Chapter 21 – Formalities

Toshiro opened his eyes in the dark, early morning. He looked to his right side, and saw Adolfine, but since this was an innocent sleepover, she was under the quilt, and in her bed attire.

It's nice to wake up beside someone, especially if you like them. Arggghh… When will I reunite with Yoshika? I want to feel the warmth of her lips, the smell of her brown hair, feel her tongue squirming around in my mouth…

As if feeling that Toshiro was now thinking intensively, Adolfine stretched herself and slowly opened her eyes.

"Heehee… We didn't have sex, but I still feel fantastically after sleeping with you in one bed for the whole night…"

"I'm the damn heir to the throne, now your bragging rights are high as hell!"

"Well shit, they really are… But… Oh fuck…"

"What is it?"

"Toshiro, do NOT even try to tell ANYONE about it. Maybe your little collection of gals you desecrated could be an exception, but under NO circumstances should you even hint that you've slept with me, or anyone else than Yoshika for that matter."

"I see where you're going at… Shit, you're totally right… Wow, a scandal is basically hovering over my head, waiting to descend upon me like a bucket full of fecal matter…" Toshiro pondered.

"What a damn imagination you have… Ugh… But whatever… Toshiro, let's move on to our usual daily routine, okay?"

"And it was so peaceful back in Rosario… The last few days I basically lied in bed and read through at least 5% of what the library had to offer…"

"Oh, don't worry, Toshiro… Today will be a bit turbulent, but the next two days after that will be rather peaceful. At least that's what I think."

"Of course you have a plan for me, right?"

"I wouldn't be myself if I didn't have one, heehee…" Adolfine giggled.

"But remember who you have to do with now, ha!"

"We're even ranked, so I still don't have to tell you anything, heheh…"

"Damn you to hell…" He mumbled.

"Now, about that morning routine…"

"Yeah, I'm going…"

Toshiro got out of the bed and put on his old uniform used for training. He then went and put fire under the boiler. He returned to his room and found it empty, but Adolfine exited her room at the same time he did, in her usual training attire.

"And I thought you would be a bit lazy today… It's a Sunday, you know?"

"That's why we're only working till 1600. Come on, let's pump dem guns!"

After the workout came the bath.

"Hmmm… Toshiro, maybe we should bathe together in one tub…?" Adolfine asked shyly.

"Oh come on, there's no way Yuki would agree…"

"I don't know… Maybe I would but… There's a chance of too much intimate contact… Although… Toshiro managed to bathe with TWO girls at one time, and there wasn't more skinship than required… Ah, what the hell, jump in you two." Yuki pondered aloud.

"Two girls, Toshiro?" Adolfine asked curiously.

"Shirley and Franny. But don't worry, really, nothing at all happened. Well, maybe beside the fact that Francesca almost deprived me of the possibility to have a progenitor…"

"Oooouuuuch..." Adolfine's face warped in a painful grimace.

"Mmmmyeah… I hope you'll have better coordination than her…"

"Don't worry, I'll be behind you just in case."

"Afraid an aquatic monster might attack you from behind?"

"Haha, good one!"

After the bath, they ate breakfast, which Toshiro made himself, since he made the mistake of being better than Adolfine.

"Three days of breakfast from Toshiro… I'll get too spoiled…"

"I can make it into a nightmare if you want…"

"Let's stick to my original delusions…"

After breakfast, Toshiro went to his room to get dressed. He pulled out his freshly cleaned uniform and put it on. He then looked at himself in the mirror.

"My, my… The rank insignia matches my eyes, and composes really nicely with the uniform, heheh…"

"You really look like a true General, Toshiro… I'm so damn proud that my Toshiro had risen in the military ranks so fast! I would kiss you if I could!"

"Well, you can…"

"What do you… Ooooooh, well, maybe… I'll look into it, heehee…"

Toshiro went outside of his room. Adolfine also had her regulatory uniform now.

"Hmm? Why so?"

"You know what a ruckus we'll cause entering the building like this? Hah! Everyone will drop dead! Two and only magic using Generals in the whole world military in one place at the same time!"

