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

In Library -- III


"Library? Is that right?" As the words flew out of Touko-chan's mouth before she could think about it, Yumi blinked. Touko-chan spoke, before she could say 'then why didn't you meet her.'

"But, well. There are several paths linking the Library and the Rose Mansion after all. It's possible that if we when different ways we would have missed one another."

"But, you know." Yumi took out a blank report form, and she began to enumerate the more ambiguous characters of Sachiko-sama's message to her, then drew in simple figures.

"Now, here, right. The Library is here. So then, here's the school buildings in between ---huh?"

The high school building, in which she had passed a year and a half. Though it was well-known territory, when replacing it with a two-dimensional view, it became difficult. As she struggled against heavy odds to draw a chart, "Excuse me. The school building looks like this and faces that way" Touko-chan spoke from her side, with unexpectedly skillful amendments.

"Mm. Right, right. Then, this is the route Sachiko-sama took, I think. From the beginning, she had decided that her destination was the Library, we can see." Yumi drew a line along the back of the mechanical pencil to delineate the most reasonable way and the shortest time to the Library.

Even though Sachiko-sama often seemed like an alien because of her speech, for normal corporeal people, it was not possible to pass through walls or jump over buildings. Therefore, there was no way to draw a straight line with a ruler between the two points of the Rose Mansion and the Library, therefore it generally seemed most likely that she walked through the halls of the school building.

"Let's go in reverse through Touko-chan's route. Since it wasn't necessary to specifically go around the back of the school building..."

"You don't think that it was the same as Sachiko-sama's?"

"Yes." So then, why hadn't the two met?

"Touko-chan, where in the Library were you?"

"The Reading Room. Rosa Chinensis was going to which one?"

"She was going to return a book so it would have been the Reading Room after all."

Inside the Library, though there were other rooms and conference rooms, users largely did their business in the Reading Room.

"Or maybe Sachiko-sama had arrived just before Touko-chan left, something like that."

"Touko spent a fairly long time near the entrance at the lending calendar, but did not see her. I did notice the Rosa Foetidas arrive." (E: Touko is referring to herself in third-person here. She does this throughout.)

"Rei-sama and Yoshino-san went to the Library." If that was the case, then the earlier supposition could not be confirmed. Surely Sachiko-sama would have arrived at the Library before Rei-sama.

"Say, Touko-chan, did you stop somewhere along the way here?"

Because, if she had gotten off the shortest route (assumed), then it was possible that they had missed each other at that time. However, Touko-chan answered "I did not stop in anywhere," clearly.

"Speaking of stopping along the way, maybe Touko-chan didn't, but Rosa Chinensis did."

"Where?"

"The...somewhere like her classroom?"

"I see. Then, I understand."

If she had remembered that she had left something behind as she walked down the hall, she might have stopped in her classroom. If that was the case, that could be one of the causes of her being late. ---But.

"Even so, she's late." Touko-chan said dryly.

"Right? Ahah, Touko-chan you think so too?" Yumi obviously thought so, too, as she stood up.

Since Touko-chan had come to the Rose Mansion, with one thing and another twenty minutes had passed. It was a fact that Sachiko-sama had gone out of here a little earlier than that. Moreover, with Touko-chan's testimony that she had not met Sachiko-sama, it exceeded thirty minutes, it was apparent.

"But, maybe she became involved in a conversation with a classmate, something like that."

"While I sit and wait? Would she really chat then?"

After she said it, Yumi thought about it. Would Sachiko-sama in that situation, think, "My poor cute little sister, waiting," or would she think "My little sister is with friends, she can wait a little while"?

"That wouldn't be Rosa Chinensis' intention, she was probably detained. If she was in the middle of a serious conversation she might not be in the position to say, "My soeur is waiting, good bye,' isn't that so?"

"A serious conversation...?"

"For instance, I meant."

Hmm.

"I wonder if she was stopped by someone for a moment."

"Eh?"

"To ask Sachiko-sama for assistance."

"Like she went to greet them, but it was a mistake?"

"You could say that."

Yumi walked over to the window, and looked down outside. She could not make out Sachiko's form in the first floor windows in the school building near the entrance to the Rose Mansion. She remained that way as five or ten minutes passed, she thought.

"How selfish." Touko put both hands on the table and stood up. "Touko is going home."

"Wait." Yumi called out to Touko-chan, grabbing her arm. "Please."

"I'm not here to watch the house."

"I understand."

"Then, why?"

"Wait for five minutes."

"Five minutes."

"Because we haven't straightened up."

"And?"

"Then I'll leave with Touko-chan."

"Huh?"

"Then, I have one more request. I'm sorry but, while I'm peeping into the third-floor Matsu classroom, I'd like you to wait out in the hallway here."

Yumi took the map that they had previously drawn together, and circled the area where "here" was with her finger. In the shortest route from Sachiko's classroom, that spot was a crossroads.

"In case you miss one another?" Touko-chan said, after posing as if she were pondering this for a moment. "I understand. If it is for that, I will accompany you."

"Thanks-" Yumi grabbed both of Touko-chan's hands, squeezing them.

"To do this, I will remain free for another three minutes."

"Fast." At which Yumi assiduously washed the cup she had used. With an effort she drank the tea she had made for Sachiko-sama in one gulp so it wouldn't go to waste. Because she had done it so quickly, it steamed lightly. Touko-chan watched the Yumi mood intently.

Until last week, if she (E: Yumi) hadn't involved herself in that situation, there was no way that she (E: Touko) would have assisted her today. Having rid herself of the title of "Person who will assist until the school festival" now, Touko-chan probably would have clearly made that distinction.

"It might be none of my business but, thinking about if you miss her, perhaps you can leave a letter for Rosa Chinensis?"

"Won't Touko-chan be there, in case we miss each other?

"There's a 1 in ten thousand chance."

Touko-chan looked like she was about to bolt, unexpectedly cautious.

"I see." However, she decided take a page of the notebook in which had been written "I am going to the Library" because she had a point.

It would be stupid to use the same exact words as Sachiko-sama, after all. But if she addressed it to the same person to whom she wrote, "I am going to look for Onee-sama," that would be weird, and "I am going out for a bit" would not communicate what she meant at all.

