Chapter 3

``- So anyways, Yoshino-san said ``I can't help but, good luck on your match.'' That's all.''

After hearing out the message completely, Rei-sama oggled.

``Yoshino-san is in the hospital? And she's going to get surgery- -''

``This week, Saturday. On the day of Rei-sama's match.''

Right now it was lunch break on Monday.

Because Rei-sama would be busy after-school today with club activities, she called to Rei-sama in the garden and gave her Yoshino-san's message.

``I thought my aunt and uncle were a little lately, but ......''

Rei-sama bunched up her fist in front of a hemp tree in the middle of the garden. She was sad. But since this was a hemp tree, it would be a little painful if she punched it- -.

(Right now Rosa Gigantea wouldn't be confused at all, and she'd hug us all.''

Rei-sama suddenly raised her head and came close to Yumi.

``Which hospital? The one she always goes to?''

Rei-sama close up. Because she had been Rei-sama's dance party at the Gakuensai, she was a little immune but, Rei-sama still came up with force. It was because of her haircut. Wearing that seifuku, she looked just like a bishounen.

``Yumi-chan!''

``......The hospital she always gets checked up at.''

The moment Rei-sama heard this, she turned on her heel and began walking away. Yumi hurriedly pulled Rei-sama back. Hey hey, what time do you think it is now? It's only lunch time now, she thought, and then a pang hit her heart. Rei-sama would take drastic measures for Yoshino-san.

``What'll you do if you go?''

``What'll I do.''

She didn't answer Yumi. She just wanted to go. She wanted to go and meet Yoshino-san.

``Why do you think Yoshino-san hid this from you?''

``Why.''

``Why did Yoshino-san make the operation date on the same date as your match? You don't understand anything!''

Rei-sama, who was being held back by Yumi, went limp.

``I don't understand. I don't understand anything.''

Up till now she and Yoshino-san had always walked together. Without telling Rei-sama why, she had broken their soeur relationship, and on the same day as her kendo match, Yoshino-san had scheduled her operation. Rei-sama didn't understand anything about this Yoshino-san.

While Rei-sama dropped her head down, Yumi became jealous.

Yoshino-san held this sort of place in Rei-sama's heart. Even if they hadn't seen each other in the last few days, because they had the same blood, no matter what happened, they would see each other, even if they knew what they were doing was reckless. If Yoshino-san said goodbye to Sachiko-sama, she wondered if Sachiko-sama would cry for even one of the ten minutes that Rei-sama had. It seemed like Rei-sama and Yoshino-san would be together 'till the ends of the Earth. Had Yumi's face twisted in jealousy?

``It doesen't seem like this operation is a big deal. The success rate is about 100 percent ......''

``About?! On her heart?! Is this true?!''

Rei-sama grasped Yumi's shoulder and shook her violently.

``Re, Rei-sama.''

She wasn't a doctor, so if you criticized Yumi like that, she still wouldn't be able to answer. She was just a messenger and knew little about medical science. Rei-sama realized this and after a little while relaxed her grip on Yumi's shoulder, said ``Sorry.'', and lifted her hand up.

``Yoshino-san has hated surgeries for a long time.''

``I see.''

When Yoshino-san was born, her heart was formed a little differently than other people's. While she didn't understand the difficult stuff, she had heard that there was a hole in one wall of her heart. That's why her blood would always get in other places, and she would get heart palpitations and short of breath.

If one payed attention, they'd realize that beacuse of Yoshino-san's illness, it was hard for her to have a normal student life. It would have been better had she had the surgery when she was a kid and she wouldn't know any better, but for some reason, it had gotten worse in grade school. She started disliking it from about then too. Yumi heard all of this yesterday directly from Yoshino-san.

But now that she was becoming an adult, her illness was becoming more serious, and before it became any worse, it was best to get the surgery done. Now that medical technology had advanced, they did not have to open up much of the area to finish the surgery, and so Yoshino-san decided to do it now.

But, it was too cruel. Even though Yoshino-san didn't directly say it, the reason she was seriously thinking about surgery was because of Rei-sama.

It's like she had said before. Because of Rei-sama, I need to get stronger, she had said.

If Yumi thought about it, she lived on for herself. Even if she didn't live for herself, she wouldn't be able to live for other people. Still, it was better to live your life for other people and get close to them and become stronger, Yumi thought. (Me: Wooh. This sentence was tough to translate.)

``Do well in your match. It was Yoshino-san's wish.''

Yumi touched the palm of Rei-sama's hand and told her. Because it was a problem that only the two of them could overcome, Yumi could do nothing to help.

But she really wished both of them good luck.

In Rei-sama's match.

With Yoshino-san and her surgery.

``- - Yoshino's wish.''

Rei-sama hung her head down as before and whispered. Rei-sama's thick and meaty hands clenched, and she hardened her face. She really looked like a man, or someone who didn't like to sew wool.