My first love

By Leni Milchstraase

My name was Leni Milchstraase. I had been living in the Flower Troupe Opera Theatre building along with my teammates in the Imperial Capital. I was a German. I was still fourteen years and eight months and will turn fifteen on December 24th. I considered myself reserved and thought emotions are illogical. I always confided myself in my tactical computer-like mind and acute reflexes. I even believed that I could do what none of my teammates could. 

My Team Hanagumi captain's name was Ensign Ichirou Ohgami. But I always called him Taichou even in my thoughts. When I had met him, My first impression was I wasn't sure that he would make a good leader.

Why? Because he seemed rather naïve, cheerful, carefree, clumsy and optimistic, not to mention uninteresting. He had mispronounced my surname. I remembered him calling me 'Leni-kun', however I insisted he call me Leni. But as I began serving Taichou longer, I had a feeling he might make a great commander.

I had been very close with a younger girl named Iris Chateaubriand who was very infatuated with the Taichou. I could hardly understand her crush on him until I was able to spend a lot of my time knowing him.

Worse, the more I was acquainted with him, the more I was attracted to him. I haven't realized my own feelings until now when I risked my life to take the shot meant for the Taichou. I survived. My teammates and I had been dispatched to stop the group of demons called Wakijis under Setsuna's command from destroying Imperial Capital. Before we had vanquished the last Wakiji, it had aimed its blaster gun at the Taichou . My reflexes had seen the shot coming so I had done what I must do.

When I woke up lying in a bed in a hospital, I saw Iris, Sakura, Maria, Orihime and others being present and looking at me with their concerned or sad expressions. But I couldn't be happier to see the Taichou with my own eyes right beside me. He was the first person I opened my eyes on when I had regained consciousness. Then I looked at my body. My head was covered with bandages.  As were my arms.


"How are you feeling, Leni?" Taichou asked.

His question combined with his soft and worried tone made my heart pound hard.

"Yes, I'm fine, Taichou. Thank you," I replied.

Shedding her tears, Iris suddenly hugged me tightly.

"Please don't you dare die again!" Iris wailed. " Iris was worried for you, Leni."

"I am sorry to make you worried. But I did what was necessary. Besides do you want the Taichou to be hurt instead of me?" I admonished.

"Of course not, Leni. He's Iris' oniichan and boyfriend. Iris doesn't want to lose him. But you are Iris' best friend. Iris doesn't want to lose you either," the blonde cried.

"It is all right, Iris." I said, patting her head.

"What is my condition, Taichou? How did I get my injuries?" I asked.

"Well, the Wakiji's blaster packed a huge wallop," he began. "The direct hit on your Koubu was so severe it caused the circuitry to explode into a fire. You suffered second-degree and third-degree burns on your arms and first-degree burns on your chest and legs."

"The impact of the shot had made you unconscious. You had a serious concussion on your head," Maria added.

"I see," I replied casually.    

"But that's not all, Leni," Orihime said. "Shou'i-san was the first to crawl out of his Koubu. He worked hard to open the hatch and succeeded before we could lend him a hand."

"Taichou rescued me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Yes, Leni-kun. In spite of the fire, Mr. Ohgami went inside and dragged your body out of the cockpit," Sakura clarified.

"I see." I nodded at them. I switched my gaze at the man who had saved my life "Thank you, Taichou"

"No problem, Leni. I was willing to do the same thing for another person," he said.

Taichou's reply shot a pang of pain into my chest. I realized I was not special to him. He was always doing it. He always had to save lives. It was his job. That was what he had told me before.

"I see, Taichou. When will I fully recover and be released?"

"In about two days according to the doctors." Taichou answered.


"Why don't we let Leni-kun rest alone?" Sakura suggested.

"What do you say, Leni?" Maria asked.

"It is all right, Maria,"

"Can I stay with her? She needs some company," Orihime protested.

"Can Iris stay with Leni?" Iris requested.

"Please, Iris, Orihime, your company is not necessary," I argued. "It is okay to rest alone. Why don't you all take your time off?"

"Okay, Leni," she said "Can Iris come back here?"

"If you wish," I said.

"I'll be back here with some presents, Leni-kun," the Italian promised.

"Thank you, Orihime-kun,"

"Goodbye, Leni," Iris said.

"Goodbye, " Orihime repeated.

"Goodbye, Leni," the other women echoed.

"Take care, Leni. Get well soon. See you later," Taichou said.

His tender farewell made my heart beat rapidly again. Why do his words towards me always touch my heart whenever I hear them?

All of my female teammates started to leave this room. Taichou was the last to depart. But before he could be gone from my sight, I called him. He turned around and looked at me.

"Yes, Leni?" Taichou asked, staring at me while standing near the door.

"I was wondering if you'd...." I hesitated. I was very embarrassed to make such a bold request even to him.

"Go on, Leni," he encouraged after a two minutes of silence.

"Taichou, w-would y-you....uh…..you like, ah,  to stay here and keep me company, please?" I managed to say. I couldn't believe I stuttered in front of the Taichou.

"Right now?"

I was tempted to say 'yes' but I changed my mind. The last thing I wanted to do was my teammates suspecting my feelings for the Taichou. Not even Iris and Orihime were aware of my secret.

"No, Taichou. Will you visit me again, please?"

"Yes, I will come here maybe tonight," Taichou said.

"If you come here, can you please stay with me for awhile?" I asked.

"You've made me a request I couldn't refuse," he replied. I instinctively knew he was serious despite his choice of words.

"Thank you, sir,"

"Shou'i!" barked an irritated Sumire.

"Huh?" said a puzzled Taichou.

Kanna  stepped.

"While we were leaving, we had noticed you weren't with us, Taichou. So we checked you." Kanna explained.

"What are you saying to Leni-kun, Shou'i-san?" Orihime accused. Taichou started to explain but I interrupted.

"I called him," I excused for him.

"And?" Maria asked.

"I wanted to ask him how all of you are coping with my condition," I lied.

"Wait a minute." Taichou interrupted. I shot him with a stern look to make sure he got the meaning.

"Um.okay, I told her everything is okay," Taichou agreed.

"Are you satisfied with their explanation?" Maria asked every other member.

"Yes, Mr. Ohgami is very thoughtful," Kohran said.

"Even for a Japanese man," Orihime groaned.

"Then let's go," Maria said.

They all walked away together with a few waves for me, leaving me alone. Yet I shed no tears except one. For the Taichou.

I started to hate being without my Taichou.