Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 25 Chapter 2 Part1

 

 

 

 

In the end, Yumi didn't say a single word about Touko during their entire journey together to M Station. - Sachiko thought this to herself as she walked.

 

 

 

 

 

Immediately after the results were revealed, Yumi had left the crowd to chase something. That something must have been Touko-chan, mustn't it?

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko had been worried. But she hadn't said anything. Yumi would have surely factored the possibility that she would return hurt in to her resolve. That was why Sachiko thought she should stay silent and then welcome her back.

 

 

 

 

 

But Yumi had returned soon after. Far too soon for her to have caught up to Touko-chan, had a conversation, and then come back.

 

 

 

 

 

She was with Shimako and Noriko-chan.

 

 

 

 

 

What on earth had gone on in that brief period while she was away from the bulletin board? When Yumi returned, her expression was markedly different to when she'd pushed her way through the crowd to get out.

 

 

 

 

 

Then she never once mentioned Touko-chan's name during their time in the Rose Mansion, or as they walked along the tree lined path on their way home, or in the bus.

 

 

 

 

 

(What on earth could have happened &h.e.l.lip;)

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko once again asked herself the question that had occupied her mind since she disembarked from the train and bid farewell to Shimako. She still hadn't found an answer, despite repeatedly posing the question.

 

 

 

 

 

What on earth could have happened? Still wrapped up in this question, she arrived at the front gate to her home.

 

 

 

 

 

(And what's going on with me?)

 

 

 

 

 

She had no memory of leaving the train station. But, when she checked, her commuter pa.s.s was safely in her pocket. Therefore, she must have indeed pa.s.sed through the ticket gate.

 

 

 

 

 

She seemed to remember seeing more advertising banners for new chocolates at the confectionery store in front of the station. But then again, that could have been yesterday. She couldn't say for certain.

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko let out a sigh, then entered her PIN on the intercom keypad and the gates opened.

 

 

 

 

 

The lights in the garden and on the gateposts were already switched on. She hadn't even noticed it was getting dark.

 

 

 

 

 

She was still thinking about Yumi as she walked along the path to her house.

 

 

 

 

 

She couldn't help it. She probably wouldn't be so focused on this one thing if there was something else she had to do, but since she was only placing one foot in front of the other she didn't have to concentrate that hard, which allowed her to easily slip into deep thought. Even so, it would have been strange to focus her mind on not thinking that deeply.

 

 

 

 

 

(Maybe I should sing something.)

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko raised her gaze from the ground. Then she noticed something she recognized in the corner of her eye. That gaudy color stood out, even in the dark, and it could only belong to one person.

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko stopped singing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon returning home, she found a visitor seated on the living room sofa.

 

 

 

 

 

"Welcome home, Sacchan."

 

 

 

 

 

"And to you too, welcome back."

 

 

 

 

 

She thought it might have been her cousin Suguru-san because of the red car in the car park and, sure enough, it was him.

 

 

 

 

 

"I heard."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko placed her bag on the sofa opposite him then sat down beside it. Usually when she got home from school, she'd call out, "I'm home," to whoever was in the house, then head straight to her room and change out of her school uniform into normal clothes. But since she'd found her cousin sitting alone in the living room, she couldn't just leave him there.

 

 

 

 

 

Her mother should be home, so what was she doing? Probably preparing tea somewhere inside.

 

 

 

 

 

"That I sprained my ankle skiing?"

 

 

 

 

 

"More or less."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san raised his left leg slightly and laughed. That was probably the ankle he sprained. She wouldn't have been able to tell if he hadn't said so. No, she wasn't able to tell even though he had said so - it didn't look swollen at all. Although it was probably only because it had healed so well that he was able to drive himself here.

 

 

 

 

 

"Even though you warned me not to get hurt. So stupid of me."

 

 

 

 

 

"It's unlike you to injure yourself."

 

 

 

 

 

He'd been athletic enough to join almost all of the sports clubs back in high-school. And he would have gone to one ski slope or another every year since he was a child.

