Volume 26 Chapter 2 (1/2)

When she left the cla.s.sroom at lunch time, Sachiko-onee-sama was out in the hallway.

Touko didn't know whether she was just coincidentally pa.s.sing by the first-years' area, or whether she was lying in wait. Touko tilted her head down, part bow and part hanging her head in shame, and went to walk by when Sachiko-onee-sama said:

”Are you running away?”

(Running away?)

Touko stopped and turned around, wondering what Sachiko-onee-sama was talking about.

”The treasure hunt. Are you partic.i.p.ating? Or not?”

”I don't understand what you're saying. Whether or not I partic.i.p.ate in the treasure hunt is no concern of yours, Rosa Chinensis. But even if I don't partic.i.p.ate, I don't think you could call that running away.”

Talking to Sachiko-onee-sama brought back memories of last Sat.u.r.day. Touko thought that she'd been wrong to look down upon the Red Rose sœurs. She'd even apologized for it. But these were two separate matters.

”I suppose.”

Sachiko-onee-sama muttered.

”Although it seems consistent to me.”

”Consistent?”

”How you're always running away from Yumi.”

Touko wanted to retort with something, but she couldn't find the words. If she remained silent, that may be taken as tacit agreement. Nonetheless, she couldn't even come up with a hackneyed excuse.

”Are you afraid of facing Yumi?”

”Huh?”

”It's frightening. I'm afraid too.”

The words coming from Sachiko-onee-sama's mouth were completely unexpected.

”Because she's so honest. I'm sure she doesn't mean to, but being with her is an a.s.sault on your weaknesses. Like they're reflected in a perfectly clear mirror. I don't want to look ... don't want to admit to them.”

She looked down, then abruptly smiled. Seeing that expression, Touko instinctively asked:

”So then why are you still with her?”