Early December, one year later
"Thank you for your time Hasegawa-kun." said Isato and stood up from the table in Kiyoshi's office.
"Anytime kaichō. Will that be all?"
"Yes, thank you again." bowed his head Landsknecht Boys High School's student council president and left.
Kiyoshi leaned back in his chair. It was still hard to believe. He was sitting in his beloved school, in his red buttoned white shirt and black pants, doing paperwork. He was surrounded by peace. He stood up and went to the window. The Agano River was flowing peacefully, and the city of Niigata, his home was covered with snow. Everything was so peaceful. So calm. So perfect.
"I think I'm finished with everything for today. It's time to go home." he thought. He took on his coat and left the schoolhouse. He walked home in the cold air, the snow creaking under his feet. But all the cold disappeared and warmth filled his heart when he saw his family's house and entered the garden gate. He missed it so much for such a long time. Even when a whole year has passed since the end of the war he overjoyed each time he went home. He could still see the faces of his parents when he came back. They were crying in relief for nearly an hour.
He opened the door, entered the ante-room and took down his shoes. "I'm home."
"Welcome son!" Takako greeted him with a warm smile as she stepped into the hall. "How was your day?"
"Nothing special at all. I only did the usual stuff, and I've had some training with the boys too. That's all." said Kiyoshi.
"I see. Are you hungry?"
"Just a little bit."
"Dinner will be ready in an hour. I'll call you."
"Thank you Oka-san." said the young boy and headed for the stairs and his room.
"Oh, Kiyoshi! I almost forgot it. This came for you." said Takako and gave her son an envelope. Kiyoshi took it and looked at it. The letter came from Yokohama. Then the sender is probably… "Is it from Darjeeling-san?"
"Perhaps."
"Hm, interesting. She never sent any paper letter. Maybe it's something special."
"I'll go and read it. Thanks Oka-san."
"Just don't forget one thing when you reply."
"What would it be?"
"Drawing a little heart at the bottom of the sheet."
"What…? M-Mother! What on earth?"
"Haha. I'm just joking." smiled Takako.
"I hoped so." murmured Kiyoshi and went up to his room.
He shook his head when he closed the door behind him. It was nothing like that. Okay, they met sometimes during the year and eventually, they ended up meeting each other's parents Kiyoshi was right, his parents really liked Darjeeling, and he also made a good impression on her parents.
Okay, they had many great conversations about various topics. He was very impressed how intelligent she was and how well she could express herself. Okay, they always have good a time together, but… But… But he couldn't deny that deep in his soul… somewhere… He sighed. He couldn't lie to himself. If only she…
He quickly considered the idea impossible. Noway. Merely a year ago their schools and Sensha-Do teams were enemies. She must have some revulsion against him. How could she ever think about him like that? Plus, they've never talked about such things. Impossible. Just impossible. Pity. He would have liked to tell her so many things…
Kiyoshi decided to shoo these tantalizing thoughts and concentrate on the letter he got. He sat down on his bed, opened the envelope with a small pocket knife he had and took out the letter. He unfolded it and saw the beautiful calligraphic hiraganas.
"Dear Kiyoshi-san,
I know this is not the usual way I communicate with you and that this letter will reach you later than an electronic message, but in this case I thought that it will be more elegant and politer than an e-mail, or something like that. I hope you forgive me for this.
I do not want to waste your time, so I summarize briefly what I would like to say, or rather to ask. St. Gloriana Girls Academy holds a Christmas ball each year on 20th December and we, students are given the opportunity to invite our friends. Now accept this praise from me please: for me out of all my male acquaintances you are the most worthy to invite. Obviously you can have your time to think it through, and to tell the truth I can understand if you say no.
I am looking forward to your reply.
