“SHE’S WHAT?” Yahiro shouted. In front of him stood Sakura with her boyfriend. The brother of the girl that liked him.
“She is tired of waiting for you” he said. “You’re to late”
“Jun…” Sakura whispered. “Don’t say it like that…”
“So she is like done with me?” Yahiro asked.
“Yes.” Jun said. “And I thought you might want to know because else you will figure out yourself and you two would get in a fight. And my sister will get hurt then. So just stay away from her.”
“Jun…” Sakura said. “Calm down…”
“Let’s go Sakura.” Jun took the girl with her arm and pulled her along out of Yahiro’s house.
XxX
The rest of the day Yahiro was to busy for thinking about the conversation and the girl… But that evening when he was finally done with all the paper work she shoot in his mind.
“Megumi…” He whispered. “Did you really move on… without me…” He looked at the picture he had on his deck. Megumi forced him to be a part of the picture. She hold his arm so he couldn’t run away. Jun stood next to Megumi with an arm around Sakura. Also the other where in the picture. Ryuu and Finn stood behind Jun and Megumi. Hikari and Kei where next to Finn. Kei had his arm around Hikari who looked a bit uncomfortable. Tadashi stood next to Kei in his arms… “Akira…” The girl looked a bit up to see Tadashi and had a dreamy look on her face. Tadashi the fool had a big grin on his face. He know why Akira was with him. He had no worries and didn’t care about anything accept his friends and Akira. And then there was him. He hurt Megumi a million times that it was a wonder they still where friends. But even now. Megumi was the reason he had these friends. Without Megumi. He would be alone. And this guy who was dating here would be standing next to her on pictures. And even worse… Megumi would use her voice to talk to him.
Yahiro looked at the clock next to the picture. 09:00 pm showed it. Megumi properly was still in the park till 09:30 pm. If he hurried he could see her. Talk to her. Letting her see he loved her.
XxX
It didn’t go like he was planning to do… He was planning to stay calm and tell Megumi to leave this guy for him. But Megumi wasn’t alone. When Yahiro arrived she just took goodbye from her new guy. When the boy bent down to kiss her Megumi slightly turned her head so the kiss where on her cheek. The guy walked away and Megumi watched him walking.
“He’s quite a charmer isn’t he.” Yahiro whispered in her ear. He was standing behind her with his head on her shoulder.
Shocked she turned around. ‘Yahiro!’
“So you still know who I am.” Megumi watched Yahiro. He looked weird at her.
‘What do you want?’ Megumi asked.
“I wanted to talk to you…” Yahiro said. Megumi stared at him like he was an idiot. “You don’t belong to him.” Yahiro said looking at her.
‘Of course not…’ Megumi wrote. ‘I’m supposed to stay waiting for you finally come around.’ She didn’t look happy. Also not upset… ‘I’m tired of waiting Yahiro. You deserve happiness but so do I.’
“You aren’t happy with him.” Yahiro said.
‘How do you know that?’ Megumi looked angry now. ‘You don’t know a thing about me’
“I know more about you then you know.” Yahiro said. “As example. I know you don’t like this guy. You’re just using him.”
‘For what? Making you jealous? You wouldn’t care anyway.’
“What if I did care?” Yahiro asked. Hoping Megumi would notice the hint.
‘Then I wouldn’t care if you do care’ Megumi opened her mouth. “You’re not worth it.”
“Don’t talk…” Yahiro said.
“Why not?” Megumi answered. “It’s not like you care. You never cared.”
“DON’T SAY SOMETHING THAT STUPID!” Yahiro started to shout. Megumi shook her head and walked away. “Hey, WAIT!” Yahiro shouted and walked after her. “I’m not done with you”
Megumi turned around and pretend she listened to everything Yahiro shouted. Yahiro shouted so hard he didn’t heard anything but his own voice. When he was almost done with shouting at her he heard her say “Yahiro” sometimes. Still louder. Till.
“YAHIRO!” Megumi shouted and pushed him a side. At that moment everything went so quick for Yahiro. He noticed he was laying on the street and that a car just missed him but hit Megumi.
“No…” he whispered. “Megumi!!!”
XxX
“She’s in a coma.” The doctor said. “I can’t tell when she will be back. Maybe she will never wake up ever again.”
Akira started to cry against Hikari who also had tears in her eyes. Kei wrapped his arms around the two girls so Hikari also could cry.
Sakura was being comforted by Finn who also came. Ryuu and Jun were in Megumi’s room and properly already know it. Tadashi laid his hand on Yahiro’s shoulder.
“Why did this happen to her?” Yahiro asked him but Tadashi shook his shoulders. What could he say.
“Yahiro.” Ryuu came out of the room. “You can go to her if you want to..” He walked to Sakura and Finn and hugged the girls.
Yahiro took a deep breath and walked into the room where Jun was about to leave.
“I said to leave her alone.” Jun said. “Look now what happened.”
“It’s not…” Yahiro started but he didn’t finish. What did he want to say. That it wasn’t his fault?
“It is…” Jun said. “It is your fault…” and he leaved the room.
Yahiro looked at the girl lying in the bed. Slowly he walked closer and sat on the chair that was next to the bed. He had no idea what to say… What if she did hear him if he told anything… So he sad there in silence.
“Yahiro” Kei was in the door opening. Yahiro looked up and Kei saw something new in his eyes. He walked to his childhood friend and put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, it will be alright. She won’t leave you like this.” Yahiro just nodded. “The girls and Tadashi also want see her and then we go. Can we give you a right.”
“Ja…” Yahiro said. “Thanks Kei. Just two more minutes.”
“Sure.” Kei smiled to his friend. “Take care Megumi.” And he leaved again.
“I’m sorry, Megumi” Yahiro whispered to the girl. “You only notice you something when you don’t have it anymore. I had be sooner, realizing I did, I do, I will always….” He know he could say it. He was so focussed he couldn’t hear the door opening with Tadashi and Akira in the opening. “…Love you.” He finished. He pressed a kiss on her forehead and stood up.
Then he noticed Akira and Tadashi. Akira had a shocked face and Tadashi just nodded.
“Forget what you heard.” Yahiro mumbled when he passed them.
Monday, February 15, 2010
My Everything
Chapter 1
Always watching from behind, he was her constant shadow. It was so blatantly obvious: his position, his motives, his feelings for her, just not to her. She remained oblivious to everything, even though she was the centre of it all. Creating joy, creating pain unknowingly she went about life with no concerns, while greatly impacting upon the life of another. If only she knew.
**
The fog that came with every breath said that it was going to be another day. I liked the cold winters, nature seemed to have a calmer, a more sad mood. Unlike the warmer months there life wasn’t plentiful, it was silent. The trees stood bare with spiny spread fingers reaching nowhere. Yet there was a serene beauty of the white plains of snow and the delicately decorated branches; like a certain ray of happiness through the sad. I felt like nature reflected exactly my feelings.
Our school still lacked heating in some of the class rooms, unfortunately one of the few unlucky classrooms just happened to be mine...and hers. It was just like any other winter morning. I sat at my desk second from the left in row third from the back, right near the window. Although I lived quite a distance away from school I was always one of the early ones. The biting cool wind that characterized the early winter mornings was refreshing and the emptiness of the seemingly endless street that was my path made me calm and peaceful, rather than accentuate my loneliness. I had all the time in my little white wonderland world to think and clear the clutter that was my mind. Every morning I would drift onto thoughts about her. Just thinking of her, remembering her cute expressions that always caught me unexpectedly were enough to make me smile to myself. And so every night I would look forward to the coming morning, to the long walk of false memories that gave me the most pathetic small happiness. Those drifting thoughts are enough, for now.
I sit staring out the window seeing shapes that aren’t really there that somehow resemble her beautiful long hair, or her deep eyes. I hope that I will catch a glance of her as she runs through the gate desperate not to be caught late and punished by the strict gym teacher. But again I get lost in my own thoughts. My friends are used to this: me just staring into space looking like I am searching for something just not sure what, they now just look and shake their heads with a sigh. It isn’t like I want to be like this, but I can’t seem to help it.
CRASH!
I quickly awoke from my day dreams by the loud interruption. On the classroom floor were fallen books and getting up slowly the protagonist of all my dreams. She looked so graceful, with her silky long dark hair and the small light body. But she had an ability to find something to trip over on a perfectly flat surface like our linoleum; it could never cease to amaze me. I could not help but to let out a snigger. She was so cute, all flustered and trying to quickly pick up her books in embarrassment.
Getting up quickly she walked past, not failing to give me her most fierce, or so she thought, glare. Another chuckle escaped my lips.
“What? You think it’s so funny Takishima!”
Her huffed expression and burnt cheeks. That was my limit. I admit I am weak.
I shook with full blown laughter.
“Who wouldn’t? How do you fall over on a perfectly flat surface?”
“You don’t ever trip huh?”
“No, but its linoleum...”
She opened her mouth, no doubt with some sort of comeback. But she was interrupted by a throat cough from the front of the room.
“Miss Hanazono, if you could please take a seat. We are about to start class...”
“Oh.. um sorry sir um... well.. then.. please.. start?.. sorry...”
I watched her stumble to her desk one desk diagonal from mine with a small smile. Maybe today will be a good day.
Always watching from behind, he was her constant shadow. It was so blatantly obvious: his position, his motives, his feelings for her, just not to her. She remained oblivious to everything, even though she was the centre of it all. Creating joy, creating pain unknowingly she went about life with no concerns, while greatly impacting upon the life of another. If only she knew.
**
The fog that came with every breath said that it was going to be another day. I liked the cold winters, nature seemed to have a calmer, a more sad mood. Unlike the warmer months there life wasn’t plentiful, it was silent. The trees stood bare with spiny spread fingers reaching nowhere. Yet there was a serene beauty of the white plains of snow and the delicately decorated branches; like a certain ray of happiness through the sad. I felt like nature reflected exactly my feelings.
Our school still lacked heating in some of the class rooms, unfortunately one of the few unlucky classrooms just happened to be mine...and hers. It was just like any other winter morning. I sat at my desk second from the left in row third from the back, right near the window. Although I lived quite a distance away from school I was always one of the early ones. The biting cool wind that characterized the early winter mornings was refreshing and the emptiness of the seemingly endless street that was my path made me calm and peaceful, rather than accentuate my loneliness. I had all the time in my little white wonderland world to think and clear the clutter that was my mind. Every morning I would drift onto thoughts about her. Just thinking of her, remembering her cute expressions that always caught me unexpectedly were enough to make me smile to myself. And so every night I would look forward to the coming morning, to the long walk of false memories that gave me the most pathetic small happiness. Those drifting thoughts are enough, for now.
I sit staring out the window seeing shapes that aren’t really there that somehow resemble her beautiful long hair, or her deep eyes. I hope that I will catch a glance of her as she runs through the gate desperate not to be caught late and punished by the strict gym teacher. But again I get lost in my own thoughts. My friends are used to this: me just staring into space looking like I am searching for something just not sure what, they now just look and shake their heads with a sigh. It isn’t like I want to be like this, but I can’t seem to help it.
CRASH!
I quickly awoke from my day dreams by the loud interruption. On the classroom floor were fallen books and getting up slowly the protagonist of all my dreams. She looked so graceful, with her silky long dark hair and the small light body. But she had an ability to find something to trip over on a perfectly flat surface like our linoleum; it could never cease to amaze me. I could not help but to let out a snigger. She was so cute, all flustered and trying to quickly pick up her books in embarrassment.
Getting up quickly she walked past, not failing to give me her most fierce, or so she thought, glare. Another chuckle escaped my lips.
“What? You think it’s so funny Takishima!”
Her huffed expression and burnt cheeks. That was my limit. I admit I am weak.
I shook with full blown laughter.
“Who wouldn’t? How do you fall over on a perfectly flat surface?”
“You don’t ever trip huh?”
“No, but its linoleum...”
She opened her mouth, no doubt with some sort of comeback. But she was interrupted by a throat cough from the front of the room.
“Miss Hanazono, if you could please take a seat. We are about to start class...”
“Oh.. um sorry sir um... well.. then.. please.. start?.. sorry...”
I watched her stumble to her desk one desk diagonal from mine with a small smile. Maybe today will be a good day.
My Everything
Chapter 2
Even though I sat behind her, I could see the fiery shade of scarlet that burned through her whole face. The way she fidgeted and quietly grumbled to herself told me that she would be wanting to continue the argument later. I could imagine her huffed facial expression as she leant over her books and gathered her many worksheets, and organised them on her too small desk. Like some ferocious kitten she would attack the mountains of paper that created walls around her desk. Furiously studying, her face will relax to that of some balance between determination and happiness. Determined again to beat me in the next midterms. Of course I won’t let her win. I can’t let her win. It is the fragile string that connects both of us. That we are both aware of that is...
It was a warm summer morning the first time I saw her. I was feeling annoyed. Grandfather was in Japan again. That morning he was dissatisfied with yet another petty thing and like always he decided to take it out on me. Was there anything in the world that he was content about? My mother wouldn’t be home again for a long I thought. As soon as she heard that grandfather was coming she fled to her villa in Australia. Sighing I walked the path to school. The sun glared brightly high in the sky, not helping my mood one bit. My white cotton shirt was already sticking to my back and school had not even started yet. The heat, grandfather, this purgatory like school; when would it all end. Everyday felt like fighting against a suffocating force. Suddenly breaking my sinking thoughts, a single cool wisp of air with the sweetest scent. Time slowed down as streak of dark hair flew past me. She seemed to be in a hurry as she didn’t even notice when she slightly bumped into me. A stream of hot blue electricity travelled up my arm where she lightly touched. I looked after her fading figure with an expression of shock. Then I saw her in class...
I think it was from then that I was drawn to her. I found myself subconsciously looking in her direction, walking to where she was and thinking about her without realizing.
But the connection we shared was in our competitiveness, well actually her competitiveness and my compliance.
I was surprised when I found out that her father and mine were close friends. Contrasting to his baby face, my father is actually a pro wrestling fanatic. Hikari and I had both grown up with these wrestling loving freaks and as a result we were both very competent fighters. That day I learnt her love for challenges. No matter how many times she lost to me, she always get up and enthusiastically re-challenged me. Of course I beat her easily every time. But I was surprised. I wasn’t used to this. People usually didn’t approach me and whispered behind my back. They called me the genius, the brilliant child. They saw me but never approached me. Life was so boring. And then this breath of fresh air had interrupted the purgatory. Again like an idiot I looked wistfully at her shrinking back image.
Tick Tick Tick,
Glancing up at the clock, it was already the end of class. Another class wasted reminiscing in the few short memories I had with Hikari. I have already learned everything that would be taught this year anyway. Everyone was leaving already; my eyes automatically scanned the room for the small black haired girl that i had been thinking about. It wasn’t surprising to see her oblivious that the people around her had already left and the class had already ended. She was still writing at a furious pace. I wonder how many pencils she goes through in a day. I slowly step towards her,
“Ni – san , class ended already. Didn’t you notice?”
She turned, face full of annoyance.
“Don’t call me ni-san!”
Even though I sat behind her, I could see the fiery shade of scarlet that burned through her whole face. The way she fidgeted and quietly grumbled to herself told me that she would be wanting to continue the argument later. I could imagine her huffed facial expression as she leant over her books and gathered her many worksheets, and organised them on her too small desk. Like some ferocious kitten she would attack the mountains of paper that created walls around her desk. Furiously studying, her face will relax to that of some balance between determination and happiness. Determined again to beat me in the next midterms. Of course I won’t let her win. I can’t let her win. It is the fragile string that connects both of us. That we are both aware of that is...
It was a warm summer morning the first time I saw her. I was feeling annoyed. Grandfather was in Japan again. That morning he was dissatisfied with yet another petty thing and like always he decided to take it out on me. Was there anything in the world that he was content about? My mother wouldn’t be home again for a long I thought. As soon as she heard that grandfather was coming she fled to her villa in Australia. Sighing I walked the path to school. The sun glared brightly high in the sky, not helping my mood one bit. My white cotton shirt was already sticking to my back and school had not even started yet. The heat, grandfather, this purgatory like school; when would it all end. Everyday felt like fighting against a suffocating force. Suddenly breaking my sinking thoughts, a single cool wisp of air with the sweetest scent. Time slowed down as streak of dark hair flew past me. She seemed to be in a hurry as she didn’t even notice when she slightly bumped into me. A stream of hot blue electricity travelled up my arm where she lightly touched. I looked after her fading figure with an expression of shock. Then I saw her in class...
I think it was from then that I was drawn to her. I found myself subconsciously looking in her direction, walking to where she was and thinking about her without realizing.
But the connection we shared was in our competitiveness, well actually her competitiveness and my compliance.
I was surprised when I found out that her father and mine were close friends. Contrasting to his baby face, my father is actually a pro wrestling fanatic. Hikari and I had both grown up with these wrestling loving freaks and as a result we were both very competent fighters. That day I learnt her love for challenges. No matter how many times she lost to me, she always get up and enthusiastically re-challenged me. Of course I beat her easily every time. But I was surprised. I wasn’t used to this. People usually didn’t approach me and whispered behind my back. They called me the genius, the brilliant child. They saw me but never approached me. Life was so boring. And then this breath of fresh air had interrupted the purgatory. Again like an idiot I looked wistfully at her shrinking back image.
Tick Tick Tick,
Glancing up at the clock, it was already the end of class. Another class wasted reminiscing in the few short memories I had with Hikari. I have already learned everything that would be taught this year anyway. Everyone was leaving already; my eyes automatically scanned the room for the small black haired girl that i had been thinking about. It wasn’t surprising to see her oblivious that the people around her had already left and the class had already ended. She was still writing at a furious pace. I wonder how many pencils she goes through in a day. I slowly step towards her,
“Ni – san , class ended already. Didn’t you notice?”
She turned, face full of annoyance.
“Don’t call me ni-san!”
My Everything
Chapter 3
Like always Akira had prepared a picnic outside. How she managed to get all the food to school and keep it looking not squashed, was probably one of the only things that I would never know. But I was glad that she could do it. More so, I was thankful that Akira was best friends with Hikari, which meant that I would sit and eat lunch with her nearly every day. Today Akira had laid a Blue Tartan picnic rug with an assortment of English tea cakes and sandwiches, and of course her favourite colour changing tea. Everyone was now used to Akira’s obsession over having a ‘proper tea time’, I swear she only came to school so she could have this picnic.
The beautiful long haired girl that took over my dreams was sitting beside Akira. After our last encounter she had stormed off. I suppose she was going to try the ignoring technique, not she was able to hold her grudges for long. She seemed to be venting out her annoyance of our brief meeting before, judging from the lasers that Akira was sending me with her eyes. She was practically steaming. Adorable, just from a little teasing she got so worked up. With a smile secretly playing on my lips I walked towards the grandiose picnic.
I sat myself down right next to her. Even after all this time, I still felt static electricity between us. I wonder if she felt it too. I wish that she felt it as well. I looked at her. She responded... well by being non responsive. And of course Akira was behind her throwing daggers at me with her eyes. Before Hikari, Akira and I had been moderately close child hood friends. But now her overprotection of ‘her angel’ seemed to sprout extra tensions between us. But then again Hikari was equally oblivious to the piercing glares her friend gave as she was to my feelings.
Maybe it was selfish for hoping that she would suddenly realise my position and reciprocate the emotions. To her I was only another one of her friends with the exception of being her rival.
Her Rival.
Although it wasn’t exactly the connection that I wanted between us, but it was all there really was. It was a thin line that I protected. It kept her near me. I would have to be happy with it. For now.
It was only through this fragile relationship which we talked.
“So... ni-san.... The midterm exams are coming up aren’t they?”
I said so care freely while watching for her reaction through my peripheral vision. I knew how she would. I had used all the key elements: the pet name, the mention of the coming exams and the carefree ‘I don’t care’ tone. Of course, I was just teasing her, and not intending to aggravate her. She wouldn’t be able to hold her cold shoulder grudge.
And as of my prediction her head quickly whipped around revealing a huffed red face. Eyes glinting with excitement she got up in one fluid movement to fully face me.
“Takishima! I challenge you for the next midterm exams. I will definitely beat you!”
Her voice radiated confidence, unusual for someone that had been beaten so many times. Although her words were not of affection, but rather the opposite, they did not fail to have a warming effect on me. I basked in the short attention that she gave to only me. Those short words were only for me. From her to me.
“Well, try you best Ni-san. And good luck you will need it if you want to even think about beating me”
The words flowed out as easily as the secret smiles that played on my lips every time I saw her. Beating me would grant her happiness. As much as I wanted to grant her happiness, but this was one that she couldn’t have. If she did beat me, then the rivalry would be over. And with that my special relationship with her would also diminish. I would not be her greatest rival and friend, but just another guy that happened to be friends with her friends and sat behind her in class. No, I couldn’t lose the small connection she identified between us.
Her eyes narrowed. And she promptly turned again to talk to Akira.
I guess that the ignoring would be starting again.
