今野緒雪に書けた[Answer]という話
小笠原祥子は、怪獣に似ている。
大きい手提げ袋を肩から提げて黙々と歩く姿が、箱庭のような街を壊して歩く、特撮ものの怪獣の姿とどうしてか重なって見えるのだ。
いつも何かに怒っている。
見えない何かと戦っている。
戦う相手は、今日の前にある何かではないことは、たぶん重々承知の上で。
自分の存在を持てあましている。
この世界に順応できずにもがいている。
怪獣が歩くたびに、街は壊れる。
けれど、傷ついているのは行き場のない怪獣の方なのかかもしれない。
怪獣には、そんな哀愁がある。
リリアン女学園高等部一年、小笠原祥子もまた。
「蓉子、決めた？」
背後からロサキネンシスさまが尋ねる。
「……何のことでしょう？お姉さま」
蓉子は、お茶をいれる手を休めずに答えた。だから、もちろん振り返りもしなかった。
「何愛げない子ね」
お姉さまは笑った。
「『何のことでしょう』の前の『……』が、物語っていたわよ。何のことかわかっています、って」
「恐れ入ります」
言いながら、蓉子はティポットからカップへとダージリンを注いだ。やわらかい香りのついた湯気が、ふわりと身体を包み込む。
まったく修行が足りない。気を取り直すように、一度深呼吸をした。
「プティソール（妹）のことですか」
放課後の薔薇の館。テーブルへと運んだカップは三つ。ロサキネンシスさまと蓉子と、そして――。
「何か一つ、わかりやすい特徴がある子にしてよ、蓉子ちゃん。これ、私からのリクエスト」
ロサギガンティアさま。佐藤聖のお姉さまだ。
「わかりやすい特徴、ですか？」
「例えば、すっごく背が高いことか、お相撲さんみたいにふくよかな子とか、ガマガエルみたいな声の子とか、チリチリの天然パーマのことか」
「バタくさい顔とか？」
蓉子が言うと、ロサギガンティアさまは「その通り」と愉快そうにか肩を揺すった。
「何の某と名前を言われるより、ほらあの男の子みたいな子、って言ってもらった方がピンとくるじゃない」
「ああ、支倉令のことね」
ロサキネンシスさまの口から出たのは、新一年生の名前だった。ベリーショートヘアに涼しげな頭立ちで、一見美少年に見えなくもない。ロサフエティダのアンブウトン（つぼみ）である鳥居江利子が気に入っているらしいから、顔と、剣道部に在籍しているという情報くらいは知っていた。
「江利子ちゃんらしいわ。いいところに目を付けた。」
「私たちだけじゃなく、ロサフエティダさままでノーチェックだったそうじゃない？」
「ありきたりな枠内に収まるような江利子ちゃんじゃないものね。今日はロサフエティダさまと一緒に、剣道部の練習を見に言ってるらしいわよ。で、少し遅れます、って」
「わざわざ、お姉さま連れで？」
「剣道部の二年生部員に圧力かけているのよ。支倉令はすでに黄薔薇ファミリーが芽を付けているんだ、って。部活の先輩後輩でスール（姉妹）になるパターンは多いからね」
「なーる……」
このまま黄薔薇ファミリーのプティソール（妹）問題は片づきそうだ、と会話を締めくくって、ロサキネンシスさまとロサギガンティア様はお茶をすすった。うらやましいことね、と。
まだ新入生が入ってきて一月も経っていない、五月の初めだ。だから蓉子本人にしてみればまったく焦りはないのだが、上級生二人にこんな風にチクチクと責められるのはあまり楽しいことではなかった。候補すら見つけていないということなら聖だって同じであるのに、薔薇の館での会合をサッボってばかりいるから、結果蓉子は一人で針のむしろに座らなくてはいけなくなる。
「ということで、次は蓉子ちゃんの番。支倉令に負けないくらい面白い子を、連れてきてちょうだい」
「ロサギガンティアさま、リクエストならご自分の妹にどうぞ」
「聖ね。……あの子に妹が作れるかどうか。自分のことで手一杯って感じじゃない？」
「相変わらず、甘いわね」
ロサキネンシスさまが、非難するるようにロサギガンティアさまを見た。ロサギガンティアさまの、妹過保護は今に始まったことではない。
「聖を無理に型にはめ込んでご覧なさいな。粉々に壊れちゃうから。そうなったら、床に散らばった先の戸が尖った欠片を、いったい誰が片づけてくれるっていうの」
そういう一種の脅しをちらつかせて、ロサギガンティアさまはこれまで妹を庇い続けてきたのである。蓉子は、片づけくらいならいくらでもしようという気持ちはあるが、佐藤聖という友が傷ついたり壊れたりするのを見たくはなかった。だから、結局ロサギガンティアさまのやり方に従ってしまう。甘いのは一緒。連帯責任なのである。
「何だって、高面倒くさい相手を妹に選んだのかしらね。ロサギガンティア？」
ロサキネンシスさまの言葉に、ロサギガンティアさまは笑った。
「薄いガラス細工の置物を、飾って眺めていたいから」
顔が好きだと言われて、聖はロサギガンティアさまの妹になる決心をした。ある意味、究極の求愛である。
