A person who has witnessed the death of a close person right in front of his eyes can never be the same again. The world around him collapses, and the emotional component goes into the stagnation mode. Glenn's mother tried to persuade him to stay in Germany, not even realizing what the boy's environment had become since the death of his father.
For him, Germany had become a terrifying, disgusting place, where light no longer shone and darkness grew thicker. Glenn asked his mother to move to Japan, her native country, to forget the past altogether. But forgetting the past, he was unable to.
On the day his father passed away, Glenn went outside the hospital, but instead of the usual daylight and the scent of warm spring, he saw only fire blazing across the land. The child's worldly foundations had been shattered.
He had created an illusion that he did not mind believing. The boy felt that there was nothing else for him to do since the brightest man in his world had disappeared and his light was shrouded in darkness.
'If father had not died,' he said to himself that day, with gloomy eyes that saw agony, 'in what circumstances would he have lived? Would he have lived longer, would he not have had a family, or would he have died much earlier from loneliness? He had fought hard for his cause, and he was hardly as interested in family as he was in his work and his assertiveness in doing good to people and giving them help.'
When he looked up, dark eyes that didn't refract light showed through his dark hair. It became his burden that made the boy unable to forget the agony he had endured. But he dared not forget his father's exploits. How many people he had saved with his own hands was a number the boy did not know, for it was great.
"In that case, I will continue your journey. All that you have preserved, I will also preserve."
***
In the days following his mother's arrival with Lilia in Tokyo, his mother called Glenn again for a talk when the boy had some free time to be at home. She talked about her motives for going back to Germany, but this time for the sake of getting a new job. Since they did not have enough money to provide her son with treatment at a decent Tokyo hospital, she decided on a rather dubious move, partially obeying her son. Everything depended on how long Glenn could hold out in this condition, because literally at any moment there could be a sharp deterioration in his health, which would be followed by further therapeutic measures.
Glenn agreed to her suggestion that she move in order to make more profit from her work instead of sitting around the house for no reason. Mother was a person who didn't want to stop for a second, and all sorts of hardships seemed from the outside to be of no concern to her. Glenn added that he could manage his illness without his mother leaving, if it took a few more months.
"But how much longer are you going to be away from school?"
"I've notified the teachers of my extended absence."
"And every time you don't listen to me, son, when it comes to things you care about. I won't forgive you if after your confident speeches you lie dead in a dark street corner somewhere."
"You don't have to worry about me, Mother."
"Don't even try. I will worry about you, but right now I want to hear your promise. I'll simply go crazy leaving you unsupervised. Son, if you have any friends or acquaintances who are willing to shelter you for a while, ask them for help. You have to stay under the care of reliable people and their parents."
The first thing that came to mind was his friends from the literary club, but he instantly dismissed the idea. After pondering her words a little, Glenn said:
"I know the head of a powerful clan himself. My guess is that I can get his help…"
"The head of the clan?!" the mother wondered. "How is it that you happen to know people like that?"
"I'm not sure if this man will like my request, but there's nothing to lose. I helped this man once before, and I'm sure my service, if you can call it that, he can't forget it until now."
"What did you do that he remains grateful to you even now?"
"...Saved his life."
Not knowing what Glenn was talking about, his mother trusted his intuition and left it up to him.
***
A couple of days before his mother and Lilia left, the boy, gathering his thoughts, drove to the territory of a powerful clan. The territory seemed enormous because of the external surroundings and Japanese traditional style houses left over from past centuries. The grounds were carefully monitored by their employees, and were allowed inside the courtyard by strict invitation. This place was on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by natural beauty and vegetation. This area was set apart from the dwellings, lending luxury to the architecture of the structures entering the courtyard. Through gradual updating, the heads of the family kept this place from dying out.
Glenn stood at the gates. Soon, after a short wait, both gates opened automatically in front of him, and, feeling calm after entering them, he stepped into the courtyard. Meanwhile, an early sunset was setting outside. As he walked down the path, he saw one maid dressed in a kimono, and she informed him that the head of the clan was waiting for him inside. Thanking her, he followed her and entered through a door into one of the rooms.