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose that's just a measure of my skiing ability."

 

 

 

 

 

"Anyone can make a mistake?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Hahaha, you're too kind, Sacchan. Anyway, let's set that aside for now."

 

 

 

 

 

At any rate, it had taken quite a long time for him to return because of the injury to his leg.

 

 

 

 

 

"Although if I hadn't been injured, I would have had to return home right on schedule."

 

 

 

 

 

"Really?"

 

 

 

 

 

When she had heard he hadn't returned in time for the start of cla.s.ses, she thought something bad must have happened. She'd been worried that he might have broken a bone, not just sprained an ankle.

 

 

 

 

 

"So you're saying you didn't want to come back, Suguru-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko's mother joined in the conversation, carrying a tea tray.

 

 

 

 

 

"Welcome home, Sachiko-san."

 

 

 

 

 

"I've just arrived home, mother. So, why didn't you want to come home?"

 

 

 

 

 

"You took a liking to the owner of the bed and breakfast, didn't you?"

 

 

 

 

 

Her mother placed a tea cup in front of Suguru-san. Thinking it was an overly large teacup, Sachiko realized it was a matcha cup and, sure enough, it had green tea inside. Her mother had probably heard Sachiko's voice and realized her daughter had returned home while she was preparing the tea, as there were three tea cups. One for Sachiko too.

 

 

 

 

 

"The bed and breakfast? Weren't you staying at a hotel?"

 

 

 

 

 

"At first I was staying at a hotel, but I went to a bed and breakfast after the injury."

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, you moved because you were staying for longer."

 

 

 

 

 

But that didn't fit with his earlier statement. If he'd returned home when originally planned, he wouldn't have taken a liking to the owner of the bed and breakfast. He only moved from the hotel to the bed and breakfast after deciding to stay for longer.

 

 

 

 

 

"No doubt you injured yourself saving some woman you didn't know, who turned out to own a bed and breakfast. She was then so impressed by your manliness that she offered to let you stay until you were healed."

 

 

 

 

 

"It's like you were there, oba-sama."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san rested his chin on his interlaced fingers and smiled. Acting like he was hearing gossip about somebody else.

 

 

 

 

 

"Your mother told me all about it. Of course, she told me about the delicious souvenirs you brought back too. Now then, shall we try them?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko's mother smiled, placing a small box that was the epitome of a "Hotel Souvenir" on the side of the table. That must have been the gift from Suguru-san, as the packaging had a picture of people skiing, as well as the name of the resort followed by "Manjuu." It could be called "simple" if one were being kind, or "cliched" if not.

 

 

 

 

 

"She told you?"

 

 

 

 

 

"She said they went well with matcha tea."

 

 

 

 

 

As she said this, Sachiko's mother opened the box and placed one of the individually wrapped manjuu buns in front of Sachiko.

 

 

 

 

 

"Wait. I have to visit the restroom."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko stood up. Remaining in her school uniform was one thing, but she wouldn't feel right eating or drinking anything without washing her hands and rinsing her mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

"I'll go too."

 

 

 

 

 

She walked off and Suguru-san followed.

 

 

 

 

 

"They're both such good children."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko heard her mother say, and the tone she used was like she was praising some kindergarteners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Sachiko had washed her hands with soap and rinsed her mouth with mouthwash, Suguru-san addressed her quietly from behind.

 

 

 

 

 

"Did anything happen while I was away?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Anything? It was only a sprain, so surely you were able to read the newspaper by yourself?"

 

 

 

 

 

After wiping her hands and mouth on a towel she turned around, and Suguru-san was standing there with a forced smile.

 

 

 

 

 

"Do you think I'd be asking you about local news?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Then what?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Now you're teasing me. I want to hear about Yumi-chan and Touko."

