As you may have seen (or not), Legendary Witches 3: Cross World Battle has been published. It's not much now, but hey, you can already fav/follow it. ;)
Chapter 20 – One Bastard Less
Today is the first of September. Yesterday, contrary to my hopes, the media swarmed the institute. The usual quartet was accompanied by a bunch of regional newspapers, and they even brought a film camera. To say the least, it was a fairly normal conference, starring me, only with more people than usual. I managed to survive the onslaught of questions, and then, I turned to something I liked more, mainly a practical demonstration. They probably made photos of my new equipment from every angle, and probably used up a can of tape to just record my flying.
The photographer from the Karlslander Abendsblat also took a nice photo of me on a neutral background, with nice lighting, me having all my medals and stuff. He said it's going to be printed as official Wehrmacht merchandise. Yeah… I hope they won't have to halt the presses today…
And Helma now looks at me like I'm some gold idol…
Toshiro went on for his usual walk, and when he was going back to the main building, he saw Christa entering. She also saw him, and waited for him to approach.
"Morning, Christa."
"Good morning, Hero of Karlsland." She giggled.
"Ah, pshaw… Come on, that title is good for shining around and nothing else."
"And yet, the people love you… At least that's what my old boss told me when I called him yesterday…"
"Nothing like a bartender to give you the best info, huh?"
"Heh, true… So anyway, your stocks are standing high."
"Hmmm… You know that today's a state holiday, right?"
"Yes…"
"And that there are some official celebrations?"
"Yeees…"
"And you know that my uncle and Adolfine like to pull of weird stuff?"
"No…"
"Well, I can only hope I won't have to make an idiot out of myself because, oh surprise, something will happen before a shitload of people." He sighed.
"What could happen, Toshiro?"
"Well, Adolfine told me that I could get promoted if something tipped over the scales in my favor. But I also set an all-time kill count record, so if I'll not be rewarded with something, I'm a monkey's uncle."
"Haha… And I'll be witnessing it."
"You're going too? How much people are going actually?"
"I know Ursula, Helma, Gisele, and Elisa are going, so you'll have your private harem, haha!"
"Yeah, yeah, pick on me… But I didn't have the occasion to even hold hands with Yoshika for almost a month… Good that my self-control is on a decent level…"
"The Hero of Karlsland running around and humping girls on the side… That would be an interesting headline…" Christa scratched her chin.
"You don't know shit about me, Christa… And thankfully, you won't, heheheheheh…" Toshiro said with a hint of nervousness no mortal could detect.
"Hey, well, you told me the raw statistics, I just don't know the names behind the numbers."
"And you won't, unless I release I biography in sixty years when I won't give a fuck anymore."
"Snap… Oh, we're at the mess hall already."
They entered the spacious room. And like the tradition called for, Ursula and Helma were already waiting in line. Toshiro waved to them, they waved back. Christa and Toshiro sat at a free table and waited for the two and the food.
"French fries with fish and ketchup… Hmmm… Does this have something to do with my imminent departure?"
"I don't know." Ursula shrugged. "But if I would guess, that would be a plausible explanation."
"Ah, well, let's just eat up."
After dinner, Toshiro went to his room. He took all the books from his room and went with them to the library.
"Ah, Toshiro returns with his book. I hope you could at least read most of them?" Elisa asked with her usual cutesy tone.
"Yes, I did. So I have nothing left?"
Elisa took a quick glance and said, "Everything returned, I won't have to send you strongly worded letters, heehee…"
Toshiro returned to his room. Sensing that it would be necessary, he pinned all his awards to his uniform, and hung whatever he could hang. He cleaned up the room a bit and left it with his trusty chest in his hands.
"My, my… How elegant… So many medals…" Gisele said as she saw him.
"I have to bring out the brass to get air sometimes…" Toshiro said.
He placed the chest before Gisele's desk and sat on it.
"I guess everyone will assemble for the flight soon?"
"Yes, before the main building. We already have some proficiency in that."
"Then I'll just wait here…"
And so, Toshiro waited. Helma was the first of his harem to come, so she was offered a seat beside Toshiro on the chest, which she accepted with such gratitude as if Toshiro gave her a bar of gold. Then some people he only saw briefly came and went, and after that Ursula strolled in. Christa got to Toshiro's spot after another wave of nameless people, and after that Elisa came down.
