Chapter 33 – Busy afternoon

Shirley finished her joy ride, and they returned to the base, with Minna waiting for them unexpectedly. Seeing her angry face, Francesca huddled down and Shirley had an uneasy look.

"And where did the happy companionship go, hmmm?"

"We were testing the car." Toshiro said.

"And why didn't I get a notice of this? I'm talking to you, Shirley and Lucchini. Nobody was manning the radio and radar."

"Uhhhhmm… Well… We sort of forgot…" Shirley muttered.

"Pardon me, Minna, before you start whipping them verbally, I asked Trude to notify you about this."

"You did? She didn't tell me anything… In fact I haven't seen her since breakfast…" Minna pondered holding up her chin.

"Why don't we look for her then?" Toshiro asked. "I can locate her in less than five seconds."

"How can you do that?"

"Yuki."

"Oh… Go ahead, less hassle…"

Toshiro used Yuki's powers, and saw Trude's magic signature in her room.

"She's in her room."

"Then that's where we should go." Minna said. "You two, come with us."

"Roger." They responded.

After a short walk in silence, the four of them stood before Trude's and Erica's room. Toshiro simply opened the door without bothering.

"And done…" He heard and then saw Trude with a clipboard.

"Done with… Oh crap…" Toshiro stopped half sentence with his jaw opened.

The whole pile of junk that was lying in the middle of the room, was now inexistent. Instead, tidy stacks of assorted items were lying under the wall.

"Impressive…" Minna gasped from Toshiro's side.

"Oh, you two are here?" Trude turned around. "Oh pardon, four."

"Trude, Toshiro told me you were to tell me that he, Shirley and Lucchini would go on a test run with the racecar."

Trude's face paled immediately and she covered its lower part with the clipboard.

"Ummm… I forgot…" She mumbled.

"Trude forgetting something relayed by a superior? That must be a first…" Minna said with a wry face.

"I'm sorry!" She shouted. "I will accept my punishment!"

"I will abstain from punishing you, if you tell me what has gotten into you." Minna said calmly.

"Well, while I was going to the office, I decided to poke into my room and see if Erica started cleaning up as she promised me. Of course, as expected, not a speck of dust was moved, and Erica was nowhere to be seen. Then I just snapped and started cleaning on my own, results of which you see here…"

"You got so immersed in your job that you forgot about Toshiro's request?" Minna asked.

"Yes…" Trude quietly replied.

"Oh well, at least you did a good deed… You were quantifying the items, right? May I see the list?"

"Sure, sure!" Trude said and gave her the list.

Minna showed it to Toshiro. After a quick glance at both the items and the list, Minna said, "Mostly stuff we won't even need but…" She looked at Toshiro, to which he nodded. "I think I know some people that would benefit from all this…"

"Really now?" Trude asked.

"Yes. And this will be your task for now. Load up the truck with all this, and drive to the orphanage in Pescara."

"Orphanage?" Trude asked dumbfounded but then said, "Okay, understood."

"Follow me, Toshiro, you should now do paperwork because of this event." Minna said with her usual calm attitude.

"I have to do paperwork when I donate something?"

"Yes. All those items were the possession of the unit, and by extension, the military. You have to make a report containing the list of items donated, the recipient etc."

"I hate being a Karlslander sometimes… Let's go then… Francesca, I think you should start preparing dinner already."

'Oh, right! Thanks for the reminder!"

"No problem."

Toshiro and Minna went to the office, and she gave him pointers on how to write the report.

"Well, done…" Toshiro said after giving his signature.

"Yet another thing you've learned… I am proud of you, Toshiro. You should consider career in the higher echelons, not in some unit in the middle of nowhere, heehee…"

"My uncle wanted to promote General and keep me in Neue Karlsland once he got wind of my resurrection…"

"He did? Why didn't you accept?"

"Because that would separate me from Yoshika… It didn't work out in the end, but now we're back together."

"Would you accept it if you'd be given the offer once again?"

"Only under two circumstances – that I get to bring Yoshika with me, and that I can fight Neuroi. Might as well transfer somewhere into the Ural Mountains, but as long as I have Yoshika by my side, and Neuroi to fight, I might as well be a Feldmarschall."

"Maybe one day that will be the case… Knowing you and the Kaiser… Who knows?"

"I somehow have the premonition that I will be promoted again one day… Meh, whatever, I'll go check up on Francesca, I wonder what she's brewing."

"You should check on Yoshika first, she's been trained by Mio since breakfast."

"Nonstop?"

"Yes."

"Crap… She'll murder her… Might as well take a look at them, thanks for the tip."

Toshiro went outside, but didn't see Yoshika and Mio on the runway. He looked around with the Hebigan active, and saw the two in the micro forest near Mio's hut. He went there, and saw Yoshika swinging her sword fervently, all sweaty and out of breath, but with determination in her eyes.

"Ah, you've finally showed up. Want to liberate your girlfriend from my torturous schemes?"

"I don't know to be honest…"

"Miyafuji is in some kind of trance. She's swinging the sword for three hours straight now."

