Notes on the Seventeenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Part 3

Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel 17, "Ciao, Sorella!", Part 3

The Capital of Flowers Is What Kind of City?

1

Monday

At just before eleven they left the terminal station to board the Eurostar to Florence. What they called the Eurostar was a train similar to what in Japan was called the Shinkansen. (E: High-speed bullet train)

The ticket gates for the national train and the subway did not differ. You needed a ticket with the embossed seal to ride. If you did not have the embossed seal, a penalty fine would be imposed, there was no way to know, she thought, how many travelers that system caused to drink their tears. As she ate her sandwich for lunch, she gazed out of the window and watched the rural landscape flow by.

There was no green to be seen. Dry earth color. Completely clear sky. Stone buildings. The scenery that appeared and disappeared looked just like the sets for oil paintings. The flower of art may have well opened up in such a beautiful land.

One hour and forty five minutes ride on the Eurostar brought them to Santa Maria Novella Station, in the second place they were staying, Florence.

Florence, the Capital of Flowers, was a small city. Many local bus routes ran within it and since many of the popular sightseeing spots were gathered within 700 meters of the Duomo, if one felt uneasy about those, one could walk around, the guidebook said.

For that reason, from the station to their hotel, naturally, they walked. To avoid the roads crammed with tourists, they went south, walking along the Arno river, until they arrived at the hotel.

Because it was not yet check-in, they left their luggage and took a stroll around the environs of the Duomo. It might be a small city, but there was plenty to see. They wouldn't be able to see everything, but first they could check to see what they might want to do, since tomorrow they would have free time, the teacher said.

The Duomo looked like a little church out of a fairy tale. From behind, it looked like an overdone wedding cake, as they walked around it, it appeared to be a round chocolate powder covered cake.

Well that was what she thought at the time. When she said it, her classmates all giggled at her.

"Yumi-san, are you hungry or something?"

"That's not it at all. I saw the image of a wild boar a little while ago and didn't think I wanted to eat it."

She said.

"Then, when Yumi-san is really hungry, and you see a live cow or pig or chicken, it looks delicious?"

Why this was getting more and more comical. Obviously, that was not true. Although, when she saw a crab at the aquarium, she did think it looked tasty.

"I understand, Yumi-san is in the mood to eat sweets now."

When this was pointed out, this time she was not going to deny it at all. Why, you ask? Because just then, the wall of the Basilica of San Lorenzo became visible, which looked like the comb of cream on a chiffon tea cake to her.

"But, you know, I think that too, a little." Yoshino-san whispered dryly.

Yes, yes.

Florence looked like a delicious city made by a cake shop.


2

When they finished their light sightseeing and checked into the hotel, which differed from the hotel in Rome, with a simple, chic feel.

The exterior and interior had a basic monotone feel, and the uses of glass and silver in most objects gave it a stiff coolness.

"Oh, this time the shower has a hose! Lucky!" Yoshino's voice came from inside the bathroom, where she had immediately flown.

"Um, but there doesn't seem to be a toothbrush set here. That's odd. Right, Yumi-san, did you hear? At the briefing, it had been confirmed that there would be toothbrushes for those students who did not bring them. Most had bought them at Narita, only to notice that they were in the hotel rooms. Because the teachers had predicted that, they were prepared. In a large suitcase, you could put a few of those in, right? Hey, Yumi-san, did you hear?"

Geez, Yoshino-san was bubbling over. When they had arrived at their hotel in Rome, she hadn't been feeling well, so couldn't wander around the room exploring. She was the type to do that, by nature. Although, really, Yumi had wanted to do that at the hotel in Rome, too.

"Hey hey hey, did you use the bidet?" Yoshino-san pointed at the low washstand next to the toilet.

"Not once, I couldn't figure it out," Yumi answered, overwhelmed by Yoshino-san's tension.

"I see, couldn't figure it out."

"As far as bathrrooms go, I like the kind we have in Japan, with the shower."

"I agree. Afterwards, the bath. I want to wash in a separate place from the tub."

"Ah, me too." They came to consensus with applause and laughed at one another.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

However, if one lived a long time in a foreign country, one would get accustomed to their ways, but it was something that couldn't be helped if they didn't yet.

Even in this present time, it was like that.

A long time ago, the first Christian missionaries who stepped onto Japanese soil to introduce Christianity, must have felt that strongly, they couldn't help but think.


3

Their supper that night had volume.

Because it was young women eating, the menu was chosen by assumption, so that the amount placed on one plate was enormous.

There was vegetable soup, something like a bowl of Donburi (E: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donburi). A mass of roast beef that landed with a thud. And above that pasta and bread. They might be growing children, but they wouldn't be able to finish eating all this.

"What a waste," more than one student said, when they were done.

A little past their seats, a local-looking older couple ate with even higher volume than the Lillian students menu, and continuously gulped wine.

When she couldn't eat another thing, Yumi thought, "If only Yuuki was here." It would probably please him, she thought vaguely.

"Just Yuuki-kun wouldn't be enough. Kobayashi-kun, Takeda-kun and Arisu might be unreliable, but we should call Nikko and Gakko-sempai," Yoshino-san said, laughing. If that was the case, there'd surely be nothing left to eat.

"Speaking of Yuuki-kun, he's Yumi-san's little brother, right?"

This year's Hanadera Academy Student Council President. When you asked him to come and help out with our school festival this year, what's he doing? Will it be like last year's Prince?

"Prince-huh." Not my little brother, Yumi shook her head back and forth. In the Fukuzawa house, both siblings together had tanuki faces. For him to play the part of a prince, it would have to be a story of the Tanuki Country.

"She means that it's a better part than a prince."

"Yoshino-san." She tried to check Yoshino-san's loose tongue.

"....Right, from the trip until we get home, it's got to be a secret. Sorry."

"Why do you have to stop taking about it. At least one little hint. Come on, it'll be fine, Yumi-san."

"It's a secret."

