It's time for the first ever Guest Review Answer Corner!

"I see the story is finally resumed. Also, have you watch the first Victory Arrow OVA? it recently got subbed." ~Guest

I did, although the subs aren't a masterpiece. I wanted to wait for Underwater, but hell, stuff needs to be watched! There are a few tidbits from O.V.A. that have been added both to this and the next story (even before O.V.A. was actually released).

And that concludes the first (and most likely last) Guest Review Answer Corner! If you post anonymous reviews - burn in hell! Have a nice time, and now we resume our scheduled broadcast!

Chapter 24 – Returning to normality

I can't sleep… I simply can't… Damn it… Might as well take a stroll and… Oh, hah, time to move on with the plan…

Toshiro stood up from his bed and silently went out of his room. Much to his discord, he saw Alissa, leaning on the windowsill and looking at the moon. He sighed and waved her in. Looking at her in the moonlit corridor moved something in Toshiro, but he waited until they exited the building.

"So, Kyelein, I wanted to ask you something…"

"Fire away, T-man."

"Ghhhhhhrrrr…" he ground his teeth.

"Heheheh…"

"Anyway… Why did you choose your credentials to be so?"

"Heh… Well… Think a bit, Toshiro. A Second Lieutenant is just a rank high enough not be mopped around, and low enough to not get a background check or something. I mean, if I were to parade with the rank of a Lieutenant General, or even a Lieutenant Colonel, the girls would get suspicious, especially Minna, since she remembers many of the high ranking witches, either from meeting them personally, the Wehrmachtsbericht, or simple gossip. Well, and I suppose I could have taken the rank of First Lieutenant, but nah… No need for risks over a single rank."

"Let's see… that's Leutnant, General, Oberstleutnant, and Oberleutnant."

"I may be masquerading as a Karlslander, but while it's just the two of us in private, I'm using Allied Forces ranks."

"Fine, but your papers are fake as a three dollar bill."

"I won't argue about that, hehe… Without a background check at the OKW however, the papers are legit. Of course, I could have completely modified the memories of everyone and assumed the rank I carried in my world… but you probably would get too jealous of me being a Five-Star in your world. And I didn't want to modify your world, since I'm bound to protect it, and that doesn't entitle me to modify it as if it was my sandbox."

"Despite that you could do it in a split second." Toshiro sighed. "I see you chose to use your married name here, Alissa. What's up with your real name anyway? You don't look Fusojin at all."

"You don't know my real name, very few do. When I was reborn after my first death, I was born into the Akari Royal Family of the Light Kingdom. The Light Kingdom is basically a Planet Japan, or Fuso in this world. My grandfather, Hiroto Akari, is what you would expect any noble Fusojin man to look like. My grandmother is a different case. Grandpa Hiroto married a woman from the Arcanan Kingdom, and my father, King Zen Akari I, married my mother Queen Xera. The Arcanan Kingdom resides in the Realm of Magic, which is basically Planet England, or Britannia in this world. My mother, Queen Xera, is a different case, but she and her side of my family have the same general make up as the English. Putting it in terms of your world, my family is half Britannia and half Fusojin. Adding to that, the realm Doran's family, the Maya Royal Family, is from is basically a planet Germany, which is Karlsland. I was born the Crown Princess of the Light Kingdom, so I inherited my father's surname and was given a matching first name. When I married Doran, I gave myself the name "Alissa" to use with his surname whenever I was with him in Drachenheim. Now you know why I look Britannia and have the name "Kye Akari." And since "Alissa Maya" is already a name I use in a German-slash-Karlslander world, why not use it here while I masquerade as a Karlslander?"

"Makes sense."

"And what are you doing out here, huh?"

"I could have asked you the same question, you know…"

"But I asked it first so fork up the answer."

"Ugh… I'm still adapting to the new time zone, so I decided to take a walk…"

"Walk my foot, tell me the real reason."

"I wanted to get on Heidemarie's better side, maybe even fly on patrol with her."

"Never wasting an occasion…" Alissa sighed.

"A man's gotta do et cetera… By the way, what equipment do you have on you here? You ain't carrying anything with you…"

"Well, why should I bother with a sidearm…? But I don't have Jouten with me if that's what you're male ego is crying about right now…"

"Whew, faith in trans-humanity restored…"

"I don't want to piss in your sandbox, Toshiro. I did bring a longsword with me. It's in my room. The girls got a little nervous with me waltzing around with a sword on my back."

"But I wonder what Striker do you have…? I hope you obeyed the rules of this timeline, riiiiight?"

"Uhhh… I bent them a teeensie, weeeee little bit…"

Toshiro looked at her with his eyebrows furled.