"Really? Damn… I didn't know she's got it in her…"

"Me neither… But anyway…"

Mio stopped, because Yoshika suddenly started swaying and let the sword out of her hand. Toshiro and Mio both ran up to her as she was falling down.

"Yoshika!"

"Miyafuji!"

They both shouted at the same time.

"I'm tired…" Yoshika moaned. "I'm thirsty… I'm hungry… My arms hurt…"

Toshiro dispelled Yumemaru, and grabbed Yoshika in a bridal manner and slowly started walking towards the dorm, with Mio by his side.

"Than can be arranged, Yoshika."

"Thanks…"

"Miyafuji, could you explain why were you swinging your sword for 3 hours straight?"

"Kuji focused my whole body and soul only on that task… I collapsed because I'm now dead tired… I'm sorry, Miss Sakamoto…"

"You did better than I thought you would… But now you'll probably have to rest till supper… Crap that destroys my plans…"

"I'm sorry…"

"Stop apologizing already. If your familiar can focus your energy on one task, then I will just adapt to that. How could she even pull such a feat?"

"Our familiars can control every aspect of our bodies, and I mean literally. For example, if Yuki wanted to, she could give me a boner of ages in a second. Which she actually did once… But anyway, before I got used to training in Amaterasu's realm, Yuki had to help me concentrate the same way Kuji helped Yoshika. This is the ultimate show of the power of the mind over the body. In this case, Yoshika or Kuji, or both of them even, overestimated Yoshika's bodily capabilities."

"Uuuuuuuugh…" Yoshika moaned. "I want food… Take me to the kitchen… I smell food from here already…"

"Ssssh… We're getting there…"

"Mmmkay…" Yoshika mumbled and tucked into Toshiro's chest.

"Always a good time for hugging, huh?"

"Mhhmm…"

"I hope Lucchini made something better than for breakfast…" Mio sighed.

When they entered the dorm, it was already full of mouthwatering aroma. Led by it, they entered the kitchen. It seems that the aroma was super effective, because everyone was there.

"Yoshika, is everything okay?" Lynne asked concerned when she saw Yoshika in Toshiro's hands.

"I overdid it with training…"

"Are you hurt?" Lynne asked.

"No, no… Just tired, hungry, thirsty, and…" She looked at her hands. "Ouch, blisters… But don't worry about these, they'll heal quickly…"

"Oh, Yoshika, will you be able to hold a fork?" Francesca interrupted. "I'll grope you silly if you don't eat my food!"

"Ummm… I'll try but…"

"Don't worry, I can feed you." Toshiro said with a soft voice.

Yoshika blushed immediately and started protesting.

"No… No… You don't have to…"

"Don't be so shy, Yoshika. Let's show this pack of virgins that we can care for each other in both sickness and health."

"Who you callin' a virgin?!" Shirley and Minna protested.

"Oh pardon. This bunch of virgins, with the notable exceptions of Shirley and Minna. Well anyway… Francesca, what's cookin'?"

"Spaghetti Bolognese with meatballs and a side dish of octopus Carpaccio!" Francesca announced proudly, while stirring a pot.

Everyone around the table now looked like a pack of hungry wolves, but Francesca quickly finished, and everyone had a mountain of spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs before them. Toshiro took his fork and turned it in the spaghetti a few times, result of which was a small ball of pasta on its top.

"Now say "Aaaaah", Yoshika."

Yoshika who was now sitting on Toshiro's lap said 'Aaaaah' with her mouth opened wide, and soon the Mk. 2 Fork Plane dropped its payload in the abyss of Yoshika's mouth.

"Dewishush!" Yoshika shouted with her mouth full. "Moww!"

"Have some manners, Miyafuji…" Mio sighed. "On a side note, it really is delicious. And you've made so much that nobody will leave hungry. Good job, Lucchini."

"Heehee, thanks!"

Yoshika ate the whole plate, and the octopus Carpaccio to boot.

"Hey, Yoshika you little glutton, what about me?" Toshiro said.

"Sorry…" Yoshika said silently.

"There's still plenty!" Francesca cheered, ran back to the kitchen and served Toshiro another portion.

"Hah, this is what I call service!"

Toshiro was about to put the spaghetti into his mouth, but then he had the feeling somebody whimpered. He raised his fork again, and he heard the same silent whimper. He looked at Yoshika, and she looked back at him with puppy eyes.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm still hungry…" Yoshika said with her cheeks red.

"Hmmm…" Toshiro pondered for a while and asked, "Trude, did you do your errand?"

"The truck is already loaded but… I would like somebody to accompany me…"

"I'll go then. Since Yoshika is eating out of my plate like the incarnation of sin, I'll fetch myself a pizza from Carlo's. Feel yourself invited, Trude."

"No need, I'm stuffed with this spaghetti already…"

"Oh, I want to go to town!" Erica raised her hand.

"No, Hartmann, you won't. This mess started because of you."

"Nobody asked you to clean…" Erica puffed her cheeks.

"Why I oughta!"

