Volume 10 Chapter 9 (1/2)
On Saturday, she didn't see Sachiko-sama
This was because Sachiko-sama was absent froht she hadn't wanted to see Sachiko-sa that her onee-sama wasn't on campus
”Sachiko-sao home and not stay back today”
Yoshi+no-san had made up with Rei-chan at some point Even shi+mako-san looked uncharacteristically happy when Yu, probably because of Noriko-chan Yellow and white were in a good mood
During recess, Yuroup classroom She returned to class, relieved that Touko-chan wasn't absent too, but on the other hand she felt disappointed in herself for being so suspicious, and resentful of Sachiko-sa her act that way
She was still feeling depressed when she got hoo for a stroll to relax It looked like it was going to rain, so she got her umbrella from the umbrella stand, and that hen her s from the shop
A tub of butter froone
She returned ho in the entrance
”Yumi-chan!?”
Hearing her sobs, Yuathered fro the loss of her umbrella as a defense, she didn't hide her tears from her family
”Don't just take so to you”
Crouched down on the concrete floor in the entry, Yumi pounded her fist on the wooden door frame over and over
”Don't take s away from me!”
To Yu umbrella was just like Sachiko-sama
Sunday evening
Yuasawara residence
There wasn't the same sense of anticipation that she used to have
Maybe she shouldn't have Sachiko-sa like she was checking out an alibi, Yumi dialed the number
Cold water was flowing somewhere deep within her heart
Supposing, then
She thought that it would be okay if she called to apologize for Friday Yu, but she did acknowledge that she went too far
If she found out that Sachiko-sama wasn't out with Touko-chan, she'd be able to ize to her heart's content And when they met tomorrow, if some of the aardness between them had dissipated, then the telephone call would have served its purpose
”Ogasawara residence”
A ed lady's voice came from the telephone receiver It wasn't Sayako-obasaht it was probably a maid
Yuave her name and asked if Sachiko-sama was available The , ”Please wait oneher on hold
”… So onee-sama's there then”
If she wasn't, theup the phone As she listened to the sounds in the background, Yu, just a little However
”hello, Yumi-chan?”
The call had been picked up by a young man
”Huh?”
”It's Kashi+wagi It's been a while, hey”
Her head was spinning She'd definitely called the Ogasawara residence, so why had Kashi+wagi-san answered? The crucial piece of infori-san and Sachiko-sama were cousins
”Umm … ?”
”Sacchan's at hoht now”
The thought that she was in the bath floated into Yuo to all the trouble of getting Kashi+wagi-san as a substitute to avoid saying Oddly, Kashi+wagi-san apparently read too much into her silence and quickly followed up with:
”She's resting after getting a bit under the weather in the car”
”In the car - ”
”Let me be clear, so you don'tfor a drive together Touko ith us too, so you can relax”
”Touko-chan was there?”
Kashi+wagi-san obviously had no idea that Yu there
”Yeah, even now Touko's looking after her She's more level-headed than she looks, so you shouldn't be too worried They're not even allowing me in the room”
Kashi+wagi-san's clear laugh cah the receiver
”… Is that so?”
Despite the nonchalant response, Yu but calm
Touko would be happy just to go on a drive, on a drive, on a drive - The words that Touko-chan had spoken echoed through her mind
”Why were you calling? I could take a ot Touko?”
”No need It's not urgent I'll tell her e meet at school”
”Really? Sorry about this”
Although Kashi+wagi-san had offered to take a ht it was better to refuse that offer It would have been okay if Sachiko-sa Touko-chan was by her side soured things
After hanging up the phone, all her strength suddenly left her
While saying that she couldn't promise another ti out with Touko-chan
It wasn't a date between the two of thei-san was there too However, while that may have been true, it was small comfort indeed
When they parted on Friday, Yu Touko-chan over her She knew that, now, that answer had been found
Sachiko-sama had chosen Touko-chan, that's hoas If she accepted that, there was nothing else to do Although it was incredibly painful, it happened because peoples' hearts change
Yu around her neck
Even when she wasn't wearing her school uniform, she'd instinctively put on the rosary that she received nearly eight h it were an extension of her body
(Alright, that's enough)
If she took off the rosary and was no longer Sachiko-sas of her onee-saer wear away at her either
Yumi was already so tired
Fro the person she loved
Consequently, she decided not to go to the Rose Mansion, starting that Monday
It hurt to look at Sachiko-sama's face, and since she'd firmed her resolve to stand down as her petit soeur, Yumi, as Rosa Chinensis en bouton, had no reason to involve herself in the Ya was fortunate, since Noriko-chan had officially becoantea en bouton, she should be able to fill the hole Yumi left
”What on earth's going on?”
Yoshi+no-san questioned her, when she hadn't been to the Rose Mansion at lunch or after school
”Sachiko-sama's worried about you”
”As if”
Yumi snorted
”It's true”
She was probably worried about her dignity as Rosa Chinensis At this busy ti up, irand soeur
”Anyhy don't we go there together right now?”
As Yurabbed her by the ar
”I'”
Yumi shook herself free and turned towards the shoe locker roo:
”I don't knohat's going on, but I'm sure it's Sachiko-saside you If you keep silent when you're angry, you'll never be able to make up”
”It's already gone beyond that point”
She rejected the unsightly clinging that would have resulted And what reconciliation? Sachiko-sama had found a junior that she prioritized over her own petit soeur, there was no way to return things back to the way they were before
”Thank-you for your concern I'm sorry”
”Yumi-san…”
By now Yuer tried to stop her leaving At the sa the shoe locker roo back
Yu her way to the main entrance The door that was usually open before and after school was closed, and rain was falling heavily on the other side of the glass pane
It was all becoet wet on the way home, but that would be too conspicuous and so and took out her red folding umbrella
She stepped outside, irritated that it wasn't opening properly, and so there looked her way
”- Yumi”
”Onee-sama…”
Suddenly, she didn't knohat to say She had the rosary in her pocket, so that she could return it whenever they happened to meet But now that the time had arrived, she couldn't juht hand, her school bag in her left There was no hand free to give back the rosary
”I had a feeling we'd meet”
Sachiko-sa under the roof's overhang, she had her school bag and uo ho to the Rose Mansion, they probably wouldn't have met here
”There's so I have to talk to you about”