The Chosen One - The Star of Romagna Chapter 10 - A bridge too far, a strike witches fanfic

Chapter 10 – A bridge too far

I couldn't have predicted this…

Toshiro looked around after waking up, and saw that both Shirley and Francesca were in the positions they assumed when falling asleep. They looked like two angels, sleeping soundly wrapped around him. Toshiro tried wiggling out away from his captors, but Shirley somehow woke up.

"Mmmmmh… Toshiro? Why are you waking up at… uwaaaah… such a godforsaken hour…?" She said silently.

"To do some jogging, as usual."

"Oh… Right… Uwaaaah… It's so nice sleeping with you… You are so warm… I think I'll get a man of my own after the war…"

"Just make sure he doesn't have night shifts."

"Heehee… Okay, go now… I'll cuddle to Lucchini now…"

Toshiro slowly lifted himself, and slowly got off the bed. While we dressed himself, he saw as Shirley hugged Francesca and fell back asleep. After a few seconds, the still sleeping Francesca tucked in tightly into Shirley's bosom, giving off a short purr.

"Those two look almost like mother with child… Just looking at them gives me some sort of warm sensation…"

"Maybe your balls are itching?"

"Oh shut up, Yuki…"

Toshiro ran down the stairs to begin his morning jog, but he stumbled upon Mio, who was probably waiting for him.

"The end is nigh! Mio isn't training in the morning!" Toshiro shouted in an overdramatic way.

"Do you have to be so melodramatic in the morning? I just wanted to remind you of something."

"Oh?"

"You said you would gladly run a marathon with me. How about we do one, just for kicks."

"Today?"

"No, not necessarily."

"Okay, I'll remember about it. I'll have to contact HQ and the radar stations about the 'mood', and we will do it someday."

"I'm holding you up to your word." Mio said while pointing his finger at him. "And now, let's jog together; I decided to change my training pattern once in a while."

"With pleasure, Mio. Come on, I'll show you my route."

Toshiro and Mio jogged for an hour over the grassy part of the base. Once they finished, they sat in the hangar to cool off.

"Toshiro, I wanted to ask you something… Do you know what's behind the door in the storeroom? I don't want to destroy it, but the curiosity literally burns…"

"Meh, might as well show you… I have the key always by my side, in my wallet."

"I'm intrigued now…"

They walked down to the storage room, and walked up to the closed door. Toshiro pulled out the key, and opened it. After he flipped the light switch, Mio almost fainted from shock.

"T-T-Toshiro… So much wine… I…"

"I keep this room locked and off-grid for a reason, Mio. You have a weak head, and it would be a shame if both you and Minna gobble everything in a week…"

"Oh pff… A weak head? Me?"

"Yeah. You were already tipsy after an eight of a glass of moonshine."

"Don't remember that… Anyway… You should be a bit more lenient…"

"Maybe… Or maybe not. I'll see if you guys deserve it. But for now, scram."

"Oh just let me have one…"

"Okay… One!"

"Yes!" Mio shouted and started running around, looking for a good bottle. After twenty seconds, she picked one, and studied the label.

"Hmmm… Monteverdi A.D. 1900… Should be good enough for me, heheheh…"

"Just don't drink on an empty stomach."

"Who do you think I am? Lucchini?"

"Well, you certainly don't look like her… Okay, come out now. I have to seal this den of debauchery."

Mio walked behind Toshiro, and he closed the door.

"So, what now?"

"I'll go and stash this away, and you go your way…" Mio said. "Thanks for the wine, Toshiro."

"Thank whoever left all of this behind. And Adolfine, she gave me the key, heh…"

"She did? She really must took liking in you."

"And likewise. Did you know she has a very athletic body?"

"No… She is always covered up… Wait a minute…"

"I saw her in a bikini, to cut all speculations."

"Oh… A Brigadier General in bikini… Hmmm… You really have the charisma to pull of some crazy shit, Toshiro."

