Chapter 25 – Coming of age
Hurrrrrrrmmmmmm… I feel a bit weak… Oh well, maybe the morning air will liven me up a bit…
Toshiro opened his eyes and saw the usual thing he saw after each wake up – the ceiling. But this time, he felt something was different. His head turned to the left, and he saw her.
Yoshika was sleeping aside him, with her left hand wrapped around his chest.
Oh? Oh right… Yesterday…
He touched his left shoulder blade.
Nothing… Good as new…
He extended his hand upwards and tried to summon Aganaimaru. It worked the first time. The sword was different from what he remembered. Instead of being bright scarlet, it was now crimson red. The length was minimally longer, and the blade height was microscopically bigger. He dispelled the sword and tried to get out of bed.
"Mmmmuuuuu… Don't go…" Yoshika mumbled with a sad voice.
"Why shouldn't I? I have to stay in shape…"
"Because I say so… Today is special, and I want to sleep besides you for now…"
"A special day? Care to elaborate?"
"No… That's a secret."
"Secrets and secrets… Like I'm a layman amongst freemasons and Templars…"
"This day will change everything in our relationship, Toshiro."
"I'm intrigued and scared at the same time…"
"You don't have to be… I will take care of you… Uwaaaaaah…" Yoshika yawned.
"You should sleep; I imagine you are exhausted after healing me."
"Yeah… But it's almost seven, and I have to make breakfast…"
"Kuji serves as an alarm clock for you?"
"Heehee, yes… I always know what time it is…"
"Sleep, dearest. I'll stand in for you at Lynne's side."
"Okaaaay…"
Yoshika closed her eyes and fell asleep.
My sweet little angel… I should build a shrine to Amaterasu and give offering every day until my death…
Toshiro walked up a chair on which his uniform was hanging. There was a whole where the rod pierced him.
I suppose I should give this to Lynne…
His pistol lied on the chair, empty. He reloaded it and put it into the holster. Afterwards, he pulled out the long sleeved uniform out of the chest and pulled it on. Toshiro ran down the stairs, and on to the dining room. Lynne was already there, not surprised at all that Toshiro showed up.
"Good morning, Toshiro."
"Morning, Lynnie."
"Heehee, Lynnie… That brings back memories… But anyway, how is Yoshika doing?"
"She's sleepy. Care to fill me in on what happened? Or should I wait for somebody more… lively?"
"Um well… We were sort of spying on you both from the dorm building…"
"Oooooookay…"
"Then we saw all that happened. Miss Minna forbade us doing anything. But when that Neuroi exploded, she finally let us go. We arrived just as you slipped away."
"Yup. I remember all of you running towards me."
"Yoshika started healing you, and she managed to do it. She was a bit pooped afterwards, but she had enough energy to stand her ground when it came to sleeping with you."
"Oh?"
"She stood up to Miss Sakamoto, because she wanted for Yoshika to sleep in our room as usual."
"I sense punishment…"
"No, no… Miss Sakamoto abstained from punishing her. She even congratulated her manning up as she said, and went her way."
"Odd… Very odd… But whatever, I'm here to help you."
"Oh, nice. I was to make a Britannian breakfast, so I will need all the help I can get. You know what I need?"
"I've had so many of your delicacies, that I could enumerate each and every ingredient. Be right back!"
Toshiro went to the pantry with a sack, and filled it with all the black pudding, sausages, eggs, bread, butter and tomatoes that eleven witches and a wizard would need. Lynne shot him a resplendent smile when Toshiro came in with all the ingredients.
They started preparing the dishes, and Lynne even showed him how to fry the sausages and black pudding nice and good. The first one to be reeled in by the magnificent smell of fried meat was Mio.
"Oh ho ho! Our hero is now our cook!" She laughed.
"How did you like the show of light and magic last evening?" Toshiro said with a smirk on his face, turning a sausage on the pan.
"Best one I ever saw! Say… You used some techniques you never showed me…"
"That's because they are only suited against living targets. Demonstrating them on a mountain wouldn't have any sense, would it?"
