Volume 11 Chapter 5 (1/2)
Even by June 20, Sachiko-sama still hadn't returned to school
A whole week In all her time as petit soeur, Yumi had never known Sachiko-sa
Yuroup's homeroom teacher about the reason for Sachiko-sama's absence, but for some reason she wouldn't answer She did, however, reassure Yumi that Sachiko-sama wasn't ill
At the very least, it looked like Sachiko-sama hadn't been cursed with a cold by the heavy rain on the day of Yuto what she was saying
But if it wasn't due to illness, then why on earth was Sachiko-sama absent?
One of the first words that ca about school absences was truancy
But Sachiko-sa away If there was an obstacle placed in front of her, she was the type of person to attack it and move forwards
”Just what's going on - ”
Yuainst the table
After school in the Rose Mansion
Having just co the cardboard boxes full of documents from last year's school festival up, sohout her body At tiywhatever she was thinking
”Hey, Touko-chan”
Yuently
But the owner of the arnore her If this were a comic, it felt like the word ”patience” would be written behind her in bold lettering
”Hmm”
But when that sort of thing happened, it was huh she hadn't done anything yet, Yuirl beside her And ould the younger student do, when the older student toyed with her a bit?
”Hey, hey”
”Ahh, so annoying Won't you just leave me alone already?”
Her patience finally coers that had been gripping her sleeve
”I worked upher house, but Sachiko-saht? Couldn't you just tell me?”
”Who knows?”
Her expression said she knew but wouldn't tell, as she pointedly arranged the documents in front of her
After all that had been said, Touko-chan had decided to come to the Rose Mansion and help out at lunchtime and after school on days she didn't have club activities She was a temperamental person, so there was sos easily enough and earned a passing grade as an assistant So as long as she kept her co to object to - although since she was there for a fixed-ter all the tea she could drink in lieu of pay, it would be inconsiderate to be anything other than grateful to her
Although they were in the sa around the same table, shi+mako-san and Noriko-chan didn't join in the conversation They atching Yumi and Touko-chan's back-and-forth out of the corner of their eyes, whispering to each other things like, ”Yuy drunk today” … Even though she could hear them perfectly
Thump
Oh, Touko-chan She shot up and rushed over to Rei-sama, who had just now entered the room
”Rosa Foetida”
Finding no support froed her battle plan
”Oh, what is it, what's the matter?”
”Please listen to me”
Batting her eyelids, she snuggled in against Rei-sama It was most fortunate that Yoshi+no-san wasn't there Fortunate for Rei-sama, that is
”Rosa Foetida, is Yoshi+no-sama still at the martial arts hall?”
Noriko-chan asked, having risen from her chair It was probably best to know before she started preparing the tea leaves and cups
”Yeah, I think she'll be a little while yet The faculty adviser and club president were both there today, so I left ahead of everyone Oh, black tea? What to do, I was in the ht Noriko-chan, I can make it myself”
”No, no, let et it”
This sparked a discussion between Rei-sama and Noriko-chan about who should make the coffee, which devolved into, ”I'll do it,” ”No , ”Listen to what Touko has to say”
”Sorry What was it you wanted, Touko-chan?”
” … Please swap seats”
Since she'd had to wait, the tension had coether, focused her strength in her eyes and asked
”Swap seats?”
”Sitting next to Yuood for Touko's mental health”
Hoho, although she seemed to listen cordially, Rei-saly quickly
”No can do”
”Why not?”
Touko-chan scowled The feeling was one of, ”How dare you not agree when I asked you so nicely”
But Rei-sama was accustomed to Yoshi+no-san, so she was completely unperturbed by this
”The simple answer is that Touko-chan is an assistant that Yu I'm sorry, but we can't involve ourselves in that at all”
Rei-saht support and shi+ and nodded Noriko-chan, asan appeal to Touko-chan about so
”Of course, we're grateful that you came to help out But, how to put this … we shouldn't be s around toosaid that, this was Yumi-chan's request, and we are short-handed, so you're here as Yumi-chan's exclusive assistant, and that's how it is Sorry”
Right Sorry, but that's how it is
Because Touko-chan was someone that Yuree an assistant When shi+ had been said to the then-Rosa Gigantea, Sei-sama
Of course, if someone said that they were totally opposed it, then it would be discussed further In this case, there was a one- Sachiko-sa opinion
”You're not … going to listen”
Touko-chan's face went bright red, like a boiled octopus, and she started slowly backing away
”Don't worry, it's no big deal”
Yu back her chair, but Touko-chan didn't stop backing away
Backing, backing
”That's no good For us”
Backing … Thump
Touko-chan's back collided with the biscuit door
That was the i, Touko-chan did a quick about-face, opened the door and flew out
”Touko-chan!”
Yu way, but there had probably been soer
While Touko-chan possessed the signature ability to ascend or descend the stairs withouta sound, this tiitated
Now then, what to do about the current situation?
