The alarm on Mami-san's wristwatch noisily sounded.

Game over.

Time was up for the treasure hunt.

The participants had already started to assemble in the courtyard. Although they couldn't hear Mami-san's alarm, they'd come because they could each tell the time with their own watches.

4:40pm.

The individually tiny voices and laughter joined together and knocked on the outside of the room's glass window, like a wave breaking upon the shore.

Everyone was waiting for the results to be announced.

However.

Here, in the room on the second floor of the Rose Mansion, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The events that had taken place during the last few moments had been so hectic that it took a while for comprehension to catch up.

Either that, or everyone's mind had gone blank as they struggled to think of how to control a situation that was as chaotic as someone upending a toy-box, scattering toys everywhere.

Let's sort out what happened.

First off, at 4:35pm, Rosa Chinensis (Ogasawara Sachiko-sama), having waited until the time was ripe, ordered the hider of the red card, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton (Fukuzawa Yumi), to, "Stand up."

Just as Yumi was in the process of standing up, Matsudaira Touko-chan, who until that moment hadn't set foot in the Rose Mansion at all that day, burst into the room with incredible force, looking for all the world like a person possessed.

"Yumi-sama, won't you take me as your petit soeur?"

All the students around them had been surprised, but the most surprised had to be the person being addressed herself. It's said you can never really know another person, but Yumi had asked Touko-chan to be her soeur previously, and been refused. On top of that, she'd been attacked by Touko-chan once more the previous week, albeit as part of a completely incomprehensible conversation, and the subsequent cold shoulder had not really garnered her any sympathy.

Some kind of misunderstanding had obviously arisen between them. Therefore a refusal would be soon forthcoming, and then a wait for the blood that had obviously gone rushing to Touko-chan's head to recede so that the misunderstanding could be sorted out and the tie between them cut. It shouldn't take too long. The surrounding students decided to settle themselves.

And yet, Touko-chan had come sprinting, door-slamming, panting and leaping in front of Yumi as though something had happened.

It seems reasonable enough that surprise would reach Yumi's face before happiness or any other emotion.

Then, without thinking, she stood up. That was when the red card made its entrance. As a result of spending the last hour wedged between the chair cushion and Yumi's backside, it was warm from her body heat.

"Ah."

And that was when the alarm went off on the wristwatch worn by the head of the newspaper club, Yamaguchi Mami-san.

Well, what to do now.

Somebody, take control. Of this situation.

There was somewhere between twenty and thirty (no time to take an accurate count) students watching on, holding their breath.

At that point.

"It's 4:40pm. The treasure hunt has ended, so would all the participants please assemble in the courtyard. I repeat - "

The voice came from the school's PA system.

"Ha."

Hidemi-chan's voice sounding through the speakers brought everyone back to reality. Hidemi-chan had been scheduled to make the announcement from the broadcasting room in place of her onee-sama Mami-san, who couldn't move from the event's headquarters, that is, the Rose Mansion. Of course, her watch was synchronized with Mami-san's. The approximately ten seconds delay was probably due to confusion about how to use the equipment in the broadcasting room.

"This is no good. We have to get out there."

Mami-san called out. In other words, what would happen if the promoters were late? She still had the important task of announcing the results ahead of her.

"Everyone, to the courtyard, quickly."

Having calmed down, the other students heeded these words and broke for the biscuit door. Rosa Gigantea en Bouton (Nijou Noriko-chan) who was today playing the role of assistant, dashed out carrying three baskets full of bite-sized chocolates that were prizes for participation.

Things moved fast. Like watching an emergency evacuation.

However.

"One moment."

Sachiko-sama called Mami-san to a halt.

"There's just one thing I want to confirm. What do you plan to do about the red card?"

"Ah"

Yoshino-san's yellow card had been found by Tanuma Chisato-san. Shimako-san's white card hadn't yet been claimed, so a winner would be chosen from amongst the absentee entrants.

However, what of the red card?

It was only just within the time limit, but the red card had made an appearance. However, while it had "made an appearance" there had been no specific person that had come forth, card in hand, and said, "I've found it." In truth, the red card was even now still atop the cushion, although it had probably cooled down slightly.

"Well "

Mami-san started to speak, but then closed her mouth.

If multiple people found the card at the same time, the winner was supposed to be impartially decided by rock-paper-scissors. But did that mean that chance was granted to all participants in the room, with the exception of Chisato-san. But then there were those who were at point-blank range, and those who were further away and only found out about the card later, and various levels in-between, so it couldn't just be decided by calling everyone together and having them all play rock-paper-scissors.

If, just after 4:35pm, Yumi had stood up when Sachiko-sama had asked her to, then the red card would unquestionably belong to Sachiko-sama. But, with the arrival of Touko-chan, the situation became more complicated.

"It's Touko-chan's, right?"

