Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume28 Chapter8

The Yellow Thread

*

The systems of the world run surprisingly smoothly.

For instance, you're pushed into high-school just as middle-school is starting to get boring.

And at high-school, there's the so-called soeur system waiting, in which you pretend that a complete stranger of an upperclasswoman is your older sister. Which is amusing enough, but after a year of following your pseudo-sister suddenly it's your turn to be the older sister, which presents a new opportunity for amusement.

"And so? Despite being in the opposite direction from your house, you came all the way to the main gate hunting for a new toy, right Eriko?"

Having just arrived at school, and laughing as she yawned, was Eriko's insufferable but inseparable friend. Her name was Satou Sei.

"Such a bother so early in the morning."

"A bother? This is fun."

Eriko laughed too. She walked alongside Sei down the path lined with ginkgo trees. Watching the first-years as they arrived at school had ended for today. She'd be late for morning prayers if she didn't start heading towards class soon.

It was nearing the end of April. The weak sunlight and the pleasant breeze were just perfect. It made her want to ignore the classroom and continue walking alongside her friend forever.

"If Eriko's going all out, she's probably going to win after all."

Sei said, apparently talking to herself.

"Win what?"

"It seems the Roses are having a bet. Who will find a petit soeur first, Eriko or Youko."

"Myself and Youko? Why weren't you included?"

Eriko tilted her head. Since Sei was also a bouton, she should have been in the running too.

"No-one backed this particular horse, so it's been excluded from the race."

Sei smiled, self-deprecatingly, but it was true that she lacked direction. She liked to drift around, light and fluffy like a jellyfish.

"So? What kind of girl do you like, Eriko? Ahh, wait, don't tell me. I can guess."

Sei held up her hand in front of Eriko's mouth.

"Someone you won't get bored of within two years, right?"

"Exactly. Just what I'd expect from someone who's known me for so long."

Since kindergarten, in fact, which would make it over ten years.

"But even if someone does catch your eye, you'd still have to evaluate them during school, I guess. So it looks like Youko will be first then."

"Hey, stop trying to get in on their bet too."

"Oh, come on."

Just as Eriko was grabbing her coldly laughing friend's hand, a tall student ran past them.

"Ooh. There's a good one."

" – Looks like it."

Eriko watched that disappearing figure fondly. It was obvious from the brand-new school uniform and the uncertain manner of her tie's knot that she was a new student.

So as not to disturb the pleats in their skirts. So as not to toss their white sailor scarves into disarray.

Eriko could call out and scold her about it, but didn't. That girl wasn't the only one who was running. The first-years' classrooms were a bit further from the entrance than the older students' so she had to hurry.

On arrival at the statue of Maria-sama they found that tall first-year still standing there, praying.

On closer inspection, she looked like a boy. Very short hair and a slender figure. A sharp face with few soft features. It was only because she was wearing a skirt that you could tell she was a girl.

"What on earth could she be praying for?"

Sei smiled, even though it was something they did every day.

Indeed, that boyish girl had been standing there praying for quite some time. Even though some other first-years had stopped and prayed for only a few seconds before thundering off, probably worried about being late. Just as Eriko was starting to wonder if she was alright, she opened her eyes and took off running again.

It was then that Eriko saw it. Extending from her fingertip, a single shining thread of yellow.

* *

It was probably a spiderweb or something similar. – Eriko smiled as she remembered the scene from earlier that day. It would be different if it were a red string, that unseen thread that was said to join fated lovers, but this was a yellow one.

From the mouth of the teapot rose steam heavy with the fruity scent of the black tea.

"What's this? You're spacing out about something, or are you reminiscing?"

"Nothing of the sort."

Eriko turned around and responded to the question that came from behind her.

School had finished for the day. The only two people in the student council building, the so-called Rose Mansion, were Eriko and her onee-sama, Rosa Foetida. Youko would probably show up soon, panting, but never late. Following that would be Youko's onee-sama, Rosa Chinensis, and Sei's onee-sama, Rosa Gigantea. As for Sei – who could tell; sometimes she'd show up for meetings and sometimes she wouldn't.