"Okay, I think we should go." Gisele said and stood up. "It's about time for the roll call."
They all exited the building and joined a small crowd. Suddenly, Gisele went forward and started the roll call. When it finished, Toshiro asked, "Hey, you're good at this. What did you do before being a receptionist?"
"Heh… I was a drill sergeant."
"Wow… Incredible…" Toshiro replied amazed.
"More like impossible, huh? Looks can deceive, Toshiro…"
"Well, your daily demeanor is also deceiving…"
"Appropriate behavior for the appropriate post..."
A Ju 252 was waiting for them with the ramp slowly opening. Toshiro got a place in the first most seat of the heavy transporter converted into a passenger carrier. Of course, it was because he had a big chest he was lugging with him and which he didn't want to lose out of his sight, and the front seats had more leg space. And of course, Helma was on cloud nine that she could sit beside him.
After the flight which took slightly over an hour, the whole group swarmed out of the plane and a crapload of cars started coming towards them. Toshiro could spot the familiar Kübelwagen out of them, driven by an equally familiar person.
"Good morning, Toshiro." Joachim said as he stopped by him. "I'm your personal driver today."
"It's actually beneficial… Okay, let's go."
Toshiro dumped his chest in the back and sat shotgun.
"So…" Toshiro started.
"A total failure…" Joachim mumbled.
"Oh?"
"Well, maybe not total but… we didn't even get to kiss…"
"Details, details!" Toshiro hurried him.
"I started my advances just as you left. Slowly I started probing the Generalmajor, but to my surprise, and sheer terror at first, after a few days she asked me "Want to go on a date?""
"Woah!"
"Right?! Anyway, we started going personal a bit during the days before the date. The day of the date was the day before your last operation."
"So that's why she said she didn't want to jinx it…"
"It didn't work anyway. We went to a restaurant, blah blah, and on the date we realized, that we are two totally opposite people privately. She said this relationship had no future, and we both agreed not to return to the topic ever…"
"Awww… How terrible… But I hope you're not beat down by it, right?"
"Not quite... The girls in the red light district can heal a man's heart in a jiffy…"
"And make his dick fall off after contracting every known, and possibly a few unknown diseases… Well, anyway, where are we going?"
"City Hall."
After a few minutes they arrived before a tall building on the corner of two streets. But they didn't stop just in the entrance, but drove in the back alley.
"Hmmmm…"
"Let's say you're a surprise guest…"
"Buh, well… Should I take my trunk with me?"
"I'll take it back to the Generalmajor's house. Enter the building through the door guarded by the two guards, and someone inside will surely guide you."
"Okay, thanks for everything."
Toshiro exited the car, and after being saluted by the guards he was let in. And nobody else than his favorite Generalmajor greeted him inside.
"Toshiro!" Adolfine cheered and hugged him.
"Haha, you missed me already?"
"This is the last chance to hug you how you are now because after an hour, give or take, you'll be somebody totally different."
"And of course no advance notice now, huh?"
"Nope! Undo that coat of yours, I want to see how you've dressed."
Toshiro took off his coat.
"Hmmm… You're making progress…" She murmured after making some minor corrections. "But I'll loosen up the Ritterkreuz a bit…"
"Why? Oh, wait, why am I even asking…"
"Heehee, you do learn fast."
"So, what's the plan?" He asked.
"You'll be watching the event with me from the shadows. After a certain moment in your uncle's speech, I'll give you a nudge and you'll go to him, that's all."
"And if I'll make an idiot of myself?"
"Don't try to, please. You'll be guided what to do and when." Adolfine responded seriously.
"Oh okay…"
They walked through the building and landed up in a large room, most probably a banquet hall, propped with columns, brightly lit in the middle but a bit dark on the sides. There was a swarm of people, both soldiers and civilians in the room. Toshiro could fish out a few familiar faces out of the rabble. A single long red carpet was laid out in the room through the whole length. A single microphone was standing near a big door.
"Okay, we stop here by the column and wait." Adolfine said.