「蓉子ちゃんみたいに実用的な妹のほうが重宝する、ってことは私だってわかっているんだけれどねえ」
「ちなみに、聖ちゃんがガラス細工なら、蓉子は何だと思う？」
「風呂敷」
「その心は」
「用途に合わせて便利に使える。邪魔にならない。壊れない。」
「うまい！座布団二枚」
ロサギガンティアさまは手を叩いた。確かに、言い得て妙。蓉子自身、こんなに自分を喩えるにピッタリの品はないと思われた。
「蓉子の姉としてお願い。できれば、頭に『高級』をつけてやって。ビニールのじゃなくて、布製の。ほら、刺繍とか名前とか入っているやつ」
ロサキネンシスさまのささやかな思いやりには感謝するが、あまり笑われるとフォローも台無しになる。蓉子が複雑な表情でため息をつくと、お姉さまから「忘れていたわ」と一冊のノートが差し出された。
「何です、これは？」
「めぼしい一年生を私たちがリストアップしてみたの。別い、この中から探せとは言わないけれど。参考にはなるでしょう？」
「拝見します」
こういうお節介あ、聖にしようものなら激しく反発するんだろうな。そう思いながら蓉子は、ノートを受け取った。中には二十人ほどの一年生の名前とクラス、そして部活などの簡単なプロフィールが書かれていた。三人の薔薇さますべてノーチェックだったという支倉令は、もちろんこのノートに載っていなかった。
蓉子はノートをパラパラとめくった。しかし顔写真もない一年生の名前をただ眺めてみたところで、「これぞ」と決められるわけがない。
「このノートを参考書として活用するのは、なかなか難しそうです。お姉さま」
「ま、そうでしょうね。あまりノートに頼らないほうがいいわ」
どうやら、面白い半分に作ったらしい。もしくは、蓉子の反応を見て楽しむために。そういう手の込んだ悪戯をする人たちなのである受験勉強で頭を使いすぎた反動だろうか。
「あ」蓉子は、あの一人の生徒のページで目を留めた。
「……怪獣」
「カイジュウ？」
「え、別に」
対、つぶやいてしまったが、もちろんリストの彼女は怪獣ではない。彼女は、ある意味学園内の有名人である。顔写真がなくとも、蓉子も彼女のことは知っていた。
「ああ、小笠原祥子？」
ロサギガンティアさまが、蓉子の手もとを覗きこんで言いた。
「なぜ、彼女のページを斜線で消してあるのです？」
「一応、名前は挙がったけれど、彼女を妹にするのは無理だって判断したので、全員一致でリストから削除したの」
ロサキネンシスさま、ロサギガンティアさま、ロサフェティダさま。三薔薇さまの統一見解というわけだ。
「お金持ちのお嬢様だから扱いにくい、とか？」
小笠原祥子は、大企業の社長令嬢である。
「お金持ちのお嬢様であれ、庶民のお嬢様であれ、一後輩には変わりないわ。まあ、誰を妹にするにせよ、一人の人間ととことん向かい合うことになるのだから、いずれ扱いやすいとか扱いにくいとかを含めて、性格的な問題は出てくるかもしれない。けれど、それはもっと後の話でしょ？」
「では？」
小笠原祥子を削除した理由を尋ねえると、今度はロサキネンシスさまが答えた。
「単純なこと。小笠原祥子には暇がない」
「習い事、ですか？」
蓉子が頭に浮かんだままを口にすると、二人の薔薇さまは少し意外そうに「知ってたの」と言いた。
「登下校の折、何度か鞄以外の大きいな手提げ袋を持っている姿を見たことが」
「何度か、ね」
ロサキネンシスさまがそこの部分を強調下が、蓉子は気づかないふりをして話を続けた。
「でも、部活をしていると思えば―」
支倉令だって、剣道部に在籍しながら江利子の妹になるのだろう。それに若い娘だったら、習い事の一つや二つやっていたっておかしくない。リストアップされた一年生の残りすべてが、習い事をしていないなんて思えなかった。
「部活は毎日ないわよ」
「彼女のなり事は、毎日なんですか」
ロサキネンシスさまはうなずいた。
「喩え毎日でも、それが学校の部活だったら、生徒会との両立もしやすいわ。忙しさに応じて、細かく時間を配分することだって何能だし、極端な話し、同じ敷地内なら言ったり来たりもできる」
けれど下校後の用事であれば、やり繰りのしようもない。そういう事情から、小笠原祥子はリストから削除されたのだ。
「外した理由はそれだけですか」
「それだけよ。でもその一つが、動かしがたい理由じゃないの？」
ロサキネンシスさまはほほえんで、紅茶をすすった。
「わかりました」
蓉子はのーとを閉じた。すると。
「小笠原祥子に、習い事を辞めるよう説得するのはなしよ、蓉子」
顔も上げずに、ロサキネンシスさまが言いた。まるで天気の話でもするように。
「お姉さま……」
やはり適わない。妹が自覚するより先に、お姉さまは気持ちを的確に言い当ててしまった。
「校外のことよ。たかだか学校の一先輩が、立ち入ることではないの」
「じゃあ、どうしたら」
「どうしたら？じゃあ聞くけれど、あなたはどんな状態にしたいと思っているの？」
