Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume8 Chapter5 1

Farewell Address and Formal Reply. Part 1

The nerves started when the graduation ceremony was approaching its conclusion.

Youko thought, "I'm done for." Although her face didn't show it, her heart was pounding. Then, becoming aware of her palpitations, she felt more and more agitated.

Why couldn't God let her feel like this was just another rehearsal, right through to the end?

She wasn't at all worried about the "Formal Reply" that she would have to read aloud. She was used to that sort of thing. Thinking back to the middle-school entrance ceremony, when she'd given the freshman representative's speech to an auditorium full of complete strangers, this was nothing.

So, if asked what it was that was causing Youko's nerves, it was the barrier that had to be overcome immediately before her "Formal Reply," the "Farewell Address." The farewell address was given by a member of the non-graduating student body, and her petit soeur, Ogasawara Sachiko, had been chosen to make this speech that would send off the graduating students.

Having said that, Youko wasn't foolishly fretting about whether or not Sachiko was going to slip up. She wasn't going to falter. In that sense, it wouldn't be wrong to say that she had more poise than her grande soeur, Youko.

What was worrying Youko was her own mental state.

Would she be able to remain calm while Sachiko made the farewell speech? Surely the tears wouldn't come flooding out, like a dam bursting?

(Maybe it was a bad idea to have a pair of soeurs give the farewell address and formal reply after all…?)

She blamed the teachers that had chosen them. Naturally, they hadn't been chosen as a matched set of soeurs, but their relationship would have been known. The teachers should have put more thought into who they nominated.

Youko glanced over at her homeroom teacher, who looked to be crying recklessly.

(While I'm doing all I can to suppress my emotions.)

Something she couldn't accept.

(If I broke down in tears, and couldn't read the formal reply, would it be alright?)

The teachers probably wouldn't mind such a display of heartfelt emotion. It wouldn't be what they were expecting, but if they started doubting how she acted in a crisis, then everything would look suspicious.

At any rate. Anger relieved the tension slightly.

By the time the hymn ended, Youko had more or less calmed down again. Or, rather, she'd accepted defeat.

Committing a major faux pas during the graduation ceremony right at the end of her time in high-school could be interesting too. There was no particular significance in maintaining her honor student image right until the very end.

"The farewell address."

The vice-principal's voice rang out.

"Student representative. Second-year pine class, Ogasawara Sachiko."

Sachiko said, "Here," as she rose from her chair in the students' seating area.

She walked to the front with her head held high.

A darling petit soeur.

An imposing, beautiful, young lady with a heart as clean and pure as glass.

Sachiko adjusted the mic, which had been setup right in front of the graduating students, then unfurled the white paper roll that contained her farewell address.

She lifted her head, silently gazed across the sea of graduates, then started to speak.

"To our onee-samas who are about to leave the nest of Lillian's Girls Academy High-school."

It was at this point that Youko thought, "Ah." As in, "Ah, this isn't good."

"Congratulations on your graduation."

(Not good. Not good at all.)

The introduction of the farewell address. Overflow had come incredibly quickly, even before the word "graduation" was fully spoken. Overflow of what? The promised tears, of course.

(Wh-wh-wh)

The words wouldn't come. In this way, she was the same as Yumi-chan.

Even if she could have formed the thought, "What should I do?" there was nothing she could do. Given the number of tears she was shedding, they weren't about to stick to her eyelids or eyelashes, and gravity wasn't about to reverse, so the only possible outcome was that they streamed down her cheeks.

Like a waterfall.

Like a flood.

"Ulp."

The sound of a voice heaving with sobs came echoing through the microphone.

The hall suddenly fell silent.

The tears had been dammed up by Sachiko.

"Ulp."

This was the first time that Youko had seen this side of Sachiko. No words came out as she looked down, her shoulders convulsing as she desperately fought the tears.

Even though she was such a strong-hearted girl. Even though she was such an obstinate contrarian, who hated people seeing her weak points.

Seeing Sachiko sob like that may have been contagious, for the sound of people sobbing convulsively came leaking out from all parts of the auditorium.

Youko thought, "I want to be by her side."

But it wasn't possible for someone on the receiving end of the farewell address to rebuke the speaker with, "Pull yourself together," or to put an arm around their shoulder and say, "You'll be fine."

Besides, if she was saved by her grande souer, then Sachiko might lose the self-confidence required to lead the student council. To be viewed as a "Rosa Chinensis who can't do anything without her onee-sama" would be too humiliating for the proud Sachiko.

(Ahh. Fight back, somehow.)

She couldn't watch any more. Just as Youko was at her wits' end.

A figure burst forth from the second-year seating area.

That person lodged themselves right up against Sachiko and spoke briskly into the microphone.

"As a representative of all the students of this academy, let me offer you our heartfelt congratulations."

It was Rei.

As though it were entirely proper, Rei continued to read the farewell address that Sachiko held in her hand. What a superb friendship.

Forgetting her gratitude to Rei for aiding her petit soeur during her crisis, Youko felt a twinge of jealousy.

Sachiko finally recovered halfway through the farewell address, and resumed reading it aloud together with Rei.

"Now that we've reached the end, we pray for your health and success, as we farewell you into the world."

With that last word, this time it was Rei's voice that shook like she'd been overcome with emotion, probably out of love and respect.

"Student representative, Ogasawara Sachiko."

Sachiko continued with, "And." Rei sounded embarrassed as she said, "Hasekura Rei."

One moment the auditorium was silent, as though everyone was holding their breath, the next moment it was echoing with applause, like the last song of a concert had just finished.

A thunderous roar.

(Do farewell addresses usually get this sort of reception … ?)

She'd attended the high-school graduation last year and the year before, but she had no memory of such a raucous reaction.

The noise of the crowd drowned out the sound of the mic. It took a couple of minutes until silence once again reigned. Probably long enough to make some cup noodles.

"The formal reply."

The vice-principal said, after coughing to clear their throat.

"Graduating student's representative. Third-year camellia class, Mizuno Youko."

"Here."

As she rose from her folding chair, Youko thought, "Well now, this is going to be tough."

As she walked, she thought.

After what had just happened, there was no way she could break down into tears during the reading of the formal reply. But that wasn't likely to happen even if she wanted it to, since, thanks to Sachiko, her tension and deep feelings had been completely blown away. She had to be the honors student, and re-instill discipline into the graduation ceremony.

But, what if?

Youko thought.

What if Youko found herself in the same situation as Sachiko? Would her two dear friends come to her aid as Rei had?

What if?

Sei and Eriko's faces came to mind, and Youko quickly discarded that hypothesis.

Those two.

There was no way they'd leap up, they'd be leaning back in their chairs, pointing and laughing.