"Come on! The reciprocating Strikers are slower than fuck! Let me have some fun! And it's not like I actually have to obey your timeline's rules."

"Show me," Toshiro commanded.

"Well, fine… We are going to the second hangar anyway, right?"

"Yup. I wanted to ambush Heidemarie there."

"I'll be sure to disappear once I sense her…"

"And thanks for that!" Toshiro said with a smile.

They entered the second hangar, in which all the Strikers were standing in their Launch Units. They lit half of the lights, and Alissa went for a big crate in the corner. She dragged it over to Toshiro and opened it. Toshiro saw a familiar Striker inside, though it was a different color that he remembered. He remember it being red, but this version was black.

"Lemme guess… An improved Messerschmitt 262?"

"Correct. This is the final version from my timeline, obsolete in my world the day it was finished."

"And how will you explain the girls that you have such an advanced model? You know that Trude will burst from sheer jealousy like a balloon when she sees this?"

"I thought that you might help me with that…"

"Oh, what? Should I say that this is some kind of prototype of a prototype square?"

"Something like that."

"Oh, okay… Just because you're a guest in the world I'm supposed to save…"

"Oh, how generous! The mighty Erzherzog has shown me some lenience!"

"I really want to snap your neck…" Toshiro sighed and shook his head. "But I hope you didn't go full retard in the weapons department, right?"

"Nope. I'm using an MG FF, so it's perfectly suited for this year."

"Actually a bit outdated so to speak. They are being phased out in favor of MG 151/15's and /20's."

"See? Ideal cover, hahaha!"

"And I hope you won't be using your auras or whatever's, right?"

"I could, but that would blow my cover in an instant."

"My male pride has been saved," Toshiro said and bowed.

"You really are like a kid, Toshiro. I don't know if I should outright like it or smack some sense into you. I suppose a mix of the two…"

"Didn't you say something about pissing in my sandbox? Oh wait, you did that already by removing my power up when I came back here."

"Sorry bub, but that was the deal, and you got to keep most of your knowledge anyway, what you chose not to lock away, so you still have an advantage… Oh, Heidi is coming. I'm out. Good luck, Toshiro."

"Thanks…"

As Alissa quickly, but quietly, ran out of the hangar, he himself sat inconspicuously on his Launch Unit.

"Oh? Good evening, Herr Generalmajor…" he could hear Heidemarie's shy voice from behind. "What are you doing here at this time, if I may ask?"

"Well, I have trouble sleeping right now, so I thought I could do some bonding right now…"

"B-B-Bonding?" she stuttered heavily.

"No, don't get me wrong…" he smiled. "I just wanted to know a bit more about you, and why not do that while you're on a patrol?"

"Oh… So you want to inspect how I'm doing my job, right?"

"Oh shut up…" he sighed. "I just want to fly along with you and see if you're doing things any different from Sanya…"

"Sanya? Ah yes… You know her…"

"And I've heard you know her very well."

"Yes… She's made of the same clay as me… A born Night Witch… But she had a better childhood, that's sure…"

"You can tell me the full story while we're up, okay?" Toshiro asked with a warm smile.

"O… Okay… But will you manage, Herr…"

"Stop with the formalities… I'm Toshiro."

"But… But I can't just…"

"I'm calling you Heidemarie already, it's only right for you to do the same."

"Ah… Well, Toshiro… Will you manage up there?"

"I have night vision capabilities, and… I have you," he said warmly

"Ummm… If you're so sure… Follow me then…" she said with red cheeks.

Heidemarie jumped in her Striker and pulled out an MG 151/20 out of the weapons compartment of the Launch Unit. Falcon ears and a feathery tail sprouted from the appropriate places on her body.

"Oh? You're using the same weapon as me! Just a different revision."

"Really? How nice… Then we can share ammunition if the need arises."

"How much do you usually take?"

"Two drums, but I always call backup if I'm overwhelmed."

"Then I'll take four with me today. Wait a second, I'll prepare."

Toshiro went to the stack of supplies and started pulling out crates. He unpacked one of them and took his new ammo rack out of it.

"What is that contraption, Her… umm… Toshiro?"

"This is my ammo rack. Capacity – four mags with five 88 mm shells each and four one-hundred round drums. You wear it as a backpack."

"Interesting… So you will be taking all our ammo yourself?" Heidemarie asked.

"Yup."

"Thank you…"

Toshiro scoured the crates and took a total of six drums. One he gave to Heidemarie so she could reload, and he popped one into his own gun, which he found propped behind his Launch Unit. The rest he affixed to the ammo rack on his back.