Going from the Rose Mansion into the school building, there were no people in the hallway. It had become chilly quickly, from the hall, both windows and classroom doors had been closed with a snap, so that the voices of any students who remained in the classrooms did not reach the hallway. As a result, it felt a bit embarrassing to speak in a loud voice while walking, so until Yumi arrived at the arranged place, she only exchanged two or three words with Touko-chan.

"So sorry, but could you wait here?" So saying, she walked away, as Touko's voice came from behind.

"Please don't rush. I'll wait here properly."

"Mm."

Although she had said that, she didn't want to keep her waiting there, so Yumi picked up her pace as she proceeded. She was accustomed to going back and forth to Onee-sama's class, third-year Matsu class. As she came close, the light leaking from the window seemed to beckoning Yumi.

"Ex~cuse me." As she opened the door of the third year Matsu classroom, the students who had remained turned to look simultaneously.

"Ah, it's Fukuzawa Yumi-chan," said the student closest to the door, as she stood up from her desk.

"Good day. Ah, is my Onee-sama--"

"Sachiko-san? She's not here."

"Looks like, huh." It certainly didn't look like Onee-sama was around, as she surveyed the room.

"Wasn't she going to the Rose Mansion today?"

"Ah. She was there previously, but she went out for a while and hasn't yet returned."

As Yumi explained, a voice spoke from somewhere. "If you mean Sachiko-san, she went to the Library."

She recognized the voice by the sound, even as the former Editor-in-chief of the "Lillian Kawaraban," Tsukiyama Minako-sama's face became visible within the group of students. But, surely this wasn't her class.

"Minako-sama, why are you here?" Yumi asked Minako-sama, as she exited the group.

"You mean I'm not allowed to cross the fence between classes to see a friend?"

"Excuse me for being rude."

That was right. When she saw Minako-sama, immediately it came to mind that she was running after a scoop, but she was a former member of the newspaper club and was now just regular student at Lillian Jogakuen High School. There was nothing wrong with just taking a class normally, or talking to a friend as usual.

"Did you meet Sachiko-sama somewhere?" Yumi asked, after absorbing the former "If you mean Sachiko-san, she went to the Library." Just so.

"Mm. Yes...about thirty minutes ago I guess, we met suddenly in the hallway over there, she said she was going to the library. What, Sachiko-san hasn't returned?"

"Yeah."

"She's late, huh. In comparison with a conversation, returning a book is--" Minako-sama muttered as she looked at her wristwatch, then turning and waving at her friend over her shoulder. "Sorry. I have something I have to get done, so I'll be leaving. Good day, everyone."

As she followed Yumi out of the third-year Matsu classroom, Minako-sama's face changed and she asked Yumi, "Um, is it all right?"

"That she's missing and unaccounted for, is a little worrying."

"Missing and unaccounted for...."

"Anyway, at the moment, I'm the last eyewitness right?" Minako-sama beat her fist against her breast, as if saying 'I'm dependable.' However, saying that she was the last eyewitness, at this point there were two eyewitnesses, Minako-sama and Yumi. Since Touko-chan has not met up with Sachiko-sama.

But, well, because she offered her help, Yumi was allowed to interrogate her as they walked.

"Minako-sama, you say you saw her in that hallway."

That, was the hallway around the corner from the one that Yumi and Touko-chan had come from. As she thought, they had mistaken her route. "When you parted, did Sachiko-sama go around the corner to the library?"

"I don't know about that."

"Eh?"

"I definitely met her in the hallway but, when we parted we went to different places."

Met her in the hallway, but went to different places. And the direction the other took couldn't be determined.... It was a puzzle, wasn't it?

"The answer is the toilet. We met suddenly, and from there, as the two of us were chatting as we walked I went to the bathroom."

"The toilet?"

"I'm very sorry to trouble you with such indelicate conversation but, before that I had had a conversation with my little sister Mami in the grounds and after exposure to the chill, I had to go to the bathroom. When I met Sachiko-san in the hallway, I was really on my way to the toilet. However, because our conversation was not yet over, Sachiko-san came with me. Then we chatted from inside and outside the stall, and when we reached a place where the conversation could be ended neatly, Sachiko-san left the bathroom before me."

I see, so because of that, she couldn't declare whether Sachiko-sama visited the Library or not.

"So, because she was making Yumi-san wait, she hurried up, huh." Minako-sama muttered heartily, but even so, knowing that she hurried up her time in the toilet with a friend caused complicated feelings.

Returning to the place she had earlier separated from Touko-chan, she found the same waiting for her.

"Touko-chan, now I know one thing. I wasn't mistaken about the route Sachiko-sama took but, because she spent some time in the bathroom, you didn't meet up with her. Why didn't we realize?"

"Based on testimony given by Tsukiyama Minako-sama of the newspaper club."

"Huh, how did you..."

"After observing the state of affairs, I used reasoning to derive the rest."

At which, from behind of the two, came the cheerful greeting "Good day, Matsudaira Touko-chan of the Drama Club" from Minako-sama.

"...Good day." Touko-chan smiled in answer.

"Sachiko-sama hasn't come."

As Yumi returned to the third-year Matsu classroom, she thought back on the series of events. She tried to guess at what had happened. If Sachiko-sama has walked by here, Touko-chan should have been able to detain her.

"Thank you, Touko-chan. I'm sorry for making you accompany me."

"Not at all. Well, then." Bowing to the two upperclassmen, Touko-chan walked toward the entrance.

"Good day." Yumi waved, turning and taking a step towards the Library.

"Um. May I ask one thing?" Touko-chan suddenly asked over her shoulder.

"W, what?"

But she looked back over her shoulder not at Yumi, but at Minako-sama. "Minako-sama, why are you going with Yumi-sama?"

"Oh that. Because I decided that I'm interested. Instead of asking about the conclusion tomorrow, I'm interested to see it for myself." Minako-sama smiled.

"Is that right?"

"Did I answer you?"

"Yes, thank you." Lowering her head once more, Touko-chan walked away steadily.

"Um, what was Touko-chan saying?" Yumi shook her head back and forth.

"What? Just what was said and that you heard, right?" Minako-sama smiled as she walked forward.

"I heard, but."

But there must be more than the superficial content, and she was dissatisfied. More than what Touko-chan asked, but rather Minako-sama's answer.

"However, I think I misunderstood."

"Huh?"

