Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume8 Chapter2

Farewell Gift

Part 1

"A final request from my onee-sama?"

As feared, Shimako-san's reaction was one of non-comprehension.

"Well, was there something she wanted to do? Or something school related she wanted you to take care of? Did she say anything like that to you?"

Yumi plowed on, not getting discouraged. Her feelings for Rosa Gigantea couldn't be put into words. Gratitude, certainly, but that word alone wasn't sufficient. The closest emotion was probably "love" after all, although it felt completely different to her love for Sachiko-sama.

So, while she'd been talking to Yoshino-san, Yumi had wondered. What sort of regrets did Rosa Gigantea have left? What can we do for her?

Yumi thought that Rosa Gigantea may have given some hints to Shimako-san. She'd agonized over it all last night, but hadn't found an answer.

"And "final request." She wouldn't say something like that."

Shimako-san muttered as she steadily packed her textbooks into her school bag. Fourth period had just finished and the students were out of their seats chatting, waiting for their homeroom teacher to arrive. Even though they were only first-years, there seemed to be more nervous energy than usual. Everyone was restless.

But it wasn't like they'd made today a half-day because of the lack of a studious atmosphere. After this, the students were scheduled to go about their regular cleaning, then return home. The chairs had been set up in the gymnasium yesterday and this afternoon the teachers would place the red and white seat covers over them, hang up the school flag, can't forget the picture of Maria-sama either, as well as all the other preparations that had to be completed for tomorrow.

"At the very least, she wouldn't tell me."

Shimako-san added, smiling.

"I see … you're probably right."

Indeed, it would be out of character for Rosa Gigantea to talk seriously about Lillian's future. Moreover, that pair of soeurs were peculiar in that they very rarely talked to each other. Perhaps now that she was about to graduate, Rosa Gigantea had even less to say to her petit soeur.

But, as she slid her pencil case into her schoolbag, Shimako-san said:

"But she might say something to you, Yumi-san."

"Me?"

Yumi asked, pointing a finger at her face.

"Yes. My onee-sama is quite affectionate to you."

Hearing those words, Yumi was shocked. Which was immediately followed by introspection.

"I'm sorry."

Yumi swiftly bowed her head. Shimako-san looked confused and asked, "Why?"

"I didn't consider your feelings, Shimako-san, and let Rosa Gigantea dote on me."

"Oh, no. I never thought about it like that. Actually, it's something I'm grateful to you for."

"?"

When Yumi raised her head, Shimako-san was looking back at her with her usual saintly smile.

"I'm not good at being doted upon. That was never a part of our soeur relationship. And since we're two years apart, Rosa Gigantea couldn't lavish her affection on her petit soeur's petit soeur."

"Her grandchild, so to speak."

"Grandchild? Ahh, right. Something like that."

With the second-years placed between them, the relationship between first- and third-years was a strange one. To Yumi, Rosa Chinensis was indulgent, like a grandmother.

"I see. Shimako-san's petit soeur will enter high-school just missing Rosa Gigantea on her way out."

"A petit soeur … I can't imagine it."

Shimako-san's gaze turned towards the window. It looked like she was reliving scenes from her past.

"But surely Rosa Gigantea would have thought the same thing when she made you her petit soeur, right?"

Shimako-san said, "Perhaps," but she didn't seem convinced. Yumi felt like she understood Shimako-san's feelings.

Having a petit soeur – it was unthinkable. She had her hands full just with herself. Where would she find the time to look after a younger student too?

"There's always the question of whether or not I'll be able to fortuitously meet a compatible younger girl. But for my petit soeur, she'll become Rosa Gigantea en bouton as a first-year."

Shimako-san seemed to think that that alone would be quite the heavy burden.

"But that's what happened to you, right?"

"Of course. But I've been wondering if I really have to have a petit soeur."

Shimako-san mournfully looked down as she spoke. Yumi suddenly felt uneasy.

"Shimako-san."

Yumi firmly grasped Shimako-san's hand.

"Oh, you surprised me. Um, … what?"

Because it had been so sudden, the captive was quite shocked.

"Shimako-san. Don't go anywhere."

"Yumi-san … ?"

"Don't go anywhere, stay here until we're third-years. So we can run the Yamayurikai together. I would hate it if you weren't there."

It felt as though Shimako-san was moving somewhere far away. Not knowing what to do, Yumi had instinctively moved to restrain her. Perhaps Shimako-san was going to leave Lillian's, and not by graduating. Not because she wanted to, but because she had to. Yumi had caught glimpses of that steadfast determination numerous times over the past year.

