Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume11 Chapter5

White Parasol

Part 1

Even by June 20, Sachiko-sama still hadn't returned to school.

A whole week. In all her time as petit soeur, Yumi had never known Sachiko-sama to be absent from school for so long.

Yumi tried asking the third-year pine group's homeroom teacher about the reason for Sachiko-sama's absence, but for some reason she wouldn't answer. She did, however, reassure Yumi that Sachiko-sama wasn't ill.

At the very least, it looked like Sachiko-sama hadn't been cursed with a cold by the heavy rain on the day of Yumi's apparent rejection, or caught a fever after getting mad at her petit soeur for not listening to what she was saying.

But if it wasn't due to illness, then why on earth was Sachiko-sama absent?

One of the first words that came to mind when talking about school absences was truancy.

But Sachiko-sama wasn't that kind of person. She hated running away. If there was an obstacle placed in front of her, she was the type of person to attack it and move forwards.

"Just what's going on – "

Yumi mumbled, laying her cheek down against the table.

After school in the Rose Mansion.

Having just completed two trips up from the first floor, to bring the cardboard boxes full of documents from last year's school festival up, some minor aches remained throughout her body. At times like this, the lethargy made its way to her head, and Yumi ended up saying whatever she was thinking.

"Hey, Touko-chan."

Yumi grabbed the sleeve that was in front of her and tugged gently.

"…"

But the owner of the arm within the sleeve pretended to ignore her. If this were a comic, it felt like the word "patience" would be written behind her in bold lettering.

"Hmm."

But when that sort of thing happened, it was human nature to become even more stubborn. Even though she hadn't done anything yet, Yumi knew she had the attention of the girl beside her. And what would the younger student do, when the older student toyed with her a bit?

"Hey, hey."

"Ahh, so annoying. Won't you just leave me alone already?"

Her patience finally coming to an end, Touko-chan shook off Yumi's fingers that had been gripping her sleeve.

"I worked up my courage and tried ringing her house, but Sachiko-sama wasn't there – Touko-chan, you know something, right? Couldn't you just tell me?"

"Who knows?"

Her expression said she knew but wouldn't tell, as she pointedly arranged the documents in front of her.

After all that had been said, Touko-chan had decided to come to the Rose Mansion and help out at lunchtime and after school on days she didn't have club activities. She was a temperamental person, so there was some unevenness in her work, but overall she handled things easily enough and earned a passing grade as an assistant. So as long as she kept her complaints to a minimum, there wouldn't be anything to object to – although since she was there for a fixed-term and getting all the tea she could drink in lieu of pay, it would be inconsiderate to be anything other than grateful to her.

Although they were in the same room and sitting around the same table, Shimako-san and Noriko-chan didn't join in the conversation. They were watching Yumi and Touko-chan's back-and-forth out of the corner of their eyes, whispering to each other things like, "Yumi-san's like a clingy drunk today." … Even though she could hear them perfectly.

Thump.

Oh, Touko-chan. She shot up and rushed over to Rei-sama, who had just now entered the room.

"Rosa Foetida."

Finding no support from the White Roses, Touko-chan seemed to have changed her battle plan.

"Oh, what is it, what's the matter?"

"Please listen to me."

Batting her eyelids, she snuggled in against Rei-sama. It was most fortunate that Yoshino-san wasn't there. Fortunate for Rei-sama, that is.

"Rosa Foetida, is Yoshino-sama still at the martial arts hall?"

Noriko-chan asked, having risen from her chair. It was probably best to know before she started preparing the tea leaves and cups.

"Yeah, I think she'll be a little while yet. The faculty adviser and club president were both there today, so I left ahead of everyone. Oh, black tea? What to do, I was in the mood for some coffee today. Ah, it's alright Noriko-chan, I can make it myself."

"No, no, let me get it."

This sparked a discussion between Rei-sama and Noriko-chan about who should make the coffee, which devolved into, "I'll do it," "No, me," until Touko-chan forced her way in, saying, "Listen to what Touko has to say."

