Gunners High
Chapter 12
I Feed You My Love
Kyubey sauntered into the hotel room of Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi and Mami Tomoe early the next day. He went into a nightclub and juiced down five Nils Oscar God Lagers in one sitting before leaving the bar completely drunk as a skunk. He was lucky enough to have to energy to find the hotel, let alone the hotel room, or junior suite for that matter. Indeed, that beer made Budweiser look like a drink for poor college kids. This was several steps above in terms of class.
Kyubey didn't care. He wanted to sleep. But the clock was ticking on him being found out. "Homura-chan, do you smell that?" Madoka whispered at 6 a.m. local time.
"Huh?"
"It smells like...oh no! Beer!"
"Him..."
"K...Kyubey!?"
Homura went up to Kyubey and kicked him across the room like a soccer ball. This time, the kick was so bad that he exploded into guts, forcing another Kyubey to come out of thin air and eat his remains. "You ordered beer again through room service?"
"No, actually I drank at a nightclub, Homura," Kyubey said.
"How were you able to do that?"
"I just walked in and the bartender gave me some free beer because I am Incubator."
"That is awful logic," Madoka deadpanned.
"You didn't get kicked out, did you?" Homura asked.
"I left after drink five bottles of Nils Oscar."
"FIVE BOTTLES!?" exclaimed Madoka and Homura.
"Ugggh, can you keep it down you two?" Mami groaned, rubbing her eyes. Kyubey leaped into her arms and slept. "And stop harassing Kyubey. You should also not put yourself into tough situations, Kyubey."
"No problem," he said, smug as ever.
"I'll go shower up and eat downstairs," Homura muttered, taking the towel before freshening up. Mami continued her chat with the invisible, yet invincible sandman.
Downstairs at the buffet room, sandwiches, cereals and muesli were being served, juxtaposed with glasses of blueberry soup and rose hip soup. Naturally, since Homura had an appetite that went on for hours, she grabbed everything there was to grab. In an interesting twist, the buffet was also serving American and Japanese entrees.
"Good deal," said Homura, biting into a large sandwich that had cheeses, scrambled eggs, cold cuts, pate, tomatoes and cucumber. "This is good. So here, the local eat sandwiches and drink rose hip soup for breakfast."
"Dad sometimes likes to pack sandwiches in my bento before school begins, but it's not as elaborate as this," Madoka said. "Or as big. That is a really big sandwich."
"I didn't think that this buffet was going to serve hash browns. To me, Madoka, that is a big surprise. I didn't expect that."
"You got everything at the buffet, Homura-chan. Are you sure you are going to finish that?"
"Kyouko would be jealous, but...yeah, I think I can. Gonna be really full, but I will finish it."
"If it works out for you, go right ahead. I can't eat because I'm just part of your consciousness."
"Yes. Yes, you are." After Homura finished her meal, she left the hotel and outside, there was a small van waiting for her.
"Hello," the man said at the shuttle. "How are you?"
"Good morning, sir," Homura said.
"Hey, are you going to leave me?" Mami asked, running over the van, Kyubey clinging on.
"Sorry."
"Mou." The two of them got on board the shuttle.
"My name is Lars, and I operate the shuttle that will take you to the Malmo Arena," said the driver. "Your first time here?"
"Yes, it is," Homura said in English as the van began to move out of the hotel and down Pildammsvägen. "Our first time here in this country. I am Homura, and this is Mami, my friend. We're from Japan."
"Welcome to Sweden both of you. Sweden he youkoso. Did you eat?"
"I did. Not sure about my friend..."
"Mmmmmph! Mmmmmmmph!" A thoroughly displeased Mami was pointing to her mouth, which was eating a sandwich from the buffet.
"Yare, yare," Kyubey said, curling into a ball before sleeping. The van was making its way to the front of the arena, where there was a line of people.
"Here we are," Lars said. "Enjoy the rehearsals, you will not be disappointed," he said. "See you later." Mami and Homura donned their passes to get inside the arena, where a few acts were already going through second rehearsals.
"So this is where the show is going to be," Homura said to Mami as they looked around.
"It's a great setup, isn't it?" she replied to her as they listed to Nodi Tatishvili and Sophie Gelovani sing "Waterfall," the smoke blowing on the stage.
