Chapter 2 – You get one, and you get one!
Toshiro flew towards the last position where he saw the Yamato. It was still at the same place, not having moved an inch. The Zeke, which Mio used before, was already loaded up on the stern, and when he looked closer, he saw Mio waiting on the bow.
He slowly approached the ship and landed before Mio gently. She had a sword on her back, which Toshiro remembered, and another sword-like thing wrapped in cloth sticking out from a medium-size duffle bag.
"So you've made amends with Masakuni? I wonder why…"
"Hey, I'm an officer of the IFN! Not having a katana handy is just weird…" she pouted, but her face soon turned to a smile. "And it's the blade that my sensei entrusted to me during the Fuso Sea Incident..."
"A precious memento," Toshiro said softly, "So, is that a bamboo sword in that duffle bag?"
"Yeah. I have to discipline my favorite underlings with something, right?"
"Speaking of which… Your status now?"
"I phoned home and I can join the 501st immediately."
"As an…"
"Instructor and consultant. You took in a trainee during education into the unit, right?"
"Yeah, Shizuka. You'll have a new torture toy…"
"It depends on what skills will she show to me. If she's at least a bit better than Lynne and Miyafuji combined on their first days, I might be a bit lenient… By the way, I was teaching her in the naval academy a bit, I wonder how she progressed…"
"Your student? Unexpected… And still not calling Yoshika by her name? Oh please…"
"Nope. She's still training under me, and I won't cave in no matter what. Especially that she seems to have changed…"
"Yes, she changed. I just don't know the magnitude of the changes yet, but we'll probably get down into the issue…"
"Let's go then, to the base. Be sure to keep your shield up before me if you'll be going faster than a hundred…"
"Oh, right… Sucks to have lost your magic, right?"
"No more basic protection against the elements even…" Mio sighed. "By the way, where are we staying?"
"Sint-Truiden Airbase. The NJG1 Vierte Staffel will be sharing the base with us. Or rather the opposite, but whatever, I'm the bigger fish now, heheheh… Oh, and I've invited part of the 506th to dinner."
"You sure are going wide…" she muttered.
"Hey, I'm a General right now, I have to adapt. So, hop on my back and let's go."
Mio didn't dawdle and clung herself to Toshiro's rear side.
Toshiro gently lifted himself and started from the Yamato. He pulled a shield large enough to cover both him and Mio, but gave it an aerodynamically correct pike in front and he speeded on.
"I have so many things to ask you, Toshiro…" Mio said quietly.
"Maybe later? While we're sitting and drinking warm tea?"
"But you promise you'll answer at least some of my questions?"
"Yeah, why not. As long as I can answer them."
"Did your goddess forbid divulging some info again?"
"Yeah…"
Not only her…
"We can't bend the will of the gods, right?"
"Oh we can't… The gods are stubborn and have to adhere to some rules…"
"I can't possibly know… I haven't met a god in person like you. But say… What does She look like?"
"More beautiful than on every Fuso piece of art depicting her. You can take Yoshika's word for that if you don't believe me."
"She also saw Her?!"
"Maybe I'll tell you about it… If I can…"
"Okay then… Oh look, the girls are before us."
"You still have keen eyes, Mio."
"Don't you think that because I'm almost retired I don't adhere to my own training regime! Hahaha!" Mio gave her trademark laugh.
"I missed that laugh… Say, Mio…"
"If you're thinking about something perverted, stop. Give Miyafuji some attention first," she said sternly.
"Well okay… But I have something in mind, and if you'll be a good girl, I'll set the plan in motion."
"I'm afraid already…" Mio mumbled.
"Maaaajoooooor!" Perrine's voice rang through the air.
"Oh, your favorite groupie is here, better slow down so I can put down the shield…"
"Toy around with her for a while, okay?"
"Heheheh…"
Toshiro didn't lower the shield, but he indeed slowed down. When Perrine was confronted with Toshiro's shield, she tried to pass it without thinking twice, but Toshiro moved it where she wanted to go.
"Hey, what are you doing!?" Perrine shouted angrily.
"Oh, just toying around…"
"Let me pass!"
"I don't know… Mio, do you want me to let her to you?"
"I don't know either…" Mio played along.
"Aaaaaw…" Perine moaned close to tears.
"Kay, kay… I'll let you to Mio under one condition."
"What is it?!"
"You restrain yourself. Mio is now a normal woman, so she might get bruises if you go too hard on your greetings."
"Understood!"
Toshiro lowered down the shield and Perrine approached Mio.
"Um… Hello, Major… Long time no see…" Perrine squirmed around in place.
Mio sighed, spread her arms, and said, "Come on already…"
Perrine rushed forward without thinking and soon Perrine's pantyhose clad legs were rubbing against Toshiro's head and shoulders.
"I'm so glad that we're in one unit again…" Perrine said with a melancholic voice.
"And you know what that means?" Mio asked.
"Whaaaat…?" Perrine asked a bit nervously.
"Training! I'll be training you so hard that you'll have muscles!"
"Waaaah! I can't have muscles, I'm a lady!"
"General Galland looks like a bodybuilder and she's alive and well! And since I'm now unable to sortie, you all have to train even harder, hahaha!"
"But… But… We have two new members now!"
"Schnaufer is probably out of my scope of interest, and that whole Hattori… Are you comparing a seasoned, grizzled war veteran to a trainee?!"
"N-No ma'am!" Perrine shouted.
