---.

As Yumi was about to respond, a horn sounded. As the students heard it, a little 'Ah!" of delight went up.

"It's a marriage ceremony." Coming up from behind, beeping, was an open car, with a bride in her wedding dress and a groom in a white tuxedo riding in it.

"Ah, that's right. It's Saturday, isn't it."

The new bride and groom's car was surrounded by friends and young people, cheering and bantering, the whole had a feeling of excitement.

"That's nice, isn't it."

The girl's high school students saw the whole hubbub off with melting eyes.

Shortly afterward, came a dog owner pulling a Dalmatian against its will on a rope, excrement pouting down its legs as it ran.

"...Yup, loose." Mami-san said, disgusted. It appeared that the dog's stomach did not feel well, so it came out; so loose was, in fact, suitable.


4

After being in line for fifteen minutes, they reached the entrance of the art museum.

Although it was called an art museum, it had actually absorbed pretty much everything, Yumi realized, about ten minutes after entering.

At the outset, she looked at everything with spirit, but as the next item and the next appeared extending on, it exceeded a single person's capacity for storage. If she didn't want to push the memory of the last painting out of her head, she wouldn't be able to put a new one in. Eventually, the effort of replacement would falter. She apologized to each and every splendid religious painting, and to Maria-sama.

"That's fine," Maki-sensei said. "Even if you look at the paintings absent-mindedly, then you can have favorites. In the museum there will be one or two points, where you might see a picture you like and think, "Aha." Otherwise your eyes are attempting to do too much, right."

"Even though I will attempt to explain every important point, it's fine if you please think of my voice as background music. When there is a painting that interests you, you can give me your attention."

When the guide said this, suddenly the mood relaxed. Even if one had a deep expertise in fine art, this was a place that would fill one's stomach with paintings.

And Yumi, at the Vatican museum was able to think "Aha" at the painting, Michelangelo's "Last Judgment". On the upper center of the large wall of the church was Christ in judgment, placed next to him was the Virgin Mary, and around him were composed the many humans being judged, this all too famous wall mural. In a single phrase, it was Heaven and Hell.

Although it was a famous painting, it drew her to it, although you might be able to say that the other way around; that it was because it appealed to people so much that it was a famous painting, probably.

Partly because of the size, it had terrible power.

Overcome with amazement she viewed it, at some point she did not know, Shimako-san stood next to her. No, although the Wisteria class had already departed, Yumi understood that Shimako-san had walked over to stand by her side, looking up at the mural.

Meeting there was a cool accident. Yumi greeted her with "Gokigenyou." But, when she looked at her friend's face, she got a shock.

"—Eh?"

Shimako-san had tears streaming down her face.

"Sh...Shimako-san?"

"Why is it I wonder, that the tears won't stop." Great tears dropped onto her cheeks where they glittered and shone.

Were those the tears of a person filled with compassion for those being judged? Or were they the tears of the holy mother who cast down her eyes at Christ's despair at having to judge?

Shimako-san herself did not understand what her tears were it seemed. But, it certainly seemed that whatever it was, was faith.

Shimako-san, looking at that religious painting, was as lovely as Maria-sama.

When Shimako-san left that place of worship behind to join up with the rest of Wisteria class, Yoshino-san approached Yumi and whispered dryly, "Jesus-sama looks like he's gotten a little fat, somehow."

During this time, she was able to see reactions in two extremes.

However.

Of everyone, these were Yumi's most important friends.


5

From time to time, inside the art museum, a store would appear. They were mostly of the simple, items lined up on a large table kind. Selling Vatican Museum-related goods. Guidebooks translated into various languages, gorgeous small items, replicas and miniatures of items on display, varying according to the shop.

"Yoshino-san, what are you doing?"

In front of a store in the middle of a wide hallway, Yoshino-san wasn't moving. Trying to see what was notable, she looked around her. And, those were.

"Rosaries..."

Yoshino-san was looking quite seriously at the rosaries all lined up on the table, on the side of the rosary no icon of Maria-sama could be seen.

"Really, it makes my stomach clench."

