Henry Henderson

"Elegance is at the root of tradition. Elegance is what will bring about a better world."

- Henry Henderson in Chapter 4

Henry Henderson (ヘンリー・ヘンダーソン) is a history teacher and the housemaster of Dormitory 3, Cecile Hall at Eden Academy.

Appearance
Henry has long, straight, white hair pulled into a tight ponytail ending just below his shoulders. His hairline is beginning to recede. He has a lengthy, straight, white beard cut in the Imperial style, with no hair on the chin but along the mustache and beard area without connecting to the head hair styled into two long points reaching his collarbone.

Taking into consideration his age, he has noticeable creases and wrinkles on his face, accompanied by small, thin eyes with thin eyebrows right above them. Usually, he is seen wearing a monocle on his left eye. He usually has a stern expression, although significantly elegant things make him lose composure.

He is normally seen wearing a three-piece suit consisting of a dark jacket with long coattails and striped pants. He accessorizes with a pocket square, tricolor striped tie, and cane.

Personality
Henry is a mature and noble person who places high importance on "elegance." To him, elegance seems to be the way a person conducts themselves and is not afraid to correct inelegant behavior in others. This can be seen in his interview with the Forger family: he was calm and composed even after Loid smashed the table he was sitting at. When teaching, he observes and assesses the "elegance" of the students, although he understands that the children occasionally need to frolic.

Background
Not much is known about Henry's upbringing, but it can be assumed he has a high social background of some sort. Henry tells Anya that he struggled to make friends during his youth, which led to his unsatisfying schooling. As a teacher at Eden Academy, Henry rose to such a high enough position that he was in charge of the school's entrance exam.

Admissions Interview Arc
The screening for Eden Academy's interview had started. Henry joins the other teachers, expressing his disappointment at this year's applicants and stressing the importance of elegance. He takes notice of Loid and his family and sees them saluting the statue of the school's founder. Henry cannot believe the elegance he sees and asks who the family is. He then learns that Anya Forger barely passed with 31 points, which he finds quite inelegant. Henry decides to let them pass and observes them when Loid steps into the gutter water to save a boy, dirtying his and Anya's clothes. Henry gets disappointed, not wanting dirty commoners to enter the school, but is shocked to see that the Forgers were expecting something like this and had prepared a change of clothes. Henry is even more surprised when Loid spares the boy's feelings as an excuse to change. While the faculty remind him that they are evaluating the students, Henry believes children imitate their parents and thus wants to see if Loid is also worth 30 points.

Henry orders the animals from the school farm to be released, stirring the applicants into a panic. Seeing the chaos, he demands whose crazy idea this was, and the teachers remind him it was his. Quickly realizing his mistake, henry orders the teachers to stop the mess, as there are VIPs among the applicants. He witnesses Loid saving a child from the stampede, Yor stopping the leading cow, and Anya calming it. Henry cannot believe such elegance exists and rushes outside to meet with the Forgers. He thanks Loid and informs him that the interview will be delayed after the mess. He says the Forgers are worthy of entering the school and asks them to tidy themselves, but Loid says there is no need for that as they expected this and prepared other spare clothes. Henry is shocked, wondering if this truly is elegance or something more terrifying.

The Forgers come face-to-face with Henry and the other interviewers. During the family interview, Henry is surprised that Loid calls Anya "wise." He asks Anya the name of the school headmaster and how hard one must work to succeed like him. Anya cites the training montage from her favorite spy cartoon as her response, and Henry is shocked by her resolve. He then wonders if he has underestimated the girl. After Murdoch Swan callously mocks the family, Loid smashes the table and ends the interview. Before leaving, Loid expresses his disappointment in the teachers for belittling the feelings of children. While Murdoch shouts at the family, Henry reprimands him for his methods, causing Murdoch to threaten Henry with his father's influence. Recalling Loid's compliments of the teaching staff's quality, Henry approaches Murdoch and punches him in the face, restoring his pride as an Eden Academy educator.

On the admissions announcement day, the Forgers learn that Anya was not accepted. Before they can leave, Henry approaches them and informs them that Anya is on top of the waiting list. Henry tells Loid that several accepted students withdraw each year, so the family must prepare themselves. However, Henry explains he may no longer be part of the school when Anya is accepted, as he may get fired for what he did to Murdoch.

Eden Beginnings Arc
When the students are sorted into their respective classes, Henry gets put in charge of the 28 elementary school students in Cecile Hall, containing Anya, Damian, Ewen, Emile, and Becky. Rather than being fired, Loid observes that he got demoted to teaching first graders. Mr. Swan is visibly irritated by this, but Henry has rediscovered his love of teaching and intends to do a good job.

