Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume3 Chapter3

Who's Suga Sei?

Part 1.

It becomes difficult distinguishing the feeling of cold from the feeling of pain. Eventually you just stop feeling, altogether.

I gripped my right hand, trying to confirm the hand I was holding onto was still there. But I couldn't feel my own numbed fingertips, much less Kahori's hand.

Even if you decide to end life together at the same place at the same time, death was something you faced alone, I thought, as I lie there.

In the morning, after about three days, when Yumi called Yoshino-san, she invited her to come over. And while it may have been a bit shameless, Yumi decided to go.

It wasn't to replace Sachiko-sama or anything, but Yumi wished they could meet up by the train station so she could gather her wits while eating a fast-food hamburger. But Yoshino-san said she had to stay home until after noon.

So she bought two meat-croquette sandwiches and two types of cup salad at the neighborhood pastry store, and stepped on the bus she normally took for school. After arriving at M Station, she walked straight past the wickets and found another familiar-looking bus. But there were no Lillian students nearby today.

Maybe that was why the bus felt different, even though nothing had actually changed. The scenery outside looked fresh, too.

Yoshino-san, as promised, was waiting in front of the school.

"Gokigenyou."

"Gokigenyou."

Neither of them were wearing their uniforms, but they greeted each other formally out of habit, and lowered their shoulders.

Yoshino-san was wearing a black high-neck sweater, a knee-high yellow tartan-checkered plaited skirt, and black tights. Just as with the uniform, Yumi thought Yoshino-san's pale complexion matched brilliantly with black.

"Ahh. Yumi-san, you're wearing men's clothing!"

"Heheheh. Yoshino-san, you have keen sight."

Yumi was wearing a culotte skirt along with an unbleached sweater and thin, blue coat, but the sweater and coat were borrowed from her brother's closet. A sibling who wears the same size clothing as you is always good to have. Unfortunately for Yuuki, he, on the other hand, wasn't really able to borrow any clothing in return, but if the situation arose that he asked to borrow girls' clothing, Yumi was more than willing to lend him as many skirts as he might need.

When you meet in unfamiliar clothing, it feels harder coming up with something to talk about. Plus, neither of them had their hair done. Of course, in Yoshino-san's case, that was true while she was hospitalized, anyways, but it felt odd nonetheless.

After about ten minutes of walking, or maybe less, they arrived at Yoshino-san's house.

It was a large site surrounded by fencing, and the nameplates "Shimazu" and "Hasekura" were lined up side by side. There were two gates, and each one had their own stone paving leading to their buildings, but the courtyards were firmly connected.

"This isn't next-door-neighbors so much as-"

"Yup. More like living in the same apartment."

In the back was Rei-sama's father's dojo, and it was apparently connected to the Hasekura house. During the evening, the neighborhood's elementary school kids would come to learn kendo, so it would become lively.

"Come in."

Yoshino-san opened the rattling, sideways door. It wasn't locked. Aren't you being too careless? Yumi thought, but it wasn't really her business.

"Sorry for intruding-"

After entering the foyer, there was immediately a step up.

"By the way, didn't Yoshino-san have to watch over the house? Was it alright for you to come pick me up?"

Yumi asked Yoshino-san as she followed.

"No worries, there's a caretaker for the caretaker."

"What?"

When they opened the dark, brown door, there was-.

"Oh, welcome home."

Rosa Foetida en bouton making herself at home in the kotatsu.

"Re-Rei-sama!"

"Eh, what, Yumi-chan!?"

Yoshino-san seemed to have kept it a secret from both parties, so they both were stunned as they yelped out each other's name.

But, wow. Yoshino-san and Rei-sama really were close to each other. Because they could even ask each other to watch over their houses.

(Don't compare, don't compare.)

"Ah, Yumi-san. You just imagined asking Sachiko-sama to watch over your house, didn't you."

"What, how!"

"It's totally written on your face."

Yoshino-san has good instincts, so she needed to be careful. It was so easy to be tricked by that innocent smile. The one Yoshino-san had as she said, "Make yourself home," as she lifted the covers to the kotatsu. She loves mystery novels and figuring things out, so you could almost call her a girl detective.

Yoshino-san's room wasn't very decorated. The walls were ivory, the tables and the shelves and the window sills were all a burnt brown. And the curtains and bedcovers and kotatsu covers that were brought in were all a pale, plain color, so it didn't feel like a young girl's room. Even though bringing in some laced, or flower-patterned, things could instantly turn it into a romantic room. But because the books lined up on the shelves were like, "OO Detective Stories" or "Fencer XX," it might just be impossible to make the room seem like that of a maiden.

"I didn't know Yumi-chan was coming over."

Excuse me, said Rei-sama, and she stepped out of the room.

(Hmm. Rei-sama looks cool in jeans, too.)

Her hips were relatively high, and her legs were long. And since she already looked the part in a uniform, she totally looked like a guy like that.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, as she listened to the rhythmic steps going down the stairs, Yoshino-san whispered.

"On the last day of exams, when I went back home, Rei-chan ambushed me at the living room."

Rei-sama, like Sachiko-sama, wanted Yoshino-san to report what happened after school immediately. Well, that was expected, considering how close they are. But Yumi wondered if that becomes suffocating, but Yoshino-san replied "not entirely". –Being close came with its perks.