Walking down the empty corridor, he entered the chambers and seeing a mature man with a lean body and an attractive Asian appearance sitting on his knees in the middle of the room, Glenn bowed low. Asking the young man to sit down before him, the latter smiled not unreasonably. Glenn had noticed his kind eyes two years ago when he had first met him. And it was Akihito Hirota, the current head of the Hirota clan, who was fifty years old this year. The last time Glenn had met this man, he had met him at a banquet in the summer.
Though the clan held to old traditions, it was impossible to sidestep technological approaches to modern realities. For all that, the clan was equipped with cameras for the safety of the persons in the courtyard and buildings. Behind him stood guards dressed in tuxedo and two mature maids stood at the front door. At Akihito's orders, the guards and maids left the room, but at the same time, he told one maid to call for Mari.
Glenn sat down on his knees, waiting patiently for Akihito to speak.
"And now that I am your client requesting social assistance, we can have a heart-to-heart talk."
"I sincerely apologize, Akihito-sama, for wasting your time in addressing the questionnaire."
"Something seems to be troubling you," Akihito continued in his pleasant voice. "It is time you should explain your situation to me in more detail. What is the occasion for your appearance?"
"I thank you for your understanding. You devoting your precious time to some teenager — isn't that happiness for me?"
Chuckling, Akihito uttered: "Not at all, for you have done me an unparalleled service that I could not forget, even if I tried hard enough."
"So you still remember? How was your treatment?"
"I'm fine now. If it weren't for you, Glenn-kun, everything my ancestors built would have collapsed because of my transgression. I was so careless by touching that alcoholic stuff."
"I only gave you an admonition so you could move on."
"Still, it was encouraging to hear something like that from the mouth of a teenager than from an inveterate psychologist. By the way, Glenn-kun, according to the psychiatrists' check, my nervous system is no longer in danger."
"I'm glad you're better."
Akihito spoke to Glenn in a more than friendly manner, and one got the impression that the atmosphere between the two men had really been building for a long time.
"Now," Akihito declared, "tell me what happened."
"...In a couple of days, my mother will leave for Germany and become a permanent resident there, but she's not going to leave me here for two reasons: first, I am a schoolboy in my final year; second…"
"Second?"
"Whether you believe me or not, I shouldn't have to hide it from you. In short, I am terminally ill."
Akihito faltered, and said in bewilderment: "How come?"
"Just don't think my illness is contagious…!"
The young man's voice was interrupted by a girl dressed in a kimono. Quietly entering the chambers, she bowed her head and stood at the door. Glenn immediately lost confidence, realizing that this girl would be involved in his process, too, if she heard his explanation. Her dark ash blonde hair was neatly bundled up so as not to interfere with the girl's duties.
"Mari-chan…"
"Go on," Akihito insisted, and the boy could not remain silent.
"What I was talking about is transmitted through the genes, and the weaker the health of the host, the faster the development."
"What kind of disease is it exactly?"
"At least the doctors don't know exactly. Some may have given a vague answer, but I hope for the best."
"Strange… The doctors couldn't identify the type of disease — then how are you going to deal with it?"
"It will take a lot of time and money to cure serious illness — of that I am sure. My father once had similar symptoms as an adult, and the doctors couldn't identify the exact cause of his disease either."
"So your father died of the same disease… How could it be passed from father to son?"
Glenn could not answer the man's question. Mari stood concerned about the young man's condition, but dared not utter a word, believing that her duty was more important than her emotions.
"The bottom line is that you came to me about—"
"Mother must know that after my departure I shall remain under the care of my elders, to whom I can trust wholeheartedly. I know it's a lot to ask, but please let me stay with you for a while!"
Akihito hesitated. He didn't mind, but he was worried about what Glenn would do next. What would a young man do, knowing that he would be homeless in a major city as a nineteen-year-old.
"After you live with us for a while, will you go back to your home or will you go to your mother's after you graduate?"
"Of course I'll go live with my mother and take my treatment in another country. There's nothing keeping me here after school — especially since I have a little sister whose future I'm worried about."
"Nothing's holding you back, then? So you haven't found any reliable friends after all."
Glenn remained silent, feeling doubtful about his earlier words.
"I see," Akihito said softly, making Glenn's shoulders tremble. "I did the right thing in agreeing to submit the form. You surprised me, Glenn-kun, and even gave me the choice whether or not to refuse, putting your successes on the line. The top of your organization will not forgive you for failing, for they know my name is of great value."
"I deeply apologize for doing so."