"Sorry. What was it you wanted, Touko-chan?"

" … Please swap seats."

Since she'd had to wait, the tension had completely drained from Touko-chan, but she pulled herself together, focused her strength in her eyes and asked.

"Swap seats?"

"Sitting next to Yumi-sama is no good for Touko's mental health."

Hoho, although she seemed to listen cordially, Rei-sama rejected Touko-chan's plea surprisingly quickly.

"No can do."

"Why not?"

Touko-chan scowled. The feeling was one of, "How dare you not agree when I asked you so nicely."

But Rei-sama was accustomed to Yoshino-san, so she was completely unperturbed by this.

"The simple answer is that Touko-chan is an assistant that Yumi-chan brought along. I'm sorry, but we can't involve ourselves in that at all."

Rei-sama sought support and Shimako-san raised her head from her writing and nodded. Noriko-chan, who was making Rei-sama's coffee, shook her head, making an appeal to Touko-chan about something.

"Of course, we're grateful that you came to help out. But, how to put this … we shouldn't be moving things around too much while Sachiko's not here. Having said that, this was Yumi-chan's request, and we are short-handed, so you're here as Yumi-chan's exclusive assistant, and that's how it is. Sorry."

Right. Sorry, but that's how it is.

Because Touko-chan was someone that Yumi had scouted to help out. She didn't have to get agreement from everyone to bring an assistant. When Shimako-san first started coming to the Rose Mansion, nothing had been said to the then-Rosa Gigantea, Sei-sama.

Of course, if someone said that they were totally opposed it, then it would be discussed further. In this case, there was a one-month time limit, and neither of the Roses (discounting Sachiko-sama, since she was absent) had offered a dissenting opinion.

"You're not … going to listen."

Touko-chan's face went bright red, like a boiled octopus, and she started slowly backing away.

"Don't worry, it's no big deal."

Yumi beckoned Touko-chan over, pulling back her chair, but Touko-chan didn't stop backing away.

Backing, backing.

"That's no good. For us."

Backing … Thump.

Touko-chan's back collided with the biscuit door.

That was the impetus. Like she'd been struck by something, Touko-chan did a quick about-face, opened the door and flew out.

"Touko-chan!"

Yumi wasn't sure what had rubbed Touko-chan the wrong way, but there had probably been something building up that she just couldn't stand any longer.

While Touko-chan possessed the signature ability to ascend or descend the stairs without making a sound, this time she proved that she could make quite a racket when agitated.

Now then, what to do about the current situation?

"Yumi-chan."

Rei-sama said softly.

"While you're at it, why don't you stop by the clubhouse, and pick up the manga club's schedule."

"Roger!"

Yumi cheerfully responded, then left the room.

Assuming that it was necessary for someone to chase after Touko-chan, Yumi had been thinking that she should probably be the one to do it.

Part 2

She descended the staircase and opened the Rose Mansion door, then saw Touko-chan running towards the rear of the school building.

Yumi hurried after her as fast as she could without running, fearful that she would slip and fall on the wet grass or fallen leaves.

It was the rainy season and it rained on and off every day, so while it wasn't currently raining, the ground hadn't dried out which made running difficult. But it should be the same for Touko-chan. As expected, Touko-chan slowed from a run to a fast walk, then finally to a normal walking pace.

"Stop following me."

Touko-chan called behind her to Yumi. When had she been spotted?

Still, if she was going to stop simply because she'd been asked to, she wouldn't have given chase in the first place. Yumi closed the gap to about five metres as she pursued Touko-chan.

"I just want to cool my head alone. Geeze, whenever I'm near you, it throws my rhythm completely off."

Touko-chan would sometimes do this – the complaints she made over her shoulder were as though she was talking to herself, not actively trying to drive someone away.

They continued walking past the school buildings, coming at last to the line of cherry trees.

