Volume 11 Chapter 4 (2/2)
”Yes, more or less”
shi+reed
”I wouldn't say we have enough people Although, compared to last year, there are no fewer members of the Yamayurikai”
Last year there were three Roses, two boutons, and one bouton's petit soeur (Yoshi+no-san) for a total of six people shi+mako-san was not officially Sei-sama's petit soeur at the time
This year, there were three Roses and three boutons Six people, the saether was the problem
Rei-sama was busy with her club, like last year, but so too was Yoshi+no-san this year Sachiko-sa to help properly from now on, but, well, let's just set that aside for now
”Do you think we should ask someone to help out?”
Yu shortfall Even with Yumi's return, she didn't see any way that she alone could completely fill the hole left by Sachiko-sama
”Who would we ask to help?”
shi+ by the tone of her voice, she didn't have much interest in this idea
”I hadn't really thought that far”
Yu it out there”
Although there would probably be quite a few students willing to help out with Ya the members of the school festival coh the school's newspaper, the Lillian Kawaraban
Then shi+h as she said:
”In that case, wouldn't it be better for Yumi-san or Yoshi+no-san to find a petit soeur?”
”My my Oh shi+mako-san, you've become quite the Rose”
Yu
'Find a petit soeur' was the kind of cliché phrase that generations of Roses had said to their petit soeurs Just recently, shi+mako-san had been assailed by Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama with it
”It's because I have a petit soeur I'm more at liberty than you, Yumi-san”
”I see”
Yulanced at shi+mako-san's petit soeur and understood Noriko-chan accepted shi+mako-san's words with a smile
shi+ the position that, until recently, had been shi+mako-san's, and shi+mako-san had been pushed forwards
”If Rei-sama takes a break from her club activities, and Sachiko-sama returns to school, then I think we'll , I wonder?”
” … Yeah”
Yumi couldn't provide an answer to shi+mako-san's question
”Ah, I wasn't specifically asking you, Yumi-san It was an innocent question”
shi+mako-san frantically waved her hands, while behind her Noriko-chan murmured:
”It see has happened to Rosa Chinensis”
”What do you mean?”
Two people asked simultaneously
”Well … I tried asking, but Touko didn't let anything slip”
” - Touko-chan, huh”
Yu that name
”It see, but that's the feeling I get I apologize, but I think it has so to do with the reason Yu each other … ”
Indeed, that's ould spring towas that Touko-chan and Sachiko-sa that Yumi, the petit soeur, did not So she beca shunned
A secret that only Touko-chan knew It was a bit heartbreaking
However
Now, looking at it objectively, it seemed likely Sachiko-sama probably hadn't chosen to confide in Touko-chan Since they were relatives, albeit distant ones, Touko-chan h a different route
”Sorry that I couldn't provide more help”
Noriko-chan bowed deeply, as though she'd done so
”No, it's alright, thank-you”
Yu this to be the end of the conversation, however:
”Ah, one ”
”Huh?”
Noriko-chan raised her head and continued talking
”Yuize completely for Touko-chan's nastiness the other day too”
Yumi considered that to be co as a friend
If Yumi heard a rumor that Yoshi+no-san had unfairly insulted soize to that person If the rumor were about shi+mako-san, then first of all she wouldn't believe it, since that didn't see
”Despite what she did, at heart I don't think she's bad”
Noriko-chan was so of a worrier too
” … Perhaps”
Yumi already knew that
It was just that there were times when she became too consumed with hate
But that seemed like it could be quite an obstacle when it came to relationshi+ps with other people
The rain fell gently all through Tuesday
When lunchtime arrived, the sun didn't come out, but there was at least a break in the rain
TheTV weather forecast had said, ”Rain, with occasional cloudy periods,” so they were currently in one of those 'occasional' times
”So?”
The young lady with vertical hair rolls stood on the rain-slicked pavelistened on the shrubbery leaves
”What did you ith me?”
Was her badcalled out by a senior? Or was it because she didn't want to look at Yumi's face?
Well, maybe it was both
Touko-chan was being honest, and hadn't tried to conceal her displeasure ever since they left the classroom
”Are you going to continue where we left off before?”
She looked straight at Yumi, her eyes open wide
”Continue what?”
Yu Touko-chan snorted, perhaps thinking she was feigning ignorance
”There's quite the rumor on the streets, perhaps you plan to turn that rumor into reality”
That Touko-chan had slapped Yuht over the rosary? Either way, if they got into a physical scuffle, the sisters would put a stop to it Well, things had been quite lively up until a little while ago
Still, even if there was a ruh-school To call that 'the streets' Touko-chan was exaggerating a bit
”Perfect There's quite the croe're not lacking witnesses Now to give the”
”Witnesses … ”
Yulanced around While there weren't thataround the s in the school building that faced the courtyard, obviously watching them
”If you do anything to me, Yumi-sama, I'll cry Even if it doesn't hurt, I'll bawl”
” … Ever the actress”
Yu scene As if that was the way to behave over a si While the ru doho kno she'd be labeled if she called a younger student out here and made her cry
Seeking to change the mood, Yumi cleared her throat and said:
”First of all, I wonder if you could relax your fighting stance”
”Okay?”
Touko-chan asked, looking dubious Probably trying to find so to her words
”Look around Umm, you said it yourself, Touko-chan, there's lots of people watching”
Not just fro from the second and third-floor s too
”Then, why did you chose this place?”
”For the appeal”
”Huh?”
