The number one question in every fan’s mind as we read each successive Maria-sama ga Miteru novel is…is this the last one? This can’t go on forever, can it? Well, no, it can’t go on forever, as much as we might wish it could. But as for the first question, I have no answer. As with the last several of the books in the series, the ending is written so that if we never got another one, this would be a fine place to end the series. However…however… Maria-sama ga Miteru ~ Farewell Bouquet (マリア様がみてる フェアウェル ブーケ) ends at the end of July of Yumi’s third year at Lillian Jogakuen High School. I just cannot believe that Konno-sensei will just end it here. She could, definitely. But there’s the Sports Festival, and the Culture Festival and Christmas, and New Year’s…and Valentine’s Day (and the half-day date contest)…and the chance/need for the 2nd-years to find soeur and the elections…and then there’s graduation. I cannot imagine that we won’t be given the opportunity to end our time with Yumi and her friends with great wopping tears at graduation. I will not believe it.
But.
We might, and I can’t promise we won’t. Japanese fans are asking the same question, mind you, and we won’t know until we see more chapters appear in Cobalt Shueisha. (Btw, according to the Cobalt website, the upcoming November issue, will include a Marimite section on the enclosed Drama CD.)
In the meantime, Konno-sensei is being mean and teasing us unmercifully, with novel titles like Hello Goodbye and Farewell Bouquet. I mean, really.
So the book begins with a teacher meeting up with a student on the school grounds and being taken to the Rose Mansion for some herb tea and a long chat. The teacher, Katori Maki-sensei, has been around for quite a few of the novels, and we’ve come to like her quite a bit.
The stories that fill the spaces between Maki-sensei’s time at the Rose Mansion are a pile of some really odd stories. In one, a student wants a teacher to be her onee-sama, and finds that she’s her big sister for real. In another a female art teacher is abruptly asked to make cookies by a male teacher who finds himself presented with cookies that look like, well, breasts. My favorite story includes a radically intelligent way to teach history to bored teen girls – imagine the clans and houses as a bunch of boy bands! Seriously, I thought that was genius.
But the real story, although it takes up the least space, is the story of why Maki-sensei is taking a leave of absence from school. And, ultimately, it’s Yumi that arranges for an impromptu, beautiful and topical herb bouquet from the Yamayurikai to Maki-sensei. This ribbon story includes cameos from all our principles.
I want to make sure I mention this: Maki-sensei has a whole scene in which she absolutely assures herself (and us) that she will not be quitting teaching, that she will be returning. I’m very glad that she was made to make that point. I’m really tired of anime/manga/games/novels clinging to the outdated and tired quitting work after getting married or pregnant thing. This is as 20th century in Japan as much as it is in the US.)
And last, the final chapter is a lovely interlude with Sachiko and Yumi enjoying tea together and a gentle admonishment that this moment in time is to be enjoyed for itself.
Another delightful book. If it is the last – and it could be – it was wonderful. Time to have a cup of herb tea and think about the best moments we’ve shared with the lovely ladies of Lillian. ^_^
Ratings:
Overall – 9
I’m so glad to hear that Sachiko and Yumi are still close even after Sachiko has graduated. ^^ Thanks for the review!
Well considering how clingy they are in the novels it is to be expected that they would still be close after Sachiko graduation.
Sachiko even specifically said that she is attending Lillian University just to be closer to Yumi (Volume 22 – Blank Map of the Future – Rose Dialogue).
I would not be surprised if Yumi attended Lillian University to be with Sachiko after she graduates from high school. If Sachiko did a 4 year degree and Yumi did a 3 year degree that would mean that they would graduate from University together :D.
Well we can only imagine what their reunion would be like. Yumi stares off into space wondering, “Wait till I get to be with you again Sachiko-sama. Things I will do to you.”
Just a heads up that both Marimite and Oshamite are officially over with the publication of Oshaka-sama mo miteru vol.10 “Hotaru no hikaru.” Hibiki Reine made it explicit over Twitter last November.
http://kai-you.net/article/1727
Thanks for the news!
Good day. I would like to ask where can I read farewell bouquet of maria sama ga miteru. I love this novel badly:( please reply:(
As it states clearly on every page:
Please do not email or comment asking for or posting links to scanlations or fansubs. Okazu readers overwhelmingly support the artists, writers and publishers of Yuri by buying anime and manga series in English and Japanese.
You can purchase the book by clicking the link in the article or clicking on the picture.
Hello, Yuricon.
I am a 58 year old straight male who is addicted to this series. If it weren’t for occasional translations in light novel “gray” sites, I wouldn’t know anything about developments and I might go nuts.
In a former life I was a literature scholar specializing in modern narrative. This series attracted me at first because of the brilliance of its writing. Jane Austen would have loved these novels. I think that as a storyteller, this novelist is a major artist.
I have only read up to “Little Horrors” (something like that). Now, I don’t know what happened to Yumi and co. afterward.
Among my questions, someone please tell me: Did Yumi ever realize that Sachiko’s bisexual cousin was in love with her?
Thanks, y’all, and rock on.