"You know, this may be none of my business."

When they did, Yumi called out to Touko-chan's back.

"The season being what it is, I think this might be a bit risky, see – "

Before the words 'hairy caterpillars' could leave her mouth, Touko-chan abruptly squealed and took off running. The hairy caterpillars started to wriggle overhead when the cherry tree leaves became lush and green.

"I don't think just talking about them is going to make them fall."

But Touko-chan had taken off like an express train, and was already near the auditorium entrance. Yumi jogged along the trail beneath the cherry trees too.

Touko-chan seemed to be waiting for Yumi, as she only started walking again when Yumi had caught up to her. The path lined with ginkgo trees opened up in front of them.

"I just don't get it. About a week ago you were so timid that just watching you was irritating, but now all of a sudden you're so lively. Even though Sachiko-sama isn't here, you're lively."

Touko-chan mentioned twice that she was lively.

"Do you dislike it when I'm lively?"

"It doesn't matter either way. I have no particular interest."

Watching Yumi being timid annoyed her. But she didn't seem too pleased with her liveliness either. And yet she said she didn't have an interest. It was hard to understand someone else's feelings.

"Why me?"

Touko-chan asked, as they walked alongside each other.

"Why did you make me your assistant? What are you planning, Yumi-sama?"

"Planning?"

They walked slowly along the path that led to the main gate. They walked past the library. If they didn't turn right at the next intersection, each step would be taking them further away from the school buildings.

"That's what happened, right? The conversation earlier – it was you alone who decided to get an assistant, right? In that case, you would have been better off choosing someone who was easier to work with. I don't understand why you'd go to all the effort of having an eyesore like me alongside you."

An eyesore. Touko-chan was able to assess her own position quite coldly.

"For now, let's just say you were first in line."

Yumi answered.

"F-First in line!?"

Touko-chan stopped and asked loudly. Surprised by the noise, some of the students walking in front of them stopped and turned around.

"Oh no."

On the spur of the moment, they turned left, away from the school gates and towards the university buildings, and hid in the thick shrubbery. The rumor about Touko-chan sowing discord had been dispelled by her visits to the Rose Mansion, but it was probably better not to let everyone see them arguing.

"See, in the past you said you wanted to help the Yamayurikai, right Touko-chan?"

Yumi said quietly as she concealed herself in the shrubbery.

"I did, but that was to help Sachiko onee-sama – "

"And you are helping Sachiko-sama. Because you're covering for her while she's away. That's why I thought you were suitable."

In truth, that wasn't the only reason, but Yumi didn't have to divulge that to Touko-chan, so she didn't.

"It's a bit of stretch then to say that I was first in line."

There was a gap in the procession of high-school uniforms, so Yumi stood up, brushed the dirt from the hem of her skirt and said, "Maybe."

"Don't you think the people Sachiko-sama likes should work hard while she's away? That's why I returned home to the Rose Mansion too."

This time Yumi walked ahead.

"She likes us both? Returned home? Isn't it too late to be saying this? Especially since you ran off without listening to Sachiko onee-sama."

Touko-chan followed, eyebrows raised.

"That I did. But I told you my reason, didn't I?"

Yumi looked up at the sky.

"I honestly have no idea what's going on with my onee-sama."

Part 3

The Lillian's Girl's University premises contained a western-style garden park.

There was a water fountain front-and-center in the garden, and the small splashes of water from it sparkled brightly, brilliantly reflecting the flowers and grass that surrounded it.

"So pretty."

Yumi instinctively rushed over to it. For now the area around the fountain was very quiet, but that was probably simply due to the time, and normally it was probably bustling with university students.

"Hold on, Yumi-sama."

Touko-chan had a shocked expression on her face, like a mother chasing after a mischievous child. They had swapped position at some point. The chaser and the chased.

"Ah."

Yumi muttered, then came to an abrupt halt. Touko-chan, who had been tailgating her, couldn't hit the brakes in time and crashed at full speed into her rear.

