Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 23 Chapter 7

 

 

 

 

 

At 6:30 the following morning they were woken by the alarm clock and, while rubbing their eyes, they stood on their futons and Rei-sama led them in a round of radio calisthenics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama didn't like it, but since the other five were doing it she apparently didn't want to be the odd one out and reluctantly joined in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Did you have your first dream of the year?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naturally, this was the first topic of conversation that morning. However.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I sort of did, and I sort of didn't."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I dreamed that I ate so much I couldn't move."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I think I had a dream but I can't remember it now that I've woken up."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly, that was how it was. Dreaming about one of the lucky omens, like Mt. Fuji or falcons or eggplants, seemed to be about as unlikely as winning the lottery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They walked through the house together in their light sleeping clothes, then brushed their teeth and washed their faces before getting changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san swiftly dressed herself in her kimono, like she was putting on regular clothes. It seemed that she was so used to this that she didn't even need to make use of a full-length mirror. Sachiko-sama wasn't wearing her kimono today. She was dressed simply in a sweater and skirt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After they'd finished dressing they split into the cooking group and the cleaning group. The former was made up of the two third-years, while the latter comprised the second- and first-years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cleaning group folded up the futons then tossed the sheets and pillowcases into the washing machines before cleaning the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normally the tatami mats may have been swept clean of stray tea leaves with a broom, but they weren't sure so they decided to give it a quick clean with the vacuum cleaner. It'd be bad if they messed up by doing something they weren't used to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Just that room's fine."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama called out from the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oka~y."

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it was kind of fun, so Yumi and her comrade-in-long-pants Yoshino-san raced each other in cleaning the long hallway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Shimako-san tweaked the ikebana display in the alcove, an enticing aroma wafted in from the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Itadakimasu."

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Sayako-oba-sama joined them, the seven of them started breakfast. At 7:30am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The breakfast menu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

A clear soup made from chicken stock with a grilled mochi rice cake for each of them. The color of the j.a.panese parsley, wheat b.a.l.l.s and mushrooms made it look quite pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fried eggs and non-fried prosciutto (Was it okay to call this Bacon and Eggs? &h.e.l.lip; It was a bit of a quandary.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, Rei-sama's red and white radish salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a mix of eastern and western cuisines but there were no complaints once they started eating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"There's soy sauce, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and mayonnaise. That should be enough to suit everyone, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama said, lining up the condiments she'd gathered from the kitchen on the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"As they say, to each their own."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Referring to how they seasoned their eggs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama reached for the soy sauce, and Yoshino-san for the ketchup. Rei-sama for the salt and pepper, and Noriko-chan for the Worcestershire sauce. Shimako-san took the soy sauce after Sachiko-sama, while Sayako-oba-sama seemed to be amusing herself by trying the mayonnaise for a change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What about you, Yumi-chan?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama asked, having noticed that Yumi hadn't reached out for any of the containers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, I'm still trying to decide which one to have."

 

 

 

 

 

 

If she wanted to have the same as Sachiko-sama, it would be soy sauce. But there was also the option of trying something different, like Sayako-oba-sama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Which one of these do you have at home?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which one of these, she'd asked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wait, you can't mean &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

At which point Rei-sama acted totally shocked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You have something that's not here?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; Yeah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bingo. Although, naturally enough, she'd had eggs with ketchup or Worcestershire sauce when she was a child, but, unfortunately, she'd been having them with something else almost exclusively of late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Is it a special sauce? Or is it a household staple?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino-san leaned forwards, her excitement gushing out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A staple, but &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Is it vinegar?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"No."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi shook her head, and Shimako-san and Noriko-chan joined in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Is it salad dressing, perhaps?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Is it kimchi stock?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; No, it's neither of those."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salad dressing was one thing, but what family would have a supply of kimchi stock on hand?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't tell me it's miso soup?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

That would be something. It didn't sound like it would taste that bad, but wouldn't the egg be more of an accompaniment to the soup than the other way around?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama had been listening quietly but she finally got tired of waiting and said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Stop acting so self-important and just say it already."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi hadn't meant to be acting self-important, but it was hard for her to say what it was now that it had turned into such a big deal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well &h.e.l.lip; it's mentsuyu[1] sauce."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mentsuyu sauce!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone else cried out in unison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mentsuyu sauce, huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose we'd probably have that at home."