Rosa Gigantea had said that she couldn't save Shimako-san on her own. So Yumi wondered where that left her, Shimako-san's classmate. For now, she decided all she had to do was hold on to her.

"Umm … "

But as for Shimako-san herself. The beam of warmth emanating from Yumi's entire body coupled with the overpowering grip on her hand seemed to leave her a little bit bewildered.

On top of that.

"Fukuzawa-san."

From the side came a hand that belonged to neither Shimako-san nor Yumi, settling atop their hands like an arm-wrestling referee.

"I hate to throw cold water on your beautiful display of friendship, but please take your seat. I'd like to get homeroom started."

Laughter burst forth around them. While they'd been having their heart-to-heart discussion, their homeroom teacher had arrived and everyone else had taken their seats.

"Sorry."

Yumi hastily dropped Shimako-san's hand and returned to her seat red-faced.

What a failure, what a disgrace. Of all the things, to grab Shimako-san's hand and prattle about, "running the Yamayurikai together," and to do it all in front of her classmates.

(Ooooh. If only I could press the backspace key and erase it all … just three minutes or so.)

Her cheeks were so hot it felt like steam was coming out of the top of her head. If she were a kettle, she'd be making a loud and continuous whistle.

But maybe Shimako-san wasn't all that bothered by it – thinking this, Yumi cast a sidelong glance towards where she sat. And waiting there for her was Shimako-san's gaze.

Thank you.

Shimako-san slowly and silently formed the words with her lips, erasing all of Yumi's discomfort without the backspace key.

As long as Shimako-san understood, that was all that mattered.

Friends really were incredible.

Regardless of what the thirty other girls in the class thought, it had all been settled in one instant with one phrase from one person.

Part 2

On further reflection, if Rosa Gigantea were worried about something, and that something was related to Shimako-san, then she probably wouldn't speak about it directly with Shimako-san.

Similar to how Rosa Chinensis had entrusted Sachiko-sama to Yumi's care.

While on her way back to her classroom after finishing cleaning, Yumi spotted Katsura-san standing in front of the statue of Maria-sama. They were in different cleaning groups, and Katsura-san was obviously on her way home, wearing her school coat and carrying her bag.

"Katsura-sa … "

Just as Yumi was calling out to her, another student appeared from the path leading alongside the library and jumped in ahead of her.

"Katsura-chan!"

Yumi watched on as Katsura-san spotted the other student and crouched down. Then, oh, what's that? She's crying?

(Oowaah.)

Yumi felt like she'd just seen something she shouldn't have. But if she left, she'd only worry about it anyway.

The other girl was carrying a tennis racquet, so at first Yumi thought she was Katsura-san's onee-sama. But on closer inspection, she wasn't the person that Yumi had previously been introduced to. Inspired by the Yellow Rose Revolution, Katsura-san and her onee-sama had temporarily broken up, but they should have returned to normal within the month.

So who was that?

"She's the vice-president of the tennis club. Katsura-san really admires her."

Hearing this explanation suddenly coming from behind her, Yumi jolted upright.

"Mmm. A sad looking Katsura-san works too."

Click. The sound of a shutter closing rang out just as the tennis club vice-president helped prop Katsura-san up. Which meant that the person beside Yumi was none other than the self-styled "Photography club ace."

"Tsutako-san."

Yumi was about to voice her complaint, but Tsutako-san cut her off by raising her hand.

"Stop. I know what you're going to say, but this was Katsura-san's request."

"It was?"

"She wanted a photo of her and the vice-president. A graduation keepsake."

"Graduation … "

Which reminded Yumi of something about the person alongside Katsura-san. She thought she'd seen her somewhere before, as a classmate of Rosa Foetida's. Which made her a third-year. And graduating tomorrow.

The pair were off in their own world, not noticing the gallery watching them from less than ten metres away.

The vice-president held out the racquet, offering it to Katsura-san. It didn't look like it was brand-new. It was probably the one she always used. Katsura-san looked a bit surprised, but she accepted the gift and hugged it tight, treasuring it.

"But Katsura-san won't be able to use that for another year."

Tsutako-san added her commentary to the scene.

"Why not?"

" … Using that in front of her onee-sama would be a big deal."

Ah, right.

Katsura-san had someone else as her onee-sama, someone who was also a member of the tennis club. It was probably a pretty complicated relationship.