" … Oww. What the heck are you doing!?"

"Sorry."

Yumi's attention had been drawn to a figure walking from the gate towards them.

That person was someone that Yumi knew.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the figure holding the white parasol grew larger. Loosely tied gray hair and an elegant sky-blue kimono.

"Yumiko-san?"

She changed the angle of her white parasol to reveal her face and there was no mistake, it was Katou Kei-san's landlady, Ikegami Yumiko-san.

"My, it's Yumi-san. What an unexpected meeting, gokigenyou."

"Gokigenyou, what brings you here today?"

Yumi walked Yumiko-san over to a bench near the fountain and offered her a seat. Yumiko-san produced a white handkerchief from behind her, spread it out over the bench, then sat down and smiled. She looked radiant in light makeup, and while this was only the third time Yumi had met her, she looked the prettiest she had ever looked.

"I came to see Katou-san, is she here, I wonder?"

"Umm, that's a bit hard for me to say – "

"Ah, yes, you're in high-school, Yumi-san. Then I might just wait here a while and see if she comes by."

Since they lived on the same property, if she waited at home then they would probably see each other in the evening. Perhaps Yumiko-san had some kind of pressing business.

"It's been decades since I came here, but the ginkgo tree path hasn't changed at all."

Yumiko-san turned and looked wistfully at the path she had just walked along. Yumi turned to look too, and saw a self-proclaimed actress keeping out of the spotlight. Breathing quietly, awaiting her turn.

"Are you one of Yumi-san's friends, perhaps?"

"No, I'm one year her junior. Yumi-sama is always gently guiding me."

Yumi had expected Touko-chan to sulk about being completely forgotten, but instead she smiled and greeted Yumiko-san with "Gokigenyou."

"Oh Yumi-san, and you told me you weren't popular with the younger students."

"Why, that's absurd. Yumi-sama is an adored onee-sama to all the first-years."

"… Touko-chan."

Who is she an "adored onee-sama" to, who? The main cause of her unpopularity amongst the younger students should not be saying such a tooth-achingly sweet line.

But, looking at it from a different point of view, Touko-chan had read the situation and was acting the role of the obedient junior. In that case, Yumi should also refrain from saying what she wanted to, and play the part of the good senior. They didn't have to show their antagonism in front of Yumiko-san, who was visiting her alma mater for the first time in ages.

"May I inquire as to where you're returning home from?"

Touko-chan asked Yumiko-san, being so sociable that it was hard to believe this was their first meeting.

"Actually, it's the opposite. I recently learned the whereabouts of an old friend, so I thought I should pay her a visit. Today's the lucky day, I suppose you could say."

"A friend?"

"A long time ago, we had a falling out over something trivial. I'm going to make things right."

Now that she mentioned it, Yumi remembered Yumiko-san saying something about missing somebody the other day. Perhaps she had been talking about the friend she was going to see today.

Yumiko-san half-closed her eyes, like she was about to doze off. The setting sun's rays shone through the gaps in the lace of her retro white parasol, forming a polka-dot pattern on her white forehead and blushing cheeks.

"It's quite an old umbrella, isn't it?"

Yumiko-san smiled, noticing Yumi's gaze. Yumi thought, "Ahh, that's not why I was looking," but she knew that Yumiko-san wasn't bothered by old things, so she didn't refute her strongly.

Indeed, it was quite an old umbrella. But there weren't any negative connotations to that. Recently, it had become quite popular to reissue old designs, but this wasn't that sort of thing, it oozed personality.

Looking at it, it was quite beautiful. And since it was Yumiko-san holding it, it was all the more lovely.

"I was holding this umbrella the last time I saw her. I never could bring myself to throw it away."

Yumiko-san spun the parasol, like a merry-go-round.

"I'm going to say, "I'm sorry" – the words I couldn't say on that day. I wonder what she'll say to that."

"She'll forgive you."