"Oh. You say it's nothing, but your expression tells a different story."

"Well I was just pouring the tea, and had come straight here after cleaning the classroom, so I was smiling thinking that this would be over soon."

There was no way to adequately explain the truth so Eriko substituted something appropriate.

"But you never look like you're doing it grudgingly, Eriko."

"Yeah. I find these odd jobs kind of fun. At home I'm coddled, so it's a fresh experience."

"So? Have you found someone you want to take as your petit soeur?"

Rosa Foetida asked, studying her face.

"Unfortunately, no."

Eriko's lips curled into a smile as she placed the cups of tea on the table.

She didn't think it was worth mentioning the first-year that she had seen that morning. It was just a passing fancy, nothing more.

"Then what did you mean when you said it'd be over soon?"

"I meant in general. First semester's generally the time to take a petit soeur."

"A petit soeur isn't going to jump into your arms while you're spacing out, you know."

"True. But if Youko or Sei find a petit soeur, then I'd be free of this too, right?"

This response earned Eriko a, "Hey," and a tap on the head with a notebook.

"I wouldn't go so far as to call those remaining 'small-fry', but if you take too long trying to land one then you'll find all the good ones have been caught."

"I know that."

This time around the notebook used to hit Eriko on the head was thrown towards her chest.

"What's this?"

She asked, catching it. Rosa Foetida responded with:

"A list of eligible first-years."

"And I have to choose from one of these?"

"Not at all. Rosa Chinensis, Rosa Gigantea and I wrote it the other day for a bit of fun. It's a list of first-years that we'd pick if we were second-years."

"… You must have plenty of free time."

"Whatever. You can use it as a reference, if you'd like."

"And Youko?"

"She hasn't seen it yet. I beat Rosa Chinensis at scissors-paper-rock."

"I might not pay any attention to what you've written."

"I know that. But still, you're intrigued, aren't you."

"I suppose so."

Eriko was indeed interested, because after a flip through the book she said, "I'll borrow this," and put it in her bag.

She could hear the sounds of somebody, probably Youko, running up the stairs.

* * *

Thinking back, she'd long had a weakness for rarities.

Whenever she was wondering what to do, just before she frankly asked herself, "Which one of these would be best?" she'd instinctively reach out for the item of which there was only one of at that place.

If, for instance, the choice was being made because a visitor had brought a selection of cakes then there was no problem, because there would be none left afterward anyway.

But with things like clothes and shoes, the residual effects were bothersome. Countless times she'd returned home only to find that the clothes she'd bought didn't suit her at all. Or like that time when she'd been depressed for a couple of days after she found out that another girl in the neighborhood had the exact same item, despite it being the only one in the store when she bought it. That was the first time she realized there was a possibility that a store might only have one of an item in stock because it was really popular and almost sold-out. That particular item of clothing had been shoved deep into her closet, never to be worn.

It was a moral lesson. Just because something had a different appearance didn't mean she should leap at it. Better to ignore the superficial attractions.

Eriko tried to persuade herself of this as she continued on from yesterday, standing beside the school gate and watching students arrive.

You can't judge people based on their appearance. – It was as though that saying was coined just for her current predicament.

Nonetheless, when that boyish looking first-year from yesterday appeared, Eriko left her position and tottered after her. It was much earlier than when she had met Sei yesterday. The first-year wasn't running today.

Eriko followed her, leaving a gap of about ten metres between them. That girl prayed in front of the statue of Maria-sama for just a bit shorter length of time than yesterday.

Even though she knew it was foolish, Eriko stared at that girl's fingertips. But, unfortunately, the thread that she saw yesterday morning was nowhere to be seen.

Well, what had she been expecting? Eriko let out a sigh as she watched the first-year walk away. Then, as a matter of course, she prayed to Maria-sama before walking across to the school building.

She didn't feel like evaluating any more first-years that morning.