"Good! Now stop rubbing off on Toshiro and get back in formation!"
"Rubbing o…" Perrine looked down and jumped away immediately.
"Finally…" Toshiro mumbled. "Oh look, Yoshika is behind you."
"Wah!" Perrine shouted and turned around.
"Perrine… You're getting aroused using Toshiro while I'm watching? How perverted can you get…?" Yoshika sighed.
"I…I… I'm not getting aroused, damn raccoon dog!"
"Heehee, haven't heard that one in a while…" Yoshika giggled. "C'mon, Perrine, can't take a joke or two?"
"Not in those matters…" Perrine puffed her cheeks and flew off back into formation.
"So, Miyafuji, happy to have me back?" Mio asked.
"Well, I don't know…"
"Hey, I saw what you did with Toshiro. You need some guidance and of course some good ol' physical exercise, so you won't get out of breath after one puny attack."
"Puny… Pfff… Miss Sakamoto, pardon me, but that one attack had more power than two of your Reppuzan's."
"Really? Hmm… Still, you need to build up some stamina and magic capacity. Furthermore, you need to harness your new found powers."
"And how do you know I have new found powers, Miss Sakamoto?"
"Because you didn't have that attack in stock earlier? Because only Toshiro did it ONCE ever before me?"
"Ah, well… Okay then… I'll train, just like in the good old days…" Yoshika sighed.
While they were talking, Toshiro said to the rest to go forwards since the two had some chatting to do.
"Good that we have an agreement, Miyafuji. You're a 2nd Lieutenant; you have to give an example to your lower ranked friends."
"But the only lower ranked people are… Lynne and Shizuka…"
"And that's enough for me. I bet Hattori is looking up to you…"
"Uuuugggghhh… Can we please have a talk about Shizuka sometime else?"
"Don't like her, Miyafuji?"
"It's not that I don't like her, it's just… Later, please!"
"Okay, okay… Let's rejoin formation, Toshiro."
"Yeah…" Toshiro mumbled and pulled up the shield. "Yoshika?"
"What?"
"Hmmm… Nothing…"
"Ugh…" Yoshika sighed. "I know you long enough to know that a man is hungry or horny, and the rest of his states are just derivatives of the aforementioned two…"
"Heheheh… You caught me there…"
"Later, Toshiro… First I have to… Oh…" Yoshika covered her mouth and tears welled in her eyes.
"Yoshika, what is it?"
"Shizuka's and mine's baggage… It was in our jeep…"
"Ah crap… But Yoshika, I can buy you whatever you had there…"
"But I had my engagement ring there…"
"Oh shit… Ugh, where was the jeep?"
"It was where I was attacked… But it was cut apart with a Neuroi beam…"
"Still, worth a try to recover it…"
"Oh, Toshiro… Please do it…"
"Okay, okay… Mio, you'll have to change your steed."
"Well, whatever…"
Toshiro flew to the rest of the girls.
"Hahaha, Mio, I see you're flying first class?" Shirley asked with a grin.
"Imperial class, haha!"
Everyone laughed and giggled.
"Okay, somebody take over Mio from me, I have to recover Yoshika's baggage."
"Whoops…" Shizuka gasped. "Um… Sir…"
"Yeah, yours too."
"I can take her." Trude said.
"Okay then. But remember to shield her from the wind."
"Will remember."
Trude flew beside Toshiro and Mio jumped from his back to Trude's just like that.
Toshiro arrived at the battlefield after a few minutes of supersonic flight. He scoured the surroundings, and saw a long streak burnt in the ground and a wreckage in the middle of it.
He landed beside the wreck and jumped out of his Striker. Barefooted, he looked at the wreck. The jeep was cut right in the middle along with the Launch Unit that was towed behind the car. Miraculously, the fuel didn't explode, so the wreck didn't burn down to a cinder.
After looking inside, Toshiro found a duffle bag and Yoshika's travel luggage, which he would recognize from a mile. He also looked at the radio station. He turned on the power, and surprisingly, it worked.
He turned a few dials and said, "Luggage recovered, returning to you guys."
"Roger, Toshiro." Minna responded.
After a forceful tug, the radio came out of its rack.
Might as well use it…
Toshiro returned to the base just as everyone was going to the main building. He mounted his Striker and MG in the Launch Unit and ran after the girls. The first one to talk to him was, of course, Yoshika.
"Yay, you have my bag!" She cheered and snatched said item out of his hand. "Thank you!"
"You flash that ring of yours all over, you hear?"
"Of course I will, heehee…" Yoshika giggled. "But why did you take the radio?"
"The car and Launch Unit were demolished, but the radio is in almost mint condition, so why not take it? Maybe I'll place it in the office, so I won't have to run to the damn top floor…"
"Top floor? Boooooother…" Yoshika moaned.
"Fortunately, the rooms are on the third one."
"Bearable…" Yoshika sighed.
Shizuka suddenly approached them.
"Um… Sir…"
"Yeah, here's your stuff, Shizuka. Probably untouched."
"Thanks you sir. Sorry for bothering you…" She said in an apologetic tone and bowed slightly.
"You both had other things on your minds, don't worry," Toshiro said softly.
"Ah… I suppose so… Sir… Listen… I…"
"Later, Shizuka. Maybe tomorrow, after the allegorical dust from today has fallen."
"Okay…"
"But you can enjoy today, nothing stopping ya from that!"
