Hello, and welcome to another update of Strike Heroes: Himebana.
It's been a while since I updated this one, but with my announcement at the end of Chapter 3 of Strike Heroes: Wings of Freedom this is going to be updated as well.
So let's start with the replies to the reviews...
Jetfire77: Yeah, these stories will be based off the drama CDs, with (of course) some adjustment to fit in with the Strike Heroes series' continuity. That isn't to say that there won't be original content, but given that I am going through some ideas for them at the moment it'll be a while before one comes up. Anyways, thanks for the review and I hope you continue to enjoy this collection of stories.
Takashi2019: These will be take place between the Season 1 events at the moment, so there will be some confusion for a while. However, I will try my best to either place clues as to when the current story takes place or just announce it to make it easier on everyone (I'm leaning towards the clues so that people can try to come up with an idea of the timeline for it). Aside from that, thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this next entry.
jaku uzumaki: Thanks for the review.
...And that's it for the reviews at the moment. It's probably odd to say this, but...I think it's nice to have this much reviews. Brings me back to memories of when I was making Strike Heroes. Don't get me wrong: I don't mind replying to lots of reviews here, but every now and then it does feel easier to go through a small amount of reviews. Just me, though.
Anyways, on to your regularly-scheduled program...
This is a regular program? You waited a long time after you put up two chapters to update this one...
Lionelis, please don't start with me about this...
XXXXXXXXXX
Mio's Lesson: Magic
"Miyafuji?" Mio asked as she had Yoshika, Lynette, and Roland inside the briefing room for a lesson today. "Lynne? Sage? Are you ready?"
"Yes!" Yoshika and Lynette both told her excitedly.
Roland simply saluted; for him, there was no real point to making a reply when the two sergeants near him had the enthusiasm of all three combined.
"Good," Mio continued as she nodded. "To put it simply, I will teach you magic today."
To her mild surprise, the three of them looked confused.
"Magic?" they asked.
"As in something we all share in common?" Roland added as he scratched his head. Why was Mio trying to teach them about something they had been looking at (and had) for a long time. Well, under a year for the male Witch.
"Yes," Mio replied. "It would be bad if you didn't know of everyone's special power when you form a rotte. That is, fly in a pair with them."
"Ah..." Yoshika said sheepishly. "Special power...right...it wouldn't be good to not know, right?" The little Fuso Witch chuckled nervously.
Mio wasn't exactly amused, as judged by her response: "What kind of reaction is that? Don't tell me you don't know what it means?"
"The special power or the rotte?" Roland asked. Given his past and the fact that he had only been a Witch for under a year, it was kind of hard to put a finger on what Mio was talking about.
"Oh, no, I've heard of it," Yoshika replied quickly. "It's just that I don't really remember it that clearly..."
"Oh, Yoshika," Lynette decided to say, "you're so forgetful." She then chuckled, Yoshika following suit.
"It's not a laughing matter!" Mio snapped, irritated.
"I'm sorry!" the girls apologized.
"So, 'special power', major?" Roland asked to start off the discussion.
"Really..." Mio said before she sighed. "'Special power' refers to a Witch's own special magic ability." She looked at Yoshika. "Like your healing ability or Roland's gyrokinesis and aura sense."
"Ah, I see," Yoshika said as she nodded in approval. "Right. It's not like everyone can use healing magic."
Unless you're playing a game or something, Roland added. Know how many people play as clerics or something of that nature?
"No, that's why I always think 'Wow, Yoshika is amazing' every time I see it," Lynette replied.
"You think?" Yoshika asked the Britannian Witch. "Isn't your sniper magic even more amazing?"
"Oh no." Lynette shook her head. "You're more amazing!"
"No, you are, Lynne!"
"I think you are, for sure!"
Mio laughed at the spectacle before she said, "Don't fight over something like that! Just having a special power in the first place is amazing, you know."
"Really?" Yoshika asked in awe.