"I did some thinking, after that."

Yoshino-san said to Yumi, looking serious.

"Rosa Gigantea said she doesn't care, but I think we should prove Rosa Gigantea didn't author 'Forest of Thorns.'"

"I thought we weren't going to talk about that anymore?"

"But if it would help Rosa Gigantea, I think it would be permissible to investigate on our own."

"I don't understand what Yoshino-san is trying to say."

If it would help Rosa Gigantea? If that Rosa Gigantea is saying, "Let's drop it," then it wouldn't even be possible to investigate without having Rosa Gigantea finding out.

But Yoshino-san was clearly excited about it, so Yumi decided to listen, anyways.

"The newspaper club captain… I keep remembering Tsukiyama Minako-sama's words."

"Minako-sama's words? … Oh, you mean that Rosa Gigantea might be expelled? But Yoshino-san, you were the one that said that wouldn't happen."

"I thought so at the time-"

That the school wouldn't unfairly punish her, mumbled Yoshino-san. But it was also worrisome how much the school would trust Rosa Gigantea's words.

"And what if the teachers read 'Forest of Thorns' over the break? Even Rosa Gigantea herself mentioned it looked like she was the one who wrote it. Teachers who know about what happened last year might end up believing she wrote it."

"But as long as Rosa Gigantea keeps denying it…"

But Yoshino-san didn't agree.

"Maybe Rosa Gigantea would stop denying it."

"Why?"

"Because she read 'Forest of Thorns.'"

"What?"

"Because she read 'Forest of Thorns.' Rosa Gigantea might turn around and take the blame. To cover for her friend. Because the author of 'Forest of Thorns,' Suga Sei, is Kubo Shiori."

"What-!?"

Yoshino-san made a bold declaration. And it was so surprising Yumi was speechless.

"Th-then, Shiori-san is Sei, and Rosa Gigantea is Kahori?"

"No, she just wrote from the other perspective."

In that case, she would be direct witness, so she could still pass off "Forest of Thorns" as an autobiographical novel. It all fit together, they were too fixated on Sei being the protagonist of the novel!

"But is that true?"

When she leaned forward on the kotatsu and asked, Yoshino-san just giggled.

"It's just a guess."

"Oh."

"But."

If you assume the autobiographical novel label wasn't a lie, that's what you end up with.

"There're three possibilities."

"Three?"

Yumi tilted her head. There are that many?

I guess I'll explain, then, Yoshino-san laughed, so Yumi bowed her head, please.

"First, is that 'Forest of Thorns' was an autobiographical novel written by someone completely unrelated to Rosa Gigantea. That would mean everything like Suga Sei and the same gender and everything was a miraculous set of coincidence."

Not that they could definitively say such a thing could have never happened, Yoshino-san said. But with the school seeming so much like Lillian, that might be a stretch.

"What if it's someone who's enrolled at Lillian or even an alumni?"

"The more you limit the extent of things, it becomes less and less possible."

"Oh, right."

Coincidences on top of coincidences. With such a small set of people, it wasn't very likely that such a similar event could happen multiple times. It was far more likely it was based on one person.

"Second, is that Rosa Gigantea wrote it."

"But she said she didn't."

"Right. So this is removed. I also believe Rosa Gigantea. And the third."

Suga Sei and Kubo Shiori being the same person.

"I wonder if Rosa Gigantea feels the same way?"

"I don't know. Either way, she's spaced out right now, so it's a tough situation. Even if Shiori-san didn't write it, what if she got her hands on 'Forest of Thorns,' too?"

"Shiori-san would think Rosa Gigantea wrote it."

Yes. That would be tough.

But, they hadn't met ever since breaking up, and she said they shouldn't meet, so Rosa Gigantea would never be able to correct any wrong assumptions.

"So, shouldn't we unmask Suga Sei's identity? Because Rosa Gigantea is probably afraid of dealing with 'Forest of Thorns' any more than she already has."

And because exams had finished, this would be the most relatively free time they have.

And, everything came back to Yoshino-san's first statement, of how they could investigate to satisfy their own curiosity. Yoshino-san was persuasive.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Rei-sama came back, so they halted discussions.

"Is Japanese tea fine?"

Placing the tray on the floor, Rei-sama picked up the tea in both hands, placed it in front of Yumi, and said, "Here." The tea was served in a porcelain teacup complete with a top and a saucer, so it was a very genuine style.

"Rei-sama serving tea…"

"Mm? Oh, yeah, because it's like my own house."

Even Yumi didn't even think about imagining Sachiko-sama serving tea in Yumi's house.

(… Wow, and tea cakes.)

Small, delicious-looking petit cakes were piled on the pastry tray.

If she were asked if she could give this much service without any prior notice to a guest, Yumi would answer that it was doubtful. For starters, she had no idea where snacks were even stored in her own house, nor did she know where pastry trays were stored, or anything.

"Rei-sama's like an adult lady."

"Why thank you."

And the person who looked so much like a man on the outside smiled happily.

"- so I was thinking about calling them."

Suddenly, Yoshino-san picked up where she had left off.

"Calling? What are you talking about?"

Having finished serving tea, Rei-sama had begun to leave, when she heard Yoshino-san and scurried back.

"Cosmos Books, of course."

Yoshino-san said.

