Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume33 Chapter6 2

Soloist's Ad lib. Part 2.

Sachiko didn't hear anything more about this for some time.

It wasn't until the middle of February that Yamamura-sensei called for her. She had been kept waiting for a month.

During that time, the next school council had been chosen and the Valentine's Day events had taken place.

Yamamura-sensei escorted her to the Educational Guidance Room then sank down into the sofa facing Sachiko and said:

"The idea has been put forth that two people should deliver the speech."

"Two people?"

"I won't say who, but there is another candidate."

At first Sachiko was relieved, since Yamamura-sensei had mentioned another candidate – which must mean she was one of the two. However.

"Having two people give the speech doesn't feel right to me."

Sachiko was still smarting over having to rely on Rei to complete the farewell address, which she had intended to deliver solo. She wouldn't be able to avenge that memory if someone else accompanied her from the start.

"I thought you'd say that."

Sachiko smiled. Yamamura-sensei was the only one with whom she had been completely upfront about her intentions.

So the other teachers held a different opinion, did they?

"But the mistakes I made last year rest solely on my shoulders, don't they?"

"No-one's saying that. Although you may disagree, the teaching staff thought this would be better given last year's farewell address. That's all."

"You just don't want to be embarrassed by me failing in the same way again."

Sachiko flared up, raising her voice. This was her one weak point – she would get emotional when people picked at her failings.

Yamamura-sensei silently regarded Sachiko.

"...I'm sorry."

The conversation continued after Sachiko's apology.

"And what does this other candidate think about being asked to give the formal reply with me?"

If Yamamura-sensei were to leave now, the door would close on Sachiko's opportunity to give the formal reply. Probably.

"I haven't told her about this yet. Only that she's a candidate. I thought I should speak to you first. That was my decision."

"I'm honored."

Sachiko was extremely grateful for that decision. If that other person were asked if she wanted to do the speech with Sachiko, things would have become hopelessly complicated.

"Teacher."

Sachiko's expression turned serious.

"I don't know who this other person is, but I will stand against them. I quite like the idea of using my own ability to win the right to give the formal reply."

"You're determined to do this on your own, I see."

"Yes."

Sachiko nodded her head. Yamamura-sensei surreptitiously sighed as she smiled. She looked as though she had expected it would go like this.

"Very well. I'll take your feelings into account, and we'll discuss this further another day."

"Thank-you for your consideration."

That day came a week after this conversation.

"Ogasawara-san, do you have a minute?"

It was lunch-time, and Sachiko had been walking down the corridor in the opposite direction to Yamamura-sensei when the voice called her to stop.

"Yes?"

She soon realized that this was about the formal reply. Sachiko thought that she would be escorted to the Educational Guidance Room once more, but instead Yamamura-sensei only guided her to an alcove away from the people rushing past, and they stopped to talk there.

"Do you remember that I told you there was another candidate?"

"Yeah."

Although Sachiko hadn't been told the identity of the other person, at that time.

"My conversation with you turned everything on its head, so I spoke to her about the formal reply."

"Okay."

"And she refused."

"Refused?"

That was unexpected. Sachiko believed that while there may be very few people willing to volunteer like she had, if someone was asked to deliver the formal reply they would readily accept. After all, it was an honor to be named as a representative of the students.

"That's right. She said she didn't want to do it. She wanted no part of it. Indeed, she thought it was better to completely refuse."

Yamamura-sensei smiled as she recalled the conversation.

"So that means you have no-one left to fight."

"..."

Sachiko understood what the words meant, but she didn't get any satisfaction from them. It was as though they had robbed her of her fighting spirit.

"What's the matter? I've just told you that you've been selected to give the formal reply."

"Mmmm."

It seemed a strange way to look at it, but Yamamura-sensei was correct.

"You're not pleased?"

"I am pleased. But."

"But you wanted to have to fight to get this?"

"Ahh."

Sachiko winced at her keen observation.

"I'm not sure… No, you're probably right."

There had been a clean slate when Sachiko volunteered, and her wholehearted desire to give the formal reply had been enough to carry her through. She hadn't stopped to think about whether or not she would be an appropriate choice to play that role.

When she heard that there were two candidates, she was pleased that she would have to defeat someone to be awarded the role. If she were to win in a fair fight, then it would prove that she was worthy of giving the speech. Everyone would agree, if it was put like that.

But what now, since her opponent had stood down without a fight? Sachiko was suddenly uneasy. Was she really the right choice for this?

"Shall I tell you something interesting?"

Yamamura-sensei prefixed what she said next with, 'Although this is strictly between us.'

"This other candidate, I never told them that someone else was being considered."

"Okay."

"And despite this, she said, 'Ogasawara-san should deliver the formal reply.'"

"Huh?"

"She said that you should deliver the speech alone. So you see, you're not the only one who feels this way. There are other people that think you should deliver the formal reply too.... Well, does that make you more willing to do this?"

"Ah..."

Really, it was foolishness on her part to suddenly start wondering if she would be good enough.

It was best to put a stop to any worrying she might do over that.

As long as she wanted to deliver the formal reply, any thoughts about whether or not she would be suitable were pointless.

So she had to deliver a formal reply that everyone would appreciate. That was the only way Sachiko could respond to the kindness of the other candidate, who had recommended her.

"Well then. We can discuss the details later."

Yamamura-sensei gave a small wave, then walked off down the hallway.

"Umm."

Sachiko turned around and called out. Hearing her voice, Yamamura-sensei also turned around.

"Umm."

Sachiko was glad that Yamamura-sensei had stopped, but the words wouldn't come. There was something she had to say to Yamamura-sensei. Not just one thing, but two or three. They were probably all words of gratitude.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Sachiko was still trying to work out where to start and what words of thanks to use. Yamamura-sensei smiled at Sachiko, and said:

"You know, it'd be a serious problem if you lost your nerve, as there would be no-one left to give the formal reply."

Yamamura-sensei left her with those parting words and walked away. Sachiko merely bowed her head and said, 'Thank-you.'

Yamamura-sensei was a Lillian's Academy old-girl.

She had surely been a wonderful onee-sama while she was at school. Of course, she was wonderful still.