She had to collect herself.

Later that day, after finishing her lunch in the classroom, Eriko headed towards the school library carrying the notebook she had borrowed from her onee-sama. The notebook containing the list of eligible first-years.

She hadn't really felt like reading it last night at home, so it had remained in her school bag.

It had popped into her head just as she was thinking that she had to calm down, but obviously there was no way she could take it out in the classroom. It would be a major drama if one of her inquisitive classmates asked, "What's that?" On the other hand, going to the Rose Mansion was also out of the question, since one of the Roses might show up.

But in the library no-one would pay any attention to someone sitting in the reading room with a notebook open. It was a space used for writing reports, doing homework and studying for exams, both during the lunch break and after school. No-one there had time to worry about what anyone else was doing.

The only seat that was free was adjacent to an aisle, so Eriko sat down and switched on the reading light. On the other side of the aisle was a bookshelf, so people would occasionally wander past. This was a bit concerning, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Well then."

Upon opening the notebook Eriko found a listing of about twenty girls. Each page covered a single person, listing their class and club activities. There wasn't a photograph, but to compensate for this they had listed any obvious physical characteristics, such as long hair, short stature, or a mole on their cheek.

The amount of information in each girl's profile varied too – some went as far as listing their best subjects and favorite foods, while other profiles only contained a name and a class. She scratched her head in confusion about why the Roses had put some of the girls in this list of favorites.

Included was one profile where Eriko just had to read the girl's name and her face immediately sprung to mind. But that was only because the girl was somewhat of a celebrity, not because Eriko held any special kind of affection for her.

She flipped through the notebook, looking over each profile in turn, then closed it. That one particular first-year was not included in the list.

Eriko didn't actually know that girl's name. But if she had been in the list then one of the profiles would have mentioned 'boyish looks' as a characteristic.

"I thought as much."

Eriko muttered softly, then quickly closed her mouth. The student in the next cubicle, probably a third-year, looked up from her giant reference book and shot her a warning glance.

(Oh brother.)

Students studying for exams were such an annoyance. She decided to move elsewhere, so as not to be even more of a bother, turned off the overhead light, and was just getting up from her chair when she cried out again.

"Erk."

This time around, her neighbor looked at her with a blatantly annoyed look on her face, but Eriko didn't notice. Her eyes were fixed on the student that had, just at that moment, entered into the aisle adjacent to her cubicle.

(It's her … !)

Eriko had only just stood up, but she parked her butt down in the seat again.

(Why is she here?)

Her heart was racing.

That girl was a high-school student, after all, so there was nothing strange about her being here, inside the high-school library at lunch time. But the timing was just too convenient. That was what had surprised Eriko, and was probably why her lingering heart palpitations wouldn't stop.

Even though she knew she had done nothing wrong, Eriko re-opened the notebook and used it to cover her face from her nose down. Everything above that, in other words her eyes, needed to be left uncovered so that she could track that girl.

Unaware that she was being watched, the boyish first-year walked calmly from bookshelf to bookshelf. It was obvious she wasn't just browsing aimlessly because from time to time she'd stop and remove one or two books from the shelves. After completing a fairly lengthy circuit, that girl ended up clasping a stack of about ten books to her chest.

(Cooking book, historical novel, teen girl's novel, athletics manual … )

Eriko frowned, noticing the incongruity of her choices. She couldn't read the titles but it was easy enough to deduce the genres based on where that girl had been standing when she'd picked up a book.

(On top of that, ten books. That's got to be a joke. Will she head straight for the loan counter?)

Eriko watched fondly as that girl easily carried the mountain of books and did exactly what her internal commentary suggested, even though students weren't allowed to borrow that many books at a time.

As expected, that girl didn't make it past the loan counter without incident. After exchanging a few words with the student library attendant that girl turned back, carrying about half the books.

(I knew she'd get shot down.)

Eriko was unable to tell what that girl's selection criteria was, but after returning some of the books to the shelves she completed the check-out procedure and left the reading room carrying five books.