"Seriously!?"

"Yup. Rei-chan, you're going to help me."

Yoshino-san tilted her head forward cutely, and Rei-sama visibly took damage.

"You shouldn't be sneaking around like you're sniffing out a suspect."

But Yoshino-san was firm. And she bore down on Rei-sama.

"There's nothing wrong with worrying about Rosa Gigantea. And it's not sneaking around, we're just not telling Rosa Gigantea."

"That's called sneaking."

"Just because Rosa Gigantea doesn't want to deal with it doesn't mean we can't deal with it, does it?"

They just say what they want, just like that, these sisters. Because it felt like she was being privy to a side they don't show at school, Yumi felt elated, but she also wondered if she should interject, lest their bickering continued. That was what Yumi was pondering.

"Yoshino, are you seriously trying to unmask the identity of someone who clearly would prefer not to be known?"

"You don't need to say unmask."

"But it's true."

"It's not. Rei-chan's mean."

Oh, Yoshino-san. She threw a cushion at Rei-sama.

(Woah, woah, just because you can't win verbally doesn't mean you should turn to violence, Yoshino-san.)

Rei-sama looked used to it, as she easily caught a cushion in one hand.

"Oh settle down. Yumi-chan's here, too."

(Ehh, she's shifting the attention to me!?)

"She can watch. This is how we are, anyways."

Like she didn't like how Rei-sama was being self-conscious. Yoshino-san became out of control, like a yelping puppy.

Yumi found out for the first time, that day.

Yoshino-san was a lion at home and a mouse abroad.

Part 2.

As for what happened eventually, Rei-sama folded.

Or rather, she ran out of patience.

While she was against digging up the author to "Forest of Thorns," she decided she might as well tag along to keep an eye over Yoshino-san plus Yumi, to make sure they didn't do anything ridiculous.

(Why was I lumped together with Yoshino-san?)

She didn't remember ever favoring one side or the other, but at this point, there was no stopping the rampaging Yoshino-san, anyways. To start, Yoshino-san decided, "Let's call them."

"Yoshino-san, you know the editorial department's phone number?"

She was already reaching for the phone, so Yumi asked, worried.

"I'll just ask for Kyuuteisha's phone number from the telephone guidance services."

Yoshino-san said, like it was obvious. And then Rei-sama.

"Hold on. Give me three minutes."

Remembering something, she dashed out the room and ran down the stairs. As they absent-mindedly watched their watches, the door opened almost exactly three minutes later, and Rei-sama returned with a magazine in her hand.

"Here."

The magazine she held out was about the size of a monthly comic collection, but half the thickness. The cover had an illustration of a girl surrounded by flowers. The title was four kanji letters: "秋桜友達."

"Akizakura tomodachi?"

Yoshino-san and Yumi both read, simultaneously.

"It reads Cosmos Friend. The Cosmos editorial department sends it out every two months."

"Rei-chan's preferred reading?"

"Who cares, look here."

Rei-sama turned the book around and pointed to the side of the back cover. In small print, the Cosmos editorial department's phone number was printed.

"Wow, Rei-sama."

"And that's our watchful eye at work."

Yoshino-san immediately entered the number into her phone.

"Hello, Cosmos editorial department."

After seven rings, someone picked up. Yumi and Rei-sama both leaned into Yoshino-san to listen to the phone.

"Hello, I read Cosmos books, and I phoned today because I wish to ask a question."

"Ahh, I'm sorry. All the Cosmos staff members are out, could you call again in the afternoon?"

A light voice, probably belonging to a young man.

"Um, about when in the afternoon-"

Yoshino-san glanced at her watch. Eleven fifty in the morning. Kyuuteisha lunches seem to be earlier than an ordinary one.

"Hmm, I think someone should be in around one or two."

"Okay, thank you, I'll call again then."

Yoshino-san clicked the phone off, and sighed. She called out of momentum, but it was like she bit into a feint.

"Speaking of which." Rei-sama said.

"Publishers don't necessarily work nine-to-five. I hear they often work deep into the night."

"If they work deep into the night, when do they come in the morning?"

"Probably the afternoon, right? Would be when they arrive to work?"

"… At around one or two."

"… Yup."

"…"

Professional baseball players, night life workers, she'd already guessed those kinds of jobs had abnormal work hours. But a more normal-like publishing company working into the night and coming to work in the afternoon felt strange. Like the adult world has a completely different measure of time than the children's world.

Without anyone being able to say any further thoughts, it became noon, so they had lunch by splitting the sandwiches and salad Yumi had bought into three shares.

"On that note, I doubt the editorial department would answer that question just by asking."

Said Yumi, as she drained the crust of the bread with warm royal milk tea. Incidentally, Yoshino-san had poured this royal milk tea. As the daughter of the house, it was probably supposed to be unthinkable to let a neighbor serve the guest twice or thrice, but at the same time, Yoshino-san didn't seem to be the type to be bothered by that. Rather, it felt more like a way of thanking Rei-sama for helping her try to find Suga Sei's identity. Because she poured it very carefully.

"Probably not."

Rei-sama said matter-of-factly as she looked at the name on the plastic bag that had held the sandwiches.

"This store has good bread, is it near Yumi-chan's house?"

"Yes. … I guess they wouldn't talk about the author just like that."

