CH Volume 1 (1/2)
”Gokigenyou.”
”Gokigenyou.”
The clear morning greeting travels through the serene, blue sky.
Today, once again, the maidens that gather in the Virgin Mary's garden smile purely to one another as they pa.s.s under the tall gateway.
Wrapping their innocent bodies and souls is a deep-coloured school uniform.
Walking slowly so as to not disturb the pleats in their skirts, so as to not toss their white sailor scarves into disarray... such is the standard of modesty here. Running here because one is in danger of missing cla.s.s, for instance, is too undignified a sight for students to wish upon themselves.
Lillian Private Academy for Women.
Founded in Meiji 34, this academy was originally intended for the young women of n.o.bility, and is now a Catholic academy of prestigious tradition. Placed in downtown Tokyo, where you can still see traces of Musas.h.i.+ Field's greenery, it is protected by G.o.d, a garden where maidens can receive tutelage from pre-school to university.
Time pa.s.ses, and even now, in Heisei, three era-names past Meiji, it is a valuable academy, where nurtured ladies raised in greenhouses are s.h.i.+pped out in carefully packaged boxes after 18 years of schooling - an arrangement that continues to survive.
She-, f.u.kuzawa Yumi (福沢祐巳), is just one of those ordinary ladies.
Monday of Uneasiness Part 1.
”Wait.”
It was Monday.
Down the rows of gingko trees is a fork in the road, and it was here that Yumi was called upon from behind to wait.
It was a cold, piercing voice, strong enough to seem like an illusion. Furthermore, because this happened right in front of Maria-sama's figure, for an instant she thought that perhaps it was Maria-sama telling her to hold still.
Having been spoken to, you must first stop and answer ”yes,” then turn your entire body. Even if it was unexpected, you must not act rushed. Suffice it to say; simply ”turning your face” is definitively unladylike conduct.
As elegant as possible, as well as beautifully. All in order to get even one step closer to being like the elder sisters.
That is why as soon as you turn about and stand facing your company, you must smile and say gokigenyou-.
Unfortunately, Yumi was unable to answer ”gokigenyou.”
”---”
It was because recognizing who had called out to her struck her speechless.
The reason why she had not immediately jumped up is because she had dedicated herself to conducting herself the way a student at Lillian Girls' Academy should, and her restraint at this moment was show of progress toward this goal ... at least, that is how she wished it would have been. Rather, her astonishment was so great that her actions lagged far behind her racing mind, leaving her frozen in time.
”Um... would you be speaking to me?”
Somehow managing to thaw herself, Yumi managed to ask, incredulously. Of course, Yumi had already confirmed that she was the only one in direct eye-sight, and she was the only one that could possibly be spoken to. Even so, it was difficult for Yumi to believe.
”You are not mistaken. I am the one who spoke, and you were the one to whom I spoke.”
Not mistaken, she had said. Yet, Yumi desperately felt like responding, of course there was a mistake, and then running away. Having no idea why she would be called upon, her mind was in a state of near-panic.
She floated a thin smile and walked straight toward Yumi, not knowing what sort of state she was in.
Because they were in different grades, there had been no prior chance to see her face from this close. This was even the first time Yumi had heard her voice this clearly.
Her waist-length straight hair s.h.i.+ned so brightly that it begged you to ask what shampoo brand she used. It was so well-kept that it was hard to imagine there was a single strand of ill-conditioned hair.
”Hold this.”
She held out her bag. When Yumi, still puzzled, took the bag, she reached out behind Yumi's neck with both of her empty hands.
(Kya-!!)
Not knowing what was happening, Yumi shut her eyes, lowered her chin and stiffened.
”Your tie, it was crooked.”
”What?”
When she opened her eyes, that beautiful face was still in front of her. Apparently, she was fixing Yumi's tie.
”You should always be aware of your personal appearance. Maria-sama is watching, after all.”