"Trude, calm down…" Minna said adamantly.

Trude calmed down in a blink of an eye.

"You only want to go buy sweets, Erica?" Minna asked.

"Yup."

"Permission denied."

"Whyyyyyy?!"

"Because your tidiness is at an atrociously low level. I have to teach you somehow."

"Waaah… Toshirooo…" Erica begged him almost crying.

"Who do I look like to you? The Permanent Court of Arbitration in Hague? I can't undermine Minna just like that; it would be a bad example."

Erica's head fell on the table with a loud bang and she muttered, "Okay…"

"Finished, Trude?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes."

"Then let's go. We have a dozen of people or so to make happy today."

"Affirmative!" Trude stood up and left the room.

"Bye girls, I'll be back in an hour or so."

Toshiro followed Trude to the hangar, and they drove off to Pescara, Toshiro of course being the driver. Upon arriving, at the orphanage, they jumped out, and Toshiro looked for the nun running this place. It wasn't a difficult task, because she walked through the front door as soon as Toshiro opened the gate.

"Ah, Colonnello! Deo gratias! What brings our benefactor here?"

"Some more 'benefactoring'. Come with me, sister."

They went to the back of the truck, where Trude was waiting.

"This is my friend, Gertrud, and she will help me today."

"What with, Colonnello?"

"Do you see all the stuff in the truck?"

"Enough to stock a store with miscellanea for a year."

"From this second, everything is being donated to this orphanage." Toshiro said with a wide grin.

"Please, Colonnello, could you repeat that? I'm not sure if I heard right…" The nun said a bit baffled.

"Everything in the back of this truck, excluding the good Trude, is now property of this here orphanage. For free, might I emphasize."

The nun grabbed his hand and started shaking it like an apple tree ripe for picking.

"Grazie, grazie, grazie, grazie! Mille grazie!"

After his arm was shaken in every possible way, Toshiro said, "Where should we dump all this?"

"Please place everything in the dining room. I will show you!"

The nun ran off to the door, holding it for them. Toshiro looked back at Trude, who gave a satisfied smile, and they both started unloading the truck. Out of nowhere, the kids who were the inhabitants of this place swarmed them.

"What is it, kids, want to help me?"

"Yeeeeees!" A choir of child voices rang around him.

With the help of the eager children, they unloaded the trucks content to the murky, decrepit and dusty dining room of the orphanage.

"I can't thank you enough, Colonnello!" The nun cheered. "God must have sent you from Heaven!"

"I wouldn't overestimate my role here… Well anyway, have a good day."

"Grazie once again!" The nun shouted when they were boarding the truck.

"I have this warm feeling in my chest… As if I was playing with Chris…" Trude said while holding her chest.

"Never felt so good, huh? Come on, let's have that pizza."

"Let's…"

They drove up as close as possible to Carlo's place, and walked the rest of the way.

"Colonnello!" Carlo shouted with his usual straightforwardness. "Pizza for two?"

"By all means, Carlo. A big one, because, as opposed to my friend, I didn't eat dinner."

"Coming right up! Any refreshments?"

"Beer…" Trude mumbled.

"A beer for the ragazza, and for you, Colonnello?"

"Hmm…. Anything nonalcoholic?"

"Ah yes… Well, you could call kvass nonalcoholic… I have a fresh batch ready!"

"Pour me a glass; I always wanted to drink that stuff!"

"Immediately!"

The man almost jumped behind the counter, and in less than a minute, he returned with a pint of golden ale and dark brown kvass.

"Thank you, Carlo."

"A pleasure to serve you, Colonnello." He said and went back to his place behind the counter.

"Trude, I don't recognize you. Drinking on duty?"

"I want to see how Shirley would feel in such a situation. Please don't tell anyone."

"My lips are sealed. Hey, Carlo, is this pizzeria always so abandoned?"

"Somehow you come in the moments that it's empty, Colonnello. Nice timing!"

Toshiro took a sip of the kvass and said, "Good… Very good even… How's your beer, Trudy?"

Trude took a gulp of her beer and said, "Piss. There's nothing like a Karlsberg or a Hasseröder. I wouldn't give this beer away for free… Hey, you, Carlo or what's your name, you insult me giving me such beer!"

"But Capitano…"

"Don't Capitano me! I want a good, Karlslander beer, not this Romagnan piss!"

"That's actually Venezian…"

"Even worse!"

"But Karlslander beer is expensive and hard to come by, Carlo can't afford it…"

"Why am I even being mad at you… I'm sorry…"

"Carlo understands. The Capitano would like to taste beer from her forlorn homeland, si?"

"Yes…" Trude replied with a sad voice.

"Wait a minute; Carlo will have a surprise ready…"

Trude looked at Toshiro surprised, and he answered, "Don't look at me."

Carlo returned, wielding a bottle like a trophy in his hands – a dark brown bottle of beer. The label had a pheasant sitting on a branch over a gothic styled 'Hasseröder' sign.

"A present from Carlo. I wanted to drink it myself, but your homesickness moved me to the core."