However, she had said. Whether she meant her own response, Yumi did not know. Just then, Minako-sama said, as she was going out the visitor's entrance, "That girl, Touko-chan. Look. When Yumi-chan and Sachiko-san were fighting, she caused me some anxiety. I made some inquiries among my friends."

"Ah--"

She remembered. Definitely, the kind of person who two-times with Onee-sama, and throws away the rosary at graduation.

"I said that that girl would become Yumi-san's rival, but was totally mistaken, ---ah." In the middle of her conversation, Minako-sama saw a lone student in front of the library, and said to Yumi, "Please excuse me for a moment."

"Good day. Library?"

"Ah, Minako-san."

She had no memory of the face that turned. Maybe it was a third-year that Yumi had never had any point of contact with. Maybe it was rude to think this about an upperclassman, but she was the cute, adult type.

So she would not be a disturbance, Yumi continued walking. It was autumn in the grounds, and though after school it had been cleaned, leaves were scattered on the ground, and as she walked she made crunching noises. To Yumi's ears, came the sound of stealthy steps, then Minako-sama spoke strange words.

"I'm going to the reading room now. I have to look around."

"It's fine. these should be returned today, that's all." That person took three books from a bag, holding them out with a smile.

"I don't think the person herself will mind if you go around the edge."

"Right."

Whatever it was, from their expression, it was a knotty topic, but Yumi couldn't stop at this point and turn around.

"If it's her, I think so. But, whatever our feelings, of course there will be inquisitive eyes looking. We can't deny it individually, it would be silly. Because in public we have been seen to be close, and I don't want to look foolish."

So saying, that person did the unfathomable, and left. At the Library entrance, she put the books one by one into the book post box. It was outside the time for the Reading Room to be open.

"Really, it would be best if we didn't have to consider her."

"It's difficult, huh." Minako-sama looked as if something pained her, as she said it.

"Yes. Difficult."

The three books had been placed in the box, that person left with a "Good day," and walked on along the path that connected the Library to the statue of Maria-sama.

Minako-sama let out a big sigh, "Hah-" when that person has disappeared around the corner. What was the matter, thought Yumi as she watched, as Minako-sama said as if speaking to herself, "They are both my friends, I have to be strong."

"Huh?" She had been told the reason, but still she did not understand why Minako-sama had that expression. Because she had said 'both,' the characters of two people was in question. That person just now has been one of the people; there must surely be another person involved.

Just then, Minako-sama said, "Yumi-san, do you remember that conversation a little while ago?"

"Ummm. Ah, the conversation about Touko-chan?"

"Slightly before that. About two-timing." Minako-sama stopped and picked up a twig that had fallen underfoot. Then bent it into a roughly Y shaped. A fork in the road. (E: "Futamata" which is the word used for two-timing also means a "fork in the road.")

"Ah." Yumi nodded with understanding. But, what then?

"That girl was one of the persons concerned." Minako-sama said, while stroking the branch that grew the same on right and left. "And, the second person is in the Library. Maybe."

It appeared that that was the answer to the "mysterious behavior" a little while ago.


Part Three


Chocolate Coat


Inside the unpopular old greenhouse, there was a lone girl.
The person she awaited had not come yet.

She raised her left arm in order to confirm the time, each time the interval was shorter.

The first time it was five minutes, the second three minutes, the third time after a minute.

She had looks at the watch so many times at that point, that even if the person she waited for showed up right them, she wasn’t sure if she could stop looking.

This time, thirty seconds. Just enough to confirm that her watch was moving, then she dropped her arm again. Still she did not leave. She absolutely believed that the visitor would come.

Was this the place of the appointment? Behind the gymnasium, there was a new greenhouse. Perhaps she had mistaken that one for this?

But if she went to confirm that, that would be when “that girl” would come--- she thought, so she did not move from that place. If she moved around unreasonably, she might draw attention to herself, which would be troublesome.

Today was the day when students everywhere were giving each other chocolate. That was why that girl had chosen this location, as a place that didn’t stand out for an appointment, she was sure of it.

Sheesh, how much longer would she have to wait?

Her body was cold to the marrow. But by no means did she feel any pain.
This was her punishment.
Although she didn’t think about it, feeling of guilt beat in her chest.
It would be fine if it snowed soon.

It would be fine if the white snow buried this greenhouse and this sinful body that waited for that girl. If that happened, then maybe even Maria-sama could pity her a little.


Yasuko

Because they are human, everyone makes mistakes.

However, there are some things that time cannot heal, even with a long life.

*

It took her seventeen years to notice, but Yasuko had lived an ordinary girl’s life.

She had become a Lillian student in middle school, had studied moderately and done sports moderately, had some fun moderately, and before she knew it three years had passed and she was progressing to high school.

It is important to understand that "ordinary" does not mean boring. It is progressing with the crowd. Although stopping along the way was fine, not too far off the road. Yasuko believed that she had the knack for weathering the stormy sea of human life.

If her friends invited her to join the Volunteer club as a member, she became acquainted with a sempai a year older than she, who found her suitable, so at the end of the first school term they swore to be soeur.

When she took the rosary from Onee-sama, of course her feelings were filled with happiness but, they also contained some relief. It was as if the first-years were lined up in a display case. Being purchased early in the season made her relax her chest in relief. --A completely erroneous mistake, as it turned out.

Therefore, as soon as Yasuko would become a second-year, her initial objective was to get herself a petite soeur on the very first day.

"But, what kind of girl iwould be good, is the question." Her classmate Kanae-san spoke, as she walked along the guardrail.

Today was a Volunteer club work day, so after school they were heading for the public library. They were going to read picture books to the children gathered there.

"Absolutely, she must have a gentle personality; an obedient girl would be nice. Someone who can be lead and still be proud, with a cute appearance." Yasuko laughed.

"Proud" and attractive like her classmate Mizuno Youko, but on the day she was made soeur, nervous, she decided. Well, in the case of Mizuno Youko-san she probably didn't have to be nervous, since she was naturally graced with intelligence and beauty. And, as Rosa Chinensis en bouton, she was a leading candidate for Rosa Chinensis, something that any possible soeur would have to take into account. That would be very serious.

"Our club kouhai are ordinary, but our club activities are plain and we don't get many new members." Kanae-san murmured. She was a colleague of Yasuko's in that she also wanted a soeur, but had not yet fortuitously met with anyone.

