Chapter 20 a date?

(Hélène POV)

Hélène was in heaven. She had a date. A date with Mr Hamon. It was the best day of her life. It was going to replace the day she'd met Mr Hamon on her list of the best days of her life. There was the day she'd met him for the first time, then the day he'd spoken to her, the day she'd been able to touch him, the day he'd complimented her on her good results, and now the day she'd had her first date with him.

Okay, he hadn't said it was a date, but a walk between a man and a woman destined to be together is a date, isn't it? Okay, she was only the second choice, but no matter, she was the one with Mr. Hamon at the moment.

Come to think of it, it was absurd how Elisa hadn't been able to seize the opportunity. Hélène had dreamt that Mr Hamon would ask her out for a walk and a chat. Elisa had missed out on the biggest chance of her life, having been chosen to be part of Mr Hamon's harem. She would have to help him understand that he belonged with Mr Hamon.

"So how are you, Hélène? Are you coping with being kidnapped?" inquired Mr. Hamon.

Oh, he was worried about her. What better proof of love and affection could she need? He was just perfect.

"I'm just fine. I'm glad it was you who was chosen as Master. I can't imagine how I'd have reacted if it had been a class member who'd been chosen." replied Hélène.

_"It's admirable. I don't know many people older than you who would have gone ballistic. It's hard to accept that we can't contact our families and loved ones. We're prisoners, or rather castaways on a desert island. To be able to keep your cool the way you do is truly admirable, Hélène," _says Mr Hamon.

Mr Hamon had just complimented her! But where was her phone so she could take note of the hours and minutes? Why didn't she have anything to write with? Where did Iris get her notepad from? No, calm down, Hélène, that wasn't the priority. The priority was to answer Mr Hamon.

"Thank you, but I'm not as remarkable as you suggest. You're much more admirable than I am. You have the power to do whatever you want with us, and you still take the time to pay attention to our needs and our condition", said Hélène.

This was what Hélène admired about Mr Hamon: he gave people time to realize their true place. His patience was infinite. And Hélène would make sure he didn't have to wait too long. The other girls would realize that their place was on their knees before him, worshipping him.

_"I'm sorry you have to endure this. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to put an end to this show. But I can promise you that I will do my best to make this show as bearable as possible for all of you. That's why I have to ask you, what do you want? What are your goals in life? I know this may seem like an abrupt question, and a difficult one to answer at your age. I'm still not sure of the answer myself. What I'm saying is that we're on a magic show, so even if the price we have to pay is high, our wildest dreams are within our grasp. Do you want to become a great mathematician, win the Fields Medal, live in good health until 120? All these things are undoubtedly possible, and these are just the goals that are humanly attainable. It is undoubtedly possible to go beyond what is normally conceivable. After all, dog girls and bunny girls aren't really normally possible," _says Mr Hamon.

Hélène wanted to reply that her dream had come true, but she realized it wasn't really the kind of answer Mr Hamon was hoping for. What did she want? She was already in Mr Hamon's harem, and that alone would have been a dream last week. What more did she want?

Mr Hamon must have realized that she couldn't come up with an answer, because he came to her rescue.

"I know it's difficult and the problem is complex, but try to remember what I talked to you about in class. If a problem is too complex, you have to break it down into smaller, more easily understood parts. What would you like to do professionally? Do you even want to work? Where do you want to live? Do you want to own property? I guess you'll have a better idea of what you want than I." says Mr Hamon.

Oh, how stupid she could be sometimes. How could she have forgotten Mr. Hamon's lessons? She deserved to be punished for this heinous crime. Would Mr. Hamon agree to spank her? Would he appreciate it? No, this was no time to indulge in such fantasies. First she had to give Mr. Hamon an answer. What did she want? A job where she would spend a lot of time with Mr. Hamon. Then where to live, with Mr Hamon of course. What did she want to own? Nothing, but she had no problem with Mr Hamon owning her, after all, he was already her Master. Well, now came the hard part: answering Mr Hamon without scaring him off or lying to him.

