Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 25 Chapter 3 Part1

 

 

 

 

 

After school on Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was surprisingly fast, but it came at last.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Gokigenyou. Pardon my intrusion."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Coming."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, Noriko-chan was still busy preparing tea, so Yoshino went to the first-floor to welcome their visitor and when she saw who it was she made a somewhat stupid sound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wha?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

The person who'd shown up on the Rose Mansion doorstep holding a manilla folder filled with some doc.u.ments was her cla.s.smate, Yamaguchi Mami-san.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's the newspaper club."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino already knew that. However.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I thought you said we were going to do the student council interview tomorrow."

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, when they met. Right after, "Gokigenyou." She'd said, "We're going to do the interviews for the Lillian Kawaraban tomorrow after school, so can you keep that free?" Yoshino had been with her cla.s.smate Yumi-san, and they'd both heard it. There was no mistaking it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I did say that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

For reasons Yoshino couldn't understand, Mami-san puffed her chest out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Then what brings you to the Rose Mansion today?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino had a bad feeling about this. This series of events reminded her of a certain someone who had been in the newspaper club before Mami-san became editor-in-chief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Now that the election's over, I thought it was time we started planning for the Valentine's Day event."

 

 

 

 

 

 

See, there it was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I haven't heard anything about that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although she had actually heard about it indirectly via Sachiko-sama. But that was an inconvenient fact so she chose to ignore it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well of course. I haven't spoken directly with you about it, Yoshino-san."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Why haven't you?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though they'd been studying in the same cla.s.sroom day after day after day after day. It wasn't as though their cla.s.sroom was split into separate cliques, with the opposing groups never having a chance to speak to each other. It was quite the opposite, with Mami-san being in the top ten people Yoshino got along with in her cla.s.s, so it seemed like they should have discussed it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But despite all that; Oh yes, but despite all that; Why did she not say? (a Haiku).

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How can I put this &h.e.l.lip; for insurance?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san stepped into the Rose Mansion and closed the door. She'd obviously decided she had to do this herself since Yoshino wasn't exactly inviting her in. It was currently late January. It went without saying that it was cold outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What do you mean by that?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even so, instead of leading her to the room on the second-floor, Yoshino stepped in front of her and blocked her path. As expected, Mami-san looked stunned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In truth, Yoshino had nothing against Mami-san personally. However, she did have a lot against the newspaper club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it wasn't like she wanted to get revenge for each and every incident that sprang to mind. For one thing, she didn't have the time, nor was she that stubborn. In the past, she hadn't even had the time to take notice of each and every one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basically, Yoshino had been in a bad mood recently. And Mami-san was just the unlucky victim of that, this time around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How sad. Like, if she'd just shown up tomorrow, then Yoshino may have gone to meet her cheerfully - although that may only have lasted as long as the greeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, by insurance, I mean like &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Remember last year, the boutons weren't very cooperative when my onee-sama proposed the Valentine's event."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sure, I remember that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino agreed, thinking back to last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"So I thought about what might happen if this year's boutons had the same reaction, and I started coming up with countermeasures &h.e.l.lip; pardon me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slipping past Yoshino, Mami-san reached the staircase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Countermeasures?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino asked, chasing after Mami-san.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Repeating the events of last year would be a waste of time, and kind of boring, don't you think? Although from our point of view, I can't think of a single reason not to be excited about such a dream-like plan."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san climbed the creaky staircase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Is everybody here?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We are, but."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino answered, and it was only when she reached the second floor that she finally realized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah! Today we have both Sachiko-sama and Rei-chan here as well. Is that your doing!?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san grinned in response to this accusation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"When did you become so underhanded, Mami-san? You're like Tsukiyama Minako-sama the second."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Whatever could you mean? What's wrong with being like your onee-sama? First of all, I wouldn't have to do this if you'd just cooperate with the newspaper club. Since you'll be going along with the plan anyway, you should just happily get on board."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The question was, where did she get the confidence to make statements like, "You'll be going along with it anyway," and, "get on board?" Well, sure, last year the previous Roses had pressured the boutons, so they had no choice but to cooperate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But Yoshino thought that it wouldn't be like that this year. Even if Yumi-san followed her onee-sama's order to partic.i.p.ate, Shimako-san wasn't the type of person to use her authority over her pet.i.t soeur and Yoshino herself certainly wasn't afraid of Rei-chan. Even with the help of the current Roses, it shouldn't go the way the newspaper club was antic.i.p.ating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After climbing the stairs, Mami-san stopped and said to Yoshino, "After you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Surely it would be a complete loss of face for you if the visitor entered before the person sent to greet them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I never would have expected such consideration from you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, since she'd gone to the effort, Yoshino decided to enter the room first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mami-san from the newspaper club has arrived."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino announced, opening the door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh, hi there."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Do come in."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama and Rei-chan acted as though their visitor was completely unexpected as they welcomed her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Even though they're only here today because they knew she was coming.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her mind, Yoshino complained about those sly old foxes. It was annoying how the two third-years had recently come to resemble their predecessors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Oh my, what's wrong, Yoshino-chan? Offer Mami-san a seat."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wearing the guise of a princess, "sly old fox #1" acted unconcerned as she spoke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, fine. Come in, Mami-san, have a seat here."