Sachiko-sama said.

"Uh."

Upon hearing these unexpected words, everyone caught their breath simultaneously. Sachiko-sama hadn't stopped Mami-san to press her own claim.

"But, even if you say that Rosa Chinensis."

"It's true that I asked Yumi to stand up. But even though she started moving, she remained seated. It was Touko-chan that made her stand up."

The participants who had been entertaining a slight hope despondently filed towards the door. Someone with a far stronger case than they had just renounced her claim. With that, there was no way it would be overturned.

"Yumi-san."

Mami-san turned around and called her name. Seeking confirmation that this was acceptable.

Yumi nodded.

Just like Sachiko-sama had said, Yumi had started the process of getting out of her chair, but she had still remained seated. It had been the shock of hearing Touko-chan's words that had caused her to stand up.

If it had been someone other than Touko-chan, Yumi probably would have accepted. But it was Touko-chan, so nothing more complicated needed to be considered.

"Then hand the red card to Matsudaira Touko-san. We'll handle the formalities later."

Mami-san spoke quickly, as she made a dash for the biscuit door.

"Okay, everyone out."

In accordance with that order, everyone quickly left the room like commuters exiting a train during rush-hour. Yumi started walking in the opposite direction, opposing that flow.

She could see both Touko-chan and Sachiko-sama, but they were too far away that she couldn't reach out to either of them.

"Testing, one, two."

Mami-san said, speaking into a megaphone. Despite departing in such a hurry, Mami-san strode purposefully into the courtyard with her demeanor conveying, "I've emerged at precisely the appointed time," and exuding the impression, "Everything is going according to schedule," as she stood in front of the participants. The slight hoarseness in her voice just added to the charm.

"This is the deadline for anyone who has found a card to come forward."

The three future Roses, that is Yumi, Yoshino-san, and Shimako-san, stood beside Mami-san. The members of the newspaper club, who had been scattered around the school during the treasure hunt, had also resumed their positions in the courtyard. Only Hidemi-chan, who had gone to the broadcasting room to make the earlier announcement, was nowhere to be seen.

"In that case, I shall announce the results."

When Mami-san said this, all the chattering students stopped their conversations and looked towards the front.

"This year, two of the treasures, the bouton's cards, were found."

This caused a bit of a stir. Those who already knew this result and those who were hearing it for the first time listened carefully to what came next. The red flush that was visible across their faces probably couldn't be explained solely by the setting sun.

Of the three, two were found - which meant that one was still undiscovered. That kind of result probably gave rise to agitation within the primary participants.

"Would those people whose name I call please step forward."

Losing out to the surrounding tumult, Mami-san raised her voice as she spoke into the megaphone.

"The first card found was the yellow card. It was claimed by Tanuma Chisato-san, from the second-year chrysanthemum class."

Both applause and gasps of surprise came from the crowd. That was understandable. Chisato-san had claimed the yellow card last year, and followed it up with a repeat performance this year. So this was the second consecutive year she'd achieved this remarkable feat.

From amongst those excited voices Chisato-san calmly made her way to Mami-san's side, her face showing she was eminently pleased with the reaction she was getting.

"Good grief."

Yoshino-san shook her head, as she too moved. In the event that a card was found, the hider of the card would stand next to the victor. That had been arranged and agreed to beforehand.

"Congratulations."

"Thank-you."

The interview began.

"I'll start by asking how you're feeling about being the first person to find a card."

"I'm really happy."

The interview proceeded at a surprisingly brisk pace, because at some unknown point in time Mami-san's megaphone had been swapped for a microphone. Since Hidemi-san could be seen hunched over walking away from Mami-san with the megaphone under her arms, the obvious inference was that she'd borrowed the microphone from the broadcasting room and brought it with her. - What a commendable petit soeur.

"And where did you find the yellow card?"

"On the exterior wall of the staff room."

As expected, there was a stir from the audience, and even some booing. The explanation that was given earlier in the room on the second floor of the Rose Mansion would have to be repeated.

"The exterior wall of the staff room? Is that correct, Rosa Foetida en Bouton?"

Of course, Mami-san had anticipated this reaction from the crowd and calmly continued the interview.

"Yes. That is correct."

Yoshino-san agreed.

"But I can hear a number of people saying that the staff room was out of bounds."

Then, Yoshino-san and Chisato-san both looked immensely self-satisfied as they simultaneously said:

"The inside was."

Neither of the pair said anything more, instead only smiling broadly. In the end, it fell to Mami-san to settle things once more.

"If you look at the maps you were given, I think you'll all understand - "

Much thanks for all your hard work.

Mami-san then asked Chisato-san if she had any final statement, handing the mic over to her.

"If this treasure hunt event is held next year, naturally I'll be aiming to get the yellow card for a third year running. When that happens, club president, I'd like my name inscribed on a roll of honor, so that future generations know of my deeds."