But again, I wouldn’t let it last too long.
Like always Akira had prepared a picnic outside. How she managed to get all the food to school and keep it looking not squashed, was probably one of the only things that I would never know. But I was glad that she could do it. More so, I was thankful that Akira was best friends with Hikari, which meant that I would sit and eat lunch with her nearly every day. Today Akira had laid a Blue Tartan picnic rug with an assortment of English tea cakes and sandwiches, and of course her favourite colour changing tea. Everyone was now used to Akira’s obsession over having a ‘proper tea time’, I swear she only came to school so she could have this picnic.
The beautiful long haired girl that took over my dreams was sitting beside Akira. After our last encounter she had stormed off. I suppose she was going to try the ignoring technique, not she was able to hold her grudges for long. She seemed to be venting out her annoyance of our brief meeting before, judging from the lasers that Akira was sending me with her eyes. She was practically steaming. Adorable, just from a little teasing she got so worked up. With a smile secretly playing on my lips I walked towards the grandiose picnic.
I sat myself down right next to her. Even after all this time, I still felt static electricity between us. I wonder if she felt it too. I wish that she felt it as well. I looked at her. She responded... well by being non responsive. And of course Akira was behind her throwing daggers at me with her eyes. Before Hikari, Akira and I had been moderately close child hood friends. But now her overprotection of ‘her angel’ seemed to sprout extra tensions between us. But then again Hikari was equally oblivious to the piercing glares her friend gave as she was to my feelings.
Maybe it was selfish for hoping that she would suddenly realise my position and reciprocate the emotions. To her I was only another one of her friends with the exception of being her rival.
Her Rival.
Although it wasn’t exactly the connection that I wanted between us, but it was all there really was. It was a thin line that I protected. It kept her near me. I would have to be happy with it. For now.
It was only through this fragile relationship which we talked.
“So... ni-san.... The midterm exams are coming up aren’t they?”
I said so care freely while watching for her reaction through my peripheral vision. I knew how she would. I had used all the key elements: the pet name, the mention of the coming exams and the carefree ‘I don’t care’ tone. Of course, I was just teasing her, and not intending to aggravate her. She wouldn’t be able to hold her cold shoulder grudge.
And as of my prediction her head quickly whipped around revealing a huffed red face. Eyes glinting with excitement she got up in one fluid movement to fully face me.
“Takishima! I challenge you for the next midterm exams. I will definitely beat you!”
Her voice radiated confidence, unusual for someone that had been beaten so many times. Although her words were not of affection, but rather the opposite, they did not fail to have a warming effect on me. I basked in the short attention that she gave to only me. Those short words were only for me. From her to me.
“Well, try you best Ni-san. And good luck you will need it if you want to even think about beating me”
The words flowed out as easily as the secret smiles that played on my lips every time I saw her. Beating me would grant her happiness. As much as I wanted to grant her happiness, but this was one that she couldn’t have. If she did beat me, then the rivalry would be over. And with that my special relationship with her would also diminish. I would not be her greatest rival and friend, but just another guy that happened to be friends with her friends and sat behind her in class. No, I couldn’t lose the small connection she identified between us.
Her eyes narrowed. And she promptly turned again to talk to Akira.
I guess that the ignoring would be starting again.
But again, I wouldn’t let it last too long.
My Everything
Chapter 4
The cool winter sky was refreshingly clear, unlike my tangled mind. School was dull like always, and I had run out of Hikari Classes for today. I really didn’t feel the need to attend class. The teacher at the front just droned on and on, I need not listen to a rerun of the text book that I had memorized twice already. It was similar to for the rest of our group of friends, all the top of the top of our respective grades, being tutored from a young age, it was something that was expected of the elite crowd. But we still dropped into classes from time to time, although it was not compulsory and not a necessity.
Unfortunately, today only my morning classes were the same as Hikari’s. I really found no point in going without her. There really was nothing to look forward to. Nothing drew me to class. Nothing made me excited. Nothing gave me even the smallest glimmer of happiness or relief. No, instead the monotonous classrooms only reminded me of the suffocating enclosure erected by my grandfather.
I was at my usual spot. In the usual position. Thinking of the usual thing.
The meadow above the school was my secret place. It was like the scene that I saw out of the window of freedom from the entrapping prison, a place that was free from any of the modern worlds grasps. A place free from the prejudices and the judgemental expectations weighing down the atmosphere of the world. A place where I could get lost by myself in lonely thoughts. A place of truly nothing.
But that didn’t mean that the place was desolate. Within its free nothingness I found consolidation and succumbed to the charm of the small hidden meadow. Enclosed by trees, I doubted that even the wanderlust Tadashi had visited here. Unexpectedly through layer after layer of grotesque forest shrubbery and overgrown weeds, I had stumbled into this sanctuary. The grass was pristine, almost magical that it was kept so well amongst the swamp of bush that surrounded our school. Always, whether it be summer, spring, winter or autumn the sky was washed over with a pale blue. A cool colour that was able to be revitalizing yet blanket me in total calmness. It was funny, although this area was still some what part of the school, the sky always seemed to be look different here. Clearer? Bluer? Transparent? Tranquil? The answer to simplicity.
Countless times already this year I had come to visit this secret clearing. Again I was laying flat on my back, drawing shapes above that didn’t exist, letting my thoughts lead into the endless space of calmness. Even though it was the coldness of winter, the ground beneath me was insulating and slightly warmer than myself. This was certainly a mysterious, yet magical, place, and without it the purgatory of school would have been less bearable.
My thoughts drifted back to Hikari. I wonder where she is right now. I could clearly outline in my mind, her every detail. Her shiny long black hair, luxurious in its silkiness, flowed effortlessly around her framing her pretty face like a halo. Her petite frame that was light and agile but also surprisingly strong. She was athletic, academic, intelligent, cute, friendly and could do anything in her determination. I loved her small pretty face, her petite mouth that I longed to kiss, her cute button nose and of course her expressive shining eyes that always had a glint of competitive excitement and knowledge. Her eyes that always challenged me if the occasion arose. Her eye that seemed like windows into her pure soul. Her eyes that seem to reflect back at me and like the crystal sky washed a wave of serenity over me.
My eyes subconsciously drifted through the blockade of forest shrubbery to a distant image. Here I could also see the opening gates of the school where I had first bumped into Hikari. The old red brick walls enclosing our massive school and the black metal gates flooded me with nostalgia and sadness. It had been over a year now since I met her, and fell for her. We met nearly everyday. And on those lucky weekends when my father wanted to meet his wrestling buddy on the weekends if both of us weren’t busy. My feelings were hopefully not too obvious. But she was an observant girl, always with a glimmer of knowledge behind her eyes. She could pick up even the subtlest clues and hints. Yet, to my sadness, she could never understand the overwhelming emotions I held for her.
Sighing out loud, I wondered if it is better this way. Maybe it is better that she is oblivious to me, as it allows me to stand next to her as her friend, as her rival. I would have to be satisfied with that for now. I could not live if she ran away from me, if she was out of my life. No, if staying as just merely her friend kept her by my side I was willing to stay where I was. But still it hurt.
The school bell rang in my ears, had so much time already passed. I sat up, dusting myself, ready to make my way back to school grounds, when I spied a black streak. I could immediately recognise her even from such a distance. A small smile played on my lips.
Hikari.
The cool winter sky was refreshingly clear, unlike my tangled mind. School was dull like always, and I had run out of Hikari Classes for today. I really didn’t feel the need to attend class. The teacher at the front just droned on and on, I need not listen to a rerun of the text book that I had memorized twice already. It was similar to for the rest of our group of friends, all the top of the top of our respective grades, being tutored from a young age, it was something that was expected of the elite crowd. But we still dropped into classes from time to time, although it was not compulsory and not a necessity.
Unfortunately, today only my morning classes were the same as Hikari’s. I really found no point in going without her. There really was nothing to look forward to. Nothing drew me to class. Nothing made me excited. Nothing gave me even the smallest glimmer of happiness or relief. No, instead the monotonous classrooms only reminded me of the suffocating enclosure erected by my grandfather.
I was at my usual spot. In the usual position. Thinking of the usual thing.
The meadow above the school was my secret place. It was like the scene that I saw out of the window of freedom from the entrapping prison, a place that was free from any of the modern worlds grasps. A place free from the prejudices and the judgemental expectations weighing down the atmosphere of the world. A place where I could get lost by myself in lonely thoughts. A place of truly nothing.
But that didn’t mean that the place was desolate. Within its free nothingness I found consolidation and succumbed to the charm of the small hidden meadow. Enclosed by trees, I doubted that even the wanderlust Tadashi had visited here. Unexpectedly through layer after layer of grotesque forest shrubbery and overgrown weeds, I had stumbled into this sanctuary. The grass was pristine, almost magical that it was kept so well amongst the swamp of bush that surrounded our school. Always, whether it be summer, spring, winter or autumn the sky was washed over with a pale blue. A cool colour that was able to be revitalizing yet blanket me in total calmness. It was funny, although this area was still some what part of the school, the sky always seemed to be look different here. Clearer? Bluer? Transparent? Tranquil? The answer to simplicity.
Countless times already this year I had come to visit this secret clearing. Again I was laying flat on my back, drawing shapes above that didn’t exist, letting my thoughts lead into the endless space of calmness. Even though it was the coldness of winter, the ground beneath me was insulating and slightly warmer than myself. This was certainly a mysterious, yet magical, place, and without it the purgatory of school would have been less bearable.
My thoughts drifted back to Hikari. I wonder where she is right now. I could clearly outline in my mind, her every detail. Her shiny long black hair, luxurious in its silkiness, flowed effortlessly around her framing her pretty face like a halo. Her petite frame that was light and agile but also surprisingly strong. She was athletic, academic, intelligent, cute, friendly and could do anything in her determination. I loved her small pretty face, her petite mouth that I longed to kiss, her cute button nose and of course her expressive shining eyes that always had a glint of competitive excitement and knowledge. Her eyes that always challenged me if the occasion arose. Her eye that seemed like windows into her pure soul. Her eyes that seem to reflect back at me and like the crystal sky washed a wave of serenity over me.
My eyes subconsciously drifted through the blockade of forest shrubbery to a distant image. Here I could also see the opening gates of the school where I had first bumped into Hikari. The old red brick walls enclosing our massive school and the black metal gates flooded me with nostalgia and sadness. It had been over a year now since I met her, and fell for her. We met nearly everyday. And on those lucky weekends when my father wanted to meet his wrestling buddy on the weekends if both of us weren’t busy. My feelings were hopefully not too obvious. But she was an observant girl, always with a glimmer of knowledge behind her eyes. She could pick up even the subtlest clues and hints. Yet, to my sadness, she could never understand the overwhelming emotions I held for her.
Sighing out loud, I wondered if it is better this way. Maybe it is better that she is oblivious to me, as it allows me to stand next to her as her friend, as her rival. I would have to be satisfied with that for now. I could not live if she ran away from me, if she was out of my life. No, if staying as just merely her friend kept her by my side I was willing to stay where I was. But still it hurt.
The school bell rang in my ears, had so much time already passed. I sat up, dusting myself, ready to make my way back to school grounds, when I spied a black streak. I could immediately recognise her even from such a distance. A small smile played on my lips.
Hikari.
My Everything
Chapter 5
Club activities; they were compulsory in our school’s curriculum. I suppose that they are just to make the school look active and create a higher standard from the outside. Our school was no doubt the most elite in the area, maybe in the whole prefecture. From the gothic styled buildings build with vintage red bricks and scaled by climbing ivy, the many expansive gardens ranging from traditional English to Japanese styles, and the futuristic interiors adorned with the newest technologies; just with appearance it didn’t look like merely a high school. Only one other school in the prefecture could possibly even compare to the grandiose plot that was the school, our rival +_______+. But it wasn’t only the looks that put us on top. The school was filled with the children of the most elite and high class families of the whole of Japan. The presence of the richest and most high class families in Japan attracted more elite families to send their children, resulting in the population of our school. Of course, there were the exceptions, usually the children of the yakuza (only of the leaders of course, who do not follow the street thug stereotype all people have at all). The top of the crop was what made up the members of the club that I was going to meet.
The large greenhouse, affectionately known as “Paradise”, was our meeting place. It was built especially for us last year. This construction, while it may be in any other school, was not surprising; the children of the most influential and richest families in Japan were in this club. It did not take a genius to work out the source of the majority of the school’s funding. Although it was still relatively new, it had a vintage and aged aura to it. The high glass ceiling held together with intricate ashen metal lines, the lazily turning vintage fans that allowed further air circulation in form of a slight breeze and of course the bountiful green leafy plants that never seemed to wilt characterised our club room. We did not do much. Akira held one of her favourite tea parties, baking various sweets and pastries in the thoroughly supplied kitchen built especially for her. And we just sat around the white antique coffee table and talked waiting for Akira to announce that day’s menu.
Coming from the meadow in the clearing, I arrived a bit late; it wasn’t like I was in a hurry anyway. When I arrived everyone would be there, no doubt Akira proudly presenting her afternoon tea while swatting Tadashi over the head to prevent him from inhaling all the food she had prepared in a matter of minutes. Tadashi would be sporting a swollen face from his attempts for an early ‘tasting’, as he calls it. Ryuu the tall quiet yet charismatic animal lover would have some new animal draped over him affectionally. And then of course not too far away would be the twins, both prodigal children born to a couple of musical geniuses. They would be fighting the animal for Ryuu’s attention and affection, and pulling disappointed expressions and glaring at the innocent animal. And then there would be her.
Usually she was surrounded by another mountainous pile of books, erecting walls around her nearly rendering her invisible. It was as if she built a house for herself and live in her own world for a while that was full of competition and the need to become number one. Sometimes I wonder how one person could contain so much energy and effort, especially one so small and delicate as Hikari. But then again, Akira could have seized her yet again. Hikari was supposedly ‘her angel’. Sure there was nothing for me to be jealous about, since they are best of friends but sometimes maybe a little I did feel it. I envied how she could so easily be so close to her. And the special bond they seemed to share that was beyond the fragile line that connected Hikari with me. I wish I could so easily go up to her. I wish that I could go and hold her whenever I wanted. I wish I could talk about nonsensical things with her every other day. I wish our relationship was so easy without complications and happy. But if it was so, we would have just been best friends and I definitely did not want to be that guy friends that watches over when she goes with other guys. That was too painful to think about.
These angry and jealous filled thoughts filled my mind. I woke myself by trying not to think about them, after all I was her rival now wasn’t I: the opposite to a best friend. But I still yearned the closeness that I was void of with her.
I continued to amuse my self with the images that I predicted that I would be seeing in a couple of minutes while I slowly strolled towards the huge glass structure in front of me. Right now it was me that was with Hikari in some way. And there was no one as of yet that came to endanger that. I would have to be satisfied with that. I could see in front of me the image of all my friends sitting around the coffee table in their usual poses and amused myself with how ordinary this not very ordinary situation seemed to us.
Wearing my characteristic nonchalant facial expression I pushed the glass doors that led into the green house, expecting the usual.
I wasn’t surprised.
A small smile appeared on my lips as I proceeded to greet my friends and my Hikari.
Club activities; they were compulsory in our school’s curriculum. I suppose that they are just to make the school look active and create a higher standard from the outside. Our school was no doubt the most elite in the area, maybe in the whole prefecture. From the gothic styled buildings build with vintage red bricks and scaled by climbing ivy, the many expansive gardens ranging from traditional English to Japanese styles, and the futuristic interiors adorned with the newest technologies; just with appearance it didn’t look like merely a high school. Only one other school in the prefecture could possibly even compare to the grandiose plot that was the school, our rival +_______+. But it wasn’t only the looks that put us on top. The school was filled with the children of the most elite and high class families of the whole of Japan. The presence of the richest and most high class families in Japan attracted more elite families to send their children, resulting in the population of our school. Of course, there were the exceptions, usually the children of the yakuza (only of the leaders of course, who do not follow the street thug stereotype all people have at all). The top of the crop was what made up the members of the club that I was going to meet.
The large greenhouse, affectionately known as “Paradise”, was our meeting place. It was built especially for us last year. This construction, while it may be in any other school, was not surprising; the children of the most influential and richest families in Japan were in this club. It did not take a genius to work out the source of the majority of the school’s funding. Although it was still relatively new, it had a vintage and aged aura to it. The high glass ceiling held together with intricate ashen metal lines, the lazily turning vintage fans that allowed further air circulation in form of a slight breeze and of course the bountiful green leafy plants that never seemed to wilt characterised our club room. We did not do much. Akira held one of her favourite tea parties, baking various sweets and pastries in the thoroughly supplied kitchen built especially for her. And we just sat around the white antique coffee table and talked waiting for Akira to announce that day’s menu.
Coming from the meadow in the clearing, I arrived a bit late; it wasn’t like I was in a hurry anyway. When I arrived everyone would be there, no doubt Akira proudly presenting her afternoon tea while swatting Tadashi over the head to prevent him from inhaling all the food she had prepared in a matter of minutes. Tadashi would be sporting a swollen face from his attempts for an early ‘tasting’, as he calls it. Ryuu the tall quiet yet charismatic animal lover would have some new animal draped over him affectionally. And then of course not too far away would be the twins, both prodigal children born to a couple of musical geniuses. They would be fighting the animal for Ryuu’s attention and affection, and pulling disappointed expressions and glaring at the innocent animal. And then there would be her.
Usually she was surrounded by another mountainous pile of books, erecting walls around her nearly rendering her invisible. It was as if she built a house for herself and live in her own world for a while that was full of competition and the need to become number one. Sometimes I wonder how one person could contain so much energy and effort, especially one so small and delicate as Hikari. But then again, Akira could have seized her yet again. Hikari was supposedly ‘her angel’. Sure there was nothing for me to be jealous about, since they are best of friends but sometimes maybe a little I did feel it. I envied how she could so easily be so close to her. And the special bond they seemed to share that was beyond the fragile line that connected Hikari with me. I wish I could so easily go up to her. I wish that I could go and hold her whenever I wanted. I wish I could talk about nonsensical things with her every other day. I wish our relationship was so easy without complications and happy. But if it was so, we would have just been best friends and I definitely did not want to be that guy friends that watches over when she goes with other guys. That was too painful to think about.
These angry and jealous filled thoughts filled my mind. I woke myself by trying not to think about them, after all I was her rival now wasn’t I: the opposite to a best friend. But I still yearned the closeness that I was void of with her.
I continued to amuse my self with the images that I predicted that I would be seeing in a couple of minutes while I slowly strolled towards the huge glass structure in front of me. Right now it was me that was with Hikari in some way. And there was no one as of yet that came to endanger that. I would have to be satisfied with that. I could see in front of me the image of all my friends sitting around the coffee table in their usual poses and amused myself with how ordinary this not very ordinary situation seemed to us.
Wearing my characteristic nonchalant facial expression I pushed the glass doors that led into the green house, expecting the usual.
I wasn’t surprised.
A small smile appeared on my lips as I proceeded to greet my friends and my Hikari.
My Everything
Chapter 6
Where was she?
The signs of her existence in the green house, at the coffee table, sitting with everyone were there. The ridiculously high piles of textbooks that made a makeshift enclosure, a steaming rare antique cup of English tea accompanied by today a couple of soft shortbread biscuits beside the paper walls, a cloud of a hurried aura was still looming; but her presence was gone. Sure for anyone else they would just imagine the head of black hair behind those walls, but it could not fool me. There could be all the disguises in the world thrown at her, even the master of disguise of the underground crime system could attempt to hide her, but I could never fool me. I could feel her presence, the air which she carried with her constantly; and it was not here.
I was worried.
I quickly made a conscious note on my facial expression and put it in check. Indifference. I could not let slip so easily. I was the Kei; the cold indifferent genius prodigy that was the sole heir to the Takishima Group. Really school was not necessary for me, and most of my friends currently sitting around the green house for the matter; by the time I was the age to graduate primary school I had been at university level of intelligence. But like the others, I wanted to come to school. Maybe not for exactly the same reasons, but underneath the first priority the explanation for our inclination to attend school was similar. For us, being mostly the children of the highest of all high class families in the country, attending a normal school had been nearly impossible for us. As childhood friends we knew that about each other, we were different from the other kids; become alienated or used. We were thankful for this establishment.
If grandfather was to find out my inclination with Hikari, I wouldn’t know what would happen. Actually it would probably involve pulling me out of school firstly, then forcing me again to work for the company with father. The only reason that he allowed my attendance was the company that I would be keeping there. It was important to build good relationships for business early he said. Also he had noted something about me getting more people skills or something; it wasn’t like he had many. Although he had countless connections with the largest names in finance and business around the world, I had inherited the indifferent attitude that I carried from when I was a child for him.
Also the reactions from the rest of my friends if my inclination with Hikari became an open fact were inevitable and predictable.
Unfortunately, the little fact was not as secretive as I would have liked to think it was. For a moment Tadashi averted his attention away from the laid out tea set to look at me and humorously ask me the question he knew I didn’t want to hear.
