Chapter 21 - Pinning Flowers

Yumi was standing directly in front of the bus doors when they opened and hence she was the first one off and led the charge across the pedestrian bridge and to the main gates of the school. She still had time before they were supposed to meet but in this case even if the last person there was early it would feel like they were late. I can just see Yoshino standing there with her hands on her hips 'You're late!' The thought of her friend, even in that pose brought a smile to her face. Because she was in a hurry and the first one off of the bus, she was well ahead of the main body of girls following her. Before her she could see the statue of Maria-sama and she instantly recognized the girl standing before it. "Kanako-chan," Yumi said as she approached. There was no mistaking who it was due to the younger girls' height.

"Gokigenyou, Yumi-sama," the incredibly tall girl said with a smile upon turning and seeing who it was.

"Is something the matter?" Yumi asked concerned. As Yumi was the first off the last bus that meant that Kanako-chan had to be on the bus before hers so the younger girl should have already been on her way to class and not still be here praying.

"No," replied the younger girl touched by the concern she could hear in Yumi's voice. "I was approaching here when I saw two girls and one of them was presenting the other with her rosary I felt it better to wait till they had left."

"So thoughtful of you Kanko-chan," Yumi said causing the other girl to blush slightly at the unexpected praise. "There seems to be a lot of that going on at the moment," Yumi said meaning new Sœur's recalling the pair she had witnessed the day before. "Shall we walk together?" Yumi asked after praying as the other girl had stood there and waited for her. The two turned and headed for the school building together. "Do you have plans for spring break Kanko-chan?" Yumi asked as they walked. Spring break started the day after the graduation ceremony and lasted for the remainder of this week and the next.

"Yes." was the hesitant reply. "Touko has invited me to spend some time at her house and visit her family's hospital." The tall girl said looking down at her feet shyly.

"Is that so?" Yumi replied. "I'm happy that you and Touko have become such good friends." Yumi told the girl next to her meaning it from the bottom of her heart. It wasn't all that long ago where it appeared that the two girls in question were rivals and often butted heads with one another. Apparently at some point their attitudes towards each other had thawed and in the muddy soil from that thawing a budding friendship had sprung up and flourished. Perhaps the day they spent alone together at the amusement park Sunday was good for the two of them. "Good luck," Yumi said as the two of them parted ways though she wasn't certain why she said it. The other girl smiled though so she guessed it was alright.

Yumi proceeded to class after changing into her indoor shoes and was greeted by Yoshino with her hands on her hips. "You're late!"

"I still have one minute," Yumi replied after glancing at her watch.

"You should have been here five minutes early," the girl with twin ponytails countered. "Now that you're here I guess we can go," she said taking charge as she took Yumi's school bag from her and then striped her of her coat and setting them aside. "At this rate the others will get there before we do." The six girls filed out of the classroom as directed.

"What's up with Yoshino-san this morning?" inquired Misa-san on Yumi's right in a hushed voice as they walked along.

Itsue-san slowed down and dropped back to walk beside them on Yumi's left side interjecting into the conversation "It's a mystery that's for sure. At least it's easier for you Yumi-san, your Onee-sama is in the Third Year Pine class." An agreement came from Yumi's right side at this statement. Easier? It just means I'm more nervous! Yumi thought to herself.

Now that she thought about it and observed Yoshino walking ahead of them conversing with Mami-san, Satoe-san, her friend did seem tense today or more so than usual. Is it because she can't pin Rei-sama flower on she wondered? It was tradition at Lillian that the lower classes would pine the flowers on the higher classes each year for graduation. So the Second Year Pine Class would pin the flowers on the Third Year Pine Class. As Rei-sama was in the Third Year Chrysanthemum class Yoshino couldn't be the one to pin the flower on her.

Yumi's heart ached for her friend and once again she counted her blessings. The class had used rock-paper-scissors to determine who would be going to pin the flowers. Yumi had lost in the first round. If it hadn't been for the kindness of Michiyo-san her fellow classmate she wouldn't be in the group. Yumi had thanked Michiyo-san profusely for giving her place to her so that she could be in the group and see her Onee-sama prior to the graduation ceremony. While it didn't mean she would be the one to pin the flower on her Onee-sama, just seeing her would be more than she had originally hoped for.

"Don't you think Yoshino gets overly excited at events," Itsue-san said as they flew down the corridor following their classmates.

"Huh?" Yumi asked pulling her thoughts back to the present and topic at hand. Yoshino sure is in a hurry Yumi thought.

"I mean that at every event she gets very excited and energetic," the other girl explained. "Just think of how she was at the sport tournament," Itsue-san offered as an example.

"Perhaps she's making up for lost time," Yumi offered as an explanation on her friends' behalf though she really didn't think it was for that reason. The other two seemed to accept this reason as prior to her heart surgery Yoshino was unable to get excited about anything. To anyone who didn't know her it would indeed appear as if she was trying to make up for lost time. Perhaps it is due to Rei-sama graduating, she thought however that didn't sit well either.

