Sonatine for the Forgotten · Chapter 6
The Wilted Rose
There was once a group known as the Blue Rose Sisterhood.
They were a reckless gang of bike hog riders who dreamed of tearing across every corner of Lavistar.
Some say they continue to ride even now, but their glory days are long behind them.
And at the center of it all... was someone known as The Thorn Vine of the Blue Rose.
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
Boss! How 'bout we carve out a new road today, eh?
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member B
Yeah, let's do it! My body's been cravin' a run!
Just like any other day, the act of riding itself was never in question.
Their only concern was deciding where they would go today.
Tomorrow was not something they cared to imagine.
Each had lost hope for tomorrow in their own way, and so they lived by charging headlong through today.
But that day, they chose to take on the risk of a new road.
I'm not sure whether you're aware, but riding an unfamiliar road can be far more dangerous than it sounds.
Once you've picked up speed, every unfamiliar detail becomes a variable.
But the thrill of overcoming those variables is what makes the risk worth taking.
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
H-Huh...? Hey, what's wrong with 'em!
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member B
B... Boss! The bike hogs ain't respondin' right!
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
*Gasp* V-Voidborns!
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member B
Everyone, fall back!
But they had overestimated themselves.
They didn't know what kind of place they had chosen to race through, or how powerless they truly were.
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
Boss! We're completely outnumbered!
Lots of us are hurt... and the bike hogs too...!
The helplessness of watching people get hurt, collapse, and groan in pain.
The devastation of knowing that days spent simply loving the ride could end so meaninglessly.
And their boss... was likely wearing the worst expression of her life.
Until she met a cold, empty light, so faint it seemed closer to a shadow.
...A special warmth.
???
Are you all right?
...You're badly hurt.
???
We'll take it from here. Leave the rest to us.
The maids of Candle Square are here to help.
Why had the maids come all the way here?
What were they capable of?
What was going to happen now?
The Thorn Vine of the Blue Rose could not think of anything at all.
All she could do was watch, dazed, as the Savior in front of her...
Lived up to her title as she helped the others.
Maid
Ms. Carnelia, the number of Voidborns appears to exceed our initial estimate.
Should we continue the operation as planned?
Carnelia
Yes. Did you contact Polaris regarding this matter?
Maid
Yes. We requested support from the Orbital Search Team's Observers. They'll arrive in approximately eight minutes.
Carnelia
Eight minutes... That will do. Our priority is getting these people to safety.
Carnelia
Maids of Candle Square, hear me.
Our destination is beyond the ridge ahead to the emergency team's position.
During the escort, minimize combat with the Voidborns. Prioritize defense over offense.
Once we reach that point, we hold out until the Orbital Search Team arrives.
I'll take the lead. Everyone ready, fall in behind me.
Let's move.
May there be dawn at the end of this long night.
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
...What in the... What was that...?
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member B
That was awesome...! I'm completely smitten!
Carnelia
That should... more or less settle things.
How are things on your end?
Maid
All clear. The Voidborns on our side have been eliminated with help from the Observers.
With this, the area should remain clear of Voidborns for a while.
Carnelia
That's a relief. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Observers as well.
Polaris Observer
No need to. This was our duty to begin with.
Their numbers multiplied so fast that even our observations couldn't keep up...
We didn't expect you to act before we could and handle the initial response.
And to think the Master Maid herself would lead the operation herself...
Carnelia
Fufu, please don't hesitate to call on us if something like this happens again.
Now then, we'll escort the citizens back and withdraw.
Polaris Observer
Oh, understood! Thank you again for your assistance!
Once the Voidborns have been dealt with, the maids returned to their respective duties.
Some returned to their work at Candle Square, while some stayed behind to assess residual risks.
Some escorted members of the Blue Rose Sisterhood to the hospital.
Blue Rose Sisterhood Member A
Wait, you're takin' us all the way to the hospital? Ain't there other things to take care of?
Carnelia
Fufu, it's quite alright. Candle Square has many capable maids beside myself.
Looking after people who need help is part of what it means to be a maid.
Unfortunately, our infirmary doesn't have enough room to accommodate everyone...
So we'd like to take you to the best hospital we can arrange.
Master Maid Carnelia. The name and title etched in the boss' mind.
It was then that the boss first started looking toward tomorrow.
Wanting to become like someone else was a feeling the boss of a reckless biker gang had never known before.
Claire
And in the end, that very boss...
Bell
She showed up at Candle Square, insisting to meet Carnelia.
As soon as she met the woman she'd been searching for, she fell to her knees.
...That's how it happened, isn't it?