"But…"

"No buts, Capitano. This is for you, on the house."

"Thanks…"

Carlo went away, and Toshiro silently said, "I hope you won't bitch about the beer now, right?"

"Heheh… Sorry for making a scene…"

Trude opened the bottle with a distinct fizz, and she took a gulp.

"Ambrosia…" She said.

"How can you know that? You weren't legal when Karlsland was still standing."

"Minna sometimes imported beer for me…"

"Oh, okay… Ah, it seems the pizza is coming."

"Pizza for two, Bon Appetit!"

Toshiro immediately took a slice and stuffed it inside his mouth whole like a pancake roll. Trude giggled a bit and said, "Not too hasty are we?"

He chewed down the pizza and said, "Trude giggling? Something is wrong…"

"You don't know me off-duty, Toshiro, since… well… we are on duty all the time."

"Well… We were once visiting Chris, and you behaved like a typhoon…"

"That was the 'me' that activates when I'm around my dear little sister. If you would meet me in high school, in a world without Neuroi, I would probably behave like Shirley or Erica."

"Why can't you behave like that just now?"

"Because two Shirley's or Erica's would probably strain the fabric of time and space."

"Hah, good one!"

"Heehee… Well anyway… Can I have a slice?"

"By all means."

Trude started eating her pizza, and after she finished she said, "Ehhh… I'm eating pizza and drinking beer with the best man I met, but he's already taken…"

"A woman awakening in you, Trude? Maybe you should just… you know…" Toshiro bent his fingers a few times in a rather expressive gesture.

"You think I don't? Please, Toshiro, even Erica does it too… And I once heard Eila moaning in her room, although I knew Sanya was somewhere else…"

"The things I get to know about all of you today… Damn… And I thought you all were pure maidens…" Toshiro said with a sly smile.

"Lucchini, Lynne and Perrine are out of scope from all I know."

"Wait, but does that mean that Mio and Minna…"

"Yup."

"Minna I understand, but Mio… Hmm... How did you get to this knowledge by the way?"

"Ah, we had a conversation while we were fucked up hard after a party… By the way, do you indulge in the ways of Onan?"

"Nope. Yoshika satisfies me enough."

"But before, not even once?"

"You know that 'not even once' isn't applicable to most people in these matters? A young boy wants to know how his body works…"

"Heh… At least you are honest… Eat up, Toshiro; we have to return to duty."

"Shirley wouldn't give a square fuck about that, you know?"

"I have enough of 'Shirleying' for one day."

"Oh well, it was nice while it lasted…"

"You don't like the usual me?"

"I don't like the usual you towards the rest. You have a different approach to me."

"Stick and carrot, Toshiro…"

"I suppose so…"

Toshiro finished his pizza hastily, thanked Carlo, paid him and they went to the truck.

"Say, Trude, maybe I could give you some tips on driving?"

"Not today. But I'm glad you're willing to teach me."

"Remind me when we have some free time, okay?"

"Understood."

Toshiro turned the engine on, and they both ventured back to the base. After arriving, Trude went her way, and Toshiro went to Yoshika's and Lynne's room. He knocked on the door, and got a reply from Lynne, "Come in."

He opened the door, and saw Lynne sitting beside Yoshika on the lower bunk.

"Yoshika? Are you cheating on me with Lynne?" Toshiro asked in a jesting manner.

"Eheheheh, no, no… Lynne is… Well… Serving me… I'm so tired I couldn't wipe my nose right now…"

"I've heard that focusing through a familiar can be taxing, but I didn't expect such after effects… Oh well, at least Mio won't bother you."

"But she'll bother me tomorrow…"

"I'll tell her to go easy on you, so you won't have to turn to such drastic methods."

"Maybe shooting practice?" Yoshika proposed.

"Ah, yes, that would be nice and safe. I'll forward the idea to Mio."

"Heehee…"

"But I hope you'll be fit for… the evening…" Toshiro said mysteriously.

"Uhhhhhh… I may be fit but not… Safe…"

"Not… safe?"

"You know… it's that time of the month…"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw…" Toshiro moaned. "Bother…"

Toshiro could see that Lynne probably got the message behind their conversation, because she immediately blushed vividly.

"I'm going, since Lynne is going to melt in a second, heheh…"

"Bye!" Yoshika said, and Toshiro ventured to another spot in the base – the hangar.

I should do something… Ah, I know!

Toshiro went down to the supply room; he took a gun cleaning kit, some tools and a big ramrod and went to the rack with his cannon. After unscrewing the side panel, he saw the interior, similar to his previous cannon, but a bit more streamlined and simplified. He poked the interior a few times, checking if there aren't any loose parts. Then, he ran the autoloader.

That sound never gets old… But there's something odd...

He ran the autoloader once more, and it only confirmed his doubts.

Must be a leak…

Toshiro went back to the supply room, took a bucket and a bit of soap. Upon returning to his previous spot with a bucket full of water, he just delicately soaped the pneumatic air hoses and the joints. After running the autoloader yet again, he saw soap bubbles coming from one joint.