"I somehow wonder how I do it… Okay, till breakfast… Little Mio."

"Toshiro… Do you have a death wish?" Mio asked with a cold voice.

"Bring it on…" Toshiro provoked her.

"You'd wish! You would have an excuse to detain me! Hah, no way am I giving in to your petty provocation!"

"I'd never think of detaining you, Mio. Unless you would fuck up some poor guy just because he tried to invite you to dinner… Hmmm… How did that get into my mind right now...? Anyway…" Toshiro extended his hand to Mio. "Let's not quarrel about such bullshit."

"Yeah… Let's save our energy for Neuroi."

She took his hand and shook it firmly. They went out back to the hangar, and each went their way.

Toshiro decided to return to the girls. He quietly entered the room, and gently laid himself beside Shirley. However, Shirley had some sixth sense when it came to Toshiro, and just as he lied facing her back, she immediately turned around.

"Hi again, Toshiro." She said with a dreamy face.

"And here I thought I could take a nap unnoticed…"

"Not with me around, heehee… Whatcha been doing?"

"Running with Mio."

"Oh, cool… So, about that nap…" She embraced him with her right hand and pulled herself closer. "Now, nap all the time you want…"

"I find it difficult to do when your boobs are pressing against my chest… You are crossing a line, Shirley, and we both know what that will mean…"

"Yeah…" She sighed. "I wish made a different decision after I had sex with you… I could have made you my sex slave and boyfriend in the long run… But I decided to heed your decision, and swipe that event under the carpet…"

"I doubt that that would work, Shirley. When I was training during those four months, I managed to squeeze out a confession out of Yuki. If I'd idled too much with my affection to Yoshika, she would force me to do it."

'She would force you?"

"Yes. She was so desperate to see Kuji, that she would even murder you with my hands if it came to it…"

"It's true, Shirley, I'm sorry for being so selfish…" Yuki spoke. "Please, as amends to it, you can kiss Toshiro. Once."

"Can I?" Shirley asked.

"Can she?" Toshiro asked at the same time.

"I don't see anything wrong in a friendly kiss." Yuki said. "Just don't get too friendly… And if word about this gets to Yoshika, I'll wring the blood out of the both of you."

Both gulped loudly.

"Well, if we got such a dispensation… Why not use it…?" Shirley said shyly and neared her lips to Toshiro's.

They kissed shyly, as if it was their first time, embracing only slightly, and not using their tongues.

"Well… That was something different… Thanks, Toshiro. You've decreased my pressure quite a bit…"

"Did you try masturbating?" Yuki spoke suddenly.

"Why yes I…" She stopped abruptly with a face redder than the Karlslander flag.

"Then do it harder. And more frequently. Until you fall down of exhaustion if it comes to it." Yuki said. "Because I don't want you seducing Toshiro anymore, you bimbo. Enough is enough. And no more sleeping with him, unless Yoshika is in the same bed. I explained the rules to you, and you are spitting in my face."

"But… Yuki…" Shirley tried explaining herself.

"Yuki… Enough, you are being too harsh, stop now. Or else…"

"Or else what?! That hussy is trying to steal you from Yoshika!"

"No, she's not! She is just very lonely. Did she really try anything with me for serious for the past month?"

"No, she didn't… But…"

"Shush, Yuki. If Shirley crosses the line, I permit you to smack her so hard she will bounce off the nearest wall, but stay out of this."

"Then when Yoshika returns, tell her to sleep with you. You are a damn Colonel, and the Emperors nephew for fucks sake! You can do ANYTHING!"

"But what about Lynne then? Why make her sleep alone? You know that she likes Yoshika more than Miss Broom-up-her-ass from Gallia?"

"Uggghhh… Fine… As if she'll dare to sleep with you when Yoshika is here… Give her my apologies…"

"Thanks, Yuki."

