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Yumi sighed as she refilled her mechanical pencil's lead. The short reprieve for Christmas and the New Year had made way for the resumption of classes. Yumi swore that the amount of course material had increased, though she hadn't thought it worth bringing up to anyone. She didn't think it would reflect well on her as the sœur of Rosa Chinensis en bouton to complain about such a thing.
The door creaked open. Yoshino's slight form stepped into the room.
“Oh, Yumi!” Yoshino got excited when she saw Yumi sitting at the meeting table.
“Evening, Yoshino.”
"What are you doing up here alone?" Yoshino asked, skipping over any sort of formality. "Usually you're on the bus by now, or with Sachiko."
"I needed somewhere quiet to work," Yumi said, frowning at the papers in front of her. "And Sachiko left right after school, anyway."
“Mm,” Yoshino took the seat next to Yumi's. "I see."
Yoshino nudged her chair closer to Yumi.
"Have you watched anything good lately?" Yoshino.
"Mm, no, not really." She didn't pay much attention to television, that was Yuuki and her father's domain.
"Pity, I rewatched one of Shindo’s films last time I was absent."
Shindo. Yumi knew that name, but couldn't recall if she'd ever seen anything made by them.
"Shindo, he makes... movies about samurai, right?" She guessed.
"Occasionally," Yoshino replied. At least she'd been partially right, that counts for something.
“The one I watched was closer to a ghost story. Though, I suppose there were samurai involved.”
Yoshino yawned.
"Oh, I'm more tired than I thought."
"Do you need-"
"It's not a big deal, Yumi," Yoshino interrupted. "Some days are just like this."
"Have you done anything strenuous?" Yumi asked, erasing a mistake as she re-did an equation.
"Hmm, I don't think so," Yoshino mumbled. "Sometimes I just get sleepy."
“Are you-”
"I'm fine. I can just stay here until Rei comes to find me." She said. She yawned again.
The weight on Yumi's shoulder got much heavier all of a sudden.
“Yoshino, what are you- oh.” Yumi glanced over at her and realized she’d fallen asleep, leaning against her shoulder.
Yumi heard the doorknob turn. Rosa Gigantea peeked in.
“Evening, Yumi,”
“Ah, mm, evening, Rosa Gigantea.”
“Oh, Yoshino’s fallen asleep on Yumi.” Rosa Gigantea laughed.
“Mhm. I’d move, but all her weight’s on my shoulder,” Yumi said. “Do you think we should wake her up?”
Rosa Gigantea shrugged.
“Eh, let her sleep. I’m sure she’ll wake up soon.” She said, dumping a packet of instant coffee into a cup. "Besides, I'm sure she can use the sleep. I know I could."
"Why don't you go home and sleep then?" Yumi asked. She already had an idea of what she was going to say.
"That's easy. Talking to Yumi is better than sleeping," Rosa Gigantea grinned devilishly. "Though, I suppose the two are close."
Things continued this way for a while, with Yumi working as diligently as she could while Rosa Gigantea made small talk with her. Eventually, the weight on Yumi's shoulder began to stir.
“Mmm,” Yoshino groaned. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Yeah.”
“I see,” She opened her eyes and glanced around the room. “Oh, evening, Rosa Gigantea.”
She yawned.
Rosa Gigantea smiled and waved as she took a sip of coffee.
"Evening, Yoshino." She said cheerfully. She looked down at her coffee and scowled.
"Needs sugar. Is yours okay, Yumi?"
"I'm okay, thank you," Yumi replied.
"Hey, Yoshino, you thirsty at all?"
"No, I'm fine. Though, I don't suppose you'd have any coupons on you tonight."
Rosa Gigantea laughed.
"Eh, no, not tonight." She took another sip of coffee.
"That's better."
"Say, Yumi, how are you getting home?"
"The bus. There's no way I'm walking home today."
"If you don't want to wait for the bus, I could drive you home." Rosa Gigantea offered.
On a normal day, Yumi would've said no. Today; however, was different. The wind was miserable outside. Yumi could glance out the window and see the trees swaying rapidly.
"Rei and I have to walk, though it's not too far, so I'm sure we'll be fine," Yoshino said.
"Mm, yeah, that's not too bad of a walk." Rosa Gigantea agreed.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Rosa Gigantea said.
Rei peeked her head in.
"Yoshino?"
"Ah, Rei." She got up from her seat.
"Are you ready to go home?" Rei asked.
"Yes, of course," Yoshino said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Yumi. You as well, Rosa Gigantea.
"Goodbye," Yumi said. "Stay safe."
Rei nodded, and Yoshino just smiled.
"See ya." Rosa Gigantea said, waving goodbye as the door closed again.
"Funny how this keeps happening, eh, Yumi?
"What do you-" She realized what she meant. She was alone with Rosa Gigantea.
"I guess."
"Pity this isn't an official meeting, then we coulda at least turned the furnace on." Rosa Gigantea mumbled.
"That's what the coffee is for, right?"
"Eh, I suppose," She pressed her hand against a vent. "I guess I'd just prefer it to be getting warmer, rather than colder."
"Is the sun down yet?" Yumi asked.
"No, you've probably got... half an hour before it sets." Rosa Gigantea replied.
"I should probably head home then," She said. "Are you..." she hesitated a moment. "Still willing to drive me home?"
"Oh! I didn't think you'd accept. Sure, anything for Yumi." She smirked.
Yumi packed up her schoolwork, and she and Rosa Gigantea turned everything off and locked up the Rose Mansion.
As they walked back to Rosa Gigantea's car, Yumi asked.
"So, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"Me? Well, I've got to go to the meeting tomorrow, and then I've got to start getting ready for exams."
"Are they doing them early this year?"
"Mm, no, I just want a head start."
"I see."
"How, about you?"
"My mother wants to bake something tomorrow, so I'll have to go home right away tomorrow."
"Mm, that feels like the sorta thing you oughta tell Sachiko, not me."
"I mean, you'll be here tomorrow, right?"
"Of course. I've got nowhere better to be."
“If I don’t get a chance to, would you tell Sachiko for me?”
“Mm, sure.”
"Y'know... one of these days you oughta teach me how to bake. After all, I've taught you plenty of stuff!"
Mm, well, no one had ever accused Rosa Gigantea of humility, Yumi thought to herself.
When they arrived at Yumi’s home, Rosa Gigantea insisted on accompanying her to the front step.
Knock-Knock.
"Evening, Mrs. Fukuzawa. I couldn't bear to see Yumi standing out in this wind waiting for a bus, so I drove her home."
"Oh, thank you, dear. It's nice to know she’s got such a responsible senior looking after her.” Yumi’s mother said.
"Oh, it's no issue. My pleasure."
She winked at Yumi as she said the last bit.
"See you tomorrow, Yumi." She said as Yumi stepped inside.
"Have a nice evening, Mrs. Fukuzawa."
"You as well dear, drive safely, okay?"
"Of course." Rosa Gigantea bowed and stepped away from the door.
"It's a pity she's graduating soon, she seems like such a pleasant young woman." Yumi's mother said as Rosa Gigantea walked back to her car.
The facade Rosa Gigantea had built for herself in her mother's mind was impeccable. She had her fooled completely.
Sei was good at that, Yumi thought.