 

 

 

 

 

"Yumi and Touko-chan?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko hadn't meant to tease him. Initially, she'd had no idea what he was inquiring about. But now she was more surprised by the fact that she hadn't been all that surprised when those two names had been mentioned. Somewhere in the back of her mind she had had a sneaking suspicion.

 

 

 

 

 

"Why are you interested in those two, Suguru-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps Touko-chan had told him about what transpired between them at last year's Christmas Eve party. Or maybe there was something about that pair he was interested in, and this was his chance to find out. There was also the possibility that it was just a pa.s.sing interest.

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san opened up surprisingly easily.

 

 

 

 

 

"Last December, Touko had a fight with her parents and ran away from home. Although she was only gone for half a day, so it was no big deal."

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; That's news to me."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko muttered, and Suguru-san agreed, "So it seems."

 

 

 

 

 

"They didn't want it to turn into a major drama, so I did my best to keep it under wraps."

 

 

 

 

 

"So why are you telling me now?"

 

 

 

 

 

They didn't want it to be a major drama. Therefore he had been keeping it quiet. That was all fine and well. The Ogasawaras and the Matsudairas, Touko-chan's family, were relatives but they weren't directly blood related. Sachiko understood that there were things they would keep from her. But in that case, she thought Suguru-san should have kept his silence forever.

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, it's more than a month old, and it seems like Touko's calmed down since then. There's a fair few people that know about it already, so I'm sure there's rumors about it spreading throughout the family anyway. It seems like trying to keep it a secret would be pointless. But that doesn't mean I'm going around announcing it publicly. It's just that you asked me why I was interested."

 

 

 

 

 

"I see."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko poured a small amount of mouth wash into a cup then diluted it with water. Offering this to Suguru-san, she asked:

 

 

 

 

 

"So how is Touko-chan running away from home related to Yumi?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko had asked him why he was interested in those two. Answering that by just telling her about Touko-chan running away from home seemed somewhat insufficient.

 

 

 

 

 

"Well."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san took the cup, rinsed his mouth rather perfunctorily and continued.

 

 

 

 

 

"Touko was found at Yumi-chan's house."

 

 

 

 

 

"At Yumi's house?"

 

 

 

 

 

That was also news to her. Of course, if she was just hearing about Touko-chan running away from home for the first time, then obviously she shouldn't remember any other conversations related to it either. Having said that, it was harder to accept since it involved her own pet.i.t soeur, Yumi.

 

 

 

 

 

"It wasn't like she ran away to Yumi-chan's house. From what I heard, she was walking through their neighborhood and ran into Yumi-chan's brother, Yuuki."

 

 

 

 

 

Even so, the fact that Touko-chan was in Yumi's neighborhood surely meant that in some way she was putting her trust in Yumi.

 

 

 

 

 

"When did this happen?"

 

 

 

 

 

Making up her mind, Sachiko asked.

 

 

 

 

 

"I told you, it was in December &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

"I know that. What I want to know is whether it was before or after Christmas."

 

 

 

 

 

"In that case, it was before."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san answered clearly.

 

 

 

 

 

"From memory, I think it was during the post-exam break."

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; I see."

 

 

 

 

 

Which meant it was before Yumi offered Touko-chan her rosary, and was rejected.

 

 

 

 

 

At the time, when she heard Yumi had made the offer she felt it was a bit sudden - but if something like this had already occurred between them then Yumi's actions were probably just the natural flow of events and not abrupt at all.

 

 

 

 

 

Even as late as the post-exam break, Touko-chan had obviously thought she could rely on Yumi. In that case, why had she rejected the soeur proposal?

 

 

 

 

 

"Yumi-chan seemed to be worried about Touko."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko's thoughts were disrupted by her cousin's voice. Even as she was thinking, "Wait a minute, I'm considering this," she made the content-free response, "I see."

 

 

 

 

 

"Given your fixation with the timing of this, I take it something happened between Touko and Yumi-chan at Christmas. And Touko didn't attend your women-only New Year's party either."