"Well… I suppose I could…" A small smile appeared on Shizuka's face.
They all entered the main building and then the dining hall. Toshiro took the lead as the man of the house.
"Welcome everyone, both the 501st and dear guests from the A-unit of the 506th. This is the dining hall of the Sint-Truiden Airbase. If you all wait for half an hour or so, then you can witness the culinary proves of either Trude here, or my dear fiancé Yoshika. Or both, if they agree."
The two in question nodded.
"Okay, so it's set. For now, I advise everyone to stay here, don't run around all over the place. This room is big enough for all of us. Now… Minna, maybe we should entertain our guests while they wait for dinner?"
"Oh? How will we do so?"
"Dunno, singing maybe?"
"Ah, okay then. What will we sing?"
"Heheh… Die Wacht am Rhein?"
"Fine by me."
Minna approached Toshiro who stood before everyone and they started singing
"Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall…"
When they ended, everyone applauded thunderously.
"Oh, oh, General!" Kunika cheered with her waving her raised hand.
"Yes?"
"Prinzessin knows a good song!"
"No I don't!" Heinrike protested.
"Oh come oooooooon!" Kunika persisted.
"But… No! It's not even a song per se!"
"Maaaah! Rosie, help me convince her!"
"My, my… Come on, Heinrike, you know you have a beautiful voice…"
"But to just sing before the…"
"Don't mind me…" Toshiro butted in. "Sing for the rest, I might as well go out…"
"Oh, no, no! I'll sing! I have to show the heir to the throne that my family isn't just a bunch of peasants!" Heinrike said while standing up.
She went to the center of the room and started singing.
Freude, schöner Götterfunken (Joy, beautiful sparkle of god,),
Tochter aus Elysium (Daughter of Elysium,),
wir betreten feuertrunken (We enter, fire-drunk,),
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum (Heavenly one, your shrine.)!
Deine Zauber binden wieder (Your magics bind again),
was die Mode streng geteilt (What custom has strictly parted.),
alle Menschen werden Brüder (All men become brothers),
wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt (Where your tender wing lingers.).
Seid umschlungen, Millionen! (Be embraced, millions)
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt (This kiss to the entire world)!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt (Brothers, above the starry canopy)
Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen (Must a loving Father resid)!
Wem der große Wurf gelungen (Who has succeeded in the great attempt),
eines Freundes Freund zu sein (To be a friend's friend),
wer ein holdes Weib errungen (Whoever has won a lovely woman),
mische seinen Jubel ein (Add in his jubilation!)!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele (Yes, who calls even one soul)
sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund (His own on the earth's sphere!)!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle (And whoever never could achieve this,)
weinend sich aus diesem Bund (Let him steal away crying from this gathering!).
Was den großen Ring bewohnet (Those who occupy the great circle),
Huldige der Sympathie (Pay homage to sympathy)!
Zu den Sternen leitet sie (It leads to the stars),
Wo der Unbekannte throne (Where the unknown one reigns).
She continued with her performance, finishing with the last stanza.
Rettung von Tyrannenketten (Escape the tyrants' chains),
Großmut auch dem Bösewicht (Generosity also to the villain),
Hoffnung auf den Sterbebetten (Hope upon the deathbeds),
Gnade auf dem Hochgericht (Mercy from the high court)!
Auch die Toten sollen leben (The dead, too, shall live)!
Brüder, trinkt und stimmet ein (Brothers, drink and chime in,),
Allen Sündern soll vergeben (All sinners shall be forgiven,),
Und die Hölle nicht mehr sein (And hell shall be no more.).
Eine heitre Abschiedsstunde (A serene departing hour)!
Süßen Schlaf im Leichentuch (Sweet sleep in the shroud)!
Brüder, einen sanften Spruch (Brothers—a mild sentence)
Aus des Totenrichters Munde (From the final judge).
Heinrike stopped singing and started breathing heavily in the silence that began.
"W-What? Was it bad?" She asked.
"That was actually the best rendition of An die Freude I've ever heard…" Toshiro said mesmerized. "Bravo!" He shouted and started clapping, starting a chain reaction.
Heinrike started blushing heavily but she said, "This is what my family has to offer, ha!"
She sat at her table with a raised head.
"Okay, everyone, we have potato cakes!" Yoshika shouted cheerfully as she went out of the kitchen with Trude.
Both were hauling mountains of potato cakes with them and a truckload of forks in their aprons. Toshiro reacted quickly and liberated Yoshika from her load of food.
"Heehee, thanks," she said in return.
"Okay, everyone's seated properly I see…" Toshiro said to himself.
He placed the platters on one of the tables and Trude placed hers at another one. Then the two cooks passed on the forks.
"Dig in!" Toshiro shouted.
The eighteen girls around him started eating fervently, praising Yoshika and Trude alike. Toshiro could judge that the girls from the 506th were indeed aristocracy just by the way they were eating. Well, except for Kunika, who was all over the place with her food, playing around with Francesca.
Toshiro looked at Prinzessin and Heidemarie closely. The two were shooting covert glances at each other for the whole time, and sometimes looking at Sanya.
Is this some kind of Night Witch thing or what?
"Yoshika, your cooking is something, even if you're not doing Fuso stuff!" Francesca cheered.
"I have to agree with the little Romagnan. Your cooking is exquisite, archduchess," Kunika concurred.
"Whaa! D-Don't make me an archduchess just yet! We've just been engaged two months ago!" Yoshika protested vividly.