“Looking for Hikari ne Kei?”
Was my face that revealing? I had thought that I had fixed up my expression quite well. Maybe I was losing my indifferent air. Which is good thing in that the similarities between myself and grandfather decreases; but not in this moment. I didn’t want to have to go through the humiliation I would be subject to if the not very secretive fact became a spoken open fact.
My eyes just bored into him and I turned to walk over to the antique table where an enormous pile of books were piled.
So many books.
Of course I had seen all of these before. Solved every question. Not that I needed to of course. Even though I was considered a genius I took every precaution to stay on top. So not to be beaten by Hikari.
While my eyes slowly scanned the numerous volumes and my fingertips softly stroked the binds I wondered: was that my only fear?
The only thing that took all my concentration was my fixation with this outwardly seeming insignificant girl. All my life I had moved forward with indifference, not a care. Nothing eve r was complicated, or difficult. Everything came easily for me. There had been nothing ever that I had longed for; or wanted that I couldn’t obtain instantly. Was that why I had this growing fear inside me? My childhood friends, that now surrounded me with watching eyes, knew of my past and some even a few of my darkest secrets; not that I had many. It was difficult to make good friends at this level of society. As if a child couldn’t see that you were just there for the money. For years all of us had been shunned by our own peers, and utilized by adults. Maybe this was the common ground we stood on. The ground that Hikari didn’t even know.
It was amusing how one girl could consume my entire being so easily. Here I was: Kei Takishima; in all that I embodied, now just an obsesser over one small object. How pathetic. Fearing the loss of something I didn’t have.
I suppose in a way my fear is justified.
There is nothing strongly holding us together, that we are both aware of. Anything that could sabotage even the smallest chance I detested, and fought against. But to her I was probably just one of these text books: emotionless, full of knowledge, a challenge to overcome. And then when, like the endless questions, were completed and she was on the end of the last page she could probably discard me for the next book that she had on her pile.
I had to get the one thing that was not like anything else in my life.
The only thing that was real.
My eyes and fingertips lingered on the worn book for just a moment longer. Not a moment too long to be noticed as slightly possessive and creepy. Tadashi had resumed his adoration for Akira’s sweets. Ryuu his focus on the animals, with the twins not far behind. Akira was making the last touches to make her tea look ‘positively wonderful’. And here was I, longing again to see that streak of black hair.
Slightly disturbingly, the silent Ryuu seemed to see through all my actions, however brief. His quietness hid his knowledge of everything and his acute awareness. His eyes let off a all knowing twinkle. Meeting my gaze he looked slightly to the left, a gesture that would go unnoticed by everyone else. With a small upwards twitch of his lips he beckoned me, and with a small nod encouraged me.
To the left.
Where was she?
The signs of her existence in the green house, at the coffee table, sitting with everyone were there. The ridiculously high piles of textbooks that made a makeshift enclosure, a steaming rare antique cup of English tea accompanied by today a couple of soft shortbread biscuits beside the paper walls, a cloud of a hurried aura was still looming; but her presence was gone. Sure for anyone else they would just imagine the head of black hair behind those walls, but it could not fool me. There could be all the disguises in the world thrown at her, even the master of disguise of the underground crime system could attempt to hide her, but I could never fool me. I could feel her presence, the air which she carried with her constantly; and it was not here.
I was worried.
I quickly made a conscious note on my facial expression and put it in check. Indifference. I could not let slip so easily. I was the Kei; the cold indifferent genius prodigy that was the sole heir to the Takishima Group. Really school was not necessary for me, and most of my friends currently sitting around the green house for the matter; by the time I was the age to graduate primary school I had been at university level of intelligence. But like the others, I wanted to come to school. Maybe not for exactly the same reasons, but underneath the first priority the explanation for our inclination to attend school was similar. For us, being mostly the children of the highest of all high class families in the country, attending a normal school had been nearly impossible for us. As childhood friends we knew that about each other, we were different from the other kids; become alienated or used. We were thankful for this establishment.
If grandfather was to find out my inclination with Hikari, I wouldn’t know what would happen. Actually it would probably involve pulling me out of school firstly, then forcing me again to work for the company with father. The only reason that he allowed my attendance was the company that I would be keeping there. It was important to build good relationships for business early he said. Also he had noted something about me getting more people skills or something; it wasn’t like he had many. Although he had countless connections with the largest names in finance and business around the world, I had inherited the indifferent attitude that I carried from when I was a child for him.
Also the reactions from the rest of my friends if my inclination with Hikari became an open fact were inevitable and predictable.
Unfortunately, the little fact was not as secretive as I would have liked to think it was. For a moment Tadashi averted his attention away from the laid out tea set to look at me and humorously ask me the question he knew I didn’t want to hear.
“Looking for Hikari ne Kei?”
Was my face that revealing? I had thought that I had fixed up my expression quite well. Maybe I was losing my indifferent air. Which is good thing in that the similarities between myself and grandfather decreases; but not in this moment. I didn’t want to have to go through the humiliation I would be subject to if the not very secretive fact became a spoken open fact.
My eyes just bored into him and I turned to walk over to the antique table where an enormous pile of books were piled.
So many books.
Of course I had seen all of these before. Solved every question. Not that I needed to of course. Even though I was considered a genius I took every precaution to stay on top. So not to be beaten by Hikari.
While my eyes slowly scanned the numerous volumes and my fingertips softly stroked the binds I wondered: was that my only fear?
The only thing that took all my concentration was my fixation with this outwardly seeming insignificant girl. All my life I had moved forward with indifference, not a care. Nothing eve r was complicated, or difficult. Everything came easily for me. There had been nothing ever that I had longed for; or wanted that I couldn’t obtain instantly. Was that why I had this growing fear inside me? My childhood friends, that now surrounded me with watching eyes, knew of my past and some even a few of my darkest secrets; not that I had many. It was difficult to make good friends at this level of society. As if a child couldn’t see that you were just there for the money. For years all of us had been shunned by our own peers, and utilized by adults. Maybe this was the common ground we stood on. The ground that Hikari didn’t even know.
It was amusing how one girl could consume my entire being so easily. Here I was: Kei Takishima; in all that I embodied, now just an obsesser over one small object. How pathetic. Fearing the loss of something I didn’t have.
I suppose in a way my fear is justified.
There is nothing strongly holding us together, that we are both aware of. Anything that could sabotage even the smallest chance I detested, and fought against. But to her I was probably just one of these text books: emotionless, full of knowledge, a challenge to overcome. And then when, like the endless questions, were completed and she was on the end of the last page she could probably discard me for the next book that she had on her pile.
I had to get the one thing that was not like anything else in my life.
The only thing that was real.
My eyes and fingertips lingered on the worn book for just a moment longer. Not a moment too long to be noticed as slightly possessive and creepy. Tadashi had resumed his adoration for Akira’s sweets. Ryuu his focus on the animals, with the twins not far behind. Akira was making the last touches to make her tea look ‘positively wonderful’. And here was I, longing again to see that streak of black hair.
Slightly disturbingly, the silent Ryuu seemed to see through all my actions, however brief. His quietness hid his knowledge of everything and his acute awareness. His eyes let off a all knowing twinkle. Meeting my gaze he looked slightly to the left, a gesture that would go unnoticed by everyone else. With a small upwards twitch of his lips he beckoned me, and with a small nod encouraged me.
To the left.
My Everything
Chapter 7
Left.
To the left he signaled.
Quickly giving a small nod of gratitude, I turned left. The West green house door was slightly ajar. Of course.
Trying to appear conspicuous, not obvious, I walked as quick as I could without drawing attention to myself. Yes, this is normal; Kei bored again or going to the computer lab upstairs to do more work for the company. Sure my sudden appearance then rushed disappearance is completely acceptable. Right? The others wouldn’t think anything of it. Perfectly acceptable Kei-like behavior. Right? Right? No, it didn’t look like I was in a hurry and that it was taking all the effort in my being not to yell her name and run out that glass door. No, it didn’t. Except inside that was exactly what I was doing. Mentally I was screening every direction one could have gone when running out of that exit. With all my heart I was screaming out her name in desperation. Inside myself I was torn with worry to what could have happened. Why did she leave? Why wasn’t she at the green house as I had saw her run into. And why was it that I had to reassure myself of my outwards appearance.
But most of all the fear that consumed me most at the time was the small inkling that she must have left recently and it was because of me. The door was still slowly swinging to a stop at its hinges. She couldn’t have left that long ago. From my distant secret patch she was running towards the greenhouse. Joyously I assume. There are not many times where Hikari is distressed or not happy. Lets say except the time the exam results arrive or some competition ends between ourselves ends. Yes, definitely she had that spring in her step as she practically skipped to the green house before. The tea, she had a cup of tea at her set up. If she was already upset or planning not to stay long she wouldn’t have let Akira pour her tea yet, or she would have quickly drunken it.
Did I do something wrong?
Did she run away because of me?
Then to think about it, it was Tadashi that asked me whether I was looking for Hikari. Filled with wanderlust I wouldn’t consider him the most sharp and observant of our group. I was even surprised that he had noticed.
Maybe she did leave because of me.
From the North door, there was no way that I could have seen her if she had left as I had entered. The oversized ferns which welcomed you around the entrance made it impossible to see the central tea area until walking further in.
There wasn’t anyone left to come in. I had been the last one to be arrive at the green house.
Even though I couldn’t be seen, the door still could be heard.
Had she walked away at the sound of my entering?
Stepping slowly through the glass door I paused.
Outside it just looked like any other school, the other clubs doing their daily activities; the sports clubs were running laps of the oval, the drama club had come outside to observe nature, from the music rooms the sounds of the orchestra flowed. Then there was that couple that snuck out of their club activities for the day just to spend some time with each was at the place. They were there, they wanted to be and those around them also wanted them there. Enjoying each other’s company.
A simple relationship.
A two sided relationship.
I sighed aloud, sliding down the outer glass walls of the green house to sit on the dusty ground that framed the edges of the green house.
What am I doing?
Left.
To the left he signaled.
Quickly giving a small nod of gratitude, I turned left. The West green house door was slightly ajar. Of course.
Trying to appear conspicuous, not obvious, I walked as quick as I could without drawing attention to myself. Yes, this is normal; Kei bored again or going to the computer lab upstairs to do more work for the company. Sure my sudden appearance then rushed disappearance is completely acceptable. Right? The others wouldn’t think anything of it. Perfectly acceptable Kei-like behavior. Right? Right? No, it didn’t look like I was in a hurry and that it was taking all the effort in my being not to yell her name and run out that glass door. No, it didn’t. Except inside that was exactly what I was doing. Mentally I was screening every direction one could have gone when running out of that exit. With all my heart I was screaming out her name in desperation. Inside myself I was torn with worry to what could have happened. Why did she leave? Why wasn’t she at the green house as I had saw her run into. And why was it that I had to reassure myself of my outwards appearance.
But most of all the fear that consumed me most at the time was the small inkling that she must have left recently and it was because of me. The door was still slowly swinging to a stop at its hinges. She couldn’t have left that long ago. From my distant secret patch she was running towards the greenhouse. Joyously I assume. There are not many times where Hikari is distressed or not happy. Lets say except the time the exam results arrive or some competition ends between ourselves ends. Yes, definitely she had that spring in her step as she practically skipped to the green house before. The tea, she had a cup of tea at her set up. If she was already upset or planning not to stay long she wouldn’t have let Akira pour her tea yet, or she would have quickly drunken it.
Did I do something wrong?
Did she run away because of me?
Then to think about it, it was Tadashi that asked me whether I was looking for Hikari. Filled with wanderlust I wouldn’t consider him the most sharp and observant of our group. I was even surprised that he had noticed.
Maybe she did leave because of me.
From the North door, there was no way that I could have seen her if she had left as I had entered. The oversized ferns which welcomed you around the entrance made it impossible to see the central tea area until walking further in.
There wasn’t anyone left to come in. I had been the last one to be arrive at the green house.
Even though I couldn’t be seen, the door still could be heard.
Had she walked away at the sound of my entering?
Stepping slowly through the glass door I paused.
Outside it just looked like any other school, the other clubs doing their daily activities; the sports clubs were running laps of the oval, the drama club had come outside to observe nature, from the music rooms the sounds of the orchestra flowed. Then there was that couple that snuck out of their club activities for the day just to spend some time with each was at the place. They were there, they wanted to be and those around them also wanted them there. Enjoying each other’s company.
A simple relationship.
A two sided relationship.
I sighed aloud, sliding down the outer glass walls of the green house to sit on the dusty ground that framed the edges of the green house.
What am I doing?
My Everything
Chapter 8
Why couldn’t life just be simple.
Simple like those people over there. That girl and boy sitting smiling on that park bench beneath the shading trees. Happy just being together, equally.
I like you.
I like you too.
Let’s go out.
Can it be that simple? Can it be that simple?
Hikari. Kei.
Why can’t it just be like that for us?
Looking at that couple I couldn’t help let out a small chuckle. It was an empty laugh. No, it was filled with disbelief that I could even consider for a second that we could be like that couple talking on the bench. A sad laughter. An angry laughter. With the beaten posture, the slight moistness beginning to wet my eyes and the small trickles of laughs that escaped my mouth; some could look at me and think that Kei Takashima had finally cracked. He had finally decided to show some sort of emotion outwards, even though the expression was somewhat maniacal and beyond everyday.
He was human after all. He wasn’t just some perfect being that was moulded to be the next figure head of the Takashima group. He wasn’t just this empty shell of indifference to the rest of the world. There are things in the world that can make him crack. There are things in the world that can break through that invisible exterior shell of repelling air to really touch and prod whatever is in the inside.
There are things, however insignificant that particular person may seen in the grand scheme of the world.
How did she get under my skin like this?
That girl. One girl. The girl.
Nothing in my life had before done anything thing like this to me. Never had such an effect. Never so effective at manipulating my normal trains of thought and actions into unforeseeable tangents and planes. Nothing before could have had me pitifully staring up into the blue sky with the excess moisture that was building up in the corners of my eyes. No one ever caused me to question myself and drop my mask to be playful and tease, and even more so to worry.
But she had always had this effect on me. From the time I first got hit with the electric touch and the refreshing scent. From the time she wouldn’t back down from a challenge. From the time that she was the one refreshing person that treated me differently. From the time she called out my name with her confident voice “Takashima!”.
“Takashima, Takashima, Takashima!”
Her smiling face and sweet voice resonated in my mind. Turning around and around, until I could have become drunk off the images and sounds. Maybe I was drunk; intoxicated by the presence of Hikari in my life. I had fallen. Fallen from that perfect image that was Kei Takashima. Fallen because of her, down to her simplistic level where only the present and no burdens of a huge corporation existed. And it could not be denied that I had fallen deep; into the deepest hole that Earth could provide.
Sighing I decided I should probably go to the computer lab. That was probably what it looked like I was doing anyway. There was some paper work that I could do for the company anyway. It would keep Grandfather happy and unsuspecting if I continued to do more than the standard amount of work. I shouldn’t be sitting here and letting myself get lost in thoughts about her, bringing to the surface emotions that I didn’t express as even a child. Yes, I must plunge myself back into that monotonous world to balance my mask again.
Slowly I got up from my dusty seat out side the green house. I knew that I could only look wistfully at her form afar. Even with that, just been able to be near her, I should be happy. It was a rare freedom to be able to attend school and interact with other kids my age. Dusting off the seat of my pants and blinking away the residue emotion that was left, I looked up away from the couple at the park benches.
“Takashima? Where are you going?”
Immediately I was faced with the petite being that I had been worrying about this whole time. Her face was full of curiosity as she blinked at me. I was frozen.
“Aren’t you going to the green house today? Akira made some really nice tea today. You know the one that changes colour? Her magic tea that brings happiness. And the cookies she made smelt really good. I’m just hoping that Tadashi hasn’t inhaled all of them by now.”
She’s back. And like nothing was wrong. Like she hadn’t disappeared suddenly from her usual spot.
“Hikari, where did you just come from?” I managed to choke out in my shocked state sounding completely normal in my indifferent voice.
Showing me a text book she hastily replied, “Oh I just needed this book so I went to the library and borrowed it. I thought I had my copy in the greenhouse but I think that I left it at home after reading it last night.”
“Oh.”
And with that she happily went though the glass door with her book.
I looked up towards the sky again.
She was only gone for a couple minutes to get a book she left behind. Nothing personal about me. Really nothing to do with me at all. Just to get another textbook to add to her pile. And she walked past with blissful ignorance.
Kei Takashima, when did you become this pathetic.
Why couldn’t life just be simple.
Simple like those people over there. That girl and boy sitting smiling on that park bench beneath the shading trees. Happy just being together, equally.
I like you.
I like you too.
Let’s go out.
Can it be that simple? Can it be that simple?
Hikari. Kei.
Why can’t it just be like that for us?
Looking at that couple I couldn’t help let out a small chuckle. It was an empty laugh. No, it was filled with disbelief that I could even consider for a second that we could be like that couple talking on the bench. A sad laughter. An angry laughter. With the beaten posture, the slight moistness beginning to wet my eyes and the small trickles of laughs that escaped my mouth; some could look at me and think that Kei Takashima had finally cracked. He had finally decided to show some sort of emotion outwards, even though the expression was somewhat maniacal and beyond everyday.
He was human after all. He wasn’t just some perfect being that was moulded to be the next figure head of the Takashima group. He wasn’t just this empty shell of indifference to the rest of the world. There are things in the world that can make him crack. There are things in the world that can break through that invisible exterior shell of repelling air to really touch and prod whatever is in the inside.
There are things, however insignificant that particular person may seen in the grand scheme of the world.
How did she get under my skin like this?
That girl. One girl. The girl.
Nothing in my life had before done anything thing like this to me. Never had such an effect. Never so effective at manipulating my normal trains of thought and actions into unforeseeable tangents and planes. Nothing before could have had me pitifully staring up into the blue sky with the excess moisture that was building up in the corners of my eyes. No one ever caused me to question myself and drop my mask to be playful and tease, and even more so to worry.
But she had always had this effect on me. From the time I first got hit with the electric touch and the refreshing scent. From the time she wouldn’t back down from a challenge. From the time that she was the one refreshing person that treated me differently. From the time she called out my name with her confident voice “Takashima!”.
“Takashima, Takashima, Takashima!”
Her smiling face and sweet voice resonated in my mind. Turning around and around, until I could have become drunk off the images and sounds. Maybe I was drunk; intoxicated by the presence of Hikari in my life. I had fallen. Fallen from that perfect image that was Kei Takashima. Fallen because of her, down to her simplistic level where only the present and no burdens of a huge corporation existed. And it could not be denied that I had fallen deep; into the deepest hole that Earth could provide.
Sighing I decided I should probably go to the computer lab. That was probably what it looked like I was doing anyway. There was some paper work that I could do for the company anyway. It would keep Grandfather happy and unsuspecting if I continued to do more than the standard amount of work. I shouldn’t be sitting here and letting myself get lost in thoughts about her, bringing to the surface emotions that I didn’t express as even a child. Yes, I must plunge myself back into that monotonous world to balance my mask again.
Slowly I got up from my dusty seat out side the green house. I knew that I could only look wistfully at her form afar. Even with that, just been able to be near her, I should be happy. It was a rare freedom to be able to attend school and interact with other kids my age. Dusting off the seat of my pants and blinking away the residue emotion that was left, I looked up away from the couple at the park benches.
“Takashima? Where are you going?”
Immediately I was faced with the petite being that I had been worrying about this whole time. Her face was full of curiosity as she blinked at me. I was frozen.
“Aren’t you going to the green house today? Akira made some really nice tea today. You know the one that changes colour? Her magic tea that brings happiness. And the cookies she made smelt really good. I’m just hoping that Tadashi hasn’t inhaled all of them by now.”
She’s back. And like nothing was wrong. Like she hadn’t disappeared suddenly from her usual spot.
“Hikari, where did you just come from?” I managed to choke out in my shocked state sounding completely normal in my indifferent voice.
Showing me a text book she hastily replied, “Oh I just needed this book so I went to the library and borrowed it. I thought I had my copy in the greenhouse but I think that I left it at home after reading it last night.”
“Oh.”
And with that she happily went though the glass door with her book.
I looked up towards the sky again.
She was only gone for a couple minutes to get a book she left behind. Nothing personal about me. Really nothing to do with me at all. Just to get another textbook to add to her pile. And she walked past with blissful ignorance.
Kei Takashima, when did you become this pathetic.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Essence of Mint
Chapter 1
Fated Meeting at Muhlenburg
“It’s already been three months since Father died…” a youth (probably just thirteen years of age) looks out the window of his limousine.
Without turning his head, he glares at the big man (probably between forty and fifty years of age) sitting across from him, “Now, Uncle whom we have only met just a few days before Father’s funeral is taking me and Rose to the country of all places!”
