Maria-sama ga Miteru Volume 20 Prologue

"Gokigenyou."

"Gokigenyou."

The crisp morning greeting echoes clearly through the blue sky. Today as well, the maidens who gather in Maria-sama's garden with angelic and pure smiles will pa.s.s under the tall gate. They possess both innocent mind and body, wrapped in a deep-colored uniform. In order that the pleats in their skirts are not tossed into disarray and their white sailor-collars are not blown back, walking slowly with grace is the way here. Of course, there are no students who would shame themselves by running so as to make it in the nick of time.

This is Lillian Private Academy for Girls.

Originally established in the thirty-fourth year of the Meiji era, it is said this school was for the daughters of n.o.blemen; and still exists for young women in the traditional Catholic system today.

In downtown Tokyo, amid Musas.h.i.+no, a district where a lot of greenery can still be found. Watched by G.o.d from infancy through college, this integrated elevator school is able to nurture a garden of maidens.

The name of the era has changed three times. But even on this day in the Heisei era, after eighteen years of a pure culture that a sheltered upbringing allows, these women — who seem to have been kept in a box — are ready to be s.h.i.+pped out. Such a structure yet remains in this precious academy.

Why was this sort of thing likely to happen? Yumi absentmindedly thought. I couldn't have dreamed such a thing before yesterday, but I'd suddenly fallen into a mystery place.

For example....

I'd been s.p.a.cing out while the starting pistol was ringing. When I finally took notice of my surroundings, what kind of race had begun with that sounding pistol? Already, everyone had disappeared from that point on the map. In front of me, I was able to see my friend's back shrinking in the distance.

Such speed ... it was a busyness that made me dizzy. Although it was astonis.h.i.+ng, it was necessary to look. And when I noticed, I too was seriously running. That's the feeling I got.

Well, during your lifetime, there will occasionally be unexpected circ.u.mstances that are likely to involve you. There's no numerical formula for them, but in a sense it's a.s.suredly more difficult than balancing simultaneous equations.

What is it?

When you're able to really investigate it thoroughly, that's your life.