Chapter 8 – Ice broken, storm brewed
Toshiro woke up at the usual godforsaken hour. He focused his vision and turned around to Yoshika, who always slept on the right side of the bed, the side close to the wall. But he was surprised gravely at what he saw. Instead of only Yoshika, between him and her, he saw the ice queen herself, sleeping in a cute manner on her left side, curled up a bit.
"The fuck?!"
"Now you're lucky, Toshiro! Girls simply swarm into your bed themselves!"
"Can the sarcasm, Yuki. When did she enter my bed?"
"Bout half an hour ago. I didn't wake you up out of sheer mischievousness."
"What I have to endure with you…"
Toshiro decided to do the right thing, so he summoned Aganaimaru and threw it, hilt forward, so it hit the light switch. The bright light made Hanna open her eyes with dismay written all over her face, which soon turned into a frown of anger.
"What are you doing in my bed?"
"You skipped "Herr Generalmajor.""
"What are you doing in my bed, you perv?!" She almost shouted.
Suddenly, Yoshika's hand landed on her shoulder, making Hanna twitch.
"I should ask what are YOU doing in our bed…" Yoshika said with a cold voice while sitting up. "We barely know each other for a day, and yet, you waltz into our bed as if we were doing threesomes for a year straight… Explain yourself, Miss Jabs, or you have a chance of losing more than a tooth…"
"Wh-Wh-What are you planning to do?!" Hanna trembled in fear.
"Oh… I could use my exquisite sexual skills on you… And maybe I could invite Toshiro… Hmmm… Yes… That would be something…"
Hanna now shuddered in fear while alternating between looking at Toshiro and Yoshika. When she was focusing on Yoshika, Toshiro slowly put his hand on Hanna's shoulders, causing her to almost jump up from her sitting position.
"I'll scream!"
"You don't have to, really. Yoshika was joking, at least I hope so… Just explain why you're here in our bed and maybe we'll let you off with a slap on the wrist."
"R-Really?"
"Yes, really," Yoshika chimed in with her usual cheerful voice. "Come on, tell us."
"Uh… Well… I have a habit of not choosing the right door after I return from my night patrols because of my fatigue… I either landed in Georgina's room or in this room, which was previously unoccupied…" She explained with a voice that was almost no like hers. "I'm sorry for not mentioning this but…"
"You have some kind of trust issues?" Toshiro asked.
"Yes… It's because kids would bully me in school…"
"Oh, why would they do that?" Yoshika asked.
"Because I was orphaned at the age of five…"
"Bastards…" Toshiro mumbled angrily. "I experienced the same…"
"Oh?"
"My father wasn't present during my school days, so the kids would always tease me with their stupid questions like "Where's your daddy, gaijin?" or "What, your mother wasn't good enough for a western dog, gaijin?"…"
"Gaijin?"
"Foreigner in Fusogo… I mean look at me, do I even remotely remind you of a Fusojin?"
Hanna scanned Toshiro from top to bottom and said, "Well, apart from the hair, I think I would say you're a Karlslander or Balt... Maybe Orussian even."
"See? It was also obvious during my school days. I was taller and more bulky then the rest, standing out like a single pole in a field… But after we received the message that my father died, I decided to stop all of this, so I started training. On the last day of grade school, after the closing ceremony, I invited my usual oppressors behind the gym. You can guess what I did to them…"
"I have the feeling you didn't simply talk them down…"
"Oh no… That was probably the first time in my life I resorted to useless violence… Boy did I get a spanking from Mom…"
"I see… At least you confronted your bullies, I couldn't…"
"But you don't have to be a bitch about it for the whole world, right?"
"I suppose… But it's rooted too deep inside of me…"
"But we're talking with you normally just now, right?" Yoshika asked.
"Well… Yes, we are…"
"See, you can do it!" Yoshika cheered.
"But… All the others… So many people I don't know… I used my cold attitude as a shield before the unknown, so I don't think I can just befriend all of them…"
"And I tell you that you can, Hanna."
"H-H-Hanna? Please don't call me by my name just like that…"
"Then maybe you're second part, Joanna?"
"Why are you teasing me like this…?" She mumbled.
"Friends are there to do just that," Yoshika said with a wide grin.
"F-F-Friends? But we just know each other for…"
"Oh don't spout that crap… You can become friends with somebody in a matter of seconds, depending on the circumstances," Toshiro said. "So, what will it be? Will you accept us two as your friends and try to get in tune with the 501st and your new boss?"
Hanna looked at Toshiro and Yoshika deeply and nodded.
"Well, since we're now friends, let's resume sleeping together!"
"Get the fuck out jogging you perv!" Yoshika shouted and pushed him out of the bed,
"Oh no, I won't leave Hanna with you one on one, Ecchika! I saw how you were looking at her breasts all the time!"
Hanna covered her black bra equipped breasts immediately.
"Pot, meet kettle!" Yoshika shouted back.
"Um, then maybe I should just move to my room…" Hanna proposed silently and jumped down on the floor.
"Guess that will work too…" Yoshika pouted. "Sleep tight, Hanna."
"Um… Thanks… Yoshika was it?"
"Yes, Yoshika, heehee…"
"Yeah, good… morning whatever…" Toshiro said from the floor.
"And a good day to you Herr… Um… Toshiro…" She said blushing fiercely as she realized that Toshiro was staring straight at her panties.
Hanna went out of the room.
"You know what, Toshiro…"
"What?"
"I'm horny now…"
"Don't tell me you've got aroused just by having another girl in your bed?"
"It seems that's the case…"
"So if I kill the lights now…"
"You're in for something, mister…" She said with a voice that would easily melt Hanna away.
Toshiro turned off the lights and went to Yoshika.