"The Tennis club seems to get a lot of people to join."

"I hear you. That's why it's like first come, first served."

The two lowered their voices. Because there were many club members around, they could have been seen easily. If someone saw them, rumors could get around and be passed on to the club members. The Tennis club was always in an age of flourishing. Jealous feelings, even if they weren't really, could become a rumor.

"So, Yasuko-san, did you have something you wanted to say?" Kanae-san inquired like she was searching.

"Nothing tangible about a certain student joining, but..." Yasuko muttered as she untangled her dryer-damaged hair.

"If nothing tangible, then what about something vague?" Seemingly unconcerned, Kanae snapped strangely at these words. Yasuko smiled bitterly.

"Don't get your hopes up. There's no reasonable expectation in this conversation."

The truth was, that Yasuko had been thinking “this girl would be good” for a while. It was a girl with whom she rode together every day on the train, parting when they reached Lillian, since she wore a Lillian Middle School Uniform. Every morning she got on before Yasuko, took the same seat, and read a book. That might be a textbook, or a novel or a game cheats book.

Yasuko, from a place slight apart, would hold onto a handrail and watch her as the train shook. Her hair, which was just slightly past her shoulders, was silky. Sometimes it would fall gently over her shoulders and she would brush it back behind her ears, a gesture she liked.

Ever since she had become a second-year, she had wanted this girl as her soeur. Thinking about this, Yasuko had followed her off the train. Just, only that.

However, as soon as Yasuko had become a second-year, that girl had suddenly disappeared. No, “disappeared’ was probably the wrong expression. Yasuko rode the same train car as usual, but the girl was nowhere to be seen.

Because it was a new school term, there was always the possibility that she had entered and was now commuting to another school. One could also imagine a change of residence, or a different means of commuting.

At any rate, on that same car, in that same seat, now sat a fat old man. Yasuko’s meager daily routine was proof that she was not there.

Yasuko and Kanae had reached the public library slightly before the arranged meeting time, so they had not gone to the children’s reading corner, but went into the regular reading room to pass the time. They were only reading a picture book today, there was no need for a rehearsal at this point. More important were fresh bookshelves that were not the school library’s.

The Lillian Academy High School library was fairly complete but, of course, teenaged girls will gather under the pretense of utilizing the collection. To that end, the public library was large, deep, severe and gentle, each genre treated impartially itemized, which was stimulating.

And so were the users. Children lead by their mothers, young men who were taking notes from reference books as they studied for college, old women studying the knitting books carefully, suit-wearing company employees…

And then Yasuko’s heart leapt.

Writing something, a little apart from a pile on one of the desks, she spotted “that girl.”

It was the same posture as she had when sitting in the train seat reading, turning the pages of a thick book with zeal. She wasn’t wearing the usual private school uniform, instead she had on a white blouse, a blue floral patterned skirt and a cream-colored cardigan.

“What’s happened? I was worried.” Yasuko controlled an impulse to rush over and call out to her. Why, because even if she was right in front of her, she didn’t know anything about Yasuko. If she all of a sudden started speaking to her as if they were close, surely she’d be surprised. She would probably think that she was a weird person.

However, what was the right thing to do?

Yasuko didn't know. If they were separated now, she might never meet her again.

"What's the matter, Yasuko-san?"

"I'm sorry. Uh, just a sec." When her heart began to pound violently, Yasuko rushed to the bathroom. Although she did not return, the sickness in her heart did not stop.

Eventually, it became Yasuko's turn to read out loud, so Kanae undertook to do the whole thing.

Yasuko was barely able to sit next to Kanae-san in the children's corner. Her heart flew to the general reading room. As she left, what if she just took the seat next to the girl...., she thought, as a cold sweat began to flow.

"I investigated her." The day after, Kanae-san said in the classroom. "Hayashi Asaka-san, fifteen. Her apartment building is around 50 meters from that library. They say she lives with both parents. It's in the vicinity, so apparently she has used that library as if it were in her own house, since she was small.

Make no mistake, that was the profile of the girl in the reading room yesterday.

"Why?" Yasuko asked in return, dumbfounded. Kanae-san was not a detective, so she must have used a trick to learn so much in such a short time. To start with, why did she think that that girl ought to be investigated?

The disclosure of the trick was simple.

"You didn’t tell me why you ran to the toilet when we were in the library. Therefore, when you secluded yourself suddenly, I slipped out and did some meddling. I casually asked the librarians."

"And they told you?" She asked, surprised, to which Kanae-san said, "No," and shook her head.

"Confidentiality. But, in order to ask directly, I walked over and introduced myself."

"Then?"

"Of course, I asked her directly. So she gave me her name and contact information."

"It was that easy?" Even assuming that a young woman was congenial, was it likely that when a stranger came up to her and spoke, that she would give out her personal information?

"Look, we were wearing our uniforms yesterday, right? That was my identification papers. If we were students at the same school, that would dispel any wariness."

"Same school...?"

"It's great, Yasuko-san. She's a first year in the high school. She doesn't have an onee-sama yet, she said."

"Eh."

"Be happier," Kanae-san chuckled. "Because maybe you can make her your souer."

"Souer..." Yasuko muttered.

"That's right, soeur." Kanae-san nodded, gradually understanding her true feelings.

Make that girl her soeur.

As if it might make this dream conversation come to pass, Yasuko mumbled the word "soeur" over and over.

Kanae-san's "Meddling" came with after-sales service. She was on the boat, setting the table for a meeting with Hayashi Asaka.

In front of the stature of Mary, Yasuko put her rosary around Asaka's neck. That day, Asaka became a member of the Volunteer club.

However.

"Eh?"

They were chatting after the monthly meeting of the Volunteer Club, when she wasn’t sure she had heard the words Asaka had said.

“I commute to school on foot. Because my middle school was a local public school, and I didn’t commute by bus or train, I always admired those with a month pass.”

“Asaka-chan. That's a good thing,” said Yasuko’s onee-sama , lifting a finger.

“It is?”

“Crowded trains are tight.”

“But, if it was with Onee-sama, it would be fun…I think. Always having to go home not together, it’s a little lonely.”

“Well, have fun.” The third-years raised their voices laughing.

When the conversation had ended, Kanae-san said “Can I have a sec,” and lead Yasuko outside the clubhouse.

“What was that?”