After a few minutes, the big door opened. A troop of ten soldiers with trumpets walked along the red carpet and made a gauntlet. They raised the trumpets and played a fanfare, and the Kaiser walked and stood before the microphone. Before he would say anything, the trumpeters intoned the first notes of the national anthem, and the whole wide room sung the Kaiserlied.
After that the whole ceremony began. First, a list of deceased since last year was read by Franz, which took very long. Then the Kaiser proceeded with a speech. It was a passionate speech about remembrance, sacrifice and patriotism.
"But today, I will give you a small ray of hope." Franz said and looked in Toshiro's direction
"Toshiro, go." Adolfine whispered and nodded.
He took a deep breath and went forward. The murmurs and whispers across the room started, and even a few girly screams could be heard. Toshiro was waved in by Franz to stand beside him.
"Some probably still remember that there was one province of Karlsland without a titular ruler before the war broke out, Pommern. Toshiro, my nephew is the answer to it, I was saving it for him. But, he is a bastard you all may say, and you will be right. But no more, because with accordance with the decision of the Military Council from yesterday, Toshiro Lucas Edelweiss, and his late father, Lucas Andrew Edelweiss, are hereby made official members of the House of Hohenzollern, by extension making my nephew my rightful successor."
Toshiro looked surprised at his uncle.
"Additionally, they retain their original surnames and receive their own coat of arms."
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Adolfine appeared beside Toshiro with a suitcase and she unfolded something. It was a coat of arms, a white edelweiss on a red mountain on a black background. Toshiro was almost blinded by the flash of photographic lamps.
"And finally, Toshiro Lucas Edelweiss is now the titular Erzherzog of the Pommern province. But those are not all the surprises I have procured for today. As many of you, dear subject, know, my nephew has made some noise the day before yesterday which again made the Military Council think hard, and the result of their brainstorming is following... Toshiro Lucas von Edelweiss, Erhherzog von Pommern is now promoted to the rank of Generalmajor, effective immediately."
Holy shit! Shitshitshitshit… I'm a one star now, hahahahaha!
Photographic lamps flashed again and Toshiro saw Franz's hand extended towards him.
"Grab, shake, Lang leb der Kaizer" Adolfine said silently.
Toshiro did what Adolfine wanted of him.
"The last major thing for today, is something that was enabled by my nephew obtaining the rank of Generalmajor. There's an award that can be only awarded when the recipient is of that or higher rank, and being a respectful leader, not some kind of dictator, I was abiding with the decisions of the Military Council. But since my nephew attained such a rank, and furthermore, he broke an all-time record of the Wehrmacht in Neuroi shot downs, bah, he even destroyed a Hive single-handedly, the Military Council didn't think too long."
Adolfine opened her suitcase, and she gave the Kaiser a small case, covered with red leather, with a gold Kaiser eagle embossed on the top.
"I Frederick, from the will of God the Emperor of Karlsland, confer to you, Generalmajor Toshiro Lucas von Edelweiss, Ehrherzog von Pommern, the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross in lieu of your many merits and the valorous service and unbroken will towards your Vaterland."
I didn't even know this existed! I thought there wasn't an intermediary award between my level of Knight's Cross and uncles Star of the Grand Cross… Oh… Wait... Yeah, it's obvious now…
"Attention, salute, "Lang leb der Kaiser" etc." Adolfine whispered.
Toshiro waited until the ribbon of the award was on his neck. When Franz put his hand out, he just thought "Fuck it.", and he just hugged his uncle.
"Hahahaha! This is unexpected!" Franz laughed heartily while patting Toshiro on the back. "Okay, enough of this, I have to end the festivities."
Toshiro let go of his uncle.
"My dear subjects, this is a man that reached his current position through his skill and many sacrifices. Let us hope that thanks to him, the next 1st September will be a happy holiday. Good bye, and have a good day."
"Come on, Toshiro, before your fans and the journalists eat you alive." Adolfine said and the three of them retreated behind the big door.
"Toshiro, you were supposed to shake the Kaiser's hand, not bear hug him!" Adolfine shouted. "If you weren't evenly ranked, I'd spank you!"
"Hahahahahaha! Evenly ranked! Bwahahahahaha!"
