The Legends Still Live On

Bogen Neunzehn-komma-ein: Extras Fünf und Sechs

Kapitel Neunzehn: Die heutige Krise Nummer eins

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"Eat up!" Fernando encouraged as he balanced a plate of spaghetti and meatballs in one hand and a plate with a loaf of bread and salad in the other hand, all while carving a path through the crowd. "There's plenty for you all to enjoy!"

"Yeeeeeeaaaaaah!" was the overwhelming response from both the Anzio crowd and the Ooarai crowd.

It was just after the fight between the Italians and Ooarai's small, mixed group that had ended in victory for the smaller of the two schools. Anzio, being who they were, had thrown a large feast for all of those involved in that day's intense fight to enjoy. And by everyone, the Italians had insisted on everyone, including the judges, referees, and other support sent by the International High School Arts of Warfare Federations.

That 'everyone' had also included someone that Fernando would soon find to be his greatest nightmare.

"Hey, can I get some of that?" Erich waved his hand from his seat to notify Fernando of his request, though the flippant manner in which he did it made him seem arrogant and narcissistic if no one knew any better. Really, he was just someone who didn't see the need in overly-excessive politeness, much to the current chagrin of his best friend. He was at the de facto commanders' table, which consisted of Anchovy, Franco, Miho who was shaking her head at his lack of manners, and himself. Like each of their subordinates, the leaders of each combat arm also had on their combat outfits, there having been no time to change out of them before Anzio threw their feast.

"Ah, si!" Fernando granted with an elated grin. The light brunette Italian was quite prideful in his abilities as a chef, and he handed off a plate with a large salad and an entire loaf of bread to the blond-haired German ultra-ace with that same pride showing on his face. "No need to hold back!"

"Süüüüü-hüüüüüß!" Erich rejoiced with a pumping of his fist before he dug into his food like a starving wolf. Though not sweet like he had previously drawled out during his little bit of rejoicing, he did enjoy the food of those not too far south of his homeland.

Franco and Anchovy were simply staring in wonder at the blond-haired boy, each silently in awe of his eating. The closest comparison either of them could recall was one of the times their school had to temporarily ax some of the more delicious dishes from their menus because of monetary issues. When the previous status quo of food was restored to the cafeteria, it was madness among the lines. So seeing anyone willingly eat like such a savage was something they didn't quite understand.

Miho, though, was not quite the same. While in the back of her mind she did indeed wonder how her closest friend/crush was able to eat like a carnivore yet still retain his slightly smaller than average stature time and time again, at the moment she was more embarrassed by his blatant lack of manners. Unlike him, she placed quite a lot of value into being proper and making a good impression, and having Franco and Anchovy there to observe the stark contrast between them served as the fuel to the red in her cheeks.

It wasn't like she could do anything about it, though. As the light brunette German Panzer ace had come to learn over the decade of knowing him, Erich will do what he wants.

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After about one hundred more dishes give or take – no one knew exactly how many anymore, having lost track after ten – Bubi was still devouring plate after plate of delicious Italian cuisine. Fernando was standing by his side simply handing off more plates to him that were stacked with whatever was available. The blond-haired German ultra-ace was practically inhaling his servings so quickly that Anzio was having to strain itself to keep up with the demand, which was quite the feat considering that food was Anzio's domain.

"Don't hold back…" Fernando repeated as he set down another plate of lasagna for Erich to start on. "Don't hold back…" He was sweating as he slowly started to let some panic set in because of the situation before his eyes: never in any possibility considered did he predict someone's appetite could threaten to clean out the entire school's pantries in one fell swoop. It was simply too improbable for him to take into account at the time.

Only when he realized that the plate he currently held, a dish of mashed potatoes with some very thin slices of pizza cooked in a brick oven, was the very last dish of food available to him. The one who delivered it to the Italian boy scampered away in fear of their wildest nightmare coming true: Anzio running out of food.

Fernando seemed to pick up on this, and after setting the dish down to the side he chose to step in to prevent that nightmare from surfacing. "Please hold back!" he yelled at Erich with the insistence that he stop eating at that very moment.

"Mm?" was the blonde's response as he looked over to the chef and raised an eyebrow in confusion. His mouth was full as he had just shoved a forkful of food in there, not even having the time to remove the fork before freezing up due to Fernando's outburst.

"Dannazione…" both Franco and Anchovy muttered in amazement from their seats at the commanders' table. Their thoughts were full of stunned amazement at seeing Erich being able to bring Fernando down to begging him to stop eating to relieve the strain on his abilities to make food, both fully knowing that the light brunette Italian was exceptionally talented with kitchen duty and always happy to cook up more.

Miho simply smiled her practically trademarked awkward grin and gingerly removed the fork out of the blond-haired ultra-ace's mouth. "Nicht mehr essen," she leaned close to whisper into his ear with her sweetest voice. "Verstehen?"

Erich heard her words commanding to not eat anymore as clear as crystal, but the insistence in her voice when she asked him if he understood was able to sway him to obey with a small, begrudging nod of his head. While he loved to do what he wanted, at the same time he simply could not be compelled to say no to the kind and ultra-sweet light brunette girl. 'Oh, damn her and her wiles,' he mentally cursed the weakness he had to her.

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Part of Projekt Jägermeistern.

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The author doesn't claim to own "Girls und Panzer" or any other references made. "Girls und Panzer" belongs to Actas. Any references made belong to their respective owners.

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