Probably, she was thinking about her future soeur plans. The decision to make someone her soeur was coming closer and closer, so seeing those probably brought it to mind.

"Are you going to buy a new one?"

"No. Shimako-san gave Noriko-chan the one she had gotten from Sei-sama."

Because Sei-sama had also received it from her onee-sama, that same rosary had continued for who knows how many ages.

"As for me, Rei-chan went out and bought one for me."

Therefore Rei-sama was still carrying the one Eriko-sama had given her even now.

Whether the rosaries transferred for sister's pledges were handed down time and time again or newly bought, didn't really matter. And "from generation to generation" could have its own restrictions and inconvenience.

"How about Yumi-san's rosary? Did Sachiko-sama hand over the one she got from Youko-sama, I wonder?"

"I don't know." She had never thought to ask. "At the least, it wasn't originally prepared for me, after all." Before that day of the sudden soeur proclamation, she had exchanged a few words with Sachiko-sama. As a result, Yumi hadn't accepted it, Now Yumi, who had hung her neck for it, would be soon be the one to give the rosary.

"That's right. Before Yumi-san, Sachiko-sama had made overtures to Shimako-san."

Sometimes what you don't desire is okay, Yoshino-san muttered. If she was thinking of buying one for her future soeur, obviously Shimako-san's situation came to mind. ...It was a little complicated.

"Hey, aren't you going to buy one?"

"So you intend on dragging your companion into this?"

"More importantly, I just thought of something cool. Rosary divination."

"What is that?"

"Because they are here, I'm inspired to buy one. Therefore, when I get home, I'll find the best possible first-year in the school to make my soeur. What do you think?"

"What do I think." In Cinderella, the princess was not chosen by the size of her shoes. To make matters worse, just because you said a fortune, that doesn't mean it was foretold.

"Stop it." Yumi said, as she moved away from the table.

Putting the rosary divination aside, she didn't feel like choosing between all the rosaries lined up. More than lots of colored stones strung together, she preferred something simpler.

Anyway, she was maintaining the status quo.


6

After the Vatican Museum, came St. Peter's Basilica.

This was the Catholic head church. The place the Pope comes. Supposedly erected above the grave of the martyr St. Peter.

They lined up and waited at the entrance to the plaza. It was filled with the same kinds and number of tourists as the art museum. Just in front of the few dozen of the second-year Pine class, were a group of western looking middle aged men, and in front of them, an Asian couple, being refused entry.

One of the middle-aged gentlemen was wearing shorts, sandals and old socks, while the woman from the couple, was wearing a thin spaghetti-strap dress that showed too much skin, their guide explained. This was a holy place, therefore suitable clothes must be worn and a suitable pace must be used, or one would not be allowed to enter.

The woman from the couple put on a man's shirt to conceal her skin, and was allowed to enter, but there was no instant improvisation to cover the short pants. The middle aged man shrugged and turned away.

"Those people, I wonder if they were Christians?" Watching them go by, Mami-san muttered from behind.

"Regardless of what faith a person is themselves, they should recognize what a suitable appearance is for a holy place." Yoshino-san laid out the final blow. A sound argument, but it seemed a fairly harsh opinion.

"Then, isn't it a bit dangerous to be Japanese? It's said that there are very few people who live habitually steady and pious lives." Even as Yumi thought it, the words came from Tsutako-san's mouth.

"I think us Japanese will be all right."

"Why?"

"We bought a guidebook in preparation, didn't we? It says right in it to be careful to bring suitable clothing."

Mami-san and Yoshino-san were seen to nod hugely, so it seemed likely those three must have read every nook and corner of the guidebook in preparation.

"Speaking of that, I wonder if you need your passport to enter," Mami-san said, as if in passing.

"Passport?"

"Vatican City is literally its own country."

Right, right, the world's smallest independent state.

"So, it's not Italy inside, then."

"Well, I guess not if you put it that way."

"But if that's the case, how about when we entered the Art Museum? They didn't look at our passports then, right? But is that actually a part of Vatican City?" It was called the Vatican Museum, so maybe it was.

