View source for Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume33 Chapter7 5

===<noinclude>Connecting Chains. </noinclude>Part 5.===

Her field of vision gradually expanded as she walked along the path next to the library towards the fork in the road.

She could see her friends in amongst the crowd gathered around the statue of Maria-sama.

Well then, let's begin.

Today's main event. Yoshino's heart was hammering in her chest.

Nonetheless, Yoshino knew that something like this wasn't going to cause her to collapse. She didn't have the same weak heart as before her surgery. Rei-chan had decided to leave Lillian's after realizing that Yoshino would be able to survive in a school without her.

(There she is!)

Yoshino nodded to herself after confirming Eriko-sama's presence. The stage had been set. It was too late to flee. And that's fine.

She spotted Rei-chan walking towards the group from the opposite direction. She didn't know why Rei-chan was returning from the school gates, but now wasn't the time to be worried about that.

Naturally, Yoshino noticed the conflicted look on Rei-chan's face. Perhaps Rei had sensed something unusual from Yoshino. No, not just Rei-chan. The Red Rose family, the White Rose sisters, the former Roses and the two photography club members, all held their breath as they watched Yoshino and Rei-chan.

Yoshino arrived at the statue of Maria-sama one step ahead of Rei-chan.

"Eriko-sama, I'm so glad that you could make it here today. Gokigenyou, Youko-sama. Thank-you for yesterday, Sei-sama."

The first step was to greet the former Roses. The three of them returned her greetings with pleasantries and uncertain smiles. 

Upon arrival at the statue of Maria-sama, Rei-chan caught sight of Eriko-sama amongst the group and rushed over, looking a little bit surprised.

"Rei-chan."

Rei-chan looked at Yoshino.

And then got a good look at the person standing behind Yoshino.

The atmosphere was tense, like a bow drawn tight.

Finally.

"Nana-chan."

Rei-chan called out, and smiled sweetly.

When Rei-chan called her name, Nana's response was to take three steps forward from where she was waiting behind Yoshino and bow her head.

"Rosa Foetida, congratulations on your graduation."

"Thank-you Nana-chan. I apologize if Yoshino dragged you along here."

Rei-chan said, looking at her watch. While the high school had the graduation ceremony, it was classes as usual for the middle school, which meant that this was right in the middle of their lunch break.

"Not at all. I asked her to bring me here. I wanted to congratulate you personally."

In truth, Rei-chan's speculation was right on the money, but Nana didn't want to come out and say that. Instead she acted as though she was the one who had intruded upon Yoshino.

Yesterday, Yoshino had phoned Eriko-sama from the public telephone opposite the office and asked her if she was able to meet up with them near the statue of Maria-sama after the graduation ceremony had ended. After that, she had made her way over to the middle school area and asked Nana if she was free during lunch tomorrow (ie, today).

She hadn't told either of them why.

That was why she hadn't been able to say anything. Not to Yumi-san, not to Shimako-san, and especially not to Rei-chan. Yoshino was the only one in the world who knew why this was all happening.

"Rei-chan. 	Watch."

Yoshino looked straight at Rei-chan. Rei-chan merely nodded. Good. As long as she was watching. Whatever else she chose to do later was fine.

"Nana."

Next she looked straight at Nana. Nana returned her gaze with nervous looking eyes. Rei-chan had been ordered to watch, but Nana was probably wondering what she was supposed to do.

Yoshino reached behind her neck with both hands. She slid her fingers under her collar, searching for the small stones joined together in a chain, and when she found it she lifted it up from around her neck.

What she pulled out was a set of dark-green stones connected to form a rosary.

She heard someone gasp.

Yoshino spread the rosary using the thumb and index fingers of both hands, and held it out in front of Nana at eye-level.

"Previously, you asked me a question. Would my petit soeur receive this rosary? Do you remember?"

– Hasekura Rei-sama's petit soeur. Will your petit soeur receive that rosary?

"Yes."

The path lined with ginkgo trees and the area around the statue of Maria-sama were noisy due to all the students assembled. But in Yoshino's immediate vicinity, everything was quiet.

"I have not yet answered you.  – Yes. The next owner of this rosary will be my petit soeur."

It was so quiet Yoshino could almost hear Nana's heart beating.

"And I think that will be you."

She'd said it. Yoshino took a breath. She'd finally said it.

But, having just said that she couldn't yet rest. It was insufficient to simply say that she thought Nana would be her petit soeur. After realizing this, Yoshino continued.

"Technically, I should wait until April when Nana enters high-school to ask her. However, I wanted to introduce my petit soeur to my onee-sama. So I took it upon myself to choose today. Arima Nana-san, will you be my petit soeur?"

Yoshino bowed deeply. With that, Yoshino had done everything she thought she should. All she could do now was await the judge's decision.

Rei-chan's gaze shifted to Nana. No, not just Rei-chan. The Red Rose family, the White Rose sisters, the former Roses and the two photography club members, all held their breath as they awaited Nana's reply.

"I..."

Nana started to speak.

"When I first touched that rosary, I was charmed by its beauty. So much so, that I didn't want to return it. Never before had I coveted another person's property. Despite that, I still wanted it so very badly. That was why I asked such an impolite question."

Where was Nana going with this speech? Yoshino didn't know. There hadn't even been a slight hint as to whether she was going to say 'Yes' or 'No.'

"Then the other day, I saw that exact rosary in a store. But when I picked it up, I found that I no longer wanted it. How could that be? It was exactly the same. I thought that perhaps my tastes had changed. That I only wanted it back then. That it had been a passing fancy."

So she would no longer accept the rosary, and wouldn't become Yoshino's petit soeur. That seemed to be the way the conversation was flowing.