Yoshino stopped in front of the staff office and turned to look at the other girls as she waited for them to catch up. "What is it?" she asked seeing the look on Yumi's face.

"Uh, nothing." Yumi replied.

"You looked like you wanted to say something?" the other girl pressed.

"No, not really," Yumi replied trying to look innocent and keep her thoughts off her face.

Yoshino waited a moment to make certain then opened the door only to see Shimako and Katsura-san there which meant that they must be the students from the Second Year Wisteria class. "Oh my," Shimako said upon seeing them. "Yoshino are you pinning the flowers on the third year class," she asked. The girl with braids simply nodded. "I see. Well then we'll be off." Shimako said with a charming smile.

Once the other girls had left Yoshino and two others entered and collected the three boxes of flowers labeled Pine Class. As they were leaving the office with the flowers they meet the students from the Chrysanthemum class.

"Yoshino are you pinning the flowers on the third year class," was heard just as before to which Yoshino nodded just as before. Well, this isn't going to go well Yumi thought seeing her friend looking directly at the girl that spoke, Tanuma Chisato-san. Fearing for the flowers in the box being clutched by Yoshino Yumi wisely went and rescued them from her grasp.

"So that means that you're handing out the flowers to your seniors then Chisato-san," Yoshino finally managed to say in a less than pleased tone of voice.

"Yes," the other girl replied with a smile as if unaware of the glares that Yoshino was shooting at her. The Second Year Chrysanthemum class would be giving out the flowers to Third Year Chrysanthemum class. Chisato-san was responsible for Rei-sama's class. Oh Yumi thought, now understanding why her friend was so displeased. "Would you like to stand in for me?" Chisato-san asked.

"I'm fine. Let's go Yumi," Yoshino said taking Yumi's hand and starting to walk away as she knew that she couldn't stand in for the other girl no matter how much she wanted to. After going only a few feet though Yoshino stopped and turned back quickly to address the other girl. "Chisato-san, I'm fine with not standing in for you. You're representing the entire Second Year class so you are already standing in for me." Yoshino's words were said with such fierce finality that there was nothing the other girl could say to them. Without another word Yoshino turned back and leading Yumi by the hand again headed in the direction of the Third Year Pine classroom.

They arrived outside the classroom only to find the door closed and they could hear the teachers voice inside which meant that homeroom wasn't over with as yet. Yoshino took back the box of flowers from Yumi with a smile of thanks. While they waited they idly chatted about topics to pass the time but none of them spoke of what had just happened. Before long the teacher opened the door and smiled at them, "Thank you for your hard work." Looking at the group the Teacher gave them permission to enter.

Yoshino had suddenly relinquished her leadership position upon reaching the classroom and so Mami-san would enter first. "I am just the Herald. The King comes afterwards," Mami-san had replied with a grin when Yoshino had asked her to go first. "Excuse us." Mami-san said before entering the classroom. It was very important to all of them that they didn't make a single mistake. The other girls entered behind Mami-san and bowed.

Yumi spotted her Onee-sama the instant she walked into the room. I'm here as a representative of all the second years she kept telling herself. She had to fight the strong urge to run to her Onee-sama's side. It was as if her feet belong to another and she had to struggle to control them and keep them in place. Onee-sama! With a force of will she tore her eyes away from the older girl towards the back of the room.

"Congratulations on today," Mami-san said acting as their representative. "We will now begin to pin the flowers to your chests. We will do our best however if we make a mistake please do let us know." The six girls from the second year class all bowed to the third year students and then split up into three groups of two. One girl would carry the box of flowers while the other would be responsible for fastening the flowers to the uniforms of the graduating students. "Yoshino-san and Yumi-sun please take the middle," Mami-san said. Yumi could hardly believe her ears as towards the back of the center row sat her Onee-sama. It was only then that she realized that her friends had already planned this in advance and if her Onee-sama had been sitting in the rows to the left then Yumi would have been instructed to go there. I have such wonderful friends!

"Congratulations." Yumi took one of the white corsages from the box that Yoshino was carrying and after unfastening the safety pin attached it to the chest of the first girl. 'Thank you' was the response. Some girls would have more words to say others would simply close with that. In this manner Yumi moved down the line of students pinning the flower in the exact same manner and exact same place on each girl.

As she moved to the next girl there was a flash of recognition on both of their faces though Yumi couldn't place where she knew the girl from. The other girl perhaps sensing her hesitation placed her hands behind her head hiding her longer hair. Oh! Yumi thought as recognition dawned. "Valentine!" was all Yumi said to her. It had been the Valentine's Day event last year when she had last seen the girl before her in the old greenhouse. At the time Yumi had dug in the soil before the Chinensis rose bush searching for her Onee-sama's red card. When no one had found the card and the search revealed it to be right where Yumi had been digging the only girl to witness her search was nowhere to be found.