"If it's not part of Italy, does the Pope rule over it?"

"Even though it's Vatican City, the Swiss protect it. Come on, let's go."

For a little while after the middle age men were caught and not allowed in because of their clothes, entrance had been delayed, but eventually it was Yumi and the others' turn.

Ah, she now saw, as soon as the school uniforms in the lead were seen, there was no stopping those lined up afterward, so they flowed by smoothly.

They did not need to present their passport, as they entered into St. Peter's Square. As she passed by the official in charge who stood at the entrance, she was as nervous as she had been during the hand luggage inspection before boarding the airplane. Of course the Lillian Girl's School uniform would not have to be shed for not being suitable, but.

Her first impression of St. Peter's square was "It's like an outdoor stage." Or, to be accurate, 'Assembly Hall concert seating' she guessed. There were an enormous number of chairs facing the temple.

"This is in preparation for tomorrow," the guide explained.

For tomorrow's Sunday mass, believers from all over the world would gather. Participating in a mass at the headquarters of the Catholic Church would probably be a lifelong dream for some believers.

Not only was the outside of the Cathedral impressive, the inside left them dumbstruck.

First of all, the ceiling was incredibly high. And dazzling. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Impressive. Brilliant. Anyway, the only word that was fitting was "wonderful" for the gorgeous things they had seen at the art museum; this simply left these mere Japanese high school girls standing there with their mouths gaping wide open.

The world is big. They had never seen such a building.

As they stood there gaping, the guide lead the way so they could see Michelangelo's statue "Pieta" and "St. Peter." That such famous statues were here also, left Yumi with a considerable case of culture shock.

7

After having been half dazzled out of their minds by St. Peter's, they walked for a while, while their wits returned to them, and they whispered about their impressions and feelings.

"I'm hungry."

Glancing at her wristwatch, it was almost 2 in the afternoon. In both museum and hurch there had been stairs, and coupled with the time, it wasn't all that surprising. Moreover, they'd been moving at a fair pace. If one took one's time visiting, it would take more than one day.

"Just wait a little longer." Like baby birds crying out for their parents to feed them, "I'm hungry" could be heard up and down the line. In a case like this, the need to pay attention to their stomachs being empty would obliterate any other thoughts for the students.

When they arrived at an open café (or something like that) where they had a reservation, the young women all left with a panini, which was delicious, as they walked.

Italian mineral water was carbonated. So, if they wanted regular water, they had to request it "without gas" or they wouldn't get it.

Yumi and the others who sat around the table in a friendly fashion, consulted and found that about half had asked for that. Although novel at first, they all took "with gas", now they all reached for "without gas" when the meal was over. As expected, people went back to what they were familiar with as children. The people who though it was great, this "with gas," would consider buying it for when they returned home to Japan. But, Italian water as a souvenir. Maybe that would be a bit too heavy.

Anyway. Yumi's challenge today, the restroom in the store, had been vanquished.

Thinking there would be a little old lady who cleaned the toilets, she took some small change and entered the store.

According to the guidebook, in Italian, toilets were called "banyo", women were "donna". Because the toilets were locked from the outside, she had to go to the counter to borrow the key.

While muttering to remind herself of it all, she left the guest seating, going around the corner until she reached the stairs. In front of the stairs there was a piece of paper affixed to the wall, with an arrow pointing down and the word "Toilette" written on it. This store apparently had the bathroom in the basement. Yumi turned towards the gloomy basement, and slowly went down the stairs.

"---was it. What was it like. Give me the simple, concise report."

When Yumi had finished in the bathroom, she was importuned by an irritated Yoshino for the first use of the banyo report.

"In other words, the bathroom is in the basement, right? So, did you need money?"

"Not needed."

"Was there paper?"

"There was."

"Right. That's all I need to hear. Thank you for the report."

"Ah, Yoshino-san." By the time she called out for her to stop and hear the second part of the first use of the banyo report, she had already disappeared into the store. Probably under pressure of necessity. That couldn't be helped. However.