And with that, the person took back her bag from Yumi, said ”gokigenyou,” and walked ahead to the school building.
(That... that was...)
Standing there, left behind, blood slowly flowed back into Yumi's head, and she began registering what just happened.
There was no doubt about who that was.
Second-year pine-cla.s.s Ogasawara Sachiko-sama (小笠原祥子). Incidentally, her name was 7th on the attendance sheet. She was known as ”Rosa Chinensis en bouton.”
She was such the object of the school's affections that you could not help but wonder if it was okay to say her name, for someone of such lower stature to even mention her.
(That's...)
Yumi was just about to boil in embarra.s.sment.
(That's not fair!)
She stood dumbfounded for a few moments.
She had exchanged words with the onee-sama she aspired to for the first time. Yet, it was a horrifically embarra.s.sing episode. It was too cruel.
Maria-sama is mean!
When she looked up out of spite at Maria-sama, the latter maintained her ever-present chaste smile and stood, silently, in the middle of the small, green garden.
Part 2.
”Ooh, so that's what happened.”
Katsura-san (桂), who sat in front of her, just laughed when she heard the story.
”You were so gloomy when you showed up to cla.s.s, I was wondering if you ran into a molester in the train or something.”
”A molester might have been better.”
”Why?”
”It doesn't stick with you.”
”Yumi-san, it seems you haven't run into a molester.”
”I commute by bus.”
Students of Lillian Girls' Academy generally took a circulation bus from M Train Station's North Exit at JR town to get to school. Both of them were the same in this regard, but Katsura-san took a crowded train to get to M Station, whereas Yumi took a bus to M Station South Exit, resulting in the difference in pleasantry (or unpleasantry).
”Wasn't there talk about a Lillian rail car, though?”
”There is one, but you know, it's more like the Yamayurikai council gathered everyone together so that Lillian students all crowd into the second car from the back. But because of day duties and club activities and the likes, if you leave too early there aren't enough students, so it's kind of pointless.”
Apparently, though, because rumours circulated, female students from schools other than Lillian had begun using that car, making it pretty effective against molesters. Of course, there was no real method of squeezing out males, but apparently the number of gentlemen with the courage to step into a car full of young women was not very high. Plus, there was hardly any opportunity to make any suspicious moves, anyways.
The Lillian uniform used a non-l.u.s.trous black cloth that seems like it had a drop of green, and was very refined throughout. The ivory sailor collar with a single black line was tied up as is into a tie. During this season, the one-piece, low-waist plaited skirts were knee-high. Combine all this as a set with the threefold white socks and the ballet-style leather shoes and you get a very traditional outfit, one that had a firmly-rooted popularity with ordinary people as well as, of course, the uniform maniacs.
This attractive outfit advertised a lady's upper-cla.s.s stature. And sailor uniforms attracted unwanted attention as it were, too.
”Trains are crowded, so I always check how I look beforehand.”
Saying that, Katsura-san, using Yumi as a mirror, acted out how she fixed up her forelocks and re-tied her tie. Like this, she meant.
”I see, I was so careless.”
Yumi bent over her desk. Then, Katsura-san pat her head, as if saying ”there there.”
”Pretty much. But people that can sit elegantly as they ride to school wouldn't think of these things. Don't worry about it, it's not a big deal.”
”It is a big deal.”
”As long as we forget, it's fine isn't it?”
”Why?”
”Because she's the star of Lillian Girls' Academy. Stars don't worry about each and every amateur.”
Stars and amateurs.
Even though it was the truth, or rather, because it was the truth, it hurt. Katsura-san's consolation was a bit of an extreme treatment.
Incidentally, Katsura was a name and not a surname. At Lillian, nicknames generally did not exist. The custom was to speak to those of the same grade as ”–san”. When speaking to an uppercla.s.sman, ”-sama.”
”There's no helping withering away when you're called upon. The only first-year in our cla.s.s that can handle being spoken to by a 'Yamayurikai' council member is her.”
