Notes on the 11th Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel – Parasol o Sashite (Holding A Parasol)
Part 2

Yumi returns to the Rose Mansion. You have to figure that for the past week or so, Noriko and Shimako have pretty much been doing all the Yamayurikai work by themselves.

Noriko serves Yumi tea and Yumi thinks that Shimako and Noriko make fine masters of the Rose Mansion.

When Yumi says that she doesn’t know what Sachiko has been doing, Noriko opines that she thinks Touko does – but she isn’t saying. Yumi’s heart thunks at the mention of Touko’s name, but she reflects that Touko probably *hasn’t* been chosen over her, or she’d certainly be telling everyone.

Noriko apologizes for Touko’s behavior the other day. (She calls Touko “Touko” with no honorific, btw) Yumi thinks that Noriko really has no involvement in that, but that they do appear to be friends, so…

***

The crucial Yumi/Touko scene was not in the courtyard observed by any other students.

Yumi can’t tell whether Touko is annoyed because she was called out by an upperclassman, or because she doesn’t want to see Yumi.

Yumi starts to tell Touko what she wanted with her, but she forgets what she wants to say. Touko rubs her temples like she’s got a headache and asks Yumi to think first, then speak clearly once she has a handle on what she wants to say.

When Touko protests that she can’t help the Yamayurikai because she’s a member of the theater club, Yumi replies that Touko’s club hasn’t approved any specific script yet for the play, so she don’t have daily practice yet. (D’oh – as Rosa Chinensis en Bouton of *course* Yumi sees all the club’s schedules)

Yumi takes Touko’s *elbow*,  not hand. And she does not think that she’s using Sei-like skinship. Touko shakes Yumi off, but as she walks away Yumi can see that the tips of her ears are red.

***

Sachiko has been away from school for about a week. Since Yumi had become her soeur, Sachiko had never been away so long. If her Homeroom teacher knew the reason, s/he wasn’t saying – and Sachiko’s not the type to play hooky.

***

This scene was massively altered and cut for the anime. The original works better and is a lot snarkier, so bear with me.

After school, in the Rose Mansion. Yumi sighs, and whines, tugging on Touko’s sleeve. “Where is Sachiko? Tell meeeeee, Toukoooooooo.” Touko pulls her arm away, complaining that Yumi is depressing and telling her to let go.

Touko is moody, but she’s been coming to the Rose Mansion to help and has been a good assistant. But she and Yumi bicker constantly.

Touko says that Yumi’s acting like a drunk today.

Rei comes in, mentions that Yoshino will still be at club for a while. She asks Noriko to make her coffee – apparently she and Noriko are the only coffee drinkers in the group.

Touko asks Rei to switch seats with her because “sitting next to Yumi-sama is bad for my mental well-being.” Rei declines, since Touko agreed to assist Yumi – it’s a Rosa Chinensis family matter and she won’t get involved.

Yumi stands up and with a grand gesture, invites Touko to sit next to her, and Touko completely loses it. She goes rushing out of the Mansion. Her footsteps are loud and fast, indicating how perturbed she is. Rei looks at Yumi and smiles, then asks Yumi to please go to the manga club room and get their schedule…right now. Yumi chirps “Roger!” and hops to it.

When Touko tells Yumi to stay away, she says that when Yumi’s around, she can’t help but get upset. They reach the sakura tree among the gingkos, and Yumi warns Touko not to get too close, it’s a little dangerous at this season. Touko screams – there’s a wooly caterpillar on her.

They keep walking along the path. Touko says that she doesn’t get Yumi. A week ago you were timid and irritable – now you’re cheery. “Sachiko isn’t around and you’re cheerful?”

Yumi asks if Touko doesn’t like her cheerful.

Touko says she doesn’t care. And she asks if being chosen as an assistant was some kind of trick.

Yumi doesn’t even understand the question (which is everything you really need to know about the two of them…).

There were many other people who were easier to chose – and then Yumi wouldn’t have to look at such an unpleasant sight, Touko very calmly analyzes.

Yumi says that Touko was just the first name that popped into her brain. Touko, Yumi points out, wanted to help Sachiko, I wanted to help Sachiko, so here you are helping me to help Sachiko.

They end up wandering onto the college grounds. In the front of the college, there is a fountain, surrounded by flowerbeds. Yumi runs up to them and Touko is forced to run after her calling her name, like a mother after a mischievous child. Yumi stops so suddenly that Touko slams into her. Yumi has recognized Yumiko.