“I mistook her for another person, it seems.” Yasuko answered.

“Sheesh-“ Kanae-san brought both hands up and clapped them on the sides of her head. Because she was the one get the two of them together.

“But you know, Kanae-san, I really do think that Asaka is cute. For that, I am really grateful to you. Now, though, I’m thinking about talking to that other girl about being soeur. Please, don’t tell
Asaka.”

“...Right.” Kanae-san nodded. Saying anything would hurt Asaka most likely, she realized.

“If that girl on the train is a student of ours, it might take some clever conversation. Until it’s that girl’s turn, take great care with Asaka.”

“Yes, I intend to.” Yasuko nodded. From her heart, that was what she thought.

The opportunity for that “clever conversation” existed somewhere surely. Only, Yasuko never noticed it.

After a month had passed since Yasuko took Asaka as a souer, saw her in their usual car on the train.

She was sitting in a seat reading a book of hymns. That wasn’t all. She wasn’t wearing a Lillian Jogakuen uniform, was she?

For a second, half in jest, she imagined Asaka, who admired being able to take the train, had gotten on somewhere. However, she really didn’t expect Asaka to have done that. Unless she was able to calculate when Yasuko always got on the train, which didn’t seem likely.

That was when she really got a direct look at the girl.

It was not Asaka.

With her eyes cast down, there was some resemblance. When she looked straight at her face, it was a completely different person.

“Good day.” The girl stood up and said, coloring a little. M station, which they were approaching, was her home stop.

“Why?” Yasuko returned the greeting by asking the girl.

“Yes. I attended a middle school that was integrated with a high school, however I undertook to go to Lillian. My previous school did not have a university, and it was further from home so I gave up hope.”

“Did you change trains?”

Just before the new semester ceremony a classmate of mine hurt her leg. My house is the closest to hers, so for a little while we went to school together. She was on crutches, so doing things like carrying a bag was difficult… …. Many Lillian students commute by train so it was only for a little while. But, yesterday she no longer had to use the crutches, so my duty was over.”

“I see.” She resented the girl with the wounded leg unreasonably, Yasuko had to admit. If that girl had not been hurt, they might have had a meeting like this two months ago, in April.

The girl's name was Han Masumi. Yasuko told her her name and class also.

"Onee-sama." When they came down out of the North Exit of M Station, why was Asaka there?

"Oh, Masumi-san. Good day. ...You two are acquaintances?"

Yasuko and Masumi-san met shared a glance when she asked this.

Could you really call it acquaintance? Today was the first time they had shared a word.

"It seems that every once in a while we ride the same train, so we greeted each other on the way home. Then, we came here while talking." Masumi's explanation was not incorrect. It just omitted the earlier conversation.

"Well, it's a small world, huh." Asaka introduced "My classmate Masumi-san" and "And, this is Shirakawa Yasuko," she continued.

"This is the onee-sama you boast about Asaka-san, huh." Masumi said, before it was explained that they were soeur. "As previously rumored. A fateful meeting at the public library."

"No way, come on, Masumi-san." Asaka's face went red, she slapped Masumi on the shoulder.

As she watched this, Yasuko did not feel good about it, so she kept her mouth shut.

"Why is Asaka here?"

"I just felt like commuting to school by bus." Asaka said lightly, taking Yasuko's arm.

"Well, then. Looks like I'd be interrupting." Masumi said, smiling, so she walked ahead of them. The urge to run after her did not rise. Instead, she was relieved that she was gone.

"I hope you didn't spread that strange story."

"Strange story?"

"The fateful meeting, you know."

"Ah, that wasn't me. It was a rumor that my classmate was telling anyone who would listen."

Still, at least one person had to have been a "gossip" for Asaka to have heard it before. Saw her in the library, fell in love, became soeur, etc.

"But, because it's not really a rumor, it's okay, right?"

"....I guess so." Asaka clung heavily to her left arm.



Masumi

She knew about that person from early on.

For the year of her third year in middle school, Masumi was aware of that girl on the train.

*

She watched from the side, holding the same handrail as always. Of course, not that she thought that way, it might just be a convenient circumstance. She might have been looking at the glass window behind her, watching the changing scenery.

Still, every time she looked up, she met that girl's eyes. Therefore, as soon as they came close to the girl's station, she took a book out of her bag.

On the way home from the station, she stood in the same place. It was near the stairs, so when the arrival chime sounded, signaling that they had reached home at last, she could fly out the open door, was how she saw it.

And for that same space of time, Masumi kept her eyes down on the book. Despite her concentration on any given day, the contents never entered her head.

Once she saw the girl off at M station, with a relieved, not unsatisfied feeling, Masumi would ride the shaking train to the station nearest the school.

As she sat and rocked, she would always think.

What was this feeling?

She didn't know her name. She didn't know her age. All she knew was that she always took the train from the station to Lillian Jogakuen. That's it.

However, did she really need to know more than that? They were two people who passed time every morning in the same train. That's it.

Was that it, really? Every day Masumi's thoughts progressed little by little.

Certainly, it was "this relationship, that's all" for her. Whether or not she could apply it to herself, that was another thing. Just, from the time the door opened and she confirmed that it was her, during the entire time they passed together, she considered the girl's existence, watching her from behind. She seemed to have feelings that were not contained in "this relationship, that's all."

That girl wasn't the only one that rode the same train as her every morning. The salaryman who sat in the seat next to her, the OL that sat across from her, they were unconditional.

However, the only one that interested her was that person.

Maybe it was the Lillian school uniform? Thinking about that, Masumi thought it was close to the answer. When she imagined herself in a Lillian uniform her heart raced.

When it became autumn, Masumi began studying for exams for a school that was attached to a high school. She squeezed into Lillian Jogakuen.

It became spring, Masumi was wrapped in Lillian's pure uniform, it was the day of the New Term Ceremony and as usual, she got on the train a little early. She had time since it was the very first day, but she made herself the excuse that she wanted her uniform figure to be seen by that person.

If it were just some strange girl in a uniform, she probably wouldn't remember a thing but, since it was the same Lillian uniform, maybe she might say "Hey," and become interested. She herself has a sense of incompatibility, since on the other hand she didn't want to expose herself, Masumi thought. If she waited until she became used to this uniform, like any part of her body, she wouldn't have the courage to step out in front of that person.