"So how many Witches can use these 'special powers'?" Roland quizzed.
"Yes," Mio replied to the two newer recruits. "Even among Witches, only a handful are able to use special powers."
"I see..." Yoshika and Roland both said.
"Most Witches can only use basic body enhancing and shields. Just the fact that you can use special powers makes you part of the elite from the start."
Well, the male Witch thought to himself now. I'm already a male Witch, and now I'm able to use one of these 'special powers'. Is that a good thing?
"Really?" Yoshika said in excitement. "Yay! Roland-kun and I are already special!"
"However..." Mio began as she raised a finger. "You lack the basics."
This made Yoshika upset. "Augh..."
"Really...you did so well on your first flight. Why can't you get your act together during training?"
"Ah," Lynette decided to point out, "but see, Yoshika is the type who is really strong when it really matters!"
"Thanks, Lynne..." Yoshika said in gratitude.
"And you're too weak when it really matters, Lynne," Mio pointed out.
"Uh..." Lynette started before she bowed quickly. "Sorry..."
"And Sage here's got potential but has no training on utilizing it."
"Guy who's been a Witch for under a year here, you know," Roland said quickly.
"Though from what Commander Minna told me, not many Witches fly up to a hole inside a Neuroi and force a grenade into it, even if there's a core there."
"I-I guess we're kind of similar, Lynne..." Yoshika said sheepishly.
"Yes, you're right..." Lynette added.
Mio laughed and replied with, "But don't worry! I'll make the three of you into fine Witches in no time!"
"Please teach us!" Yoshika and Lynette pleaded.
"Then run around the grounds ten times, now!"
The girls were stunned. "What?! Now?!"
"No questions! Run!"
"Come on, you two," Roland said as he ran out of the room, the girls following him.
"Yes!"
XXXXXXXXXX
"What is it, major?" Charlotte asked as she, Mio, Yoshika, Lynette, and Roland were standing out on the runway. The sergeants looked beat, like they had run a marathon. Roland looked fine...though he was rather red from the heat. "'Show them your magic'?"
"Yeah," Mio explained. "I'm drilling them right now. Could you show them your special power?"
"Please?" Yoshika and Lynette asked.
Charlotte chuckled. "No problem. Okay then." She clapped her hands together. "Could you move away a bit?"
"Sure!" The girls and Roland went out about ten meters.
"Will this be enough?" Yoshika asked for confirmation.
"Farther away!" Charlotte said as she waved her hand ahead of her.
The trio moved another ten meters before Yoshika repeated her question: "Will this be enough?"
"Yeah, I think that'll be enough! Okay! I'm coming!"
Out of reflex (and knowledge), Roland used his right arm to make a sort of visor as he squinted in order to minimize the chances of getting anything in them, and they watched as Charlotte disappeared.
"S-she disappeared?" Yoshika asked in surprise.
Roland and the girls felt a sudden gust of wind pass by them, kicking up a lot of dirt. Roland's aura sense even kicked in as he felt Charlotte pass right by him.
"Uwah, the wind!" Yoshika and Lynette said in surprise as they felt the effects.
"Oh, maybe I was too close?" Charlotte asked as she stopped right behind them.
Yoshika was sitting on the ground, her legs under her as she busy trying to wipe dirt from her eyes (unprepared, the poor girl had felt dirt fly past her face)
"I've got dirt in my eyes!" she complained.
"Oh, sorry," Charlotte apologized. "I usually don't use it on the ground, so I don't really know my limits."
Yoshika finished her business and stood up, facing the Liberion Witch. "That magic...was it teleportation?!"
"Doubt it," Roland said as a reply. "If it was, I wouldn't have felt her aura in the middle of it...I think."
Charlotte laughed as she added, "Now that would be useful! But unfortunately, no."
"Um, it was 'nendou'-type acceleration magic, wasn't it?" Lynette tried.
Charlotte clapped her hands in praise. "Oh, well done, Lynne. You're right."
