Strike Witches

Yokosuka Madness

A brief moment of fun in the war torn world.

Public service announcement - This short is actually not a short, but I don't want to fragment my stories too much, so I decided to put it here.

The look outside the window of the classroom was inspiring. The leaves were falling at random from the trees in front of the Yokosuka 4th Girls-only Middle School. The janitor, however, was vigilant, and whenever a sizable amount covered the ground, he would attack his enemy with rake and a wheelbarrow.

A brown haired girl, seated in the last row by the windows, was watching as he was scraping up the leaves, and she giggled, thinking, "Poor guy has work cut for him till winter… Ehhh… I wonder how Lynne is doing…"

"Miss Miyafuji," a gruff female voice suddenly pulled the girl out of her dreamlike state.

The girls snapped into attention and asked, "Yes ma'am?!"

Her classmates giggled seeing this, but they were already used to it.

"Miss Miyafuji, you were spacing out again. You know what's to be done," the teacher said.

"Yes, Sensei…" she mumbled with her head hung low, filled two buckets with water and exited out into the corridor.

"Poor Yoshika probably misses her friends from the military," one of the girls whispered.

"Or the life of a witch altogether," another one whispered back.

"Ladies, please no more disruptions," the teacher interrupted the gossip.

Yoshika stood with a fussy face in the corridor, holding the two full water buckets.

"Eh…" She sighed. "Sure reminds me of old times… But… A little cheating never hurt anybody," she snickered to herself and her animal ears popped up. "Hmmm… A bit better, but it's not Super Strength magic, just my wee little witch's boost…"

"Miyafuji!" a voice, as if made from steel, rang across the corridor.

Every muscle in Yoshika's body tensed up as she snapped into attention as she immediately recognized the person attached to the voice.

"M-Miss Sakamoto, please don't shout so loud!" Yoshika whispered dramatically. "There's still class going on!"

The black haired beauty with her trademark eyepatch covered her mouth and ran up to Yoshika, saying, "Miyafuji, no magic while being punished, understood?"

"I'm not in the military anymore," she puffed her cheeks.

"Yes you are, you're in the reserves," Mio rebuked quickly. "But putting that aside, what did you earn this with?"

"Spacing out…"

Mio smiled and said, "Well, let's say I have something to cheer you up. How many lessons do you have after the current one?"

"Uh, two. Why are you asking, Miss Sakamoto?"

"Tough call…" she muttered. "Ah, but whatever, we don't have much time. Wait for me, but don't put the buckets down yet."

Saying that, Mio entered the classroom as if nothing mattered.

What the…? Miss Sakamoto making such a ruckus is something… unprecedented to say at least!

Yoshika waited for a minute, and Mio walked out of the classroom with a triumphant smile plastered to her face, carrying Yoshika's school bag.

"Okay, Miyafuji! Drop those buckets wherever you like and let's go! Time's sparse!"

"Who, what, where?" Yoshika asked surprised. "And why so sudden?"

"You want to skip school or not?" Mio asked.

"Actually, I don't want to. I have to iron out my grades after my… trip to Britannia." Yoshika said with a straight face.

"Too bad, Miyafuji." Mio's left hand landed on Yoshika's right shoulder. "You're already exempted from class today. Let's go."

"Ehhh…" Yoshika sighed deeply. "My poor grades… I'll go from average-average to below-average in no time…"

"There's nothing a witch can't do!" Mio laughed in her usual manner. "Come on already, or you'll make a certain party angry."

Yoshika shrugged and the two went on to the shoe lockers, where both changed their shoes, and they walked out. She immediately saw a Type 95 car with its cloth roof put up, and somebody familiar behind the wheel.

"Oh, Mister Hijikata is here too?"

"Somebody has to drive me, right?" Mio shrugged. "With rank come privileges!"

"What privileges do I have, Miss Sakamoto?" Yoshika asked curious.

"Two days of paid leave every year."

"Meeeeeeeeh…" Yoshika moaned.

"Don't like it? Get promoted!" Mio slammed her on the back cheerfully.

Shame she can't though… Ugh, I have to tell poor Miyafuji that she's been sacked from the IFN…

"But I don't want to be in the army to begin with…" Yoshika muttered.

"Like a kid…" Mio shook her head. "Well, you're only fifteen anyway. Take a seat."

The two approached the car, and Hijikata saluted.

"Welcome back, Major."

"At ease, Hijikata. Let's go back," Mio commanded.

"Yes ma'am," he said and jumped behind the wheel.

"Where do I sit?" Yoshika asked, looking at the car.

"Jump into the back, you're small enough to fit perfectly."

"Kay!" Yoshika cheered and crawled through the space between the front seats to the back seat. "Ready!"

"Then let's go!" Mio shouted and pointed out forward with her hand stretched out.

"Oooooh… That's a big flying boat!" Yoshika gasped in wonder, watching as an enormous airboat landed at the pier of the Yokosuka Naval base. "Never saw one like that though…"

"It's a Karlslander BV 222," Mio said with a sly smile.