This time around Eriko stood up and actually left her seat. The student beside her gave a theatrical sigh of relief, but that wasn't worth dignifying with a response.

"I can't believe she did that, even though it says right here in big letters – "Five books per person.""

Luckily, the library attendant was an acquaintance of Eriko's, so she struck up a conversation, pretending to gossip.

"Ahh, you mean that first-year just before?"

The library attendant laughed, saying, "You saw that, huh?"

"Well, she said she was borrowing them using somebody else's student card, but I had to refuse anyway."

"Someone else's card?"

"Apparently they were for a sick friend who was absent today. But it still would have been against the rules."

"A sick friend… "

If she hadn't been refused then that girl would probably have taken those five books to her sick friend's place after school. It made sense that only a neighbor would trust someone enough to give them their student card and ask them to do this.

"But if she was telling the truth, wouldn't it be okay to put five books on each card? After all, if the card's owner had been well, they would have been able to borrow the books themselves, right?"

Eriko inquired, but the library attendant responded immediately with, "That wouldn't have been possible."

"Why not? Don't tell me you know the names and faces of every student at Lillian's?"

"Not even close. Well, it was a nice try, but the sick girl would never have been able to pull it off."

Before Eriko had a chance to ask why, the library attendant continued.

"After all, it's easy enough to check that someone's wearing the right uniform."

"Huh?"

"You see, the sick friend's student card was for a middle-schooler."

* * * *

Interesting.

No, scratch that, profoundly intriguing.

Numerous mysteries had arisen from just a short period of observation.

The more mysteries people presented, the more she wanted to get to know them.

What kind of a person were they really? What were they hiding, beneath the surface?

It would be a shame if all of this information were revealed immediately. So, even though the library attendant probably knew that girl's name, she didn't ask.

Eriko placed a high value on discretion. She didn't want that girl to find out that she was interested in her through some third party. Nor did she want some meddlesome friend of hers to impertinently create a complete profile of that girl.

She was convinced that one day, perhaps far in the future, she would come to know everything about that girl. That slow, natural progression was how she wanted to get to know her.

So, when Eriko returned the notebook to her onee-sama, Rosa Foetida, all she said was that there was a first-year she was interested in, and that her onee-sama would get a chance to see this girl soon. Her onee-sama asked for the girl's name and class, but Eriko merely smiled and dodged the questions. After all, there was no way she could respond since she didn't know the answer.

The next time Eriko saw that boyish looking first-year, she was running again.

School had finished for the day and Eriko was walking away from the school buildings, following her usual route home, when she saw a student running towards her with incredible speed. The reason Eriko didn't realize it was that girl right away was probably because she wasn't wearing her school uniform. It was just as they passed each other, when Eriko focused on the figure and not the clothing, that she realized it was her.

Even without the face-guard, the distinctive uniform she was wearing obviously belonged to the school's kendo club. Nonetheless, she'd left in such a hurry that she hadn't had time to remove the chest or groin protectors. The intense look of distress on her face didn't seem to be caused entirely by the strain of sprinting flat-out while carrying such a heavy load.

(I wonder what happened.)

After she ran past, Eriko turned to follow her progress and try and figure out where she was going. But all she could determine was that that girl wasn't heading towards the classrooms. Chasing after someone and spying on them was contrary to her policy, so she let the matter drop.

Eriko walked on, past the greenhouse and was nearing the martial arts building when a student wearing a middle-school uniform emerged from inside.

"Thanks for your help."

The teacher in charge of the kendo club called out and the middle-school student responded by quickly bowing then turning and running back towards the school too. There was no evidence to prove this, but Eriko surmised that this middle-school student had come here bearing some news which had caused that boyish looking girl to interrupt her club activities and run off somewhere.

Except there was no need to refer to her by the lengthy designation of "that boyish looking girl" any longer. Eriko had spotted her name, clearly written on her groin protector.

That girl's surname was Hasekura.