“Rose, what is your opinion of this?” he turns around to the girl (probably just eleven years of age) sitting beside him.
“…The country is…” he sighs.
“Mühlenburg…a country town dependent mainly on farming…not many people come here…to this useless land…” the youth thinks. He appears to have fair skin and a tall and semi-muscular build. He has somewhat long red hair that can reach past his chin but not long enough to touch his shoulders. Judging by his countenance, he appears to be more than just German. His eyes emanate a sense of pride, hate, and boastfulness, caring only for those of his social class.
“Uncle, why must we move to this backland area?!” the girl complains. She has very fair skin and a very feminine build. She has long wavy red hair that reaches her waist. Judging from her countenance, she appears to be more than just German. Her eyes emanate a sense of selfishness and boastfulness but also love.
“Hm? ‘Backland’? Bah, this is one of the better places in Deutschland (Germany)!” the big man laughs. Unlike the other two, he had tanned skin and a very masculine and very muscular build. He has white hair that seems to be unaffected by the wind, as it stays in its usual position…pointing behind him and a little bit towards the ground. More things of note are the numerous scars on his body…on his neck and on his arms…he even has a long scar over his right eye. Judging from his countenance…he probably looks completely German. His eyes emanate a sense of guidance, trust, love, and laughter.
“Brother, what do you think of this backland place?” she asks the youth.
“I also think that this is a waste of time, Rose,” the youth replies.
“See, Uncle?” Rose, the girl, proves her point.
“Adelheid, Rose, this is something that my brother wanted to show you but couldn’t. Meh, if he were the one making you move here, would you have accepted it?” the big man asks.
“That has nothing to do with this!” Adelheid, the youth, glares at his uncle.
“I’m just thankful that you are forcing us to live here for only a year!” Rose crosses her arms.
“Hah, don’t worry! You’ll love the country!” the big man laughs, “By a year’s time, you two will be begging me to let you stay!”
“I doubt that,” Adelheid comments.
“…very highly!” Rose adds.
“Hahahahahaha!” the big man laughs heartily.
As the limousine moves up a hill, Adelheid looks out the window and see the town of Mühlenburg. It is inferior, according to Adelheid’s and Rose’s standards…a town of agriculture with not much excitement…they believe.
“Brother, this town is much too small!” Rose complains, “Not many people will know of our superiority if we just stay in a town as small as this!”
“However, a small town like that will allow everyone in it to know of our superiority,” Adelheid looks at it optimistically.
“Just as expected, Brother. You always make things sound better for me!” Rose titters.
After putting more thought into it, Adelheid tells the big man, “Father would not have brought us here to begin with…”
“That’s true! He would not have wanted use to socialize with the country folk, who are very low people!” Rose agrees.
“‘Very low people’? Bah, you think too low of the country folk! They are just like city folk, only not as vicious!” Silber ends with a hearty laugh.
“Brigand…” Adelheid sighs.
“Hah, children these days…” the big man sighs.
After a short while, the limousine stops. Both Adelheid and Rose look out the windows to see what their new abode appears like. Instead, they see a few maids and butlers waiting for them…they appear to be blocking the view to the mansion, since the servants are a little close to the window.
“We’re here,” the big man laughs.
On cue, the driver opens the door for the three and greets, “Here is the mansion, Master Silber, Young Master Adelheid, and Young Mistress Rose.”
“Come on out!” Silber, the big man, laughs as he gets out of the limousine.
“Welcome back, Master Silber. We hope that everything is to your liking!” the maids and the butlers greet in unison.
“Haha! Of course, it is!” Silber laughs then adds, “As long as, my earlier requests were followed!”
“‘Requests’?” Adelheid asks as he steps out of the limousine but shades his eyes from the midday sun, since he was in the limousine for quite a long time.
“What do you mean?” Rose asks as Adelheid helps her out of the limousine.
“Oh, nothing!” Silber laughs then gestures the two to look behind them, “So, what do you think?”
However, they look at what is before them… their new abode.
Rose complains, “THIS is our mansion!? But it’s so small!”
Adelheid agrees and comments, “This mansion is just two times larger than the size of a commoner’s shopping mall! You expect us to live here?!”
“Bah!” Silber starts growing annoyed then replies, “Not the mansion! The scenery!”
The siblings turn around to view the scenery of Mühlenburg from such a high place.
Adelheid admits, “It’s almost breath-taking…”
“However, the city is much better! Right, Brother?” Rose comments.
“Of course,” Adelheid answers.
“You kids…” Silber sighs then laughs, “Maybe you should take a look at your rooms. You both will be surprised!”
“Very well,” Rose agrees to the suggestion then turns to Adelheid, “Brother, I shall be going to my room now.”
“And I to mine…” Adelheid replies then calls to one of the maids, “You! Take me to my room!”
The maid bows and turns to the mansion, “As you request, Young Master. Please follow me, Young Master.”
“Uncle, there had better be no deductions to my things,” Adelheid warns before following the maid.
“…Hm? What would make you believe that?” Silber laughs.
“Hmph!” Adelheid scoffs.
After several minutes of walking, the maid stops in front of a door and opens it for Adelheid. He peers into the room and is immediately shocked to find two important things missing. He is taken aback for a moment then runs inside to look through his things. He only has one more important material thing…He looks through several closets and makes a mess by tossing everything else…his clothes, his photos, his paintings, even several photos of his father and mother.
“WHERE IS IT!?!?!” Adelheid yells at the top of his lungs.
“WHERE ARE THEY?!?!?!” Rose can be heard yelling a little while after Adelheid had.
“Rose…as well?!” Adelheid turns to the maid, “I command you to return them to me!”
“Those things?” the maid asks, “Ah, I beg for your forgiveness, Young Master…but Master Silber has ordered us to deny any request regarding that…”
“Uncle!?!” Adelheid yells, “Useless maid! Stupid Uncle!”
Adelheid runs out his room to search for Silber. After a while of running, he finds Rose doing the same.
“Brother!” Rose notices Adelheid and runs to him.
“You, as well?” Adelheid asks Rose.
“Unfortunately…” Rose pouts.
“This is all Uncle’s fault!” Adelheid yells as he dashes off to find Silber.
“Please wait for me, Brother!” Rose tries to catch up with Adelheid.
He goes through every room to find Silber…not caring about his acts. Eventually, he finds another room and checks…It is the study, a room full of books…and a place where silence can be found. Silber is inside reading a letter.
“Hm?” Silber looks up and sees Adelheid.
“UNCLE!” Adelheid yells at Silber, “What is the meaning of this!?”
“What is the meaning of what?” Silber asks, as he inconspicuously hoards the letter in his person.
“They’re gone!” Adelheid yells.
“What’s gone?” Silber asks.
“Uncle!” Rose slowly and elegantly enters the room…but the elegance fades as she starts yelling, “WHERE IS MY TELEVISION!?! WHERE IS MY COMPUTER!?!”
“And where are my television and my computer?!” Adelheid adds.
“Television? Bah, you don’t need that! You can go take a walk instead of resting your posterior and watching television!” Silber retorts, “And your computers? You’ll just ruin your eyesight with those things!”
“Ah! And my dramas!” Rose adds.
“Dramas? All the drama that you need is in your life,” Silber laughs.
“What of my fighting videos?!” Adelheid adds.
“Fighting videos? Bah, you can’t learn how to fight from videos! You just need a trainer and a sparring partner!” Silber laughs again.
“I had a teacher, Uncle!” Adelheid says with an angry face.
After having heard that, Silber stops smiling, “…My brother, right?”
Adelheid and Rose say nothing…a silent yes…
Silber replies to their silence, “I know that I’m not my brother and your father…However, I can do my best in giving you the lifestyle he wanted…”
“He wants to strip us of our wealth and power?!” Adelheid jumps to conclusions.
“And make us live with these…these…these lowlifes?!” Rose adds.
“No,” Silber replies, “he wants you to see the other social classes. You can’t lead the family if you only look at the other people from a tower or something!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Adelheid asks.
Silber explains, “Here’s a better explanation…”
d – O – o – O – o – O – b
SILBER'S LECTURE
o – O – o – O – o – O – o
There are five major social classes: the overclass, the upper class, the middle class, the lower class, and the underclass.
In the bottom, we have the underclass: lower than the low. They are depicted as criminals, homeless people, or lazy good-for-nothings. These people are usually the kind that anyone would want to stay away from. I personally do not wish to talk about this any more…
Next, we have the lower class: those who were born in the worst time, those who suffer from debts, those who suffer from disaster, or those who suffer from abuse. The people of this class are usually the simplest people. Sometimes, they don’t need much to be happy. However, when their feel no closure, they may drop to the underclass.
The next class is the middle class. People of this class are the types that work under the upper class. Because of their usual educational background, they make better employees than the lower class. However, that also makes them less prone to completely following us. People of this class can sometimes be more dangerous than those of the lower class. Those of this class seem to harbor hate for other classes but also somehow admire the upper class. Basically, they want to be like us. Continuing, the people of this class follow a much better hygiene than that of the lower class. So, they would be much easier to approach.
The class just below ours can be split into two subclasses: the “nobles” and the “investors”.
“Investors”, as I call them, are those who made it to the upper class through investments, thriftiness, or marketing. These people are not rich by birth, but by perseverance. However, that is the reason why the majority of the “investor” families have wealth for only a couple of generations.
“Nobles” are the true upper class families. They gain their wealth from Old Money, inheritances, although they may also gain more wealth by hiring the “Investors”. These families are often abusive of the lower classes but usually know how to control the lower classes, so they won’t revolt against them.
Finally, we have our class, the overclass— the greatest of the great. Like the “nobles”, we gain our wealth through Old Money. However, our class has more power. With our influence, we can easily choose the next government officials and even start wars. That influence also affects the people of our class, since the overclass tends to abuse all of the other classes— much more than the “nobles”. The overclass looks down on the people from their high places, like towers, skyscrapers and whatnot. We basically have superiority over the other classes, in terms of wealth and power. So, naturally, we would look down upon the other classes and think of them as powerless. We often think so low of the other classes that we believe that we own all of the other classes. We don’t realize that our abuse on the other classes may lead us to our downfall.
To prevent this downfall, we must not abuse the other classes so much. To do that, we must understand them. Finally, to do that, we must socialize with them.
“Understand, kids?” Silber finishes his explanation.
“Hmph!” both siblings scoff in disbelief.
“The lower classes can topple us? Impossible, laughable, unbelievable!” Adelheid comments.
“We just have to put them in their places! Then they won’t think of such a stupid thing!” Rose comments.
“That’s the kind of thinking that toppled other overclass families!” Silber explains, “Now the number of overclass families have dwindled to just a handful!”
“We shall excuse ourselves now, Uncle,” Adelheid turns his back to Silber before walking away.
“Unthinkable! Your eyes should be the same as ours!” Rose does the same.
Once the siblings have left the study and the door closes behind them, Silber laughs, “…That should give them something to think about!”
In his bedroom, Adelheid lies on his bed…deep in thought of how his life has changed so much over the years.
“First that Liar died…then just a few months ago, Father died,” Adelheid looks at the lights on his bedroom ceiling.
“Now, Uncle pulls us out from our home and brings us into the country. What could he be thinking!?” Adelheid gets up and leaves his room.
“He is just like those of the middle class! He acts and talks like them! Father must be embarrassed to know that his brother is some brigand!” Adelheid continues walking, “He barely looks like Father! Perhaps, Grandfather—!”
Adelheid instantly stops, “Father…the son of a Nazi…and I…the grandson of a Nazi…”
“That should also make Uncle the same as Father…Perhaps…those scars are…!” Adelheid continues walking.
“Uncle may have something about this town,” Adelheid thinks then grows a smile, “Perhaps, there may also be those of the upper class here!”
With that thought in mind, he gets a little excited and calls for the driver to bring him to the town.
Within minutes, he enters the town. As he exits his limousine, he notices the townspeople staring at him. After all, who wouldn’t stare at a guy, who wears extravagant clothes that practically scream “rich” and who came out of a limousine?
Adelheid scoffs, “Eyes of envy…”
He wanders around the town alone. He sees the happy faces, which annoy him. He sees the various shops and stands, which he calls “poor”. He even sees the clock tower that oversees the town. Eventually, he finds the town center. The first thing he notices is the fountain. He observes the water rising from the fountain just to fall down.
“Just like the attempts of the lower classes!” Adelheid grins, “Trying to go up, just to fall back down!”
He looks a little lower and finds a single girl. She has brown hair that barely extends past her shoulders. On her hair is a large circular yellow hairclip. She has gentle mature brown eyes. She wears a white shirt that has blue long sleeves and a red short skirt. She quickly catches Adelheid’s attention.
“Hm? She has caught my eye…She must be one of the better ones of this town of commoners…in other words, an upper class lady,” Adelheid believes as he walks to her.
“Hm?” the girl notices Adelheid and quickly stares at him.
“Then…upon closer inspection, she wears the same attire as the commoners,” Adelheid notices then turns away from her.
“Ah, sorry for staring!” the girl apologizes, “Are you new to Mühlenburg?”
“The lower classes don’t deserve my ears…” Adelheid thinks as he continues walking away.
The girl sighs, “Oh…I think I upset him…”
“Keep your thoughts to yourself, peasant girl!” Adelheid scoffs.
“Ah, Miss Saga…what a coincidence to see you here!” another (more elegant) voice is heard.
Adelheid quickly turns around and sees another girl talking to the first. She has long straight black hair. Her brown eyes appear to be haughty and proud. She wears a red dress and a tan blouse. Adelheid instantly knows, “She is of the upper class!”
“G-Greta,” the first girl, Saga, appears surprised.
“What might you be doing here, Miss Saga?” the second girl, Greta, smiles at Saga, “Could you possibly have been waiting for me?”
“Uh, no, I was actually waiting for Anne and Norma,” Saga replies but remembers Adelheid and turns to him.
“What do want, peasant?” Adelheid glares at Saga.
“Ah!” Saga takes a step back.
“S-Saga! What are you doing?!” Greta yells after Saga backed up to her.
“That GEWORFENE (German: one of non-human birth)!” Adelheid is shocked to have seen what had happened.
“I just got a little scared,” Saga admits.
“Of what?!” Greta asks.
“Of me!” Adelheid’s loud voice quickly attracted the attention of those around the fountain.
“Hm?” Greta turns to Adelheid, “And who might you be?”
“I am Adelheid Ignitz,” Adelheid takes Greta’s hand and kiss it.
“WHA—!?” Greta blushes from the kiss.
Adelheid releases Greta’s hand and smiles at her, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss—”
“G-Greta von Innstetten,” Greta manages to reply…as she is still blushing.
“‘Von Instetten’? That’s the name of a noble, is it not?” Adelheid continues talking, “Tell me, Miss Greta, why do stay in this rat hole of a town?”
“Well, I—” Greta tries to reply, but—
“‘Rat hole’?” Saga interrupts them, “Excuse me, but Mühlenburg is not a rat hole.”
“I did not give the Geworfene permission to speak,” Adelheid points out.
“‘Geworfene’?” Saga repeats, “I am not—”
“Sir Adelheid, Miss Saga is not an animal!” Greta defends Saga.
“Hm?” Adelheid turns back to Greta.
“Miss Saga is my rival, and the people of this town are good friends of mine!” Greta continues, “So, every person here is not a Geworfene!”
“Hm…I see now. I shall take my word back, for the sake of a lady of nobility,” Adelheid apologizes…sort of, “Miss Greta has been affected by the air of the Geworfenes. I shall forgive her for this insolence. However, she needs to know the difference in social ranking between her and the Geworfenes.”
“O-Okay, I forgive you,” Saga replies.
Adelheid ignores Saga and turns to Greta, “So, Miss Greta, do you know of my family’s lineage?”
“The Ignitz?” Greta asks, “If I recall correctly, your family’s lineage would be…‘Hochadel’ (sovereign nobility)?”
“‘Hochadel’?” Saga repeats.
“Yes, so you must know your place when speaking to us, Miss Saga,” Adelheid scoffs.
“Why do you treat me in such a way?!” Saga asks.
“Sir Ignitz, please refrain from acting in such a way towards Miss Saga!” Greta requests to Adelheid.
“This kindness towards the Geworfenes is starting to annoy me!” Adelheid ignores Saga and tries to reply to Greta, “I—!”
The clock tower’s bell rings four times, telling everyone that the time is now 4:00 PM.
“Hm? I must take my leave now, Miss Greta…” Adelheid bows to Greta and just looks at Saga, “Saga…”
“Farewell, Sir Adelheid,” Greta greets to Adelheid.
“I may return tomorrow. Farewell,” Adelheid bows to Greta again before turning and leaving.
“I may have to force Miss Greta in remembering her place above the Geworfenes,” Adelheid thinks as he continues walking, “However, Miss Greta could just be giving false kindness to Saga. So, her eyes may actually be the same as mine.”
Within minutes, he finds his limousine and is driven to the edge of town, where the Ignitz Mansion is.
“So…my stay here might be more interesting that what I first believed…” Adelheid smirks as he looks out the window of the limousine.
“Hm? What?!” Adelheid feels as if he had seen something fly past his limousine.
Adelheid opens the window and looks outside towards the back of the limousine…and sees nothing, “My imagination?”
As Adelheid looks towards his mansion he notices glitter in the dusking sky.
“What…is it?” Adelheid continues looking as he is being driven to the mansion.
“Brother! Where were you all this time?” Rose asks Adelheid as Adelheid gives the maid his coat.
“Hm? Just taking a stroll through the town,” Adelheid answers, “I’ve found one upper class lady.”
“Oh! Really?!” Rose sounds ecstatic.
“Yes,” Adelheid replies, “I believe that she is a ‘noble’ as Uncle calls them.”
“I see,” Rose sighs from disappointment.
After a short while of thinking, he decides to ask her, “Rose, have you seen anything unusual about the sky?”
“You are pointing out the obvious fact that it is too dark at night?” Rose replies.
Adelheid drops the subject, “Perhaps…I shall spend my time at the roof balcony, Rose.”
“I wish to accompany you, Brother!” Rose hugs Adelheid’s right arm.
“Rose, forgive me, but I wish to collect my thoughts in silence and solitude,” Adelheid explains.
“…I…understand, Brother,” Rose releases Adelheid.
“You!” Adelheid points to a random servant, “Take me to the highest balcony.”
“As you wish, Young Master,” the butler bows to him and escorts Adelheid to the highest balcony.
As soon as Adelheid reaches the balcony, he orders the butler to leave him alone.
As he looks at the moon, he sighs but suddenly turns to an angry face, “So…thatGeworfene…that Geworfene had no right to do such a thing to Miss Greta!”
“Miss Greta insists that she is friends with that Geworfene, but I am sure that she is just pretending,” Adelheid continues.
“In this world, there are only two kinds of people that I accept: the rich and the talented,” Adelheid takes a deep breath before continuing, “However, there is no such thing as a skilled commoner. If the person is talented, it is because he is a high class person!”
He turns towards the edge of the balcony and continues thinking, “We are forced to live here with the commoners…I wish Father were still here…He would have…WHAT?!”
Adelheid realizes that there was a little thing flying near the empty flower pot sitting at the corner of the balcony.
“I think this place seems safe enough…” the little thing sighs.
“Wh-What?” Adelheid walks a little closer to the little thing, “What is it? A fairy?!”
“…Hm…?” the little thing turns to Adelheid. She has long blue hair and sad, painful blue eyes. She also has a pair of little green wings on its back. She has a white headband to pull her blue hair back. On the middle of the headband is a small red gem. She wears a black shirt with long sleeves and black pants. She has a long red cape that is longer than it is. She also has little black slippers, a little golden pendant on her necklace, and a little blue purse. Just on her back are a pair of tiny green wings. After seeing Adelheid, she sighs, “…Humans can’t see us…So, there’s no point in asking questions…”
“And what are you supposed to be?” Adelheid asks after hearing her comment.
“Huh? You…can see me…?” the little thing asks Adelheid. She flies to his eye level and asks, “You can see me…?”
“Of course!” Adelheid barks back, “What do you take me for—a blind man?!”
She flies around Adelheid a few times and explains, “…A human that can see…Season Fairies…? AH—!”
Adelheid grabs her and looks at her carefully, “What is this suppose to be? An animal? A fairy?”
“I am no animal,” she explains, “I am a Season Fairy.”
“‘Season fairy’?” Adelheid repeats.
“Yes,” she replies.
“Elaborate—what is a season fairy?” Adelheid asks.
“…You know that there are multiple seasons and weather phenomenon all over the human world…right?” she asks rhetorically, “Well, Season Fairies are the one’s who can manipulate the weather and bring about those seasons.”
“…I see…And who gave you permission to intrude MY mansion!?” Adelheid adds a little pressure to his hold, obviously hurting the little thing.
“AH!!! P-Please stop!” she screams.
“Answer!” Adelheid yells and slightly loosens his grip.