"Karlslander?" A light bulb almost appeared over Yoshika's head. "We're receiving guests?"

"You can say so…" Mio mused. "Let's wait until we arrive at the base."

"Okay!"

"Hey, Hartmann, wake up." A witch with brown hair and two trademark pigtails started poking her blonde hair friend, who comfortably was using her right thigh as a pillow.

"Fifty more minutes…" the sleepy witch mumbled.

"Fifty minutes?! We've arrived already, you volltrottel"

"Then thirty…"

The brown haired witch's hand started shaking as it started curling up into a fist, but her comrade sitting on the left said, "Don't be rash, Trude. You know how Erica is."

"Every damn time…" Trude sighed. "We really can't do anything about this, Minna?"

"Accept it?" Minna giggled.

"Ehhh…" Trude sighed again, even deeper than before. "Hartmann, wake up or Sakamoto will punish you with KP duty."

"She's not my boss now…" Erica muttered half-asleep.

"I'll kill her…" Trude whined.

"You broke the stick on her, so let's try the carrot." Minna smiled. "Hey, Erica?"

"Yeah?"

"When we go into town, I'll buy you some sweets, okay?"

Erica opened her eyes immediately and stood up by the bench they were sitting on.

"Riiiiight…" Trude muttered. "You're too lenient, Minna."

"Someone has to be the counterbalance to you," she said and shrugged.

Hijikata drove by the pier itself, and said, "We've arrived, ma'am."

"Thank you, Hijikata," Mio said. "You can go now, you're free for the rest of the day."

"Oh, thank you!" He almost jumped up. "Um, I'm sorry, ma'am."

"Yes, yes," she waved her hand lazily. "Come on, Miyafuji."

Mio stepped out of the car and Yoshika crawled out after her. A cold salty breeze immediately struck her, causing her to shiver slightly.

"Baaah! I didn't think I'd have to go near the water today…" she sulked.

"Come on, Miyafuji! You're a witch! Head up, chin straight, chest forward!"

"Easy for you to say for the last part…" Yoshika muttered whilst ogling Mio's quite obvious breasts.

"Ugh, Miyafuji… It seems I have to train you a bit from time to time… You're starting to talk back." Mio smiled devilishly.

"Eh? Aren't we friends, Miss Sakamoto?" Yoshika asked with a cutesy smile.

"We're soldiers," the stern Fusojin replied. "Now, look. The door is opening."

Minna opened the door on the side of the plane herself. She took a deep breath and said, "We're definitely at sea. The air is magnificent."

"Ma'am, please wait for the gang plank!" a man from the personnel shouted as he carried a long and wide plank.

"Would be a waste…" Trude said with a smile.

"…if you got wet." Erica joined in, deciphering Trude immediately.

"It also would be a waste if you two got KP duty after we return," Minna replied with her usual smile.

"Busted…" the two sighed in union.

"Miss Minna! Miss Trude! Miss Hartmann!" a joyful voice resounded in their ears.

The three peeked over through the door and saw Yoshika running to them quickly.

"Hoho! Miyafuji!" Erica shouted and jumped to the pier, over the man with the gangplank.

The two fell into each other's tight embrace. Before Yoshika said anything, she saw Minna and Trude smiling towards her.

"You were the surprise?" Yoshika asked Erica.

"No, you were the surprise," Erica replied. "We knew we'd end up in Yokosuka, but nobody guaranteed that we'd meet you."

"Well it is a big town…" Yoshika pondered. "And I do live on the outskirts…"

"Stop thinking so hard or you'll get a headache," Trude approached the two. "Hi, Miyafuji."

"Uh, welcome to Fuso, Miss Barkhorn, heheh…"

"Is there a welcome for me, too?" Minna asked as she went down the gangplank.

"Of course!" Yoshika cheered. "Welcome to my homeland, Miss Minna!"

"Well see here, you've been welcomed!" Mio laughed. "Nice to see you all."

"Indeed, Mio." Minna giggled. "So, is everything going as we agreed upon?"

"Miyafuji and I are here, so you can predict the rest."

"You knew!" Erica shouted. "You knew and you didn't tell us!"

"Everyone with half a brain would deduce it…" Trude sighed.

"I have…" Erica furled her eyebrows mid-sentence. "Meh, whatever. I want Fuso sweets!"

"Are you staying here for long?" Yoshika asked.

"If Mio underhandedly and covertly arranged everything as we both wanted, then we have time until tomorrow morning."

Yoshika looked at Mio with her big brown eyes, to which she replied, "Yes, yes, everything is A-Okay. And I do mean everything, hehe…"

"Mio efficient as ever," Minna smiled brightly. "Come on then girls, let's follow Miyafuji around town I guess."

"Me?!"

"You are indigenous, so to say, so you're the best guide around here. Mio has to do some paperwork right now," Minna explained and turned to said witch. "But you will join us at the spot, right?"

