Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 24 Chapter 1
The written invitation from Sachiko-sama arrived three days after that eventful Christmas party.
"A New Years party &h.e.l.lip; "
I see. Bravo, Sachiko-sama. - That was the initial reaction that I, Shimazu Yoshino, had.
Why? Because I fully understood that this event was being done for Yumi-sans benefit.
On the day of the second-term closing ceremony, wed had a Christmas party in the student council room, the Rose Mansion. Just as it was finishing up, Yumi-san had chased after Touko-chan as she made her way home and caught up to her outside. Then, in front of the statue of Maria-sama, she had offered her rosary, but it hadnt been accepted. In short, Yumi-sans offer of soeur-hood was rejected by Touko-chan.
Naturally, when I heard of it, I was floored. Because Yumi-san hadnt given any indication before, or even during the party that shed do this. Well, I knew that something had happened between them in the past, but at the very least it was really sudden. My feelings were something like, "Hey, hey, why didnt you discuss this with me, your friend?"
But I couldnt make such a glib complaint to Yumi-san, already devastated by Touko-chans rejection.
Well, it was only natural that she was devastated. Yumi-san was often "cautious," or putting it less kindly, "indecisive," so for her to take action it must have been a momentous decision. And yet, the result was a tragic defeat. Tears. Her face downcast.
Despite all this, I had no idea what to say at the time, unable to find a single sensible sentence. Trying to console her would have made it all the more painful. Thats why we didnt touch upon that subject on our way home, instead cultivating happier topics to chat about. Even though we cultivated, it was impossible to get anything to bloom brightly like a sunflower. The best we could do was something modest, like the chickweed that grows on the side of the road.
But even so. After about a day or two the agitation in my heart had settled (I wasnt aware of it, but at first it was quite violent) and I started to worry about how Yumi-san was feeling. But it would have seemed unnatural if I called her for no reason (even though I had a reason), and I couldnt come up with an excuse for us to meet. I didnt even know what Id do if we met. I thought that if I saw her face, Id know if I should encourage her, or listen to her complaints, or badmouth Touko-chan, or cry with her. But, either way, wed have to meet.
Then, just as I was about to spring into action, Sachiko-samas invitation arrived.
It was probably inevitable that Sachiko-sama was also still concerned about Yumi-san. Theres no way shed leave her alone until the third term opening ceremony. And Yumi-san had visited the Ogasawara estate for New Years this year (although intuitively it feels like last year), so Sachiko-sama may have been planning this all along, but by sending me a written invitation without any advance notice there was no mistaking that this New Years party was actually a "Cheer up Yumi Party." And since Id received an invitation, that meant that Rei-chan, and of course Shimako-san and Noriko-chan would probably have received one too.
I reached for the phone straight away. I now had a valid reason for calling her. Like h.e.l.l I was going to miss this chance.
It rang two or three times. Either way, it wasnt long until I got a response from the other end.
"h.e.l.lo."
"Ah, Yumi-san?"
Hearing that familiar voice, I completely forgot the proper protocol for calling someones house.
"Huh?"
Hearing this response, it suddenly dawned on me. There were plenty of children that sounded identical to their parents. When I called Yumi-sans house last time, what had her mother sounded like? - I didnt have time to think about that, I had to keep going for now.
"&h.e.l.lip; Uh, this is the f.u.kuzawa household, right?"
"Thats right. And you must be Shimazu-san, no?"
From that response, there was no doubting that it was Yumi-san on the other end of the line.
"Wha~at."
I was relieved to hear she was surprisingly cheerful. Although obviously I hadnt expected she would have spent the whole three days crying.
When Yumi-san said she was planning on attending, I declared that Id be going too. If Yumi-san hadnt been going, I probably would have held off too. Since it was a "Cheer up Yumi Party," it probably wouldnt happen if the person we were cheering up wasnt there. Of course, it was called a "New Years Party" so it shouldnt have mattered to me whether or not Yumi-san was there, but I didnt really want to be fooling around in Sachiko-samas house without her pet.i.t soeur there, and Sachiko-sama surely would have felt the same.