 

 

 

 

 

"But that was for Yamayurikai members - "

 

 

 

 

 

"I know you sent her an invitation. And that Touko spent that entire day at home, not going anywhere. It was a private gathering, so there would have been no obligation for her to attend. But, it is a bit concerning."

 

 

 

 

 

"That's true."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko agreed with him.

 

 

 

 

 

"You're her cousin, Suguru-san. It's only natural you'd be worried about your family."

 

 

 

 

 

"Something like that."

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, anyway."

 

 

 

 

 

To think that something like that had happened between Yumi and Touko-chan, and she hadn't been aware of it. It wasn't so much of a shock as a complete surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't blame Yumi-chan."

 

 

 

 

 

"I don't."

 

 

 

 

 

The reason Yumi hadn't told her was probably because she'd decided it wasn't the right time to discuss it. She may have had been concerned about Touko-chan's privacy, since it involved her running away from home. No, Yumi was probably determined to resolve things with Touko-chan without relying on anyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

This was undoubtedly a "soeur" problem for Yumi and Touko-chan - although Sachiko honestly wasn't sure as to whether or not they'd actually become soeurs. Even though she was Yumi's onee-sama, this was territory that she couldn't venture into.

 

 

 

 

 

In that regard, her cousin was in the same spot.

 

 

 

 

 

"I still haven't answered your initial question."

 

 

 

 

 

Therefore, she thought it was okay to tell Suguru-san.

 

 

 

 

 

"My initial question?"

 

 

 

 

 

"You asked me if anything happened while you were away, didn't you?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san said, "That's right," as though he'd only just remembered. Although Sachiko didn't know if that was the truth. He may have just pretended to forget.

 

 

 

 

 

"Touko-chan ran in the student council election, and lost."

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh."

 

 

 

 

 

"I don't know why she did that."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko said, antic.i.p.ating the question. There had to be a reason behind such a reckless action. But she had absolutely no idea what it was.

 

 

 

 

 

"Unbelievable."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san looked down, using his hand to stifle a groan. A muted, "To treat Yumi-chan like that," leaked out between his fingers.

 

 

 

 

 

"Suguru-san. Do you like Yumi?"

 

 

 

 

 

This thought had suddenly crossed her mind. Suguru-san's face froze for a moment before he smiled at Sachiko.

 

 

 

 

 

"What a strange thing to say. I - "

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose so. Forgive me."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko immediately retracted her remark. Her former fiance had previously confessed to her that he was h.o.m.os.e.xual. If he were to admit that he liked Yumi, it would raise a contradiction.

 

 

 

 

 

However, just now, Suguru-san had interpreted "like" as romantic interest. That seemed like a mistake on his part.

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san soon realized this too.

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; I see. I should have just smiled and said, "Yumi-chan's a good girl, so of course I love her.""

 

 

 

 

 

"Something like that."

 

 

 

 

 

"But I don't want you to misunderstand."

 

 

 

 

 

"In the past I wouldn't have understood. But, recently, I feel like I'm starting to understand all sorts of things. You don't have to intentionally simplify your explanation to me."

 

 

 

 

 

The reason he didn't consider Sachiko a romantic interest wasn't because she was female. It was an issue beyond gender. So even if Sachiko had been born a male, he wouldn't have seen her in that light.

 

 

 

 

 

But explaining that to a still immature cousin would be quite a challenge, so at the time he'd simplified things by saying he was gay, to force her to accept it. Probably.

 

 

 

 

 

"In pure quant.i.ty terms, I like you more than I like Yumi-chan."

 

 

 

 

 

Hearing this, Sachiko understood.

 

 

 

 

 

"But it's a different kind of "like.""

 

 

 

 

 

"Right. You always were the smart one, Sacchan."

 

 

 

 

 

"Compared to whom?"

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san was quiet for a moment before answering smoothly.

 

 

 

 

 

"Silence is golden, don't they say?"

 

 

 

 

 

Which meant it was probably someone she knew too. So that was it - by saying, "Silence is golden," he was implying that, for Sachiko, "Not asking is golden."