"...there isn't any toilet seat. Why didn't you tell me that." When she returned, Yumi was sure she'd start right off with that complaint. Therefore Yumi, "Don't yo think that that kind of toilet perfect for training the muscles in your legs?" Was her only answer. But, when she returned, this is what she said.

"It's more a sense of equilibrium, than muscle, isn't it?"

Apparently Yoshino-san, had gotten on the western-style toilet without hovering.

That was a completely different kind of problem.

8

After their late lunch, came sightseeing at San Angelo castle, the bus brought them back to the hotel, where they were free to move outside their class units.

As a result of their previous consultation in homeroom, Yumi and the others had decided to stroll to the Piazza di Spagna and the Trevi fountain this evening. In the same way, they had decided that tomorrow for their free time, they would visit Via delle Carrozze and the Mouth of Truth (E: Bocca della Verita) into their schedule. In
other words, the Pine Class' theme was "Roman Holiday."

"You know, it feels likes it's overflowing with people, somehow."

At the famous Spanish Steps, many people crowded each other. They weren't doing anything particular, just trying to find a seat somewhere, pull out food from somewhere, pretending they were Princess Anne eating gelato.

"What's fun about sitting on steps?" Grumbled those people who couldn't get a seat. Laugh at the people following the fad. But after all, one came all the way here, so there will be no punishment if one sat. --So, the various members of Pine Class all found a place to sit down on the steps. At which, Tsutako-san quickly took a picture. Because the "Old guy next to them" interfered, they grumbled about that, too.

"Yumi-san, what are you thinking about?"

"Eh?"

"Every once in a while you sigh like you're thinking. Today....yeah, since after noon," Tsutako-san spoke over the camera lens. As expected of the Camera Club's ace, she really saw people's faces. "Hm, are you homesick? Or is it that you can't see onee-sama?"

"No, that's not it at all." Yumi denied it, waving both hand and head back and forth. Not even a day and a half had passed since they had left Japan.

If it were a weekend like always, and she wouldn't be able to see Onee-sama., then it would just be the usual long rest she'd experienced many times since they'd become soeur.

"Then what?" Tsutako-san smiled, lowered the camera, and sat by Yumi's side. Yoshino-san and Mami-san, having sat on the steps seemed satisfied and were now looking at the dark water. As they rolled up their sleeves and put their arms in and the water bubbled up over them.

"Before, when we went to San Angelo, wasn't it." Yumi confessed to Tsutako-san.

"Ah, when they told us about the play 'Tosca', that castle?"

"In the opera 'Tosca,' in order to save his lover, he committed murder, and in recompense the woman he loved was shot dead; whereupon he jumped to his death off the terrace, committing suicide.

To put it simply.

"That was it. When I heard about the opera, thoughts of Kanina Shizuka-sama were planted in my mind.

"Rosa Canina, huh?"

Previously, Shimako-san had competed for the position of Rosa Gigantea with the singer. A person who, before she had gone on to be a third-year, had traveled to Italy in order to study music.

"I wonder why. Is she doing well, you mean."

Now that she stood on the earth of Italy, it seemed obvious but, it was big, and there were a lot of people. Shizuka-san was probably somewhere under this big sky but she didn't know the address of where she was living, or even the name of the town and, it was unlikely that, as students passed along the streets on a field trip, they might suddenly find someone they wanted to meet, she thought.

"And that's got you down? You're saying that you have no evidence to depend on that she's happy?" As Tsutako-san spoke, from behind Mami-san appeared and said, "Speaking of dependence."

"You surprised me. When did you come back."

"Just now. I saw that there was a nice mood here between Tsutako-san and Yumi-san, having a secret conversation, and I wanted to listen in."

"It's nothing, it wasn't a secret conversation. So, 'Speaking of depending' what?"

"Ah, right, right. Did you know? At the post office inside the Vatican City Art museum, one of the Sakura class students addressed and sent postcards addressed to Japan."

"To her family?"

"Uhn-uhn. To her onee-sama and imouto."