Masumi sent a message to heaven that, at the entrance ceremony, the homeroom teacher quickly assign her some work to do. And then, a classmate hurt her leg during spring break and she was able to provide support on the school commute. That girl, Tsukiyama Minako-san, and Masumi's house were technically separated by a town border line and in that sense were distant, but in a straight line we about a hundred meters apart.

"Sorry about this, so soon after the entrance ceremony," Minako-san said, while on crutches. "You having to say no to various club activities."

"It's fine, really. There are no clubs I want to join anyway. Any that I'd want to join, I could join any time, I think. There aren't that many clubs that you can't join midway right?

"But, if you want an onee-sama, it's better to get in early. It would be troublesome if Masumi-san didn't meet her fated onee-sama because of me."

"No way."

She hadn't ever really thought about the onee-sama thing. But, when she heard "onee-sama" something popped into her mind. That thing was that person's face.

"So, don't let me hold you back."

"But, it will be hard for you to go home alone."

"This is bad. You coming with me to and from school. For a little while, since you've decided, thank you for kindness."

Because that was the way Minako-san was, they had quickly become friends. When she had moved up from middle school, she knew a lot about the school, so she had taught Masumi, who had come from another school, many things.

In the morning, if you looked forward through to the train cars in front, there were many Lillian students; because she was a little embarrassed to meet that person, it was okay that she was away from her usual train car.

The uniform, which seemed a borrowed thing, sooner or later became familiar to the skin, and the greeting "Good day," too, putting one's hands together in front of Maria-sama became natural, and Minako-san, able to walk without crutches, said "Thank you" to Masumi and gave her a very pretty handkerchief, when she was liberated from the work of holding her bag.

As soon as Minako-san no longer needed assistance, she immersed herself in the activities of her club. It was the Newspaper club.

Then, since she did not need to be with Minako-san, Masumi rode her usual car for the first time in a while. Was the person there? They never passed each other in school. Maybe she had graduated?

However, she was there.

Although she had been riding train cars crammed full of Lillian students for two months, and had gotten used to seeing that uniform everywhere in the school, the absolute truth was that she still could not look at the person calmly.

She felt admiration for the Lillian school uniform. Perhaps, now that she wore the same uniform, the feeling that she felt was merely wanting to go to the same school.

Shirakawa Yasuko.

The name she introduced herself with was kept as something precious in Masumi's heart. She learned she was a second-year student, and something swelled within her, unrestrained. However, as she left the station, that hope withered.

"Onee-sama." Hayashi Asuka, from the same class as she, came running up to Yasuko-sama, waving.

Asaka-san had fallen for her at their first conversation outside school, she had heard from Minako-san.

Asaka-san introduced the two of them. It was revealed that they had already introduced themselves, that that wasn't necessary and with a light greeting, they parted.

No, Masumi ran away.

Watching Yasuko-sama and Asaka-san's relationship while on the swaying bus on the way to school. She didn't think that she would be able to endure that at all.

Rather, she thought about changing the train car that she rode. On second thought, she wanted to do no such thing.

She understood clearly from the moment of Asaka-san's appearance. Masumi did not want to commute to Lillian Jogakuen with her. She did not want to become Shirakawa Yasuko's soeur.

After a week or so of traveling to school two cars behind, on that day, the figure that had not been there in the car was seen.

"Why?" Yasuko-sama had said, standing next to her.

"Are you worried?"

With only those words, she understood what it was that Yasuko-sama wanted to say. However, until Masumi knew how to answer, she would remain silent.

Why did you change the car you rode? Because that made meeting with Yasuko-sama hard.

But in regards to are you worried about Asaka-san, that she didn't know how to answer.

On that day, when Asaka-san, walking on foot, had come to meet her at M station, something had changed.

Yasuko-sama's soeur was Asaka-san, so why did she say she didn't want to be Yasuko-sama's soeur.

The doors of the M station opened, and from behind Masumi Yasuko-sama spoke. "Since you don't want to see me, I'll be changing train cars."

In that case, they would be separated, which might perhaps be better. However, Masumi grabbed Yasuko-sama's arm.

"Please don't change."

"Eh?"

"I won't change either. Therefore—"

Therefore.

And so, the two of them began their secret affair.

Every morning, Yasuko-sama would get on the train car that Masumi was riding. When Yasuko-sama arrived, she would hand her bag to Masumi, and the two would talk, spending the time until the station gazing at each other.

From the station was the bus.

They would embark together, but hardly a word passed between them. If either of them had classmates riding on that, they would separate naturally and speak with them. Even if they didn't meet an acquaintance, when they got off the bus, they would walk a little separate from one another.

They did not consult with one another. During their time together, it was a rule that seemed natural. Masumi was happy enough with that.

Even when it became summer vacation, she did not feel lonely. Yasuko-sama was equally not able to go to school.

Speaking of summer vacation, until last year, when she was liberated from studies, it was a dream period when, as long as she finished her homework every day, she was free to do whatever she wished. Stay over her grandparent's house for a long time, watch several movies in succession, spend a whole day in the pool.

However, this year, no matter what she did, her heart wasn't in it. She wondered where, what was Yasuko-sama doing about now.

A visit to a senior citizen's home, reading books in a children's hospital ward, taking a course in sign language, or maybe she was helping to clean up the public park. Summer vacation notwithstanding, those would be Volunteer club-like activities. Even though at the same time she had made the pledge to be soeur, Asaka-san had entered the Volunteer Club, maybe she was not participating in these activities.

Masumi thought about what it might be like if she had become a little sister. Just like Asaka-san, she would surely have followed her onee-sama and have joined the Volunteer Club, doing activities together with her, no doubt.

When she thought about it that way, she unbearably envied Asaka-san. She totally wanted to be in the position that girl was in, she thought.

However, it is meaningless to envy others. Because the truth was, Masumi could not replace Asaka-san, no matter how much she wished for it.

Lonely, lonely. Still, she did not call her on the phone.

If she called, what on earth would she say?

If it were her soeur Asaka-san, she could probably call with nothing particular in mind. However, she wasn't in such a position.

In the morning, the two of the rode the train together. There was no name for a relationship like that.

On the afternoon of the day that she heard that the Volunteer Club had an activity, Masumi finally came to M station.

Using the same train. Since that was all that connected the two of them, in her heart she prayed silently, as people came and went and were seen off through the ticket barrier.