"Say, Yoshika… I wanted to try out something…"
"Oh? Let's hear it, I'm always open for new experiences, heehee…"
"Sprout your animal features."
"Oh? Okaaaaay…"
A soft blue glow surrounded Yoshika briefly and Toshiro could see Kuji's ears and tail popping up in the darkness.
"Now, lie on your side…."
"Okaaaay…"
Yoshika rolled to the side slowly. Toshiro poked one of her animal ears.
"Heehee… What was that? It was fun…"
"I poke one of Kuji's ears."
"But I felt as if you tickled me!"
"Ain't that something… Well then…"
Toshiro swiftly grabbed both of her ears and started rubbing them.
"Wahahahahaha! Toshiro, stooooop! You're killing meeee! Hahahahaha!"
Toshiro fluently changed his target and stroked her tail.
"Aaaaaaaahhhnnn…. Toshiro… What was that…?" She moaned.
"Your tail."
"I felt as if… As if you've entered me already…"
"You know what that means, right?"
"Do it!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Sometime later, still in their bed, Yoshika asked Toshiro, "Say, don't you have to go jogging?"
"You don't like me or what? You should know that I don't have to do any kind of physical exercise…"
"Oh…" Yoshika ruffled her eyebrows. "Ah, you're right! How convenient…"
"Heh… Come on, let's take a quick nap."
"Kay…" Yoshika said and yawned, tucking herself into Toshiro's warm body.
They both went to the dining hall, now empty and silent.
"It's so quiet now…" Yoshika said quietly. "It's almost unreal…"
"Yeah… But remember that we will have nineteen people to feed now, counting us, so adjust the food amount you prepare accordingly."
"We will need a fortune for food…"
"Don't worry, everyone has got a promotion now, thus our payrolls have gained a bit. And I do have a shitton of money myself."
"Oh right! I can now send more money back home, heehee…"
"Sayaka and Grandma must be living like queens off your pay, haha!"
"Speaking of which… Oh shit!"
"My, my, Yoshika… Your language sure has gotten foul, missy…"
"It's because of you, asshat! I forgot to notify mom about my current status!"
"Oh shit indeed… Don't worry, you'll make the call after breakfast."
"Whew… Okay, let's prepare food!"
"Let's?"
"Oh come on, Toshiro! Our culinary expertise has mingled, so it should be a cinch to make breakfast for you!"
"I have the knowledge, but do I have the skill? Conversely, how's your progress with your sword skills?"
"My body is a bit behind my mind…" She said and puffed her cheeks.
"Heh… You know what? If I think really hard, I can switch to your mindset… Weirdest experience ever…"
"Oh, why's that?"
"Because 90% of the time you think about me, heheh…"
"Dawwww, Toshiro… Of course I think about you almost all the time… But why is it weird?"
"Because I'm thinking like you about me while being myself. Do you get the absurdity of the situation?"
"Yeaaaaah… Almost like you'd be reading a piece of paper with "Turn around to find the answer" on both sides."
"Ha! Or reading a Möbius strip!"
After they went into the kitchen part of the dining hall, they could hear Lynne's voice.
"Good morning you two!"
"Hi!" Yoshika cheered.
"Yo, Lynnie."
"Are you two making breakfast together? Maybe I shouldn't interrupt?"
"Nah, come on in, three's not a crowd when you're making food for… seventeen people?"
"Okay! What are we doing?"
"A Karlslander breakfast, what do you think, Yoshika?"
"I'm for it, let's go!"
A few minutes into breakfast making, Mio and Adolfine appeared.
"Hmmmm… My nose didn't deceive me…" Adolfine said. "But I'm disappointed at you, Toshiro…"
"What again…" Toshiro sighed.
"You didn't jog today, nor you didn't visit me for some lifting. What are you, slacking off now since you're a Generalmajor, huh?"
"I had my exercise today, don't worry…" Toshiro said with a cheeky smile.
"From the morning already?! Miyafuji, shame on you!" Mio shouted.
"What?! Why are you blaming me, Miss Sakamoto?!"
"I alternate between who to blame, and now it struck you, since you both are unsated pervs."
"How nice to know what you're thinking about me…" Yoshika puffed her cheeks. "But well, it was my fault now…"
"See, I'm always right, hahaha!" Mio laughed loudly. "So, Toshiro, why didn't you bother with some good ol' exercising today?"
"Well… I've kept this from you all, but maybe I can tell it now… I don't need to do exercises actually."
"What do you mean you don't need to?" Adolfine asked with her head tilted.
"Well, ever since I've returned from my training with Amaterasu, Yuki is in control of my body to such a degree, that she keeps my muscles toned by just adjusting the natural processes occurring in my body. If I want, she can even put it into overdrive, and with a proper diet, I'll look like Goliath."
"Seriously?!" Both Adolfine and Mio shouted surprised.
"Yeah, totally."
"Then why the hell do you even bother with jogging?!" Mio yelled.
"And why the fuck did you do lifting with me in Neue Karlsland?!" Adolfine shouted with her.
"Because I like to work out with you two and because I'm used to get up at an unearthly hour, so I might as well do something… And let's say that you two are a sight for sore eyes, heheh… Aaaaah! Yoshika, don't poke me with a fork!"
"Would you stop blabbering about your delusions and start doing breakfast?"
"Okay, okay, sheesh… Can't a man brag a bit about the fine women he encountered?"
"No!" The three shouted at him.
"Mumble grumble rackin frackin…"
"Heehee…" Lynne giggled. "I don't know what exactly is happening, but you're the center attention as usual, Toshiro."
"He always is…" Adolfine sighed.
"What are you two doing here anyway?" Toshiro asked. "If it's bitching, your time has passed, go bother somebody else. We're trying to make some food to fill your guts."
