"It looks like we'll have to dodge one round and use that chance to get up close. Yukari-san?"

Akiyama Yukari felt her face heat up as she turned to her commander. She tried to tell herself that it was from the exertion of loading the shells, or the heat of the Panzer's interior. It certainly had nothing to do with hearing Miho call her by her first name.

"Is it possible to further reduce the loading times?"

Oh, right. As much as she would like to talk with her Nishizumi-dono, now probably wasn't the time. She tightened her grip on the shell in her hands-Panzergranate 39, her brain helpfully supplied-and met her commander's determined gaze.

"Of course! Just leave it to me!"

Yukari's heart warmed as Miho gave her a small smile, before turning to give orders to the rest of Team Anglerfish. The dark brown-haired girl's eyes remained on her first and best friend for a few seconds, before she turned to her work. She checked over the shells and mechanisms with skill gained from practice and field experience, making absolutely sure that nothing would go wrong. To mess up now would be to fail her friends, her school, and most importantly, her Nishizumi-dono. And to fail Miho would be the worst thing Yukari could imagine. She turned her head slightly as she heard Hana's voice.

"This one shot...this is the shot we have all put our feelings into."

Yukari looked down at the shell in her hands. The shot they put their feelings into, huh? Thinking about everything her commander had done for her, inspiring her and becoming her friend, she felt like that one 75mm round could pierce any armour that stood in it's way. She readied herself as Miho climbed up to look out of the top hatch. Like a coiled spring, she was prepared to act at a moment's notice. Her anticipation skyrocketed as Miho's voice came over the radio.

"Advance!"

The Panzer IV Ausf H rolled forward, damaged armor skirt clattering against it's hull as it moved to flank the opposing Tiger. The Black Forest flag tank turned, following the lighter medium tank with both it's turret and front armor, but the Ausf H made a sharp turn straight for it's target.

"Fire!"

The KwK 40 thundered, the shell pinging off the Tiger's armor. Yukari leapt into action, not hesitating even as one of their turret skirts was ripped off by an 88mm round. As the Panzer IV skidded around it's opponent, she finished loading the shell. The tank's treads were torn apart under it, but Mako's driving prevailed as it came to a stop right behind the enemy. The 75mm and the 88mm both fired, and Yukari had to reach out to steady herself as an impact shook the compartment. She was halfway to loading another shell when the radio sounded.

"Black Forest Peak's flag Panzer has been immobilized," Yukari froze at the announcer's voice, her eyes widening, "The winner...is Ooarai Girls Academy!"

Stunned, she sat the shell down, and opened the nearest hatch. Sticking her head outside, she winced at the extensive damage to the front of the Panzer IV. Suddenly, she spotted a flash of white, and her eyes focused on the small flag sticking out of the disabled Tiger. 'We did it, we really did it,' she thought to herself, 'We won!' The other crew hatches popped open, and her friends joined her in staring at the defeated tank. They watched as Miho's sister dismounted it and slowly walked away, her second-in-command following with a stunned expression on her face. As they lost sight of the two Black Forest students, the silence around them was broken.

"We did it Miporin!" shouted Saori as she hug-tackled a startled Miho. Even knowing that it was just intended as a hug between friends, Yukari couldn't help but feel jealous. She wanted to be the one to hug Miho and congratulate her, to be there beside her at the end of the battle. She wanted them to be...more than just friends. At that moment, she made a decision. She would tell her Nishizumi-dono how she felt, here and now. Ducking back inside the turret, she closed the hatch behind her and turned to look up at Miho. A part of her mind took the time to mention that all she had to do was lean forward a bit and she would be able to see up her skirt.

After taking a moment to lock those thoughts away securely, and to let her face cool off, she reached up and tugged on her commander's uniform. "Nishizumi-dono?" she said as she mustered her courage, "Can I talk to you in private please? It'll only be a moment!"

Miho looked down at her, giving her a curious look as she spoke. "Um, sure, Yukari-san." She looked back up and asked the other three members of Anglerfish to wait outside the tank for a moment, before returning her attention to Yukari. They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Miho broke the silence, her face reddening as she stuttered, "Ah, c-could you let go so I can climb down?"

Yukari blinked, her eyes wandering downwards from Miho's face until-oh. Oh.

Oops.

She pulled her hand back, her blush returning in full force as she tried and failed to form a coherent apology. She became even more flustered as Miho climbed down into the turret next to her, closing the commander's hatch behind her. No, she couldn't let herself get distracted, she could do this. She had to. Yukari took a breath to steady herself and looked her commander in the eye. "Nishizumi-dono...