「どんな、って」
「あなた、小笠原祥子を妹に決めているの？」
「いえ」
「はい」とは言えなかった。しかし、「いいえ」は嘘だった。小笠原祥子が気になる存在であることは間違いないが、だからといってすぐさま「妹」にとは望めなかった。
向かい合うためには、腹を据えなければならない。たぶん、彼女は佐藤聖くらい「面倒くさい相手」になるだろう。習い事よりも、むしろそっちのほうがハードだと思われた。
「それなら、どうもしなくていいことでしょ？関わるのはおやめなさい」
答えられずにいると、重ねて言われた。
「蓉子、返事」
「……はい」
言葉とは裏腹に、ますます小笠原祥子に気持ちが傾いていく自分を、蓉子は正しく理解していた。
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
English Translation of "Answer"
"Answer", by Konno Oyuki (half)
Ogasawara Sachiko looks like a monster.
Why does her figure as she walks silently along, with a large handbag hanging from her shoulder and that of a special effects monster destroying a town as if it were nothing more than a miniature garden seem to overlap when I look at her?
She always looks angry at something.
She looks like she’s struggling against some invisible force.
*Her adversaries have probably existed since before today and are many in number.
She looks like her own existence is beyond her control.
She doesn’t even receive a little bit of sympathy from the world around her.
Whenever the monster takes a walk, she destroys the town.
However, it seems as if the monster doesn’t even have a place to go to when she is injured.
The monster carries these sorrows with her.
Once again, this is Lillian Girl’s Senior High School student Ogasawara Sachiko.
“Have you made a choice yet, Youko?”
From behind her Rosa Chinensis asks.
“……What do you mean, oneesama?”
Youko answers without even stopping her hands from their tea preparation. So, of course she didn’t even turn around or look over her shoulder.
“That’s not cute.”
Her oneesama answered.
“Your hesitation before you said “what do you mean?” tells its own story you know. You know very well of what I’m talking about.”
“I’m sorry.”
While saying this, Youko poured Darjeeling tea from the teapot into some cups. A soft fragrance ascended with the steam from the cups and softly wrapped around her body.
Her training was severely lacking when it came to handling situations like this. Hoping to pull herself together, she took one deep breath.
“Is this about petite soeurs?”