"I'm not sure what I want to do professionally. I'd like to work with the man I'd marry", said Hélène.

Hearing this, Mr Hamon's eyes flashed with sadness. What was going on? Didn't he like that answer? She could change if she had to.

_"I'm really sorry. I know it's an imposed choice and that I'm probably not the man of your dreams, but I'll do my best to satisfy you, to satisfy all of you. I know that the future won't be easy and that this show will probably give us a hard time, but I'll always try to look out for you," _said Mr Hamon.

Was he proposing to her? Hélène's brain snapped at the idea and she asked spontaneously.

"Is this a marriage proposal?

"No!" replied a surprised Mr Hamon.

"I'm sorry if you took it that way. It wasn't my intention. You're a little young to be getting married anyway. And we'd first have to go on a few dates together, get to know each other and become more intimate. After that, marriage is possible," says Mr Hamon.

Possible. He accepted the idea of marrying her. Oh, nothing to say, it was the happiest day of his life.

"Can we consider this our first date then?" asked Hélène in a voice trembling with excitement.

"Can't we? Well, I suppose so. It feels very much like one. Let's say it is a date. We'll have to have one anyway, since we're stuck in this show," said Mr Hamon.

"Great!" exclaimed Hélène.

_"Well, I'm glad you feel that way," _commented Mr Hamon, seeing her reaction.

"Uh, I mean thank you. It's my first date and my sister was convinced I'd never have one because I was so weird," explained Hélène.

"You're not weird. You're different and that's not a bad thing. It's often the people you least expect who surprise you the most in the end," said Mr Hamon with his usual wisdom.

_"Thank you," _replied Hélène, blushing at the compliment. She would do her best to live up to Mr. Hamon's expectations. So naturally, she asked this question.

_"And you, Mr Hamon, what are your dreams, your goals, your desires?" _she asked.

Mr Hamon looked embarrassed and replied, "Despite the fact that I'm asking you, I haven't yet found the answer myself. I've never had a real goal. I've spent a good part of my life letting myself be carried along by the wind, observing the world around me. I immersed myself in books and lived vicariously. The idea of being a successful protagonist was tempting. What a fool I am," says Mr Hamon.

"No. Mr Hamon you're not an idiot and if you are then everyone's an idiot. You're a dreamer and your dreams will come true. Your dream of being a protagonist adored by your harem has come true. Now what are the other dreams?" asked Hélène.

"I don't... No, you're right. We're in this situation because I dreamt it. And I have to take responsibility for it. I promise to make you happy and to become the man you deserve" said Mr Hamon.

"You haven't answered the question," remarked Hélène, surprised at herself for daring to make a remark to Mr Hamon.

_"I dream of world peace. I dream of solidarity between people and between peoples. I dream of continuing to search for answers to the great questions of the universe" _says Mr. Hamon.

"Okay, but what do you dream for yourself? Do you have any particular fantasies apart from having a harem?" asked Hélène.

Mr Hamon blushed, which in itself answered the question.

"I... How should I put it? I..." he didn't finish his sentence.

"Sorry to interrupt. Believe me, it bothers me as much if not more than you do, but I'm obliged to summon everyone," said Nezoko, who had just materialized in front of them.

"What do you mean, what's going on?" asked Mr Hamon, who looked worried.

"There's been a ****. And as much as it pains me to interrupt the first date of the season. I have ****. Whoever committed this infamous crime deserves to be punished. But guess what, our Master has just been given a makeover to decide on punishments. Believe me, I deeply regret that you are this transformation. If it were up to me, I'd make their lives a living hell," said Nezoko.

"Who died?" asked Mr Hamon.

_"Matamune. They murdered the producer's cat," _said Nezoko.

Wait, what? We were interrupting her date for a cat? Now she was definitely going to kill someone so he'd have a real reason to interrupt his date with Mr. Hamon.