The Girls in the Sky
(Adapted from the chapter The 24th Squadron, from the manga series Witches of Aurora by Kyougoku Shin)
Suomus, a small Northern European country surrounded by forests and lakes, located in the arctic circle. It had also been threatened by the mysterious Neuroi. The invasion began at the same time as the Neuroi attacked its neighboring country, Orussia, in 1939. This was later known as the "Winter War." Initially, Suomus' line of defense was forced to stand against the vastly superior enemy, but with the effort of the "Suomus Volunteer Army" and its local witches, the war situation improved. Currently, they are in a stalemate, with both forces winning and losing alike.
Vartsila Base, Suomus, 1942
Eini Antia Luukanen, the commander of the Suomus Air Force Squadron, recognizable by short black hair and black glasses, was making coffee while talking on the phone in her office.
"Our unit only went to intercept the enemy. Don't worry." She poured the coffee into a cup before she walked up to the window, looking at the white world outside.
"...Hm? You're concerned about whether we sent enough witches or not? No. If your reconnaissance information is accurate, then we have sent enough. Any more would just serve as insurance."
"Hmm...Yes, indeed. Currently, half of our main forces are patrolling Petersburg. On top of that, we don't have enough firearms or cutting-edge Striker Units for everyone." Luukanen laid her eyes on the coffee machine, "We're even down to the last few coffee beans we have here. That being said, both the coffee and the witches we have are at the highest caliber."
'Two medium-types...and about twenty small-type escorts, I think.' Laura Nissinen silently counted the enemy crafts in front of her while she was staring at this black ocean made out of the mysterious creatures named Neuroi.
"Lapra, can you hear me?" across the ratio came her comrade's voice. It was Hasse.
"Once again we have a lot of small fry for combat experience. I'll try my best to cover you, so I'm counting on you to do the same for me."
"Got it, Hasse. Leave the small-types to me."
"Thanks. I feel safer already."
Well then, Hasse would deal with the medium-types, Laura thought to herself.
From not far away came a singing voice.
"People of high caliber do not worry over the small stuff. Oh yeah, just like me. Even if it rains, I don't care. Even if the wind blows, I don't care. Even if it rains spears, I don't care. Even if there's a snowstorm, I don't care..."
With ease, the owner of the voice dodged every beam from the enemy and fired at one Neuroi core after another, while humming to herself. Impressed, all the rookie witches marveled.
"Amazing...!"
"In a blink of an eye, she took up a medium-type while singing..."
"And she didn't use her shield even once..."
"This is Suomus' top ace, known for her Foresight ability and 'absolute avoidance,' Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen!"
Yes, this witch who just effortlessly finished off several not-small-at-all Neuroi while humming was Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen, recognizable by long light blonde hair and black fox ears and tail. Having Foresight as her specific magic, she was able to see two seconds into the future. In addition, she possessed high nimbleness and great judgment. The combination of those made her an unmatchable fighter who would never be targeted in any situation.
Eila let out a sigh of relief before she looked around to check if there was any remaining enemy craft.
All of a sudden, a familiar figure came into her sight. It was Nipa chasing a Neuroi.
"Nipa! Hey, Nipa! You're going off course! That way you will get isolated from us! Stop!" Eila reminded Nipa through the radio.
"I-I know! But I need to take down this one now!" Or the credit will go to you guys again. Nipa, eager to prove herself, would by no means let this bird fly. She gazed at it, seized the timing, and fired at it.
After a boom, flames and smoke covered the target as expected. Nipa let out a triumphant smile. But—
The next second, she spotted another one rushing straight towards her. After one came another. It was too early to celebrate.
However, before she could react, the craft was burnt to ashes like the one from earlier. Nipa looked at the direction where the bullet had come from and found it was Eila, whose MG 42 was still smoking.
"Hey! You alright, Nipa? That was really close, wasn't it?"
"Illu...! NGH! I-It's not like I needed your help. I could've done that by myself!" Although she was happy to be saved by her comrade, the fact that the chance to impress them had slipped by still upset Nipa.
Not minding Nipa's reaction, Eila just said, "Stop trying to look tough! Oh! As thanks for saving you, I'll be taking your afternoon snack!"
"Wha—" Eila's words made Nipa forget everything, "No way! Today's snack is my beloved blueberry tart! Why do I have to give it to you!"
"That one is really delicious! I like it too!"
"Just listen okay? I'm not giving it up!"
They might be soldiers, but they were teenage girls after all. Something like sweets was always irresistible to them.
All of a sudden, another Neuroi came up, interrupting their "war of sweets." They instantly switched back to battle mode as soon as they sensed the approach of it. Eyes sharp, they stared at the enemy.