The setting is afterschool in the Rose Mansion. Three cups had been carried to the table. Rosa Chinensis and Youko were thus speaking.
“Just one thing, you should choose a petite soeur with a peculiar characteristic that is easy to distinguish, Youko-chan. That is my request.”
Says Rosa Gigantea, Satou Sei’s grande soeur.
“An easily distinguished characteristic?”
“For example, a person who is really tall or a person who is plump like a sumo wrestler, or a person who has a voice like a toad, or really frizzy, curly hair…”
“Or a person with an exotic, Western-looking face?”
Youko said and Rosa Gigantea responded happily “Exactly like that!” as her shoulders shook.
“So that you don’t even need to say the person’s name, you can just say look at that boyish girl over there and the person you are talking to will know exactly who you talking about.”
“Ah, Hasekura Rei”
The name of one of the new first years came forth from Rosa Chinensis’ mouth. Upon first meeting her, you might think she is a handsome young man because of her very short hair and height. Because Rosa Foetida en bouten—Torii Eriko—seemed to have an interest in her, besides knowing what she looked like, they also knew that the girl was signed up for the kendo club.
*“That’s just like Eriko-chan. She is already firmly zeroed in on her target.”
*“It’s not only us, until Rosa Foetida everything just went unchecked didn’t it?”
“Eriko-chan is not one to be content within conventional boundaries now is she? I heard that she is going today with (her Grande Soeur) Rosa Foetida to watch the kendo club’s practice. So they will be a little late.”
“She went as far as to bring her oneesama along?"
“There is a second-year in the kendo club who is adding some pressure to the situation. Hasekura Rei is already attached to the Yellow Rose family, but there are many who follow the pattern of seniors and juniors within the kendo club pairing up and becoming soeurs.”
“I see……”'
Since the current petite soeur problem of the Yellow rose family seemed to be solved, The Roses brought the conversation to a close and sipped their tea. They were probably feeling a bit envious.
Not even a month had passed since the new students had come; it was the beginning of May. So, Youko expected the Roses to be patiently keeping an eye on her, but instead she found herself being picked at by the upperclassmen in this manner and it was not a very enjoyable experience. If it is the case that she was only being hassled because she had not yet found a candidate to make her petite soeur, then Satou Sei should be in the same position, but because Sei always skips the meetings at the Rose Mansion, Youko had to sit on this bed of thorns alone.
“In that case, it’s Youko-chan’s turn next. Please find a girl interesting enough so that she will not be overshadowed by Hasekura Rei for me.”
“Rosa Gigantea, if that is your request, please direct it toward your own petite soeur.”
“Sei, huh? ...Will that girl chose a petite soeur or won’t she? Don’t you feel like she already has her hands full dealing with her own problems?”
“You’re being indulgent, the same as always.”
Rosa Chinensis looks at Rosa Gigantea critically. Rosa Gigantea’s over-protectiveness with regard to her petite soeur did not start today.
“Look, Sei will never fit into the typical mold because, if she tried, she would break into a bunch of little pieces. If that were to happen, someone would have to gather up the pointy fragments scattered about the floor in order to make them into a united body once more.”
By making just that sort of brief threat, Rosa Gigantea had continued to stick up for her petitie soeur until now. Although Youko felt that this was not a solution to the problem, but a temporary remedy, she really did not want to see her friend Satou Sei hurt or broken. So, after all, she went along with Rosa Gigantea’s manner of doing things. They would indulge Sei together. They would all bear the responsibility.
“I wonder what made you choose such a bothersome person to be your petite soeur…Rosa Gigantea?”
Rosa Gigantea laughed at Rosa Chinensis’ words.
“Because I wanted a delicate glass ornament to gaze at.”
After being told by Rosa Gigantea that she liked her face, Sei made the decision to become her petite soeur. Surely, that is the ultimate example of courtship.
“Personally, I believe having a practical petite soeur like Youko is more of a convenience. But, I can understand where you’re coming from, however.”
“By the way, if Sei-chan is a glass ornament, what do you think Youko is?”
“A furoshiki.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“She is useful in that she is handy when you need her. She can never become a hindrance and she cannot be broken.”
“That’s clever! Two zabuton for you!”