"Well… You have a point. The Hachiken Rondo was it?"
"Yes… The Eight Sword Rondo is something I am proud of. As you saw, it uses eight shields as stepping stones, so I can do horizontal slices one after another. The swords you might have saw were magic copies of Aganaimaru, good for only one blow, but as deadly as the original."
"And the finishing blow? The Iai Reppuzan? It looks so good that I want to learn it!"
"Without time magic, it's useless. You have to accelerate to Mach 2 for it to work."
"Forget I asked… How is Miyafuji?"
"Sleeping."
"I'll give her some time off until she regenerates. And how are you feeling?"
"Fit as a fiddle. I'm even making you breakfast, when it should be the opposite!"
"I suppose… Today is…" Mio suddenly stopped talking. "Today is a good day for cooking…" She walked away quickly and sat by the table. "I want my food so I can train hard!"
What the fuck? That was weird to say at least…
"Wait for the rest, Mio…" Toshiro sighed.
Then, Minna came in.
"Oh, hello Toshiro, Lynne."
"Good morning." Both replied.
"A rare sight for you to stand behind the stove, Toshiro."
"Thank you for the insightful comment, Minna. Yoshika is tired, so I'm filling if for her."
"I figured so myself… You could be a good boyfriend and give her breakfast in bed, heehee…"
"Haven't thought of that… Lynne, do we have a tray Yoshika could use in bed?"
"Mmmmm… Yes, wait a second…"
Lynne rummaged the big cupboard behind him, and she pulled out a big tray on small legs, so that her own legs could fit under.
"Thank you, Lynne. And now, I'll be a dick and prioritize my girlfriend over all of you."
Toshiro swiped a big portion of every meal, placed them on the tray and covered them.
"Now excuse me, I have a patient to take care of." Toshiro said and went out.
Nice idea with that breakfast to bed, Yoshika will explode from joy!
Toshiro ran up to his room, and silently opened the door. Yoshika must have heard him anyway, because she opened her eyes.
"Oh my, Toshiro… Is that for me?" She said while slowly getting up.
"Yes. Please, don't move…"
He placed the tray on the ground, positioned the pillows behind Yoshika's back and positioned her accordingly. He placed the tray over her legs and said, "Bon appetite, my love."
"Aaaaaaaaaaw… You are spoiling me more than I deserve…"
"You are signing up for this at least once a week, if you continue to live with me after this whole humbug…"
"Heehee…"
"Should I leave you now?"
"No, no! It's time I spoiled you a bit!"
"Oh?"
"You see, I'm still not fond of this black pudding stuff so…" Yoshika was cutting a piece of black pudding and poking it with a fork. "…here, I'll feed it to you. Open wide!"
"Aaaaaah…" Toshiro opened his mouth wide, and a piece of black pudding was placed inside.
He closed his mouth and chewed it down.
"I'm being fed by my girlfriend… I'll return the favor!" Toshiro said and grabbed a sausage.
Yoshika first blushed a bit, but then she opened her mouth with a sensual "Aaaanh…".
What the…
She sucked onto the sausage, and Toshiro saw that she licked its top. Yoshika never broke eye contact with him, giving him a dreamy look. She finally bit of a piece with a slight grunt and started chewing.
"Yoshika… Do you always eat your sausages like that?" Toshiro asked with slight fear in his voice.
"Today is a special show, heehee…"
"Why do I have the feeling that Ursula taught you this?"
"Ursula? Please… Who do you think I am?"
"My girlfriend giving a fellatio to a sausage?"
"Heeey!" Yoshika protested while poking Toshiro in the chest.
"What? You were doing it so vividly, that only one thing came to my simple masculine mind…"
"I have a reaaaaaalllyy bleak feeling that you are not a theoretician in that field…" Yoshika said with a pouty face.
"Well, since you put it in that way… Shirley sucked me off like a diesel water pump. Satisfied?"