And with that, Katsura-san shot a glance behind her. Following her line of sight, Yumi saw Toudou s.h.i.+mako just step into the room.
”Gokigenyou, Katsura-san. Gokigenyou, Yumi-san.”
As she greeted the two, s.h.i.+mako-san elegantly advanced to her seat.
”Go- Gokigenyou.”
Yumi and Katsura-san looked at each other, as if they wanted to ask, ”What're you so embarra.s.sed about?”
Even though they're the same age, the discrepancy was enormous. Although completely unlike Sachiko-sama, s.h.i.+mako-san was also stunningly beautiful.
Looking at her depressed you, making you think, beautiful people are beautiful even from when they were young. Any hope of becoming as beautiful as Sachiko-sama just by becoming a second-year high-school student was snuffed out, just like that.
”Did you hear?”
Katsura-san began whispering, so Yumi also lowered her voice.
”That s.h.i.+mako-san became Rosa Gigantea en bouton? Even skipping over the 2nd-years.”
It was famous. The story about s.h.i.+mako-san exchanging sisterly vows with Rosa Gigantea despite being a 1st year student.
”Not that.”
”Not that?”
Implying that it was the latest scoop, Katsura-san put her index finger over her lip and said ”Onee-sama told me.” Her Sœur was a tennis-club senior, who was in the same cla.s.s as Sachiko-sama.
”s.h.i.+mako-san, not only did Rosa Gigantea propose, but apparently so did Sachiko-sama.”
”Ehh-!!”
”Yumi-san, you're being loud.”
The two of them scrunched up over a single desk. It was a spectacle very un-befitting of ladies, but the two of them had not noticed. –Maria-sama, please forgive them, no matter what generation it is, women love rumors about other people.
The Lillian Girls' Academy's Sœur system was said to have been borne out of the school's att.i.tude of respecting the autonomy of its students in High School. As students graduated from compulsory education, in which they lived under the management of teachers and Sisters, they were expected to lead an ordered life with their own power. The Sœur system was adopted so that elder sisters could guide their little sisters through this rather overwhelming time. As that system became completely immersed throughout the school, it became such that even without any strict school regulations, the pure and righteous school life was pa.s.sed down from generation to generation.
Sœur meant sisters, in French. Presumably in order to prevent confusion with Sisters, they avoided using English. Originally every senior and undercla.s.sman was called sœur, but eventually it became a way of designating two tightly bonded girls. No one was sure when the ritual of vowing to become Sœurs through a give-and-receive of a rosary began.
”According to the stories, Sachiko-sama proposed first, but she accepted Rosa Gigantea's hand, even though it came later.”
Katsura-san seemed a bit disdainful, but she was definitely getting excited by the rumor-mongering.
”I wonder if she just preferred white over crimson.”
”That's not the point. Sheesh&h.e.l.lip; Yumi-san, you're a bit weird. See? When you're in s.h.i.+mako-san's cla.s.s of people, you can even have your pick between two roses.”
”Your pick, that's such a despicable wording.”
”But, truth be told, Sachiko-sama was rejected.”
”Mmm.”
What a wasteful thing to do, thought Yumi.
”What do you mean 'mmm,' don't you think it's horrible?”
”Why? If you can't have two onee-sama, you do have to pick one.”
”And you pick the one that came later?”
”But it's not a race.”
”Yes it is!”
And thus did Katsura-san conclude the discussion, heaving a sigh. Come to think of it, she had exchanged Sœur vows the day she joined the tennis club.
”Speaking of which, what about Rosa Foetida?”
”Rosa Foetida is peaceful and secured with a 3rd-year, 2nd-year and 1st-year.”
”I see.”
For Yumi, as opposed to Rosa Gigantea and Rosa Chinensis en bouton fighting over s.h.i.+mako-san, the fact that neither of them had younger sisters was more surprising.