 

 

 

 

 

 

If they were going to be foxes, she'd have to be a wolf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Thank-you kindly."

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Mami-san was seated, "sly old fox #2" called out to Noriko-chan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Another cup of tea, too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

If #1 was the princess, then #2 would be the b.u.mbling prince. Well, the princess was a metaphor, she didn't actually take that form so there was no need to cast everyone into the play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino headed over to the sink to help Noriko-chan, but Yumi-san got there first and sidled over to Yoshino and whispered:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Why's Mami-san here?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Planning for Valentine's."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was all Yoshino had to say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ahhh - "

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san loudly exclaimed. They'd discussed it once prior to the election, but Mami-san's arrival was just too reminiscent of Minako-sama last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Okay? We mustn't lose, Yumi-san."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino kept her voice low as she gripped Yumi-san's hand tightly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Uh, okay &h.e.l.lip; lose to who?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

The newspaper club &h.e.l.lip; or, their onee-samas? Either? Or both?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"To anyone. At any rate, to yourself. You mustn't lose to yourself. As long as you fight, you'll win. Noriko-chan will be fine too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glancing over, Noriko-chan had finished adding the black tea leaves to the cup, and looked perplexed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm sorry, I don't really understand what you're saying."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Basically, you don't have to do what the newspaper club and your onee-sama says."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino added water to the electric kettle and plugged it into the outlet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's why &h.e.l.lip; you'll be fine. Since you don't seem like you'll get discouraged easily."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since she always spoke her mind, even to older students - and it was impossible to imagine Shimako-san looking scary and ordering her to do something in the first place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As she added the hot water to the tea cup, Yoshino and Shimako-san's eyes met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What is it?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san's smile was as warm as ever. Rather than "What" it felt like "Wha~t."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"No, nothing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

It felt a bit sad to lump this angel in with the "sly old foxes" Sachiko-sama and Rei-chan. But, take care. Depending on which way she went, she could be either an enemy or an ally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san was a "Rose."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino had to be careful, to see which way Shimako-san lent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first thing she had to determine was whether this plan, or at least the direction, had already been agreed upon behind-the-scenes by the two third-years and the newspaper club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why would she think that? First of all, it was only this year that Sachiko-sama had told them that the newspaper club were sounding her out about it towards the end of last year, which certainly smelled fishy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, maybe Sachiko-sama could be given the benefit of the doubt and that really was just absentmindedness on her part. But since Mami-san had known that everyone would be here before she arrived (or maybe she'd chosen today because she'd heard a rumor that everyone was at the Rose Mansion) and hadn't informed the boutons beforehand, this was less like a surprise attack and more like a foul play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Especially since the presence of Rei-chan, on a day when they didn't have a meeting scheduled, after she'd made her "I'm studying so I won't be attending often" announcement, was the same as a confession.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, humans, why did they feel the need to push things they were forced into on to the younger generation? Even as she lamented this, there was no way Yoshino would break this chain when it was her turn to pa.s.s it on. Even if she detested it immensely when it was her turn, she enjoyed watching it once the storm had pa.s.sed over her. That was the sort of girl Shimazu Yoshino was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So then, the question became, what was Shimako-san's position? After they sat down Yoshino was able to observe Shimako-san indirectly, and it looked as though she didn't support the sly old foxes, aka the third-year Roses, in their plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come to think of it, Shimako-san had been kept in the dark alongside Yoshino and Yumi-san when they'd decided on the cast for the school festival play. It must be because they were in different grades. It didn't seem likely that the third-years would had been worried about Shimako-san leaking some information to the boutons. Having said that, Yoshino thought it was better for Shimako-san's peace-of-mind that she hadn't been told.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As she distributed the papers she'd brought, Mami-san spoke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well then, I present you with our proposal for this year's Valentine's Day event."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wha - .