"I don't see a ring…" Kunika said with a sly smile.
"Yeah, Yoshika, show us the rock Toshiro gave you!" Shirley shouted.
"Show us!" Erica cheered.
"Oh okay…" Yoshika said with red cheeks and went to her bag.
After some rummaging, she returned to the table and showed the back of her hand, with the ring on one of her fingers.
"What do you think?" She asked with pride in her voice.
Everyone gasped and murmurs, along with fierce eyeballing began.
"Is that platinum?" Rosalie asked.
"Yeah. Want to know the backstory of this ring?" Toshiro asked.
"It even has a backstory? I'm interested." Rosalie replied softly.
"It was yay back in the time of Warring States, when Nobunaga was trying to realize his dream of Tenka Fubu. My ancestor, Rinko Miyafune, was his mistress at the time. Nobunaga had received this very ring from a Jesuit jeweler, supposedly the first platinum made ring in history. Certain events transpired and Rinko was dumped by Nobunaga in favor of Mori Ranmaru, the ancestor of my cousin Mami. But because Rinko was clever, she swiped the ring from Nobunaga as a parting gift. Fast forward to present times, I was in Rome with Yoshika, Shirley and Franny here."
"Oh stop…" Francesca said and waved her hand slightly.
"Anywho, some guy approached me and we had a chat. He gave me this ring, and it came out that my mother had it deposited in a Helvetian bank for safe keeping."
"So this ring is… priceless…" Rosalie said slowly.
"Not exactly… This is a perfect copy. We decided to give the original away to the Imperial Museum in Tokyo after its curator contacted us, in exchange for this copy." Yoshika explained. "It was the Lost Treasure of Nobunaga after all."
"I see… But it's worth a load of money anyway," Shirley said.
"Yes, don't flash that ring around all the time," Minna said. "I advise you to keep it safe in your room at all times."
"Of course I will… I'm not an idiot…" Yoshika pouted.
"Anyway…" Toshiro said. "Now my dear guests, would you want to take a bath?"
"We humbly decline," Rosalie said.
"Oh? Why is that?"
"We have to head back to our base already. And… I'm guessing you're a bit understocked right now because of the increased headcount, right, General?"
"Yeaaaah…"
"But thank you for the offer..."
"No problem," Toshiro said. "Heidi, you can show off our guest to the hangar?"
"Yes I can. Please, follow me."
"Have a safe flight!" Toshiro cheered.
"Thank you. May our cooperation flourish," Rosalie replied politely.
"Bye, General!" Kunika cheered.
"Heheh, bye."
After a series of byes, the 506th exited the room with Heidi leading them.
"So now… I have to show you gals to your rooms." Toshiro said. "I have given it a bit of thought, and I've come up with the room layout. Follow me to the third floor!"
"Roger!"
Toshiro led his merry ladies to the third floor and he started explaining as they went down the corridor.
"The first room is Heidi's, at least for now, since she's the leader of the NJG1 4th Division. The next room is Minna's. The third room is Erica's and Trudy's," he stopped before the fourth one. "Mio, this will be yours. It was occupied by a witch that… was recalled recently."
"Okay. I'll be close to Minna thanks to this."
Toshiro raised his eyebrow.
"Not in that manner, you fucking perv!"
"Heheheh… Okay, following next are three rooms which are occupied by the rest of Heidi's team," Toshiro went on and stopped before the eighth room. "Yoshika, this will be our room."
"Okay," Yoshika said with a smile.
"Eh?" The rest sounded while tilting their heads.
"What? We're officially engaged, and you all aren't even close to telling me what I should do."
"I suppose we don't have a say in this matter…" Minna sighed.
"Heheh, good that you understand," Toshiro said and continued. "Ninth room, Shizuka."
"I'm getting a room for my own, Sir?"
"You're the odd one out, Shizuka."
"Ah, I understand…"
"Don't worry though, there's a chance you'll bunk with Heidi when her replacement flies in."
"It's not that I don't like to sleep alone…"
"I could always bunk you with your sensei…"
Shizuka looked at Mio and saw the latter grinning devilishly.
"N-N-No thanks!"
A few laughs were heard and the tour continued.
"Perrine, Lynne, you'll be bunked together in room ten."
"Oh? I'll be with Perrine?" Lynne asked.
"What, you don't like each other now?" Toshiro asked.
"N-No…" Perrine replied. "But I always slept alone…"
"Bunking together is fun!" Francesca cheered. "Toshiro, I hope you put me and Shirley in one room, right?"
"Yup. The next one is for you two."
"Yay! You hear, Shirley?"
"Another few months with you in one bed… My boobs won't take it…" Shirley sighed.
Another round of laughs started.
"And of course, last but not least… Sanya, the twelfth room is yours."
"Okay."
"Waaaait a second! What about me?!" Eila protested.
"What about you?"
"But… You know…."
"Heheh… I'm just ticking you off right now. Of course, you can bunk together with Sanya. If she accepts."
Eila looked at Sanya with puppy eyes, to which the latter rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, yes…"
"So anywho, now I'll be going to the office on the next floor. You all can go to the bath, but there's a problem with bath stuffs…"
"We can share, I think…" Minna said.
"Good idea. Everyone, tidy up your rooms or take a bath. My fellow Karlslanders will lead you around. Oh, and under no circumstances don't interrupt me before I finish."
"Roger!"
Toshiro went to the office and started calling.
