Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume3 Chapter5 3

Springtime Buds. Part 3.

I surprised myself with how aggressive I was.

To start with, I decided to wake up early and wait for Shiori at the school gate. Shiori had to go through the gate, as she used the bus at M Station. The reason why I picked the school gate, instead of the station or the bus stop, was because I decided it was the most probable place for her to pass through.

It was childish, I knew. I was filled with the hope of seeing her happen to walk through the gate, by chance. The possibility that she went to school together with a friend, or that I'd be rejected never crossed my mind.

In the end, that sort of unfortunate result didn't happen. Because Shiori never walked through the gate.

The wave of black uniforms came to a halt. I even forgot to run to the school buildings, instead absent-mindedly watching the doorkeeper close a part of the gate.

Before thinking about the possibility of her being late or simply missing school, I lost confidence. Did she really exist? Youko didn't seem to remember the name Kubo Shiori, and no one else was in the sanctuary at the time, so there was no way to prove she was Kubo Shiori, a first-year student. But strangely enough, it seemed to suit her, being an otherworldly existence.

When it became lunch break, I peeked into the first-year pine class. They must have been used to seeing a second-year, but this class seemed more bemused by second-years, and didn't really bother helping them out.

"What's the matter, Sei-sama?"

Sachiko called to me from behind. She'd been out of the class when I'd arrived, apparently.

"Is Kubo Shiori in this class?"

I couldn't help but ask for confirmation.

"Yes."

Sachiko-sama tilted her head, wondering why I'd ask such a thing.

"Is she absent, today?"

I confirmed her existence, but I still didn't see her in the room.

"No."

"Was she late?"

"She was in class when class began. And-"

Sachiko answered my next question.

"As for where she is now, I think the sanctuary."

"Sanctuary…"

"She's a devout Christian. So she's always praying in the morning."

That answered everything.

Shiori arrived at school earlier than I did, and was praying to God while I was waiting at the gate.

Even though I met her there yesterday, I'd never wondered why she was there and when she was there from. It wasn't like Shiori had gone there to sleep, like I did, anyways.

And when I heard Shiori was a devout Christian, I couldn't help but nod, so that's what. The "whiteness" I saw in her was probably her faith.

"Shall I tell her Rosa Gigantea en bouton was looking for her?"

"That would be unnecessary."

"You are going to the sanctuary now."

"-Not really."

Without thanking her, I turned away from Sachiko. It wasn't like I had fault with Sachiko. But she was sharp, despite having no ill intentions. I knew that, but it still felt unpleasant having my affection toward Shiori seen through by a younger Sachiko.

After returning to my class once, I thought again and changed direction. It would be childish to not go to the sanctuary just because Sachiko said it, and I didn't want to step into a noisy classroom.

To begin with, I wanted to step out and get some fresh air. I walked out of the emergency exit, usually off limits. The fresh leaves were turning greener by the day, and their glitter beauty was so pleasant to the eyes it made class seem extremely stupid.

I would have brought a book. I wanted to skip class, imagining how wonderful it would be to spend time under this weather.

Consciously, or subconsciously, my legs carried me to the east. Maybe I could see Shiori. But it was okay if I didn't. I didn't know what I'd say, if I did.

My feeling, at that point, was honestly to just look at Shiori from afar. If I could watch Shiori without her ever noticing me-.

I looked up and closed my eyes. It felt like I was melting into the greenery. I would become twigs, the fresh leaves, and the wind that ran through everything. I wanted to vanish, like that. I wanted Satou Sei to be exterminated from this world, without anyone knowing I was here at all.

When I opened my eyes, like a miracle, Shiori was there. She was about ten meters ahead, and stopped a meter in front of me.

"Gokigenyou, Rosa Gigantea en bouton."

She was there, like it was the most natural of things. I couldn't help but think that she was the opposite of me, loved by the world and accepted by the world. Maybe that was why I was drawn to Shiori.

"I came to see you."

I wanted to be saved by Shiori. To purify this nonconforming soul, to return me to normalcy.

"I wanted to see you. Would this be a bother?"

I repeated myself. I was begging Shiori with an expression I wouldn't dare show my mother. At some point, I'd thrown away the armor my soul wore, that which protected me. There was nothing I could do if I was rejected. I'd found something in Shiori that I was willing to risk everything to get.

"How could I say it's a bother?"

With a calm voice, like a crystal-clear lake, Shiori replied.

"I was just wanting to see you, too."

I cried, surprising myself with how honest I was being. I wanted to thank God for giving me Shiori.

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