"Ah, we wanted water!" Mio said. "I'll fetch it myself, don't bother, Miyafuji."
"Okay."
When the two were indulging themselves into cold water, Trude came in.
"Good morning everyone, especially my favorite cousins!"
"Hah, that never gets old!" Toshiro said.
"Can I help with something?"
"Not really… Yoshika?"
"We're good, Trudy."
"Heheh…" Trude's face radiated with joy. "Just holler if you want something, okay?"
"Yes, Trudy, we know…" Toshiro answered with a tired voice. "So, where's Erica?"
"Hartmann... Where the hell are you?!"
"Here, here…" Erica crawled slowly from behind the corner with a sleepy face and hair so messed up it looked like a haystack.
"Ugh, damn it…" Trude said and started straightening out Erica's hair with her hands.
"Hey, Trudy, stop torturing me from the mooooorning…" Erica moaned irritated.
"Combs don't bite, you know? There you go, somewhat straight."
"Meh…" Erica shrugged and sat at the table. "Sit down, Trudy… Let's wait for breakfast like people, not cavemen…"
Trude sighed heavily and did what she was told.
"Good morning," Perrine entered in pristine condition.
"See, Hartmann? That's how you should look in the morning," Trude said while pointing out to the approaching Perrine.
"Oh give it a rest already, Trudy…" Toshiro said. "Erica is smart enough to understand you without you nagging her ass off…"
"That's something I've doubted from the day we first met…"
Toshiro saw that Erica's eyebrows were twitching, but she caught his gaze, and he shook his head inconspicuously. Erica in turn rolled her eyes.
Then, in strolled Eila, surprisingly energetic.
"Morning everyone!" She shouted.
"You're almost gleaming, Eila," Mio said. "Seen some action tonight?" She asked with a crooked smile.
"Naaah… But I slept easier knowing that that snow queen was flying with my dear Sanya. The chances of her being even remotely interested in my little sugar puff are probably an absurd value after the decimal, heheheh…"
"So you WERE jealous!" Toshiro shouted. "Hah!"
"Well, I'm not hiding the fact I wasn't…" She mumbled. "I don't know what that Heidemarie is capable of…"
"If you'll be satisfied, I can talk to Heidi in private, but I assure you that won't be necessary…"
"But still, if you'd clear it up… I would be grateful…"
"I wonder how you could be grateful… I hope not the way you wanted to shut me up after… the incident in Romagna, huh?"
"No no no no! Not that grateful!"
"Well, whatever. Speaking of the devil…" Toshiro said as he saw Minna and Heidi coming in. "What a surprise, Heidi. Did you sleep well?"
"I adjust well, Toshiro. Good morning by the way."
A few girls responded to her greetings.
"So…" Toshiro started in a dramatic way. "It seems that SOME parties aren't satisfied that you're flying with Sanya…" Toshiro made a devilish smile.
"Oh, and who would that be?" Heidi asked innocently.
"The party in question doesn't want to reveal herself, so you can rule out me already by the way."
Everyone, except for Eila, who was red like a beat, was almost suffocating from suppressed laughter.
"Well… If the said party is here, she should know that I'm perfectly straight, sexually wise, and I think I would never do it with another girl, especially one that's already taken…"
"Really?!" Eila raised herself suddenly but sat down immediately with her head steaming.
"Oh my, are you the said party?" Heidi asked.
Eila now looked like she wanted to melt and flow into the small crack in the floor under her chair.
"Don't worry, I'm not after Sanya, not in a million years, Eila, we're just old friends," Heidi said with a warm smile. "You can sleep the sleep of the just; I won't lay my finger on her. Well, except for the times I would have to move her to keep her from harm's way or something…"
"Oh… Okay…" Eila mumbled amongst the random giggles of the rest. "And I should smack you one day, Toshiro!"
"Yeah, yeah… But my meddling got you to the point you can outright talk about your love towards Sanya."
"Yeah… Thanks for everything…"
"Oh, did I miss something? Why is everyone snickering?" Francesca appeared all of a sudden.
"Eheheh… We'll tell you later…" Toshiro said. "Sit at the table, the breakfast is nearing completion."
"Kay!" Francesca cheered in her usual way and sat on her spot.
"By the way, where's Shirley?" He asked.
"She's talking to whatshername flat-chest…"
"Well, no wonder… Ah, Shizuka, you're here finally. Sit do… New hairdo?" Toshiro said as he saw Shizuka with her hair untied.
"Um, good morning… The ribbon keeping my hair together snapped and I don't have a replacement…"
"I can give you one if you'd like, but it have only white ones," Mio said unexpectedly.
"N-N-No, sensei! I can't accept! No way! Not in a million years! I'm not worthy!"
"Shut up and accept!" Mio yelled. "You will get one at training!"
"Yes ma'am! I'm sorry for my stubbornness!" Shizuka shouted and started bowing with an increasingly fast rhythm.
"Okay, stop already…" Mio sighed. "Sit and wait for breakfast…"
"Yes…" Shizuka said silently and sat at the table.
"Um, about training, Miss Sakamoto…" Yoshika said.
"What is it, Miyafuji? Want to wimp out?"
"No, I just want ten minutes to call home after breakfast, that's all…"
"Well, I suppose we can wait a bit… You forgot about calling back, huh?"
"Yes…"
"Eh…. Miyafuji…" Mio sighed.
Lastly, Shirley, Georgina, Karla, and Siegfriede turned up in one bunch.
"Mornin'!" They shouted collectively.
With not so much enthusiasm, but most of the girls responded.
"Well now we can eat," Toshiro said. "Yoshika, Lynne, how is it on your end?"
"One minute!" Lynne responded.
"Half a minute!" Yoshika responded too.
