Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume6 Chapter3 5

Main. Part 5.

"It's a shame you don't have a microwave oven."

Shizuka-sama remarked, putting down her fork.

"The quiche is okay, but the stewed tongue and mushroom dish is supposed to be piping hot."

"There isn't one in the Rose Mansion."

At Shimako's words, Shizuka-sama flopped down over the table, dejected.

"You should have said so, Shimako-san. If I had known, I wouldn't have bought these."

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

They were alone in the Rose Mansion.

It was quiet.

Not just in the Rose Mansion. It was as though the high school had been closed down, and all the buildings were holding their breath, watching these unexpected visitors.

"Is this your first time coming to school on a Sunday?"

"Yeah"

"It's my second time. The first time, I came to pick up some sheet music I had forgotten."

"Oh, so that's why you said that to the security guard?"

"Right. I knew how to get inside without arousing suspicion."

Lillian's Girls Academy was an all girls school, so it was protected by a tall wall and sturdy gates. Not only that, but there were numerous security guards constantly patrolling the grounds and one stationed in a guardhouse by each of the gates to prevent outsiders from trespassing. Because of this, the students could go about their studies feeling safe and secure.

But, things were a bit different on the weekend. All the gates were closed, except for the side entrance near the main gate. And there was only a single security guard, sitting in the guardhouse by the gate.

In short, even though they had made it here, spending time at school on Sunday was not exactly a dream come true. Of course, when clubs or committees met, the standard procedures had to be followed.

"You say 'I came to pick up something I left behind,' and then show your school handbook. When he has confirmed your photo in the book, he'll let you in even though you're not in school uniform."

Just like Shizuka-sama had said, the security guard cheerfully ushered them in. And so the two of them were here now, in the Rose Mansion.

"But, by and large, it's still a tasty lunch, don't you agree?"

"Yeah"

As proof of that, they ate all of the food they had brought except for the cake. The cooled stewed tongue was no exception.

"I now understand why you chose rice balls as the main dish, Shimako-san."

"But I didn't think about it that deeply."

It was simply that she preferred Japanese food. When Shizuka-sama said to her, 'I have to make a phone call, so can you get a main dish?' she immediately thought of rice balls. Or, rather, she couldn't think of anything other than that.

"A victory for the subconscious then. Things like pilaf and pasta are much better when they're hot."

"… Oh, I see. When you said main dish, you would have been happy with pilaf or pasta."

"No, I wouldn't have been happy. I was happy with rice balls."

Shizuka-sama laughed as she held her stomach, and Shimako unexpectedly found herself laughing along with her.

The cake still remained, but the two of them were both full, so they postponed eating it.

"We're still okay for time, right?"

Shizuka-sama inquired, looking at her wrist watch.

"Yeah"

Shimako agreed as she stood up, and refilled both their cups with tea. The steam rising from the tea cups and the sunlight streaming through the window were both warm. There was no need for heating just yet.

"But I never would have thought of coming to school on a day off."

Shimako said, as she returned to her chair that was facing Shizuka-sama.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, is it really interesting to go to school when there's no-one there?"

Hearing this, Shizuka-sama looked into the distance with a complicated expression that seemed both troubled and amused.

"Interesting, you say? … Well, when you look at something from a different angle, it looks fresh. The usual school buildings, the usual hallways, classrooms – the atmosphere when the usual classmates, teachers and other students are not here... Or I might be seeing things. Perhaps I'm the one that has disappeared. Everyone else is carrying on their normal school life in some other place, no?"

"I'm the one that has disappeared"

Shimako whispered.

She sympathized with that feeling just a fraction. It wasn't the sensation she got from being at school with no-one around, but she had often thought about what it would be like if she hadn't come to this school, or if she were to vanish from here.

Previously she would think about it dispassionately, but lately she hadn't thought about it much at all.

Shizuka-sama would be leaving Lillian's soon. So perhaps the image was more real to her.

"You see the school simply as a container, Shimako-san."

"Container?"

Being prompted, Shizuka-sama added 'It's not a bad thing,' then continued.

"The school is a container for people, I mean. Currently, you're interested in the people, so the container doesn't matter to you."

"And you?"