"Well, we'll surely make some noise… Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait a minute… Are you planning a press conference?" He asked full of suspicion.

"Uh… Um…" Adolfine started squirming around and counting the bumps on the plaster covering the ceiling.

"Adi… How could you…" Toshiro didn't hide his disappointment.

"We owe them for yesterday, Toshiro… Don't worry though, your favorite four will be present, and only them."

"Well, maybe I can do it if it's just them…"

"You're in a whole new world now, Toshiro… But worry not, only a few days left…"

"To what?" He asked.

"You'll see."

They've driven to the HQ. The first person they tended to was of course the receptionist.

"Yay, its Toshiro!" She cheered. "Oh, pardon, maybe I should pick one of your new titles?"

"Nah, stick with my given name. Miss me, Helga?"

"A bit…" She said with a sly smile.

"Oh you…"

"Ah, there was a call for you. I said that individual that you can be reached right about now, so I would go to Adolfine's office now."

"Really? Okay… Can I make myself comfortable, Adolfine?"

"Sure you can. But don't lollygag too much, you have an appointment with the boss man at 0800." She said and threw him the key.

"I'll try to be brief if possible."

Toshiro went to her office and opened the door. Just as he sat in the chair, the phone rang. He picked it up, and with a smirk on his face he said, "Generalmajor von Edelweiss."

"Bro!" A cheer came to his ear.

"Erica! Now this is surprising!"

"Toshiro, seriously? Generalmajor, heir to the throne and bearer of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross? You should play at the lottery too, heehee…"

"Proud of your ersatz brother?"

"Like hell! But tell me one thing… Did you meet with Ursula?"

"Yeah. I was in Rosario for a good week."

"Did you treat her good?"

"Probably, although you'll have to be more specific…"

"You didn't try anything funny, didn't you?"

"Noooo…" Toshiro answered honestly.

"Ah, okay then! Wait a second, there's a line forming behind me."

"Oh really, let them at me…"

After a few crackles, Toshiro heard Trude's voice.

"Toshiro, you son of a bitch! How could you shoot ahead of me so much?!"

"Oh? Jealous are we?"

"Only a bit… Mostly because of that award…" Trude mumbled. "But! I am proud of you! You are the Truest Soldier of Karlsland!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Well, anyway, don't you put the Wehrmacht to shame, hear me?"

"I think I've heard that already…" He sighed.

"Oh and you probably will in the next few days… Ah, Minna wants to talk. Bye!"

A few seconds later, Minna said, "Hello, my favorite heir."

"Heheh, hi Minna. What's up?"

"Oh nothing… We're lazying around here in the Sint-Truiden airbase but there have been some disturbances lately… I think we'll have our hands full in the next few days…"

"Hang tight, Minna, I believe in you."

"Thanks… The girls are doing a great job as usual, and my back is killing me from the amount of paperwork… I wish we could all be a unit again…"

"Wishing is free…" Toshiro sighed.

"Ah, I bummed us down quite nicely, heehee… Well, have a good day, Toshiro."

"You too, Minna."

Toshiro placed the receiver on its proper place.

"You have some really loyal friends, Toshiro…" Adolfine said from behind him.

"And you are eavesdropping, shameless you."

"Hey, it's my office, dumbo."

"No, Adi, it's not yours. It's the Wehrmachts!" Toshiro said in a lecturing tone.

"Heheheh… Yeah, I see that you're already adapting like a boss… Now shoo, before you get too late."

"Hey, won't you at least lead me to the proper door?"

"Ah well, I guess I should… Come on."

Surprisingly, it was on the ground floor. They passed Helga and went to the wing Toshiro never went into. They arrived before a simple single door with Keitel's full name and function written on a nameplate screwed to it. Adolfine looked at her watch.

"Five minutes…" She said silently. "As a Karlslander, you should appear exactly on time, ten seconds earlier at most but not a second later."

"Oh… Okay, I'll see…"

"Come in you two, I can hear you." A voice said from behind the door.

Both of them twitched nervously. And looked at each other with fear struck eyes.

"Busted." Adolfine said. "Follow me."

Adolfine opened the door, went forwards and stood into attention. Toshiro did the same after he closed the door.