Your friend and comrade,
Darjeeling"
The day before, Yokohama, Darjeeling's POV
"He'll think that I'm a fool." thought Darjeeling as she was nervously walking up and down in her room. Sometimes she looked at her desk on which was a stack of paper and a pen. But she couldn't bring herself to sit down, take that pen and formulate that letter. She had to realize that she was afraid. Afraid of what he will think and say. Is it at all appropriate for her to ask him? "Oh, come on! We do not live a hundred years ago. It's totally alright if ask a boy if he wants to come with me."
Still, she was hesitating. What if he says no? Her self-esteem will probably get damaged. But she was even more worried about their friendship. Will he not want to meet her anymore? "That would be terrible. I… I like to be with him. I enjoy our talks so much. Is it worth the risk?"
She liked to be with him indeed. Very, very much. So much that surprisingly even for her, her former adversary was the only person she wanted to go to St. Gloriana's ball with. Her soul longed for it. "Victory belongs to the brave, doesn't it?" Darjeeling asked herself. "What is this compared to a Sensha-Do war? Do not want to be a coward now! We live only once!"
Now determined she sat down and took a sheet and the pen.
Kiyoshi's POV
Darjeeling was afraid of what will Kiyoshi think. Well, at first he couldn't think about anything. He was sitting there for nearly five minutes motionlessly.
"Kiyoshi! Dinner is ready!" he heard his mother's call from the ground floor.
"I'm coming!" he replied. "This is for you too Darjeeling-san."
"What is it?" asked Takako when Kiyoshi entered the kitchen.
"What do you mean Oka-san?"
"You look somehow… happy."
"… Yes Mother. Something like that." smiled Kiyoshi. When he finished with the meal he went back to his room. He took his phone to shoot a message to a certain somebody. "Yes, I forgive you. And thanks for that little praise." he wrote.
"So you read it." came the reply from Darjeeling a minute later.
"I did."
"I was wondering since yesterday how will you react."
"I'm bound to say that I didn't expect this. But I would be honored. In short: my answer is yes."
"Are you certain?"
"I couldn't be more certain Darjeeling-san."
"Great! Thank you for accepting my invitation Kiyoshi-san."
"It's nothing. May I ask what time is it at?"
"At 7 p.m. in the gym of our school."
"Alright. I'll be there."
"And thanks. Really."
"You can thank me in person when we meet."
"True. Bye!"
"Bye!" wrote Kiyoshi and put down the phone. "I guess I have to prepare my suit then. Man, it was a long time ago when I last wore it." he mumbled.
20th December, afternoon
Kiyoshi took his black suit and donning a white shirt and a navy blue tie. When he thought that he put himself together quite nicely he went down the stairs.
"Okay Mother. I'll come tomorrow with one of the morning trains." he said while lacing his dress shoes.
"Take care son. And have fun!"
"I'm on it." smiled Kiyoshi and hugged Takako.
"And tell Darjeeling-san that I send my regards."
"I'll not forget it. Bye mom!" Soon he was travelling through Japan with the Shinkansen. A few hours later he was standing on the pier of St. Gloriana's school ship near the boarding ramp. When he looked at it he couldn't help but think: "Not so very long ago this place has been bombed by my allies and charged by my friends. And now here I am. Fate has a strange style of humor."
People were arriving, students and adults, wearing suits, dresses and kimonos.
"It's been a while Hasegawa-san." somebody said.
"Good evening Pekoe-san." greeted Kiyoshi the orange haired girl who was dressed in a knee-length black skirt and a pink blouse. "Indeed."
"Do not take it the wrong way but you are one of the last people I would have expected to be here."
"It was Darjeeling-san, she was the one who invited me here."
"I'm actually not surprised."
"Why is that?"
"She told me a couple of times how much she adores your company." said Pekoe.
"Really? What else did she say?"
"I'm sorry Hasegawa-san but I'm not authorized to give you such information. But you can ask it from Darjeeling-san."
"I admire your discretion Pekoe-san. Then let me wish you a nice evening."
"Arigato General!" said Pekoe calling Kiyoshi by his old rank. "You too!" said Pekoe and headed for the ship's deck.
