Notes on the Eighteenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Introduction and Part 1

Translator's Random Notes:

This is a translation of the 18th Maria-sama ga Miteru novel, 特別でないただの一日 (Nothing Special, Just Another Day.) This is not the 18th book in the series. The 18th book is the Premium Book which was an album about the original anime series, and which contains a short manga, which has been scanlated by Lililcious. This is the 18th *novel.*

These notes below date from last fall, when I put this translation on the Yuricon Mailing List. I just uploaded the translation for the 19th novel there, so if you want that right away, join the list.

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Sorry about the delay between novels. Life takes precedent and after the last novel, which was very time-consuming, I needed a break. Instead of doing this, I read the Strawberry Panic novels, which took me four days each to read, instead of three months. :-) Seven Seas has licensed them, so legitimate translations are available on the Yuricon Shop, along with the anime, the manga and a host of other Yuri stuff to buy.) I also read the novelization of Cream Lemon Escalation, which is the direct ancestor of the Marimite novels, believe it or not. This practically BEGS a compare and contrast between Escalation, Marimite, and Strawberry Panic. I wonder if I'll ever write it~ Escalation took me two days to read. Konno Oyuki hurts my head. :-)

After I started reading this novel I got a new job, worked on publishing a book, had some life stuff, traveled a lot and worked on Yuricon's 2007 event. And I wrote quite a bit for both fun and profit. I have also continued reviewing Yuri at Okazu. So there you go. Something has to fall of the bottom of the pile – this translation was that thing. While I was translating this, the thing that fell off the pile was updating the Yuricon site. I just can't do everything....

The usual caveats apply – I am not translating this for publishability, so it will read roughly, perhaps incomprehensibly in places. Tenses are fluid in Japanese sentences, and they don't have any prohibition against run-on sentences. Also, I have tried, as much as possible, to preserve the original punctuation – which is not western. So if the punctuation looks odd, that's why. I'll do my best to find all the typos, too, but no promises of quality here. Notes by me will be parenthetical and prefaced by "E:" If I leave out a note on something you've never heard of, type it into Google or Wikipedia. I really don't feel like giving you a link to every food or clothing item this time around. :-)

Because I am doing this in my free time as "fun" I'd appreciate a note of thanks for the hard work. Because it is hard work. I'd read a lot faster if I didn't have to make it make some kind of sense for y'all. LOL (And, in fact, I have. I read two of the novels in two weeks.)

If you thought that "Ciao Sorella" was too full of thrills for you, then you'll love this book, because even less happens in this one that in the last. But the next to last chapter has the best end of a chapter I've read in practically forever. ^_^

Enjoy!

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Nothing Special, Just Another Day



"Good day."

"Good day."

Cheerful morning greetings echo through the clear blue sky. Today they once again pass under the tall gates into Maria-sama's garden where maidens assemble with their pure smiles, like angels.

Their bodies, which know no stain, are wrapped in dark-colored uniforms.

The pleats of their skirts should not be disarranged, nor should their white sailor collars flutter; here walking slowly is preferred. Of course, here there are no shameless students that would run to make it before the very last moment.

This is Lillian Girls' Private School.

Established in the 34th year of the Meiji period, it is said that this academy was founded for the sake of the daughters of the nobility, a traditional Catholic girls' school.

It is located within the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Even now, much of the original greenery of Musashino remains as, watched over by God from kindergarten to university, this garden undertakes to the complete education of these maidens.

Times change, and from the Meiji Period, three times a new era has begun, until the present day Heisei, but for eighteen years, pure young women pass through here for a sheltered upbringing and education in culture. It is a valuable education, but something just as precious is left behind in that school.


On this day, one year ago, this lone young woman - Fukuzawa Yumi - became bathed in the attention of the high school. Thinking back upon that year, many things had happened.

In the first place, that meeting had been in front of Maria-sama. At that time, Sachiko-sama had fixed her messy tie--, it was not a situation that was soaked in peaceful memories.

Although she now dealt with many problems, and some were still unresolved, the school festival came anyway, uncaring.

Even if you make an excuse, God does not stop the sun, the hand moves the calendar even as you stand before it and sigh, and the head must do its work.

So, busy, busy.



(2) Shock

1

It began with that one sentence.

"Right, right, regarding the School Festival performance."

We have to go back a little, to just before the field trip. It was the Yamayurikai's play sponsorship meeting and, for the first time, this year's performance for the school festival was being divulged to the first and second years.

