angemedia

Minor note: I probably should mention that when the interviewer asks her subjects various questions about "a lady" or "the lady/ies", parenthetical notes make it clear that she's really referring to their opinions of the heroine. I've been translating these instances as generic terms for convenience's sake, but Marcel's a bit more pointed in how he's talking about one person.

- Pleased to meet you, Marcel! I'm looking forward to the interview!

Pleased to meet you. How are you doing! Ha, ha; I'm sort of a little nervous, about the interview.

- How would you like me to address you, Marcel?

Oh, please don't be formal; "Marcel" is fine! Is it all right if I call you by your first name, too?

- Sure! Now, first question: What's the country you call home like?

I live in Sydney, Australia. I go to a high school in urban Sydney, so I live all alone.

- You live by yourself?

Well, I say I live alone, but I have several people who are kind enough to live with me and look after me. It's sort of fun, I guess!

- (Just like a celeb...!) I understand your parents own a global agricultural corporation...?

Yes, it seems to be on a pretty wide scale. They do business in the state of New South Wales, where Sydney is. In addition to the family farm, they own several other farms and ranches. We're active in several fields, from production to processing to distribution. It tastes better when you grow your own produce and raise your own livestock, you know?

- Tell us about your family.

In addition to my parents, I have three older sisters. They're all married, so I'm a brother-in-law. Everyone in the family's involved in the farming business, so we all get along really well! ......That's kind of unexpected, I guess. Maybe it's because we all get along so well that we all try to do our best for the business. I get the feeling that because our ranch all of a sudden got so much bigger than it was when my great-grandfather founded it, we all try to do work our hardest. Even I try to do what little I can.

- So your family all works together? Do you have a lot of employees?

Yes, we do! And the people who've been working for us on our farm for a long time are like family, and we get along really well with them. Our home is always so busy, since there're so many people around.

- I see. I somehow feel relaxed being with you, Marcel. It's like you're my little brother...

Ha, ha, I hear that a lot! I'm the youngest of my family, and nearly everyone on the farm is older than me, so I'm treated like a little brother wherever I go. There're times when I enjoy being doted on, too, I guess. I tend to take everyone at face value right away, so they worry that I'm too gullible! There's a lot I've got to think about, since I can't be coddled and babied by my family forever.

- That sounds just like you, Marcel... Well, tell us about your daily schedule.

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is go out to the garden. I build feeders, and I've put a lot of them out there, so lots of little birds and small animals come to see me. After that, I check my garden plot and greenhouse. Then I go to school. My school is pretty open and free, I guess. Studying can be tough at times, tough. After I get out, I do my best to participate in some extracurricular volunteer work. I'm active in the Society, too, so that's part of it, I guess. I'm happy I'm able to make so many friends!

- Is there any one thing, for example, on which you'd say you just won't compromise?

Ummm...my vegetarianism, I guess. I eat stuff like dairy, honey, and eggs, but I don't eat meat. I've been like that for a long time. My family hasn't stopped eating animal meat, but they understand my choices. There're times when we can't eat the same thing, and then I think, "oh, that's too bad!". But it can't be helped. We can eat sweet stuff together, and I enjoy thingslike our tea times.

- Tell us about your fashion hangups.

My older sisters picked out clothing for me for a long time, so as a result, I have a lot of clothing like that, I guess. I choose my own clothing now, but, naturally, I go for stuff that's comfortable to move around in first. My family and friends say that my clothes suit me, but do you think so?

- Of course! I think they really suit you. Now, if you were on a date with a lady, where would you take her?

To see the nature of Australia! There are so many sights you can only see here. I've been here and there around the world, but I naturally like Australia the best. It's so wide and grand, and yet in some ways it's so delicate... There's so much joy to be found here.

- If you had to give a present to a lady, what sort of thing would you give?

I'd give her flowers I grew myself! I think cut flowers are pretty, but I'd want to give her flowers that were growing in a pot. Flowers look so much more cheerful when they're still in the earth, and you can enjoy them for so much longer. I'd like her to enjoy the fruits of the season, too. Everyone says the fruit I grow is so delicious!

- Who's your ideal woman, Marcel?

A sweet woman who loves animals! Being with someone who has a kind heart will make me happy, I think.

- I'm sorry to say that we've reached our last question. Do you have a message for the ladies?

When I joined the Society and heard about the Angel of Hope, I was surprised! But - but I want to do my best for you. But you really are as pretty as an angel, and so cute, too! I really do believe in you! You make the world shine so bright. Hey, why don't we do our best together? With the two of us, so many wonderful things are bound to happen! I really am looking forward with all my heart to finally meeting you! So please come and see me soon!

I usually don't include the little after-interview swoony bits from the reporter, but I feel compelled to mention that she states being with Marcel is "refreshing, like being in a deionizer."