Soothing. Just when it was beginning to feel like friendly banter over a tea party, Yoshino-san interceded and scolded them.

"It just depends on how you ask. Where'd your excitement go!?"

"Excitement… umm…"

"… Right?"

Excitement? The two looked at each other. After all, Yoshino-san was the only one truly excited, from the start.

"By the way, Yoshino-san, how do you intend to ask?"

When she asked, Yoshino-san replied, you just watch, and picked up the phone again.

"Yoshino, no lying."

Rei-sama pointed out.

"I know, gosh."

Fifteen minutes had passed since one.

Beep beep beep beep.

Telephones these days were smart, so with one button, they'd call a number you'd already dialed.

"Ah, hello."

Comparatively quickly, someone picked up the phone. Again, Yoshino-san informed the person that she was a reader of Cosmos books, and politely said that she wanted to speak to the person in charge of "Forest of Thorns."

"Oh, is that so. No, that's alright."

They weren't leaning into the phone this time, so they couldn't hear who Yoshino-san was speaking to. All they could do was imagine the conversation based on what Yoshino-san said.

"Well, 'Forest of Thorns' has caused quite a fuss at our school. … Yes, rumors that a senior wrote it. Because the author, Suga Sei, has no profile information, right? That senior had a similar experience last year-"

Just like that, Yoshino-san explained how the school prohibited work, and that the senior was called to the guidance office for questioning. Then she said without any proof that she wasn't the writer, she might end up being expelled. Well, Minako-sama was the one that brought that up, so it wasn't a complete lie-.

"Ah. … Yes. … I see. Yes, I understand. … Yes. … Yes. I'm sorry for taking your time. Thank you."

It took about five minutes. Was that short or long for that sort of phone call? Anyways Yoshino-san thanked the person and hung up.

And from her expression, it was obvious it failed.

"They said they couldn't answer that sort of question. Even if it might cause a student to be expelled, they wouldn't be able to act unless the school formally made an inquiry."

"Well, of course."

"There're probably people that lie to try to find out."

The prospects were grim. The three of them folded their arms and pondered.

Anyways, there were apparently many people who asked about Suga Sei's identity. The person Yoshino-san spoke with wasn't really in charge, but that person sounded used to answering that sort of call.

"Oh well."

Yoshino-san stood up from the kotatsu. Yumi and Rei-sama asked, "You're giving up?" 'That's fine', they were beginning to think.

"Of course not."

But Yoshino-san was like an immortal. Like adversity simply fueled her onward.

"Phone calls get us nowhere, so it's time to see them directly."

"Eh-!?"

How are you so energetic, Yoshino-san? You had a bad heart until just recently, but now you're like a completely different person! Or maybe she was building up to let everything out today.

"- says this. Apparently you need an appointment to see them, though."

"Then, Rei-chan, your turn to call. Tell the 'Forest of Thorns' publisher that we want to see them."

"Why me?"

"Because if I call them again, they'll turn it down. Do it with an 'I'm calling for the first time today' tone, please."

"Aww. But it's just Yoshino."

But despite the complaining, she still took the phone. That's why Rei-sama was far too lenient on Yoshino-san. Yumi had no idea what she would do if Yoshino-san had turned around and said, "Then Yumi-san," but Yoshino-san really knows who she can manipulate.

Rei-sama called Cosmos books with a very formal conversational tone. Apparently it wasn't going to be possible to call them today and immediately schedule a meeting, so she said she'd talk about it with a friend and call again.

"Either way, the person in charge isn't in today."

"Mmm, okay."

Nodded Yoshino-san, so they thought, 'finally', she's giving up.

"Then let's go, now."

Matter-of-factly. How can her mind go like this? When they say today wouldn't be possible, wouldn't the correct thing to do be to settle down and plan things out?

"What if that editor was actually meeting with Suga Sei, so when we arrive at their doorstep, she's already back?"

Yoshino-san was still driving full-steam ahead. But that sort of miraculous thought was really far-fetched. Authors don't really work at the company, and she had to know that much.

"And there's nothing to lose."

"Yes there is. Travel costs, feeling cold, and then if you're turned away, it's all for nothing."

Exactly. Yumi wanted to send Rei-sama a round of applause.

"Yumi-san, do you agree?"

Yoshino-san seemed to notice that, as she turned a cold stare at her.

"Umm…"

(Gosh.)

She looked like she would explode, based on Yumi's answer. Well, she could calculate this much: if Yoshino-san were to explode, it would be chaotic. Her hysteria rivaled Sachiko-sama.

"I think we should lay off for today. Plus, Yoshino-san needs to stay at home, right?"

"As long as I'm around for home delivery, I'm free to lock the doors and go out."

"And did the delivery person come?"

"Not yet."

"Then we can't go."

Yumi thought, good, this'll keep her down. Rei-sama was also cheering Yumi on, out of Yoshino-san's sight.

"… I guess it's impossible today."

Just as Yoshino-san was beginning to give up, a bright "ding dong" could be heard from the intercom.

"Lucky-"

Yoshino-san smiled victoriously as she skipped down the stairs.

Part 3.

After three o'clock in the afternoon.

The three of them stood in front of Kyuuteisha with vastly different facial expressions.

