Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume9 Chapter8

Intriguing First-Year

Part 1.

At first glance, the first-year Nijou Noriko was an ordinary young lady.

She had a bob haircut, although it was a bit long. Her straight black hair reached down to around her shoulders. Her bangs reached her eyebrows, forming a single line. Basically, it was an old-fashioned hairstyle that made her look like a traditional Japanese doll.

(What's so special about this girl … ?)

8:10am. Yumi was observing Shimako-san's first-year friend from a spot in the hallway where she could see into the first-year camellia group classroom. Actually, she'd shadowed her here from the main gate. Or, more accurately, she already knew what Nijou Noriko looked like because she serendipitously happened to see her yesterday after school, so when she spotted her getting off the bus this morning she'd followed her here.

Incidentally, about yesterday's serendipity.

Of all things, Yumi had witnessed Touko-chan hiding Nijou Noriko's shoes. At any rate, she couldn't tell if Touko-chan was being daring or mischievous. She could have chosen a less obvious hiding place, but she simply dropped the shoes at the main entrance, a couple of metres away from the changing area, and went home.

Still, she couldn't approve of harassment, no matter how light. Yumi was about to quietly return the shoes when a first-year student walked past her. Yumi realized this was Nijou Noriko when she opened her shoe locker, stopped to think for a short while, then continued on her way home still wearing her indoor shoes. The young girl seemed as undisturbed as she was new to Lillian's.

Presently, she was sitting at her desk reading a paperback. After observing her like this for a couple of minutes, Yumi still couldn't detect any remarkable traits.

(What do she and Shimako-san have in common – ?)

Yumi had expected her to be a devout Christian, but this morning she'd walked straight past the statue of Maria-sama at the fork in the road without stopping to pray. Even if it was an honest mistake, it seemed unlikely that a true believer would forget to greet Maria-sama.

"… Like, does her family also run a temple?"

"No. Her father's a public servant and her mother's a teacher. Although, her family lives a fair way away, so she's currently living with a relative."

"Ah, I see."

As she was agreeing with the voice coming from behind, Yumi suddenly realized. She hadn't come here with anyone.

(Who is it!?)

Hastily turning around, Yumi recognized the girl with ringlets that was standing there and smiling.

"Yumi-sama."

"Ah, yes!?"

Yumi was a second-year and Touko-chan a first-year. Naturally, the honorific "-sama" had been used to address the older student, Yumi, but looking at it objectively their roles were reversed. Yumi was timid, like a child that had been caught doing something naughty, while Touko-chan was calm, like an adult admonishing her.

"Playing the detective?"

"No, not really."

Although it was probably pointless denying it at this point. A second-year student peering into the first-year camellia group classroom was bound to look suspicious, no matter how you look at it.

"If you're concerned about her, you should just ask Touko."

Touko-chan took Yumi by the hand and walked over to the classroom door. She could get a better look at Nijou Noriko from closer in, and by being with Touko-chan it wouldn't seem unnatural. From a distance, it would look like a conversation between a close junior and senior.

Yumi cleared her throat quietly and changed the topic of conversation.

"Um … did you just arrive at school, Touko-chan?"

Touko-chan was holding her school bag which smelled of brand-new leather.

"No, I arrived before 8, but I've stayed away from the classroom to establish an alibi."

"An alibi … !?"

"See, someone who arrived after her wouldn't have had a chance to tamper with her indoor shoes, right?"

She smiled suggestively.

(What's she done this time, the little … )

Having just witnessed what happened yesterday, Yumi didn't want to hear about this.

"Don't be so concerned. It wasn't anything major."

" … Ah, r-right."

That's not so good, is it Fukuzawa Yumi? This person you've only just met is already able to read your mind.

"Noriko-san seems a bit standoffish, don't you think? She's always like that."

Touko-chan glanced inside the classroom.

She never lifted her gaze from the paperback when her classmates walked past her. She'd respond when asked something directly, but once the task was done she immersed herself in reading once more. Indeed, she didn't seem like the type who needed her friends to go with her to the toilet.

