Volume 26 Chapter 4 (1/2)
It was 4:10pm, and about half of the time allotted for the treasure hunt had elapsed
The ”elegant tea party” continued on the second floor of the Rose Mansion, although it had probably dropped the ”elegant” qualifier
While the event itself was about half over, the tea party had only been going for about ten or fifteen minutes, since the time it took to read the rules and the hosts' sœurs' handicap had to be factored in Not much time had passed since Sachiko-sa for Rosa Chinensis en bouton to reveal her faults”
Anyway
”Rosa Gigantea, what's this 'ru'?”
”What about 'ta'?”
The Rose Mansion was now busy with the clatter of treasure hunt participants as they came and went
”It's a hint, so you have to come up with the answer yourself”
This was how shi+h shi+ive the ansay, the number of people in the Rose Mansion had swelled as treasure hunt participants found the hints and rushed over So it continued, with new groups rushi+ng in and so for the tea party
All up, there were seven white cards with hints The ”1/7” indicated as irlsaround the grounds looking for the plants used in the Festival of Herbs that took place on that date All that could be said about such a conclusion was so
On another note, Sachiko-saiven, since she hadn't revealed her faults yet
Yu watched frohed on her mind
A little while ago, Sachiko-sa down in her student notebook, but Yu particular noteworthy All she'd done since the tea party started was sit in her seat and listen to the conversation going on around her Naturally, she'd respond when so any topics and she had to shut out the repeated pleas from the first-years: ”Give us a hint”
(That's right Reveal my weaknesses?)
It left her feeling a bit strange
What fate would befall the red card she'd hidden as treasure? She tried thinking about what she'd like to see happen, but she couldn't clearly define one single outcome as the one she wanted
As a petite sœur, she wanted Sachiko-sama to find it
As a host, it would be no fun if it was found easily
But if the event ended with no-one finding it, then itspot, and that wouldn't have been ”fun” either So in that case, where was the person ould find it? She idly wondered what Touko-chan was doing right at that moment
The s became
”Yumi-saht?”
Noriko-chan whispered in her ear
”Thanks, but I'm fine”
Yumi cupped the teacup in her hands
Cold though it may be, there was still about half a cup of black tea in there
”Now that I think about it, you haven't been drinking much tea, Yumi-sama”
One of the first-years pointed out
”Is there some sort of reason for that?”
”A reason?”
There was indeed a reason
”Oh, it's not just Yumi-san”
Yoshi+no-san said, seated a little distance away
”shi+ back too”
She walked over and held out her e, ”See”
”I carelessly drank the whole lot, but I've been avoiding getting a refill If we drank too ht?”
Hearing this explanation, their guests nodded in comprehension This was then followed up with a, ”But”
”But we're in the saood I've already had two cups”
Yumi hastily waved her hands at the perplexed first-years
”You girls are free to get up and go to the restroom whenever you like But for us … the people that hid the cards, if we recklessly left the Rose Mansion, how to put this … it'd just cause confusion, right? That's all it is Okay?”
Yumi looked to shi+ in a completely different direction
”shi+ma--”
Before Yu out to her, shi+
”What is it, Noriko?”
(Noriko-chan?)
Hearing that name, Yumi also looked towards the sink Noriko-chan had just been offering her tea a o, but now she was back at the sink, by the electric kettle This was her ”home” position for today, but at least she had a chair to sit on
”What's the matter?”
shi+ain At that point, Noriko-chan finally noticed the gazes directed at her and, a bit surprised, said, ”Ah, nothing” It felt like she was there in body but not in spirit
”Sorry, but can I be excused for a little while?”
As she spoke, shethat she was asking whether it was okay for her to leave the room
”Fine by me?”
