Chapter 16 – Orange Blossom

Toshiro woke up in the very early morning, just like old times.

"Toshiro… It's too early… Sleep…" Yoshika muttered half-asleep.

"I have to talk with Mio a bit more about yesterday."

"Oh… I guess it's okay then… But you should also talk about it with Adi too…"

"Yeah?"

"She was scared yesterday… She didn't want to tell me why, but after seeing your face, I already knew why…"

"Hmm?"

"Don't remember? You were crying blood again, Toshiro. You know how your face looks then?"

"I can imagine… I probably looked like The Plague…"

"More like Death on his pale horse… Okay, go now; I want to catch some shuteye before Sakamoto starts bashing me and the rest with renewed vigor…"

"Heheh…" Toshiro laughed. "Livy, come here."

"Yes, Master?" She asked as she appeared in her underwear on the bed.

"Sorry that we kind of neglected you last night…"

"We got a bit heated up…" Yoshika muttered with a red face.

"Rules are rules, Master and Mistress," Livy said in a wise man's tone.

Toshiro dressed himself, and just as he exited his room, he saw Mio exit hers. She approached him silently.

"Hi, Toshiro."

"Hi, M…" Toshiro paused as he looked at her. "Mio, where's your eye patch? You have your magic back, but I don't see your eye patch…"

"Come on outside, I can't tell it when we're whispering," she said while smiling mysteriously.

"Okay, okay."

Mio led him outside, and just as the door behind Toshiro closed she shouted, "I don't need it!"

"Seriously?"

"Yes! Look!"

Mio's right eye went purple suddenly.

"I see… So now you can fully control your Magic Eye, just like that, without any accessories?"

"Yes! That eye patch was a fucking bother anyway… During the last three months, I enjoyed the bliss of having proper depth perception."

"Wait… So you estimated the distance to items?"

"Somewhat. When I needed it, I could just use it from under my eye patch, just for that one thing."

"So… Without it you see cores, but with the patch, you only have a makeshift distance estimator?"

"Pretty much," she shrugged.

"Ah… But why don't Adi and Hanna need an eye patch?"

"Galland is old, so she has to force-activate it, and Hanna is actually pretty fucking lucky to have a sub-type of the Magan, enabling her to keep it disabled without much effort, but on the other hand, turning it on is harder."

"She didn't tell me that…" Toshiro grumbled.

"She didn't have to, to be perfectly honest. It works? It works! Aaaaaah! I'm so fucking happy my magic got returned thanks to you!"

"Yeah… Wait, what? You know it was me?"

"That blonde goddess appeared in front of us before the beam hit us and told us that because of her, Miyafuji and you, we've regained our powers, and that we have to pull up our shields in order to live. We didn't ask anything, we just acted."

Toshiro looked stumped at Mio.

"But she didn't tell us her name and how exactly you've restored our magic… Hmmm… Very weird… Care to fill in the blanks?"

Toshiro looked to the side and murmured, "Maybe one day…"

"Yeah… Not that I want to know…" Mio pondered. "The fact that I have my magic back is the most important! I feel like a newborn! Toshiro, let's jog!"

"But Mio…"

"Oh come on! For old times' sake!"

"Okay, okay…" He sighed and joined her in jogging.

After some good ol' jogging, they ended up before the entrance to the main building. When Mio opened the door, Adolfine walked out, but she twitched after seeing Toshiro. Mio in turn, pulled out Adolfine further outside and closed the door behind her.

Geez, talk about forcing shit…

"Hi, Adi."

"H-Hi…" She responded shyly.

"What is it, Adi? Normally you'd be all over the place with berating me for yesterday or something, but now you look like Shizuka."

"Because… Because I'm scared you'll do something to me because of yesterday…"

"Oh? Explain please…"

"You… You were so rough to Mio and… But… But I was the one who had the idea… And…"

"Stop, stop already… Adi, that was my worst side, and I apologize for revealing it for you. Rest assured though, that Mio's punishment has been set, and that she will continue her duty as normal. Speaking of which, I have to call Yamamoto…"

"So… You won't do anything to me? You won't rough me up? You won't call the Kaiser to send me to Transvaal or Suomus?"

"No. But now that you've mentioned that you had the bright fucking idea to shoot the Neuroi, I'm having second thoughts…"

Adolfine clenched her fists, lowered her arms, and said, "Do what you want, I'm ready. I failed your expectations…"

"He… Heheh… Heheheheh…" Toshiro laughed creepily while looking the same.

"Wh-what is it? What wicked things are you thinking about?!"

"Mio's punishment is anal during our next intercourse. Care to share a similar fate? Of course your punishment will be intensified…"

Adolfine looked as if her soul just left her as she was leaning against the wall.