It was lunchtime on the day after the Sports Festival had been completed safely, in the middle of a casual get-together as they all ate lunch in the Rose Mansion, when Rosa Chinensis, Ogasawara Sachiko, stood up and said it.

Right, right, regarding the School Festival performance, just so.

Because she said "performance" so blandly, her soeur, Fukuzawa Yumi, did not immediately comprehend that she was talking about "the play" they would do. Why do you say it like it's completely about some other club's problem, Onee-sama.

"This year we'll be doing 'Torikaebaya Monogatari.' That is all."

(E: Finding a good link on this in English is not easy. Here's a not good one that gets the point across:. And although I did not get any spoilers for this novel, I absolutely guessed that we'd be doing something gender-bendy. I mean...Rei. Arisu. Duh. And, btw – there appears to be a manga for the Torikaebaya.)

And she sat.

"Torikaebaya..."

...Monogatari"

"Ah."

Commented those who listened, in turn.

First, the person who has said, "Torikaebaya..." had been Rosa Foetida en Bouton, Shimazu Yoshino-san.

At first glance taking over the sentence from her friend, but objectively, just being absent-minded, Yumi has uttered the line "....Monogatari."

And, although at first the "Ah" appeared to be said by one person, in truth it was two voices layered on one another. In perfect harmony were the duet made up of the two who had been soeur for three months, Rosa Gigantea, Toudou Shimako-san, and her soeur, Nijou Noriko-chan.

Although it was just lunchtime, all of the official members of the Rose families were present at the Rose Mansion. The two first-years who assisted them were not there – and thinking about it, the Red, Yellow and White all had two members. All told, six people.

"What do you mean, 'Ah.'" Rosa Foetida, Hasekura Rei, asked the White Rose sisters. "That response was different from Yoshino and Yumi-chan's, you two." As if sometime previous to Sachiko-sama having reported the title, they may have already heard it, and so when they heard, they recalled that time.

Anyway, the problem was "Torikaebaya Monogatari."

"Ah." A little late, Yumi suddenly cried out. Sachiko-sama, who was sitting a little apart for the purposes of the meeting said, "That was a late response," with her brows drawn together. But, the Yellow and White Rose sisters who did not know the situation, could not possibly have understood.

"Here." From within her schoolbag, Shimako-san withdrew a copy of a book and laid it on the table.

"A library book?"

Before Rei-sama could reach her arm out, Yoshino-san took the book and flipped through the pages randomly.

"Ah, the book of fables, huh?"

"Yoshino-san, you know it?"

"When Yumi-san was returning it and Noriko-chan borrowed it, I saw it. Ah, that's it. Shimako-san, when you are done, I definitely want to borrow it."

It was a volume of a Japanese classical literature series, which had a number of tales in it. "Torikaebaya Monogatari" was one of those. "I see. That was why you said 'Ah.'" Rei-sama turned the book away from Yoshino-san and gazed at it with a nod. "So? Why did you have
the book, Yumi-chan?"

"Onee-sama said I should read it. It would have been nice if she said it had the play theme in it at the beginning." What a waste, Onee- sama's face said, when Yumi glanced at it, but Sachiko-sama's response was unexpected.

"Don't be silly. I couldn't tell you could I?"

"Eh, why?"

"If I had said anything, you would have opposed it, right? Therefore, Rei and I discussed a way to prepare you ahead of time without saying anything."

"Why should we oppose it?"

The "Torikaebaya Monogatari" was a classic Japanese tale, which had patterns of love between men and women at every step, which might be just a little too stimulating for high school students. However, if that were the reason for rejecting it, it would be more likely to be Sachiko-sama than Yumi.

"...That's it, is it." Yoshino-san said dryly.

"What is?"

"What Yumi-san said before. Please, say it again."

Although she didn't understand why, Yumi did as Yoshino-san asked.

"Why should I...oppose it? Eh? What - why only me?"

All of a sudden, those who were her companions suddenly treated her as an outsider, as first Yoshino-san, then Shimako-san and Noriko-chan, whose expression said that she already comprehended, all began to nod their heads uniformly.

Still not understanding, Yumi pointed a finger at herself and shook her head back and forth. Feeling her helplessness, her friends felt compassion, so Yoshino-san offered a hint.

"Yumi-san, you read the book?"

"I read it."

"Then, let's do an association game. "If I say 'Momotaro.'"

"Uh, Demon Killer?"

"'Genji Monogatari.'"

"Biography of a playboy."

"Hmm, can you really call it a biography, I wonder..., ah well. 'Taketori Monogatari.'"