Yumiko asks if Touko is a friend. Touko says no, Yumi is a “gentle advisor.” Yumiko remonstrates Yumi – you said you weren’t popular with the underclassmen. Touko says not to listen to Yumi about that – that she’s a much admired onee-sama. This sets Yumi’s teeth on edge and makes her really uncomfortable.

Yumiko is talking about how she never said that she was sorry to the person from her past. She wonders what her friend would say if she did. From behind her, Sei says, “she’d forgive you.”

Sei had seen them from her classroom window and wondered at how friendly things seemed. The class was boring anyway. She holds out cans of oolong, milk tea, apple juice and coffee to Yumiko, Touko, then Yumi.

Touko “regards Sei expressionlessly for three seconds” then thanks her for the drink.

Sei asks if she should call Kei – she was in the same class. (It appears that they are in every class together…) Yumiko says that it would be fine if Sei just tells Kei that she’ll be gone for a few days and gives her the key.

Sei asks if she’s going far – Yumiko says a little. Yumi wonders, because it looks like her handbag isn’t really enough for a long journey – even if it’s a large handbag.

Using her “honor student voice” Sei offers to accompany Yumiko the whole way. Yumiko demurs, so Sei says she’ll at least accompany Yumiko to the station. (Yumiko had said that she had to get going because she was taking a “steam train” which made Yumi think that she really was an old lady…) Sei takes Yumiko’s bag and offers the older woman her arm. Yumi asks if its okay for her to leave class, and Sei insists that it was really boring. Yumiko calls Sei a delinquent, smiling, and Sei protests that she’s an honest, upright person. Yumiko takes Sei’s arm and they walk off.

Yumi thinks that as an escort, Sei “doesn’t lose to a top Takarazuka star.”

“From high school students to seniors, Satou Sei is always kind to women.” Yumi thinks it would make a nice catchphrase. (It flows a bit better in Japanese, really.)

Yumi says “be careful” to their backs as they walk away.

Unexpectedly Touko comments that Yumiko seemed to be in a good mood today. Yumi is surprised and asks if Touko knows her. Touko says no – it was partially the way you treated her, it just came to mind.

Yumi says that she was told that Yumiko is a misanthropist. Touko says she seems more like someone who is just hard to please. Yumi asks how she knows this. Touko gestures to her own face and comments that Yumiko had deep creases in her forehead and none in the corners of her eyes – like a woman who has furrowed her brow a lot, but rarely smiled.

Then Touko says that it’s obvious something has recently changed – then says that it was probably Yumi’s fault. That Yumi “provokes optimism.” ^_^

The rest of the scene is pretty much as you saw in the anime.

***

Bits cut out …

When Yumi is called to the staff room, she doesn’t recognize her name. She’s like, “gee that sounds similar to my name…” After she realizes that it *is* her, she thinks that this isn’t the first time she’s gone to the staff room – there was the time when Sei got called in, and the time Eriko was called in…. She wonders if this has something to do with the rumours about Touko hitting her.

Katsura finds Yumi, tells her about the prince at the school gate. Yumi gets distracted and goes over to the gate to see Kashiwagi standing in front of his red sports car. When Kashiwagi calls her Cinderella, Yumi says that Cinderella isn’t here. Kashiwagi says, “Well, weren’t you Miss Cinderella last year?”

Yumi gets to the staff office, as you saw in the anime. Youko steps out of the crowd like “the birth of Venus” We’re told that with light makeup, and in her suit, she looks very adult.

Youko is a bit short with Yumi – especially when Yumi says that she had to go to the staff office and couldn’t talk with Youko… and Youko explains that she *was* the reason Yumi was called. As they walk, Yumi can see that Youko is a little irritable. Eventually, when they reach Mary, Youko admits that she’s a little jealous of Yumi and her importance to Sachiko.

***

More bits cut…

During the scene where Kashiwagi is driving like a jerk, Youko is more forceful…and a little threatening.

Yumi learns about Sachiko’s grandmother – but Youko says that Sachiko’s grandmother said to not say anything to anyone. Kashiwagi remarks that she didn’t say that to me. He comments that the women of the Yamayurikai are tough.

Yumi asks if he dislikes women. He says that they’re fine. Yumi counters – so you just like guys better? And btw, leave my brother alone. When Kashiwagi is silent, she panics – what have you done to him!? He admits to light skinship, which makes her imgine a love scene between Yuuki and Kashiwagi. Kashiwagi says, don’t worry – he’s normal. Youko snidely asks isn’t it abnormal’s habit to try and draw normal in? Kashiwagi says that it’s all complicated – he’d like Yuuki to like him. Yumi thinks he’s a “fine” pervert.