 

 

 

 

 

 

No-one had guessed it, but they all responded favorably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sachiko-san, we have some in the refrigerator."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes, we do. If you're alright with store bought sauce."

 

 

 

 

 

 

As she responded to her mother, Sachiko-sama finally looked at Yumi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, of course."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stuff they used in the f.u.kuzawa household had been bought from the supermarket in a "one-per-customer" special sale. She remembered being pressed into service to line up at the register because her mother had to have two bottles of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bottle Sachiko-sama retrieved from their refrigerator was the same brand as Yumi's house used, but a size smaller. It seemed surprising that they would use something simple like this on their fine white noodles in the Ogasawara household, but the truth was apparently something else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Grandpa doesn't like noodle broth that doesn't have dashi, so the chef uses this to add some flavoring."

 

 

 

 

 

 

After taking the offered bottle, Yumi basked in everyone's attention as she poured the sauce over her egg yolk. Now the conversation turned to how they ate their eggs. Whether they attacked the egg yolk first, or saved it for last, or ate the white and yellow parts proportionately, or whether they usually had it cooked on both sides. From there it moved on to how they preferred the egg yolk. Then it broadened from just themselves, as they discussed the preferences and idiosyncrasies of other people they knew, and the dining table became quite lively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fried eggs was such a simple dish, but it was funny how it brought out the eater's personality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They chatted and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, then cleaned up, hung the linen out to dry once the washing machine finished, had a nice tea break, and by then it was already 11am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose we should be heading off soon."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama broached the topic and the two day New Year's party was brought to a close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You don't have to be in such a rush."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sayako-oba-sama said, looking a bit regretful. Yumi felt the same way too, but Sachiko-sama's father and grandfather were returning that evening and the house staff would probably be back before then, so it seemed like they'd become a nuisance if they stayed too long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Come and visit us again."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her words had probably been intended for everyone but Yumi answered the loudest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, wait a minute."

 

 

 

 

 

 

As they were putting on their shoes in the entry, Sayako-oba-sama scampered up to the second floor and quickly returned with something wrapped in a furoshiki cloth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yumi-chan, you forgot something."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I did?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

That said, she was definitely carrying her packed shoulder-bag. The presents she'd brought when she arrived had mostly been eaten, but even if there were leftovers she wouldn't have taken them home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Here you go."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sayako-oba-sama opened the furoshiki cloth slightly to show what was inside. Yumi recognized the paper case. It contained the kimono of Sayako-oba-sama's that she'd been allowed to wear last night. Yumi remembered taking it off prior to her bath and that Sachiko-sama had hung it up on a special kimono hanger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You can wear it with obi sashes and accessories you have at home."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, but."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't be so modest. This is the prize for winning the game of sugoroku. If you like it, please take it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wha-!?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the first she'd heard of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm sure I told you that. I did, didn't I?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sayako-oba-sama asked for confirmation. Yumi answered, "No," but the Yellow and White Rose soeurs all answered, "Yes."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why were there two different answers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

With question marks flying around Yumi's head, Sachiko-sama smirked and said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You and I were on the second-floor when she announced the prize, Yumi. Mother made the announcement as soon as Shimako-san and Noriko-chan returned. Completely missing the fact that we weren't present. Then father and Suguru-san appeared and she must have completely forgotten about it, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes, yes. That's it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sayako-oba-sama shrugged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's folded over to make it easier to carry, unfold it to its normal size when you get home."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Is it really okay?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

For her to take something so expensive and laden with memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Take it. I had one pushed onto me last night too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama said, as the other member of the winning team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay. Thank-you very much. I'll take good care of it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi accepted it with both hands, then bowed deeply. It would be a treasured heirloom, pa.s.sed down to her children and grandchildren. That was how she felt. Even though she wasn't even married yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You don't have to worry about returning the furoshiki cloth. It was the wrapping for a thank-you gift we received for attending a wedding ceremony."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sayako-oba-sama gently tugged on the knot of the furoshiki cloth. The cloth was made from a thin felt-like material. When her father had attended a wedding ceremony in his hometown, he'd received a gift of red rice, grilled bream, and other things wrapped in a furoshiki cloth like this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah. Is that the one Kashiwagi-san brought back?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama asked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes, that's right, it was when you were visiting. But there was something strange about Suguru-san that day. I was going to question him about it but I forgot."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm, so some time in the past when Rei-sama was visiting, Kashiwagi-san had come over just to return this one furoshiki cloth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh, that's - "