* * * * *

Eriko moved fast after that.

"Hasekura from the kendo club. Onee-sama, I'd like you to see her."

"Hasekura?"

Apparently her onee-sama couldn't instantly recall all the first-years not on the list just by surname.

"Does this Hasekura-san know that you want to be her soeur?"

"No."

After hearing this response Rosa Foetida stopped to ponder for a moment before agreeing.

"Okay. How about we go to the martial arts building the next time the kendo club has a practice session."

"Thank-you very much."

"It's a bit early to be giving thanks."

Rosa Foetida said, with a complex look on her face.

"Since you haven't discussed this with her, she might already be taken by a second-year in the kendo club, don't you think?"

But her onee-sama's concerns were misplaced.

While watching the kendo club's practice, they learned from the club president that Hasekura's grades were excellent and she had a great personality. But she was so good at kendo that she made all the second-years nervous, so none of them had declared an intention to become her onee-sama.

"Moreover, she's – "

The club president started, but then shook her head and said, "Nevermind."

"I don't want to prejudice your opinion. If you've got your eye on her, then make sure you take a good, hard look. Prudence is how you avoid buying the wrong thing."

Her onee-sama questioned the club president's suggestive remark, asking, "What do you mean?" In contrast, Eriko felt a chill run down her spine.

There was little doubt that Hasekura's secret was somehow connected to the middle-school.

* * * * * *

Taking place in the middle of May, the Yamayurikai organized Freshman Welcoming Ceremony played an important role in integrating the first-years with the rest of the student body.

The three Roses – Red, White and Yellow – placed a small medallion engraved with the image of Maria-sama around the neck of each and every first-year.

"May the Virgin Mary bless you and watch over you."

Eriko and her fellow boutons (the petit soeurs of the Roses) stood beside their onee-samas, acting as assistants. Even Sei, who usually skipped their meetings, was fulfilling her duty as a bouton today.

Eriko learned which class Hasekura was in when she saw her standing in the middle of the line of students from the first-year chrysanthemum class.

Even though she wasn't usually religious, Eriko felt as though Maria-sama were tapping her on the shoulder and saying that it was almost time.

After the conclusion of the Freshmen Welcoming Ceremony, Eriko made her way towards the first-year chrysanthemum class.

Since she didn't yet have a petit soeur, she was still the lowest ranked member of the Yellow Rose family, despite being a second-year. Therefore, she would normally take the initiative and offer to help clean up, but on this occasion she was given a reprieve.

"It's okay Eriko, I'll do your part."

Her onee-sama smiled. She seemed to have a fair idea of what was going to happen next.

"Youko, you can go too."

Rosa Chinensis announced. Youko bowed, then headed towards the chapel exit while the others were still tidying up.

"Well then, me too."

Since the other two second-years were leaving, Sei tried to escape too, but Rosa Gigantea grabbed her by the sailor collar and said, "Not you."

"Why am I the only one that has to stay?"

Walking alongside Youko, Eriko heard Sei's protest. Eriko had been so absorbed in her own situation that she hadn't had time to think about anyone else, but it looked like Youko was in the same position as herself.

The profile of her friend's face was dignified and beautiful.

The first-year chrysanthemum classroom was buzzing with students preparing to head home.

"Can you call Hasekura-san over?"

Eriko seized upon the class member closest to the door and before long Hasekura-san appeared at the doorway, looking puzzled. It looked like she had absolutely no idea why she had been called over.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Rosa Foetida en bouton … "

It looks like Hasekura had remembered Eriko's face from the ceremony just before, when she'd been standing beside Rosa Foetida.

"But this isn't the first time you've seen me, is it?"

Eriko had taken a few steps out into the corridor and turned around. Hasekura, who had been following her, nodded almost imperceptibly.

"I'm not sure when it was, but I saw you at one of the kendo club practices."

"I see. I'm glad you remembered me."

"Mmm."

At this point, Hasekura was probably thinking that Eriko hadn't come here just so she could listen to some fawning yes-man.