"Of course I will!" Mio huffed. "I promised, so it will happen."

"I'm confused," Erica, Trude, and Yoshika said in unison, laughing outright after taking notice of that fact.

"Let's go then!" Yoshika cheered. "Are we on a schedule?"

Minna pulled out a pocket watch out of her light coats pocket, and she said, "Three hours."

"Oh my, that's not much! Let's hurry!"

"Tired…" Yoshika moaned from Trude's back as they all entered the city itself.

"You're tragically out of shape, Miyafuji. Is that what a True Soldier of Fuso should represent?" Trude asked.

"Don't care, I'm in the reserves…"

"Reserves?" Erica wondered. "I thought…"

The blonde was quickly muffled by Minna, which Yoshika didn't notice. Minna gave Erica a shake with her head, and when Erica admitted with a nod that the understood, she said, "A reservist should be in shape too."

"But school…" Yoshika mumbled.

"Well, school is important too I guess," Trude said. "At least you can attend it…"

"How's Chris by the way?"

"Chris has already moved out of the hospital!" Trude said quickly. "And she's already with our parents and…"

"Trude, Trude…" Minna waved her hand. "Easy, Miyafuji won't understand half of what you're saying now."

"Okay…" Trude mumbled. "But later I won't skip the details!" she shouted fiercely.

"Heheh, Miss Barkhorn as energetic as usual when it comes to Chris… Oh, we're approaching a candy shop."

"Candy!" Erica shouted. "Miiiinnnnaaa! Buy me something!"

"I told you to save money…" Minna mused.

"But Miiiinnaaaaa!" Erica started tearing up quickly.

"Jesus! I'll buy you something, just stop!" Trude grunted. "You're making a scene."

"Thaaank you Truudy," Erica sang.

"You're a softie…" Yoshika whispered into Trude's left ear.

"You're delusional…" Trude muttered with red cheeks. "Anyway, get down, or we won't get through the door."

"Sure," Yoshika smiled and slowly crawled down on her two own knees. "Okay then, follow me, dear tourists!"

"Yes ma'am!" Erica cheered.

Yoshika opened the door and almost immediately, she heard "Irasshaimase!" from the storeowner.

"Konnichiwa!" Yoshika replied and almost immediately she saw a familiar face. "Michiko?"

"Oh, Yoshika! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you… be at school?"

"I could ask you the same, Michiko. Did your mom send you out for shopping?"

"Mhm," Michiko nodded. "She's feeling better, but I forced her to stay in bed, heehee…"

"And who might this pretty girl be?" Minna chimed in suddenly.

"O-Oh… I'm Michiko, Yoshika's cousin…" she replied quietly.

"Ah, so you're Yoshika's family!" Erica started shaking her hand. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Erica!"

"Watch out, she'll try to bum some sweets off you…" Trude whispered theatrically.

"Meanie…" Erica mumbled. "Anyway, Yoshika, tell me what to pick! Everything here looks so… different."

"Oh well, let's start with something simple…"

As Yoshika started talking to the storeowner, Minna took Michiko to the side and asked, "Will you have some free time about two and a half hours from now?"

"Well… It will be after dinner already, but it will be close do supper…"

Minna whispered something rather lengthy into Michiko's ear, to which the Fusojin replied, "I'll see if it's possible, ma'am."

"Good girl," Minna smiled. "Now, shoo, I believe you have a sick mother."

Michiko nodded and said, "Indeed. Yoshika, bye!"

"Oh, you're going already? What a shame…"

"Maybe we'll see each other later, okay?"

"Well, if you can, please visit me later! It's boring in school as it is even with you!"

"Haha! Okay, Yoshika!" Michiko laughed and ran out of the store.

"Trudy, Trudy!" Erica waved three skewers with tri-colored hanami dango.

"I said that I'll buy you something, and I implied ONE," Trude replied adamantly.

"Buuuut Truuuuudyyyy…" Erica bawled close to tears.

"I don't have enough money anyway…" she averted her gaze from Erica quickly after checking the prices.

"You go on a trip with barely enough money?" Minna asked. "Trude, that's unfit of a True Soldier of Karlsland, you know? What if you wanted to buy a nice souvenir for Chris with that paltry change you have?"

Trude's face burned up, as she couldn't even cough up one word.

"I know that you're sending money home, but you can't just live off army provisions all the time…" Minna said softly and patted Trude on the back. "Erica, I'm buying that and more for all of us."

"Woohoo!" Erica shouted. "Yoshika, pick something for us!"

"O-O-Okay!"

"You sure bought a lot of sweets, Miss Minna," Yoshika said as they ventured down the streets laden with sweets. "Taking some to your home base?"

"Let's say so," she winked. "Say, why are the streets decorated like this?" she asked as she pointed out the decorations hanging around, most prominent on store fronts.

"Oh!" Yoshika gasped. "Today's the Shichi-Go-San festival! There will be a big celebration for everyone this year, apart from the ceremony in the temple! I totally forgot!"

