Volume 20 Chapter 3 (2/2)
”Oh” She was thinking of a comparison, but did not voice it ”Then, because you're the opposite of Katsumi-sama, you came to think you want to ith the Yamayurikai?”
”Not quite Last year… No, this year on Valentine's Day you held the Treasure Hunt Event At that time”
”Valentine's Day Treasure Hunt?” Once again, unexpectedly the conversation had turned to that
”At that time, I was a student in ht be fun so I cah school”
”False start” At Yunized it was a ”false start”
”At that ti around”
”OH! Yeah, that” She didn't want to ree Rather than the Treasure Hunt, it wasaround with their skirts fluttering, it gave the girls a dreadful appearance
”It looked aweso to rely on for what the Yae portrayed in the Lillian Kawaraban I are from the outset that they were real flesh and blood people” Vivid It wasn't what she was saying; it was how she was saying it Shouko-chan continued
”Since I entered high school, I've paid attention to every occasion I was engulfed by surprise and thrilling eet it At the Sports Festival, even though I should have just been one student, unrelated to the Roses or the Boutons, as it everyone's eyes were always being drawn to the Yamayurikai staff?”
”” What would be an acceptable response? However, nothe floodgates and spilling her heart out It didn't seem like Shouko-chan's momentum had abated in the least
”And then, the culture festival The play onderful, but The thing I envied the raphy Club's exhibition hall The panel had been decorated with everyone glittering and shi+ning in their photos”
”The Photography Club's panel?”
”I sincerely thought I wanted to become a part of that existence How could I be ad about it all this time Then I learned of the plans for this tea party” Ahh So that was it At last, she understood
”Therefore, either Yoshi+no-san or I would be an acceptable partner, right?” What is it that Shouko-chan desires? And to grant such a wish, who had it in them to fulfill this serious need? Perhaps, that person already exists In that brief h Yumi's head
”I' too foolish and honest I've offended you”
”I' to your story Shouko-chan is feeling misunderstood”
”Misunderstood?” Shouko-chan cocked her head ”What is being misunderstood? I don't really understand it myself”
”If you can't be in the center of the Yamayurikai, your life can't be vivid But even if you are able to be in the center, it doesn't necessarily mean you'd be able to be vivid,” Yumi said
”It's not that the only fun things in high school can be found in the student council Where are you looking? What do you want? There are a lot of glittering people, so if Shouko-chan only wants the glitter found in a photograph, it's not necessarily here Even if you can't becoht?”
Shouko-chan had been silent while Yu and listened Because she ise, if she was only able to say this much, she is likely to have understood:
”In other words, I've been rejected, right?”
Yes, Yu aside the words, Yumi had only decided not to make Shouko-chan her little sister
”For me, I want to choose the person who sincerely wants to become my little sister I want you to find an irreplaceable Onee-sama for yourself”
”In that case, since I was thinking either would be good, trying for Yoshi+no-salanced over and saw Yoshi+no-san Yoshi+no-san was separating fro on another first-year
”Don't worry about it, it's just my soliloquy”
”Your soliloquizing pierced my chest and struck home”
”I'm sorry Did I offend you? Please balance my impolite appeal and comments”
”I understand” Yuht hand Shouko-chan offered her hand in response ”I was able to understand, and it was refreshi+ng” They shook hands Even as they were shaking, if she were asked, she wouldn't be able to explain it well However, at that point they were both glad of thebehind their words could be conveyed to both parties
”My aim was to become a Bouton but I've been able to modify it” With those words, Shouko-chan departed from Yumi's side She wasn't sure whether or not she'd be able to find an Onee-sa to all the second-years and first-years, the tea party had been fun
Now, if Tsutako-san was here She who could not be surpassed with her culture festival exhibition panel photos She would have been able to bequeath a srettable
”Shouko-chan, do you have ato come to a close, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton called on her When she finally noticed, there was a strange kind of beckoning from the other side of the door Shouko hastened to reply ”yes” and stepped forward
”Can you lend h Nijou Noriko-san who happened to be passing by called out, ”can I help you with soet me another cup of black tea?” and then she faced Shouko ”Actually, I need to request an errand It involves leaving the Rose Mansion”
”An errand? That's fine Where aanizers, she was not likely to be able to leave the Mansion with impunity Shouko understood this and accepted the request ”If I'm able, I'd like to help”
”You saved raphy Club roo back”
”The Photography Club?” Upon hearing that phrase, her heart was made to soar
”You knohere the clubhouse is, right?”