But since Yumi-san was going to be there, I was starting to get excited too. I was currently minding the house by myself so I hadnt heard directly from Rei-chan, but I made up my mind that if she said she wasnt going then Id la.s.so a rope around her neck and drag her along.
After letting Yumi-san know that Id call her again to work out some minor details, I hung up. Still holding the telephone handset, I punched in a number while looking at the contacts page in my student notebook. There was one more close friend that I really wanted to share this with. I felt that such thoughts were quite natural.
"Is this the Toudou-san residence? My name is Shimazu Yoshino and Im a second-year high school student at Lillians Girls Academy. If Shimako-sans there, could you - "
I did a quick rehearsal before placing the call. Making a slip-up like I had in the earlier conversation was not fitting for a student of Lillians after all.
However.
"Beep beep beep."
Instead of hearing the phone ring, I got the busy tone.
"Aww."
Id only been a little bit excited, but the feeling of it all coming to naught surged through me.
"For crying out loud. Who the heck is Shimako-san having such a long phone call with?"
I grumbled, setting the telephone handset down.
I didnt actually know whether or not Shimako-san was the one using the Toudous home phone, nor whether or not it was a long phone call since Id only rung one - those were my suppositions. But with my excitement being torn to shreds, I just wanted to complain.
I found out soon after that it was actually Shimako-san using the phone at that point, so my instincts werent too shabby.
"But it was only about three minutes. Is that a long phone call?"
Shimako-san asked, her tone serious. Shed called the f.u.kuzawa household, ie. Yumi-san, before she called me.
When she received the invitation from Sachiko-sama, shed also instinctively reached out for the phone.
The same pattern of behavior as me.
- That made me kinda happy.
Rei-chan returned home about an hour later. The local bookstore hadnt had the reference book she wanted, so shed had to go K station.
"Here, look at this."
Waiting motionlessly in the house was frustrating so Id been going in and out of the entrance, and when I eventually spotted Rei-chans bike coming up to our house, or the Hasekura house, either way, onto the property, I rushed over and handed her the red envelope that Id already retrieved from the letterbox. The one addressed to Rei-chan.
"At that?"
Rei-chan parked her beloved bike in the bike shed and looked at what I had in my hand.
"Yeah. Theres a New Years party at Sachiko-samas house. On the second of January. An overnight stay. Sounds fun, doesnt it? Hey, well go, right? Lets go, yeah?"
"&h.e.l.lip; And I suppose thats whats written in this letter."
Rei-chan took the envelope from me and I waited, excited and expectant, as she used her bike key in place of a letter opener to open the envelope and then read the printed invitation in silence. And what was Rei-chans conclusion after doing all this?
"I see."
After she finished reading, Rei-chan put the card back into the envelope and smiled.
"Well go. We have to cheer up Yumi-chan."
"Yeah."
As expected. Rei-chan understood. And it was pretty impressive of me to understand that too.
"So then."
Rei-chan said.
"I suppose itll be the fourth or fifth of January."
"What will?"
The tension gone, I said the first thing that came to mind. Rei-chan had suddenly said the fourth or fifth, and I didnt immediately realize what she was talking about.
"What will? When Nana-chans going to visit."
"Nanas visit &h.e.l.lip; ?"
As I said this, I thought, "Dammit."
"For the bout. We said wed have it during the winter break, remember? Shell probably be busy preparing for the end of year, so itll be better to have it in the new year. I cant believe you forgot, Yoshino."
"Uh, no way. I didnt forget."
Actually, the truth was "unbelievable." But that was because that conversation had taken place right in the middle of the Christmas Party, and after that there had been Rei-chans announcement that she was going to take entrance exams to other universities and Yumi-san had been rejected by Touko-chan. So that topic had slipped my mind. No, with all those other major things going on, I may have intentionally chosen not to think about it, deciding it was fine to let it remain hazy.
But, what was up with that? Rei-chan had clearly remembered it. Like, all those other things were going on, but that was that and this was this. She hadnt even been distracted by the invitation to the New Years party.
"Ill ask Nana. Whether the fourth or the fifth are good for her."
If Rei-chan was concerned about her promise to Nana, then I didnt have much choice. I accepted my fate.