 

 

 

 

 

 

She felt like she'd heard that story. Yumi c.o.c.ked her head as she tried to remember, and Sayako-oba-sama said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Incredible, Yumi-chan. You remember the cloth? You're right, it's the one I wrapped Suguru-san's mille-feuille in back then."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, so that's it. I knew it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite laughing and agreeing, Yumi thought, "That's not it." Sure, Kashiwagi-san may have received a package of mille-feuille wrapped in a furoshiki cloth like that one on the day of the amus.e.m.e.nt park date. But she'd completely forgotten about that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was stuck on something else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One day when Rei-sama went to visit Sachiko-sama, Kashiwagi-san had shown up. Yumi hadn't been there, but she knew this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Ah.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was the day that Touko-chan had run away from home. Over the phone, Kashiwagi-san had told her about Rei-sama's visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kashiwagi-san would surely have been acting strangely. Since he had to visit the Ogasawara household while Touko-chan was still missing and without turning it into a big deal. And, to this day, Kashiwagi-san still hadn't told the people of the Ogasawara household that Touko-chan had run away from home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What's the matter?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, nothing. I was just thinking that since you gave me this kimono, I should learn how to put it on by myself."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since Kashiwagi-san hadn't said anything, she should probably remain quiet about Touko-chan too. Having decided this, Yumi turned the conversation in a different direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's alright to get a.s.sistance with putting on a long-sleeved kimono."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then Sayako-oba-sama said, "You seemed to enjoy it, so next time you visit we can try on kimonos." Trying on kimonos when she visited next. Incredible. That was different to "Wearing a kimono and visiting."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The five girls said their farewells to Sachiko-sama and her mother at the front door, turning down their offer of an escort to the gate, and headed out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was fine and it was pleasantly warm for January.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ring-ring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi and the White Rose soeurs walked ahead, but Rei-sama and Yoshino-san quickly caught up with them, then overtook them, after first retrieving their bicycles from the car park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm off."

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was inevitable that Yoshino-san would enjoy herself on her shiny new bike. Rei-sama had temporarily stopped but she quickly took off again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yoshino, wait up."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-sama frantically chased after Yoshino-san. It was the same as always with those two. Yumi and Shimako-san looked at each other and laughed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gate was already open, since it was controlled from inside the house. Yoshino-san had been caught at the gate and was waiting for everyone else to arrive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Next up is the school opening ceremony."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's right."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's soon."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yeah. Real soon."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The five girls exchanged farewells of "Gokigenyou" and split into two groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahead of her, the two bicycles slowly shrunk into the distance. Yumi, together with Shimako-san and Noriko-chan, retraced the path they'd taken yesterday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since they didn't have to wonder about which road to take, they made it to the station in 15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They said goodbye to Shimako-san at the station, like when they met. Yumi got on the train with Noriko-chan and then they split up at M Station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi flopped down into a bus seat and looked out the window. Today was the third of January. She could still see people dressed in their finery here and there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As she watched the scenery flow by, her thoughts turned to Kashiwagi-san for some reason.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Touko-chan ran away from home, Kashiwagi-san had gone to the Ogasawara's house to find out whether or not she was there. Sayako-oba-sama had thought he was acting strange, and that was because he was hiding something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That said, there had also been something strange about Kashiwagi-san last night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there was a reason for his "strangeness," then it seemed like it could be because he was hiding something from someone, like he had when Touko-chan had run away from home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm going skiing with my uni buddies from the morning of the fifth."

 

 

 

 

 

 

n.o.body had asked him, so why had he said that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The winter break will be over by the time I return."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The winter break will be over. He would have been referring to his winter break, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

But she'd heard that university holidays were much longer than high-school holidays. Nonetheless, he'd said that the break would be over by the time he returned. There's no way he'd still be blithely skiing when cla.s.ses had already begun. Despite his appearance, Kashiwagi-san was surprisingly studious and it seemed rather unlikely that he'd make such rash plans with his university friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Then whose?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

He wouldn't have been referring to winter vacation in general. That would have no bearing on Kashiwagi-san's ski trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(He couldn't be. &h.e.l.lip; No, I suppose he could.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

"So if there's anything you need me to do."