Rosa Gigantea clapped her hands. The phrase fit Youko perfectly. Youko herself did not think that speaking about her figuratively in this manner was particularly dignified.
*“This is the request of Youko’s grande soeur. If you are able, please appoint it high priority status in your mind. Not made of vinyl, but one made of cloth. Look, there is even embroidery and a name stitched in!”
Youko was grateful for Rosa Chinensis’ modest consideration, but it was spoiled by her ensuing laughter. When Youko made a complex facial expression and sighed, her grade soeur said, “I almost forgot” and held out a single notebook.
“What is this?”
“We tried to make a listing of all of the important first years. You don’t have to pick a first year from among those listed, but it is a valuable resource, don’t you agree?”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
If they were to try something this meddlesome on Sei, I bet she would vehemently oppose. While entertaining this thought, Youko took the notebook. Inside simple profiles for about 20 first years were written, including things like their name, class, and club activities. Hasekura Rei, who was going unchecked by all three of the Roses, was of course not included. Youko flipped through the pages of the notebook. However, there were not even portraits of the first years included; how could she possibly be expected to choose a petite soeur based on their name alone?
“Using this notebook as a reference book seems like a very difficult thing, Oneesama.”
“That’s true. It is best not to rely too heavily on the notebook.”
*It seems that half of the reason it was drawn up was for the purpose of amusement. Either that or because they really enjoyed seeing Youko react. Because the Roses used their heads and put as much effort into an elaborate prank like this as they would into studying for an exam, I guess I should probably react in some way.
“Ah!” Youko noticed the page of a particular first year.
“……the monster.”
“Monster?”
“Oh, nothing.”
*Despite my surprised murmur, it was clear that of course the monster would be included in the list. After all, that girl is regarded as a celebrity among the students of Lillian Jogakuen. Even though there wasn’t a picture, Youko knew all about this girl.
“Ah, Ogasawara Sachiko?”
Rosa Gigantea said as she snuck a peek at the notebook in Youko’s hands.
“Why is this girl’s page crossed out?”
“Although her name is included in the list for the time being, we unanimously decided to cross it out after having made the judgment that that girl becoming someone’s petite soeur is an impossibility.”
Rosa Chinensis, Rosa Gigantea, Rosa Foetida. This means it was the collective opinion of all three of the Roses.
“Because she will be hard to deal with, being a rich, high class girl?”
Ogasawara Sachiko was the daughter of the president of a large company.
*“Whether she was a rich person’s daughter or a commoner’s daughter, it would make no difference with regard to this underclassman. Whoever you choose to be your petite soeur, you might find out in time that particular person is actually the exact opposite of you personality-wise, so personality-related problems--like whether someone is difficult to deal with or easy to deal with--are usually revealed only after some time. So, that sort of concern is one for a future time, wouldn’t you think?”
“So?”
This time when Youko asked for the reason behind eliminating Ogasawara Sachiko’s page, Rosa Chinensis answered.
“That’s simple. Ogasawara Sachiko has no free time.”
“She has after-school lessons?”
When Youko spoke what had been floating around in her head, the two Roses said, slightly surprised, “I knew it”.
“I have seen her on the path to and from school a few times carrying a large satchel besides her handbag.”
“A few times, huh?”
Rosa Chinensis emphasized this phrase, but Youko pretended not to notice and continued with her story.
“But, I assumed she had club activities—“
Hasekura Rei will become Eriko’s petite soeur even though she is enrolled in the kendo club. Besides, it was not strange for young, unmarried women to be taking one or two kinds of lessons. In fact, it didn’t appear that any of the other first years listed didn’t take some kind of lesson.
“Club activities aren’t every day.”
“But, you’re saying that that girl’s lessons are every day.”
Rosa Chinensis nodded.
“Even if they were every day, school club activities would be easy to do while serving on the student council. Depending on one’s busyness, if you allot your time and have the talent for it—although it would be an extreme case—because the activities are on the same premises it would be possibly to come and go as you please.”
However, if your responsibilities require you to head home/off-campus after school, there is no way to get by. Because it is one of these circumstances, Ogasawara Sachiko has been eliminated from the list.
“That’s the only reason why you removed her from the list?”
“That’s the only reason. You do agree that it is one that is difficult to get around, don’t you?”
Rosa Chinensis smiled and took a sip of her black tea.