"But she shows a different side of her during lunchtime and after school."

"A different side?"

Yumi's gaze shifted from Nijou Noriko to Touko-chan. A different side. That was an intriguing statement.

"Do you want to see it?"

"I do!"

"Shh."

Touko-chan drew her index finger up to her lips and glared at Yumi. She hadn't meant to raise her voice that loudly, but Nijou Noriko suddenly raised her head so the pair hurriedly hid behind the door.

"Alright then, today at lunch. Wait for me near the main entrance."

Touko-chan said, at extremely low volume.

"Huh? Lunchtime's not that good for me."

Yumi hesitated for a moment. She was supposed to have lunch at the Rose Mansion today. Not for a meeting about the first-years' welcoming ceremony, but for a private discussion about how to go about getting Shimako-san to reveal her secret.

"It's fine if you don't want to see."

Faced with the two options, she made a bold choice. Seeing the other side of Nijou Noriko would surely come in useful in the future.

"Well, until then."

Grin. Touko-chan smiled, seemingly buoyed by her success. Yumi didn't know what Touko-chan was going to show her, but she started to feel a bit uneasy, wondering if it really would measure up against lunch with Sachiko-sama, as well as the important private discussion.

"Ah, please come alone too."

Touko-chan said, stopping to turn around after entering the classroom as though she just remembered.

"Why?"

"If we're not quiet, the wild duck will fly away. And even at the best of times, your lack of composure makes you stand out."

Yumi thought that last remark was uncalled for, but said nothing. Without Touko-chan's guidance, she wouldn't be able to see the wild duck Nijou Noriko in her natural habitat. Besides, she couldn't come up with anything to refute the "lack of composure" claim.

Part 2.

"And Yoshino-sama?"

Touko-chan asked as soon as they met at the main entrance, checking out the area around Yumi.

"It seems she's not here."

"Well, you told me to come alone, right?"

"Even so, she might have come along too. Yoshino-sama seems quite stubborn. But you seem to have shaken her off."

She said, placing an index finger on her cheek. She was either observant, or good at deduction.

Indeed, it had been quite a bit of trouble to leave Yoshino-san and come here alone, when Yoshino-san had been expecting they'd go to the Rose Mansion together. If she had said, "I'll be going ahead," then she would have been peppered with questions like, "Why?" or "Where are you going?" In the end, Yumi fled out of the classroom and dashed off in the opposite direction. Intentionally taking the long way around to throw off any pursuit.

She was still a little short of breath when Touko-chan arrived at their arranged meeting place, looking completely at leisure.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Touko-chan checked her watch, then started walking.

"Go? Where to?"

"To where Noriko-san is. That's what you were told, right?"

Yumi already knew that much. What she was asking was where that was.

"Ah, you'll be fine in your indoor shoes. You'll just have to wipe them on the mat when we come back to the school building."

Touko-chan said as she quickly walked out the main entrance. It seemed unbelievable that she was a new student. She had a presence as though she owned the high-school building.

The light-pink cherry blossoms had completely disappeared, replaced with yellow-green shoots as they walked half a pace apart through the cherry trees. The lunchtime rush of students heading to Milk Hall or the canteen had passed, so they only saw a couple of other students scattered here and there.

When they reached the front of the auditorium, Touko-chan stopped and said:

"No loud noises from this point on."

After issuing this warning, Touko-chan didn't wait for Yumi's response before proceeding around the auditorium to the back.

"This – "

Yumi knew this place well. A lone cherry tree blossomed amidst the ginkgo trees. She'd eaten lunch here often during autumn of the previous year, to escape the gaze of the newspaper club.

The back of the auditorium. – Shimako-san's favorite place.

"Noriko-san's here."

Walking in front, Touko-chan suddenly stopped and Yumi gently bumped into her.

"… Ow."

Yumi whispered, "Sorry," to Touko-chan, who was glaring resentfully at her, then looked over her shoulder.