Checking with her wristwatch, it was just about one o'clock. However, the time she was waiting wasn't wasted. The time she was waiting was wholly consecrated to Yasuko-sama. Each and every second felt as if it were precious.

Before long Yasuko-sama's form appeared at the top of the North Exit stairs. And, when she saw Masumi, she stopped where she stood, her mouth open a little.

She had completely understood, even from the distance.

The complete truth. (E: This word is "masumi," written in hiragana, not in the Kanji for Masumi's name.)

Masumi nodded. And then, she ran. From the ticket gate on the left edge to the ticket gate on the right edge. Thrusting the waves of people aside.

Yasuko-sama also ran. Toward the ticket examination and Masumi.

The two of them didn't see their surroundings at all. After a moment, as their extended their hands to touch one another, the ticker barrier prevented it.

"It's no good, you didn't put in a ticket or commuter card." The station attendant said with a smile, his words completely dragging them down from heaven, Masumi felt.

That day, Yasuko-sama had come to M station to buy a pendant in the station building. The teardrop-shaped glass beads with which the show window were decorated were beautiful, and while they were looking at them, she made a present of them. It was an inexpensive item but, she was happy. Although she was happy, she did not smile and say "Thank you very much."

This was the rosary that Masumi took. Therefore, as she thought about the issue with Asaka-san, her chest hurt.

Yasuko-sama also did not smile. The two of them, as they rode the train home together, held each other's hand tightly in silence. The two of them shared this crime.

Masumi came to hate school events. Because when it came to school events, soeur would often act as a unit. The Hakama race during the Sports festival, wandering the school during the School Festival. Being by herself wasn't painful. Yasuko-sama and Asaka-san as soeur, it became ever more unpleasant as she encountered it.

Christmas was coming; Asaka-san brought a ball of wool yarn to school. It seemed that she was knitting a scarf for Onee-sama. It wasn't only Asaka-san who was knitting. Classmates who had onee-sama were beginning to make small articles as previously arranged.

"Masumi-san, why don't you make something too?" Asaka-san said one day at break, to lessen Masumi's boredom.

"But, I don't have anyone to give it to."

"If that's the case, keep it for yourself."

In reality, she did have someone to give it to. However, she would sure not to hand it over to Yasuko-sama before Asaka-san gave hers.

"Keeping it for myself seems kind of lonely." Masumi shook her head and stood. She looked hatefully at Asaka-san who did not know anything. "May I give it to your onee-sama?" Before those words could fly from her mouth, she retreated.

Heading to the bathroom, shaking, she kept looking over hear shoulder, trying to remember with all her might how many pairs of eyes watched while she and Asaka-san had spoken.

When Christmas was over, she could not relax; Valentine's Day occurred.

Where a scarf was impossible, chocolate that had not reached the mouth was forgivable. In the world, the concept of obligatory chocolate exists.

Today after school. "Won't you come to the old greenhouse?"

Masumi inquired while on the train. Yasuko-sama, who of course understood what was meant, said, "I understand," and nodded.

She could have handed it over on the train, but she didn't like that. She didn't have the luxury of doing it in front of the statue of Mary. Any corner was fine. She didn't know why, but Masumi wanted to hand the chocolate over in school.



Asaka

Really, from way back, Asaka knew.
About the relationship Onee-sama had with her classmate.

*

I first saw the two of them together, when I ambushed them at M station. But, at the time, I didn't realize the nature of it.

Friends who ride the same train car. Certainly, at the time, that was what I thought of the relationship. Because right after Masumi-san had entered the school, she had accompanied Minako-san on her commute, so there shouldn't have been a chance to develop an intimacy with a strange upperclassman.

However, when was it? Asaka began to have a feeling. In Onee-sama's heart, someone other than herself lived.

Since they had taken the pledge of being sisters, Onee-sama had always been kind. No, she seemed to be increasingly gentle to her face. But, every once in a while, when she caught a glimpse of Onee-sama's face from the side, Asaka hesitated to say anything, for fear of rejection. She looked as if she were thinking about someone else, but who.

I first became aware of it just before summer vacation. Asaka had been on the edge of chatting with a classmate, when Onee-sama's expression became cloudy. "So it's Masumi-san," I said after that.

This happened too.

"So, Hayashi, behind Tsukiyama, you translate now."

"Ah, I'm not Hayashi, I'm Han."

Lifting his head, the teacher looked at Masumi-san properly.

"No, I'm sorry. You're similar."

At the time, she interpreted that to refer simply refer to our names. Hayashi and Han. Both were one character, our seat numbers were one after the other.

However, shortly after that, Masumi-san cut her hair. Maybe it was just chance. However, it was probably at that time that a small kernel of doubt grew in Asaka's heart.

She knew that, for a while during middle school, while attending a different school, Masumi had taken the same train line.

Therefore, there was, wasn't there.

It was strange.

Should she find out if that was the point of contact and why Yasuko-sama had chosen Asaka to be her soeur?

Neither of them were what you'd call an episode. Thinking about everything that might bind them would be foolish.

But, one after another, there were small episodes with Masumi-san, that in passing, caught Asaka's attention, falling in front of her and rolling underfoot. As her conviction piled up, Asaka felt herself stirring.

Test it, whether next to her in Onee-sama's head stood Masumi-san. Just so, even more than an answer this would hive her the piece of the puzzle she needed.

One day after school in autumn, she saw Onee-sama stop and loiter in the courtyard. Onee-sama was looking up silently at the second floor windows. There stood a lone girl staring down just as silently. It was Masumi-san.

It was a beautiful scene, like a scene from a Shakespeare tragedy that she remembered. In the story, tragic lovers were ripped apart by their families. The two didn't notice Asaka looking at from a different building across the courtyard and, after about their minutes, they separated. To Asaka, those five minutes were like and hour, or two.

It wasn't that Onee-sama liked Masumi more than her, did she--? While harboring distrust, Asaka wasn't able to confirm it herself. If questioned closely or rebuked for her faithlessness, Onee-sama might be made to separate completely from Masumi-san. But if that happened, her relationship to Onee-sama could not remain as it was now.

A person who has never fallen does not know what that experience feels like.

Asaka did not want to be the sensible little sister and get out of the way, or scold like a Buddha of wisdom.