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was speaking like it was already decided that the Yamayurikai would be co-operating with the newspaper club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino was all for shortening meetings, but wasn't this going too far as a starting point? The correct behavior when asking something of someone was to start by bowing your head and saying, "Won't you please co-operate?" Even Tsukiyama Minako-sama, who was p.r.o.ne to flights of eccentricity, had done this last year. Well, even if Mami-san did bow her head, Yoshino wasn't about to say, "Okay." Now then, at what point would Mami-san get punished for this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ah, right. It might be a bit late mentioning it now, but."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san said, noticing Yoshino's angry glare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We're holding an event on Valentine's Day again this year, and the co-operation of the Yamayurikai &h.e.l.lip; has already been approved by Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Foetida."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What!?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even without the preface of, "It's a little late mentioning it now," Yoshino knew that the two parties were conspiring. But, they'd already approved it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, there was no reason to refuse, was there?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama looked confused as she asked, as though to say, "What's so surprising?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But even so."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino dug in. She hadn't taken a look at the proposal so she didn't know exactly what plan Mami-san had in mind, but, going by last year, the ones that had to co-operate the most were the boutons. But the "comfortably retired" people had approved the plan even before hearing the opinion of those who would have to do most of the work. What the heck was going on?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You too, Yumi-san. Don't be silent, say something."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino spurred Yumi on. In this situation, the boutons had to stick together steadfastly to oppose the tyranny of their onee-samas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, that Yumi-san.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Um, what's this year's event?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wh - hey!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, she'd been told to say something, but she didn't have to play dumb like that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, that wasn't it. Yumi-san was being serious. She wasn't playing for laughs, she was actually interested in what Mami-san was proposing. But in that case, rather than looking at Yoshino with a puzzled expression, she could have looked at the doc.u.ment she held tightly in her hand &h.e.l.lip; unbelievable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hang on, Yumi-san. Aren't you angry about the onee-samas agreeing to this on their own?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh f.u.kuzawa Yumi, have you been ensnared by the sly old foxes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That does annoy me a little."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Only a little?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

The baby fox said, "Yeah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But, you know, is being angry about that a reason to reject the plan entirely? Because those are two separate matters, right?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait, don't say any more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm sure I'll have all sorts of concerns about the Valentine's event itself. But even so, I'm of the same opinion as my onee-sama - the conclusion I came to was that there's no reason to refuse."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san, Yumi-san, Yumi-san. Even though you were told to be quiet. Well, that was only within Yoshino's mind, so there's no way she could have heard it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Last year, Mizuno Youko-sama's dream was realized. I want to see that dream come true again."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only sound in the deathly silent room was the whistling coming from the kettle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's right, how could she forget? Yoshino hung her head in shame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san idolized Youko-sama. Hadn't she said this clearly during her candidate's speech?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"So why not listen to what Mami-san has to say before deciding whether or not to co-operate?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a sound argument. Too sound - Yoshino had no retort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back, Yoshino had been such an idiot when she'd told Yumi-san, "Don't lose to yourself," a couple of minutes ago. Yumi-san had stated her opinion brilliantly. She hadn't lost at all. Yoshino was the one who appeared to have lost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Why are you opposed to it, Yoshino-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san asked, looking straight into Yoshino's eyes. So then, Shimako-san was in favor of it too. Well, that was probably to be expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; Because it's an order from above."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ooh, it was such an unpersuasive reason that she hated having to say it. It was most likely pointless arguing it, especially since Yumi-san had already concluded that that was a "separate matter."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And you, Shimako-san, you didn't want to do it at all last year, right? You only partic.i.p.ated because you were pressured by Sei-sama. So you'd have to understand this side's feelings. Why have you joined that side, now that you're a Rose?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This side&h.e.l.lip; ? That side&h.e.l.lip; ?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san had a perplexed expression as she looked back and forth between where Yoshino was pointing with her left and right index fingers for a little while, before finally saying, "It's not like that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's not a matter of being on one side or the other. After last year's event, my opinion changed."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