“…I thought that this place was…abandoned…” she confesses, “…a few days ago…it was empty, so I thought…”
“You are gravely mistaken!” Adelheid yells at her, “This is a mansion owned by the Ignitz family! You wish to trespass my family’s mansion?!”
“…I’m sorry…” she apologizes.
“In the end, I have a softer spot for animals than commoners…I’ll…” Adelheid sighs, “…I’ll forgive you…if you can prove to me that you really are a season fairy…!”
“…How can I do that…?” she asks.
“Show me your magic,” Adelheid orders her, although he obviously sounds skeptical.
“Magic…? Of course…!” she replies.
Adelheid releases it, “…So, show me…!”
“As you wish…” she takes a little recorder out from its purse, “Watch the moon…”
“‘The moon’?” Adelheid repeats.
“Yes, please…” she replies.
Once Adelheid turns to the full moon, she starts playing the recorder. At first, nothing appears to be happening, but Adelheid soon notices that the moonlight is becoming brighter…gentler…and more brilliant.
“What…is this?” Adelheid turns to the fairy.
It stops playing and answers, “I am a Moon Fairy…I can manipulate the brightness of the moon…”
“‘Moon Fairy’, right?” Adelheid asks for its name.
“My name is Mint,” the fairy, Mint, shyly smiles after having hoarded her recorder into her purse, “It’s a pleasure to meet you…”
“Adelheid…Adelheid Ignitz…” Adelheid tries to not embarrass himself from shock, “A REAL FAIRY?! One that controls the strength of the moonlight?! How—?”
“Mister Adelheid,” Mint asks, “Would it be alright if you allow me to stay here in your mansion?”
“…A fairy?” Adelheid gives a few thinking gestures, although the answer is clear, “I shall allow you to stay here, Fairy Mint.”
“‘Mint’ is just fine,” Mint blushes a little.
“If that is the case, ‘Adelheid’ is just fine,” Adelheid smiles at Mint, “If she wishes to be referred to without a title, I must allow it to do the same…It is the code of nobles!”
After a short while of silence, the sound of growling could be heard.
Adelheid turns to Mint…and Mint blushes as she holds her tummy, “…I seem to be quite famished…”
“…Fairies can feel hunger?” Adelheid asks.
“…Yes, like all living things…We need nutrition and sustenance…” Mint explains.
“You have quite the vocabulary for a little thing,” Adelheid replies, “…Speaking of which, how old are you?”
“…Uhm…” Mint starts counting with her fingers, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…eight. Ah, eight years old!”
“And you are on your own?” Adelheid asks out of concern, “Are your parents not worried?”
Mint slowly descends, prompting Adelheid to catch her.
Mint eventually starts crying, “…Mommy…Daddy…WAAAAA!!!”
“They…abandoned you?” Adelheid assumes.
“N-No…” Mint tries to wipe her tears away, “…They…are not of the world anymore…”
“They—!” Adelheid quickly realizes.
“I…I have to…stop…c-crying!” Mint tries to calm down, “I’m a…I’m a big girl now so…so I have to stop…!”
“…Do you not have other fairies to mingle with…to comfort you?” Adelheid asks.
“I…I don’t like people…to know me…so much…” Mint obviously tries her best to hold some tears in but fails.
“So, why are you telling me all this?” Adelheid asks her.
“…Because I’m weak…” Mint admits.
“‘Weak’?!” Adelheid realizes, “It shall be easy to manipulate, if that is the case!”
Mint continues crying, “Nobody wanted to be friends with me! Nobody wanted to stay with me! Nobody—”
Adelheid sighs, “Stop…”
Mint sniffles a bit, “…Huh…?”
“I’ll take you…” Adelheid tries to not make eye contact with Mint.
“R-Re…al…ly!?” Mint’s voice starts breaking again.
“Of course!” Adelheid replies, “I can’t be a powerful noble if I can’t take advantage of such an investment, even if it is just a child!”
“Thank you, Adelheid!” Mint flies to Adelheid’s face and gives him a hug.
“…And she dares touch me in such a way!?” Adelheid quickly pulls her from his face and explains, “Only on the condition that you follow my orders! Understand?”
“…O-Of course…!” Mint replies.
“Young Master, it is time for dinner!” one of the maids calls out from inside the mansion.
“…Come with me,” Adelheid turns and heads inside the mansion.
“Y-Yes…!” Mint follows him inside.
While Adelheid is being escorted to the dinning area, he realizes that the maid does not notice Mint, at all! He looks at the other servants and sees that they also do not notice her.
“Why…am I the only one who can see her?” Adelheid thinks for a while and proudly assumes, “Perhaps only those of wealth and power are the only ones who can see them! Interesting…What shall Rose say of this!? Kukukukuku!”
“Adelheid, is there something the matter?” Mint flies closer to him and asks.
“It is nothing…” Adelheid grins, as he whispers.
Upon reaching the dinning table, Adelheid takes his seat across from Rose, while Silber takes his seat at the master’s seat.
“Wa!” Mint gets too excited at the sight of food and quickly snatches a dessert cookie.
“Don’t just help yourself to that! Ask first!” Adelheid scoffs.
“…S-Sorry…” Mint apologizes.
“Hm?” Rose stops trying to help herself to the salad, “Ah! That’s right, Brother! I have forgotten that we have servants for this sort of thing for us! Thank you for reminding me, Brother.”
“I was not…” Adelheid tries to explain, “She…cannot see it either?! What is the meaning of this?!”
“You! Serve me some of that,” Rose orders one of the butlers.
“Adelheid, is there something the matter?” Silber asks Adelheid after noticing that Adelheid is deep in thought and not eating.
“Huh?” Adelheid breaks from his world of wonder.
“Adelheid, I’m going to take this, okay?” Mint snatches a small piece of lobster meat from the table and eats it.
“Uh, alright…” Adelheid replies to Mint then turns to Silber, “I don’t wish for your concern, Uncle!”
“Right…” Silber laughs heartily.
Upon hearing Silber’s laughter, Mint turns around and looks at Silber…and flees onto Adelheid’s face, “There’s a monster here!”
Adelheid tries to pull her from his face, “Although I would love to call him that…he is my Uncle.”
“But…he doesn’t look anything like you!” Mint tries her best to stay on Adelheid’s face.
“This is becoming quite a nuisance!” Adelheid sighs and yells, “Get off of my face!”
Silber laughs heartily again, “Hahaha! You can’t tell the master of the mansion to leave his own dining table!”
Adelheid (with Mint still on his face) tries to explain, “What? No, I—”
“And I believe the expression is ‘Get out of my face’, Brother,” Rose explains.
“…I have been corrected,” Adelheid tries to not make a scene, “I thought this fairy would be a good pawn to hold…but it is nothing but a NUISANCE!”
“Adelheid!” Mint, still on his face, cries in fear of Silber.
“I order you to get off of my face…” Adelheid whispers, “…NOW!”
“…I’m…sorry…” Mint flies off of his face and instead hides behind him.
“I’ll have to think of a way to exile it from my mansion…” Adelheid sighs as he continues eating, “…Perhaps I shall just send her off in the most emotionally hurtful way I can…Ku…”
“…Adelheid…” Mint shyly asks him then points at another desert cookie, “…may I…eat that?”
“…By all means, go ahead,” Adelheid replies (suspiciously).
“‘Go ahead’ and do what?” Rose, assuming that Adelheid is talking to her, asks.
“…Uh, it is nothing…!” Adelheid forces a laugh then looks at Mint as she takes a desert cookie, “…This fairy is making a fool of me! I must at least partially honor my words of allowing it to stay with me…so I shall banish it later tonight!”
After dinner, Adelheid informs Mint that he will be taking his bath but not before ordering Mint to stay in his room for the moment.
“…Adelheid is mad at me…I’m sure…” Mint sits on Adelheid’s bed and starts crying.
“…Everyone…always…gets mad at me…!” Mint cries, “Why? Even Liquorice…Paprika… Clove…and Vanilla…are mad…at me…!”
Mint hugs her legs and cries on her knees, “If—If I knew why they—they were mad at me, I’d apologize!”
“…Mommy…Daddy…” Mint falls to her side and continues crying.
“Adelheid is my new friend…but I made him hate me too…!” Mint muffles her cries on his bed.
“…Please forgive me…Adelheid…!!!” Mint cries loudly.
Still waiting in Adelheid’s room, Mint starts reminiscing about the past week.
Mint begins her story, “When…when I first came to the Human World…”
Six fairies can be seen flying from the sky to the earth.
One appears to be an old man with a pointy red hat and red raiment. His green wings can be noticed right away, as they are much larger compared to Mint’s.
The next one is Mint in her usual shy face.
The next one is another female fairy. She has short brown hair with a snowflake-shaped hairpin on the left side of her hair. She appears to have a cheerful, easy-going, immature personality, if one would judge from her countenance and her brown eyes. She wears a white sleeveless dress which appears to have an almost transparent white skirt. She also wears white shorts and little white boots. Hanging on her shoulder is a little white bag, which has a snowflake insignia. Unlike Mint, her wings can be seen easily, since her dress doesn’t really cover her upper back.
The next appears to be a male fairy. His short light blue hair is cleanly combed back. He appears to be the “cool” type, if one would judge from his countenance and his very light blue (to the point that they look gray) eyes. He wears, what appears to be, a large puffy white beret. He also wears a white shirt with a short (enough to reach the elbow) cape and light blue shorts. As if the short cape is not enough, he also has a light blue scarf around his neck. He also wears simple brown boots. Hanging on his shoulder is a little white shoulder bag, which has a snowflake insignia. His little wings can be seen on his back.
The next one is another female fairy. Most of her long straight magenta hair is covered by a large light blue bandanna. She appears to be the most mature one of the apprentice fairies, if one would judge from her countenance and her blue eyes behind her circular glasses. She wears a short light blue vest over her deep blue blouse, which has short sleeves. She wears an almost transparent blue skirt and fitting light blue pants. She also has little brown shoes. Hanging on her shoulder is a little brown bag, with a cloud-shaped insignia. Her her little wings can be seen easily on her back..
The last one is a male fairy. He looks almost exactly like the fairy in front of him but with differences in clothing and hairstyle. His bandanna is white and covers his forehead and most of his short magenta hair. He appears to be the cheerful type, if one would judge from his countenance and blue eyes behind his circular glassses. His vest is white and is slightly longer than the other one’s. His shirt is gray and has long loose sleeves. His pants are also gray and cover a bit of his brown boots. Hanging on his shoulder is a little brown bag, with a cloud-shaped insignia. His little wings can be seen on his back.
Once they have reached the earth, they fly under a tree to begin their discussion.
“Now, then,” the oldest one coughs, “Here in the human world, you will have your biggest test in becoming a full-fledged Season Fairy!”
“Yay!!!” all the apprentice Season Fairies, except Mint, start cheering.
“Ahem!” the old man coughs, prompting the cheering to stop, “Here is what you have to do…find a ‘Twinkle’!”
“‘Twinkle’?” the apprentice Season Fairies ask.
ix f
“What’s a ‘Twinkle’?” the boy with the bandanna asks.
“Hm?” the old man looks at him (although it is very difficult to tell, since the old man’s eyebrows seem to have grown large enough to cover his eyes), “That is your mission! Do you want me to tell you what the answer is to something that you have to find yourself?!”
“Yep!” the girl in the white dress cutely replies.
“Vanilla! I wasn’t being rhetorical!” the old man yells at the girl in the white dress (Vanilla).
“‘Rhetorical’?” Vanilla wonders about the meaning of the word.
“But, Master Elder, would it not be mean to give us a scavenger hunting list without a single clue?” the girl with the bandanna asks.
“The ‘Twinkle’ is something that you will have to find yourself!” the old man (the Elder) yells.
“…Unfair…” Mint says under her breath.
“Anyway,” the Elder turns around, “I wish you all luck.”
“Master Elder, are you going somewhere?” the boy with the beret asks.
“Yes, I have…important matters to attend to!” the Elder replies before flying off somewhere around the town. If one would listen carefully enough, he appears to be shouting, “My Ginger dear!”
Once the Elder is gone, the boy with the beret turns to the others, “I think we should introduce ourselves. I’m Clove, an apprentice Blizzard Fairy.”
“Oh! Me next! Me next! Me next!” Vanilla raises her hand and runs to Clove’s side, “I’m Vanilla, an apprentice Snow Fairy! Hello, everyone!”
“And I’m…” the girl with the bandanna takes her turn, “Paprika, an apprentice Rain Fairy.”
“And my twin sister, Paprika!” the boy with the bandanna comments, “I’m Liquorice, an apprentice Cloud Fairy.”
Once the others have finished, they turn to Mint.
“Ah, me?” Mint shyly takes a step back.
“Of course, you, silly!” Vanilla giggles and pulls Mint to the center.
“I-I’m…” Mint blushes, “…Mint…an apprentice Moon Fairy…”
“‘Moon Fairy’?” Clove focuses his attention on Mint.
“Wow! A Moon Fairy!” Vanilla squeals, “I’ve never met one before!”
“That’s because only great musical talent can make you a Moon Fairy,” Clove explains.
“Huh?” Vanilla wonders.
“I’m not that good…” Mint modestly replies.
“Oh! I remember!” Vanilla spontaneously shouts.
“What?” Liquorice asks.
“What are your instruments?” Vanilla asks as she takes her piccolo out of her little bag.
“I have a violin,” Paprika replies as she pulls her violin and violin bow from out of her little bag.
“I own a Hardanger fiddle (similar to a violin but not completely),” Clove replies…with his saxophone already on hand.
“…Wow!” Vanilla squeals and flies to Clove to take a closer look at the saxophone, “How did you fit that into your bag?”
“I—” Clove tries to reply but is interrupted by the sound of a cello being played.
“This would be my cello…” Liquorice continues playing the cello.
“WOW!!!” Vanilla squeals even louder and dashes to Liquorice for a front row seat.
“…The better question is: how did HE fit that into his bag?!” Clove comments.
“Mint, what is your instrument?” Paprika asks Mint.
“M-Me?” Mint shyly replies, “…I…have a…recorder…”
“So, show us,” Paprika asks.
“I, uh…” Mint scratches the back of her head.
“Mint! I wanna see a recorder! Can I? Can I? Can I?” Vanilla excitedly asks.
“…S-Sure,” Mint carefully takes her recorder out from her bag and shows everyone else.
“Wow!” Vanilla takes the recorder and looks at it carefully, “It looks almost like a piccolo!”
“Except you blow it on the end, instead of the side,” Clove explains.
“P-Please be careful, Vanilla!” Mint warns Vanilla.
“Don’t worry, Mint! Here you g—Aah!” Vanilla tries to give it back to Mint but ends up tripping on her own foot…and lands on Mint.
“Aah!!!” Mint cries. Unbeknownst to her, her bag had fallen from the commotion…and released whatever was hoarded inside— a piccolo, a violin, a harp, and many other musical instruments.
“S-Sorry, Mint! I’m really really really sorry!” Vanilla apologizes as much as she can.
“…N-No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine…” Mint forces a smiling face, since she’s a bit scared at this point.
“What in the world!?” Liquorice stares at the various musical instruments that have fallen out of Mint’s bag.
“A Hardanger fiddle?” Clove takes the fallen Hardanger fiddle and checks it just to be sure.
“And that’s a normal violin!” Paprika takes the fallen violin and inspects it.
“Wow! Mint, you can play the piccolo?” Vanilla curiously asks Mint.
“Y-Yeah…a little,” Mint replies modestly.
“…So…you can play all of these instruments, right?” Clove asks.
“…Y…Yeah…” Mint hesitates to reply.
“…Well, I’m going to go look for place to plant my Magic Seed,” Clove changes the subject and flies off, “Come on, Paprika, Liquorice, Vanilla.”
“Huh? Wait up, Clove!” Liquorice drops Mint’s violin and tries to catch up to him.
“Liquorice! Wait!” Paprika does the same.
“A race? I wanna play, too!” Vanilla dashes off with the others.
Once the four are gone, Mint is left alone…
“…Clove…didn’t say…my name…Why?” Mint thinks as she picks up all of her musical instruments and hoards them into her bag.
“…T-They hate me, too…” Mint jumps to conclusions; however, her conclusion isn’t too far from reality.
“…Mommy…Daddy…please help me…!” Mint starts to cry, “…I wanna make friends but…I don’t think I can…”
“…I…What am I doing? I’m a big girl now…I’m not supposed to be—” Mint’s tears quickly cascade down her cheeks as she screams, “CRYING!!!”
q – O – o – O – o – O – p
Just standing behind the door to his room, Adelheid listens to Mint’s story.
“Hmph, I decide to banish her earlier than planned, but I end up listening to her story…!” Adelheid silently scoffs.
He sighs then thinks about it logically, “So, it’s a talented fairy…All talented people are, at least, nobles…therefore, it is a noble, as well!” (Although his form of logic is…difficult to believe)
“Now, I have a newfound attraction to it…for it is a noble! I won’t send it away…” Adelheid thinks, “Nobles have to keep each other healthy and well by their company, so I shall do the same for this child…”
Still inside Adelheid’s room, Mint tries to stop crying.
“The reason why they hate you, Mint…” Adelheid enters his room.
“Adelheid! I’m sorry! I—” Mint apologizes on impulse.
“The reason why the others hate you is…” Adelheid continues, “…because they are jealous of you!”
“‘Jealous’?” Mint asks.
“Of course,” Adelheid explains, “Throughout history, the lower classes have always envied the wealth and talent of the upper classes! Without a doubt, they are jealous of you.”
“…R-Right…” Mint reluctantly agrees but has other thoughts in mind, “…I’ll stop playing those if…they are jealous…That way we can all be friends…”
“Mint…rejoice to know that you are truly accepted by me…” Adelheid, for the first time, calls Mint by her name, as he proudly explains.
“…Adelheid!” Mint flies to Adelheid’s face and hugs him.
“Hmph,” Adelheid scoffs, “This is forgivable…When Rose was that young, she acted similarly…”
“Adelheid, I’ll be the best fairy that I can be! So, you won’t hate me again…” Mint continues crying.
“How this will turn out…I know not…” Adelheid sighs, “…but I won’t think of Mint as a tool anymore.”
Fated Meeting at Muhlenburg
“It’s already been three months since Father died…” a youth (probably just thirteen years of age) looks out the window of his limousine.
Without turning his head, he glares at the big man (probably between forty and fifty years of age) sitting across from him, “Now, Uncle whom we have only met just a few days before Father’s funeral is taking me and Rose to the country of all places!”
“Rose, what is your opinion of this?” he turns around to the girl (probably just eleven years of age) sitting beside him.
“…The country is…” he sighs.
“Mühlenburg…a country town dependent mainly on farming…not many people come here…to this useless land…” the youth thinks. He appears to have fair skin and a tall and semi-muscular build. He has somewhat long red hair that can reach past his chin but not long enough to touch his shoulders. Judging by his countenance, he appears to be more than just German. His eyes emanate a sense of pride, hate, and boastfulness, caring only for those of his social class.
“Uncle, why must we move to this backland area?!” the girl complains. She has very fair skin and a very feminine build. She has long wavy red hair that reaches her waist. Judging from her countenance, she appears to be more than just German. Her eyes emanate a sense of selfishness and boastfulness but also love.
“Hm? ‘Backland’? Bah, this is one of the better places in Deutschland (Germany)!” the big man laughs. Unlike the other two, he had tanned skin and a very masculine and very muscular build. He has white hair that seems to be unaffected by the wind, as it stays in its usual position…pointing behind him and a little bit towards the ground. More things of note are the numerous scars on his body…on his neck and on his arms…he even has a long scar over his right eye. Judging from his countenance…he probably looks completely German. His eyes emanate a sense of guidance, trust, love, and laughter.
“Brother, what do you think of this backland place?” she asks the youth.
“I also think that this is a waste of time, Rose,” the youth replies.
“See, Uncle?” Rose, the girl, proves her point.
“Adelheid, Rose, this is something that my brother wanted to show you but couldn’t. Meh, if he were the one making you move here, would you have accepted it?” the big man asks.
“That has nothing to do with this!” Adelheid, the youth, glares at his uncle.
“I’m just thankful that you are forcing us to live here for only a year!” Rose crosses her arms.
“Hah, don’t worry! You’ll love the country!” the big man laughs, “By a year’s time, you two will be begging me to let you stay!”
“I doubt that,” Adelheid comments.
“…very highly!” Rose adds.
“Hahahahahaha!” the big man laughs heartily.
As the limousine moves up a hill, Adelheid looks out the window and see the town of Mühlenburg. It is inferior, according to Adelheid’s and Rose’s standards…a town of agriculture with not much excitement…they believe.
“Brother, this town is much too small!” Rose complains, “Not many people will know of our superiority if we just stay in a town as small as this!”
“However, a small town like that will allow everyone in it to know of our superiority,” Adelheid looks at it optimistically.
“Just as expected, Brother. You always make things sound better for me!” Rose titters.
