Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume9 Chapter5 4

The Maria Ceremony Inquisition. Part 4.

In truth, it wasn't the right time for it, but.

The way the juzu sparkled in the chapel was really pretty, and Noriko was mesmerized by it for a little while.

It may have been impudent, but didn't it fit in nicely?

"This is yours, right Noriko-san?"

Touko-san announced triumphantly, holding forth the juzu.

Noriko used her gaze to control Shimako-san, who looked like she was about to jump out, adopted an imposing stance and responded, "It's not mine."

It had been left in her care by Shimako-san, so it wasn't a lie. Of course she had no intention of mentioning who the real owner was.

"Just how did you come to the conclusion that it was mine, Touko-san?"

Noriko was peeved, having just been attacked. If Touko-san was looking for a fight, she'd get one.

"That was … "

The ringlets faltered for a moment. If she said she saw it in Noriko's school bag, then she'd have to admit to opening the bag without permission.

"Come on, why did you think that?"

(If you can answer, then answer!)

In front of Maria-sama.

"I accidentally bumped into Noriko-san's desk and it came flying out."

Touko-san's response was smooth, like she'd practiced it.

"Don't you lie to me!"

(How dare she lie so shamelessly in the chapel.)

Even if she was unwilling to back down from that, would someone normally open the pouch and look inside? On top of that, she'd silently taken someone else's personal belongings.

(Even kindergarteners should know not to steal someone else's things.)

"What do you say, Noriko-san. Is this your property, as Touko-san claims?"

This time it was Rosa Chinensis that questioned her.

"I told you it wasn't."

"You'd swear that in front of Maria-sama?"

"Of course."

Noriko answered, puffed up with pride. But when Touko-san heard this, she chortled.

"Well then, I can throw it away, right?"

"Huh!?"

The juzu left her hand and carved an arc through the sky.

"If it doesn't belong to you, then it's none of your concern, right?"

Rosa Foetida caught it, and started juggling the juzu. So, asking to have it returned would be the same as admitting it was hers, then.

She hadn't expected the Spanish Inquisition.

"So you're asking me to destroy the juzu to prove my faith? … Alright, I confess. It's mine."

"Noriko!"

Shimako-san rushed forwards, unable to contain herself.

The students who'd been quietened by the developments started to get noisy again with Rosa Gigantea's unexpected entry.

"Shimako-san, don't say anything unnecessary."

"But."

"It's okay. At the moment, I'm the one with the problem."

Noriko turned her back to Shimako-san and took a step forward, to protect her.

"Nice attitude."

Rosa Chinensis smiled elegantly. It was the first time Noriko realized that she may be an incredible beauty.

"It was never my intention to blaspheme before Maria-sama, but that doesn't mean I didn't bring the juzu to school. While it may have been my fault for bringing something unrelated to my studies to school, how is it different to a comic book or a CD? There's no prohibition against bringing Buddhist items to school."

Noriko talked on and on. She may have been making excuses or quibbling, but she was explaining as best she could.

"Oh, things just got real."

Rosa Foetida muttered in amazement.

"Give me back the juzu."

Noriko commanded, holding out her hand. However, Rosa Foetida did not return it.

"Not yet."

"If you want it back, tell us who it belongs to. Earlier, you said it wasn't yours, didn't you Noriko-san?"

Rosa Chinensis provided the cross-examination, bringing her gorgeous smile to bear on Noriko.

"Even now, you admit that you brought it to school, but you did not claim that it was yours. Which means that the owner must be someone else, no?"

"…"

She had to hand it to the school council. They hadn't overlooked a thing.

"Noriko … "

Noriko held back Shimako-san, who was about to step forwards. Then gently kept holding her hand, to reassure her.

But for all her outward show of strength, the problem had not been resolved. Noriko still stood on trial.

"Answer the question, Noriko-san."

"It's – "

She was lost for words.

Certainly, she'd done nothing wrong. But there were things she couldn't honestly say too.

(Because it would cause a problem for someone else … ?)

That's it.

If Noriko told the truth, this idiotic inquisition would turn its attention to Shimako-san.

That she would not allow.

(Because, ignoring myself for the moment, Shimako-san actually does truly believe in the teachings of Christ. Yet she's still prepared to leave the school if everyone finds out about her secret … )

"What's the matter, Noriko-san?"

Rosa Chinensis looked into Noriko's eyes, searching for an answer.

(What should I do … )

If she did say that the juzu was hers now, it may end the investigation. But if she did, she'd be lying in front of Maria-sama.

For Shimako-san's sake, Noriko was prepared to tell as many lies as she had to.

But would Shimako-san allow Noriko to lie on her behalf?

Noriko was backed into a corner.

(But, other than a lie – )

"Say something, Noriko-san."

"What happened to your earlier spirit?"

She knew that as long as she remained silent her opponents attacks would grow more impudent.

Shimako-san squeezed Noriko's hand tightly. She realized later that this was a sign that, "You've done well."

"That's quite enough!"

Shimako-san shouted. Noriko noticed she'd taken a half-step forward.

She took a deep breath, then said quite clearly:

"I'm the owner of that juzu."