Touko-chan's voice sounded strange as she questioned Yumi's answer
”You and I don't have a bad relationshi+p Right, Touko-chan?”
Yu, then sallery
”Wait, hold on, what are you doing, Yumi-sama!?”
Touko-chan hastily grabbed Yumi's hand and pulled it down
As for the people watching, they had all sorts of reactions ranging fro back
”Geeze, that's e, stop it already”
”They're so far away that our voices won't carry So if we smile as we talk, it'll look like we're friendly”
” … You're overdoing it”
Touko-chan sighed in exasperation With one thing and another, her fighting stance had been completely canceled
In truth, Yumi had chosen the courtyard because the rain had stopped and it felt good, so this had been an unintended side-effect
”But when you said before that we don't have a bad relationshi+p, that's not quite right, is it?”
Touko-chan muttered, her brorinkled
”Oh, so you're boldly declaring that we have a good relationshi+p? But, don't you think that's going a bit too far, too fast?”
”That's not what I meant!”
Touko-chan balled both her hands into fists, reached up, then swung doith the such a violent action in front of the croould probably count against her if she pretended to cry later
”Ah”
Whether she'd just noticed this, or simply decided that her actions were ihten herself up, then she brought a handkerchief up to her mouth and said:
”You and I do not have a good relationshi+p And that's fine”
She leaned in close to Yuree with that sentiment
”Don't say that”
Right, speak plainly Don't take a stance that prevents theconveyed
”Why not?”
”That's, umm … Uhh, as it?”
The reason had completely slipped hertoo much
”Umm … Yumi-sama?”
Like she'd just been struck by a headache, Touko-chan touched her temples and creased her brow
”Please think things through properly before speaking”
It wasn't as though this was coht, Yumi put her usually under-utilized brain to work and eventually caotten thesaid that, she'd have also looked quite stupid if she kept referring to notes during the conversation
”Ahh, right Now I remember I wanted to ask you to help out with the Yamayurikai, Touko-chan So it'd be a problem if we had a bad relationshi+p That's what I wanted to say”
”Huh?”
This tiranny that had forgotten her hearing aid Her hand brushed a hair roll, causing it to sway like a spring
”Just until the end of semester There's no pay, but there's all-you-can-drink tea What do you think?”
”… And that's why you called me out?”
Naturally, Yu her out, hoould she have seen her?
”Rei-sama's semester's packed, she's busy with club activities at the moment So, just for noe need an additional pair of hands”
The kendo club had an unexpectedly large nuinners But the number of people who could lead hadn't kept pace, so it seele Most of the third-years had retired, to prepare for their university entrance exa ranked members were Rei-sama and the club president, as well as two second-years
Since these girls had gone to the effort of joining the club, Rei-sama wanted to watch the the funda to club activities as often as she could Yuht this was because she wanted to ensure they knew the joy of kendo
After summer vacation, focus would shi+ft to the school festival and she'd squeeze in some Yamayurikai work, but after the school festival came the autumn kendo tournament after which she'd retire, well, that was the plan anyway
”That's quite a selfish tale”
Touko-chan responded coldly, having listened to Yumi's explanation
”How so?”
Yuress the conversation as cal
”Rather than having Rei-sama and Yoshi+no-san stop club activities, you're looking for outside assistance Don't you think that's a bit odd? Even if it was a farce, the Roses were elected to be the students' representatives If it's an obstacle to their Yamayurikai work, shouldn't they stop their club activities? If they wanted to do soned up for the school council”
”While they are representatives, they're still students first of all Even the Roses have the right to participate in club activities … uh-school student is a anization that's there to support the Roses - ”
Yumi trailed off towards the end, but she felt like she'd offered so of a rebuttal Maybe she would have looked better if she'd hadtruthfully, she dreaded arguments
”I understand what you're saying But, Yu that, much like Rei-sama and Yoshi+no-san are busy with club activities, I'm busy with the drama club?”
”So come on the days you don't have club activities”
”In the lead up to the school festival, I'm busy e-v-e-r-y day”
Touko-chan looked away
”Has the drama club finalized their rehearsal schedule? They still haven't got a script, so there shouldn't be practice every day, right?”
Yumi was, at least for now, Rosa Chinensis en bouton She'd looked over reports and schedules from all the various clubs Naturally, before she made the offer, Yumi had tried to understand Touko-chan's situation as best she could
”The dras would start in earnest during summer break”
Touko-chan seeh she didn't say anything, she sighed as if to say, ”I'm beat”
”I suppose the others know about this?”
”Huh?”
”That I'll be co to help”
”Ah, that - ”
Yu ecstatically, and Touko-chan didn't miss the chance to burst her bubble
”However, I'll only help out while Rosa Chinensis is absent I have no intention of helping out with Rosa Foetida or Yoshi+no-sama's work”
”Okay, I can accept those terms”
That hat Yumi wanted In truth, Rei-sama and shi+mako-san weren't really interested in the idea, so Yuone out on her own to scout someone to help for a fixed term
”But, why did Yumi-sama come?”
”What do you mean?”
”Ah, no, nothing … Wait, what are you doing?”
Touko-chan threw herself backwards
”Huh? I just thought we should link arms”
Yuhtly brushed her arm, but Touko-chan didn't seem at all pleased by it
”I told you, there's no need to try and be all friendly, geeze”
As she spoke, Touko-chan shook free Yumi's arm that had been entwined around her elbow
”If our conversation is finished, I'll leave”
Touko-chan walked ahead, looking angry
Her ears were just a little bit red