"B, beautiful alien, that returns to the moon?"

What, what kind of conclusion could be made from all these answers, that could have anything to do with the topic.

"Then 'Torikaebaya Monogatari' is?"

"Identical twins change places with one another---, ehhh!?" And, at last, thickheaded Yumi got it. "Y, you're kidding."

"Why would you think that we're kidding." The three who were treating Yumi as an outsider all looked at her with the same expression.

"It might be pitiful, but it's been decided, hasn't it." Chuckling, Yoshino-san patted Yumi on the shoulder.

"That's right. Yuuki-san is taking great pains to come over and help us."

Don't just blandly consent, help me, please, Shimako-san.

"I'd expect nothing less from Rosa Chinensis. You have a good eye for this kind of thing." This from Noriko-chan. Although everyone was sympathetic, they all seemed to be glad from the bottom of their hearts that she had been the one chosen.

"We'd be glad to take your place but, unfortunately, none of us look nearly identical to Yuuki-kun." Applying the logic for why the substitution could not ever take place. Yoshino's cute face now
looked like that of an evil witch.

"Onee-samaaaa..." Knowing it was useless from the start, Yumi turned from her loss with Yoshino-san, using the power of her cutest face as she gazed at her.

"It's as they said. Resign yourself to the decision, Yumi."

A splendid defeat.

The quantity of affection was not the problem. It was just, simply, that it was Sachiko-sama and not Rei-sama who said it.

"Your answer?"

"...Yes." In other words, the person who had escaped from the dead heat for the lead role last year, was going to be doing it this year.

Fukuzawa Yumi, in the autumn of her seventeenth year.


2


"I wonder why."

The sixth period was about over, phew, another day of classes safely past, as she fell prostrate across the surface of her desk, the words escaped her mouth, but the question repeated over and over in her heart. Because of the shock brought on by Sachiko-sama's bomb, her time for sleep had been taken up by schoolwork, politics and economics. And on the other hand, the contents of her classes never made it inside her head.

"When you say you 'wonder why,' you mean the reason behind 'Torikaebaya Monogatari'?" Although Yumi has been talking to herself, the words came out instinctively, Yoshino-san responded as she came over to stand beside her.

"Mm. Yeah."

Nodding, Yoshino-san gestured with her head towards the hallway like she was saying "let me borrow you for a sec." Whatever it is that she thought she was to go out of the classroom for, Shimako-san was already there, waiting.

"The plan was conceived about a year ago, which Rei-chan told me about back then. Of course, she didn't know about Yuuki-kun's existence until New Year but, right from the beginning, Sachiko-sama was thinking about doing the 'Torikaebaya'."

Back then she was told, when was that. Why was she thinking about that; Yumi leant an ear to what Yoshino-san was saying. She had been spacey from shock during recess while Yoshino-san seemed totally vigorous as she moved around. Was this gathering and exchanging information in preparation for their meeting after school?

"Now that you say that, I remember something about that as well." Shimako-san said.

What, what, from left and right the two from second-year Matsu class drew closer.

"Last year at the School Festival, it was Eriko-sama."

"Eriko-sama?" As if Yoshino-san had been shocked by electricity, her body began to shake.

Shimako-san was surprised. "W...what's wrong?"

"Ah, this is Yoshino-san's overreaction to Eriko-sama's name nowadays. Just ignore it and continue, Shimako-san." Yumi explained for Yoshino-san. Because it would take too long if she told everything that had happened from beginning to end, she abridged the situation considerably, but it was basically correct. Yoshino-san was receiving pressure every day from the graduated former Rosa Foetida, Torii Eriko.

"I...is that so?"

"Um, so you're saying that last year Eriko-sama had influence over the next year?"

"Ah, now what I heard comes to mind. We were supposed to do 'Kaguya-hime.'" (E: Kaguya-hime is a famous story about a bamboo cutter than finds a baby who turns out to be from the moon. Also called Taketori Monogatari.) Yumi remembered. But Sachiko-sama's long, smooth, straight hair would be difficult to put up, she had said sarcastically.

"That was a hint, huh."

"But, 'Kaguya-hime' would have been fine, wouldn't it.
Why 'Torikaebaya'?" "Taketori Monogatari' was a story that everyone knows, it wouldn't be good."

"Don't be silly. That is not the reason Sachiko-sama chose 'Torikaebaya'."
Yoshino-san smiled.

"Why?"

"Noriko-chan just tell poor Yumi-sama already." She spoke over her shoulder to where the latecomer stood.