"Food?!" Erica almost spat out the dango she had in her mouth.

"Stalls with food, games, souvenirs…"

"Souvenirs…" Trude muttered to herself.

"… and fireworks!" Yoshika cheered.

"What's the festival about?" Minna asked.

"It's a rite of passage for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys," Yoshika explained. "Back in the days there were more rituals then what there is now, but… Well, that's irrelevant right now, Miss Minna. Ah drat, I so want to go there…"

"There's really nothing holding us back from it," Minna said. "I guess we should go to your place and dump everything?"

"Oh, to the clinic? I think mom would agree…" Yoshika pondered. "But we still have to wait for Miss Sakamoto, definitely!"

"We will, don't worry," Minna smiled. "Onwards, to the Miyafuji household."

"Man, did we take a scenic route…" Trude sighed as they approached a small clinic building on the outskirts of Yokosuka.

"I wanted to show as much as possible," Yoshika said proudly. "How much time did we kill, Miss Minna?"

"Mio should be here in ten minutes, if she's not here already," the red headed Karlslander responded after checking her watch.

"Scenic route indeed…" Erica muttered." My feet hurt!"

"I think dinner should be ready by now…" Yoshika pondered. "Oh, but there's no way Mom knew about you coming… Awwww… I'll feel bad stuffing my belly…"

"You never know," Minna shrugged.

"Well, if it comes down to it, I'll do a quick improv!" Yoshika cheered and opened the door. "Tadaima!"

"Okaeri." Sayaka peered over from the living room. "Come in everyone, dinner's ready."

Yoshika looked dumbfounded at her mother, who in turned giggled and asked, "They didn't tell you yet, did they?"

"Tell me what?" Yoshika now turned her gaze to Minna.

"Well, Trude and Erica don't know anything, so it would be an even bigger surprise. The thing is that we indeed were sent here to procure Fuso specific supplies for our base in Sint-Truiden, but at the same time, we, that is Mio and I, decided to make a little surprise for you, so you wouldn't feel lonely, or be sad that we were here and didn't visit you," Minna explained calmly. "Like it?"

Yoshika quickly hugged Minna and said, "Yes, very much… Thank you, Miss Minna…"

Minna patted her on the back and said, "Sadly I couldn't organize more of the girls from the 501st, but I guess we're enough, right?"

"Oh of course!" Yoshika cheered and looked behind Sayaka. "Oh, hi Grandma."

"Welcome back, Yoshika. Your friends?" she pointed at the Karlslanders.

"Yes, from the time in Britannia! This is…"

"Minna Dietlinde-Wilcke, pleased to meet you, ma'am," Minna introduced herself politely.

"Gertrud Barkhorn, it's a pleasure to be here!" Trude saluted.

"And I'm Erica Hartmann, and I want to eat already!"

Trude gave her a light knock on the head and said, "Behave you…"

"Oh, my my… No need to fight, ladies," Sayaka giggled. "The food is hot and plentiful, come on."

"But Mom, Miss Sakamoto is still absent!" Yoshika protested.

Suddenly, the front door opened and Michiko appeared, saying, "Ojamashimasu…"

"Oh, Michiko!? Why are you here?!" Yoshika wondered aloud.

"She's with me," a familiar voice said and Mio appeared from behind Michiko. "It's a party now, heheh…"

"Michiko? When were you let on this?" Yoshika tilted her head.

"Just a few hours ago, heehee… You were so busy choosing sweets with Miss Hartmann that Miss Wilcke had no problem with adding me to the 'roster'," Michiko explained with disarming honesty.

"You sneaks…" Yoshika giggled. "All that just for me?"

"Yes, everything for you, Miyafuji," Mio said. "Now, pardon the bluntness, but I want to eat."

"Ah, finally someone understands!" Erica shouted making everyone, even Trude, laugh heartily.

Yoshika quickly ran back into the living room, and saw that the table was brimming with food

"Okay, now this is nice!" Yoshika smiled, and they all started eating.

Halfway through the meal, everyone who Yoshiko didn't know introduced themselves, and after everything, Sayaka said, "Yoshika, lead your guests to your room, okay?"

"Kay! Come on, everyone!"

"You're forgetting yourself, Miyafuji…" Mio huffed.

"Oh Mio, it's her house after all," Minna patted the gruff Fusojin on the shoulder. "Continue please, Miyafuji."

"Right!"

She led the whole lot to her room, and almost immediately, she noticed something out of place.

"A second futon?" she asked herself.

"The last part of our little secret," Minna explained. "We, that is us three, will be staying with you for the night, Yoshika. Sadly, your dear mother didn't have more beddings, so we'll have to cuddle up in pairs, heehee…"

"Oh, dibs on Miyafuji!" Erica cheered.

"Wah!" Yoshika shrieked.

"Woah, what was that for a reaction?" Erica asked.