”Either way, the reality is, Sachiko-sama proposed to her, and she didn't immediately accept.”
As she said that, Katsura-san looked at the clock.
The bell would ring for the morning prayers.
Then, a hymn would sound from the school broadcast system. Aside from the once-a-week morning prayer at the Sanctuary, everyone prayed in their cla.s.sroom. Everyone sang the hymn, listened to the princ.i.p.al speak, then calmed their spirits and offered prayer to G.o.d.
Please allow me to live righteously today.
However, on this day, despite praying, she had the feeling that she was about to be jarred from her peaceful daily life.
Part 3.
”Yumi-san, Yumi-san.”
Yumi was called upon after school, just as she had finished her cleaning duties and had walked out of the music room.
”Ah, Tsutako-san (蔦子). Have you already finished cleaning the cla.s.sroom?”
”Yes, and that's why I hurried here, to ensure we wouldn't walk past each other. Yumi-san seemed to have taken her bag to cleaning duty, after all.”
Because the first-year cla.s.srooms were distant from the music room, first-years always took their bags with them. As the entrance and the club houses were close by, it was convenient for going home or for going to club activities.
”You were looking for me?”
”I wanted to discuss something.”
”Discuss?”
This prompted Tsutako-san to raise her frame-less gla.s.ses by the nose-bridge with a finger, nod, and say ”yes.”
”Yumi-san. We have club activities to get to, so we'll excuse ourselves now. Oh, I'll return the cleaning journal to the staff room on the way, too.”
The three students whom were helping with cleaning duty smiled with pure eyes.
”Why&h.e.l.lip; thank you.”
”No, no. Think nothing of it. Gokigenyou.”
”Gokigenyou.”
The uniforms, with the color of damp crows' wings, leniently flowed down the hallway. Tsutako-san and Yumi saw them off together.
”You are, I think, aware that I belong to the photography club?”
Tsutako-san turned back toward Yumi and asked, abruptly.
”Y, &h.e.l.lip; yes.”
Because she's notorious.
Aside from cla.s.s time, she rarely lets go of her camera. Yumi vaguely remembered hearing her mourn, at one point, about how chagrined she was whenever she missed a shutter chance, and that feeling of regret was the reason why she had no choice but to hang onto her camera at all times. Since the beginning of high school, this had been the first time Yumi ended up in the same cla.s.s as Tsutako-san, but already she'd been shown two or three photos that she never realized had been taken. Though she couldn't really tell how 'good' Tsutako-san was, she had to admit that even her ordinary self looked at least 30% cuter in the photos.
”You know how the school festival is close by? Well, because of that, I've been coming to school early to take photos from early morning.”
She only used people as her photo subjects. Well, specifically, ”female high-school students.” Honestly, there was no problem in that, but she claimed ”good photos can't be taken when the subjects even subconsciously pose,” so she had a tendency to take secret photos.
”Tsutako-san, don't you think it might be better to stop taking photos as if you were a peeping tom?”
”Why should I throw away the privilege I have, being an active Lillian Girls' Academy student? I just want to seal away beauty as beautifully as they come, within these frames. We'll all age, eventually, but it's possible to preserve 'now' in all its glittering glory. I just think that's my G.o.d-given duty, having been chosen by the camera.”
With that, she raised a clenched fist.
”Even so.”
”Not to worry. I've gotten permission from every one of my subjects. I burn everything, including the negatives, for rejected pictures. And before I present them, I always, always make sure the people involved are willing.”
”Permission?”
”Like this.”
Tsutako-san presented two photographs to Yumi.
”What?”
Three, two, one.
It required three seconds to realize what the photos were of.
”Ehh!”
As Yumi had raised her voice far beyond what was generally accepted of a Lillian student, Tsutako-san covered her mouth.
”Th, this.”
Ahh, and what it was.
The morning scene, that same scene she wished could be erased from her memory. A two-shot photo of Ogasawara Sachiko-sama and Yumi.