"You have some nice mods, Toshiro…"

"Ah, nothing special. Ah, but the crosshair is illuminated, so that could be of help to you…"

"Not exactly… But I'll talk about it in the air…"

"Speaking of being in the air, you have a Bf 110, right?"

"Yes, a G-4 revision. Why are you asking?"

"I had an experimental R revision for a long time. My, what a monster that was… It could wake the dead…"

"So loud?"

"Yeah, it had an exhaust almost like a Tiger tank, not to mention the engine was bigger than every normal Striker engine…"

"Um… Could you tell me about that Striker of yours now?"

"The XF-1? It's a turbojet Striker, although in some literature I saw the term "etherjet". What a machine this is, whew…"

"Is it loud?"

"Not exactly… On low revs it's rather silent."

"Good… Then I want to see it in action," Heidemarie said with a faint smile.

"Then wait a second…"

Toshiro scoured the crates again and pulled out his FFG.

"Oh, what's that?"

"The control unit for my Striker," Toshiro said and approached Heidemarie with it on his hand.

"Hmmm… Sophisticated…"

"Yeah, it has all the bells and whistles… But now, let's go!" Toshiro shouted and jumped into his Striker. "My Striker has to warm up, so wait for me, okay?"

"I will."

Toshiro started the Striker. It slowly gained revs and Heidemarie looked curiously at it.

"Okay, I'm ready to go."

"Then let's go. I'll lead you on my usual route."

Heidemarie started her Striker and she left the hangar. Toshiro accelerated with a silent hum and caught up to her.

After a few minutes of silent flying, Toshiro asked, "So, about your childhood…"

"A mess… You can probably guess it was so since I'm so timid and shy…"

"Actually no. Sanya and Lynne are timid, and they're just brought up well. Well, Sanya is a Night Witch, but that must be the perk of all of you… Sorry if I'm generalizing…"

"Most of the Nachthexen are so… I can at least tell you my side of the story…"

"Please, do."

"I was born in Calw to a family of winemakers. Normal girl from a rich family… But when I started going to school, my magic started manifesting…"

"Already?"

"Yes… My inherent magic is Night Vision. When I use it, I can see everything as if it was day. But… Back then, I couldn't control it… Were you ever blinded by the sun, Toshiro?"

"A few times, yes."

"So imagine I had that almost daily for a few days. I'm walking home from school, playing in the garden and suddenly I almost go blind, with my eyes feeling like somebody poured molten lead over them…"

"Ouch…"

"Yes, it was painful. But my parents found out an intermediary solution. Since they were rich and had a wine cellar, I started living in the basement, home schooled for a few years…"

"So… You didn't have any friend? Nobody?"

"No… Before I made some nice friends, I was relocated to the cellar. My only friends were my parents and the teacher from school that came to teach me. Then, I attended a witch development institute. I matriculated at the age of ten, having my power under control, but the damage was done… Do you know why I'm wearing these glasses?"

"Because you need them?"

"Well, obvious answer for an obvious question… See the thickness of the glasses?"

Toshiro flew a bit closer and looked at the glasses from the side.

"Those have to be at least +4!"

"Plus 5 diopters left and plus 5.5 right… Because all of the sudden exposure to intensified light, my ocular nerves have been damaged beyond repair. If I were to loose these, I would be blind as a bat."

"Life sure didn't play hopscotch with you…"

"More like Texas hold'em with marked cards and a cheating card dealer…" Heidemarie mumbled.

"Heheh that was a nice one… By the way, your magic antenna is nice… A Lichtenstein-Yagi combo?"

"Hmm… Yes, how did you know?"

"I'm a certified radio man!" Toshiro said with pride.

"Heehee…"

"So, my dear new friend… Let's continue, okay?"

"F-F-Friend?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Thanks… It means a lot…"

"Ah, by the way… The girls all call you Heidi… You sure seem familiar with them."

"Erica and the rest offered me that they would be my friends after we met a year ago… I was chasing around Neuroi over Sint-Truiden and wanted to shoo them away, but they just stuck around with me, and helped me kill the enemy…"

"Ah, Erica… She's so bold… But hell, I would probably do the same thing. Say… Did you hear about my fan club?"

Heidemarie's face reddened immediately.

"Y-Y-Yes…"

"Number?"

"Thirteen…"

"Hahahaha! Okay, so what can I offer you, dear member #13? A hug, a pat on the head or a simple hand shake?"

"W-W-What are you t-t-talking about?" Heidemarie flew back a bit from him.

"I've decided that I will fulfill such simple wishes if I ever find members of my fan club in person. So, what will it be?"