"Heh, sorry… I somehow drifted to Francesca with my mind…" Yoshika laughed dryly. "I have nothing against it, Hartmann."

"S-So we sleep together?" Trude asked while looking baffled at Minna.

"Oh come on, Trude… We're not children, but we aren't exactly a certain pair from our unit, are we?"

"Well… Sorta…"

"So this is your Papa?" Erica asked suddenly, wielding a framed photo she picked up from the desk standing before the window.

"Didn't I show you a photo back in Britannia?" Mio asked.

"Uhhh… Dunno?"

"Well yes, that's my father," Yoshika interrupted with a smile. "As a matter of fact, my room is his old study. When I was younger, I just slept with Mom and Grandma in one room."

"Hey, Yoshika," Michiko chimed in. "How much time do we have until we go to the festival?"

"Uhhh… We should go out when it starts getting dark." Yoshika looked out of the window, seeing that the sun was setting in its orange glory. "Well then…"

The door to the room slid open, and Sayaka entered, carrying a stack of yukatas almost as high she stood.

"I have something for you, girls," she mused and continued, "I'll be right back."

"Oh Mom…" Yoshika said warmly. "I guess we should start getting clothed already."

Trude approached the stack and picked out the yukata from the top with a sour face.

"Ugh… It's cold outside and…" she stopped midsentence and looked around her, sensing some malicious intent. "Uh, guys?"

Everyone besides Micchan was looking at her with ravenous eyes, making her highly uncomfortable.

"Let's play dress up, Miss Barkhorn…" Yoshika said with a distant voice.

"Yes, Trudy, let's…" Erica followed in the same manner.

"Y-You won't!" Trude exclaimed in panic as she crept towards the door backwards.

"We will," Minna said.

"You won't!" Trude grabbed the door behind her and opened it.

As she turned around quickly, she saw Sayaka with another stack, this time containing traditional sandals, socks, some warm underwear, and obi wrapping.

"Oh my, where are you rushing?" Sayaka asked.

"Nowhere!" the girls yelled as they seized Trude.

"Mom, you can go now," Yoshika said.

"Kids…" she giggled and went her way, sealing the door shut.

"No, don't leave meee…" Trude whimpered.

"And there you go - a Karlslander nadeshiko!" Yoshika cheered as she put a hairpin donned with an orange blossom into Trude's hair.

"I want to cry…" Trude mumbled.

"Well, I do admit that Erica spinning you around using an obi was too much…" Minna looked at the blonde with a smirk. "Buuut you really look nice."

"Is there a mirror here, or am I committing social suicide in a blind way?"

Yoshika pulled out a mirror out of the drawer, and put it up so that Trude could see her face.

"Oh… Oh my…" Trude gasped. "Is that really me?"

She looked amazed at her subtle but noticeable makeup, and her quickly redone hairdo. Trude grabbed the mirror and tilted it, so she could see her violet yukata with white floral patterns, tied up in the waist with a violet obi.

"You can breathe," Minna giggled. "Girls, we should get dressed too, since we tortured Trude for too long."

"Yes ma'am!" everyone including Mio saluted.

"I'm pretty…" Trude touched her cheek gently, as if afraid her face could shatter.

"Done," Michiko said as she tied up Mio. "Not too tight?"

"No, it's okay," Mio responded softly. "Everyone ready?" she said and looked around the room, enjoying the colorful exposition.

"Ready!" the girls cheered.

"Let's go then! We're late already!"

The group bundled up neatly and went towards the door leading outside of the clinic.

"Yoshika, just return before midnight, okay?" Sayaka said.

"Mom, we'll probably return before ten, don't worry. I'm a big girl now!"

"Still, you're my only child," she giggled. "Take care of her, Mio."

Mio saluted with two fingers saying, "Roger that, Miss Miyafuji."

"And take these," Sayaka said and presented them with a slew of paper lamps hung on a stick, a box of matches, and spare candles.

"Oh Mom…" Yoshika said baffled. "You thought of everything…"

The girls lit their lanterns and went out into the brisk late afternoon.

The group was approaching the matsuri grounds with moderate speed, pondering upon the endless rows of lanterns directing the people the right way, and the clamor of the crowd attending the festivities. Children were running around freely, all with their small lanterns and/or candy apples in their hands, and some with masks on their faces.

"I never felt such a magical atmosphere…" Trude sighed in wonder. "The dim lighting of the colorful lanterns, all the beautiful clothes, the smell of good food…"

"Right, food!" Erica cheered. "My Fresseradar is pinging like mad!"

"Way to ruin the mood…" Trude muttered. "Ah, I have to buy something for Chris! Damn!"

As Trude started running around frantically, Minna said, "I wonder when she'll return to me for some money to borrow for an indefinite period of time…"

"One minute," Erica said. "Oh, and while we're at the topic of money…" Erica put her open hand forward towards Minna.

Minna reached into her left sleeve, and put some money into Erica's hand saying, "Don't overdo it. I'm serious."

"Okay!" Erica ran off to the nearest food stall.

"Jeeeeez…" Mio sighed. "The two may be from different parishes, but they sure are from one denomination…"

"Ho, nice analogy, Miss Sakamoto!" Yoshika said. "Even I understood."

"Shouldn't you and Yamakawa be running after those two?" Mio asked.

"Ah yes! Michiko, come on, I'm in a spending mood!" she pulled the sleeve of her cousin's yukata and both ran away from the older witches.

"Wanted to be alone with me, Mio?" Minna asked. "How crafty of you."

"The kids are too loud. Let's enjoy this in a more adult manner."

"Do I need to remind you that you have a weak head?" Minna mused.

"You're exaggerating…" Mio waved her hand sideways.

"This?" Trude picked up a mask of a bunny. "Or this?" she looked at a tengu mask. "Or maybe this?" she in turn looked at a pair of clogs. "Ah damn it! I don't know what to buy."

"Oi, jō-chan, what's the matter?" the stall master asked. "Can't make up your mind?"

"Ah yes… Err… My younger sister needs a present and… Errr…"

The old man disappeared under the counter for a second, and he returned with a small box in his hand. He lifted the lid, and revealed a pair of violet ribbons with lacquer azaleas on each one. Trude's eyes sparkled and she asked, "How much?!"

"How much do you have on you?"

"I have nothing, but I can return with something! Just give me a few seconds!"

"Ten Reichsmarken," he said.

"Deal, please wait a second!" Trude shouted and ran back to Minna. "Minna! Ten RM please! Please!"

"Hoho, what a pricey souvenir you've picked up for Chris… At least show me, okay?"

"Okay, okay! Please, money!" Trude almost shouted nervously.

Minna dug out a bill with the Kaisers eagle on the back of it, and gave it to her.

Trude ran back to the stall and presented the bill like a trophy.

"Sasuga…" the man clapped his hands. "And here you go."

Trude took the box with the ribbons like a holy relic and she yet again ran back to Minna.

"You needed ten RM for a box?" Mio asked slyly.

"Oh…" Trude rolled her eyes and lifted the lid.

"Mmmmhmmm…" Mio nodded. "Beautiful, I must say. Maybe a bit overpriced, but it's a pretty thing. Chris will most likely be happy."

"You bet it!" Trude shook her fist into the air.

Minna dug into her sleeve for the third time and gave Trude some pocket change.

"Now, go and buy something for yourself, Trude."

"Oh… When will I repay all of this…" Trude mumbled with slightly red cheeks.

"One day for sure," Minna smiled. "Off you go."

Trude saluted and yet again ran off her way.

"Let's find some beer while there's a sliver of hope for serenity…" Mio sighed.

Erica was strolling around with a small bag full of assorted candy, with a small bag decorated with a crane and a turtle peeking out of it, and chomping off a big candy apple on a stick. When she was passing one of the stands, her gaze fixed itself on one item.

"Hey, boss!" Erica cheered. "One pack of them sparklers!"

"Oho, a cute gaijin girl! Where are you from?"

"Karlsland," Erica said proudly. "I'm a witch."

"Ah, then it's on the house," the man said and passed on the package to Erica.

"Thanks!"

Erica pulled out one of the sparklers immediately, and lit it from one of the lanterns. Or at least she tried to.

"Why is this not working…" she muttered.

And then, green sparkles started going off the top of the item with great intensity.

"Woah, it works!" she cheered and walked down the alley triumphantly, holding her new toy above her head.

"Drat…" Michiko muttered as another small carp escaped her clutches. "These paper films are too fragile…" she sulked and threw another spent ring on the ground near a shallow water basin.

"I'll catch you one, Michiko!" Yoshika said passionately. "One more!"

The stall owner gave her another small metal ring with a paper film inside and a handle to operate it. Yoshika concentrated herself as if it was a fight with a Neuroi, and she swiped across the surface of the water with a quick horizontal motion.

"Waaaaah! You did it!" Michiko cheered as she saw a miniature koi carp fluttering on the paper film.

"Well then," the stall owner said, took a small jar filled with water and scooped the carp inside of it. "You won it fair and square."

"Thank you!" Michiko said with relief.

"Another one to the pond, heheh…" Yoshika giggled. "We should start joining the rest soon, I think the fireworks will be starting in some time."

Michiko nodded, and both of them went on.

"I tell yuw… Hic… Srsly… Day Miyafuji is somethin diffrint…" Mio muttered in a drunk stupor.

Only one beer and she's gone… Oh my, oh my… You poor soul… Guess you'll have to crash with us nevertheless, heh…

"Yes, Mio, of course she is. You picked her yourself after all."

"Damn right! It wuz me, Mio Shakamoto!" she slowly stood up. "I'll shaw evrywun whoz the besht!"

She suddenly ran off with great speed, shouting, "Miyafuji is the best! Miyafuji is the best!"

"Oh my…" Minna sighed, finished her third beer, and put the money on the table.

"Thank you for your patronage!" the man operating the beer stall shouted behind her.

"Preeeeetttyyyyy…" Erica, Michiko, and Yoshika gasped in sync as Trude showed her purchase.

"Chris will shower you with kisses for sure," Erica nodded.

"Oh come on…" Trude blushed.

"Miyafuji is the best!" A sudden shout pierced the air.

"Huh? What was that?" Michiko asked.

Lo and behold, Mio ran out of the rabble and seeing Yoshika, she grabbed her, lifted her up and asked, "Miyafuji, do you know that you're the best?!"

"W-What?" Yoshika stuttered.

"The best witch in the world!"

"B-But Miss S-Sakamoto…"

Mio's body subdued to the alcohol she ingested, and she slowly collapsed to the ground. Trude caught her, and Erica supported Yoshika.

"Sheesh, she smells like a brewery…" Trude said with a sour face.

"What was that about?" Yoshika asked.

"Mio has a really weak head," Minna said as she came closer. "But that's a secret, so…"

"I understand," Yoshika smiled, and at the same time, she saw a colorful line climbing up the dark sky.

Five seconds later, a green explosion appeared with an accompanying bang. Mio opened her eyes, muttered, "Hanabi…?", and fell asleep.

"Let's watch the fireworks, and we're going home," Minna commanded.

"Roger," the girls nodded.

"My, my, somebody sure knows how to party…" Sayaka said and giggled as she saw Trude walking through the door with the sleeping Mio on her back.

"Uh, yeah…"

"I guess I'll have to break out the super-emergency futon…" Sayaka sighed. "Go to sleep, girls."

"Okay, Mom. Good night." Yoshika smiled.

"Good night, Yoshika," Sayaka said and disappeared into the living room.

The four of them went to Yoshika's room, and Trude could finally rest, after laying down Mio.

"Oooof… Dead weight…" she sighed. "Ah crap… We have to strip her now…"

"Strip?" Yoshika raised an eyebrow. "I can do that."

"Thanks, Miyafuji, I'm beat as it is…" Trude muttered.

Yoshika undid the yukata Mio was wearing swiftly, and when she felt that the occasion is right, she covertly grabbed one of Mio's breasts.

Heehee... It's so soft and firm… Not like my mosquito bites…

"Having fun?" Minna's whisper sent down a chill down her spine.

"M-M-M-M-Miss Minna… T-T-T-This i-i-i-isn't w-w-w-what…"

"Oh of course it isn't. You're just fixing Mio's bra, so she's comfortable, right?"

Yoshika could only laugh dryly in her own defense.

The door opened, and Sayaka came in with a futon, saying, "Here it is, girls. Have a good night."

"And a good night to you, Miss Miyafuji," Minna said.

"Ehhh…" she sighed. "Miss… What a grim reminder…"

After the door closed, Minna asked Yoshika, "Did I do something wrong?"

"Mom has her small fall backs… She still loves dad, even though he's been dead for five years," Yoshika explained calmly.

"Pot meet kettle…" Minna muttered to herself.

"Hmm?" Yoshika tilted her head.

"Nothing, Miyafuji, nothing… Let's get to sleep already, even I'm beat, and I did have my beers after all."

A few minutes later, the girls were tucked in their beddings.

"Hey, Miyafuji, think we should embrace or something?" Erica asked.

"Well, it is a bit tight… That would save some space…"

Erica was proactive, as she immediately used the occasion to hug Miyafuji.

"Wow, it's so warm right now… Maybe a bit less…" Erica said and loosened her embrace just a little bit.

"Oh, now it's really okay," Yoshika said. "Oyasumi, Hartmann."

"Guten Nacht, Miyafuji."

"This is embarrassing… It's tight, our boobs are touching, not to mention our…" Trude shuddered only a meter away from Yoshika and Erica.

"Don't be such a prudy, Trudy," Minna giggled. "It's not like we're doing anything, right? We're just sleeping like two best friends."

"Two best friends…" Trude said softly. "Yeah, what the hell am I thinking about? Night, Minna."

"Good night, Trude."

Mio opened her eyes and only saw darkness.

Where am I? It feels soft… A futon? I'm sleeping somewhere? Shit, I don't remember returning home… I only remember drinking with Minna and… Woah shit… Oh shit… Oh shit oh shit oh shit! It's Urajio all over again!

She waited until her eye adapted to the darkness, and she quickly snuck out of the room.

This is Miyafuji's house, no doubt about that. My mouth feels like sand paper, bleh… I guess I'll make myself welcome and see if I can drink some water from the kitchen tap…

Mio trotted silently through the house, but then she heard some noises in the kitchen. She peered inside, and saw that Sayaka was at full swing at the frying pan.

What hour is it, damn it!? I never got up so late!

Mio put on a pleasant face and said, "Good morning."

Sayaka turned around and said, "Ah, good morning, Mio. Want some water?"