“I understand.”
Youko closed the notebook. That is all.
“You must succeed in persuading Ogasawara Sachiko to quit her lessons, Youko.”
Rosa Chinensis said without even raising her head. Appearing as if she was merely discussing the weather.
“Oneesama……”
How could she do that? As if she could reach beyond her petite soeur’s own self-consciousness, the grande soeur guessed Youko’s emotions accurately.
*“It is a problem outside of school. At best, the girl's grande soeur might be able to meddle a little.”
“Then, what should I do?”
“What should you do? You ask, but just what kind of situation do you want to get yourself in to?”
“What kind?”
“Have you chosen Ogasawara Sachiko to be your petite soeur?”
“No.”
I couldn’t say yes, but no was definitely a lie. It is not wrong to say that Ogasawara Sachiko’s existence has been wearing heavily on my mind, but I did not immediately jump to wishing she was my petite soeur.
Regarding whether or not I was actually opposed to the idea, I was unable to make up my mind. She would probably turn out to be a troublesome partner like Satou Sei, wouldn’t she? Besides the problem of the lessons, there would probably be other difficulties, I thought.
“If that’s the case, then there is nothing you can do about it, right? So, stop worrying about it.”
When she was met with no response, she asked once more.
“Youko, please respond.”
“……Yes.”
Despite her words, Youko could no doubt feel her emotions leaning more and more toward Ogasawara Sachiko.
Ogasawara Sachiko looks like a monster.
Why does her figure as she walks silently along, with a large handbag hanging from her shoulder and that of a special effects monster destroying a town as if it were nothing more than a miniature garden seem to overlap when I look at her?
She always looks angry at something.
She looks like she’s struggling against some invisible force.
*Her adversaries have probably existed since before today and are many in number.
She looks like her own existence is beyond her control.
She doesn’t even receive a little bit of sympathy from the world around her.
Whenever the monster takes a walk, she destroys the town.
However, it seems as if the monster doesn’t even have a place to go to when she is injured.
The monster carries these sorrows with her.
Once again, this is Lillian Girl’s Senior High School student Ogasawara Sachiko.
“Have you made a choice yet, Youko?”
From behind her Rosa Chinensis asks.
“……What do you mean, oneesama?”
Youko answers without even stopping her hands from their tea preparation. So, of course she didn’t even turn around or look over her shoulder.
“That’s not cute.”
Her oneesama answered.
“Your hesitation before you said “what do you mean?” tells its own story you know. You know very well of what I’m talking about.”
“I’m sorry.”
While saying this, Youko poured Darjeeling tea from the teapot into some cups. A soft fragrance ascended with the steam from the cups and softly wrapped around her body.
Her training was severely lacking when it came to handling situations like this. Hoping to pull herself together, she took one deep breath.
“Is this about petite soeurs?”
The setting is afterschool in the Rose Mansion. Three cups had been carried to the table. Rosa Chinensis and Youko were thus speaking.
“Just one thing, you should choose a petite soeur with a peculiar characteristic that is easy to distinguish, Youko-chan. That is my request.”
Says Rosa Gigantea, Satou Sei’s grande soeur.
“An easily distinguished characteristic?”
“For example, a person who is really tall or a person who is plump like a sumo wrestler, or a person who has a voice like a toad, or really frizzy, curly hair…”
“Or a person with an exotic, Western-looking face?”
Youko said and Rosa Gigantea responded happily “Exactly like that!” as her shoulders shook.
“So that you don’t even need to say the person’s name, you can just say look at that boyish girl over there and the person you are talking to will know exactly who you talking about.”
“Ah, Hasekura Rei”
The name of one of the new first years came forth from Rosa Chinensis’ mouth. Upon first meeting her, you might think she is a handsome young man because of her very short hair and height. Because Rosa Foetida en bouten—Torii Eriko—seemed to have an interest in her, besides knowing what she looked like, they also knew that the girl was signed up for the kendo club.
*“That’s just like Eriko-chan. She is already firmly zeroed in on her target.”
*“It’s not only us, until Rosa Foetida everything just went unchecked didn’t it?”
“Eriko-chan is not one to be content within conventional boundaries now is she? I heard that she is going today with (her Grande Soeur) Rosa Foetida to watch the kendo club’s practice. So they will be a little late.”