"Yes… At least you were honest… Saaaay… Could you describe how you…"
"Ask her yourself." Toshiro interrupted her.
"You can tell me about it…"
"No. If you want the details from the point of view that would benefit and interest you more, ask Shirley."
"Oh okay… Want some more black pudding?"
"Yes please."
Yoshika ate her breakfast, giving Toshiro a bit of this, and a bit of that.
"I'm stuffed…" She said. "Thanks for the food."
"Feel like walking?"
"Maybe…"
"Mio said she'd give you time to rest until you regenerate." Toshiro said with a smug face.
"Oh… Then I'm still tired…" Yoshika responded with a cutesy smile.
"Hahaha! You are learning fast! Then you can lie in my bed until Mio actually checks up on you."
"Thanks! It's really comfortable…"
"Say one word and I'm getting you the best matrass money can buy."
"No need… I would feel bad if I had a better one than Lynne…"
"I could buy Lynne one too…"
"Oh go already…"
"Kay…"
Toshiro took all the dishes and the plate and went back to the kitchen. Everyone was already absent besides Lynne.
"Only you here, Lynne?" Toshiro asked.
"Yes. I wanted you to have warm food, and wash the dishes after Yoshika."
"Thanks… Oh… Could you mend my uniform?"
"Sure, Toshiro. I'll make effort so it won't look like it's patched up.
Toshiro quickly ate his portion, thanked Lynne again and went outside.
What to do… What to do… AAAH! Might as well show off a bit…
Toshiro slowly walked to the beach, and to his surprise, Mio was there.
"What? You think I wouldn't know you want to train with your sword?" She said all high and mighty.
"Pfff… I only thought about stirring some water."
"Why not do it together then?"
"You know it shortens your lifespan as a witch…"
"I haven't done a Reppuzan since a week, come on!"
"Oh okay…" Toshiro sighed and summoned his sword.
"Wait a second… It looks a bit different…"
"I noticed. It's a bit beefier… All the more reason to test it!"
Toshiro sighed and said, "On three…"
"One!"
Their swords started glowing with a fierce blue glow.
"Two!"
They assumed a proper stance, with their left feet forward, knees slightly bent, upper body slightly twisted.
"Three!" Mio shouted.
They swung their swords at the same time and fiercely roared.
"REPPUZAN!"
The two attacks collided with each other before going over the water. Toshiro's went straight ahead while Mio's veered off to the north, but both paved their way through the salty waters of the Adriatic Sea.
"Toshiro, what did I just see?" Mio asked stumped.
"I really don't know… But it seems my Reppuzan is the better one, heheh…"
"I expected as much… Nice to see you with that sword again."
"I'm also glad to have Aganaimaru back… I felt so useless back then when Yoshika and you came to Romagna…" Toshiro said with his fist clenching Aganaimaru tightly, so that his knuckles become white.
He felt Mio's hand on his shoulder, and she said, "That is now the past. Now when a Neuroi appears, you will strike it down, for the greater glory of the goddess."
"Heh… So you understood that back yesterday?"
"I understand a bit of Latin. But what did that longer sentence mean?"
"If I cannot deflect the will of Heaven, I shall move Hell. Virgil, Book VII of the Aeneid."
"How sublime… But I had the strong feeling that you were actually talking to the Neuroi… Do you have some secret you are hiding from us?"
"Maybe… But I couldn't talk about some of the things I know even if I shat myself in all the colors of the rainbow. Sorry, Mio, but some things are not meant for the ears of the mortals."
"And yet you know…"
"I can hardly be classified as a mortal now… The truest description of me would be demigod, although demi in this case means 1/1000th."
"At least it's something, hahaha! I think Trude wanted to do something in the archive with you."
"Good that I basically have nothing to do, huh?"
"Exactly! Now shoo! If an inspection would arrive, you'd rather have everything in order, right?"
"Probably… Especially if those were Karlslanders, heh…"
Toshiro dispelled his sword, and slowly walked to the castle. He bumped into Minna, who was rushing in the opposite direction.
"Oh, Toshiro, sorry, no time!"