Upon hearing onee-sama, Yumi suddenly became jealous. It wasn't that she was homesick and it wasn't that she had no patience with not being able to see Onee-sama, but when else would she have the chance to send a postcard to onee-sama from abroad, she didn't know. Because now that she was thinking about it, it was Saturday evening. She didn't know the post office hours in this country, but eve if she saw a mailbox, she couldn't buy a stamp.

"Well, let's go to Trevi, Pine Class - " At the teacher's orders, they stood up and smoothed their skirts. Just because they were called travelers, didn't mean they could move about freely.

9

She really liked the way the Trevi Fountain at night looked. So Maki-sensei said. Because of that, the Pine Class had added the Trevi Fountain to their Saturday night schedule.

Fifty years had passed since the masterpiece movie "Roman Holiday" but it was still popular with girls, so this wasn't limited to the Pine Class; the Wisteria and Sakura classes had also planned it. But only the Pine Class were able to see the evening light show at the Trevi Fountain. The other two groups were coming tomorrow at mid-day. Probably because of the story of Princess Anne in the middle, they wanted to see it while it was light out. (E: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Holiday#Plot)

As the teacher had said, Trevi Fountain at night was beautiful. The lights made the many beautiful white statues appear to float in the middle of the darkness. At their feet, black water poured out. Although it was actually an outer wall of the Palazzo Poli, for a building wall, it was excessively artistic.

Turn around and throw a coin behind you into the fountain. If you do that, then some day you will return to this place, or so the story goes.

Yumi too took a coin out of her purse, and with a "yay" did it. Since she was facing away, she wasn't sure if she threw the coin into the fountain and it would be too bad if it landed elsewhere.

"Takeshima-san, if you'd like to have one taken, why not line up with Fukuzawa-san and the others? I'll take the picture." Maki-sensei reached out, but Tsutako-san replied "Don't worry about it," diffidently. She much preferred to take pictures than to have them take of her.

"Sensei, you're not going to throw one in?"

"No. Because even if I don't throw a coin in, I come here often. If I throw a coin, I'm just losing money, right?"

Because she came here often, she had been able to say "I like Trevi at night." Those were the words of someone who knew the Trevi Fountain at night and in the day.

"Sensei, in your time, did you come to Italy?'

"No. It was just Kyushu then." (E: The southernmost islands of Japan.)

Maki-sensei was a Lillian OG (E: Old Girl, i.e., alumna). However many years ago that was, they still weren't going overseas for the class trip, it seemed.

"Since I was a second-year homeroom teacher last year and this year, I've come to Italy two years in succession."

She didn't know what would happen next year, but if she was still a teacher at Lillian, she would be traveling to Italy who knows how many times, Maki-sensei said.

"Sensei, do you like being a teacher at Lillian?"

"Mm. Yes, I like it."

"Then, it's okay if you throw a coin. Like saying that you'll be coming back. Because in order to come on the class trip, you'll have to stay a Lillian teacher."

"Or, I could ask to come back on a personal tour." Muttering this, Sensei took a coin out and threw it.

It flew in a particularly large arc, the lights reflecting brightly off of it, and fell into the middle of the fountain.


10

"This is unconfirmed information, but," Mami-san whispered, as they sat for dinner.

They were talking in the restaurant next to the hotel. Polcini was roasted mushrooms stuffed in the mouth of a whole fish that was carried to the table on a plate.

"One of the Sakura class students told me a little while ago. Ah, but this conversation is off record, okay. Because I'm thinking of putting it in the Lillian Kawaraban."

However, if one of the Sakura class students had been the one to procure it, then the news wasn't really a scoop, right. More importantly, before publishing it, she was the one spreading the rumor. However Mami-san continued without caring. After all, even though they were in the middle of a stay in Italy, Mami-san's reporter's spirit couldn't totally loosen up, probably.

"Do you know where Sakura class went last night?"

"Wasn't it for a walk in Borghese Park?" Yoshino-san answered, flipping her hair back. The feeling was, hurry up and say it already.

"Right, and while they were there was an accident."