High-school was three years. So, short of repeating a grade, a record of three consecutive victories could never be broken. Of course, this year the middle-school students had been allowed to enter in the form of the "absentee's chance draw," but that should probably be viewed as a special case since it didn't involve actually walking the grounds and searching for yourself.

"It's a deal."

Mami-san's assurance was met with much cheering and applause. In reality, a miraculous string of three consecutive victories was unlikely to happen, but everyone present was all fired up.

"Okay, moving on to the red card, which was found only moments before time was up."

Silence fell over the courtyard.

"After consultation, Matsudaira Touko-san, from the first-year Camellia class, was declared the winner."

At that instant.

The ground shook as though there were an earthquake. Unheralded, thunder rang out. A sudden gust of wind rocked the school walls. - Of course, none of those things actually happened, but they're good metaphors for the roar of voices that reverberated around the courtyard.

The sound of all different voices clashing together made a noise that was hard to believe could come from humans. Those few moments of sound encompassed cheers of joy, angry roars, shrieks, and applause - to name just a few. At any rate, they all undoubtedly conveyed 'surprise.'

"Over here, please, Matsudaira-san."

From amongst these seething voices, Touko-chan emerged looking completely unaffected by the reaction, and took the final few steps to stand beside Mami-san.

On reflection, it was good that both Chisato-san and Touko-chan had made their way to the Rose Mansion before the time limit was up. As a result, when they went downstairs they were towards the front of the crowd (ie. standing near the entrance to the Rose Mansion), so they weren't expected to push their way through the crowd.

"You too, Yumi-san."

When Shimako-san pointed this out, Yumi belatedly remembered that she had to go and stand next to Touko-chan.

Standing next to Touko-chan.

Everything had been in such a state of confusion since Mami-san's alarm went off that Yumi hadn't had time to become conscious of it. However, Touko-chan had indeed said those words.

(Yumi-sama, won't you take me as your petit soeur?)

Just remembering it was enough to make her heart race. Yumi nervously looked out upon the crowd, as though she herself was the one who had found the treasure.

"Congratulations."

"Thank-you."

The interview commenced, with Yumi standing by. There was still a little bit of noise around, but everyone gave Touko-chan their attention because they all wanted to hear the full story from the finder of the red card.

"So tell me, where did you find the red card?"

"On the second floor of the Rose Mansion."

Touko-chan answered. Whereupon Mami-san asked, with a straight face:

"Could you provide us with some more details?"

Touko-chan glanced at Yumi. As though to ask, "Is that okay?" Of course, Yumi nodded. Since that answer contained a deeper meaning, it had always been her intention to tell the specifics of the location.

"On a chair. Rosa Chinensis en Bouton had been sitting atop the card."

The moment Touko-chan said this, the courtyard burst into uproarious laughter.

"Is that correct, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton?"

"Er, ah, yeah."

Yumi hastily agreed to Mami-san's request for confirmation. She hadn't considered that this would be met with laughter. Touko-chan had probably anticipated this, and that's why she'd initially responded with, "On the second floor of the Rose Mansion."

Probably thinking that this explanation was unsatisfactory, Mami-san added her own commentary.

"Immediately following the start, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton sat on that chair, the card pressed against her butt, for the entire hour. But it wasn't brute force - she'd assured us that she would stand up if anyone asked her to do so. Five minutes before the end, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton's onee-sama, Rosa Chinensis, asked her to stand up, and she started to do so, but was made to sit down again. Immediately afterward, Rosa Chinensis en Bouton was startled into standing up by the force with which Matsudaira Touko-san entered into the room. As I'm sure all the participants that were there to witness the events would testify. Rosa Chinensis accepted this situation, and Rosa Chinensis en Bouton gave it her seal of approval. And with that, Matsudaira Touko-san was acknowledged as the winner."

After Mami-san had said that much, Noriko-chan, who had slipped away and gone back into the Rose Mansion at some earlier point in time, came dashing out of the entrance carrying a bundle of documents and whispered something into her ear. Mami-san nodded in agreement, and said:

"Since we didn't have time earlier, I'll take the opportunity now."

Grinning, she turned to Touko-chan.

"Matsudaira Touko-san, sorry to bother you, but may I see your student card?"

"Okay."

Touko-chan put her hand into her pocket and produced her student ID card. Mami-san took the card and compared it to what was on the papers that Noriko-chan brought. This was just a precaution - surely she'd registered properly.

It must have only taken about five seconds, but Yumi's nervousness grew and grew.

Mami-san nodded.

"This is indeed her entry form. She is officially recognized as the holder of the red card."

A mixture of applause and sighs could be heard from the participants who had been watching intently, awaiting the outcome.

"Now, just a reminder that in the unlikely event that two "absentee's chance" entrants both picked the correct location, those entries would not be honored."

