Maria-sama ga Miteru Novels

[kj1980]

Notes for summary:

1. "Maria-sama ga Miteru" will be abbreviated as "Marimite S1"
2. "Maria-sama ga Miteru ~Haru~" will be abbreviated as "Marimite S2"

__________________________________________________ _____________



Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 01: "Maria-sama ga Miteru"
Original publishing date: 1998.05.10
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

Lillian High School which is located in Tokyo, has a unique tradition. In order to help fresh newcomers to quickly learn the elegant culture of the Lillian High School, senior students adopt their junior as their petite soeur/younger sisters. Yumi who is a first year student suddenly gets a surprise request from Sachiko, a 2nd year student. Sachiko, a Lillian high school idol, wants to adopt her as her petite soeur.

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 02: "Kibara Kakumei"
Original publishing date: 1999.02.03
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

Suddenly, two members of Yellow Rose family, Yoshino and Rei create a crisis in Lillian High School by breaking their sister relationship. Since they are the most popular soeur in the school, junior students start to imitate Yoshino's action by terminating their soeur relationships with their elder sisters. Can soeur tradition in Lillian High School survive this time?

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 03: "Ibara no Mori"
Original publishing date: 1999.04.07
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

Who wrote this book? A novel suddenly becomes very popular in Lillian High School. It tells a love story between two girls which ends tragically. Is Rosa Gigantea the author of this book? Does anyone know about Sei's past?

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 04: "Rosa Canina"
Original publishing date: 1999.12.01
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

Rosa Canina
It is time for the annual election in Lillian to choose yamayurikai for next year. Other than the three Rosa en boutons, there is a suprise candidate for this year election. Rosa Kanina, a talented singer in Lillian Girl.

Nagaki Yoruno
Rosa Gigantea calls Yumi-chan on a New Year’s date. They are going to a shrine for hatsu-moude. Rosa Gigantea has just got her driving license during this holiday.

From the shrine, they visits Sachiko's house. To her surprise, Yumi finds her brother, Yuuki there with none other, Kashiwagi Suguru at his side. Yuuki, called as "Yukichi" at his school - Hanadera Gakuin, is also a member of Hanadera's student body like Suguru. Apparently, Yuuki was “kidnapped” from his friends at an arcade by Kashiwagi-senpai. It is a little secret that Suguru is a bisexual person (leaning more towards men) and has set his eyes on Yuuki. For Sachiko, Yuuki seems to be the only male from them that she isn’t afraid of – because he is Yumi’s brother.
Sachiko, Sayako (Sachiko's mother), Suguru, Sei, Yumi and Yuuki play card and board games at the Ogasawara house. After that, Sei, Yumi and Yuuki decide to stay over for the night. Yuuki strongly objects to sleep in the same room with Kashiwagi-senpai. Meanwhile, Rosa Gigantea and Kashiwagi Suguru do not get along very well… For Yumi, she gets to sleep alongside with her beloved onee-sama, Sachiko-sama.
Sayako writes - “Nakakiyono Toono Nefurino Minamisame Naminori Funeno Otonoyokikana” A palindrome and an ancient Japanese scripture that you write and slip it under your pillow to see a good New Year’s dream. Sachiko thanks Yumi for her visit because she was extremely troubled with Suguru-san staying at her house for the holidays.

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 05: "Valentinus no Okurimono (First-Half)"
Original publishing date: 2000.03.03
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

Bikkuri Chocolate
The Lillian Newspaper club proposed to Yamayurikai to have a special event in Valentine day.

Kibara Kousaku This story has not been animated

Spoiler:

Rosa Foetida is pondering over the Valentine’s Day present which Hasegura Rei gave her. Rei’s handmade truffles were her presents last year and she loved them. She loved them so much that Rei promised that she would make them again this year. But the box that lies in front of her right now is a big one, a very big one in fact. Perhaps, Rei mistakenly gave the one actually meant for Yoshino.

At the same time, Yoshino is pondering over the Valentine’s Day present which Hasegura Rei gave her too. Usually, Yoshino’s dilemma is the ever-growing Valentine’s Day present that Rei gives her every year. But this year…it is too big! Perhaps this is the year, the year that Yoshino dreaded. But wait... Rei-chan gave this to her after she returned from huffing-and-puffing at Rosa Foetida’s place…Is it possible that this one was actually meant for Rosa Foetida? At the same time, both Eriko and Yoshino are thinking the same way, “if it is Rei I[we] are thinking about, it’s possible that she has made a goof.” But since it is already late at night, neither Eriko nor Yoshino decides to call Rei (nor each other) to find that out. What a dilemma for them!