"At ease, both of you. Adolfine, you can leave the Generalmajor with me, I promise I will return him undamaged."

"Heehee… Okay, boss."

Adolfine saluted and went out of the room.

"Sooooo… We're now in the same caste so to speak… Congratulations, Toshiro."

"Thank you… uh…"

"You can call me "boss" too if you like."

"Oh, thank you, boss. My promotion I knew about, that's why I wanted to destroy that hive, but the rest overwhelmed me a tad…"

"Yeeees… I can imagine… Highest yet awarded grade of the Iron Cross in this war… Being recognized as the official heir to the throne, de-bastardized so to speak, hahaha. And last but not least – promoted. You don't even know what possibilities you have at your hands…"

"Boss, please, enlighten me then."

"That's why we're here, Toshiro. First of all, you've automatically gained an apartment and an office of your own, but I would abstain from going to Adolfine for picking one out. I will explain that later. Next, you gained the option to have a two months paid leave. Don't underestimate that privilege, really… What else… You can now get a loan from the OKW for up to a hundredfold of your pay with a one percent interest. I wouldn't underestimate that either, but I'd like you to exercise caution… Ah, remember how you were the Grand Supervisor of the 501st?"

"Yes… But that was more like a titular function as I learned at the end…"

"Well, we had to test you… Now, your powers are fully reinstated with full effect. You can reform the 501st and disband it in the next minute if you want. For Karlslanders, you don't even have to bother calling me, but for the rest, well, you have to coordinate it with the armies of the countries from which the witches come from."

"So basically, if the need arises, I just take whatever Karlslanders I want and shout "You, you and you – you're in the 501st now?"

"Haha, pretty much!" Keitel laughed heartily.

"But why outline this now, boss?"

"I wonder if you've heard about Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein..."

"I've heard the name…"

"Well, we are working on the details, but I can tell you now, that this will be a long-term operation to liberate Karlsland. And returning to your apartment and office, you won't need one for the next two days anyway, because you have the two days off. After that, you'll be doing a visitation in the Sint-Truiden airbase."

"Oh? Why so, boss?" Toshiro asked surprised.

"We need you there before the start of the operation. Once it crystalizes, you and your Karlslander subordinates will get your orders."

"I have nothing against it. It will be nice to see my friends again."

"As I thought. At 0900 there will be press conference, so you're free until that time. After the press conference, well… Do what you want, you're free to go."

"Thank you, boss." Toshiro said and stood up.

Before going out he saluted.

Whew… Wasn't so bad… Now what to do since I have some free time… Ah, I can entertain one of my female fans!

Toshiro went upstairs. He peeked behind the corner and saw Inge immersed in lecture. He silently walked up to her.

"Boo." He simply said.

Inge shuddered but she didn't let out a single peep. She rigidly turned her head towards Toshiro and after seeing him, she loosened up visibly.

"Oh my! Toshiro!"

"Hi, Inge. Whatcha reading?"

"What am I…" She looked at her book and quickly smashed it under her desk. "Uh… Nothing important… Is the Kaiser expecting you?"

"I'm not here for Uncle; I'm here to visit you."

"M-Me?"

"You're my fan #2, I have to cater to all my faithful fans, haha!"

"Ah… Well… Uh… Could you pat me on the head?" She asked nervously.

"Helma bragged?"

"Yes…" Inge admitted with red cheeks.

"Ah okay…" Toshiro said and proceeded to pat her on the head.

"Weeee… How niiiiiceee…"

"Inge, could you bring me a coffee… Oh…"

The both of them looked at the door, and saw the Kaiser standing in it, looking a bit baffled.

"W-waaaaaah!" Inge screamed and slammed Toshiro's hand aside. "Of course!" She shouted and ran away."

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything…"

"Well, technically you interrupted me pleasing one of my fans, but whatever…"

"Don't go too far with that pleasing, Toshiro. You're now royal blood, remember that and act accordingly."

"Oh please, uncle… Why the cold shoulder suddenly?"

"Just be mindful of your surroundings, Toshiro. If it wasn't me but a journalist for example, this would get hairy…"

"I understand…" Toshiro said in an apologetic tone.