"Well, I've heard it was all pretty much one-way admiration from Katsura-san. So it wasn't all messed up. Still, she'll hesitate because of her onee-sama."

Yumi thought that everyone had their own dramas. Even though, usually, Katsura-san and her onee-sama got along splendidly.

"That's why it's happening now, so close to the graduation ceremony … alright, time for me to get to work."

Tsutako-san patted Yumi on the shoulder, then walked towards the girls at the statue of Maria-sama.

"Can you two look this way so I can take your photograph?"

Already turning into a professional photographer.

Part 3

Watching Katsura-san made her want to see Rosa Gigantea.

She peeked into the third-year wisteria classroom, thinking no-one would be there, but was surprised. Because there she was.

Apparently the third-years had had a short homeroom that simply covered the important points of their graduation ceremony tomorrow. As evidence of that, it was one in the afternoon and there was only one student left in the classroom.

Rosa Gigantea didn't really look like she was staying around because she had something to do. She wasn't sitting down, she was just standing there, idly running her finger over her desk.

"Have you lost something?"

Those were the words Yumi called out, even though it didn't look anything like that.

The paper bag filled with actual lost items that had been found in the Rose Mansion the day before stood alone on her desk. Looking kind of sad, like an opened mystery gift bag.

"Ah, Yumi-chan."

Noticing her, Rosa Gigantea waved Yumi over.

Usually, she'd be quite reluctant to step foot inside another class's room. Especially a third-year classroom. But since she'd been invited, Yumi stepped inside.

"Sorry, can you close that."

Rosa Gigantea pointed at the door. Was it because of the cold, or because she wanted to hide what she was doing from people outside her class? They were both girls, so it wasn't as though they had to leave the door open. Yumi did as she was asked, and closed the door.

"I guess, in a way, I have lost something."

Rosa Gigantea sat at her desk, looking up at the ceiling, then scratched her head, looking embarrassed.

"I wanted to say goodbye to the classroom, you know. I've been killing time at the library, waiting until everyone left, so that I could come back here."

Rosa Gigantea laughed, indicating it was okay to do so. But Yumi couldn't laugh. Sure, it didn't seem very Rosa-Gigantea-like, but it wasn't for those around her to arbitrarily decide what Rosa Gigantea should be like. Rosa Gigantea usually appeared to be happy-go-lucky, but from time to time she could be deadly serious, as well as an occasional romantic.

"I was fine all through March, it was only when I thought that tomorrow would be the last time that I'd ever come here, that I started to feel a bit sentimental."

It seemed she'd treated her previous graduation ceremonies as mere formalities, participating in them perfunctorily. But for Rosa Gigantea, this one was special.

"Because you're leaving Lillian's?"

Yumi asked. Rosa Gigantea didn't say anything, but she had a curious expression on her face. Just as Yumi was getting nervous, thinking she'd put her foot in her mouth again, Rosa Gigantea relaxed and smiled.

"For all sorts of reasons."

"Like what?"

"There's been fun times, and hard times. There's some things I've regretted, and some good memories. I think these three years of high-school have been the most fulfilling time of my life so far."

She'd probably been reminiscing, alone in the classroom, about Shiori-san, Yamayurikai events, and other such things. It was kind of heartrending. Rosa Gigantea's feelings were contagious.

"Rosa Gigantea, I!"

Yumi planted her hands into empty space on the desk that Rosa Gigantea was sitting at. Startled by the surprise attack, Rosa Gigantea literally jumped up.

"Wh-what is it, Yumi-chan?"

While Yumi reflected on her actions, thinking it was wrong to surprise Rosa Gigantea, she also enjoyed the novelty of seeing Rosa Gigantea startled. No, now wasn't the time to be thinking about her face –

"I want to know if there's something I can do for you."

If she was going to hear Rosa Gigantea's final request, now was the time.

"You? Do something?"

"Something you want to ask me, or something you want to do. A promise, or something you want to entrust to me."

Et cetera, et cetera.

"Say wha-at."

Rosa Gigantea cackled. Such rudeness, despite how serious she'd been.

"Anything at all. It could be about Shimako-san, or about Lunch … ah, I mean Goronta. Is there anything, anything at all?"

Naturally, Yumi expected to hear, "There is something," but Rosa Gigantea's answer confounded her expectations.

"Nope."

"Huh!?"

