6 The Past, The Present, The Future
Henrik stares down at the blood trickling off his fingers, curling them into a fist, before he finally loosens the grip. He turns around, solemnly looking at the bloody trail of motionless bodies that lay across the cold floor. Some decapitated. Some missing their limbs. Some left to bleed to their death. And some died with a blood-curling scream, screaming into his very soul.
Oh, good Lord. How many more fellow soldiers does he have to murder to end all this?
"It is hard to accept the reality, isn't it... Henrik? Separate yourself from the truth as much as you want, it will not change anything. Be everything you are not... friend... teacher... father."
Henrik turns back, locking his functioning eye to the newcomer, ignoring his bleeding other eye, and hardens his gaze. His muscles toughen into rock-hard. His veins bulging.
"There is one undeniable truth. You have gone too far to come back. This is what you are meant to be all along. A monster. The Butcher of Kaliningrad. That is the truth."
"...I know," Henrik says, smiling. "Which is why I'm going to thoroughly enjoy breaking you."
====================
Chapter VI: The Past, The Present, The Future
====================
Henrik opens his eyelids, blinking several times, as he meets Tokai Teio's gaze, her worriedness plastering across her face, and her hand over his, squeezing him. Soon, the man realizes his cane-sword is already halfway unsheathed. Which he exhales deeply, and starts to sheath the hidden blade back into the cane, softening his gaze into an apologetic one.
"Forgive me. Looks like I might've worried you," Henrik apologizes earnestly.
Tokai Teio manages a small, yet also assured smile, shaking her head. "It's all right, sensei. Were you having a bad dream just now?"
"...Yeah." He nods aimlessly, turning his gaze back to the flow of people across the mall. "Just an unpleasant piece of a random old memory, that was all."
"You need to get more sleep, Kaiser-sensei. Those bags under your eyes are concerning."
Henrik chuckles. Symboli Rudolf approaches the settee that he and Tokai Teio are taking a seat, with Air Groove following at her elbow, and plants herself next to him. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a steel flask, opening its lid. Gentle scent of warm tea enters his nose pleasantly, as Symboli Rudolf hands him the flask.
"This is tea from my grandmother's hometown," Symboli Rudolf says, with a soft smile. "Please have some, sensei. It can help you a little bit with the lack of energy and sleep."
Gratefully, Henrik accepts the offer. He fills the lid with the green tea and brings it near his nose, taking in his breath sharply, before finishing a whole brew in one go. As the warmth fills his soul and his mind, he curves both corners of his mouth into a delighted grin and looks at the smiling Symboli Rudolf appreciatively.
"You are a life savior. Just as I finished my tea," Henrik says, returning the flask and its lid, whilst taking a deep breath and straightening his posture. "In any event, I am glad you both are able to join us with tonight's celebration, aside Narita Brian; and—" he ruffles Tokai Teio's hair "—I hope this pipsqueak didn't bother you too much, now that she's a part of the student council."
Symboli Rudolf giggles, with Tokai Teio pouts cutely. "Allow me to congratulate you on passing the license test, with flying colors," Symboli Rudolf commends. "I have to confess that I had my doubts about your chance of success, given your circumstances. You proved me wrong fair and square. Once the words spread, you are going to be the talk of the school for a while, and expect some journalists to seek you out. You've worked hard for your students, sensei."
"Not as hard as you lasses to be where you are right now." Henrik chuckles. "But still, thank you nonetheless. Although, I do have to admit the student council in such casual wearing does appear quite pleasing to the eyes and the soul~."
"You're right, Henrik-sensei! The president looks so cool~!"
As Tokai Teio starts to fangirl, Henrik smiles, gets a load of Symboli Rudolf in her green blouse tucked into her white pants while wearing glasses, and Air Groove with her blue coat over shirt with a darker shade of blue and pants which seem to be identical to Symboli Rudolf's.
Air Groove looks to Henrik, with half-lidded eyes. "Aren't you looking a little bit too much?" she asks indifferently. "Speaking of which, I heard complaints from several students claiming that you were looking at them indecent gaze. Care to explain, Kaiser-sensei?"
"You are telling me that I was ogling at some brats?" Henrik scoffs, laughing. "Please, I might be a big thigh-loving pervert—but I even know there are some lines that must never be crossed. Not to mention, if I really was ogling my students, horse-girls with thighs like yours and our precious Symboli Rudolf's would be my main target instead."