“She went as far as to bring her oneesama along?"
“There is a second-year in the kendo club who is adding some pressure to the situation. Hasekura Rei is already attached to the Yellow Rose family, but there are many who follow the pattern of seniors and juniors within the kendo club pairing up and becoming soeurs.”
“I see……”'
Since the current petite soeur problem of the Yellow rose family seemed to be solved, The Roses brought the conversation to a close and sipped their tea. They were probably feeling a bit envious.
Not even a month had passed since the new students had come; it was the beginning of May. So, Youko expected the Roses to be patiently keeping an eye on her, but instead she found herself being picked at by the upperclassmen in this manner and it was not a very enjoyable experience. If it is the case that she was only being hassled because she had not yet found a candidate to make her petite soeur, then Satou Sei should be in the same position, but because Sei always skips the meetings at the Rose Mansion, Youko had to sit on this bed of thorns alone.
“In that case, it’s Youko-chan’s turn next. Please find a girl interesting enough so that she will not be overshadowed by Hasekura Rei for me.”
“Rosa Gigantea, if that is your request, please direct it toward your own petite soeur.”
“Sei, huh? ...Will that girl chose a petite soeur or won’t she? Don’t you feel like she already has her hands full dealing with her own problems?”
“You’re being indulgent, the same as always.”
Rosa Chinensis looks at Rosa Gigantea critically. Rosa Gigantea’s over-protectiveness with regard to her petite soeur did not start today.
“Look, Sei will never fit into the typical mold because, if she tried, she would break into a bunch of little pieces. If that were to happen, someone would have to gather up the pointy fragments scattered about the floor in order to make them into a united body once more.”
By making just that sort of brief threat, Rosa Gigantea had continued to stick up for her petitie soeur until now. Although Youko felt that this was not a solution to the problem, but a temporary remedy, she really did not want to see her friend Satou Sei hurt or broken. So, after all, she went along with Rosa Gigantea’s manner of doing things. They would indulge Sei together. They would all bear the responsibility.
“I wonder what made you choose such a bothersome person to be your petite soeur…Rosa Gigantea?”
Rosa Gigantea laughed at Rosa Chinensis’ words.
“Because I wanted a delicate glass ornament to gaze at.”
After being told by Rosa Gigantea that she liked her face, Sei made the decision to become her petite soeur. Surely, that is the ultimate example of courtship.
“Personally, I believe having a practical petite soeur like Youko is more of a convenience. But, I can understand where you’re coming from, however.”
“By the way, if Sei-chan is a glass ornament, what do you think Youko is?”
“A furoshiki.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“She is useful in that she is handy when you need her. She can never become a hindrance and she cannot be broken.”
“That’s clever! Two zabuton for you!”
Rosa Gigantea clapped her hands. The phrase fit Youko perfectly. Youko herself did not think that speaking about her figuratively in this manner was particularly dignified.
*“This is the request of Youko’s grande soeur. If you are able, please appoint it high priority status in your mind. Not made of vinyl, but one made of cloth. Look, there is even embroidery and a name stitched in!”
Youko was grateful for Rosa Chinensis’ modest consideration, but it was spoiled by her ensuing laughter. When Youko made a complex facial expression and sighed, her grade soeur said, “I almost forgot” and held out a single notebook.
“What is this?”
“We tried to make a listing of all of the important first years. You don’t have to pick a first year from among those listed, but it is a valuable resource, don’t you agree?”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
If they were to try something this meddlesome on Sei, I bet she would vehemently oppose. While entertaining this thought, Youko took the notebook. Inside simple profiles for about 20 first years were written, including things like their name, class, and club activities. Hasekura Rei, who was going unchecked by all three of the Roses, was of course not included. Youko flipped through the pages of the notebook. However, there were not even portraits of the first years included; how could she possibly be expected to choose a petite soeur based on their name alone?
“Using this notebook as a reference book seems like a very difficult thing, Oneesama.”
“That’s true. It is best not to rely too heavily on the notebook.”
*It seems that half of the reason it was drawn up was for the purpose of amusement. Either that or because they really enjoyed seeing Youko react. Because the Roses used their heads and put as much effort into an elaborate prank like this as they would into studying for an exam, I guess I should probably react in some way.
