Original subtitles

I decided I would put it to slumber, quietly and eternally.

So even now, this forest presents an unyielding rampart of briars...

...and continues to deny entry from the outside.

And it will probably do so until the time of my death.

Maria Watches Over Us

The Forest of Briars

Rosa Gigantea did?

Rosa Gigantea?

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga

It will be Christmas once the exams are over.

Rosa Foetida mentioned there would be a party...

...at the Rose Mansion for the closing ceremony.

Is something the matter?

Dear sister?

I don't like Christmas.

Would you like covers on these?

No, thank you.

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga So this is what everyone is talking about...

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga

I wonder if it is better not to, after all.

Better not to read it.

What?

What are your thoughts, Yumi?

As for me... I'm going to read it.

I'm curious, so I'll at least read through it once.

What if what you read unmistakably has to do with Rosa Gigantea?

What?

If Sei Suga turns out to be Rosa Gigantea,

I will probably have great respect for her.

Maybe I'll ask her to sign my copy.

I like how you can think like that.

My dear sister really is hesitant about reading this book...

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga "The Forest of Briars."

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga

The Forest of Briars Sei Suga lts author, Sei Suga, is actually...

Rosa Gigantea.

Yes, Rosa Gigantea put out a confessional novel...

that relates her hidden past in unreserved fashion...

That's the rumor that's going around.

In the end, it's just a rumor, right?

Started by the people who saw the article introducing new titles...

...in this Cosmos Circular.

Cosmos Circular

"'T he Forest of Briars,' by Sei Suga."

"Were those few months spent at the academy a dream?"

"Sei locked away everything in a forest of briars in her heart" ?

"A shocking autobiographical debut piece by a promising new author."

Sei Suga and Rosa Gigantea's real name, Sei Sato,

definitely share the same " Sei."

And if it's autobiographical,

it means she wrote about her own past in this novel...

So, I can understand how the rumor got started, but...

Rosa Gigantea's past...

Since you're first-year students, I doubt either of you know,

but Rosa Gigantea's past is... I guess you could say taboo.

People try to steer clear of it.

What do you mean?

It's like an unspoken agreement.

Those who know of the circumstances all keep quiet...

...and have a way about them, like they're being protective.

I wonder what happened.

Who knows? I was a first-year student,

so I wasn't told the particulars.

The past... But it's about last year, right?

Yes.

If Rosa Gigantea's past is written in this book,

maybe it's not surprising that Lady Sachiko is hesitant to read it.

And then, Sei and Kaori, who were best friends,

are almost separated from each other by the adults,

so on Christmas night, they leave on an aimless journey.

The two had planned to die,

but when Sei woke up in the hospital,

Kaori had already gone to Heaven.

It was a pretty typical ending.

Yoshino, you didn't cry, even when you got to the end?

Parts of it even reminded me of Lady Sachiko and me, so...

Well, what I wanted to talk about wasn't the contents of the novel.

Oh, I'm sorry.

After reading this,

I can see why it's rumored that the author is Rosa Gigantea.

I mean, I can't imagine the setting being any place but Lillian.

So anyway, Rei apparently read it too,

and she said, " I'm washing my hands of this matter."

What?!

She said she's going to pretend she never read the novel.

And that she also doesn't want to be involved with the rumor.

Come to think of it, Lady Sachiko bought the book,

but she also seemed reluctant to read it.

I wonder what happened...

And Rei won't tell me anything.

Since it's come to this,

we have no choice but to ask Rosa Gigantea directly!

Y-Yoshino, hold on a minute!

I don't know either.

I see.

I wonder if there really is no choice but to ask Rosa Gigantea.

Then, you can come with me, too.

Why?

"Why?" You're her soeur, aren't you?

Aren't you curious?

No.

More importantly, Yumi,

don't you think you had better get going?

What?

If you don't hurry,

Rosa Gigantea will have gone to the Rose Mansion.

You can't ask this in front of Lady Rei and Lady Sachiko, right?

Oh... right.

Year 3, Wisteria Class, Miss Sei Sato,

please come to the Non-Curricular Guidance Office immediately.

This couldn't be about that novel, could it?

Non-Curricular Guidance Office

Oh? Did you get summoned too, Yumi?

Rosa Gigantea...

You didn't , by any chance, report me for being a serial hugger, did you?

Rosa Gigantea, are you not aware?

Of what?

Um, I had meant to ask you about this, too.

Whether you are the author of "The Forest of Briars."

Briars?

Well, Yumi, we'll continue this later.

The Academy Director, the principal of secondary and upper secondary education,

the head teacher of Year 3, and the Wisteria Class homeroom teacher...

I had no idea " The Forest of Briars" was such a serious issue.

