"Gokigenyou."
"Gokigenyou."
The clear morning greeting travels through the serene, blue sky.
Today, once again, the maidens that gather in the Virgin Mary's garden smile purely to one another as they pass under the tall gateway.
Wrapping their innocent bodies and souls are the deep-coloured school uniform.
Walking slowly as to not disturb the plaits in their skirts and so as not to toss their white sailor scarves into disarray... such is the standard of modesty here. Running because one is in danger of missing class, for instance, is much an undignified sight that students do not wish it upon themselves here.
Lillian Private Academy for Women.
Founded in Meiji 34, this academy was originally intended for the young women of nobility, and is now a Catholic academy of prestigious tradition. Placed in downtown Tokyo, where you can still see traces of Musashi Field's greenery, it is protected by God, a garden where maidens can receive tutelage from pre-school to university.
Time passes, and even now, in Heisei, three era-names past Meiji, it is a valuable academy, where nurtured ladies raised in greenhouses are shipped out in carefully packaged boxes after 18 years of schooling - an arrangement that continues to survive.
Now, Lillian Girls' Academy welcomed February with open arms.
When it comes to February, the first event that comes to mind is Valentine's Day.
Who was that? Who said 'setsubun'?
Think about it. Wearing an ogre mask, shouting and throwing beans at each other, don't you think elementary school is around when you grow past that? As proof, look at the department stores during this season. The big space set aside for groceries isn't enough, they even use the display tables usually saved for bags and scarf sales for chocolate. It's never the beans used for throwing, those are usually just piled in a wagon at the supermarket.
And of course, the taste of sweet chocolate that melts in your mouth wins always. Also, giving chocolate to someone you like feels so much better than throwing beans at an ogre.
What? How does Valentine's Day come into the picture for an all-girls' school?
No worries. Gender doesn't get in the way of that precious feeling of "thinking of someone." Even the most stubborn of teachers avert their gazes that day.
That's why the fourteenth of February is the perfect chance for, along with chocolate, presenting the feelings you stowed away deep into your heart, or for showing your appreciation for everything the other person has done for you.