A/N: I was so excited that I decided to write some more and update quickly! Also, here is the moment you are all waiting for! Coming up in the next chapter is more lowkey amusing drama!
The next afternoon, Henri was on his cell phone, trying to erase all the messages Mari had sent him. At the back of his mind, he had considered blocking her. But he was grateful that she only had his work cell phone number and not his personal one. Or else, she would make his life a personal hell.
There was a knock to his door and internally the young man gave a deep sigh. Turning the photo more towards him, he internally prayed that the person on the other side of the door was not Mari.
"Come in," Henri said, pinching the bridge of his nose; he just wanted to leave the office and be done with the day.
Instead of Mari, it was Ichigo. And his eyes shot up in surprise, but then his eyes widened in concern when he saw a solemn, determined look set in her eyes.
"Please close the door," Henri requested, "What do you need my help for?"
"Sensei, I don't want help. I want answers," Ichigo said after she sat down, "And I am sure you have them."
"Ichigo, what are you talking about?" Henri asked, puzzled.
"How come the only photo in this spacious office is of your grandfather and my grandmother?" Ichigo asked calmly.
To say he was surprised was an understatement. He was wondering how she was able to pick out the fact that those two, who bore uncanny resemblances to themselves, from the photo
"I was always told I looked like her. Maybe a little too oblivious like her," Ichigo continued on as if she didn't see his face morph into shock, "She was skilled, yes. But not too adept at picking up on emotional cues. Which was why I had to explain to her what was going on or else she might just go about her day."
"Why are you telling me this?" Henri asked.
Ichigo focused her large brown eyes on his blue ones and stated, "There was more to that picture, wasn't there? A story beyond it. They do say a picture is worth a thousand words. I bet you could write a whole novel on this."
Henri sighed and nodded, "I wonder how you were able to pick up on that. But yes, if you are curious, my grandfather loved her. It was just familial affection, really, at first. He viewed her as a pupil who he would make sure would shine one day. Eventually, they confided their secrets in each other. But then one thing led to another and he realized that he didn't see her as a friend. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Michiko."
"But she only saw him as a friend?" Ichigo asked.
"It's not confirmed about her feelings. I don't know what she felt, really. It could've been that, or it could've been her fear of social elites and the scrutiny that comes to being in such high standing. I will never really know unless there is some sort of writing from her. But Marie felt like it was all one-sided. I think he was willing to break the rules to have her hand in marriage. When you're in love you would take all the burns just to be with that person. And he didn't mind being criticized for his choice in life partner. But she got married to someone else. He developed depression, allowed society to control him again like a puppet and he married someone for social standing just to create an heir and preserve the name," Henri sighed, trailing a finger down the picture frame as he looked at the picture of the two.
There was a moment where the two didn't say anything. He watched her, as she looked at anything in the room but him. For a moment Henri thought he made her feel uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry," Ichigo said quietly, "She never told me."
"It's beyond your control, really," Henri sighed, leaning back in his seat, "My grandfather really just kept to himself."
"Just like you," Ichigo whispered.
"I'm sorry?" Henri asked, alarmed.
"Remember the time I helped Koshiro-senpai a cake for Kashino so she could confess her feelings for him? Or that time Hanabusa-kun and I went to the kitchen to go make candy roses and he happened to grab my hand? The irrational anger you displayed is one a teacher wouldn't get upset about. What teacher would have a problem with a student going to go practice a skill? Or making a pastry with a friend? They don't break rules, and in fact, senpai and I had to book that room in advance!" Ichigo exclaimed, careful to keep out the time she eavesdropped his fight with Mari, the time Miya snuck in his office, and the time the two sweets spirits snuck in as well.
Henri sighed, and snapped his laptop closed. Clearing his desk, he leaned forward and gestured for her to place her hands in his. Hesitantly, Ichigo complied, and he gripped her hands gently.
"How do I state this? I am scared," Henri said simply.
"Of what? Why?" Ichigo asked.
"I am afraid of falling in love with someone who wouldn't see me the same way I see them. Much less a considerable age difference. Of course, I would be willing to be fight for the feelings I harbor as I won't just simply give up in life. But, I am afraid of dealing with the same pain that my grandfather had to deal with; he had to watch the love of his life from afar start her own family, with someone who wasn't him. And he had to start his own family with someone he has no feelings for. That's not a life I want to live," Henri confessed.
"Are you in love?" Ichigo asked.
He nodded.
"Do you really love this person?" Ichigo pressed.
"Yes. Yes, I do," Henri replied.
"Then tell this person. Tell them before it is too late. Don't let the person slip out of your fingers. Try to reason with them, to see if anything can work out. Don't be like him. Actually, step forward and voice it. I don't think your grandfather did that," Ichigo stated, "If he did, he could have started a relationship with my grandmother. Or some closure to the very least."
He sighed and shook his head, "Don't you understand?"
"What do I not understand, sensei?" Ichigo asked, offended.
"It's you," Henri relented, "It was always you."
"That can't be right," Ichigo said, attempting to tug her hands from his.
But he wouldn't let go, and if anything, he just held on tighter. "You laid out all the evidence in front of me, almost like a forensic scientist trying to solve a crime. You just didn't put them together. Why can't you see it? I thought it would be clear as day that I am in love with you!" Henri snapped.
"It's not so much so as not knowing, but accepting the truth," Ichigo sighed, feeling as if the world was spinning on her.
"What? So now you want to run away. You don't want to face this, face us. You would rather turn your back on the possibility of what we can be. You would rather marry some ordinary person and live with that person because you don't want to accept the truth?" Henri asked, incredulous.