Kiyoshi then went back to wait but he didn't have to any longer. A familiar person was gracefully walking toward him. Darjeeling has arrived.
He felt as if air was sucked out of his lungs. He just got stunned by her. She was wearing a strapless violet dress that perfectly accentuated her body, went down to her ankles and let a view on her shoulders. Her arms were clad in long, white gloves that went up to her elbows. There was a blue, rose shaped hairpin in her braided hair and a necklace in her neck with a purple gemstone on it. And finally, the silver colored heeled sandal she was wearing made her as tall as he was.
He wasn't ashamed to say that she looked dead beautiful. "Oh, wow." he thought and walked up to her.
Darjeeling's eyes lit up the moment she saw him. "Konbanwa Kiyoshi-san."
"Darjeeling-san. Nice to see you. And if I may say, you look lovely."
"Thank you Kiyoshi-san." said Darjeeling with a small tinge of red on her face. "You look nice as well. I have to admit that at first I didn't even recognize you. I've never seen you in such attire. It's very different."
"Different bad or different good?" Kiyoshi asked, tilting his head.
"Definitely different good. You're very elegant, I like it." Darjeeling replied.
"Then? Can we go?"
"Of course." said Darjeeling and took Kiyoshi's right arm that he offered.
"I think I'll need your guidance here." said the young man when they reached the top of the ramp and stepped on the carrier's deck.
"It's not far away. Just turn right at that corner and go along the boulevard." said Darjeeling.
They were strolling through the Ark Royal arm in arm toward the school building in the falling snow.
"You have one good looking ship." said Kiyoshi as he let his eyes roam the fancy, Victorian styled buildings on both sides.
"I'm glad you like it. Maybe you can understand now why I consider this place my second home."
"Absolutely. Oh, before I forget it! My mother sends you her regards."
"Tell her that I send my thanks." smiled Darjeeling.
"I'll not forget it."
"Well, here we are."
St. Gloriana's gymnasium was well lit, the double-leaf door was wide open and they heard classical music from inside. The two stepped in and saw shiny Christmas decorations, a tall Christmas tree in one of the corners, a dance floor in the far side of the gym and long tables full of delicious dishes like turkey, chestnut puree with whipped cream, cakes, fried potato, salads, champagne, etc.
"Come on Kiyoshi-san, let's dance!"
"Are you sure? I'm not the greatest dancer ever."
"No matter, I'm sure you're not THAT bad. Plus, I can give you a lesson if you want. Not to mention that it's better before you fill your stomach."
"Well your wish is my command."
Half a minute later Kiyoshi's left hand was in Darjeeling's right hand and his right hand on her bare backside. They slowly swayed on the parquet in time with the music of the string quartet.
After three pieces they stopped and went to dinner.
"Honestly? Contrary to your claim you dance pretty well Kiyoshi-san."
"If a St. Gloriana student says it, then it must be true." chuckled the boy who in mean time thought: "But why do I feel sick?"
At the table he didn't forget to be a gentleman and pull out her chair before he sat in his own.
Kiyoshi noticed that some of the student girls were glancing at him in secret. Their faces were neutral so he couldn't figure out what they were thinking.
"Don't worry they do not hate you." reassured him Darjeeling. "They are rather curious to see the former enemy here."
"I'm happy if you are right."
"So… I've never asked you what you want to do after high school." said Darjeeling.
"I want to be an oceanographer." replied Kiyoshi with a plate of beef ribs in front of him.
"O my, that's not nothing. And why do you want to be that?"
"As long as I can remember I've always been in love with the sea. I love its freedom, its mysteries, and the billions of creatures that live there. I was about twelve years old when I read the Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne and I instantly knew that I want to be a man of science and the ocean."
"That's a great life goal. I wish you luck."
"What about you Darjeeling-san?"
"I would like to be a zoologist."
"Wow. That's not bad either. Guess you love animals too."