"So translated: 'speedy thing go in, speedy thing come out'?" Roland tried as a way of simplifying what exactly Charlotte did. He knew she went fast, but he thought it only applied to her Striker Unit. Not on the ground as well.
"I don't think that's how it goes, Roland...more like I go from zero to sixty em-pee-ehch in about one second, maybe two."
Yoshika looked confused about something.
"What's 'clay-type'?" she asked out of the blue.
Everything stopped as the four other Witches turned to look at Yoshika.
"What?" Charlotte and Lynette asked.
"Miyafuji..." Mio added. She sounded irritated.
"Is there something I'm missing here?" Roland asked with a raised eyebrow. Turning to Mio, he added, "What exactly is 'nendou'?"
"I know, I know!" Yoshika continued. "Ehm, it refers to clay made of magic power, and an ability to make your breasts bigger!"
This got deeper reactions out of the girls and Roland, starting with the male Witch face-planting on the ground in shock.
"B-breasts?!" Lynette asked in shock.
"What the...?!" Charlotte started before she laughed.
"Of course not!" Mio reprimanded the little Fuso Witch. "What kind of magic is that?!"
"Eh..." Yoshika tried as she looked for something in her mind to back up her answer. "I was thinking that Shirley's breasts are so big it's magical!"
Charlotte was still laughing when Yoshika said this.
"So what?" she asked the little Fuso Witch. "When I run out of magic power, my chest becomes flat like yours?"
"That's mean!" Yoshika quickly defended. "I'm not flat! I have...some..." She then looked down at her chest nervously before she looked at the other girls.
"No comment..." Roland muttered into the ground, though he was fighting a blush that was growing on his face.
"That's not the problem, Miyafuji," Charlotte added.
"Yoshika..." Lynette said.
"W-what?" Yoshika asked in embarrasment.
"Really..." Mio said as she shook her head. "Just what are you thinking?"
"Sorry..."
Mio sighed. "It's not 'clay-type', it's 'telekinesis-type'! That's what you call magic that moves things around."
"Aha..."
"In my case," Charlotte pointed out. "I use magic to push my body forward and add more speed."
"I see," Yoshika said in realization, "the 'nen' in 'nendou' means 'mind' since you move things with your mind."
"My sniper magic is also telekinesis-type," Lynette added. "I use magic to move the bullets."
"So Lynne is also clay-type-I mean, telekinesis-type."
"It's the same for Captain Barkhorn," Mio included. "Her magic is called 'superhuman strength', but she also uses magic to move things that she touches around."
"Shirley, Lynne and Captain Barkhorn are all clay-type..."
Mio growled in irritation. "It is absolutely not magic to make breasts bigger!"
"Ah, r-right..."
"Besides, your healing magic is also telekinesis-type."
Yoshika looked confused. "It is?"
Mio nodded. "Yes. It changes the structure of the body and fixes things. In other words, magic that has an effect on objects are telekinesis-type." Looking at Roland as he got back onto his feet, she added, "Lieutenant Sage's gyrokinesis is also an example of telekinesis-type. Being able to move things by placing an aura around it...like a long-range version of Captain Barkhorn's magic."
"Thanks, major," Roland said as he blushed. He learned that he had at least control of a telekinesis-type magic. Luckily, he didn't have to worry about 'clay-type' (whatever it was: Yoshika didn't really make too much sense sometimes).
"I see," Yoshika said as she nodded.
"Good, you get it," Mio concluded. "Then I want you three to do one hundred push-ups!"
Again, Yoshika and Lynette were surprised.
"What?!" they asked.
"You have to be fit to use telekinesis-type magic!" Mio reasoned. "Stop complaining and start working!"
"Yes!" They dropped into the push-up position, Roland sliding in to do them as well, and started on their push-ups.
As Charlotte left the group to their devices, she found her thoughts wandering back to what Yoshika had said.
"Is there really a connection between your body and telekinesis-type magic?" she asked herself before she shook her head. "...Well, whatever!"