"Yeaaaaah… What a nightmare… You having the same rank as me… But well, congratulations, Toshiro."
"Thanks, Adi. But wait a minute… If you're not my boss now, who is?"
"Keitel." Franz said. "Now you respond to the chief of the OKW himself. But you can still bother Adolfine for anything you need."
"Aaaaah… Makes sense… So, Adi… I guess we're partners now?"
"Oh yes, now we are partners, heehee…"
"So, what's the plan for the rest of the day?" Toshiro asked.
"I'm going to my residence, and you two can go to Adolfine's house. Or wherever you wish, it's a holiday." Franz replied.
Toshiro looked at Adolfine and she said, "My house it is."
They exited the building through the same way Toshiro entered it, and Joachim was waiting for them. They entered the car, both in the back.
"Home please." Adolfine said.
"Verstanden."
They arrived at Adolfine's house. After she opened the door, Toshiro saw his chest.
"Toshiro, sit down, I need to tell you something…"
"Hmmm?"
"You really should sit down…"
"Okay…." Toshiro said and sat down on the chest.
"Ah, wait a second, I'll go put some fire under the boiler."
"Take your time…"
Adolfine ran to the basement, and after two minutes she returned.
"Today at around 0600, there was a fire on the ship that's carrying Yoshika and Shizuka."
Toshiro felt as his heart slowed down at least two times. Cold sweat started dripping down his whole body."
"Buuuut! Luckily, everything is okay, there were only minor injuries amongst the crew members."
Toshiro limped down on his knees.
"Toshiro!"
"Okay… I'm okay… But… Why the fuck did you have to be so dramatic…?"
"Well, now I can tell you what I know… A fire started in the ammo bay of the ship. And you know what that would mean, right?"
Toshiro gulped audibly.
"Yeaaah… The sprinkler system failed so somebody was needed to start it manually, but, oh the irony, the valve was in the ammo bay itself. They sent somebody to do this, but the fire was still going on. And then, Yoshika comes in."
"Yoshika? But she's now a normal girl! She can even get a cold now!"
"But her character stayed the same, right?"
"Right…"
"So, she ran into the ammo bay amongst the raging fire to save both the guy that went before her, and she managed to turn the valve and douse the fire."
"Wow… My Yoshika did that?"
"Talk about a hero…"
"Yeah… I destroyed over a hundred of Neuroi, Yoshika saved over a hundred of lives… I'm so fucking proud and furious at the same time!"
"Furious? Why?"
"Because she behaved like a selfish moron! She knew she could die! And what about Shizuka?"
"She testified that Yoshika was out of her control."
"Control-shmontrol… But yeah… Maybe Yoshika finally pulled the rank superiority card…" Toshiro sighed deeply.
"Now I can't do the same on you…" Adolfine pouted.
"Dawwww…"
"Take a bath, Toshiro. You smell." She held her nose ostentatiously.
"Well, you're a bit to blame."
"Excuses, excuses… I'll do some sewing work on your uniforms in the meanwhile, what say you?"
"I say yay!" Toshiro cheered.
He unbuttoned his uniform and gave it to Adolfine.
"Bath supplies in the usual place?"
"Yes."
Toshiro ran to his room and took the bath supplies. Back when he returned, he saw Adolfine rummaging through his chest with a displeased look.
"Why the sour face, Adi?"
"Do you know the term civilian clothing?"
"Uhh… I wore a yukata in July…" Toshiro pondered deeply.
"Crap… Okay, go take that bath already…"
Toshiro shrugged and went to take that bath.
"Archduke… Official successor… One star General... New award… Wow, so much happened today…"
"I'm proud of you, you know?"
"Oh are you, Yuki?"
"Yeees… You're a made man now. What say you about becoming a Generalleutnant?"
"Yuki, please… What good would that bring me?"
"You would have nice epaulets... And an even bigger pay…"
"Pay… Oh, right! I didn't bother about my monies!"
"And I didn't bother about your monies either… Ask Adi about your new salary."
"I'm curious too."
Toshiro wrapped himself in a towel and exited out of the bath. He found Adolfine in the living room, with all his uniforms spread out all over the place.