However.

"But now, I really want that rosary."

Nana said something completely unexpected.

"I want it so much that it hurts.... But is it okay for me to become your petit soeur for that reason."

Nana looked at Yoshino with a serious expression, pleading for an answer. Yoshino hadn't been expecting anything other than a yes or no answer to her question.

"Sometimes you're too honest for your own good, Nana."

"If I wasn't, you'd probably get mad at me in the future for changing my story."

"Perhaps."

Yoshino smiled. Nana was a quick learner.

Yoshino had no idea where she would find another underclassman as useful as Nana.

She probably wouldn't find a second one.

Seriously, it was such a shame. Such a shame, but unavoidable.

Yoshino lifted up her right hand and let the rosary that she had been holding with both hands drop into the upturned palm of her left hand. Then she offered it up to Nana.

"Take this."

"Huh?"

"You don't have to become my petit soeur."

Yoshino had known from the start that Nana was enamored with the rosary. And countless times, she had thought that that was enough. Even now, she was wavering.

If she were to say, 'I wouldn't mind,' then it would still be possible for Yoshino to hang the rosary over Nana's head and make Nana her petit soeur. But that truly would be pitiable, and Yoshino's last vestiges of pride would never allow it.

There was no meaning to becoming an onee-sama, if it was due solely to the rosary. At least Yoshino thought she could look cool, while she was turning her back on Nana.

"I won't accept it."

But Nana wouldn't take it.

"Why not? You want this, right?"

"I no longer want it."

"What?"

"If I say I don't want it, then I don't want it."

Like the money that is passed back and forth by two old ladies as they stand at a café cash register and argue over who is going to pay for the other, the rosary had lost track of where it was going.

"Stop!"

So Rei-chan stepped in between Yoshino and Nana and scooped up the rosary.

"Too slow."

Rei-chan spread the rosary then called out, 'Yumi-chan,' looking for backup.

"Uh, yes."

Upon hearing her name, Yumi-san flew over. Rei-chan ordered her to keep hold of Yoshino's hands, into which she had forced the rosary.

"Leave it to me."

Yumi-san ran behind Yoshino's back and took hold of both the hands and the rosary.

"Let me go."

Yoshino struggled against her, but Yumi-san held her firmly.

"Umm, Rosa Foetida, what are you doing?"

Rei-chan was holding Nana's arms behind her back and walking her forwards. Aiming to thrust Nana's head through the rosary's loop.

"Ahh."

Nana's face was now right at the tip of Yoshino's nose.

"Keep your feet firmly on the ground. Okay."

Rei-chan let go of Nana. At that signal, Yumi-san too let go of Yoshino. So then, what now?

It was obvious that they were making it look as though Yoshino was going to place the rosary around Nana's neck.

(Well....., what should I do?)

While Yoshino was still frozen to the spot from being put in such an unexpected situation, Rei-chan moved behind her and started to gently tickle her underarms.

"Wahahaha."

As Yoshino twisted her body around, the rosary slipped from her grasp. In the next instant, it had landed around Nana's neck.

"There, it's done."

"Rei-chan!"

Yoshino verbally slapped Rei-chan, saying 'What do you think you're doing?' But Rei-chan merely looked calmly past Yoshino and pointed behind her.

(Behind me...?)

Yoshino turned around, and Nana was transfixed by the rosary that hung from her neck, gently stroking it.

"Why...?"

She had said that she wanted it, and that she wouldn't accept it. But now Nana seemed to be delighted with it hanging around her neck.

"You don't get it, Yoshino."

"What don't I get?"

"For Nana-chan, the rosary doesn't have any value unless it's a symbol that she's your petit soeur. Isn't that right, Nana-chan?"

Nana nodded in response to Rei-chan's question. She seemed to be a bit reproachful as she looked at Yoshino.

"...Is that so."

It could be. Yoshino moved over to Nana.

Rei-chan, Yumi-san, in fact probably all of her friends had surely understood Nana's feelings. Yoshino was the only one who had interpreted Nana's words as a blunt refusal.

"I'm sorry that I didn't realize."

If Rei-chan was an idiot, then so too was Yoshino.

"Back then, Nana knew that some day the rosary would be hers."

Because it was hers, she hadn't wanted to give it up. Looking at it this way, Yoshino was greatly relieved. Obviously they were fated to be together, right?

"And you're fine with being soeurs?"

Sachiko-sama asked. Yoshino and Nana nodded simultaneously, at which point the rest of her companions, who had been standing a respectful distance away, gathered around and congratulated them.

Almost immediately, Nana was surrounded by Noriko-chan and Touko-chan, who greeted her by saying, 'Let's become good friends,' and 'If you have any questions, just ask.'

So that's how it is.

By becoming Yoshino's petit soeur, Nana would be the next Rosa Foetida en bouton. Although they were in different grades, Nana would be in the same position as the two other boutons, Noriko-chan and Touko-chan.

Nana, Yoshino's own petit soeur, smiled together with Shimako-san's petit soeur and Yumi-san's petit soeur. It was a miracle, but it made Yoshino happy. She may not have got to look cool, but she was glad.

While Yoshino was quietly watching on, Rei-chan embraced her shoulders from behind.

"Yoshino."

Hey, what now. Yoshino tried to turn around, but she couldn't escape from Rei-chan's iron grip.

"I had a feeling it would turn out like this. Even so, I'm overjoyed with Nana-chan. Thank-you."

'For doing this for me,' was implied.

Well then, Rei-chan's lost item had been safely delivered.

Yoshino was pleased as she gently placed her hands over Rei-chan's, that were still embracing her shoulders.