"Now, there is nothing left for me but to do you my favor," Akihito said, and chuckled. "It's great, after all this time you've remained the same sensible teenager. I praise your persistence."
"Thank you for your words."
Akihito agreed to the boy's request, and Glenn, surprised, could barely comprehend the truth that he had been accepted to live at Hirota Manor. Acting on intuition, he rejoiced at what he had achieved, and assured Akihito that he would not harm the reputation of his clan in any way. Akihito, on the other hand, was happy to see the smile on the face of an old acquaintance.
"Your mother seems to be more serious than you are. She, I am sure, will not tolerate formal ostentation on my part when she visits the manor."
"Rest assured: she will only become proud when she sees your highness. Of course, she will not forgive me if I break my promise to her to reside with you."
Mother was to leave the country with Lilia in two days, on Monday. That way, from Monday the doors would be open to Glenn, and he would be free to move around the interior of Hirota Manor. When they discussed about the questionnaire signed by Akihito, the man insisted on the strict rules of the agreement and promised to give the full amount from successful completion. Akihito's questionnaire, however, was purposeless, with little reason for social aid.
"Mari-chan," Akihito called to the girl standing still at the door, "would you care to join us?"
"Ah-ah, I sincerely apologize, sir, but I am not at liberty to enter into your conversation! I am grateful to you for such a generous offer, but I am not worthy."
Mari looked regretful, as if in drawing attention to Akihito, she had done a thing comparable to a terrible transgression that could not be atoned for.
"Don't overdo it. You are within your rights to join in."
The girl promptly obeyed and quietly walked over to Akihito and stood behind him, as befitted a maid. A surprised Glenn thought that Mari had always obeyed Akihito's orders because of the family traditions that had long existed in both families. Mari Asahina never thought of deviating from her duty given by her ancestors. It was a true devotion to both man and tradition.
"As of Monday, you will also become Glenn-kun's personal servant," Akihito declared, "and you will do his bidding."
Glenn was at a loss for words, and glanced over at a delighted Mari, embarrassed. Mari, hiding her joy, modestly thanked her lord for his decision, adding that she would not forget such a kind act. Mari's delight and admiration for her master was bubbling from within.
"I don't suppose Glenn-kun would refuse?"
"No."
Soon Akihito let the lad go with his subject. Bowing their heads before exiting the chambers, they departed. In the corridor, Glenn turned to Mari, who was directly glowing with joy, and took in her sweet aura.
"Hello, Glenn-sama!" spoke Mari, whose sweet voice unobtrusively killed the boy's gloominess. In front of her the boy could forget himself, enveloped by her affection and the light she radiated. "How seldom we see each other that I even begin to miss you every time!"
Her every word could not go unheeded, for she spoke to him only in a high, joyful tone. In her style, she purposely lengthened her greeting to fully saturate herself with the pleasure of Glenn's nonchalant response.
Glenn responded with a warm greeting, and it was obvious from Mari's expression that she was looking forward to his next move.
"Totally forgot," Glenn caught up, and stroked her on the head. Mari blurted out in tenderness, and her face smoothed into a playful smile.
"I shall look forward to Monday to accompany you, Glenn-sama, and to introduce you to the manor, if the lord will permit!"
"I can't wait for that day, Mari-chan."
At eleven, Mari was, in the boy's opinion, a terrific child — she had more aspirations than Lilia, who looked very reserved in comparison. But Mari was age-appropriate in appearance, and Lilia was not, because of her height, which seemed high for girls her age. What bothered Glenn more: he found it hard to believe that Akihito's answer to his request was obvious from the beginning. He thought that if Akihito knew his answer from the beginning of the conversation, then Mari's summons to the chambers was deliberate.
"Glenn-sama," she woke the young man from his wandering contemplation, "you look tired. Wouldn't you rather spend the night here?"
"That's all right."
To Glenn, Mari was like a younger sister who loved her brother with all her soul, and did not hide her love, but rather showed it at every opportunity. Glenn couldn't hate her for that — he thought she was an incredibly intelligent and loyal girl with whom he could always find common ground. They talked like brother and sister who hadn't seen each other for a long time and had already missed each other, so their communication was intense, and they walked slowly around the grounds themselves.
As they stepped outside the territory of the Hirota clan and headed home, he realized that he really thought of Mari as his little sister.