"Rosa Chinensis has no intention of playing the lead role herself this year. However, if we were to do 'Kaguya-hime,' based on her looks, there's no way she could pass off the role. In order to avoid doing that, she had to pick a story for which she was completely unsuited for the role."

"So that's."

"'Torikaebaya Monogatari.'"

"I'm going to give her a talking to." Yumi walked down the hall swiftly. She aimed for the third-year Matsu class. Onee-sama's class. If Noriko-chan's reasoning was correct, then because she did not want to play the lead role, she was making a scapegoat of her little sister.

"Wait!" Yoshino-san grabbed her wrist. "Do you even know what you're going to say to Sachiko-sama?"

"Uh...."

Definitely. If she began with "Why are you doing this horrible thing," the whole dispute wouldn't be likely to be cleared up right away.

"W, well. I could say 'Torikaebaya' has a pretty heavy theme. The protagonist conceives and bears a child, something that, if played straight, might not be suitable for a high school play."

"Regarding that, Sachiko-sama already said that we'd cut that part and just do the whole thing about the man and woman switching clothes and having to act masculine and feminine, right? Weren't you listening?"

Yes, she had been listening. However, of course she had wanted to oppose it.

"Um. Since it's a historical piece, it will need a lot of work for the sets and costumes"

"The handicrafts club and the fine arts club seem enthusiastic about it. Even before they made the request, they went there to talk about it with them." They hadn't been given a detailed description at the time but, it seemed that they had had an order for a set of costumes
and a set to be made. They weren't told what the title was, but they were to understand that it was a Heian period tale.

"Then. Um."

"So, you're going to just say that it was an awful thing to do."

"Uh - "

"So, try saying that you're unwilling to do 'Torikaebaya' but will give in if it's something else, right? If they change the story, you'll play the lead role."

"Like what?" Yumi asked over her shoulder.

"'The Prince and the Pauper'" said Shimako-san who had heard Yoshino-san's words.

"'The Parent Trap.'" (E: In Japanese "The Two Lottes.")

"'November Gymnasium.'" (E: Juichigatsu no gimunajiumu, a BL story by Hagio Moto.) continued Noriko-chan.

"Speaking of stories where clothes are switched, those are all from different times and places. If we can change the story from being a Heian period piece, it'll be one step up."

One step up, you say, Yoshino-san. Oy oy. We gathered together during this short space of time before homeroom and the conclusion is "one step up."

"Ah, it's just about time to go back." Noriko-chan said, looking at her wristwatch.

"Really. Yumi-san. We'll provide all the support we can manage. Well, then." Shimako-san san left them to join the second-year Fuji homeroom teacher who could be seen walking down the hall.

"..." She thought that they were standing there trying to resolve the issue of her playing the lead role but, but the conclusion of the gathering seemed to be "Give it up Yumi," instead, perhaps? She was somehow overcome with a feeling of exhaustion.

The remaining two, since the teacher had not yet come and there was no reason to return to the classroom and wait, for the moment remained in the hall, leaning upon a wall.

"Which reminds me, Yumi-san. It's coming up on a year since you and Sachiko-sama became soeur, right? What was your promise?" In Yoshino-san's head it seemed that there was already a "settled" mark next to 'Torikaebaya.'

"Nothing." Yumi shook her head. What speaking of which was this was this, Yoshino-san, she almost repeated back at her, but the answer was "there are things to do, things to not do, there's always some kind of event."

On the one-year day of her having become a student in high school, after school, Rei-sama had brought a homemade cake to the Shimazu house. The two of them had eaten the whole thing by themselves with a fork in Yoshino's room.

"Thinking about it, Rei-chan's attitude was just like a husband buying flowers for his wife on their wedding anniversary." Playing with the rosary chain that hung around her neck, Yoshino-san smiled. But, at the time, she hadn't noticed Rei-sama's feeling. "Huh, why cake?" had been her feeling. Of course the cake had been delicious so eating it was nice. "In our situation, we've always lived next door to one another. So even if no rosary was given or taken, it was
always decided that we were soeur, so there isn't an anniversary to celebrate, you know?"

It was like saying that the husband goes out and buys flowers for the wedding anniversary, but the wife forgets and makes the usual dinner; what a pathetic husband. That was Rei-sama.

But, it wasn't as pitiful as when she was asleep recently and thought that she hadn't been able to eat food that she had made. At least they had eaten the food together.

"But, you know, Yumi-san's situation is clearly not the same as mine."