"No way, there's a love scene between brother and sister?"

"--Stop it." She was putting more and more into her stomach, but with that, her fork suddenly stopped. A love scene with Yuuki? That's not even funny, it gave her the creeps.

After dinner, cake was brought over so they could eat it. Girl's extra stomachs for dessert are a wonder.

If Florence is a city made by a bakery, then I guess we should eat it, huh." What kind of explanation is that.

The city of cake was another image added to tonight. The lump of meat.

From now on, when Yumi saw a large quantity of meat, she would remember Florence.



Resounding! Leaning! Melting!?

Tuesday.

Today's plan was San Marco Museum and Pisa.

Because the museum gets crowded, they left the hotel at eight o'clock in the morning. As they walked along the street where yesterday afternoon there were many people, because it was before the shops opened, their footsteps clattered. Looking up to the sky in the unpopular cold morning, there was a mysterious feeling about halfway to the Doumo. Of course, that might be the difference between a decoration cake and an ice cream cake.

They arrived at the San Marco Art Museum at half past eight. Several groups of tourists were gathered in the vicinity of the library which had just opened, although there was no way to know how long they had been waiting. There was a plain door that she wasn't sure was the entrance. It probably was, as this museum was located in a monastery. As they progressed down the corridor, they could see beautiful inner grounds. Inside, up a flight of stairs, was the place where Angelico's "Annunciation" was. (E: http://www.abcgallery.com/A/angelico/angelico49.html)

This fresco was painted directly on the wall and, although it was painted more than 500 years ago, the colors were still beautiful. "The Annunciation" was a theme that had been painted by many painters and continued to be popular, but when Yumi had ompared them in an art book, she had liked Angelico's best, she thought. Although the vivid beauty of the color of the angel's wing was wonderful, the pure look of Maria-sama's facial expression as she received the divine message was truly beautiful.

A memory occurred to her, of a kindergarten Christmas play, where they did a Nativity scene. At that time, the Angel had borne lily flowers, that had rained down over Maria-sama.

"Do not fear." And so, she was informed that, in her body dwelled the Savior.

To be surprised would be normal. However, Maria-sama was not ordinary, and accepted the unbelievable truth. No, maybe God had chosen her because she was the kind of woman to accept that.

"It's lovely..." She wanted to stop and stand in front of it the way Shimako-san had stood in front of "The Last Judgment" in the Vatican museum. Because they couldn't lend this to another museum like a framed oil painting, if one didn't come here, one couldn't see this picture. To the contrary, one could see this picture as long as one continued to come here.

"Come on, let's go, Yumi-san." Yoshino-san took her hand and pulled to get her to move.

It would be nice, she thought, if she could meet this Maria-sama.

By the way, in that kindergarten play, she played one of the three mages who celebrated Jesus-sama's birth. She didn't remember any of her lines.

As they left the outside of the priests' quarters where they had gazed at the fresco painted there, a large motor coach of tourists arrived.


2

From Santa Maria Maggiore station they rode the train for about an hour until they arrived at the Pisa central station. As it was about noon, they satisfied their appetite at a fast food place in the station. It was a major hamburger chain, known all through the world, really. In fact there was an ongoing argument against the youth of Japan eating hamburgers and fries. Mm, they were totally being Americanized.

They bought their tickets at the tobacco shop. The ticket was inserted right into the machine and was marked with a "gatchan" noise when getting on. The same as the local railway here.

After eating lunch the time for the train to arrive hadn't yet come, or maybe the previous bus had just gone, so everyone in the class rode one bus.

The bus was ten minutes of shaking. They arrived in front of the Duomo plaza with the leaning tower. As the second-year Pine class descended from the bus one by one, they cried out.

"Wow! It really is leaning!"

Probably everyone who came here said the same words, albeit in different languages. The tower is leaning. --Just so.

No, the majority of people knew the tower stood diagonally, so this site was always going to be visited. However, actually confirming it with your own eyes, you're sure to be surprised at the inclination, and the words just came out. Really, it was pretty amazing that it didn't fall.

"I thought that Pisa was just a tower, but..."

"Yeah. I can see some other buildings. Um, wait a second. There seems to be a Duomo, a baptismal hall and an art museum," her classmate explained as she drew the guidebook from her bag. Pisa was a maritime kingdom that had been around since the Roman era.

On the lawn at the side of the leaning tower, Maki-sensei stopped the line from advancing, turning to address them over her shoulder.

"So, then, from now for the next three and a half hours, you have free time. As long as you understand to not leave here. If anything happens come back to this area. I'll be wandering around here. If any of you want to climb the tower, we'll be meeting at 1:45. So, then, go ahead." Sensei clapped her hands as a signal, and the second-year Pine class scattered in groups. Right off, Tsutako-san said, "Come this way," taking the initiative and Yumi and the others went along.

At any rate this was a "sight-seeing area" so they went sight seeing. Along the edge of the street were souvenir stores lined up, with Leaning Tower of Pisa figurines, Leaning Tower of Pisa postcards, Leaning Tower of Pisa T-shirts, Pinocchio puppets that had absolutely nothing to do with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, neckties of art masterpieces, and other junk for sale.

"Do you think they give permission for that?" Yoshino-san laughed, pointing out a t-shirt with a picture of a world-famous mouse mascot holding up the falling tower.

"More importantly, imagine a giant mouse being the only support for a falling tower." Mami muttered.

"...."

That was a little scary. Not a little, completely scary. It would have to be as large as Godzilla.

"Let me a take picture here," Tsutako-san called out to stop. "Since I've come to Pisa, I think I want to take some stupid photographs. Yumi-san, help me out."

"Is this okay?" she asked, standing in place, doing a pose. Standing sideways with both hands extended, one leg forward, facing ahead.

"Yes. The title is 'Rosa Chinensis en bouton, holding up the tower by herself.'"

"That really is stupid," Mami-san said thrusting herself in from the side.

