by Sean Gaffney
Author's Notes: Because this is what the rosary ceremony is.
The young woman rose to the podium and allowed herself a brief smile.
"If you'd told me when I first came here that I would be speaking to a crowd of people on the occasion of my Oneesama's graduation, I would have thought you insane. And yet, here I am."
There was a small chuckle of laughter, and she felt her shoulders relax a little.
"I had thought the world of Lillian Academy to be some far-away, foreign thing. Something that would never touch a person like me. And then my Oneesama found me, and took it upon herself to do what this school does so well, to show me to stop looking inwardly, and let myself bloom."
She took a deep breath.
"It's hard sometimes to keep that in perspective. To realize that the rosaries aren't meant to be a popularity contest. That you don't necessarily choose who you like best, or think you'd make the best fit with. The rosary is a contract with your petit soeur, a promise that you will take them up and lead them until they can stand on their own, and until they can make their own promises."
She smiled at this point at her own petit soeur, who tried to smile but mostly scowled in the audience. Ah well, more work to do there still.
She turned back, and tried to ignore the growing lump in her throat. "So I thank my own Oneesama, for seeing me and realizing what I needed, and for not giving up when I wasn't ready to listen. I thank you all, all you graduates, for that. You are our inspiration - always."
She managed to turn to go back to her seat just as the tears started to flow, thank goodness.
Afterwards, she went outside, and saw her Oneesama outside, with Rosa Gigantea. She bowed.
"An excellent speech, Rosa Chinensis."
She flushed, and looked down. "You're still Rosa Chinensis."
"Am I? I have this diploma." She waved it around. "I've graduated. So we aren't Rosas anymore, right?"
Rosa Gigantea smiled. "And you can't imagine how long I've waited for this day."
"So again, congratulations, Rosa Chinensis."
She managed to compose herself again, and smiled back. "I don't suppose I can call you Super Rosa Chinensis?"
The other girl laughed. "You can call me Matsudaira-san now, Kameko."
Kameko sighed. "Not even Touko-sama?"
"I'm allergic to that name."