"The hell?"
"I looked for something normal you could wear around the house and I have failed. Damn it to hell…" She said sourly.
"Your point?"
"I wanted to send your current uniforms to the dry cleaner… Ah! I have a solution! Toshiro, wait for me okay? I'll be back in an hour max!"
"Sure…"
Adolfine rushed out of the house quickly.
Wonder what got into her…
Toshiro looked at all the uniforms, and saw that on the long-sleeved one the rank insignia were already changed.
Oh boy oh boy!
Toshiro looked at his new epaulets. The red background harmonized perfectly with the golden cords and the single silver thread going through the center of all the cords. His collar patch also changed. It also had a red background, scarlet even, and instead of silver bars, there was an embroidered gold arabesque motif.
Heh… Looks nice… But yeah, urgh, the uniform… smells…
Toshiro laid the uniform back where it was, and put on a record while he was waiting.
After some time, she barged in, huffing and puffing with a whole bundle of bags.
"Woah, Adolfine, I thought it's a holiday today?"
"Some people… actually work… today…" She said and threw everything at him. "Put it on."
Toshiro looked at Adolfine surprised but he started pulling out everything from the bags. He ended up with grey pants with slightly darker vertical stripes, brown shoes, a blue checkered shirt and a brown tie. He dressed into everything and Adolfine said, "Wow, like a totally new man. You'll be walking around the house like this."
Toshiro looked around and he saw his dim reflection in a glass pane.
Hmm… Not bad… Not bad at all…
"Come over here, Adi, I think I spotted something weird…"
"Hmm? What is it?"
As she approached him, Toshiro gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Oh you sly bastard…" She blushed slightly.
"Not anymore, haha!"
"Yeah, that too…"
"Not in the mood for horseplay, Adi?"
"Not exactly…"
"Lemme guess… Dumping Joachim moved even you?" He smirked.
"H-How do you know?!"
"I pushed him towards it, duh."
"You son of… no… moth… no… GODDAMN FUCKING INTRIGANT!"
"Woah, woah… Adi…"
"Sorry… I had to lash out at someone, but I couldn't pin point who was at fault… Aaaah, everything's clear now… I told you I wanted to change my social life a bit, and you ordered the poor Joachim to hit on me?"
"Yeah…"
"I bet you had good intentions but… we really don't fit…"
"Tough luck, try again with somebody else."
"Maybe later… Much later… Not this month at least…" She mumbled under her nose.
"Now, now…" He patted her head. "My partner shouldn't be so gloomy."
"Heh, thanks…"
Suddenly, a knock on the door was heard.
"I'll get it, I'm the man of the house now."
"Hahahaha!"
He opened the door and saw his harem from Rosario.
"Oh, good morning sir." Ursula said politely. "Did we by chance find ourselves at the Galland residence?"
He could see Christa and Elisa chuckling already, but he didn't have the heart to pull a prank on Ursula right now. He now noticed she has her glasses fogged. He swiped them from her face with a swift move, and Ursula shouted, "Toshiro, is that you?!"
"Yeah."
"Hey, Toshiro, who is it?" Adolfine asked from inside.
"My personal harem from Rosario."
"Your harem?" Adolfine asked with a doubtful voice and rushed to him. "Oh look what a nice bunch we have here! What do you want, girls?"
"Uhm… We wanted to congratulate Toshiro and such…" Ursula said quietly.
"Then come on in, all of you!"
"C-Can we?"
"Sure, Ursula, come on in with the whole entourage. Toshiro, tea for seven."
"Coming, darling."
"Shush, idiot!"
He heard the girls snickering behind him. Whilst he was preparing the tea, he heard the girls talking.
"Um, we have a small request…" Ursula said.
"What is it?" Adolfine asked.
"Because we wanted to congratulate Toshiro, we had to skip our plane back…"
"And I thought Toshiro was stupid…" She sighed. "Okay, wait a second, I'll clean up in the living room and you can all get a seat."
The kettle was on the kitchen, the tea was in the cup. Toshiro went to see the girls.
"Did I hear correctly, or did you stupid girls forfeit your ride back home just to shake hands with me?"
The girls looked around flustered.
"Okay, we'll talk later."