"One of the students got lost. So you all know that story. It's kind of pathetic though, and not a scoop," Tsutako-san pointed out, and Yumi nodded in agreement.

The result was that the girl wandered around the park crying, until she ran into a kind, local, older couple who led her back to where her classmates were. When they had returned from the Trevi Fountain, they were told this by some of the Wisteria class students in the lobby. Mami-san must not have heard that information at that time.

"I went to the student's room to ask her for an interview."

"...That's a nice answer."

"She spoke to me on condition of anonymity. Therefore, let's call her A-san, shall we?"

When Cherry Blossom class arrived at the Borghese Park, they were given permission to break into several small groups to move around conditionally. In the beginning A-san, with naturally, the seven other people in her group, walked around the park with a map in hand. They took pictures next to the splendid statuary, took pictures of a local young man who waved at them from among the many people riding bicycles around, it all seemed to be plenty of fun.

"But then, why did A-san get lost?"

"There," Mami-san whispered. "She saw something that caught her attention, and she ended up being separated from the group, then wandering around aimlessly. The time they were getting back together was near, she had to be going back soon, it felt like that time, and the group didn't really seem to notice that they were one person down. It was getting dark and as they were all moving together, so they didn't do an ndividual roll call in the group."

"So, what was the thing. Really, Mami-san, you're always talking like you're the one who did it. Nice personality."

Although she spoke the words hatefully, it was obvious that Yoshino-san was irritated because she wanted to know what happened. Mami-san seemed to understand this, maybe because it was a pattern she had encountered from working on the Lillian Kawaraban.

In the middle of students chatting energetically about Vatican at noon, or Trevi at night, this table alone had faces that appeared to be meeting in a confidential conversation, speaking in soft voices. She wondered if none of their classmates noticed; Yumi seemed anxious, and the others appeared to be in a daze, it really was a wonder that no one seemed to notice them at all.

Still, Mami-san dropped her voice a little lower and said, "She said that she saw Satou Sei-sama."

---Just so.


The Mouth of Truth's Complaint

1

Rome's subway was a choice of two lines, A and B.

It was simple therefore, not at all like the map of the Tokyo underground which, the longer you look at it, the less you understand, or so it seemed.

But still, it was foreign ground. It was still a big job to buy a single ticket if one did not understand on one's own.

Each class was free to move about as they pleased. Today's planned site was the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Coliseum and the Mouth of Truth. At their previous meeting everyone had decided to buy a ticket, "Because this is a good chance to take the subway" but in reality it was a pretty big obstacle.

Anyway, it was pretty crowded. Today was Sunday.

Thirty people boarding the same train would be impossible, so they split into three groups, confirmed the station name where they would get off many times, and roll-call would be done again as they passed the exit of the platform.

Once they had confirmed that they were all gathered they moved on. In front of the station exit the roll was called. As soon as they had exited, roll was called. It was like this throughout. Since yesterday's Sakura class situation, the teachers were exceedingly nervous.

When the word went out that they would be taking the subway, the teachers' expressions clearly said, "That will be troublesome," which was now understandable. Nevertheless, Maki-sensei had obviously decided that if it would not be dangerous for the students, they would do it. Moreover, it was the high school policy.

Taking the A line which ran next to the hotel, they first went to the terminal. This was an intersection with the B line, where the international lines and the domestic lines of the national railway intersected. It was a very large Roman station.

A five-minute walk from the Terminal was the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This was a church built on instructions from Maria-sama. By coincidence, today was a cloudless, fine day, it brought Maria-sama's heart to mind, under the bright blue sky, as the bright white building known as "Saint Maria of the Snow" glittered brightly.

They entered the church, right in the middle of the Sunday mass. By the simple means of a rope strung across the central part of the large church, chairs for the clergy and believers were lined up inside the church where they offered up their prayers. Although the words of the sermon and the prayers differed, masses held at Lillian came in many parts. As students who attended a Christian school, Yumi and the others behind the congregation, put their hands together and prayed.