In other words, if the prize was over-subscribed, it would not be awarded.

"Which brings me to the white card, which sadly went undiscovered. Preliminary results indicate a single entrant picked the correct location, winning the white card and the special prize of a half-day date. The name of the winner, and the location of the white card, will be published in the Valentine's Day special edition of the Lillian Kawaraban. We'll also have speculation about the dates, so we hope you'll look forward to it!"

The response to Mami-san's feel-good PR for the school newspaper was an abundance of cries of dissatisfaction. Understandable, really. The special edition wasn't going to come out today, and if it were to include speculation about the dates then it probably wouldn't be out for at least a week. Waiting that long would be hard for even the best trained dog.

But, now that she'd said that, there was no going back. Mami-san brought the event to a close, forcing the words out her mouth.

"And on that note, the "Future Roses Treasure Hunt" Valentine's Day event comes to an end. I'd like to thank everyone that was involved in the event. The future Roses will be handing out chocolates to all the participants, so please take one on your way out."

Yumi took one of the baskets that Noriko-chan had prepared and hurried to the edge of the courtyard. Similarly, Yoshino-san stationed herself near the entrance to the school buildings, and Shimako-san moved to a spot along the path that led towards the rear of the courtyard, so that the students would be enticed to disperse.

"Thanks for participating, please take one."

Inside the basket were merely bite-sized chocolates, but the participants received them as though they were the treasure.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"It was fun."

Seeing their smiling faces and hearing their words of thanks made Yumi want to throw the basket in the air and jump for joy. Of course, it would be problematic if the chocolates came flying out of the basket, so she didn't do this.

"Yumi-sama. What did you think about Touko-san finding the card?"

One of them hit her with a straight ball, out of nowhere. The girl had a tense expression on her face, as though she'd been angry when she heard the result. A first-year, apparently. Yumi wasn't busy, since this girl seemed to have waited to approach her until after the crowd had thinned out, when she wouldn't be inconveniencing anyone.

"What did I think?"

Yumi tilted her head, questioningly.

"Well, Rosa Chinensis must have realized it was on the chair, right? And yet, it seems a bit unfortunate, you know."

"I see."

This girl was being serious - there was no trace of deception or an attempt to conceal anything. So she was openly speaking what was on her mind.

"You know, whether it was Touko-san, or Rosa Chinensis, or even someone else I don't know, my feelings probably wouldn't change. I'd just be happy that someone found it. And that's how I am now."

After she'd said that, Yumi impishly drew her index finger up to her mouth.

"Although that's a bit rude to Shimako-san, since no-one found her card. Don't tell her I said that, okay?"

The first-year laughed at this, and the tension seemed to be released.

"Whether the person who found the card was someone I knew well, or someone I didn't know at all, wouldn't change my feelings."

"So you'd still feel that way, even if I'd found the card, for example?"

"Of course. I'd be delighted."

"I understand. Sorry for asking such a strange question."

"Not at all. Thanks for participating."

After taking a chocolate from the proffered basket, the girl quickly bowed her head and ran off. Feeling refreshed, Yumi watched her go for a short while.

"You done?"

Hearing that voice, Yumi turned around and saw that Yoshino-san had made her way over and was swinging her basket around.

"Rei-chan said she wanted one, and there's some left over, so is it okay if I give it to her? A chocolate, that is."

"That should be fine ah, wait."

Looking around the courtyard, a group of students remained congregated around Shimako-san. Would she have enough chocolates left in her basket to be able to handle that group?

"Don't worry about them. All of those girls already took a chocolate."

Yoshino-san said, yawning.

"They've got a chocolate, but they still haven't gone home?"

"You should remember what happened last year, Yumi-san."

"Ah."

Where on earth had Shimako-san hidden her white card? Those who just couldn't wait for the Lillian Kawaraban special edition to come out were sticking around, unwilling to leave. Probably intending to accompany the newspaper club members when they went to retrieve it.

"Like I said, it'll be revealed in the Lillian Kawaraban special edition."

Even at this distance, they could hear Mami-san's troubled voice as she explained the situation. But Yumi and Yoshino-san knew she really wasn't that troubled. She was just sifting out the participants, until an appropriate number remained. And, because they knew this, the group stubbornly remained, despite her calls for them to go home.

"Hold on a minute."

Mami-san said to the remaining students, then walked over to Yumi and Yoshino-san.

"It doesn't look like I'll get the numbers down any further than this, so I'm going to get the white card. How about you, Yumi-san, Yoshino-san?"

Will you come too? That's what was being asked, and Yumi and Yoshino-san looked at each other. There were about fifteen or sixteen girls left in the group. Add to that Tsutako-san and Mami-san from the newspaper club, the leading lady Shimako-san and her petit soeur Noriko-chan, and it was a pretty big bunch. The more people there were the harder it would be to lead them, plus they already knew the hiding place, so they decided to sit this one out.