"Do I have to decide now?"

"No, you don't have to. But bear it in mind, okay?"

"Okay… But when we brought up the topic of physical contact… Um… How is it that the girls bathe with you just like that?"

"Because I'm a nice guy?" Toshiro asked with a smirk.

"Oh… Then… Maybe… If we could bathe together… Of course with the rest present!"

"Is that your wish?"

"Ummm… Ummm... Uhh…"

"I can throw in washing your hair and a backrub to sweeten up the deal."

Toshiro could swear he saw steam coming from Heidemarie's head.

"This is too much for me… I'm only sixteen…" she whimpered.

"Oh right… Since you were a tad isolated, you couldn't get much info on those matters… I won't force you into anything, I promise."

"I'll think about it…"

"See, we broke the ice already, haha!"

"We barely know each other and our conversation already veered off towards those regions… Show me your tongue, Toshiro, I bet it will reflect the moon."

"Bahahaha!"

"Now I see why the girls talked about you so much… You're like an uncle, brother and father at the same time…"

"You can guess why…" Toshiro sighed.

"So I've heard…"

"Well, at least I didn't go half-blind. Come on, Heidi, let's finish this."

"Sure."

They continued the patrol on until the break of dawn. Toshiro was yawning like mad when he was landing, but he was concentrated enough not to crash in a ball of fire.

"Now I'm really sleepy… Guess I'll hit the hay…" he yawned.

"I'll inform the rest about your… status."

"Thanks… I wouldn't want Erica stomping over me to wake me up…"

"Oh and…"

"Yes?" Toshiro asked.

"I have news concerning your fiancé…"

"Huh? When did you pick up that?"

"I listened to the radio waves… She will be entering the port in Pas-de-Calais later this morning…"

Toshiro did the necessary math and said, "Wow, nice range you have."

"Thanks…" she blushed.

"Now, sleepy time. See you later, Heidi."

"Likewise, Toshiro."

Toshiro moved like an animated carcass towards the main building. After he entered staircase, he bumped into a certain blonde busybody on the second floor.

"Oh, Toshiro, back already?"

"Already she says… It was a whole damn night!"

"Hmm… so it was. And?"

"And what?"

"Mission successful?"

"I think so. Heidi opened up towards me, I know why she's so shy and wears glasses thick as bottle bottoms. She even proposed a bath together…"

"Oh? Quite the Don Juan!"

"More like Don Quixote… Anywho's, I'm going to sleep."

"Tell me when you're taking a bath with Heidi, I want to join in."

"Oh look, suddenly you want to take a bath…"

"Hey, if I did it just the first day, the girls would be rather suspicious. Besides, I had already taken one before you asked."

"Or they would think you are a shameless harlot…" Toshiro shrugged and continued his march along the stairs.

"Harlot shmarlot…" Alissa mumbled and ran down the stairs.

"Don't you backtalk to me, harleutnant!"

"Bite me!"

"Rawr!"

"Hahaha!"

Toshiro went to his room silently and fell down on the bed. He slept until noon, and he woke up on his own. He ran down to the dining hall, and a bit surprised he found sandwiches for him.

While he was munching down, Trude found him.

"Toshiro, did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, like a log."

"But why did you bother to go with Heidi on a patrol?"

"So she would open up to me. I don't mind taciturn people, but she should have some trust in me."

"It seems you haven't changed for a dime during these past two months…" Trude smiled.

"And you change at a drop of a hat once I announce we're cousins and that Yoshika can be your family."

"Ahem…" Trude cleared her throat while looking to the side with red cheeks.

"Heheh… Cousin Trude… In-fucking-credible… We were together for four months, and we didn't know shit…"

"I always felt there's something special about you, Toshiro… But it's good you didn't try to… You know… On the side…" her cheeks started reddening up by the second.

"Trudy dearest, are you perhaps trying to imply something?"

"Not a bit! Even remembering that kiss we had makes me ashamed…"

"Hmmm… Did Minna tell you anything?"

"Tell me what?"

"Ah, doesn't matter then. Say, want to pop a shot from my cannons?"

"Of course I want! I was waiting for that since yesterday!"

"But only one. I only have live ammo, so I don't want to use up too much."

"One will be enough."

"Let me finish my grub, and we'll go."

"Warm milk, Toshiro?"

"I think I'll start liking this… Make me a tea if you want to help your dear cousin."

"Jawohl!"

After eating the sandwiches and drinking the tea, Toshiro went to the hangar. Incidentally, they found Alissa mounting her Striker.

"Leutnant Maya… What is the meaning of this?" Trude asked. "And what is that Striker?"

