Volume 1 Chapter 2 (2/2)
Chuckling softly, she scrambled off the chair and turned away
”Is that so? You were playing wonderfully”
Sachiko-sa sound felt oddly loud in the room devoid of anyone but them
She noticed Sachiko-sa toward her The soft floor absorbed ht, ah, no wonder she didn't notice Sachiko-sa earlier
”Well, shall we get going?”
”Huh!?”
”What do you mean, huh Just why did you think I came all this way?”
”Ah, why DID Sachiko-sama come here?”
”Of course, to pick you up”
Sachiko-sa an ”isn't that obvious?” sort of tone
Yuan explaining
”Alright? From now until the school festival, you will take part in perforation, after all”
Sachiko-sa was thus
There was a degree of i Yuiven, before the school festival In conclusion, in order to help ations anyways, was to take part in Yamayurikai business
”How unreasonable”
”What do you mean, unreasonable The Roses were already quite aware of this Also,”
Sachiko-saer on Yumi's jaw and looked into her eyes
”Do think about it You are the substitute for Cinderella Of course you are expected to attend rehearsals”
”Substitute… But that's only if I accept the rosary-”
”Do you plan onrehearsals because you are confident you will not accept? If so, by that logic, I can miss out on rehearsals, too”
”But”
Sachiko-sama admonished Yumi with a faint, quiet voice
”However, I will attend rehearsals There are not too s in the world where you can claim 'absolutely' Plus, the bet with the onee-sa confidence and probability, there are only one or two results lying in the future If the Cinderella role is down to either you or I, then I will practice Even if it were to contradict how confident I feel, it is better than running the risk of being e the actual performance”
Sachiko-sa hair over her ear
”Sachiko-sama…”
There was nothing she could say Even if she were to refuse, raising hysteria, Sachiko-sa reasonable There was no doubt that, in her e and recycling
Her heart constricted, have I disappointed her? It was the sa totally different from the excitement or dread Rather, it was a mysterious mental state, in that she felt that, left alone, she would have ended up in tears Siht of her mother in the middle of a crowd
Had Sachiko-sama not lifted her head that moment, Yumi probably would have latched onto Sachiko-sama and cried ”I'm sorry”
”Of course”
Sachiko-sa
”You have your oay of thinking, so I will not coerce you However, will you not at least come watch me practice?”
”… Yes”
”Then, take your bag”
Having been urged onward, Yu she had left on a table, as well as the cleaning diary
She wondered if she was allowing herself to be swept along into Sachiko-sama's pace in a nice way However, as she tilted her head slightly, she adhts
Despite her hysteric behavior yesterday, Sachiko-saht, and beautiful, like an artist's depiction of the perfect onee-sahts
”What is the ”
Sachiko-sama called from the doorway
”Ah, co”
When she hurried over, Sachiko-sama informed her, ”Be quiet,” and fixed Yumi's tie
It was the sa For a ko trees
”Ah”
Sachiko-sama blurted, stopped, and looked at Yumi
”That photo Was it taken yesterday ?”
”Ehh?”
Unbelievably, Sachiko-sama had just remembered that scene
”Could you not remember from the photo?”
”I could see it was myself, and that it was Yumi with me But I could not remember when it happened Because Takeshi+ma Tsutako-san's photo had no date on it”
She thought, that's not the probleain that Yumi was too unmemorable
”Then Yumi and I truly did just meet yesterday”
”Yes”
Yumi nodded as she shut the door to the music room It had been mere hours before Sachiko-sama's sœur declaration When they mentioned ”warashi+bechouja,” she had no retort
”I feel so much better now that I remembered”
The two of theether She felt it ard to be walking together the same day the ruive it no mind Particularly as there was almost no one left in the corridor, Sachiko-sa shadowy about it
”Sachiko-sama, do you fix underclassmen ties that frequently?”
In that case, Yu Yumi However, the answer Sachiko-sama imparted from her lips
”Quite the opposite”
”Eh?”
”Seldom … No, basically never I wonder why I did such a thing”
As they walked down the stairs, Sachiko-sama wondered, truly fascinated She had presuht of stairs, she had an answer
”I a person, so I aht have subconsciously called out to you That ht explain why I could not recall the incident immediately”
”You do not sees”
”I am told that all the time … But in reality, I have low blood pressure”
”Ah, low blood pressure”
It seeasawara Sachiko-saht next to her was definitely that person of adoration, but the io
Yet, normally, you were supposed to learn more and more about a person as time passed
When they stopped by the staff rooe of Yumi's class, said, ”Oh my”
”I thought there must have been a mistake, but as that rumor true, after all?”
