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Chapter 18 – All roads lead to Rome

Six days have passed. Vincenzo's team of masons and carpenters finished the kitchen and the pantry attached to it the last day. Toshiro and Trude moved all the supplies from the under-hangar storeroom to the new pantry. It wasn't a difficult task, since Toshiro forwarded an idea a day after Erica's birthday.

"Girls, I have seen a rundown orphanage in the city. The nun working in it said that they would accept any form of help, so I propose that we share our potato's with them. Since they can't be stored indefinitely, it would be better if somebody ate them, instead of us winding up with half a ton of planting-ready spuds. We should leave a quintal for ourselves, and transport the rest to the orphanage. Not only will this help the kids there survive another day, but it could create some positive buzz around our unit."

That's what Toshiro said. He said it with such determination, that nobody opposed him. Just after they finished eating, Trude and Toshiro put the potatoes meant for their unit in sacks, and they hauled the big crate on the truck. They had to demount the sides, and the whole tarpaulin covered skeleton of the rear to fit it, but they managed to haul it to the proximity of the orphanage. Minna was with Toshiro, but he had to do the lifting, and since the streets were narrow, he had jump around the roof, much to the discontent of some people, but the majority just looked at him, carrying half a ton of potatoes over his head as if it was nothing. He jumped down behind the orphanage gate, and saw the stupefied children as well as the nun from yesterday.

"Mater Dei… It's you, from yesterday!"

"Yes. I told you I would bring you something. About half a ton of potatoes. Where should I unload it?"

"Oh, please, follow me!"

The nun ran as fast as her frail body allowed, and she opened a wide two-part external door to the basement.

"Please, dump the potatoes inside. We will tidy up later."

"Okay."

Toshiro changed the way he was holding the crate, and he tilted it, causing the potatoes to gradually spill out into the dark depths of the orphanage basement. When he shook out the last spud, he placed the crate on the ground and said, "I'm leaving the crate here, burn it or something."

He suddenly felt that somebody was tugging him on his belt. Toshiro looked down and saw a little girl with auburn hair, five or six years old, wearing a patched up, dirty dress and carrying a teddy bear without one eye.

"Thank you, mishter." He said timidly and ran away giggling.

"Dawwwwww…" Minna expressed her feeling behind Toshiro's back. "It seems the kids like you, Toshiro."

"Heh…" Toshiro scratched his head flustered.

"This orphanage really needs some renovations…" Minna said. "Maybe that Vincenzo guy could do something?"

"Maybe… But I'll have to wait for my next pay, or there's a possibility we'll go dead broke…"

"Please, please, you don't have to do anything more!" The nun pleaded. "That's enough…"

"I've got money to burn anyway, Sister. Maybe if I ask uncle he'll send some money…"

"Um, and who is your uncle, if I may ask?"

"Oh, he's the Emperor of Karlsland, nothing special…" Toshiro shrugged her off. "Well, Minna, our job is done here."

"Yes, pretty much. Goodbye, Sister."

"Good… bye…" The shocked nun could barely speak.

The two climbed into the truck and they returned to the base.

That's how Toshiro resolved the issue with the overabundance of potatoes.

Today, he woke up at the usual time, and went jogging. It so happened that Mio had her break from sword practice, and they ran around the base grounds together.

"So, Toshiro, have you thought about that marathon lately?" Mio asked.

"Why are you so hung on that topic, huh?"

"I want to prove myself against you, simple as that."

"Well, if you want it so badly, we can do it sometime this week. I hope you weren't preparing in secret?"

"No… I'll attend it like you, without special preparations."

"Then it's settled. Maybe we should drag in someone else, what do you think?"

"Oh, Barkhorn will surely join! But the rest… I would have to force them…"

"No sense in doing that, Mio. Just throw a remark at breakfast, and who volunteers, volunteers."

"Protecting Miyafuji, are you?" She asked with a sly smile.

"The jury has found the defendant guilty… Yes, I want to protect her from you overworking her. Daily trainings are enough for now. Maybe next month you can torture her a bit more, since our stay here has lasted almost as long as in Britannia."