"Well… I wanted to do a round to see if the Striker works, Frau Barkhorn."

"And did you ask anyone for permission to do so?"'

Alissa shot a glare at Toshiro. He rolled his eyes and said, "Give her a rest, Trude. She's under my protection as long as I'm here, and she can do whatever she wants."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. I don't want her to be traumatized by having to report to you, hahaha!"

"Ugh… Well, whatever… But that Striker is very familiar…"

"Ursula gave it to Alissa so she could test it out. It's one of the many test revisions she had brewed up."

"Hmmm… And why didn't I get one?"

"Because you have suuuuuuuch a big streak in your records that it would be ill advised for you to fly a prototype jet Striker?"

"Really?"

"Naw, I'm shitting you. But let Alissa play with her toy, you'll get something else to fiddle around with."

"Oh okay… You can start, Leutnant."

Alissa saluted and started warming up the engines. In the meantime, Toshiro picked up the big gun.

"Trude, if you have no problems carrying this, I'll give you a go."

"But you said I could shoot both…"

"But I have a condition for this one, simple."

"Oh okay… Gimme."

Toshiro gave her the cannon. Her knees bent slightly even after she activated her magic.

"Holy f…"

Alissa had covered the stream of obscenities from Trude with the roar of the Junkers made engines. Trude dropped the cannon on the ground.

"Nope… Not that it's too heavy like that, but I think that if I shot this, I would have my right arm wrapped around my head."

"Heheh, good choice. But since I'm such a nice cousin and everything, you'll get two shots from the 88. Agreed?"

"Oh yeah!"

"Then you fetch the 88 and two shells, and I'll get the big gun."

"Huh? I thought we won't shoot it…"

"You won't, but I have to try something… And it's beneficial that Alissa's in the air."

"Well okay… Just tell me where the ammo is…"

"I'll even pick it up for you."

They approached the supply stack and Toshiro found some 88x882R HE shells in a container. He pulled out two and gave them to Trude.

"Woaah… The shells could be used as clubs…" Trude said amazed.

"There's a limit to recklessness…" Toshiro sighed.

Which I will cross in no more than five minutes…

Then he looked around and found a cartridge and matching projectile for the 128.

"Damn… You fire these?!"

"No, you throw them at the enemy and hope for a detonation… Stupid Trudy…"

"Mean ass…" she mumbled.

Toshiro took the two items in one hand and placed the cannon on his shoulder. They both went out to the center of the runway. Toshiro could now see the base in whole. There was a second hangar to the left of the main building, identical to the right one. There was a multitude of smaller barracks strayed around the base, as well as lookout towers.

"Trudy, why isn't this all manned?"

"We're a front backwater here. We may be somewhat close to the Rhine, which is somewhat the border between us and the Neuroi, but we are also in the middle of nowhere to be honest. Did you even see Sint-Truiden?"

"No."

"A small town, the size of Dover. But you can get some nice stuff there nonetheless."

"Maybe I should go and visit…"

"I can't hold you back… So, where are we shooting from?"

"Here," Toshiro pointed under his feet.

"Here? Just like that?"

"Suuuuuure…" Toshiro said and activated the transponder. "Alissa?"

"Yeah?"

"Do we have a clear view from where we are standing to the west on the distance of up to forty kilometers?"

"Wait a second, let me check."

"Forty? Toshiro, aren't you overestimating the cannons a wee little bit?"

"Not at all, Trudy…"

Trude shrugged and they waited for Alissa to report.

"You can shoot at two-six-zero, nothing in the way."

"Thanks, Alissa."

"What are you planning, huh?"

"Wait through the first two shots, then you'll see."

"Okaaaay…"

"Now, Trudy… Lock and load."

"Hmm… Could you help me with this? Manually loading this is a bitch from what I remember…"

"Yeah… They definitely made this with me in mind."

Trude placed the cannon on her shoulder. Toshiro approached her from the side and placed a shell in the mag well. Trude pressed the button while Toshiro was pushing the shell from the top. It was nabbed violently from under his hand and rammed into the breach.

"Ready, Trudy?"

"Ready!"

"Fire at will!"

Trude didn't wait and pressed the trigger button, unleashing the fury of the cannon at some uninhabited part of Belgica. The cannon rose over a meter from the tip but Trude managed to level it.

"Lieber Gott! What recoil!" she yelled.

"And we have a hit," Alissa said through the transponder after a moment.

"What did Trude hit?"

"A rock. Blew off half of it away."

"Nice," Toshiro said. "Trude, next one."

"Okay!"

They repeated the loading procedure and Trude squeezed off another round.