"I said nope. There's nothing I want to ask you, Yumi-chan. Goronta's already an adult, so she doesn't need someone to feed her. If she couldn't look after herself, she wouldn't be much of a stray."

The way Rosa Gigantea spoke, it was as though she was trying to thrust her away. But it could also be interpreted as saying she had to live by herself.

"And regardless of what I say, you won't ignore Shimako-san if she's in trouble. You'll spin into action to help her, even if you make a fool of yourself. So as long as she has a true friend, there's no need for me to impose."

As she spoke, Rosa Gigantea patted Yumi on the head.

"If you were the sort of person who only helped Shimako-san because I asked you to, Yumi-chan, then I wouldn't ask you to help in the first place."

It was somewhat reminiscent of a Zen koan. But, strangely, Yumi understood. That Rosa Gigantea valued her for it.

"But I want to do something for you, Rosa Gigantea."

"A farewell gift, you mean?"

Rosa Gigantea stood up from her desk, stretching.

"Let's see. Mmm, I'll take a kiss on the lips then."

"!?"

Rosa Gigantea solemnly brought her face closer to Yumi's, causing Yumi to panic and lean back. Rosa Gigantea was terrifying because it was impossible to tell how serious she was being.

"Oh, running away, are you? Even though you said, "Anything at all.""

"Oooh."

Quit it, you. Now Rosa Gigantea was embracing Yumi, holding her chin in her hand. It was like a scene from a foreign movie.

"See, now close your eyes like a good little girl."

The camera zoomed in on her exquisite, exotic features for a close-up.

(She really is pretty … )

Yumi watched on in rapt fascination, before suddenly realizing that the partner in this kiss scene was none other than herself.

Lip crisis!

"Cut!"

Yumi cried out, instinctively. "Stop" or "Timeout" would have worked just as well, but she called out the first thing that came to mind.

Rosa Gigantea immediately stopped, like the spell had been broken, when her fellow actress called cut. It really was like a scene from a movie – Be that as it may, Yumi took the opportunity to break away.

"G-good-bye."

Having escaped from Rosa Gigantea's grasp, Yumi's sense of direction failed her and she staggered over to the window.

If she turned around, she'd slip back into Rosa Gigantea's arms, so she made a 90 degree turn and walked to the back of the classroom, then at the back wall she made another 90 degree turn taking her to the back door, not the one she had entered by.

"I won't be able to graduate without Yumi-chan's kiss."

Despite Yumi's panicked escape, Rosa Gigantea hadn't chased after her. She was still in the same spot as before, facing the window, only turning her head to say bye to Yumi.

So it was probably a joke. One last chance to tease Yumi – very in keeping with Rosa Gigantea's character.

The solitary student remaining in the classroom with the western sun streaming in on them seemed somehow lonely. Yumi knew that she herself was the lonely one. But this may be her first and last chance to see her playful senior like this.

It wasn't the same as the chest-tightening longing she had to be embraced by Sachiko-sama, but if there were some machine to measure compatibility or affinity, then it would undoubtedly show that they were well matched.

"What's the matter?"

Rosa Gigantea asked, as Yumi stood in the doorway, not leaving.

What's the matter? – In her heart, Yumi asked herself the same question.

Indeed. What on earth was the matter?

It was just, for some reason, she didn't want to leave Rosa Gigantea in the classroom like that.

What should she do?

"If you don't leave quickly, I'll attack you again."

Rosa Gigantea said jokingly, and seeing this Yumi felt troubled in her heart.

It was too late now, but she was already regretting running away. Even though, if Rosa Gigantea had actually been serious, it meant she would have snatched a kiss on the lips. The scary part was that imagining that wasn't so bad.

What was it, this feeling?

No good. No good at all.

A sinking feeling that perhaps Rosa Gigantea had meant it like a greeting, a quick peck that she could have readily accepted.

It was dangerous. Very dangerous. That line of thinking.

"What are you thinking about, Yumi-chan?"

What? About the kiss – but there was no way she could say that.

Needless to say, it would be her first kiss. So the lips were the problem, after all.

Yumi slowly took her right hand off the door handle.

They were only lips, but they were still lips.

Take care of the lips, and the lips will take care of themselves.

Alright.

She balled both her hands into fists.

(This is infidelity. Yumi-san!)

With the ghost of Yoshino-san nagging at her from behind, Yumi weaved her way back to the desk.

"Uh … !"

Yumi kissed Rosa Gigantea on the cheek, a short distance from her startled lips. Stretching up just a little bit.