"Stupid, but it's fine. Taking pictures that can only be taking in one place can be shiny too. Come on, let's fine tune that pose and take another one."

"Oka-y."

Afterwards, Tsutako-san took Yoshino-san in the same pose, and then one with the title 'The Tsubomi hold up the tower.'" The one who in the beginning had called this foolishness "stupid" looked a little jealous as they did this, and in the end was the one with the most serious face when she held up the tower.

"If Shimako-san were here, I could get a complete series of "Red - White - Yellow Roses." ...too bad."

A complete series was hardly entrance to the festivities on the final day of the Grand Sumo tournament, but when Yumi had pushed, she had seen that reflected in her eyes.

"Shimako-san is here." At which the other three, at the same time, said, "Whah?"

"Look, over there." Yumi pointed over to where a group of people were on the lawn, then went running over.

"Shimako-saaaan,"

"Well, Yumi-san."

Shimako-san, who had been sitting on the lawn, stood, smiling at Yumi. The two, glad to meet again, exchanged greetings of "Good day."

"Wisteria class came here too."

"Yes. You and the others came her after the San Marco museum? We came here first."

"Is that right."

For some reason, Yumi dropped her gaze. "I wonder if Shimako-san is alone," she said and looked around the area.

Just so. Next to her, at her waist, there was a tourist looking up. As the same moment she thought, "Ah, who is that?" the person turned to her and spoke.

"Good day, Yumi-san."

"Rosa Canina!" The three who had run after Yumi cried out the name before Yumi. It was true, that person was Kanina Shizuka, Rosa Canina.

"Shizuka-sama!? Why..." Yumi squatted down on the lawn, patting Shizuka-sama on the shoulder. It wasn't a dream, it was the real person. Her hair was considerably longer. That shadow that was now here, had last been seen a half a year ago when Shizuka-sama had been enrolled in Lillian Girls' School.

"I decided to come and meet you, didn't I? All of you."

Well, unless Shizuka-sama lived in this piazza, one couldn't think that this was just chance.

"In any case, you knew our schedule well."

"I received some information from a pen pal."

"Pen pal? Is that, by any chance Sei-sama!?" Yumi, Yoshino-san, Tsutako-san, Mami-san all said and thought. But Shizuka-sama let the name fly from her mouth.

"It's Shimako-san."

Shimako-san said, "Yes" and smiled.

"Pen pals!? You two!?"

"Is there anything strange in that?"

"But..."

For her and Sei-sama and Shimako-san, many things had happened at the time of the Student Council elections. Not only that, she had developed a subtle relationship with Sei-sama. More than that, Shizuka-sama had found Shimako-san's hidden white card during the Newspaper's Valentine's Day event, and the two of them had gone out on a half-day date. Anyway, it was a relationship that couldn't be expressed in a single word.

Therefore, asking "Is it so strange," there was no way to answer that. Just that it was, a little, that Shimako-san and Shizuka-sama had become friends.

"If you don't mind?" Mami-san asked, raising her hand. "I'm Yamaguchi Mami from the newspaper. We've heard an unconfirmed rumor that Sei-sama has come to Italy. Have you received any information about that?"

When Shizuka-sama heard that, instead of answering, she asked Shimako, "Have you heard anything?"

"No?"

"I haven't heard anything either. If she has come, it would be nice if she communicated with me. I told her my address and phone number."

Then it really was empty rumor. Mami-san was obviously disappointed. It would have been great to be able to announce an article with a three shot of Sei-sama, Shizuka-sama and Shimako-san in the Lillian Kawaraban. At the moment she would have to rely on the unconfirmed.

"You three, you just came now didn't you? Going up the tower?" Shizuka-sama stood, brushing off her skirt.

"Yes, ....tentatively." Her voice dropped. The truth was that Yumi, when they discussed it at school, had raised her hand at being "One of the people going up." Somehow that had the feeling of a good luck charm. But now, with the real thing in front of her, she was honestly a little frightened. It was a case of "it's really big" plus "it's really leaning."

"What time is it?"

"Around two o'clock."

"Then, there's time. If it's all right with you, can we go together to the Baptistery?"

"The truth is, I was waiting for Yumi-san and the others to come, since I haven't gone in, yet."

Wisteria class's free time went until two and, apparently, Shizuka-sama and Shimako-san had been sitting there talking and waiting a little while for Pine class to arrive.

Looking at her wristwatch, it was about 1:20. They hurried over to buy tickets and headed to the Baptistery.

"But, why the Baptistery?" Because Shimako-san didn't know the reason, she inquired of Shizuka-sama. The reason they were being guided to not the Duomo, or the art museum, but the Baptistery. At that, a small smile came to Shizuka-sama's lips.

"Because it is a place that interests me," was all the answer she gave.

They traced a shape back towards the entrance of the piazza where the Baptistery was. It was a round, white, cute building.

In front of the door to receive them was the official in charge, a young, pretty blonde woman. You could probably say of this woman that she was an "Italian beauty." She was wearing a police uniform, so she was also pretty cool.

They entered inside, which was a big, undivided space. In the middle stood a big, octagonal thing like a bathtub, which appeared to be the baptismal font.

"So?" Yumi was being asked for her frank thoughts.

"Well, it looks like a big bathtub."

"Wait a second, Yumi-san," Mami-san impudently poked Yumi in the arm.

However, Shizuka-sama said, "As expected of Yumi-san."

"Eh?"

"That's the real answer to the question earlier. It's the reason I am interested in this place. Because it looks like a big bath room."

"Ah." As she answered, Shizuka's words became more and more enigmatic. Although there was no one around to explain, they all inclined their necks and looked around the area.

Just then, the interior of the Baptistery went suddenly dark. The door, which had been open until now, was closed with a clicking. Something was about to begin, said a noisy tourist. At which the Italian Beauty came out and indicated that they should all be quiet with a "Shh."

Bo--ng, bo--ng.

The sound of a huge bell.

(Ah)

She understood. An echo.