"Ah."

Nijou Noriko was there, but she wasn't alone – Shimako-san was with her.

"What do you think? Yumi-sama."

"Ah, well … "

She wasn't close enough to hear what they were talking about, but Nijou Noriko did indeed look like a different person compared to the girl in the classroom.

Similarly, and this was even more surprising to Yumi, Shimako-san had an expression on her face that Yumi had never seen before.

It was like she was completely relaxed. Or that she had complete peace of mind. At any rate, it was a lovely expression, calm and peaceful.

(Why?)

Was it because Nijou Noriko was there? Was she that important a person? Were we no good?

These questions burst into Yumi's mind one after the other.

Even though Shimako-san had said she wasn't even thinking about a petit soeur – .

"Ah, Yumi-sama, where are you going?"

When she came to her senses, Yumi's feet had already done an about turn, all the strength had drained from her body and she was staggering along uncertainly.

"Thank-you. I'm leaving now."

She didn't want to see any more.

Shimako-san's relaxed expression and the first-year by her side talking animatedly. At this moment, it was probably impossible for anyone else to enter into their world. As her friend, she should be delighted that Shimako-san was happy. She thought that her inability to do so showed how small her heart was. Her emotions were in turmoil and she couldn't control them.

"I see. I'll stay and observe for a bit longer."

"Okay then, bye."

As she kept walking, Touko-chan's muttering reached Yumi's ears.

"You're more delicate than you appear, Yumi-sama."

"Huh?"

When she instinctively turned around, Touko-chan laughed.

"Rosa Gigantea's so far away. That's why you're so solemn, right?"

"That's n-"

Yumi swallowed her words and left the auditorium.

Setting aside whether she was right or not.

A know-it-all junior was a bit unpleasant. That's what Yumi thought.

Part 3.

"I see."

Sachiko-sama sighed deeply.

"And after that you didn't feel up to coming to the Rose Mansion, and stayed in your classroom the entire time."

"Yeah."

Despite telling Yoshino-san that she'd be late, in the end she didn't make it to the Rose Mansion at all during lunch. She thought her explanation would have seemed a little weak, and there was no visible reason, so all she could do was speak her true feelings. Thinking hard, Yumi spun her words.

It was now after school. Only Sachiko-sama and Yumi were in the Rose Mansion.

"It's not that I don't understand."

Sachiko-sama treated her despondent petit soeur to a warm cup of black tea.

"What does it mean to be friends? When I seriously think about this sort of thing, I want some distance from my friends."

"… I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I'm not concerned, because you came and told me about it. Even Yoshino-chan won't be angry now. … So what's next? Why don't you stay for a while and calm down before you see her?"

"Okay."

She still hadn't made a full recovery. Still, she agreed.

Sachiko-sama was kind. Yumi only ever wanted to answer her cheerfully, so she tentatively agreed.

Sachiko-sama was usually scary, and while she may not have fully understood Yumi, whenever Yumi found herself bewildered and unable to cope with something, just being at Sachiko-sama's side was enough to warm her heart. Her onee-sama was someone precious to her.

"Silly Yumi. Moved to tears?"

"Because."

Now that she was aware of the tears, she wanted to cry even more.

"Go ahead."

Sachiko-sama embraced Yumi around the shoulders, gently pulling her closer.

Yumi thought of Shimako-san the entire time she was pressed against her onee-sama's chest.

Shimako-san no longer had an onee-sama to show her this sort of kindness. She had no-one to silently quell the tears that fell for reasons she didn't understand.

How lonely would she be? How anxious would she be?

It may be a loneliness that even friends couldn't fill.

If Shimako-san wanted someone to warm her heart, then who could blame her for that?

Even if it meant that Nijou Noriko became Shimako-san's savior.

"Onee-sama, I – "

Just when the mood was so nice.

Thud!

"Sachiko onee-sama, big news!"