Meanwhile, Rei is relaxing in her bath recalling how she made the three poundcakes: for her father, Yoshino and Rosa Foetida.

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 06: "Valentinus no Okurimono (Second-Half)"
Original publishing date: 2000.04.25
Category: Main Story


First Date Triangle "Marimite S1" Ep. 12-13 covers this story

Akai Card "Marimite S1" Ep. 9 covers this story

Rosa Chinensis, Jinsei Sairyou no Hi This story has not been animated

Spoiler:

It has been a terrible day for Rosa Chinensis. Not only she has her monthly sickness, but she catches a cold as well. Furthermore, today also happens to be the day of her university entrance examination too. This afternoon, when she came to Lillian to visit the yamayurikai, she forgot to alight at the bus stop in front of the Lillian High School - she got off at the next stop and walked back. Today must be Rosa Chinensis’ worst day ever.
Suddenly, her body screams. “My stomach hurts, my stomach hurts, my stomach hurts!” Rosa Chinensis rushes into the nearest restroom and as she sat on the toilet, she faints and awaits her recovery.

As she recovers she hears somebody is crawling into the restroom window – it seems like someone is trying to chase off people who were following her. It is Yumi. Since Rosa Chinensis is in the locked room, Yumi-chan does not notice Rosa Chinensis to be in the same restroom.

“Ah, yes today was the Valentine’s Day event – that’s the reason why I came to Lillian after school.”
She heads for the Bara no Yakata – and to her surprise, the place is filled with students
Her dream of an “open Bara no Yakata” has been fulfilled, and her joy rises, seeing how students in the Yamayurikai board room are having fun.
She tell her self, "Worst day ever? who am I kidding, this is the best day ever!”

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 07: "Itoshiki Toshi-tsuki (First-Half)"
Original publishing date: 2001.02.02
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 08: "Itoshiki Toshi-tsuki (Second-Half)"
Original publishing date: 2001.04.03
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 09: "Cherry Blossom"
Original publishing date: 2001.07.27
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 10: "Rainy Blue"
Original publishing date: 2002.03.29
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 11: "Parasol o Sashite"
Original publishing date: 2002.07.01
Category: Main Story

"Marimite" episodes ??-?? covers this volume.

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 12: "Kohitsuji-tachi no Kyuuka"
Original publishing date: 2002.12.25
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 13: "Manatsu no Ichi page"
Original publishing date: 2003.03.28
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 14: "Suzukaze Satsu-Satsu"
Original publishing date: 2003.07.01
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 15: "Ready, GO!"
Original publishing date: 2003.10.31
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 16: "Variety Gift"
Original publishing date: 2003.12.25
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 17: "Ciao Sorella!"
Original publishing date: 2004.03.31
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

synopsis work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 17.5: "Premium Book"
Original publishing date: 2004.07.27
Category: Anime fan-novel

This is an anime fan-novel that consists of interviews with the seiyuus and artwork from the anime, with a small excerpt at the end

synopsis for excerpt work-in-progress

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 18: "Tokubetsu de nai Tada no Ichinichi"
Original publishing date: 2004.10.01
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

Spoiler:

And we finally get to the Culture Festival once again.

Hanadera members get some of the attention as they come to help out the Yamayurikai in getting "Torikaebaya Monogatari" act together.

An added twist is set for Yamayurikai's version of "Torikaebaya"

Hmm...once again there were two places in this novel that might hint(?) a relationship between Yuuki and Yoshino (then again, I've been reading too much of Yuuki-Yoshino coupling doujinshis).

Yumi gets to look after both Touko-chan and Kanako-chan throughout this novel. In many ways, this novel reinforces that they are the top two candidates for Yumi's soeur....

Several cameos indeed make an appearance at this Culture Festival - including Shimako's father, Shimura Takuya, Kashiwagi Suguru (eleven tickets!?) and of course, Mizuno Youko and Satou Sei!

Kanako's "secret" on why she despises men and her father is revealed. Introduction of Hosokawa Yuuko and Hosokawa Chikako.


Several new notes to be noted about Yumi:

A. Yumi's fanbase in Hanadera is actually growing for some reason - large enough that a Battle Royale exists at Hanadera to pounce Yuuki to get the Culture Festival ticket with Yumi's name stamped on it (somehow, I take it this is Konno Oyuki's sarcasm on the extreme male otaku fanbase towards Marimite)

B. Yumi is largely popular with Lillian's first year students as well.

C. Quoting Yoshino, "You should leave it like that. Even just a moment ago, a Hanadera student came over to ask when Yumi-san has a break. I asked him why, and he replied that he wanted Yumi-san to show around Lillian. I don't know why, but Yumi-san, you are very popular with Hanadera and our first year students. [So take my advice,] don't go around saying that you are free after lunch. If you respond each one faithfully, you won't end up having any free time with Sachiko-sama."




and....the last sentences in this novel:

After spending few moments holding Yumi in her arms, Sachiko-sama gently released and looked straight in Yumi's face

"Yumi" said Sachiko
"It is time for you to find a soeur"

"What..."