She continued after another smile that could also be labeled a foul play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I think it was good that we gave it a go. Both for the Yamayurikai, and for myself personally. But it's only because I gave it a go that I can say that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come to think of it, during the candidate's speeches, Shimako-san had made some impa.s.sioned plea about using her experience to help the Yamaurikai, or something along those lines. Yoshino thought, "d.a.m.n it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incidentally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The third-years, basically Sachiko-sama and Rei-chan, were sipping their tea and elegantly watching over the second-years' argument. No, watching over was the wrong expression. They were detached observers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If their juniors had formed a unified opposition to the Valentine's Day event, in other words, if they'd done what Rei-chan did last year, then they probably would have applied pressure from above. But since Yumi-san and Shimako-san were interested in the plan, it'd be better if they could convince Yoshino themselves. There was no need for the third-years to intervene. That's how it was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"So, then."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Suppose, for instance, our onee-samas weren't here right now. If Mami-san came to us with this proposal for Valentine's Day, what would your reaction be, Yoshino-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

A hypothetical question.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What about Shimako-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would she be there or not? While it wasn't that important a detail, Yoshino had been drawn into the conversation enough to ask a stupid question.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"She can be there or not. Which ever you'd prefer."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ooh."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frankly speaking, Yoshino thought that either way she wouldn't really want to do it. It felt like she was getting further away from understanding why she was so opposed to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Shimako-san had said, it would be good for the Yamayurikai - Yoshino could understand that. Yumi-san's aim of seeing Youko-sama's dream realized seemed like she'd followed an argument through to its logical conclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what didn't she like about it? Yoshino asked herself this question.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Last year, you were totally opposed to the event during the planning stages too, but once it started you were really into it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san said, in place of the silent Yoshino.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was true. Yoshino had realized as much herself. Last year's treasure hunt had been surprisingly exhilarating. The result was unfortunate, but looking back on it the event had been fun overall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then that meant that she wasn't harboring any ill-will which prevented her from getting on-board with the newspaper club's plan. So how was this year different to last year?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I know."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino thumped her right fist into her left hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's because it's boring."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"B &h.e.l.lip; boring?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not just one person, it was everyone other than Yoshino that repeated this in surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's right."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year, she'd had the clear-cut goal of "stopping someone else from going on a date with Rei-chan," but if she was on the organizing side then it was nothing but meeting after meeting after meeting with the newspaper club, which meant all she got out of it was work. For someone who'd been all excited and nervous as a regular partic.i.p.ant, becoming one of the game's main cast and deciding on the rules just didn't seem comparatively worthwhile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On top of that, if they did the same thing as last year, then she'd have to go on a half-day date with the winner afterward. Putting it bluntly, that was a pain in the neck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, suppose that Rei-chan partic.i.p.ated and, luckily enough, won. Even then, going on a date with Rei-chan was too ordinary, it wouldn't get her heart racing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If she absolutely had to co-operate, then she'd much rather play dirty so that n.o.body won. And since Rei-chan was taking entrance exams, she might not even partic.i.p.ate in the game in the first place. Black Yoshino grinned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san timidly asked:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Are you really opposed to it because it's boring?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's right. Got a problem with that?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino leaned back. Acting defiant. Now then, if they wanted her to partic.i.p.ate, they'd have to fix the "boredom." If they could turn that into "fun," then she'd happily partic.i.p.ate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; like that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san and Shimako-san leaned their heads close together and whispered to each other. The third-years kept on grinning. Mami-san looked serious, perhaps worried about who would break.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Isn't that kind of childish?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite having been silent the whole time, she suddenly spoke now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Ch-childish?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino glared at her, but Noriko-chan calmly said, "Yeah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I don't know the details, but, to summarize, last year you happily partic.i.p.ated when the then-boutons and current-Roses were at the center of the Valentine's Day plans, but now that it's your turn you're saying it's boring and you don't want to do it. That's just selfish, isn't it? It's childish."