Toshiro looked at Shirley, who was watching him with fearful eyes and shaking slightly. He placed his hand on her shoulder and said "Sssshhh… Don't worry, Shirley. Yuki didn't mean to jump on you so hard. She apologizes."

"Does that mean I can sleep with you?" She asked shyly.

"Why do you always want to sleep with me?"

"I feel so safe with you… As if embracing you was a guarantee of me living another day…"

"You are talking as if you had cancer, Shirley…"

"Oh, no… But… Whatever…" She turned around.

Toshiro shrugged and lied down beside her, back to back.

"She just wanted to tell me she loves me, right?"

"Yes, probably… I made a bad decision not stopping her back then… But her tormenting herself with her feelings towards you is enough compensation for me."

"You really are a stone cold bitch, Yuki… I somehow have the urge to lock you out and jump off the roof…"

"DON'T YOU EVEN JOKE ABOUT IT!"

"You are behaving like you own me! As if my relationship with Yoshika, and conversely your happiness with Kuji was the highest imperative in the universe! Think, you stupid snake! Leaving scorched earth to reach my Elysium is against my principles! So either you pop that balloon of yours filled with ego, or I end my life, your choice!"

"You… You wouldn't…"

"I sure as hell would! At least this time, they would have a body to bury…"

A silence befell both of them, so they would hear how the mortar between the stones in the wall settles.

"I'm sorry, Toshiro… I got too blinded by the pursuit of my own happiness again…"

"Oh Yuki… What torments do I have with you… Just wake me up a minute before seven…"

Toshiro dozed off.

He was awakened by Yuki just as he wished. At the same time, the girls sleeping with him woke up. He played the bugle call from the balcony, and returned to them.

"Good morning you two."

"Hi!" Francesca cheered.

"Morning…" Shirley said with an indifferent voice.

"Say, Francesca, go and look for Trude, maybe she'll also make breakfast today."

"Roger!" She cheered and ran away.

Toshiro looked at Shirley, who in turn looked down.

"I did some thinking, Toshiro…" She said silently. "I'll stop thinking about you like as of a potential life partner; you'll only be a friend for me as of today. But a very special friend, mind you. Miyafuji needs you far more than me… You've awoken a woman in me, and you have to take responsibility for it. Will you do it?"

"Yes, Shirley. If it means we can coexist peacefully, I will take responsibility for it."

"Then I'm glad. Come on; let's see what Barkhorn whips up for us…"

As Toshiro was standing up, Shirley embraced him in the waist.

"You think this could be counted as a friendly embrace?"

"Probably. Yuki isn't stirring up a storm in my mind, so we're good."

"Heheh… Okay, off we go."

They went down to the hangar, in two-minute intervals. The girls were slowly pouring in, and Trude was slicing bread and ham for sandwiches.

"Toshiro?" She asked. "Care to help me with the archive room? It's so unordenlich (messy) and dusty…"

"Sure, sure… I already have some stuff for you to put in the cabinets, heh…"

While Toshiro was chewing down his second sandwich, Minna asked, "Toshiro, what do you think about putting Sanya out on night patrols?"

"We could use her out there in the night…" Toshiro turned to Sanya. "How do you feel about it, Sanya?"

"I would be glad to do night patrols again." Sanya said with a small smile. "I'm already used to it, and I like the night sky…"

"And what do you think, Eila?" Toshiro asked.

"Me? Why are you asking me? If Sanya wants to do something, then she can do it, sheesh…"

"Well, wanted to be on the safe side… So, Sanya, switch to your day cycle from Britannia, and have a nice night."

"Thank you, Toshiro."

"We also have set up a rotation for the radar and radio." Minna said. "What would you say about doing it to noon, Shirley would do it till 1600 and… we'll pick people to do the third shift."

"You think all the girls can handle it?" Toshiro asked.

"After a quick tutorial from you, I believe everyone could do it, heehee" Minna giggled

"Heh…. Okay, this schedule suits me. What about you, Shirley?"