"Ah, maybe I should have ordered two coffees…"

"I had one already, thanks."

"So, how do you feel today?"

"A bit uneasy since I'll have to answer the press, but beside that I'm happy. I'll get to meet my friends in a few days."

"Indeed you will… I will retreat to my desk now, be sure not to be late for the conference."

"I will. But… Where is it actually?"

"Ask anyone else, I don't know." The Kaiser shrugged.

"Helga might know…"

Toshiro went on and while traversing the corner, he saw Inge sitting on the floor with her legs curled up under her chin.

"Such a blunder before the Kaiser…" She mumbled. "My job is forfeit for sure…"

"Oh? Inge, come on, you don't need to feel ashamed or something. Get that coffee for Uncle and move forward."

"Really?"

"Really, really. And if you're fired, I'll hire you as my personal assistant, hahaha!"

"Heehee… Okay, I'm going. If I'm late with the coffee, then I will surely be fired!"

Toshiro walked down the stairs slowly and approached Helga.

"And what does Toshiro want of the simple Helga, heehee…"

"Where's the press conference to be held?"

"Ah, well, that's…"

Helga told him exactly where to go.

"Thanks, Helga."

"No problem, Toshiro. This is my job."

"Beats chasing Neuroi around, huh?"

"I specifically had that in mind when I was joining the Wehrmacht."

"So you never wanted to defend your Vaterland with a gun in your hand and a Striker Unit on your shapely legs?"

"Oh, please, don't flatter me, heehee… I have an aversion towards firearms, Toshiro… Let's stay at that."

"Well, if you have a valid reason, then I won't object. And it would be a shame if you'd got hurt…"

"Heehee, oh stop already… I'm probably redder than the national flag now…"

"You're missing a few hues, but you're close, haha!"

Toshiro went where Helga told him. He opened the door and saw a small conference room, ideal for this kind of event. He went forward and sat on his chair. He waited for a bit and then they came. The usual four which almost stalked him on every press conference he was part of.

Satoshi Kimigami from the Yokosuka Shimbun, Mike Kowalski from the New York Times, Erich Goldmann from the Neue Karlsland Abendblatt and the youngest of them all, namely Jonathan Smith from the Daily Telegraph.

"Sup guys!" Toshiro shouted while raising his hand.

The journalists had mixed expressions, but Kowalski stepped before the line and said, "Shit still smells the same."

"Good to hear! Now, let's get over with it… Take your seats, stand or drop on the floor, whatever."

The journalists took their chairs and placed them in an arc before Toshiro.

"Ah, close and personal. Now, who's the first?"

After some murmuring amongst each other, Goldmann went first.

"Herr Generalmajor, how does it feel to be a de facto Hohenzollern?"

"I don't feel any different, if you're asking about physical sensations. But more than my de-bastardization, it pleases me that my father was also made a noble, posthumously, but nonetheless."

"How about being an archduke? How does that feel?" Kowalski asked.

"Well… It's only an honorary title from what all I know, but it has a nice ring to it. But I know that being the heir to the throne is no monkey business… However, I need some time to adapt to the situation, so pardon if I make some blunders."

"General, what are your plans for the future? Do you plan to fight the Neuroi?" The Fusojin asked.

"Of course I plan to fight the Neuroi! I have received numerous upgrades to my gear and I intend to use them to full extent. As for general plans for the future… Well, since Yoshika's already been revealed to the world, I can't avoid talking about her… I want to marry her, settle down, et cetera. But before that happens, the world must be purged of the Neuroi."

"And how is it to be famous, General? I've heard you have quite the fan club going on." The young Britannian asked.

"It surprised me to be honest. I only did my duty and played along the script in the movie. But a fan club? Very surprising… But I've met with some members holding single digit numbers personally, numbers two and seven to be precise. Ah, and I had a nice laugh to hear that my uncle is officially my number one fan, hahaha! So, each of you had one question. Are you all satisfied?"

After some murmuring the nodded.

"Then I wish you a good day and safe travels. My two and a half day leave starts now, heheheh…"

Toshiro went out of the room before the journalists. He went to Adolfine's office.