Yumi asks him why, on all the earth, Yuuki? Kashiwagi doesn’t answer, but when they arrive at the house, he says that he’s got a weakness for the potential of Fukuzawa siblings type.

***

More cuts:

Sayako-obasama comments that Sachiko hasn’t eaten in several days – nor has she cried at all. Sachiko’s hanging on by a thin thread. Even preoccupied with the dead as she is, Sayako thinks that the living take precedence. She had asked Youko to speak to Sachiko, but all Sachiko would says is “You’re not Yumi!” then “Yumi hates me.”

Yumi admits that she thought that Sachiko hated her…

When Yumi sees Sachiko, she’s shocked. Sachiko looks appreciably thinner. Hugging her, Yumi can feel how emaciated she is. Yumi is suddenly afraid to hold her too hard or she might break Sachiko.

Sachiko strokes Yumi’s cheek likes she’s made of glass, and asks if this is a dream. Yumi says that she’s here to lead Sachiko out of the dream. She’s overcome with the need to support this emaciated, grief-stricken person.

When Yumi tells Sachiko that she’s still calling her onee-sama, Sachiko finally begins to cry.

Sachiko tells her that her grandmother told her to tell Yumi that she loved her. Yumi says, but we never met. Sachiko agrees that it’s strange – when she was in the hospital, she said it. Yumi gets a weird feeling about it.

Sachiko explains that she kept hoping her grandmother would recover, so she kept pushing the day of their date to the amusement park ahead. By the time it became obvious that her grandmother was not going to get better, Yumi had already ceased to trust Sachiko. Yumi thinks that it was in part a measure of denial on Sachiko’s part – an unwillingness to jinx her grandmother by admitting the truth.

When Sachiko tells Yumi about her grandmother’s friend coming and visiting her, Yumi gets the “aha” light bulb and immediately connects it with Yumiko. An old friend did come to visit her grandmother, took one look at Sachiko and said, “Saiko-sama!”

Yumi thinks that it was a miracle.

Sachiko goes on to say that her grandmother’s friend’s visit made her realize how much she needs Yumi – Sachiko starts crying, her tears flowing past her hands down her cheeks…and tells Yumi she loves her.

From this point on, everything was cut from the anime.

Sachiko stops crying (or at least gets to the snuffling stage) and says that she’s hungry. Yumi says that Sayako will be thrilled to hear it. Yumi grins at Sachiko and Sachiko asks her to stop, it’s weird to be smiling like that.

Outside rain falls, but in her mind, Yumi is carrying a parasol as she walks in the sun.

Sayoko is, as Yumi predicted, thrilled to hear that Sachiko is hungry. She says that Yumi is a medicine for promoting appetite.

Kashiwagi appears at the door, and they ask where Youko is – he says he doesn’t know, they weren’t together. Yumi realizes that Youko *really* doesn’t like Kashiwagi. Sachiko comments that it’ll be all right – undoubtedly Youko has an umbrella.

Sayoko is about to order some food from a caterer, or she suggests going to Sachiko’s favorite restaurant in the Ginza. Sachiko, with a sour expression, says she’s not in the mood for French food.

Yumi understands her predicament – after a week of not eating, her stomach doesn’t want rich food. She probably wants a good homemade soup. But there’s no food at this house.

Kashiwagi offers to go to the convenience store they passed, but as he goes to leave he runs into Youko who is returning carrying a bag filled with food. She did not, as it turns out, have an umbrella… ^_^ The food is all typical Japanese home cooking.

Yumi asks her how she knew, and Youko replies proudly that she’s Sachiko’s onee-sama, after all.

***

After an impromptu meal, Sayoko comments that the convenience store is a very “convenient” restaurant. Although she expected it to some degree, Yumi thinks that Sayoko is even more of an alien than Sachiko. ^_^

***

Yumi tells Yoshino that Sachiko’s grandmother’s friend was Yumiko. Yumi is filled with a desire to visit the old woman and hear rambling stories and let her know that she and Sachiko are back together. The rosary is around her neck again.

When Sachiko passes them standing in the entrance talking, she yells at them to get over to the Rose Mansion – Yumi thinks she’s glorious. They spend yet another lunchtime working on the upcoming school festival.

***

On the way to school, Yumi sees Yumiko from the window of the bus. The older woman looks glowing.

