Maria-sama Ga Miteru:Volume17 Chapter 8 3

From City of Water to Island Nation Part 3

The cuisine of Venice was abundant with seafood and totally delicious.

Shrimp, crab, and squid. Ingredients that reminded them of Japan as they each made their entrance. Just what they'd expect from the city of water. It was as if they were quite conscious of how their stomachs were tired of Florence's meat. Of course, there wasn't any sashimi. Everything was cooked in olive oil.

The hotel room was spacious, gorgeous, and old-fashioned. This time it was not a card key, but a heavy metal key. The deadbolt was also heavy, and required a little work to open. But thanks to that, hotel guests will probably stay in their rooms and not be out in the halls. One less thing for the students to worry about.

After getting out of the bath, Yoshino-san put her luggage on the red, pink, and gold floral bed, then turned on the television.

"Hey, look."

From the television came the sound of Japanese. Matching that was the screen, showing a Japanese living room.

"What's this?"

"Japanese drama."

But the set really felt like a set. The actors were acting seriously, somehow in a living room.

"It's probably at least 20 years old."

An actor appeared that Yoshino-san's mother liked long ago. Yumi wasn't sure when she heard this. That actor had died many years before Yumi and friends were born.

"Ah, this young man, I know him. He, uh, I can't recall his name. But he's in a drama right now, he's the protagonist tormented by an evil old man."

"That's him!"

Yoshino-san had stopped packing for a bit. Even far away in Italy, she could watch Japanese television shows. Even though it was an old drama full of dialog.

"Last week's episode was tough, huh? But, that character holds the key to unlocking the secret of the protagonist's birth, so he'll show up every time."

"I can't stop watching that show. I look forward to every Thursday...."

After a while, they both suddenly burst with excitement:

"What day is today?!"

They had an unpleasant premonition. A very very bad one. Before saying another word, Yoshino-san jumped on the phone.

"Hello, auntie? Rei-chan, answer!"

According to the clock, it was a little before 11 at night. Adding 8 hours, in Japan it was almost 7 in the morning. Rei-sama would probably be getting up soon.

"Ah, Rei-chan?"

Yoshino-san opened with "How are you?" and "sorry for calling so early," then quickly switched to the main issue, rattling on and on without pause.

"Eh? Oh. Ah, that's right. No, no, it's fine. Talk to you later."

Yoshino-san looked powerless as she returned the receiver. Like she'd lost her focus.

"So that's it. That drama's too harsh for Rei-chan to watch, she switched it off partway through. Oh, I messed up. I watched the drama on Thursday night, then departed Friday morning. I was so busy that I forgot. Oh, Yoshino no baka baka."

Yoshino-san stamped her feet out of extreme frustration. Then, as if a great idea struck, she grabbed Yumi's shoulders.

"Yumi-san."

"Ye, yes?"

"Of course, Yumi-san records it! Loan me the tape after you're done watching it. Before next week's episode if possible."

With an incredibly cute face.

"...The truth is, I also forgot."

"Oh."

"Sorry."

Yumi was in the same boat as Yoshino-san. If it was a Friday drama, she probably would have thought "I need to record it" as she left. But since she had just watched it Thursday evening drama, she was satisfied and did not think about the day of the next airing or her return home from abroad.

The old drama ended, and the screen switched to a news program. Even though it was midnight here, the familiar morning announcer from Japan smiled and said "good morning." He then clearly said the date.

"This is the Friday 7 a.m. news."

The Thursday drama was broadcast around the same time that everyone was enjoying themselves riding the gondola.