"There's no me without you
Don't know what I would do
You're my heartbeat, I'm breathing because of you
There's no world without us
Dreams would turn into dust
You're the reason, the reason I make it through
Feels like I'm flying, like if I had wings
Like I am sailing on a sea of dreams
Your love is pouring down on me
You're my waterfall
In a moment like this
I'm in a state of bliss
I'm swept away, I look into an open sky
Feels like I'm flying, like if I had wings
Like I am sailing on a sea of dreams
Your love is pouring down on me
You're my waterfall
My heart is higher than the highest kite
I feel how all your love surrounds me
Standing in a waterfall
Like I am sailing on a sea of dreams
Your love is pouring down on me
You're my waterfall
Feels like I'm flying, like if I had wings
Like I am sailing on a sea of dreams
Your love is pouring down on me
You're my waterfall..."
-OOO-
"Nice job!" Mami said to the two of them, clapping her hands.
"Thank you, young lady," Nodi said with a bow as the two of them returned to the green room.
"I can visualize the presentation with all the cameras flying around," Homura said. "Can you?"
"I can," Mami replied. "So wonderful."
"Let's see who is next. Ah! It's her."
"Who?"
"That...is Margaret Berger," Homura said. "This is a good song. Have a listen. Watch."
"A cocoon in a silent tree
Through the dark night you listen to me
When I whisper broken words in your ear
And you push, you push me hard to the surface
I'm blinded at heart, but you wake me
You wake me up from the snow where I was born
Now I can see
The whole world is mine
I can touch and feel
I feed you my love
You put a knife against my back
And you dare me to face the attack
You say for cowards, there's no reward
Feel the heat
Oh... take my hand, I trust your word
Bring the fire, I don't care if it hurts
I have the future on my tongue
Give me a kiss
Now I can see
The whole world is mine
I can touch and feel
So I feed you my love
You put a knife against my back
And you dare me to face the attack
You say for cowards, there's no reward
I have the future on my tongue
Now I can see, hoh...
The whole world is mine
I can touch and feel, mmh yeah...
So I feed you my love
Feed you my love
So I feed you my love..."
"All right, Margaret!" Homura exclaimed. "Well done!"
"Thank you," she said before exiting the stage with a bow.
Hours passed, and the rest of the artists went through their second rehearsals. By that point, Homura and Mami were starting to get a little bit bored, and their stomachs were growling.
"I think we need to ask Lars-san if there is a McDonald's in Malmo," said Mami to Homura as they left the arena.
"I'm starved, too," Homura said. "Ah, here he is." They were outside the Arena, and the van was waiting. "Excuse me, Lars?"
"Yes, where to?"
"McDonald's."
"No problem. Hop on," said Lars as Homura, Mami and Kyubey got on the van to the McDonalds at Gustav AdolfsTorg 2. Another drive up the Pildammsvägen. "So, how did you like the rehearsals?"
"Very professional in their demeanor, very clean and committed efforts," Homura said. "Songs were fun to listen. I can actually visualize the performances before we even get to sit in the front with all the people."
"Who do you think will take the honors at the first semi-final?" Lars asked.
"I don't know too much about the entries, but I like Austria, Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Moldova, Ireland, Cyprus, Belgium and Serbia."
"I like Austria, Slovenia, Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Belarus, Moldova, Ireland and Serbia," said Mami.
"Good choices. Who's your favorite among the top 10?"
Mami and Homura nodded at each other. "Denmark," they both said with a giggle.
Lars rolled his eyes. "That's what everybody I know is saying," he said. "Emmelie! She is very good."
"Hello, welcome to McDonald's," said the cashier in Swedish as the two of them went in.
"Um, excuse me, do you speak English?" asked Homura.
"You're tourists?" she asked. "Of course we do!"
"Yes, because we're from Japan, and we're watching Eurovision."
"Everyone is talking about it, yes. Welcome to Sweden, by the way. What can I get for you?"
"We'd like two Big Macs, two medium fries, two medium cokes, a McBean, a Chili Chicken Jr. and a Chicken & Bacon McWrap," Homura said.
"Add a Veggie McWrap to that," Mami added.
"Sure thing, that will be 275 kronor," said the cashier.
"Glad we got this exchanged at the Johan," Homura said to Mami as she gave the cashier three 100-kronor bills.
"Thank you very much!" she said. A few minutes later, Homura got the order and they took a seat by the window. Outside, there were few cars, mainly because most people were at work.
"This McBean is godly," Homura said. "I love how Sweden decided to incorporate some vegetarian options. It's pretty good."