XXXXXXXXXX
"Uwah!" Eila shouted as she opened the door to her room a bit and found Yoshika, Lynette, Roland, and Mio standing there. "Don't surprise me like that!"
"Sorry to bother you..." Yoshika and Lynette told her in an exhausted tone.
Eila looked and noticed that they looked completely beat. "Why do you two sound like you're about to die?"
"We've been training," Roland offered as an answer. He didn't look as bad, but he did have some scrapes on his face (reminders of his face-plant from Yoshika's clay comment).
"Ah, I see. Well, well done. Go back to your room and rest well, then."
Suddenly, she was joined by a sleepy Sanya.
"...Mhm?" the Orussian Witch groaned sleepily as she looked at the guests. "...What are you doing, Eila? It's noisy..."
"Damn..." Eila cursed under her breath.
"What?" Yoshika asked, surprised to see Sanya. "Why is Sanya sleeping here?"
"Ah, Miyafuji..." Sanya greeted sleepily.
Up all night, huh? Roland thought as he flashed a slight smile. He wasn't really concerned with why the two were in the same room: Sanya sometimes ended up in his room for unknown reasons. Something he hasn't really figured out yet.
"T-that's not important!" Eila snapped in defense. "Why are you here?"
"Calm down, Eila," Roland said quickly. "The major told us to ask you to show us perception-type magic..."
"Ah, sorry to bother you on your free time," Mio said as she looked at the Suomos Witch and her roommate.
"The mood-spoiling trio is gathered..." Eila muttered to herself. "And Roland to boot..."
Mio chuckled. "I don't know why she's here, but it's good Sanya's here too. See, I'm teaching these three about magic right now.
"Okay..." Eila lowered her eyebrows. "And now you want to see my magic?"
"Sounds fun," Sanya said as she was becoming more alert. "It's great to be able to help Miyafuji, Roland, and Lynne." She then looked at her friend. "Right, Eila?"
"Eh?" Eila smiled quickly. "Ah, sure! Leave it to me!" She then opened the door to let the major, sergeants, and Roland into her room.
XXXXXXXXX
"Hmm..." Eila said as she was busy studying a card Yoshika had drawn. The two girls were sitting on the cards as Eila was utilizing her tarot cards for Yoshika.
"Erm, Eila?" Yoshika asked as she looked at the Suomos Witch carefully.
"Oh!" Eila snapped her fingers. "The Star is in the right position! Something good might happen to you today, Miyafuji."
"Yay!" Yoshika was cheerful...until she realized something. "But isn't this more like fortune-telling than actual magic?"
Eila was slightly outraged. "What? I can use magic to see into the future, you know!"
"In that case, tell me straight up what's going to happen!"
Eila put a finger on her chin. "Well, you say that but...it's not like I know what will happen. It's more like I feel it."
Yoshika was baffled. "Hmm?"
"Yeah, for example, if you see an angry Perrine bump into Lucchini, who looks like she's got nothing to do, you'd think 'Something is bound to happen here', right?"
"Well..." Yoshika imagined the situation briefly. "Yeah..."
"My magic is like that, except it's much more accurate."
The little Fuso Witch still looked confused. "In other words...you're just guessing?"
Eila became irritated. "Argh! I told you it's really accurate! If it's about the near future, it's almost never incorrect!"
"So it's very, very accurate guessing?" Apparently, Yoshika did not grasp the meaning behind Eila's words.
"You don't call that 'guessing'!"
"So we assume it's very accurate, but at its basic level it's more of a prediction than knowing exactly what's to happen," Roland said as he thought about what Eila said. "So if I grab a ball and say that I'm going to throw it up into the air at a random time, you can predict when I will actually do it using your magic, right?"
"Exactly," Eila said. "Roland gets it. For instance, if you have a complete understanding of what's going on around you, it's pretty easy to figure out what's going to happen next, right?"
"Well, yes…" Yoshika started.