Unexpectedly, before none of them ever started to fire a shot, a bullet flew between them and hit the Neuroi, completing the mission on their behalf.
"Alright, Alright. It's dangerous not to pay attention in the middle of the battle," a familiar voice came across the radio.
"That precise aiming… Hasse, is that you?"
"Bingo—!" Hasse replied in a sing-song voice, confirming Eila's assumption.
The one who just finished off this surprise guest was Hanna "Hasse" Wind, bearing a close resemblance to Nipa. She was the number two ace of Suomus, good at aiming. The number one ace of Suomus was Eila, good at dodging. Despite the wide difference between their specialties, both of them were two excellent witches the people of Suomus were proud of, referred to as "Hanna the Marksman, Eila the evasive."
"This case, I wonder… Does that mean I get both of your snacks?" Hasse changed the subject, taking part in the "war of sweets."
As expected, it gave rise to a "riot."
"No way!" "Absolutely not!"
"Ahahahaha, just kidding, just kidding. However, I'm looking forward to today's tart as well. Let's settle this now so we can have some tea together."
"Okay!" Eila replied.
"We'll take care of the small-types and leave the medium-type to you. I'll keep your back covered, so don't worry," Hasse said through the radio.
"Understood. Let's go, Nipa," Eila urged Nipa while replying to Hasse.
"I could do this by myself, you know..." Nipa murmured while pouting.
The girls carried on the battle.
"Don't fall behind me, Nipa!"
"You don't need to say that!"
Eila easily whizzed among the beams of Neuroi. Nipa, looking at her from behind, felt a pain building up inside her. Not using a shield, Illu was faster than her. It was always like that. Time after time, she found herself in an attempt to catch up with her, endlessly. If only she could become as excellent an ace as her...! Such indignation made her unconsciously bite her lips tight.
Hasse precisely hit the Neuroi, revealing its core.
'The core is exposed!' Eila thought to herself, but immediately she saw Nipa hastily come up and shoot a string of bullets at the Neuroi, but none of them hit the bullseye. Surprise and frustration were written all over her face when Nipa found the core was still intact.
"You're too impatient, Nipa. First you must get close enough for a reliable strike and…" said Eila as she put on a demonstration. She leaned forward to get into a horizontal position, and then performed a perfect dash before she fired a shot and precisely hit the core. In one blink, the black metallic object, which was still launching a dazzling fatal beam at the last moment, turned into tens of thousands of crystal clear shards scattering in the chill yet brilliant sky, reflecting the sunshine.
Everyone smiled, except Nipa, whose brain was still processing what had just happened. Unanimously, Laura and Hasse raised their heads, looking up at this newly unadulterated sky. Laura's lips lifted in an obvious curve even though she was still poker-faced. Hasse raised a hand to shelter her eyes from the sunshine.
The very last enemy in this mission was taken down. Suomus' top ace scored one more victory. Through the whole process she did it with full deftness, showcasing her excellent skills as a super ace and placid manner in the face of the enemy.
"Hehe—. Well, just like that. Get it, Nipa?" Eila, with a confident smile on her face the whole time, pulled up her upper half to get into an upright position, hovered still and gave Nipa a playful grin. Nipa, however, had an unhappy look on her face, flushing and saying nothing. 'It was meant to be my chance to let you guys see me in a new light. How come it ended up as your showtime?' Nipa grumbled in her mind.
"But even then...because you and Hasse opened up the core for me, I could do it with ease, so don't give me that gloomy face, Nipa!" Eila, who had noticed Nipa's expression, sincerely tried to convey her gratitude and encouragement to her friend, patting her on the shoulder.
"I-It's not like I just followed you around, alright?" stubbornly denied a pouty Nipa.
"Haha. Oh well, it's fine," said Eila as she put her hand to her left ear, starting to communicate through the ratio. "Erm… This is Eila here. The target is down, and Nipa is safe, too."
Across the radio came Hasse's response, "We have already confirmed that from here. Well done, Illu, Nipa. It seems that Lapra's side is finished too. All the air units, return to base."
"Understood!" Eila gave a brief reply before she cut the communication.
At this very moment, Nipa's Strikers made an abnormal noise and started to smoke.
Nipa began to sweat bullets, so did Eila.
Yes, the Jinxed Katajanen was going to crash again.
One second later—
"GYAAAAAAH—!"
Upon hearing her comrade's scream, Hasse nervously asked through the radio, "What happened?! More Neuroi forces appeared?"
"Ni-Nipa's Strikers caught fire! The engine! The engine stopped working!" Across the radio came Eila's frantic voice.