Upon hearing those words coming out of his mouth, both the face of the president and the vice president of the student council immediately transforming red, like lobsters, and gazing at Henrik with fluttering eyes. While Symboli Rudolf twirls her lock and adverts her eyes, Air Groove gapes in disbelief before glaring dangerously at Henrik.
"You finally admit you were ogling at your students from the beginning?"
"I did say, if I really WAS ogling my students," Henrik retorts with a wide teasing grin. "So sorry, lass. But, uh, those sweet thighs of yours really need some little more work to keep me interested, let alone getting my attention. A pervert has standards too, you know."
Which certainly ticks off Air Groove, her brows twitching visibly. She smiles sweetly.
"I think you should stop teasing Air Groove, sensei," Symboli Rudolf, after managing to compose herself, chimes in, smiling lightly.
"All right. Since it is a request from you, lass, I shall stop—for now," Henrik obliges, even though he keeps his teasing grin. "Having said that, aren't you two going to buy anything? I did tell you we're going to have a hotpot dinner tonight, didn't I? The soup is already being cooked at home. All you need to do is choosing your choice of protein and vegetables."
"Leona-sensei already got it," Symboli Rudolf answers. "And we are fine with anything you cook, sensei. Air Groove and I are merely guests who tagged along your celebration."
"I invited you two, didn't I?" Henrik raises his brow, before he sighs and titters, softly. "Well, all right. If you say so then. Though, I need to ask you something, lass. Since horse-girls don't have, you know, human ears, what's exactly holding your glasses to its place?"
"Oh, my glasses?" Henrik nods, prompts Symboli Rudolf to tilt her head and brush her sidelock to the side, revealing the smooth side of her head, and a strap attached to the glasses.
Henrik makes a sound. "Huh, neat. But I'm not sure I'm going to ever get used to seeing nothing on the side of your lasses' head," he remarks. "Then again, having both human ears, and those... ears at the same time are already anatomically incorrect. It is what it is, I suppose."
Shortly, his ears pick up the footfalls approaching his way. And soon, a horse-girl comes towards to the man with her ears flickering side to side, emerges from a food mart, whilst carrying grocery bags in both hands, her face seemingly indifferent as her eyes looking at his.
"I've returned with what we need for tonight, master."
"You seriously need to stop calling me master before people start to get the wrong idea, Mihono Bourbon," Henrik tells the horse-girl, as he grins while ruffling her brunette hair, resembling the shade of the copper rose. "Nevertheless, I didn't expect that you actually decided to join us, since you always seem to prefer to train by yourself."
"It was a logical choice," Mihono Bourbon says indifferently, wagging her tail. "Master provided me excellent pointers and tips, shown in my efficiency increasing substantially in three days. And thus, choosing Master as my trainer is unquestionably a satisfactory decision."
"I see. Glad to have you on board."
Henrik let out a wide delightful smile as he continues ruffling Mihono Bourbon's hair. The horse-girl, visibly enjoying the sensation on her head, puts her groceries down and lowers herself, places her chin on his knees with her hands on his thighs, purring with a light jovially smile. Moreover, the way her ears and her tail move, they remind greatly of a dog. Before long, he starts kneading her cheek with his other hand, caressing gently. Mihono Bourbon too seems to melt into his soft touch, pressing and rubbing her cheek against his palm lovingly.
"So adorable~," Henrik remarks merrily. "Of all the horse-girls I've encountered, you are by far the most adorable and lovable of the bunch~. Fixing that robotic part of yours and my heart will never get enough of this cuteness~!"
"How about me, sensei?" Tokai Teio suddenly asks. "Am I not adorable enough~?"
"Sorry, champ. You are only in the third of my 'overall cuteness overload' list. No harsh feelings, of course. You just don't have that mysterious charm of cuteness like Mihono Bourbon here."
Which Tokai Teio gawks, making a face like she just got hit by a thunder, shocked to the core. The horse-girl immediately droops her ears, staring aimlessly at the floor with her empty eyes.
"Tokai Teio isn't as adorable as some newcomer..." she repeats dejectedly under her breath.
Symboli Rudolf, witnessing the scene before her, cannot help but giggle, with her hand covering her mouth. Air Groove, on the other hand, simply sighs in disbelief.
"How come a pervert like him can be so popular among the students?" Air Groove wonders.
"The whole reason is quite simple, really. Why don't you ask him yourself, Air Groove?" Symboli Rudolf suggests, smiling encouragingly.
"...I think I'll pass."