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even when her opponent was older, she said what she wanted to say. As an ally, Noriko-chan would have been as strong as 10,000 men. But to have Noriko-chan snapping at her, Yoshino had made a grave mistake. At the very least, to be called "childish" by someone in a lower grade than her had caused more damage to Yoshino than she'd expected to take.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's true. Your refusal to partic.i.p.ate due to "boredom" is rejected."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yumi-san said. That was to be expected. Last year's boutons had floated similar reasons, but they hadn't been able to get out of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sealing the deal, Shimako-san cheerfully smiled and said, "Let's do it." It would have been better if she'd glared and said, "You have to do it," since that would have driven Yoshino to rebel more, but the way she smiled like Maria-sama was far more of a dirty play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to do, Yoshino? She was surrounded on six sides, not just all four.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-chan and Sachiko-sama had tears in their eyes, trembling as they clutched their stomachs. Not because they were forcing themselves to hold back from a.s.sisting, but because they were stifling their laughter. Oh, how she'd hate it if they didn't stifle it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Even if you say that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since it had come to this, her only option was to agree. Even if she was childish, Yoshino had been alive for 17 years so she knew when she had to withdraw. But because of her earlier opposition, it was difficult for her to agree straight away. Some impetus was necessary to get Yoshino to change course and meet up with everyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She wasn't raising a hand in agreement, nor both hands in surrender. Her arms were folded across her chest as she breathed a soft sigh. She raised her downcast head slightly and closed one eye, but not to wink. The pose she wanted to strike was one of, "By all rights, I'd never agree to this, but I'm willing to pitch in and help for your sake."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, unexpectedly, Mami-san lowered her head to just above the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm begging you, Yoshino-san. I know you don't want to, but it would allow me, your cla.s.smate, to save face if you could somehow find it in your heart to co-operate with the newspaper club. We'll do our best to make sure you enjoy yourself."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san joined her hands together in prayer, going above and beyond to implore Yoshino. Ah, what a pitch she'd been tossed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not from Yumi-san, or Shimako-san, or Noriko-chan. The farce only worked because it came from Mami-san. Yoshino gratefully came on board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"If Mami-san's willing to go that far, I suppose I've got no choice."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice timing, good job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her mind, Yoshino flashed the peace sign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well then, I'd like to return to our discussion about the plans for this year's Valentine's Day event - is that okay with everyone?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san resumed her presentation. The approximately ten minute long derailment was now over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Please take a look at the prepared doc.u.ments."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hearing this, Yoshino swapped the location of her cup of cooled tea and the printout. She flipped past the front cover which read, "Valentine's Day Event Proposal." The proposal was bound together by a staple in the top left hand corner, and the heading at the top of the second page was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

""Treasure Hunt: Where are the Bouton's Cards!?" Hold on, Mami-san. Isn't this last year's event?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a moment she thought that Mami-san may have inadvertently brought last year's doc.u.ment. But Mami-san nonchalantly said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Exactly. Last year's event had unprecedented popularity. Of course, we'll draw on our experience of last year to improve certain areas, and incorporate some feedback from the students that partic.i.p.ated, so even though it's the same proposal this year's event will be bigger and better &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other words, they couldn't think of anything that would top last year's event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'll answer all your questions and concerns at the end."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san started her explanation. The meat of the event was the treasure hunt. A lot of the details were the same as last year, but there were a number of modifications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Last time, Rosa Chinensis' red card was the only one that wasn't found within the time limit."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san looked to Sachiko-sama, as though for confirmation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then Sachiko-sama looked at Yumi-san, seated beside her. In turn, Yumi should have looked at someone else, but it stopped there, with her looking back at Sachiko-sama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a reason behind this relay of meaningful glances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During last year's event, only Rei-chan's yellow card and Shimako-san's white card were located - n.o.body found the red card. But, when they went to check, they were met with the mystery of the card being found in a location that Yumi-san had searched in vain during the event. At that point, there was a dispute between the Red Rose soeurs as to the depth at which the card was buried. Incidentally, it was buried in the old greenhouse, next to the Rosa Chinensis plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, naturally, the point of Mami-san's question wasn't about the mystery of whether the card was buried or not. It was that the card hadn't been found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's such a shocking waste to go to all the effort of hiding the card, only to have it go undiscovered. We expected there would be three winners last time, but there were only two. If we went by the same rules as last year, then what if - what if - none of the three cards were found, then we'd have no winners at all. Now, the chance of that dreadful outcome happening is low, but we have to take some measures to avoid it altogether."