Sachiko-sama is a liar. She said that today was "Not Special, But a Regular Day," but on this anniversary date of their soeur relationship, she imposed Yumi with a very important task.

[kj1980]

Copyright: Cobalt Bunko, Konno Oyuki, Hibiki Reine

VOLUME 19: "In Library"
Original publishing date: 2004.12.25
Category: Main Story

This story has not been animated

In Library

Spoiler:

The story takes place just a few days after Lillian's Culture Festival. Yumi was handed down a tough assignment from her beloved Sachiko-sama to "go find your petite soeur." In addition to the excitement from the Culture Festival, this huge task left Yumi having a tough time getting to go to sleep every night.

The Yamayurikai was just going over their post-Culture Festival meeting when the discussion suddenly turned to the attention of when Yoshino and Yumi will find their petite soeur. Yoshino, of course, is quite sensitive to this subject due to a deal she made with the previous Rosa Foetida (Torii Eriko) and the deadline is looming over the horizon. Yumi, on the other hand, also became sensitive because she was recently handed down this assignment from Sachiko-sama just a few days ago.

quoting from the novel:
"Why does everyone think that Kanako-chan and Touko-chan are the obvious candidates for Yumi's soeur? Yumi has never appointed neither of them as her candidate, nor had they come up to Yumi to declare their candidacy."

Hmm...is this Ms. Konno's way of asserting to us readers with some sort of sarcasm?

Yumi begins to ponder how she should find her petite soeur.

"Maybe if I barge out from this room right now, there will be a first year student that just happened to be on the other side of the door..."

"...or maybe shall I go to the St. Mary Statue among the ginkgo trees and fix the tie of a first year student...?"

Shizukanaru Yoru no Maboroshi (The Illusion in the Quiet Night)

Spoiler:

If you notice from the title, "Shizukanaru~" (Quiet) is also a pun on the main character of this story - Kanina Shizuka-sama. Hence, while it can be read "The Illusion in the Quiet Night," it can also be pun-read as "The Illusion in Shizuka's Night."

I'm sorry, I do not know the English title, so care to help me out. There is this fairy tale (obviously of western origin) about a little girl who sells matches in the winter. No one buys her matches, and she gets cold. In despair, she lights up those matches, and in the flame she sees visions (illusions). In the end, she sees an illusion where she is sleeping warmily on the lap of her deceased grandmother. Story ends with her dying in the freezing winter, but with a warm smile on her face.

Anyway, "Shikanaru Yoru no Maboroshi" is based (somewhat) upon that story...in which Kanina Shizuka-sama herself even mentions.

It is Christmas. Shizuka is walking in a department store with nothing to do. She is stopped by a fortune teller who reads her palm and tells her "you will have a great turn of events when in the new year."

Shizuka, left pondering, returns home. A note was left on the table from her mom which read "Going out for a few moments to get the Christmas cake I reserved."

Bored with nothing to do, Shizuka sat down on the sofa. Then, she noticed a lump inside her pocket. "Six books of matches for 100 yen..." Pondering why she bought that, she remembered it was because of the fairy tale (see above) she had recently just re-read from the recommendation of the Lillian school library. When she re-read this story, she realized that it wasn't so tragic that she had remembered it from when she was a child. While the adults see the young girl frozen to death and feel sorry for her, at least the young girl passed away happily and warm on the illusion of her deceased grandmother's lap.

Just for the heck of it, Shizuka lit up a match. Nothing happens. "Perhaps I shouldn't have eaten that Chocolate bon-bon. The young girl who saw it was hungry..."

Shizuka lits one once again. This time she sees two happy soeurs walking side-by-side and hand-in-hand. There is no conversation between them, but their bond is shown with the black ribbon that the younger soeur wears to bind her hair into two parts. (Obviously, Shizuka is seeing Sachiko-sama and Yumi).

Shizuka ponders why she just saw that. There was no jealousy there, nor was there any feeling that she wanted a soeur relation like that. Shizuka snugged it off as "I probably saw that because I though that scene was beautiful."