It seemed the story had spread to even the teachers
”But, that is fascinating I heard Ogasawara-san was rejected by fukuzawa-san? But why are you talking together? Or was it actually an OK?”
As expected of a former Lillian student Her eyes twinkled and she asked with the curiosity of a young girl, shedding the 20-year differential in their ages
”Umm, that's, that's-”
When Yumi became stuck, Sachiko-sama spoke out from her side
”We apologize fora fuss I will leave what happened between us to your iination”
She smiled, and then, ”Well, excuse us” Sachiko-saantly from the staff room
Ya had the opportunity to speak sealed
”Sa, Sachiko-sama”
After they had walked a fair distance froo of Yumi's hand
”There is no need to say more than what is necessary”
”But”
”The reater and wilder the rureat detail, to a large audience, rather than explaining little by little When it is still a big fuss, be ain the wind”
But being able to silence people with just a smile like Sachiko-sah school student Sachiko-sa ell, quite reasonable, but difficult to put into practice
She was brought to the second gymnasium
This was a bit to the back of the school facilities, and was nowhere near as expansive as the prih school student It was about the size of a basketball court, but had no stage In its stead were a changing roo it rather popular a students It was used quite often for friendly matches with other schools, or for other athletics or club activities
”Put on those slippers and come up”
Sachiko-sama pointed at the vinyl slippers on the shelf, furnished for visitors Every gyular shoes were forbidden
While Yumi took off her indoor shoes and put on the slippers, Sachiko-sama simply walked up in her socks
”Ah, Sachiko's here”
”You're late”
A voices of the Roses, Yuymnasium After one step, she felt a painful number of stares
Awaiting them were yesterday's members, sans Tsutako-san, plus another twenty or so students A them was one student in Yumi's class, and that was all she needed to see to realize this was the dance club
Sachiko-sama instructed Yumi to watch from the side, and joined the dance club
”I apologize for disrupting practice Please, continue”
Then, classical music flowed in from somewhere, and Sachiko-sama held hands with Hasekura Rei-sama in the an dancing to the music
It was triple time, a waltz
”Welcome, fukuzawa Yumi-chan”
When she turned to look, Rosa Chinensis was beckoning with her hands
”The view is better from here”
Rosa Gigantea and Rosa Foetida ith her as well The three were leaning against the wall and watching the dance Yumi stood next to Rosa Chinensis, as per invitation
The young ladies danced to the elegant music
Even though they all wore the sanetized by Sachiko-sama She spun around like a flower, as if controlled by theeven the
It was not that other students were inadequate dancers They, too, danced s up to their name proudly as the Lillian Girls' Academy dance club Yet, none of the described as a flower Even without any costumes, it was easy to tell Sachiko-sama was the lead role
”It's decent enough, what do you think?”
Rosa Chinensis asked Yuht ahead
”Decent,… even though it's this spectacular?”
When she asked how long they'd be practicing, she was surprised to hear they had just started that day
”About thirty minutes before Sachiko arrived, I think? shi+mako and Rei learnt the steps froether for the first time now”
”For the first time?”
”You learn the rudi in class, and shi+mako is already experienced with japanese dance, so she see styles Rei ained fro a bit… See, she just stepped on her foot”
Rei-sama had just stepped on Sachiko-sa as if nothing happened That they weren't wearing shoes probably was out of consideration to the possibility of stepping on one another's foot, it being their first rehearsal
”In the case of Sachiko, you know She is an authentic lady, so it's expected of her to be able to dance socially”
Rosa Chinensis spoke rather proudly of Sachiko-saan private tutelage of social dancing frolish conversation, piano, tea cereh middle school she had at least one tutor every day
”It's like, she's from another world”
She sighed She'd been alive for fifteen years, but society was still an i
”Right? You'd suffocate So, I uess? I inable for the Yamayurikai”
”… Wow”
Sachiko-sa to be able to do all of that practice all the way through h school, to be able to
”Sachiko is just so diligent to the core, so if so of her, she does exactly what is expected That's why, sometimes, she needs to be allowed to breathe Do you understand?”
”… Sort of”
”Sort of … Well, that's fine”
The song was reaching its cli a bit, and a line of black hair had adhered itself to her white nape
”But, even if she kno to dance, would she ever have the opportunity to dance?”
When Yumi blurted out the question, Rosa Chinensis returned with the question, ”Why do you think that?”