“Ah!” Youko noticed the page of a particular first year.
“……the monster.”
“Monster?”
“Oh, nothing.”
*Despite my surprised murmur, it was clear that of course the monster would be included in the list. After all, that girl is regarded as a celebrity among the students of Lillian Jogakuen. Even though there wasn’t a picture, Youko knew all about this girl.
“Ah, Ogasawara Sachiko?”
Rosa Gigantea said as she snuck a peek at the notebook in Youko’s hands.
“Why is this girl’s page crossed out?”
“Although her name is included in the list for the time being, we unanimously decided to cross it out after having made the judgment that that girl becoming someone’s petite soeur is an impossibility.”
Rosa Chinensis, Rosa Gigantea, Rosa Foetida. This means it was the collective opinion of all three of the Roses.
“Because she will be hard to deal with, being a rich, high class girl?”
Ogasawara Sachiko was the daughter of the president of a large company.
*“Whether she was a rich person’s daughter or a commoner’s daughter, it would make no difference with regard to this underclassman. Whoever you choose to be your petite soeur, you might find out in time that particular person is actually the exact opposite of you personality-wise, so personality-related problems--like whether someone is difficult to deal with or easy to deal with--are usually revealed only after some time. So, that sort of concern is one for a future time, wouldn’t you think?”
“So?”
This time when Youko asked for the reason behind eliminating Ogasawara Sachiko’s page, Rosa Chinensis answered.
“That’s simple. Ogasawara Sachiko has no free time.”
“She has after-school lessons?”
When Youko spoke what had been floating around in her head, the two Roses said, slightly surprised, “I knew it”.
“I have seen her on the path to and from school a few times carrying a large satchel besides her handbag.”
“A few times, huh?”
Rosa Chinensis emphasized this phrase, but Youko pretended not to notice and continued with her story.
“But, I assumed she had club activities—“
Hasekura Rei will become Eriko’s petite soeur even though she is enrolled in the kendo club. Besides, it was not strange for young, unmarried women to be taking one or two kinds of lessons. In fact, it didn’t appear that any of the other first years listed didn’t take some kind of lesson.
“Club activities aren’t every day.”
“But, you’re saying that that girl’s lessons are every day.”
Rosa Chinensis nodded.
“Even if they were every day, school club activities would be easy to do while serving on the student council. Depending on one’s busyness, if you allot your time and have the talent for it—although it would be an extreme case—because the activities are on the same premises it would be possibly to come and go as you please.”
However, if your responsibilities require you to head home/off-campus after school, there is no way to get by. Because it is one of these circumstances, Ogasawara Sachiko has been eliminated from the list.
“That’s the only reason why you removed her from the list?”
“That’s the only reason. You do agree that it is one that is difficult to get around, don’t you?”
Rosa Chinensis smiled and took a sip of her black tea.
“I understand.”
Youko closed the notebook. That is all.
“You must succeed in persuading Ogasawara Sachiko to quit her lessons, Youko.”
Rosa Chinensis said without even raising her head. Appearing as if she was merely discussing the weather.
“Oneesama……”
How could she do that? As if she could reach beyond her petite soeur’s own self-consciousness, the grande soeur guessed Youko’s emotions accurately.
*“It is a problem outside of school. At best, the girl's grande soeur might be able to meddle a little.”
“Then, what should I do?”
“What should you do? You ask, but just what kind of situation do you want to get yourself in to?”
“What kind?”
“Have you chosen Ogasawara Sachiko to be your petite soeur?”
“No.”
I couldn’t say yes, but no was definitely a lie. It is not wrong to say that Ogasawara Sachiko’s existence has been wearing heavily on my mind, but I did not immediately jump to wishing she was my petite soeur.
Regarding whether or not I was actually opposed to the idea, I was unable to make up my mind. She would probably turn out to be a troublesome partner like Satou Sei, wouldn’t she? Besides the problem of the lessons, there would probably be other difficulties, I thought.
“If that’s the case, then there is nothing you can do about it, right? So, stop worrying about it.”
When she was met with no response, she asked once more.
“Youko, please respond.”
“……Yes.”
Despite her words, Youko could no doubt feel her emotions leaning more and more toward Ogasawara Sachiko.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