Because it wasn't possible to speak, Yumi looked at Shizuka-sama. A big bath room, she had said, this was. Shizuka-sama nodded, smiling. Correct, it seemed.

Continuing, the Italian beauty's voice came out, "Ah--." A beautiful voice. And the original "Ah--" did not disappear, but she made the sound again.

The "Ah--" flew towards the ceiling. A third time, then a fourth. All of them different sounds. However, because it was a harmony, even if the sounds overlapped they didn't become impure, each sound was favored and it became beautiful music.

Here, it was possible to pile up one person's voice one upon itself. When the sung passage was completed, the audience applauded. As the applause echoed in the ceiling, it sounded like many more people clapped than were there.

Before the doors were opened, Shizuka-sama walked over to the Italian beauty, and said something in Italian. The response seemed to be like "Please, go ahead," so Shizuka-sama walked over to the spot where the Italian beauty had stood just a moment ago and took a very deep breath. And then, in the next moment.

"Ah--" A voice that pierced right to heaven resounded in the Baptistery.

And, a second voice. A beautiful voice.

Goose bumps rose.

An aria passage from a hymn maybe, it was a song she had not heard. The song was transparent, like the clear blue sky.

As the echo grew, Shizuka lowered her head. At this unexpected participation, the tourists from many countries broke out in thunderous acclaim. People came over seeking a handshake.

"What do you call that piece?"

"It was an improvisation. I couldn't think of a piece of music that would make a nice echo."

The remaining sound still did not become fouled, no mater how many times it repeated, unless one made a special effort. Like the fundamental of treading on the pedal when playing a piano.

"I wanted to try that once," Shizuka-sama stuck out her tongue. "You guys better get going."

That was what she said. But really, they thought that it had been a present for her kouhai who had come from far-off Japan.


3

By the time they left the Baptistery, it was 1:40. Shizuka-sama would part from them, Shimako-san informed them and the four turned together towards the Leaning Tower. To go up the Leaning Tower, you would need both hands, basically. Slightly apart from the spot were lockers in which you could leave your luggage on standby. Tsutako-san took the camera from around her neck and put it in her bag, then replaced that with a small camera that she took out and put in her pocket. What on earth – how many of those things did she have?

"You know, my heart's beating a little hard." Like the time she had ridden a jet coaster, that kind of weird nervous feeling. Of Pine class, not quite sixteen had not made it past halfway. Was that a lot, or few? Already, Shimako-san was looking like she did not want to go up. Her reason was "I'm afraid of heights." As that was completely plausible, they had to bow their heads in consent.

Although she had not specifically asked her, Yumi though that, when Sachiko-sama had come to Pisa last year, she probably did not climb the tower. On the other hand, Sachiko-sama, who hated to lose, would not have said "because I'm afraid." She would have said, "What fun is going up a tower?" or "I do not care for places that lean" to explain her refusal.

The time had come; little by little they entered the Leaning Tower.

In the middle there was a stone staircase; there was a wall because there was nothing scarier in the imagination than the view outside. Because it was a cylindrical building, the stair was a spiral staircase, if one intently climbed the stairs, one would never see outside.

However, it might not be scary but it would still be a hard walk. But then, it was leaning. Of course.

Except that the brain worked too well, and without permission corrected information received from the eyes, so that the building appeared straight. So, even if you head knew that it was leaning, it felt as if you were treading on a vertical stair. And because the building was really slanting, there was a kind of unpleasant sense in one's legs, like gravity. When you passed a place where there wasn't a wall, there was a feeling they weren't accustomed to, of having been pulled away.

"Rei-sama gave you permission, huh." Climbing the stone stairs made smooth by abrasion, not to mention the incline, was hard. What she was saying was that, with her usual excessive care, Rei-sama might not have wanted Yoshino-san to do something like this when she wasn't here.

"I didn't get Rei-chan's permission," Yoshino-san said, her breath short.

"So, what you're saying is you just did this on your own. 'Yumi-san and the others are climbing the tower. How brave.'"

"---"

If Rei-sama had said she could do it, Yoshino-san probably would have not had any interest in doing so, she thought.

"Yoshino-san, you'd better not put your hand in the Mouth of Truth."

"I didn't lie. "

But. Well if you call it that, then no.

"Uhn. Impossible, impossible. I can't go out."

Along the way, at every important point, there was an opening in the wall, like a alcony to stick one's head out; but Mami-san began to shiver and shake.

"Walking on the inside only makes me less uneasy, right? If you walk on the outside, you can't stand upright, because the ground is leaning."

Really, it was the tower that was leaning.

"To make it worse, there's no ties." (E: lines, ropes)

There's no ties. So, even if the tower wasn't leaning, it would be "Impossible, impossible." UNESCO required that world cultural sites be restored as exactly to the original as possible. If this was Japan, there would probably be iron bars in the holes, so you couldn't go out of them.

"Anyway, let's keep going up." Tsutako-san led the suddenly droopy Mami-san with some encouragement. Because there were people coming up from behind, they didn't go out at the outside spot, or they might block it here.

Sheesh, they weren't ever going to finish the climb, they thought at this point; the stone staircase felt cramped, when soon they came across another open area. People who had climbed here before had stopped her to relax, so this probably wasn't the end point.

"This place is, if you think about, three cylindrical shafts, the top one is the smallest, the second a little longer, all joined together, huh." Putting their hands on the alcove, they were almost crawling on all fours. Although they could have stood upright, they vaguely feared doing so. Like they had said so many times before, the alcove was oblique. Their balance was completely destroyed, and at that moment, they all felt that the tower was a really dangerous place to be. Here there were some lines, thin ones that looked as if they would easily come off, in wide intervals. It was hard to believe in these lines too much, survival instinct said.

From time to time, they overtook other people, but at last they saw four people coming down. Looking up, there was a large round bit over which was a small round thing, in other word something like a donut shaped area, in which about 20 people stood crowding one another.

