Volume 8 Chapter 3 (1/2)
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Fine weather
Like Maria-sama's soul, the blue sky stretched on forever They couldn't say that there wasn't a cloud in the sky, but the desire to do so was limitless
As befitting the graduation ceremony, it truly was a ”fine day”
”But even so,” Youko thought, ”why the heck doesn't it feel real to me?”
Even as she looked at the words, ”Congratulations on Graduation,” written out in large lettering on the blackboard, she couldn't help but feel like it was happening to someone else
Sure, there were nerves But despite being one of the main players in this fine day, it seemed like the deep emotions just couldn't soak into her
Feelings of solemnity and excitement welled up in her froh
Indeed, if pressed to say, the feeling was most similar to just before soo sh to the end of the ceremony
It was a bad habit, or so she thought No matter how much time passed, she'd never lose the h she hadn't hesitated to slide into co year's school council But, after all, it looked as though she herself had been the one dragging it out all the way to the end
”Best wishes for today”
As their ho to a close, a few second-year students arrived carrying the white floral corsages that were theseniors
This was an annual tradition Students frorade beloould pin one to the chest of each graduating student So these girls were froroup
Youko wistfully thought back to last year when she'd been part of the group to visit the third-years The happy job of pinning the flowers to the graduating students was a really popular one Because of that, the six positions were decided by scissors-paper-rock between all those anted to take part
Youko tilted her head to the side, reconsidering that story
For soh scissors-paper-rock Evenwith the other applicants
( - Ahh, that's it)
Youko suddenly remembered That memory shouldn't be there She hadn't played scissors-paper-rock Youko alone was an exception, her place reserved fro As the class representative, she went straight to the head of the line
The vast majority of her classmates had wanted to pin flowers to the seniors, but hadn't wanted to be the one to lead the way For those shy students, Youko's existence was a Godsend
- Please, Youko-san
How many times had she been asked in that manner? Countless times, impossible to remember each and every instance
But she didn't think she was just being used Thanks to that, she'd been able to pin the corsage to the chest of her graduating onee-sama Her onee-sama just happened to be in the same class as her, but in a different year Just like Eriko and Rei now
(Rei, huh)
That re story she'd heard about Rei
Apparently she was going to be one of the girls pinning flowers this year Rei wasn't the type to nominate herself, nor was she prevailed upon by her classmates - but there were no objections when she was chosen without playing scissors-paper-rock
Why was that?
Apparently a fervent request cah from the third-year chrysanthemum class All the third-years wanted Mr Lillian to pin the corsage to their chest
As Rei's onee-saain, knowing her, she was probably ecstatic about it
”We'll now begin pinning the corsages We'll do our very best, but we're not very practiced in this, so please forgive any clumsiness on our part”
The apparent leader announced Youko saw it overlaid with her memory of last year
She was sidetracked for a moment by the word clumsiness In other words, sorry if we stab you with the safety pin attached to the corsage In that case, all she could do was pray for a lack of clumsiness
”Congratulations on graduation”
The basic fores, the other to pin the students These three basic for before one such group was facing Youko
”Congratulations, Rosa Chinensis”
They started by bowing deeply Then, thefro the basket
”Wh-what's the matter?”
Youko was frankly astonished She couldn't understand what had happened in those few seconds
”I'm so sorry”
As she spoke, the girl hastily wiped away her tears with the back of her hand
”I'm just overcome with emotion … ah”
Since she'd taken both her hands off it, it looked like it wouldn't be long until the ses tipped over
”She's been a fan of yours for a long time now, Rosa Chinensis”
The girl with the task of pinning the corsages explained Then she unfastened the safety pin, gathered a loose piece of Youko's school uniform and pierced it with the safety pin But her hands were shaking too, so she wasn't that nimble
”Pardon me … o”
pricking her finger on the safety pin, it took the girl about twice as long as normal, but finally a white flower bloomed on Youko's chest
”I'm so sorry It looks like it's a bit crooked”
”Thanks It's fine”
As she s Because these anony the emotions so much more keenly than Youko herself
Even after pinning flowers to all the graduating seniors in the room, the second-years chrysanthemum students seeathered in a corner and hispering to each other Had there been so into the baskets, and looked like they were counting on their fingers This continued for a little while
(I wonder what it is)
Seeing that kind of a scene, even though it had nothing to do with her whatsoever, Youko couldn't help but take note of it
(The numbers don't match … ?)
The second-years were still looking puzzled, but perhaps deciding that they were overstaying their welcoe and started to leave the classroom
”Ah, hold on”
Youko instinctively called out
”What is it?”
By the door, the representative who had given the speeches turned around
”I just remembered One of our students is out sick today with the flu If you happen to have a corsage left over, would it be okay if I took care of it? I could give it to her along with her diploma”
Voices of agreeht,” cah that they had coirl
”… So that's what it was That's a relief - e had one left over, orried that we must have mistakenly picked up another class's flowers”
The second-years' confusion was immediately resolved
”Thank-you Rosa Chinensis, you've been a great help”
”Really, Youko-san, we can always count on you”
Youko shrugged in exasperation Truly stunned by how, even up to the very end, she was still in full-blownmode
The formal name of the Graduation Cere Ceremony
As the naraduation diploh-school, the diplomas are awarded to people who have coh-school curriculum
”But even so,” Sei thought, ”why do they have todeal out of it?”
She wasn't saying that they shouldn't have the cere practices and rehearsals took their toll, leaving her feeling apathetic about the actual event
”Huh”