Maave her permission
Noriko-chan had originally intended to participate in the treasure hunt, but kindly volunteered to assist instead, so she had plenty of work to do thus far There was no way she would be denied a short break
”My deepest apologies, when you're refraining from this, onee-samas”
Noriko-chan bowed apologetically then exited the room
”She really must have needed the bathroom”
Ma out the
Noriko-chan had carefully descended the staircase to avoidany noise, but as soon as she stepped out of the Rose Mansion she had started sprinting, flat out, towards the school buildings
”It looks like the hints are only for shi+mako-san's card”
Seven hints, apparently
While she hadn't yet encountered a second hint, she'daround the grounds looking at their us information, she heard the word ”hint” paired with ”White Rose” numerous times, but never with ”Red” or ”Yellow Rose”
(”Ta” is the ”ta” froht)
Chisato smiled
It was fun A year ago, she never would have believed that the treasure hunt could be this fun
Last year, she'd approached it with a win-at-all-costs attitude, thinking that she absolutely had to get Rei-sama's card and the half-day date that came with it She hadn't allowed herself the luxury of enjoying it, instead she'd cast off her pride and adopted the tactic of following Yoshi+no-san, who seemed most likely to knohere Rei-sama's card was This idea had also occurred to some other fans of Rei-sama, and they joined forces
In the end, while Yoshi+no-sanstopover in the library, they'd co books and found the yellow card Chisato then won the ga her the ticket for a half-day date Ah, youth
(Last year, I was thinking it didn't ot it)
Naturally, the game of scissors-paper-rock had been above board She hadn't waited until she saw her opponent'slike that
”I heard there was a 'ku' in the old greenhouse”
As Chisato walked towards the library, a lively pair of first-years dashed past
(”Ku” … That's another one for the list)
With lots of peopleout were high Those girls were chatting norly unaware that a rival was nearby and that they'd just handed her a clue
In a si independently In the rare event that they did happen to speak to themselves, it would only be to theh to carry to someone else Plus, if they did find the treasure, they'd have it all to themselves and wouldn't have to play scissors-paper-rock
(What a pity There's no ”ku” in Tanuma)
Well, she knew from the outset that that wouldn't be the solution At any rate, the characters she kneere ”ta,” ”ma,” and ”ku” If the seven characters were all collected and placed in the correct order, they'd probably point to the hiding place
(Ta/)?)
That wasn't right, it only used five characters
(Maybe so student)?)
She counted this out on her fingers That wasn't right either, it had one character toostudent”place from that?
(Let's just pause this)
Chisato suspended her speculations and entered the library If she had the other four hints, then she ht be able to come up with an answer -- but she had absolutely no confidence that she would be able to
Aside froet this time around was Yoshi+no-san's yellow card
However, with all due respect to Yoshi+no-san, Chisato wasn't absolutely desperate to go on a date with her, unlike last year But it would leave everyone gobsmacked if she found the yellow card two years in a row Just thinking about it brought a se Adding to the entertainment was her own opinion that last year's finder of shi+mako-san's card, Rosa Canina, had felt the same way
Now then
There were a lotroom than usual
That was to be expected The yellow card had been found in the reading rooh that the students that knew this would want to check here, just in case
(That's pretty much why I came here too)
But Chisato ignored the not-for-loan books on prices in the Edo period, where the card was found last year Whatever the circu the card hidden in the same spot two years in a roas uninspired Even if it was h time had elapsed since the start for it to be found
(Instead of that)
Chisato walked over to the ”How-to” section
(If I remember correctly)
Last year, Yoshi+no-san had been looking through books in this area Chisato followed Yoshi+no-san's actions fro and handicraft shelves
It had stuck with her ever since then Why had Yoshi+no-san been fixated on this section? What made her think that the card was hidden in one of these books?
That pair had such a unique relationshi+p, it ht be they alone could answer those questions
Even so, Chisato couldn't help but look And since it was Yoshi+no-san's turn to hide the card this year, perhaps she had chosen this location
”Oh, is that you, Tanuma Chisato-san?”
A voice called out to her from behind, just as she'd established that her search had been in vain
”Ah”
She turned around and there was --
”Gokigenyou”
The Photography Club's ace, Takeshi+ her trade She was accompanied by a first-year, and Chisato asked if this was her petite sœur, to which Tsutako-san replied in the negative Although, from the outside, they did look like a close pair of sœurs
Tsutako-san gently raised her camera and said:
”It must be fate that we met here Do you mind if I take a photo? I'll call it, let's see, 'Last Year's Winner' You wouldn't be opposed to it appearing in the Lillian Kawaraban, right?”
”Not at all By all means, take the photo It'll make a nice memento”
Chisato happily agreed Then she followed along as Tsutako-san indicated where she should stand They were still in the reference section, but the different lighting or background probably h Tsutako-san said that when she captured the decisive s
”Although, if possible, I'd like to drop 'Last Year's' from that title”
Chisato said as she looked straight at the camera lens
”Oh, that's good In that case, I'll have to change the title 'Back to Back Winner' … no, how about, 'Winner Again This Year'?”
A flash of light and the sweet sound of the shutter clicking overlaid Tsutako-san's voice Just like she'd said earlier, the flash and the shutter only went off once But, because of that, Chisato had the feeling that it would be a good photo Every single one of Tsutako-san's photos was the real deal
”Thanks for your cooperation”
”I'd like a copy of that, okay?”
”Of course”
A couple of students were attracted by the flash, butfor the cards Tsutako-san had probably been taking photos before Chisato had arrived and they were used to it by now
It looked like Tsutako-san and the younger girl had hit upon a likely hiding place and were cohly as possible So even if they didn't capture the ood pictures of students searching for the cards