”Yes” She nodded with vigor What should I do? She becah she eagerly searched for an excuse to refuse with, none were forthco
”It's okay When you enter the clubhouse building, it's on the second-floor When you find the Photography Club's club room, knock on the door There should probably be soive you soht?”
”Y-yeah” She easily agreed to go; she couldn't say it was unpleasant If she had not wanted to do it, it would have been necessary to give a reason There was no helping it Shouko psyched herself up
It wasn't that it was unpleasant Only, what if there is soht want to run away Before she entered the Rose Mansion, it had see here Somehow, she had been able to prepare herself just in case
”I understand What is that you would like to have brought?”
”A picture fraht on a school trip It has a nizable” A picture fra there is hardly surprising, but ould it need to be retrieved at this moment?
”That's right It'll be all right as long as you bring it by Three-thirty” Yumi-sama checked her wristwatch as she said this
”Three-thirty? But that's only thirtymore and more uneasy
”That's true Do you think you won't be able to find it that soon?” I don't doubt it, but if it takes too much time to find this inconveniently placed locationthere's no helping being late I don't think
”If you run out of tiht to come back”
”Well then, I'eh various unclear points reo anyway The stairs see sound was made
It was dim in the clubhouse-the corridor was not lit As it was already Saturday after school, it see on After confir map that was drawn at the entrance, she cliraphy Club room sat next door to the Newspaper Club
The door was ajar; only one person was inside She was sitting with her back to the door That personit was someone Shouko knew Just as she knew she'd be It was this person's aura she'd felt Before Shouko had time to knock, the person turned around
”Oh” She smiled She was not at all surprised Her reaction was as natural as if they had promised to meet here today ”It's been a while, first-year, Chrysanthemum Group, Naito Shouko-chan”
Despite the fact that eight o she had not introduced herself with her last name, Takeshi+ma Tsutako-sama knew She also knew Shouko's present class nauessed correctly
”When did you learn about me?”
”Quite a while ago As soon as you entered in Aprilthe Treasure Hunt, you were a middle school student Indeed, I shouldn't have been able to find you”
”I apologize for thatI was embarrassed It was not possible to meet with Tsutako-sama more naturally”
”No, no It was the same for me, since I wasn't able to approach you until today It'sdeeply and silently to each other, Tsutako-sama said ”Please” and pulled a chair out for Shouko to sit
The Photography Club's club rooht It was probably around a four and a half tatas like that, it felt considerably smaller Yet it was possible to have club activities in here; she surveyed the room and admired it In the wall, she spotted a door When she had entered, it had not been through that door--there was another Probably that place served as their darkroom So this was also a front rooered
”After that, hoas it? Were you able to get your photo taken? Is it old hat to you now?”
”I haven't become accustomed to it that easily”
”So it's ingrained?”
”Yes” While discussing her story, Shouko's interest shi+fted onto another topic Until Shouko had co? Shesome kind of work-the top of the desk was not too cluttered It looked like the Photography Club had been asked for a set of bound prints They'd been able to make a simple photo album with cardboard and vinyl Wrapped in construction paper, the package was about the size of a textbook And then there were the two cameras that could be called her hallmark
”You were looking for me?” Tsutako-sama had said until just recently she hadn't been able to locate Shouko She understood that loud and clear There was no way she could have misunderstood
”Yes Since immediately after Valentine's Day But, I couldn't find you Then the new school ter here and there, I couldn't catch a gli picked on by a kitsune”[2] Tsutako-sa picked on by a kitsune, it also happened again recently”
”Recently?”
”A in the courtyard for the Rose Mansion door to open, I saw Shouko-chan”
”Oh” So Tsutako-sae She had been near enough to spot me in the crowd What kind of expression did I have at the tiht? And then at the tea party, she s was Tsutako-sa?
”That hy” Tsutako-sama said
”Didn't you pro? But then you didn't show Was thatbecause of me?”
”It was only an excuse At first I thought, wouldn't Shouko-chan be able to enjoy it better if I wasn't there? But then I began to think, guests other than Shouko-chan would be nearby So that's why” Tsutako-sao? Was it enjoyable?”