"We'll tidy up the Rose Mansion."

"Really? That'll be a great help. I told the other newspaper club members they could leave after they'd collected the hints for Shimako-san's card, and it's getting late, so this looks like a good place to call it a day. The review meeting's tomorrow at lunch. See ya."

Without waiting for an acknowledgment from Yumi or Yoshino-san, Mami-san headed back to where Shimako-san and the others were waiting. As a group, they headed off towards the school building with Shimako-san in the lead.

Which led to an odd sensation. The courtyard, which had earlier seemed to be absolutely buried beneath the mass of students suddenly seemed quite deserted, now that there were none there.

After picking up washcloths that were hanging on the line between the Rose Mansion and the school building, the bouton pair entered the Rose Mansion.

"That Touko-chan,"

Yoshino-san said, as they climbed the stairs.

"Hmm?"

"She didn't go to you, did she, Yumi-san?"

For a moment Yumi had no idea what Yoshino-san was talking about, but then Yoshino-san swung around and held out her basket, and Yumi realized that she was talking about when they were handing out chocolates to the participants.

"Ah, now that you mention it."

Yumi realized that, indeed, she hadn't seen Touko-chan get a chocolate.

"It's not, "Now that I mention it." She took a chocolate from my basket, then left. What's up with you two?"

"What do you mean, what's up with us?"

Yumi hastily followed her friend who stomped up the steps with an angry and amazed look on her face.

"Just before, there was that huge uproar when she asked to become your petit soeur in front of everyone. Then after that, it's like, ohhh, nothing happened - but that's not true, right?"

When you put it that way.

"This time she was the one that asked. So hurry up and give her the rosary already, and stop all this constant flirting, and flirting, and flirting, and flirting."

Yoshino-san waited for Yumi to finish climbing the stairs, then slung her arm over Yumi's shoulder, around her neck, and pulled it in tight.

"Owwwww."

Chocolates from their baskets scattered all over the floor.

Yumi used the dust cloth in her free right hand to signal her surrender and eventually Yoshino-san relaxed her hold. Then, rather than removing her arm, Yoshino-san left it there, swung around in front of Yumi and embraced her with both arms.

" I'm so glad, Yumi-san."

Yoshino-san whispered into Yumi's ear.

"Yeah."

Their bodies separated and they smiled at each other. The joy was doubled and the sadness halved. Yumi was thankful to have that sort of a friend to care for her.

"Alright. Let's hurry up and clean this place, Rei-chan's waiting in the classroom for me to meet her, so we can go home."

With satisfaction emanating from every part of her body, Yoshino-san did as she said and hurried into the room.

" Oh geeze."

Left behind in the corridor, Yumi gathered the scattered chocolates in her basket, picked up the washcloth and headed for the biscuit door.

"What's taking you so long?"

Yoshino-san's voice called out from inside.

It was only after they'd gone out the main entrance that she realized they should have left the chocolate basket behind.

"Onee-sama."

Noriko quickly closed the distance to Shimako-san, walking in front, and clasped her hand over Shimako-san's where she held the basket, allowing it to be passed to her. It had been prepared with a slightly larger number of chocolates than the others, so there was still about twenty remaining.

"Ah."

Shimako-san reacted by smiling. As Noriko expected, she too had apparently forgotten about the basket until just then.

"Thank-you."

"Don't mention it."

Shimako-san's smile was a high quality energy source for Noriko to run on. Yoshino-sama and Yumi-sama may scoff, but Noriko had no thoughts of cooling her love for her onee-sama.

So, when Mami-sama asked her, "What will you do?" naturally she answered with, "I'll go with you." She absolutely wanted to be there when the trick behind Shimako-san's hidden white card was revealed to everyone.

Of course, it would be a lie to say she wasn't interested in seeing Yumi-sama's response to Touko's confession, but that was no reason to be impatient. Let nature take its course, and since they'd reached that point it would probably end peacefully. Trying to rush things would just cause problems.

After taking possession of the basket, Noriko stood still for a while, allowing the group of white-card-seekers to catch up and overtake her, before continuing again. Having a petit soeur buzzing around the leading lady Shimako-san would be an eyesore for the participants, and Noriko didn't want that.

"Log skewered rabbit."

Noriko caught part of the conversation between the students walking ahead of her.

(Log skewered rabbit?)

What the heck. Just as she was thinking that, the image of a rabbit being spit roasted on a thick log forced its way into her head.

Log skewered rabbit. Was that the signature dish of some famous chef?

But, sticking a spit thick enough to be called a log through a rabbit, seriously -. She'd seen a TV show on this topic a while back, and the largest rabbits used for food were about the size of a medium dog.

"Enjoyable rabbit circle."

That was the next sentence she heard.