Yumi.

Yoshino...

How was Rosa Gigantea?

She was cheerful, like always.

And it seemed like she didn't know why she had been summoned.

I see...

I wonder what's going to happen to Rosa Gigantea...

It's taking so long.

Yes.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon.

But we know of nothing that might be of interest to the school paper!

Don't say that. Work with me here.

Don't you care if Rosa Gigantea gets expelled?

Expelled?!

Our school prohibits working part-time jobs.

Writing a novel would be clearly against school regulations.

Surely... she wouldn't be expelled...

If that happens, I could have the Lillian Ledger run a petition drive.

Saying, " Please do not expel Rosa Gigantea."

But...

...we really don't know anything...

Really?

Really...

Whoops.

Sorry, I can't hold you any longer, so could you step away?

Rosa Gigantea!

Besides, tumbling into the Non-Curricular Guidance Office...

...Iocked in each other's arms would be bad.

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

Please excuse me.

I'm sure you're dying to know, so I'll tell you,

but unfortunately, I'm not the one who wrote " The Forest of Briars," okay?

So, I'm so sorry I wasn't able...

...to provide the Lillian Ledger with a story this time,

Miss Minako Tsukiyama.

So, shall we go?

Where... to?

The Rose Mansion, of course.

Everyone's probably waiting, having heard the summons.

Maria Watches Over Us

That was certainly an ostentatious summons.

I've never been summoned personally,

so I might be just a bitjealous.

Why thank you.

The Lady Roses certainly are impressive.

I guess they don't act flustered like me...

Were you at the Non-Curricular Guidance Office?

Yes.

I see.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Beautifully refined.

Allow me to give you a little report.

I already told Yumi and Yoshino this,

but you know that novel everyone's talking about?

That's not me, okay?

That is all.

That was the reason you were summoned?

And?

Nothing really.

When I plainly stated that it wasn't me,

the Academy Director stood up for me...

...and I was released, just like that.

I hadn't read the actual book myself...

...and actually, the very fact that such a rumor was floating about...

...was something I found outjust earlier.

So, you really weren't the one who wrote it.

I swear to Mother Maria.

Understood.

Then let us consider this matter closed.

What do you say to that, Rosa Foetida?

I have no objections, Rosa Chinensis.

What?!

Now, about the Christmas Party...

Yes...

I guess they don't let rumors get to them.

I'm so low-brow and superficial.

It's depressing.

What? Was I making a lot of funny faces again?!

What is it, Yumi?

Do you have something to say?

Uh... no...

Pardon me.

Stay awake and keep your wits about you!

If anyone has something to share,

please make sure to raise your hand, okay?

To think I was worried about someone like her...

Please, stop this, Rosa Gigantea.

Oh, dear. In a foul mood, are we?

Sachiko, let me borrow Yumi.

I don't especially mind if you do, but...

Don't worry.

I won't strip her of her uniform and toy with her or anything.

Speak such nonsense and I shall decline your request!

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, Rei, I'm going to borrow Yoshino, too.

As long as Yoshino doesn't mind.

Are you sure you should give your consent so easily?

Rei knows that I won't do anything naughty to Yoshino.

Uh... why just me?

The way you react is great.

Plus, I enjoy seeing how Sachiko responds.

You soeurs are twice the enjoyment in one bite.

Thank you.

I put my hands together.

What?!

I'm the only one who's fallen prey to the evil upperclassman.

So, the three of us will handle the clean-up.

Ladies, please feel free to go on home.

Then we'll leave the rest to you.

Pardon us.

Yumi, try not to entertain Rosa Gigantea.

l-I will!

Dear sister, is there anything I can help with?

Nothing especially comes to mind...

I see.

Then, I shall go on home.

I'm sorry for making you keep my dear sister company.

Good day.

Was there something wrong with Shimako joining us?

If she wanted to stay,

Shimako is the kind of girl who'll stay of her own will,

even when she's told not to.

So, Yumi, do you have " The Forest of Briars" on you right now?

Oh, uh... yes.

Would you lend it to me?

I don't mind, but what are you going to do?

Read it, of course.

Did you think that I'd turn it into a hot pad or something?

Here you are.

Very good.

And in exchange...

Meal tickets from the noodle cafeteria?

You two go together.

But...

On your way back, buy me a can of coffee from a vending machine.

You can buy drinks for yourselves too.

All right.

Rosa Gigantea is inscrutable.

Yes...

Shimako is incredible, don't you think?

Being soeur to someone like that...

Oh, Yumi, you might want to tuck a handkerchief in at your neck.

Your collar's going to get soiled.

Yes...

What's wrong?

I wonder why Rosa Gigantea detained the two of us.

What?

