Chapter 13 – Whoops

The next day, Toshiro woke up with a feeling that something's amiss.

Today has an event… But what… Hmm… Think… Think… Think…

"Toshirooooo… Your pondering is too loud, pipe down a bit…"

"You can read my mind?" Toshiro asked stumped.

"Noooo… But I feel when you're thinking intensively in the morning… I know, weird, but it seems the case right now…"

"Weird indeed… I'm thinking about what should happen today. There's something I'm missing…"

"Maybe a birthday?"

"Nah, the next birthday happening for my girls is Christmas Eve…"

"Oh, right… Franny…"

"Although… Oh shit… Shit… Shit… Fuck!"

"Who is it?"

"Siegfriede."

"You don't know her too long, she'll understand…"

"But a birthday is a birthday, and it is to be celebrated! Especially in these difficult times…"

"Good luck with that, slowpoke… It's Sunday today. All shops are most likely closed shut."

"Aaaaaah craaaaaaaap! Then you'll bake a cake!"

"Wha?!" Yoshika stood up. "Why should I?"

"Because I'm asking you?"

"Try to be more polite, dummy…"

"Well then… Please, bake a cake that will stun the masses, o divine maiden!"

"Pffheeheehee…" Yoshika chuckled. "Oh you… Okay, I'll make one… I hope Siegfriede won't barge into the kitchen…"

"She should be sleeping after a night patrol, so that won't be a problem. Ah, crap, I have to organize a roster…"

"You go to the office, I'll scour the pantry for supplies."

"Wise words!" Toshiro said and kissed Yoshika on the cheek. "You fared well last night, Sweetie."

"Oh… Well…" she blushed fiercely. "I guess Livy helped a bit, right?"

The person in question appeared quickly, sitting in a provocative position before them, dressed only in black silk underwear.

"Good morning, Master and Mistress," she said politely. "I helped your body a bit. Master is rather… well equipped as he is right now, but that would be too much even with your regenerative powers. Thanks to that you can walk normally now, heehee…"

"I kind of knew that was it…" Yoshika pondered. "Come on, Livy, lie down a bit with me, let's have some girl talk!"

"Oh, can I, Master?!" Livy asked Toshiro vividly.

"Yeah, sure," he smiled and patted her on the head. "Just don't scheme to hard, kay?"

"Okay!" Yoshika cheered, and tucked herself into Livy's side.

Toshiro dressed himself and ran to the office, only to find surprise inhabitants.

"Morning, Toshiro," Minna said with her usual optimism.

"Minna? Here? At this hour? With Mio?!"

"Well, we thought we could organize the roster ourselves, since you'd probably botch it up anyway." Mio said.

"Well fucking thanks for the recognition…" Toshiro pouted.

"Come on, Toshiro… We're helping you, that's one thing. Two, we have more experience in this kind of work," Minna explained. "And three, you've got your pants wrong."

Toshiro looked down and saw his butt pockets in the front.

"Well, this is awkward…"

"But you're eagerness to do paperwork is commendable, heehee…" Minna giggled.

Toshiro flipped his pants towards the right way and said, "I probably owe you two one, huh?"

"Just wait a few minutes, okay? We want your approval," Mio said.

"Ah, so I am needed after all?"

"We don't want to do anything against your will, Toshiro. If you have some plans towards the girls, then fire away."

"Not technically work related, but Siegfriede's birthday is today and… I kind of forgot to prepare…"

"I don't blame you, we've only known her less than a month…" Mio said. "She should be happy you wish her "Happy Birthday.""

"Yeah, no. Yoshika is going to bake her a cake if she finds the ingredients, and I'll bother about the rest later… Ah, by the way, Mio… Nice card I sent you?"

"Ah, that… Well, it came in a bit late, but thanks…" Mio said while blushing slightly.

"Oh, Mio, you've got a card from Toshiro? How nice…"

"Yeah, a birthday card…"

Minna stopped writing and looked at Mio apologetically.

"Eheh… Eheheh… I forgot… Sorry…"

"Don't sweat it, Minna. Being reminded I'm 21 is… urgh…" Mio shuddered.

"Ah… Speaking of reminding… Minna, could you remind me at about 1600 or something that I should call Ursula? I totally forgot…"

"Am I being demoted to your secretary or what?" Minna asked a bit irritated.

"No, you're still on your current position... But just in case Yuki and I forget…"

"Okay, okay…"

Toshiro waited for a minute or two and Minna finally presented him with a roster.

"Let's see… I get to go with Yoshika and Lynne… Shirley is going with Francesca and Perrine… Erica with Trude and…. Heheh, Shizuka… And whoever from the NJG is available in a morning also goes. Good job, Minna."

"Hey, I also helped!"

"Yes, good job, Mio. Okay, I'll be going now, I have to see if that birthday cake has a chance of being baked…"

"Tell Miyafuji to make breakfast first."