As Henrik notices the rest of Team Polaris all starts walking out of the food mart where Mihono Bourbon emerged, he grins, retracting his hands from the horse-girl. Upon doing so, she instantly picks up her groceries and stands upright, her face returning to her usual indifference, somewhat stoic demeanor. Henrik drop-sweats slightly, along with Tokai Teio and Air Groove.
"I'm still impressed by how fast you can change your face," Henrik comments dryly, before long he notices Leona approaching him with Team Polaris trailing behind. "Well, got everything you want for the hotpot, I presume?"
"Yup," Leona answers, handing Henrik his credit card and his receipt. "Here you go. Thanks for offering to pay everything, by the by, big guy."
"Told you the dinner is my treat, didn't I—" Henrik halts, as he glances at the receipt, sensing his eye twitching as he scrutinizes the list of groceries that were purchased, before squinting his eyes at the total price and the grocery bags in the horse-girls' hands.
"...Let's see here. A5 Wagyu beef, caviar, lobster, king crabs, and matsutake mushrooms," Henrik continues, turning to El Condor Pasa and Mejiro McQueen, who instantly averts their gaze away from him and hides their bags behind the back. "When I said choose anything you like, I didn't expect you to actually go for the expensive goods."
"W-What's the matter with it?" Mejiro McQueen retorts. "You said it yourself, right?"
"...True. I did say that, so I have to uphold the end of the deal." Henrik takes out his wallet, and puts the credit card back inside. He stands up from the settee, putting away the wallet, and walks to the Mejiro horse-girl, smiling ear to ear. "That being said—" he places his hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly "—I hope you have yet to forget our little bet, my dear~."
Mejiro McQueen widens her eyes briefly.
"Aww, you thought I forgot about it? How cute." Henrik chuckles, turning to Gold Ship, who is carrying nothing but carrots in her grocery bags. "Golshi, did you get what I requested?"
"Here ya go~!" Gold Ship puts down her groceries, except one bag that appears to be used for shopping clothing, hangs the bag towards him. "The shop appreciates your patronage!"
Henrik nods, satisfied, returns his gaze to a terrified Mejiro McQueen, who looks at the said bag with uncertainty. He squeezes her shoulder once more, getting her attention, smiles wider, which in turn makes her face going pale, trembling like cold jelly. That gaze. She knows that gaze means bad news. Oh God, what has she gotten herself into?
"Said it yourself, didn't you?" Henrik reminds sweetly. "If I pass the license test, I can do anything I want on you for the entire day, yes? Is the proud horse-girl of the Mejiro household going back on her words, coming out right from her very mouth, hmm?"
Mejiro McQueen gulps down a huge lump in her throat, only to sweat furiously when Gold Ship also places her hand on her other shoulder from behind, and give her a light squeeze, smiling as wide as the man, or in Mejiro McQueen's eyes, the devil himself.
"Be at ease, my dear," Henrik whispers into her ear. "Sensei is going to be very gentle~."
"F-Father... h-help me..."
As El Condor looks on to the scene before her, she quietly retreats to the rest of the group, feeling she somehow managed to dodge a critical bullet.
"Is this a daily occurrence?" Air Groove cannot help but wonder worriedly.
"Don't worry," Leona assures. "It's just another day for him and Mejiro McQueen. It's their way of bonding. Besides, it's not like Henrik is going to do something inappropriate to his student, if that is what you're concerned about, darling."
Leona offers a gentle smile, as Air Groove looks unsure. "Try to open your heart again. Perhaps this time, things may go different. Deep down there, you know not every man is the same."
Air Groove narrows her eyes. "What do you even know—"
"Sensei, in a way, is similar to you, old friend," Symboli Rudolf says, still gazing at Henrik, who's still having fun teasing a terrified Mejiro McQueen. "He used to hate all teachers... thinking that they did not care about their students. Until his high-school teacher proved him wrong. The way I see it, you met the wrong person. Perhaps things may go differently this time, if you are willing to give yourself another chance to move on."
Air Groove, watching Henrik, goes silent, rubbing her arm as she says nothing else. At the same time, Henrik turns around, to the group. "Shall we go back? Somebody has got to prepare those things you guys bought, right?"
Leona nods, before addressing Air Groove once more. "Think about we said, alright~?"
Leona quickly joins Henrik and walks next to him, wrapping her arm around his as she rests her head on his arm, smiling to herself. The rest of Team Polaris soon catches up to their sensei and trainers, most of whom appears excited for their hotpot and their first time seeing his home, aside Mejiro McQueen and Mihono Bourbon, who slightly wags her tail. Tokai Teio offers the Mejiro horse-girl a sympathetic pat on her shoulder. Following with Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove gazes at Henrik, watching him, before long she shakes her head and joins the group, with Leona's and Symboli Rudolf's words still lingering within her head.