"Having almost a hundred percent understanding like that is my magic." Eila then raised her left index finger. "But it's still just a prediction, so when it actually turns out like that you go 'I see'. You're still a little uncertain, no matter what."
"Yes," Mio added. "I guess that means Eila's ability isn't unlimited either."
"Well, it would be boring if you knew too much about the future anyways, don't you think?"
"Yes indeed," Lynette said. "Knowing about the future sounds kind of scary…"
"Really?" Yoshika asked in excitement. "I think it sounds useful!"
"Glad to know you think that," Roland added, thinking to himself, Note to self: Yoshika might like the fact that I know what's going to happen…uh, maybe not…I don't really know...
"You think so?" Lynette asked the little Fuso Witch. "I always think too much of fortune-telling and such. I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else."
"Oh?" Eila asked as a sly look crept onto her face before she chuckled darkly. "Well then…let's do some fortune-telling on you too, Lynne!" She then drew a card and studied it for a bit.
Lynette obviously didn't want her to do that, judging by her flailing arms and rapid reply "No, stop!"
"Let's see here…oh! The Devil! It's a sign of lust and corruption!"
"Uwah!"
Eila drew another card and looked at it before showing it to the others. "The Death! Sudden ordeal and misfortune!"
"No! It won't happen!"
Another card was drawn by the Suomos Witch. "The Judgment in reverse position! The end of everything and separation! And disappointment!"
"No! No!"
Roland didn't really looked amused: based on what he knew about Lynette, he was fairly certain that the Britannian Witch was not lustful or corrupt, she was not currently in any real misfortune (unless, of course, you counted what Eila was doing), and…
Somehow, it sounded like the last one might apply to him more if his secret ever came out.
"Eila…" Yoshika started after the long list of cards. "Aren't you just picking out cards at random?"
"Darn…" Eila groaned in defeat as she sighed. "You caught me."
Lynette was unresponsive after the whole ordeal.
"Well," Mio said to get away from the odd situation, "let's leave fortune-telling for a while…"
"Yes, please," Roland replied quickly. He didn't want to wait and see if he was the next target for Eila at the moment.
"Now you understand what perception-type magic is, right?"
"Erm…" Yoshika started as she thought about it. "Magic that helps you see what's going on around you, right?"
Mio nodded in approval. "Yes. Like my magical eye, Minna's spatial-awareness, Sanya's magical waves, Roland's aura sense, and such. That kind of magic is called 'perception magic'."
"I see."
"But among those, Eila's magic is especially rare."
"Hmm?" Eila said.
"Meaning...?" Roland added.
"Even though it's only a prediction, in order to make it almost one hundred percent certain, you have to see and feel everything that's going on around you," Mio clarified. "That truly is some amazing magic."
"Ooh!" Eila said excitedly. "You sure say some good things, Major Sakamoto!" She then looked at Roland, Yoshika, and Lynette. "Come on, you three too, praise me more!"
"…Amazing!" Yoshika said quickly.
"Fantastic!" Lynette added.
"Wonderful…" Roland deadpanned. While he was amazed that Eila had a rare form of perception-type magic, the current situation was a little too much. Especially given that it seemed that Eila was trying to milk it for all it was worth.
And he really couldn't forget the three-card draw at the moment either.
Eila cleared her throat and said, "What do you say, aren't I great, Sanya?"
Sanya didn't make any response, something that got Eila's attention. Also, a soft pat was heard during the silence.
"Sanya?" she asked as she looked at her companion, who was busy leaning against Roland's right side as she was dozing off. Unknown to everyone else, the Orussian Witch had been trying to stay awake but, without some form of entertainment and with a lack of sleep, she had decided to go back to sleep, using Roland as support.
"S-she's sleeping…" Yoshika said.
"Why?!" Eila was upset. That, and she looked angry, a look she directed right at the unsuspecting male Witch, who was too busy looking at the sleeping girl leaning against him.