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Kashiwagi-san was telling me.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As she thought about it, she came to understand. Kashiwagi-san's statements had seemed strange because they were directed at only one person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No-one else knew that Touko-chan had run away from home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"If you ask me about it next time, I'll tell you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi had asked Kashiwagi-san about the problems Touko-chan was dealing with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a secret shared just by the two of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Therefore Kashiwagi-san had left Yumi with something like a code, so that none of the others would find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If she wanted to ask him about Touko-chan, she'd have to do it before he went away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If she waited until he got back from his ski trip, school would have started. When that happens, she wouldn't be able to visit him whenever she wanted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(He said the afternoon of the fourth.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi wrote the number "4" on the gla.s.s with her finger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To ask about Touko-chan's situation or not to ask. She hadn't come to a conclusion just yet. It was scary to think about, so she'd put off making a decision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So maybe it was a good thing for her to have a deadline placed on her decision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the name of the bus stop near her home was announced, Yumi pressed the buzzer and prepared to disembark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The afternoon of the fourth.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

She still had a whole day to think about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite having time to think about it, there was no guarantee that she'd be able to collect her thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You'll absolutely have to wear that kimono to your coming-of-age ceremony."

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Yumi idly listened to her mother talking about events three years in the future, more than half of her brain was occupied thinking about Touko-chan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why had Touko-chan fought with her parents?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It probably wasn't directly related to Touko-chan's rejection of her. But Yumi couldn't help but feel they were somehow connected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similarly, that glimpse of despair she'd caught on Touko-chan's face during their conversation about the blank map.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or the question she'd thrown at Shimako-san about succeeding in the family business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi didn't know the reason why Touko-chan had refused the offer to be her pet.i.t soeur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For example, Yumi may have been generally at fault just by failing to notice it. But if Touko-chan was in a poor state of mind, she couldn't help but wonder why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suppose that Touko-chan had come to feel that everything was futile, due to something at home, or some other reason. And then she'd suddenly been asked, "Won't you be my pet.i.t soeur?" Maybe she couldn't stand the thought of starting a new relationship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then wouldn't it be good if Yumi could find the crux of Touko-chan's troubles and resolve it? If she could, they could openly become soeurs, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

She didn't know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all, she had no idea whatsoever what Touko-chan was worrying about. And she wasn't confident that she'd be able to talk to Touko-chan in an onee-sama-esque manner if she did find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In that case, she should ask Kashiwagi-san. That was why he'd set the deadline of the afternoon of the fourth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Watch out, Yumi-chan, you're spilling it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep in thought as she ate dinner, she knew she was making a mess around her plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yumi, if you're not reading the newspaper, pa.s.s it to me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep in thought, not even the huge headline of the newspaper made its way into her brain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep in thought as she took her bath, she applied conditioner before the shampoo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep in thought when she went to change into her pajamas, she put on the pair of jeans that she'd just taken off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep in thought - basically, she neglected all sorts of things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even when she went to bed, she couldn't fall asleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though she thought she'd have a whole day, tomorrow would soon be upon her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go to Kashiwagi-san's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't go to Kashiwagi-san's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the two. No matter which one she chose, night would fall again afterward. And she felt that when she went to bed tomorrow night, she'd think about the option she didn't take.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to all of this, she didn't get much sleep. But that didn't mean she overslept, she still woke up promptly at 7am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since she was on holidays, she wouldn't incur any divine wrath if she went back to sleep. But after lazing about in bed for half an hour, she got up. Because she knew that, in the end, her thoughts would keep wandering and she wouldn't get a restful sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When she went downstairs, Yuuki was already there eating breakfast alone. Since they were on holiday, it was unusual for him to be awake before 8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Are you going somewhere?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

She asked, and Yuuki looked at her coldly as he ate his toast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A friend's house. I mentioned it at dinner last night. I guess you didn't hear."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Really?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner, dinner &h.e.l.lip; She'd been so deep in thought that she made a mess around her plate, so obviously she hadn't heard a word that her brother had said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm done."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuuki put his hands on the table and stood up, then took his plate and cutlery into the kitchen. As he was leaving, their mom entered the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, good morning Yumi-chan. You're up early."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Morning. Where's dad?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"He's already eaten and is shaving, since he starts work today."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hmm."