Returning to the terminal, this time they took line B to the Coliseum. Shortly after getting off at the station, the famous round stadium appeared. In truth, they had discussed the pros and cons of taking the sightseeing tour or not in homeroom.

Some insisted upon their theme, "Let's see many of the places that Princess Anne went sightseeing at in 'Roman Holiday' with our own eyes," while the opposing faction said, "We don't want to go to a place where killing people was turned into a show." In the end, they decided to take time to look around the outside only. They got out of the station on this side for the Coliseum and would go on from here to the Mouth of Truth, both sides had agreed.

There were many wires, and good ventilation had been developed in to stone surface, they noticed as they walked leisurely around, until they arrived at an old church.

It was Santa Maria in Cosmedin. This was where the "Mouth of Truth" was, but it in no way stood out. However, when they saw a long line coming out of the church, they could help but nodding and saying "so that's the way it is, is it."

"I was thinking that it would be quiet inside the church..."

"Uhn. They come from far away to see it."

So conversing, they lined up at the tail end of the line. The head of the line up ahead just as it was about to enter the church, turned to the left, along a long and narrow passageway. That was where the "Mouth of Truth" was. The "Mouth of Truth" was a large disk of marble with the face of the god of the sea, Triton, that had been excavated; the legend said that if a liar put his hand in its mouth, it would be
eaten.

It was also said that the disk was a manhole cover from ancient times, which now gathered people like this. Of course, that was probably because of the influence of the famous scene from "Roman Holiday." As far as Yumi and the others could see, everyone mimicked the reporter Bradley, waving around their uneaten hands without making a noise.

Behind them, many other tourists had lined up who understood, and used discretion when a person's turn came, they went in alone, took a few pictures of themselves in front of "The Mouth of Truth", then handed it over to the next person. For that reason, it was their turn much sooner than they thought. Of course, it goes without saying that the students of Lillian complied with this unwritten rule.

Yumi and Yoshino-san thrust their hands into the "Mouth of Truth" at the same time for Tsutako, who had made the request "You two together" on behalf of the Newspaper and Camera clubs. If Shimako-san had been in the same class, no doubt she would hav said, "you three."

After the pictures were taken, they entered the chapel. It was old and dark and small, but the mosaics had such a holy atmosphere that it felt like a church. Most of the tourists that had put their hands in the "Mouth of Truth" had left, satisfied, so there were few people there, but that was sort of sad. Right there, a few steps away, was a splendid chapel.

From the chapel of Santa Maria in Cosmedin they were going to a restaurant for a late lunch, they walked over to nearby Cirulli Massimo station (which on an empty stomach seemed like a long walk), rode the B subway line to the terminal, then took the A line back to the hotel.

2

"There's eyewitness testimony about Sei-sama, but..." Mami-san said, holding her pen as if it was chopsticks.

"Not just A-san from Sakura class. There are others." From the time they returned to their hotel until dinner, Mami-san seemed to have not relaxed in her room at all. She spoke to students who were in the lobby, visited the rooms of acquaintances she had in Sakura and Wisteria classes, gathering information. As her roommate Tsutako-san had spent that time calculating how much film she had remaining and doing camera repair and cleaning, that was just fine with her. They were both the "take the path of your skills" types.

"Others too, you say?" Yoshino-san asked, stuffing her cheeks full of boiled root vegetables. Tonight was the first Japanese food they'd had in a while. Because the love of rice comes on slowly but steadily, in consideration of the school, a Japanese restaurant had been built next door.

When in Rome do as the Romans do...might be the way of spirit, but the body occasionally wants food without olive oil in it.

They were honestly grateful.

"Students from Wisteria, in the Milan airport, were sure they saw someone that looked like her. When I talked to them about it, they were sure it had been her."

"At the Milan airport..."

As Yumi heard that, she thought of something that had happened there. Immediately after she had bought the sign marker, something that had come out of the mouths of the students surrounding her, the words "Rosa Gigantea." It hadn't been in reference to Shimako-san.

"The same thing happened at Narita."