"I've feared all this time that I've wronged you Yumi-san," the girl said in a quiet tone. "Perhaps it is Maria-sama's will that you would be the one to pin this flower on me. I've been debating on telling Sachiko-sama about that day and what I did," she confessed.

Yumi reached out and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I think it is alright the way it is." the younger girl said with a soft smile. "It was a prank by St. Valentine and there is no need for it to be otherwise." There was nothing to gain from exposing the truth and besides, back on that day her Onee-sama had believed her. Having said that, Yumi pinned the flower on the girls' chest and then moved on to the next student. Yoshino, having sensed something shot Yumi a look to which she smiled a reply that said she would fill her in later.

After a few more people she stood before her Onee-sama. "Congratulations." she said as it would be very inappropriate for her to say something different even if it was her Onee-sama. I'm here representing all the students she told herself. I have to treat her as impartially as I would the others.

Sachiko's heart had started to race the moment Yumi had entered the room. Try as she might her eyes were drawn to her Petite Sœur. Yumi! It took all of her considerable will power not to jump from her seat and run to the younger girl. No, I must remain strong and let her do her work. My classmates are counting on her! Still, her heart skipped a beat, maybe even several of them, when she heard the representative of the girls instruct Yoshino and Yumi to the center row. Unintentionally her hand slipped into her pocket and grasped the object there, her thumb rubbing across its softness. This brought a measure of reassurance and calmness to her.

Sachiko watched as Yumi moved to the first girl and affixed the flower offering her congratulations. Flawless she thought with a sense of pride in her little sister. With each new girl greeted and flower given the girl with wondrous brown eyes, eyes that had shared tears with her the night before till they were both cried out, drew closer. She really is adorable; she thought as Yumi paused at the girl three seats ahead of her and held a longer conversation. It suddenly struck the older girl watching Yumi smile charmingly and conduct herself with elegance and poise that her sister wasn't really a little girl anymore and was growing up. It's a very unsettling thing to realize that someone close to you isn't what you always thought them to be and that they apparently had changed overnight. Where did she get this confidence from? Thinking about that she realized that it had been building over time though she couldn't, try as she might, place where exactly it had first began.

'Congratulations' suddenly said the voice that could always make her smile cutting through her thoughts. Looking up she stared into those shining brown eyes that regarded her lovingly. "Ah, yeah," came her elegant response. Sachiko suddenly cleared her throat, causing several people to look away. "It's alright, please pin it on me," she said to Yumi seeing the younger girl looking around with a curious expression. Let's not give them more service than we need to she thought to herself while hearing the voice of Sei-sama in the back of her mind objecting strenuously.

"Well then, please excuse me," Yumi said taking one of the corsages from the box and opening the safety pin on the back off it. With the utmost gentleness she inserted it slightly into the fabric of her Onee-sama's uniform and then titled it to run parallel across the front at the perfect angel. Now all she needed to do was close the pin and it would be done. Suddenly she looked down and saw that the older girl had tied something black around her wrist. She instantly recognized the black hair ribbon from yesterday.

"Keep going," Sachiko prompted her seeing that she had stopped. Rethinking her idea she quickly untied the ribbon reasoning that it might get in the way of pinning the other girls flowers. Instead she wound the ribbon up in her hand and then after feeling Yumi secure the safety pin for her flower she pressed the ribbon into the younger girls' hands. "Look after it," she said giving the other girls hand a quick squeeze, "until the ceremony is over." Yumi instantly knew it was meant as a charm. During the graduation ceremony the third year students all sat towards the front but the two of them would be connected by this ribbon, an invisible bond between them and them alone. Yumi knew in her heart that was what her Onee-sama meant. "You can keep it in your pocket," Sachiko told her.

Yumi quickly slipped the ribbon into her pocket smiling as her fingers brushed the ribbons twin that was already there. "I'm done." She said and moved on to the next girl only to have applause erupt all around them. Seems we put on a show after all she thought to herself.

Author's Note:

I have come to the conclusion that it is far harder to retype someone else's story and not change it entirely than it is to build a new story. The majority of this chapter comes from the light novels by Konno. I fleshed it out from the translation I found adding in POV's from Yumi and Sachiko as well as cutting out some scenes that really didn't add much to our main characters. So why retype this? I think it adds character to our characters and I know a lot of people only know what the anime showed and where it ended so I thought it might be nice to show them the ending Konno more or less envisioned and penned. Granted with slight changes to work better for what I have planned. Even if you've read the light novels I still think you'll enjoy this…or so I hope at least as after all we're all rewriting what was written in using the girls we've come to love at Lillian.

As always, though certainly not required, I do appreciate any and all reviews, comments and Private Messages.

Kind Regards,

EJ Daniels

All characters within this story, unless otherwise stated are the sole property of Oyuki Konno the original writer of the Maria-sama ga Miteru light novel series.