"You have a point… Then this is also settled, Miyafuji, Lynne and Perrine will get there training intensified gradually come May."

"Thank you for being reasonable, Mio."

"I have heart too, you know…" Mio pouted.

"Haha!"

After they finished, they ended up in a new location to end their jogging, the dining room combined with the kitchen in the dorm building. Vincenzo's team really put an effort into renovating it, upgrading the kitchen to a standard he saw in the Britannian base.

Toshiro took two glasses and poured some cold water into them from the tap. Mio took the glass and started drinking slowly.

"I must say, those Romagnans you two hired really outdid themselves..."

"For the money we pay them, they ought to! And Perrine will be happy that we will be finally eating in a civilized environment, heh…"

"And now we can use the aula, since you got a PA system installed, so we can gather everyone in any point of the base in slightly over a minute."

"Yeah… Now what to do until breakfast…"

"You could train more."

"Fitting answer from you…" Toshiro sighed. "I'll just take a nap here…"

"You could probably sleep anywhere, right?"

"Not in such obscure places like Francesca, but this is enough for me."

"Meh, have a nice sleep then."

"Thanks…"

Toshiro drifted away.

"Toshiro… Wake up…" Yoshika's sweet voice slowly dragged him out of dreamland.

"Oh… Mooowaaaaaahhhrning…"

"Don't you yawn while greeting me in the morning!"

"Sorry…"

"Hello, Toshiro." Lynne greeted her in her usual manner.

"Hi, Lynne."

"Hmmm… I see that Trude didn't offer to continue her help in the kitchen after all?"

"No… But it was fun while it lasted, heehee…" Yoshika giggled.

She carried a rice sack with her, so Toshiro asked, "Are we having onigiri or something for breakfast?"

"Yes."

"Good… But that sack looks… Light…"

"Well, it is light…" Yoshika said with eyebrows furled.

Toshiro grabbed the bottom of the sack, and squeezed it in a few places. He pulled the sack from Yoshika's hands, and turned it upside down. A single grain of rice fell out, bouncing a few times on the stone floor.

"Eheheheheh…" Yoshika gave a dry laugh. "It seems my housekeeping skills fell a bit short…"

"And from what I saw when moving the supplies, we only have like… thirty kilograms of potatoes left… Not good… My good heart just bit me in the ass right now…"

"Oh, don't blame yourself, Toshiro… I should notice we are going out of rice myself…"

"True… Oh well, I doubt I can get rice in Pescara… But I have an idea, which I have to consult with Minna just in case…"

"What idea?" Lynne asked suddenly.

"That's a secret for now. Make something out of… bleh… potatoes for breakfast, you two…"

"Okaaaay…" The two sighed heavily and went on to the pantry.

Toshiro followed them for a few meters, but he split from them and went on to Minna's room. He knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Toshiro opened the door, and saw Minna buttoning up the shirt of her uniform.

"Oh, Toshiro? So early in the morning, and here in my room?"

"Well, I have something to discuss…"

"Come on; sit beside me on the bed." Minna said while patting the bed beside her.

Toshiro rested his ass on the bed and said, "I want to take Yoshika to Rome."

"Oh? And why are you asking me for permission?"

"Well, it's because I would also like to take Francesca and Shirley with me."

"Explain everything, slowly."

"So… We are out of rice, and the potatoes, which thanks to my kind heart, are also on the decline. I doubt we would get rice in Pescara, so why not go to Rome? It's only like… pfff… less than 300 kilometers. We'll be back before sundown. And as for the choices of my companions… Well, I'm taking Yoshika because she deserves to see the city, simple as that. I am taking Francesca because she's a native, so she can give us a tour, and Shirley… Well, I don't have the heart to separate Francesca and Shirley for a whole day, heheh…"

"You are really spoiling the girls, you know? But since you are going on a shopping trip… We should assemble everyone and let them put down requests, okay?"

"I didn't think of that… Good idea, Minna. Let's start by you. What does my sweet Oberstleutnant want?"

"Ohoho… Well… I would like a radio…"

"But we already have one in the hangar and…" Toshiro spotted a familiar shape in Minna's room. "Say… Is that a DeKaTe radio like mine?"