Breakfast was eaten in a light atmosphere, and afterwards, Adolfine announced something.
"Okay, my girls are going running!"
"Whaaaaaaaaa?!" Said girls protested.
"You have to get in shape! Look at this!" She said and pulled off the top of her uniform. "This is the result of hard training!"
The four made big eyes, because they didn't yet have an occasion to see Adolfine naked.
"But running won't do all that for us…" Georgina remarked.
"That's why you'll also do pushups, squats, crunches et cetera."
The three had sour faces.
"What about Hanna then?" Karla asked.
"Well, I'll have a word with her on the side, don't worry. Now, chop chop! Roll call in five minutes before the building entrance!"
"Yes ma'am…" They moaned and started walking out.
"Miyafuji, ten minutes." Mio said while pointing out an imaginary watch on her wrist.
Yoshika nodded and said, "Toshiro, come on."
"Let's go…"
Toshiro led her to the radio room. After he got the connection, he switched to loudspeaker mode.
"Who is this?" Sayaka asked.
"Your favorite son-in-law, Mom."
"Oh! Toshiro! What's up?"
"Ah, well, stuff is happening fast. Anyway, your prodigal daughter is behind me and she wants to talk to you badly."
"Yoshika is with you? I have a bad feeling…"
"Um… Hi, mom…"
"Yoshika… Where are you now?"'
"In the Sint-Truiden Airbase in Belgica…"
"Yoooshika… I know that you're probably lovesick after Toshiro, but you should be in school already…"
"But Mom… Let me explain…"
"Okay, explain…"
"You see… On over a week ago, when I was driving with Shizuka towards the Helvetian border, a Neuroi attacked us… And… Through various circumstances, I regained my magical powers…"
"You what? But that's impossible!"
"It seems that it is, Sayaka," Toshiro butted in. "Yoshika's magic is as powerful as ever, and she has her own magical sword at her disposal."
"My… Such a thing… And what are you doing now?"
"Yoshika is now back in the freshly reformed 501st JFW. I even got her a promotion, and she's now a 1st Lieutenant, heheh…"
"Oh my… But now you've given me something to worry about…"
"Don't worry too much, Mom… I have eighteen people surrounding me, so I'm safer than I ever was."
"Well, maybe I should simply trust you… You're my firstborn after all, heehee… Toshiro, how's the matter of my grandchildren progressing?"
"Urgh, Mom!" Both of them shouted in accord.
"Heehee, I love when you get mad about this matter, heehee… I know, I know… After the war… Stay safe you two, I'll have to relate everything to my Mom in turn when she gets back from her walk…"
"Bye, Mom! Sorry that it took so long!" Yoshika bowed before the receiverd.
"I heard from you, that's all I needed."
"Bye, Mom."
"Bye, Toshiro."
Toshiro turned off the equipment.
"Well, everything went better than expected…"
"Yeah… Okay, I'll be going to Sakamoto, or she'll rip me a new one."
"Heh, you do that."
"At least accompany me to the exit…"
"Okay, okay, my little creampuff…"
"Not creampuff! That would imply I'm fat… I like my current curves, thank you very much!"
"Heheh… But you're as sweet as a creampuff, you dummy…"
"Heehee… Okay, let's go."
The two went out of the building, and saw Perrine, Lynne, Shizuka, and Mio waiting for them.
"Hmmm… I kind of liked you with your hair loose, Shizuka…" Toshiro said.
"Um… Thank you sir…"
"Will you stop siring me already…" He sighed.
Shizuka bit her lips and turned around. It gave him a good look at her new ribbon, which she indeed must have received from Mio.
"So, Miyafuji, everything okay back home?"
Yoshika nodded.
"Good to hear. Now, onwards!"
"Yeees…" The trainees moaned and started jogging straight forward, which was south using cardinal directions.
Well, that's that. Now to go and enjoy some leisure…
"Yo, Bro…"
Not…
"Wassup, Erica? You're in serious mode, are you?"
"Yeeeaah… Listen… I want you to help me with my training…"
"Oh? Why must it be me?"
"Because… Well… You have the fastest reaction time and probably the second strongest shields in the unit… And you can keep quiet, heheh…"
"What kind of devilish scheme are you planning, huh? Are you trying to lure me into the forest and rape me brutally?"
"You'd wish, fucking perv!" Erica yelled. "No, I'm really wanting to try something out… I have been thinking about it for the last week, and today, I've reached the conclusion that it's either do or die."
"Well, if you want so badly, I'll accompany you. Do we need our gear?"
"No, no. We only need our legs to get to the forest to the east."
"You've scouted out a dense part beforehand, huh?" Toshiro asked with a wry smile.
"The content of my skull isn't idle, bro. You wanted me to change yourself, right?"
"Somewhat… Okay, let's go."
The dry branches were crackling under their massive boots as they were traversing the forest. The smell of the pines was relaxing Toshiro.
"Are we there yet?"
"Yeah, look before you."
Toshiro saw a small clearing amongst the trees. They stepped inside the circular shape, and Toshiro looked west. The base was invisible from this point.
"Okay, tell me what are you planning, Erica."
"I need your time dilution and shields to help me if my experiment gets out of control, that's all."
"Experiment you say… What does it concern?"
"My Sturm, Toshiro. Did you see my attack in detail lately?"
"Nope."
"It evolved a bit, let me show you. Don't get close by the way."
"Don't need to tell me that…"
Erica put her right hand forward and a violent gust of wind started forming a blue ball shape.
"Hmmm… I didn't see your Sturm ever looking like that…"
"I started thinking how I could improve it, and instead of enveloping my whole body in the razor sharp winds, I started concentrating them in this ball shape. This way, I have a slightly bigger freedom when doing a Sturm."