 

 

 

 

 

"But it's true that I like guys."

 

 

 

 

 

"You mean, you like them too."

 

 

 

 

 

"I give up."

 

 

 

 

 

"Bulls-eye?"

 

 

 

 

 

The day was coming when she would be able to laugh and joke about such matters with Suguru-san. Such a thing had seemed unimaginable to her when she was fifteen.

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose we should get back soon. If we spend too much time locked up in the washroom, even your mother will start to have strange thoughts."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san was starting to leave, but Sachiko grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

 

 

 

 

 

"Hold on, you forgot to wash your hands."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I know Sachiko always takes her time, thoroughly washing her hands and rinsing her mouth, and it looks like you're the same, Suguru-san. I should have expected that, since you're cousins. You're both equally fastidious."

 

 

 

 

 

Hearing Sachiko's mother's comment, they both looked at each other and smiled.

 

 

 

 

 

"Now, let's eat."

 

 

 

 

 

Being urged to hurry, Sachiko sat down on the sofa.

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose. You went to the effort of making us tea, we shouldn't let it go cold."

 

 

 

 

 

Although it was matcha, so it wasn't meant to be served piping hot, but it would still taste worse cold. It was fundamentally different to iced green tea.

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, hold on."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko's mother stopped her just as she was about to take a sip from the teacup.

 

 

 

 

 

"What is it?"

 

 

 

 

 

"You should start by eating the manjuu. Right?"

 

 

 

 

 

The last, "Right?" was directed at Suguru-san. The gift giver simply smiled and said, "Well, we could try it your way."

 

 

 

 

 

"We're sitting on a sofa, eating manjuu that's a souvenir from a ski resort, and you're telling me there's a proper etiquette to it?"

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn't like it was the full-blown tea ceremony. If it were, they'd first of all have to do something about the matcha that had been sitting on the table for over five minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

"Never mind that. Come on, peel off the cellophane. Then on the count of three, take a bite."

 

 

 

 

 

" &h.e.l.lip; ?"

 

 

 

 

 

Even though she thought it was a strange procedure, Sachiko followed her mother's instructions. She cut the manjuu bun in two and placed one half in her mouth. At that point she was innocent. She hadn't been told anything in advance, so she held no preconceptions.

 

 

 

 

 

"What do you think?"

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san asked them, as they were chewing. He was a coward - he'd unwrapped his manjuu bun but hadn't taken a bite.

 

 

 

 

 

"Give me your honest opinion."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko lightly glared at Suguru-san when he asked a second time.

 

 

 

 

 

"If you want my honest opinion."

 

 

 

 

 

"Please. Don't hold back."

 

 

 

 

 

In that case - Sachiko made up her mind.

 

 

 

 

 

"This confectionery, well, it's - "

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko started to speak, but then her mother blurted out, "It's disgusting!"

 

 

 

 

 

"Um, mother, shouldn't you consider your words a little more &h.e.l.lip; such as, "It's not overly tasty." Or, "It's not to my taste.""

 

 

 

 

 

Having said that, no matter how they sugar-coated it, something disgusting was still disgusting.

 

 

 

 

 

The outside was dry and crumbling while the red bean paste was overpoweringly sweet. It would have been better if that was all, but it also had a spicy aroma, so one bite was enough to make her lose her appet.i.te.

 

 

 

 

 

"It's alright, Sacchan. I sampled all the sweets they had at the gift shop and bought the most disgusting one as a souvenir."

 

 

 

 

 

"Why would you do such a thing?"

 

 

 

 

 

Was he really such an idiot?

 

 

 

 

 

"Because all the people around me have discriminating palettes. How would I get a gift that they all found truly delicious?"

 

 

 

 

 

"It wouldn't have to be truly delicious."

 

 

 

 

 

That was the nature of a travel souvenir. It was brought back as evidence of where you'd been.