Even so, it was definitely worthy of the photography club's ace. She had not let the shutter chance go by. Both of Sachiko-sama's hands were firmly gripping Yumi's scarf. You could imagine hearing the sound of the knot being squeezed.
Even while struggling to hold onto her bag, Yumi stared, absorbing everything in the photo.
As always, Sachiko-sama was lovely. And as a direct result of her presence, Yumi, standing to her side, looked like an angel.
”The first one was taken with a long-range lense, the close-up. But this one, the one where your whole body is photographed, has more of a 'forbidden' mood to it, making it look better, don't you think?”
By the way the t.i.tle is ”Training,” Tsutako-san said, and Yumi could do naught but agree.
”Can I have this?”
As Yumi asked, Tsutako-san laughed and took back the photos. She looked as if Yumi had just been snagged hook, line and sinker.
”I don't mind, but on two conditions.”
”Conditions?”
”Condition one: that you allow me to use this photo in a panel for the photography-club exhibit during the school festival.”
”Eh&h.e.l.lip;”
Exhibit? Panel? Was she out of her mind?
How reckless, to line up someone like Yumi, with an extremely average academic, height, weight and figure, to someone who's perfect in every regard, like Ogasawara Sachiko-sama, in front of every student.
”Tsutako-san. You must be kidding.”
”Why would I be kidding? I've been confident, ever since I snapped the photo, that it was my best work this whole year. That's why I developed the film at the cost of lunch break.”
As she said that, Tsutako-san's stomach let out a decidedly un-lady-like growl. Ah, her lunch lay untouched in her bag. Hobbies take precedence even over the nurturing appet.i.te.
”But, a panel&h.e.l.lip;”
Yumi looked down.
”You don't want the photo?”
Tsutako-san plucked the two photos and waved them in front of Yumi's face.
”I know. You've always admired Ogasawara Sachiko-sama in secret. Yet, ignoring the remote possibility of a two-shot, I know you don't even have a close-up photo of her head. When the field trip photos were put up outside the staff room, you were vexed that you couldn't request copies, because you were of a different grade, am I right? And as you aren't part of any club, you had no 2nd-year student to request for a copy. The only photo you have is one from the athletics meet. That's the picture where Sachiko-sama, waiting in line for the relay, happened to be in the background and, well, I won't say a rice grain, but she is really just a speck.”
”Excuse me. She was at least the size of a pencil. And even so, it's a treasure to me.”
Tsutako-san could pursue a career as a private detective if she so desired.
”I wonder if that pencil will satisfy you, after today's events.”
The lens of her gla.s.ses s.h.i.+ned like a camera flash.
”&h.e.l.lip; You're evil.”
Of course there was no way she'd be satisfied, having seen such a good photo.
”But, isn't there a chance Sachiko-sama refuses?”
”That's why.”
Tsutako-san put up her index finger and laughed, triumphantly.
”The other condition is that you receive permission from Rosa Chinensis en bouton.”
”Ehh!? That's impossible, absolutely impossible.”
Again, she says something so stunning so smoothly.
”Why?”
Tsutako-san widened her eyes in surprise.
”You two look so intimate. Like sœurs.”
”I wis.h.!.+”
Yumi explained. This morning, while heading to school, she'd been suddenly called out, and when she wondered what was going on, she'd been cautioned about her appearance.
”Well. And she fixed your tie while at it, too. If your cla.s.smates found out they'd be envious.”
”As if they would say, 'Oh, I'm so envious?'”
Just remembering the incident made her want to blush.
”Sachiko-sama probably thought, what a slovenly student.”
It wasn't supposed to be like that.
In reality, meeting onee-sama in the near future was supposed to be a more beautiful situation.
For example, like a scene in a movie. A scene that would make you blush just remembering it, even after graduating. Even if it were just an instant. Like picking up and returning Sachiko-sama's handkerchief after it got blown away by wind, or something trivial like that.