"That name was similar wasn't it." Mami-san had herself recognized that "Katou" sounded similar to "Satou." When the three had managed to get a table together, Mami-san continued, "But it can't be confirmed."

"The name wasn't exactly the same, but the face that was seen was."

"But Shimako-san also..."

"Mm. But she listened to the broadcast and asserted that it said Katou-san. But someone who looks like Sei-sama was sighted by students. Don't you think that's a coincidence?"

As a coincidence, it was a bit much. Really, she thought.

"So, Sei-sama is in Italy?" Yoshino-san asked, but Mami-san shook her head back and forth, making a correction.

"In Rome."

Rome.

The three of them chewed on these words. Sei-sama had come to Rome. Suddenly they had the feeling of "wah-wah-waaannnn."

"Why here, I wonder."

"A trip, probably?"

"What about school?"

"That's right. University is in the middle of exam break."

Then, it wouldn't be a problem to schedule it.

"But when Sei-sama was in school, the school field trip must have been Italy. Why would she come back to somewhere she'd already been to only two years ago? Wouldn't France or England be better? If you're paying to fly to Europe."

"That's true."

Yoshino's opinion had strangely persuasive power.

"Then, it's someone else that looks like..."

"Even if the person told me that it was someone who looked exactly like Sei-sama, and all the other hints that have come in one by one? Sei-sama doesn't have typical Japanese features, so that wasn't what was seen."

"In Narita, Milan, and Borghese Park too? In all of them, someone who looked like her?"

"Uhn-uhn."

The three crossed their arms and pondered this deeply. And they carried over their cups of Japanese tea, then set them down.

"If it's really her, any way contact would have to be from her side."

That true, they nodded, and four people lifted their teacups with both hands, and drank.

Dinner was over, but the subject was not concluded.

The situation was that all four wanted to see this "exactly the same" person with their own eyes.


3

That night, about the time Yumi went to take a bath, Yoshino-san phoned Rei-sama.

Because it was Sunday night about ten o'clock here, it was about six o'clock Monday morning in Japan or so. Rei-sama was probably in the middle of dressing, so she would have time to talk for a while.

It had been decided to make collect calls to Japan from the hotel rooms. This was to keep students from making inevitable phone calls home. If one wanted to hear a soeur's voice, it might be impossible, when one realized that the other's house would bear the charge.

In Yoshino-san's case, because her onee-sama, Rei-sama, was also her cousin who lived next door, so many things were flexible. If she went ahead and made a collect call to Rei-sama's home to talk to her, her relatives would likely accept the charge.

Yumi got out of the bath feeling anxious, but when she saw Yoshino-san's back, sitting on the bed laughing, she felt a little jealousy in her heart. She wanted to hear Sachiko-sama's voice. She wanted to say stupid things, and be scolded.

Because they had been to many places, and often were hurried, she hadn't had a chance feel lonely. At the end of a day like this, when she felt relaxed, Onee-sama became especially beloved.

To take her mind off it, she went to watch TV, but that didn't work. One show was a variety show but because it was in Italian it wasn't much fun.

Some people might call this homesickness, but it was different. If you had to call it something, call it Sister-sickness.

But, even if she called home, it wouldn't solve this loneliness.

She wanted to see her right now. She wanted Sachiko-sama to feel that feeling of wanting to see her, too.

Japan and Italy. Because you could call this "distance on a map" to make it an easily understandable separation, but it's even more understandable when one comes here and returns to one's home country on an airplane.

However.

When two people were separated by "circumstance" or "daily life" or "time" it was occasionally necessary to cry once in a while.

She especially didn't want to think about what would happen after Onee-sama graduated in the middle of her school field trip, but it was a little late to tell herself that now.

Bit by bit, aimlessly, and eventually falling apart, she couldn't control herself.

Because Yoshino-san didn't seem like she was ending the call, Yumi quietly returned back inside the opened door.

Retracing her steps into the bathroom, she used the cold water to wash away her tears over and over.

Tomorrow Florence.

If only she could change her feelings.


To Be Continued in Part 3



Tags: Maria-sama ga Miteru, Marimite, Ciao Sorella