"So you won't bother her with training until she bakes it, right, Mio?"

"I suppose so…" Mio shrugged. "I mean, she's progressing like mad, so a day's break won't harm her too much."

"You've really changed, Mio…"

"I have more time to think now, Toshiro. I've thought a few things through… But the results, I won't give away, no way!"

"Hahah!" Toshiro laughed heartily while he was exiting the room.

When he appeared in the dining hall, and he saw that Yoshika and Lynne started making breakfast.

"Good morning, Toshiro," The Britannian said.

"Morning, Lynnie. Did Yoshika tell you already?"

"Yes, Toshiro. I'll help her!" Lynne responded eagerly.

"As much as I would like for that to happen, Mio only exempted Yoshika from training for now."

"Oh… How unfortunate…" Lynne said with a sad face.

"But I bet my cake will cheer you up!" Yoshika cheered.

"Heehee, I hope too."

"So there's a possibility for a cake, Yoshika?"

"Yes, a chocolate cake, since we have that in abundance. I'll refrain from adding fruits, since I don't know if everyone likes them."

"Good idea. Therefore, as you've heard, you can bake the cake, unbothered by anyone. Mio won't be forcing her inhuman training methods on you today."

"Oh, but I'll go training after I bake the cake!"

"Really? Holy shit, Yoshika, you've changed!" Toshiro shouted surprised.

"Bah! Now I have so much stamina, that I can endure all the arduous training, just like that, haha!"

"You've come a long way, Yoshika… I still remember you being out of breath after two laps of the runway… Actually, I didn't see you training here…"

"Oh right, you didn't… You were always busy with something… Time to change it!"

"Yeah, I have to do an inspection, heheh… Want some help with that breakfast?"

"We'll manage," Lynne said.

"Then I'll just catch some air…"

Toshiro walked outside, and saw Adolfine leaning against the wall.

"Oh look who we have here… Did your morning lifting, Adi?"

"Contrary to you, I have to do it," she answered indifferently.

"Oh come on, don't be sour about that little fact…"

"I was sour, now I understood that you did it just to socialize with me… Thanks…"

"No prob, Adi. Also catching some air?"

"Yes… We have an astronomical fall right now, so the air will be getting colder and colder in the morning…"

"I like it. I like how the seasons change from summer to fall... The sunsets seem to be getting longer and longer, so I can admire them more and more… There's nothing like watching a sunset during November, when the cold air of the impending night tickles your nose…"

"Toshiro, Toshiro, stop getting so damn poetic, haha!"

"Yeah… You didn't want poetry when we were together heheheh…"

"I'm still wondering why I let you fuck me… Hmm…"

"Maybe because you trusted me?"

"That should be the case. I wouldn't do it on some stupid whim, given my experience with men…"

"Man, singular."

"Right, right… But that bastard overshadowed my life well enough…"

"Found somebody to replace him?"

"Not yet… I didn't announce myself on the free-market so to speak." Adolfine said while flicking her fingers in air-quotes.

"Well, the same day you do that, you'll probably have a swarm of admirers on your doorstep."

"I'll do that after this whole long operation is over… If it's over… I hope… I really want to ground a family…"

"Would you look at that… You also did some thinking after I left?"

"Also?"

"Mio said she did some pondering on her life, but she didn't tell exactly what she pondered out."

"I suppose you can say the same about me, heehee… So, what's your agenda for today?"

"Announce the new roster at breakfast, tell Erica and Trudy about their new toys, supervise the baking of a certain cake, do an inspection on Mio while the girls are training, blank spot, Siegfriede's birthday, blank spot, calling Ursula, blank spot."

"Siegfriede's birthday? You sure like to celebrate those…"

"In times like these, every way to catch a glimpse of hope and to boost the morale of the girls is good. And I have the occasion to burn my through my money, hahahaha!"

"I wonder how much money you have now…" Adolfine pondered, looking into the blue sky.

"A lot. If I retired now and led a modest life, shit, maybe my grandkids would get some scraps."

"Oh right… You've gotten that finder's fee… And your current pay is nothing to fart at either."

"Yeah. And the upkeep for the unit doesn't even take half of it… Oh whatever, I guess being rich ain't a crime, huh?"

"Why should it, Toshiro? Feeling a bit… over privileged?"

"Sort of… I mean, we get so much money that it would blow the mind of an average Joe and Jane…"

"It sure seems like that when nothing is happening… Especially during periods of extended silence from the Neuroi… But remember, we are paid for what happens during the other periods, and this is the least the military can offer. Sure, we could be conscripted forcefully and live off a five pound monthly wage, but that would have a detrimental effect on the girl's morale."

"It sure would do… Risking your life and limb for five pounds monthly… Pfff… But it still would be more than some people earn in a quarter of a year…"

"Let's drop this topic, Toshiro. If we start thinking of ourselves as mercenaries, than we could fall into a mercenary thought pattern, i.e. no money – no work, and how they pay me, so I work."