"I can't exactly complain about it. I'm fine."

"Then it's settled." Toshiro said. "I'll be going to the radio after breakfast. I'll also set a relay to my transponder, so I can listen to transmissions in the night."

"My, my, what a fruitful meeting, heehee." Minna giggled. "All right, everyone. Finish up your sandwiches, and you can attend to whatever matters you have in mind."

"Okay!" Everyone responded.

As he promised, so he did. Toshiro went to the war room, and sat there before the radar, and with headphones on his head. He sat there until noon like a sap, with the only thing he heard being static, and the only useful thing he'd done was tuning in the relay signal.

Punctually at 1200, Shirley came in, and seeing Toshiro's disgruntled face she only said, "That bad?"

"Yeah…" Toshiro mumbled while taking off the headphones and standing up. "Have a nice shift, Shirley."

She sat on the chair, and Toshiro put the headphones on her head.

"Ooohoohoo! So warm!" Shirley jiggled.

Toshiro went to the archive room, and saw Trude waiting for him before the door, with a bucket, mop and rag.

"You are late one minute, Toshiro." Trude said. "Unforgivable!"

"Can it, Trude… I didn't set an appointment with you…"

"Oh, right... Well, anyway, let us get this room at least somewhat clean…"

First they opened the door and windows as wide as possible. Then they organized all the drawers, cabinets and furniture. The last thing to do was dusting. Trude took the rag and dusted the furniture, and Toshiro mopped the floor.

"Whew… Nothing like good honest work…" Trude said. "Now could you fetch something for us to process?"

"I'm not your dog, you know…" Toshiro mumbled.

"Whoops… Heh… Well… Could you please acquire some documents for us to process?"

"Much better, Trudy!" Toshiro cheered.

"Don't call me Trudy!" She responded angrily.

Toshiro went to the office, and saw Minna reading a book. She looked at him and said "I have the documents for you to archive on your desk. Sorry that I can't give you more time, but this book is just too inciting."

"I see that I found a fellow bookworm, heheh…"

"Well, I've always liked reading. By the way, anything on the radar or radio?"

"Zip. Might I know what you're reading actually?"

"What Is Life by Erwin Schrödinger. Seriously, this is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. But could you please leave me, I prefer to read alone…"

"Sure, Minna. Have a nice read."

"Thanks."

Toshiro took the stack of papers from his desk and went on to Trude.

"Oh, nice stack of papers! Pull off your shirt!"

"Trude, seriously… It's windy here…"

"Oh, okay…" She mumbled disappointed.

It took them so time, and afterwards Toshiro went to Shirley, who was already bored dead.

"Toshiroooo… Whyyyy…"

"Awww, poor Shirley…" Toshiro patted her on the back. "What would…"

"Ssssh!" Shirley shushed him. "Yes, this is the 501st, Captain Yeager speaking. Yes, he's behind me. Loudspeaker? Will do."

Shirley flipped the switch for the loudspeaker and waved to Toshiro, so he'd walk up to the mic. He turned it on and asked "Yes? Colonel Edelweiss here."

"Good afternoon, Oberst."

"Oh, Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring, what a surprise. What, another press conference?" Toshiro said sarcastically.

"Nein, nein… We have info on Neuroi movement. Nothing serious, buy you should be on alert. There's a Neuroi that is moving in a straight line, from the Venezian hive, along the Adriatic Coast into Bari. You should assess the danger on your own account, and move accordingly."

"Jawohl. Anything else?"

"No, this is all. Oh, I have ordered all four newspapers that the journalists on the press conference represented to be delivered to your base on daily basis. You should really look at the articles about you, the press is creaming themselves over you."

"Hah, thank you for the info. Have a nice day, Herr Generalfeldmarschall."

"You too, Herr Oberst."