"Impressive, Erica… Very impressive. But you didn't want to drag me all the way here just to tell me that?"
"Of course not! I've been thinking… You see, the Sturm is initially a cold wind, but what would happen if I concentrated and started compressing the air, so it started heating up instead?"
"You'd have a lukewarm Sturm?" Toshiro shrugged.
"Oh come on, treat me seriously!"
"Heh, sorry… But I doubt you would heat it up to the point it would be deadly, right?"
"No, I would burn through my magic reserves before I could boil a cup of water… But, I could do TWO Sturms at the same time!"
"Impressive… But… What could that possible do, except for maybe having the possibility of… heheh… double penetration?"
"You damn perv… I've been thinking about a totally new attack, Toshiro, but it's just a theory… You know what happens when a cold wind and a warm wind collide?"
"A storm brews?"
"Yup, exactly!"
"So you want to make a miniature storm using two Sturms of opposite temperatures?"
"Uhum!" Erica nodded with an honest smile.
"And you need me, so I can save you if shit hits the fan?"
"Uhum!"
"Well okay, let it rip…"
"Stay behi… Oh wait, stay wherever you like, not that you wouldn't react fast enough…"
"Heh…"
Toshiro positioned himself before Erica. She put out her left hand and called forth a Sturm.
"Now the tricky part…" She mumbled.
She took her right hand and placed it over the Sturm. Erica now looked as if she tried to compress the ball of wind and ether with her bare hand, accompanied by sounds similar to a circular saw being used. At the same time, the color started changing from slight blue to a pale orange, and the sound stopped.
"Phew… The tougher part completed… Now for the normal Sturm." She said and summoned forth a Sturm in her right hand.
"I somehow have a feeling this will go south, Erica…"
"Come on… Ursie is blowing up prototypes on a weekly basis and she's still alive!"
"Ooooookay… Do it."
"I kind don't know if I should just slam the two together or do it slowly…"
"Slowly at the first time is a good idea…"
"I would kick you in the nards if I weren't keeping up my magic… Okay, slow it is…"
Erica slowly started bringing up the two balls together, with the focal point being before her chest. When the balls were ten centimeters apart, an electric arc skipped between them with an audible crack. A fierce wind started sweeping around them, raising branches, pinecones, and needles in the air.
"Erica…"
"Hey, a storm without lightning ain't a storm, right?"
Toshiro shrugged and braced himself.
When the two Sturms touched each other, they got linked into one bigger ball.
"Oh!" Erica shouted. "It worked… Now I wonder if…"
The two colors were slowly mixing but the new single Sturm started vibrating in her hand.
"Toshiro, get that thing away from the both of you, now!"
He diluted time and ran up to Erica, grabbing her in the waste and running away fifty meters. He turned himself and Erica around and resumed the normal time flow.
"Wh…"
Not even a second passed and the ball of magic exploded midair like a half-ton aerial bomb. Toshiro had to shield them from the blast as it engulfed them. He could feel Erica clinging unto him, pressing her almost inexistent breasts against his body.
Once the explosion faded out, Toshiro saw that the trees around ground zero were all fallen down at a distance of at least sixty meters, the ones closest to it burnt to a cinder.
"Erica… You have two choices… Either you never EVER try that or you do it ONLY under my supervision. No middle ground or I will punish you severely. And I'm not even trying to joke…"
Erica only said, "I'll stop for now…" before she started shaking.
Toshiro started patting her on the head to calm her down and embraced her.
"Toshiro, what the hell happened?!" He heard Adolfine's voice through the transponder.
"Why the fuck are you already blaming me?!"
"Ah, so you know that something exploded, right?"
"It was me, experimenting with something. Sorry for the lack of prior notice…"
"Oh, I suppose it's okay then… Girls, stand down, false alarm…"
"So, Erica, feeling a bit better?" He asked with a soft voice.
"Yes… A tad… You can let me go now; I want to take a look at that crater…"
"Let's go together."
They approached the crater caused by the explosion, which was shining oddly. Erica tried to touch it but Toshiro shouted, "Stop!"
Erica stopped her hand just in the nick of time.
"Woah, it's hot… Thanks for the tip, Bro…"
"The heat of the explosion was so immense that the sand in the soil melted and the sand it it turned into glass… Holy fuck…"
"Damn… Bro, if you weren't here for me…"
"I would have trouble discerning you from those burnt trees... That was reckless as fuck, you know that?"
"Yes… I'm sorry…"
"But nothing bad happened to you… How do you feel?"
"Tired… I can move but my head is spinning a bit…"
"Come on, I'll give you a ride back to your room."
"Oh, will you? Thanks Bro, you're the best…"
Erica crawled on his back and he went with her to the main building. When he opened the door, Minna and Adolfine were waiting for him, staring at him fiercely.
"Whaaaaat? I'm a Generalmajor, I can do whatever I want, shoo you two."
"You should inform us about such experiments, you dunce," Adolfine said angrily. "What if something happened to you? Not to mention the fact that the two of us jumped from our chairs when we heard the blast."
"Well, sorry…" Toshiro said in an apologetic tone.
"At least you're okay…" Minna sighed. "But what's Erica doing on your back?"
"Audience."
"I somehow have trouble believing that…"
"Give me a break, you two… It's unfair…"
"What's unfair? The two of us teaming up against you?" Adolfine asked with a sly grin. "Toshiro, we didn't even start…"
"Shut up already you all…" Erica mumbled. "I want to my room."
"Well, somebody has issues…" Adolfine said.
"A tired Erica is a grumpy Erica…" Minna sighed. "Oh go already, I guess I won't get answers from you fast…"
"And that's the proper attitude!" Toshiro cheered and ran off.