"Shimako-san!"

As well as Noriko's shriek, there were also cries of "Shimako-sama" and "Rosa Gigantea." The chapel was in uproar, with face after face after face focused on Shimako-san.

Shimako-san looked over her shoulder, surveying the entirety of the chapel and the commotion instantly ceased.

"Would you care to explain?"

Rosa Chinensis looked directly at Shimako-san. Shimako-san initially nodded, then said, "Before that."

"Before that, I'd like you to excuse Noriko's behavior. Noriko was just protecting me."

"… How so?"

"Because I gave Noriko my juzu to look after. If there's a penalty, then I should take its full weight."

Shimako-san said resolutely.

"No, I should be the one … !"

Noriko jumped forward, but someone gently restrained her shoulder.

"Noriko-san, please don't interfere."

Surprisingly, it was Rosa Foetida.

"Wha … ?"

She whispered that it was okay, then turned her attention back to Shimako-san.

"Why would a devout Christian like you – "

Rosa Chinensis asked quietly.

Everyone waited with bated breath. For the words that would come from Shimako-san's mouth next.

"Because my family runs a Buddhist temple."

Words could not express how beautiful Shimako-san looked as she made this declaration, facing the cross.

Nobody said a word.

The strength drained from Noriko's body, and she fell on her butt.

(… She finally said it.)

Still sitting on the floor exhausted, Noriko looked up and saw that the blurry outline coming towards her was the real Shimako-san.

"You worked so hard to protect me, I'm sorry."

"Shimako-san!"

Noriko clung to her and cried like a child. She didn't understand why the tears wouldn't stop. Even though she didn't know what the tears were for, she let them give voice to her emotions.

(That's it, it's all over.)

She remembered what Touko-san had said some time ago. About enduring, but crying when you wanted to – it was exactly like that.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Somewhere, someone was applauding.

"You finally said it, Shimako."

It was Rosa Chinensis.

"Oh brother. This year's entertainment was fairly over the top, wasn't it."

Rosa Foetida shrugged.

"Huh?"

Noriko and Shimako-san, still embracing, exclaimed in unison. The atmosphere in the room had changed somehow.

"A big round of applause to Shimako and Noriko-san for showing us a vision of beautiful sisterly love!"

Rosa Chinensis said into the mic (had she been holding that all along?), bringing the event to a climax.

"Huh? … Wha!?"

Unbelievably, the sound of applause surrounded them in the auditorium, like a sudden downpour of rain. What kind of magic was this, they all looked incredibly moved, as though they'd just watched a dramatic masterpiece. There were even some students who were crying as they applauded – just what was the meaning of this? To begin with, who among those students would be crying after finding out the truth?

Rosa Chinensis spoke to the bewildered pair.

"Why have you been hiding it until now? Did you really think that the daughter from a Buddhist temple couldn't attend a Catholic school?"

"Huh?"

"Honestly. I don't know if it's earnestness or stubbornness. But it was worth the buildup."

Rosa Foetida agreed, looking elated.

(Buildup?)

"Then, about my family – "

Rosa Foetida laughed when Shimako-san timidly started to ask.

"Of course we knew. My grandfather's a parishioner at Shouguu temple. Didn't you know that?"

"Wha!?"

"I'll tell you something else too. All of the parishioners know that you attend Lillian's too. They've got a bet going with the chief priest about when you'll come out and announce it."

"… No way."

Rosa Chinensis said it so easily. Even though Shimako-san had spent so much time agonizing over it.

"I didn't really think it was something that you had to admit. But, Shimako, keeping it hidden seemed to be causing you pain. I thought the best way would be for you to announce it in front of everyone. But that meant we had to deceive you. I apologize for that."

This was the "brouhaha" that Sumireko-san had talked about. Noriko sniffed, still not fully satisfied with the explanation.

(A public shaming in front of everyone, my tears – )

"Although I deserve a lot of the credit for spotting Noriko-san, right?"

"Touko-san!"

She chuckled and tilted her head when Noriko rushed over to her.

"You know, the Red Rose and Yellow Rose onee-samas begged Touko to help out. But playing a villain was such fun!"

Noriko remembered, all too late, that Touko-san had said she was joining the drama club.

"Then my outdoor shoes, and the clips in my indoor shoes, and the graffiti on my desk – "

"Of course? I wanted to give you a sense of impending danger, but a thumbtack would really hurt. When I saw her give you that cloth pouch behind the auditorium, I thought, "This is suspicious, there's definitely something here." Isn't Touko brilliant!"

Touko-san closed her eyes, slowly getting drunk on herself.

"Right. Let Touko give you one piece of advice Noriko-san – when you have something precious in your school bag, keep it locked. You're surprisingly absentminded, so anyone could look in your bag whenever they felt like it."

Such a sweet personality. Noriko felt dizzy thinking she'd have to spend the rest of the year in the same class as her.

"Rose onee-samas, Touko was of use to you, wasn't she? Your praise please!"

"Touko! Before that, you apologize!!"

Noriko's furious roar echoed around the tall ceiling of the chapel.