I wanted to thank you. For saving our school, for letting me do Sensha-dou with you, for inspiring me, and-and for being my friend!" she said, her voice wavering. "I thought that I was fine by myself, that I could be happy just through Panzers and Sensha-dou, but then you became my friend. You, Hana, Saori, Mako, everyone. But everything, it's all been thanks to you. That day, when you let me look for the Panzer with you, was one of the happiest days of my life. You've been the best friend I could hope for."

Miho looked at her, eyes wide. "Yukari...?"

"And recently I had thought that having you all as friends would be enough," Yukari said. And now it was time for her to admit the truth. "But you proved me wrong again, there's one more thing I want..." she whispered, leaning forward in the confines of the turret. She closed her eyes as she felt their lips meet, her heart beating even faster as she slowly slid her arms around the other girl. Miho stiffened in surprise at the kiss, and at Yukari's words. Before Hana and Saori invited her to lunch that day, she had been alone much like Yukari. But she'd had friends before, back at Black Forest Peak. Yukari had been alone until she met her, she had become Yukari's first friend that day.

And it seemed that Yukari had fallen in love with her. But did she feel the same way? She thought back to when Saori had suggested that she get a boyfriend. She had dismissed the idea, saying that she was happy just spending time with her friends, and that she loved all four of them. 'Nishizumi-dono confessed her love to me!' was what Yukari had said, seemingly as a joke. Did she love Yukari romantically? She had always been there supporting her, never doubting her plans and doing everything she could to help. The match against Anzio hadn't been the same without her in the Panzer IV.

And...she was enjoying being held by Yukari. Miho gently pressed her lips against Yukari's, kissing her back. At that moment, all she could think about was how right it felt to be in her teammate's arms.

They broke the kiss after a few moments, looking into each other's eyes. "Nishizumi-dono, will you please be my girlfriend?"

Miho smiled, a sight that never failed to fill Yukari's heart with warmth. "Yes," she said, hugging her new girlfriend back, "Yes I will."

Yukari felt her eyes water, relief flooding through her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. "Th-Thank..." she stuttered, voice failing her as a few tears of happiness slid down her face. Somehow, all of her dreams had come true. She had Sensha-dou, she had friends, and she had Miho. "Thank you Nishizumi-dono, for everything," she whispered.

"You...you don't have to call me that," Miho mumbled, causing Yukari's eyes to blink open in surprise.

"S-sorry..." Yukari apologized, before adding a hesitant "...Miho-chan?"

Miho giggled, snuggling into Yukari's embrace. They sat in comfortable silence, Yukari running her fingers through her commander's light brown hair. A sudden clanging noise made them jump, holding onto each other tighter. "What was-wah!" Yukari shouted in surprise as the top hatch opened, light streaming into the turret interior. The two girls leapt apart, just as Saori looked down at them through the opening.

"The recovery team is here!" she yelled, climbing down into the tank. Hana and Mako followed shortly after. There was a jolt as the Panzer was loaded onto the back of the truck. Miho gave her girlfriend one last smile, before turning and climbing into her seat. Yukari sighed in contentment, sitting back to watch her, just as she had many times before.

A happy Nishizumi Miho was a sight she would never tire of.

Author's Note:

Well, how was it? This was my first real major attempt at writing, I was inspired to write this after reading Blasting Through byCytrus. A couple of things I'd like to ask: How was the length, too long, too short?

And what do you prefer? Original Japanese, "Kuromorimine" etc. or translated? And does Sensha-dou even have an official translation?

Anyway, not sure how soon I'll be able to get the next chapter up, but I'll certainly be writing more, I had a lot of fun with this.

And yeah, I know, I'm a sap. Sorry if I gave you any cuteness-induced medical problems, but at least that means I did a good job, ne? Please feel free to leave a review with any criticism or comments!

But before you go, have a short Omake:

As they broke the kiss, Miho stared at Yukari with a slightly panicked expression. "I-ah-um," she stuttered, causing Yukari to give her a worried look.

"Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?! Please forgive me Nishizumi-dono!" she shouted in fear. Oh no, she blew it! Miho probably didn't even like girls, or she wasn't ready for a relationship, or...

"C-camera..."

...what? Yukari blinked as her commander nervously pointed at something. A lens. Suddenly, the crew hatch near them flew open. They slowly turned around, meeting the terrifying gaze of Nishizumi Maho.

Yukari hid-strategically repositioned herself!-behind Miho.