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a small architectural firm so he only had the first three days of the year off, and was back at work from the fourth. But that said, the office wasn't open to others until January 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The window blinds were down, the doors locked, and the answering machine was on. Inside the closed office, their father was doing things like sorting the New Year's cards, checking email, tearing off the first 3 pages of the day-by-day calendar he'd just bought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm not cooking rice this morning, but I can make mochi rice cakes or toast. Which one do you want?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her mother asked, holding a pack of rice cakes in her right hand and a loaf of bread in its plastic wrapping in her left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Umm. I wonder which one I should have."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi may have been influenced by what she'd seen her brother eating earlier, as she reached out for her mother's left hand, ie. for the loaf of bread. But a moment before she got there, her mother turned around leaving Yumi grabbing at thin air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, I can do it myself."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her mom shouldn't be coddling her now that she was in high-school. Yumi chased after her, but her mom ignored her and started opening the bread bag and getting prepared.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's alright, go and sit down."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'd rather you sat down."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"If you're anything like yesterday, you'll just burn the toast."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently Yumi had come across as being a danger to herself and to others yesterday. Rather than coddling her daughter, her mom had simply been protecting their food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You've been s.p.a.cing out ever since you got home. Well, I guess that's to be expected. The Ogasawara house is like a grand palace."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her mom looked at her as though she was suffering from jet-lag. But it was probably only natural that she'd think that, since Yumi hadn't told her anything about Touko-chan or Kashiwagi-san's promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Um, but I've had a night's sleep, so I'm fine."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi clasped her hands together in front of her chest, making an appeal that she'd recovered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You're fine, huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her mom chucked then gave Yumi a light push on the shoulder, driving her out of the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"At any rate, I'll make the toast for you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before Yumi could ask, "Why?" the answer came from behind her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I couldn't leave that to someone who's mis-b.u.t.toned the shirt she's wearing beneath her sweater."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Ah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since she had no response to that, Yumi decided to sit down and wait for her toast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All through the morning she went back and forth over this matter but couldn't come to a conclusion, so she decided to head out since all she could do at home was worry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, where are you going?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her mom was listening to the morning news as she ironed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I haven't decided."

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was what she truly felt. She might go to Kashiwagi-san's place, or she might just walk around the block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What about lunch?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm not hungry."

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was true too. Her body may have been hungry but her mind was filled with thoughts, so she wasn't interested in eating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I wonder if you're sick."

 

 

 

 

 

 

