bellatranslates | ball 🌸 maria yumeji (1)

Our resident nun has some troubles, and Tsuyuri's here to hear her out... Many thanks to my proofers

amagiiz for their hard work!

Tsuyuri: Here I go, Maria-chan~.

Maria: Whenever you're ready.

Tsuyuri: One-two — oof!

Cough, cough...! Ah, it's dusty...!

Maria: Are you alright, Tsuyuri-sama?

You have quite the weak respiratory system, so please don't do anything unnecessary.

As I have said many times before, I can change the bedsheets myself.

Tsuyuri: Mmm, but I'm part of the Healthcare Committee, too...

I feel bad having you do all the work so often, Maria-chan.

Maria: Heheh. It's due to words such as those that I respect you, Tsuyuri-sama.

At the very least, please don't strain yourself.

Transfer Student-san and I shall take care of the rest of the beds.

Please have a seat and relax.

Tsuyuri: If you say so. You've really gotten used to the Healthcare Committee's work, Transfer Student-kun.

Maybe... It's getting to where there's no point in me being here?

Maria: Not at all. You're the heart and soul of this committee, Tsuyuri-sama.

It would be lonely without your presence.

Tsuyuri: I see... Thank you, Maria-chan.

Let's take a little break, then. I'll brew some tea.

I've brought some sweets to go with it as well~. No one's had to visit the infirmary to get patched up or lie down today, so we can relax a little, don't you think? ♪

Umm, where did I put those tea leaves...?

Maria: Sigh...

Tsuyuri: Hm? Is something wrong, Maria-chan? That was quite the sigh.

Maria: Siiiiiiiigh... Ah, my apologies.

Tsuyuri: You've been doing that pretty often lately. Is something troubling you?

Maybe I could give you some advice, if you'd like?

Maria: It's just as you say — something is troubling me.

...Allow me to confess it to you.

Tsuyuri-sama, it's just... Shouldn't I be more youthful?

Tsuyuri: Hm?

I don't really understand, but now that you mention it...

Maria-chan, you're always doing the most out of all of us in the Healthcare Committee.

Not to mention your supplications to the church. You don't play around and you don't mind participating in club activities, so I wonder... Is that it?

Maria: Yes, I suppose so. To me, it seemed as if I was living a very ordinary life.

But I was scolded by my parents. They said I should enjoy myself more — I should experience my youth to the fullest...

Having fun at "kar-a-okay" and the "ar-cayde", eating "gram-abled" desserts, romance... That's allegedly what I should be doing.

They advised me that I should slack off more, cut corners, and mess around.

Tsuyuri: Wow... Normally, those are the types of things you'd get scolded for...

Maria: But I just don't understand. I want to live a pure and honest life.

I don't understand how worldly pleasures could be so interesting.

Romance, too. How is that any different from love?

Sigh... It's so difficult.

Tsuyuri: (Mmmm, it seems like she has a lot of worries.)

(Certainly, Maria-chan can be a little too serious... It's not wrong to say that.)

(Or rather, she's extremely saintly, so much that she feels stiff. I think it might actually be a good idea for her to relax a little.)

(But if she's not interested in it, then it's not like I can force her... What should I do?)

(I feel like that'd be wrong. Hmmmm...)

...Huh? What have you been messing with something for a while now, Transfer Student-kun?

You got a text from the Student Council President?

Ahh, so she wants to hold a dance party on the weekend.

The President really does love holding events, doesn't she? The admission's free too, and you get to bring home your favorite dress... She's being really generous.

A dress, huh...? I sort of want to wear one...♪

Oh, right.

Maria-chan, would you like to attend too?

Maria: Ah - me?

Tsuyuri: Yeah. It's a school event, so you can come without worrying.

It's the President holding it, so there probably won't be any weird issues.

If you want to try having a little bit of fun, why not come?

Maria: Hmmmm... A dancing party?

But it's written here that you have to participate as a pair. I can't if it's only me.

Ummm, unless you'd like to go with me, Tsuyuri-sama...?

Tsuyuri: Mmm, I'm not sure I could. I feel like if I danced, I'd collapse on the spot.

Cough, cough.

Ah — why not just go with Transfer Student-kun?

Maria: That would be quite the help indeed. After all, I'm more or less aware of the implication, should he be my partner.

Attending a dancing party with a boy certainly is "youthful," is it not?

However, would that truly be alright? Though I am not that well-versed in such matters...

If a boy and a girl were to participate together... Wouldn't they seem to be a couple, or a pair of lovers?

I would feel terrible for Tsuyuri-sama if we were perceived in such a way.

Tsuyuri: Um, why? It'd be perfectly okay! Don't worry about something so strange!

Maria: But you and Transfer Student-san are compatible, are you not? You certainly have that type of relationship.

Tsuyuri: Wh-What type of relationship!? You've got it all wrong, we're just friends...!

(Ahh, but I see what she means.)

(A boy and a girl going to the party together can look that way. I wonder if Koyo-chan's going to be angry...)

(On the other hand, she'd never come to such an extravagant event. In that case, the Transfer Student really is fair game.)

I'll be fine, Maria-chan - for your sake, you can have him this time. Er, that's not what I meant, um—

Anyway, it's fine! You two should go to the dance party together!

I'm not going to force you, but I think you should...!?

I really don't mind.

Doing new things for the first time takes a great amount of courage. Just take it slow.
Maria-chan, just do as you like.

Maria: I...

I still don't understand completely, however...

Keeping my distance while not even trying to understand anything... I believe that's wrong of me.

Just watching from a distance as everyone else gets carried away...

I tilt my head, confused, and yet each and every day feels so empty.

I want to know what it's like to enjoy my youth, to enjoy playing around...

...And I'd like to fall in love, too.

Prologue <- Maria Yumeji (1) -> Maria Yumeji (2)