Later, Henry shows the new students around the school and explains the merit system, and very quickly has to threaten Damian and Anya with getting a Tonitrus on their first day for arguing loudly. Continuing their tour, Henry turns a corner, then must rush back after Anya punches Damian and attempts to lie about it. Anya manages to explain in such a way that makes it look like she was standing up for Becky, which makes Henry believe she is at least somewhat elegant. Despite that, he still calls in Anya's parents to discuss the situation, and Anya earns her first Tonitrus, though it would have been three had Henry not reduced it.

Stella Star Arc
After P.E. teacher Coach Bobby gets sick, Henry referees in his place during Cecile Hall and Wald Hall's interclass dodgeball match. Before commencing the game, he reminds the students to behave and play elegantly. At the end of the game, Bill Watkins and the Wald Hall students celebrate their victory, believing Bill would earn a Stella Star for being the game MVP. To their surprise, Henry informs them that they do not give out Stella Stars for a simple P.E. game but will consider giving Bill a Tonitrus Bolt after hearing him yell "Die!" at Anya. Henry believes that Anya, Becky, Damian, and his friends are worthy of earning a Stella Star after seeing them put their differences aside to face hardship. But after seeing said children bickering, he quickly changes his mind.

After Anya saves a drowning boy's life, she earns her first Stella Star, and Henry congratulates her for the exceptionally elegant feat.

Midterm Exams Arc
After the art teacher is out sick, Henry teaches Cecile Hall's art class in their place. He assigns the students an arts and crafts project with the theme of "animals." However, materials are distributed per table, meaning each table has to manage resources together. Henry announces the tables with Damian and Anya at the same table, to Damian's dismay. After telling the students to begin, Henry walks around the class, thinking about what he expects to see from the students. He takes note of what Becky is making and asks her what it is. Becky shows off her paper model of Loid, shocking Henry, and he tells her to start over because the theme is "animals." However, Becky stands firm with her work and tells Henry that humans are animals. Henry realizes she is right and tells her to continue as he walks away.

Henry sees Anya and Damian working together on a project, which he finds interesting. When Damian starts yelling at Anya and his tablemates, Henry is quick to reprimand him for his inelegant behavior. Damian starts to tear up a little, so Henry tells him to do the best he can with what is within his power. At the end of class, Henry instructs the students to put up their completed projects in the hallway for display. Later, Henry informs Damian that his art project won first prize, explaining how the contingent from the board of trustees were moved by it. Looking at Damian's art project himself, Henry wonders if the times have changed that much.

Henry announces to the students that their midterm exams will be in two weeks. He adds that the top 2 students in each subject will receive a Stella Star, while students who fail an exam will receive a Tonitrus Bolt for each failed exam. He then proceeds to begin returning their history quizzes from the day prior and is disappointed to show Anya her 31% mark, telling her to stay after classes for remedial lessons. During the remedial lessons, Henry notices Anya chuckling to herself and gives her extra homework. Two weeks later, Henry oversees the midterms at the exam hall, and tells the students to begin.

Campbelldon Tennis Arc
Henry instructs the students to investigate an occupation that interests them for their upcoming social studies project. He suggests various methods, such as interviewing their parents about their jobs, making inquiries at a local business, getting their parents to arrange an interview with a prominent figure in their field, or even asking himself about educators. He adds that they will each prepare a report about their chosen profession and present it to the class on Friday.

On the day of the presentations, Anya talks about Loid's occupation as a psychiatrist. While initially presenting Loid's regular activities as a psychiatrist, Anya mentions Loid's determination to make connections, play golf at his job, and use a secret escape route. Anya even says that Loid sometimes punches and kicks his patients, shocking Henry, and Loid gets summoned to the school to answer these claims.

Imperial Scholars Mixer Arc
After Damian misses morning muster after oversleeping, Henry punishes him by tasking him with helping the dorm mother with chores and forbids him from leaving school grounds until he finishes. Henry later sees Ewen and Emile purposefully loitering around the halls in an unkempt manner. He reluctantly decides to punish them, which the boys accept with excitement.Henry then watches the three friends playing from the door and thinks that there is nothing more elegant than the precious elegance of youthful friendship. Later, Mr. Green and Henry notice Damian gazing off into the sky. Henry decides to give the boys a new punishment for messing around during their chores: going on a research field trip with Mr. Green.

After Green and the boys return from the trip, Henry receives the boys' reports from Green. He thanks Green and asks if he was able to “let the boys loose,” which he confirms. While Henry reviews the reports, he says Damian's needs some work, noting how brief it is.