 

 

 

 

 

"Ahh, that's boring."

 

 

 

 

 

"I know one thing. It's become the talk of the family."

 

 

 

 

 

That Suguru-san the gourmand had brought back some truly awful sweets from his ski trip. Of course it would become a rumor. Even Sachiko's mother had apparently heard the rumor and had been ready and waiting for Suguru-san's visit.

 

 

 

 

 

Even though she'd just said it was disgusting, she was still taking bites out of the remaining half of her manjuu bun and washing it down with matcha tea.

 

 

 

 

 

"You too Sachiko-san, have another bite."

 

 

 

 

 

"No."

 

 

 

 

 

She was not currently overcome with hunger. She didn't want to eat something that she knew was awful. She didn't want to join her mother out of some vague sense of camaraderie.

 

 

 

 

 

"You think I'm trying to trick you. Have it with the tea."

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

Now that she'd mentioned it, Sachiko remembered. The green tea. She'd been forbidden from drinking it before eating the manjuu bun, but it looks like that ban had now been lifted. Not having a choice, but still thinking she was being tricked, Sachiko took a sip of tea and then a bite of the manjuu bun.

 

 

 

 

 

And then.

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh my."

 

 

 

 

 

"Right?"

 

 

 

 

 

It definitely felt as though the flavor had changed. The overblown sweetness was milder, and what she had thought was a spicy aroma was somehow lessened and now had a subtle hint of flowers. Even though the aroma had previously seemed synthetic, now it seemed like the sweet had traces of caraway and dill in it. Was it really the same thing as before?

 

 

 

 

 

"Was this your idea, Suguru-san? Did you put that much thought into it?"

 

 

 

 

 

"No. I just bought something truly awful."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san sipped his tea, looking unconcerned.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

"It was Mrs Matsudaira's breakthrough."

 

 

 

 

 

"Matsudaira &h.e.l.lip; ah, Touko-chan's mother?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko remembered the last time they'd met, a couple of years ago. Mrs Matsudaira was an adorable woman - slightly plump but gentle, and still with the air of a sheltered lady despite being married.

 

 

 

 

 

"When I visited the Matsudaira's, aunty was making some green tea. We decided to eat them then, since it seemed like a good time. I knew they were awful so I held back, but Mrs Matsudaira told me they were delicious. It didn't seem like she was faking it."

 

 

 

 

 

"Since she had it with green tea from the start."

 

 

 

 

 

"She'd been bedridden for a bit towards the end of the year, so at first I thought that might have affected her tastebuds. But since she was so insistent, I reluctantly tried one and discovered they were surprisingly good."

 

 

 

 

 

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her for a while. So she's been ill then."

 

 

 

 

 

There were a lot of things being learned for the first time today.

 

 

 

 

 

"But I heard she made it to the sports carnival and the school festival."

 

 

 

 

 

Her mother asked, "Didn't you see her?" and Sachiko shook her head. The sports carnival and the school festival were both so hectic that she wouldn't have noticed an acquaintance in the crowd. Although she probably would have noticed if they'd been borrowed for a race, like a certain somebody.

 

 

 

 

 

"She was a bit blue because she was worrying about all sorts of things - like the family hospital, and her daughter, who's at a difficult age. But, from what I hear, it wasn't anything too bad."

 

 

 

 

 

Her concerns about her daughter were probably related to Touko-chan running away from home. However.

 

 

 

 

 

"What about the hospital?"

 

 

 

 

 

The Matsudaira hospital mentioned would probably be the one on the outskirts of Tokyo, where Sachiko's grandmother had spent her last days.

 

 

 

 

 

"Mr Matsudaira &h.e.l.lip; uh, Touko's father, didn't become a doctor. And her grandfather's getting on in years. So it seems like a good time to consider the future of the hospital, don't you think?"

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san answered, with an, "I don't really know the whole story," vibe. Even though he probably knew more than he let on, he was good at making an exit for himself.

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh my, your mother was telling me that things were proceeding smoothly at the hospital."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko's mother murmured.