"Okay. She told me her phone number, so I could call her - "
"No, Ill do it."
"Alright. Ill leave it to you then."
Nana and Rei-chan were going to cross blades. Why was my heart beating so hard?
It wasnt apprehension. Nor was it exhilaration.
Its a bit of a grandiose simile, but it was like I was facing the end days. Like Jesus had appeared to perform the Last Judgment, or the Maitreya Buddha had finally arrived after 5.67 billion years, that sort of thing.
It didnt change that Id run out of time to do what I should do. But that day was undoubtedly closing in. I wasnt worried about what would befall me - whether Id be saved or d.a.m.ned - but the practice, or fight, between Nana and Rei-chan would turn my world upside down. That was the hunch I had.
Id watched Rei-chans matches countless times before. So what was so different about this one?
Because her opponent was Nana.
I had no idea about her true strength. No, itd be the same even if I knew Nanas approximate skill level.
Her opponent was Nana. Therefore -
"Yoshino?"
"Uh &h.e.l.lip; how will get to Sachiko-samas house?"
"How? Well get a bus to the station, then catch a train, then walk the rest of the way. Ah - I think Sachiko might have said something about a bus between their house and the station. But Im not really sure, I never asked her about it."
Rei-chan said, scratching her head.
"Sounds like a long trip."
"Yeah, I guess. Although its not that far in a straight line."
"You rode your bike there last time, right?"
This was followed by a brief silence. Rei-chan broke the silence by suddenly lowering her head.
"Im sorry, Yoshino."
"Huh, why?"
"I should have got my license, like Sei-sama. Then I could drive you - "
I had to consider what to say next.
"That wasnt what I was thinking."
Rei-chan was so busy with student council and club activities that there was no way shed be able to find the time to go to driver training. On top of that, she was also currently studying for university entrance exams. With that said, Sei-sama had done it at some point last year. But she wasnt in any clubs, so she probably went to a driver training school during the holidays and got her license through that.
"Then what the heck were you thinking about during that silence, Yoshino?"
"Bike."
"Huh? But, Yoshino - "
"Ah, dont worry. My dadll buy me a bike."
In truth, I hadnt had my own bike for many years.
"No, its not that. Well, theres that too. What Im trying to say is."
"I know. So, youll help me, right?"
Rei-chans face clearly showed that she thought this was going to be a pain.
"Youre serious?"
"Totally serious. And itll be way quicker than you getting your license."
Instead of responding, Rei-chan let out a sigh.
Which wasnt surprising.
It had probably been about ten years since I last rode a bike - and that had been a kids bike with training wheels.
The following day, we went to a fairly s.p.a.cious public park near our house so I could practice riding a bike.
We walked there together, Rei-chan pushing her bike. In my usual green-light-go-go-go manner, Id actually wanted to do this yesterday after making my declaration but Rei-chan put a stop to that and I reluctantly gave up.
Rei-chans two conditions for helping me were that I get permission from both my parents and that I practice in a wide-open s.p.a.ce in the middle of the day, when its sunny.
Since I didnt have the slightest idea how long Id need to practice riding, it was better to start in the morning, plus I wouldnt be able to get permission from my parents until dad got home. As a result, it was pushed back to today. It was annoying, but I had to admit that I wouldnt be able to do this without Rei-chans help.
The houses I saw from the street were all in interesting states. Some looked to be in the middle of a big cleanup, with all the furniture in the entry of one, and the father cleaning the gla.s.s windows detached from all over the house in the garden of another. There were some houses that looked like theyd finished their cleaning, with bright green New Years decorations hanging from their entrance ways, and others where I could still see a Christmas tree through their windows, apparently forgotten during the cleanup.
I wonder how long that festival-stall-sized hut thats selling New Years decorations has been there? I suppose itll be dismantled on New Years day. No, itll probably stay there until January 7, selling the herb set for the Festival of Seven Herbs.
A girl that looked to be in about grade two rode past us on a bike and stopped at the postbox up ahead. She took a bundle of New Years postcards from her bikes front basket. Her parents had probably asked her to do this. There were too many for just one child - about a hundred, judging by the thickness.