"Hey, hey, don't space out when I'm punishing you here!"

"Oh… Uh… But I never…"

"Mio took it with a stern face after the initial shock."

"Well… If it's you… Then I'll accept…"

"Good! Did you notify the OKW about your magic being restored?"

"Oh fuck! I forgot!"

"Heheh, don't worry, I'll call them on your behalf later, okay?"

"Thanks! Now go call Yamamoto, I guess Mio needs some gear."

"Yes, definitely. Going now!"

Toshiro ran up to the office and after the usual bouncing around the line, he finally heard Yamamoto's voice.

"Toshiro, this is a surprise? What do I owe this call?"

"I have a request, Marshal Admiral. And good news."

"Then let's hear the good news first."

"Lieutenant Colonel Sakamoto has regained her magic powers and is in peak condition."

"What? Impossible!"

"But very true, sir."

"Incredible… I hope you're not pulling my leg?"

"No way, sir."

"I see… Then, I think I know what the request is about. You need gear, am I right in my assumptions?"

"Yes sir, heheh…"

"Wait a few hours, and your wish will come true."

"Pardon?"

"There's a plane inbound for your base with… hmmm… special equipment… I was right to send it in a doubled amount…"

"And of course it's a surprise, right?"

"Of course! All good things should be a surprise, or else life will become dull, haha! Oh, could you fetch me the good Lieutenant Colonel, if it's possible?"

"Yes, it's possible, sir. Give me a few minutes, please."

Toshiro approached the PA panel, fired it up, and said, "Mio, to the office, double time, no buts."

He picked up the receiver of the phone again and said, "She has been notified."

"I heard it all the way in Fuso, haha! So, how did it happen that Sakamoto has regained her magic powers? She was literally dryer than a desert!"

"It's a mystery, just like in the case of Yoshika," Toshiro lied straight.

"I see… This world still amazes me…"

"You called?" Toshiro heard Mio's voice from behind him.

"Oh, is that Sakamoto already?" Yamamoto asked.

"Yes sir, she's here."

"Then give her the phone."

"Yes sir."

Toshiro extended his hand with the receiver towards Mio and said, "It's for you."

"Me? I wonder who…" She said and pressed the receiver against her ear. "Moshi moshi?"

Toshiro leaned back in his chair and looked at Mio squirming, cheering, saluting, prostrating, and cheering again before she put the receiver on the hook.

"Wahooo! I'm a full-time member of the IFN again! Yes!"

"Good for you I guess."

"Fucking great! But… Ah, shit… I don't have any gear on me, and even Miyafuji still has that spare MG42 from Trude…"

"Don't worry, stuff is coming in in a few hours."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. And of course it's a damn surprise what we're getting… Geez…"

"Ah, then I'll wait."

"Thinking what I'm thinking?" Toshiro asked slyly.

"Noooo… No way! I'm too important to cook now!"

"Important-shmortant. I decide what goes! Until you're airborne, you're learning the fine art of cooking from Yoshika!"

"Oh okay, okay…" Mio mumbled. "Dictator…"

"Sourpuss. Go now; make us all a nice breakfast."

Mio only sighed and went out of the room.

I wonder if the transport has some Strikers handy… I could probably ask the 506th in its whole glory for some lend-lease, but I'd like some custom crafted stuff for my girls… They deserve the best!

Someone knocked on the door.

"Enter," Toshiro said.

Inside, surprisingly, entered Adolfine.

"You walloping at the door? Weird… Still a bit on the edge after yesterday?"

"Yeah…"

Toshiro sat on his chair and said, "Come on, sit on uncle's lap."

"Huh, what?" She asked surprised.

"Come on, I guarantee that you'll feel better after this."

"Just don't do anything perverse, okay?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die!"

Adolfine slowly approached him and sat on his lap.

"Now, don't freak out…"

"Wh…"

Toshiro activated the Sacred Flame and started stroking Adolfine's head.

"Aaaaaaah… So calm… Toshiro… Stop or I'll melt from the bliss…"

He deactivated the Sacred Flame and said, "You deserved it after I scared you so hard. By the way, how is your Magic Eye?"

"I guess you've been talking with Mio for long enough for her to brag about hers, huh?"

"Yeah, but she didn't mention you."

"I don't need my scope now, Toshiro. It's something I never could do…"

"How nice… Wait until I call Uncle and Keitel, hah! They'll pull you off the blacklist and send you a new Striker and equipment in a fell swoop!"

"Oh, if that would be the case, I'd kiss you!"

"Nothing holding you back from doing it now…"

"You're asking for too much for one day, stupid," she giggled. "Now, let's go for breakfast, okay?"