Far away below, the leaning earth. Way off, they could see a soccer field.

Because it was the top of the tower, the wind flapped as they looked around, a very strange feeling. The world had a completely different feeling from standing at the top of a tall, four cornered building. Therefore, in terms of human relations, if one could just put one foot in front of the other, and see things from an equal view, perhaps mutual understanding could be reached, maybe. Because it was such a high place, one naturally thought of grandiose things.

"It looks like there's still a way to go up." What should we do, Tsutako-san was asking, after she finished pressing her shutter and returned the camera to her pocket. Looking up, they could see four people going around on their way to the summit, and they could sense that there were people already up there.

The very top of the Tower, looked more like a pipe shape than like a like a temple bell tower. The very fine path that led up that pipe (of course, inclined) was not something she wanted to walk at all. She sat down with all her might in that spot.

"Impossible, impossible."

"I'm going to the bus."

"Me too."

Mami-san, Yoshino-san and Yumi declared their retirement, at which Tsutako-san, who had asked in the first place muttered, "Ah, thank goodness." She looked like she wondered what she would have done if they other three had said they wanted to go up.

In unanimity, they decided that "here is good," and they started making their way down the Tower.


4

So they wouldn't slip, they descended the stone steps with prudence, went out the exit and over to where Shizuka-sama waited.

"Please excuse me, Sensei." Politely bowing her head, she moved away from Maki-sensei. That's right, Maki-sensei was in charge of last year's second-year class, so she knew Shizuka-sama.

"I thought you had gone home," Yumi said, running up to Shizuka-sama.

"I wanted to have a relaxed chat with you."

So, that's why you waited?

Phew - . Was it uncool to say that she was happy about that? But really, the idea of her leaving made her feel sort of lonely.

"Yumi-san. We're going to the bathroom," Yoshino-san saying that she was going to the lockers to take their hand towels out of their bags. What did she want to do.

Yumi answered, "I'm okay." She'll wait here, they others could go ahead.

"Is it okay?" Shizuka-sama inquired.

"Yes. I went at the fast food place in the train station."

After watching the three walk off in the direction of the back of the Duomo, Yumi and Shizuka-sama sat down in the middle of the lawn. It had a, how would you say it, a steadying influence.

"Shizuka-sama, do you live near here?"

In response to the inquiry, Shizuka-sama responded, "Not very near here, no," and took a notebook out of her bag. And in smooth characters wrote, they tore the paper out and stuck it out towards Yumi. Because it was a foreign address, she didn't know how near it was or not, but Shizuka-sama explained that it was next to Florence. She was now living with a relative's aunt who had an Italian husband (so Shizuka-sama said), and commuting between a private Italian music school, while preparing for taking college exams.

"Because it's a relative's home, your parents must be relieved, huh."

"That's so. Nevertheless, they are constantly calling. It's very annoying. But, nothing happening, how are you, I wanted to hear your voice, that kind of thing, it makes me happy. They're anxious. Taking an interest. They don't say that, but it's easy to hear."

"You don't call them?"

"Well, international phone calls are expensive. So it's all on their side." Shizuka-sama took something out from the notebook.

"Ah."

It was a picture postcard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The address was already written on it and a stamp had been affixed.

"My parents don't like computers and I can't seem to manage letters. As long as they get a current report, they don't mind that a little time has passed. What it is, is more important than the shape, right? Therefore, when I go to sight-seeing areas, I buy postcards and write my letters on them. Mail is mail, but this goes airmail."

"Um, where did you buy that postcard? From one of the souvenir shops? What about the stamp? Is it okay is I run and get one myself?"

They had had something like that at the Vatican City museum, and she thought that might be true here as well. Think that there may be, she stood up precipitously. Shizuka-sama waited to rise before answering. "What's the matter? Relax, Yumi-san. First, sit down here. You want to send a postcard to Japan?"

"Yes."

"Sachiko-san, huh?" Nodding firmly, Shizuka-sama opened the notebook and pulled something else out from it. "Here, you can have this."

What she was holding out was another picture postcard of Pisa, like the one before. Of course, this one was unused.

"Eh?" It appeared that she had a habit of buying several at once. Because she sent them to friends back in Japan, she used many at once, she said.

"It has a stamp."

"That's... Then, um, let me buy that please."

"That's not proper, Yumi-san. At such a time, you should say thank you very much."

She looked just like a memory of Sachiko-sama when she had something similar previously. At Rei-sama's kendo tournament, when she had bought a sandwich, because Yumi didn't have money to pay for it.

"But." Shizuka-sama wasn't her onee-sama. So that wasn't a reason. But if she obstinately refused it, that could be seen as being rude.

"However, I am your senior in age. Well, it's fine. How about you give me something for the stamp."

"Okay."

This mutual give and take completed their negotiations. Yumi took the postcard from Shizuka-sama, and with a ballpoint pen wrote Sachiko-sama's name and address on it.

"Uhh." Now came the body of the text and that was more troublesome. First off, what would be good to write? On New Year's postcards one wrote "Akemashite Omodetou" or "Kinga Shinnen" (E: Both are traditional New Year's greetings). For a seasonal card one wrote "This is a mid-summer enquiry after your health," or something like that, the words were already decided upon. And starting with either "Haikei" or "Zenryaku" felt weird. (E: Haikei is like "Dear" formally, and Zenryaku is a short hand for "I'm leaving out all the usual how are you, I'm fine stuff.") It might be okay to just suddenly begin the message, but isn't it usually to have a greeting? She thought she might start off with a question as a greeting.

"What's the Italian version of gokigenyou?"

"Gokigenyou? Bon giorno has more of the nuance of konnichiwa, I think. Since you're addressing it to Sachiko-sama, don't you think it would be nice to put Ciao?"

"Ciao."

"Yes. So, 'Gokigenyou, onee-sama' becomes 'Ciao, sorella,' you see."