After putting more thought into it, Adelheid tells the big man, “Father would not have brought us here to begin with…”
“That’s true! He would not have wanted use to socialize with the country folk, who are very low people!” Rose agrees.
“‘Very low people’? Bah, you think too low of the country folk! They are just like city folk, only not as vicious!” Silber ends with a hearty laugh.
“Brigand…” Adelheid sighs.
“Hah, children these days…” the big man sighs.
After a short while, the limousine stops. Both Adelheid and Rose look out the windows to see what their new abode appears like. Instead, they see a few maids and butlers waiting for them…they appear to be blocking the view to the mansion, since the servants are a little close to the window.
“We’re here,” the big man laughs.
On cue, the driver opens the door for the three and greets, “Here is the mansion, Master Silber, Young Master Adelheid, and Young Mistress Rose.”
“Come on out!” Silber, the big man, laughs as he gets out of the limousine.
“Welcome back, Master Silber. We hope that everything is to your liking!” the maids and the butlers greet in unison.
“Haha! Of course, it is!” Silber laughs then adds, “As long as, my earlier requests were followed!”
“‘Requests’?” Adelheid asks as he steps out of the limousine but shades his eyes from the midday sun, since he was in the limousine for quite a long time.
“What do you mean?” Rose asks as Adelheid helps her out of the limousine.
“Oh, nothing!” Silber laughs then gestures the two to look behind them, “So, what do you think?”
However, they look at what is before them… their new abode.
Rose complains, “THIS is our mansion!? But it’s so small!”
Adelheid agrees and comments, “This mansion is just two times larger than the size of a commoner’s shopping mall! You expect us to live here?!”
“Bah!” Silber starts growing annoyed then replies, “Not the mansion! The scenery!”
The siblings turn around to view the scenery of Mühlenburg from such a high place.
Adelheid admits, “It’s almost breath-taking…”
“However, the city is much better! Right, Brother?” Rose comments.
“Of course,” Adelheid answers.
“You kids…” Silber sighs then laughs, “Maybe you should take a look at your rooms. You both will be surprised!”
“Very well,” Rose agrees to the suggestion then turns to Adelheid, “Brother, I shall be going to my room now.”
“And I to mine…” Adelheid replies then calls to one of the maids, “You! Take me to my room!”
The maid bows and turns to the mansion, “As you request, Young Master. Please follow me, Young Master.”
“Uncle, there had better be no deductions to my things,” Adelheid warns before following the maid.
“…Hm? What would make you believe that?” Silber laughs.
“Hmph!” Adelheid scoffs.
After several minutes of walking, the maid stops in front of a door and opens it for Adelheid. He peers into the room and is immediately shocked to find two important things missing. He is taken aback for a moment then runs inside to look through his things. He only has one more important material thing…He looks through several closets and makes a mess by tossing everything else…his clothes, his photos, his paintings, even several photos of his father and mother.
“WHERE IS IT!?!?!” Adelheid yells at the top of his lungs.
“WHERE ARE THEY?!?!?!” Rose can be heard yelling a little while after Adelheid had.
“Rose…as well?!” Adelheid turns to the maid, “I command you to return them to me!”
“Those things?” the maid asks, “Ah, I beg for your forgiveness, Young Master…but Master Silber has ordered us to deny any request regarding that…”
“Uncle!?!” Adelheid yells, “Useless maid! Stupid Uncle!”
Adelheid runs out his room to search for Silber. After a while of running, he finds Rose doing the same.
“Brother!” Rose notices Adelheid and runs to him.
“You, as well?” Adelheid asks Rose.
“Unfortunately…” Rose pouts.
“This is all Uncle’s fault!” Adelheid yells as he dashes off to find Silber.
“Please wait for me, Brother!” Rose tries to catch up with Adelheid.
He goes through every room to find Silber…not caring about his acts. Eventually, he finds another room and checks…It is the study, a room full of books…and a place where silence can be found. Silber is inside reading a letter.
“Hm?” Silber looks up and sees Adelheid.
“UNCLE!” Adelheid yells at Silber, “What is the meaning of this!?”
“What is the meaning of what?” Silber asks, as he inconspicuously hoards the letter in his person.
“They’re gone!” Adelheid yells.
“What’s gone?” Silber asks.
“Uncle!” Rose slowly and elegantly enters the room…but the elegance fades as she starts yelling, “WHERE IS MY TELEVISION!?! WHERE IS MY COMPUTER!?!”
“And where are my television and my computer?!” Adelheid adds.
“Television? Bah, you don’t need that! You can go take a walk instead of resting your posterior and watching television!” Silber retorts, “And your computers? You’ll just ruin your eyesight with those things!”
“Ah! And my dramas!” Rose adds.
“Dramas? All the drama that you need is in your life,” Silber laughs.
“What of my fighting videos?!” Adelheid adds.
“Fighting videos? Bah, you can’t learn how to fight from videos! You just need a trainer and a sparring partner!” Silber laughs again.
“I had a teacher, Uncle!” Adelheid says with an angry face.
After having heard that, Silber stops smiling, “…My brother, right?”
Adelheid and Rose say nothing…a silent yes…
Silber replies to their silence, “I know that I’m not my brother and your father…However, I can do my best in giving you the lifestyle he wanted…”
“He wants to strip us of our wealth and power?!” Adelheid jumps to conclusions.
“And make us live with these…these…these lowlifes?!” Rose adds.
“No,” Silber replies, “he wants you to see the other social classes. You can’t lead the family if you only look at the other people from a tower or something!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Adelheid asks.
Silber explains, “Here’s a better explanation…”
d – O – o – O – o – O – b
SILBER'S LECTURE
o – O – o – O – o – O – o
There are five major social classes: the overclass, the upper class, the middle class, the lower class, and the underclass.
In the bottom, we have the underclass: lower than the low. They are depicted as criminals, homeless people, or lazy good-for-nothings. These people are usually the kind that anyone would want to stay away from. I personally do not wish to talk about this any more…
Next, we have the lower class: those who were born in the worst time, those who suffer from debts, those who suffer from disaster, or those who suffer from abuse. The people of this class are usually the simplest people. Sometimes, they don’t need much to be happy. However, when their feel no closure, they may drop to the underclass.
The next class is the middle class. People of this class are the types that work under the upper class. Because of their usual educational background, they make better employees than the lower class. However, that also makes them less prone to completely following us. People of this class can sometimes be more dangerous than those of the lower class. Those of this class seem to harbor hate for other classes but also somehow admire the upper class. Basically, they want to be like us. Continuing, the people of this class follow a much better hygiene than that of the lower class. So, they would be much easier to approach.
The class just below ours can be split into two subclasses: the “nobles” and the “investors”.
“Investors”, as I call them, are those who made it to the upper class through investments, thriftiness, or marketing. These people are not rich by birth, but by perseverance. However, that is the reason why the majority of the “investor” families have wealth for only a couple of generations.
“Nobles” are the true upper class families. They gain their wealth from Old Money, inheritances, although they may also gain more wealth by hiring the “Investors”. These families are often abusive of the lower classes but usually know how to control the lower classes, so they won’t revolt against them.
Finally, we have our class, the overclass— the greatest of the great. Like the “nobles”, we gain our wealth through Old Money. However, our class has more power. With our influence, we can easily choose the next government officials and even start wars. That influence also affects the people of our class, since the overclass tends to abuse all of the other classes— much more than the “nobles”. The overclass looks down on the people from their high places, like towers, skyscrapers and whatnot. We basically have superiority over the other classes, in terms of wealth and power. So, naturally, we would look down upon the other classes and think of them as powerless. We often think so low of the other classes that we believe that we own all of the other classes. We don’t realize that our abuse on the other classes may lead us to our downfall.
To prevent this downfall, we must not abuse the other classes so much. To do that, we must understand them. Finally, to do that, we must socialize with them.
“Understand, kids?” Silber finishes his explanation.
“Hmph!” both siblings scoff in disbelief.
“The lower classes can topple us? Impossible, laughable, unbelievable!” Adelheid comments.
“We just have to put them in their places! Then they won’t think of such a stupid thing!” Rose comments.
“That’s the kind of thinking that toppled other overclass families!” Silber explains, “Now the number of overclass families have dwindled to just a handful!”
“We shall excuse ourselves now, Uncle,” Adelheid turns his back to Silber before walking away.
“Unthinkable! Your eyes should be the same as ours!” Rose does the same.
Once the siblings have left the study and the door closes behind them, Silber laughs, “…That should give them something to think about!”
In his bedroom, Adelheid lies on his bed…deep in thought of how his life has changed so much over the years.
“First that Liar died…then just a few months ago, Father died,” Adelheid looks at the lights on his bedroom ceiling.
“Now, Uncle pulls us out from our home and brings us into the country. What could he be thinking!?” Adelheid gets up and leaves his room.
“He is just like those of the middle class! He acts and talks like them! Father must be embarrassed to know that his brother is some brigand!” Adelheid continues walking, “He barely looks like Father! Perhaps, Grandfather—!”
Adelheid instantly stops, “Father…the son of a Nazi…and I…the grandson of a Nazi…”
“That should also make Uncle the same as Father…Perhaps…those scars are…!” Adelheid continues walking.
“Uncle may have something about this town,” Adelheid thinks then grows a smile, “Perhaps, there may also be those of the upper class here!”
With that thought in mind, he gets a little excited and calls for the driver to bring him to the town.
Within minutes, he enters the town. As he exits his limousine, he notices the townspeople staring at him. After all, who wouldn’t stare at a guy, who wears extravagant clothes that practically scream “rich” and who came out of a limousine?
Adelheid scoffs, “Eyes of envy…”
He wanders around the town alone. He sees the happy faces, which annoy him. He sees the various shops and stands, which he calls “poor”. He even sees the clock tower that oversees the town. Eventually, he finds the town center. The first thing he notices is the fountain. He observes the water rising from the fountain just to fall down.
“Just like the attempts of the lower classes!” Adelheid grins, “Trying to go up, just to fall back down!”
He looks a little lower and finds a single girl. She has brown hair that barely extends past her shoulders. On her hair is a large circular yellow hairclip. She has gentle mature brown eyes. She wears a white shirt that has blue long sleeves and a red short skirt. She quickly catches Adelheid’s attention.
“Hm? She has caught my eye…She must be one of the better ones of this town of commoners…in other words, an upper class lady,” Adelheid believes as he walks to her.
“Hm?” the girl notices Adelheid and quickly stares at him.
“Then…upon closer inspection, she wears the same attire as the commoners,” Adelheid notices then turns away from her.
“Ah, sorry for staring!” the girl apologizes, “Are you new to Mühlenburg?”
“The lower classes don’t deserve my ears…” Adelheid thinks as he continues walking away.
The girl sighs, “Oh…I think I upset him…”
“Keep your thoughts to yourself, peasant girl!” Adelheid scoffs.
“Ah, Miss Saga…what a coincidence to see you here!” another (more elegant) voice is heard.
Adelheid quickly turns around and sees another girl talking to the first. She has long straight black hair. Her brown eyes appear to be haughty and proud. She wears a red dress and a tan blouse. Adelheid instantly knows, “She is of the upper class!”
“G-Greta,” the first girl, Saga, appears surprised.
“What might you be doing here, Miss Saga?” the second girl, Greta, smiles at Saga, “Could you possibly have been waiting for me?”
“Uh, no, I was actually waiting for Anne and Norma,” Saga replies but remembers Adelheid and turns to him.
“What do want, peasant?” Adelheid glares at Saga.
“Ah!” Saga takes a step back.
“S-Saga! What are you doing?!” Greta yells after Saga backed up to her.
“That GEWORFENE (German: one of non-human birth)!” Adelheid is shocked to have seen what had happened.
“I just got a little scared,” Saga admits.
“Of what?!” Greta asks.
“Of me!” Adelheid’s loud voice quickly attracted the attention of those around the fountain.
“Hm?” Greta turns to Adelheid, “And who might you be?”
“I am Adelheid Ignitz,” Adelheid takes Greta’s hand and kiss it.
“WHA—!?” Greta blushes from the kiss.
Adelheid releases Greta’s hand and smiles at her, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss—”
“G-Greta von Innstetten,” Greta manages to reply…as she is still blushing.
“‘Von Instetten’? That’s the name of a noble, is it not?” Adelheid continues talking, “Tell me, Miss Greta, why do stay in this rat hole of a town?”
“Well, I—” Greta tries to reply, but—
“‘Rat hole’?” Saga interrupts them, “Excuse me, but Mühlenburg is not a rat hole.”
“I did not give the Geworfene permission to speak,” Adelheid points out.
“‘Geworfene’?” Saga repeats, “I am not—”
“Sir Adelheid, Miss Saga is not an animal!” Greta defends Saga.
“Hm?” Adelheid turns back to Greta.
“Miss Saga is my rival, and the people of this town are good friends of mine!” Greta continues, “So, every person here is not a Geworfene!”
“Hm…I see now. I shall take my word back, for the sake of a lady of nobility,” Adelheid apologizes…sort of, “Miss Greta has been affected by the air of the Geworfenes. I shall forgive her for this insolence. However, she needs to know the difference in social ranking between her and the Geworfenes.”
“O-Okay, I forgive you,” Saga replies.
Adelheid ignores Saga and turns to Greta, “So, Miss Greta, do you know of my family’s lineage?”
“The Ignitz?” Greta asks, “If I recall correctly, your family’s lineage would be…‘Hochadel’ (sovereign nobility)?”
“‘Hochadel’?” Saga repeats.
“Yes, so you must know your place when speaking to us, Miss Saga,” Adelheid scoffs.
“Why do you treat me in such a way?!” Saga asks.
“Sir Ignitz, please refrain from acting in such a way towards Miss Saga!” Greta requests to Adelheid.
“This kindness towards the Geworfenes is starting to annoy me!” Adelheid ignores Saga and tries to reply to Greta, “I—!”
The clock tower’s bell rings four times, telling everyone that the time is now 4:00 PM.
“Hm? I must take my leave now, Miss Greta…” Adelheid bows to Greta and just looks at Saga, “Saga…”
“Farewell, Sir Adelheid,” Greta greets to Adelheid.
“I may return tomorrow. Farewell,” Adelheid bows to Greta again before turning and leaving.
“I may have to force Miss Greta in remembering her place above the Geworfenes,” Adelheid thinks as he continues walking, “However, Miss Greta could just be giving false kindness to Saga. So, her eyes may actually be the same as mine.”
Within minutes, he finds his limousine and is driven to the edge of town, where the Ignitz Mansion is.
“So…my stay here might be more interesting that what I first believed…” Adelheid smirks as he looks out the window of the limousine.
“Hm? What?!” Adelheid feels as if he had seen something fly past his limousine.
Adelheid opens the window and looks outside towards the back of the limousine…and sees nothing, “My imagination?”
As Adelheid looks towards his mansion he notices glitter in the dusking sky.
“What…is it?” Adelheid continues looking as he is being driven to the mansion.
“Brother! Where were you all this time?” Rose asks Adelheid as Adelheid gives the maid his coat.
“Hm? Just taking a stroll through the town,” Adelheid answers, “I’ve found one upper class lady.”
“Oh! Really?!” Rose sounds ecstatic.
“Yes,” Adelheid replies, “I believe that she is a ‘noble’ as Uncle calls them.”
“I see,” Rose sighs from disappointment.
After a short while of thinking, he decides to ask her, “Rose, have you seen anything unusual about the sky?”
“You are pointing out the obvious fact that it is too dark at night?” Rose replies.
Adelheid drops the subject, “Perhaps…I shall spend my time at the roof balcony, Rose.”
“I wish to accompany you, Brother!” Rose hugs Adelheid’s right arm.
“Rose, forgive me, but I wish to collect my thoughts in silence and solitude,” Adelheid explains.
“…I…understand, Brother,” Rose releases Adelheid.
“You!” Adelheid points to a random servant, “Take me to the highest balcony.”
“As you wish, Young Master,” the butler bows to him and escorts Adelheid to the highest balcony.
As soon as Adelheid reaches the balcony, he orders the butler to leave him alone.
As he looks at the moon, he sighs but suddenly turns to an angry face, “So…thatGeworfene…that Geworfene had no right to do such a thing to Miss Greta!”
“Miss Greta insists that she is friends with that Geworfene, but I am sure that she is just pretending,” Adelheid continues.
“In this world, there are only two kinds of people that I accept: the rich and the talented,” Adelheid takes a deep breath before continuing, “However, there is no such thing as a skilled commoner. If the person is talented, it is because he is a high class person!”
He turns towards the edge of the balcony and continues thinking, “We are forced to live here with the commoners…I wish Father were still here…He would have…WHAT?!”
Adelheid realizes that there was a little thing flying near the empty flower pot sitting at the corner of the balcony.
“I think this place seems safe enough…” the little thing sighs.
“Wh-What?” Adelheid walks a little closer to the little thing, “What is it? A fairy?!”
“…Hm…?” the little thing turns to Adelheid. She has long blue hair and sad, painful blue eyes. She also has a pair of little green wings on its back. She has a white headband to pull her blue hair back. On the middle of the headband is a small red gem. She wears a black shirt with long sleeves and black pants. She has a long red cape that is longer than it is. She also has little black slippers, a little golden pendant on her necklace, and a little blue purse. Just on her back are a pair of tiny green wings. After seeing Adelheid, she sighs, “…Humans can’t see us…So, there’s no point in asking questions…”
“And what are you supposed to be?” Adelheid asks after hearing her comment.
“Huh? You…can see me…?” the little thing asks Adelheid. She flies to his eye level and asks, “You can see me…?”
“Of course!” Adelheid barks back, “What do you take me for—a blind man?!”
She flies around Adelheid a few times and explains, “…A human that can see…Season Fairies…? AH—!”
Adelheid grabs her and looks at her carefully, “What is this suppose to be? An animal? A fairy?”
“I am no animal,” she explains, “I am a Season Fairy.”
“‘Season fairy’?” Adelheid repeats.
“Yes,” she replies.
“Elaborate—what is a season fairy?” Adelheid asks.
“…You know that there are multiple seasons and weather phenomenon all over the human world…right?” she asks rhetorically, “Well, Season Fairies are the one’s who can manipulate the weather and bring about those seasons.”
“…I see…And who gave you permission to intrude MY mansion!?” Adelheid adds a little pressure to his hold, obviously hurting the little thing.
“AH!!! P-Please stop!” she screams.
“Answer!” Adelheid yells and slightly loosens his grip.
“…I thought that this place was…abandoned…” she confesses, “…a few days ago…it was empty, so I thought…”
“You are gravely mistaken!” Adelheid yells at her, “This is a mansion owned by the Ignitz family! You wish to trespass my family’s mansion?!”
“…I’m sorry…” she apologizes.
“In the end, I have a softer spot for animals than commoners…I’ll…” Adelheid sighs, “…I’ll forgive you…if you can prove to me that you really are a season fairy…!”
“…How can I do that…?” she asks.
“Show me your magic,” Adelheid orders her, although he obviously sounds skeptical.
“Magic…? Of course…!” she replies.
Adelheid releases it, “…So, show me…!”
“As you wish…” she takes a little recorder out from its purse, “Watch the moon…”
“‘The moon’?” Adelheid repeats.
“Yes, please…” she replies.
Once Adelheid turns to the full moon, she starts playing the recorder. At first, nothing appears to be happening, but Adelheid soon notices that the moonlight is becoming brighter…gentler…and more brilliant.
“What…is this?” Adelheid turns to the fairy.
It stops playing and answers, “I am a Moon Fairy…I can manipulate the brightness of the moon…”
“‘Moon Fairy’, right?” Adelheid asks for its name.
“My name is Mint,” the fairy, Mint, shyly smiles after having hoarded her recorder into her purse, “It’s a pleasure to meet you…”
“Adelheid…Adelheid Ignitz…” Adelheid tries to not embarrass himself from shock, “A REAL FAIRY?! One that controls the strength of the moonlight?! How—?”
“Mister Adelheid,” Mint asks, “Would it be alright if you allow me to stay here in your mansion?”
“…A fairy?” Adelheid gives a few thinking gestures, although the answer is clear, “I shall allow you to stay here, Fairy Mint.”
“‘Mint’ is just fine,” Mint blushes a little.
“If that is the case, ‘Adelheid’ is just fine,” Adelheid smiles at Mint, “If she wishes to be referred to without a title, I must allow it to do the same…It is the code of nobles!”
After a short while of silence, the sound of growling could be heard.
Adelheid turns to Mint…and Mint blushes as she holds her tummy, “…I seem to be quite famished…”
“…Fairies can feel hunger?” Adelheid asks.
“…Yes, like all living things…We need nutrition and sustenance…” Mint explains.
“You have quite the vocabulary for a little thing,” Adelheid replies, “…Speaking of which, how old are you?”
“…Uhm…” Mint starts counting with her fingers, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…eight. Ah, eight years old!”
“And you are on your own?” Adelheid asks out of concern, “Are your parents not worried?”
Mint slowly descends, prompting Adelheid to catch her.