Shizuka lits the match once again. This time, she sees a vision of a frail-looking but strong-eyed first-year student waiting for someone in front of the St. Mary Statue. When the person arrived, the first year student suddenly said "please let me become your petite soeur [once again]." (Obivously, Shizuka is seeing Rei-sama and Yoshino)

Shizuka wasn't there when that happened. She probably read it on the Lillian School Newspaper whose editor-in-chief has an articulate sense of reporting which makes the readers believe that they actually witnessed that in a grand scale. Of course, "Yellow Rose Revolution," and its climax sent shockwaves across the Lillian campus - which of course includes Shizuka-sama.

Shizuka lits the match again. She sees the illusion of a young first year student whose features is portrayed by her melancholic beauty. (Obviously, Shizuka saw Shimako) Shizuka immediately blows out the flame.

"Why did I just see that? What do I wish to see?" Questions encircle within Shizuka.

As Shizuka falls into despair, crying out for some plea to help her, she suddenly has a relapse into the past when she was a first year student.

"Oh how I wish we had someone like Shizuka-chan in the Yamayurikai" said the previous Rosa Chinensis (Super Rosa Chinensis, Youko's grande soeur)

"Oh? You already have a nice petite soeur - Youko-chan." said the head of the chorus.

"No, what I mean was we need a first year student in our Yamayurikai who is strong-willed just like Shizuka-chan." replied [Super] Rosa Chinensis.

"Oh really? But you can't have her...you don't know when Shizuka will suddenly go off to Italy. She has been denying petite soeur request ever since she joined our chorus group." said the chorus leader.

"Are you sure? Maybe she's just making an excuse because she already has a person in mind who she wishes to be her grande soeur?" said [Super] Rosa Chinensis

"Uh...I never said that I have anyone in mind." countered Shizuka

"Oh really? Well that's not so interesting. Well, how about you take our little white one?" smiled [Super] Rosa Chinensis.

Shizuka jittered slightly.

"You mean Sei-chan? I don't think that possible." questioned the chorus leader.

"That meaning, you're talking about Shiori-san, are you not?" said the [Super] Rosa Chinensis.

Shizuka awakens to her present state

Why. Even that Shiori-san wasn't able to become that person's petite soeur. I believed that that person would never have her own soeur. But now, there is a young first year student beside her. As Shizuka began to cry, with a feeling inside her that this wasn't the way it was supposed to be - that this wasn't the reason why she postponed her sponsorship to Italy.

Shizuka lit the match once again. She clearly saw the vision of the person she had wanted to see.

"Rosa Gigantea...Satou Sei-sama"
"Gokigenyou"
"I....I have always loved you"
"Oh really, thank you."
match goes off

Shizuka lights the match once again
"Sei-sama, I have always adored you"
"Oh really, thank you."
match goes off

"Sei-sama!"
and Shizuka lights the match once again
"I really do love you!!"
"Oh really, thank you."
match goes off

Everytime Shizuka opens her heart to tell Sei's illusion, each and everytime, Sei answers "Oh really, thank you." The more and more Shizuka lights the match, the answer is always the same....

And Shizuka realized why Sei's illusion replies back with the same answer. Even though Shizuka tells what she feels deep inside her heart, she is just telling her true feelings toward an illusion - that in which is not a reality which can never go foward that "oh really, thank you."

"Wait! Sei-sama!"
match goes off, lights match

"Come on, Shizuka, follow me"
match goes off, lights match

"Please don't leave me behind! Sei-sama, save me from this spiral!"
match goes off, lights match

"You already know what to do"
match goes off, lights match

"I don't know!"
match goes off, lights match

"Shizuka, what do you desire?"
match goes off, lights match

"You already have the answer in you."
match goes off, lights match

.....

Just then, as Shizuka's mom said "I'm home~" Shizuka awoke from her trance.

Shizuka's mom looks at the pile of burnt matches in the ash tray "What the...were you trying to enact the story of the young girl and her matches?"

Shizuka: "How did you guess?"

Shizuka's mom: "Well you wouldn't ruin your own throat, would you?" (I don't suspect that you were smoking because you are the lead in the chorus)

Shizuka: "That's true"

Shizuka's mom: "So did you see any illusions?"

Shizuka: "I might've, I might not have..."

Shizuka mom: "Hey, cut that smirk off your face....what are you deviously planning this time?"

Shizuka: "What are you talking about?"

Shizuka mom: "I know you. You always get that smirk when you are wily. You've been always the type who gets back at something that has been done to you."

Shizuka: "Sheesh mom, I'm not that big of a troublemaker..."


But, what Shizuka had realized and started planning to do is of such a scale. It will probably cause some turmoil. Perhaps the fortune teller was right...something big will happen when the new year comes along.

"Perhaps, I should start by cutting off my hair."

(Obviously, this story is a precursor to Shizuka's sudden candidacy to run for the Yamayurikai)

More chapter summaries to follow when I have the time.