"And that would be even more dangerous… Yeah, let's drop that topic…"

"So, returning to that birthday… Anything special planned?"

"Yoshika will be making a chocolate cake, but the rest? Dunno… I'll give Siegfriede some monies after we rake her into the dining hall and wish her Happy Birthday…"

"You forgot, huh?" Adolfine asked with a sly smile.

"Yeah… And it's a damn Sunday today…"

"She'll have to put up with a modest party then, simple. If you can call a party with nineteen people modest…"

"And I still have that spirit I bought…"

"Uh, what?"

"I have a case of Victoria Braurei AG 96% alcohol stashed away in the pantry."

"I doubt anyone beside us two and Minna would be foolhardy enough to even take a cap of that into their mouths…"

"Well, besides that, I can show you a trick I learned…"

"How to get drunk as fuck in a minute?"

"No, something different," Toshiro mumbled. "You'll see in due time. But anyway, let's get back inside, breakfast is probably nearing completion."'

"You'll sure need it today with all the things you want to undertake…"

They entered the dining hall, seeing most of the girls present, with the notable exceptions of the witches that had their night patrol.

Before they ate, Toshiro announced the new roster.

"Perfect!" Francesca cheered.

"I get such revered senpais in my team… Oh my…" Shizuka blushed while looking at Erica and Trude.

"How nice that we can go together, Yoshika," Lynne said gladly.

"I'm glad you like it, Minna and Mio put their hearts into planning all this out," Toshiro said while shooting a meaningful look towards the two. "The second point of our briefing now, is the fact that Trude and Erica got new toys. I'll follow you two to the hangar and show you them."

"Jawohl!" Trude shouted.

"Ouch, not so loud…" Erica mumbled.

"And the last point… Karla, do you perhaps know what day today is?"

"Hmmm… A Sunday?"

"Beside that."

"Hmmm… Oh, you know already, right?"

"Yeah, I know. Today, dear girls, is Siegfriede's birthday, and going with my tradition, we'll have a party after dinner. Of course I don't have to explain that this will involve secrecy before the birthday girl, right?"

The girls giggled as a response to his words.

"Oh, I've bought a present for Sigi!" Karla cheered.

"Whew, we've got that off the plate…" Toshiro sighed. "Yoshika will be making a cake, but I doubt we have any birthday candles or decorations…"

"Actually, we should have both… There are leftovers from Heidi's birthday from what I remember… I'll go look for them, okay?" Hanna asked.

"Sure, be my guest. Now, Erica and Trude come with me, Mio, you wait a bit for Erica, okay?"

"Sure, Toshiro. Perrine, Lynne, get prepared, we're going in twenty minutes."

"Roger," The two answered.

"No need to rush, Mio, I'll be dropping in for an… inspection so to speak."

"Took you some time to do it… Just come to us in front of the entrance when you're ready," Mio said.

"Then why don't you all assemble before the hangar?"

"Also a possibility. Perrine, Lynne, we're going for that."

"Roger," the two in question responded.

"Oh what now, I only have Karla to do training with?"

"Um, it seems so…" She responded.

"Come on, you'll do some lifting in my room. Feel yourself privileged."

"Heheh, okay."

"Oh, but I can join after I've found what I wanted, no problem…" Hanna said.

"Ah, I hoped you'd say so. That's what we'll do." Adolfine said. "Forward march, Karla!"

"Jawohl!" Karla stood up and went out.

"Then I'll go my way…" Hanna stood up and followed Karla out.

"Come on, cousin. Show me what our Vaterland sent us!" Trude cheered wildly.

"Hey, can I go and see too?" Shirley asked.

"You're asking me?" Toshiro asked.

"Of course I'm asking you, who else?"

"Yeah, you can go. Anyone can go if they want and are currently free."

"But what about the patrol then?" Mio asked.

"Well, shit… Forgot about it… Hmm… Sorry Shirley, Francesca, you gotta go it seems…"

"If I have to, I have to," Shirley said. "Come on, Francesca."

"Kay!"

"Anyone want to join them?"

"I don't think it's necessary," Minna answered. "The 506th is sending their girls today, so three witches aren't necessary."

"Ah, right, right. Well then, you two go, Erica and Trude follow me."

"Oh, but we can see the stuff anyway now! We're going into the hangar too!" Francesca said.

"I've probably taken too much things on my mind today… Follow me everyone who wants and has to…"

Toshiro led Shirley, Francesca, Trude, Erica, Eila, Lynne, Mio, Shizuka, and Perrine to the hangar.

"Okay now, this is the same MG I have for my own use," Toshiro said as he was pulling out the weapon for Erica out of its crate.

"Hoho… Now I'll be on par with Trudy in terms of raw firepower…" Erica said with a wry smile.

"But I'll still be ahead of you in terms of rate of fire."

