Letter #8: Kasumi, Tsubaki and Yuri
"I have big news!" Yuri was out of breath from running down the hall. She leaned against the doorframe, wheezing.
"Well? Tell us already."
Yuri shot a look at Tsubaki -- indicating that she did not appreciate her officemate's impatience.
Kasumi tapped the desk with her pen. "If you don't mind, I still have some filing to do." She stood up and was about to leave.
"No. Wait. This is interesting. You have to listen."
"What's it about?" Tsubaki leaned on her elbows.
Yuri smiled. "Remember that painting that Orihime has been raving about for the past two months?" She paused for effect. "Well, I have it on good authority that her father has completed it."
Tsubaki pouted and crossed her arms across her chest. "What's so interesting about that?"
Kasumi nodded in agreement. "I had thought you'd have news about Teito or the reviews on the latest Teigeki play."
Yuri shook her head. "You don't understand!" She walked towards her friends and leaned in to whisper. "It seems the painting is of one of the Hanagumi and Orihime has asked permission to hang the painting here in the Teigeki."
Yuri smirked. She could see from the shocked look on her friend's faces that the news was indeed of interest to them.
"I wonder whose painting it is."
"Well, Orihime has been spending a lot of time with Ogata-san." Kasumi speculated.
"That would make sense." Tsubaki added. "Ogata-san is her father after all."
Yuri winked. "Well, if you want to find out, why don't we all go to the lobby. Everyone was asked to assemble there in 5 minutes."
The three girls entered the lobby and found Orihime trying to prop up the cumbersome frame.
"Wow! That is a big painting! It is almost the size of a man!" Tsubaki exclaimed.
Kasumi and Yuri's head snapped to face each other.
"You don't think it's a painting of --" Yuri whispered.
Kasumi added silently. "-- the Manager?"
"No! It can't be! Why would Orihime --?"
"Why would I what?"
The discussion was interrupted by the young Italian girl who had grown tired of propping up the painting and had leaned it against a wall.
"What were the three of you whispering about?"
Tsubaki giggled nervously. "Oh nothing. It was just some news that Yuri was sharing with us."
Orihime raised an eyebrow. "What about?"
"Probably about the same thing we are wondering about, Orihime-han: Whose painting is it?"
Orihime turned around to answer Kohran. "It's a surprise! And I won't tell anyone until we are all together."
"Well, if it is a painting of me, it better be well made." Sumire exclaimed as she was going down the flight of stairs.
"What makes you think Ogata-san would paint a picture of a snake woman?" Kanna retorted, snickering mischievously behind Sumire. "Although it would be quite useful. Kohran has been complaining about the crows in her vegetable garden."
Sumire turned around and glared at Kanna. "Well, if we need a scarecrow, why don't you be one? Your big hulking body would scare away everything." Sumire flicked her fan open. "No, wait. With your size, you would block out the sun."
Tsubaki and Kasumi simultaneously sighed in relief as Orihime's attention was being diverted to the bickering Hanagumi members.
Minutes later, all the Hanagumi including Kaede, Manager Yoneda and the Baragumi were standing around the covered painting.
"Hey, Orihime. Don't you think it's time to show us the painting? Iris is most excited to see who it is."
Orihime wagged a finger at Iris. "Now, Iris. Grown-ups are never impatient."
Iris stuck her tongue out at Orihime in response.
Sakura giggled. "I'd like to see what your father has painted. His last painting was very beautiful."
Reni nodded. "Yes, his last painting was technically flawless. It is an obvious conclusion that this one would be as well."
Orihime cleared her throat and with great flourish pulled the cloth away from the painting. "Presenting to you, my papa's latest and, I think, best creation."
The room resounded with collective "ooohs" and "ahhs".
Ota Yokihiko clasped his hands and swung it to his side. "It's a lovely painting of Ichiro-chan!"
Iris was clapping wildly. "It's great! It's amazing!" She tugged on Orihime's skirt. "Your papa is a true artist."
Maria's mouth was wide open. She was speechless -- as was General Yoneda, who nearly choked on his sake. Kaede was vigorously rubbing his back.
After the initial uproar abated, Orihime winked and announced. "Well, since it was my Papa's painting, I get to choose where to hang it."
"We'd like … to have the painting… in the Baragumi room." Everyone's jaw dropped when they realized that Oka Kikunojo, the usually quiet and reserved Baragumi member, had spoken up.
Sumire's eyebrow twitched. "I don't think that would be the appropriate place for the painting, Oka-san."
"Sumire-han is right. I think we should hang it in the hangar. The Koubu also miss Ogami-han."
Orihime protectively hugged the painting. "Special-no-thank-you desu, Kohran. I don't want my Papa's painting to be covered in grease and soot."
She looked up at the painting and sighed. "We should hang it in the music room. That way, great art is surrounded by other great art."