Why, if had it been like this at the beginning, would she have become her Onee-sama?

If she liked someone else, why did she lower her head and say, "I want you to become my soeur"? A little, not totally, as if she would cry. But if that had happened, Asaka would surely have forgiven her. Onee-sama looked to be speaking good faith then. And if she had come to like someone other than her, Asaka would still love Onee-sama.

However, Onee-sama never said a thing. At Christmas, she accepted Asaka's unevenly knitted muffler, and in return gave her a cute pouch decorated with beads in a floral pattern.

Asaka put lip crème and hand cream in the pouch, and carried it to school every day. She was not trying to flaunt it but, it seemed to be reflected in Masumi's eyes.

What is it about you that you are Yasuko-sama's little sister, was the appeal she did not make, but the feelings reached her. Though she didn't like herself, Asaka was never able to say anything.

And then, Valentine's Day.

Asaka made her onee-sama chocolates, just like a little sister. Instead of almonds, she put chocolate covered roasted coffee beans. A slightly bitter, sweet, painful taste.

At lunch, she waited her turn to hand it over in front of the statue of Mary. It was a soeur's privilege and Asaka had asked to.

Onee-sama had heard her request. That was, perhaps, because she had guilty feelings. However, Asaka worried, she pretended to perform the part of the innocent soeur. Unless Onee-sama put an end to it, she would not fall from that duty. As more and more time passed, that became a soiled duty.

It hurt.

Suspecting her beloved Onee-sama, and observing her classmate. If there was ever a person who wanted to like, she was it.

That day, inside the shopping bag Masumi-san held was chocolates. She didn't confirm it, but she knew. Asaka watched Masumi-san very closely then.

When would she give them? If she was worried, it might be after school.

Just when she thought she was going to go home after failing to give them, Masumi-san grasped the bag in her hand and left the classroom.

"Ah-".

As she ran after her, Minako-san flashed her dust cloth and asked Asaka to stop.

"Asaka-san, you're on day duty today right?"

"Ah...yes."

Masumi-san was still within the bounds of the cleaning area. However, when cleaning was over, she would go to Yasuko, there was no mistaking it.

Asaka finished cleaning quickly, then peeped into Onee-sama's classroom.

Onee-sama was emptying a dustpan into the garbage. It didn't look like Masumi had come. Even if she waited here, she had not given her chocolate.

She was not able to observe outside the school building. But she wouldn't want the chocolate being given inside the building. Because in here was her soeur, Asaka.

Without noticing her standing by the front classroom door, Onee-sama left by the back door and went out into the hallway. Because she never looked over her shoulder, she didn't see Asaka standing there.

After a moment, she followed behind. There was no mistake; she was going to meet up with Masumi-san. If the chocolate was handed over in front of the statue of Mary, she would not forgive it. So her heart murmured.

But the direction Onee-sama took was in the opposite direction. Taking the hall on the edge of the school, she went down to the central grounds. Separated by a little distance, Asaka also went. Because today was Valentine's Day, there were many students left in the school, so it was relatively easy to tail her.

Passing behind the school, she steadily progressed. Ahead was the Kendo training hall. They passed along the path to the rear gates.

Halfway, Onee-sama went into the old greenhouse. From outside looking in as much as possible, a single form was visible. Masumi-san hadn't come yet.

Asaka slowly retraced her steps back to the entrance to this path. From the greenhouse, she could not be seen here. And, if someone was coming from the school buildings to the greenhouse, there was no way they could avoid this spot.

Would Masumi-san come?

Asaka wanted her to come and didn’t want her to come, and didn't quite understand her own feelings. But, she would not leave this place without confirming it. Those two could not run away.

She saw some students leaving by the back gate. Ten minutes, then twenty passed.

Maybe she wasn't coming? Maybe no promise had been made? Just as she began to think that, from the side of the school building, she could see a figure running.

Masumi-san.

As she suspected, her bad feeling had hit the mark.

Masumi-san, who was out of breath, when she saw Asaka standing there, quickly reduced her speed, then came to a complete halt in front of her.

"Good day." Asaka greeted her with a smile.

"G...good day."

"Has something happened? You're in such a hurry."

"Eh? No."

Masumi didn't commit herself. There was no way she was going to say that she was in a hurry because Yasuko-sama was waiting.

"You too, Asaka-san, why are you in this spot?"

"Me, I'm waiting to meet up with Onee-sama. Because she had things to do, some tidying up, she told me to wait here."

If she thrust aside the soeur who said that and went to see Yasuko-sama anyway, Asaka might actually be impressed. However, Masumi-san did no such thing.

"I see." That was all she said. She turned.

As if I was the one being unilaterally nasty, Asaka thought. However, she felt just as miserable. The one who wanted to cry was her.

As she saw Masumi-san go off, Asaka went inside the greenhouse.

"Asaka..."

If Onee-sama was surprised at the appearance of someone other than the one she was waiting for, Asaka threw away caring and stepped into the interior.

"I was looking for you."

"What's the matter?"

As she spoke, seating herself on one of the shelves, she could feel her stomach relax. It was better now that she didn't have to pretend. Because there was no way Masumi-san would appear from behind now.

"The next time we go to the public library, I had an inspiration. I wanted to ask you quickly."

"I understand. Well, why don't we go to my classroom?"

"Onee-sama's classroom?"

"It's cold here and we can eat your chocolate as we talk." Onee-sama gently put her arm around her shoulders, and Asaka quietly agreed with a nod. "Yes."

For how long would this be able to continue?

With her onee-sama's cold hand held in her own as they walked, Asaka thought of Masumi-san.

Where was she, was she watching the two of them, maybe? Or, was she in a corner of the school crying herself out?

Her feelings hidden, like the sweet chocolate, where would the three of them end up walking to?

It could continue for a long time, as long as no one upsets the balance. In spite of what people might think, the status quo was all right.

It might be a regrettable, it might leave a bitter feeling, nevertheless, "love" exceeds both all around.

When that was reversed, Asaka would be able to remove the rosary that hung around her neck.

When that might be she didn't know. Maybe tomorrow, six months from now, maybe a year, who knows.

Onee-sama looked up to the sky.

Asaka did the same, looking up to heaven, where all she saw was a cloudy sky.

Previous Section | Continued in Part 3

Tags: Maria-sama ga Miteru, Marimite, In Library