"Oh, hi Joachim, busy as usual?" Toshiro asked with a smirk.

"Somewhat… The Generalmajor always keeps me occupied…"

"Don't mope around…" Adolfine said. "So, how did it go?"

"Smoothly. Say, Adi…"

"T... Igsney!"

"Joachim knows already, we don't need to be so fussy in our group." He shrugged.

"Oh whatever… What do you want?" Adolfine asked with a pouty face.

"Erica's file. The full version, not the leaflet I saw in Britannia."

"Why would you need that?" Adolfine asked suspicious.

"Just bring me it, please. I promise I'll tell you everything later."

"Urgh, okay… I have to do this personally… Stay put you two and no gossiping behind my back, damn you all!"

"Jawohl!" Joachim shouted frightened.

Adolfine walked out of the room. Joachim truly was terrified of talking, so Toshiro gave it a rest. Adolfine walked into the office and gave him the file.

"You have five minutes."

"I need only one…" He said and he started browsing the file fast.

It was considerably thicker than the one in Britannia and Romagna.

That must have been the take outfile…

Toshiro saw various papers, even from her school days. Then he finally found it.

"Got it."

"What is it?"

"Erica's IQ test, taken… just before the war started…"

"And why did you want to see it so badly?"

"Ursula's IQ is 170, only five points less than me, and you see what she does with Striker tech."

"Oh? Wait, wait a second… You think that…"

"Yep, and this paper here confirms it. Look."

Adolfine looked at the spot Toshiro pointed out.

"One-seven-zero… Mein Gott… But she behaves like a ditz, like a total kid!"

"That's outside of combat." Toshiro said.

"Ah… Yes… In combat, she's really a devil… But why didn't she chose to work with her sister?"

"Twins may be almost identical, but they can have different characters, and this is the case. Erica is simply easy going and lazy, because it's easier for her to do so. I've read a bit about it, and geniuses are mostly nonconformists and free thinkers. They loathe the rigid social norms. Ursula is timid, a bit antisocial and perverted to the bone, and Erica is lazy to the point of being obnoxious."

"Just incredible… Ah, well, this is something unique…"

"But Erica promised me that she will try to change gradually. Okay, you can take the file back, I'll be going."

"Going where?"

"I don't know, I have two and a half days free." Toshiro looked at the ceiling.

"Really? Joachim, take Toshiro home."

"No, no… Just give me the key to the door, and I'll take a walk."

"I you want…" Adolfine rummaged in her pockets and pulled out the keys. "Here you go."

"Thanks. Should I make dinner?"

"You know… I'll skip out on dinner here, just to make room for your delicacies!"

"Okay!"

Toshiro went out of the building and he walked the whole way back to Adolfine's home. Once he arrived there, he changed into his family man clothes and heated up the house.

Around 1500, he started preparing dinner. He went with simple Wienerschnitzel, Sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and some pickles. He took a bottle of wine from the basement.

Adolfine came in just as the potatoes boiled up.

"Toshirooooo… Foooooood!" She moaned.

"You shouldn't have skipped on dinner in work, Adi, you have rather fast metabolism."

"Shut up and give me food!"

"Okay, okay… Sheesh…"

Toshiro mashed up the potatoes after removing the water from the pot. He gave her portion and said, "Have at it."

Adolfine was so hungry she almost ate the plate the dinner was served on. Toshiro was eating a bit more elegantly.

"Wow… This was so good… The ladies at the mess hall can clean your shoes, Toshiro…"

"Let me guess… The next two dinners are also on me?"

"Or I'll throw you out!"

"I have an apartment to pick out you know…"

"Ah, you have that card in your sleeve… Then… Pleaaaaase cook the food for me for the next two days?" Adolfine asked with a sweet voice, almost abnormal for her.

"Okay, okay..."

They spent the day talking and listening to music. When Toshiro went to his room after evening bath, Adolfine was mysteriously in his bed.

"You're pushing your luck, missy…" Yuki said.

"Oh come on, Yuki… It's not like we're going to do anything…"

"Why am I even tolerating this…" Yuki sighed.

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