"And ammo consumption…"

"Actually, Erica, why didn't you order a normal MG 151/20 or even a /15? Hell, an MG FF would be good!"

"I didn't need so much firepower to be honest, cuz I always relied on my Sturm mostly for the heavy lifting so to speak. But if they're giving me such a nice gun, I might as well accept…" Erica shrugged.

"Trudy, would you also want such a cool weapon?"

"I think I'll stay with my dual MG 42's, since handling two MG 151's is a bit beyond my dexterity."

"And one barrel shooting just doesn't cut it, huh?" Shirley asked.

"If they made a two-barrel version, hell, I want one!"

"I'll phone Ursula and ask whether they didn't come up with some modified MG42, just for you, okay, dearest cousin?"

"Heheh… If you can…" Trude blushed slightly.

"Then okay. But first, your currently newest toy…" Toshiro said and pulled out the RPzB 65 out of its crate.

A murmur went along all the gathered. Trude's eyes were sparkling as if she saw Yoshika and Chris in cute dresses, holding their hands together.

"Wooooo! Whuzat?" Francesca asked curiously.

"A new Panzerschreck revision. Now Sanya isn't the only with rocket based weaponry, heheh…"

Eila gave him an angry look.

"Ah, Eila, good that you're making yourself visible."

"Huh, what?"

"You're now chosen as Trudy's moving target."

"Uh… Wha?"

"Simple stuff, really. Just behave like a Neuroi and Trudy will fire at you. She has to get the hang of the rocket launcher before she carries it into combat."

"Eeeeeeh?!"

"Come on, Eila. You have your shields, and Trudy will be firing training rounds. Plus, you can predict when to pull up your shield…"

"Well, I suppose I can do it… Now?"

"Now would be a good time, since both of you are free now."

"Well okay…"

"Ah and…" Toshiro lowered his voice. "If Trudy tells me you've dodged a single one out of the only five available, valuable training rounds, I'll personally give you such an itinerary that you'll see Sanya next week at minimum."

Eila gulped audibly and nodded fiercely.

"Very good. Now, everyone do what they're assigned, and I'll go with you and your trainees, Mio."

"Sure thing, boss."

"Heh, boss… Shirley, Franny, good flight!"

"Thanks!" Both cheered.

Mio led Toshiro and the girls through the forest to the east to a clearing the size of a football field.

"Hoho… Somebody's been busy like hell…" Toshiro said.

"Most of the clearing was already good for use, but Miyafuji had to cut down some trees."

"I imagine it went rather fast, huh?"

"She was like some kind of lumberjack goddess…" Mio said.

"Well okay, do what you have to do. I'll watch for a few moments and return back I guess."

"As you wish. Girls, warm-up!"

And so, Toshiro looked at the girls being trained by Mio in the usual way. After an hour, Toshiro went back to the main building. He pulled on the door to the dining hall but it was locked.

"Who is it?" Yoshika asked from inside.

"Your man."

"Ah, come in!"

The door mechanism clicked and the door opened. Yoshika put her head through the door and looked around the corridor.

"Come in."

Toshiro came in and Yoshika locked the door behind him. Inside was nobody, but he could feel a nice smell.

"Why the secrecy, Yoshika?"

"One – Erica could barge in and try to gobble up the cake. Two – you never know if Siegfriede won't just wake up randomly."

"Aaah… As expected from my new and improved Yoshika. Good job, Sweetie. A bit paranoid, but good."

"Heehee… The cake is about to finish baking, so I'll join Sakamoto in a bit."

At the same time, something rang in the kitchen.

"Ah, the timer rang! Time to pull out the cake…"

Yoshika ran to the kitchen and after a minute, she presented him with a big, brown cake.

"Hoho, everyone will get a slice for sure!"

"A thin slice, but everyone indeed. Okay, I'll put it in the storage for cooling now and I'm running off to Sakamoto. I wonder if she'll be surprised…"

"If even, she won't show it."

"Why can't she just treat me normally…?" Yoshika sighed. "Although, I think she's a bit less strict towards me lately…"

"You're a 1st Lieutenant now, and on top of that, you're making astounding progress. That surely makes a dent on Mio's steel wall of strictness, right?"

"Heh… Okay, be right back."

Yoshika went and put the cake into the pantry, and then she returned to Toshiro.

"So, I'm going to Sakamoto. Till later, Toshiro!"

"Bye, Sweetie. Don't overdo it. I've heard how you had fun grubbing the forest…"

"Eheheh… The sword is made for cutting trees at high speed…"

"By the way, is it still black?"

"Yeah, why are you asking?"

"Maybe it's connected to the color of your hair… It's already at least a third healed so to speak…"

"I can't possibly know, Toshiro… Okay, bye!"

"Bye…"

Yoshika ran out of the room.

"Now what to do… Hummmm… Ah, I'll find Trudy or Eila…"

Toshiro decided to go to the dorm floor and saw Eila sitting on the windowsill before her room. He approached her and asked, "Can't wait for Sanya to wake up, huh?"