====================
"This is humiliating beyond my imaginations..." Mejiro McQueen says hollowly. "Why must I, a proud horse-girl of the Mejiro household, wear something l-like this!?"
"C'mon~! We look cute together, right, sensei~?" Gold Ship asks, gleefully, as Mejiro McQueen pouts cutely while blushing lightly.
Henrik simply gives them a thumb up before returning his attention to his work-in-progress canvas on the easel, all the while being surrounded by several horse-girls, who all focus and follow along each stroke he makes with the brush, slowly bringing the painting into life.
Elegantly seating themselves on the couch in the living room of Henrik's apartment, the beautiful pair of Mejiro McQueen and Gold Ship dress in gracious set of Victorian maid dress, grape-blue and Turkish rose respectively, frilled at the helm, wearing white headdress and apron and thigh-highs. Whilst the Mejiro horse-girl is not used to the prospect of seeing herself in the maid dress, blushing deeply while gripping her apron, Gold Ship appears to wholly enjoy posing for Henrik, smiling brightly before her sensei.
"I just don't get it," Mejiro McQueen murmurs. "How could this dress fit me so perfectly when I never told him about my measurements?"
"I might or mightn't have taken a peek at your medical report," Henrik admits absent-mindedly, focusing on the painting, doesn't notice the visible twitching on Mejiro McQueen's eyes.
"Sensei...!" the horse-girl fumes, pouting.
"Now, now. Stay still," Henrik says, "and I'm going to turn you both into literal goddesses."
"I know sensei is exceptional at drawing and painting," Tokai Teio mouths in awe. "But this right here, it's on a whole another level. I'm so jealous of you two, you know~."
"Master is surprisingly outstandingly proficient at painting," Mihono Bourbon remarks, flickering her right ear.
"Such beautifulness, even though the painting is only in its early stages," El Condor Pasa remarks, staring at the wooden oval-shaped painting palette, astounded. "All these colors too. Wow. Teach, how were you able to make mixing these colors looking so effortless?"
"I was majoring in Art, mainly Classicism and Neoclassicism, along with both Romanticism and Renaissance, in Cambridge," Henrik replies, glancing at his posers from the corner of his eyes, before adding more strokes on the painting. "For art students, mixing some colors is pretty much a normal routine. Nothing too impressive. Anyone can do it with enough training. And you could say this particular piece is just another homework for all of us."
The American-born horse-girl makes an "oh" as she resumes tracing her eyes along his hand and his brush. Just a few meters from where Henrik and the horse-girls are, Leona, donning a black lace apron over her white off-shoulder blouse and denim shorts, hums genially, slicing and cutting the meat and vegetables for the upcoming hotpot. Her nose picking up the delightful fragrant of the soup being cooked in the sizable pot.
At the same instant, Symboli Rudolf, with her white apron, works with a smaller pot, in the same cooker, where she prepares miso soup, a stable for every Japanese meal. Next to her, Air Groove deep fries the tempura shrimps, wearing a pink apron.
"I have heard from Teio that Kaiser-sensei is talented at painting," Symboli Rudolf starts, quickly giving Henrik a glance before she turns back to the pot. "Now witnessing it with my own eyes, I do not believe the word 'talented' does any justice to his skills."
"Henrik has always had a knack for art, especially Classical Art, since he was still a kid," Leona elaborates fondly. "Anyhow, you know you don't have to do all this. Just have fun and let sensei take care of our dinner."
"That is okay, sensei," Symboli Rudolf assures. "It's the least we can do for your hospitality."
"I concur with the president, sensei," Air Groove adds.
Leona smiles softly. "Thanks for your help, then. Speaking of arts, I still recall that one time he submitted his paintings to a local exhibition. And they actually got accepted to be put on display. That was when he was around 12. What were the paintings about again, big guy?"
"My depiction of the 'Battle of Lake Peipus' in 1242 and 'The Battle of Vienna' in 1683."
"Needless to say, lots of people were impressed that a 12-year-old, with no actual formal training, was able to show such aptitude at painting through his works. Even some of the best, and most prestigious Art schools in the world reached out to him, to test his kills, before offering him full-scholarships and allowing him to skip his high-school years. But..."
"I politely declined their offers, though."
"H-HEEEEH?!!"