***

Sachiko comments that she wants to go home (they are still staying at her grandmother’s house) – she’s tired of nabeyaki from the convenience store. Yumi thinks that that might not solve the problem – surely there’s a combini near even where Sachiko lives.

***

Touko went back to her club, but every once in a while stops by the Rose Mansion to visit. Yumi never feels dislike for her again.

Shimako and Noriko have grown from being a young couple to a mature couple. Yoshino and Rei continue to be a husband-and-wife comedy team…

Secretly. Yumi wants to buy a white parasol with a lace trim. Soon the rainy season will end and then she would walk under the dazzling sun with her onee-sama, holding a parasol.

The End

Notes on the 11th Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel – Parasol o Sashite (Holding A Parasol)
Part 1

The anime wasn’t terrible, but I think if I had read the book first, then watched the anime, I’d have been pretty furious. They shortened most scenes, and cut out a few – including my favorite scene in the book – and several scenes after Yumi and Sachiko reconcile. In general, the anime changes a few things here and there, some not so important and others quite important – and dialogue was added that didn’t exist in the book in several key scenes, to take the place of the longer scene that had to be cut. This would have been fine if they kept to what actually happened, but some things were just changed. I hope that the manga stays truer to the novel, because it’s a better story than the anime was.

I found myself just translating whole conversations that were cut, because it was easier than taking notes. I took about 26 pages of notes, then watched the anime afterwards, so I could see what was shown and not. Some of the things I’ll mention were in the anime, but were either different, more, or just interesting, in the novel. I definitely assume you’ve seen the anime, so anything that was done in the anime reasonably accurately, I simply left out of my notes.

I’ve already finished the next two novels – I wanted to get a head start before the OVA starts, so I can join Japanese fans in righteous indignation at the changes. ^_^

**

The usual cheerful beginning about the girls and the school sounds weirdly ironic at the beginning of this book.

From the day Yumi had accepted the rosary, with them being such an unbalanced pair, she knew this would happen. Confused, weary, she wonders if they ever were really soeur. But it had been Sachiko who had closed her mouth and walked away – simply handed her off to another person. It was time to walk away, not to run after her. She loves onee-sama, totally, truly. But her voice doesn’t reach her. Her wet body wraps a cold heart, like an abandoned cat crying in the rain.

The lights of the car, and the traffic signals glittering through the rain and her tears are somehow very beautiful. Like a spectacle of lights. Yumi wishes that herself and all her hopeless thoughts would disappear in the rain.

6 months ago, Yumi was filled with Sachiko – her eyes followed her, her ears sought her voice, the words that came from her lips made Yumi tremble with pleasure. She anticipated Sachiko’s fingers fixing her tie. Her entire school life centered around Sachiko. She treasured her more than flowers, jewels, hand-made lace. No one would ever be able to make her feel that way again.

When such a magnificent onee-sama puts her aside, how much could she be worth? She’s not talking living or dying – she just wants to disappear. If Sachiko isn’t there, then there’s no need for this body to be before her.

When Sei leans over her with the umbrella, Yumi thinks that Sei is the only one in the world who cares about her. If Yumi were to disappear, then Sei’s life couldn’t go on happily.

***

As they walk to Sei’s friend’s house, Yumi feels very annoyed by some 3rd party she doesn’t know getting involved. She is watching Sei walk from behind, and with the big black umbrella and dark pants, Sei looks, she thinks, like a shiitake mushroom. The though makes Yumi smile, which surprises her.

She then thinks that the tea-colored umbrella was not among the group at the gate, and wonders where this woman came from.

When they reach Kei’s place, Sei threatens to forcibly undress Yumi if she’s too slow.

Cut scene:

After undressing, Yumi thinks that she has nothing, like the way she was born – no possessions, no clothing, fully naked. She stresses at length about what to do about her wet clothes, and in passing, she thinks about Sachiko’s beautiful lingerie. When she comes out of the shower – and she is deeply touched to find that shorts and a tank top, and a grey sweat suit have been left there for her to change into. When she’s dressed, Yumi remembers the feel of Sachiko’s hand fixing her tie.

The clothes Kei left Yumi were left by a friend who had stayed over – the shorts and tank top were bought at a 100-yen store. She tells Yumi to keep them, it’s more trouble than it’s worth to return them.

Yumi thinks that the kindness she’s received equals 200 yen. Plus tax. Not that this can be measured in money – or repaid.