He only saw as she ran away.
Huh?
Toshiro went up the stairs and into the archive. Trude was of course waiting for him.
"Toshiro, we have so much to do you'll probably have a sore ass afterwards!"
"That sounded a bit…"
"Ah, I know, I know… See the stack of papers before you?"
"Yeah, and?"
"We have to process it ALL!"
"Some of it looks familiar… I even see my signatures…"
"But we have to do it again."
"Why?"
"Because…. Because… I messed them up, and they are now unordered!"
"Ugh, whatever…"
Therefore, they did this arduous task, which took them until past 1300.
"Trude… If you ever fuck up so badly again… I will punish you…"
"Sorry, won't happen again… Come on, let's see if there's some food to grab…"
"Good idea…"
Both stood up, stretched themselves a bit and went down the stairs. They bumped into Shirley while on the way out.
"Hey, Elwyn, how's the weather?"
"Clear, Barkhorn."
"Thanks. Care to join us for dinner?"
"Don't mind if I do."
The trio went inside the dorm building, but instead of entering into the dining room, Trude led him on to the common room.
"I have to show you something, Toshiro."
"And what could that be?"
"The end to your torment, come on."
"Sounds scary…"
They both led him to the now closed door of the common room.
"You first, Toshiro." Shirley said.
Toshiro sighed and opened the door.
"SURPRISEEEEE!" A happy shout attacked his ears.
It took him a few seconds to comprehend what was happening. Red paper koi carps were hanging down from the ceiling. The table from the dining room was now here, full with delicacies and alcohol. Everyone was lined up in a neat row, with Yoshika holding a cake that visibly weighed her down a bit. It was a rectangular masterpiece of confectionery. Red glazing on the sides, and the red Karlslander flag with a black cross on top, covered by a few sugar edelweisse, and with eighteen candles lit candles sticking out of it.
Today… Today's the May 5… Today's Boys' Day and my… my…
Tears came to his eyes instantaneously as he processed all what he saw.
"Everyone, sing!" Mio commanded.
Thus, everyone sang him 'Happy birthday', even Yuki, while Toshiro was moistening his cheeks with fresh tears. Minna approached him and wiped the tears of his eyes.
"Come on, Toshiro, blow of the candles. This is your day."
"So all the secrecy… You all behaving like some secret lodge… Trude messing up the papers…"
"Everything was a diversion or a result of stress while undergoing Operation Matriculation."
"You even gave a name to it, heh… But Yoshika being pooped was real?"
"Yes, I was really tired." Yoshika said. "But seriously, blow out the candles, my hands are going numbs!"
"Okay, okay!"
Toshiro inhaled deeply and blew all the candles in one go, earning an applause. Yoshika could finally put down the cake, and suddenly all the girls stood in line, according to their rank. Before Minna approached him, she picked up a package from the chair.
"Toshiro… You have always cared for us, so now it's time to pay you back. In the spirit of your generosity, here's a simple yet functional gift. Frohes Geburtstag, Toshiro."
"Thanks, Minna. Should I unpack it now?"
"Yes, please! Nobody besides me saw it, heh…"
Toshiro ripped open the package and unfolded its content. It was a 3/4th black leather coat of the Luftwaffe, with Oberst epaulettes attached on the shoulders... A murmur of admiration went through all the girls.
"Hohoho… Minna, you really know how to impress a man…"
"Put it on!" Minna shouted all giddy. "Come on!"
"Okay, okay…"
Toshiro put on the coat and turned around once.
"A perfect fit, Minna. Thank you."
"I looks perfect on you. The next time command pulls us in, be sure to wear the whole uniform, okay?"
"Sure."
She went stepped away, and Mio approached him. She grabbed his hand, shook it energetically and said, "Happy Birthday, Toshiro. May you improve yourself on the path of the warrior!"
"Fitting… Thanks, Mio, heh…"
"Hey, I'm first!"
"No, I'm first!"
Shirley and Trude were fighting over who would be the first to approach Toshiro.