Shimai in Japanese was Sister in English, Soeur in French and in Italian it became Sorella. With Shizuka-sama telling her how to spell it, Yumi wrote down the words "Ciao Sorella!" with the marker she had bought in the Milan airport. And below that, she wrote "Right now, I'm at Pisa. The trip is fun" in ballpoint pen.

"Yumi-san, you don't yet have a little sister?" Shizuka-sama asked, when Yumi had finished writing and put the cover back on the pen.

"Yeah, so."

"Doesn't Sachiko-san nag you about it?"

"Not at this point."

"I see. But, sooner or later it might have to be said, right" Shizuka-sama foretold vaguely, which weighed Yumi down with an uneasy sensation.

"So, it's okay if you're a little dependent right now."

At these words, the episode with Shizuka-sama's parents calling came to mind, and Yumi wrote these words on the very bottom of the postcard. "I miss you, Onee-sama" secretly and quickly put the card inside her bag so no one could see. Not just because of Shizuka-sama, but the others who had gone to the toilet, and were just coming back, too. If they knew she had written that, they were sure to be pretty cold about it.

"It was a pay toilet. In front of the entrance, there was a lady who was collecting money." Because there was nothing like that in Japan, Yoshino-san seemed to have enjoyed it.

"I think I gave her the correct change."

"Because you pay to use it, it wasn't dirty at all."

As she heard Tsutako-san and Mami-san's report, Yumi wondered if she should attempt the challenge, or if it would be better to try the challenge of mailing the postcard addressed to Sachiko-sama.

"On the road back, do you three want to try an Italian gelato?"

"While we were climbing the tower, Itsue-san and her group were eating, they said."

"We missed eating it at the Spanish Steps, right?"

That hadn't been because she refused. No, it was the exact opposite, she had taken he initiative in wanting to eat it. Yumi had a sweet tooth.

"A gelato shop, huh. From here, go straight out on this road, past the bar and the restaurant. There's one there," said Shizuka-sama with a "you'll soon understand."

"Eh? What about you, Shizuka-sama?"

"Because I took my time chatting with Yumi-san, I have to leave. Unless I go home, I won't be able to prepare for my lessons tomorrow."

"Is that right?"

"And because it was very warm today, it's a little..." Because there was a little anxiety in the words, she did not pursue the thought deeply. Maybe it was something like, when it was warm she made more progress with her studies, or her voice came out easier, or something like that.

"Right, Yumi-san. Give me that postcard to mail. Although there are many places to post one, you could be searching for one for a while if you don't know where to look."

"Ah, is that all right with you? Thank you very much. It's a real help." What she really mean was that if anyone in the group read those words "I miss you, Onee-sama," it would be really embarrassing. But all that couldn't be said, so the picture of the Leaning Tower was passed over quietly.

"Then, take care."

"Thank you for the postcard."

"When you take a soeur, write me a proper letter and tell me."

"Yes."

Yumi watched after Shizuka-sama as she walked towards the entrance, then turned towards the gelato shop.

This was twice the size of a normal store. Looking into the glass cases, she could see many varieties of ice cream all lined up. There was chocolate and others she could figure out easily, and some with some kind of fruit in them that she didn't know. They didn't have the linguistic skills to ask for an explanation, but somehow gesturing and saying "this, this" seemed to work.

They moved to an edge of the street and ate it right away.

"Delicious." However, if you compared it to the usual kind of ice cream you got at a Japanese store, it was incredibly creamy.

"This country's approach to ice cream is very leisurely," Mami-san muttered and the others smiled.

"Rosa Canina," Yoshino-san said, as she licked her vanilla gelato, "sure seemed very reserved with us."

Because Yumi thought that that might be true, what Yoshino-san had said, her simple conjecture changed into a conviction. Thinking about it, she fell into a daze.

"Ah, Yumi-san, you're dripping!" The chocolate gelato had melted and was dripping from the cone, over her hand and down onto the earth in big drops.

"Wah-" She licked at the gelato quickly, but it continued to melt. "W-aah. I can't even taste it."

Now she all of a sudden understood what Shizuka-sama had meant when she said "It's warm today so it's a little..." With a teeny little bitterness for not having been warned, she thought that Shizuka-sama must be one of those people who, from childhood, are prone to playing pranks. A person's true nature isn't going to change, just because they are in a foreign country. This time, Yumi lost to her negligence.

"Yumi-san, look over here."

At the moment she lifted her face to respond to the words, she heard the sound of the shutter.

"Wow, ...got it." It was a pretty homely face. Now. "Thanks." Tsutako-san, who had finished eating the gelato early, had taken a picture of Yumi.


The Parakeet's Hint

1

On Wednesday, each group would be doing their own tour. Compared to Rome, Florence was a small town and it seemed that the teachers could keep an eye on them much more easily.

First, Yumi's group went to the Uffizi Museum. Even though the school had put in a reservation for them for some time, because there were many tourists from all over the world who had also made reservations, the line for those with reservations was long, and of the two lines, it was hard to see which was longer. When they saw such a long line stretching out of the museum entrance, some tourists gave up and left.

They waited about twenty minutes, making their entrance safely. Good luck seeing everything in a day without collapsing, so one decides on what one wants to see using the guidebook and makes the circuit.

First, they wanted to see the pretty famous Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" and "Spring." "The Birth of Venus" had Venus standing inside a large clamshell, on her left she was embraced by two wind gods who were creating the winds that carried her to shore, on the right are young women waiting for Venus with a mantle. The sea and sky are blue. The pink color distributed throughout in the key points of mantle and flowers was beautiful.

"Spring" was one of those painting that Yumi, when she was young, considered "a picture I don't get." Venus in the middle of a forest where petals were falling, the three fates, the goddess of spring, Flora, and other spirits were arranged in a way that when you looked at the whole, it didn't seem possible that such a shapeless picture would work. In a fine arts book, or a junior high school textbook on art, she couldn't remember the first book she had seen it in, but it was because of the bit with the goddess of spring Flora. Now, with the thing in front of her, it didn't look at all like a collage.