"She blew off the rock next to the previous one."

"Not bad… Hey, Trude, you've hit two rocks, about a meter or two apart."

"Really? Not bad indeed…. Now, your turn with the big gun…"

"Don't mind if I do..." Toshiro said and picked up the 128.

"Now Trudy, you help me loading. Projectile."

Trude grabbed the big and heavy piece of metal filled with explosives and gave it to Toshiro. He placed it on the tray, opened the breach and rammed the projectile inside.

"Cartridge."

She passed him the meter long brass cartridge, filled to the brim with propellant and sealed off with a thin membrane. Toshiro rammed it and closed the breach.

"Now, Trude… I would advise you to leave ten meters of space between me and you, and to erect a shield…"

"Huh? Wait… Are you trying that?"

"Yup."

"Then I'll go twenty meters aside… Be careful."

Toshiro blocked the rollers of the recoil mechanism and started concentrating. The Sacred Flame enveloped him from toes to head and started flowing inside the gun through the barrel.

Not yet… Not now… Now!

Toshiro used all his strength magic he could muster, bent his knees slightly and pressed the trigger. He didn't exactly knew what happened next. One second he was standing and the other one he's in Trude's arms, lying on the ground with an orange hot cannon by his legs.

"Ugh… I literally lost a second of my life…"

"I preemptively turned off your consciousness, so the shock of the recoil wouldn't give you too big of a brain concussion. Well, that and a few other adjustments. So all in all, yes, you've really lost a second of your life."

"Uh… Thanks I guess…"

"Don't mention it. If not for me, and Trudy there, you'd be tumbling down the runway."

"Calling Trude by her pet name? Dawwww…"

"Well, she is your cousin now… Gotta treat your family with some respect, right?"

"Toshiro, you really overdid it…" Trude shook her head.

"Well, I'm alive… Wonder what Alissa's gonna report…"

"Hmmm… I don't know how to tell you this…" Alissa said.

"Just say it."

"There was a small hill, about hundred meters high, about two hundred meters in diameter…"

"And?"

"Well, it's kind of gone..."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you probably overdid it a bit."

"Trudy here says the same."

"And she's right. I have a feeling you'll go to the bath now."

"Why so?"

"Try standing up."

Toshiro did a spring stand-up, but he wobbled and fell back on Trude.

"Ugh, damn it… You're not a pillow, you know?" Trude mumbled.

"Sorry… Can you help me up?"

"Yeah, yeah…"

Trude took Toshiro under his armpit and lifted him up.

"Ah, thanks… Now, I'll just do this…" Toshiro said and kicked the lever opening the breach.

The spent casing shot out of the breach and after flying a hundred meters it started tumbling violently.

"I really overdid it… Okay, Trudy… Direction bath."

"Yeah… But who will clean up all of this?"

Toshiro made a wry smile and said through the transponder, "Alissa…"

"What?"

"Could you clean up after us?"

"Oh give me a break…"

"Pleeeaaaaase…"

"Oh okay, damn you…"

"Thanks."

Slowly but surely, Toshiro found himself in the shower room of the bath.

"I'll get your bath supplies, wait here and regenerate."

"And if I can't…"

"Then… I'll wash you…" Trude said with carmine cheeks.

"You'd really do that?"

"Yeah… Family has to help each other… You would probably do the same to me without batting an eyelid, you perv…"

"Look who's talking… Okay, go…"

A minute after Trude went away, suddenly, Heidemarie got in.

"I couldn't help but notice that you'll be taking a bath…"

"Verily. Trude went to fetch my bath supplies since my legs are a bit wobbly."

"How nice of her… Um… Then maybe we could…"

"If you want, have at it."

"Okay, I'll do it…" she said and went out.

After another minute, Trude returned.

"Feeling okay?"

Toshiro slowly stood up.

"I'll manage, thanks…"

"Just don't be stupid and don't push yourself."

"Nah…"

Trude went out of the room, and Toshiro started showering. While he was at it, he heard Heidemarie's voice.

"T-T-Toshiro…"

"Hmmm?"

"Just don't turn around now, okay?"

"Are you undressing?"

"Y-Yes…"

"But I'll see you naked anyway…"

"But undressing is the sacred right of a woman, and she can and will enjoy it in private!" she lashed out.

"Okay, okay… I'll never understand you girls…" he shook his head.

Toshiro ended his ordeal, and Heidemarie said, "O-Okay, you c-can turn around…"

He turned around, and saw Heidemarie butt naked. She was supporting her big breasts with her right hand, while covering her lower parts with her left hand.

"H-How do I l-l-look?"