"Yes… I got it when my luggage came in… But I want another radio for everyone, to put it in the common room, since we will be using it soon."

"How altruistic of you, Minna… I hope you'll at least fork some dough for that, right?"

"Yes, yes…" Minna stood up and approached her nightstand.

She pulled out a wallet, and some money out of it.

"Ten pounds. That's your budget for the whole trip. Don't squander it for unnecessary miscellanea."

"Ugh, I'll have to go to Pescara and exchange the money… Whatever, I brought it upon myself, so I shouldn't bitch…"

"Good approach, Toshiro heehee… Come on, let's go and wait in the dining room for the girls to make food."

They went to the kitchen, and sat at the table.

"Oh, good morning, Miss Minna!" Yoshika greeted her cheerfully.

"Good morning, Commander." Lynne followed.

"Good morning, girls. I've heard we have supply problems." Minna shot a wry smile.

"Eheheh… Yes…"

"Don't worry, Toshiro already came up with a solution. And you, Miyafuji, will like it most."

"Oh, will I?"

"You will, Yoshika." Toshiro said. "But I'll wait until everyone's here till I announce it.

"Oh tell me now!"

"Begging won't change it, Yoshika." Toshiro answered with a sly grin.

"Unfair!" Yoshika puffed her cheeks and returned to potato cake forming.

"I don't understand…" Minna said confused.

"Our private matters, Minna, don't dwell on it for now."

"Oh, okay… But…" Minna leaned over the table and whispered, "Did you do it already?"

"Minna…" Toshiro hit his forehead silently with the palm of his hand. "I didn't ask you about your sex life with Kurt, did I?"

"We did it." Minna answered without hesitating.

"That was blunt…" Toshiro answered with his cheeks red. "But my answer is still no, however, Yoshika seems to be getting ready…"

"Just don't make little Toshiro's, okay?" Minna giggled slightly.

"I didn't make little Shirley's, heheheh…"

"Right… Okay, let's stop whispering like that, Lynne looks like her ears will fall off from eaves dropping right now…"

Toshiro shot an inconspicuous glance at Lynne, and saw that her ears wiggled a bit, and she was trying to hide the fact that she is listening.

"Heheh… Fine then, let's wait for the rest. Coffee, tea?" Toshiro asked.

"Coffee."

"Oh, let me do it!" Lynne suddenly said.

They both looked at her, and saw as her face expression changed when she realized what she did just now.

"I… I… I…" Lynne tried to form a sentence while her face was becoming progressively redder.

"Just don't babble out anything, okay?" Minna said calmly.

"Yes ma'am!" Lynne answered swiftly and grabbed the tin with coffee. "Oh…" She said after opening it. "We barely have enough for breakfast…"

"Don't worry, Lynne, I'll take care of that." Toshiro said.

The girls started swarming in slowly. Sanya was surprisingly present, but Erica was missing. After they finished, Toshiro said, "Everyone, I have an announcement. I will be going to Rome for a supply run, so if anyone wants something, let me know right now."

"I want some parts!" Shirley shouted.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. Shirley, you will come with us."

"Wooohoo!"

"Oh, oh, what about me!?" Francesca jumped in place.

"You are coming too, since you are a native to this place."

"Yay!" Francesca cheered.

"Oh… You'll be out the whole day…" Yoshika said with a glum face.

"Why so gloomy, Yoshika, you are the last one on the passenger list, heheh…"

"Oh really? Thank you!"

"Heheh… So, girls, your orders? I already know what Minna wants, any other requests?"

"I guess you could acquire some training tools…" Mio said.

"Oh come on, Mio…" Minna sighed. "Something for leisure perhaps?"

"The best way to recharge is to train hard and rest hard." Trude said.

"Well, actual baths for people, to keep morale high after training, would be nice… The barrels aren't the Ritz at all, and bothering Toshiro is too much sometimes…" Mio mumbled.

"Is training all you guys think about?" Minna sighed again. "Please think of more practical items."

"Minna, I can speak for myself you know…" Toshiro muttered.

