Chapter Four: Tea Party

Rico

Rico's Room, Social Welfare Agency Dormitories, Undisclosed Location, Italy

It was already nearing dusk and the five girls (Rico, Henrietta, Claes, Angelica, and Triela) were gathered at Rico's room. Rico invited them earlier after practice hours to break the news that Jean told her. She was supposed to tell it to her friends earlier but because of intensive training sessions, it was only now—a day before she leaves—that she was able to.

Rico eventually announced the news in her usual casual manner with a smiling face. Her friends were visibly sad, especially Henrietta.

"I wish you could have told us earlier Rico," Henrietta said quietly.

"I'm sorry, 'Etta…I was supposed to…but I want us to be complete when I announce it," Rico replied rather flatly.

"So you're leaving tomorrow, eh? We should have at least have tea party tonight!" Triela—who is like their big sister—said.

"Yeah, I wish we could…But Triela, we have a curfew…" Angelica replied.

"I'm not letting Rico go without a send-off tea party!" Triela exclaimed while giving Rico a light pat in her head. "Let me take care of it! And while I'm at, can you get my bears at my room Angelica?" with that, Triela stood up and, before leaving the room, tossed her room keys to Angelica who also stood up with a smile.

Henrietta's face cheered up a little as she stood up. "I'll just return to my room and get the special biscuits, pastries, and tea Giuse gave me," Henrietta said with a beam.

Finally, Claes also stood up and went to the door.

"Hey, Claes, you're leaving too?" Rico said.

"I'll just get some things from my room. Some things to help you in your trip."

After a little while…

Henrietta was the first to come back. Rico helped her arrange the table and food. Angelica came next holding Triela's teddy bears which she placed in Rico's bed.

Claes then entered the room carrying several books which she gave to Rico, "Those are some books about Japan and how to speak a little Japanese. Read them while you're travelling or have the time."

Rico browsed through a book entitled "Basic Japanese for Travellers" and after a while said to Claes, "Arigatou, Claes!"

Finally, Triela came bearing a piece of paper which she showed, "Ta-da! I managed to convince Hirscher to allow us to stay until midnight. He just said that we shouldn't leave the dormitory premises."

"That's good, Triela!" Henrietta said. "But I wish Giuse and the others can come too…"

"Hmph! You just like Giuse to come over! Anyway, Hirscher and the other Handlers are doing a report so they won't be able to come. So why don't we start eating now since everybody's here?"

The five girls started eating the sweets and drinking their teas while chatting and playing cards, chess, and having a contest on who can assemble a gun fastest. The loser—who was mostly Henrietta or Angelica—gets flicks and pinches as punishments.

Rico then started making a stack of cards—one of her favourite games. When she was at the 5th level, Henrietta spoke, "Hey, Rico…aren't you sad that you're leaving?"

The stack fell. But Rico just smiled and said, "Of course I am. I'm sad because I'm leaving you here. I wish we could all travel and see that country…"

"You're right, Rico. Japan seems to be a beautiful country too, it would be nice if we go there together," Henrietta replied wistfully.

"Maybe sometime Jean and the others may be able to do something so we can all go on vacation there."

"Are you really sure you're sad, Rico?" This time, it was Triela who asked, "it's just that you keep on smiling."

"I really am sad! It's just that…I really don't know how to express 'sadness' so I just smile. And this is the first time this will happen so I don't know how to react."

Triela just beamed kindly, went behind Rico who was sitting and gave her a hug while pulling her up. "Silly Rico! You just let what you feel come out, if you can't smile, then don't!"

"Hai! Triela-neesan!"

"What's that supposed to mean, Rico?" asked Henrietta who was now also hugging Rico.

"It means 'Yes, big sister!' It's in Japanese. I learned it from Claes' book!" by now, everyone was giving Rico a hug.

"Hey, you're squishing me already!" Rico cried. But her friends just hugged her tighter before releasing her. After that, all of them just laughed.

"Hey! Could we sing a song? We've heard that song before…it goes like nella fantasia…" Rico began singing but she was out of tune.

"No, it goes this way Rico, Nella fantasia..." Triela sang while Henrietta positioned her violin and began playing the song. The others followed Triela in singing…

Nella fantasia

Che soffia sulle città, come amico.

Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,

Come le nuvole che volano,

Pien' d'umanità in fondo all'anima…

On a hill overlooking the girls' dormitory…

Giuse and Jean put down their binoculars. They just finished the report they were making and decided to check on the girls albeit on a distance.

"They look like ordinary girls just having fun and singing, right Jean?" Giuse said pensively.

"Yeah…but they're not, they're still cyborgs," Jean replied flatly.

"Will you miss Rico, Jean?"

Jean just fell silent and gave a shrug. Unlike the other Handlers, Jean was hesitant to make a personal relationship or even get close to the girls. For him, they were simply tools. However, over the course of training Rico, Jean's view gradually changed and he started showing some concern over her—even if only infrequently and minutely.

"Are you worried about Rico?" asked Giuse again.

"Not really. She's not like Henrietta and the others who formed…close ties…with their Handlers. I think Rico will handle herself well without me."

"You couldn't say that for sure…And it wouldn't hurt if you show some worry for her. After all, they are still girls. Besides, remember that incident with 'Etta? Much of their performance and conditioning depends upon the Handler's treatment of them."

Again, Jean didn't reply. But the look on his face told Giuse that Jean was giving what he said serious thought and consideration.

"By the way, has the Chief already told you who's escorting Rico?"

"Yes, it will be Olga. The Chief said she's better at diplomacy than me."

"Well, I couldn't argue about that."

Again, the two fell silent and just checked on the girls with their binoculars. By now, they were leaving and going back to their individual rooms. But Henrietta stayed; it seemed like she will be sleeping with Rico.

"Have you given Henrietta permission for a sleepover?" asked Jean.

"No. But what's the harm. Rico and Henrietta are close friends. Let them be.

"Well, we should have a shuteye too. It'll be quite a day tomorrow."