Anya eats one of the legendary "Pastries of Knowledge," she takes her quiz with unparalleled vigor. However, Henry presents the girl her poor quiz results, leaving Anya and the other students dumbfounded.

WISE Arc
In Cecile Hall's classroom, Henry berates the student for their inelegance over the recent increase in tardiness and late homework assignments. He reminds them that even minor infractions can add up to a Tonitrus Bolt, eyeing Anya in particular. When Donna Schlag returns to Eden Academy, Henry arrives to greet her. He asks if she might be going overboard with her punishments, causing Donna to say he has gone soft from teaching the first-year students and decides to pay them a visit.

Friendship Schemes Arc
At the end of the school day, Henry walks back to his office carrying school supplies. On his way there, he sees Anya, who is waiting by herself at the bus stop, and asks her to help him with the supplies. While Anya is initially hesitant, she agrees when he offers some tea cakes afterward. As they walk, Henry asks Anya if she is having fun at school, and she says it is okay but quickly asks if she will get a Tonitrus for not having fun. Henry assures her that she will not, admitting that he himself did not have fun schooling during his youth, and says Anya can rely on him if she has any problems.

Anya appears to be in high spirits, surprising Henry, knowing she just received her second Tonitrus Bolt. He becomes a little embarrassed for having bothered to ask, but Anya says she is upset after getting her Tonitruses, which relieves him. Because her last Tonitrus was for not having a handkerchief, Anya says she brings lots of them with her now. Henry tries to explain the importance of preparedness and personal grooming, citing them as building blocks for elegance and how Donna's harshness is her way of keeping students in line. Anya does not understand him, which initially shocks him, then attributes it to her youth. Before he can try explaining it to Anya in simpler terms, Anya claims to understand what he was saying by spitting out a nonsensical response, which shocks Henry even more.

Henry instructs Anya to remain disciplined at all times, and Anya asks if she will get a Stella for this. Henderson understands that Anya wants to be an Imperial Scholar and asks for her reason. When Anya responds that she thinks the Stellas look cool, Henderson sees this as shallow and is aghast. He reminds Anya that she said she wanted to be like the headmaster in their interview, but Anya dismisses this and wants the Stars as soon as possible. Anya's words upset Henry, and he takes her to a hall displaying alumni from Eden Academy who were all Imperial Scholars, telling her not to disrespect the Imperial Scholars and Stella since those students worked hard to earn the title. Anya asks Henry if he thinks she can become an Imperial Scholar. He says that he cannot respond to that, as every student must decide that for themselves, and there is no need to rush. He tells Anya not to be discouraged by her Tonitrus Bolts and to have faith in herself, as does he in the strength of her elegance.

They arrive at Henry's office, where he gives Anya the tea cakes as he promised. They talk about the cakes, and Anya says she likes that they are sweet, and Henry is shocked by her shallowness. He asks Anya if she would like to review some problems she got wrong on a quiz, but Anya leaves once she finishes eating. After this, Henderson thinks to himself that education is never easy.

Red Circus Arc
At Eden Academy, the teachers learn about the hijacking of two of their buses that were out on a trip to the museum. Henry asks if they alerted the police, which one of the teachers confirms. Henry says he will inform the principal about the situation and ask the teachers to prevent this news from reaching the other students or the media.

Housemaster

 * Organization: As housemaster, Henry supervises both the boarders and the caretakers for the house. He is in charge of ensuring the boarders are completing chores and going to classes, as well as directing the other staff such as the gardeners and cleaners.
 * Discipline: One of Henry's tasks is to maintain authority over the boarders and may take disciplinary action in the case of misconduct.
 * Teaching: Henry fills in for absent teachers, such as the gym teacher and art teacher.

Miscellaneous

 * Athleticism: Henry is remarkably fit for his age, as evidenced by his daily regimen of taking a jog and the impact force he generated when he punched Murdoch Swan following the Forger family's interview at Eden. It is also noted that he is good at horse riding.

Loid Forger
Henderson has a deep respect for Loid, having personally acknowledged Loid's "elegance" and being deeply impressed by Loid's ideals. Loid's actions at the interview caused Henderson to completely rethink how he approaches being an educator.

Chapter Appearances

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Anime Appearances

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Trivia

 * In each chapter that features a class taught by a teacher other than Henry, they end up calling in sick that day and Henry fills in for them. This first happens in Chapter 15 when the gym teacher is sick, and then again in Chapter 25 when the art teacher is sick.
 * His preferred snack during tea time is scones.