"Keitel."
"Hello boss, the heir is calling, heh…"
"Ah, von Edelweiss. I guess you want to give me a report personally?"
"Indeed…."
Toshiro gave Keitel a lengthy report on the events from today.
"Interesting… Well, according to everyone in the region, the Neuroi calmed down. As for your orders, you and the 501st are to stay in the Sint-Truiden Airbase temporarily. I don't know for how long however. And as for the replacement for Schnaufer…"
"I have somebody in mind…" Toshiro interrupted.
"Oh you do? Tell me."
"It's only a loose proposal, but it would be nice if Adolfine could take Heidi's place. But only if she wants to, she'd skin me if she was forced to do so."
"I will take that under consideration…"
Toshiro then started talking about supplies and other things. After talking with Keitel, he had to call all over the world to get the girls officially transferred to the 501st.
After over an hour of doing so, Toshiro finally finished.
"For fucks sake…" He said to himself.
Suddenly, he felt something hovering over him. He shot his fist in the air but it was caught.
"Hey, not a nice way to greet a friend!"
"Not if said friend comes in unannounced and sneaky like…"
Toshiro looked up and saw the goddess Kye hovering over him.
"What now?" He asked.
"Oh, I thought I would appear and talk to you every now and again whenever you're in a pinch. And to answer your coming question, yes, only you and Yoshika can see me."
"Okay… So right now you've just announced yourself for future visits, right?"
"Yup."
"Whatever… I must say, Yoshika has really evolved mentally…"
"She took over all your knowledge and thanks to the stimulation of her brain; she really stepped up in the IQ department. And that's not the only thing that got stimulated…" Kye shot a wild grin.
"No way…"
"Waaay. She's not Shirley grade yet, but still…"
"Not Shirley grade… But so fast?! And Yoshika didn't even tell me!"
"She hasn't noticed it yet... but you know who will, right?"
"Who… Oooooooh… Damn, she'll have a field day… But did you do this?"
"Maybe… Maybe her own reserves were stimulated… I mean she is still in the age that her breasts grow."
"Cryptic ambiguous mean ass… But did she also grow in terms of height?"
"Yup, but only by a centimeter."
"Still something… She should be about a meter fifty five right now…"
"Fifty six."
"Oh, good."
"Okay, Toshiro… Was nice talking to you, but I have to go spank Layla for messing up Kaylie's room again."
"Heheheh… Bye, Kye."
Kye disappeared into thin air, but almost immediately, somebody else popped up.
"Well hello there, Livy."
"Welcome, Master. I'll also be appearing from time to time on my own, or every time you want me to appear."
"Isn't that a bit forceful?"
"I am your sword, Master, I serve you with my wholeness at all times," Livy said seriously.
"Well, right, you said something about a master-servant relation before… Uuuuugh… Do remember that I'm treating you like my friend, okay?"
"Of course, Master," Livy smiled warmly. "I'm taking my leave."
After she disappeared, Toshiro looked around the office and saw a PA panel. He approached it and turned it on.
"Girls, assemble in the dining hall for a briefing. I repeat, assemble in the dining hall for a briefing."
Toshiro slowly went down one floor and to his room. He saw that Yoshika already unpacked partially, with stuff from her bag all over the bed. Toshiro opened his chest and pulled out some stuff. He then went to the dining hall, where everyone was present.
"So, what's this all about?" Trude asked.
"Briefing and… something special. So, Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein is slowly progressing. For the next few days-slash-weeks, we'll be coexisting with Heidemarie's former unit, and then I'll probably get new orders. Tomorrow, somebody, or a few somebodies will do a supply run for Sint-Truiden, which I will of course finance."
"Sounds reasonable…" Trude said.
"Translation – boring," Erica said.
"Boring or not, we don't know what the Neuroi are capable of. And now… Heheh… It seems that my name and silver tongue have got you all some benefits… Okay, my three Karlslanders, come to me."
The three of them approached Toshiro and he suddenly yelled, "Hab acht!"
The girls snapped into attention immediately.
"Since this is supposed to be the final operation of this war, it seems the OKW was more lenient… Oberstleutnant Wilcke!"
"Jawohl!" she saluted.
"You are hereby promoted to the rank of Oberst, effective immediately."
The eyes of the three widened immediately.
"Yeah, you all had some lingering promotions. It just took a good nudge to give them out. Here…" Toshiro said and pulled out something out of his pocket. "…my old epaulets. You can keep them or wait for your own."
"I… I accept these," she smiled.
"Heheh…"
Toshiro changed her epaulets, and then approached Trude.
"Hauptmann Trude, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Major, effective immediately," he said and pulled out his old Major epaulettes.
"Thank you!" Trude shouted as Toshiro was changing her insignia.
"Heeeeeeeeeey!" Shirley tried to protest, but Toshiro shushed her immediately.
"Wait a bit."
"Okay…" Shirley mumbled.
Toshiro approached Erica.
"No… Oh no…" Trude said.
"Oh you shut up too, the rank disparity stays."
"But still…"
"Aw, bro, but I don't wanna…" Erica moaned.
"You're refusing a promotion from ME?!"
"Heheh… Well, okay… But only if it's up one notch…"
"It is. Oberleutnant Hartmann, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Hauptmann, effective immediately."
"Yaaaay…" Erica moaned.
"I didn't have the rank insignia for Hauptmann, but… Trudy, can I give Erica your epaulettes for now?"