"It's not that!" Ichigo shouted, but then softened it, "It isn't. What would they say, what would happen if someone finds out while I am at the Academy? What if your family doesn't accept me?"
"I don't care what they think. I don't care what the whole world has to say. I only care about you, about us. I do understand that you do not want to be expelled as much as I do not want to get into an unnecessary scandal. We can keep it private until you graduate and wish to work professionally. Then we can be together, date as couples do for a couple years before being engaged and marrying," Henri explained.
Cupping her face in his two hands, he rested his forehead against hers.
"Just promise me you'll be mine."
Ichigo looked at his beautiful cerulean blue eyes that had captivated her at the sweets festival. Nodding her head, she said, "Yes. I promise."
And with that promise he kissed her forehead.
Later that day, Miya was scrutinizing her hand. More specifically what was on her finger, around it. Rotating her hand around like her limb was a chicken cooking in a rotisserie.
"Are you done?" Ichigo asked, bored.
"I thought wedding rings would be on you left hand not your right hand," Miya muttered in concentration.
Ichigo sighed and tore her hand out of her friend's grasp, stating, "It is not a wedding ring, Miya, nor is it an engagement ring?"
"Then what else can it be? A fashion ring for fun?" Miya snorted, "I know you aren't one for jewelry, vintage ones at that."
"It's a promise ring," Ichigo sighed, "And a special one too."
-Flashback-
"Just promise me you'll be mine," Henri whispered, never taking his eyes off of hers.
Ichigo took a long look into his eyes before slowly nodding and replying, "Yes. I promise."
After giving her a kiss on the forehead, he let go of her. Ichigo was about to awkwardly make a beeline for the exit door until he lifted his hand like a 'stop' sign, indicating to her to not leave while he searched for something.
Opening a drawer, he pulled out a box. And for a moment, Ichigo thought he was going to propose.
"Not an engagement ring," Henri explained, as he lifted the lid to reveal a beautiful gold vintage ring with a small diamond, "Yet."
"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo asked, as he placed the ring on her right ring finger.
"When you graduate, I will propose to you and place this ring on your left ring finger," Henri said, "This ring was the very same ring my grandfather bought. He planned to propose to Michiko but never got the chance to do so."
"…so he didn't return it?" Ichigo asked awkwardly.
"I guess not. It held some sort of sentimental value to him. He felt like the simplicity, strength, and beauty of this ring represented your grandmother. And also, it represents you," Henri explained, tucking a lock of hair behind Ichigo's ear.
"Well now my friend is engaged," Miya said dramatically, "And…and I will be all alone!"
"It is JUST a promise ring, Miya," Ichigo laughed, "Also don't be too loud. If Vanilla and Marron hear, they will use my secret as gossip."
"I will put duct tape on their mouths if they dare try to gossip about it!" Miya proclaimed.
Ichigo laughed but was content with Miya's approval. Sitting down on her bed, wistfully looking at her promise ring, Ichigo asked, "So how are you and Kashino?"
"Well we spent time talking to each other, whether it be during lunch, or after school or maybe before going to class because the two of us are early birds," Miya explained, "And he apologized again for the criticizing all the ice cream flavors. He said they wasn't anything wrong with them, he was just nervous about having a date. But he acknowledged that it shouldn't be justifiable so he asked if we wanted to go on a second date."
"Oh, that's why you didn't join me and Rumi for lunch sometimes," Ichigo said slowly.
"Yeah, it was really sweet of him though. He would tell the other two boys that he wants to spend the lunch with me and we would eat together at a small table away from the others," Miya smiled, "It was a really good way to bond with him."
Ichigo smiled and was glad that Kashino truly felt bad about how he handled the first date and was really genuine about fixing things and getting to know Miya as a person. While she thought he would try to talk to her, she never knew he would take his time, and cut time out of her day to talk to her only. It was really sweet and even though she knew she butt heads with Kashino so many times in their rivalry, Ichigo knew Kashino was a kind person and that he would be a good friend for her and a perfect boyfriend for Miya.
"That's great! Do you know when your next date will be and where?" Ichigo asked excitedly.
Miya nodded and replied, "It will be on Saturday at the local movie theater. He reserved the back-row seats which give you the best view of the screen. And he said that this theater is almost like a restaurant where the seats are recliner seats and that there is a huge table between every two chairs so you can order food and drinks and a waiter or waitress will bring you your food. He said he will order lots of food because this is kind of a restaurant and movie in one, y'know?" (Like Alamo Drafthouse)
"That sounds nice! I am so happy for you two!" Ichigo smiled.
Then, Miya's phone beeped. The young girl checked her cell phone and groaned.
"What? What happened?" Ichigo asked.
"My annoying bratty cousin is transferring from the American branch of the academy to here," Miya sighed.
"Is there something wrong with him?" Ichigo asked.
Miya nodded and explained, "He is a huge flirt. He will hit on ladies left and right, but if he likes a person a lot, then he will constantly bug her just to make her his girlfriend. It's annoying. You might accuse me that I did the same, but at least I didn't touch him and swing him around and kiss him without permission."
"Oh my," Ichigo said, "When will he transfer over?"
"Tomorrow. He is already in Japan. Better watch out. He will definitely hit on you and he might favor you over others. Try your best to give him all the signs that you aren't interested and I will also try to keep him away from you if he gets all touchy. We do not want a jealous teacher," Miya added.
"I think if he hits on me that will make him jealous. Let's try to minimize it though," Ichigo added.
TBC