"Sorry for disturbing…"
Roland looked at Yoshika and was about to ask her about why she said that when he caught Eila's "death glare" and gulped.
XXXXXXXXX
"There's also offensive-type magic," Mio continued as they walked down the hallway a few minutes after Eila's demonstration, "but…well, it's just what it sounds like."
"Like Lieutenant Hartmann's wind, Perrine's lightning, and Lucchini's light and heat, right?" Lynette asked.
Mio nodded once again. "Right. It's magic that turns magic power into energy to attack with." They then walked by a set of stairs that led to the second floor.
"I see…" Yoshika said before she looked at Roland. "You okay, Roland-kun?"
"I'm fine…" Roland groaned as he was busy nursing the back of his head. Apparently, Eila had retaliated against Roland just because Sanya had leaned against him in her sleep. "Why me…what'd I do to deserve this?"
"You'll get over it," Mio said before they saw Francesca running towards them, an angry Perrine in hot pursuit.
"Hold it right there, you thieving little cat!" the Gallian Witch yelled as she was giving chase.
"I'm not a thief!" Francesca replied. "I just took it without permission!"
"That's what thieves do! Give it back!"
"Nah!"
"This doesn't look good…" Yoshika said.
"Yes…" Lynette said in agreement. "You don't have to be Eila to see that…"
"I've got it," Roland said as he turned around and started walking back towards the stairs.
"Catch me if you can!" Francesca said as she passed by Roland and flew up the nearby stairs. Roland, deciding to try catching the Romagnan Witch, started jogging up the stairs.
"Argh, she won't stay still…" Perrine said as she stopped at the base of the stairs and snapped her fingers and pointed it at Francesca, electicity starting to be emitted from her body. "Tonnerre!"
Roland's back was to the Gallian Witch when she said that (due to watching Francesca run up the stairs and jogging up it as well), and the male Witch had reached the top when he turned his head in time to see a sudden blue streak of electrical energy that was coming right for him.
"Wait, what-" the male Witch asked before he was pelted with a lot of blue electricity.
"Whoa!" Francesca said as she turned around and watched Roland get pelted with Perrine's spell.
POOF!
A small burst of black soot burst from Roland's body as the male Witch was surrounded by it.
The girls looked at where he had once been and, as the smoke dispersed from his body, had to stifle a slight chuckle (well, in Yoshika's and Lynette's case, at least; apparently, not even a girl who wants to protect everyone could resist looking at the sight before them) once he was visible: his clothes didn't seem to be damaged beyond having soot on them, and some of the soot was on his arms and even his face.
To Lynette, he seemed to remind her of a chimney sweeper...only wearing what he was wearing.
Roland, dazed and confused, coughed up a quick puff of gray smoke before he fell to the ground back first, his hair standing up on ends while smoke was emanating from his body.
Apparently, the Romagnan Witch, who was supposed to be the target, found something more "interesting" than the paralyzed male Witch on the floor.
"Ha ha!" Francesca said in laughter. "Frizzle head!"
"Ah!" Perrine said in concern as she looked up at her hair, which indeed was in a state that reminded her of having a severe case of bedhead. "My hair got messed up because I used Tonnerre!"
"Haha!" Francesca walked to the railing and cracked an amusing smile before pointing her right index finger at the Gallian Witch. "Frizzle frizzle frazzle frazzle frozzle frozzle!"
"I have no idea what you're saying but it's really annoying! Don't get cocky, or I'll shoot you for real next time!"
"Perrine!" Mio said in anger.
"Eh?" Perrine looked at the major and the sergeants and was surprised. "Major Sakamoto? When did you…?" She was trying to figure out why she had missed them despite having run past them (she thought that it was either the heat of the moment or that she was too focused on her current task of stopping Francesca).
"Just what do you two think you are doing?!" Mio snapped her head to look at Francesca. "Lucchini! Get down here!"