"I suppose so… But Hartmann, tarnish them and I'll own your ass!"
"Heheh… Okay, okay. I'll take care, Trudy," Erica grinned.
Toshiro changed her epaulets and gave her back her old Oberleutnant ones.
"Um, Toshiro, what about my epaulettes?" Minna asked.
"Wait a second, okay?"
Minna only sighed.
"Okay then, Shirley, come on."
"Woohoo!" Shirley cheered and ran to Toshiro. "So, what rank do I get?"
"Stand in attention, will you?"
Shirley snapped into attention.
"Captain Yeager, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Major, effective immediately."
"Hah! Still the same rank as Barkhorn!"
"Toshiroooooo…" Trude moaned.
"I phoned Ike himself to get that rank for Shirley, so cut me some slack for fucks sake. If any of you had the upper hand on the other, holy shit, I don't even imagine what could be going on…"
"Ugh…" Trude muttered.
"Okay, okay, stop fussing. Mio, come up."
"Me? But I'm basically retired in the eyes of the IFN!"
"Come here or I'll really retire you…"
Mio came to Toshiro and stood in attention.
"Major Sakamoto, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, effective immediately."
"But how…"
"The Marshal-Admiral himself gave you a promotion since you've returned to an active witch combat unit. And you had it coming anyway…"
"Well, thanks, I suppose…" Mio squirmed around.
"Now, Sanya, Eila, Perrine, come on, I want to do you all at the same time."
"WAH!" The three in question shouted scared.
"Uuuuuuurgh… Come here you crypto-pervs…"
The tree came forward and stood in attention.
"First Lieutenants Clostermann, Litvyak and Juutilainen, you are hereby promoted to the ranks of Captains, effective immediately."
"Thank you!" They cheered in unison.
"Toshiro, how did you get a promotion for me? I promoted at the beginning of this year…" Eila asked.
"It seems I'm liked in Suomus… It was a bit hard, but I managed to pull it off."
"Well, thanks…"
"Francesca, come on!"
"Wooooooo!" Francesca ran up cheering and stood in attention.
"Second Lieutenant Lucchini, you are hereby promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, effective immediately."
"Yay, thanks!"
"Heh… Lynne?"
"Me too?"
"Yeah, come on."
Lynne approached him and snapped into attention.
"Master Sergeant Bishop, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer, effective immediately."
"Thank you, Toshiro."
"Sorry I couldn't pull you up to 1st Lt., but the RAF are a bunch of blockheads."
"Oh, I hold no grudge against anyone."
"Yoshika?"
"Yes?!"
"Yes, you too get a promotion, come here Sweetie."
"Heehee, okay!"
Yoshika came up and Toshiro started reciting the usual.
"Second Lieutenant Miyafuji, you are hereby promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, effective immediately."
"I wonder how you did pull this off…"
"When I told Yamamoto that you've regained your magic and rejoined the 501st, he basically threw the promotion at you."
"Heehee…"
"And now… Our newest members… Heidi, come on."
"M-Me?"
"Yeah, come on."
Heidi shyly approached but stood in attention bravely.
"Major Schnaufer, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant, effective immediately."
"Thank you…"
"Minna…" Toshiro showed her the insignia he took off her.
"Of course, Toshiro," Minna smiled.
Toshiro swapped the epaulettes on Heidemarie and gave her back her own.
"Well now, that leaves you, Shizuka…"
"No promotion for me I guess…"
"Who said that? Of course you get one! Everyone gets one!"
"Really?"
"Really! C'mere!"
"Yes sir!"
Shizuka ran up to Toshiro and snapped into attention.
"Sergeant Hattori, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant, effective immediately."
"B-B-But how?! I failed…"
"You didn't fail per se…" he interrupted. "You protected Yoshika, but the Neuroi overpowered you and so on. You promotion was issued so you'd have motivation to move forward and not mope around."
"Okay…"
"And wait a second…" Toshiro said and pulled out something. "Look, my old epaulettes. Here, you can have them. No buts. If you don't want them, wait for yours to come and then give them back."
"Okay…" Shizuka said silently.
Toshiro replaced her rank insignia.
"Now that the promotions have been handed out… I'm going for a bath. But before that… Heidi, you and Sanya go to bed, you'll have your first night patrol together this night."
"Affirmative," Sanya said.
"Understood," Heidemarie followed suit.
The two went away, smiling towards each other with Eila eying them carefully.
"Eila, don't look at them like that, they're supposedly friends."
"Yeah… But I thought…"
"Oh no you don't, not today. Have some decency…"
"As if you'll going to set an example…" she mumbled.
"Eheheh…" Toshiro laughed dryly and went towards his room.
Before he could exit, Yoshika was standing in the doorway. She closed the door behind her.
"Say… Toshiro… You know… Something else than my brain and magic changed…"
"Kye told me."
"Wha?! Kye was here?!"
"Yeah. She told me you've… grown…"
"Heheh… I wanted to show you now…"
"Save yourself, Yoshika…" Toshiro said with a sly smile.
"Oh, you're thinking about the evening already?"
"Maybe…"
"Well, okay… I think I'll have something for you…" Yoshika said with a coy smile and opened the door. "Have a nice bath."
"Thanks, Sweetie."
"Heehee… I missed you calling me that…"
"I missed your whole existence…"
"Heehee, I can't top that," she said with a small smile and went away.
