Maria - Chapter 6 Originally appeared in Nakayoshi, May 1990. Written by Takeuchi Naoko. Translated by Alex Glover. Version 1.0, October 2000. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria runs inside, a few minutes after eight. The nuns stand before her. Noa talks on the phone in the next room. "Oh, Kazushi?" she says. "Maria just got back..." God... "What did you say!?" God... "Miss Maria," says one of the nuns. Whatever atonement I do now... "Those who cannot keep the eight o'clock curfew rule," says the nun, "unfortunately must leave the dorm." You may not be able to forgive me... "I understand," says Maria. Ema sees Noa on the ground next to the phone. "Noa?" she says. They speak as Ema helps her up. "Wait!" says Ema. "Wait, Sister! Maria was late from accompanying Kazuma, who was hit by a car! So she wasn't violating the rule!" "Well now," says the nun. "Is that true!?" "Ema..." says Maria. "That's a lie." "Shh!" says Ema. "Say it was that!" "It's not a lie!" says Noa. "If you hadn't come to Green Garden, something like this would... Though I'm glad it's just a fracture, if..." "I'm glad... he's safe..." says Maria. She puts her arms around Noa. "I'm sorry. I won't be of any more trouble." "Quit it," says Noa. "Why are you apologizing? That way of speaking..." "It's just like... he'll be gone..." thinks Maria. "Maria?" says Ema. "It's all right. You won't be kicked out, okay?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria kneels at the chuch altar. "That's fine," she thinks. "I've decided. God, please let Kazuma-kun be healed soon. Use my part to protect him..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Wasn't that dangerous of Maria-chan?" says Kazushi. "She could be kicked out of the dorm, right? Maybe your old man could do something. So in spite of her childhood friend who she was engaged to, she was finally able to meet the guy? Help her out, Kazuma." Kazuma lies in the hospital bed with his leg in a cast. "Kazushi... Does it look like I have a healthy enough body to be able to go outside?" "Then how about a letter," says Kazushi. "What would I write in a letter?" says Kazuma. Kazushi takes out a marker and writes on Kazuma's cast. "Leave Noa to me," says Kazushi. "Well, see you next term at school!" He leaves the room. Written on Kazuma's cast is, "I love Maria. -Kazuma" "Kazushi..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Maria?" says Ema. "What are you doing?" Maria takes out her clothes and sets them on her bed. "Hi," says Maria. "Since it's April now, I thought I should be prepared by the next term." "They said you wouldn't be kicked out," says Ema. "What are you packing for..." "Ema," says Maria. "The dorm explusion notice. It came. So I'm..." "What are you saying!?" says Ema. "You can't be!?" "It's over with Daddy Longlegs," says Maria. "Did he say that!?" says Ema. "I've become unsuitable..." "Because of the circumstances this time, you are a special student," said the nun. "This is unacceptable, Fuyumi-san." "Why?" says Ema. "Maria, you don't have to be reserved." She hugs Maria. "Is it Kazuma...?" she says. "It's Kazuma, isn't it? Did Daddy Longlegs say something to you?" "No, come on," says Maria. "As always, there's nothing from Daddy Longlegs... Kazuma-kun is amazing. A scholarship student. My dad was a scholarship student as well. He met my mom here..." "They fell in love," she thinks. "Our meeting was a little bit the same, I guess." "For a reply," she says, "there's still only this word-processed card." "Why doesn't he send a reply! It couldn't be because he's just lazy and has bad handwriting." "Maybe!" Maria opens the door to the room. "Who's there?" Some girls stand in the hallway. "Don't quit," says one of them. "We won't say anything mean anymore." Maria smiles. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria looks back at the room. The map Kazuma drew for her is posted next to the calendar. An envelope addressed to Ema lies on the desk. Maria leaves the dorm with her suitcase. She walks through the garden. "The roses are blooming..." she thinks. "Kazuma-kun's... When I first came here, I met Maie-sensei..." "He is always near you..." "The rose garden where my mom and dad met. It was he who was always close to me..." She sees Noa as she continues walking. "Maria," says Noa. "Me dating Kazuma was a lie." "A lie... so..." thinks Maria. "That's okay," she says. "Goodbye, Noa." "You don't need to quit!" says Noa. Maria continues walking away. "Maria!" Noa runs to the phone. "Kazuma!? Maria is going! Go after her!!" She hangs up and dials again. "Hello? Kazushi? I dumped him." "Before he dumped me..." she thinks. "Noa?" says Kazushi. "Where are you now? I'll be right there." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "My dear Ema," the note reads. "Thank you very much... I'll be sure to write again." "Fuyumi-san left?" says the nun. "And a letter addressed to her finally came... It seems Daddy Longlegs is in bad condition." She gives the card to Ema. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You quit Green Garden!?" says Maria's mom. "Just like that!?" "I'll reopen the pharmacy, Mom!" says Maria. "In any case, I have to return the hospitalization costs and tuition up to this point." "Maria!" "I'll come again," says Maria. "There's a ton of things I have to do. See you later!" She runs into Maie as she leaves. "Oh!" he says. "Oh... Sensei..." says Maria. "Please give these flowers to Kazuma-kun." "I wish it was sensei..." she thinks. "My god..." She runs through the hallway. Maie enters the room. "A letter came from the sister," he says. "So it seems Miss Fuyumi Maria has a desire to quit? I don't think there's any way 'God' will agree... right?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ema," she thinks. "How are you? I'm sorry for leaving without saying anything in silence. I have a feeling I'm working recklessly. But I have to hurry and return the money for the trouble I gave Daddy Longlegs. I'm not... writing any letters to him. There's no reply or communication at all." She looks at the card framed in front of her. "All of a sudden I don't care, whoever Daddy Longlegs is..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria walks along the street. "He doesn't even come in my dreams," she thinks. "After this much time has passed, my heart throbs more in the middle of this commotion than when I'm by myself. I can't forget... God, if I picked up a pen now, I feel like... only his name would come out..." She finds a letter from Ema in her mailbox. Lovely Maria... Inside is the card, addressed to "Fuyumi Maria-sama", from "God". The precious letter you've waited so long for has finally come. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria sees Kazuma holding a bouquet. He takes her into his arms. "Why did you leave without saying anything?" he says. "Didn't you say in the letters that you loved me! I always thought of sending a reply. But what could I write... I didn't forget our promise. So I thought you could understand." "Your bride..." "Promise..." "Daddy Longlegs would like you to be his bride." "But you were quickly charmed by the image of Daddy Longlegs..." "It must be sensei!" "As an adult, he bought you clothes, and could escort you... It was regrettable. And he gave you flowers without any meaning..." "That bouquet..." thinks Maria. "You liked my dad since long ago," he says. "Kazuma-kun...?" she thinks. "My dad's piano, and the roses from my dad's garden... So I began the piano as well. I studied hard... I became a scholarship student, recieving money... In place of that, I asked my dad to use my tuition for you... The Green Garden roses I grew for you are in full bloom now. I want to show them to you. Come back to Green Garden." He touches her face and kisses her. Is this a dream? "Are you my god...?" she says. She puts her arms around him. "Really? You're my god?" She drops the card to the ground. "When the cast is removed," it reads, "I will go see you. From the god who is only yours." "This seems like a dream," she says. Were you always watching me from nearby? Only me? I was always watching. Only you. "Maria?" "You're so mean. You should have told me sooner." "Maria!" says Ema. Kazushi coughs and puts his arm around Noa. They all smile. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria stands in the garden. "Green Garden," she thinks. "Nothing but wonderful chance meetings. My mom met my dad, and Maie-sensei..." "At our Green Garden, there's a legend that girls with long hair become happy brides." "He is always near you, certainly." Kazuma strokes her hair. "Did you know my dad and your mom have been communicating since a long time before this?" he says. "My mom's Daddy Longlegs was Maie-sensei," she says. "The one who will make you a happy bride... is only me." "The bride of the person I love most..." Now... We will always be together. God... May I call you that? You, who made my world the color of roses, I love. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original manga copyright © 1990 Takeuchi Naoko. English translation copyright © 2000 Alex Glover. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Manga of Takeuchi Naoko | Maria