"Me?"

"You don't seem uninterested in people, Shizuka-sama."

"Right. And recent events too."

As she sipped her tea, Shizuka-sama smiled broadly.

"For instance, I'm deeply interested in Yumi-san."

"Ahh, Yumi-san."

Shimako smiled broadly too. For some reason, whenever she thinks of that classmate it brings a smile to her face.

"In her interview with the 'Lillian Kawaraban', Sachiko-san said their first meeting was an unexpected chance, and similar things. But to me, it feels like their meeting was bound to happen. For Yumi-san, if Sachiko-san were to leave, then it would be the same as bidding farewell to her school life itself. For Sachiko-san, how enriching her school life is would be completely different depending on whether Yumi-san was by her side or not."

"I see."

Whether consciously or subconsciously, Sachiko-sama fully appreciated Yumi-san's charm, and chose her to be her petit soeur. It was tempting to think of it as fate. But there were other such unimaginable meetings that occurred – Shimako thought. Like her and Rosa Gigantea.

"And also Shimako-san."

"Huh?"

"I'm also interested in you."

Shizuka-sama said, unexpectedly.

I'm also interested in you.

It was like a surprise attack that left her spellbound. It took a while for the meaning to slowly reach her.

"Because I'm Rosa Gigantea's petit soeur?"

Shimako gave voice to the reason that came to mind. She could think of no other reason why Shizuka-sama would be interested in her.

"… Or, rather, what's inside of you. The part that's not your role or facade."

"What's inside me –"

"The impetus was the last day they accepted nominations for candidacy in the school council elections."

The last day they accepted nominations for candidacy in the school council elections, those events of about a month ago.

"What was it that I did?"

At Shimako's question, Shizuka-sama smiled wryly and said, "Oh, you've forgotten?"

"That you wouldn't accept me. That you wouldn't call anyone other than Rosa Gigantea your onee-sama. Those things."

"Ahh –"

"Back then, that was your true intention, straight from your heart, right? That was a part of you that wasn't in the image of Toudou Shimako I had in my head, so I was frankly astonished. Because of that. Before you said this, I didn't see you as anything other than Rosa Gigantea's petit soeur. But suddenly I wanted to know about the person that is Toudou Shimako."

Shizuka-sama clasped her hands together on the table, and looked straight at Shimako-san. Shizuka-sama's gaze was unique. Like a polished gem. It was cold enough to drop your body temperature. But it was beautiful in its purity.

"And so? How much have you learned?"

Shimako allowed the silence to continue for a short time, before she asked. It wasn't her intention, but it did sound a bit sarcastic.

"I'm not a detective or a private investigator, so I don't want to know about your family."

"Is that so?"

"I only want to look into you. To gaze upon you. I'll overlook everyone except you."

It felt like Shizuka-sama had already seen right through her.

Even though she hadn't told her anything.

Even though she hadn't laid bare her heart.

"Because of that, I was able to find your hidden card."

Shizuka-sama said, smiling tenderly.

"So I thought this would be a perfect opportunity, to be able to spend some time relaxing with you."

Again, Shizuka-sama looked at her watch. She was talking about relaxing, but perhaps she had something planned after this.

"Shizuka-sama?"

"Ahh, sorry. Contrary to the plan, I think I have to hurry things along."

"Contrary to the plan?"

"Exactly. Shimako-san, let's clear this up quickly, shall we?"

As she said this, Shizuka-sama stood up.

"Huh?"

Shimako wasn't really sure what Shizuka-sama had meant by her last remark. The containers from the delicatessen were disposable, and cleaning the cups they had been drinking from was no big deal.

Then Shizuka-sama said 'Here,' took a manila envelope from her handbag and placed the contents on the table. The sound of paper rustling could be heard.

"This – "

Shimako picked it up to have a look. It was loose leaf paper that had been bound together and, apart from the cover page, was filled with tightly-packed writing.

"My meddling classmates prepared itineraries for our date."

"Oh"

"And this was the final candidate."

On the cover were the words 'School Version.' Meeting place, what to buy, bus timetable – all of these and more were recorded in minute detail.

"Just like they've written, we came to school on a Sunday. If we followed what's in there, it would be easy for me to hand in my report, right?"