"You know… I didn't pay attention earlier but… Damn, Heidi, you're stacked!"

"I-Is that good or bad?!"

"Most men on this planet would probably say good," he snickered.

"Oh… Okay… I… I never undressed before a man… Even my doctors were women… And…" Heidemarie looked down. "Is that… And it… So… Poor Miyafuji…"

"And I guess this is the first time seeing a man's sausage outside of a text book?"

"Y-Y-Y-Y-Y…" Heidemarie stuttered heavily while almost burning everything around.

"Okay, I'm going into the water before you explode, hehe…"

What Toshiro said, he did immediately.

"Aaaaaaah… So good…" he said silently and laid back. "Nothing can destroy this moment…"

"Oh, hi," he heard a certain voice.

"Hello…"

Riiiiight…

A few seconds later, Heidemarie shyly came to him and dipped in the water at a distance of three meters.

"Is this good enough?" she asked.

"Well, the shyest of the girls from the 501st keep just that distance from me at all times when in the bath."

"Ah… Okay…"

"I promise I won't try anything funny. I can even turn my head away, since I'm pooped anyway."

"No… I feel… It's a weird feeling inside of me…"

"Then try to identify it, and I'll just sit back and count the cracks on the ceiling…"

"A…Am I unattractive to you?"

"Geez, don't throw a curveball like that! As a man I find you attractive, but as the fiancé of Yoshika, I have to strike you down with all my willpower."

"Ah… I understand now… Then maybe I should…" Heidemarie said and started moving out of the bath.

"No, no… Don't go, Yoshika is very liberal when it comes to other girls. And… Ah, you're here."

Toshiro saw Alissa coming in, not covered by anything.

"Now, you're one shameless lady," he said.

"What do I have to be shamed about?" she said with a straight face that quickly turned into a sly smile. "I do have a godly body after all."

"I still prefer Adolfine in that matter, heheheh…"

"Whatever rocks your boat," Alissa said

"So, why are you here right now, Alissa?"

"I'm a bit exhausted after flying that Striker of mine. Damn un-optimized magic usage… But compared to you, I probably feel like a spring flower."

"Well, probably…"

"You kind of overdid it. Filling a 128 mm projectile with magic is a bit extreme, and the explosive filling absorbed almost two times more than the steel shell." She shot him a dull look. "Not to mention that cannon isn't built to handle magic rounds like the Shockwave Rifle and Blastwave Cannon."

"Reckless Inc. opened for duty 365/24/7, heheh…" Toshiro sighed. "Don't remind me. I already miss that damn cannon."

"By the way, how the hell did the cannon withstand such a brutal shot? I inspected the rifling. It's basically intact, but the recoil sliders are jammed."

"They were jammed on a purpose. If the gun recoiled like it was supposed to, it would shatter the frame."

"Ah, I see. Still, I'm wondering… How did you actually survive that as unharmed as you did?"

"Yuki fiddled with my body's physiology for a split second."

"Yuki?" Heidemarie budged in.

"My familiar. Oh, you two might as well get acquainted."

"Afternoon, Cow Tits Deuce," Yuki said all of a sudden.

"W-what?!" Heidemarie shouted terrified.

"Yuki, for fucks sake, don't give such derogatory nicknames to anyone who you don't trust!" Toshiro yelled.

"Sorry… Well, anywho, I'm Yuki, Toshiro's familiar."

"So… So your familiar is sentient?"

"Not only that. I can control every aspect of this dunce's body, for example…"

Toshiro suddenly felt pressure in his lower parts. He looked down at the same time as Heidemarie, and they both saw that the blood flow to his manly parts was A-Okay.

"W-waaah! D-Don't… Generalmajor… You have a fiancé…" Heidemarie said terrified as she was creeping back.

"YUKI!" Toshiro yelled.

"Okay, okay…"

And immediately, he had a flat.

"S-S-So that was only for show?"

"Yuki has the most caustic sense of humor I've ever saw… Don't worry, I'm saving myself for Yoshika, heheh…"

Suddenly, he felt his butt being spanked once.

"Hey, hey, Alissa! Assaulting a superior are we?"

"Superior my ass! Even if it was stupid Yuki, don't go around scaring the poor girl like that!"

"Make up your mind, woman! It's either me or Yuki who's at fault!"

"You both are! Yuki for being suck a trickster, and you for being a man!"

"And how is that my fault?! I didn't choose to be born with a dick between my legs!"

She gave him a mischievous smile. "You know…"

"Don't you dare!"

"You two seem to get along with each other, heehee…" Heidemarie's giggling interrupted them. "You know what they say about love and quarrels?"