"Okay, girls, pick your places!" Adolfine shouted.
The five went into the living room. Adolfine approached him and whispered, "I'll order some cake and send your uniform to the dry cleaner."
"Oh, remember about a chocolate parfait for Helma."
"She likes those?"
"Yup, at least that's what she told me."
"Okay, thanks for the tip."
Adolfine went to the gym, where one of the phones in the house was located.
The kettle started whistling, so Toshiro went to the kitchen and finished making tea. After placing everything necessary on a platter, he went to the living room. The girls made themselves somewhat cozy on the couch, with Christa, Gisele, Elisa and Ursula sitting in the proper part and Helma using the rather wide armrest.
"You're all still in your coats? Gods… Out of those, now."
"But we don't know how long we'll be here…" Ursula said.
"Enough for you to boil in that coat. You've heard me, off with them."
The girls murmured a bit, but they gave him all their coats.
"Now, take the tea from me."
Christa stood up again and took the platter form him and put it down on the small table before the couch.
"Good."
Toshiro went back to the kitchen and placed all the coats on the table. Then he grabbed the two chairs and dragged them along to the living room.
"Well, all we need now is Adolfine."
"Did you call?" She said while entering the room.
"Now we have everything."
Adolfine took her chair and placed it diagonally before the girls. Toshiro did the same with his, but on the other side.
"So, you poor unfortunate girls, you'll get a plane in two hours, I managed to find a pilot not drunk by now."
"Th-Thank you…" Ursula said with burning cheeks.
"So, did you all congratulate Toshiro, or were you to ashamed to do so?"
The girls looked around each other and swarmed Toshiro quickly, wishing him various things. Just after they finished and started drinking the tea, someone knocked on the door.
"I'll get it, Toshiro." Adolfine said.
She first took his uniforms and then went to the door. She returned without the uniform, but returned with two paper boxes.
"I got cake!" Adolfine cheered.
"Yay!" Helma cheered.
"Ah, you should be satisfied the most…"
Adolfine placed the two cake boxes. The first one contained a strawberry shortcake, but the second one made Helma squeal from joy.
"Wooooooooaaaaaaaah! A chocolate parfaaaaaaaaaait!" Helma shouted and immediately looked at Toshiro. "You remembered!"
Toshiro shrugged with a smile. The girls began eating the cake, but in the middle of it, Toshiro laughed silently and said, "You know what, girls… I think it's good that you all are here…"
They looked at him surprised.
"This way, you can all give advice to Adolfine on how to find a man."
Adolfine who was taking a sip of tea spat it all over Christa's face.
"Toshiro, damn you! What are you thinking about?!" She yelled and looked at Christa. "Whoops."
"Ursula could teach you all a thing or two, Christa has her own experience, both as an adult woman and a part-time bar worker…"
"I could teach all the girls here but… Toshiro… I would… uhm… request you'd go somewhere else…" Ursula blushed.
"Okay."
"Hey, hey! Don't I have anything to say?!" Adolfine protested.
"Nope." Toshiro said. "Have fun, girls."
Toshiro took his chest and went upstairs to his room. He laid down on the bed and took a quick nap.
Knocking on the door woke him up.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly and Helma walked in with a bleak face expression.
"Hmm… Lemme guess, too much for such a pure maiden like you?"
She didn't say anything. She just walked up to Toshiro's bed and slid under the quilt, effectively hiding from the world. Toshiro found her head and started stroking it.
"There, there… This all may seem a bit gross, unnatural or sinful, but really, once you start, you won't want to stop."
Few minutes later, she finally popped up and hugged Toshiro lightly.
"That was scary… And Ursula was really blunt… But I guess I need that knowledge…"
"Heheh… Okay, now scram. What would someone say if a squirt like you was found in my bed, huh?"
"Woah, you're right!" She shouted and darted out of his bed. "Um, anyway, you can go back now probably…"
Toshiro followed Helma downstairs. Once he entered the living room, Adolfine shot daggers at him.
"Don't look like that at me, Adolfine. I only wanted to help…"
"And you did… somehow… maybe…" She mumbled.
"How long did I sleep by the way?"
"It's almost time for the girls to go."