"The girls would request church organs from you, and you wouldn't have the heart to refuse, right?"

"Yeah…"

"But I was just about to propose buying a piano!" Eila shouted.

"See?" Minna sighed for the third time. "And how is Toshiro going to lug around a piano through half of the country?"

"Well, I could place it in the truck somehow…" Toshiro mumbled but got interrupted.

"Give it up, Eila." Minna said. "Pick something different."

"Boo… I wanted to hear Sanya play." Eila pouted, putting a smile on Sanya's face.

"By the way, how is it that Sanya is present at breakfast?" Toshiro asked curiously.

"Oh… I had… stomach problems just before I started my shift…" Sanya answered quietly. "But Eila flew for me."

"She's surprisingly energetic however…"

"I have my ways of warding away sleep…" Eila answered vaguely.

"Umm… Then I would like some black tea then…" Lynne said shyly.

"Okay, noted." Toshiro said. "That tea we got from Karlsland is… of lacking quality…"

"I hope you won't fail me this time!"

"Pffff… But okay, I'll be your secretary for once…"

"So, Trude, what would you want?" Toshiro asked.

"I don't know to be honest…"

"Maybe a gift for Chris?" Yoshika said out of the blue.

"Ack! Well… How should I put it… Umm… Maybe some cute clothes then… Or something…"

"Could you be more specific?" Toshiro asked.

"A dress… A dress would be good…"

"Oh Trude… You shouldn't be afraid to show your feelings concerning your sister… But whatever, Yoshika will probably find something nice, since she's about Christiane's size, right, Yoshika?"

"I'll do my best!"

"That's the spirit!" Toshiro cheered. "Perrine?"

"I don't need anything…" She said shyly.

"You sure? It's a good occasion to stock up on some fancy goods."

"I said no!" She shouted and stood up. "Thank you for the meal." She said and walked out of the dining room.

"What the hell was that about?" Toshiro asked.

"Um… Toshiro?" Lynne approached him.

"Yes?"

"You remember that she is rebuilding Gallia, right? She's essentially stone broke…"

"I see… Well then I could buy something for her as a gift…"

"Flower seeds. Flower seeds would be okay. And please, this one is one me."

"As you wish, Lynne. So… Anyone know where Erica is?"

"That slacker! She's probably in bed! Come on, Toshiro! Let's instill the fear of God in her!"

"Okay, okay… I'm coming…"

Toshiro followed the pissed off Trude to hers and Hartmann's shared bedroom, and inside they found Erica sleeping under some clothes.

The filth in this place is ever more expanding…

"Hartmann! Wake up, damn you!"

Erica squirmed around in the bed and grumbled, "Give me ninety more minutes, Trudy…"

"Erica, for fucks sake, when will you change…" Trude muttered under her nose. "Get her an alarm clock, a loud one." She said and left.

"Yuki, don't you think Trude is like a gumball?"

"Huh?"

"I mean hard shell with a soft kernel."

"Well… Yes, I noticed it. She's probably being strict to Imouto, because she imposed strictness on herself, and she thinks it would be also good for blondie here."

"Could you stop calling people names? And Imouto doesn't suit Erica right now, she's officially older than me."

"But you are a year older than her considering life experience."

"Whatever…"

Toshiro approached the sleeping beauty and said, "Hey, sis, I'm going to Rome for a supply run, anything you want."

He probably used the right combination of words in a right context, because Erica sat on the matrass immediately.

"Sweets!" She cheered raising her right hand in the air.

"But I just gave you a five kilo bag!"

"That was last week, bro!"

"You'll get fat from eating so much sugar…"

Erica furled her eyebrows and said, "Toshiro… Never use the word fat when describing a woman, especially when talking to her directly. Not in the past, present or future tense…"

"Sheesh… I didn't in slightest impose that there would be an ounce of unnecessary fat on that lovely body of yours…"

"Oh pff, come on…" Erica blushed slightly. "Anyway, will you buy me some sweets?"

Toshiro sighed and said, "Okay… But remember that you are paying."

"Sure thing, bro!" Erica cheered and went back to sleep.