That sort of performance seemed just right to Yumi.

" … Yumi-chan!"

Embarrassed, Yumi was about to make a quick exit, but Rosa Gigantea grabbed her by the arm and softly embraced her.

"I kept quiet because I didn't think I had anything more to say, but I'm glad to have met you, Yumi-chan."

"Ah."

Perhaps Rosa Gigantea was also embarrassed, because they remained in that position, not looking at the others' face.

"I've never really fit in with normal girls of my age. But, when I saw you, for the first time in my life I was jealous of a normal girl."

Jealous, huh.

Yumi couldn't believe her ears. It seemed unbelievable that this attractive, smart, well-spoken, immensely popular superstar would yearn for a normal high-school life. Well, taking the Shiori-san incident into account, a life full of highs and lows would be tough too.

"In my third-year of high-school, I've been able to change for the better. I don't know if it's just being less picky, but I'm able to live much more easily. There's a lot of things that have gone into making me the way I am now, but your existence has played a big part in that, Yumi-chan. So what you've given me isn't just a kiss."

"What did I do?"

She had no idea. Yumi peeled herself away from Rosa Gigantea's body and looked up at her face. Which earned her a, "Clear your ears out," and a flick on the forehead.

"You made me a university student."

"No way."

"It's true. Seeing you, I thought I should have another go at studying."

"Ha."

"No, really. Towards the end of last year. I'd just missed the deadline for applying for priority placement, so I had no choice but to join the exam group. Surely you heard about that."

She knew that Rosa Gigantea had only started studying for exams this year. But this was the first time Yumi had heard that she was the cause of Rosa Gigantea wanting to go to university.

"What should I do?"

That was a huge responsibility, wasn't it? Influencing someone's life at such a crossroads was such a huge responsibility that she wanted to forget all that she'd just heard.

But Rosa Gigantea said, "You don't have to do anything." That even if she'd been an influence, the decision had still been Rosa Gigantea's.

"So you see, Yumi-chan, you should have more self-belief. Because you're admired by someone as totally awesome as me."

Rosa Gigantea patted her on the back, like she was patting a cushion. Rather than cheering up the graduating senior, Yumi had been the one to receive encouragement.

"That's all, the end."

Rosa Gigantea quickly bowed, then spun Yumi's body around, aiming her towards the front door.

"I love you, Yumi-chan. I'm truly blessed to have shared this time with you. Countless times I've thought that I wanted to be like you."

Without even a countdown, Rosa Gigantea shoved her forwards like a rocket. Maintaining control of her body took all of Yumi's concentration. Her body tottered onwards and came to a stop by the door.

"I'll bet you tell everyone that you love them."

Yumi turned around to check. Whereupon.

"Yep."

Spot on, that. Said without a hint of shame. But it wasn't malicious. Whether Rosa Gigantea said that to everyone or not, it didn't change Yumi's feelings for her one bit.

"Thanks for the kiss."

Rosa Gigantea said to Yumi's back, as she was walking out the door.

"Not at all, it was simply a going-away gift."

After Rosa Gigantea had graduated, they'd hardly ever see each other. This was her graduation present. And she might as well really, really, really, really splurge.

"Simply, huh."

Rosa Gigantea nodded slightly.

"By the way, Yumi-chan, do you know which university I'm going to?"

"Huh?"

Yumi asked, poking her head back into the half-open door from the hallway.

"No, never mind. I just thought you might have been too busy running from place to place that you hadn't heard. Too preoccupied with the thought of your beloved Rosa Gigantea going away to university."

"Get over yourself."

Yumi snorted in response, and closed the door.

That Rosa Gigantea sure was sharp.

She'd definitely hit the bulls-eye.

Part 4

The morning of the graduation ceremony dawned.

Blessed with fine weather befitting such an auspicious occasion, the kimono clad members of the PTA had just started making their way towards the gymnasium to farewell the young ladies. It was right at that time:

She tricked me,

tricked me,

tricked me – !

Yumi walked silently down the corridor that ran alongside the third-year classrooms.

"Rosa Gigantea!"

The door to the third-year wisteria classroom was open, so she stood in the corridor and shouted at Rosa Gigantea, who was in the middle of the room.

Everyone in the classroom turned to look at her.

She immediately thought, "Oh no," but it was too late. Nothing she could do now. Her head had been so full of rage that she'd forgotten that today was a special day, as well as the proper way to request someone's presence.

"That's a scary looking face, Yumi-chan. What's the matter?"