 

 

 

 

 

 

The newspaper club's plan was to have something like a repechage round, so that the card would definitely end up in someone's hands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hmm."

 

 

 

 

 

 

In that case, Yoshino's plan of avoiding going on a date with someone she didn't know by hiding the card in a location no-one would find was probably futile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What are the specifics of this repechage round?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama inquired. Yoshino was idly expecting it would be scissors-paper-rock, but it looked like Mami-san had a different idea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This year, I was thinking we should give those students that can't take part on the day a chance too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The people who can't partic.i.p.ate? That sounds like a good idea."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-chan's eyes sparkled. Obviously pleased that she'd be able to partic.i.p.ate in the treasure hunt in some small way, even if she couldn't make it to the event because of her exams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enough, enough. Can't she have even just a semblance of a poker face? Yoshino looked away. Rei-chan was currently wagging her tail like a dog about to be fed. And it's like she wasn't even embarra.s.sed by it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yoshino-chan, you seem pleased by that."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sachiko-sama looked straight at her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"No way."

 

 

 

 

 

 

d.a.m.n it. It looked like she'd caught the giggles just by looking at Rei-chan's face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incidentally, Mami-san had said "repechage." On the third page of the proposal was the heading "Absentee's Chance" - which looked to be it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Since it's held after a regular school day, I'm sure there will be people who want to partic.i.p.ate but won't be able to due to their own individual circ.u.mstances. Let's call this a lifeline for them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that's it - it was like the absentee ballots for an election that they occasionally talked about on the news. Mami-san had apparently taken a hint from that sort of thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We'll set up a post box, where they can "post" a form saying where they think a card will be hidden, up until the day before the event - or whatever time limit we decide. Of course, the box won't be opened until after the event, so the boutons can't change their hiding position after looking at the predictions."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I see. Then if the card isn't found during the event, it will go to whoever submitted an entry with the correct location?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Exactly. That way, if all the cards are found on the day, the second-chance entries instantly become void, regardless of how many had the correct location."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What will you do if a card isn't found on the day, but there are multiple entries in the box with the correct location?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It'll be sorted out by scissors-paper-rock the following day, in front of the newspaper club and the person who hid the card."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And if there isn't a correct entry in the box?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We could go with whoever got closest &h.e.l.lip; although, if it comes to that, we could draw it like a lottery, or pick whoever wrote the funniest answer - I don't think it really matters. For the minor details, I want to hear your opinion, but I don't want to get bogged down in them just now, okay?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone nodded, there was no objection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Will the entries have to have the color of the card as well as the location?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-chan asked, raising her hand. She was all eager and full of questions now that she thought there was a chance she could take part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"No, just where it's hidden. Don't you think it's better if it operates under the same rules as the treasure hunt itself?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the people who were searching on the day, even if they had a card they were aiming for, they didn't have to declare that in order to partic.i.p.ate. As a result, if they chanced upon some other card, there was no disputing their ownership of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But still, that Rei-chan. Even though she'd just been told that they didn't want to get bogged down in minor details. Mami-san forced a smile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Were there any other questions?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes."

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Yoshino shot her hand up, so too did Yumi-san and Noriko-chan - in short, all the boutons raised their hand. As the ones with the leading role in this event, it was something that affected them directly, so they were all taking it seriously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was something she could have let go without comment, but then it would have remained unresolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well then, we'll start with Yoshino-san."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san asked her first, since she had been the one to raise her hand with the most force, after all. Yoshino cleared her throat and said, "Okay then," before continuing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I had a question about the "Project Aims" section."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the other two nodded and said, "Yeah." It looked like they all had questions about the same thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It says, "To promote interaction between regular students and the boutons who will become Roses next school year." &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

After reading that far, Mami-san finally noticed and let out a little, "Ah."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Drat. I forgot to fix that part."

