Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume37 Chapter14

Conversation over Fresh Herb Tea

One Wednesday in late July.

It was an ordinary weekday morning, but the area around K Station, the train station closest to Lillian Girls' Academy, was bustling with youngsters. Some schools were already on leave, having broken for holidays early, and there was still at least a month of holidays remaining, so none of the middle or high-school students were worrying about homework as they enjoyed themselves. Yumi poked fun at herself internally, thinking, "Well, that's just like me too." She'd finished her exams and was free until the end-of-term ceremony, so it felt a bit like she was jumping the gun.

"I see. Congratulations are in order for Katori-sensei then."

This came from a university student, somewhat more calm than the festive middle and high-school students. The cafe that this university student has chosen was a short distance away from the station and exuded a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. The four-person tables were separated by decorative plants, which acted like partitioning screens, and the classical music that flowed from the piano was played at a volume that didn't disrupt conversation.

"Although I had heard about her getting married."

She took a sip from her glass of water, as though to appease the thirst that had built up from their ten minute outdoor walk, then once more said, "I see," in a voice that conveyed deep emotion. Her right index finger sought the hair that hung down by her side, as was her habit, but today her long hair was tied up simply with ornate chopstick-like hairpins, so it found nothing. Her light green dress with a white floral pattern conjured up nostalgic memories of last year's summer.

"Ah, they're supposed to be printing the interview with Katori-sensei in the end-of-term issue of the "Lillian Kawaraban," so I'll bring that along next time."

"If you could."

Her onee-sama – Ogasawara Sachiko-sama, smiled. She was as beautiful as ever. Even sweating she was beautiful. Yumi thought that she should have worn her white dress too. She'd dressed casually because she'd been expecting her onee-sama to wear jeans. A short-sleeved T-shirt and knee-length denim shorts. It was like a photo of "Grade-school Student and Her Guardian."

That was when their waitress finally arrived.

"Have you decided on your order?"

Yes.

Sachiko-sama motioned for her to go first, so Yumi pointed to the menu as she ordered.

"I'd like the fresh herb tea."

Which prompted Sachiko-sama to say, "My, what a happy coincidence."

"So does that mean you're having that too, onee-sama?"

"I picked this cafe because I heard their herbal tea was delicious."

"Ah, is that so?"

In Yumi's case, her herb cultivation had grown even further, or rather, she'd become curious about what herbal tea tasted like at other places, so when she saw "Fresh Herb Tea" written on the menu she made her choice immediately.

When the waitress left, Sachiko-sama said, "So then, shall we decide on the schedule?" and opened her notebook on the table. In truth, Yumi had accepted an invitation to visit the Ogasawara family's summer vacation house again this year, and the reason for their meeting today was to focus on the plans for this.

"We discussed this on the telephone, but I think it would be best if we went for the same week as last year. It wouldn't be very relaxing if my family were there, now would it?"

"That's not true at all."

"I know you'd be fine, Yumi, but it wouldn't be very relaxing for me. There would be all sorts of visitors, and we'd be followed around everywhere and never left alone."

"Ahh."

Yumi didn't dislike Sachiko-sama's parents, in fact she rather liked them, so she wouldn't have minded spending time with them. She didn't really know Sachiko-sama's grandfather, but they both liked Sachiko-sama, so she was sure she'd be able to get along with him. But if her onee-sama said they were better off going when her family wasn't there, then that was fine. Yumi wasn't a guest of Mr and Mrs Ogasawara, and it would be conceited of her to try and monopolize everyone's time as the cute little sister.

"That reminds me, Touko's been interested in this too. She was saying, "I wonder when Sachiko-onee-sama's going to her villa.""

Yumi's hands had been clasped together, but as she said this, she brought her left index finger up to her cheek, in imitation of Touko. It was a pretty good likeness, but unfortunately she couldn't recreate her swaying ringlets.

"It's not me she's curious about, what Touko-chan's wondering is when you'll be going to our holiday house, Yumi."

"No way."