"That's right Kiyoshi-san. But unlike you I prefer more the animals of the land."
"Interesting. Somehow I could never imagine you doing such a job. I thought you want to do something more… badass." said Kiyoshi.
"Really?" raised Darjeeling an eyebrow.
"Yes because… you're a strong person Darjeeling-san. But of course strong men and women can also do such jobs. I wish you luck too."
"You… think I'm strong?"
"Believe my Darjeeling-san, you are one of the strongest people I know."
"Ah, you overestimate me."
"Now you are the one who's humble, aren't you? You are strong Darjeeling-san. And also a good person."
"…"
"Let's change the topic, shall we?" smiled Kiyoshi. "Did something important ever happen in british history on 20th December?"
"Well, for example Richard I was captured and imprisoned in Dürnstein Castle by Duke Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England after the third crusade." said Darjeeling who was happy that she could talk about something else.
"He was the one who was released by Emperor Henry IV after he got 150.000 marks as ransom, right?"
"He was. What about german history?"
"Friedrich August I, was proclaimed king of Saxony on 20th December 1806."
They chatted on, then later they went back to dance again. Former foes now great friends were now dancing hand in hand, laughing, smiling and having fun together. But they just couldn't care about the past. It was after midnight when they got tired and left the dance floor.
"I don't know how you are Kiyoshi-san but it became very warm and oxygen-poor here. Don't you want to go out to the fresh air?" asked Darjeeling.
"I wanted to suggest the same. All these people really used up the air inside here." nodded Kiyoshi so they went out and stopped not far from the door.
It was quiet out there, only the music was audible in the background. In mean time the snow has stopped falling. The streets, houses and parks of the ship were covered with white.
"Aren't you cold?" asked Kiyoshi. It was indeed chilly outside; he could see his breath in the light of the street lamps.
"I'm alright." replied Darjeeling. "It actually feels kind of good."
It was silence between them for a while as they were standing next to each other.
"You said that you think I'm a good person. Do you know that I think the same about you?" asked Darjeeling, turning her head toward him.
"Now I do. And I'm happy to hear that."
"And do you know that I really adore your company?"
"Yes, Pekoe-san told me earlier."
"Ha? Did you two have a talk?"
"We only exchanged a couple of words. I asked her if you said anything else about me but she was a good friend and remained mum on that." said Kiyoshi.
"Then let me tell you know."
"I'm listening."
"I think you are a good man. A great friend, tanker and commander. I think you are someone who's ready to do anything for those who matter to him. You are brainy, polite, kind, warmhearted and you always know how to brighten someone's day. That's what I told Pekoe and Assam about you."
"W-Whoa. I… don't really know how to react now."
"A simple thank you is enough." said Darjeeling, turning toward him with her whole self.
"Thank you Darjeeling-san."
"No, I owe YOU a debt of gratitude. Thank you Kiyoshi-san for coming with me. I really appreciate it."
"It was my pleasure. I like to spend my time with you."
"Ah, wait a second, there's a snowflake in your hair." Darjeeling stepped to him and removed the flake with her hand.
The next second they froze down. They were standing there, barely centimeters from each other, staring into each other's eyes. Darjeeling felt her heart rapidly speeding up and a strange warmth spreading inside her.
She forget to think when she placed one of her gloved hands on his face, closed the distance between them and placed her soft lips on his.
Contrary to her expectations he didn't pull back but laced his fingers around the back of her neck and returned the kiss.
It was short but pleasant and when they separated they were both speechless.
"I… apologize if… I went too far." mumbled Darjeeling timidly, looking away.
"Your lipstick is cherry flavored." Kiyoshi simply said with burning cheeks.
Darjeeling looked back, smiling slightly but revealed. "Do you still think that I'm a good someone?"
"Sure thing." said her companion kindly.
Darjeeling smiled again. "Praise me more." she whispered before she shifted forward again and claimed his mouth for herself.