Eila was indeed busy at this moment. Not only did she have to hold Nipa up, but she also had to, well, bicker with her.
At the very moment when the engine of Nipa's Strikers stopped working, Eila grabbed Nipa in time...in the edge of her leggings, revealing Nipa's snowy white hips to the world.
"Hey! Watch where you are holding me! Illu, let me go—!" The fact that her bottom was on full display to Eila filled Nipa's eyes with tears of embarrassment. Her cheeks were as red as a mature tomato.
"You're exposing me! You're exposing me! Illu—!" Nipa waved her both arms frantically, trying to cover her private parts, causing her whole body to swing more intensely. At this moment Eila couldn't imagine anything heavier than Nipa with her Strikers. She wouldn't be surprised if her arms broke at the next second. She was holding Nipa up with literally all of her might.
"Hey! Don't struggle Nipa! You're going to fall! You're go to fa—"
Ultimately, overwhelmed by gravity, Eila couldn't hold Nipa anymore. Nipa rapidly descended as Eila's hands lost hold of her. In order to get hold of Nipa again, Eila dived downwards.
"WAAAAAAAAA!"
"Nipa, grab my hand!"
"Wait a moment! I'm fixing my clothes!"
"Do it laaaaater!"
Between her dignity as a girl and safety, Nipa chose the former. As a result, both of them fell onto the ground alongside their Strikers, creating a thud.
Hasse, who had "audited" the whole conversation through the communicator, let out a sigh and smiled. After taking a look at the direction where Nipa and Eila landed, she started to contact Eila's elder sister by radio.
"Nipa again? She never changes… Illu too? Hahaha, Illu fell too? Now that's interesting."
After radioing with Hasse, Aurora smiled and murmured, "what a handful they are," before she headed to the designated spot by jeep.
"Illu! Nipa! If you're alive, answer me!"
In a forest, Aurora called out Eila's and Nipa's names repeatedly, but received no response. When she began to worry, two familiar voices came from somewhere nearby.
Tracing the voices, Aurora found Eila and Nipa under a tree. Relieved, she asked, "You both alright?"
However, neither of them noticed her. It seemed that they just fell from the tree, leaves scattering around them. Eila was holding Nipa tightly with her arms around the other witch's waist, having yet to let go. Nipa, leaning against the tree, was rubbing her head in pain. Seemingly she hit her head on the trunk when they descended.
"That was close... That was close…" Nipa murmured, having yet to recover from shock.
"If your breasts didn't work as a cushion, this crash would have been a lot worse." Indeed, Eila was lying on Nipa's body, her face buried in Nipa's chest. Nipa's body did serve as a protective cushion for her, or she might be the one groaning in pain at present. This "Always Unscathed Scorer" now had a new title: Always Unscathed Crasher.
"Hey, you...!" Eila's remark made Nipa half mad half amused. Nipa's whole body played a part in protecting Eila, but Eila spoke of her breasts in particular! Only the members of the 24th squadron knew that Suomus' top ace was a boob enthusiast. Groping girls' breasts was one of her hobbies. Busty, Nipa was always the number one victim.
Not until this moment did Nipa notice that Eila was on top of her.
"Wait, how long have you been on top of me?"
This question snapped Eila back to reality, "Oh, my bad. Sorry, I'm getting up."
Suddenly, Eila held still and widened her eyes.
"W-why did you stop talking so suddenly?" Eila's weird behavior put Nipa in full confusion. At the same time, she got a sinking feeling, which was immediately proven right as Eila said something crazy in the next moment.
"Hmm, well, this might be just a hunch, but...in the years you're going to have some pretty amazing boobs!" said Eila while she was observing the two spheres on Nipa's chest confined by her striped sweat.
"W-what?! Just what the hell are you talking about?!" Nipa's face was a total tomato at this moment.
"It will take time so let me touch them once more to make some memories!" said Eila as she gave out a naive smile, apparently guileless but actually…
"What memories?! Good grief, get off me already! Aurora might be coming to rescue us very soon!"
If Aurora saw such a flirty scene, heaven knew what she would do... It was just too frightening to think of.
However, Nipa's worries came true again.
"I'm already here—!" Speak of the devil. Here Aurora was.
Both Eila and Nipa felt a stream of coldness down their spines.
"It seems I arrived when things started heating up. Did I interrupt anything?"
"H-how long have you been here, Aurora?" asked Eila, trying to appear calm.
"Hmm... Let's see. Around the time you called Nipa's breasts a cushion, I think."
"Then you've been here the whole time!" Eila felt she was going to melt down in embarrassment. Nipa, next to her, was at the edge of crying.
"Oh well, you can keep going. I'll just wait here."
"N-no. Let's go back."