"Frontal assault!" was how Yoshino-san looked. Rei-sama seriously reflecting on her inability to stop that Yoshino-san. And Yumi, wondering, "What now?"

They went to Shinjuku using Japan Rail, and then used the subway. After popping out of J Station, it took as long as it takes for cup ramen to finish cooking to arrive at the company's building.

It was a bigger building than she expected. So she assumed they also did printing here, and so Yoshino-san and Rei-sama were in tears laughing at her. Printing is done at printing shops! Of course.

"Alright, time to go."

Yoshino-san lead the way to the front door. The automatic glass doors slid open.

"Welcome."

As they entered, the two receptionists smiled brilliantly at them. They were pretty enough that you could assume they were hired for their looks.

Past the receptionists was a big, physical-looking security guard, and there was another glass door behind him. Apparently you needed to go through that door, too.

"Um. I'd like to see the Cosmos editorial department."

Even the "frontal assault!" attitude of Yoshino-san wasn't gung-ho enough to knock down the security guard and charge through the glass door, so she went straight to the receptionist and made an inquiry.

"Yes. If you have an appointment, please sign in here."

The paper that was pushed forth was like a library borrowing card, with the visitor's name and phone number, among other things. Yoshino-san began writing on the sign-in sheet, but she gave up halfway through and put her ball-pen down. Because she didn't have anyone in particular she was "scheduled" to meet, so she couldn't fill in those blanks.

"I'm sorry, I don't have an appointment."

"Huh?"

The receptionist looked baffled as she accepted the half-completed sign-in sheet.

"Don't… have an appointment?"

"Yes. But I really would like to speak to the Cosmos editorial department."

"You want to show them something you wrote…?"

"No. I'm just a reader."

Yumi, listening in on the conversation, just then found out that there were people that took their works straight to the company. She'd been dragged here by Yoshino-san, but it ended up being somewhat of an educational trip.

"Hi, this is the front desk-"

After hearing Yoshino-san out, the receptionist picked up the phone and called in-house, to the Cosmos editorial department, about an appointment-less reader visiting.

"Please wait a moment."

After putting down the phone, she smiled at them. She was definitely a professional, dealing with children with ease. Yumi actually assumed they'd be deflected by the receptionist.

While they waited, she noticed there were a lot of people going in and out of the building. She noticed a lot of people signed in, like them, while the rest simply walked through after showing what seemed like an identity card.

After about ten minutes, a slightly rounded man wearing jeans and a sweatshirt appeared.

"Are you three the ones that wanted to speak to Cosmos books?"

He didn't seem the type to care about how he looked, to other people, so it was difficult to guess his age. When she found out he was from the editorial department, Yumi felt a bit disappointed. Because with a company this size, she expected someone to come out wearing a suit.

"We're quite busy today, so we can't really spare much time, could you three come again some other day? Just make sure to schedule a time."

"May I ask one question?"

"Go ahead, but I won't answer any questions about author profiles."

Yoshino-san took a quick jab to the nose. The Cosmos editorial department guy's premonition was spot on.

"'Forest of Thorns' is an autobiographical novel, right? Is the author, Suga Sei, the former student of Lillian Girls' Academy, Kubo Shiori?" Yoshino-san quickly asked.

(Wasn't it just one question?)

And on top of that, she was told he wouldn't answer any questions about it, but she still asked. She's probably just not wanting to give up, at this point.

"We get a lot of questions like that, but in the case of Suga Sei-sensei, she has her reasons for not saying who she is."

"But couldn't you tell us if she is that person or not?"

"If we answer every inquiry about names, we'd be here all day answering questions."

Because if they do it once, everyone would want to be treated the same. Yumi could understand how he felt. But Yoshino-san kept going.

"If Suga Sei-san herself were to say it's alright to answer, would you?"

"Well, yes."

But he laughed, that'll never happen.

"Then, could you ask Suga Sei-san? I'm Shimazu Yoshino from Lillian Girls' Academy. Satou Sei is a dear friend of mine. So would she be willing to answer whether she is Kubo Shiori-san or not?"

"No, no, I can't do that. That would be making an exception for you. Plus, I'm not the one in charge of her stuff. … Anyways, please, give up about this."

Ahh, this person's already wrapping things up. He seemed to be about to say "thank you for coming to Cosmos books, anyways," and then leave.

Just then.

"Oh, Yamagishi-san?"

When the automatic door behind opened, they heard a lady's voice.

"Woah."

The sweatshirt + jeans person in front was apparently "Yamagishi-san," and he quickly straightened his back. But she didn't know why he went, "Woah."

"What's going on? Oh my, and you're surrounded by such cute girls."

When they turned around, a lady that looked like a typical "career woman" was smiling at them. While other people who'd entered went to the receptionist to sign in, she just walked toward them.

(I guess she works at the company…?)

But then Yamagishi-san started flailing about, like he was trying to ward her away from them.

He might be panicking because he likes her, but that didn't seem to be the case.

"Hello."

She ignored Yamagishi-san and greeted the three girls.

"Gokigenyou."

Habits are fearsome. Even though they were greeted with "hello," maybe it was because they were with other students from school, Yumi promptly replied, "Gokigenyou." Then, Rei-sama and Yoshino-san both followed suit and also replied, "Gokigenyou."

"Kyaa, how wonderful. Gokigenyou sounds like it's from 'Forest of Thorns'!"