"Is that right? Don't you think you're over thinking it a bit?" Yoshino-san said.

This was like "Maria-sama no kokoro," a problem that Yumi might hold onto for her entire life.

For Leonardo Da Vinci, there was "The Annunciation." (E: http://www.kfki.hu/~/arthp/html/l/leonardo/01/2annunc.html). When one spoke of Da Vinci, the work that came to mind was "The Mona Lisa" but too bad, that wasn't here. This was the first time she had learned of his "Annunciation" and it was another lovely picture of Mary, which Yumi was totally interested in. She decided that this was the number two Annunciation, right after Angelico's.

But the great bird of "Pictures to see" was Raphael's "Madonna of the Goldfinch." (E:http://www.allsaintssanfran.org/Virgin%20Mary/raphael_madonnagoldfinch.htm) In John the Baptist's hand was a goldfinch, being petted by Jesus-sama, while watching over them was Maria-sama, it was, it was, absolutely beautiful!

"I got it," Yumi muttered, while walking down a hallway of ancient sculpture. "I like beautiful paintings of Maria-sama."

Just so.

"I just understood something too." Yoshino-san said.

"What's that?" she replied, when the answer came back.

"With so many statues of naked men lined up, after a while you stop blushing at each one separately."

--So it was.


2

Other than the pictures they specifically wanted to view, they just floated around looking at things, then left the museum and walked around until just about lunchtime.

"Now then, what shall we do?" The four of them, Yumi's, Yoshino-san's, Tsutako-san's and Mami-san's, eyes met. Their afternoon plans they had decided upon, at least for the moment, was shopping (primarily window), but now they were hungry. Back at school, there were people whose desire was for panini, but none of these four had wanted that, so now there didn't know what to do for lunch. Yesterday evening, at the time the teacher had confirmed those who wanted to climb the leaning tower, "if you're not going up what are you going to do" somehow became the generous "you're on your own for lunch."

Anyway, that left them at the beginning of the conversation on "what shall we do?" as they gazed at the Arno River.

"If we were in Japan, we'd look for a fast food place or a combi. (E: convenience store. In Japan they sell many types of prepared foods.) They aren't marked on this map. However, we could go back to the station." Mami-san flipped randomly through the pages of the guidebook.

"Eh-. I don't want to eat the same hamburger I had yesterday for lunch."

"But Yoshino-san. Do you have the confidence to go into a place to eat?"

"No. And in the second place, I don't know the right etiquette."

Yeah, Yumi nodded vigorously. "I don't really understand how the money works. Tax and tips for service seem really difficult."

Then, what should they do.

"Anyway, why don't we walk and think about it? I'm really hungry." At Tsutak-san's one voice, the four all turned and walked along the river. If they should happen to pass a food store, they might find an answer to their problem unexpectedly easily.

The Ponte Vecchio (E: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio) was a marvelous bridge, with rows of jeweler's shops lined up on both sides. At the beginning there had been meat shops or greengrocers that were open, but Ferdinand I had hated the smell and had all the butcher shops replaced by jewelers. He seemed a proud sort, like Archduke Toscana, when you looked into it.

Precious metals weren't really necessary for high school students. Of course they were interested, but they had only brought a little pocket money so they really couldn't buy anything. In other words, they were only able to endure to Ponte Vecchio because they looked at it from the outside. When they were grown up and worked, they'd have the money and freedom to come back here.

"But you know, this is a really old town," Tsutako-san pointed out as she finished crossing, after she had stopped to take a commemorative photo of the bridge.

The road extended off the Ponte Vecchio in a straight line, coming
out in front of the Palazzo Pitti (E: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Pitti). Relying on the guidebook, there were many museums and art galleries in the area but if they went sightseeing, they wouldn't be able to shop for the purpose they originally intended, so they'd just have to come back to the vicinity. Of the two, this side of the Arno river left a much more relaxed impression than the other side with the station.

"Okay, I got it," Mami-san suddenly stopped where she stood and said. "This store is for takeout."

The here she was speaking of was, when they stopped and looked in front of them was what looked to be an Italian bar.

"Takeout, huh....I see."

In here, they wouldn't have to worry so much about tax or tip. And they'd be clear of having to deal with another hamburger situation.

"The person who wants in on this idea, stop this finger." Mami-san stuck her pointer finger out and the other three dug at it.

"Can I take out okay?" (E; This is written in extremely awkward katakana.)

Takeout meant what Japanese called "Omochikaeru" (E: Carry/take home), and they later understood, the guy in the store comprehended. The four each bought a panini and a bottle of something to drink and left the store.

"Well, we did it somehow."

"That's true. That one wants to sell, this one wants to buy. If one tries with all one's might, one will be able to comprehend what the other's words mean."

Crossing back over the Ponte Vecchio, they temporarily decided to head back to the hotel. Because eating in the street was bad manners, they didn't have time to look for a pizza or a park like area, so they decided to go to the hotel.

Panini and a drink. In the end, it was the same kind of thing one would get for a school lunch, nonetheless, all four had a sense of achievement. Regardless of the result, the process was different.

What was easily arranged in Japan, had certain risk in a foreign
country.

Going on a field trip was a lump of heart-pounding excitement.


3

After they ate lunch, they flew out once again.

First they went to a store so she could buy marble paper stationery, as a souvenir for Sachiko-sama.

"I wonder if it would be okay to buy souvenirs for Touko-chan and Kanako-chan."

Shimako-san would buy some thing as a souvenir for Noriko-chan, since she was her onee-sama. As Yumi muttered, Yoshino-san answered.

"Is that okay?"

"Which meaning of that do you mean?" (E: Yoshino says "Iinjanai?" which could be "Is that okay?" or "Isn't that not okay?" in that way infinitely vague space Japanese has for negatives...)