”Yes”
”That's great Ah, that reminds me, the tea party? Is it over?”
”No Yumi-sama sent me on an errand” Shouko finally reot she needed to use so
”Yumi-san did? What was it?”
”She said she wantsher a picture frame”
”A picture frame?” Obviously the expression on her face said ”I can't understand” Tsutako-sama asked her to repeat herself She probably had no idea as being asked for
”Yes One with a ht in Italy” While Shouko was trying to remember the particulars of what Yu with her eyes ”But, there isn't, is there I just realized She justNo doubt the problem will have been corrected when she returns empty-handed In her search, she looked inside a cardboard box on the shelf without asking first Fro the nenbutsu
”Why would Yuraphy club roo Yu about?” That is the question Tsutako-sama had put it to words
”Uy Without thinking, she apologized to the nenbutsu jukebox It bothered her for ait ”In the first place, did Yumi-san really buy a picture frame from that shop?
”Umm hey, Shouko-chan”
”The thing that Yu to her I don't think she said it was a personal effect” Thereupon, Tsutako-sama formed a ”wait a minute… shape with her an to worry, Tsutako-saht-hand perplexed and choked on her words
”She got me”
”Whaa?”
”After Yumi-san knew I had left, you were sent over”
”Huh? Someone must have told her where you were, but who?”
”Umm” Where was the proof of that? Yet, Yumi-sama had known that Tsutako-sama was in the clubhouse It was Yumi-sama who had sent Shouko Therefore, she formed a hypothesis that Yumi-sama had wanted Tsutako-sa such a hypothesis was correct, ould Yu? It remained a mystery
Certainly, Yumi-sama had mentioned the sao But at the time, Tsutako-sama's name had not been included
”Come to think of it, when Yumi-san was last here, she had seen this which is why,” Tsutako-sama touched the construction-paper wrapped item ”But that doesn't explain our current situation” However, when she , since she didn't know the contents of the package
”Ah, sorry I' my brain around this” Tsutako-sama said, ”here” and held out the parcel to Shouko
”What is it?”
”You can open it This is the reason you were sent here”
”This was?” Even though she said she could open it, it was taped fast so she hesitated She would have to tear it open What was inside? She couldn't help feeling reluctant
”After Shouko-chan suddenly appeared again, I hastily wrapped this in case I got the opportunity to give it to you I only had this to wrap it in” At the sa paper
What else would have been there, except of course for a marble-patterned picture fraht back: it bore those features
There was already a photograph inside A sepia-tinted beautiful photograph of two girls, opposite each other What was discovered in the box was so sweet Seeing this, as her chest tightening? If you assume that Tsutako-sarapher
”It's a present”
”What?”
”But, I promised, didn't I?” When she said that, Shouko finally realized what this was The one girl in the photo was her elder sister Katsumi And the other
”It can't be I, how can I be this pretty? And, Onee-chan, doesn't have such a kind face”
”But, this IS Shouko-chan”
”Yes”
”And there's no ht?”
”Yes” Shouko eh she was near tears, she endured laughing with all herlike this, Tsutako-sairl She didn't want that With effort she was able to speak because there was a congenial attitude
”Thank you very much I will make this photo a faraph she would keep her entire life But it was okay Previously she had had a worried expression, but knowing this photo exists, it was all right
”You're exaggerating” Tsutako-san laughed, but Shouko had been serious Regarding the photograph, their features really did seem inaccurate somehow She had seriously carried that kind of worry
”But what should I do with the picture frame then?”
”Idiot Honestly, do not take this to Yumi-san It is for Shouko-chan alone”
”But that” This picture frame, doesn't it resemble the one Yumi-sama described? However, she'd been told this wasn't Yumi-sama's property
”Didn't I tell you it's a present? Getting you this photograph took so long I had no excuse If it's okay, please accept both the photograph and the frame”
”Are you sure?”
”Of course It's a souvenir for Shouko-chan, it's soht”
”I am so happy!” Because it was a fantastic picture fraht that during the ti around Italy, she had been thinking of Shouko, if even for a moment
”And, by way of bribery, let us open negotiations immediately”
”Huh? Negotiations?”