The third-wheel appeared, almost as though she knew she was entering into a good scene. Naturally, it was without any advance warning.

"What's the matter, Touko-chan?"

Sachiko-sama asked, immediately separating her body from Yumi's. Because it was such a rapid assault, she couldn't process it all immediately, so didn't have the presence of mind to issue a caution about "Sachiko onee-sama." See, because Touko-chan could climb the Rose Mansion staircase without making a sound.

"At lunchtime, Shimako-sama and Noriko-san had a secret meeting."

Touko-chan forgot to close the door as she rushed over to Sachiko-sama.

"So I've heard."

"You've heard … ? Who from?"

As she spoke, Touko-chan slowly shifted her gaze to Sachiko-sama's neighbor.

"Ah, Yumi-sama. It was you?"

Like she'd just noticed. While she was still pulling herself together, Yumi forced a smile and said, "Gokigenyou. Thanks for earlier." Touko-chan showed she was still a new student by her response of, "Now's not the time for a cheerful greeting."

"I know that Shimako and this first-year Noriko met behind the auditorium. But they were just having lunch together."

Sachiko-sama pulled out a chair and sat down.

"That's all that Yumi-sama saw."

Touko-chan shrugged. Yumi frowned, thinking, "Oh, so this big news happened after I left then."

"Shimako-sama gave something to Noriko-san."

"What was it?"

"It was a cloth pouch. I couldn't tell what was inside, so I gathered my courage and when Noriko-san was out of the classroom on cleaning duty, I opened her bag and looked inside."

"Touko-chan, that was going a bit – "

Too far, Yumi tried to caution her from the sidelines.

"She's my friend."

Touko-chan cut her off, decisively. A mind that never doubted the correctness of its actions could easily suppress any feelings of guilt.

Sachiko-sama let out a gasp of amazement, but getting into an argument about this wouldn't advance the main topic, so she pressed onwards.

"And? What was inside?"

"A juzu. Sachiko onee-sama."

"A juzu!?"

"Yes, a juzu. Um, that string of beads they use at Buddhist ceremonies, like funerals."

The string of beads they used at Buddhist funeral ceremonies. The string of beads her rural grandmother used every morning when she prayed before her household shrine. Touko-chan held her hands together in front of her chest, in a praying pose.

"Shimako brought a juzu to school … "

Sachiko-sama put her elbows on the table, linking her fingers in front of her mouth.

"We should use it as a prop, don't you think?"

Touko-chan looked triumphant, having found the pawn, Nijou Noriko, and the juzu prop.

"Yes … well, we'll see."

"And, during class, I was working on a side-project."

Touko-chan took a notebook from her bag and handed it over to Sachiko-sama, who had a conflicted expression on her face.

""Great Detective Touko's Casebook. The Mystery of the Missing Juzu?" What is this?"

"I'm not just an actor, I'm also interested in writing and producing. So this … "

Tee hee. She shrugged, laying on the cute act so thick she was practically shouting it.

"I thought I'd try writing the script."

"Huh!?"

Rosa Chinensis and her petit soeur both exclaimed simultaneously.

She thought she'd try writing the script. That was indeed what Touko-chan had said.

Even so, "Great Detective Touko." Pretty conceited of her to make herself the lead.

"Um, Touko-chan … ?"

Hello?

"Have no fear. Each of the Rose onee-samas have their moment in the spotlight."

"Um."

"Of course, the auditorium scene is the climax."

"…"

It was useless. Touko's mind was already completely occupied with her own play.

"What are you prattling on about?"

A hand came from behind and took hold of the notebook / script. It was Rei-sama standing there.

"Touko-chan, are you there? There's something that has to be said clearly, so I'll say it. You're not a member of this group. Thank-you for your information. But the way you're trying to seize control is laughable."

Ah, Rei-sama. Hypothetically speaking, she'd cut right to the chase, saying what Yumi wanted to say but couldn't. Rosa Foetida was as reliable as ever.

"But."

"But nothing."