But, a bent tie. On top of that, she panicked so much she couldn't even greet or thank her. She'd fallen to the status of an impolite undercla.s.sman.
”A slovenly student, isn't that fine? After all, it let you get close to your lovely onee-sama.”
”Err&h.e.l.lip;”
There was no retort to that. Had her tie not been bent, it would have been likely she would have never been called to, in her entire life.
”Tsutako-san, why don't you negotiate in person? You do that all the time, after all.”
”Even Tsutako-san, brave and fearless as she is, is intimidated by the Yamayurikai council.”
The Yamayurikai was the student council of the Lillian Girls' Academy High School. The council, called the White, Red and Yellow Roses were, despite being students, on a different social standing than the regular students, like court officials. Sachiko-sama was the pet.i.te sœur to Rosa Chinensis.
”Also, Yumi-san, I decided that it would be profitable to use you for negotiations.”
”W, Why?”
”Because you caught the attention of Sachiko-sama.”
”That's because of my tie-”
”If a bent tie were all that were needed to get the attention of Sachiko-sama, every Lillian student would walk around with bent ties.”
That was Tsutako-san's retort.
”No way.”
”Quite frankly, I've seen such calculating first-year students.”
First-years that undertook a bold deed the likes of walking in front of Sachiko-sama with a bent tie, all for the sake of catching her attention for one moment. Tsutako-san spoke of this in a serenading tone, as if she were a leading actress, standing at the middle of the stage, basking in the spotlight.
”Especially Sachiko-sama, she's considered one of the most compulsive about cleanliness in the school. She's famous for disdaining slovenly appearances, so there might have been more than one person who foolishly attempted such a stunt.” To carry a proper soul, one must first tend to their person appearance-. For roughly 11 years since kindergarten, that had been a repeated mantra, and breaking that schooling in order to get the attention of their beloved senior simply awarded them one, icy glance from Sachiko-sama. And then complete disregard.
Even worse, sometimes that student's onee-sama was called out for a discussion about personal appearance.
”Sachiko-sama, &h.e.l.lip; is scary.”
”Did you just find out? Ogasawara Sachiko-sama is scary. Of course, this is only with matters that she disapproves of.”
”And you're telling me to face that scary Sachiko-sama&h.e.l.lip;?”
Frankly, she thought Tsutako-san was just as scary.
Already Yumi was getting ready to run. The toes of her indoor shoes were already facing the entrance.
”You don't understand, Yumi-san. Sachiko-sama is no demon. She's an angel. Archangel Michael.”
”A, Archangel Michael&h.e.l.lip;?”
What is she saying, does she even understand what she's saying? Tsutako-san's eyes were focused on something far away.
”She is, in reality, sublime and tolerant. However, everything that opposes her aesthetic sense is absolutely unforgivable. She is, after all, a born princess. She has her own peculiar sense of rules.”
Tsutako-san was swimming away alone. Yumi could not help but raise her hand, say ”Um,” and request.
”Tsutako-san, I only get mid-marks for language cla.s.s.”
”Yes?”
”Can you lower the level and explain, please?”
”Lower the level?”
”Umm, in other words, can you explain more clearly, please?”
Tsutako-san folded her arms and went deep in thought. It was hard to explain to someone else a theory you had already completed yourself.
”To put it simply, Sachiko-sama is never irrationally angry, so it's alright. When she's angry, there's always reason in her words.”
”So?”
”So don't worry and get persuading.”
”Why me?”
”Seems to be a fit. You and Sachiko-sama.”
Sheesh, I can't understand Tsutako-san's thought process.
”And what basis do you have for that?”
”Basis? I have no basis. These things are all about instinct. Intuition.”
Sachiko-sama, who never bothered with the ties of undercla.s.smen, spontaneously decided this morning to call out to her, chastise her, and then re-tie Yumi's scarf with her own hands. Tsutako-san seemed emphatic that this was a brilliant achievement, one that couldn't have happened with pure luck.
