Maria - Chapter 5 Originally appeared in Nakayoshi, April 1990. Written by Takeuchi Naoko. Translated by Alex Glover. Version 1.0, October 2000. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- God!! They run into the hospital. "Where's my dad!?" says Kazuma. "Fuyumi-san's bed in room two!?" "Kazuma-kun!?" says the nurse. "He's in the ICU. Last night that patient's condition deteriorated..." Help my mom! "Did the blood data come back?" "The doctor isn't sleeping, right?" says the nurse. "Fuyumi-san's EKG is serious." "Sensei," thinks Maria. "Mom will be all right, won't she? Help my mom!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The door opens. "Maria-chan?" says Maie. "Sensei, is my mom..." "She's all right," he says. "She's calmed down now, and she's resting." Maria smiles. "Great!" "Sorry for telling you to come right away on the phone, and making you worry," says Maie. He rubs his head. "Oh, my hair's all messy." "Dad," says Kazuma. "Are those pajamas under your doctor's gown?" One of the workers laughs. "You were panicking like a parent and child," she says. "When they came here, Kazuma-kun was more pale than Maria-chan." Kazuma coughs. He and Maria leave the hospital. They see Kazushi outside. "Kazushi?" says Kazuma. "I heard," says Kazushi. "So your mom is all right? That's great." "Yeah!" says Maria. "But I was surprised," he says. "Kazuma, you were so upset. And you dragged Maria-chan there, despite your normal poker face." "Me too," says Maria. "Just a little... I didn't expect it." "Taking me to the hospital..." she thinks. Kazuma turns away. "Anyway," he says. "I..." "But, but," says Maria. "I'm grateful. Because you stayed with me all that time... I was able to relax. Thank you." "What," says Kazuma. "You don't have to say that..." "Heh heh," says Kazushi. "Kazuma's reaction was interesting. Since you came here, Maria-chan, he's been very strange." "Really," thinks Maria, "to sensei, and to Kazuma-kun, more than anyone else, I'm grateful." They approach the dorm. "Well, we'll leave you here. Ema and Noa are waiting in the room. They're worried." "Thanks," says Maria. She goes inside. Kazushi and Kazuma continue walking. "Hey," says Kazushi. "Noa was feeling down. What's going on?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Maria!" "Sorry for just leaving like that," says Maria. "Don't be," says Ema. "Kashi-kun called earlier. It's too bad this happened on your birthday, but it's good that your mom is well. You must have felt helpless by yourself. I should have gone with you." "Yeah, well, Kazuma-kun was always with me," says Maria. "Oh, I see," says Ema. "Since it is Kazuma's hospital. I'm glad. With Kazuma there, it would be reassuring." "He's just nice to you because you're a patient's daughter," says Noa. "I've been longer... I was friends with Kazuma since childhood, so I've been with him much longer..." "Noa-chan!" says Ema. "Why are you talking like that!" "You have your Daddy Longlegs..." says Noa. "You're going to marry him, right? Ka... Kazuma is my boyfriend, so don't take him!" She looks away. "Sorry." "Oh, no..." says Maria. "I... I have to go to the bathroom! I was holding it in the entire time I was at the hospital." She runs out of the room. "Maria!" says Ema. "Oh Noa, should you have said something like that...?" "What..." thinks Maria. "They were dating after all... That's it. I didn't know about it. But she was always with Kazuma-kun... She saw him just like me." "Happy birthday, dear Maria." "Why did I have to remember that promise from long ago? Don't be nice to me on a whim anymore..." God... What should I do? This feeling... Give me a response, God. Answer me... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So still no reply today..." thinks Maria. "I want a reply this time. I want you to be of help..." "You're going to fall in love..." "I can't believe it. He has a girlfriend." She goes to the hospital. "Mom!" she says. "Why, you look happy." "Well, everyone's treating those with serious illnesses," says her mom. "The other day... The night before I just couldn't sleep and was a bit dizzy." "Wasn't that because you were fast asleep during the day?" says Maria. "Hey, excuse me," says her mom. "Even I have nights when I can't sleep because of worries." "What...?" says Maria. "Your worries..." "That's a secret." "What!?" "So I hear Maie-sensei's bully stayed with you the entire time?" says her mom. "That's promising. Did you thank him?" "I... I understand a little now," says Maria. "What you meant when you said... 'You have to be the bride of someone you really love.'" "The one I really want to be the bride of..." she thinks. "Maria," says her mom. "Don't lie to yourself. There is no love that doesn't cause pain." "That's... too sad..." says Maria. "Maria, you should do what you think." "What I think is best..." thinks Maria. She leaves the room. Maie enters. "Sorry, but I overheard..." he says. "Shall we see once more... if I cause pain as well." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- God... I've made up my mind. Will you meet me? I have something important to discuss. On the last Sunday, of the month I love, March... "I'll be able to say it properly," thinks Maria. "Maria, it will be all right... won't it? I've been able to spend enough time like a dream now. I can't become God's bride anymore... I will be able to tell him that." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria shuts off the alarm clock. God... Sorry for being a horrible girl. But I'm sure, the you I was in love with... The you I loved... She steps outside the school gate. "You're going out this early in the morning?" says Kazuma. "Kazuma-kun!?" thinks Maria. "Wh- What about you!" she says. "Did you spend the night in the girls dorm again?" "No," says Kazuma. "I have a concert today. With the light music club and Kazushi's band. I'm playing the piece from the other day. Want to come and hear it?" "I'm meeting Daddy Longlegs today..." says Maria. "It's still eight in the morning," says Kazuma. "I'm going early and waiting!" says Maria. "You can meet Daddy Longlegs anytime," says Kazuma. "Say it," thinks Maria. "Come on, hurry. You finally, finally decided to give up on him..." "I don't really understand you..." she says. "He has Noa and yet..." she thinks. "Noa... as well..." she says. "You were childhood friends... right? Like we were." "I've been with Noa and the others at Green Garden for nine years now," says Kazuma. In elementary, junior high, high school... We have an important group of friends, who can understand each other better than our parents. But since before I entered Green Garden, there was only one girl who I couldn't forget even if I tried. I was always looking for her. Even after I moved, I always wanted to see her, I always wanted to help her... Though I was passed by Daddy Longlegs." "Yes... That's right," says Maria. "How mean..." she thinks. "Why would he say such a thing." "So..." she says. "Poor Noa," she thinks. "I can't fall in love with you!" she says. "It's too late," says Kazuma. "I'm giving up on loving you!" says Maria. "I'm giving up now on God and you!" She runs away. "Maria!" says Kazuma. "Come! I'll be at Shibazonobashi Hall!" "Shibazonobashi Hall..." thinks Maria. "Right next to where I'm supposed to meet... He's so unkind. The concert that Noa must also be coming to... Fail at the piano!" "Kazuma, you idiot!" she says. "I hope you're in an accident and can't play!" "Sorry..." she thinks. "That was mean to say..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria stands near Shiba Park and Shibazonobashi Hall, at a quarter past twelve. "I wonder if he's playing piano now," she thinks. My meeting with God was for ten o'clock. I'll be able to meet you today, right? Meeting you who I love... Today we will have our farewell. God... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kazushi leaves the stage. "Will you come to the close of the show?" "We're going to eat and go home," says Ema. "Since we have curfew." "Ema," says Kazushi. "What is it?" Ema and Noa look at him. "No, it's nothing..." he says. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Why doesn't he come?" thinks Maria. "Could he have been in an accident... No, that's not it, that's not it. He's busy with work. He must be." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The clock shows 6:40 at night. "You haven't seen Maria?" says Ema. "She hasn't come back yet." "But she went out very early this morning," says Noa. "Maybe the hospital?" "They say she hasn't come today," says Ema. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The letter must have reached him, right?" thinks Maria. "Yes. We'll meet for the first time. I wonder if even I know for sure." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "She hasn't come back yet?" says Kazuma. "Hey, the dorm curfew is eight o'clock," says Kazushi. "It's already past seven..." Kazuma runs from the room. "Hey, Kazuma!?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Oh, I have to call the dorm," says Maria. "If I recall, the curfew is eight o'clock. I wonder if they'll be upset if I'm late." She goes to a phone booth. "Maybe he mistook the time for ten at night," she thinks. "A little longer... I want to wait a little longer. Because I've decided this is the end." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kazuma runs through the crowd. He dashes into the street against the light. A car's brakes squeal as it speeds toward him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I may not be able to meet him now," thinks Maria. "He might not come now..." She dials the phone. The clock strikes eight. "Oh, hello," she says. "Ema?" "Maybe I should go home..." she thinks. "Maria!?" says Ema. "Is this Maria!? Oh! Where are you now? Come back right away! Right now, hurry! If you don't, you'll be expelled from the dorm!!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original manga copyright © 1990 Takeuchi Naoko. English translation copyright © 2000 Alex Glover. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Manga of Takeuchi Naoko | Maria