Part 645: Cherche A

Cherche? Do you mind if I pet Minerva a little bit?

Of course not. I was wondering if you were going to come by today.

I know I'm here a lot, but I always feel safe and happy when I'm with Minerva.

...So now that you're here, Henry, I hope you'll let me ask you something. You're always smiling and laughing and acting as if you hadn't a care in the world. Yet, you never seem to make friends with people or allow them to get close. ...Even me.

What? You think so? Nya ha ha! I'm not like that at all!

There you go with that laugh again. It just sounds so hollow... I wonder if it's even possible for someone to be your true friend?

Sheesh, Cherche. It's not like that! We're already friends!

Anyway, I'm glad we had that chat, but are we going on patrol today? I want to fly on Minerva's back again!

...No. Not today. I think it's best if you don't see her for a while.

Wha??!

I'm very happy that you like Minerva and you two get along so well. But I think you need to spend more time with human friends?namely, me. So I'm going to carry out my patrol on foot, and you're coming with me.

Huh. Well, all right. If that's what you want, it's fine by me!

Good. Let's go, shall we?

Forwaaaaaard, march!