Kei says that she let Sei and Yumi come with her because she saw a young girl crying and thought that she needed help. And Sei is too devil-may-care to be responsible. Yumi thinks Kei’s impression of Sei is spot on.

Sei asks Kei why she says that, Kei says because college is a place to study – not to hang out. Then Sei remembers where they first met. She also remembers that Kei scowled at her.

(Just as a reminder – they “met” when Sei absentmindedly responded to Kei’s name during class. Satou Sei/Katou Kei.)

Kei – I didn’t scowl. I was shocked. You’re paranoid.

Kei laughs at Sei – you’re the type who doesn’t remember people you haven’t directly talked to, right?

Sei asks if Kei became interested in her then, and Kei admits, a little.

As Kei dries her hair, Yumi dozes off and dreams about Sachiko:

Sachiko is sitting, crying, in the corner of a huge room, all hunched over. The surroundings are gloomy. Although her tears are not visible, she is definitely crying.

Yumi thinks that Sachiko was the one who chose Touko over her, so why is she crying – then reminds herself it’s just a dream.

She thinks that Sachiko may be lonely from splitting with Yumi…and maybe she should be happy about that, but it’s not her wish to see Sachiko unhappy.

Sei’s voice drives the image of Sachiko away.

Between them Kei and Sei had cared for the outside part of her. They’d warmed her up, given her dry clothes, returned her to physical fitness. But that isn’t enough. She had something left to do that was the most necessary thing.

Sei calls Yumi’s home, using her “honor student mode” to explain why Yumi is late. Yumi notes that Sei spoke as if she had written the lines down. But since Yumi’s mother is a fan of Sei’s (and a Lillian old girl – OG) her mother is very cool about it all, telling Yumi to thank them and come home.

Yumi is amazed that it’s only been 2 hours. It feels like no time has passed, and that it’s been much longer at the same time.

It still hurts to think about Sachiko, but she no longer wants to disappear.

As they leave, Kei says that she’s an only child, so this was like having a younger sister to care for – she’s welcome anytime. Sei says okay, and Kei shoots back that the invitation was meant for Yumi only.

Sei asks if Yumi remembers their conversation about Goronta. Yumi does. Sei says that Yumi is like a wounded cat. Yumi just agrees.

Sei points out that no one can understand you if you don’t say anything. For a second Yumi thinks she wants Yumi to talk about Sachiko, but without a pause, Sei goes on to say that the relation with Kei was unexpected. Yumi agrees, then smiles, pondering the fact that a bothersome person like Sei seemed to like reliable people like Youko…and Kei.

***

By running, Sei and Yumi catch the bus they need. They driver, an old guy, smiles at them and says, “how energetic”. Yumi wonders about that, then thinks that if she can run, she hasn’t left her body behind and so, agrees. She and Sei smile at him and each other.

There are a few students from Lillian on the bus – they regard her curiously and greet her. Yumi smiles and nods at them. As the bus turns the corner, Sei grabs Yumi’s sleeve and says, “Don’t get lost, okay?”

Yumi spends the trip home gathering her composure, forcing herself to walk…one step at a time. If she keeps going, tomorrow will come eventually.

***

Her mother asks her a question or two, but is satisfied with her answers. In the Fukuzawa house, the kids were trusted and there was no suspicion.

When she finds that her textbook is waterlogged, she thinks that she also can never be returned to her original condition. As she lays in bed, she bids farewell to many things.

***

The next day, her eyes are puffy. Oh well.

When Yoshino comes into the classroom, she takes Yumi’s hand, pulls her down the stairs, outside behind a big tree. Yumi thinks that Yoshino is about to yell at her for not coming to the Rose Mansion. Then Yoshino throws her arms around Yumi’s neck in a hug.

Yumi thinks that this feels different than being hugged by Sei – obviously there’s a height difference, but that’s not it. But this makes her heart pound in a different way.

Yoshino tells Yumi that it’s not Rosa Chinensis en bouton, but Yumi, that she likes.

(Note: You may remember the scene in the Valentine’s Day arc where Yoshino and Yumi agree to be better friends. That was at least partially because they are going to be working together.) Yumi thinks that this expression of friendship is entirely different. This is the first time that she’s ever thought of Yoshino as a friend friend, not just because of the Yamayurikai. Yumi berates herself – her heart was so full of Sachiko that she had inadvertently hurt Yoshino.

Yoshino asks if Yumi’s meeting with Sachiko went well. Yumi smiles bitterly and says “No, I ran away.”