A clack was heard, and the transmission was cut off. Toshiro turned off the mic and looked at Shirley, who had an uneasy face.

"Well, it looks like we have a potential situation here… Stay here, Shirley, I'll gather Mio and Minna."

"Okay."

Toshiro went out of the room, and into the office. Minna looked angrily at him, but when she saw his serious face, she had to ask "Something wrong?"

"We have a potential situation, Minna. I'll go fetch Mio; you go to the war room."

"Understood." She said with a firm voice, and laid down her book.

Toshiro ran out of the office, and up to his room. He went to the balcony, and jumped up on the top of the angels' statue over his room.

What a beautiful view… But ain't nobody got time for that!

Toshiro activated the Hebigan, and looked around the base. Barely but barely, but he saw Mio exiting her small cottage. He turned off the Hebigan, and from the top of his lungs, he shouted "MIO! WAR ROOM! NOW!"

She looked totally unfazed by his shout.

Fuck this shit…

Toshiro took a running start and dropped down on the roof of the cloister above the wall. He ran on it to the point where he had a straight line of sight to the beach near which Mio was. He concentrated an insane amount of magic in his legs, and jumped forward. He curled up into a ball shape to reduce drag. Just as he was about to land, Mio looked in his direction.

"Holy shit!" She shouted.

Toshiro rammed into the sand on bent legs with dreadful force, kicking up an enormous sand cloud. He saw Mio running into the cloud in his direction. Toshiro was coughing up his lungs because of all the sand in the air.

"Toshiro! Are you all right?!"

"Yeah, yeah…"

"Why the fuck are you jumping around like a cannonball?"

"We have a potential situation, Mio. Come on to the war room."

"Right. But I have a transponder you know…"

"Rackin' frackin' shmackin' crackin'…" Toshiro muttered unintelligibly as he started tromping off to the castle.

Mio ran off forward toward the castle, causing Toshiro to pick up speed, too. Once they got into the war room, Toshiro took a ruler, and chalk, and he traced a line from the Hive to Bari.

"This the predicted path of the Neuroi we have to deal with. What do you two think about it?"

Minna pondered a bit and answered, "We should intercept it over the water, since, as you said yourself, this Neuroi only travels in a straight line, and it so happens that it travels over the sea."

"This way we can avoid an emergency deployment…" Mio said. "…oh shit…"

"What is it, Mio?" Toshiro asked.

She pointed out a small spot under the chalk line. Toshiro felt as his heart slowed down twofold, because he saw that the Neuroi will pass over the island at which the girls are training now.

"No… NO!" Toshiro shouted and turned around.

A hand landed on his shoulder. He turned around again, and saw Mio holding his shoulder.

"Don't charge into battle like a madman, Toshiro! It's too late for you to go!"

"No fucking way am I leaving Yoshika unprotected!"

"I believe they took their weapons with them, Toshiro. We have to phone over to Ferrara and warn them." Minna said.

"You do that, I'm flying off anyway!"

"Toshiro!" Mio shouted.

"Do you have a problem, Major Sakamoto?" Toshiro asked with a cold voice.

Mio broke into cold sweat once she saw Toshiro. His snake features were all visible over his face.

"No… But be careful…"

"All I wanted to hear, Mio…"

He rushed down to the hangar, zipping past some of the girls. Since it was speed he wanted, he only took the MG with him. The engines of his Striker roared under the hangars roof, and he dashed off into the sky.

Toshiro pushed the Striker to its un-boosted limits. Then, he fired the booster, getting a bit tired in the process.

"Toshiro… I'd advise you to look at the temperature gauge…"

Toshiro looked at the FFG, and saw that the temperature gauge has just gone into the red zone.

"FUCK!" He shouted, as he was forced to slow down.