"No one really goes to the music room. It is a boring place." Kanna rubbed her nose as she considered what to say. "I think we should hang the Taicho's painting where a lot of people can see it, like the dining hall."
General Yoneda who had kept silent throughout the discussion slammed a fist down a side table, causing the vase on top to wobble. "I don't want to eat my meals with Ogami staring down at me."
"General Yoneda is right. The idea of the Taicho in the dining hall would be… unsettling, especially at breakfast." Maria walked over from where she was standing to the rest of the group. "As the new squad leader, I believe it is within my scope of responsibility to deal with this matter."
Sensing that the voice of authority had spoken, the group quieted down.
"It seems to me that we cannot agree on a place to hang the painting. I believe we can settle this by making a compromise."
Iris tried to get Maria's attention by tugging on her sleeve. "Iris wants to hang Oniichan's painting in her room."
"I think we should put it in Ogami-san's room. That way, I can keep it clean every day when I sweep the room."
Maria considered Sakura's suggestion. "Sakura has a point. We must consider the maintenance of the painting. It is, after all, a masterpiece by Ogata Seiya."
"Yes, my Papa is a master."
"I believe the most logical arrangement would be that we put this matter to a vote."
Iris turned to look at Reni. "Does Jean-Paul get a vote, too? In that case, that's two votes for Iris' room."
Maria shook her head. "It wouldn't work, Reni. Everyone would vote for their own choice. We would end up where we begun -- nowhere."
"Then I believe the next best option would be that we each get a day with the painting. We can draw lots to see who gets the painting first."
"Does Jean-Paul get a day, too?"
Sakura placed her hands on Iris' shoulders and squeezed gently. "No, Iris. You get one day, like the rest of us."
Kasumi, Tsubaki and Yuri returned to the theater office two hours later. They plopped down on the couch and groaned.
"I can't believe our luck! We have to wait two weeks before we get the painting." Yuri moaned. "The Baragumi are so lucky to get it first."
Tsubaki giggled. "I don't think Orihime liked the idea."
Kasumi giggled even louder. "Neither did Sumire. I've never seen an eyebrow twitch so much. She gets it next, right? And she's hanging it in the salon?"
After a few more minutes of retelling the most recent happenings in the Teigeki, the three girls decided to go back to work.
"Hey, the new bromides have arrived. Look at Sakura's, she looks angelic in her Kiseki no Kane costume."
Yuri snatched the bromide from Tsubaki's hand. "Not bad. I like Maria's better. She looks dashing in her prince attire."
Tsubaki sighed. "When Ogami-san was around, I never had to worry about selling these."
Kasumi snapped her fingers. "Why don't we send him a set? We can tell General Yoneda to take it out of his pay."
Yuri cheered the idea. "I have so many new stories to tell him." She looked at Kasumi. "Should we mention the painting?"
Tsubaki chuckled. "I don't think we should. How do we explain to him that the Baragumi have him for the whole day?"
* * *
Dear Ogami-san,
The new bromides have arrived and Tsubaki is sending you a complete set. She knows that you are a big collector of the Teigeki bromides. She promises to send you more when the new stock arrives. (She said she'd much prefer that you were back here so you can buy them for yourself.)
Kasumi says she hopes you were around to help her with the filing and sorting of paperwork. She says it is boring and takes forever to complete. She also says that she does not enjoy being the mogiri and hopes you would return before the Autumn performance so you could do that job.
I, on the other hand, have lots of big news to tell you. The new play was a smashing success and everyone in Teito is talking about it. Iris' birthday was lively and Kanna dressed up as a giant bear as a surprise for Iris. Kaede-san seems to be in-love. (I don't know with whom, though.) She is constantly smiling and looking dreamy when she believes no one is watching her. Sakura has been doing a great job keeping your room clean, she even turns over the mattress daily and fluffs up your pillows. Maria is doing well as squad leader. She gets along with the Baragumi and regularly meets with the Baragumi commander to discuss strategies.
There is lots more to tell but it would be more fun to tell you in person. Do let me know when you are coming back. That would be the biggest news for the Teigeki and I would love to be the one to tell them.
Sincerely,
Kasumi, Tsubaki and Yuri
~ next -- Letter #9: Kaede
* * *
Author's Notes:
- Kohran's mini-game in the Sakura Taisen 2 game involves her vegetable garden.
- The Baragumi (Rose Division) are the elite secret corps (of love and beauty) that reside in the basement of the Teigeki. (Sakura Taisen 2 game) There are three members, all male: Kotone Seiryuin (Baragumi Taicho), Yokihiko Ota and Kikunojo Oka. And yes, they all like Ogami.
- Orihime's "Special-no-thank-you desu." is one of my favorite lines from Sakura Taisen. She says this to Kohran in the 2nd OAV.