"Both of you, stop…" Toshiro sighed. "Here, one hand, the other hand. Both grab one, shake them, wish me happy birthday, and stop making a fuss."
Both looked at each other, shrugged, did what Toshiro told them and walked to the table.
"Broooooooo!" Erica lunged forward, hugged him and showered him with kisses to both cheeks. "Happy Birthday!"
"Ahahahah! Erica, what got into you? Yoshika will be jealous!"
"It's your birthday, you deserve it!"
"True… Okay, scram now."
Erica ran away giggling. Eila and Sanya both approached him.
"Hyvää syntymäpäivää, Toshiro. Thanks for helping us… again… sort of…" Eila said with a red face.
"С Днем Рождения, Toshiro." Sanya said silently, and gave him a weak kiss on the cheek.
The two went away and Perrine approached him.
"Ummmm… Bon anniversaire, Toshiro…" She stood their squirming around.
"What, afraid to kiss me?"
"It's not like I don't like you!"
"Don't force yourself."
"Okay…" She said and went away.
Lynne was the next to come.
"Happy Birthday, Toshiro. May all your wishes come true." She said humbly as ever.
"Thanks, Lynnie."
"Heehee…"
"Toshiroo!" Francesca jumped forward. "Buon compleanno! I wish that Yoshika will have bigger tits!"
"Heeey!" Yoshika protested.
"What? At least Toshiro will have something to fondle…"
"I'm working on that…" Toshiro whispered to her.
"Good!" She whispered back and went away.
The last one left, was Yoshika.
"Well… I don't know what to wish you…"
"Your presence here is just enough…"
"Heehee... Oh whatever, you only live once! 誕生日おめでとう!"
She threw himself at his neck and kissed him passionately, much to his surprise.
"Wooohooo, you go girl!" Shirley cheered.
"Oh damn… That was unexpected…" Toshiro said when Yoshika stopped her fiery kiss.
She hugged him, placing her head over his shoulder.
"Don't drink too much booze today, Toshiro. I have a gift for you later on, which I would like you to enjoy sober…" She whispered with a sensual voice to his ear and jumped down. "Let's party!" She cheered.
I wonder just what she meant… But I can stay sober, meh… Not that I chug down booze like Churchill…
The party commenced, with everyone indulging into drinking and eating. About half an hour into the party, the phone rang.
"We have a phone here?" Toshiro asked surprised.
"Yes. The line was already present, a phone just had to be installed." Minna explained. "You'd better take it, who knows who the caller is…"
Toshiro approached the phone, and picked up the receiver.
"Edelwei…"
"COUUUUUUSIIIIIN!"
Toshiro felt as a pressure wave furled his hair and almost ruptured his ear drums.
"Mami… You really want me deaf…"
"Heheh… Happy Birthday cousin!"
"Thanks, pipsqueak."
"Who you callin' a pipsqueak, you damn mountain?! Ooops, sorry… Anyway, the rest wants to talk to you." Toshiro heard a bit of static and another familiar voice was heard. "Hi, Toshiro. Happy Birthday."
"Thanks, Keiko. How's life?"
"Boring as usual… Here, another caller for you…" After a slight clack he heard another voice. "Sup, Toshiro? Frohes!"
"Thanks, Marseille. How's your… problem?"
"What problem? You cured me good back then!"
"Good to hear."
"Hello, Toshiro. Happy Birthday, may you have a peaceful life."
"Thank you, Rai. Are you diligent in worshiping Tina?"
"As ever, heehee…"
"Nice…"
"Toshiro, Happy Birthday! Are you caring about your hair?"
"I have to confess, I neglected it a bit…"
"Ooooh! Such hair going to waste!"
"I promise I'll wash it more!"
"Good! Oh, wait, she want to do it anyway…" Furuko stopped talking and the deep voice of the Transvalian beauty was heard. "Salutations, Toshiro. Happy Passing into Adulthood."
"I suppose I should thank you… Still afraid of fictional monsters?"