Got ya!

He tightened the joint, and engaged the autoloader for the last time, with no visible leaks now. After oiling the moving parts, he closed the cannon up, and proceeded to clean the barrel with the ramrod.

"Hey, Toshiro, why don't you do the same to me, huh?" Shirley's voice suddenly was heard.

"A waste of a ramrod." Toshiro said with a venomous smile.

"Oh you! Anyway, what are you doing?"

"I decided to clean my weaponry."

"You know what… good idea! Can I clean my BAR using the stuff you hauled here?"

"Be my guest. I still have a few thrusts to do, and then I have to dismantle my Type 99."

"I'll be quick about it!"

Shirley, as she said, hastily grabbed her BAR, and with a trained hand move, she opened it up. After a few minutes of cleaning, de-greasing and re-greasing, she had her rifle reassembled.

"Done!"

"Most impressive…" Toshiro mumbled as he finished disassembling his stubborn MG.

He took the few tools that Shirley used, and started doing maintenance on his gun while sitting on the floor. He just started cleaning the barrel, when he felt two large, round and soft objects pressing against the nape of his neck and partially on the shoulders. Two slender arms wrapped around his chest, so his hand movement was limited.

"Toshiro…" Shirley whispered into his ear. "What did you do with Trudy on your little trip?"

"We ate pizza, she drank some beer, and I did likewise with some kvass."

"Really? You didn't talk about me, did you?"

"Well… You see…"

"Abstain from your seductive activities, harlot!" Trude shouted out of nowhere, making them both twitch.

Saved by the bell!

"Get that broom out of your ass, hugging is fine, at least according to Yuki!"

"I have my doubts…" Yuki spoke suddenly.

"Hah! Even a snake knows that you simply want Toshiro to bang you!"

"I already admitted my defeat before Yoshika! But that doesn't mean I can't tease Toshiro a bit, hehehe…"

"Teasing could also be viewed as seducing, Elwyn, therefore, I'm strongly against it!"

"You don't even know how to tease a man!"

"I don't know?! Why I oughta…"

"Shut up you two…" Toshiro said with a disconcerted voice. "Can't you two have ONE FUCKING DAY when you are honest with yourselves?"

The two looked at Toshiro, then at each other.

"Traitor!" They both shouted at the same time, and looked amazed at each other again.

"I didn't peep a syllable about what I talked with each of you with the other. But now what we're on the topic, go you two."

"Go… what?" Shirley asked hesitantly.

"I want to see a damn, heartwarming scene right now!"

The two almost jumped up, and the first to man up was Trude.

"Listen… Shirley… I like your carefreeness, and your happy attitude towards life, but it isn't something a soldier on duty should exhibit…"

"Heheh…" Shirley laughed dryly while scratching her head. "Well, I like the total opposite about you, Trude… I like how you have everything in order, how you push yourself to your limits… But you should really pull that broomstick out of your ass, it's annoying. Especially that 'True Soldier of Karlsland' shtick… Let loose some time…"

The two smiled at each other, and then looked at Toshiro.

"Now kiss and make up." He said.

"You'd wish!" Shirley shouted.

"Want girl on girl action? Go to Eila's room!" Trude shouted.

Shirley approached Trude, whispered something to her ear, to which the latter reacted with a devilish smile.

"Well, whatever now, you can return to cleaning your gun." Trude said nonchalantly.

"We will be going now." Shirley said.

"Well, okay. I'm glad you two finally got together." Toshiro said and turned around.

Not two second passed, when he heard a shout behind him.

"Double Team Attack!"

Toshiro didn't even have time to react, as the two, which supposedly wanted to leave, pinned him down to the ground from behind.

"Hah, didn't see that coming?" Trude shouted proudly.

"I regret nothing! Two pairs of boobs pressing against my back! Father in heaven, do you see how your son is successful with women?" Toshiro said while raising his face to the roof.

"What is going on here?" Toshiro heard the irritated voice of Minna.

The two on Toshiro stood up in attention immediately.

"Nothing, pure horseplay!" Trude explained.

"No underlying motives!" Shirley shouted.

"Good, good… Now, Toshiro, please follow me, you have a stack of papers to fill out."

"But I wanted to clean my gun…"

"Trude can polish your barrel, Shirley can do the rest."

The three of them chuckled.

"Huh? What's so funny?" Minna asked.

"You basically implied them doing a threesome with me…" Toshiro said, still giggling.

"You all are… Ugh… Come on, Toshiro…" Minna said hopelessly. "You two do what I told you, but what I literally told you, not what your sex deprived minds pulled up…"

Toshiro followed Minna to the office, and before they even began doing anything, she asked, "So, what was that all about?"

"I meddled, and meddled, and my meddling was effective."

"Care to explain?"

"Keeping it short, I think you can be sure that Trude and Shirley will be keeping a healthy relationship between each other, but probably only when they're around me, or both are alone."

"So you made them cross the line, huh?"

"You knew that the two like each other?"

"Yes, since Shirley joined, thanks to my magic."