Yoshino wonders where Yumi will eat lunch – Yumi thinks about the spot where Shimako took her when she was hiding from the newspaper club (E:in the first novel.) Yoshino lifts a hand, looks up and says, In the rainy season?” then mentions that’ll it’ll be challenging to balance the umbrella, lunch and chopsticks. Yumi agrees.

***

When Yumi tells Yoshino that she can’t go to the Rose Mansion for lunch, in addition to saying that she doesn’t want to look like she’s sneaking around behind Sachiko’s back, she thinks that if she can’t be full of pride when she goes there, she won’t go at all.

Three girls come up to Yumi and ask her join them for lunch. The one thing these girls have in common, Yumi thinks, is that she has never been in a class with them before. They’ve been in class together now for two months, and Yumi and they have hardly spoken. When one of them mentions that Misa went ahead to save them all seats, Yumi can’t place who Misa is.

As they walk to the Milk Hall the girls chat (this is the scene that is shown at the cafeteria, but in the novel it all takes place in the hallway.) Yumi reflects that the everyday chitchat about magazines and bands and clothes are nothing like the conversations among the members of the Yamayurikai. And that if things had been different – this would have been her life too. Yumi also notes that none of the girls asked her *why* she didn’t go to the Rose Mansion for lunch.

As the girls discuss this and that, Yumi is happy that they explain things so she can follow the conversation – but she’d also like it if the chatter stopped for a moment. When she makes the faux pas about the cat’s name, she smiles, and wonders at herself that she can smile at all. She knows it’s on the surface only.

She also wonders, this is fun – so why am I not enjoying it?

She sees Touko coming out of the cafeteria, and her stomach flips. But she figures that they’ll pass each other and that’ll be that. Of course, we know Touko stops and speaks harshly to Yumi. Touko has a friend with her, who keeps tugging on her arm. Touko shakes her off, until at last the friend drags her away.

To Yumi’s classmates, Touko’s comments seem malicious.

***

When Mami corners Yumi to get the scoop, Yumi politely doesn’t comment. Mami puts her notebook away, tells Yumi that everyone’s scared. Yumi still thinks she’s trying to get a scoop. Mami asks about the rosary – she noticed that it wasn’t around Yumi’s neck when they changed for gym.

***

When Yumi meets Yumiko (Kei’s landlady) Yumi thinks she’s cute – even if it is a little rude to think such a thing about an older woman.

***

Turns out that Kei is a “double” – she’s retaking first year of college, which makes her a year older than Sei. Her father became critically ill (the description sounds like it was stroke), so she took a leave of absence from school. Dad’s on the mend, but still suffers from partial paralysis and is in rehab. His lover for 10 years came to take care of her father. She became Kei’s new stepmother and Kei thinks, as she says in the anime, that it’s a good thing.

Cut stuff:

Kei tells Yumi that although it was bad for Yumi, she, Kei, is a little glad that it was raining so hard, so everything that happened happened.

Yumi asks if she means that she was able to become friends with Sei – to which Kei laughs, and asks what it’s like going through life being called “Rosa Gigantea.”

Yumi tells Kei that her friend is now Rosa Gigantea and Kei picks up on it and asks Yumi her title… “Rosa Chinensis en Bouton – for the moment.” she answers.

As they sit there, someone says “You two look suspicious.” They look at each other, but neither spoke. Kei repeats the word. “Suspicious?”

“Suspicious, suspicious. Katou–san, don’t take my stuffed animal away,” Sei says and steps into the room.

“She’s your stuffed animal?”

“Yes, when I hug her she’s soft and fluffy. To matters worse, she’s warm. It feels so good it makes me want to sleep.” Sei sits behind Yumi and hugs her “like she’s going to eat her head.”

Sei asks Yumi to be her pet. Yumi rejects the offer. Sei says she’s glad to hear it, because hanging around Yumi takes a lot of energy.

***

When Yumi gets the message that Aota-sensei from the middle school wants to see her, she thinks its something like delivering a Xerox or something. Aota-sensei was her first-year middle school homeroom teacher – the class called him “Mifi-chan.”

The umbrella is returned to her, but there is a tear in it that has been stitched up with pink thread. Aota-sensei says that it’s a mystery. His daughter found it like that.

Yumi thinks that the umbrella was *not* “returned” – that it came home. She realizes that her field of vision was limited – just because she can’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Sachiko has a life outside her, just like the umbrella did. As of yet, she hadn’t said anything to Sachiko, because she didn’t know what to say. Now she feels as if her path has been made plain.

End Parasol o Sashite Part 1