"Ugh…" Francesca said in disappointment as she came down the stairs. "'Kay…"
XXXXXXXXXX
"I don't know if I can feel my tongue…" Roland said, though (due to the spell, most likely) it came out more as "I don't know ith I can feel my thongue…" His tongue was sticking out as he sat on the floor, his back to a wall as he was facing the stairs.
Yoshika and Lynette had been asked by Mio to bring the downed male Witch to the first floor carefully (they both settled for dragging him back and letting his feet bounce down the stairs as they worked together to lift him). A while after, Roland had recovered and had sat up slowly, currently worrying about his tongue.
"Sorry about that, lieutenant," Perrine apologized as Yoshika was checking on Roland's tongue.
"Really…" Mio said as she shook her head in disappointment. "How could you use offensive magic against your friends?"
"I'm really sorry…"
Francesca laughed as she said, "You got yelled at."
"That goes for you too, Lucchini!" Mio retorted as she looked at the Romagnan Witch. "Just what did you do to make Perrine, who usually is so kind and gentle, this angry?"
"Usually…" Yoshika started as she looked at the major in surprise.
"…Gentle?" Lynette and Roland both said as well (Roland's line at the moment: "…Thentle?").
"Ah, Major Sakamoto…" Perrine said as she started blushing slightly. "Ensign Lucchini took my…my…"
Yoshika looked at Francesca and was instantly taken aback by a change she had never noticed until now. "Aah!"
"What's wrong, Yoshika?" Lynette asked in concern.
"Lucchini's breasts…!"
"Aren't they nice~?" Francesca asked playfully as she grabbed her assets. "Want to touch them~?"
"They're big!"
"You're right," Lynette said in response, "they're big!"
Yoshika snapped her fingers. "I knew clay-type magic existed!"
"No it doesn't!" Mio shouted in irritation once again.
"We're back to that again?" Roland asked (what was heard: "We're bacth to that again?").
"B-but then what kind of magic did she use?" Yoshika asked quickly as she blinked. "I thought Lucchini used offensive-type magic…" She gave it some quick thought. "Well, in a way, this is offensive-type magic, but…"
"Y-Yoshika?" Lynette asked.
"It's because of these…" Francesca said as she reached under her shirt and pulled out a set of breasts pads. "Tada!"
"Oh?" Yosika said as she looked at the new object. "…Breasts pads?"
"Breasts pads?" Roland repeated (heard by the rest: "Breath bads?").
"It is," Lynette confirmed.
"I found them in Perrine's room!" Francesca said cheerfully.
Everyone looked at Perrine, whose blush had exploded into a deeper red.
"I-it's not what you think!" the Gallian Witch said in quick defense as she grabbed the item from Francesca. "It's not like I usually have them on!"
"Then…" Yoshika began as she looked at Perrine with a look of confusion. "When are you using them?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?! It's not like that at all!"
"I haven't said anything…"
"It's for when wearing a dress! On official occasions, when wearing a formal dress, you need these!"
"Oh yes!" Lynette added. "Dresses made for adults are made with room for the breasts, so…"
Perrine snapped her fingers at Lynette as her blush went away. "Yes, yes! Lynne understands! Well, it's not strange that low-class raccoon-dogs and crybaby thieves don't know about them."
"That's mean!" Yoshika said, feeling offended. "The culture in Fuso is different, that's why! You can look good in a kimono even if you have small breasts!"
Lynette looked shocked once she heard that.
"Yoshika…" Francesca said slowly. "Doesn't it feel like a loss to say something like that?"
"J-just a little…" Yoshika said hesitantly once she realized what she had said.
It's better to not have big breasts… Lynette thought to herself.
"Does it really matter?" Roland asked (Sounds like, "Doeth it really madder?").
"I got an idea!" Francesca suddenly said. "Why don't we ask Roland what size is better?"
"What?" (Uttered: "Wat?").
"You know, that sounds good right now," Yoshika said as the girls looked at the only male Witch on the entire base. "Which do you think is better, Roland-kun: big or little?"