"Good idea, time to get some food. We're having a delivery from the IFN today by the way."

"Oh? Any further details?" She asked.

"Nope…" Toshiro sighed.

"Crap…"

"True that…"

The two went down to the dining hall, where all the girls, sans the ones on night patrol yesterday, were present.

"Mornin' galls." Toshiro said.

"Morning!" The girls responded in sync.

"Hey, Toshiro! I've heard you destroyed the Neuroi in ONE HIT!" Trude cheered. "And a melee attack to boot!"

"Yeeaaaah… I did… But it kinda pooped me out…" Toshiro said while scratching the top of his head.

"Toshiro, marry me!" Trude shouted.

"I heard that!" Yoshika yelled from the kitchen and gave the girls a nice laugh.

"We're not in Liberion, we can't marry, heheh…" Toshiro laughed while looking at Shirley.

"Hey, that's only in a few states!" Shirley protested fiercely. "And you get off Toshiro, Barkhorn! Yoshika bagged him first!"

"Yeah, yeah, no need to get your ass tight."

"Speaking of tight ass, how about celebrating that Adolfine and Mio regained their magic?" Toshiro asked.

All the girls suddenly went silent. Toshiro felt Adolfine's hand on his shoulder.

"Um, you see… We kind of did that when you were out cold…"

"Really now…" Toshiro said in a disconcerted tone while looking at the girls, who suddenly found it important either to look for cracks on the ceiling or to analyze the texture of the tables.

"Adolfine was sort of… down the weather…" Trude mumbled.

"And we wanted to cheer her up…" Shirley muttered.

"Sorry, Toshiro…" Adolfine whispered with a voice full of guilt.

"Oh well, you can't have them all… Let's eat, girls."

After breakfast was eaten, and just before Toshiro could open his mouth to say something, he heard a transmission in his transponder.

"Sint-Truiden come in, this is Niguruma-2 requesting permission to land."

"Niguruma you say… Permission granted."

"Affirmative, ETA four minutes."

"The transport is coming?" Mio asked.

"Yup. Good that we've finished eating. And I hope it means I won't go alone to my patrol… Everyone interested, please come with me."

Everyone came without a single sign of disapproval. Just as they exited the building, they saw a plane incoming for landing.

"They still use those shitty DC-3 knockoffs?" Shirley asked.

"Those aren't knockoffs, Shirley," Mio said. "The Nakajima Navy Type 0 Transport is a license built aircraft in service of the IFN."

"General, near which hangar should we land?" Toshiro heard the pilot's voice through the transponder.

"The eastern one."

"Roger."

"What is it?" Minna asked.

"Technicalities, nothing to worry about."

The plane landed on the runway and taxied to the second hangar. A whole crew of people jumped down on the runway, and in a few minutes, everything was unloaded. One of them approached Toshiro and said, "General, the shipping manifest," he said and gave Toshiro an envelope.

"Thank you for the transport. Good luck on the way home."

"Thank you sir," he said, bowed, and returned to the plane.

Toshiro turned away, and went to the goods, which the girls were eying fiercely, but couldn't touch, as instructed by him. Toshiro opened the envelope, and pulled out the manifest.

"Heheh… Heheh… HAHAHA! YES!" He shouted after quickly looking through. "Lynne, you're off patrol today."

"Oh? Why?" She asked while tilting her head.

"Because… Well… We just got two brand new Strikers for Yoshika and Mio, and I guess they both want to go with me, riiiight?"

"New Strikers?!" Shirley, Mio and Yoshika asked excited.

"Mio, do the honors. Both are identical, so whichever crate you pick, it's good."

"Okay! Trude, lend me your hand!"

"Sure!" Trude cheered and glowed slightly, revealing her animal features.

She grabbed the chain on one of the grates and ripped it apart. The crate discombobulated, and all the gathered saw a Launch Unit with a Striker inside it. The Striker was painted white with orange trimmings, and all the necessary emblems present. It had swept wings and, much to everyone's surprise, jet engines, mounted inside the fuselage.

"Beautiful…" Mio gasped.

"This is the Nakajima J9Y Kikka, according to the manifest. I guess all the papers are stored in the Launch Units." Toshiro said.

"Orange Blossom… So cute…" Yoshika also gasped. "No time to admire!" She shouted and summoned her sword.

With a swift cut, she opened the second crate, revealing an identical Striker.

"Yaaaaay!" She cheered loudly. "My very own jet! Toshiro, can I test it?!"

"Of course you can! Mio, you and Yoshika will accompany me on the usual patrol, simple."

"Yes sir!" Both of them saluted with enthusiasm.