After mailing the postcards, the girl spun her bike around and took off again. She picked up speed and drew close to us. Slicing through the air, it was like I could already hear the "whoosh."
In no time at all, she was past us. She took no notice of us. To her, we were probably just another obstacle, like a telephone pole. It was surprisingly refreshing.
"Rei-chan."
Without thinking, I called our Rei-chans name.
"Mm?"
Still holding the bikes handle, Rei-chan turned to look at me. Calling her name was fine, but I didnt really know what I wanted to tell her.
"Nothing."
Was all I said.
"Really?"
Rei-chan didnt pepper me with questions. Instead, she said:
"Youll be able to ride like that too, Yoshino."
"&h.e.l.lip; Huh?"
"Carefree."
Just for a moment, I must have had a pretty stupid look on my face. Because Rei-chans comment was too accurate.
Thats right, Rei-chan. If only I could ride a bike like that forever.
Because whenever Rei-chan would go out without me, and Id watch her put her feet on those bike pedals and zip off like a flowing stream, Id always get annoyed.
Because Rei-chan was always so beautiful.
Because of my congenital heart defect, Id given up on ever being able to ride a bicycle without training wheels. It was a lot more dangerous if I had an attack while riding a bike, compared to walking, and even before that there was all the practice Id need - that sort of thing was unimaginable to my pre-surgery self.
So I was envious of Rei-chan for so easily doing something that I couldnt.
It annoyed me that Id never be able to do what Rei-chan did, no matter how much I tried.
And because I loved Rei-chan so much, it made it all the more annoying.
It was pathetic that Rei-chan had to come down to my level and walk, or catch the bus, when we went out together.
I wanted to go on long bike rides with Rei-chan.
I wonder why it was that Id forgotten about this. After my surgery, right up until now, Id never made a start towards riding a bike.
Thered never been any impetus, that was true. Since Id never got in the habit of riding a bike over to the next suburb, or a bit further to the train station, Id just sort of kept on catching the bus.
My surgery was done, Id fully recovered, and every day since had been spent in a hectic blur, so I must have been subconsciously putting it off. At any rate, certain preparations were necessary before I went riding. I was well aware that riding a bike wasnt so easy that Id be able to do it the moment I wanted to. I could still remember Rei-chan going out with her father, over ten years ago, and coming back with numerous sc.r.a.pes and cuts on her knees and the palms of her hand. I heard later that shed been learning to ride without training wheels. Even Rei-chan had repeatedly fallen off. Theres no way Id breeze through it.
But still. I thought going to Sachiko-samas would be a good incentive. In general, having a time limit serves as a good motivator for people.
I wasnt going to let that get away. I would ride. And show them my victory over the bicycle.
Looking at Rei-chans face in profile, with the bike interposed between us as we walked side by side, I made this strong declaration in my heart.
"Because I really dont want you to let go."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
We were in the park and I was learning to ride a bike. Its called a park but there isnt any playground equipment, so its more of a place to take a stroll surrounded by greenery.
The area where we were practicing was in between some big trees. It was a bit small, but there was nothing that could be done about that. Bikes, and dogs, were forbidden on the gra.s.s.
"Why dont you let go? Normally, youre supposed to let go even when youre told not to, right?"
"Huh?"
Diving into the water when told not to, eating the oden when told not to - what am I, a joker?
"Alright. Ill let go, okay?"
So this time, Rei-chan let go when it was really still way too early. As a result, the bike fell over. But since I wasnt going fast, I was able to put my feet down on the ground.
"No, not yet."
"But, Yoshino, you told me to let go."
"I did, but."
Yes, Id definitely told her to let go. But in my mind I mumbled that I wasnt ready, so itd be a problem if she really let go.
"Lets try something different this time. You should be able to tell by watching. From the speed, or how its wobbling."
"Thats too difficult, Yoshino."
My precarious balance was apparently impossible for someone who could propel their bike forward as they stood up off the saddle, like Rei-chan, to understand.
"Look, now, now, let go now."
"Then dont beat around the bush when saying that, just tell me to let go straight away."