”Yumi-chan”
Rei-sama said softly
”While you're at it, why don't you stop by the clubhouse, and pick up the a club's schedule”
”Roger!”
Yumi cheerfully responded, then left the room
assu that it was necessary for so that she should probably be the one to do it
She descended the staircase and opened the Rose Mansion door, then saw Touko-chan running towards the rear of the school building
Yu, fearful that she would slip and fall on the wet grass or fallen leaves
It was the rainy season and it rained on and off every day, so while it wasn't currently raining, the ground hadn't dried out whichdifficult But it should be the same for Touko-chan As expected, Touko-chan slowed fro pace
”Stop following me”
Touko-chan called behind her to Yumi When had she been spotted?
Still, if she was going to stop siiven chase in the first place Yuap to about five metres as she pursued Touko-chan
”I just want to cool my head alone Geeze, whenever I'm near you, it throws my rhythm completely off”
Touko-chan would sometimes do this - the coh she was talking to herself, not actively trying to drive someone away
They continued walking past the school buildings, co at last to the line of cherry trees
”You know, this may be none of my business”
When they did, Yumi called out to Touko-chan's back
”The season being what it is, I think this ht be a bit risky, see - ”
Before the words 'hairy caterpillars' could leave herThe hairy caterpillars started to wriggle overhead when the cherry tree leaves becareen
”I don't think just talking about the to make them fall”
But Touko-chan had taken off like an express train, and was already near the auditoriu the trail beneath the cherry trees too
Touko-chan seeain when Yuo trees opened up in front of them
”I just don't get it About a week ago you were so ti, but now all of a sudden you're so lively Even though Sachiko-sama isn't here, you're lively”
Touko-chan mentioned twice that she was lively
”Do you dislike it when I'm lively?”
”It doesn't matter either way I have no particular interest”
Watching Yu timid annoyed her But she didn't seem too pleased with her liveliness either And yet she said she didn't have an interest It was hard to understand sos
”Why me?”
Touko-chan asked, as they walked alongside each other
”Why did you , Yumi-sama?”
”Planning?”
They walked slowly along the path that led to the ate They walked past the library If they didn't turn right at the next intersection, each step would be taking thes
”That's what happened, right? The conversation earlier - it was you alone who decided to get an assistant, right? In that case, you would have been better off choosing someone as easier to ith I don't understand why you'd go to all the effort of having an eyesore like side you”
An eyesore Touko-chan was able to assess her own position quite coldly
”For now, let's just say you were first in line”
Yumi answered
”F-First in line!?”
Touko-chan stopped and asked loudly Surprised by the noise, so in front of them stopped and turned around
”Oh no”
On the spur of the ates and towards the university buildings, and hid in the thick shrubbery The ru discord had been dispelled by her visits to the Rose Mansion, but it was probably better not to let everyone see the
”See, in the past you said you wanted to help the Yaht Touko-chan?”
Yumi said quietly as she concealed herself in the shrubbery
”I did, but that was to help Sachiko onee-sama - ”
”And you are helping Sachiko-sa for her while she's away That's why I thought you were suitable”
In truth, that wasn't the only reason, but Yue that to Touko-chan, so she didn't
”It's a bit of stretch then to say that I was first in line”
There was a gap in the procession of high-school uniforms, so Yumi stood up, brushed the dirt from the hem of her skirt and said, ”Maybe”
”Don't you think the people Sachiko-sama likes should work hard while she's away? That's why I returned home to the Rose Mansion too”
This time Yumi walked ahead
”She likes us both? Returned ho this? Especially since you ran off without listening to Sachiko onee-sama”
Touko-chan followed, eyebrows raised
”That I did But I told you my reason, didn't I?”
Yumi looked up at the sky
”I honestly have no idea what's going on with my onee-sama”
The Lillian's Girl's University prearden park
There was a water fountain front-and-center in the garden, and the shtly, brilliantly reflecting the flowers and grass that surrounded it
”So pretty”
Yumi instinctively rushed over to it For now the area around the fountain was very quiet, but that was probably si with university students
”Hold on, Yumi-sama”
Touko-chan had a shocked expression on her face, like aafter a mischievous child They had swapped position at some point The chaser and the chased
”Ah”
Yumi muttered, then ca her, couldn't hit the brakes in time and crashed at full speed into her rear
” … O What the heck are you doing!?”
”Sorry”
Yu froate towards them
That person was someone that Yumi knew
Slowly, ever so slowly, the figure holding the white parasol grew larger Loosely tied gray hair and an elegant sky-blue kimono
”Yumiko-san?”
She changed the angle of her white parasol to reveal her face and there was no ami Yumiko-san
”My, it's Yuenyou”
”Gokigenyou, what brings you here today?”
Yumi walked Yumiko-san over to a bench near the fountain and offered her a seat Yumiko-san produced a white handkerchief from behind her, spread it out over the bench, then sat down and sht makeup, and while this was only the third time Yumi had met her, she looked the prettiest she had ever looked