(Enjoyable rabbit circle?)

Or maybe it was, "Enjoyable rabbit check." Either way, it painted a happy picture. Rabbits dancing under a full moon.

"Shine rabbit soup."

Back on the signature dishes, then. Almost like what happened in the legend, 'The Hare of Inaba.' -

After thinking that, Noriko had a moment of realization. They still hadn't given up on trying to deduce the location of Shimako-san's white card. When the time limit was reached, it was obvious from Rosa Chinensis' testimony that six out of the seven hints had been brought to the Rose Mansion, but now the girls who had been out running around and searching had linked up, they had the full set. So they were shuffling the characters and picture around, trying to come up with the answer.

Such a shame, but neither "Log skewered rabbit" nor "Enjoyable rabbit circle" were correct. As for "Shine rabbit soup," that's not even a proper sentence. But most of all, if that was the hint, where would you search? It's not as though there's a rabbit warren anywhere on campus.

"That picture, should it really be rabbit? Or is there some better way of describing it?"

Noriko silently agreed with that statement.

(Exactly. You'll never solve the riddle if you think that's just an ordinary rabbit. Sorry that it's such a bad picture. Actually, I was the one that drew it.)

In truth, she had intended to spend some time practicing and draw a better one, but Yoshino-sama had said, "You don't want to make it too easy to understand, because then people will find the card right away." So instead Noriko submitted the initial drawing that she'd done solely from memory. If the main reason that Shimako-san's card had not been found was because of that drawing, then that was most regrettable.

Taking the path leading past the library, they came to the path lined with ginkgo trees.

Setting aside the "drawing of a rabbit that can't be called a rabbit," there were six characters.

Ku, shi, ta, no, ma, ru (in syllabic order)[1]

As expected, no one thought that the 'ma' was the 'ma' from Maria-sama's statue, so even as they drew close they all kept walking at pace.

As they continued to walk, they slowly drew closer to the goal. And as they walked and shuffled the cards, there was a certain synergy that led to a connection, with sporadic cries of, "Ah," and, "Could it be," filling the air.

(Yes, that's correct.)

Inside the school gates, just beside the security guard's post was the car park.

The white-card-recovery-squad watched a blue car come out of the car park, then went in.

"You were looking to make a big splash, huh Shimako-san."

Mami-san muttered when they saw the car park.

" Indeed."

Following their gaze, the students all dashed off in search of the answer. Noriko too sprinted away, flustered. The basket was a bit of a nuisance, but Noriko ran with one hand over the top of it to keep the chocolates from spilling out.

"Such high spirits."

Shimako-san smiled at Mami-sama, as neither gave chase. They both continued to walk calmly. Of course, Noriko already knew where the card was hidden, so she hadn't had to wait until now to get the answer. But she did want to find out what state it was in currently.

At that moment, there were hardly any cars in the car park. They continued further in, to the spaces near the wall that were reserved for the teaching staff.

When they reached the destination, the students stood there, dumbstruck.

(Victory to Shimako-san.)

In her mind, Noriko assumed a triumphant pose.

In the parking area reserved for teachers, in a single parking space, a transparent plastic sleeve was stuck to the ground with masking tape. Despite the plastic, there was no mistaking it. Inside was -

"The white card "

Someone said.

"But, I had a look around this area earlier, and it wasn't like this."

Someone else said, dumbfounded.

"The cars that were parked here during the treasure hunt have since left."

The girls turned around to look at the voice that called out from behind them, and there was Mami-sama, who had finally arrived. Shimako-san was standing beside her.

"Which should lead you to the answer."

" Under the car."[2]

"That's about 80% right."

It wasn't clear what she was basing that grade on, but Mami-sama peeled the tape off the ground and picked up the plastic sleeve containing the card.

"As expected from a pro driver like Aota-sensei, there's no tyre tracks over it at all."

"Aota ah, Miffy-chan!"[3]

"Yep. Miffy-chan, so the correct answer was under Aota-sensei's car."

Mami-sama pointed at the concrete bumper, and everyone saw that it had "Aota" written on it in white paint.

Aota-sensei's nickname was Miffy-chan. Aota-sensei was a middle-school teacher, and since Noriko only entered Lillian's Girls Academy at the start of high-school, she didn't know the reason behind the nickname, or even what Aota-sensei looked like.

They'd discussed this in an earlier meeting, and to avoid certain students have an unfair advantage, the Lillian Kawaraban had printed an article about Aota-sensei as part of their "Teach us! OO-sensei" series. This article, in the second edition of the paper for the year, contained the nickname "Miffy-chan" as part of the profile, so the plan was a go.

Incidentally, Aota-sensei was unaware of the plan. While Mami-sama had been explaining the rules of the contest, a first-year from the newspaper club had run to the car park and stuck the card underneath the car. At any rate, it was just as well they didn't go home while the event was taking place, or it wouldn't be "Under Aota-sensei's car," but, "On the ground where Aota-sensei's car is usually parked."