Mio grabbed her head and said, "A bit quieter, please…"

"Heh…" Sayaka smiled and gave Mio a glass of cold water. "Here you go."

"Thank you…" Mio mumbled and downed the glass in one go.

"So, what did you do to end in such a state?" Sayaka asked.

"I don't know…"

"Well, that only means you did a lot, heehee..."

"I seriously don't remember…" Mio sighed.

Suddenly Erica appeared, and the first thing she did was visibly inhaling air, and putting her hands on the sides of her mouth. But before anybody of the two could react, Trude covered her mouth saying, "Sakamoto would kill you."

"Fpoilfpowt…" Erica mumbled disappointed. "Gid moaning."

"Good morning." Sayaka smiled. "Breakfast will be ready in five."

"Ugh, breakfast with guests, how long has it been?" Yoshiko wandered into the kitchen stealthily.

"Micchan stayed over a month before Yoshika went to Brittania," Sayaka responded.

"The young Yamakawa doesn't count," Yoshiko answered disgruntled. "I mean real guests."

"Mmmm…" Sayaka made a sad face. "It was at the provisory funeral of Ichiro, when his cousin had to stay over…"

"There you go," Yoshiko nodded.

"Why is Mom so sad?" Yoshika asked, appearing with Minna.

"Oh, I'm just a bit sad that our guests have to leave…" Sayaka responded without missing a beat.

"Don't worry, Miss Miyafuji, we'll be calling from now on," Minna said with a warm smile.

"We will?" Trude and Erica asked in accord.

"We will," Minna repeated. "Yoshika is our comrade after all."

"Well, after yesterday, I sure started liking her a bit more…" Trude started muttering with slightly red cheeks.

"I never thought about it, heheh…" Erica laughed dryly. "Sorry, Miyafuji."

"You have your duties," Yoshika shrugged nonchalantly. "And now, I'm back to being a normal schoolgirl. We all have our responsibilities, which reminds me of something…"

"Schooool…" Sayaka mused.

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwww…" Yoshika moaned. "And I bet I missed some homework… Ehhhh…"

"You had fun, why bother," Erica shrugged. "You can copy your homework from somebody else."

"Lieber Gott, Erica…" Trude sighed. "How is she supposed to grow up as a respected member of the society if you outright endorse cheating?!"

"I did it all the time with Ursula…" Erica puffed her cheeks.

"Case and point."

"Now now, everyone," Sayaka said, "At least refresh yourselves a bit before breakfast."

"Me too?" Yoshiko asked.

"No, you don't have to, Mom," the visibly cheerful Sayaka giggled.

"Well, that's that," Minna said. "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Miyafuji, but we have to go already. It was a great pleasure visiting the home of such a famous man, really."

"And I'm glad I managed to meet some of Yoshika's friends in person, and that she herself could meet you. My motherly heart is at peace right now," Sayaka responded. "Now, Yoshika, you need to prepare for school. Don't worry about the room, I'll clean it up. Just walk with your friends to the place at where you're halfway between school and the naval base."

"That's what I wanted to do, Mom," Yoshika smiled and ran off to her room.

"Hey, Miyafuji, help me dress!" Erica ran after her.

"Over my dead body!" Trude yelled.

"Kids…" Minna, Mio, Sayaka, and Yoshiko sighed in sync.

After ten minutes of walking, Yoshika said, "We're at the point now…"

When she turned around, she saw that the Karlslanders had their right hands placed in on each other's in one spot.

"So, what will it be, Miyafuji?" Erica asked. "A friendly roar as a goodbye, or a few mushy words?"

Yoshika laughed and asked, "But what should we shout?"

"You know what a witch can't do?" Mio asked.

The gathered snickered, and when Yoshika placed her hand with the Karlslanders, all of them shouted, "Nothing!" and raised their hands together, laughing wildly.

"Goodbye, everyone, this visit really meant a lot to me," Yoshika said with tears slowly flowing down her cheeks. "I know I said that I don't want to have anything to do with the military, but… You're my friends, and…"

"Oh Miyafuji…" Minna patted her on the head. "Military or not, we're friends and witches and human beings. Now, go, or you'll be late."

Yoshika nodded, and ran off.

"I wonder if I should have told her that Perrine and Lynne are on a cruise ship to Yokosuka…" Mio pondered.

"A surprise loses its power once revealed," Minna said. "And Miyafuji looks like she needs a surprise like that dearly…"

Yoshika was looking out of the window again, just like yesterday, but she wasn't looking at the ground. Relentlessly, she looked at the sky, waiting for that one plane. And then, she saw the majestic Karlslander airboat soaring towards the east.

Goodbye, my friends… Goodbye, but not farewell, because we're living on one planet, in one world, connected under one sky… The sky which will one day be free…

Inspiration can come out of anything. The catalyst for the birth of this fic was a fanart depicting Trudy in a half-undid yukata, with Yoshika 'helping' her dress.