"This Veggie McWrap is also impressive," Mami said, taking a big bite. "You think Emmelie is going to put on a great show?"
"She should. I'm picking her to do it."
Mami sighed and took another bite. "Sometimes I wonder if I am in a dream with all of this," she whispered, closing her eyes.
"Well..."
"...you probably are."
Mami opened her eyes. "Oh my goodness." She was surrounded by people from all over Europe and she was carrying a Japanese flag. The two of them were outside the Malmo Opera.
"We have tourists from Japan!" exclaimed one of the MCs as the fans did the Mexican wave. Mami had nothing else better to do but wave her flag. "Irrashaimase! Banzai!"
"Thank you!" Homura exclaimed, waving at the MCs. She was also waving the flag of Japan.
"You are from Japan?" asked a local from Malmo to them as the MCs continued to say hello to the crowd on a wonderful Saturday afternoon.
"Yes, we are."
"Welcome to Eurovision!" he said. "I'm Joost, I'm from Holland. Your first time?"
"It's our first time here."
"Well! How did you arrive here?"
"We won a sweepstakes to go to Eurovision, and we're VIPs that have access to all the events going on."
"Oooh! Well, you're quite lucky to be here. Sweden's a great place to visit. I have some mates who live here. I also work in Denmark."
"One minute to go before the first people arrive, is everybody ready?" asked the MC, who was black. A few cheers. "You sound a little bit hesitant."
"He sounds like an idiot," Homura deadpanned.
"Heheheh, I like your humor," Joost said with a deep belly laugh.
"Is everybody in the back ready?" asked the MCs. A few more cheers.
"Here comes the first car," said the other MC, an old woman from Sweden. Out came Loreen.
"There she is, Miss Euphoria herself," said the first MC. "Loreen!" A siren could be heard in the background.
"Loreen!" Homura exclaimed. "We're going u-u-u-u-u-u-up!"
"You know the lyrics?" asked Joost.
"Oh yes," she said.
"She knows everything," Mami told him. "By the way, Joost-san, I am Mami Tomoe, and this is my friend, Homura Akemi. We are from Mitakihara, Japan."
"You two seem a bit familiar, but I can't lay a finger on it," Joost said.
"Hi, Loreen!" Homura said to her.
"Good morning, Loreen-san!" Mami said.
"Good morning, welcome to Eurovision, you two," Loreen said, shaking their hands before saying hello to the others on the runway and having her photos taken by the press with a couple other VIPs, including the show host, Petra Mede.
"Thank you!"
"It's like you know them already, you two," Joost said, impressed.
"We do."
"Hohoh! Just as I suspected. Personally, it is a pleasure meeting both of you and I hope you enjoy the show. The event organizers have been working hard to make this a successful event, so I hope you aren't disappointed," said Joost.
"I'd be disappointed if they disappointed everybody," Homura replied.
"Touché, my lady."
As the two MCs continued their banter, before it hit them about four hour later, they had watched every delegation come by and they shook hands with every performing act, greeting them personally. Natalia Kelly. Birgit. Hannah. Klapa s Mora. Emmelie de Forest. Dina Garopova. Zlata Ognevich, Anouk. Woo See. Andrius Pojavis. Alyona Lanskaya. Aliona Moon. Ryan Dolan. Despina Olympiou. Roberto Bellarosa. Moje 3. PeR. Valentina Monetta. Esma and Lozano. Faris Mammadov. Krista Siegfrieds. Gianluca. Elista TOdorova and Stoya Yankulov. Eythor Ingi. Koza Mostra and Agathon Iakovidis. Moran Mazor. Dorians and Gor Sujyan. ByeAlex. Margaret Berger. Adrian Lulgluraj and Bledar Sejko. Nodie and Sophie. Takasa. Cezar. Amandine Bouergeois. Cascada. Marco Mengoni. El Sueno De Morfeo. Bonnie Tyler. And Robin Stjernberg. Homura and Mami saw them all, said hello to them all, and had photos with them all. It was as if they had known them personally.
After the Welcome Reception, Homura and Mami were back in their hotel room, electing to wrap up their homework before making plans for the First Semi-Final. The plan was this: First Semi-Final, the beach, the Second Semi-Final, the Beach Again, and then the Grand Final before heading back home. They had no time for the after party, as they were students.
Inside the hotel room, Homura and Mami were playing the entry from the band Dorians.