”If she were dancing frequently, I don't think she would all of a sudden refuse to dance with a man…”
”Exactly Actually, ondering the sa For Sachiko, this is 'just a dance' Yet, she refused it so desperately She wanted out so badly we began wanting to know the reason, too, so aiting a bit to let her off the hook, but-”
But it turned into sohed
”A spice named fukuzawa Yumi was added to the mix, noonder what it will cook up”
(Eek…)
It felt like dry wind has sliced straight through her body
It was like a scene from a historical play, where a person with no place to stay, and with no place willing to let hi in an inn town, stands out in the open, alone The dusty, dry as irritating to the skin, and enee of what the future held for him
Even though in the background was an elegant waltz Ah, how unsuitable
”Just as Rosa Gigantea said”
”Eh?”
”When Yuh life's many phases”
Rosa Chinensis' intellectual expression broke down, and she began giggling
When the song ended, Rosa Chinensis i directives about starting positions, body position, and other things Even though she had been talking to Yu careful attention to details
”Yumi-chan have you danced before?”
Rosa Gigantea had co with Yumi's curled hair, which had been split in two and individually tied
”N, no Not at all”
”Really-? Hey, did dance class start from second year?”
She twisted her body and asked Rosa Foetida
”That was the case, I think”
Rosa Foetida answered indifferently as she re-winded the cassette tape
”Then, I'll teach you Here, put out your hands”
”Eh!?”
”Here”
Rosa Gigantea forcibly grabbed Yulued her body to hers
”Ah”
”Yumi-chan uses so much 'eh' and 'ah' and wah!”
Even if she were told that, she couldn't hold back her voice She thought there was some responsibility on the person who surprises her
”It's in three-time because it's a waltz One, two, three, one, two, three”
Left with no choice, Yumi took off her slippers
Left foot back a step on one, spin 3/8 while stepping to the side with the right foot on two, ht step forward and then a half turn right on the next one, left foot back diagonally and turn another 3/8 to the right before collecting both feet back together on two, then a sht foot on three
She tried to do as she was told, but it wasn't going very well
”Your hip's too close See, don't look down You can step on my foot”
One, two, three
One, two, three
Just as she beca at finished their review of the rehearsal, all stared at Yu some curious animal
”Ah, that's bad, now Yuht spread!”
Rosa Gigantea laughed and let go of Yuh and shouted to everyone
”Alright-! I' our new friend, fukuzawa Yuroup dance from today on, so please be kind to her-!”
She wanted to shout ”eh!” but, having just been teased about it, Yumi covered her mouth
”It's boring if you just watch, isn't it? Plus, if we think about what 'could' happen, you probably should get used to dancing”
Whispering that dangerous line in Yuantea pushed Yumi's back
However, 'could' would be a case of her standing up on stage in Sachiko-sama's stead
(Rosa Gigantea was betting on e to her playing piece?)
However, winning or losing hardly , amused by the course of events
”Someone pair with her”
Rosa Foetida requested, looking at the faces in the circle
”Alright, I will”
When Yumi looked up at who replied so simply, it was none other than Rosa Foetida en bouton, Hasekura Rei-sama
”B, but Rei-sama, is with Sachiko-sama”
”I'm just a stand-in Once the real prince arrives I say so farewell to that role, so there's no proble with Yumi-chan”
Oh dear This didn't seem like it would end with just the level of dry wind
No matter how alien she was to the scene, she could feel the inquisitive stares stab her like knives No, rather than inquisitive, it ht have been more like envious
First was the rumor that she rejected the Rosa Chinensis en bouton, Sachiko-saether anyways at the gymnasium, she was on friendly terantea, and noas a dance partner with the Rosa Foetida en bouton, Rei-sama
Just who does that girl think she is -They were no doubt thinking that
Even though she had no intention in the least of garnering attention Ah, why do things always have to floay in a completely different direction from her hopes?
Then, when practice resumed, she felt like a pincushi+on
Although the boutons dancing with her hardly seemed to care, theat her
Froht, she would always lock eyes with a dance club antea's practice was quite slow, so, unable to keep up with the pace of the song, she kept stepping on Rei-sa on her feet, and it was all-in-all a mess
Through it all, Sachiko-saantea's offer to be her dance partner, instead dancing her steps alone As she arched her torso, and softly curved her arave the iht there with her
What sort of prince was Sachiko-sa at? What sort of prince would Sachiko-sa to stretch her arms out to?
”Don't look elsewhere”
When she snapped back to attention, Rei-saer
”It looks like you can't take your mind off Sachiko”
”No, that's not it”
Even as she answered, she thought, maybe I can't Because iain
Sachiko-saed creature with the invisible prince
assuined-, Yu was that the Hanadera student council leader was not he That thought made her feel a certain amount of compassion for the Hanadera council leader
What a pitiable Prince
The Lillian Girls' Academy Cinderella was, unlike the fairy tale, proud and idealistic