The herbal tea arrived just after she'd said this. It came in a glass pot, so the herbs inside were visible. It was a lovely green, like a tropical fish aquarium – although, that probably wasn't a good comparison. It came with a small bottle of honey, to add as desired. Yumi started by sampling it straight, thinking that it might be like a sweet barley tea. If she added extra sweetness, she wouldn't be able to judge the flavor. Sachiko-sama didn't touch the bottle of honey either.

"In that case, you should have brought Touko-chan along today, since she already knows we're making summer vacation plans."

"I did try to invite her but she refused."

She'd snorted and said she couldn't do something so rude.

"Touko-chan's just being considerate of us, in her own way."

"You may be right."

The cafe's herbal tea was delicious. It had lemongrass and mint, like the herbal tea they had at the Rose Mansion, but the aroma and the taste were quite different. It seemed unrelated to whether or not it had chamomile. She had to hand it to the professionals. Perhaps it was due to the temperature of the water. Or maybe there was some special way of cultivating the herbs themselves. Of course, the herb tea in the Rose Mansion also tasted great, although simple.

"I thought I might try to go without the motion sickness medicine this year."

Sachiko-sama said, savoring the taste of the herbal tea. She must have been talking about the trip to the holiday house. Which reminded Yumi that last year, the medication had been so effective, Sachiko-sama had slept well into the evening even after they'd arrived at the villa. But why wouldn't she take it this year?

"I heard there were some herbs that had the same effect."

Ah, so that's what it was.

"It seems that mint and lemon balm, as well as ginger, are quite effective."

That was good news, surely. When Yumi nodded and asked if she'd be able to take a canteen of herbal tea to drink in the car, a puzzled expression crossed Sachiko-sama's face.

"Those leaves poking out of that bag, they're mint, aren't they?"

Oh, well spotted.

"Is that, perhaps, for me?"

"Ah, that's right. I was going to give it to you on the way home, so you didn't have to carry it around."

The timing was perfect, since they were talking about herbs. Yumi picked up the paper gift bag at her side by the handles.

She was sharing just a small portion of her bounty. Chamomile and lemongrass were a bit too tall to walk around with, so she'd taken a cute bunch of mint and the soil around it from her planter and put it into a rectangular flowerpot that she'd bought at the general store. Ah, but then her onee-sama had said, "mint," and it was all so well timed. Yumi thought they were so compatible as soeurs, even if she did say so herself. But her onee-sama's face was clouded for some reason.

"We've been growing herbs at home recently."

"Huh?"

"We started with mint."

"… No way."

Sachiko-sama opened the paper gift bag that she'd placed on the seat beside her.

"Ah."

Inside were those familiar mint green leaves.

"For you … see."

Still, for both of them to bring potted plants as gifts, it was like, it was like … what was it like?

"Mmm, we're just such compatible soeurs, onee-sama."

So compatible that their gifts were the same. That's what it was.

"It's fine, let's go ahead and swap. Even though they're both mint, I'm sure the one grown at your house will taste different to mine, onee-sama."

"I wonder if it will."

Sachiko-sama murmured as she poked at the leaves, but for some reason the response came from someone other than Yumi.

"It will."

They both simultaneously looked towards the sound of the voice and saw the waitress that had brought them their herbal tea earlier standing beside the table. She seemed to have come by to refill their water glasses. Based on her appearance, she was about the same age as Yumi's mother.

The waitress apologized profusely for interrupting their conversation, but they asked her again if the two mint plants would taste different.

She said, "Yes," and then she pointed at the gift bags as she continued with, "Because this one is peppermint, and this one is apple mint, right?"

"– Huh?"

A cafe a short distance from the station.

Cheerful classical music rang out from the piano.

When their water glasses were filled and they were once again alone, Sachiko-sama said, "They'll definitely taste different, since they're different species."

"Yeah, isn't it great?"

Yumi agreed.

"By the way, which type of mint do you think is in this teapot?"

"I wonder?"

She'd learned that if you looked closely, you could see slight differences between the leaves, but the leaves in the teapot had lost some of their shape in the hot water, so it was hard to tell.

"Should we ask?"

"Perhaps. But it can wait a little while longer."

Sachiko-sama said, smiling.

"Yeah."

Yumi smiled back.

They still had plenty of time.

There would still be tea left in the pot, even after they'd each finished another cup.

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