Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume4 Chapter3 1

What do you think? Part 1.

Before long, the election was formally announced.

The election management committee hung up posters throughout the high school buildings, announcing the schedule leading up to the election. Voting would take place on the last Saturday of January, and three days before that, on Wednesday, the candidates would give their speeches.

The candidate registration deadline was a week before those speeches, so there was still some time, but Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama completed the formalities as soon as the receptionist was ready, and received 20 sheets of Kent paper, for posters, and a white cloth they were to place over their shoulders during the speech presentation. The two second-year boutons were not the only ones to quickly declare their candidacy- Rosa Canina did the same.

For now, the three were the candidates. What was Shimako-san thinking, as she was still dilly-dallying. They weren't going to be elected based on the order with which they signed up, so it didn't really matter. But if she wanted to appeal her dedication, she should register quickly. –Even Yumi, being a complete newbie to elections, thought that much.

One lunch break, a week after the election announcements, Yumi went to the library, remembering something. It wasn't an especially important reason. But, she thought, she might as well finish looking up Rosa Canina at the library, plus she hoped she could see that upperclassman again.

"Oh, gokigenyou."

And as expected, she was sitting at the reading room lending counter.

"What brings you here? Researching roses again?"

Yumi noticed it before, but she felt again that this person was mellow, or well-mannered with people. Basically, she felt good to be around.

"Well, yes."

When Yumi nodded, she spoke to another student behind the counter, then left her place and followed Yumi to the back of the reading room.

"Um, but aren't you in the middle of work…"

"Oh, don't worry about it."

But still. The other student was glaring at her with a vicious scowl. Didn't that mean she really shouldn't have left?

"I thought Yumi-san might come back later, so I looked up a few encyclopedias and marked two or three down."

She said, with a clear voice, as they walked.

"Zealous work habit?"

"Not really. I'm usually stuck at club after school, so it's like filling time. I'm around in the morning and at noon a lot."

"But, supporting a first-year with her research?"

"Oh. That was just by chance."

When they walked to the shelf with encyclopedias and picture books, she picked out a few books and handed them to Yumi.

"You can't take them out, so read them here."

"Yes. … umm."

But before Yumi could thank her, she covered Yumi's mouth with her fingers.

"It would trouble me if you thanked me. I'll feel even guiltier."

"Huh?"

"You'll find out, soon enough." With that, she left.

(What…?)

Soon enough-, Yumi was confused.

Nevertheless, she took her books, placed them on a nearby table and glanced at the counter. The student who'd glared at her earlier was now complaining to the girl.

Maybe it really was bad that she left her spot-? She pulled out the seat, while she thought, and sat down. Then, the student seated next to her spoke in a low voice.

"Traitor."

"What!?"

"When'd you become friendly with the enemy?"

When she looked to the side in surprised, she saw Yoshino-san.

"What are you talking about? Enemy?"

Traitors, enemies, she used harsh words, but Yoshino-san wasn't particularly angry. Rather, she looked filled with curiosity, edging her seat closer and whispering.

"Feigning ignorance? Of course I mean Rosa Canina when I say enemy."

"Wait. Why would looking up Rosa Canina be treachery?"

"Then Yumi-san came to the reading room for investigation, too? I didn't think you were the type to do that."

"'Too?' Then Yoshino-san came to research Rosa Canina too?"

"Of course. 'Know your enemy' first."

But Yoshino-san didn't seem to care for the books in front of her. Like Yumi, the books in front of her were non-borrowing books, but they were like, Edo-period pricings, or maps of ninja mansions. How did that fit into research?

"Mmm."

Folding her arms, Yumi tried to re-arrange her mind. But she still didn't understand.

"Umm, Yoshino-san, have you made a mistake?"

"What?"

"Our conversation."

"What?"

Yoshino-san seemed to have finally realized, as she noticed the books Yumi had brought, and her "what?" was followed by, "No way."

"The 'Rosa Canina' Yumi-san is researching is the rose?"

Of course. Yumi was looking up the rose. Then Yoshino-san's reaction, of course, meant-.

"Then, what? Yoshino-san is researching Kanina Shizuka-sama!?"

"Exactly. What are you looking up the rose for, now, Yumi-san?"

You're so slow, Yoshino-san seemed to say, as she wagged her index finger like a metronome. Which meant Kanina Shizuka-sama was in the reading room.

"What, where!?"

"Idiot."

When Yumi stood up, Yoshino-san dragged her down. Ah, that's right, it wouldn't be a stakeout if they looked so obvious.

"Yumi-san-"

"What?"

When Yumi answered, Yoshino-san suddenly seemed to become exhausted, sprawling over the table.

What happened? She wasn't moving. Is she okay? She looked alright after the heart surgery, but did she feel-

"Yoshino-san?"

When Yumi placed a hand on Yoshino-san's shoulder, worried, Yoshino-san turned her face toward her and looked extremely disappointed.

"… I didn't know. I didn't think Yumi-san wouldn't know what Rosa Canina looks like."

"Wh, why!?'

After all, she didn't recognize Kanina Shizuka-sama in the reading room, but the reading room was expansive, so it wouldn't be surprising if she'd missed her. But Yoshino-san sighed and shook her head.

"Because, the upperclassman who lead Yumi-san here, that was Rosa Canina."

Return to Main Page

Back to Chapter 2 Part 3

Forward to Part 2