After a few minutes, he wanted to accelerate, but then, he saw the Neuroi. A big and bulky craft, shooting beams from its underside. It was about a kilometer from the island. Then, he noticed the girls. Perrine was storming the Neuroi, who was slowly but surely floating towards the island, alongside Yoshika, which, to Toshiro's surprise, was carrying Lynne on her shoulders. Toshiro heard the well-known sound of a .55 cal round being fired, and the Neuroi exploded into dust.

The girls started cheering, hugging each other in the air.

No limelight for me… GOOD.

Toshiro flew up to the girls, and when Yoshika saw him, she took Lynne of her shoulders, shoved her into Perrine's arms, and rushed to him.

"Toshirooooooo!"

She hugged him tightly, and the impetus made them spin around in place a bit.

"You came to help me… Thank you…"

"But I see that you've all managed without me. I'm proud of all of you, especially Yoshika."

"Oh… I only carried Lynne…" She said while blushing. "Her right Striker leg got damaged by the Neuroi…"

"Still better than doing nothing, Yoshika. Come on, let's go to Lynne and Perrine."

"Yes!"

Toshiro and Yoshika flew up to the girls.

"Too late!" Perrine said and pulled down her eyelid, showing her tongue at the same time. "We managed without you, Toshiro! Hah!" She said with a high and mighty tone.

"If not for my Striker overheating, I would kill it first…" Toshiro pouted, because he saw Yoshika's eyebrow twitching. "But anyway, good job. You've got anything back at that Ferrara lady you want to take with you?"

"Uh… Brooms…" Lynne said silently.

"Brooms?"

"Brooms… We trained on them, and I think the rest will agree that we are a bit attached to them.

Perrine and Yoshika nodded to confirm her words.

"Well then, let's get those brooms. Maybe I'll meet the legendary hag…"

They descended down on the island. An old woman was waiting there for them. The girls jumped out of their Strikers, ran up to the woman and hugged her simultaneously.

"Miss Anna! We defeated the Neuroi!" Yoshika cheered!

"Okay, okay, you don't have to be so clingy…" The woman said and peeled off the girls from her body. "And who is that one? A man in a Striker? Truly untold…"

She approached Toshiro, and gave him a good look, walking around him slowly.

"So you are that Emperors nephew I believe… Don't give me that look, I may be old, but I'm not senile, and I read the newspapers. Sonny, did you ever fly a broom?"

"Yes."

"Oh? Who gave you such training?"

"Mio."

"Hah! That little crybaby! It seems that she didn't forget anything I taught her. Well then, I've never had royalty, even of bastard descent, in my house, so come in, I'll make you all some tea, and you can scoot off."

"Thank you for the offer, Miss Ferrara."

Toshiro jumped out of his Striker, and gently laid in on the ground. He followed Ferrara and the girls into her home. It was a cozy little cottage, furnished in an old style. There was a fireplace in the living room, as well as two couches, a chair and a table.

"You should probably phone back home, Colonel." Ferrara said, pointing out a phone.

"Good idea."

Toshiro picked up the receiver, and dialed after a minute he was connected to the base.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wilcke."

"Hi, Minna."

"Oh, Toshiro! And?"

"The girls managed to destroy the Neuroi before it reached the island, without my help I must note."

"Oh, how nice. Where are you know?"

"In Anna Ferrara's house. We'll drink a cup of tea, and then off with us."

"Good, good. I'll have to praise the girls when they return."

"Definitely! See you soon."

"Bye, Toshiro."

He put the receiver on the hook, and turned back to the girls.

"Well, now we can drink the tea in peace."

"Sit down, everyone. The water is boiling already." Ferrara said.

They sat on the couches, Lynne and Perrine on one, and Toshiro, of course with Yoshika, on the second one.

"So, Toshiro… Did anything happen while we were away?" Yoshika asked.

"I was attending a press conference, we got some supplies and a radar, Trude turned out to be a good cook, and Sanya was assigned to the night reconnaissance team."