At that time, along with the voice, a can of juice was held out from behind her.

"Sei-sama!"

"I was looking out the classroom window, and you looked like you were having a good time, so I escaped from my boring class. Here, have one."

Oolong tea, milk tea, apple juice and black coffee. Sei-sama let Yumiko-san choose first, then Touko-chan, then from the remaining two took the black coffee for herself, handing Yumi the apple juice.

"Thank-you."

Yumiko-san said, "I was getting a bit thirsty," and seemed to enjoy her milk tea.

"Thanks."

Touko-chan looked blankly at Sei-sama for a couple of seconds, then expressed her gratitude and opened the can of oolong tea.

"Should I call Kei-san over? We're in the same class."

Sei-sama's can of coffee was a bit smaller than the rest, and she drank it all in one go before asking Yumiko-san.

"It's alright. But if you could take a message for her, please. Tell her that I'll be away for a few days, so she shouldn't worry. If there's anything she needs to do in the main house, she should feel free to use the spare key and go inside."

" … Umm, is it a long way to your destination?"

Sei-sama asked, hearing "a couple of days." Yumi was slightly concerned too. But Yumiko-san's bag did look to be closer in size to a small traveling bag than a handbag.

"It's a fair distance."

"Would you like me to accompany you?"

Sei-sama asked.

"Thank-you, but I'll be fine. My destination's a hospital. Even if something does happen on the way, I should still be able to get there."

Yumiko-san laughed, as though it was a joke, but Yumi didn't smile.

Because she knew it meant that Yumiko-san's friend had been admitted to a hospital. And that was probably why Yumiko-san was hurrying to meet her.

The three teenagers sunk into silence again.

Since Yumiko-san had said, "a long time ago," it may have been decades. What happened back then, why had they never met since, and why was she going to meet her now?

Those answers were Yumiko-san's alone. So Yumi didn't ask. Even though the hidden lid of the music box had been opened, she wanted what was inside to remain precious.

"I suppose I should be going soon. If I go straight to the bus, I should be able to catch an earlier locomotive than I had planned."

Even her use of the word locomotive was indicative of an earlier era.

"Alright then, to the train station. Is M station okay?"

Sei-sama deftly lifted Yumiko-san's bag. It looked like this was how they would part.

"What about your classes?"

Yumi blurted out.

"I told you before, right? It was a boring class. Besides, I'd rather accompany Yumiko-san."

"You delinquent."

Yumiko-san laughed.

"I'm just honest."

Sei-sama answered quickly.

"Well then, I suppose I should accept your offer."

Yumiko-san took hold of Sei-sama's offered arm, and smiled like a schoolgirl.

At the very least, Sei-sama was acting the part of the escort as well as any leading actress from the Takarazuka troupe.

From high-school students to old ladies, Satou Sei was kind to all women. – So cool that Yumi instinctively came up with a catchphrase for her.

"Have a safe trip."

As she watched Yumiko-san and Sei-sama shrink into the distance, Yumi thought:

"A reclusive misanthrope" – that was how Katou-san had described Yumiko-san – but surely that wasn't right. She'd closed the curtain during their first meeting simply because the rain depressed her. In truth, she was a friendly, cute granny. That was the only way that Yumi could picture her.

But Touko-chan muttered something entirely unexpected.

"She seems to be in good spirits today."

"Do you know Yumiko-san?"

Yumi turned around in surprise.

"No, this is the first time I've met her. But I chanced upon something that may go beyond your understanding of Yumiko-san."

" … There's a rumor she's a misanthrope."

"Ah, that might actually be true. She looks to be a difficult person."

Touko-chan said, as she tidied up the empty cans.

"What makes you think that!?"

"She has deep wrinkles here."

As she said this, Touko-chan pointed to the area between her eyebrows.

"In contrast, she had no wrinkles in the corners of her eyes, or around her mouth."

"Come to think of it, you're right."