"I'll be blunt. Will you be my petit soeur?"

"Huh?"

Hasekura's reaction to this sudden proposal was one of complete shock. Eriko was eminently satisfied with this.

There was no need to choose a special place for the soeur ceremony. After all, the value was in the act itself.

Therefore, performing the ceremony in a commonplace location like the corner of a hallway held a certain appeal to Eriko. That was probably one of the main reasons why she had decided to spring this on Hasekura without giving her a chance to prepare herself. And if Eriko had asked her to meet in front of the statue of Maria-sama, then even the most thick-headed first-year would start to wonder about the possibilities.

"What's the matter?"

When pressed for an answer, Hasekura voiced her confusion.

"Umm … I think there's been some kind of mistake."

"Oh? Are there two first-year members of the kendo club called Hasekura? Or do you already have an onee-sama?"

"No."

Hasekura shook her head, refuting both those suggestions. Eriko nodded at this.

If Hasekura were already someone else's petit soeur, then Eriko would have been forced to back off. But she believed that any other obstacle could be surmounted.

"If I became the petit soeur of Rosa Foetida en bouton then I'd have to work for the Yamayurikai, right?"

Hasekura cautiously sought confirmation.

"Pretty much. It'd be great if you could help out."

"But I've got my club activities."

"I know. Whatever you can manage will be fine."

"That's not all."

"Middle-school?"

Eriko took a stab in the dark.

"… You know about that?"

"No. I don't know. Which is why I want you to tell me what the problem is."

Hasekura nodded at this. Apparently she'd decided that Eriko deserved to know.

"I have a cousin in the third-year of middle-school who has a frail body. Whenever I hear that she's unwell, I rush over to her."

"I see. Even if you're in the middle of club practice."

"Huh?"

"Oh, just talking to myself. Anything else?"

Eriko gestured for her to continue.

"Umm. So, you see, I don't really have a lot of spare time to help out with – "

"I told you, whatever you can manage will be fine."

"And I've already decided to make my cousin my petit soeur. There's no way she'd be able to do student council work."

"I'm not asking you, let alone your petit soeur, just so I have cheap labor."

Eriko said flatly.

She wasn't concerned about what might happen in a year's time. What interested her more were the feelings of the person right in front of her.

Are you interested in being a petit soeur or not? One or the other.

"But, why me?"

Hasekura muttered, appearing to be on the verge of tears.

"Why choose you? Let's see. There's still a lot I don't know about you, but from what I can see I think we'd have fun together."

"Fun?"

Hasekura repeated, as though she'd just heard some unfathomable word.

"That's right."

Eriko laughed.

"Well, what do you think? Want to try imagining what your school life would be like with me?"

Setting everything about club activities and cousins aside for now.

All of that was just noise. For two people to become onee-sama and petit soeur, all that was needed was for them to have an affinity with each other. Nothing else mattered.

"… It does sound like that would be fun."

Eventually, Hasekura smiled.

She looked as though she was expecting a flood of doubts to come rushing into her head at any moment. But she'd resolutely taken a step forward into this new world and was determined to take it all in. That was what her expression conveyed.

"So I'll take that as a yes then?"

Eriko asked in confirmation, and got back a clear, "Yes."

As proof of their vow, Eriko removed the rosary that hung around her neck and placed it around the neck of the first-year.

"So, what am I supposed to do as a petit soeur … ?"

The young girl, having just become a petit soeur, looked down awkwardly.

"Let's see …, well, I suppose there's something you should tell me from the outset."

Eriko asked, having just become an onee-sama.

"What's your first name?"

"Uh."

Eriko's petit soeur, formerly known as Hasekura, was momentarily rendered speechless but then laughed as she traced a figure in the air with the index finger of her right hand.

"Rei."

A shining thread of yellow extended from her fingertip as she wrote her name in the air. Eriko held out her own finger, gently winding in that yellow thread.

It was probably a trick of the light, caused by the setting sun shining through the window.

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