Henrik blinks. "What?" he asks simply.
"What do you mean 'what'?!" Mejiro McQueen exclaims, receiving nods from others. "You were offered full-scholarships by the most prestigious art schools on Earth and you just refused?!"
"And that's supposed to be a big deal?"
"It is!"
"Settle down now, girls," Leona speaks up softly. "It was Henrik's decision. You all should respect it. Don't dwell into it any further than necessary, okay~?"
Henrik briefly looks back at Leona, catching her fading smile. He looks to the painting for a brief moment, taking a deep breath, puts down his brush and palette, and stretches his arms and rolls his shoulders. Before the painting, he puts on a contented grin at the progress.
"That's it for one day," Henrik announces, gazing at Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen. "You two can stop posing now, lasses. Come over here and look at yourselves."
"Eh? Is that it, teach?" El Condor Pasa asks, slightly disappointed.
"As a wise old fart once said, if you want art to be beautiful, do not rush it," Henrik says, messing the American-born horse-girl's hair, eliciting a pout from the girl. "Added to that, it is only going to take me about two, or maybe three days, at most in order to complete this piece."
"Do we have to wear... this and pose for you again, sensei?" Mejiro McQueen asks while she and Gold Ship approach him.
"No need. Already got your image in my head," Henrik reassures, tapping his temple, before the man grins slyly. "Though, I do have to admit you both look rather cute in that dress. That money was really well-spent, after all."
Mejiro McQueen rolls her eyes. As Henrik leans his back to the chair, folding his arms, both the Mejiro horse-girl and the prankster horse-girl stands by his side, checking the progress. With Gold Ship whistles, eyeing up and down intently, smiling, and Mejiro McQueen stares at the painting—which only done with her and Gold Ship's head, and a little bit of their body and the entirety of the background—seemingly astonished. She peers closely at herself in the maid dress, specifically at her very violet eyes. So alive and captivating.
"So beautiful," Mejiro McQueen whispers breathlessly. "This looks far better than my portrait at our mansion. My eyes, have they always been looking that..."
"Stunning?" Tokai Teio finishes for Mejiro McQueen.
Which the horse-girl smiles candidly. "Sounds fairly narcissistic of me. But yes."
"In every painting of mine that contains living beings, I always have the thumb rule to start from the eyes, since they're the window to one's soul. Complete that part—and I can switch to whatever I want to paint next. Always have to make sure to bring them eyes into life first."
"Basically, Master always wants the individual's eyes to be the center, the soul of the painting?"
"Yup. You got it quickly," Henrik confirms, grinning as he ruffles Mihono Bourbon's hair, making her ears flickering and her tail wagging in delight.
Then his phone vibrates. Henrik takes the device out of his pocket, reads the notification, before he turns to Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen, who are still marvelling at the painting.
"Golshi. Mejiro McQueen," he calls out softly, tenderizing his gaze. "Would you kindly be a pair of good sports and head down to the ground floor to receive my package, please?"
The Mejiro horse-girl looks into his eyes. Before long she breathes out, smiling softly. "Since you asked nicely and drew us beautifully, no problem, sensei."
"Thank you, lass," Henrik says, patting her head. "Careful out there."
As both Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen start heading towards his apartment's front door—which appears more like the former is dragging the latter—Henrik stands up from his chair and leisurely makes his way to the kitchen. Seeing Leona and the student council, he offers them a small smile, looking to the plates of meat and vegetables already done prepared displaying on the counters.
"Here to check our progress, big guy?" Leona asks, washing her hands.
"You've worked hard. Even though you two are our guests," he says blandly, as Symboli Rudolf giggles and Air Groove huffs lightly. "Symboli Rudolf, can you and Air Groove take care of the rest in the kitchen? You can ask the lazy butts to help you too."
"Hey!" El Condor Pasa and Tokai Teio exclaim, protesting.
Henrik glances between the horse-girl and Leona. Taking the obvious hint, Symboli Rudolf bobs her head. "Of course, Kaiser-sensei. We are about to finish anyway."
Mouthing a "thanks", Henrik holds Leona's hand, surprises her by the sudden gesture. "Let's go to my room. We haven't had any proper conversation since Monday, and I ain't going to let my precious childhood friend take part in tonight's celebration with such face."
"What face—"
"I've known you long enough, Marie," he interjects, with her old name, before smiling. "I know what you're thinking. Don't try to play clueless with me."