Incredible…

Toshiro went out of the room, and as he was bothered by Eila.

"Oh, Eila? What do you want now? A philharmonic orchestra for Sanya?"

"Don't make fun of me…" Eila answered timidly. "I want a pillow…"

"A pillow you say… Why do I have the feeling that you want it for Sanya?"

"Okay, okay! I want it for Sanya, sheesh… Does it change anything?"

"Not a thing, but at least you are honest now. So, anything specific?"

"Ummm… A black one, with a red section, made of velvet, if you find such a one, and stuffed with water fowl feathers, like down, or any small feathers for that matter."

"Do you want ketchup with that? Awfully detailed order…"

"Her old pillow ruptured when she slammed me with it when I tried to do lewd things to her…" Eila explained with a red face.

"She certainly is self-conscious… But anyway, since we have Sanya out of the way, what would YOU like?"

"Vodka…"

"Seriously, or are you pulling my leg again?"

"Seriously. If you would find some Suomus vodka, I would probably let you fuck me on the dining room table…"

Toshiro looked at her with a discontented look.

"Well about that, I'm kidding, heheh… But seriously, I want vodka."

"I can fetch you that but… Maybe also something less… consumable?"

"Hmmm…"

"Maybe a jar of petroleum jelly, huh?" Toshiro asked with a wry smile.

Eila's face reached a new record in redness after she heard that remark.

"Please forget about that…"

"Heheheh… So, have you decided?"

"A hip flask… Just don't make it too big…"

"It will go well with that vodka… Have a nice day, Eila, I won't be back before supper."

"Yeah, good day to you too…" Eila said and went to her room.

Toshiro also went his way, and wound up in the hangar, after a brief stop in his room. Shirley was busy under the hood of the truck, Yoshika was beside her, Mio and Trude were before Francesca's Launch Unit, and Francesca herself was running around with a duffle bag as if she just took five grams of methamphetamine.

"Oh, Toshiro, good that you came. We need to load a Launch Unit on the back of the truck." Minna said upon noticing him.

"Huh, why?"

"You never know…"

"Right… But what about power? I heard that they need three phase 380 Volts to power them."

"You didn't hear that each one has an inbuilt petrol generator for producing the electricity. With a full tank, it can sustain operation for six hours."

"Today I learned… Well, come on, Trude, let's haul this junk up the truck."

They both used their magic, and lifted the Launch Unit on the trucks back. After a slight push, the Launch Unit was firmly placed against the partition separating the cabin from the utility part of the truck. Minna threw them a big piece of tarpaulin, and they covered the Launch Unit.

"I guess I should also take weapons and other Strikers, right?" Toshiro asked. "That's why you told off Eila?"

"Heheh… Yes, because a piano wouldn't just fit with all the equipment."

Toshiro with the help of Trude took Yoshika's, Shirley's and his Striker, the weapons of the girls and his MG. He heard the hood being closed, and Yoshika saying, "So that's how an engine works! Thank you, Shirley!"

"Always there to educate somebody interested in mechanics, heheh…" Shirley answered. "Oh, Toshiro! Ready to go?"

"Yup. So who's driving?"

"Ummm… If I could…"

"You want to? Be my guest. I'll be navigating you."

"Okay! Lucchini, hop in the back, we're leaving!"

Francesca didn't need five seconds and she was already in the back of the truck.

"Hmmm… Yoshika, you also go to the back."

"But why? I hope you two don't plan anything, huh?"

"Gods forbid! But the view is better from the rear, and the weather is nice. And you can keep Francesca company."

"Oh okay… But in Rome, you won't leave my side for a second!"

"Yes, yes… Now haul your behind to the back of the truck, we have to leave now or we'll have to return in the dark."

Yoshika ran to the back, and jumped up beside Francesca. Toshiro and Shirley climbed into the cabin, and he pulled out the map. After a minute, he traced a good route in his mind.

"Okay, Shirley, we'll just have to visit the bank in Pescara, and then off to Rome."

"Woohoo!" Shirley cheered and started the engine.

Trude was thoughtful enough to open the big door for the truck, and Shirley drove into the tunnel.

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