"Yeah… I could probably go inside, but I won't risk waking her up…"

"Did you get closer during the summer?"

"Yes, Toshiro… Especially on her birthday…"

"I see… I guess your arms weren't the only things sore…"

Eila blushed and mumbled, "Um… Yeah… Sort of…"

"It's good that you've found love in these troubled times…" Toshiro said softly.

"Heh… Yes… I'm so happy I have my Sanya… Are you're happy that you have Yoshika?"

"Yes, super happy. She's probably the best thing that has happened in my life…."

"And I feel the same about Sanya…"

"On a side note, how was training with Trudy?"

"She missed me two times."

"I hope you didn't put your hand towards her missing, huuuuh?" Toshiro chimed.

"Nope, I didn't. I restrained myself with my whole willpower, and I behaved just like a medium-sized Neuroi."

"Good job, Eila. Now, go into Sanya's room already, you'll kill yourself standing here."

"But…"

"Do it silently. Just lie besides her doing nothing, obviously behind her back. Don't talk, or grunt, or anything. Don't try to touch her. I bet she'll be in for a surprise when she turns around."

"You think this is a good idea?"

"If something bad happens, just tell her it was my idea."

"O…Okay… I'll try…"

"You're behaving like a ten year old boy who wants to give a Valentine's chocolate to a girl he likes… Come on, grow a pair! I know that Sanya wears the metaphorical pants in this relationship, but you can't be such a wet noodle…"

"But… But if I scare her off…"

"Scare her off how? If you'll be behaving like a normal human being, Sanya won't leave you no matter what."

"Okay, okay… I'm going in!"

"That's the spirit. You know where Trudy went?"

"She said she'll be residing in her room."

"Thanks for the info, good luck."

Eila quietly opened the door and went into her room. Toshiro went down the corridor and knocked on the third door from the right.

"Come in," Trude's voice sounded.

Toshiro opened the door and saw Trude tidying up the room.

"Oh, Toshiro. I'm currently tidying up the room a bit."

"Erica is still like a pig?"

"Yeah… But she cut down her messiness a bit compared to Romagna. I guess even she has to be conscious about the fact that in such a small room, we would be drowned in filth quickly."

"Heh… So, how's the new toy of yours?"

"Hah, nice one! I hit Eila three times after I've figured out the velocity of the rocket!"

"Good news. So I guess you'll be using it?"

"Bah! I found a strap inside the crate, so it won't be a bother to carry it into battle. Oh, and I found a satchel designed for carrying four rockets!"

"Very good! We'll have some serious firepower this way!"

"I bet! I've tested a Panzerschreck against Neuroi, but the blast shield obscured the view too much and it was cumbersome, not to mention the dingy loading procedure. But now, hah, it fires like a charm! And the caliber got increased, so it should pack an even bigger punch!"

"My, my… How enthusiastic... Okay, I think I'll look for Hanna…"

"Oh, she said she dropped off the decorations at your place."

"Ah, good then. Wait, she entered my room without permission? I'll have to reprimand her…"

"Toshiro being harsh to his girls? Now that's a rare occurrence…"

"I like my room private, that's it."

"Oh well…" Trude shrugged and returned to cleaning.

Toshiro went to his room and he saw two boxes with party decorations. He rummaged one of them and saw a pack of twenty birthday candles, of which sixteen were slightly used. He took one of the unused candles and replicated it sixteen times.

Well, we have decorations, we have a cake, Karla has a present for Siegfriede… Ah, I'll go to the office already…

Toshiro went to the office and found Minna, sitting behind the desk and reading a paper.

"Minna, do we have an envelope handy?"

"Yes, want one?"

"Please."

Minna opened one of the drawers and pulled out a white envelope with a swift movement.

"Thank you," Toshiro said as he pinched it of her.

"What do you need it for?"

"You can't just give birthday money like that, can you?"

"I suppose its bad taste to do so. How much are you giving her?"

"Fifty."

"Good amount, although I would go for forty."

"I got a fifty pound bill handy, so I'll go for fifty, meh…" Toshiro said and pulled out his wallet.

"It's your money…" Minna shrugged and returned to her paper. "By the way, shouldn't we have gotten our pay already?"

"Weird… I'll look into it when I call Ursula."

"Much appreciated. I don't like to call my superiors to be honest…"

"Count me in on that… But since I'm the head honcho now, I have to take the burden upon myself. And that's another thing you could remind me of, heheheh…"

"Oh go already… I want to read…"

"I'm moving my Generalmajor ass over somewhere where you won't see me."

Thus, Toshiro went to the library, picked up a few books and returned to his room.

Around noon, he heard a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Eila shyly poked her head into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Oh, Eila? How was it?"

Instead of vocally expressing her answer, she just sat beside Toshiro and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hmmm… That good?"

