Volume 7 Chapter 5 (1/2)
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”Ah”
With that
Sachiko-sama (Rosa Chinensis en bouton), Rei-saantea en bouton), all stood up simultaneously
After a raduation ceremony, the two afternoon classes had been effortlessly dispatched and lessons were concluded for the day As always, the regular group of five scholars had gathered in the Rose Mansion Before beginning their daily tasks, there was a brief period of peace and tranquility spent enjoying fragrant tea … as you can see, I, fukuzawa Yu the effects of my sixth-period classical literature class
Setting that aside for now
”Yumi, what did you just say?”
Naturally, the one asking the question was my onee-sama, Sachiko-sama
”Umm … ”
Oh dear I quickly tried to determine how I'd failedthe soeur of my beloved Sachiko-sa overh to remind me of the many times I've failed her in the past
”Was it, ”The way things are, it doesn't really feel like a graduation ceremony?””
Strange Even repeating the words I'd spoken immediately before they all stood up, I couldn't see rong with them
”A bit before that”
”Then, ”The third-years are lucky, they don't have end of semester exams?””
”Not that far back Coet what it was”
Even if Sachiko-sa earlier it had beenelse It'd be even e if I remembered each and every word I'd said But even if I couldn't reet mad at her petit soeur for that too
Still, hearing ood, so it looks like I've been reduced to the status of deviant
I guess that's the result of being antea
Still, Ogasawara Sachiko-sa more and more irritated as she waited intently for an answer, and that would lead to even harsher words
”Yu!?”
”I, I'm sorry”
I yelped and droppedits ears No matter how
”Hey, Yu about the Roses?”
This year's Rosa Foetida en bouton, as well as Mister Lillian - although ru to be retired and awarded to her in perpetuity - that is to say, Hasekura Rei-saht it was a silly soeur fight and didn't want to watch
”Ah, the going away party for the Roses?”
I said, re And then:
”Right, that”
”Exactly”
”Ah, what should we do?”
The red, yellow and white boutons said in turn Why? I had no idea
”What should we do about what?”
Yoshi+no-san asked, looking at shi+ht
”We forgot all about it”
”Again, forgot what?”
”The going away party for the Roses?”
I asked without thinking Based on the way the conversation had been going, that was the only possible answer
”Exactly Just like shi+mako-san said What should we do?”
The usually resplendent Sachiko-sama had turned oddly pale The only other time I've seen her this shaken was in the jeans shop
”Ah - I thought we'd forgotten so So that's what it was”
Rei-sas in at her own pace Her composure was probably due to the discipline instilled in her by her ain, if Yoshi+no-san's stories about the ”occasional gigantic fool Rei-chan” were to be believed, perhaps it was simply a matter of situational familiarity
”The going away party for the Roses?”
I said Sachiko-sa with, ”You know, that's all you've been saying for a while now, Yumi”
”Haa”
”Well, it's fine Thanks to your solo prattling, ere saved fro a careless blunder”
”Umm, okay But I don't really understand what you're talking about”
My ood phrase like, ”Thanks to you,” and ”ere saved,” but it was honestly a bit sad that I didn't know the actual feat I'd accomplished
Indeed, I had said, ”The going away party for the Roses” The rehearsal for the graduation cereone smoothly, and there was the third-years' farewell party co, so I'd been thinking about how the actual graduation ceremony would be when I opened my mouth
”Don't ot our onee-samas' farewell party”
The three boutons all had the saht expressions as Sachiko-sama flatly muttered this
”Ah, but So then”
I looked to Yoshi+no-san for support I thought she was in the same boat as me, but at some point she'd made it to the opposite shore In other words, she'd crossed over to the ”People who understand the situation” faction
”… I see, a farewell party for the Roses … so when you were talking about ”third-years” youstudents”
Yoshi+no-san nodded to herself Hey, share some of that info with me, will you
”The Roses are going to graduate, aren't they?”
Reluctantly, I fished for a clue Then Yoshi+no-san raised her index finger and said, ”There's a subtle difference”
”The Roses are indeed going to graduate, but you can't say that ”graduating students” equals ”the Roses””
So, what? Was this some kind of ht
”Ah, oh!”
I'd finally figured out what to say
”The bouton organized ”Third-years' Farewell Party” is for all the graduating students!? I thought - ”
I thought it was just going to be a relatively small and intimate farewell party held in the Rose Mansion Based on her earlier response, Yoshi+no-san had definitely had the sa
”We've been saying that all along”
Sachiko-sahed
”Hold on, we may not have actually said that Since we all knehat it meant, we may not have explained it fully But Yoshi+no and Yumi-san are first-years, so they won't knohat happened last year”
Rei-sama rested her chin on her fist, in the classic ”Thinker” pose The way she looked, she ithout peer While I raphy club ace, if I'd had a camera with me I definitely would have clicked the shutter
”At the very least, I didn'tto Yumi-san or Yoshi+no-san … so I suppose it is true”
shi+ that, Sachiko-sama had no choice but to say, ”Perhaps so,” and back down
”The three of us have been under such pressure to ensure the grand task was a success that we lost sight of so of a bouton”
Just like that, Sachiko-sama became dispirited, so Rei-sama patted her on the shoulder
”We should have taken precautions to prevent this”
So, for the ti, the three boutons resumed their seats
Basically, it went like this:
For the last week, the boutons had been frantically preparing for the ”Third-years' Farewell Party” This occupied so otten the private farewell party And their petit soeurs, ere supposed to cover for them in these situations, had stupidly been under the impression that the farewell party their onee-sah it was actually a massive event for the entire school
”Classes wouldn't be canceled just for a private farewell party”
Sachiko-sa beside the sink as she spoke Indeed, it had, ”Farewell Party, Saturday, Starts at 9,” written on it, but the loop of the 9 was very faint so it looked like 1 The boutons kneas happening during class time, so they saas 9, but Yoshi+no-san and I read it as 1, since we thought it was taking place in the afternoon So it hadn't looked suspicious to anyone, despite both groups thinking different things
Thinking about it now, if it was just a private farewell party, the bouton's wouldn't have treated it so sensitively Plus when I was talking about the ”Third-years' Farewell Party” with some ofacross each other
Mistake was piled on top ofthat it wasn't until today that the truth caht
”Wait, when should we have it?”
”Schedules, schedules”
The boutons hastily confirmed their schedules Since it was a private party, it would be pointless if anyone was et everyone there would be bad too
”Saturday afternoon”
Rei-sama circled her calendar
”That's the only possible time”
Sachiko-sa it after the third-years' farewell party, they could be reasonably certain that the Roses would be at school
”We'll have to confirm that with the Roses quickly”
”I'll do it”
I stood up and took off towards the door It was a soeur's duty to provide support to her onee-sama While I work
”Ah, Yumi, wait”
At roughly the sa light crashed into my back
”O”
Well, it didn't really hurt I looked down ataround on the floor
”An eraser … ?”
When I picked it up, I knew I'd seen that soccer-ball patterned eraser somewhere before