Roland recoiled from the sudden question. "The hell kind of question is that to ask me?" (His spoken line: "The hell kind of quethion ith that to ath me?").
"Too simple," Francesca said quickly as she shook her head. "How about this: point to who you think has the best breasts around this area."
That question made Roland freak out more. "The eff?" (Heard as "The eth?").
"Come on, we're just curious, Roland-kun," Yoshika said.
Roland sighed to his best ability. Personally, if Charlotte was in the area (which she wasn't), then it was close to a no-brainer. However, he also felt like he was going to be damned later on no matter which direction this was going to head.
He closed his eyes, raised his right arm, and formed his hand so that he was pointing before he lowered it so that it was pointing at…
Minna, who was just coming down the stairs.
"Commander Minna?" Francesca asked in confusion.
"Hello, Lucchini," Minna said as she noticed the group. She then realized that Roland was pointing at her. "Hmm? What's going on around here right now?"
Roland opened his eyes and realized that she was the one he had been pointing to before he gave off a cry of surprise.
"Ah!" the male Witch cried as be blinked. "Commander! It's nothing, really!" (Translated: "Ah! Commandah! It'th nothing, really!").
Minna blinked as she looked at Roland and his stuck-out tongue.
"What happened to his tongue?" the commander asked in confusion.
"It's a long story," Mio told her. "The situation has been remedied, so no need to worry about it."
"Uh-huh…" Minna sighed. "Oh well. I really hope Roland's tongue gets better so that I can make better sense of what he's saying."
As the commander walked off, Roland sighed as he fell onto his left side, unconscious out of embarrassment.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Alright then," Mio said as the group of four were now in the briefing room once again. "Now you know about the different types of magic, right?"
"I understand," Yoshika told her. "I think…"
"Well, the research in magic still has a long way to go. There are a lot of things we still don't know."
"I see…but there really are some big difference between different people…"
"You're right…" Lynette agreed. "And everyone has magic that makes you think 'That's very fitting for her' Or him in Lieutenant Roland's case."
"Like how Shirley likes speed and Eila likes fortune-telling…you're right."
"Yeah," Mio concluded, "magic comes from the heart. It might just naturally be that way."
"I see…"
"So the reason Yoshika can use healing magic might be because she's so kind," Lynette said.
Except when you're making her mad, Roland added to himself.
"Ah, I don't think so," Yoshika informed them. "My mother and grandmother can also use healing magic, so…"
"Oh, really?" Lynette asked.
"Yes. It's probably just because I'm like them."
Mio chuckled as she added in, "…But the strength of your magic is probably not like theirs at all, right?"
"Ah…maybe so…" Yoshika chuckled nervously.
"And they probably don't control their magic as badly as you do either."
"Ugh…"
"I wonder whose side of Lieutenant Roland's family he got his magic from…" Lynette mused.
"Best not to ask…" Roland said (thankfully, his tongue had recovered, so no need to have to put down what they were hearing). He was still working out why he even had magic in the first place given his home dimension.
"And now…" Mio said for a final comment. "One hundred sit-ups!"
"Eh?!" Yoshika and Lynette both said in surprise. The little Fuso Witch added in, "Um…are magic control and sit-ups related in any way…?"
Roland shook his head as Mio gave her response: "No!" The major then laughed.
"Eh?!" The sergeants were even more surprised.
"Start!"
The girls and Roland scrambled to get into sit-up position as they got going on them.
XXXXXXXXXX
...and that's why it's a bad idea to send people with dumb luck on wild goose chases: they always seem to bring something back with them. And-
Oh. Back again?
Sorry, Lio and I were having a discussion to pass the time. Didn't really see you coming until now.
These are words, not pictures. You don't have eyes here.
...Anyways, sorry about that.
Anything else? I guess not.
Other than that, please read and respond and let me know what you think of this tale.
Thanks, and I will see you guys in the next chapter.