"Yes… When I laid beside Sanya, only a few seconds later, she turned around to me and she hugged me… She said, "Welcome back, Eila… What took you so long…?"… Damn, Sanya is so cute I almost cried… I embraced her and I slept by her side until she awakened for good a few minute ago."

"Dawwww… See, told ya it would work."

"But… How did you know that?"

"Let's say my feminine side told me that, heheh…"

"Toshiro and feminine… I would see the end of the world sooner than that, hahahaha!"

"Turned into a woman multiple times, plowed by a clone of myself, and gaining Yoshika's memories and abilities… Suuuuuure, I'm not feminine in 0.000001%..."

"And remember when you two lent your bodies to us?"

"Ah, that…"

"But where's Eila now?" He asked.

"She went to the dining hall to get some water."

"And here you are, kissing me. Off you go! Shoo! Make her a damn sandwich you numbskull!"

"R-Really? That's what she wants?"

"Of course!"

"Wah! What am I doing here now?!" Eila shouted and zipped out of the room.

Heheheh… I guess giving some tips to Eila is a good thing to do… She's sometimes helpless like a blind child in the mist... Now, back to books…

After some time, he had another guest.

Who now…

"Get in, whoever it is…"

The one who appeared was Georgina.

"Oh, this is a surprise. What's up?"

"I've heard stuff is happening today, Toshiro."

"Indeed, indeed…"

"Ah, and I see you have the decorations we've used on Heidi's sixteenth b-day?"

"Verily."

"Can I help somehow?"

"Hummm… You can help with decorating the dining hall and with other stuff. Or you can distract Siegfriede, dunno, take her on a ride with that Kradie of yours, after dinner for example…"

"Good idea! Oh, you think Shirley will lend me her bike?"

"Just ask her, and if it fails, tell her your mission objective."

"Kay, will do!"

"Dismissed."

"Jawohl!"

Some time passed, and another knock on the door was heard.

I should install a revolving door here or something…

"Come in…" Toshiro said with a tired voice.

"Heehee, it's me," Yoshika said.

"Why'd ya bother knocking, Yoshika?"

"Maybe you were doing… indecent stuff…"

"Yoshika… Really… I have no qualms about having sex with you, knowing how much eyes are observing us potentially, but bashing the bishop? Naaaah, I'd burn from shame…"

"Heheheh… Dinner's ready, come on."

"Yaaay… By the way, how are the preparations?"

"Our secret committee already devised a plan how to do everything."

"Secret committee… You know that you have to gain approval from your commanding officer to create formal gatherings, huh?"

"Heh, you and your jokes… So… It's like this…"

Yoshika explained the master plan for Operation Sieg Freude in all detail.

"Motha… Humpin… Genious… You really inherited my smarts… Even for shitty operation names, hahaha!"

"Heehee… Let's go, dinner is getting cold."

They entered the dining room, with Shirley and Francesca still not here after their shift and Trude, Shizuka and Erica missing, because they already started flying to Frankfurt to begin theirs. Siegfriede was siting besides Karla, and both had their usual rascallish aura around them.

"Now, this is an acceptable number of people, heheh… Everyone's day went fine?"

"Yeeeeeees!" Everyone answered.

"Good! Let's dig in!"

Dinner was eaten, and the operation commenced. Everyone who was able enough helped in decorating and miscellaneous tasks. Soon, everything was ready to receive Siegfriede. Hanna was keepin watch in the door, and as soon as she said, "They're coming!" Karla killed the lights.

"Oh… Wait, let me get the lights for you…" Siegfriede said with her elegant voice.

As soon as they came on, a loud "Surprise!" roared across the whole room.

"Wah! Oh… Whhhhaaat?" She asked with eye wide as saucers.

"Scouring through your file had its benefits, heheh…" Toshiro said. "Happy Birthday, Siegfriede."

"Oh thank you…" She said close to tears.

"Now, now, don't cry, there's still a party, a rather shabby one, but still a party to attend. Oh, and here…" Toshiro pulled out the envelope. "A little something."

She opened the enveloped, looked inside and jumped at Toshiro's neck.

"Thanks!"

"Hey, hey, I have a gift for you too!" Karla said.

"Oh!"

Karla gave her a small lumpy package, which Siegfriede opened immediately.

"Hmmm… A green scarf? Explain, Karla, because I don't know whether I should hug you or pout intensely."

"Fall has broken on us, Sigi, and winter will be coming soon afterwards. You'll need a scarf…"

"Dawww…" Siegfriede said and hugged Karla.

"Happy birthday, Sigi…" Karla said quietly.

After a round of wishes from the girls, Yoshika came up with the cake. It now was coated with chocolate and sixteen candles were burning brightly. Somehow, Yoshika managed to make a "Happy B-Day Sigi!" sign on the cake using whipped cream.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawww… So cuuuuute! Thank you, Yoshika!" Siegfriede cheered and blew all the candles in one blow.