"Thanks Bro…" Erica said as he was placing her on her top-bunk resting place. "Close the door if you can…"
"Yeah, yeah…"
Toshiro exited the room and went to his.
"Kye?"
"What is it, Toshiro?" Kye answered as she appeared lying beside him on the bed.
"At least you're trying to be as humanlike as possible… Anyways, did I just see the birth of an Ultimate in my universe?"
"If you call that a birth, then I must say it was rather an abortion. But yes, you could say it's something like an Ultimate. Different universe, different rules."
"I wonder what I should call them, since Ultimates is already coined in your universe…"
"Haha, how nice of you to think about copyright! Well, you don't have to classify or name it. It works? It works. So why bother naming it?"
"I think you're right, Kye. As always, much to my mortal dismay…" Toshiro said and sighed. "Gimme a tip, Kye. Should I let her train or outright ban that technique?"
"You know that the second option would be hypocrisy on an inter-universal level?"
"Heh… Okay then, option one it is. Any tips on how I should train her?"
"Erica has to focus on her concentration, like everyone learning an Ultimate in my universe. One thing else I can hint you too are vectors and directions."
"Vectors and directions… I'll see what Erica and I will ponder up when we put our heads together. Maybe I should send her to Mio for training?"
"That is also an option, Toshiro."
"Well, thanks for an actually informative and productive conversation, Kye."
"One more tip for you, on the house, Toshiro. Go to the door, now."
"If you say so… Bye, Kye."
"Bye," She said as she disappeared.
Toshiro lifted his lazy ass and ran to the door. He opened it and saw a man in his late fifties with a hand raised. He had some kind of weird uniform he didn't recognize.
'Yes?" Toshiro asked.
"I'm the postman. I have a delivery for one Toshiro von Edelweiss, but I guess that would be you."
"Indeed."
"Well then…" The man leaned over past the doorframe and pulled out a big package. "Five pounds."
"Hurrrr… Wait a second…" Toshiro pulled out his wallet and scoured it. "Okay, here…"
"Thank you. Sign here and I'll be scooting off." The postman said and gave him a clipboard with a paper attached and a pen.
Toshiro found his name and gave his signature.
"Thank you again, and good day."
"Yeah, likewise."
Toshiro looked as the postman mounted his sturdy bicycle and drove down the runway towards Sint-Truiden.
I thought they would send a courier but whatever… Hmm… The package is soft… Ah! I know!
Toshiro looked at the sender address and confirmed his suspicions. He took the package with him and placed it on the bed of his room. He then pulled out a pen from his chest and wrote, "Yoshika Miyafuji" on the package.
"Done and done. What to do now…"
"Go out of your room and turn left."
"Playing omniscient are you?"
"To a limited degree…"
Toshiro walked out of his room and after looking left, he saw the two blondes from the NJG, standing before Erica's and Trude's bedroom.
"Ahem…" Toshiro cleared his throat making the girls jump up. "What are you two planning?"
"Um… We wanted to play around with Erica…" Siegfriede said.
"She's resting now. And I really mean resting."
"Oh…" Karla said. "We'll try another time then."
"Wait a second… Shouldn't you two be training? I saw Adolfine, but maybe she just left the three of you unsupervised…."
The two stiffened up immediately.
"Ah! So you're both playing truant…" Toshiro said with a wry smile. "I should report this to my dear friend…"
"P-Please, Herr Generalmajor, we'll return to Georgina immediately, but don't tell anything to Generalmajor Galland!" Karla pled.
"Too late," Adolfine said with a cold voice from behind them.
The two turned around slower than an iceberg, and when they finally met their superior officer, she grabbed the two by their ears and dragged them down the stairs.
Heheheh… Well time to visit the library…
Toshiro went to said room and indulged himself into reading.
Around dinner time, he heard a knock on the opened door. He moved his eyes from the book and saw a white-brown haired girl in a miko outfit with a shortened hakama and vambraces, one of the possible uniforms for the Fusojin witches.
"My, my… And who are you, little beauty?" Toshiro asked flirtatiously.
"Heehee… How do I look, Toshiro?"
"Stunning, Yoshika. Really. Fucking. Marvelous."
"Thank you, Toshiro… I really appreciate the new outfit… It feels… Nice… The material is soft and the stitches are barely noticeable or tangible."
"I paid premium to get such a high quality outfit, Yoshika. So, did anyone see you?"
"Nope. Let's surprise everyone, heehee…"
"So I guess dinner's ready?"
"Yup!"
They entered the dining hall while holding hands.
"Wooooah, Yoshika!" Francesca shouted and ran up to her. "Nice! You look like Mami!"
"Only a whole lot taller and… fuller… heh…" Shirley smirked.
"Miyafuji, when did you get that outfit?" Mio asked.
"Today, right, Toshiro?"
"The mailman delivered it just a few hours ago."
"Well, I must admit you look damn good in it…" Mio said.
"Heehee, thank you, Miss Sakamoto."
"You look really nice, Yoshika," Lynne said.
"Okay, stop the praising, I'm hungry…" Erica moaned.
"Don't be such a sourpuss, Erica," Toshiro said.
"We all agree Yoshika looks nice in that outfit, right?" Erica made a pause waiting for something. "Ugh… Right?!"
Most of the girls nodded.
"See, Toshiro? Fast and efficient. Now sit down you two…"
"I'm being commanded by a Hauptmann… Trude, you're allowing this?"
"It's probably because it's about you, heheh…" She responded.
Toshiro approached the table, and he saw Hanna looking at him curiously.
"Morning, Hanna," He said.
"Oh, morning, Toshiro…" She answered silently. "I would like to talk about something later…"
"Fire away, I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay then," She smiled softly.
Toshiro sat on his usual place at the head of the table.