I mean, if it's just to read "The Forest of Briars,"

she could easily take it home.

Oh!

Maybe she wanted to treat us to ramen because we're so cute?!

Yumi, your brain must be melted...

There is no way!

You think so?

No normal person buys sweet red bean soup with rice cake in a can!

What does it matter?!

Oh, pardon us for making you wait.

What's this about sweet red bean soup with rice cakes in a can?

Hey! Sweet Red Bean Soup with Rice Cake Green Tea Flavor

Yumi bought it.

What is this?!

I had no idea such a thing even existed!

Here! We made sure to buy coffee for you.

Thank you.

Did you actually read the book?

I did.

That person might have a pretty good instinct.

Whoever started the rumor that I wrote "The Forest of Briars."

What? What?

I mean, she's similar to me, isn't she?

You can ask.

You must have some notion that it's notjust my name...

...that caused people to attribute the writing of this novel to me.

Have we been so openly curious...?

I didn't say that to make you hang your heads...

I won't tell you the parts I don't want to talk about,

but if you're fine with that...

Why?

Because it's not fair that you're the only ones who don't know.

In a vague sort of way...

Did you detain us so that you could tell us?

Part of it was that I wanted to read it in short order.

The reason Yoko, Rei, and the others won't explain it to you...

...is probably because they want to respect my feelings.

It goes to show just how painful the incident must have been...

I had a really good friend, you see.

So good, I cherished her more than my parents or siblings...

...and I loved her so much,

I felt like if I just had her, I didn't need anything else.

She was a pure person, who was thinking of becoming a nun,

but last year, on Christmas Day, I lost her.

What?! Then...

That is exactly the same as Sei and Kaori in " The Forest of Briars."

It's not exactly the same.

I never left on a journey with her.

Nor did we take sleeping pills.

She transferred schools.

Then, Kaori is alive?

What's this?

Are you disappointed that she's alive?

Pardon me.

Then, could someone have based this novel on what happened to you?

It's hard to say.

Some parts are different,

while other parts are startlingly similar.

Doesn't it make you angry, Rosa Gigantea?!

Having your past turned into a novel without your permission...

Not to mention being mistaken for being the author!

I'm fine, as long as the people I care about understand.

That's why I wanted to tell you two.

Because I don't want any relationships...

...with lingering misunderstandings or speculations.

Your friend, who transferred... How is she doing now?

Oh, who knows how she's doing...?

Don't you want to see her?

It's better that I don't .

Her name isn't Kaori.

It's Shiori Kubo.

Rosa Gigantea must still have feelings for that person.

Yes.

I got that impression, too.

I wonder if that's why she didn't detain Shimako.

Because it's not nice to Shimako.

I find it unforgivable somehow.

The writing of this story can be hurtful to some people.

Yoshino?

It couldn't be Miss Shiori Kubo who wrote that novel, could it?

What?

All right! I've made up my mind!

I'm going to track down the person who wrote " The Forest of Briars" !

What?!

So this is Cosmos' editorial department...

Why am I here too?

You want to know too, don't you?

About who wrote " The Forest of Briars" ?

Yes, but...

Pardon me for making you wait.

We are sorry to disturb you when you must be busy.

Um, you handled the publishing of "The Forest of Briars," correct?

Yes, that's right,

but I cannot reveal Sei Suga's identity.

What?

These last couple days,

we've received inquiry after inquiry from Lillian's students.

Asking if Ms. Sei Suga's true identity is Miss Sei Sato.

Ms. Sasaki?

M-Ms. Kasuga!

My! Those uniforms bring back such memories!

What an unexpected pleasure to run into students from my old school here!

Ms. Kasuga!

Oh, then are you an alumna of Lillian?

Yes, from a long time ago.

Then...

Are you...?!

I am Seiko Kasuga, also known as Sei Suga.

Then, even though " The Forest of Briars" does take place at Lillian...

It means the story is from a long time ago?

"The Forest of Briars" was an incident that happened so long ago,

there were not even any lingering rumors of it.

Entirely unrelated to Rosa Gigantea's tale...

I hadn't spoken it in a long time...

Her name...

Are you a new student?

Yes. I just enrolled at Lillian this year.

What's your name?

Preview

Dear sister, what is the " bira" in "hanabira (petals)" ? The " bira" part.

The strangest things catch your attention, don't they?

The strangest things catch your attention, don't they?

The " bira" in " hanabira" is the kanji for " ben" in " bento (boxed lunch)."

The " ben" in " bento," is it?

I see, so it's the " ben" in " bento."

I see, so it's the " ben" in " bento." "The White Petals"

We have a beautiful story next week. I feel like this is spoiling it. "The White Petals"

"The White Petals"