Even as she was issuing this stinging rebuke, Rei-sama was smiling and flipping through the notebook.

"Alright, alright. I've picked out most of the important points from your scenario, Touko-chan. Now step back and be quiet. Okay?"

She rolled the notebook into a cylinder and gently tapped Touko-chan on the head with it.

"Okay."

Touko-chan answered, in good-little-girl mode.

"Shimako-san will be here soon."

Yoshino-san entered the room, a bit behind Rei-sama. They'd arranged a meeting for this time. Not just for the people in on the secret.

"Bye then. Touko's off to her club activities."

Touko-chan skipped past Yoshino-san on her way out. Her ringlets bouncing jauntily as she did so.

"… Incredible."

Without thinking, Yumi groaned.

"What?"

Rei-sama asked, eyebrow raised, guessing that Yumi was talking about her.

"Touko-chan's behavior."

"Oh right. Well, I say that, but I'm used to it."

Rei-sama nonchalantly angled her chin towards Yoshino-san.

Oh right.

"I see."

The way Touko-chan carried on. It could definitely give Yoshino-san a run for her money.

Part 4.

Shimako-san walked into the room carrying the musical score for "Ave Maria" on the piano.

"I've been given permission to use the church organ."

She certainly didn't seem to think she was on a fool's errand. Yumi's chest burned.

(She's my friend!)

She recited Touko-chan's words in her mind like a spell, to keep a lid on those unbearable thoughts. There was no way to know what was right without seeing the results. So they all believed their only option was to see this through to the end.

Now then.

Shimako-san would be playing the organ at this year's first-year welcoming ceremony. That's what they'd decided.

There was no way they could tell Shimako-san about the play they were going to use to entrap her, so this was their decoy. And a plan that created work for Shimako-san was convenient in many ways. Since they could hold their secret meetings when Shimako-san wasn't there.

"How was it? The organ."

Rei-sama nonchalantly probed Shimako-san.

"Let me think. Like Sachiko-sama said, the keys have a different weight to a piano, so there's some parts that are tricky to play."

Then Shimako-san smiled and finished her answer by saying, "But once I'm used to it, I'll manage somehow." She really didn't seem to have noticed anything.

"If you're not confident we can always switch. Back to that other – "

Sachiko-sama twirled her index finger around in a small circle.

"No please!!"

The two boutons screamed out almost simultaneously.

"I think I'll be sick that day if we change back."

"Yeah, I'm burning up with enthusiasm. Wait, that's not enthusiasm, that's a fever coming on."

"… So it looks like we all agree it would be better if I played the organ."

Shimako-san smiled wryly, raising her arm gently.

"Really? I thought it was well received."

"Oh it was. The Bouton's Great Talent Show."

Traditional Japanese dancing to "Maria-sama's Soul."

A magic act backed by "El Bimbo" on pianica.

The ara essa ssa of the Loach Scopping dance.

No-one had ever heard of the older students doing something like that at the new students' welcoming ceremony.

"You've done it before."

"That was … "

They'd been willing to sacrifice life and limb to properly farewell the graduating Roses. Plus, because it was in the family, so to speak, they could cut loose a bit. It wasn't something they could do in front of a large audience, especially not of first-years.

"You're no fun."

Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama were amusing themselves by fanning the flames, but if their petit soeurs really did put on such a show then it would obviously be incredibly embarrassing for them as grande soeurs too.

"At any rate, that idea's rejected. Rejected."

In solidarity with Yoshino-san, she rejected the idea. Even if it was a joke, even if it was to trick Shimako-san into going along with their dummy plan, that dreadful suggestion had to be killed off as quickly as possible. Adding her hand to their two fists, Shimako-san seemed to like the idea of playing the organ better than performing a traditional Japanese dance too.

"Shimako."

Sachiko-sama suddenly spoke with a serious expression.

"Yes."

"Give it your best."

"Huh? … Okay."

Shimako-san seemed a bit confused, perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere.

The Maria Ceremony was only three days away.

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