Mint eventually starts crying, “…Mommy…Daddy…WAAAAA!!!”
“They…abandoned you?” Adelheid assumes.
“N-No…” Mint tries to wipe her tears away, “…They…are not of the world anymore…”
“They—!” Adelheid quickly realizes.
“I…I have to…stop…c-crying!” Mint tries to calm down, “I’m a…I’m a big girl now so…so I have to stop…!”
“…Do you not have other fairies to mingle with…to comfort you?” Adelheid asks.
“I…I don’t like people…to know me…so much…” Mint obviously tries her best to hold some tears in but fails.
“So, why are you telling me all this?” Adelheid asks her.
“…Because I’m weak…” Mint admits.
“‘Weak’?!” Adelheid realizes, “It shall be easy to manipulate, if that is the case!”
Mint continues crying, “Nobody wanted to be friends with me! Nobody wanted to stay with me! Nobody—”
Adelheid sighs, “Stop…”
Mint sniffles a bit, “…Huh…?”
“I’ll take you…” Adelheid tries to not make eye contact with Mint.
“R-Re…al…ly!?” Mint’s voice starts breaking again.
“Of course!” Adelheid replies, “I can’t be a powerful noble if I can’t take advantage of such an investment, even if it is just a child!”
“Thank you, Adelheid!” Mint flies to Adelheid’s face and gives him a hug.
“…And she dares touch me in such a way!?” Adelheid quickly pulls her from his face and explains, “Only on the condition that you follow my orders! Understand?”
“…O-Of course…!” Mint replies.
“Young Master, it is time for dinner!” one of the maids calls out from inside the mansion.
“…Come with me,” Adelheid turns and heads inside the mansion.
“Y-Yes…!” Mint follows him inside.
While Adelheid is being escorted to the dinning area, he realizes that the maid does not notice Mint, at all! He looks at the other servants and sees that they also do not notice her.
“Why…am I the only one who can see her?” Adelheid thinks for a while and proudly assumes, “Perhaps only those of wealth and power are the only ones who can see them! Interesting…What shall Rose say of this!? Kukukukuku!”
“Adelheid, is there something the matter?” Mint flies closer to him and asks.
“It is nothing…” Adelheid grins, as he whispers.
Upon reaching the dinning table, Adelheid takes his seat across from Rose, while Silber takes his seat at the master’s seat.
“Wa!” Mint gets too excited at the sight of food and quickly snatches a dessert cookie.
“Don’t just help yourself to that! Ask first!” Adelheid scoffs.
“…S-Sorry…” Mint apologizes.
“Hm?” Rose stops trying to help herself to the salad, “Ah! That’s right, Brother! I have forgotten that we have servants for this sort of thing for us! Thank you for reminding me, Brother.”
“I was not…” Adelheid tries to explain, “She…cannot see it either?! What is the meaning of this?!”
“You! Serve me some of that,” Rose orders one of the butlers.
“Adelheid, is there something the matter?” Silber asks Adelheid after noticing that Adelheid is deep in thought and not eating.
“Huh?” Adelheid breaks from his world of wonder.
“Adelheid, I’m going to take this, okay?” Mint snatches a small piece of lobster meat from the table and eats it.
“Uh, alright…” Adelheid replies to Mint then turns to Silber, “I don’t wish for your concern, Uncle!”
“Right…” Silber laughs heartily.
Upon hearing Silber’s laughter, Mint turns around and looks at Silber…and flees onto Adelheid’s face, “There’s a monster here!”
Adelheid tries to pull her from his face, “Although I would love to call him that…he is my Uncle.”
“But…he doesn’t look anything like you!” Mint tries her best to stay on Adelheid’s face.
“This is becoming quite a nuisance!” Adelheid sighs and yells, “Get off of my face!”
Silber laughs heartily again, “Hahaha! You can’t tell the master of the mansion to leave his own dining table!”
Adelheid (with Mint still on his face) tries to explain, “What? No, I—”
“And I believe the expression is ‘Get out of my face’, Brother,” Rose explains.
“…I have been corrected,” Adelheid tries to not make a scene, “I thought this fairy would be a good pawn to hold…but it is nothing but a NUISANCE!”
“Adelheid!” Mint, still on his face, cries in fear of Silber.
“I order you to get off of my face…” Adelheid whispers, “…NOW!”
“…I’m…sorry…” Mint flies off of his face and instead hides behind him.
“I’ll have to think of a way to exile it from my mansion…” Adelheid sighs as he continues eating, “…Perhaps I shall just send her off in the most emotionally hurtful way I can…Ku…”
“…Adelheid…” Mint shyly asks him then points at another desert cookie, “…may I…eat that?”
“…By all means, go ahead,” Adelheid replies (suspiciously).
“‘Go ahead’ and do what?” Rose, assuming that Adelheid is talking to her, asks.
“…Uh, it is nothing…!” Adelheid forces a laugh then looks at Mint as she takes a desert cookie, “…This fairy is making a fool of me! I must at least partially honor my words of allowing it to stay with me…so I shall banish it later tonight!”
After dinner, Adelheid informs Mint that he will be taking his bath but not before ordering Mint to stay in his room for the moment.
“…Adelheid is mad at me…I’m sure…” Mint sits on Adelheid’s bed and starts crying.
“…Everyone…always…gets mad at me…!” Mint cries, “Why? Even Liquorice…Paprika… Clove…and Vanilla…are mad…at me…!”
Mint hugs her legs and cries on her knees, “If—If I knew why they—they were mad at me, I’d apologize!”
“…Mommy…Daddy…” Mint falls to her side and continues crying.
“Adelheid is my new friend…but I made him hate me too…!” Mint muffles her cries on his bed.
“…Please forgive me…Adelheid…!!!” Mint cries loudly.
Still waiting in Adelheid’s room, Mint starts reminiscing about the past week.
Mint begins her story, “When…when I first came to the Human World…”
Six fairies can be seen flying from the sky to the earth.
One appears to be an old man with a pointy red hat and red raiment. His green wings can be noticed right away, as they are much larger compared to Mint’s.
The next one is Mint in her usual shy face.
The next one is another female fairy. She has short brown hair with a snowflake-shaped hairpin on the left side of her hair. She appears to have a cheerful, easy-going, immature personality, if one would judge from her countenance and her brown eyes. She wears a white sleeveless dress which appears to have an almost transparent white skirt. She also wears white shorts and little white boots. Hanging on her shoulder is a little white bag, which has a snowflake insignia. Unlike Mint, her wings can be seen easily, since her dress doesn’t really cover her upper back.
The next appears to be a male fairy. His short light blue hair is cleanly combed back. He appears to be the “cool” type, if one would judge from his countenance and his very light blue (to the point that they look gray) eyes. He wears, what appears to be, a large puffy white beret. He also wears a white shirt with a short (enough to reach the elbow) cape and light blue shorts. As if the short cape is not enough, he also has a light blue scarf around his neck. He also wears simple brown boots. Hanging on his shoulder is a little white shoulder bag, which has a snowflake insignia. His little wings can be seen on his back.
The next one is another female fairy. Most of her long straight magenta hair is covered by a large light blue bandanna. She appears to be the most mature one of the apprentice fairies, if one would judge from her countenance and her blue eyes behind her circular glasses. She wears a short light blue vest over her deep blue blouse, which has short sleeves. She wears an almost transparent blue skirt and fitting light blue pants. She also has little brown shoes. Hanging on her shoulder is a little brown bag, with a cloud-shaped insignia. Her her little wings can be seen easily on her back..
The last one is a male fairy. He looks almost exactly like the fairy in front of him but with differences in clothing and hairstyle. His bandanna is white and covers his forehead and most of his short magenta hair. He appears to be the cheerful type, if one would judge from his countenance and blue eyes behind his circular glassses. His vest is white and is slightly longer than the other one’s. His shirt is gray and has long loose sleeves. His pants are also gray and cover a bit of his brown boots. Hanging on his shoulder is a little brown bag, with a cloud-shaped insignia. His little wings can be seen on his back.
Once they have reached the earth, they fly under a tree to begin their discussion.
“Now, then,” the oldest one coughs, “Here in the human world, you will have your biggest test in becoming a full-fledged Season Fairy!”
“Yay!!!” all the apprentice Season Fairies, except Mint, start cheering.
“Ahem!” the old man coughs, prompting the cheering to stop, “Here is what you have to do…find a ‘Twinkle’!”
“‘Twinkle’?” the apprentice Season Fairies ask.
ix f
“What’s a ‘Twinkle’?” the boy with the bandanna asks.
“Hm?” the old man looks at him (although it is very difficult to tell, since the old man’s eyebrows seem to have grown large enough to cover his eyes), “That is your mission! Do you want me to tell you what the answer is to something that you have to find yourself?!”
“Yep!” the girl in the white dress cutely replies.
“Vanilla! I wasn’t being rhetorical!” the old man yells at the girl in the white dress (Vanilla).
“‘Rhetorical’?” Vanilla wonders about the meaning of the word.
“But, Master Elder, would it not be mean to give us a scavenger hunting list without a single clue?” the girl with the bandanna asks.
“The ‘Twinkle’ is something that you will have to find yourself!” the old man (the Elder) yells.
“…Unfair…” Mint says under her breath.
“Anyway,” the Elder turns around, “I wish you all luck.”
“Master Elder, are you going somewhere?” the boy with the beret asks.
“Yes, I have…important matters to attend to!” the Elder replies before flying off somewhere around the town. If one would listen carefully enough, he appears to be shouting, “My Ginger dear!”
Once the Elder is gone, the boy with the beret turns to the others, “I think we should introduce ourselves. I’m Clove, an apprentice Blizzard Fairy.”
“Oh! Me next! Me next! Me next!” Vanilla raises her hand and runs to Clove’s side, “I’m Vanilla, an apprentice Snow Fairy! Hello, everyone!”
“And I’m…” the girl with the bandanna takes her turn, “Paprika, an apprentice Rain Fairy.”
“And my twin sister, Paprika!” the boy with the bandanna comments, “I’m Liquorice, an apprentice Cloud Fairy.”
Once the others have finished, they turn to Mint.
“Ah, me?” Mint shyly takes a step back.
“Of course, you, silly!” Vanilla giggles and pulls Mint to the center.
“I-I’m…” Mint blushes, “…Mint…an apprentice Moon Fairy…”
“‘Moon Fairy’?” Clove focuses his attention on Mint.
“Wow! A Moon Fairy!” Vanilla squeals, “I’ve never met one before!”
“That’s because only great musical talent can make you a Moon Fairy,” Clove explains.
“Huh?” Vanilla wonders.
“I’m not that good…” Mint modestly replies.
“Oh! I remember!” Vanilla spontaneously shouts.
“What?” Liquorice asks.
“What are your instruments?” Vanilla asks as she takes her piccolo out of her little bag.
“I have a violin,” Paprika replies as she pulls her violin and violin bow from out of her little bag.
“I own a Hardanger fiddle (similar to a violin but not completely),” Clove replies…with his saxophone already on hand.
“…Wow!” Vanilla squeals and flies to Clove to take a closer look at the saxophone, “How did you fit that into your bag?”
“I—” Clove tries to reply but is interrupted by the sound of a cello being played.
“This would be my cello…” Liquorice continues playing the cello.
“WOW!!!” Vanilla squeals even louder and dashes to Liquorice for a front row seat.
“…The better question is: how did HE fit that into his bag?!” Clove comments.
“Mint, what is your instrument?” Paprika asks Mint.
“M-Me?” Mint shyly replies, “…I…have a…recorder…”
“So, show us,” Paprika asks.
“I, uh…” Mint scratches the back of her head.
“Mint! I wanna see a recorder! Can I? Can I? Can I?” Vanilla excitedly asks.
“…S-Sure,” Mint carefully takes her recorder out from her bag and shows everyone else.
“Wow!” Vanilla takes the recorder and looks at it carefully, “It looks almost like a piccolo!”
“Except you blow it on the end, instead of the side,” Clove explains.
“P-Please be careful, Vanilla!” Mint warns Vanilla.
“Don’t worry, Mint! Here you g—Aah!” Vanilla tries to give it back to Mint but ends up tripping on her own foot…and lands on Mint.
“Aah!!!” Mint cries. Unbeknownst to her, her bag had fallen from the commotion…and released whatever was hoarded inside— a piccolo, a violin, a harp, and many other musical instruments.
“S-Sorry, Mint! I’m really really really sorry!” Vanilla apologizes as much as she can.
“…N-No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine…” Mint forces a smiling face, since she’s a bit scared at this point.
“What in the world!?” Liquorice stares at the various musical instruments that have fallen out of Mint’s bag.
“A Hardanger fiddle?” Clove takes the fallen Hardanger fiddle and checks it just to be sure.
“And that’s a normal violin!” Paprika takes the fallen violin and inspects it.
“Wow! Mint, you can play the piccolo?” Vanilla curiously asks Mint.
“Y-Yeah…a little,” Mint replies modestly.
“…So…you can play all of these instruments, right?” Clove asks.
“…Y…Yeah…” Mint hesitates to reply.
“…Well, I’m going to go look for place to plant my Magic Seed,” Clove changes the subject and flies off, “Come on, Paprika, Liquorice, Vanilla.”
“Huh? Wait up, Clove!” Liquorice drops Mint’s violin and tries to catch up to him.
“Liquorice! Wait!” Paprika does the same.
“A race? I wanna play, too!” Vanilla dashes off with the others.
Once the four are gone, Mint is left alone…
“…Clove…didn’t say…my name…Why?” Mint thinks as she picks up all of her musical instruments and hoards them into her bag.
“…T-They hate me, too…” Mint jumps to conclusions; however, her conclusion isn’t too far from reality.
“…Mommy…Daddy…please help me…!” Mint starts to cry, “…I wanna make friends but…I don’t think I can…”
“…I…What am I doing? I’m a big girl now…I’m not supposed to be—” Mint’s tears quickly cascade down her cheeks as she screams, “CRYING!!!”
q – O – o – O – o – O – p
Just standing behind the door to his room, Adelheid listens to Mint’s story.
“Hmph, I decide to banish her earlier than planned, but I end up listening to her story…!” Adelheid silently scoffs.
He sighs then thinks about it logically, “So, it’s a talented fairy…All talented people are, at least, nobles…therefore, it is a noble, as well!” (Although his form of logic is…difficult to believe)
“Now, I have a newfound attraction to it…for it is a noble! I won’t send it away…” Adelheid thinks, “Nobles have to keep each other healthy and well by their company, so I shall do the same for this child…”
Still inside Adelheid’s room, Mint tries to stop crying.
“The reason why they hate you, Mint…” Adelheid enters his room.
“Adelheid! I’m sorry! I—” Mint apologizes on impulse.
“The reason why the others hate you is…” Adelheid continues, “…because they are jealous of you!”
“‘Jealous’?” Mint asks.
“Of course,” Adelheid explains, “Throughout history, the lower classes have always envied the wealth and talent of the upper classes! Without a doubt, they are jealous of you.”
“…R-Right…” Mint reluctantly agrees but has other thoughts in mind, “…I’ll stop playing those if…they are jealous…That way we can all be friends…”
“Mint…rejoice to know that you are truly accepted by me…” Adelheid, for the first time, calls Mint by her name, as he proudly explains.
“…Adelheid!” Mint flies to Adelheid’s face and hugs him.
“Hmph,” Adelheid scoffs, “This is forgivable…When Rose was that young, she acted similarly…”
“Adelheid, I’ll be the best fairy that I can be! So, you won’t hate me again…” Mint continues crying.
“How this will turn out…I know not…” Adelheid sighs, “…but I won’t think of Mint as a tool anymore.”
Essence of Mint
Chapter 2
Apprentice Season Fairies
“Hm?” Adelheid turns to his right and sees Mint fly on to his shoulder.
“…Adelheid, what’s going on?” Mint curiously asks.
“Stay quiet and listen…” Adelheid replies and looks back at the pianist…Rose.
“Ah…Rose is going to play the piano?” Mint thinks.
“…Shall we observe your progress, Rose…?” Adelheid closes his eyes and waits for Rose to start performing.
Several minutes later, outside the piano room, Adelheid and Rose can be seen leaving the room. Rose is clutching onto Adelheid’s right arm as usual. Mint, for some reason, is nowhere to be found.
“So, Brother, how was my performance?” Rose asks.
“Almost perfect…” Adelheid replies.
“‘Almost’?!” Rose sounds shocked to have heard that kind of answer.
“You made several mistakes in the beginning, in the middle, and in the ending,” Adelheid explains (a little harshly).
Rose pouts for a while but quickly calms down, “If Brother says so…After all, Brother is the best musician in all of Deutschland…However, was it not Brother’s doing that made me have so many faults?”
“My apologies…my precious sister…” Adelheid apologizes, “I wonder how Mint fares after that show?”
Several minutes earlier at the piano room, Rose was about to begin her performance…but…
“AH!!!” Mint shouts.
“What?!” the shout causes Adelheid to react with a shout of his own.
“Ah! Brother?” Adelheid’s shout completely throws off her performance.
“Rose…” Adelheid apologizes, then notices a Season Fairy pass by the open window.
“A-Adelheid…I saw another apprentice Season Fairy! I’ll—I’ll return in while…” Mint flies off.
“‘Saw another’? The one that passed by the window…?” Adelheid watches Mint as she flies away.
“Please wait for me!” Mint begs as she tries to fly as fast as she can (which is not very fast…).
“Mint…” Adelheid sighs.
“Brother, may I begin?” Rose asks Adelheid.
“You may proceed…” Adelheid sighs again then closes his eyes to carefully listen to Rose’s performance.
Just outside, under the shade of a tree within the vicinity of the Ignitz mansion, Mint seems to be waiting for someone.
“Mint!” someone calls.
“…Vanilla…?” Mint recalls the owner of the voice.
“Mint! Mint! Mint!” Vanilla, the apprentice Snow Fairy, flies to Mint and hugs her, “I missed you!”
“…Th-Thank you…” Mint blushes from the hug and Vanilla’s words, “I…was missed?”
“Oh, and I have awesome, awesome news!” Vanilla releases Mint.
“Y-Yes?” Mint shyly asks.
“Oh! Wait! I want the others to know too!” Vanilla giggles as she flies off.
“V-Vanilla…!” Mint is left behind again, “…Vanilla…”
After a while, Vanilla flies back and teases, “Slowpoke! Aren’tcha gonna follow me?”
“Follow you?” Mint asks.
“Of course!” Vanilla giggles, “Or do you want to eat my dust?”
“Huh…?” Mint tilts her head.
“Hurry up!” Vanilla giggles as she flies off again.
“W-Wait, Vanilla!” Mint tries her best to catch up to Vanilla.
Unfortunately, Mint is too slow and ends up falling far behind. After a while of flying, Mint loses sight of Vanilla…and ends up wandering around the area.
Vanilla, however, has managed to find the other three apprentice Season Fairies…atop the Mühlenburg clock tower.
“Paprika!!!” Vanilla squeals
“Mint?” Paprika, the apprentice Rain Fairy, turns around and sees Vanilla speeding towards her.
“Hiya, Paprika!” Vanilla hugs Paprika the second she lands, “Something happened—!”
“Ah, why do you always notice Paprika first?!” Liquorice, the apprentice Cloud Fairy, complains.
“Because Paprika is like our elder sister,” Clove, the apprentice Blizzard Fairy, explains.
“Ah! Clove! Liquorice!” Vanilla giggles then slowly approaches Clove, “You guys want a hug, too?”
“Eh?” Clove slowly flies backwards…away from Vanilla.
“Hug?” Liquorice does the same.
“Hug!” Vanilla flies towards the two.
“Run!” Clove and Liquorice yell simultaneously, as they fly away…together…
After a while of staring at the three’s antics, Paprika sighs and tries to stop them, “V-Vanilla! Didn’t you have something to tell us?”
“Huh?” Vanilla abruptly stops her chase.
Both Clove and Liquorice fly around the clock tower and stop behind Paprika.
“You’re welcome,” Paprika smiles at the two.
“Right…thanks, Sis,” Liquorice sighs.
“We are grateful,” Clove adds.
“That’s right!” Vanilla quickly flies back to Paprika then tries to contain her excitement.
“Well?” Clove asks.
Vanilla starts, “My Magic—”
“V-Vanilla…” a familiar voice is heard.
The four Fairies turn to where the voice came from…and find Mint flying to them.
“Ah! Mint! There you are!” Vanilla flies to Mint and hugs her again.
“Vanilla…you left me behind…” Mint sighs.
“Whoopsie!” Vanilla giggles, “I just wanted everyone to hear the news!”
“Weren’t…” Liquorice asks, “…we ‘everyone’ a while ago?”
“Huh?” Vanilla asks as she with Mint on convey returns to the others…
“You wasted time getting her here,” Clove refuses to face towards Mint.
“But I want Mint here,” Vanilla explains then starts, “Anyway, guess what? My Magic Seed just sprouted! I’m awesome, right?”
