Author's note: Thanks to ArionWong for encouraging me with his review. Lund
was the name Leni gave for the dog Ohgami saved in Sakura Wars 2 games.
Chapter 2
I lay in bed waiting for the Taichou and others for six hours, forty-six minutes since they promised to return here until I noticed Taichou enter the room, carrying a white dog and Orihime, Iris, Yoneda, Kaede and others were behind him.
"Hello, Taichou, Iris-kun, Orihime-kun, Maria-kun," I addressed them.
"Hello, Leni. I brought Lund for you to have extra company with," Taichou winked at me. I found his wink to be slightly amusing. I accepted his offer of Lund to me.
"You remember Lund?" Iris asked me.
"Yes," I replied, remembering Taichou saved the stray dog from being injured by reckless soldiers and brought him into our home. Taichou had given us the opportunity to name the dog. When it was my turn, I had suggested "Lund" which meant "dog" in German. Imagine my surprise when he selected the name I suggested instead of the others' names for the dog.
As I held Lund tenderly in my arms, he licked my right cheek. To return his affection, I petted his back.
"Thank you, Taichou, for bringing Lund here," I said.
"I wasn't sure if Lund meant a lot to you but I figured he might be able to cheer you up," came the Taichou's reply.
Lund did cheer me but not as much as your presence here did, Taichou. I thought. I am glad my friends are here, too. But most of all, I am even made gladder by your visit.
"I didn't expect everyone to come here." I commented.
"I would like to apologize for my and Kaede's not coming here today. Kaede and I were very busy defending the Imperial Floral Assault Group's efficiency in front of the City Council today, " Yoneda said.
"No apologies are necessary, manager. You had to do what you must to save the Team Hanagumi," I said.
"We, save Orihime and Leni, originally thought it is best to stay here practicing for a play but when Taichou joined Orihime and Iris, I felt that it'd be unfair if I do not join them," Maria explained.
I observed, "Obviously, others had the same thought."
"Besides, what is the point of practicing on stage without three performers present?" Sumire complained, indicating to me, Orihime and Iris. "Why else would I come here?"
"Watch your mouth. Leni is in bad condition," Kanna chastised.
"It is not our fault we can't practice a play together, Sumire-san. And it was not Leni-kun's fault, too," Orihime protested.
Ignoring the two women's words, Sumire added, "I mean no disrespect, Leni- kun."
"None taken." I didn't return her glance.
"I hope you get well, Leni. We need you on stage," Sakura said, smiling at me.
"Yes, I know although I never had a lead role," I pointed out.
"Until today," Kaede corrected.
Raising my eyebrows, I asked, "Excuse me, Assistant Commander?" I was rather puzzled by Assistant Commander's words.
"Well, the manager, Ohgami-san and I were discussing who would be chosen for the lead role. Ohgami suggested I have the lead role because he told us I am the only one who hasn't received a lead role, " she said.
"Taichou made a suggestion on my behalf?" I exasperated in disbelief. I stared at the Assistant Commander. She nodded silently. Then I switched my gaze at the Taichou.
Scratching his head with his hand, Taichou smiled. "If Sumire, Maria, Orihime, Iris, and others previously had the lead roles, why shouldn't you?"
"I am loathe to agree with Shou'I-san but he is right. You have acted so well. I even think you deserve a lead role."
"You also have my full support, Leni," Maria added.
Iris joined in, "What they said. Iris is with oniichan , Leni. Iris is cheering for you to play the lead role. Iris hopes you'll act better than Sumire-kun." I noticed Sumire's irritation when Iris had made the comment.
I was gratified by the support Iris, Orihime, Maria and especially the Taichou all lent me. Orihime and Iris were my closest friends. I served with Orihime in the Team Hoshigumi in Germany. I had risked my life to save Orihime while on a mission and in return she was willing to stick with me. Iris looked up to me as a friend because I was close to her age. Maria and I had very much in common. She and I were both reserved, aloof and tactically sound soldiers. What about the Taichou? He had nothing in common with me. And I do not share any of his interests. He was at least six years older than me. He wasn't exactly a tactical genius although his tactical and leadership skills proved themselves to be far more than mediocre. He was an exact opposite of me in many ways. So why was I very attracted to him?
"But Sumire..." I started to argue.
"I am content with their choice of a lead role," Sumire coldly interrupted. I overheard her muttering in a low voice, "Why do these amateurs have the lead roles?"
"Sumire and I came to an...understanding, Leni," Yoneda confirmed rather cryptically. I wondered what kind of an "understanding" they came to. But it was not the best time to ask.
"I see, manager." I turned to look at the Taichou's face. "Taichou. I will try my best."
"I'm sure you'll do," he replied with fresh enthusiasm I found appreciable.
"What is my play called?"
"Actually, Leni, it is called, 'Hansel and Gretel' "
"I take it I am to play Hansel," I guessed.
"Yes, that is correct," she affirmed.
"How do you feel about it, Leni," Yoneda chuckled.
"Taichou?" I glanced at him.
"Please take the role. It doesn't matter whether you play a male or a female," Ohgami pleaded with his puppy eyes staring innocently at me. I switched my attention again to Kaede and Yoneda.