Toshiro went to the bath, but before he could enter, Erica came running.
"Bro, Bro!"
"What is it, Erica?"
She looked around and asked, "Can I fly your Striker? I want to see whether Jet Strikers have a future from the standpoint of a normal witch."
"I see," Toshiro said and laid down his supplies. "You know what I will do know?"
"Whaaaaat?" She mused.
"Brace yourself!" He shouted and diluted time.
He grabbed her and ran off to the hangar, where Shirley was eyeing his Striker ravenously.
"Shirley!" He shouted from behind her.
"WAAAAAAH!" She shouted and turned around mechanically. "H-Hey…"
"Why are you eyeing my Striker, hmmm?"
"And why are you carrying Hartmann?" She rebuked.
"Yeah, Bro, lemme go…" Erica pouted.
He let her go and said, "She wants to try my Striker on for size."
"Oh snap… I guess she'll get to fly first?"
"Of course," he smiled and grabbed the FFG from a compartment in the Launch Unit. "But both of you, look…"
After a brief explanation, Toshiro asked, "Understood?"
"Yup," both nodded their heads.
"Okay, Erica, you'll be flying first. Shirley, get into your Striker just in case. After Erica finishes, you switch places. I'm going for a bath, so try not to bother me, kay?"
"Roger!" the two cheered.
Nobody bothered him, especially paranormal entities. When he got out of the room altogether, Minna nabbed him.
"Toshiro…"
"What, Minna dearest?"
"Could you… do some paperwork?"
"Hmmm… Dunno… You're an Oberst, I thought you can take care of yourself now…"
"Oh come on… I can't focus right now?"
"Is it bad that I've given you a promotion?"
"No, God no… I'm even a bit happy but… Everything is happening so fast, I need to slow down…"
"Then go to the library, take a book, go to your room and read."
"Maybe… Okay, I'll try."
"Be wary of the dust though."
"Heehee, I will."
"You know what… I'll pick something up myself."
"Ah, then come on."
They entered the dusty library and both started browsing the books. At one point, they bumped into each other.
"Oh, sorry…" Toshiro apologized.
Minna in turn did something weird. She placed her hand on his cheek and looked at him a few seconds with a troubled face.
"Minna?"
She then averted her gaze.
"I see… Want to repeat that night again?"
"Yeah…"
"But maybe Yoshika would be enough for you? What do you think?"
"Hmmm… I can try…"
"Then I'll pass it on to her. But not today."
"I guessed so much… Just be quiet, you have neighbors now, heehee…" A smile returned to Minna's face.
"I'll try not to make anyone uncomfortable."
After a few minutes, both had some books handy, and they went their ways. Toshiro entered his room, which was empty. He fell down on his bed and started reading, but after a few minutes, he checked his chest for something. He found a few candies in the chest.
Hmmm…
Toshiro summoned Oblivion Lost and made a small rip in space. He then threw a wrapped candy inside the rip. After half a minute, the wrapper flew back to him and the rip closed.
The wrapper had a heart written on it now.
Heheheh…
A few second later, there was a knock on the door, and he said, "Enter."
Shirley and Erica busted in, shouting, "Amazing!"
"You liked the XF-1 I take it?"
"Bro, it was super! That Me 262 might as well be made into razors for all I care!"
"Well, that sure is a nice recommendation for Ursula," he giggled. "What about you, redhead?"
"Toshiro, if I get something half as fast as yours, I will probably want to have sex with the constructor!"
"Hahaha! Remember that it might be an old coot!"
"Irrelevant! I want one now!"
"Now, you'll exit my room, I wanted to read. Did you store everything properly?"
"Yup," Shirley said. "Come on, Hartmann, let's scram!"
"Roger!"
At suppertime, the door opened without warning and Yoshika entered.
"Toshiro, supper," she announced.
"Okay, coming. Where were you by the way?"
"I had a walk with Sakamoto, Perrine, Lynne and Shizuka. The forest around the base is soooooo thick! And we found some mushrooms!"
"I hope they're the edible type…"
"Oh don't worry; I studied diligently during my trip."
"Ah, good."
"But no mushrooms today, only sandwiches…"
"Lemme guess… That dinner seriously severed our supplies?"
"Yes… Unless we do a supply run to town tomorrow, we're eating pinecones for dinner…"
"Yeah… I ordered supplies from the Wehrmacht, but they'll probably come in after a few days…"
"Okay, come already or your sandwiches will get stale."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Toshiro and Yoshika entered the dining hall. Toshiro could see a pattern forming during supper. At one table were the Karslanders and Mio, while the rest occupied another one. But thankfully, each of the tables had enough free space for three more people.
"So, where are we sitting?" Toshiro asked silently.
"I don't know… Maybe you go to your compatriots, and I'll go to the rest, okay?"
"You sure? Don't want to sit with me?"
"Toshiro, let's agree to disagree. We don't have to be so petty as to spend each and every second with each other, right? He have a whole life ahead of us, and… heheh… we finally have the nights exclusively for each other…"
"I love you even more with your upgraded intellect… Okay, let's do it."
Toshiro sat at the Karslander-Mio table.
"I see that the best are dining with each other, huh?"
"Well, Shirley could join, but that boob devil won't let her," Mio said.
"As if we need her…" Trude mumbled.
"Oh can it, Trudy…" Erica said.
"How are the books, Minna?" Toshiro asked.
"They helped, heehee…"
"Good for you. So, are we assuming a normal time schedule from tomorrow?"