Finally, Leona exhales a small sigh, smiling in defeat, prompts Henry to lead her to his bedroom and close the door. The horse-girls in the living room and the kitchen watch the said door, where their sensei were last soon, soon silence filling the air. Soon afterward, El Condor Pasa places her hand over her mouth, with her face reddening and her ears flickering.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking right now?" El Condor Pasa asks no one particularly.
Mihono Bourbon twitches her right ear once. "Master looked serious."
"I-I mean—" Tokai Teio presses her index fingers to each other, her face red "—s-sensei are both... childhood friends, s-so it's natural th-that they have... have... feelings for each other, right? J-J-Just like those movies and manga I saw and read before..."
Air Groove places a hand on her hip, looking thoughtfully. "What do you think?"
"...I've heard rumour that Kaiser-sensei and Leona-sensei pulled out their weapon when they first met after what seems to be years. They both used to work in the army, soldiers," Symboli Rudolf muses. "Perhaps he is trying to reassure Leona-sensei about their past, considering that they look like they used to fight against each other, basing off the rumour. Furthermore, she began to look less cheerful, when she talked about the scholarships. Whatever it is, I think they are just having a talk, clearing things up? He did say they have yet to have a proper conversation since Monday. Then again, it is merely my speculation. We should leave them alone."
"I see. Good decision."
Behind the bedroom door, with the apron stripped and placed on the bed, Henrik simply hums his favourite tune while hugging Leona tightly from behind. They both sit at the edge of the bed, with the blonde-haired beauty planting herself on his lap, blushing lightly.
"Henrik," Leona says softly. "This is more embarrassing than I last remember. We are no longer kids anymore, big guy."
"And?"
Leona purses her lips, holds back a small beam. "I still love this," she replies warmly. "Whenever I started to feel down, or got sad, you always held me close like this. This... really takes me back, a lot, you know. Takes me back to the times when things were a lot simpler."
"I know." He places his chin on top of her head, pulling her close into him. "And to be fair, I've always been kind of a hugger. And I always enjoyed keeping us in this position for hours."
"Yes. I too remember the times I fell sleep in your arms, resting safe... and soundly, because you were there for me. You were so pleasantly warm too~."
Henrik chuckles and Leona giggles while taking their walk down the fond memory lane. Yet, his childhood friend goes quiet, staring at the floor—which goes unnoticed by Henrik. He takes both her hands, holding them, squeezing assuredly.
"Are you thinking about the war," Henrik asks softly, "or 'that' time?"
Leona sighs. "Everything, Henrik," she answers. "It's just... when I first saw your face, there were two things going on in my mind; and my heart. That you're here, in this second life that we both managed to get. And that I began to realize just how terrible of a friend I was."
"Marie..."
"Because of me, you didn't take those scholarships!"
"Marie, calm down—"
Leona suddenly turns around, pinning him to the bed with her hands on his wrists, staring straight into his eyes, with her beautiful blonde hair daggling, taking him by surprise.
"I was a selfish CYKA back then! All because I didn't want you to go, you chose to stay, for me! If it weren't for me, you would've been studying in one of the most prestigious art schools which our world has to offer. You gave up your dream for me, Henrik!"
Then, a tear, falling on his cheek, echoing. Henrik widens his eyes, watches the tears freely falling from his childhood friend's face, all the whilst she tightens the grip on his wrists. Both her hands trembling. Leona—no, Marie bites her lip, sniffing. To see her this vulnerable, his heart aches.
"Because of me, you missed your chance to follow your dream. But worst of all, because of me... you got drafted into the war. If you were a student in such schools, you wouldn't have to. Yet, it happened, all because of me," Marie utters, choked in her tears, her voice cracked. "And... dear Mother Russia, what happened in the Eastern Front... the pains I caused... what I had to put you go through. I destroyed your dream, your life, Henrik. You know it. I know you know it, Henrik! And yet, you never hated me. Even now, you're still comforting me... a terrible friend. Just what did I do to deserve someone like you...?"
Henrik, after a moment of silence, breathes out through his nose. He gets up from his bed, looks to Marie's eyes as she straddles him, her gaze turns away from his. Gently, he places his hand on her cheek, trailing his thumb along her delicately soft skin, draws her face to his. Yet Marie is still yet to set her eyes on his, continues to avoid his gaze.
"Marie," he calls her name softly, "would you look at me in my eyes, please?"
A moment of quietness, and Leona nods softly, and slowly, yet hesitantly, moves her gaze towards his. He lowers his eyebrows, smiling, brushes away the tears that are coming out of her eyes, just as gentle as he possibly could.