After two minutes twenty-four seconds of silence, I said, "I accept the role."
To be continued
Chapter 2
I lay in bed waiting for the Taichou and others for six hours, forty-six minutes since they promised to return here until I noticed Taichou enter the room, carrying a white dog and Orihime, Iris, Yoneda, Kaede and others were behind him.
"Hello, Taichou, Iris-kun, Orihime-kun, Maria-kun," I addressed them.
"Hello, Leni. I brought Lund for you to have extra company with," Taichou winked at me. I found his wink to be slightly amusing. I accepted his offer of Lund to me.
"You remember Lund?" Iris asked me.
"Yes," I replied, remembering Taichou saved the stray dog from being injured by reckless soldiers and brought him into our home. Taichou had given us the opportunity to name the dog. When it was my turn, I had suggested "Lund" which meant "dog" in German. Imagine my surprise when he selected the name I suggested instead of the others' names for the dog.
As I held Lund tenderly in my arms, he licked my right cheek. To return his affection, I petted his back.
"Thank you, Taichou, for bringing Lund here," I said.
"I wasn't sure if Lund meant a lot to you but I figured he might be able to cheer you up," came the Taichou's reply.
Lund did cheer me but not as much as your presence here did, Taichou. I thought. I am glad my friends are here, too. But most of all, I am even made gladder by your visit.
"I didn't expect everyone to come here." I commented.
"I would like to apologize for my and Kaede's not coming here today. Kaede and I were very busy defending the Imperial Floral Assault Group's efficiency in front of the City Council today, " Yoneda said.
"No apologies are necessary, manager. You had to do what you must to save the Team Hanagumi," I said.
"We, save Orihime and Leni, originally thought it is best to stay here practicing for a play but when Taichou joined Orihime and Iris, I felt that it'd be unfair if I do not join them," Maria explained.
I observed, "Obviously, others had the same thought."
"Besides, what is the point of practicing on stage without three performers present?" Sumire complained, indicating to me, Orihime and Iris. "Why else would I come here?"
"Watch your mouth. Leni is in bad condition," Kanna chastised.
"It is not our fault we can't practice a play together, Sumire-san. And it was not Leni-kun's fault, too," Orihime protested.
Ignoring the two women's words, Sumire added, "I mean no disrespect, Leni- kun."
"None taken." I didn't return her glance.
"I hope you get well, Leni. We need you on stage," Sakura said, smiling at me.
"Yes, I know although I never had a lead role," I pointed out.
"Until today," Kaede corrected.
Raising my eyebrows, I asked, "Excuse me, Assistant Commander?" I was rather puzzled by Assistant Commander's words.
"Well, the manager, Ohgami-san and I were discussing who would be chosen for the lead role. Ohgami suggested I have the lead role because he told us I am the only one who hasn't received a lead role, " she said.
"Taichou made a suggestion on my behalf?" I exasperated in disbelief. I stared at the Assistant Commander. She nodded silently. Then I switched my gaze at the Taichou.
Scratching his head with his hand, Taichou smiled. "If Sumire, Maria, Orihime, Iris, and others previously had the lead roles, why shouldn't you?"
"I am loathe to agree with Shou'I-san but he is right. You have acted so well. I even think you deserve a lead role."
"You also have my full support, Leni," Maria added.
Iris joined in, "What they said. Iris is with oniichan , Leni. Iris is cheering for you to play the lead role. Iris hopes you'll act better than Sumire-kun." I noticed Sumire's irritation when Iris had made the comment.
I was gratified by the support Iris, Orihime, Maria and especially the Taichou all lent me. Orihime and Iris were my closest friends. I served with Orihime in the Team Hoshigumi in Germany. I had risked my life to save Orihime while on a mission and in return she was willing to stick with me. Iris looked up to me as a friend because I was close to her age. Maria and I had very much in common. She and I were both reserved, aloof and tactically sound soldiers. What about the Taichou? He had nothing in common with me. And I do not share any of his interests. He was at least six years older than me. He wasn't exactly a tactical genius although his tactical and leadership skills proved themselves to be far more than mediocre. He was an exact opposite of me in many ways. So why was I very attracted to him?
"But Sumire..." I started to argue.
"I am content with their choice of a lead role," Sumire coldly interrupted. I overheard her muttering in a low voice, "Why do these amateurs have the lead roles?"
"Sumire and I came to an...understanding, Leni," Yoneda confirmed rather cryptically. I wondered what kind of an "understanding" they came to. But it was not the best time to ask.
"I see, manager." I turned to look at the Taichou's face. "Taichou. I will try my best."
"I'm sure you'll do," he replied with fresh enthusiasm I found appreciable.
"What is my play called?"
"Actually, Leni, it is called, 'Hansel and Gretel' "
"I take it I am to play Hansel," I guessed.
"Yes, that is correct," she affirmed.
"How do you feel about it, Leni," Yoneda chuckled.
"Taichou?" I glanced at him.
"Please take the role. It doesn't matter whether you play a male or a female," Ohgami pleaded with his puppy eyes staring innocently at me. I switched my attention again to Kaede and Yoneda.
After two minutes twenty-four seconds of silence, I said, "I accept the role."
To be continued