"It's not like that!" both of them shouted at the same time.

"Hahahahaha!" Heidemarie started laughing earnestly bent in half.

Toshiro looked at Alissa who shrugged and put a warm smile on her face.

"Oh wow… This is probably the first time in a long that I've laughed so honestly… Thank you, both of you…" Heidemarie said after a bit.

"Let's get out of the bath or we'll boil here." Toshiro said.

They got out and dried themselves, each on his own.

"Trude is probably cooking dinner already," Heidemarie said. "Maybe we should go to the dining hall?"

"Good idea," Toshiro said.

After they arrived, they saw Erica and Minna at the table, and Trude bustling around in the kitchen amongst boiling pots.

Erica looked at him with a cheeky smile and said, "Hey, bro, you're quick to set up a harem already, heheh…"

"Wanna join?"

"No thanks, I'll pass!" she shouted and turned around immediately.

"A harem?" Heidemarie asked

"All the jokes around me seem to wander into sexual regions…"

"Oh… No wonder, you're the only man around usually…"

"And I'm already taken, heheh…"

Minna shot him a flirtatious look, to which he responded with rolling his eyes.

"Trudy, when's dinner gonna be ready?" Toshiro asked.

"A minute at most!"

"Okay!"

"Erica you lazy bum, come here and get the plates and cutlery!"

"Cooooming…" Erica moaned and went to the kitchen.

"So I guess the three of you had fun?" Minna asked.

"I can say I had fun." Toshiro answered.

"I… I also had fun…" Heidemarie said.

"Fun for me too, Frau Oberstleutnant," Alissa said.

"But I guess Toshiro had the most fun, riiiight?" Minna mused.

"Ummm… Are you perhaps referring to my shooting?"

"Yes. All the windows in the base rumbled as if they were about to break. I almost thought we were being attacked…"

"Sorry…"

"Nah, don't worry. I'm already accustomed to your tomfoolery…"

"Eheheh…" Toshiro laughed dryly.

Erica and Trude came in and they ate dinner.

"Delicious as always, Trudy," Toshiro said.

"Thanks…"

"Say, anyone, is there a library here?"

"Fourth floor, fifth door, why are you asking?" Heidemarie said.

"Because I want to burn it down. Of course I want to read…"

"Ah, then go ahead, the door is unlocked anyway."

"Thanks. If anyone wants something from me, then you'll know where to look for me."

Toshiro stood up and went to the said room. When he opened it, the stench of old paper and dust struck his nose.

Yeaaaaah… It seems that this room is the least used here…

Toshiro browsed around the dusted volumes, and picked up a nice stack. After dusting a chair, he sat in it and started reading. Much to his satisfaction, nobody bothered him till supper, when Alissa came for him.

"Trying to learn something new?"

"I'm not an omniscient being, Alissa, I have to read to learn new stuff…" he grumbled.

"Well, while I was the mortal Kye Miyafuji and before I was conscious of my immortal self, I had to do the same. But I absolutely loathe paperwork… Goddamn desk. I think that Zalen invented it in my universe…" she shuddered.

"Heheheh… It seems my Karlslander blood enables me to bear with paperwork, heh… I actually like doing it at times."

"Abomination."

"Says the mortal self of a goddess that made a whole fucking universe, thank you very much."

"Heheh… Did you forget…?"

"Forget what?"

"Hmm…" She trailed off. "Nevermind. Anyway, come on, or Trudy will start being fidgety."

"You never knew her from that side?"

"I know all the Strike Witches in my timeline well enough. I knew that she's all gaga about Christiane, but she doesn't have a male cousin in my world. Hmm… Never gave it any thought really. Of course I could imagine one into existence…"

"And that's why I like to be human… I have to learn everything on my own." Toshiro sighed and stood up. "Come on, Kye…"

"Yeah, yeah."

They arrived at the dining hall, and ate supper peacefully.

"Toshiro, I have news for you." Minna said after they ate.

"Hmmm?"

"Yoshika rejoined with Lynne and Perrine in the latter's residence."

"How nice. I should visit them once they arrive in Bern…"

"That would be a good idea. Anyway, that Shizuka traveling with Yoshika also said she'll contact us tomorrow."

"Also good. So, ladies, I think it's time to wrap up the day. Anyone want anything from me?"

Silence.

"Okay then, good night everyone. I'll probably do a trip to Sint-Truiden tomorrow, so find me some way of transport, okay?"

"On it!" Trude shouted.

"Heheh, why did I know you would be the one…"

Toshiro went to the library to pick up a book or two before he went to his room. After doing that, he laid down on his bed and read until he felt sleepy.

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