Chapter 14: Strange Behavior.
Saku really surprised when he's hear what Lynne just said.
"How you know that? Did you tell her that, Yoshika?" Saku asked
"No, I didn't said anything, she just know that and reconfirm with me earlier." Yoshika explained.
Saku looked Lynne asking how she know that, he really confident about how he hiding this secret and there no way Mio and Minna exposed about that to anyone else.
"The truth is, the night you two first came here, after taking Yoshika to her room, I went to Minna office to ask her something but when I arrived, I hears your conversation with Minna-san. But you don't have to worry I'll keep this secret." Lynne said.
Saku has no choice, after remind her promised keeping this secret, they go back to the base. Three of them were commended but both Yoshika and Saku were agreed they could did it is thank to Lynne.
Sometime later, just like Minna said those Neuroi only appear at certain time although lately the rate of attacks has been gradually increasing from the previous pattern of one per week. Still without their attack Saku doesn't have much to do, his power has upgraded but he couldn't test it. His Shadow Dash can accelerate to the point that can exceed the speed of sound, and plus he got a new skill Shadow Bomb, it can lock enemy in Shadow for a short time. After wake up in the morning, Saku walking to dining room while thinking how to test his power then suddenly he bumped into someone and that person fall into the floor.
"Oh, sorry, you're ok?"
Saku looked closely and found out that person is Barkhorn. Saku was almost freaked out and prepared to be competition of glaring, but strangely.
"I'm fine, sorry." Barkhorn said then walk ahead.
Saku really surprised about Barkhorn's behave and she looks gloomy.
"Ok, she's behaved like a douche before, now she's behaved like a puppy… Weird."
Seem like Barkhorn are going to the dining hall too, so walking behind her. When Saku was arrived the dining hall and saw Yoshika and Lynne were talking something about helping people. Saku planned to joint them
"Helping people… That's nothing but a pipe dream." Barkhorn suddenly said.
"Huh? What did you said?" Yoshika noticed what Barkhorn just said and asked her.
"Sorry. Just talking to myself." Barkhorn said then took her portion and go to the table.
This is starting to feel pretty awkward now.
"Yoshika, Lynne, good morning! What were you girls just chatting earlier?" Saku asked while taking his portion.
"Good morning, Saku-san! We talking about the Kauhava base went into action to find a lost child!" Lynne answered.
"But I hear said something strange earlier." Yoshika said.
"Just something profound. You don't need to mind that."
After took his portion, Saku came to the long table then start chow down. All the dishes were tasty but only Natto is dish Saku couldn't eat, he hated it when he stills a child, its smell disgusting. While eating, Saku could notice Barkhorn still didn't touch her food. A moment later rest of the witch has come to the dining hall, greeting each other, took their portion then came to the table.
"What wrong, Trude? Why the long face?" Minna said while sitting beside Barkhorn.
"You don't seem to have an appetite, either." Hartmann joint in too.
"That's not true." Barkhorn's retort.
"You never skimp on eating but you still even touch your food…" Hartmann said.
To prove what Hartmann said is wrong Barkhorn start eating but after eat a little she start looking something with a gloomy eye. Saku look to the way Barkhorn looking and noticed she looking at Yoshika.
Wait don't tell me she has an affair with Yoshika. No way!
"Second." Francesca said while waving her empty plate.
"Me too!" Saku said.
Yoshika rush to Francesca first but noticed Barkhorn wasn't eating much.
"Um… Was it not to your liking?" Yoshika asked.
But Barkhorn wasn't said anything, just take her plate the sinks. Francesca starting to rush Yoshika.
"It's not only Captain Barkhorn. I doubt anyone could find these rotten beans edible at all." Perrine said.
Even though Saku didn't like Perrine much but he can't disagree with about Natto.
"Natto is good for you. And even Sakamoto-san said she like it too." Yoshika explained.
As soon as Perrine hears 'Sakamoto-san', she almost falls into her plate.
"Sakamoto-san?! Call her Major. Not even I'm… on such friendly term…" Perrine's face blushing like a potato. "Anyway, regardless of how much Major may like it. I absolutely cannot put up with this stench!"
As soon as Perrine done, Francesca was rush Yoshika again but this time she seem really piss. After take another disk for Francesca, Yoshika came to Saku and found out he didn't touch Natto too.
"Saku-san, did you hate Natto too?" Yoshika said slightly sad.
It's truly that Saku hate Natto, but he can say that to Yoshika. He doesn't to make her sad.
"No, no, I didn't. I just save it for later. I'll eat it right away."
Saku starting eat Natto, using all his strength eats all of that Natto without throw up. After done that bowl of Natto, Saku show Yoshika the cleaned bowl with one hand and the other hand covered his mouth.
"Um, I glad you like it." Yoshika said planned to go back to the kitchen but she turn back. "Saku-san, are you free later?"
"Um, I'm free. What's wrong? Need I help something?" Saku said after swallow all those Natto.
"Lynne and I will do laundry later and it a lot. So it will be great if you help us carry it to the backyard." Yoshika said.
Saku agreed and after that he even help Yoshika and Lynne washed all those disks even they said they can do it. Later on, he carried two baskets full of clothes and white sheet to the backyard. Saku suggest helping them too, but they insist they can do it, so Saku don't force them. He decided to enjoy the sun while leaning on the wall near the entrance. A while later, Mio and Minna came out and Saku noticed Minna has a binocular.
"Huh? Mio, Minna, what you two doing here?" Saku asked.
"We will observe Barkhorn's and Hartmann's training from here." Minna said.
"You should paid attention too, they're our ace. Maybe you'll learn something from them." Mio added.
Saku was really curious about Barkhorn's capable that make her so cocky. A moment later, the wind has picked up making Yoshika and Lynne surprised. Then suddenly, Barkhorn and Hartmann appeared, flying on their Striker Unit. At first, they sync perfectly but just a second later Barkhorn starting to fall behind.
Pfft, and I thought she was good.
Mio and Minna have noticed Barkhorn has out of sync with Hartmann.
"She's out of sync…" Mio said.
"Yes, she keeps falling behind…" Minna added while using the binocular.
"Barkhorn's a perfectionist. This isn't like he. Maybe we should take her off the next shift?"
"Having an ace and you can't rely on it is kind of distressing."
"Yes, even though we can count on others now, they lack firepower, except Saku. Did she overexert herself and make herself sick?"
"I think something has been bothering her… ever since Miyafuji arrived."
Saku took noticed when Minna starting talking about Yoshika. Mio went silent for a moment until she made a decision.
"Should we try pairing them up?" Mio decided
At first, Saku planned not to interfere them but when he hears they intend to pair Barkhorn with Yoshika he has to interfere.
"Whoa, whoa, are you lost your mind, Mio? Did you know she was staring at Yoshika all the time this morning?"
"Then it will be good if we pairing them. I think it a good idea." Minna said.
"But…"
But before he could say anything, he saw Mio slightly shook her head, signal him don't against Minna, Saku have to back down. After that Mio and Minna came inside leaving Saku behind. Saku's looking at Yoshika's talking cheerfully with Lynne.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Author note: I figured out a way to let Saku has a fight with Barkhorn. Her little sister, if Saku bad-mouth about Barkhorn's little sister I'm sure she will not forgive about that.
Hope you like this chap and thank for read my fic!