"Then that wont work at all. The proper way of training is for you to let go when Im saying dont let go."
"Who decided on that?"
On and on in this manner, Rei-chan failed to masterfully a.s.sist me time and time again. Just as I was starting to resign myself to the possibility that there was no wonderful time for her to let go, after an exquisite distance the bike and I were riding on the wind.
"Awesome, Rei-chan, awesome."
I quickly said, "Let go," and the bike still hadnt fallen over or come to a stop, instead smoothly gliding over the ground and fallen leaves.
(Huh? It hasnt fallen over or stopped?)
I was holding the handles, sitting on the seat, turning the pedals. I was, undoubtedly, riding a bike. But what should I do now? I could pedal but I didnt know how to stop.
"Rei-chan &h.e.l.lip; "
The moment I turned around, I heard Rei-chan shout.
"Yoshino, look out, in front of you!"
"Huh? In front?"
I quickly turned to face forwards and a telephone pole was coming up right in front of me. I couldnt rely on Rei-chan, that much was certain. Because when Id turned to look back, shed been unbelievably far behind me.
Ah, so Id ridden that far on my own. That sort of self-admiration was of no use whatsoever in the face of this impending crisis. Then, like I was thinking that it was something I had to do, my gaze focused on it, the handlebar remained straight and unwavering, as I single-mindedly plunged on towards that goal.
The end result was that I rammed straight into the telephone pole. More accurately, the bike I was riding did. Then, as a result of that crash, I fell off the bike and thumped into the ground.
"Yoshino!"
As I watched Rei-chan come running over, concerned, I idly thought, "I did it even though its something I shouldnt have. Isnt that the typical jokers pattern?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah &h.e.l.lip; Oww."
Id landed hands-first, so my palms were covered in damp earth. And then it looked like some part of the bike had hit my knee, or the inside of my calf. There was no blood on either to confirm this but they really hurt. Maybe Id get a bruise.
"Why didnt you stop?"
"I dont know how to."
"You should have used the brakes. I told you that at the beginning. That you grip this here, on the handlebar."
Rei-chan said as she picked up the bike.
"But, you know."
I said.
"If Id hit the brakes quickly, I would have stopped quickly."
"Well &h.e.l.lip; "
"And if Id stopped quickly, I still would have fallen off even if I hadnt hit the pole."
"You could have put your feet down."
"My feet? How could I have done that without getting off the seat?"
"One leg would have been fine."
Then Rei-chan gave me a practical demonstration - one foot on the ground, with the bike on an angle.
"I already know that, you dont have to show me."
"Ah - "
Rei-chan put her hands to her head.
"Teaching is hard."
Oh my. What was she saying? Hadnt she been relentlessly coaching her juniors in the kendo club up until now? For someone who wanted to become a PE teacher, could she really afford to be this timid?
But if Id said any of this, Rei-chan would have undoubtedly laughed and said, "Theres not many students as difficult as you, Yoshino."
After that, I fell off a few more times in the park, then after Id more or less learned to ride I ran into someones fence on the way home, then got the tire stuck in a storm-water drainage grate and came off, so not only did I get good at riding, I also got quite good at falling.
But with all the crashes, Rei-chans beloved bike turned into a bit of a clunker.
Despite this, when we came to our house, Rei-chan said shed take her bike to the bike shop tomorrow and somehow or other theyd repair all the damage.
But then right at the last moment I ran full force into the gate to Rei-chans house and the bike made a sound like a death-rattle. I dont know a lot about bicycle construction, but it looked like something was broken, or had otherwise come apart.
Despite all this, Rei-chan still thought shed get it repaired and ride it again, but the bike store owner whod been servicing it for all these years finally said, "You should buy a replacement." He said that even if he fixed it this time, itd just break again soon, and that the repairs would be expensive and take quite a long time, so Rei-chan tearfully gave up on the idea. No matter what, she had to have a bike by January 2.
Waiting alongside my bike was a new bike for Rei-chan.
Since there was no disputing that I had broken her previous bike, my dad bought two new ones.
That night, I gave Nana a call.
With that, Rei-chans bout with Nana was set for the 4th of January.