"Marie. My dream... it was never about being a great artist, nor becoming the Leonardo da Vinci of the contemporary world."
"Please, Henrik. Y-You don't have to—"
"I'm not telling to make you feel better. I'm telling the truth." He stays firm. "Involving into arts and painting, I did all of it for you, and you only."
...
...
...
"W-Wait for me, Marie! Slow down! That place isn't going anywhere!"
"C'mon, the exhibition is gonna open soon, big guy! We can't miss this!"
"I know, I know! Christ, just how much energy is packed in that flat body of yours anyway?"
"HAH?!! What the blyat did you just say about my beautiful body?!"
"Flat! Flat as a goddamned washboard! Yeah, that's what just I said—!"
An 8-year-old Marie unleashed a devastating kick towards Henrik's face, who also was about her age, sending the boy flying into the concrete path, face first. Brushing away the blonde locks of hair which tangled on her face, huffing with her chest puffing out, crossing her arms while staring down at a twitching Henrik. He got up from the ground, deadpanned, with a shoe-print imprinted right on his face, pulsing red.
"...Why did I choose to befriend a violent girl like you again?" Henrik asked dryly.
"Hmph! You can't just go around and call a girl's body flat, dummy!"
"But isn't that supposed to be the fact? I mean, look at your chest—"
As the upper half of her face darkened, Marie slowly half closed her eyes, started sending him a venomously, sweet smile. Henrik felt the ghastly chills running down his spines. As if looks could kill, he would have been dead million times over. Or so he thought.
"...Right. Nevermind then."
Marie smiles normally again. "Good boy~. Now give me a shoulder ride... And I might consider sparing you~," she offered.
"How about no—" Henrik paused, as Marie pulled out her best weapon: puppy eyes staring into his very soul. "Come on, that isn't fair! No, I-I won't let you have your way this time—"
"Pretty, please~?"
Henrik pursed his lips, before long sighed in defeat. "Well... it's not like this is different than the usual, anyway. Come on, hop on, and I'll take you to the exhibition, my lady."
Overwhelmingly cuteness triumphed over him this time as well.
Cheering victoriously, Marie skipped to the Henrik as he lowered himself, allowed the girl to hop on his shoulders, getting herself both seated and comfortable on him. Henrik grabbed her thighs, balancing himself, and slowly raised his body. With his childhood friend properly seated on both shoulders, the boy started making his way to the exhibition building.
"Don't drop me, all right, big guy~?" Marie giggled, amused.
"Yes, yes. I know," Henrik answered. "Still, I don't get why you're getting worked up over some, well, paintings. What are so special about them anyway?"
"Hmph! An uncultured swine, like you, would never understand," said Marie. "Arts... are simply the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. Like paintings for example. Rafaël, Michelangelo, Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci. Even here... there are many talented painters who agreed to display their masterpieces, showing the world through their artistic eyes."
"...Right."
"I promise it'll be fun~."
"For you, maybe."
As the two childhood friends entered the exhibition, Marie's eyes lit up immediately. Meanwhile, Henrik was having a hard time trying to understand the specialness behind the paintings which were being displayed on the wall. For his eyes, they were just paintings. Anyone, with just enough training, could create pieces like them, perhaps even better.
The pair wandered through the halls. With Henrik slowly getting more bored, and bored, and a whole lot more bored. That was until they stopped before a particularly large painting. An image of a striking, lovely woman sitting on a wooden chair, in her hands holding a white lily, beaming softly towards the viewers.
'Just another painting.' Henrik sighed. 'What's so appealing about them, anyway—'
As he looked up, his eyes widened, by how broad Marie's smile was, as she was immersing into the painting. In that moment, he realized his heart skipped a beat, staring at that innocent smile, the sparkling blue eyes. She looked so happy, happier than he had ever seen before.
"She's so beautiful~," Marie murmured. "I wish somebody could draw me that way... Ah, I know! Maybe papa and mama know someone who could paint me one like this. Hey, hey Henrik! Do you think she looks pretty too~?"
Henrik blinked, glancing at Marie, who took her gaze down to him, smiling, brightly, then at the said painting, back and forth a few times.
"Yes..." Henrik replied, glancing at Marie, before looking at the painting. "Yes, she is."
...
...
...
"When I saw how happy you were, I knew I wanted to see more of it," Henrik continues, smiling as he caresses her stunned face. "Seeing more of that smile, the reason alone was just more than enough for me to research more about what makes arts so special... then painting."
"Henrik... I..."