Yamagishi-san looked like he was about to be KO'd, in contrast to the lady next to him, who was innocently enjoying herself.

"My, what's the matter? Yamagishi-san, did I do something wrong?"

Yamagishi-san didn't reply, but his attitude said everything. She'd said exactly what Yamagishi-san didn't want her to say.

"Bingo!"

Rei-sama muttered. She turned to the lady and prudently asked.

"Excuse me, are you related to 'Forest of Thorns'?"

"Ahhh…"

They could hear Yamagishi-san's wail.

Part 4.

The career-woman-ish lady's name was Sasaki-san.

The drained Yamagishi-san told Sasaki-san what had happened, and she said, "I see," and nodded. Well I came at the perfect time, didn't I.

"Well, I'm in charge of Suga Sei-sensei, but I think everyone would tell you the same. And no one in the editorial department would tell her secret, either. Also, I have work to do now, so I'm sorry-"

Sasaki-san glanced at her watch.

"Hmm."

Suddenly, another person joined the conversation. It was a woman who'd just finished signing in.

"Oh come on, Sasaki-san, it wouldn't hurt to hear them out, at least?"

That person handed the sign-in sheet to the receptionist and received a badge, then walked over in high-heel shoes. She had a diminutive stature and was a bit thin, and you couldn't really tell from afar, but relatively old.

"I'm the one you're working with, anyways, and I don't mind waiting a bit."

"But, Kasuga-san…"

Both of them looked bewildered at the unexpected help.

"You shouldn't shut everyone out like that. You should listen to what they have to say, and then explain based on their situation. That's how human relationships need to be, right?"

Yumi thought she was about the age of her grandmother. People this age tend to make somewhat intrusive lectures. Though they were saved by this one.

"On the other hand, because I helped out, would you mind if I sat in?"

She wanted to hear what young people had to say, she smiled. She was like a cute grandmother.

Of course, the three of them firmly nodded. Without her, Sasaki-san wouldn't have listened, anyways.

Sasaki-san sighed, "Fine."

"It might end with just me listening to you three, is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Come in, it's better than standing around and talking."

After asking the receptionist about an empty room, Sasaki-san lead them to a café-like room that was just off to the side of the front desk. Yamagishi-san ran away, saying, "Not my problem anymore," so the five ladies ended up sitting around the square table.

In one room that she glanced into while they walked down the corridor, Yumi saw two men sitting over manga-like documents spread out over a table, thinking hard with their arms folded.

Yoshino-san, urged on, explained in detail about Rosa Gigantea, referring to her as "Senpai," and Shiori-san, "her friend." Sasaki-san, in response, replied with "and?" and "I see," and listened intently to the end. Good listeners, would be how you would describe those sorts of people.

"I see. You three just want to make sure your senpai is proven innocent, and you don't really care for the identity of the author, Suga Sei, as long as she's not related. I understand that much. But you know, that's already taken care of."

"What?"

Rei-sama, Yoshino-san and Yumi all tilted their heads to one side, like you'd see in an anime.

"This Satou Sei has some good friends."

When the old lady smiled, she brightened everything around her. Yumi hoped that when she grew old, she'd also be able to smile like that.

"-Wait, hold on a second!" Yoshino-san leapt up from the table using her hands.

"I never once said 'Satou Sei'!!"

(… Ah!)

Yumi noticed that, too. Yoshino-san never said Rosa Gigantea or Satou Sei. But how did the old lady know?

"Lillian Girls' Academy's Rosa Gigantea. I don't think anyone at Cosmos books doesn't know of Satou Sei-san."

Sasaki-san smiled bitterly and explained.

"In the past four, five days, a lot of people called us about whether Suga Sei is Satou Sei."

And then the only lady said she and Sasaki-san were just talking about "young women these days being quite proactive," as they ate lunch. Rosa Gigantea had become famous without knowing it.

"When we decided to publish Suga Sei without announcing her name, we didn't really expect this to happen, so we do feel bad for Satou Sei-san."

"The unfortunate happenings of having a similar name."

"Exactly."

Sasaki-san and the old lady both nodded in agreement, and that's when Rei-sama asked another question.

"Um, that means Satou Sei-san isn't Suga Sei-sensei, right? And the school already knows?"

"That would be the case."

"Lillian Girls' Academy made a formal inquiry?"

"No, that's-"

The old lady began speaking, but then she noticed Sasaki-san glaring at her, and she stopped, then said, "Oh, it's alright, isn't it?"

"Well, even if I were to stop you, you'd tell them anyways, right? … In return, you three must agree to this being kept off-record."

Sasaki-san deliberately made a scary face, so they nodded vigorously.

"That's-"

Returning to where she'd left off, the old lady began explaining.

"Because yesterday, a person called the Cosmos editorial department."

"A person?"

"Yes. But I'll keep that person's name a secret, for now. But this person asked about Suga Sei, but instead raised a name very different from Satou Sei. And the Cosmos editorial department was stunned when they heard that name. Do you know why?"

"Because it was Suga Sei-sensei's real name."

Yoshino-san answered.

"That's right. And when they asked who she was, they were even more surprised."

"Because she was the other protagonist of 'Forest of Thorns.'"

"Correct. After reading 'Forest of Thorns' three days ago, she realized she was the one the book was based on. But she didn't know how to get in contact with her friend, so she called the editorial department."