"Your magic… Riddle me this – what did you feel coming from me?"

"Ah… I waited for this question… To be honest, I didn't observe anything until it was too late for me to 'strike' so to speak."

"So basically, until my 'after death' announcement that Yoshika is my girlfriend?"

"Yes. You were a riddle to me, and that's why I was afraid of you at first."

"You were afraid? Not just pure fucking angry?"

"You can mask fear with anger, Toshiro…"

"Right…"

"By the way, did Shirley tell you how she got to the 501st?"

"No…"

"This is actually interesting. She was originally dispatched to Europe with the 363rd Fighter Squadron, but she was booted from it."

"Wait, what?"

"Yes, you heard me. She was expelled from her mother unit, for performing illegal mods on her Striker."

"But she… I…"

"The 501st is different, Toshiro, because it has a large degree of freedom. The Liberian Army doesn't permit modifying equipment without prior consent. She did it on her own account, and she had to pay dearly."

"So…"

"After being expelled, Command reeled her in. But instead of sacking her, she was promoted to Captain."

"Promoted after an offence? Liberians sure are weird…"

"They saw the potential of Shirley, and sent her to us, end of story."

"Worst ending ever, you suck at storytelling…"

"I'm a Karlslander from Posnania, you can't possibly imagine somebody more efficient and skimpy, heehee…"

"Heh… Wait a second… You said that until I announced that Yoshika was my GF, you waited to 'strike'?"

Minna turned around, sighed deeply and said, "I actually had a hard crush on you… Really… I just waited for the right moment to confess… And yet again, love was taken from me…"

"I never knew…"

"I felt it from her, Toshiro. Love is a chemical process, besides being a thought process, and every time Minna was besides you, she basically reeked like she wanted to let her fuck you on her desk raw."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. I didn't tell you that, because you could get the wrong idea."

"And you called her Minna just now…"

"I sympathize with her, Toshiro, as a woman."

"Heh…"

"You can hug her, nothing wrong with that. Well fuck, whatever, if she kisses you, I'll just look the other way."

Toshiro approached Minna from behind, and embraced her delicately. Minna shuddered a bit, but then she just placed her hands on his, and tucked into his chest.

"You probably just had a long conversation with Yuki, right?"

"I would have embraced you anyway… You can at least have this from me…"

Minna turned around in his arms, and placed a moist kiss on his right cheek. She then gave him a smile that could melt away an iceberg and said, "Thank you, Toshiro. Nevertheless, work is in need to be done. Break out the typewriter, let's try something else for a change."

"Okay."

After some time, Toshiro finished his job. Minna then said, "Good job. But you could be a bit faster with banging those keys…"

"I could've used magic, but…"

"No point in that. Okay, you're free."

"As if you could control me…"

"Well, I can't… But you'll comply out of courtesy, and because I'm your good friend, right?" Minna said with her trademark cutesie smile.

"Yeah, yeah… I can't deny the fact you simply have a waaaaaay bigger experience. I'll go look for Mio…"

"Why?"

"I need to modify Yoshika's training program a bit for tomorrow."

"Is she still tired?"

"I don't know about her current fatigue level, but she was still beat after I returned from Pescara."

"You watch for her, Toshiro. She is a raw gem, but in the hands of our three, she will shine like a diamond."

"Oh she shines already in some aspects, heheheheheh…" Toshiro laughed creepily.

"Rub it in…" Minna pouted.

"Nah, I won't. Or should I just say that Yoshika turns into a wild beast in bed?"

"Just go already… You're giving me a headache…"

"Heheheh…"

Toshiro went outside, and found Mio sitting on the bases edge, watching the sea. He sat beside her and said, "Mio, I have a request."

"What is it?" She asked with an indifferent voice.

"Maybe you could make the girls do a mock battle tomorrow? With paintball guns and stuff?"

"Concerned about Miyafuji are we?"

"I would lie horribly if I said I weren't."

"Don't worry, Toshiro, I planned to do something different myself. I can't let her do the same drill each day, or she'll burn out of magic in a matter of weeks. Not even a Backpack Striker would make her fly then…"

"Backpack Striker?"

"The old models of Strikers, Toshiro. Pre-Miyafuji you could say. They were powered by magic generators looking like backpacks, attached to the Legs by cables. They were cumbersome, but they had a damn good positive side – very low magic consumption. Miyafuji's mother would still probably be able to fly such a Striker, despite her being what, fifty? The Strikers based on the Miyafuji Theorem do not use such generators, but they have a bigger threshold of magic usage, since they need to sustain a pocket dimension. I even have a feeling that my shields being so crappy right now are the effect of test flying Miyafuji's prototypes…"

"Why's that?"

"They had obnoxious magic consumption, maybe even bigger than that faulty Messerschmitt. Some damage can't be repaired, Toshiro, and the magic network of a human being is almost like the neural network – nigh impossible to regenerate…"

"But Keiko was still flying like nothing, and she's 25…"

"But she used a Backpack Striker until she turned twenty, and retired from the Navy, and I practically used Miyafuji Strikers from the beginning... I hope I don't have to explain further…"

"No, I see it clearly… Damn, I hope you aren't picking on Yoshika because of that, right?"