That she should buy something "iinjanai?" or that she shouldn't buy something "iinjanai?" But Yoshino-san's "iinjanai" wasn't a buy or don't buy "iinjanai." She appeared to be trying to decide on a souvenir for Rei-sama, as if in a dream. That's what that was. Mami-san was hesitating over buying a souvenir for Tsukiyama Minako-sama, and Tsutako-san, was setting up pictures of people she didn't know. In the small shop, other Lillian students had come to buy things.

Before long, Yoshino-san carried two small boxes to the register and, as she recalled the earlier conversation started it up again. "I think you should buy something, but..."

"But?"

"Yumi-san, which are you going to make your soeur?"

"Which...?"

In this situation "which" referred to her choosing either Touko-chan or Kanako-chan.

"Because you can't become soeur with two people, they shouldn't expect too much."

"Expect, huh?" So maybe she should only get one souvenir. That was what she thought, but she didn't want anyone to misunderstand, so she would probably be best off being careful.

Little sister.

One year ago, when Sachiko-sama had targeted her, there was a rumor in the school that she had become Sachiko-sama's "soeur candidate." A lot happened then, and she had been frightened of the curious glances that were being shot at her from all around her. Because in the end she had become soeur, now it was just a funny memory, but. If she caused that kind of thing to be said about those girls, it would be sad. If it was not necessary, she would seek to avoid it.

"So what about you, Yoshino-san? Did you buy a rosary for your future soeur at the Vatican?"

"I didn't. I had a change of heart."

"Ehh, why was that?"

"I tried to imagine make a present of one to someone and came up empty. Therefore."

"Therefore?"

"I guess I'll give them the precious rosary I was given by Rei-chan, since I couldn't find one pretty enough to choose for my little sister."

Wow, those words had some persuasive power.

Yoshino-san had really given some serious thought to this, Yumi understood clearly.


4

After paying at the register once again, wandering around with her friends who had been waiting while she shopped, she spotted something else she wanted. Then, after buying some additional stationery, the four headed towards the Duomo.

They walked along the Arno river until the returned to the Ponte Vecchio, then from there North. They altered your course from the Duomo to the west, to the area around the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, roughly around where the Arno appeared, then headed south from there back to the hotel. With such a broad course, it was perfectly okay if they digressed from the route.

Because it was impossible for them in the brand name stores, they aimed for small stores that sold small items, like stalls that sell city souvenirs. They were curious for a moment about what was considered a department store in Italy.

"Go-ki-gen-yo-u." (E: This is written in katakana, denoting a strange or foreign quality.)

As they left a branch store, Yumi suddenly heard a voice. A greeting from above in Japanese. Hearing someone calling out to her so suddenly, she looked all around them, but didn't see anyone. For anyone to greet them that way, they would have to be a Lillian student or teacher, but....

Thinking that it was her imagination, she began to walk away when she heard it again.

"Gokigenyou."

Mami-san said, "Ah" and pointed.

There was a leather goods shop that sold bags and belts; not for sale itself, but high up among the goods was a bird, a large parakeet.

"That talked?"

"Probably. Gokigenyou." Mami-san spoke to the bird. Just so. And sure enough, "Gokigenyou" was returned.

"Wah, cool. Pretty clever. Gokigenyou." Finding talking to a bird interesting, everyone offered a greeting. In every case, Mr. Parakeet returned the greeting cordially. "Go-ki-gen-you."

Probably some Lillian student that had passed by previously taught it. They thought maybe it was one of the B Course students who were returning from Venice.

Because of the parakeet young women would stop in front of the store happily, the store's owner grinned and said "Gokigenyou." It might be too bad, but he wasn't eally keeping the bird just because it could mimic humans.

"Go-ki-gen-you." The parakeet continued to talk, hitting its stride. "Yo-u-ko-so, Fi-re-n-ze e." (E: Welcome to Florence.) It was definitely like someone had hit the repeat button on an audio recording, but another word might fly out causally.

"Firenze yoi toko ichido ha oide." (E: Something like "Florence is a nice place, once.")

Who had taught it those words, was the first thing they thought, amazed. As the next words flew out, Yumi stiffened.

"Firenze sembei, Firenze sembei."

"No way, isn't this a bag shop?"

Tsutako-san and Mami-san were grabbing their stomachs laughing but, Yumi and Yoshino-san met each other's gaze. Florence sembei really existed? ----so it said.

And then, the parakeet launched into a new set of words.

"Mou yamenasaiyo, Satou-san". (E: Come on already, stop it, Satou-san.)

Satou-san. (E; in katakana, the way the parakeet has been talking all along)

Satou-san (E: Hiragana), Satou-san (E: Kanji), it said. No way.

--No way, Satou Sei-sama-!?


5


"Hey, you really think it was Sei-sama again?" Yumi asked Yoshino-san, coming out of the bathroom, which was boiling.

"I don't know. No matter how long I think about it, I don't come to any conclusion. Unless Sei-sama appears in front of us soon."

Afterwards, they discussed it as the walked. And when they returned to the hotel, and at their seats at dinner. Their eyes met and the topic of conversation they decided on was 'whether Sei-sama was here in Italy, or not.' They put all their reasoning into it, but after all inference is inference. It's not like a mystery novel where the great detective would appear and pfft! the answer would appear.

"Ah, give me that." Yumi had seen the label in her hand; Yoshino-san held it out on her palm. It was medicine for indigestion.

Every night they were eating a heavy meal with meat at a different restaurant. The Japanese were originally agricultural people, and even though they were young, so much meat couldn't be digested all at once.

"More importantly, are you done packing? You're so busy thinking, that you're not paying attention to the matter at hand."

Tomorrow morning, they would be vacating the hotel, and heading towards their final sight-seeing stop, Venice. She wasn't avoiding the matter at hand, which was the stationery, which appeared to be bent.

"When you get home, everyone will understand." Yoshino-san said, washing down the stomach medicine with water from a plastic bottle.

"That' may be true, but..." Like the meat, this was too gloomy a topic tonight and caused dyspepsia.


To be Continued in Part 4


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