When she heard that, Yumi thought the caller was Rosa Gigantea. And Rosa Gigantea wanted to confirm Kubo Shiori was Suga Sei, and called.

"Kubo Shiori-san is Suga Sei-sensei?"

Rei-sama asked before Yumi could.

(Bingo!) She thought.

It felt like the jigsaw puzzle was coming together. She was sure of it.

But Sasaki-san said something unexpected.

"Kubo Shiori-san… who is that?"

They were frozen in place, like someone had stopped time.

Even though they didn't say it, Yoshino-san and Rei-sama and Yumi had come to the same agreement. The expressions on their face said it clearly.

"Hold on a second…"

Yoshino-san placed her head on her hand, like she was gathering herself back together. Then, she weakly asked.

"If the editorial department doesn't know of 'Kubo Shiori,' that would mean Satou Sei-san has nothing to do with 'Forest of Thorns,' correct?"

Of course they'd be stunned. Even if it weren't Suga Sei, they'd all believed "Sei" was Rosa Gigantea.

Clatter clatter clatter.

The finished jigsaw puzzle noisily crumbled apart. Something like, could this be happening?

"Yes. We did say that, didn't we?"

The old lady said, matter-of-factly, but all they were told was that Satou Sei wasn't Suga Sei, so the fact that Satou Sei had nothing to do with 'Forest of Thorns' was a first.

"But the fact that the school knows of Rosa Gigantea's innocence-"

"That's right, Yumi-san. That would mean whoever called the editorial department has to do with Lillian."

Yumi and Yoshino-san were both excited, but when they wondered, "Then who?" they couldn't think of anyone.

"Wait."

Rei-sama mumbled.

"That person would be Kahori, in 'Forest of Thorns,' right? Would that mean the story took place at Lillian? But isn't that weird? We ruled that possibility out immediately. Because other than Rosa Gigantea, no one like that exists."

And the assumption that Kahori was still at the school. Or maybe Kahori is who wrote it, and Sei is the one at school.

(Ahh, my head's going to explode.)

Without training her mind to do deep thinking, she realized she probably wouldn't survive the next two years.

"Do you give up already?"

Sasaki-san aside, the old lady seemed to like quizzes, and was amused by the sight of them struggling. Come to think of it, these two women already knew the answer.

She wanted to raise her hand and say, I surrender, but Yoshino-san probably wouldn't forgive her if she did that, so she decided against it. And Rei-sama was fiercely competitive, so she wasn't the type to give up easily.

"The person is supposed to be there, but isn't."

Rei-sama mumbled.

"What?"

"It takes place at Lillian, but the person isn't there. Then-"

"… Time machine?"

Yoshino-san answered. I've got it, she looked like she was about to say. Rei-sama nodded in agreement.

Time machine.

Yumi first imagined Kahori riding off in a time machine, but she knew that couldn't be the case. After all, Yoshino-san had to have said time machine as a joke.

"It's a different time period. Of course. And that way, there won't even be any rumors left."

If Sei and Kahori did attend Lillian, that would explain why they didn't know about them.

If it had happened just a few years ago, it would probably have remained as a legend.

Even with Rosa Gigantea, what happened to her slowly permeated to the clueless first-years. And when Rosa Gigantea graduated, the rumors would become a legend. And legends became myths, over time, and then eventually vanish, altogether.

"A time machine. I see, yes, that would do it."

Yoshino-san and Rei-sama both responded to the old lady's words.

"It seems like both of you figured it out."

They looked unsure, but they nodded, anyways.

(Wa-wait, how did you two get it, with that hint?)

Yumi panicked, having been left behind.

Maybe she just doesn't understand things well enough? Maybe her ever-average language test scores were because she didn't understand what was behind the lines, or because she could only answer certain types of questions?

She understood it was a different time period, but how do you go beyond that?

Where did the time machine carry them?

Who are Sei and Kahori?

"Your friend is confused, why don't you two help her?"

That friend, Yumi, was in serious thought. Yoshino-san and Rei-sama both got it. So the hint had to be there, somewhere.

The important thing was what was said, here. By the two ladies sitting across from them.

One was a late-twenties, maybe thirties lady. Sasaki-san, the Cosmos editorial department worker.

She didn't know the age of the other. Probably somewhere between sixty and eighty, but she was like a refined, fashionable grandmother. Her name, Sasaki-san said her name once, but she couldn't remember.

(Huh…?)

Yumi looked away from her once, but she found herself looking at her again.

Who is this person?

She worked with Sasaki-san, and she'd happened upon them here. A bit intrusive, but inquisitive.

(… But she seems to be knowledgeable about all this?)

Come to think of it, the old lady was the only one that looked out of place. But she didn't seem like she was out of place, or rather, she seemed the most at home. Like she'd invited everyone to her home, that's how freely she spoke to everyone.

"Th-then…"

How long ago could something have been, to make everyone forget? Ten, twenty, thirty. No, it could have been even older.

Fifty, sixty, how old would someone be now if they were an adolescent then?

"Correct."

Everything Yumi thought ended up on her face, so the old lady gave her a "good job!" smile.

"Then- you- you're-"

Even though she'd been affirmed, she couldn't believe it, so Yumi sat there, her mouth trying to make words.