Smiling, Rosa Gigantea weaved through her classmates, over to where Yumi stood.

"… Gokigenyou. Congratulations on your graduation today."

"Thank-you."

Belatedly, Yumi offered the standard greeting, then dragged her out of the classroom.

"Wait, where are we going?"

"Anywhere's fine, as long as there's no audience."

"Somewhere private? Sounds nice. Are we going to continue what happened yesterday?"

"Hmph."

Rosa Gigantea followed in silence, then stopped Yumi next to the first-floor stairway.

"This should be fine. There's people everywhere today."

"Ah."

She'd forgotten. Much like Valentine's Day or the Christmas Eve closing ceremony, there would be plenty of students openly expressing their feelings on graduation day. Particularly if their target was a third-year – a lot of students would be spurred on by the thought that this was their last chance. All of the secluded areas would be quite popular.

On that note, the stairway was a bit gloomy, so not a particularly romantic place for a love confession. Naturally, there were still people using the staircase, but it was a strange place to stop and listen in on the conversation of people standing at the bottom of the stairs. It was probably a safe spot, as long as the head of the newspaper club didn't sniff them out.

"So, what is it?"

Rosa Gigantea asked, looking directly at Yumi.

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"The university."

"The university?"

"Still playing dumb, huh."

What was it she'd said? "You've been too busy running around, preoccupied with thoughts of your beloved Rosa Gigantea." If she'd known that, then she should have told her. No, even then would have been too late. Before the farewell gift.

"Oh, you found out? That was surprisingly fast. I thought it'd be funny if you didn't find out until April."

"So it is true then. My head burst into flames this morning when Shimako-san told me."

She'd been fooled by Rosa Gigantea's sorrowful face, going so far as to kiss her on the cheek, exposing herself as a fool. Even though she'd only done it because she had thought it was an ending.

"Oh, really? Burst into flames? I would have loved to have seen that."

"Keep mocking me and I'll hit you."

"Whoa, a settling of scores?"

"Oooh."

How did it turn out like this?

"Oh, don't whine like that. Sure, it was my fault for not making a full report to you. But I thought you would have heard about it from someone else, normally."

"You weren't intentionally hiding it from me?"

"Why? For the kiss?"

"Don't say that."

To keep her from talking, Yumi pressed both her hands over Rosa Gigantea's lips. But, due to her strength, Rosa Gigantea easily removed the makeshift gag.

"But it's fine, right? It's true that I'm graduating. It's true that I'm going to university. So I should get a farewell gift. Where's the problem?"

"But the university you're going to is Lillian's!"

Yumi shouted.

"Yep."

Rosa Gigantea agreed, with every fiber of her being.

By chance, one of the old male lecturers wearing a traditional Japanese hakama had just come down the stairs and turned to look at them.

So that's how it was.

From April, Rosa Gigantea would be enrolled in the Lillian's Girls University's Literature Department, majoring in English Literature. Naturally, the university campus was on the same grounds as the high-school.

"I'm not going to university to study. I like school, but more than that, I'm going to university to make my peace. That's why it had to be Lillian's. Besides, once I've graduated, I can't be hanging around the high-school all the time anyway."

"… I guess not."

Now that Yumi had cooled down, she could more or less accept it.

She should have guessed when she'd heard that Rosa Gigantea was only applying for one school. Or if she'd paid more attention when she heard about her missing out on the priority placement deadline.

"It's the same as Youko and Eriko going to a different university."

The point Rosa Gigantea was trying to make was probably that they couldn't rely on her. Even so, knowing that she would be on the same campus made Yumi a little bit happier. No, a lot happier.

Hang on, wasn't she supposed to be angry? How long has she been grinning like this?

So the sense of relief at knowing Rosa Gigantea would be at Lillian's had won out over the feeling of being cheated about the kiss.

Suddenly, the number of people using the stairs swelled. Looking at the time, it was 8:25. They weren't having morning prayers today because of the graduation ceremony, but they were still taking attendance in homeroom, so they had to head back to their classrooms soon.

"What a shame. It looks like we're out of time."

"Yes."

They parted quite naturally, one heading down the hallway, the other up the stairs.

"Well, see you."

"Yeah, see you later."

As she climbed each step, Yumi felt something lifting from her.

Tap-tap-tap.

Her footsteps kept getting lighter.

Then, at last, from the bottom of her heart, she thought:

Rosa Gigantea.

I'm fine with you graduating.

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