"No! Miss Marseille is always there to comfort me!"
"Good to hear. Pardon me, but there's a party in my honor and stuff…"
"You are excused. Goodbye, Toshiro."
"Bye, Matilda."
Toshiro put the receiver down, and noticed everyone was looking at him in silence.
"What?" He asked irritated.
"Was that the 31st?" Minna asked.
"Yup. The whole unit gave me their best wishes."
"You sure are the womanizer…"
"I spent a whole month with them, it would be rather improbable for me not to be on good terms with them. Even Shirley and Francesca somewhat befriended them after the rough start…"
Toshiro sat behind the table, and the party continued.
After an hour, Mio was hammered, the rest was a bit woozy, except for Francesca and Yoshika who were sober as babies. The phone rang again. With only a glass of wine coursing through his blood vessels, Toshiro approached the phone.
"Edelweiss."
"Frohes Geburtstag, Toshiro."
"Oh, hi, Adolfine. Thanks!"
"HAB ACHT!" Minna yelled, and she and Trude immediately stood in attention, dragging up Erica forcefully.
Toshiro looked at them surprised, but Adolfine said, "Toshiro, was that an attention command?"
"Yeees… Minna seems to be a bit formal…"
"Point the receiver at them, and quiet them down."
"Okaaay…"
Toshiro pointed the receiver in their direction and placed his finger on his lips. Everyone went silent, and then Adolfine yelled, "RUHT EUCH!"
"JAWOHL!" Minna and Trude yelled and sat down.
Toshiro brought the receiver to his ear and said, "Well, that was easy…"
"You could have done this on your own, what kind of supervisor are you?"
"The caring and loving one?"
"Hahaha! Good one! I heard from Minna that you got a nice present, right?"
"She told you beforehand?"
"Of course! I paid for it!"
"The coat is simply über cool, thanks."
"I knew you'd like it. There's of course somebody else that would like to wish you something."
"Really?"
After a bit of static, a jovial voice sounded through the receiver.
"Happy Birthday, nephew."
"Oooh, uncle! Thanks!"
"HAAAAB AAAAAACHT!" Minna yelled again, and yet again all the Karlslanders were standing in attention.
"You seem to have a really strict compatriot behind you, right?"
"Yeaaaah… 100% Karlslander…"
"Let them stand if they wish… Returning back to the matter of your birthday, I sent some money for you."
"Oh, uncle… I already receive so much…"
"This will be your rainy day fund. Don't spend it all on booze."
"Haha, okay uncle."
"Okay now… Have a nice day, Toshiro. I have a country in exile to rule."
"Bye, uncle."
Toshiro placed the receiver on the hook and looked at Minna.
"Really?"
"He's our emperor, Toshiro, not our uncle…"
"Whatever… Just sit down…"
The party continued until it was dark. After it all ended, Toshiro took his coat and went to his room. He undressed himself, lied down on the bed and tried to rest. It was an exercise in futility. In the dark, the door to his room opened. Toshiro's vision already adapted, and he saw Yoshika in a nearly translucent night gown approaching him.
"Toshiro… I think the time has come…" She said as she stopped by his bed.
"Time for what?" He asked oblivious.
She dropped her nightgown, revealing her still growing body. She climbed onto him, sitting on his naked stomach.
"It's time for you, to make me a woman."
The Karlslander Censorship Office regrets to inform that the following passage was deemed too lewd, iconoclastic and in bad taste.
Toshiro fell beside Yoshika, all pumped out.
"Goodnight, my beloved." Yoshika said.
"Goodnight, my lovely rabbit." Toshiro said.
Yoshika giggled, and they fell asleep, embracing each other tenderly.
Oh would you look at that, nasty army censors… But they left me a note saying that the cut out part is available for all legal readers upon inquiry. ;)
This seriously doesn't have anything to do with the fact that this chapter is published on April Fools. Rules are rules.
And if you want to praise/rant about my story, please leave a signed review, so we can continue via PM's. Seriously, I don't bite. Unless provoked :]