"Oh? Trude is cooking now?" Lynne asked. "She only cooked once in a blue moon in Britannia…"

"Trude, from what I managed to observe so far, is a modest girl… Wait, a young woman actually. If only she finds a man after the war, he will be the happiest person on the face of the Earth… Imagine little Trudies, running around on a plain, somewhere in the Bavarian mountains, near a white cottage… This can happen, if everyone puts their back into fighting the Neuroi…"

"You are very good with words, Colonel." Ferrara appeared suddenly in the doorway, holding a platter with steaming teacups. "Your vision of the future is a little naïve, but it shows that you have a good heart." She distributed the tea, and sat in the chair. "So, who is Yoshika to you, Colonel? She muttered your name in the sleep a few times."

"I… I did?" Yoshika doubted what she heard with a blush on her cheeks.

"She is my girlfriend, the serious type." Toshiro replied adamantly. "I have plans concerning Yoshika, long-term plans. But she knows that already."

"I do?" She asked surprised.

"Did you already forget my near-death experience with a rock shard?"

"Oh… That… So what you said then… No way! You were serious?!"

"Dead serious, so to speak. I honestly regretted not being able to do the things I said. Now, I want to set the plan in motion, but it will take time…"

Yoshika placed her hands on Toshiro's hands and looked him deeply in the eyes.

"You don't have to rush anything, as long as I'm by your side…"

"Get a room…" Perrine muttered.

Lynne gave Perrine an elbow to the side, much to the surprise of everyone. When confronted with the surprised looks, she said, "Perrine spoiled such a romantic scene… I love romantic scenes… I cried like a baby on Casablanca…" She said while rubbing her hands between her knees.

"So you have something for mushy movies, huh, Lynne?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes…" She responded shyly.

"Well, I learned something today…"

They drank their tea, and everyone mounted their Strikers, with Lynne being carried on Yoshika's back, as she wished herself.

"Goodbye, Miss Ferrara." Toshiro said.

"Goodbyeeeee!" The girls cheered in unison.

"Farewell, all of you. I hope that you have a bright future."

They arrived in time for dinner. Trude, despite Yoshika protesting, made dinner for everyone. It was a solid portion of Bratwurst. The girls told about what they had to endure during the training.

"First, we had to learn how to fly a broom. It was really hard to learn, because the brooms were hard to control, and they bumped into our… girly parts…" Yoshika explained.

"Oh I know something about that…" Toshiro muttered. "Although boy parts are way more painful when hit…"

"Then we had to bring water to bathe in, in a big pail. The well at least a kilometer away on a hill. We had the pail attached on strings, so we had be very careful…"

"Of course we managed to do it! Then the Neuroi came in. I managed to expose the core, while Lynne with help of Miyafuji destroyed it."

"My, my… Splendid work girls." Minna said. "You have the rest of the day off, no training today."

"Yes ma'am!" The three in question answered.

After dinner, Toshiro took Shirley, and they inspected Lynne's Striker.

"Hmmm… The crankshaft is okay… However, the magic connector is busted. Also the propeller generator and its cover were evaporated…" Shirley assessed the damage. "We can't repair the damage without spares, Toshiro. You'll have to acquire the parts somehow."

"What is the model of this Striker again?"

"It's the Supermarine Spitfire Mk… Oh, it's not the 'X', it's a '22'. Bishop got an upgrade!"

"How nice… Okay, Shirley, I'm on it."

Toshiro went to Minna's office.

"You still are reading that book, Minna?"

"Yes. I told you it was very good."

"I see… Well, I have to use the phone, but don't bother moving, it will be a quick one."

"Be my guest."

Toshiro picked up the receiver and after a minute or so, he heard a familiar voice.

"Captain Junko Takei."

"Hi, Junko."

"Oh, Toshiro! What business do you have with me?"

"Well… I need Striker parts…"

"Tell me what, and I'll see what I can muster."

"Well, I need a magic connector, propeller generator and its cover for a Supermarine Spitfire Mk 22."