After temporarily returning the iron to its stand, Yumi's mother walked over to her and placed her hand on her forehead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"There's no fever."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since her mother had been using the iron, her hand was much warmer than Yumi's head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After confirming that Yumi's recent absentmindedness wasn't due to a fever, her mother quickly gave her permission to head out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay then. But take this with you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was holding out a box of almond chocolates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Even if you're not hungry now, you might feel like something while you're out, right? Before you start staggering and fall down, you can eat something sweet."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay. Thanks."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regardless of whether she'd eat it or not, she expressed her grat.i.tude and put it in her bag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuuki had snuck out at some point without Yumi realizing it. She asked her mom about it and was told that he left the house at 10am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You'll be back for dinner, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Of course."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even if she collapsed, she should be able to get back by then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm heading out."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Take care."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just as she was at the gate, she saw the old lady that lived next door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Such good timing. Can you give this circular to your mother?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Uhh."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though Yumi was heading out, she didn't have a fixed destination so it wasn't like she was in a rush, so she said, "Okay," and took the piece of paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's dangerous these days. I wonder if I should get your father to make sure my house is safe."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi had no idea what her neighbor was talking about, so she gave a business-like smile and said, "I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Yumi went back to her house, she glanced over the flier which was from the neighborhood a.s.sociation. In amongst things like reports on the a.s.sociation's activities, rules for taking out the trash, and upcoming events for the next three months was a notice from the local police station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"There's been a spate of local robberies."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lady next door had probably been referring to this. By a safe house, she probably meant one that was hard for robbers to break into.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mo~m. There's a circular from the neighborhood a.s.sociation. I'm leaving it here."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi called out, after opening the front door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oka~y. Tha~nks."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her mother had gone back to the ironing and was probably in the middle of something, as she just called out in response.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's dangerous, huh."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi was a bit concerned since she'd just been told this, so she took her house key out of her bag and locked the front door before heading out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She peeked into her father's office from outside, but she couldn't tell what he was doing. Light was leaking out between the blinds, so he was probably doing some work in there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi thought it was a bit similar to the frosted gla.s.s. If her father opened the blinds a bit right now, she could wave and say, "I'm heading out." She felt vaguely disappointed about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After walking a little way she got on a bus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arrived at the station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got on a train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little by little, she was drawing closer to Kashiwagi-san's house. She hadn't yet made her decision. But despite this, the distance between them narrowed minute by minute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She got off the train and got on a different bus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What should she do? If she got off here, she'd be almost at Kashiwagi-san's house. As she was thinking this, the bus stop's name was announced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a phone box next to the bus stop where she got off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should she call Kashiwagi-san's cell phone? She only pondered this for a little while. By all rights, that was the polite thing to do when visiting someone's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But she didn't. Despite drawing near to Kashiwagi-san, she still hadn't made her decision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even after coming all this distance, she wasn't leaning towards asking about Touko-chan. Instead, now that she was here, it was about fifty-fifty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She could have mulled this over at home. But if she came to a decision that evening - say she decided to go ahead and ask, she wouldn't be able to get here before nightfall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So she'd closed in on him, so that she could act immediately if she came to such a decision. And even if she decided not to proceed, all she had to do was go home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That said, she couldn't vacillate forever. She probably couldn't stand in front of someone else's house for an hour or two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if she arrived at Kashiwagi-san's house like this? At that moment, Yumi decided she'd press the intercom b.u.t.ton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite having been there only once before (and even then she hadn't been alone, she'd been with Yuuki), she quickly remembered the way to Kashiwagi-san's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ten minute walk seemed neither long nor short and she soon arrived at her destination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In front of that recognizable house, Yumi took a deep breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, she had arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ma.s.sive wooden gate was wide open. As though waiting for an expected visitor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the gate was that marvelous garden. At the end of the stone path was the front door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She quickly found the intercom. Yumi brought her index finger up to the call b.u.t.ton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If she pressed that, Kashiwagi-san would come out. Then she'd have to ask him about Touko-chan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her finger shook. Even though she'd decided to press the b.u.t.ton earlier, she couldn't do it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wanted Touko-chan to be her pet.i.t soeur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wanted to know everything about Touko-chan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wanted to take Touko-chan by the hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In that case, she should reach out her finger and summon Kashiwagi-san immediately. Call him and request, "Please tell me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

(But &h.e.l.lip; !)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just before her mind short-circuited from overthinking, a cool breeze suddenly blew through it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this really okay? Her voice whispering this in her mind was strangely composed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wanted Touko-chan to be her pet.i.t soeur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wanted to know everything about Touko-chan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wanted to take Touko-chan by the hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But those were all feelings from Yumi's side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In that case, what about Touko-chan?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was she thinking that she wanted to be Yumi's pet.i.t soeur?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did she want Yumi to know everything about her?

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I don't know.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was a matter for the other side of the frosted gla.s.s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi brought her left hand up and used it to pull her frozen right hand down. She'd realized that asking Kashiwagi-san would be equivalent to forcing open Touko-chan's closed window from the outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was something she couldn't do. If she did that, she felt like Touko-chan would close her heart even further.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone who would do that was not an onee-sama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They would have no right to be called by that name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi turned on her heels and walked away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After taking a couple of steps, she turned back and looked at Kashiwagi-san's house. There was a second-floor window right at the spot where she was looking. There may have been someone there, but Yumi couldn't tell from her position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi retrieved the chocolates from her bag, popped one into her mouth, and started walking towards the bus stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflected by the gla.s.s window, the afternoon sun was dazzling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A condiment made from dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar.