Hey, and welcome to the second half of this arc. Did you miss us?
Anyways, before we go into this conclusion, a quick announcement: I'm going to start streaming on Twitch, so if you're interested in checking me out feel free to search for the channel "NeuroiHunterRS" (it'll have a similar picture to the one I use for my FFN profile, though don't expect it to be adjusted until at least Monday, December 3; if you decide to at least look before the announced stream, which I'll give in a bit, it's a picture of a Fliegerhummer). I'll be having my first stream on Wednesday, December 5 at...let's say 2 pm PST, with a challenge run for Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 (will announce what the challenge it in the beginning). Do be warned: I'm going to be new at this, and while I have at least set some filters for the microphone via OBS, this is going to be a learning experience as we go, but we're here to have a good time. I hope. I don't really have any rage games apart from maybe FNaF, but as said my first official stream day is Wednesday after this update, so hope to see some of you then if you're curious.
Anyways, on to the chapter to finish this arc!
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Chapter 10: Ice and Snow (Part 2)
Roland's POV
"And...that's your plan?" I asked Yoshika once she told us her plan. Well, plans, but…
"Yep!" The little Fuso Witch replied happily.
"So to recap…" Minna began.
Especially for readers, who haven't heard anything about it, Lionelis ad-libbed.
"Roland's job is to get Sanya and keep her busy and entertained until, say, two o'clock, whereupon we'll all hold a meeting and have the two stay behind until they make up?"
"Yeah," Yoshika said. "Roland-kun is rather comforting with her, so it should work."
"What about Eila, huh?" I asked her.
"Well...I think I can ask Sakamoto if she can make Eila practice sword swings. I have to get some more training in anyways so Ōramaru doesn't get dusty." She then indicated the katana on her back.
Huh...I forgot about that blade. Mind must be slipping.
"Oh." I told her.
"So are we clear about our plans?" Minna asked.
"Yeah. Distract Sanya, keep her entertained until that meeting."
"Alright. Just...be careful. And don't bring up the issue or the meeting, okay?"
"Alright. I'll...try not to snap at Eila either if I see her."
"Okay." Minna then smiled. "You're dismissed, dear. Miyafuji...I'd like to talk about our end a bit more."
"Oh," Yoshika replied. "Okay, ma'am."
"I'll see you in the room, Minna," I told Minna as I left the room.
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Some time later, Minna entered the room as I was finishing getting dressed.
"Hey," she greeted.
"Hello again, dear," I told her before I sat on the bed. "How did that talk with Yoshika about the plan on your end go?"
"I'm not at liberty to share. But suffice to say that the plan remains unchanged. We'll have the meeting at two."
"Oh. Alright then." Minna then started getting undressed. "Do you...think Eila and Sanya are going to make up after this?"
"Hmm?" Minna slid off her outer jacket as her hands reached for the buttons on her undershirt. "That depends, Roland. Do you think they will?"
"I...dunno. I mean, they did after that time in Romagna, but…" What if, this time, it's really irreversible? I'm not even completely understanding what's going on with them apart from an argument.
Minna soon stood there in only her undergarments as she soon walked over to me and, kneeling down to my current level on the bed, hugged me. "It'll be fine. Remember, we had some rough patches before we got together, and it didn't really affect anything. You just have to believe in Miyafuji's plan, alright?"
Believe in Yoshika's plan? I...think I can. Or...I have no choice but to. It's the only idea we have that's at least addressing the problem. "Okay. I will. Let's try our best to get them back on good terms."
"Even better: we'll make sure that they do." Minna soon moved around to the other side of our bed before laying down under the blanket. "Now, best get some sleep. We'll be busy tomorrow."
"Alright, dear." I got myself under the blanket as well, minding the fact that Minna was next to me a bit before my girlfriend grabbed my right arm. "Alright, I'm guessing you want to cuddle again?"
"Yep. Still got a few more days left to catch up on, so…" Minna smiled.
I soon rolled myself so that I was facing the wing commander before I embraced her in a hug, bringing her in close. "You...feel so warm, Minna…"
"We're under the blanket, Roland, but...it is getting close to winter. Think you can keep us warm?" Minna grinned slyly.
"...It's a group effort, you know? But yeah...we're in this together. Literally; we're in the same bed."
Yes you are, Lionelis told me.
"Yes, yes, Lio…" I then watched as Minna closed her eyes and, thinking of a way to get in a last action before going to sleep, decided to kiss her on the forehead. "Night, Minna."
"Good night...Roland…"
I soon closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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Charlotte's POV
This was the morning that we would let the others know about our...trial dating period. Well, officially: Draco did tell some of the others (I think it was Miyafuji's group) since we forgot the breakfast before, but...I talked to them about it once he told me and they agreed to not say anything until we officially told the team.
...Maybe we should just consider it truly dating? It's a bit hard to tell sometimes, but...it is something that makes me happy. As such was the case for me bouncing along next to Draco.
"You're acting like Lucchini, Shirley…" Draco told me. "Did you two switch bodies?"
"No, Leo, I'm still me," I told him giddily. "It's just...you know how I get when it comes to new tech like the Jet Striker when I first see it?" My boyfriend-in-trial (I'll workshop the name after a while) nodded in understanding. "Well, think of it like that, but it's telling the other girls that we're a couple. Even if...only for now." I faltered a bit.
"Hey, don't worry, Shirley. Remember, we'll still be friends if you choose someone else over me. Remember that promise?"
"Yeah…" I smiled. "I think I'll decide once we liberate Karlsland. That way, you won't have to wait a few years for me to decide, okay?"
"You sure you'll be able to go that long? I won't mind an answer now. But that might push me to the friendzone instantly, so...best to wait for now."
"Right!" I resumed my giddiness so far, even noticing that Draco was watching my breasts bounce up and down a bit. "Hey, you're entranced by these babies?" I pointed to them.
"Kinda? I mean, I am a boy, but...to be honest, I never really imagined you having the cup size you have right now. It's a bit...odd…"
I giggled. "Hey, I'm proud of these. Not many can reach this size of volume or bounciness."
"Yankee, it would be helpful to keep comments like that to yourself…" we heard Barkhorn say as she and Hartmann appeared from behind us.
"Morning, Captain Barkhorn and Lieutenant Hartmann," Draco greeted them.
"Good morning~" Hartmann replied.
"Aw, you're just jealous that mine are at this size while yours aren't there yet," I said to Barkhorn teasingly.
"That works better on Clostermann, Yeager," my fellow female captain retorted. "Besides, what got you so giddy?"
"You'll find out when we get to breakfast, ma'am," Draco said.
"That doesn't help me get an answer, but as long as you follow through…" Barkhorn then sighed. "Since we ran into each other, let's head to the dining hall as a group."
"Um...fine by me?"
We soon started our trip to the dining hall.
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When we arrived, we could see that everyone else had arrived, including Lucchini. The seating placement was a bit...weird, though: I mean, Commander Minna and Roland sitting next to each other makes sense. Same with Miyafuji and Lynne. But...the weird area was that Eila was on the opposite side of the table from Sanya, who was seated next to Miyafuji. And not even straight across from her; there were about three seats' difference from Sanya's across spot and where Eila was seated.
"That's a bit...odd," I noted to Draco as Barkhorn and Hartmann took a seat.
"Yeah," Draco replied as he looked at the table and the large variety of food on it. "Normally, there isn't a lot of stuff on the table for breakfast…"
I gave him an unamused look. "Not that, Leo. Eila and Sanya's seating positions."
Draco looked back at the scene again. "Oh. That's what you meant…"
"Yeah. Any ideas?"
"Maybe...they just want to focus? I dunno…" my boyfriend-in-trial shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe...oh well, best go eat." We took our seat.
"Morning, Shirley!" Miyafuji greeted us once we sat down.
"Drakey!" Lucchini added.
"You're just in time for breakfast, you four," Commander Minna told us as she looked at us.
"Yeah," I told her. "Listen...after breakfast, can Draco and I make an announcement?"
"Oh? What kind of announcement?"
"You'll see, ma'am."
"Alright. After breakfast, okay? I have an announcement as well."
"Okay."
We soon started eating, and about fifteen minutes later, we were all finished and with full stomachs before Commander Minna stood up.
"Alright, girls and boys," she began. "We have a few announcements. Firstly, we will be having a meeting at two to discuss a potential plan. I hope to see you all in the meeting room at two so we can discuss it. Second, Shirley would like to make an announcement of her own." She then looked at me. "Shirley?"
I stood up and cleared my throat. "Well...it's rather important for me, so…" I then blushed a bit. I have no idea how I'm going to actually say that Draco and I are dating, in a sense. I mean...if it was me showing off my motorcycle, that's a different story.
Though maybe I could…
No! Draco's not a machine!
"Shirley?" Roland asked me. "Is it what I'm thinking…?"
"Hmm?" I asked as I was snapped out of my thoughts. "Oh! Well...I have no simpler way of putting it, so...Draco and I...we're dating."
The table got a bit silent before one of us had a reaction.
"Huh?" Hartmann asked in surprise.
"...It means that she and Draco are in the same boat as Minna and myself, Erica..." Roland told her.
This part the blond-haired Karlsland ace seemed to understand better, though judging by the reaction she was still shocked. "Hah?!"
"Yeah," I said. "It...happened the day Draco got his memories back."
"Hmm?" Minna asked this time. She then looked at Draco. "Is this true, sergeant?"
"Yep," Draco replied. "Strangely enough, I still retain the memories I had made between the time after the accident and two days before now."
"I see...I'm glad to hear that. It's good to be up to full strength as of right now." She then cleared her throat. "In other news, at fourteen hundred hours today, we will be having a meeting. But before that...Eila?"
"Hmm?" Eila asked.
"I would like you to come in about thirty minutes after. Same for Sanya and Roland."
"Eh?" Eila looked confused. "Why thirty minutes after?"
I'm kinda curious too...it'd be one thing for the three to come in early, but...later?
"It's...not much," Commander Minna said. "There's a bit I wanted to ask the others about, and...well, it'd be best for neither of you or Roland to be there."
"Okay…" Eila soon thought it over.
"So I guess we're on slight alert just in case?" Roland asked.
"Yes. Until then, please relax a bit."
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Roland's POV
After Minna and Shirley made the announcements they wanted to, I watched as we started to separate to go our separate ways.
Hmm...how the hell am I supposed to keep Sanya busy? I could tell her stories...maybe sing a song or two...find a flute…
...Maybe a ball for me to practice water polo shots?
"Roland-kun?" Sanya's voice asked me. When I turned my head to look at her, she was to my left, making me recoil in surprise.
"Sanya!" I said quickly. "Hi!"
"Hey...can we talk a bit?"
"Huh?" Actually...that's perfect! I can keep Sanya entertained! "Uh, sure!" I then glanced over to Eila...only to find her seeming like she was huffing before she left the area with Shizuka (um...why?).
"Roland-kun?"
I looked back at Sanya, who looked a bit concerned...or is she miffed? "Sorry, was thinking of something…you wanted to talk, right?"
"Yeah…" Sanya then nodded.
"I'm guessing that you'll choose the location?"
XXXXXXXXXX
...Well, at least the rec room is about par for the course.
"So...exactly why did you approach me for talking?" I chose to ask as Sanya was seated on a couch we had in here. I was busy staring out a window at the forest around us.
"Hmm?" Sanya asked. "Oh...I wanted to ask if you were still...alright from yesterday."
With Eila? "Why are you wondering that?"
"Well...you seem like you were somewhat still focusing on it, Roland-kun…"
"Sorry...I guess I'm just worried that you were berating yourself mentally or something…"
"It's okay. I'm fine. Eila and I just...get like this sometimes."
"...You do realize that the last time it was like this from my memories, I got mad at both of you, right?"
Sanya blushed a bit. "Yeah...please don't bring it up, Roland-kun…"
I sighed. "Alright." Hmm...how to keep Sanya busy still…
I glanced around the room, hoping to find a board game or something that I could play with her, but...there seems to have been nothing. Well…
My eyes soon fell onto the grand piano in the rec room.
That's it!
"Hey, uh...Sanya?" I chose to ask. "Do you mind...if I listen to a song you know how to play on the piano?"
"Hmm?" Sanya asked, curious. "How come?"
"I...haven't heard your piano playing in quite a while…" It's somewhat true. When was the last time I heard her play the piano? Or...anyone play a piano, really?
"Oh. Well...I can play a song or two for you, if you want."
"Could you? Maybe after you could...teach me how to play it a bit?"
Sanya nodded. "Okay, Roland-kun. Um…" I then watched as she walked over to the grand piano and, sitting down at it, lifted the keyboard case and lifted the grand piano's top a bit. Thinking quickly, I rushed over to help her out, grabbing the top and, upon locating a prop for it, pinning it so that it was open. "Thank you."
"No problem."
"Now...anything you'd like me to play?"
"Well...any...classical music? I mean, usually when I think of a piano, I think Bach or Beethoven…"
"Oh. My father taught me a few a long time ago. Hmm...could you look around for some sheet music?"
"Sheet music? Uh, sure!" Why does she want sheet music? Unless...it's for me when she's teaching me?
It took me a bit to find some, but I managed to find some, placing them on the piano stand.
"Thank you, Roland-kun," Sanya told me, looking around for a particular sheet music before she found one. "Here we go. 'Für Elise'. Ready?" She set it on the stand and studied it for a bit, as if trying to remember the keys she needed to press.
"Uh, yeah." I then looked at the piano. "When you're ready, San."
Soon, Sanya started playing the song.
...I remember listening to this a bit. I had always wondered what it was when I had, so...this is "Für Elise"?
Soon, about fifty seconds after she started, the song started getting a more...playful vibe before it went a bit slow and then returned to the beginning notes. After the repeat, it sounded more...risky? Adventurous? Regardless, after a while again it returned to the beginning set before Sanya soon played the last few notes and took a deep breath.
"So...how was it, Roland-kun?" Sanya asked me.
"Hmm?" I asked in return. "Oh. The piano solo song...well...it sounded really lovely."
"Thank you. Dad taught me the piano. It was really fun when I was young. I learned quite a few songs from it."
"Ah. And of course...there's the song your father made for you, right?"
Sanya nodded. "Do you want to listen to it once more?"
"Uh...maybe? I mean, it is your song...quite literally if the name is 'Sanya's Song'..."
"I meant if you wanted to hear Für Elise once more, silly."
"...Oh. Um...sure? Maybe after you can teach me a bit? I've only had training in a few instruments, and it's been a while since I've played them, even if we had them here."
Sanya nodded. "Alright."
How much can we even do in about...four hours? Maybe three?
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After who knows how long of playing the piano, both with Sanya playing something from the music sheets and her teaching me some of the techniques associated with playing piano, I finished my...fifth run of "Für Elise" (the first one was...you could imagine how badly that went given I've never played a piano before today. The other three runs were slight improvements, but...still some bad notes set in) before sighing.
"How was that, San?" I asked my Orussian Witch instructor.
"You're definitely getting better...but it'll be quite a while, Roland-kun," Sanya told me. "Sorry."
"Yeah...I don't even know how long it's been…" I glanced at my watch and checked the time.
2:15, it read.
"Oh crap," I said quickly. "It's closing in on our time to get to the meeting."
"Huh?" Sanya asked as she blinked. "Oh...sorry, was having a bit too much fun, honestly. It's a bit weird…" I put the cover over the keys as Sanya got the top closed. "Normally, I'm not playing for that long. At least, not with anyone but...a few people…"
"That shy about your playing? Or is just the shyness overall?"
"More just shy about playing. There's not a lot of people in the unit who's interested in music."
"That's true...Minna's interest is in singing, yours is in piano...I can't really say I have a huge interest in music myself, but...I did play some instruments when I was younger."
"Oh?" Sanya looked at me curiously.
"...I don't remember if I told you, but...just in case I haven't, I played a recorder...a flute when I reached middle school...a baritone for a small bit...marimbas? And I kinda sang as a small hobby. I think I was interested in how music was played more, maybe...I always seemed to like beats, but...I never thought of trying drums. Might be because drums had an important job for tracking beats or something, I don't remember."
"I see…"
I grabbed the music sheets and went to put them away, glancing back at my watch once I did so. "Been...two or three minutes. Ready?"
"Yeah." Sanya and I then left the rec room and started walking over to the meeting room. "Do you know what Commander Minna wanted to tell the others?"
...I do, yes, but...I can't really say, I thought to myself. "I dunno, San. Maybe it's a surprise training event for everyone but us?"
"...Why exclude us then?"
...Good question… "Dunno either?"
Sanya looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't know, Roland-kun?"
Why do I feel like she's trying to interrogate me? "...Even if I knew, I'm not at liberty to say, Sanya...whatever the thirty minutes is about, I can't tell you."
We continued walking until we reached the door at about 2:29 along with Eila.
"Roland." Eila said neutrally. "Sanya."
"Eila," Sanya replied.
"Hey," I simply replied. Well, at least no throats are being grabbed at?
The two simply stared at each other for a bit.
...I don't know if it's a good thing that they're staring at each other or not...let's assume that it's a...yes?
"Anyways, you two," I said as I waved a hand between their sights. "Are we heading in?"
The two nodded silently, and soon I opened the door to let them in, soon following myself.
"Ah, Eila, Sanya, and Roland," Minna said as she greeted us. "It's good for you to arrive."
"We're not too late, are we?" I asked as I glanced and saw Yoshika pointing to an empty seat next to her.
"No. In fact, you're just in time." I then made my way to Yoshika's pointed seat as Sanya and Eila took seats rather far from each other. "I'll review what we discussed in the last fifteen minutes since it's more relevant to you three."
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About five minutes later, Minna finished her recap.
"Now, Roland, could you repeat what I said?" she asked me.
"Hmm...from what I understand…" I started. "Small Neuroi nest spotted somewhere, about...ten miles away, relatively new. Team going in are Gertrud, Erica, Draco, Francesca, and Shirley, with Heidemarie, Lynne, Shizuka, Yoshika, and Perrine going along to help with taking out defenders if there's too many. Everyone else is on standby. That about the gist of it?"
"Indeed. If there are no questions left, then...everyone is dismissed. Roland, Sanya, and Eila, you three can stay a bit longer in case you have a question, though only for another minute."
I watched as everyone except Sanya, Eila, and Yoshika started leaving in an orderly manner and thought about it.
Was this really the idea Yoshika planned out? I mean, it kinda works. I think Hibiki and Dita had this happen to them back in Vandread, but…
Wait...how many people are heading out again? Ten, right? So...that leaves Minna, Mio, myself, Sanya, and Eila. Mio makes sense since she doesn't have her magic, and Minna as well since she's been more of a commander lately...but…
I must have toned the world out for a bit because when I refocused, Minna was gone. Checking behind me, I could see Yoshika talking to Sanya a bit. I think they were finishing up because I soon saw Yoshika come over to me.
"You alright, Roland-kun?" she asked me.
"Yeah," I told her. "Just...thought a bit."
"Okay~! Well, I'd better get going~!"
"Hang on a second…" I got up and followed her to the door as she soon opened it. "There is something I'm wondering still…" Soon, as Yoshika crossed the door's threshold, she stopped. I stopped to avoid crashing into her. "Yosh?"
"I'm sorry, Roland-kun...but…" Yoshika's tone was...more serious?
"Did I mess up something?" I then watched as she, in one fluid motion, placed her hands against my chest and pushed as hard as she could, sending me tumbling back a bit before I caught myself. "Yoshika?!" I then tried getting to the door, only to watch as the little Fuso Witch slammed the door in front of my face, soon colliding with it and bouncing off it and onto my rear.
"What the?!" Eila shouted in alarm.
"Roland-kun?!" Sanya added.
"What's the big idea, Yoshika?!" I asked as I stood back up and tried the doorknob and tried opening the door, only to find it impossible. Wait, the doors'door's unlocked on my side…
"I'm sorry, Roland-kun," Yoshika's voice told me. "This was the part of the plan Commander Minna couldn't tell you…"
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Yesterday, after Roland left Minna's office to head to bed
Yoshika's POV
As I watched Roland leave the office, I soon looked at Commander Minna.
"Um...what did you want to tell me, ma'am?" I asked her.
"It's a thought I had, Miyafuji," the commander told me. "The plan you proposed, while it makes sense, is assuming that Eila and Sanya make up in the end."
"Yeah…?"
"So what would happen if the two do not?"
"...We try again?"
Commander Minna shook her head. "I wouldn't put it past Eila to have checked how her day could go. But...I'm also not putting it past her to pause before leaving the meeting room and thinking about her situation with Sanya. The two are rather close, so a matter like what they're going through would impact their thought patterns for a while."
"Which is why we're using others to help keep their minds off it like my plan, right?"
"Indeed. You did get that part right: they're less likely to dwell on it if they're doing something that is conflicting with it for focus, even if it's not by much. But...I think we need one more ingredient when it comes to the end."
"...I'm not following, ma'am…" I was confused: the plan had Eila and Sanya separated to avoid a confrontation, and they would be busy with things to help keep their minds off it as long as possible until the meeting. But...why is Commander Minna thinking about adding one more piece? The only other person who would even have a remote idea of what we're planning, and because he was told the majority of the plan, was...wait a second… "Eh?! You want Roland-kun to get involved?!"
"Yes. I know that it's not...ideal, but Roland is close to Sanya for companionship, but he would also be kinda close to Eila from their interactions, though...I'm not sure if there's anything he could do...it's only a way to try salvaging the plan if it goes off course. It's up to him to try…"
"He wouldn't want to handle it, though! I think...I mean, the last time he got mixed up in one of their arguments, he snapped at Sanya more angrily then Eila…"
"I know, Miyafuji. But...he's the only one who could reasonably do it. He should be used to gauging moods, so it should be possible to get them to make up."
"Okay...so we have to throw Roland-kun under the bus…" I frowned a bit.
"I don't like it any more than you do, Miyafuji...he's my boyfriend, and I want to keep his trust, just like I'm sure he wants to keep mine. But...if he has a chance, even if a little...I want to try. I don't want to see Eila and Sanya lose the cohesion they have built since meeting each other in this wing."
"Okay, ma'am...but...make sure that you can make it up to him after this, okay?"
"Of course, Miyafuji. You'd best do the same."
"I know." I smiled a bit. "So...tomorrow is our only chance for a while, huh?"
"Indeed."
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then, Commander Minna."
"...Call me just Minna. When it's informal, okay? It's been...about two years since we've started working together, so I think a bit of loosening is in order for my name."
I nodded. "Okay, Com...Minna, I'll keep it only to informal times. Just let me know when it is, okay? And...you can call me Yoshika as well to be fair, ma'am."
"Okay." She smiled. "Good night...Yoshika."
"Night." I soon left the room as I processed the last few seconds.
So...I'm now allowed to call her without her rank in informal settings, huh? It feels similarly to how I call Sakamoto…
XXXXXXXXXX
Present
Roland's POV
"The hell do you mean?!" I asked Yoshika.
"We thought that you're the best person to try and help Eila and Sanya make up, Roland-kun!" Yoshika's voice told me. "Please, don't bother trying to get out! Captain Barkhorn is using her magic to hold the door shut without tearing the doorknob off from her grip!" So...that's why I couldn't get out… "And she's not going to let go unless Eila and Sanya can at least apologize to each other sincerely!"
"What kind of crap are you pulling, Miyafuji?!" Eila shouted as she reached the door as well.
"...I'm sorry. I really am...but this is the only way we could try and complete our mission for this…"
"Better get to it, captain," Gertrud's voice sounded off. "You've got a job to do."
I sighed as I soon looked at Eila. "Eila-"
I was rewarded by Eila just walking off, going back to her seat far from Sanya's.
...This is going to be tough…
I soon sat down against the door as I closed my eyes and thought…
Well, let's see...we can keep you busy, Lionelis told me.
...What do you have? I asked him. I'm trying to think of some way to fix this…
XXXXXXXXXX
About...thirty minutes, and one episode of Vandread later, I opened my eyes and looked at Sanya and Eila, who were still sitting rather far apart. And not really talking.
...You would have thought that they would have at least started talking by now…
"Ergh…" I groaned as I continued sitting there, closing my eyes for a bit to calm down.
About ten minutes after that, and still nothing.
How long can Gertrud even hold that door for?
Twenty minutes after the episode...still nothing.
Finally, one hour after we were kept in here by a Gertrud-sized human lock, I groaned loudly, enough to catch the girls' attention.
"Roland-kun?" Sanya asked me.
I soon stood up and walked over to the podium we had at the front of the room.
"Please," I said as calmly as I could, a strained smile on my face. I think I was starting to crack from waiting… "Lieutenant Aleksandra Vladimirovna Litvyak and Ensign Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen...come down to the front of the podium."
"...I think we should head down there, Sanya," Eila said. "He isn't looking too happy. Or safe."
Sanya nodded meekly as the two soon came down to where I told them to be.
"Good. Now...let's be civilized and...start sharing our feelings. Shall I start?"
"Not sure if we want to…" Eila told me. "You're not looking too stable…"
"Better let it all out, Roland-kun," Sanya replied.
"Thank you." I soon took a deep breath. "You know what I'm feeling like now? I'm feeling like I'm trapped inside of a box. A box that is filled with two idiots, one Suomos and one Orussian. The Suomos idiot is hiding something from the Orussian idiot, and the Orussian idiot isn't exactly a saint in this either. Now...what do you suppose the two idiots should do?"
"...Start talking?" Eila tried.
"Exactly. Now...start talking for once in the past few days, you smegging idiots!" I soon sighed in relief.
"...Okay, we will, we will, sheesh…"
"I guess I'll start?" Sanya asked more than said, looking a bit...scared.
"You sure you want to? I feel like I was more at fault here…"
Sanya nodded before taking a deep breath. "Ever since I met you when I first joined the Strike Witches, Eila, you've always seemed to be the protective type. Like, the overprotective type. It didn't really matter too much who or what it was, unless I said it was fine, it felt like you would protect me at any time, even if I didn't need it. Even when you and I started warming up to Yoshika and Roland-kun, it felt like you placed protecting me higher up on the list...and...it's scary sometimes. Especially when you thought you wouldn't be able to come with me up to near-space because you couldn't use a shield...but...I want more, Eila!"
"S-Sanya?! What do you mean, 'more'?!" I watched as Eila started blushing a bit.
"I don't want it to be just you trying to protect me, Eila. I want to be the one protecting you too! I want to spend time with you when you're relaxed, when you're happy! I like that about you: you don't care how others see you, you want to have fun and try making people happy, even if your pranks aren't made to do that! Every time I look at you, my heart skips a beat for some reason, Eila! I…" I watched as she looked at Eila, right in her eyes. At least, I think she was looking her right in the eyes. "I love you, Eila…"
"...Wait, you...you love...you love…"
And here we have the Eila in her natural habitat, Lionelis sounded off in my head as I watched. Notice the breaking speech pattern as she tries piecing together what exactly is going on. But don't be fooled: this is not something that is cute, but in fact a heroic war cry… Just for the hell of it, he soon played something that made a squeak in my head.
Thanks, Lio…? I thought to myself. The hell is he getting at…?
"You love...me…?" Eila finally said.
"Yes, Eila!" Sanya confirmed. "I want to be with you!"
"...I'm...not sure, Sanya...it's a bit too fast for me...and...I don't think I'm exactly worthy of it since...I've made you cry…"
"That's bullshit, Eila…" I chose to say.
"What do you mean, Roland?" Eila looked at me.
"Look, I get it. You've made Sanya cry. That isn't quite something good you could claim, but...we've all done something similar to it. Mio's cried, Minna's cried...hell, I'm pretty sure Gertrud, the most disciplined of us all, has cried since Yoshika and I first joined. You're not special, Eila. And you're not alone in it."
"But…"
"Do you like Sanya? Be honest, it's the least you can do since Sanya did the same first."
"...If I'm honest...no bullshit...yes. It's been...really unique in my case. At first, I was hoping to serve my time as a Witch, maybe get to know a guy, and then marry once I retire from being a Witch, but...the day I first laid eyes on Sanya...something changed in me. At first, it was protecting because she looked like she needed to be protected, but...as we got to know each other...and went on all these adventures, with you, Miyafuji, and everyone in the Strike Witches...I realized...that I wasn't protecting because I thought she needed it...I wanted to protect her because...I wanted to see her smile every day. I actually like it when she comes into my room after night patrol sometimes and just flops onto my bed. I love going out on night patrol with her when I can. Hell, I love her so much that I got jealous unconsciously when she went into your room back in Pas de Calais because...I saw you as a man who she was crushing on. But...after about two years...I can see that she does care about you, but more like family." Eila then looked at Sanya. "Sanya…"
"Please," Sanya pleaded. "If you care the same way like you told Roland-kun, then...please...tell me right now...no more excuses…"
"Sanya…" Eila soon lowered her head. "I...I...I love you...Sanya…"
"Eila…"
I soon walked behind Eila and placed a hand on the top of her back. "Well, I think it's time you end this sexual tension once and for all, Eila...as I've once heard a crab say…'go on and kiss the girl'." I then lightly shove Eila towards Sanya.