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter how many times Mami-san drew her finger across that section of the doc.u.ment, it was too late now. To make it worse, now that this had been pointed out her tongue was tied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I see."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I read that but it went straight past me."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rei-chan and Sachiko-sama looked at the boutons in admiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"&h.e.l.lip; I messed up."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san lowered her head, crestfallen. Since the event was largely the same as last year, she'd probably followed the same format as last year's proposal. Only modifying the year, and the parts of the event she wanted changed. However, last year the "boutons" had been the "next year's Roses," but they couldn't say that this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's right - the White Rose soeurs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "next year's Rose" was Shimako-san, but the "bouton" was Noriko-chan. Those tangled circ.u.mstances came about because Shimako-san was going to be a Rose for two years running.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a result, obviously she'd be interested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Who will it be?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somebody asked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It'll be &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san and Noriko-chan looked at each other then said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Onee-sama."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Usually the White Rose soeurs got along preposterously well, hardly ever fighting or having a clash of opinions. But this time around their opinions were wildly divergent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Huh - "

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pair looked at each other in surprise. Apparently they'd both thought that the other was naturally going to do it. Would that be optimism, or over-estimation of the other? If it had been the Yellow Rose soeurs, then they still would have tried to pin it on the other, but they wouldn't have been surprised that their opinions differed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It says "bouton" and that's you, Noriko."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But the "next year's Rose" is you, isn't it onee-sama?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one point they agreed on was that the other should do it. But that was no good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Hmm.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoshino a.n.a.lyzed the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san had probably thought that Noriko-chan was going to do it, right from the start. Because the proposal's t.i.tle said "Bouton" while Shimako-san was a "Rose."

 

 

 

 

 

 

But what about Noriko-chan? Since they'd been saying "bouton this" and "bouton that," she'd probably resigned herself to the task. But now that the situation had been muddied due to Mami-san's innocent mistake, she was probably looking to escape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Well then.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the end, it looked like Noriko-chan didn't want to do it if she didn't have to. But despite that, she had insulted her senior by calling her "childish."

 

 

 

 

 

 

At any rate, this was the White Rose soeurs' crisis. That was fitting, since the pet.i.t soeur was trying to push work onto the grande soeur. Had the usually peaceful White Rose soeurs stumbled upon their White Rose Revolution?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"My apologies. It was my mistake to think that bouton was a synonym for future Rose."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mami-san said, looking meek. Her posture was similar to earlier, when she'd appealed for Yoshino to co-operate, but her demeanor was completely different. Well, the earlier one was nothing but an act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That's right - which one did you mean, Mami-san?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naturally, the ball was now in the court of the person who had come to them with the proposal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Um, as the cause of all this chaos it may be a bit irresponsible for me to say this but, I'm sorry, I don't have a definitive answer. I don't mind who it is, as long as one of you does it. So with that, I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Our thoughts &h.e.l.lip; "

 

 

 

 

 

 

First of all, the reason why it had been the boutons last year was because the Roses were all third-years and about to graduate - and on top of that, they'd all been taking entrance exams, so they wouldn't have had much spare time. With that in mind, there was no reason Shimako-san couldn't do it this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But I did it last year."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san mumbled. Then Sachiko-sama quickly rejected that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We can't accept that reason. If we accept it now, from you, then Noriko-chan would be able to make the same excuse."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly. If they decided that Noriko-chan had to do it because Shimako-san had already done it once, then there would be n.o.body to do it next year. In this situation, either Noriko-chan or Shimako-san would have to do it twice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

However.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But, depending on the results of next year's election, Noriko won't necessarily become Rosa Gigantea."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimako-san chipped in with an amazing opinion. But Noriko-chan wasn't about to be defeated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You're talking about what would happen if I lose next year's election and don't become Rosa Gigantea? Well, since you've brought it up, wouldn't it be strange for someone like that to be one of