"Aota-sensei wouldn't go home while the event was happening, to make sure the middle-schoolers weren't breaking the rules. Only after it had been brought to a successful conclusion would they go."

Anticipating this, Shimako-san had selected Aota-sensei's car. A big splash indeed. Like the ebb and flow of the tides, the look of the hiding place changed over time.

"Ah - "

One of the students cried out, suddenly.

"That blue car from before!"

"You're right! That was Miffy-chan driving it!"

A number of other cries rang out, "What a shame," being one of them, but all the girls that spoke out had a touch of pleasant surprise mixed in their voice.

- I want fun.

That had been Shimako-san's theme. On that account, you could call it a huge success.

(Now I understand.)

The visage of Aota-sensei.

"He really does look just like Dick Bruna."[4]

While Noriko was remembering the face of the middle-aged man in the car that had left the car park just before, and admiring Shimako-san's work, Shimako-san drew alongside her and gently took her hand.

(Ah.)

She didn't put it into words, but, "Thanks for your co-operation," came through loud and clear.

Shimako-san's hand was warm and soft, and Noriko wanted to remain joined like that forever.

(Oh no.)

The chocolates inside the basket would all melt away.

The car park was quite lively.

Casting a sidelong glance, Rei-chan muttered quietly, but with feeling:

"Shimako's card was underneath Aota-sensei's car."

For the nth time.

"We didn't even think about that, last year."

Yoshino joked in her mind, "I've already heard that too," but didn't say anything.

In Rei-chan's hand was a paper bag. Inside, atop a pile of other chocolates, were some humble store bought chocolates that were being treated with the utmost reverence.

"You're quiet, Yoshino. Not angry anymore?"

Rei-chan asked, after they passed through the school gates.

"I'm still angry."

"Oh?"

"My anger's just exhausted too."

Hearing that, Rei-chan sounded a bit dejected as she sighed and said, "Is that so?"

If Yoshino were telling the truth, then she'd have said that she didn't know if she was angry or not any more. Nonetheless, after cleaning countless cups with Yumi-san, then flying out of the Rose Mansion saying, "Leave the rest for tomorrow," Yoshino had wanted to see Rei-chan waiting for her in the classroom. She knew that if she said that, then Rei-chan would be absolutely delighted. And yet, she didn't say that. She uttered the mean-spirited phrase, "My anger's just exhausted too," and Rei-chan was dejected.

Even though Rei-chan should be the truly exhausted one because of her exams, and it was probably the duty of those around her to be kind, and speak gently, to her. It annoyed Yoshino that she was unable to connect in that manner. Truthfully, that sort of self-loathing was a large part of the reason behind her silence.

"Is that so?"

Rei-chan muttered, once more. The phrase that Yoshino had blurted out because she didn't want to appear reticent due to exhaustion came back to bite her again, leaving her feeling like she'd dug herself into a hole that fit her precisely.

"Even though you're carrying that bag for me because it's heavy, I'll take care of the chocolates until after your exams are over. Because if you take them, you'll idiotically waste two or three hours opening them, checking the contents, and reading the letters."

Well, that's done it. "Carrying that bag for me," was hardly polite. And Yoshino knew the reason Rei-chan would open the packages and read the letters wasn't idiocy, but simply kindness. Why did everything have to come out sounding so abusive?

Yoshino kicked a small pebble that had fallen in front of her with her black shoe. The pebble skipped forward erratically until it struck the tall school wall and stopped.

Rei-chan was kind. Yoshino knew that better than anyone.

"Okay. Thanks."

Rei-chan said.

"What are you thanking me for?"

Yoshino arched her eyebrows. In her heart she'd been thinking it, but she hadn't said 'kindness.'

"Well, if you're doing that, it means you're going to make a list of people who gave me a gift, right? Like last year?"

Oooh. How can she say something like that so innocently.

" I hadn't thought of that."

Yoshino looked down as she squeezed those words out, and the response she got was a carefree, "Is that so?"

"So what was it you were annoyed about again, Yoshino?"

"I'll have to be careful of it," Rei-chan said, then followed it up immediately with a shouted, "Ah!"

"What is it?"

"I have to give a 'Valentine's Chocolates Request Ticket' to my onee-sama too!"

" You say that while I'm standing right here."

It would appear that Rei-chan's obsession with minor details could not be cured so easily. Even if it was turned off, there's no doubting that she'd be making a 'Valentine's Chocolates Request Phone Call' to Eriko-sama tonight.

Nothing she could do about that.

As she was losing her temper, Yoshino looked towards the setting sun and pondered whether she'd be involved with Eriko-sama for the rest of her life.

Why was that.

"Is it okay if I just take your chocolates home with me, Yoshino?"