"But, the report..."

The meeting location, the things they bought, they were all different. The bus timetable they had copied was also irrelevant, and what they had done while at school was somewhat different.

"Right. That's why I said, contrary to the plan."

"So you'll make amendments?"

"I'd like to keep it to this. What do you think?"

"If you think you'll be able to face your classmates after doing that."

Shimako also stood up, and took the cups and cutlery over to the sink. While she was doing this, Shizuka-sama stuffed the report back in her purse and left the room with it, calling to Shimako to hurry up. Because she was wearing her coat, Shimako didn't take the time to do the washing up.

Down the creaking staircase and out of the Rose Mansion. The sun was growing large in the west.

"First off, the committee notice board."

When they entered into the school buildings from the courtyard, Shizuka-sama called out 'let's go' and took off at a run.

"Huh!?"

"I said we're in a hurry, didn't I? You'll be left behind."

She laughed as she ran off. The distance between them grew larger.

"So unreasonable."

Reluctantly, Shimako too started to run. Ordinarily, this was something she would never do. "Don't run in the hallways" had been a standard rule since preschool.

There was no-one in the school.

There was no-one in the hallway.

The only person was the one running ahead of her.

The sound of their feet echoed around the building.

Like a chorus, like a canon. Up the stairs, along the corridor.

"You're out of shape, Shimako-san."

In front of the committee meeting board, on the wall in front of the lecture hall, Shizuka-sama laughed at Shimako's ragged breathing when she finally arrived.

"We have different lung capacity, no?"

She thought that singers would have training to improve their nose and lungs. In contrast, the environmental care committee did neither speaking practice nor physical training.

"According to the report, we 'chat about that place in both of our memories.' But, looking at the board, I don't feel any strong emotions."

"Is that so?"

The board had this week's news from the environmental care committee posted on it. For the treasure hunt, the white card had been affixed above this.

Back then she was deeply moved that somebody, anybody, had found her card.

The white card was her heart. She had to hide it. But she desperately wanted it to be found. She wanted to be understood.

So she was overjoyed. That it had been found and brought forward. That was what she had longed for.

"Where to next?"

"The music room. But I wonder..."

"Huh?"

"Anyway, let's go find out."

This time Shizuka-sama didn't run. The two of them walked side-by-side through the school building.

Shimako searched for something to say.

But she couldn't find anything appropriate to say, so she continued to walk in silence.

Shizuka-sama too was silent.

It wasn't an uncomfortable silence. As Shimako was starting to feel that the silence was natural and preferable, they arrived at the music room.

"Ahh, just as I thought."

Shizuka-sama muttered, as the handle of the soundproofed door made a clattering sound.

"It's locked?"

"Yeah. Oh well, I thought it might be... It's a pity. I was supposed to sing while you played the piano."

See here, Shizuka-sama said while pointing to the spot in the report. Apparently, they had decided that she could play the piano without bothering to ask her. She had never played the piano at school, so it was strange how they were able to know that she could.

"Shimako-san, can you play the piano?"

"Huh...? Yeah. I'm not very good though."

So it seems like Shizuka-sama hadn't been the one to start that rumor. But that didn't really matter either way.

"How about Ave Maria?"

"Huh...?"

"It's okay, I'm not asking you to make the sounds of a piano with your mouth."

Shizuka-sama smiled as she said this, and Shimako too had a wry smile as she agreed.

"If it's the Gounod version."

"The one that Sachiko-san played at the entrance ceremony held by the Yamayurikai... You like that?"

"Yeah"

She liked most versions of Ave Maria. Songs that praised the Virgin Mary were all beautiful and tender.

"At any rate, I'll put on a show for you."

Shizuka-sama took her by the hand and proceeded down the hallway. In the hallway there was a spot that opened up onto a courtyard, like a balcony. As you might expect, the view from the third floor was impressive.

"I'll add my gratitude for today into it – "

Coming from Shizuka-sama's lips, she heard Gounod's Ave Maria.

Resounding in the courtyard, her voice was exceedingly beautiful.

Maria-sama's essence was definitely in there.

Shimako didn't notice the tears falling onto her cheeks.