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, there was some things put in motion. But Touko was completely against it, so despite things proceeding smoothly it's been put on hold for now."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san said.

 

 

 

 

 

When her mother left to make another pot of tea, Sachiko asked Suguru-san:

 

 

 

 

 

"Could that have been why Touko-chan ran away from home &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

She'd missed the chance to ask earlier, but the timing of those events coincided almost perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

"Correct."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san then added, "That was the direct cause." Which meant that the circ.u.mstances must have actually been slightly more complicated than that.

 

 

 

 

 

"They were talking about what to do with the hospital?"

 

 

 

 

 

"To put it bluntly."

 

 

 

 

 

"But it's not as though Touko-chan's grandfather or either of her parents are forcing her to become a doctor, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

"I would say not."

 

 

 

 

 

"Then what does it matter what their daughter thinks? Don't you think both Mr and Mrs Matsudaira are too soft on Touko-chan? That's why she's so selfish."

 

 

 

 

 

As she said this, Sachiko felt her main point was slipping away. She'd unknowingly been carried away by her emotions. She didn't want to say these things. But she couldn't stop herself.

 

 

 

 

 

"The Matsudairas may be soft on her, but Touko isn't all that selfish."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san's comment finally put the brakes on Sachiko's mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; You're right. I misspoke."

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi's offer of soeurship had been rejected. Her irritation at not having a clear answer as to why had unconsciously been directed towards Touko-chan. Probably.

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko understood it well. While Touko-chan may look selfish, or give that impression, like Suguru-san said she wasn't actually all that selfish. Even though she could sometimes act spoiled, one must always take into account the time and the circ.u.mstances. When the time came to reign it in, she reigned it in. Nothing she did was truly unreasonable.

 

 

 

 

 

But knowing that had probably made Sachiko even more irritated. Since she'd rejected Yumi, there must have been some circ.u.mstances that stopped her, or made her stop. That was the only way that Sachiko could understand it.

 

 

 

 

 

"Hey, Sacchan, do you remember anything from when Touko was born?"

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san asked brightly. He was probably trying to soften her p.r.i.c.kly mood.

 

 

 

 

 

"No?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko forced out a smile.

 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose not. You were only two, and she was a distant relative."

 

 

 

 

 

"Since you said that, does that mean you do remember?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, I was already three. Aunt Matsudaira and Touko came straight to our place from the hospital, and they stayed for about a month. I think she was a bit worried about raising a baby - well, I suppose everyone is the first time. So she was probably relying on the senior mothers - my mother and grandmother - to help. I was so young that I thought Touko was really my little sister. So I was telling everyone I met, "I've got a new baby sister." I was over the moon."

 

 

 

 

 

"I see. And?"

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko asked, and Suguru-san responded with, "Oh, nothing." It looked like he was just trying to change the topic, after all.

 

 

 

 

 

"You were affectionate towards Sachiko too, Suguru-san."

 

 

 

 

 

Her mother said, returning from the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

"Even though you were a baby yourself, you used to say, "Baby, baby." And pat her and kiss her."

 

 

 

 

 

"I don't remember that."

 

 

 

 

 

Suguru-san scratched his head.

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm sure that's why Sachiko fell in love with you."

 

 

 

 

 

"Let's not talk about the past."

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko glanced at her mother, who was smiling and placing the teacups on the table. She didn't want to revisit the story of how she said, "I want to be Suguru-san's bride," when she was in kindergarten.

 

 

 

 

 

It was tough because adults always delighted in dragging things out into the light things that children had done, but didn't remember.

 

 

 

 

 

"Alright, alright."

 

 

 

 

 

Hearing Sachiko's mother say this as she distributed another round of tea cups and manjuu buns, the two younger people's eyes met and they grinned.

 

 

 

 

 

"Even when you were young, you liked girls, Suguru-san."

 

 

 

 

 

- Her mother was only slightly off-kilter.