"No, no… What happened - happened, and I could only blame Ichiro for that. And your father, of course, he was a prominent researcher too."

"Oh yeah, I remember him being on that photo…"

"Yes. He was dedicated to his work, always sitting in his room and devising new plans and stuff… If only I knew I would meet his son, I would talk more to him."

"Well now, this conversation sure did get long… And I only wanted to suggest one little thing…"

"I wanted that out of my system for long, I just didn't had an occasion…"

"I've heard that before… Suggestions on how to fill my time until supper?"

"You could always do some training…"

"Straight and to the point… I will if you'll accompany me."

"Always."

They went to the small thicket where they were Yoshika was swinging her sword fervently, and did some sword practice. It ended with a live spar, something Toshiro hesitated to do. The result was – two trees fallen, one damaged, Reppumaru stuck in one and the living daylight scared out of the napping Francesca.

"You held back, dulled your sword with magic, and used the blunt side of the blade, and you still literally raped me…" Mio said after she caught breath.

"I had a good teacher, heheh… Besides, if I didn't hold back, I would destroy your sword."

"I'm painfully aware of that, but you look like you have some juicy details."

"If I didn't dull it with magic, I could shatter your sword by just slamming it with the blunt side."

"Wouldn't our swords both crack?"

"Nope. A soul-forged sword like mine is harder than any physical alloy in existence. I believe Amaterasu told me it would withstand a few terapascals of pressure…"

"Is that much?"

"She compared it to a diamond, which can have up to under 300 gigapascals of resistance. So if I had a diamond blade, it would still be ten times weaker than Aganaimaru."

"You always get the best toys…" Mio pouted and approached her sword.

After a forceful tug, she pulled it out, and sheathed it.

"I also noticed that you swing that blade with such nonchalance, as if it weighed nothing."

"It doesn't weigh nothing, but it's only as heavy enough to provide proper balance and impetus. Want to check it out?"

"But the sword won't accept me, you know."

"I have an idea. Extend your hands, palms up."

"Like this?" She asked.

"Good."

Toshiro approached her, and placed his hands over hers in a similar manner.

"Feel the weight of my hands?"

"Yes."

Aganaimaru suddenly appeared on Toshiro's hands.

"Damn it! It's almost weightless!"

"Told ya." Toshiro said with a smile and dispelled the sword.

He looked behind Mio, and saw that the sun was almost behind the horizon completely.

"I think it's time we went for supper, Mio."

"You sure made me hungry… Oh and… Thank you for the sparring. The last time I had such an intense battle was with Kuroe back home…"

"Glad to make you happy, Mio."

The two of them entered the dining room, where everyone was present already.

"Oh, I was just about to fetch you, Toshiro." Yoshika said with a sleepy voice.

"We came on our own." He answered.

Erica and Eila chuckled, and Toshiro immediately said, "Should I dunk you two into cold water?"

"No thanks…" Erica answered, still giggling a little bit.

"Hopeless…" Toshiro sighed and sat down. "What's cooking, Francesca?"

"Zuppa di faro and spaghetti alle vongole in bianco!"

"And in common speak?"

"Some bean soup and spaghetti with clams." Shirley, who was helping her little friend, explained.

"Spaghetti with clams? Weird combo…"

"You'll like it!" Francesca cheered.

"Whatever… Hey, Yoshika, how are you doing?"

"Not bad… But I'm still a bit drowsy…"

"Go to sleep after supper, seriously."

"Okay…"

They all waited a few minutes, and supper was served. Yoshika looked blankly at the soup.

"Eat up, Yoshika! You need fuel, if you want to train with Mio!" Trude encouraged her.

"At least stop with the military crap at the table…" Erica mumbled.

"But if she doesn't eat, she'll have no power! A True Soldier…"

Erica quickly scooped some of her soup and stuffed it with the spoon into Trude's mouth.

"Shut up already… No talking about fighting during meals…" Erica said with a bored voice and took Trude's own spoon.

Trude started looking at Erica, who was now sipping her soup peacefully, as if she wanted to commit assault and battery right now. Minna however, smiled towards her and gave a 'let it go' hand sign. Trude sighed deeply, and started eating.

After the last spoon of soup, and last strand of spaghetti were eaten, Francesca asked, "Yoshika, did I pass?"

"Uuuuuugh… I'm stuffed… Ah, yeah, well…" She cleared her throat. "You have passed with flying colors, Francesca. I deem you fit to cook for us. If Miss Minna lets you, that is…"

Francesca immediately stared at Minna, who answered, "My, my… Such a decision to make… Of course I permit it."

"Yay!" Francesca shouted in ecstasy. "I learned how to cook!"

"Uugh, Toshiro… Carry me to bed…"

"Not feeling well, Yoshika?"

"I ate too much…"

"Okay, come on…" Toshiro grabbed her. "Excuse me for a minute, girls."