"Ah, what a shame. On the other hand, Ursula and Christa probably ran out of ideas what to say…"
"Well, I didn't have much to say in the first place…" Christa said. "Good that I went first."
"But I must admit that the practical knowledge of Christa, though limited, is still something…" Ursula said.
"As somebody who only read about it, I appreciate the lecture." Elisa said with a smile.
"O tempora, o mores…" Gisele said and sighed.
At the same time, there was a knock on the door.
"Ah, I guess that's your ride girls. Take your coats and hats, and goodbye." Adolfine said with a smile.
"Kitchen." Toshiro said and pointed out the room opposite this one.
The girls went to the kitchen and put their coats on. After that they returned to the corridor.
"I guess we won't see each other in a while… So long, Toshiro. I promise I'll try to build an even better Striker!"
"Oh stop, Ursula… Focus on the Strikers for witches. That Me 262 is crying after you."
"Maybe… Or I'll try to downscale the XF-1, hah!"
"Okay, okay! Move over, Ursula!" Helma said and pushed Ursula aside. "Toshiro, I hope you won't dishonor the Wehrmacht, not now when your God knows who anymore!"
Toshiro quickly grabbed her cheeks and said, "I'll miss your soft cheeks, heheheh…"
"Bwut I bowt biff yu bweebin bem!"
"Heheh…" Toshiro laughed and let her go.
"I'll try to make a good frame for the rail gun, Toshiro. And maybe I'll adapt a better sight… Hmm…"
"Do what you must, Christa. I'm fine with my current loadout."
"Remember to read books, Toshiro. A few pages a day keep the shrink away, heehee…" Elisa giggled.
"Yeah, I'll be sure to at least read the manual of a fridge if it comes to, haha!"
"And be sure to do your paperwork diligently!" Gisele almost shouted.
"Yes ma'am!"
"Good!"
"Heheh…"
"Okay you all, bye now!" Adolfine said.
"Good bye, Adolfine!" All the girls cheered in unison.
"Speaking of paperwork…" Toshiro said after the door closed. "How's my pay?"
"As of today, two hundred net."
"Not bad… Not that I'm moaning about how poor I am…"
"You don't have the right too…"
"So, what now? We had fun…"
"How about… Let's listen to some music."
"Ah, that would be nice…"
They listened to various artists to supper, with Adolfine tucked into his chest. Surprising for Toshiro was the fact that his uniform returned from the dry cleaner. It was stiff as a board, but it had a nice scent of lemons. After supper, they retreated to their rooms.
"Say, Toshiro…" Adolfine said loud enough to hear her through the wall.
"What?"
"We have a normal work day tomorrow…"
"Booooother…"
"Well, not normal… Sundays are shorter but… you have to be introduced properly to Keitel, get briefed by him, blah blah, et cetera."
"I think I'll manage."
"Good. That way of thinking earned you your rank and titles."
"Jealous?"
"Like fuck… An eighteen year old Generalmajor… Sweet mother of Jesus…"
"Go to sleep, Adi."
"I'd prefer with you…"
"Ah, you missed me…"
"Kind of…"
"Say, Yuki! What do you think? Can Adi sleep with me in a non-sexual context?" Toshiro asked aloud in a theatrical manner.
"Yes…" Yuki sighed.
Toshiro could hear the quick thumping of feet behind the wall, the sound of one door being opened. Then he saw his door being opened and Adolfine running towards him.
"Weeeeee!" She cheered while she pounced on his bed.
"But no funny stuff!" Yuki yelled.
"Okay, I promise! I just want someone to hug during the night…"
"This can actually work…"
"Huh?"
"If Adi is left alone after I leave Neue Karlsland, she might pick up the pace with finding a suitor…"
"You are despicable sometime, Toshiro…"
"I just can't stand the fact that Adi is going to waste. She's twenty four already and no perspectives on marrying or whatever."
"Chauvinist…"
"Feminist…"
"Slave driver…"
"Tightass…"
"Hey, I am a snake after all, right?"
"Heheh, yeah…"
Adolfine kissed him on the cheek and cuddled herself against him.
"Good night, Erzherzog of Pommern, heehee…"
"Oh can it…"
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