"Mm, yeah."

"More than what month or what day, it's the night of the school festival, something like that, right?"

"...Mm, right."

"It's a special day for you two, when Sachiko-sama pleaded with you, it must be nice to have such a terrific anniversary." She stated simply what many others must be thinking. That pleading had been a high hurdle for Yumi and even though she had cleared that, what had just been put in front of her was the problem now.

What on earth was a terrific anniversary?

What could she do, so that their first anniversary event would not be forgotten?

"Ah - there you are, Yoshino-san, Yumi-san." The School Festival Executive Committee representative stuck her head of the classroom and called to them. "We're going to decide the schedule for working the food stand before homeroom, can you please take your seats?"

Ah, com~ing." Answering, they pushed themselves off the wall.

"Phew. Here we go."

Preparations for the school festival were steadily advancing.

This year the second-year Matsu class was doing a festival food stand. The plan was to do it in cooperation with Shimako-san's class, second-year Fuji class.


3

Other than Yumi, there was another lead actor who, when told the information would say "n, no way," just as she had.

"There's no way."

While that was being said; I see - only a few hours ago I made that same face, Yumi thought as she gazed objectively at her younger brother's face.

"What? I'm in the same situation, and I have no room at all do I?"

You haven't give me any room either, Yuuki's expression condemned Yumi as he looked at her.

"When I heard about it the first time, my reaction was the same as yours."

When she had come home, and put some distance of a few hours between her and the shock, so she was able to calm down a little and talk. Surprise does not continue, unexpectedly. But then, if afterwards you just go and do it, then you get a reputation for giving up.

However, maybe the time she picked to begin this conversation was bad, Yumi thought. Because it was thirty minutes after dinner and this wasn't grandmother's stomach medicine. Maybe it would have been better to wait a little while longer, upon a little reflection. The shock might make it a little difficult for Yuuki to digest the Japanese-style hamburger in his stomach.

But, right after cleaning up after dinner, Yuuki had gone upstairs and gotten ready to take a bath, and if she had waited for Yuuki to come out of the bath, surely she would have been told, "Yumi hurry and take your bath" by her mother, and soon the television show he wanted to watch would be starting and they couldn't talk comfortably, and after that Yumi wanted to watch this week's variety show. Then, when she had caught him, she suddenly wasn't able to tell him.

Yumi has received orders from Onee-sama to tell Yuuki before today was over. Because the second-year class trip began this Friday, and she wanted to hand over the script to the Hanadera side before that, which would give them about a week for them to look over the script.

Having delayed the announcement until this time, maybe the lead actors (the Fukuzawa siblings) wouldn't have the leisure to complain too much. Yumi was off to Italy, where it would be opposed if she wanted to make an overseas phone call, and without the other actor with whom he was intertwined, Yumi, Yuuki wasn't free to move on his own, so. If one thought about it.

"Sachiko-san did this, huh." Slapping the script he held in his hand lightly, Yuuki aid, "There isn't anyone who can do this other than Yumi and myself." He placed his towel, pajamas and other
accoutrements on the bed and sat himself in the desk chair backwards.

"Hmm. So you already know what the contents of the 'Torikaebaya' are then."

Yumi turned around, taking one of the pillows from Yuuki's bed and sat down on the floor on it as if it were a cushion.

"I've never read it. But I've never read all of 'Genji Monogatari' either, and I know the main points of the story. That much at least."

Once again "Genji Monogatari" was mentioned. It was easy to make such a reference, since it had a similar atmosphere to "Torikaebaya." No, maybe it was simply that Yoshino-san's and Yuuki's thought processes worked the same.

"When I think of "Genji Monogatari" inevitably I think of a record of a single generation of a playboy. Like 'Wakamurasaki'" (E: Wakamurasaki is a character from Genji Monogatari, the young Lady Murasaki.)

All she remembered of that was the scene where the sparrow chick was shot and released by Inuki. "Of course the name Inuki is that of a person and has nothing to do with a dog," the teacher had explained.

"Single generation? That's got to be wrong, doesn't it? There's Kaoru after all."

"Kaoru?" (E: Kaoru-no-Kimi, a name you might recognize from 'Onii-sama E,' was the name of Hikari's/Genji's son in Genji Monogatari.)

Oh, yeah, Yoshino-san has also objected to it being called about a 'single generation'."

"The conclusion of 'Genji Monogatari' centers around Kaoru. Haven't you heard of the Ujijuujou?" (E: The Ujijuujou, are the last chapters of the "Tale" which have all sorts of conjecture about authorship associated with them.)