He walked out of the room, and while still being carried, Yoshika asked, "So, what about tomorrow?"

"You'll have a mock battle with paintball guns. Mio is a wise woman."

"Thanks…"

Toshiro went into her room, and placed her on the bed.

"So I guess this I should say goodnight and wander off?" Toshiro asked.

"I'm sorry, Toshiro, but I want to play it safe… And if I only think about… you know…" Yoshika covered her mouth while making a sound as if she was to puke. "I still feel a bit weird when blowing you even when I'm fine…"

"At least you're honest…" Toshiro leaned over her, and they kissed. "Night, Yoshika."

"Good night, Toshiro. I promise you, I'll compensate it to you, either tomorrow or in a week."

"Don't sweat it, Yoshika. Maybe I should make you a mint tea?"

"Oh could you?"

"I'll tell Lynne to do it, heheh…"

"Heehee…"

Toshiro walked out of the room, and back to the dining room.

"So, is there anything we need to discuss about?"

The girls looked amongst each other, but nobody said anything.

"Okay… Mio, maybe you want to tell something?"

"Ah, yes. Lynne, Perrine, you'll have a mock battle together with Miyafuji tomorrow. Prepare yourselves mentally."

"Roger." The two in question responded.

"But will Yoshika be fine for tomorrow?" Lynne asked.

"Give her a mint tea, and eight hours of sleep, and she'll be fresh like a daisy." Toshiro said with a big grin.

"Y-yes, right away!" Lynne said loudly and went to the kitchen.

"Hey, Toshiro, we'll be painting the racecar tomorrow, so… Could you allot some time afternoon?" Shirley asked.

"Sure. Not that I'm busy 24/7… Oh and… Sanya, did nothing wake you up in the morning?"

"No, nothing." She replied calmly.

"Whew…"

"You'll do that once again, and I'll punch you!" Eila shouted.

"Is there a problem?" Minna asked.

"I heard that racket they made with the engine, but when I was going there, Trude halted me!"

"I halted you, because you are a damn hothead when it comes to Sanya. And see, nothing happened."

"You're lucky…" Eila pouted.

"So… Meeting concluded? Good night, you all." Toshiro said.

"Good night." The girls responded.

I think I could take a bath…

He went to the open bath, and immersed himself in the hot water after taking a shower. He wasn't lonely for long, as Mio and Minna joined him quickly.

"What do I owe this visit? Have you girls no shame?" He asked with a mocking tone.

"We need to consult something with you." Minna said.

"Oh do you?"

"Yes. Yoshika wielding a sword could provide new tactical opportunities…" Minna started explaining but she was interrupted.

"Stop. It's too early for Yoshika to go into full blown combat with a sword. And if she's using a sword, then I have none. I don't mean to diminish her, but I'm the better sword fighter right now, right?"

"Yes…" Minna acknowledged silently.

"And what did you want, Mio?"

"I was to be the voice of reason, but you fulfilled my role to the 'I'."

"Hah! You know something you two? When I look at your breasts like that, I think that military uniforms are really bad for your feminine side…"

"Wha-what do you mean?!" Minna asked while covering her pair.

"Well, exposing some cleavage would really be nice. However… Since witches are generally isolated from men… Okay, scratch that… But anyway, feel complimented. I wish Yoshika had tits at least so big…"

"You should have chosen me…" Minna mumbled.

"Or me, for all I care…"

Both Minna and Toshiro looked at Mio stupefied, but she grinned and said, "Kidding. Just wanted to see your reaction."

"Oh? Am I not good enough for you, Mio?" Toshiro asked. "Maybe I could prove you wrong?" He stood up, with his family heirloom exposed.

"As if Yuki would let you…"

"She wouldn't. But I can just 'turn her off' so to speak. Then, I could literally bend the whole unit over, and fuck until my dick falls off!"

"You wouldn't!" Minna shouted disgusted.

"Of course I wouldn't, who do you think I am? Besides, after Yuki would be 'turned on', she would just forcefully read my memories, and make me rue every thrust I made."

"Whew… At least some decency…" Mio muttered.

Toshiro sat down again, sighed and said, "Yoshika's period is starting, and she's too sick today to even blow me… Damn it…"

"Use that muscular hand of yours, heheheh…" Mio gave off a sinister laugh.

"Easy for you to say. You probably use Reppumaru for other things than just cutting Neuroi, right?"

Mio blushed vividly and said, "I totally and utterly don't know what you're talking about…"

"Believe me, Mio, once you had sex, a substitute treatment won't do it. So for a week, it's fast time…"

"I could always help you with that…" Minna suddenly whispered into his ear, making Toshiro twitch.

"Rewind our conversation, and highlight 'Yuki' and 'rue'. And stop teasing me for fucks sake!"

"Hahahahah!" Both laughed.

"Harlots…" Toshiro mumbled, and went out of the bath.

After reaching his room, he decided to stop for the day.

A bit of clarification about skimpy Posnanians – Poles see the inhabitants of the city of Poznań as even bigger cheapskates than Scots.

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 :]