”Even if the person is not aware of it, I think like-minded people subconsciously step closer to one another.”
”And again you're being irrational.”
Essentially, it seemed like she was simply pus.h.i.+ng something she didn't want to do on Yumi.
”If you're regretful of being thought of as a slovenly student, then replace that image. If you politely thank her, 'Thank you for warning me this morning,' you'll turn out to be a polite lady.”
”Ugh, Tsutako-san, you're persuasive.”
”Why, thank you. I have been invited by the debate club once.”
Her triumphant laugh was so masterful that it felt she could be invited by the theatrics club, too.
Ten minutes later, Yumi stood in front of the door for the Yamayurikai headquarters, the ”Rose Mansion.”
In the end, Tsutako's killer blow of ”You don't want the photo?” had pushed Yumi into accepting the job of negotiating with Sachiko-sama.
Part 4.
The Lillian Girls' Academy High School Student Council was named the Yamayurikai (Mountain Lily Council) in homage to Maria-sama's soul.
Maria-sama's soul was a blue sky, was an evergreen oak tree, was a j.a.panese nightingale, was a mountain lily, and was a sapphire. That was the song you were made to learn first, upon entering kindergarten.
(But why is it a sapphire&h.e.l.lip;?)
She had wondered this as a child, and had dragged that bewilderment to the present. Blue sky, evergreen oak, nightingale, mountain lily, and then spontaneously a sapphire.
She could understand the comparison of Maria-sama's soul to such beautiful things, but a materialistic symbol such as a jewel, as opposed to natural beauties such as the sky and plants and animals had always felt out of place. Plus, a sapphire was an expensive possession, so while anyone could look up at the sky and bask in its beauty, only a select few could adorn themselves with sapphire.
(But a lady the stature of Sachiko-sama probably wouldn't find the sapphire out of place.)
And that was what went on in the mind of Yumi, who stood rather blankly in front of the Rose Mansion.
Lillian, being what would have to be considered a 'school for upper-cla.s.s ladies', was filled with daughters of comparatively prosperous households. Yumi, who'd been attending the school since infancy, technically counted as a daughter of a company president, for her father was the president of a designing office.
While the exchange of their parents' occupations was not standard practice in the cla.s.sroom, people nevertheless slipped out this sort of knowledge every so often during regular conversations, and from this you could hear of doctors, lawyers, company presidents of smaller enterprises, department heads of larger enterprises, university professors, and other such varying degrees of remarkable t.i.tles.
However, the Ogasawara Sachiko she was about to meet was on a different level from such ladies. She was the granddaughter of the president of the Ogasawara group, an extensive management over department stores and leisure parks, among other things, and her mother was reportedly of former n.o.bility, making her a princess of perfect pedigree.
The Rose Mansion. It was called a mansion, but it was actually a small building, roughly half the size of a cla.s.sroom, taking up floor s.p.a.ce in the corner of the courtyard for high school buildings. However, being an independent building used solely by the student council and, with the aid of its wooden two-story appearance, you could surely see why it became known as a mansion.
”I wonder if Sachiko-sama is really in here.”
Yumi-san said to Tsutako-san, temporarily lowering the fist she had raised for knocking.
”Well she wasn't in the cla.s.sroom, and everyone says the Yamayurikai council have been gathering in the Rose Mansion after cla.s.s every day to prepare for the school festival.”
With that, Tsutako forced Yumi to look back at the door. Apparently she had tagged along purely as an escort. Yumi was the main dish. She wanted to complain, whose fault is it that she had come this far, but she had to restrain herself until she got a copy of the two-shot photo. Plus, as Tsutako-san mentioned, if things went well, she could undo the ruined reputation she might have garnered in the morning, and if things went really well, she could be on speaking terms.
”Yes. They come here every day&h.e.l.lip;”
In other words, there was no turning back.