"As for my dream, it died on that cold afternoon in Poland," he says quietly. "When... I agreed... to end your suffering with my own two bloody hands, I felt something inside me... broken. The person who kept me going throughout the war, laid there, motionless, before me, by my hands. That day, I thought the shining beacon of my life was gone forevermore."
"Henrik—"
All of sudden, Henrik presses his lips against Marie's, stunning the blonde-haired beauty. In one second, she seems not to believe in her eyes. Then in another, she instantly melts into his warmth, his touch. Marie slowly closes her eyes, as the kiss deepens, as Henrik starts lovingly bites her lip, his hands snaking down and resting her waists, holding her tightly into him. Henrik gently forces her mouth open, wrapping his tongue around her, as if sucking the air from her lungs out. Then, he ends with a gentle touch on her lips, before pulling himself back, with a trail of saliva sticking out from his tongue to hers.
Marie opens her eyes once more, taking in her breath deeply. Her face reddening, staring at him dumbfounded, unable to form any proper word.
"H-H-Henrik...?"
"You are the one who accepted me... when no other kids did, when I was that odd, and strange one in the neighborhood," Henrik says. "You taught me a lot of new things... Showed me the beauty of the world around me when I thought it was dull and empty. You were always so patient with me. Stood up for me when no else did. And most importantly of all, you guided me to love myself again, to love who I am. You saved me from that fate of loneliness, Marie. You've always been my shining beacon, the light at the end of my tunnel, and the love of my life."
Marie's face reddens more, as she stares at Henrik, shocked.
"You are my dream, Marie. I chose to stay, because I could not bear... to live without you by my side. For a kid who only has you as his only friend... and his love, I couldn't fathom the idea of... moving away from you, into some strange place," Henrik confesses. "Even on the battlefield, the moment I saw you, I knew I had to do something. I tried to save you. Yet, I couldn't. Every time I was so close to you, it too seemed so... far. But this time, I'm not letting you go, ever again."
"Henrik, you've been seeing me in such way the whole time?" Marie murmurs.
"Because I love you, Marie. I've always loved you."
Marie gapes. For a moment, she looks like her brain just stopped working, simply gaping at him, her childhood friend, and the sudden revelation. Then, an out-of-nowhere peck on his lips.
"I've been waiting to hear those words from you for a long time..." Marie whispers. "Now that I know your feelings about me, I don't have to hold myself back anymore. All I need to do right now is to mark my territory on you before other girls got to you first."
"H-Hey now, we still have a dinner with the girls, remember?"
"I don't care~. I've been holding myself back the whole time. I'm going to make you remember everything about me. My scent. My kiss. My body. Even if you are going to fuck another girl, in the very near future, no one is going to satisfy you as close as me~."
"W-Wait, Marie, settle down now—!"
To no avail in attempting to calm Marie down, once again Henrik is pinned to his bed, sweating as Marie starts breathing heavier as seconds pass, along with the face which basically says "I want you here and now." He realizes he might have accidently turned on her switch.
"This is going to be similar to that late-night lesbian party you attended, isn't it?"
"No backing away from mommy now~."
"...Please be gentle—"
Henrik is soon muffled by a deep and passionate kiss.
Five minutes later, the adults of the apartment emerge from Henrik's bedroom. The man himself let out a sigh, rubbing his hips, following by an ear-to-ear smiling Marie, who walks at his elbow, humming merrily to herself.
"That was refreshing~," Marie says. "Still, thank you, Henrik. For everything."
Henrik, breathing out, chuckles, ruffling her hair. "Anytime, Marie."
"It's Leona now, dummy~."
"Right. Leona. I forgot."
"That being said, let's continue our business tonight, all right~?"
The words send chills down his spines. As Henrik fixes his shirt, he notices the horse-girls are all staring at him intently, including Gold Ship and Mejiro McQueen, who returned from their quick errand. Some are blushing, like Tokai Teio, while some looks away, focusing on something else, like Symboli Rudolf and Air Groove.
"Did you do something perverted while we were gone?" Mejiro McQueen asks suspiciously.
"We neither confirm, nor deny the accusation," Henrik replies dryly. "In any case, I think we should clear up the living room for the table for the dinner. I'm going to need some help too."
With that, the party is about to begin, albeit the atmosphere seems awkward, save for Marie, as the blonde-haired beauty appears to have just experienced the best moment of her life.
Henrik, for a certainty, knows his childhood friend, and sweetheart, is going to enjoy milking him dry once she gets her hand on his junior. May God help him through this trial.
====================