"I'm for it," Mio said. "The girls need some strengthening again, or we'll have a replay from Romagna."
"I have a feeling that walk around the forest wasn't a coincidence…"
"Nope. I was looking for a good training spot, a bit away from the buildings and a tad concealed."
"So I won't see you torturing the poor girls?"
"Ahem..."
"Well, at least you're honest… Well, we probably won't have to modify the usual daily routine from that we had in Britannia and Romagna, unless HQ chimes in."
"Ah, Toshiro, who are you reporting to now?" Minna asked.
"Keitel."
"Oh damn…"
"Nah, it's not that bad. He's a good guy, the fatherly type."
"Ooof… I thought you earned yourself a strict boss…"
"My instructor on my officer's course was strict…"
"Who?"
"Sperrle…"
"Baptized in fire…" Minna mumbled.
After everyone ate, Toshiro made an announcement.
"Okay, girls. Or maybe ladies if you prefer, whatever. Tomorrow is a normal day, so we'll be adhering to a normal schedule, just like we had in Romagna and Britannia. The usual three plus Shizuka will be training with Mio, and the rest will find themselves some way they can contribute to the unit. As usual."
"Okay!" The girls cheered.
"Now, Sanya and Heidi. Are you ready for your first mission together in the 501st?"
"Yes," they both answered.
"Good. Oh, crap. I forgot about something… Did you all get acquainted with Shizuka and Heidi?"
"We had a bath together…" Francesca said with a demonic voice while making grabby movements with her hands.
The two in question blushed heavily and covered their chests.
"Hahaha, I see Franny is in the mood no matter what!"
"That's not funny, Sir…" Shizuka mumbled. "How can one be so… lewd…?"
"You'll have to get used to it, Shizuka. Our unit as a whole is rather… liberal… And, after the first test, Francesca will give you some breathing space."
"I hope…"
"By the way, Franny, your verdict?"
"Shizuka consolation prize, but nothing too fancy…" Francesca sighed. "And Heidi is Shirley grade! But! Heheh… Toshiro, do you know how Yoshika grew?"
"I have yet to discover it…"
"Be ready for a surprise, heheh…" Francesca gave off a pervy laugh.
"Francesca! Stop already!" Yoshika protested aloud.
"What? Everyone saw you naked already, right?"
"Except for Toshiro…" Yoshika mumbled silently. "I mean… You know…"
"Miyafuji!" Mio yelled suddenly.
"Y-Yes ma'am?!"
"If you're sore tomorrow, I'll kill you!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Most of the girls laughed heartily.
After supper, both Yoshika and Toshiro went to their room. They've decided to read a bit before going to sleep. Toshiro suddenly heard sobbing from his side. He looked at Yoshika. She was covering her face with a book. Toshiro plucked it out of her hands gently.
"Yoshika, why are you crying?"
"Because… Because… I was so afraid today… I really was convinced I was dying…"
"There, there…" Toshiro said gently while patting her on the head. "Back then in Britannia I also didn't know my familiar had something like Stasis in her… sleeve. I really thought I was dying back then… Since you have my memories, you should know what I thought in my final second."
"Hmmm… "Forgive me… Forgive me, Yoshika… Forgive me, and live on… I'm sorry…" Toshiro…"
"And you should know what I felt when you died…"
"Yes… I've been contemplating on this… And…" Yoshika stood up, ran to the door, and locked it. "But wait a second, okay?"
"Sure."
Yoshika approached her bag, and she showed him two awards, her 3rd class Order of the Golden Kite and a 2nd Class Iron Cross.
"Your award I understand taking, but why Ichiro's?"
"I just wanted a memento of Papa with me," Yoshika said quietly. "You understand that, do you?"
"Of course I do, Yoshika," Toshiro said warmly. "But wait a second… You really seem somewhat different…"
"Oh do I?" she asked with a coy voice.
Yoshika took off her uniform. Toshiro was amazed from what he saw. Yoshika's figure was now fuller. Her hips were now perfectly in sync with her new bust, which put visible strain on her swimsuit, which was definitely designed for an A-cup at most. Her arms and legs, now that he looked closer, also had some more meat on them, and were a bit toned.
"Yoshika… Gods, you're…"
"Beautiful? Heehee… I'm also a bit amazed… My body is really sexy now…"
"Hey, you weren't that bad before…"
"And I thank you for accepting my old body."
She took off her swimsuit. Her breasts bounced slightly while she did so.
"Yoshika… Are those… B-cups?!"
"Heehee… Yeees, at least that's what I think… Your prayers have been heard, Toshiro… Your fiancé just got busty and much… much hotter…" She whispered while she was climbing on top of him. "You know what?"
"Hmmm?"
"I have my regenerative powers back… Probably even more powerful…" She whispered with a voice that would melt an iceberg. "And I know what you did with Adolfine…"
"You sanctioned it."
"And your advances towards the twins…"
Toshiro gulped audibly.
"And that cute Neuroi girl…"
Now, Toshiro started sweating.
"You'll pay for your little infidelity…" She whispered in a way that gave him both chills and a boner, and suddenly grabbed his property.
"Ouch…" Toshiro squealed.
"You will apologize… Multiple times…" She nibbled on his earlobe.
"Yes ma'am..."
Kye, if you did put a finger to Yoshika's transformation, I really… really… really thank you! But my balls hurt, for fucks sake!
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