Everyone clapped their hands and sang Happy Birthday. While everyone was munching their slice of cake, which Toshiro said to cut be cut into twenty pieces, he went to the pantry and came back with a bottle of spirit.

"Hey, Toshiro, not too early to break out the booze?" Mio asked. "Especially such a powerhouse…"

"I'll be doing a trick, stupid. This one bottle would be enough to make half the unit woozy."

"Trick? Wanna see!" Francesca cheered.

Toshiro unscrewed the cap on the bottle and took a mouthful of the immensely strong alcohol. He felt his mouth burning, but he concentrated his magic and burst out a big, continuous flame for two seconds.

A murmur of admiration sounded across the gathered and he received a round of applause.

"Thank you, thank you…" Toshiro said while bowing in all directions.

The festivities continued, with some singing songs, and everyone eating something. Once the party was over in the evening and the clean-up team assigned, Toshiro went to the office and started making phone calls.

"Ursula, good morning."

"Ah, Toshiro! So, how's the gear I sent?"

"Dunno about the MG, since Erica is on patrol right now, but the new RPzB looks promising. Trude's already got a hang of it!"

"Wow, how nice! So, what do you want?"

"First thing is I want to know whether there's something new that Trude could dual wield…"

"Hummm… Ah, wait! We're starting to produce a new MG42V!"

"Oh, wuzzat?"

"A two-and-a-half kilogram lighter and a bit faster firing variant of the original MG42."

"Ah, then I want two!"

"Heheh, okay, anything else?"

"Maybe Minna could use an MG 151/20/3 of her own…"

"That can also be done."

"And now, the tricky questions… The XF-2 and the rail gun?"

"Ah well… We've stumbled on bit of a roadblock on both… But I think we could push both for testing to your unit by the end of October…"

"What's so hard about putting on a frame on that rail gun?"

"We've done that, but then, an inherent flaw in the gun itself was discovered, so we're in the process of redesigning it…"

"Oh well, that sucks… Okay, I'll be seeing my new stuff soon, hopefully."

"Sure, Toshiro. I'll push the three guns and a mountain of ammo your way ASAP!"

"Cool, bye!"

"Bye!"

Now the other call…

After the usual rituals, Toshiro finally heard the gruff voice of his boss.

"Keitel."

"The heir has an inquiry, boss."

"Ah, Toshiro. So, how is your mission progressing?"

"So far, good. The builders weren't even scratched so far, and we've settled down."

"Good, good. So, what inquiry do you have?"

"If you don't know what it is about, it's always about money, boss. I want to know when we're getting paid."

"As a matter of fact, tomorrow your time."

"Oh, really? Then I jumped the gun a bit?"

"Not necessarily, it's good you're caring about your unit like that. The money for your unit will be transported to the Yamato about 1500 your time. Just go there and receive it. Be sure to bring your own container."

"Thank you, boss, that's all I needed to know."

"Have a good day, Toshiro."

"Thank you, likewise."

Whew… Good, good… I think all of my tasks for today are finished… Or are they…

He went out of the room and saw Minna and Adolfine walking towards him.

"So, what news do you have for us?" Adolfine asked.

"Money tomorrow, new gear in the near future."

"That's good news, Toshiro." Minna said. "How will we get our pay?"

"I go to the Yamato with a sack about 1500 tomorrow, fill it with money, and return here, heheh…"

"Good to know," Minna said. "So, what will you be doing now?"

"Receiving our dear compatriots and newest trainee after their patrol, what else?"

"You're the best thing that could happen to all of us…" Adolfine sighed.

"Right?"

He went to the dining hall, which was now being cleaned up and prepared sandwiches, cake, and a flask full of hot tea.

"Oh, is that for Trudy, Erica and Shizuka?" Yoshika asked.

"Yup. Honest work needs an honest meal."

"Heheh… Let's take a bath with them later, okay?"

"Good idea, I'll persuade them to do so."

Toshiro went to the second hangar and waited a bit, but he finally saw the three taxying inside.

"How was it you two?" He asked.

"Boooooriiiiiiing…" Erica moaned.

"A patrol like them all…" Trude sighed. "A shame we couldn't use our stuff…"

"Oh, is that for us, sir?" Shizuka said while looking at the sandwiches ravenously.

"Will you… ah, fuck it… Yes, it's for you three. Sandwiches and hot tea. Afterwards we'll have a bath for you all to relax."

"M-M-M-Me t-t-to?" Shizuka asked stuttering heavily.

"Oh, come on, you don't have to be afraid of Bro!" Erica said while embracing her in a friendly manner with one hand. "If worst comes to worst, Yoshika will wring his balls out."

"Ouch…" Toshiro murmured.

"Well okay… We actually bathed together once…"

The girls ate and drank, and they went to the bath, meeting Yoshika on the way. When Toshiro went for the bath supplies, he hid a piece of cake in his room.

"Aaaaaaaaah…" Toshiro sighed from relief.