"Hey, Toshiro…" Minna leaned over to him from the right side. "It seems you've employed your ice pick faster than usual…" She whispered.
"You made that sound more perverted than necessary… Trude gave me a good tip, that's all."
"Ah… So Hanna went into your room, right?"
"Yup."
"Wow… That must have been a shock…"
"For all three of us present…"
Dinner passed, and Adolfine made an announcement at the end.
"The girls from my unit are to assemble in the briefing room in ten minutes. Jabs, use that time well."
"Affirmative."
"No need for me to attend?" Toshiro asked.
"Actually… Ah, why don't I sort this out now? Sanya, will you be flying each and every night, or can we build a schedule without you on some days?"
"Hmmm…" Sanya pondered. "I wouldn't mind a free day or two once in a while…"
"Good to hear. Toshiro, agreed?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Splendid. Ten minutes." Adolfine reminded her underlings and went out.
"Um, Toshiro…" He heard the voice of Hanna from behind him.
"Yeah, come on. Where do you want to talk?"
"My room… If it ain't a bother…"
"Sure, let's go."
Toshiro and Hanna went off to Hanna's room. It was a room that could be described with one word – ascetic.
"Sit down, please," Hanna said and pointed out the single bed.
Toshiro made himself comfortable on it and asked, "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Yesterday…"
"I thought we had that behind us…?"
"No, I wanted to apologize about my combat performance… Three shots were too much for a simple target like that…"
"Three shots… Even Lynne needs more sometimes…"
"Lynne?"
"That puffy chested, sweater wearing friend of Yoshika."
"Ah, her… Is she a good shot?"
"Depending on the circumstances, she's a crack shot that could sharpen a pencil from a kilometer. Her innate magic and training enable that."
"Oh… You think… She could give me some tips?"
"Yeah, sure. Just ask her. She's a bit on the shy side herself, so don't sweat about it."
"Okay, I'll try," She smiled.
"While were here… Let me ask you some personal questions… You can refuse to answer anytime, okay?"
"Yes."
"You're a Nachthexe, but you've only manifested your Magic Eye during the battle. Why?"
As a response, Hanna's right eye started glowing purple, and an impressive array of Magical Antennae.
"Wow… Two innate magic types… And those two helical antennas with the fractal antenna in the middle ain't too shabby either."
"Heh… Thanks… But I don't manifest both of my magic types at the same time because my magic consumption rises dramatically…"
"Ah, so it's such a simple answer. Well, good to know. Next question… Who took care of you after the accident?"
"Uh… Well… My grandparents and my aunt… But my aunt was a real bitch, manipulating my grandparents… I had enough of her every single fucking time I heard her voice or saw her face… Oh, pardon…"
"Nah, don't worry, I don't mince words either. Well, last question, a lightweight one – ain't that hair a bitch to maintain? I wore mine a bit shorter, but damn…"
"Heheh… Someone was always helping me wash it…"
"So your relationships with the others from your unit are good?"
"You could say… I befriended Georgi the fastest, since I landed in her room and… Well… Um… We… Err…"
"You don't have to tell me the details… I learned firsthand that she's… versatile…"
"Phew…" Hanna relaxed. "It's hard to talk about it…"
"And the blondes?"
"Day by day I slowly grew fond of them, simple… I would probably open towards you one day, just like that… But I have the feeling somebody put a hand to it…"
"Well, you're right, but let's not talk about that… How about my compatriots from the 501st?"
"Oh, I somehow liked them from the start… It freaked me out a bit, but well… Seems I'm changing gradually…"
"Then how about Adolfine?"
"I dunno… She's a Generalmajor, but she tries to behave like everyone's pal…"
"Ain't that good? She's a nice and honest woman. She helped me so many times, that I probably lost count. Trust her as a friend and superior, and you won't regret it."
"O-Okay, I'll try to do so. And with the rest of your unit."
"But be wary of Francesca…"
"That little Romagnan? What's her deal?"
"She's a bit grabby…"
"Grabby… Grabby…" Hanna looked down at her rack. "Oh… I liked it when Georgi fondled my breasts back th… Why am I even telling you about this?!"
"Cuz we're friends?"
"Fastest made friends I ever had… We should adjourn our meeting, I have a briefing."
"Yeah, go. If you have anything to talk about, fire away."
"Will do, Toshiro."
"And you should do something about the room… Seriously, a hermit has more flair to his cavern than you…"
"I'm a soldier of Karlsland; I don't have to decorate my room…"
"But you're a girl, and it's weird for you to live in such a barren wasteland of a room."
"Maybe later…"
They went out of the room and Hanna ran off up the stairs.
"Toshiroooo…" A slightly irritated voice of Yoshika came to his ears.
He turned around and saw her standing before him, in her usual uniform this time.
"Aw, why not in the miko outfit?"
"I don't want to get it dirty. Let's go for a walk."
"Different path this time?"
"Sure!"
They went on towards the east. Toshiro had a feeling where this would end, but he was silent about it. They arrived at the place where Erica's experimental technique detonated.
"Wooooow… So this happened in the morning… Damn, Toshiro, what did you do?"
"I can tell you only if you'll be silent about it."
"You know I can keep my lips sealed, right?"
"Yeaaah… It was Erica."
"Erica?"
"Yeah. She was experimenting with a way to improve her Sturm and stuff got out of control…"
"Oh my… But nothing happened to you two, right?"
"Aside from the scare for Erica and her expending a lot of magic, nothing."
"Whew, I'm glad. Well, if Erica would develop something like the Great Sturm… Hmmm…"
"It's quite possible according to Kye, but she's a bit cryptic as always. But well, not meddling and such… She recommended to send her to Mio for training though."