Tsutako-sa
”Actually, there isn't yet a photograph of Shouko-chan For me, when it comes to the culture festival or an exhibition, or any tih the text has been written, to get a photograph for the column I have to obtain per for” Having said this, the Photographer presented her with a photo albues There were head and shoulders shots and full-length portraits, as well as candid snapshots They were all of Shouko
Shouko walking on a carpet of cherry blosso with her classmate, her head wrapped in a sports towel like a turban Shouko playing water polo Shouko taking the baton during a relay race in the Sports Festival Shouko dancing in the folk dance Shouko touting her class at the Culture Festival Watching the end of the Tale of Torikaebaya, Shouko absent around for a moment
How could this ?
”Please give me permission to publish these,” Tsutako-sama said suddenly Yet even if Shouko did that Rather than directly answering, her face grew damp and finally she looked down
”Oh You won't Well, you can approve and disapprove individual photos” Probably because Shouko re ti a concession
”It's okay”
”Huh?”
”All them It's okay That is my answer,” Shouko looked up and said ”Please make additional prints for me Of all of them”
Tsutako-sa off Shouko's cheek She was surprised by Shouko's frankness But because ”I can't handle this,” ritten on her face Until just now she didn't think she'd be able to defend herself, but now she was able to give a smile and the album to Shouko
”If I knew I could get an okay so easily, I would have asked sooner In that case, it'll be in time for the School Festival”
”That's right” Shouko quickly wiped her eyes and nodded Not announcingwhy, Shouko couldn't have spoken up
At the School Festival, if these photos could be seen, Yu ”misunderstood” would end Such a turnabout could take place
”I took these photos without your knowledge so you wouldn't worry It madewatched”
”Then” whenever she felt so at her, probably It was likely to make her heart throb
”Now you see” Even for one more day she wanted to continue to have her picture taken in secret Because Tsutako is a high school girl who goes to the same school, it would be permitted If it was an outsider and a man, the label ”stalker” would immediately be applied
”Well then” It was about ti her watch, it was three twenty-five They had approached the end of the tea party
”I need to take a picture of everyone as a souvenir”
”Wha” Shouko rabbed up her camera As they left the club room, Shouko followed up in entreaty
”Please try to take a photo of me before I notice you”
”That's iroup photo, I'll have to say so like ”Okay, say CHEESE!” otherwise other people would be angry”
”Whaa That's the worst kind” It had to be taken candidly--then it was okay even if it was the worst picture
”Isn't it okay to have an occasional plain photograph?” Tsutako-sa as she locked the door to the club She probably said this because soroup photo perot before it can be put out” But Shouko thought that to an extent it had been good idea Since Tsutako had immediately said, ”it's impossible” the idea was rejected
”You read about the tea party rules didn't you? Only people who do notpictures of themselves should apply” Certainly that had been written but she didn't feel good about it She had no choice If it had come to that, then so be it
”I adht they were going to have to dash to make it on time, Tsutako-sama had been forestalled Why would she have been likely to read it?
”It was an escape when I was processing the photos and put Shouko-chan's portrait in a balloon”
”Whaaat?” Oh no, she was acting childish Tsutako-sahed and said, ”I know, I know Then, of how ive it to you”
”Really?”
”Really It's a fact It'll be a secret, okay?”
”A secret!” Shouko laughed and clung to Tsutako-saraphy She loved Tsutako-sama
At the Rose Mansion, even though there wasn't any student council work left, they were able to glitter for the cas close to her heart: there was so much of herself in that album The photos Tsutako-sama took of me, one-by-one, that was the proof
Eventually, Shouko returned to the Rose Mansion with the picture frame by three-thirty She had coh it had become a moot point Even so, Yumi-sama did not ask Shouko to offer up the picture frame Given that Tsutako-sama accompanied her back, she especially let the matter drop Tsutako-sama met with Yumi-sama and spoke briefly
”Yumi-san, you've becoe”
”What's this? Regarding what?” while laughing, Yumi replied
”That's quite enough” At times, Yuh putting the consequences aside, her attitude see it couldn't have been accos in retrospect, she appeared to be fairly happy with the results
When she looked at Tsutako-sama's face, Shouko realized she was too
(E: Shougi is a japanese chess-like gahty fox spirit)