Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 31 Chapter 8

It was either the end of summer or during autumn, I'm not sure which, but it was just myself, Shimako-san and Yoshino-san in the Rose Mansion.

I'm not exactly sure how the conversation turned to that topic either.

I think the opening was probably that one of our classmates had asked why the second-year Rose family trio addressed each other using the honorific '-san.'

"Come to think of it, Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama have a more intimate style, not using honorifics when addressing each other."

Shimako-san said softly.

"The recently graduated former Roses were the same."

Yoshino-san added, remembering.

When I was first plunged into the Yamayurikai, the former Roses (ie. Sachiko-sama, Rei-sama and Shimako-san's onee-samas) called each other "Rosa Chinensis," "Rosa Foetida," and "Rosa Gigantea." However, after the elections for the next student council, they stopped using their titles and instead called each other by just their given names, "Youko," "Eriko," and "Sei." They had probably reverted to what they'd used before they became Roses.

"Even Noriko-chan calls Touko-chan, 'Touko.'"

Shimako-san smiled when I said this.

"Ah, but in return she gets called, 'Noriko-san.'"

We'd reached a break in our work, so we spent some time relaxing and drinking tea, and so on. It was neither hot nor cold, and the afternoon passed pleasantly.

"I wonder when she started that. I get the feeling she initially called her 'Touko-san.'"

Yoshino-san looked up, as she fiddled with her braids.

"I suppose it was probably because of what happened during the first-years welcoming ceremony."

"Ahh."

Hearing Shimako-san's words, Yoshino-san and I found ourselves agreeing with her.

"Because of that "Touko - !" right?"

Noriko-chan's angry roar had reverberated around the chapel. It was already a thing of legend.

"Quite the opening."

Enlightened, we all sipped our tea.

"Ah, so was there some opening that led you to start calling Noriko-chan just by name, Shimako-san?"

When I asked Shimako-san this, she smiled at me in confusion, her facial expressions conveying the message, "What are you saying, Yumi-san?"

"She's my petit soeur, so of course I'd call her just by name."

"But didn't you call her that even before you became soeurs? Like, "Noriko ♡", "Shimako-san ♥. ""

Honestly, what are you saying, Shimako-san? But then she responded with:

"Maybe I did. I'm sorry, I don't really remember."

- And that was it. If it was said unintentionally, then it would be embarrassing for the person hearing it.

"If there were some opening, do you think we'd call each other just by first names?"

Yoshino-san asked softly.

"Who knows?"

That silenced her for a short while. But then she sighed as she said:

"Should we try it?"

"Huh?"

Shimako-san and I both instinctively recoiled.

"It'll be okay. Just to see what it sounds like. Come on Yumi-san, you start."

Yoshino-san was motioning from me to Shimako-san with her hand, so, with some trepidation, I said:

"Shi, Shimako."

"Yes. Umm, Yoshino."

Passing the baton, Shimako-san called to Yoshino-san.

"Yes. Yumi."

"Ooowah."

It slipped out before I could respond. But it wasn't just me, the other two were visited by the same emotions.

"I can't. I'm too self-conscious - "

The trial had resulted in thumping of the table, stamping of feet, and a sense of embarrassment so acute I wanted to run away.

"Based on that, I don't think we should try and force ourselves to change."

Shimako-san observed while laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face.

"My onee-sama had to force me to call her, "onee-sama.""

Back then, I'd been quite self-conscious too.

"Ahh, that's right."

My two friends laughed, after all, what could they do if a petit soeur couldn't even call her own onee-sama, "onee-sama." Heh, heh, heh. I'm sure neither of them were self-conscious about saying that at the start.

"It's no use if an onee-sama and petit soeur are self-conscious around each other. Yumi-san, what are you going to do when you find a petit soeur?"

"A petit soeur … "

I still couldn't imagine that ever happening.

"If you always use "-chan" when you address her, you'll be reprimanded by Sachiko-sama. Like she did to Noriko-chan, remember?"

"Ahh, I remember that."

Shimako-san smiled as she remembered that occasion.

Well, back then Shimako-san and Noriko-chan weren't yet soeurs, and Sachiko-sama merely questioned why Noriko-chan was using '-san' instead of showing more respect when addressing an elder, so strictly speaking it wasn't the same situation.

"Don't worry, when I find a petit soeur I'll make sure to call her by her name only."

I raised my fist into the air. Wait for me, petit soeur. That kind of gesture.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself, Yumi-san."

"You too, Yoshino-san."

Shimako-san sighed, exasperated, and Yoshino-san stuck her tongue out at her.

"Darn, I guess I brought that upon myself."

Indeed. Unlike the dignified Shimako-san, a Rose with a petit soeur, Yoshino-san and I had to do our best to find a petit soeur before we started thinking about how we would address her.

"Well, it's not like the use of honorifics has any bearing on how close our relationship is."

We sipped our tea, looking at each other.

That's how it was.

For the moment, all three of us were in agreement that adding "-san" was fine.

Chapter end