"I am Suga Sei. Thank you for reading my novel."

Yoshino-san's hope of running into Suga Sei came true. However unbelievable it may have been.

What if that editor was actually meeting with Suga Sei, so when we arrive at their doorstep, she's already back? Yoshino-san had precognition, or maybe she drew Suga Sei over with her powers?

Either way, Yumi couldn't shake the feeling that Yoshino-san was an ESPer. What a formidable friend, she thought.

Part 5.

"It was actually a big enough incident that it ran on newspapers, but sarcastically speaking, the war helped everyone forget about it."

Suga Sei, or Kasuga Seiko-san, said, staring into the distance.

It was an "oh" feeling when she explained the pen name was simply the removal of a letter at the end of each name, and thus it was conceived simply.

Kasuga Seiko became Suga Sei. No matter how much she thought about it, she kept thinking, "Oh."

Satou Sei turning into Sugar Sei, thus linking "Satou Sei" and Suga Sei was such a more brilliant tinkering of a name.

But the real person didn't even realize Satou turned into sugar (Suga) until the three mentioned it, so upon mentioning, Sasaki-san and Seiko-san both roared with laughter. They thought it was just a simple mix-up of the name "Sei."

"Um… if it was enough to have run in newspapers, does that mean the story was true?"

Rei-sama scolded Yoshino-san, "That's rude!" when she asked the question, but Kasuga-san didn't seem to mind.

"I re-wrote the setting so young girls could imagine it more easily, and I changed the names a bit, but everything is almost precisely true. Kahori's name was actually Saori, and I'm Seiko, see?"

They had decided to tweak things out of respect for those concerned and alive.

But of course that meant the two had indeed tried to commit double suicide. It was hard to believe the grandmother in front of them had done something that severe.

So that they wouldn't be found, they walked into a forest, holding hands, and drank sleeping pills, one at a time. So they would be together forever in a different world.

"But the ending was wrong, apparently."

Apparently, Kasuga-san said, like it was someone else's business. It seemed strange for the author of "Forest of Thorns" to take that sort of attitude to it, but her explanation made it understandable.

"I had no idea Saori was alive until we received the phone call yesterday. She thought I'd died, too. Because the local newspaper that I was able to get a glimpse of read, 'One dead, one in critical condition.'"

"One dead?"

"They didn't publish the names, so of course, we'd assume the other was the one that died."

Kasuga-san chuckled.

"Why did such an article…"

"It was an accidental misunderstanding. I checked the newspaper archives at the library yesterday, and found out that they printed a recant the next day, along with an apology. But our parents probably took advantage of the mistake. That was probably the only way to split us up, after all."

So, "Sei and Kahori," or Seiko-san and Saori-san, both lived decades believing the other had passed away.

"Perfect, I have an idea, Kasuga-san. You could write a sequel to 'Forest of Thorns.'"

Sasaki-san suddenly switched into work mode and presented the idea.

"One day, you received a call from Kahori, whom you thought had already died. And that's where the story starts…"

"Indeed. But reality would be chasing us from afar."

Kasuga-san intended to go meet Saori-san. On Christmas Eve, decades after they'd been separated.

"We've both lived this long, it might be a gift from God."

Apparently, Cosmos Books intended to take a more flexible position regarding Suga Sei's identity. While they were eating lunch, Kasuga-san and Sasaki-san were speaking about that.

While they wouldn't release any profiling information, they would take a stronger stance toward making sure people wouldn't make the wrong assumption. That would hopefully prevent cases like Rosa Gigantea being needlessly bothered.

By the way, Suga Sei apparently had two reasons for being published under a pen name.

The first is that Kasuga-san was actually the chairman of a company, and so publishing under her real name would be a hindrance. The other was that they wanted to suppress the author's profile to uphold readers' image of Sei, from "Forest of Thorns." Because it was an autobiographical novel, the readers would end up wanting to see who the author is, but if the author was an old lady, their dreams would be shattered, is what they thought.

But Yumi thought that kind of dream wouldn't be shattered by looking at the old lady in front of her.

Because she was such a fantastic grandmother.

Let's meet again, Kasuga-san and Sasaki-san said, before they vanished into the back of the building. When she looked at her watch, it read five thirty, and Kyuuteisha was beginning to close its doors, too.

"Again, she said."

Yoshino-san laughed.

"Maybe she means in a book?"

Rei-sama mumbled.

"Ah."

After the door shut behind them, as they trudged forth, Yumi suddenly remembered.

"Umm, so in the end, how does Saori-san and Lillian connect?"

"Uh."

"Uh."

Yoshino-san and Rei-sama both squealed, in canon.

Even if they wanted to go back, the doors were locked, and since it wasn't really an emergency, they didn't have the courage to request the doors be unlocked for them. And even if they managed to do that, they didn't want to trouble Sasaki-san and Kasuga-san by calling them to the front again, so they gave up.

Anyways, a lot of things happened today, so they were already quite exhausted. They wanted to go home and take a bath. Otherwise they'd continue to be flustered.

Plus, as Yumi carefully sorted out everything she found out today, she remembered another big thing.

(I should have asked for an autograph…)

Ahh, gosh. Why now? She hated herself.

Return to Main Page

Back to Chapter 2

Forward to Chapter 4