"Second that…" Trude sighed deeply.

Toshiro looked at Shizuka, who was a bit pent up beside Yoshika. Yoshika caught his gaze. Toshiro nodded towards Shizuka.

"Say, Shizuka, you have nice breasts…" Yoshika said. "Mind if I massage them?"

Too bold!

"I-I-I-I… But Miss Yoshika… We… They… Him…"

"Oh come on, we're all friends here… Or maybe Toshiro, you could do it? She's your fan after all, Toshiro, heheh…"

Shizuka now looked like a lit flare and she just slid into the water with her knees tucked against her breasts and only her eyes above the water.

"Yoshika, come on that was too much for the poor girl…" Toshiro said. "It's enough for her to be surrounded by her two idols, one of which is a man."

"Even I would be freaked out by such a bold approach…" Erica mumbled.

"And you, Cousin Trudy? Would you like a breast massage?" Yoshika asked in the cutest way possible, with her right index fingers tip in her mouth.

"Ghaaaaaaa…" Trude melted away and just floated on the water like that with an unconscious face expression.

"Mein Gott…" Erica sighed. "Yoshika, stop already…"

"Okay, okay… Two casualties this evening is enough, heehee… Well, unless you want to be the third one, Erica…."

"Oh and what could you possibly do to me? My tits are almost inexistent, and I'm not your fan."

"Oh please, Erica… I have my ways…"

"Save them for Toshiro…"

Yoshika and Toshiro both sighed deeply.

"Okay, Yoshika, we're going to our room already. You've been a baaaad girl…"

"Oh? Will you punish me?" She asked with a devilish smile.

"Heheheh… Heheheheheh…"

"Get this kinky roleplay shit out of my sight…" Erica mumbled.

They went to their room and laid down on the bed.

"Want to see something nice, Yoshika?"

"Oh?"

Toshiro went to his chest and pulled out a piece of cake.

"Cake, and?"

"Look."

Toshiro summoned Oblivion Lost and made a meter-seventy rift.

"I have cake!" He shouted towards the rift.

In a few seconds, a redhead in a battle kimono jumped out of the rift.

"Cake? Gimmie!"

"Wah! That's Kaylie, right?" Yoshika asked.

"Oh, your worlds Yoshika, hi! Hoooo… You look MUCH better in person than in my remote visions…"

"Heheheh… Thanks… And nice to meet you. You sure pulled Toshiro into some predicament…"

"Mom wanted it, so I did it. Not exactly at the right time, but yeah… Toshiro, gimmie that cake already."

"Here, here…" He gave it to her. "You can consider it your birthday gift, since… well… I don't know how to determine your birthday with all the time travel relativity…"

"Daaaawww… Thank, Toshiro…" Kaylie said and gave him a hug.

"Well, Happy Birthday from me too!" Yoshika cheered.

"Heh, thanks. Seriously, if you'll be growing further, my worlds Yoshika can kiss your ass goodbye, hahahaha!"

"I hope!"

"Bye you two, I can't stay here too long."

"Bye!" Yoshika cheered.

"Bye, redhead. I hope you won't abduct me anytime soon, heh…"

"Nah… But who knows… Maybe if there's another simulation…"

"Just give me a prior notice, sheesh…"

"Heh…"

Kaylie slipped through the rift and it closed up. Toshiro returned to the bed beside Yoshika.

"She was nice."

"Kye's friends and family are all nice people…"

"Hmmm… Toshiro, remember the time when Kye changed you into a woman?"

"Urgh… That was both nice and painful…" He muttered with a sour face.

"You think she could do the same now?"

"And what would that do? If you want to let it out on another girl, just call one of your rod sisters."

"But I thought that she could change me into a man…"

Toshiro gulped audibly.

"Noooo fucking way! Knowing her, she would give you a shlong the size of my arm, and you wouldn't exactly hold back either! Maybe if it was Livy, she'd be more reasonable…"

"Did you call, Master?" Livy appeared suddenly over them.

"No, shoo!" Toshiro shouted.

"Awww, but Toshiroooo! But I want a shag…" Yoshika moaned

"Then I can just sterilize you till the morning, Mistress, just like yesterday," Livy said. "No need to engage into mind bending, gender bending activities…"

"Ah, you can do that?"

"Yes indeed, Mistress, that's safe enough for me to do here."

"Please!" Yoshika shouted.

"Okay," Livy said. "Done. Enjoy, Mistress. But I warn you not to abuse me, so to speak. Your period is a time for your body to regenerate after the daily frolicking with Master for the rest of the month. You should know that as an aspiring doctor," she winked.

"Oh, okay, I won't. And thank you!"

"You have fun too, Master," Livy smiled and disappeared.

"Woooow, Livy is so nice…" Yoshika said amazed.

"Yeah, she's something different… So, Yoshika, why don't we use that time we have, huh?"

"Ohohoho… Let's!"

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