"Who's the one that starts a war?
Who's dictating what is less and more?
Who can change the night and day?
Who's the one with clever face?
That can tell us what is in the space?
Playing games that none can play
Maybe someday we'll break the wall
Maybe the light will touch us all
Lonely planet, who has done it?
Who can save you? Who can stop it?
Lonely planet, who has done it?
Who can save you? Who can stop it?
Who's the one that has the right?
Treat us wrong and tell us what is right?
Bringing crowd against the squad
Who has honesty to show?
Who can tell us "I don't know"?
Who's the man and who's the god?
Maybe someday we'll break the wall
Maybe the light will touch us all
Lonely planet, who has done it?
Who can save you? Who can stop it?
Lonely planet, who has done it?
Who can save you? Who can stop it?
Lonely planet, we have done it
We can save you, we can stop it
Lonely planet, we have done it
We can save you, we can stop it
We can stop it, we can stop it
We can stop it, we can stop it
For the world..."
"Recent waves of immigration has triggered a debate in Sweden about what 'Swedishness' actually is and about how immigrants can be integrated in Swedish society," Homura said, reading from her iPad in between completing assignments. "In a report by the Swedish government it has been claimed that Swedishness usually is classified by researchers in five different ways: country of birth (i.e. Sweden), citizenship, consanguinity (i.e. perceived kinship), culture or language; and appearance. It also claims that a mix of these ideas is found in more mundane uses of the word Swedish, in media and ordinary speech and that it should be understood in the light of how national stories of Sweden have been formed over a long period of time.
"This is a sensitive topic in Sweden and the mere notion of a Swedish ethnicity can be considered controversial, especially in politics. For example, Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was heavily criticised in the spring of 2012, after having used the word 'ethnic Swedes'. Sweden's main statistics bureau Statistics Sweden (SCB) does not keep any record of ethnicity but about 20% of Sweden's population have foreign background. Some immigrants in Sweden feel that they experience "betweenship" which arises when others ascribe them an identity that they do not hold. The increasing proportion of immigrants has caused concern from anti-immigration politicians like the Sweden Democrats who fear a demographic threat, especially the rise of Islam in Sweden. However, polls show that the Swedes' general attitude towards immigrants has become 'considerably more positive' in recent years."
"What I like about Sweden is that they are a very progressive, very tolerant country, but they have xenophobes, just like any first world country," Mami said. "I mean, a lot of us can't get along with Koreans, and that's because of our history with them.
"And Yasukuni, so this is an issue a lot of us have to deal with. If I'm not mistaken, Jews have not been treated with respect here in Malmo, have they?"
"I think there were some cases a few years ago of Anti-Semitism, but here's the interesting part: that Anti-Semitism is being instigated by the Islamic community here. Which leads me to this conclusion: Malmo is coming of age, even though they are an old city."
"Why do you say that?"
"They are having to deal with cases racism and bigotry. Any time a city deals with issues like that on a frequent basis, I consider the city to have come of age. Mitakihara Town is dealing with that two, according to what I saw on the news the past several months."
"You've got a strange way of thinking things out, Mami Tomoe," Homura concluded. "I think we should tweet our photos of us with all the performers to Kyouko. Just to troll her and Sayaka."
"Do you really need to?" Mami said with a frown. Kyubey was sleeping on the bed.
She had a sinister grin on her face. "Mami, I'm going to."
"How are they doing?" asked Sayaka Miki on Tuesday morning at Mitakihara High School. The two of them were walking over to home room.
"No idea, but I bet they're having a great time," Kyouko Sakura said to her. She felt her phone buzz. "Ooooh? I think I got a message on my twitter."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I do. I'll take a look."
"Let me see, let me see."
"It's from Homura." The message... "#Eurovision 1st semi-final hours away. #AreYouJealous #AreYouReady?"
"Eh?"
"Huh? Oh, there's some photos here." She opened the link.
"Ehhhhhhhhhh?" Kyouko and Sayaka exclaimed.
"Are you kidding me?" Kyouko said. "Why are Homura and Mami posing with all the acts from the show? Not fair! Not fair!" She was tearing her hairs out.
"Kyouko-chan, calm down," Sayaka said, trying to calm her down.
"How can life be so cruuuuueeel!? Waaaaaaaah!" There was no denying it: Europe's greatest TV show was hours away from taking off. And Homura and Mami had a front row-seat to the action.
END CHAPTER 12