"Uwah!" Eila blurted out as she flailed her hands in front of her before the Suomos Witch tripped and fell, Sanya soon catching her but failing to keep the two of them from hitting the ground, Eila on top of Sanya.
"Ow…" Sanya said.
XXXXXXXXXX
Eila's POV
"My bad?" I heard Roland say as Sanya and I were now laying on the ground after the Neuroi Witch shoved me towards Sanya, who tried to catch me and failed to keep us up.
"Are you alright, Eila?" Sanya asked me.
"Yeah…" I said as I looked at Sanya's face, focusing on her green eyes. "You know...it isn't too bad...having you protect me from the ground...but...are you sure you want to do that? You are smaller than me."
Sanya giggled a bit. "And yet who's the one who wields Fliegerhammer?"
"Fair point? So...do you want to…". I took the opportunity to focus my eyes on her lips. Now that I'm actually lying here in a sort of intimate position...
"Hmm?"
"...Kiss?" I think that's what naturally happens, right? This is honestly the first time I've fallen for someone and actually confessed. And...to another girl as well...
"Eila...I'd love to...it's you, after all. The one that I love, right?"
"R-Right! Well, here goes…" I soon closed my eyes as I moved my head towards hers, trying to line up our lips.
This was it...this was going to be my first kiss with Sanya…
Soon, the all-too-familiar alarm sounded off.
"...The hell?!" Roland asked, shocked.
"Attention, all Witch personnel," the operator in the command room announced over the intercom, "Neuroi forces has been spotted coming for Saint Trond. One carrier-type, one fighter-type. At least, that's what it seems to be."
"...Dammit!" Roland soon looked down towards us. "You two want to go pay the Neuroi back for interrupting a sweet moment?"
"Can we just finish it here?" I asked him as Sanya and I looked at him.
"Come on, Eila…" Sanya said. "Let's go beat the Neuroi and then...we can celebrate with a kiss right then and there."
"...Right!" I soon stood up, helping Sanya onto her feet. "Roland, ready?"
"Of course I am!" Roland soon went to the door. "Trude, Yoshika! Let us out if you're still there!" He then grabbed the doorknob once more and tried opening the door, this time getting it open...though Miyafuji and Barkhorn weren't there. "...Well, that's one problem solved...to the hangar!"
"Alright!"
"Of course, Roland-kun!" Sanya added.
XXXXXXXXXX
Entering the hangar, we could see some of the Witches launching off to go take on the Neuroi. Commander Minna was off to the side, talking to Major Sakamoto.
"Minna!" Roland called out as we approached her.
"Hmm?" the commander asked as she looked at us. "Oh, Roland, Eila, and Sanya. What are you doing outside the room?"
I glanced at Roland, thinking he was going to snap at Commander Minna, but he simply sighed. "We've...at least had a make-up session in a way. But right now I think the Neuroi is more important."
"I know. But…"
"Commander, please us fly this mission," I pleaded. "I...I want to protect Sanya. I'm not going to lose her here…"
"Eila?"
"Please…?"
"...Alright. But...you three are going to have to explain what happened in the briefing room. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" I gave her a salute.
"Thank you, commander," Sanya added.
"Just be sure you come back safe and sound," Commander Minna added.
"We will," Roland replied. "Promise."
The commander nodded.
"Let's go, you two!" Sanya told us as she went to get in her Striker Unit.
"Right!" Roland replied as he started going towards the runway.
I glanced at Sanya as she hopped into her Striker Unit before I ran after Roland, finding him on the runway as he activated his own Striker Unit.
"Roland!" I shouted.
"Huh?" he asked as he turned his head to look at me.
"Look...I'm sorry about everything that happened between us. All the smackings and stuff…"
"Um…" He looked a bit...flustered? "It's nice to hear you say that, even if it's a bit...late? But...is now really the time?"
"Oh, right!" I turned around and started to run to my own before I stopped and turned my head to look behind me and at him. "And...please...I know I'm going to protect Sanya, and the same for her to protect me, but...I'm asking you to help us protect each other...ystävä."
"Ystävä?"
I smiled a bit. "Better not let me regret calling you that in my mother tongue, sir."
"I don't even know what it means...but if you're smiling after using it, then I can only imagine it's nice or embarrassing."
I simply nodded as I ran over to my Striker Unit, some of the crew members still prepping the others coming over as they gave me a Bren and a few magazines. I saw some even hand Roland a BAR with some magazines.
Let's hope this goes well…
XXXXXXXXXX
"Do you have sight on the enemy Neuroi?" Commander Minna's voice said over our radio.
"Not yet," Roland replied as he was looking ahead, us trailing behind him. "But...wherever it is, I'm going to give it a stern lecture."
"You're rather intense about this, aren't you?" I asked him.
"Eila, my blood is still somewhat boiling. You'd rather I pull a Marseille and try attacking you or force that anger into fighting a Neuroi?"
"...Sorry I asked?"
"Just give him a bit, right, Eila?" Sanya told me. "Once he calms a bit, he should be back to normal Roland-kun."
"Alright." I closed my eyes a bit before I sensed something. "Roland, shield up now!"
"Right!" Roland shouted as he raised his shield and felt a beam bounce off it hard, shoving him back a bit. "Ugh!"
"Huh?" Sanya asked as she was looking ahead. "How come…"
I then shoved Sanya aside in time for a beam to fly past us, slamming into a shield Roland had erected once more and shoving him back further.
"How far is that bogey?" I asked.
"Seems like it's about...a mile?" Commander Minna told us. "Hold on…" She went silent for a bit.
"Hmm...Sanya, think you can cover Roland?" I asked the Orussian Witch beside me.
"I can see what I can do," Sanya told me. "Be careful, okay?" She then flew over to help Roland repel beams, which had broken his shield after the fifth one.
"Hmm...I'm going to get higher!" I said as I started flying up.
Whatever's firing those beams, we can't see it, I thought mentally as I climbed. If the report were a carrier-type and a fighter-type...then we should be able to see something or at least see something that would provide a clue that it's large. I soon came to a stop in the air and looked around, keeping my magic focused for any shots at me. Where would they be… My attention soon passed over something plowing through the trees about west of my position. Two somethings. There they are. It must be a diversion we got!
"Commander!" I radioed in. "We've got what seems to be two bogeys plowing through some trees! They're not engaging us right now, though!"
"What do you mean?" Commander Minna asked.
"Something's shooting at Roland! You think it's a Witch Hunter?"
"...It's possible. Verdammt...is there any way to get the unknown target to back off?"
"I...don't think-hold on, commander." I soon strafed to the right in time to avoid a beam, though it did graze by the left side of my Striker Unit, leaving a burn mark. "Sorry, it took a shot at me. I have a feeling it's a sniper."
"I see...be careful, okay?"
"Alright." I soon glanced down and saw Sanya blocking more beams from the unknown target. "Sanya…" I soon started flying down towards them.
"Eila, look out!" Roland shouted before I barely avoided being split in half by a beam.
"Thanks!" I grabbed my Bren and started firing at the direction the beams were coming from. Even if I couldn't hit it, I wanted to try making it move if I could.
"Sanya, how's your shielding?"
"I'm starting to tire…" Sanya said as another beam bounced off her shield, making her float back. "I don't think I can hold it up much longer…"
"Sanya!" I shouted as I soon focused on reaching them at all costs. I'm not going to lose her now!
Looking ahead, I could see Roland flying towards me as a flash of light was in the edge of my vision. Realizing whatever it was was coming for me, Sanya tried reaching for me but...she grabbed Roland's left hand as I reached my right hand out to try getting pulled out of the way, his right hand soon gripping my left arm before…
The oddest sensation occurred…it felt like it was a warm sensation...I think. It was hard to tell since it was coming from my right arm, but whatever it was shut off my senses entirely for a bit.
When I was able to get my senses back to normal, I blinked and looked around with my eyes.
Everyone was still. Like, no one was moving. No movement from Sanya or Roland, no beams coming at us...not even the leaves on the nearby trees were moving. Though…
Taking a second look around, I noticed Roland's left eye glowing red.
Initializing Dual Tech, Lionelis' voice sounded off.
Dual Tech? Like...what some of us Witches could do with Roland?
I soon started seeing something weird. Normally, I would see the future as it was planned to happen at the moment and I would react based on that, but...in this case, I could see a bunch of silhouettes that seemed to be Sanya, Roland, or myself. Along with a red path for what I could assume was the beam. At the moment, I could see a red outline going through my body.
Eila, can you hear us? Lionelis' voice asked me.
Yeah… I said mentally before I was taken aback. Well, as much as I could given my situation. Wait, how can I talk to you?! Shouldn't I need Sanya to transfer the signal to m earpiece?
Our best guess is that...when Roland connected with you two, his copy ability must have kicked in. Meaning…
...He's able to predict the future now?!
Yes and no. Yes, he now has your magic along with Sanya's. But...he's only able to use it at his level of expertise. So...if he was going to trigger it, he'd fail more often than you would right now. Still...this feels odd…
What do you mean? Didn't we just...enhance what my predictions can do?
You're...currently seeing what we're seeing as a simulation. It seems that this Dual Tech you two unconsciously triggered ended up combining our analytics and your prediction magic to...do this.
Eh? Wait, you mean…
Think of it like this, if we're right: you can take a look at everything and...play out all possibilities in the blink of an eye. We'll explore it and try explaining it to you so you can pass it on to Roland.
I soon watched as the red outline filled as my chest got a tight feeling. It wasn't life-threatening, but...it felt like I was having a bad feeling of something. I soon noticed that, after a second, the action played over and over.
Okay, so...what does this mean? I asked.
It seems like the simulation, if you will, is playing something over a second. So...right now, it seems like you're going to get hit and, based on where it is, you're most likely going to die if you don't do anything to stop it.
Oh. So if I stop it...I should be good?
Theoretically. Do you see or know something that you could use to block it?
I studied the situation a bit before I understood what he was getting at: right now...uninterrupted, I'm going to die, as he said. So...let's see, Sanya was getting tired from shielding, and I don't know if Roland can take it up again. So...I need to do like I did back then and put up my shield to protect them.
As soon as I thought that, I could see a faded arm swipe across my vision a bit as my…"left hand" raised up a blue circle, the red line hitting it and getting stopped by it.
It seems like you managed to understand it a bit. Your mind is going at a really fast rate in this state, so everything you're perceiving are the possibilities, like your prediction magic can see it. You'll have to make second-by-second decisions and even make split-second ones. Like...should you talk now or wait a while to focus more on your surroundings. Just...be careful. The longer you use it, the more tiring it can be for you two.
Right. So drop it when I feel we can handle it with just my magic?
Your choice. This is you-centric, so you're making these split-second decisions. Though...don't count us out since we're connected with you for the sake of the tech. We'll give our understanding of the situation and help you make the decisions you need. And we'll relay the moves you make to Roland so that it's exactly how you wish it.
Okay. Just...don't hold me back, alright? I'm going to protect Sanya and everything she has in this world. If that means protecting Roland for both her and Commander Minna...then I'm making sure everyone she cares about comes home safe!
XXXXXXXXXX
Sanya's POV
Everything went by so fast…
One second, I could see a beam coming in to hit Eila in a rare moment of inattention and kill her…
The next, she managed to raise her left hand up to produce a shield like the one from back when we were high in the atmosphere, blocking the beam. She soon righted herself as she was floating next to us.
"Roland, enter Neuroi Mode and fire right where that beam's coming from!" Eila shouted.
Without even saying a word to her to acknowledge it, Roland quickly entered Neuroi Mode and, as she blocked another beam with a shield, the Neuroi Witch soon fired a beam from his left hand that soon flew towards where the enemy came from.
"Sanya! Fire Fliegerhammer!" Eila added next.
"Right!" I said quickly as I readied my rocket launcher. "Where to?"
"Right in the direction Roland fired! After, get ready to rise up! We're going to take out at least the fighter-type!" I soon aimed in the direction Roland fired his beam in and shot a salvo of four rockets. "Roland!"
Roland nods as he soon grabs our hands and led us up a bit, giving us a higher view as we could see a path of fallen trees.
"Sanya, can you hit the fighter-type?" Eila asked me.
"I think I can, but…" I started. With our distance, the rocket would most likely miss. And even if I could hit it, it wouldn't hit anything vital.
"I'll go with the shot," Roland said as he looked at me. "Eila...drop the tech for now and let's try for something else."
"Right," Eila said. She then let out a sigh of relief. "What do you have planned?"
"Something crazier?"
"...At this point, why bother?"
"Right." Roland then took a deep breath. "Triple Tech...Guided…"
"...Rocket…" I said before I blinked. What did he mean by…
"...Finale!" Eila shouted in conclusion as I felt a wave of green wash over me. The same thing happened with Eila and Roland before the Neuroi Witch flew ahead. "Sanya, now!"
"Okay!" I fired a salvo of four rockets once more, with the rockets receiving the same green glow as they soon followed Roland once he shifted into Jet Mode and flew off towards where the known Neuroi were, Eila and I taking turns to deflect beams from the unknown target.
After a while, I could see Roland dive into the sea of trees before flying back up, some explosions soon emerging from the tree followed by an explosion of white particles.
"One's down!" Roland's voice said over the comm. "Fighter is taken out!"
"Good job!" I said.
"...Seems like the carrier's sending out drones." As he said it, we could see small objects come out from the trees. "This shouldn't be too-is that carrier-type...retreating?"
"Eh?" Eila asked.
"Repeat that, captain," Commander Minna added.
"I think the carrier's retreating," Roland repeated, sounding a bit...in disbelief. "Okay…"
"Any reason from the Neuroi chatter?"
"...I'd rather not repeat it...though-" His line was cut off quickly.
"Roland?!"
"Enemy ambushed me! Seems like it's a Witch Hunter!" Roland sounded a bit strained.
"Sanya!" Eila shouted.
"Right!" I replied quickly as I readied the Fliegerhammer again before Eila blocked a beam aimed at me. "Roland-kun, can you be ready for a Triple Tech?"
"That depends!" I could hear the sounds of blades clashing from his end. "I've got a melee one on me!"
"Hmm…" Eila began thinking about it as another beam was blocked by her shield. "I might be going low on my shield as well...I think I have an idea! We'll need to take out the carrier, I feel like that's what they're trying to make sure they can get past us!"
"Eila?"
"Commander Minna, how far is our back-up?"
"They should be there in about five minutes," Commander Minna told us.
"Not soon enough…"
I thought about it before I got an idea of my own. "Eila, let's get to the carrier using the trees."
"Eh?" Eila asked me. "You know it's going to hurt a lot if we crash into a tree, Sanya."
"I know, but...we can fly close to the top and duck if you predict a beam coming towards us, right?"
"...Right. Let's just hope I have enough magic left for that."
I then reached for my radio. "Roland-kun, can you get that enemy unit towards the carrier-type?"
"I'll see what I can do!" Roland replied as more clashing could be heard.
"What are you suggesting…?" Eila asked me.
"If he can get there, we can perform that ability again," I told her. "Though…" I looked at my rocket launcher. "I'll have to hope that we can hit the core with my last shot. If not reveal it."
"That's a valid point. Let's hope we can do it...worst-case…"
"Eila, let's focus."
"Right."
We made our way towards Roland's last-known location, soon seeing drones rising up from the treetops as we flew.
"Dammit," Eila said as she readied her Bren. "Sanya, stick close to me, alright? I'll try to clear a path for us to fly."
"Okay!" I replied as I raised a shield to block a few beams from them, Eila soon shooting them down.
"Commander Minna, how much longer?"
"Unknown," Commander Minna told us through the radio. "The incoming group is still on the move, but...they're dealing with the majority of the drones. Roland, your status?"
"Just cheeky!" Roland's voice called out before he grunted.
"Roland? You sound hurt!"
"I'm fine! Just got quite a few nicks. Trying to avoid this Witch Hunter's blade is just as bad as darting between trees in a Striker Unit. I'm almost deciding to just land on the ground and rush the rest of the way, at least I can practice jumping off of tree trunks!"
"How's Lionelis?" Eila asked him.
"As cheeky as usual. Energy levels are...moderate at best."
"And at worst?"
"...I might need a big feast to recharge on food alone. Plus a good night's sleep. And letting Lio charge…" he soon grunted once more as we heard a clashing sound. "I'll try getting there, you two just be careful. And commander? Can't guarantee I'll be looking pretty, but...I'm going to make damn sure I'm not unconscious this time."
"...Alright. Please give them hell."
"Planned on it. At least, with whatever I've got left." We then heard a clashing sound as the line cut out for now.
"We better hurry, Eila," I told my partner.
"Okay, San," Eila replied.
A few minutes later, we reached the carrier-type Neuroi, spotting Roland fighting against a Witch Hunter. By the looks of it, it seemed to be on a sort of losing end for the Neuroi Witch.
"Eila!" I called out.
"On it!" Eila replied quickly as she raised her Bren and fired at the With Hunter. However, it must have known that we would come as it flew behind Roland, forcing him to block the attack with a shield. "That's...unfortunate."
"Watch it, please!" Roland shouted as he was soon clashing with the Witch Hunter once more. "Just...die! Or back the hell away!"
I looked between the two feuding people and the carrier-type.
"Roland-kun!" I called out, "Can you help me make a shot?"
"Eh?" Roland asked before he was shoved back, taking another cut on his right forearm. "Goddammit! What's your plan, Sanya?"
"Just trust me. I only have one shot left, so I need a good hit on the carrier-type."
"That's it? Alright, I can see what I can do…" He then blocked a slash and backed up. "I guess we have one more ability to try out...ready?"
"Ready!" I called out. I then aimed the Fliegerhammer at the carrier-type. "Only one shot left…"
"Okay. Dual Tech…"
"...Radar-Accurate…" I fired my last shot as I glowed white.
"...Destruction Slam!" Roland soon glowed green as he reached his left hand out, encasing the rocket in a green aura before he gained a pair of red radar antennae on his head. "Calculating…"
We then saw the Witch Hunter charge towards Roland.
"Eila!" I shouted.
"Back off!" Eila yelled as she fired at the Witch Hunter, forcing it back as Roland soon redirected the rocket towards a spot on the carrier-type Neuroi.
"We've got you now!" the Neuroi Witch cried out as the rocket soon slammed into the carrier-type Neuroi, causing an explosion that rocked the enemy before it gave off a shriek. "Bullseye!"
"Sanya!" Eila called out as she hugged onto me, setting a shield in front of us that shielded us from the resulting explosion, though we were forced back a fair bit. I saw that Roland was sent back as well, though he slammed into a tree hard.
"Roland-kun!" I called out as I watched the Witch Hunter look at him. I think it was contemplating attacking him but ultimately decided against it, flying off.
"That's...weird…why didn't it try killing Roland?"
Our mind was taken off by the arrival of the others, consisting of Yoshika, Barkhorn, Shirley, and Lucchini.
"Hey!" Yoshika greeted us as they flew over.
"How's everyone?" Barkhorn asked.
"We're fine," I told them. We're rather low on magic energy...though…" I then glanced down at Roland, who was laying on the ground chest first.
"Huh?" Yoshika asked before the group soon looked and spotted him. "Ah! Roland-kun!"
We soon floated down to him as Yoshika hopped out of her Striker Unit, running over to him as she soon got onto her knees and placed her hands on his back.
"How are you feeling?" Eila asked.
"Aching...all over…" Roland replied, groaning in pain.
"I'll patch you up," Yoshika told him as she soon activated her magic, her familiar showing as she worked on healing him.
"At least...I didn't...faint this time…"
"That you did, Roland," Eila responded.
"So the Neuroi have been handled?" Shirley asked us.
"Yes," I said as I nodded my head.
"Yeah," Eila added. "Though...it was rather...surreal…"
"Meaning?" Barkhorn asked us.
"It's...hard to just explain it, but...my senses were slowed down in mine and Roland's Dual Tech. And...we did some sort of...three-way ability…"
"Eh?" Lucchini asked us.
"I can't...really explain it well…"
"Yeah," I clarified. "Though...Eila, Roland-kun, and I were able to perform it together."
"I see…" Barkhorn responded. "Alright. You three better debrief the commander on it."
"Understood…" Roland said from his prone position.
"Almost done," Yoshika told him.
"Right…"
XXXXXXXXXX
Eila's POV
About an hour later, and Sanya and I were back in our room.
Once we got back to the base (after Roland was healed), Commander Minna wanted a report on what happened. Based on our story, the report filed was that we went out, found Neuroi, and managed to fight them off, destroying two of them and sending the other two packing. And of course, we also had to explain about what happened to us before we headed off.
"Eila?" Sanya asked me as she sat on the bed, dressed in her nightwear.
"Hmm?" I said as I slipped my night shirt over my head to wear it for the night. "What is it, San?"
"Is there anything you want to do...since it's just us two in here?"
"Eh? Uh...I'm not too...sure, actually…"
"Oh…"
"Why are you asking?" I chose to sit down next to her left side on the bed.
"Well...we did...have something that...got interrupted." Sanya soon looked at me with a smile on her face.
"We did?" ...Crap, I forgot what we were about to do before we left to fight. What was it we were going to…
I soon watched as Sanya, rather swiftly for her, moved herself so that she straddled my thighs, her face rather close to mine.
"S-Sanya?" I asked, a blush forming on my face. She's rather close to my face…
Sanya leaned in closer before I felt her lips on mine.
...EHHHHHHHHHH?!
How come Sanya just suddenly kissed me?! She's supposed to be the more shy type! Though…
Reflexively, I closed my eyes as she kissed me.
I...I actually love this…
Wait...love? I know I love Sanya, but...is this what Roland and Commander Minna felt when they first kissed? I...I actually love this! And it's not just because my crush on the team is kissing me!
Soon, Sanya separated her lips from mine.
"That's how much I've been waiting for you to tell me that," she told me, still smiling the same angelic smile I remember.
"I'm sorry, Sanya…" I told her. "I promise, I'll make up for the time I spent trying to tell you." I soon leaned in myself and, placing my hands on her shoulders, kissed her on the lips as I leaned back, bringing us onto the bed. I could feel Sanya moan a bit in surprise before she reciprocated it herself, the two of us closing our eyes for a bit.
I think we were like that a while before we separated from each other, both of us sporting blushes on our faces as we looked at each other.
"Hey...listen, San…" I said slowly.
"What is it, Eila?" Sanya asked me in return.
"Do you want to…cuddle up closely tonight?"
Sanya smiled. "Of course, Eila. I'd love to."
It took us a bit, but the Orussian Witch was soon laying to my right as we were laying on the bed.
"Alright," Sanya said to me. "Night, Eila." She then kissed me on my right cheek.
"Heh...night, Sanya," I replied as I watched her close her eyes and cuddle up close to me.
This is...really different-feeling from the times she came into the room really tired and fell asleep next to me. Like...it's a warm, and more comforting feeling than when she usually did this. Might be because this is a first for her…
I soon closed my eyes as I turned over and gently hugged Sanya close to me.
For now...everything feels right with the world…
XXXXXXXXXX
Roland's POV
"You feeling okay after today, Roland?" Minna asked me as we were getting dressed.
"Kinda…" I said. "Kinda upset that you couldn't at least trust me to know about your plan to try isolating Eila and Sanya…"
When I looked at my girlfriend, she looked a bit saddened. "Did Miyafuji at least…?"
"Make it up to me? That...depends. I tried telling her not to, but...apparently I got a bento box?" I looked at the night table, where a small green box that, with the lid off it, had some rice, sushi rolls, and some nattō beans in it.
"I see."
I soon grabbed the bento box and, walking over to the wing commander, offered her the box. "Want to help me with this? I feel like you might need it."
Minna blinked. "Thanks?"
We soon sat on the bed as I used the chopsticks to, admittedly rather clumsily, pick up a sushi roll and offered it to Minna. "Say 'Ah'?"
"Aaaahhh," Minna said as she opened her mouth. I soon set the roll in her mouth as she worked on eating it, me watching as she cutely (hey, it's Minna, so...I think "cutely" applies here really well) swallowed it after some time to chew it was spent. "It's really good."
"It was made by Yoshika, dear."
We soon took turns feeding each other some of the food in the box, me noting that Minna seemed to know how to hold a pair of chopsticks much better than I did. I'm starting to think that everyone on the team is secretly of Fuso descent.
That, or they had much more time to learn this sort of thing. And have experience from Fuso Witches…
It's probably the latter.
"So…" Minna began.
"You really want to make it up to me, huh?" I asked her as I set the bento box back on the night table. Looking back at her, Minna simply nodded. "And I assume 'no' is not an acceptable answer due to you pulling rank?"
"Not quite like that, but...for this one time, I would."
I sighed as I soon thought about what we could do.
We technically share the room with Heidemarie, but she's off on night patrol since it's her turn...and having sex with Minna, while tempting, wasn't a great idea since I don't think we're ready to risk having Minna becoming pregnant while still in service. Assuming that our first time will end in me getting her knocked up.
The author wouldn't be able to write that bit here, Lionelis told me. The T rating, even if it seems appropriate since it's not had a complaint lodged against it-and we hope to God that this doesn't invite someone to do so just because we said that no one has so far-can only allow us to get away with so much. A sex scene would be really pushing it. Implying it might be able to help, but...given you want to avoid impregnating your girlfriend right now…
...Thanks, Lio? I thought. Hmm…
"Roland?" Minna asked me as she stood up. "Have you thought about it?"
"Uh...kinda?" I replied as I looked at her. "Do you...want to...I dunno…"
"Dear?"
"...Make out?"
"Make out?" Minna looked a bit confused before she understood what it meant. "Oh! Just that?"
"Well...I guess...oh! Mind stripping down to underwear for this?"
"Alright." I soon watched as Minna simply slipped her night shirt off her body, leaving her in her bra and panties. "Your turn."
I nodded as I shed my sweats and shirt. "Just to make sure...we're just making out. No...intercourse, right?"
"Of course." I then watched as Minna walked around the bed before standing in front of me before she deftly placed a hand on one of my shoulders and another hand on a side of my hips and swapped our positions, her back towards the bed. "Now...ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Then…" I then watched as Minna grabbed my hands and set one of them on each of her breasts. "I'll be in your hands then, dear." She then smiled sincerely. "Make me feel loved."
"Right!" I then grinned. "Never thought I'd be able to do this, but...we've got to unwind and feel a bit good, right?" I then gently squeezed a breast, eliciting a pleasant squeak from Minna as she started blushing. "I hope this goes well, then, Minna. This is the most intimate we'll go for now." I then leaned in and planted my lips on her as I started kneading her breasts, the two of us soon falling onto the bed in bliss as Minna set her hands on my back.
XXXXXXXXXX
Roland: Next time on Strike Heroes 3: Global Revengeance…
Draco: This is a new thing, I think.
Minna: Indeed. It seems like Commodore Galland wanted to raise some more morale and figured that this would be best.
Roland: True...I'm just a bit concerned…
Minna: It's alright. The commodore will personally oversee this and make sure that everything abides by the rules as they can.
Draco: Not sure if that's the best thing in the world…
Next two-part arc: Photo Shoot Day! Send pics!
Roland: Lio…
XXXXXXXXXX
...Is the author gone?
He is? Good.
Oh, you're wondering where the usual (for this so far) stinger concerning either the Witch Hunters or Duke's group? Well, this time is going to be different.
Why? Because…
We've got an announcement to make here. To commemorate this fan-made series, and because the guy doesn't have plans for a chapter in the main story currently that's going to be a single solo part, we're pleased to announce the testing of our first solo adventure!
...Okay, it's not an actual story, but we're announcing our own chapter: Lionelis' Corner! We plan on answering questions and getting the cast to appear here to answer questions. Not sure if we'll go with chibis, though…
So what can you do to help?
Simple: this is usually the part where we (as in us and the author) would say that we've got it covered, and we will be working on some original ideas for this, but we're opening this to you, the readers.
...Yes, this is a way to apologize for the rather long hiatus (which is why this arc was published with both parts at once), for those who might ask (assuming you do).
Anyways, you can contribute by asking questions for any of the Witches (or all of them) to answer. You're not limited to asking the Witches that appear canonically in the World Witches series, meaning you can ask Roland, Kayley, Draco, or ourselves about things. You can also suggest skits for us to try writing out (we just need a prompt and who's involved. Also, ratings matter! A fluffy scene is acceptable, a lemony one is not! Though we are planning on working on one once we check and see what the M rating allows; clarifications from authors who use this rating would be highly appreciated.), or anything you can think of, even if it's with an OC of another writer (with the writer's permission). Do note that interactions with other OCs here will not be canon to the Strike Heroes series, with some possible exceptions if the author likes what he made with the interactions and with the permission of all parties involved (OC owner, idea giver, etc. as necessary).
Anyways, if you made it this far in the chapter, let the author know what you thought of these chapters along with any ideas you'd like to see in our chapter. Let's say that we'll have it open for at least a month after this chapter for submissions, and hopefully soon after if he works on ideas as they come, from both himself and you readers.
Thank you, and we'll see you in our bonus chapter or the next arc!