Claire
...
I remember asking people not to spread rumors about it... but I suppose it didn't help.
Bell
I don't know the full story either. Only the person involved would know what really happened.
Claire
I won't deny what you said.
Besides... it seems you already know anyway.
Bell
Did you ever miss those days afterward?
Or wish you'd never become a maid at all?
Claire
...It would be a lie to say I never missed the past.
The scent of the wind, the pounding of my heartbeat... those things aren't easily forgotten.
It was a much simpler, more primal way of living than the life I have now... one where every responsibility and choice weighs on me.
But...
Claire
No matter what, I've never felt regret.
The future the boss dreamed of back then...
...isn't much different from who I am now, or who I hope to become.
Bell
...You're such an idiot.
Claire
Isn't that basically a compliment when you say it?
Bell
Shut up.
You were making it sound like some cheesy storybook romance.
Claire
I-I never said anything like that...!!
Bell
...Hmm. So you told my sister about all of this during your private conversation?
Claire
...Maybe. I believe so.
Bell
Seriously? Maybe? After remembering everything else?!
Claire
*Sigh*... I have no defense for that. I was extremely nervous speaking with Ms. Carnelia.
Also, the very next day after we spoke...
She was gone from Candle Square.
Things became so chaotic afterward that nobody had time to think clearly.
Bell
So the day before she disappeared, hmm...
...
...Claire, if we're really reliving the past exactly as it happened...
Claire
It seems you've reached the same conclusion I did.
This situation we're experiencing inside the black book...
If this isn't about traveling through time and more about reliving a record...
Bell
...Then the black book was Carnelia's journal?
Claire
Yes. Or perhaps it's something like a Candle Square work log she left behind.
We've gone through multiple days' worth of events, but never anything after working hours.
And since you weren't part of Candle Square back then, this recreated world doesn't recognize your existence.
Bell
That explanation does line up...
W-Wait! Then how are we supposed to get out of here?
Does that mean we have to experience the past day by day until we get to her last entry?
Claire
If we do nothing, yes, that is a possibility.
But if this world is a record left by Ms. Carnelia, and each sequence is part of that record...
We might be able to flip ahead to a specific day, like turning several pages at once.
After all, we don't necessarily have to turn the pages one by one.
Claire
...Very well. Then let's find the black book inside this world.
Bell
Finding a book inside a book and trying to turn the pages... Definitely absurd.
Claire
Otherwise, we can continue doing maid work at Candle Square for the next few months.
Personally, I wouldn't mind. It would be the perfect chance to retrain you in basic maid duties.
Bell
Fine. Let's go find the book already!
Why start in her office, though? We found the book in the library, remember?
Claire
Whether it was personal or work-related, Ms. Carnelia wouldn't have kept a private record in a public library.
Besides, we checked the entire library catalog together not long ago.
Bell
True that. There's no way we would've missed it.
Then... you're saying the book was kept in the office?
Claire
After she disappeared, it could've been transferred to the library while her office was being cleared out.
Then it might've gone missing before the cataloging review, only to reappear later.
That's my current theory.
Bell
*Sigh*... I just hope she didn't ward her office with detection spells...
...Huh?
Claire
Did you find it?
Bell
Yes. It was right inside the desk drawer.
...
...Maybe she didn't actually mean to hide it that well.
Claire
Hm? What did you say?
Bell
N-Nothing! Anyway, let's break the seal and—
Huh? No seal?
Claire
This is...
Bell
It's Carnelia's handwriting. Looks like we were right.
Claire
Phew. At least we weren't pulled into a book inside the book.
If we turn the pages toward the back...
Bell
...W-Why is it shaking...?
Claire
Apparently...
I think we hit the mark.
Claire
Cleaning the garden, tidying the stables... maid etiquette...
Claire
...Savior assistance, routine Polaris meeting, off-site duty, and...
...
One-on-one meeting.
I believe we've reached it.
Bell
The shaking... stopped.
Bell
That means we're at the right page, right?
Claire
Let's hope so. I'm certain it worked—
Maid
Excuse me.
Claire
Hyaaah?!
Maid
...? Did I startle you?
Bell
...Did I just hear a hyaaah?
Claire
A-Ahem.
I wasn't startled in the slightest. What brings you here?
Maid
Ms. Carnelia would like to see you for a private consultation.
Claire
Where is she waiting?
Maid
She's in the Master Maid office.
Claire
I'll prepare myself and head there shortly. Please let her know.
Maid
Yes, then.
Bell
...Claire?
Claire
...Yes.
It looks like I'll be having that cup of tea now.
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