Rei-chan asked.

"Why would you ask that now?"

That was patently obvious, wasn't it?

Yoshino was a special case.

That alone was an absolutely unshakeable truth between the two of them.

Yoshino-san said, "Leave the rest for tomorrow," then raced out.

Shimako-san, Mami-san and Noriko-chan had gone to retrieve the white card and not yet returned. The newspaper club members had gone to fetch the hints about Shimako-san's card that they had placed just as the event was starting.

The mass of washed cups were all lined up on the drainer tray, the drips of water falling into the sink. Peeking out from the garbage bin were the paper cups that they'd been forced to use when the number of guests overtook the number of tea cups they had.

Hanging over the side of the empty buckets were the washcloths that had been wrung dry, flattened out and neatly lined up.

Caught in the orange glow coming through the windows, a speck of dust slowly fell.

It was quiet, as though the commotion that had occurred just recently had all been a lie. Alone, Yumi surveyed the room and let out a sigh.

All that remains of the warriors dreams.[5]

The event's finally over, huh - After the festival, loneliness was her companion. The part of her that had been busy with preparations, the fun and excitement that she'd had, both left a lingering aftertaste that would remain forever.

" I suppose I should go home."

Yumi wrote a note on the back of an unneeded printout.

"I've gone home. Leave the rest for tomorrow."

A message to let Shimako-san and the rest know that further cleanup was unnecessary, on the off chance that they returned.

Yumi latched the windows closed and drew the curtains.

She plucked a single chocolate from the basket of leftovers, unwrapped it and popped it in her mouth. This was Fukuzawa Yumi's reward for giving her all today.

She left the Rose Mansion and entered the school building. She took a slight detour to venture past the first-year camellia classroom and the second-year pine classroom before going to her shoe locker.

Maybe Touko-chan had been waiting for her. That's what she'd been thinking.

Yumi still hadn't replied to her question, "Won't you take me as your petit soeur?" So that's why she'd thought, just maybe.

However, Touko-chan was in neither location. Just to be sure, Yumi had a look inside Touko-chan's shoe box, and saw her indoor shoes neatly lined up.

(Well, I guess that's that.)

Since they hadn't made any arrangement to meet, there's no way she would have waited around that late.

(Still.)

Did that mean Touko-chan wasn't concerned about Yumi's reply? Since Yumi had asked first, did Touko-chan think that by asking that they had become soeurs?

(Or maybe even.)

Touko-chan was satisfied with just saying those words, and would ignore whatever response was given, say.

"Yumi."

When Yumi opened her eyes after praying at the statue of Maria-sama, Sachiko-sama was standing there.

"Onee-sama "

"I thought I should hold back, in case you were with Touko-chan."

So by saying that, her onee-sama must have meant that she'd waited somewhere out of sight for Yumi to arrive.

"No, I'm all alone."

Sachiko-sama smiled and said, "Indeed." She must have instantly understood that Yumi hadn't yet had a chance to speak with Touko-chan. Because from that point on she made no further mention of Touko-chan, instead taking hold of Yumi's hand and saying, "You've worked hard today."

From the glimpses she could get between the trees, there didn't appear to be anyone left in the car park. They must have returned to the school building while Yumi had been climbing the stairs to the first and second-year classrooms, and just missed each other.

"Onee-sama."

Yumi called out.

"Wha~at?"

"Did you, perhaps, concede victory to Touko-chan for my sake, or something - "

That thought had popped into Yumi's head as she watched her onee-sama's gentle face in profile. Her onee-sama was always thinking of her first. Since Yumi hadn't given up on Touko-chan, and now that it looked like Touko-chan had met her halfway, perhaps she'd done this to set the stage for the two of them - although that may have been over-thinking it.

"Not at all."

However, Sachiko-sama flat out denied it.

"It's true that I was well on my way to victory. If Touko-chan hadn't burst into the room, I'm sure I would have been the one to be interviewed as the winner. But when I took a step back in the face of that intensity, the match was decided. Therefore, make no mistake that the winner was Touko-chan. I merely confirmed that."

"Is that right?"

"It is. Don't be so suspicious of my motives. Silly Yumi."

Her onee-sama picked up the pace slightly. Yumi eagerly followed so that their hands wouldn't part.

After reaching the bus stop, she let out a sigh.

"Really, silly Yumi."

"Onee-sama?"

"Because you said that, I had to remember my defeat, didn't I?"

"Ah."

Sachiko-sama lifted one leg off the ground and stamped down with all her might.

" I remember too."

Sachiko-sama's personality was such that she hated to lose. In the original, the phrases above are all anagrams based on these characters and 'rabbit' from the picture. Another anagram of the characters above - kuruma no shita. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miffy The creator of Miffy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Bruna This is the last two lines of a haiku by Matsuo Basho. The poem is #2 on