[kj1980]

Originally Posted by SleeplessHeart

I think I got a clue. If you have read the novel, tell me if I am correct.

Spoiler for Episode 13:

Were Katou Yumi and Sachiko's grandmother soeurs when they were in Lillian?

I HIGHLY URGE YOU NOT TO READ THE FOLLOWING SPOILER UNLESS YOU ARE TRULY PREPARED TO BE SPOILED FOR A GOOD STORY IN THE NEXT EPISODE

Spoiler:

The name is incorrect.

Katou Kei is a student-tenant living in Ikegami Yumiko's house.

Other than that you are correct. It is not clearly written in the novel, but it is obviously apparent that Ikegami Yumiko and Ayako-sama (Sachiko's maternal grandmother) were great friends (most likely soeurs) when they were at Lillian.

A brief synopsis of what is written in the novel is:

A. Yumiko-san visits Lillian and meets up with Yumi, Touko, and Sei. She gives thanks to Yumi for "making me realize to meet with my beloved friend that I haven't seen in ages...and this time I can really say that 'I'm sorry.' "

B. No mention of who Yumiko's friend is made here - just that she is in grave condition and is currently in a hospice, spending her last days in a peaceful location. Yumiko-san leaves a message to Yumi and Sei to tell Kei that she will be leaving the house for a few days.

C. Flash foward to a certain scene where Sachiko and Yumi resolves their issues and tightens their soeur relationship even stronger after this crisis. Sachiko's maternal grandmother - Ayako just passed away. When Ayako's death was looming near, Ayako began to mutter the name "of a very old friend" and that she wanted to meet her one last time. Once again, never is Ayako's "old friend's" name is ever given.

D. Sachiko, wanting to grant her grandmother's last wish, began franticly searching for her grandmother's lost friend - but when she did and tried to call her house, there was nobody there - it seems that she left her house for a few days. In despair, Sachiko hung up the phone. But when Sachiko looked up, by miracle, her grandmother's old friend was standing right next to her!!

E. In a moment of thought, Yumi thought up of a very elegant lady with a white parasol going off to meet her best friend. Do miracles exist?


Hence, the novel does not note down who the "other friend" is from both Yumiko-san and Ayako-san's perspectives. But it is pretty obvious and noted that they were most likely soeurs.

I am actually really looking foward on how the anime portrays these parts - as a novel reader, I really do hope that they do leave each other's friend's name as anonymous, yet as clearly obvious to the viewers that they were just like the novel.