Now that she'd mentioned it.

"It's proof that she hasn't smiled in a long time. All she's been doing is scowling."

Apparently the drama club had been doing research into how to make wrinkles with stage makeup.

"People's faces show their lives."

"But I only know that Yumiko-san."

That. Pointing towards the path lined with gingko trees. But the duo were no longer visible.

"Then perhaps something happened recently that changed her disposition. Strangely enough, it may be because of you, Yumi-sama."

"Me?"

"Touched by your optimism."

"Ooh, don't say that."

It was annoying that she couldn't refute this. Yumi wanted to argue about it for a little while, but it looked like it would be pretty hard to beat Touko-chan in a debate. – While Yumi braced herself, it looked like Touko-chan had been thinking about something completely different.

"A hospital, hey … "

"Huh?"

"Speaking of hospitals, my grandfather has a hospital at the foot of a mountain in one of Tokyo's neighboring prefectures."

While Yumiko-san had mentioned that she was going to a hospital, Touko-chan's segue was quite abrupt.

"It's in the countryside, some distance from the train station, so it can be quite difficult to get to without a car. But it's quiet, there's plenty of nature and fresh air, so it's got a good reputation with its patients. It has the feeling of a traditional hospital … "

As she listened, Yumi wondered why Touko-chan was talking about this now. The hospital that Yumiko-san was going to probably wasn't Touko-chan's grandfather's hospital.

Something deep within her heart whispered, "What if."

What if.

"Is Sachiko-sama a patient there?"

Yumi asked timidly, and Touko-chan laughed, bringing the palm of her hand up to her mouth and going, "Ho ho ho."

"As simple as ever. Don't you know that Sachiko onee-sama isn't absent due to illness?"

"So that was just idle chatter?"

Yumi asked huffily, but Touko-chan didn't answer the question.

"See, I've been thinking various things. Like, you're not telling me about Sachiko-sama because you've been forbidden from saying anything."

"If I've been forbidden from saying anything, why would I be chatting about it?"

"You could be kindly giving me a hint."

"… How fortunate for you."

"I hear that from Yoshino-san a lot too."

Touko-chan snorted, to say, "I'll bet." She really was such an impolite junior.

"That was just a teaser."

"A tazer?"

"A story teaser, geeze."

It seemed to be something like the lead-in to a joke. Wasn't that what the comedians called it when they were setting up a joke?

But how on earth did the story about the old-fashioned hospital relate to anything? As expected, Yumi had no idea whatsoever.

Seeing that, what did Touko-chan do?

"Stop, stop."

She suddenly cried out.

"Even if I do nothing, sooner or later somebody will make a move."

"Huh? Wha?"

"That's all. Complain to them, I'm all worn out."

Touko-chan muttered, her shoulders drooping. When she finished her soliloquy, she turned to Yumi and said:

"Let's go back to the Rose Mansion. Right, while we're out, we should stop by the clubhouse and pick up the forms from the clubs that haven't submitted them yet. Do you remember which clubs haven't submitted their schedules yet?"

" … Manga club."

"Got it. Alright then, shall we go?"

It was bewildering, the speed of this exchange.

While Yumi's head was still spinning, Touko-chan had started walking down the path that would lead back to the high-school area. Naturally, it was a different route to the one they had taken earlier. Touko-chan hadn't lost her bearings.

"Made it to a good place in the end, though."

Once again, Touko-chan's words were incomprehensible.

"As a reward, I'll give you a piece of advice, Yumi-sama. If you can avoid it, you're better off not riding in a car driven by Suguru onii-sama."

"What?"

Even if she heeded the advice, Yumi didn't think it would be helpful. Even if she wasn't bothered by riding in his car, when would she ever have the opportunity? Beyond that, she didn't understand what this 'reward' was for either.

"It's dizzying if you're not used to it. Especially on unpaved roads."

At that time, Yumi completely missed the hint that was hidden in Touko-chan's innocent words.

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