"From what you've said that Striker got damaged around the end of the crankshaft. Is it okay?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'll see what I can do. If I find the parts, I'll send them to you tomorrow by Amaki, and if not, I'll call you soon."

"Much appreciated, Junko."

"A pleasure to serve you, Hero of Karlsland, heheheh…"

"You've seen the newspaper, or are you just going on from the radio broadcast?"

"Yes, I saw the paper. Nice photo. Bye, Toshiro."

"Bye, Junko."

Toshiro put the receiver on the hook.

"You surely are resourceful, Toshiro." Minna said. "That's a good trait for a commander."

"I'm learning from the best, Minna. Bye now."

"Yeah, bye…" She said and returned to her book.

Toshiro went on the balcony of his room and up the statue. He decided to seclude himself for a while, and took a nap on the statues head.

He thought he hear something. When his consciousness returned, the sun was setting.

"Toshiroooo…"

He heard Yoshika calling for him. Judging by the distance and loudness, she should have been nearby.

"I'm up here!" Toshiro shouted, and crawled forward on the statues head.

When Toshiro peeked over the statues head, he saw Yoshika looking up.

"Wah! How did you get up there?!"

"Magic, how else? Hahaha! Hey, want to watch the sunset with me from here?"

"Yes!"

Toshiro dropped down beside Yoshika, and grabbed her in the waist.

"You will feel a slight sensation…"

"WhaaaAAAAAAAA!" She screamed as Toshiro jumped up. "Don't scare me like that, stupid!"

"Heh, sorry… But the view will make up for it."

Yoshika turned around to face the sun setting over the continent.

"Wow… Pretty…"

"Yeah… A shame that our base points out to the east, so we can only admire the sun rising at morning… Imagine how the orange glow would shimmer in the calm waters of the Mediterranean… How it would…"

"You talk too much…" Yoshika said, and suddenly kissed him brutally, so that Toshiro fell on the back.

After they stopped, Yoshika said, "I missed you, Toshiro. One day was enough for me to miss you…"

Why is Yoshika being so… emotional? Is she compensating for the five months that we were separated? That must be it…

"Don't worry, Yoshika. Unless I have to attend to some press conference, meeting in the HQ or whatever, I'll always be here, somewhere in the base…"

"Heehee…"

They sat there, until the sun hid itself behind the horizon. Yoshika ran off to the girls, so Toshiro visited Mio in her cottage.

"Hey, Mio, I didn't know you were a crybaby, heheheh…"

"Who told you such bullshit?"

"Ferrara."

"Uuuuughhh! That old hag! But yeah, it's true… I cried like a moron the first night… But I grew a pair and bested her training. Up yours, you old hag!" She shouted shaking her fist in the air. "Anyway, anything else to bother me about?"

"Supper?"

"Well, true…"

They went to the hangar, where Yoshika and Lynne dethroned Trude, and made everyone some good scrambled eggs with ham.

When Toshiro sat at the table, Minna threw him a rolled up paper. It landed title up. It was a fresh issue of the New York Times.

"Where did you get that, Minna?"

"A postman brought it while you were sleeping on the top of the angel statue."

"How… Oh, your magic. Well, let's give it a read out loud, so everyone knows how I suck or something…"

Toshiro unfolded the paper. The title of the first page article was 'THE MODEST HERO OF KARLSLAND', which Toshiro read out aloud. Under it was a picture, with him in the center, and Mio with Minna on his sides

"Let's start then…" He said and started reading.

'APRIL 2, 1945, SICILY ALLIED HEADQUARTERS

A press conference has been held with the nephew of the Karlslander Emperor (photo: center), and with his subordinates, Lieutenant Colonel Minna Dietlinde-Wilcke (photo: left) and Major Mio Sakamoto (photo: right). Colonel Toshiro Edelweiss has answered a series of questions from four journalists from around the world, encompassing both his military career and private matters.