Vanilla, expecting praise and looks of amazement, hears only the silence of the Liquorice, Paprika, and Clove.
“…Yours all did already?!” Vanilla yells.
“Paprika’s and mine both sprouted,” Liquorice explains.
“I am never going back to that place again!” Paprika loses her cool.
“It’s your fault for planting it there to begin with,” Clove laughs then turns to Vanilla, “Mine sprouted yesterday, Vanilla.”
“‘Magic Seed’?” Mint had forgotten about it for a while.
“Miiiiint!” Vanilla whines, “Did yours sprout already?!”
“…No…I…” Mint reluctantly confesses, “…forgot…to plant it…”
“What?!” Paprika is taken aback by Mint’s words.
“…A forgetful genius…” Liquorice is dumbfounded.
“…Unexpected…” Clove scoffs.
“…Sorry…” Mint apologizes.
“…I don’t like hanging out with that genius…” Liquorice thinks for a while then tells everyone, “…Let’s race to where my Magic Seed is!”
“Yeah!” Vanilla says with excitement, and Paprika and Clove agree for a different reason.
“Huh? Race?” Mint asks.
“Ready? GO!” Liquorice flies off.
“That’s cheating!” Vanilla rushes after him.
“Shall we?” Clove asks Paprika.
“Eat my dust!” Paprika speeds off.
“…Hey!” Clove rushes after the others.
“…Guys…I’m not…” Mint is left alone again, “…good at flying fast…”
“…I…” Mint sighs and starts crying, “…want to go see Adelheid now…”
Back the Ignitz mansion, Adelheid is at the study reading a copy of Madame Bovary in its original language— French. Actually, he is almost done reading it.
Beside Adelheid, Rose sits close to him, clutching to his arm.
“Brother, what does that book say?” Rose asks, “I regret not having the ability to understand French.”
Adelheid turns to Rose and answers, “…This is a book about a commoner who tries to act like a noble. Useless woman in this book…It is a wonder how something like this is so famous to the masses…”
“Perhaps, it might be to show the commoners how useless it is to promote themselves to nobles,” Rose suggests.
“Such a simple answer,” Adelheid laughs, “It’s most likely true.”
“Brother, I love you…” Rose cuddles closer to Adelheid.
“And I to you, Rose,” Adelheid smiles back at Rose.
After Adelheid finishes reading the book, he asks Rose to continue with her own studies as he returns to his room.
Halfway during his walk to his room, he grows a little concerned about Mint, “She would like to see that commoner fairy? She had better be well; otherwise, I shall tear that one to pieces!”
Upon reaching his room, he notices Mint sleeping on her little doll-sized bed. Her red cape, her purse, and her boots neatly sit near the foot of the bed.
“She must have gained some fatigue from flying so much,” Adelheid sighs, “I shall let her sleep, since she needs it and she is one of us…”
Mint turns around and opens her (tearful) eyes, “A-Adelheid…?”
“Mint?” Adelheid notices the tears, “Did that one do something to you?!”
Mint gets up and explains, “N-No, I just got a little scared of flying…alone, actually.”
“She left you alone?” Adelheid asks.
“N-No, I just felt that I should return before you would start worrying!” Mint answers, as tears cascade down her face.
“I worry…that you wish to spend time with commoners,” Adelheid explains.
“…‘Commoners’? No, I want to be friends with them, so…” Mint tries to continue, “…we can have fun together…and…I won’t feel so lonely…”
“Hm? I see…” Adelheid replies then assumes, “She wishes to use the commoners somehow! She does not appear so conniving, if one were to just look at her…but she is a genius! She is a good example of a noble!”
“Adelheid?” Mint grows concerned from the long silence.
“Worry not, Mint,” Adelheid laughs, “You may continue spending time with them, if you wish.”
“…I…Thank you, Adelheid,” Mint innocently smiles at Adelheid.
“I shall be having my luncheon soon, would you care to join me?” Adelheid offers.
Mint wipes her tears away before answering, “…Y-Yes!”
Night had come quicker than usual, since it started to rain a few hours before dusk. Adelheid stays in the study reading. Mint stays with him and looks out the window. Rose stays beside him. Silber appears to be back in his living quarters.
“…Brother, what causes the rain?” Rose asks Adelheid curiously.
“The rain?” Mint turns around and flies to Adelheid.
“Hm?” Adelheid stops his reading and answers, “…As the sun shines to the earth, its heat slowly evaporates water in the earth. At that point, the water becomes water vapor and is sent into the upper portions of the atmosphere. There, water vapor cools down and turn into clouds. Once the clouds contain too much water, they turn back into water and fall as rain…”
“Amazing, Brother. You know so much…” Rose moves closer to Adelheid.
“Of course,” Adelheid laughs then returns to reading his book…but…
“Adelheid, why you didn’t tell Rose about the Season Fairies?” Mint, standing on Adelheid’s book, asks.
“I am a man of logic and science. I still have trouble believing in that sort of thing,” Adelheid admits.
“But…I’m right here. You believe that I’m a Season Fairy…so…shouldn’t you believe it?” Mint shyly asks.
“…You are an exception…I have seen your abilities, but I have not seen the abilities of others!” Adelheid replies.
“But…” Mint tries to reply.
“Brother? To whom are you speaking?” Rose…apparently (and obviously) could hear Adelheid’s talking.
“I…” Adelheid gives some thought to his answers, “…There is no way that Rose will believe that I have been speaking to a fairy that only I can see! This…may be the weakness of this power…”
“Oh, I see…” Rose observes the words of the book.
“Hm?” Adelheid wonders about what Rose meant.
“I think…” Mint flies away from the book and back on the table.
“You were reciting from this collection of words, were you not, Brother?” Rose guesses, since the book is in Spanish, “…I am blessed to have such a caring Brother, who would translate the story for me…!”
Adelheid sighs, “…Perhaps…I should start from the beginning.”
“Please do, Brother,” Rose giggles.
“‘In a place at La Mancha, which name I do not want to remember, not very long ago lived a country hidalgo, one of those gentlemen or hidalgos who keep a lance in the lance-rack, an ancient shield, a skinny old horse, and a fast greyhound…’” Adelheid starts reading from the book, El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha).
Mint starts listening, as well, “A book about humans? Interesting…”
Within fifteen minutes, both Mint and Rose had fallen asleep.
Adelheid closes the book and returns it to its proper shelf. He returns and sees that the two are still fast asleep. He lets out a single laugh then comments, “They are still children, after all! I shall personally take Rose and Mint to their respective beds…The servants are not privileged enough to carry them while I am with them!”
With that done, he gently takes Rose and carries her…but he quickly realizes that Mint would be left. He lays Rose back on the couch and gently takes Mint into his hands…but now Rose would be left. He sighs but quickly has an idea. He lays Mint on Rose’s chest then carries Rose.
“Rose is just as expected of a noble…She barely moves while she sleeps…Unlike commoners her age…” Adelheid scoffs.
He personally sees to it that Rose is safe in her bed, by bringing her there himself. Upon reaching Rose’s room Adelheid finds a servant and orders her to open the door to Rose’s room.
Once inside, he gently lays Rose on her bed and gently takes Mint into his left hand. With his free hand, he tucks Rose in.
“Sweet dreams, Rose…” he kisses Rose on the cheek then turns the lights off before leaving.
Back in the corridor, Adelheid, with sleeping Mint lying on his hand, makes his way to his own room. Before the door to his room, he orders another servant to open it. He enters, and the door closes.
“Mint, sweet dreams to you, as well,” Adelheid greets after having removed Mint’s cape, purse, and boots.
He turns away and opens the door again…and he comes to a small realization, “Come next week, classes should begin…Where am I and Rose to study in this town of Geworfenes?!”
He turns the lights off and closes the door.
Adelheid yelling “UNCLE!!!” could be heard, so can rapid footsteps…
“…A…del…hei…d…” Mint mumbles in her sleep, “...I…love…”
Apprentice Season Fairies
“Hm?” Adelheid turns to his right and sees Mint fly on to his shoulder.
“…Adelheid, what’s going on?” Mint curiously asks.
“Stay quiet and listen…” Adelheid replies and looks back at the pianist…Rose.
“Ah…Rose is going to play the piano?” Mint thinks.
“…Shall we observe your progress, Rose…?” Adelheid closes his eyes and waits for Rose to start performing.
Several minutes later, outside the piano room, Adelheid and Rose can be seen leaving the room. Rose is clutching onto Adelheid’s right arm as usual. Mint, for some reason, is nowhere to be found.
“So, Brother, how was my performance?” Rose asks.
“Almost perfect…” Adelheid replies.
“‘Almost’?!” Rose sounds shocked to have heard that kind of answer.
“You made several mistakes in the beginning, in the middle, and in the ending,” Adelheid explains (a little harshly).
Rose pouts for a while but quickly calms down, “If Brother says so…After all, Brother is the best musician in all of Deutschland…However, was it not Brother’s doing that made me have so many faults?”
“My apologies…my precious sister…” Adelheid apologizes, “I wonder how Mint fares after that show?”
Several minutes earlier at the piano room, Rose was about to begin her performance…but…
“AH!!!” Mint shouts.
“What?!” the shout causes Adelheid to react with a shout of his own.
“Ah! Brother?” Adelheid’s shout completely throws off her performance.
“Rose…” Adelheid apologizes, then notices a Season Fairy pass by the open window.
“A-Adelheid…I saw another apprentice Season Fairy! I’ll—I’ll return in while…” Mint flies off.
“‘Saw another’? The one that passed by the window…?” Adelheid watches Mint as she flies away.
“Please wait for me!” Mint begs as she tries to fly as fast as she can (which is not very fast…).
“Mint…” Adelheid sighs.
“Brother, may I begin?” Rose asks Adelheid.
“You may proceed…” Adelheid sighs again then closes his eyes to carefully listen to Rose’s performance.
Just outside, under the shade of a tree within the vicinity of the Ignitz mansion, Mint seems to be waiting for someone.
“Mint!” someone calls.
“…Vanilla…?” Mint recalls the owner of the voice.
“Mint! Mint! Mint!” Vanilla, the apprentice Snow Fairy, flies to Mint and hugs her, “I missed you!”
“…Th-Thank you…” Mint blushes from the hug and Vanilla’s words, “I…was missed?”
“Oh, and I have awesome, awesome news!” Vanilla releases Mint.
“Y-Yes?” Mint shyly asks.
“Oh! Wait! I want the others to know too!” Vanilla giggles as she flies off.
“V-Vanilla…!” Mint is left behind again, “…Vanilla…”
After a while, Vanilla flies back and teases, “Slowpoke! Aren’tcha gonna follow me?”
“Follow you?” Mint asks.
“Of course!” Vanilla giggles, “Or do you want to eat my dust?”
“Huh…?” Mint tilts her head.
“Hurry up!” Vanilla giggles as she flies off again.
“W-Wait, Vanilla!” Mint tries her best to catch up to Vanilla.
Unfortunately, Mint is too slow and ends up falling far behind. After a while of flying, Mint loses sight of Vanilla…and ends up wandering around the area.
Vanilla, however, has managed to find the other three apprentice Season Fairies…atop the Mühlenburg clock tower.
“Paprika!!!” Vanilla squeals
“Mint?” Paprika, the apprentice Rain Fairy, turns around and sees Vanilla speeding towards her.
“Hiya, Paprika!” Vanilla hugs Paprika the second she lands, “Something happened—!”
“Ah, why do you always notice Paprika first?!” Liquorice, the apprentice Cloud Fairy, complains.
“Because Paprika is like our elder sister,” Clove, the apprentice Blizzard Fairy, explains.
“Ah! Clove! Liquorice!” Vanilla giggles then slowly approaches Clove, “You guys want a hug, too?”
“Eh?” Clove slowly flies backwards…away from Vanilla.
“Hug?” Liquorice does the same.
“Hug!” Vanilla flies towards the two.
“Run!” Clove and Liquorice yell simultaneously, as they fly away…together…
After a while of staring at the three’s antics, Paprika sighs and tries to stop them, “V-Vanilla! Didn’t you have something to tell us?”
“Huh?” Vanilla abruptly stops her chase.
Both Clove and Liquorice fly around the clock tower and stop behind Paprika.
“You’re welcome,” Paprika smiles at the two.
“Right…thanks, Sis,” Liquorice sighs.
“We are grateful,” Clove adds.
“That’s right!” Vanilla quickly flies back to Paprika then tries to contain her excitement.
“Well?” Clove asks.
Vanilla starts, “My Magic—”
“V-Vanilla…” a familiar voice is heard.
The four Fairies turn to where the voice came from…and find Mint flying to them.
“Ah! Mint! There you are!” Vanilla flies to Mint and hugs her again.
“Vanilla…you left me behind…” Mint sighs.
“Whoopsie!” Vanilla giggles, “I just wanted everyone to hear the news!”
“Weren’t…” Liquorice asks, “…we ‘everyone’ a while ago?”
“Huh?” Vanilla asks as she with Mint on convey returns to the others…
“You wasted time getting her here,” Clove refuses to face towards Mint.
“But I want Mint here,” Vanilla explains then starts, “Anyway, guess what? My Magic Seed just sprouted! I’m awesome, right?”
Vanilla, expecting praise and looks of amazement, hears only the silence of the Liquorice, Paprika, and Clove.
“…Yours all did already?!” Vanilla yells.
“Paprika’s and mine both sprouted,” Liquorice explains.
“I am never going back to that place again!” Paprika loses her cool.
“It’s your fault for planting it there to begin with,” Clove laughs then turns to Vanilla, “Mine sprouted yesterday, Vanilla.”
“‘Magic Seed’?” Mint had forgotten about it for a while.
“Miiiiint!” Vanilla whines, “Did yours sprout already?!”
“…No…I…” Mint reluctantly confesses, “…forgot…to plant it…”
“What?!” Paprika is taken aback by Mint’s words.
“…A forgetful genius…” Liquorice is dumbfounded.
“…Unexpected…” Clove scoffs.
“…Sorry…” Mint apologizes.
“…I don’t like hanging out with that genius…” Liquorice thinks for a while then tells everyone, “…Let’s race to where my Magic Seed is!”
“Yeah!” Vanilla says with excitement, and Paprika and Clove agree for a different reason.
“Huh? Race?” Mint asks.
“Ready? GO!” Liquorice flies off.
“That’s cheating!” Vanilla rushes after him.
“Shall we?” Clove asks Paprika.
“Eat my dust!” Paprika speeds off.
“…Hey!” Clove rushes after the others.
“…Guys…I’m not…” Mint is left alone again, “…good at flying fast…”
“…I…” Mint sighs and starts crying, “…want to go see Adelheid now…”
Back the Ignitz mansion, Adelheid is at the study reading a copy of Madame Bovary in its original language— French. Actually, he is almost done reading it.
Beside Adelheid, Rose sits close to him, clutching to his arm.
“Brother, what does that book say?” Rose asks, “I regret not having the ability to understand French.”
Adelheid turns to Rose and answers, “…This is a book about a commoner who tries to act like a noble. Useless woman in this book…It is a wonder how something like this is so famous to the masses…”
“Perhaps, it might be to show the commoners how useless it is to promote themselves to nobles,” Rose suggests.
“Such a simple answer,” Adelheid laughs, “It’s most likely true.”
“Brother, I love you…” Rose cuddles closer to Adelheid.
“And I to you, Rose,” Adelheid smiles back at Rose.
After Adelheid finishes reading the book, he asks Rose to continue with her own studies as he returns to his room.
Halfway during his walk to his room, he grows a little concerned about Mint, “She would like to see that commoner fairy? She had better be well; otherwise, I shall tear that one to pieces!”
Upon reaching his room, he notices Mint sleeping on her little doll-sized bed. Her red cape, her purse, and her boots neatly sit near the foot of the bed.
“She must have gained some fatigue from flying so much,” Adelheid sighs, “I shall let her sleep, since she needs it and she is one of us…”
Mint turns around and opens her (tearful) eyes, “A-Adelheid…?”
“Mint?” Adelheid notices the tears, “Did that one do something to you?!”
Mint gets up and explains, “N-No, I just got a little scared of flying…alone, actually.”
“She left you alone?” Adelheid asks.
“N-No, I just felt that I should return before you would start worrying!” Mint answers, as tears cascade down her face.
“I worry…that you wish to spend time with commoners,” Adelheid explains.
“…‘Commoners’? No, I want to be friends with them, so…” Mint tries to continue, “…we can have fun together…and…I won’t feel so lonely…”
“Hm? I see…” Adelheid replies then assumes, “She wishes to use the commoners somehow! She does not appear so conniving, if one were to just look at her…but she is a genius! She is a good example of a noble!”
“Adelheid?” Mint grows concerned from the long silence.
“Worry not, Mint,” Adelheid laughs, “You may continue spending time with them, if you wish.”
“…I…Thank you, Adelheid,” Mint innocently smiles at Adelheid.
“I shall be having my luncheon soon, would you care to join me?” Adelheid offers.
Mint wipes her tears away before answering, “…Y-Yes!”
Night had come quicker than usual, since it started to rain a few hours before dusk. Adelheid stays in the study reading. Mint stays with him and looks out the window. Rose stays beside him. Silber appears to be back in his living quarters.
“…Brother, what causes the rain?” Rose asks Adelheid curiously.
“The rain?” Mint turns around and flies to Adelheid.
“Hm?” Adelheid stops his reading and answers, “…As the sun shines to the earth, its heat slowly evaporates water in the earth. At that point, the water becomes water vapor and is sent into the upper portions of the atmosphere. There, water vapor cools down and turn into clouds. Once the clouds contain too much water, they turn back into water and fall as rain…”
“Amazing, Brother. You know so much…” Rose moves closer to Adelheid.
“Of course,” Adelheid laughs then returns to reading his book…but…
“Adelheid, why you didn’t tell Rose about the Season Fairies?” Mint, standing on Adelheid’s book, asks.
“I am a man of logic and science. I still have trouble believing in that sort of thing,” Adelheid admits.
“But…I’m right here. You believe that I’m a Season Fairy…so…shouldn’t you believe it?” Mint shyly asks.
“…You are an exception…I have seen your abilities, but I have not seen the abilities of others!” Adelheid replies.
“But…” Mint tries to reply.
“Brother? To whom are you speaking?” Rose…apparently (and obviously) could hear Adelheid’s talking.
“I…” Adelheid gives some thought to his answers, “…There is no way that Rose will believe that I have been speaking to a fairy that only I can see! This…may be the weakness of this power…”
“Oh, I see…” Rose observes the words of the book.
“Hm?” Adelheid wonders about what Rose meant.
“I think…” Mint flies away from the book and back on the table.
“You were reciting from this collection of words, were you not, Brother?” Rose guesses, since the book is in Spanish, “…I am blessed to have such a caring Brother, who would translate the story for me…!”
Adelheid sighs, “…Perhaps…I should start from the beginning.”
“Please do, Brother,” Rose giggles.
“‘In a place at La Mancha, which name I do not want to remember, not very long ago lived a country hidalgo, one of those gentlemen or hidalgos who keep a lance in the lance-rack, an ancient shield, a skinny old horse, and a fast greyhound…’” Adelheid starts reading from the book, El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha).
Mint starts listening, as well, “A book about humans? Interesting…”
Within fifteen minutes, both Mint and Rose had fallen asleep.
Adelheid closes the book and returns it to its proper shelf. He returns and sees that the two are still fast asleep. He lets out a single laugh then comments, “They are still children, after all! I shall personally take Rose and Mint to their respective beds…The servants are not privileged enough to carry them while I am with them!”
With that done, he gently takes Rose and carries her…but he quickly realizes that Mint would be left. He lays Rose back on the couch and gently takes Mint into his hands…but now Rose would be left. He sighs but quickly has an idea. He lays Mint on Rose’s chest then carries Rose.
“Rose is just as expected of a noble…She barely moves while she sleeps…Unlike commoners her age…” Adelheid scoffs.
He personally sees to it that Rose is safe in her bed, by bringing her there himself. Upon reaching Rose’s room Adelheid finds a servant and orders her to open the door to Rose’s room.
Once inside, he gently lays Rose on her bed and gently takes Mint into his left hand. With his free hand, he tucks Rose in.
“Sweet dreams, Rose…” he kisses Rose on the cheek then turns the lights off before leaving.
Back in the corridor, Adelheid, with sleeping Mint lying on his hand, makes his way to his own room. Before the door to his room, he orders another servant to open it. He enters, and the door closes.
“Mint, sweet dreams to you, as well,” Adelheid greets after having removed Mint’s cape, purse, and boots.
He turns away and opens the door again…and he comes to a small realization, “Come next week, classes should begin…Where am I and Rose to study in this town of Geworfenes?!”
He turns the lights off and closes the door.
Adelheid yelling “UNCLE!!!” could be heard, so can rapid footsteps…
“…A…del…hei…d…” Mint mumbles in her sleep, “...I…love…”
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