Tom Hofheinz
Hi Tom –
We don’t actually ever know if Kashiwagi is bisexual and he’s not actually in love with Yumi at all. He’s more interested in Yumi’s brother Yuuki. Check out my reviews of the Oshaku-sama mo Miteru series for Yuuki and Kashiwagi’s relationship.
hey there erica
so, even though there is soo much going on in mariasama, i just wanna know one little thing, which for me is the ultimate thing really
yumi and sachiko have already said they love each other, they spend soo much time together, understand each other they do and all, but there is still one thing that eludes me, that to me, it simply has to happen, otherwise, being totally subjective here obviously, this whole thing is a fail
are they dating? do they have a romantic relationship?
like i said, this is subjective, i know the whole story goes so much deeper in soo many levels and spheres, but to me, even though i appreciate it all, i just need yumi and sachiko to be together, not just as extremely close friends, confidantes.
they share such a deep bond, filled with both love and emotion, and support, that, for me, they need to be together already, as a couple, and stay that way forever
and i just wish kashiwagi would just disappear….
anyhow, so, yumi and sachiko, together as one, as a couple? or i should just forget about it?
You need to forget it. Yumi and Sachiko are dear to each other, close as sisters, but not lovers. It’s a story about this relationship – close as sisters – that is the point of almost every relationship in the series. That is why they are “soeur”.
well, that’s it for me with marimite then, i simply cannot bare having them as not lovers, my own little bias, i’ve so totally dropped this
i’ve been following it in the hopes that one day, some day they’d take the plunge, as a matter of speaking, but anyhow, i guess that’s that for that
i do fully and deeply understand and respect their relationships and other aspects of the story, but i still wanted at least those two as one, but it’s cool, i’ll simmer down
thanks for the reply Erica, i really appreciate it
So, this really was the last novel?
Yes.
You can tell me if after Sachiko graduation she and Yumi were still near or moved away? And Sachiko appeared very in the novels after your graduation? I live in Brazil so it’s hard to buy or read something related to Maria-sama ga Miteru because the manga and the novels no have been translated here (my English is also horrible)
Both of them go to Lillian’s College. So at least for the next few years they will be in the same area. We don’t know anything after that.
Thanks for the answer, this is the last year of Yumi in Lillian? I’m glad to know that the last chapter of the last novel ended with Sachiko and Yumi that is the relationship of sister / friendship that I more loved, I am also happy to know that even after of Sachiko graduation they are still close,so thanks again
I love marimite so much but i cant read the light novel i dont know japanes and i didnt foun in english to bought so anyone know what happend with sachiko and yumi they end together or they just distance cause now yumi had touko.
I really ship sachikoxyumi but i know that its impossible but i mean is obvious that she loves so much yumi cause i mean she stayed there just for her.
And what happend to rei
Nothing “happened” to any of them. They graduated and went on with their lives. This was the last book. Nothing happens in the series after this.
Sachiko ended the engagement with Kashiwagi? I remember it was mentioned that they would marry when she graduated in Lilian but it seems that the engagement was interrupted,this is true?
Sachiko dissolves the arrangement. It was never a requirement, her parents merely assumed they would get married as Sachiko hung on Kashiwagi when they were young. When she tells her parents, they react like “Oh! Okay.” But it as still hard for her to do it.
Just recently discovered MariMite (I know, I know, just a little over a decade belated) and found your blog. This is awesome! I keep seeing references to volume synopses (in additon to reviews), but I can’t seem to find them. Can you kindly direct me where they might be? Thank you!
The synopses that are here are under this category. https://okazu.yuricon.com/category/series/maria-sama-ga-miteru/light-novels/
There are several that I translated and, after changing my point of view on distributing content that I had no right to distribute, I pulled those from publication.
Ah they’re word for word translations; I thought they were just summaries. Totally understand your stance on licensed work. I would heartily purchase the last volumes if they’ve been translated to English or if I can read Japanese. But that’s not the case so I was hoping to find chapter summaries at least. Oh well, the search continues. Glad to have discovered your site though!
We’re glad to have you!
Okay, So I can understand if Yumi and Sachiko do not end together, but throughout the story I felt that they might end up together without them realizing it? From the impressions I got from the 3 original roses (Satou and so forth) and Kashiwagi that they believe Yumi and Sachiko are actually love each other, more than just sisters but haven’t realized it yet? For example, with Yumi’s and Kashiwagi’s chat in the drawing room, how he states she has a long way to go if she see’s him as a threat. All his actions are around having them realize that they can never be replaced/are going to hold the biggest room in their hearts if you will.
This is my assumption though, it’s a shame we can’t get the author to confirm any of this.
There are many kids of love. Yumi and Sachiko can love each other deeply and still not be in love or be lovers. Surely you have a friend you love who you do not want to have sex with? I find it hard to believe that you think there are only two kinds of love in the world. Do you love you family? Your pet? These are different, non-romantic loves. Yumi and Sachiko can love each other and not be a couple.
LEAVE THE IDEOLOGICAL STUPID AND THE SOCIAL CONTROL FUCKING MORONS
-KASHIWAGI CASE WITH YUMI.
-YUKI CASE WITH TOUKO
-AND SACHIKO CASE WITH ME.
EACH COUPLE HAD MANY … MANY CHILDREN AND WITHOUTINFLUENCE OF THE IDEOLOGY OF GENDER. WITH “GOD” IN OUR HORIZONS, WE WILL REPLACE JAPAN.
DOWN THE HOMOSEXUAL SHIT XENOPOFICA DIVISIONIST OF GENDER.
I WANT THIS END BECAUSE “GOD” SO WANTED IT
well this was certainly a hell of a comment to come back to and read
i love the story. im still left hanging and i want season 5 badly. hays. i hope they ended together.
Sadly I’ve only been able to be an anime only fan of Maria-Sama and have been left to wonder how the story moves forward. I wonder how things go between Yumi and Touka. Also how things go for all of the young ladies of the Rose Manor.