"To Sakamoto? Weird… But I guess if somebody should train Erica, it would be either you or her… Heehee, I'll have a new training buddy…"
"Hah… Okay, let's continue, okay?"
"Yeah."
They walked around until it was time to prepare supper.
"Another nice walk… I wonder how long we'll be here…" Yoshika said as they were approaching the main building.
"A few weeks and then off to Frankfurt… How long after that point? No damn idea…"
"Maybe we'll be staying until winter? We never were on a mission while it was winter in Europe, right?"
"Yeah… Nor were we at fall… Imagine a snowball fight…"
"O… Ohoho… That will be fun!"
"You really want to spend so much time here?"
"I don't mind with you at my side, heheh…"
"You sometimes are sweeter than sugar… Okay, I'll go check in the office, and you make a good supper!"
"I will!"
Toshiro went to the office and saw Adolfine doing some paperwork at the desk and Minna sitting in a chair, reading yesterday's newspaper.
"What a peaceful and serene scene… So, what was the briefing about, Adolfine?"
"We've set up a schedule for night patrols, want to take a look?"
"Yeah…"
Toshiro took a glance at the roster.
Mon: SanT (Kar) - HanT (Sie)
Tue: SanT (Eil) - HeiT (Geo)
Wed: SanT (Sie) - HanT (Kar)
Thu: HeiT (Sie) - HanT (Geo)
Fri: SanT (Eil) - HeiT (Kar)
Sat: SanT (Geo) - HeiT (Sie)
Sun: HeiT (Geo) - HanT (Kar)
"Looks okay to me. Oh, and Sanya has two days off each week. Heh… What does the T stand for?"
"Team leader. As you see, we devised three team leaders with wingmen changing each time. One team will patrol the area in a 180 degree arc north, and the other will cover the same area south."
"I see. You are indeed more experienced than me…" Toshiro said. "Wait, Eila is also participating?"
"Yeah, she barged into the briefing, demanding we team her up with Sanya," Adolfine explained. "She was the ideal filler for the schedule."
"Figures… Well… The two free days will surely warm up the bed in their room, if you know what I mean, heh…"
"Speaking of which… Toshiro, I advise you take a bath…" Minna said with a mysterious smile.
"Today already?"
"Yup. Yoshika was in a good mood today and she agreed."
"So only us four?"
"For now…"
Toshiro shuddered.
"Well, I wonder what could happen to fuck up the remainder of this day."
And thus, the telephone rang.
"Fuck…" Toshiro sighed and picked up the phone. "Von Edelweiss."
"Ike here."
"Oh, General Eisenhower, wassup?"
"Ah, you know… Commanding and such… I wanted to give you a heads up, since you'll be getting a transport tomorrow, straight from the U.S. of L.!"
"Oh? You've got me intrigued…"
"And let's stop at that. I don't want to spoil the surprise, haha! Just have your good Liberian friend in top shape, okay?"
"Well okay, Ike. Anything else you want from me?"
"That poker game invitation is still open…"
"Maybe after the war, okay?"
"Okay! Ike, over and out!"
Toshiro placed the receiver on the hook.
"Eisenhower?!" Minna almost shouted. "What did he want?"
"There will be a mysterious transport tomorrow. He only wanted Shirley in top shape, that's all…"
"Hmmm…" Both Minna and Adolfine pondered.
"Well, no sense in busting our heads over this. Let's go eat something, supper will be ready soon."
"Okay, but I have a bit of paperwork left." Adolfine said.
"I'll wait…" Toshiro said and sat in a chair. "What's in the paper, Minna?"
"Nothing interesting…"
"Ah well, whatever…"
Toshiro waited for Adolfine to finish and they went for supper. Afterwards, he went to the bath, and much to his joy and surprise, Shizuka was in the water as he approached the bath itself in full naked glory.
"S-S-S-Sir! I'm leaving immediately! P-P-Pardon for the disturbance!"
"No, you can stay…"
"B-But…"
"Stay I said… I won't bite you… How far away should I sit?"
"Ummm… Four meters would be good…"
Toshiro roughly calculated the distance and sat in the bath.
"I could finally catch you au naturele, heheh… And damn you to hell, you're more developed than Yoshika! And you're two years younger for fucks sake! What an injustice…"
"Oh… Um… Does that bother you, sir?"
"I told you a million times to stop siring be already…"
"I can't help it…"
"Oh, whatever… I'm just a bit ticked off at how the world can be unjust, but hey, you should be happy to bloom so fast! Look at Francesca, she's only five months younger than you, but she's a flat shorty."
"Oh… Well… I suppose I should be a bit proud…" She smiled slightly.
"Ah, well, while we're here… Want me to serve you? A special service for my fans only!"
"N-No thanks! I don't need anything f-from you!" Shizuka shouted red as a crayfish while flailing her arms wildly before herself.
"Awwww… You've hurt my feelings…" Toshiro pouted.
"I-I-I didn't intend to! Please forgive me!" She yelled and started bowing frantically.
"You're too stuck up, Shizuka… Get a hint..."
"Sorry…"
"Don't be. Well, if you don't want anything from me, I'll be going. But the offer stands."
Toshiro got out of the bath, dried and dressed himself. He then went to his room. Yoshika was lying on the bed, reading a book.
Yoshika's nose wiggled a bit and she said, "Heehee, you smell clean…"
"I've received a tip…"
"Oh did you…"
A knock on the door was heard.
"Come in!" Yoshika said aloud.
In came Minna and Adolfine, and locked the door behind them.
"Ohohooooo… And so, it begins… Yoshika, I hope you'll be easy on our new member?"
"Easy on Adolfine? Why should I?" She grinned.
"Yeah, why should she? I like challenge! My body is ready!"
"Now, ladies… Why don't I liberate you from those clothes of yours…?" Toshiro asked.
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