Ujijuujou. Kind of heard about it, kind of not.

"Then, what kind of person is Kaoru?"

"Hikaru Genji's son. No....I should say, the son of his unfaithful consort? ...Well, a lot happened." Yuuki hesitated. He seemed to be reluctant to have this kind of frank talk with his sibling. Or
because it was Yumi, he didn't want to take the initiative.

"Since you haven't read it, it's hard to know all the details."

"Yes, that's it." Yuuki sat on the chair and stared up at the ceiling contemplatively. And whatever he was thinking about, his posture returned to normal, and he smiled bitterly. "Maybe that's it. That it's Kashiwagi-sempai's fault."

"Kashiwagi-san...?"

"When I think of 'Genji Monogatari,' I think of Kashiwagi. He was called "Hikaru-no-kimi" by some of the students. Those students who had Genji-mania, and when the student council gathered. Surely he'd be familiar with it."

"--They called him 'Hikaru-no-kimi." Even coming of her mouth now, calling him that was a little embarrassing, but it was an amazing name. It fit his image perfectly. Kashiwagi was handsome, had good manners, was like a young lord and smart. However, you might change the "lady" part of a "lady's man" into "man."

"Ahh." Yuuki let out a big sigh. "When compared to Kashiwagi-san last year, what I'm doing is pathetic."

"Last year, huh?"

Every year Hanadera Gakuin and Lillian Jogakuen Student Councils customarily helped each other out with their school festivals. Last year for the Lillian school festival, the Hanadera Student Council president, Kashiwagi-san, had undertaken the role of the Prince in
Cinderella.

"That wasn't too hard for his turn, was it."

"That was because it was Kashiwagi-sempai. About this time last year, when we heard what he'd have to do, we all began to shudder."

"Why?"

"Because he had to dance in the ball scene."

"Ah. I see."

Because they had not learned how to, it would have been impossible, is what he was saying. More importantly he was saying that, in front of people, an appearance at a girls' school gymnasium couldn't be endured. Therefore, Kashiwagi-san who cleared it so easily was a man
who deserved men's respect. They didn't want to even learn it, she could understand that, and she couldn't.

"So, you're thinking that this time, it will be even harder than the Prince in Cinderella?"

"Well, it's a double role isn't it. Isn't it too much work, since I'm just a person helping out the school next door?"

"Well, I guess. But, in your case, you don't have to dance, you just have to memorize lines, right?"

"It depends. Sachiko-san might not be acquainted with my acting abilities."

True, true. Previously Yuuki hadn't spoken more than the one line of, "Hey, Sachiko-san," while Sachiko-sama was within point-blank range of seeing him.

"It can't be helped - you were picked for your face, weren't you?"

"If I had had a choice when I was born, I would have chosen Mom's face." The Fukuzawa siblings both had their father's tanuki face.

"I think that, if I had had a choice for which one I liked, I would have picked Mom's face too."

"Oh well, that conclusion's no good."

The fact that they were the spitting image of one another in body and face was the very reason their had been picked for these roles in 'Torikaebaya.'"

"Let's just give up and try and remember the lines."

"Yeah." Talking about their faces was a barren conversation.

"Anyway, I'm going into the bath. You win, my spirit to resist is broken." Clapping his hands lightly, Yuuki rose from the chair.

"...Have fun. I'm sorry for asking you to undertake this important task. But you're totally saving me."

Yumi watched Yuuki walk to the stairs, then reached out for the door knob to her own room. Three steps down, Yuuki stopped and turned back over his shoulder.

"Maybe because you're a woman, you don't understand, I guess."

"Mm?"

"It's not just that there's a lot of lines as a lead actor that's getting me down."

What, what? The feeling of a confession of something big was drifting about in the air, it seemed. A boy. Yumi let go of the doorknob and turned back to face him.

"It's called 'Torikaebaya'. I'm going to have to disguise myself as a woman."

"Eh?"

"And that's pretty painful." Saying that, Yuuki waved goodbye behind him and took his polluted atmosphere down to the first floor.

"That what it was, huh?" Left behind Yumi muttered quietly to herself.

Dance in the play, dress as a woman in the play. For a guy, which was more embarrassing.

Fukuzawa Yuuki, in his sixteenth year.

In his heart, which way would the balances tip; and even a big shake would not lead to a simple conclusion.

Continued in Part 2


Tags: Maria-sama ga Miteru, Marimite, Tokubestsu Denai Tada no Ichihi