"Be sure to find something called… the Type 2 Kai Remote Control Panel. It seems that EVERY damn jet now will have something similar to my FFG. Also, we received two Type 99 Model SEVEN MG's. Yes, the ones I used, in their original 20mm caliber. Also, a fuckton of ammo was delivered. Ah, and we've gotten like… half a ton of rice and other Fuso cooking ingredients." Toshiro said with a wry smile. "You know what that means, Yoshika."

"Oh don't you worry! Starting tomorrow, dinner will be Fuso style!"

"Yay, Yoshika's Fuso cuisine!" Francesca cheered and started prancing around.

"Mio, Yoshika, get your gear and let's go. The rest of you can watch or something."

"Yoshika, you're giving me a go, right?!" Shirley asked nervously.

"Yes, yes, Shirley. Of course I will. Now excuse me!"

Toshiro approached Trude and said, "This is kind of sad… Next thing, the Romagnans will send a jet…"

"Right? What the hell is Ursula doing there… Ehhh…" She sighed. "Well, now we can write off the Shinden and that MG42 as backup equipment. You should jump into your Striker now, three jets taking off at one time is something unheard of."

"Oh right…"

Three jets at one time… Give me a break…

Toshiro took his MG 151 and jumped into his Striker. He waited a bit for the girls to take their gear.

"Okay, let's start our engines on three. One… Two… Three!"

The two Heinkel HeS 70 and four Ishikawajima Ne-20-Kai engines started slowly getting into revs in all their hissy glory.

"Wooooow… So intense!" Shirley cheered. "I think I'm getting wet…"

"Have some decency…" Trude mumbled.

"Toshiroooo?" Yoshika asked through the noise.

"Yes, Sweetie?"

"When will we be ready to start?"

"Look at the rev and temperature bars. When it gets to the first notch, marked green, we can pound forward!"

"Okay!"

"How are you, Mio? Anxious?"

"Like fuck! Lemme at the Neuroi! Now!"

"I'm ready, how are your Strikers?"

"Aaaaaargh, still a bit!"

"Good to know, that's vital info."

"Okay, ready! Toshiro, give the order!"

"Haha! Girls, patrol time! Take off!"

"Roger!" Mio answered and pushed forward, zipping straight out of the hangar.

"Wow… She's something…" Yoshika said in admiration. "So, we going too?"

"Yup, come on. Slowly…"

"Heehee…"

They both taxied out of the hangar and onto the runway slowly.

"Okay, Yoshika… Let it rip!"

"Roger, Toshiro."

She leaned forward and charged on. Toshiro quickly followed her into the air. After a few seconds, Yoshika boomed as she crossed the speed of sound.

"Waaaah! I've crossed the speed of sound on my own!" Yoshika said through the intercom.

"Been there, done that!" Mio cheered. "I'm already going Mach 2!"

"No way!"

"Way, Miyafuji! But it seems that the limit of this construction is only slightly above that… But! Damn! Mach Two! Without Toshiro's help! On my own! Now the Neuroi can kiss me in the ass!"

"Don't get cocky, Mio. I'm still much faster, heheh…"

"Yeah, yeah… Why are you two dawdling anyway? Miyafuji, no time for romance! Work is upon us!"

"Yes ma'am…" Yoshika sighed. "Come on, Toshiro, let's catch up."

They accelerated, and Toshiro kept his eyes on his own airspeed. Yoshika started slowly falling behind him after they reached 2510 km/h.

"Toshiroooo, slow dooown…"

"Sure, Sweetie. It seems you've reached the limit."

"Nice speed anyway… I wonder how's the agility…"

"Why don't you have a mock duel with Mio, huh?"

"Good idea! But I won't go easy on her, oh no!"

"Heheh…"

They caught up to Mio with a little help from Toshiro's Striker.

"So, how was it?" He asked.

"The gods have descended upon us and granted us these Strikers…" She said with reverence. "But I wonder what the agility of these is…"

"Oh look, Yoshika was wondering the same…" Toshiro said nonchalantly while smirking mysteriously.

"Did you, Miyafuji?" Mio asked with a ravenous face."

"Yes, Miss Sakamoto, I did…" Yoshika responded in a cool tone.

"Then why don't we try ourselves, huh? Me at my peak magic power, and you at yours."

"I'll bite! What rules?"

"Aim time, three seconds, one round."

"Agreed. Toshiro, you'll be judging, right?"

"Who else…" He sighed. "Okay, back to back you two, safety on!"

Both positioned themselves with their back touching each other. The safeties on the weapons clicked audibly.

"Okay, go!" Toshiro shouted.

The two jumped off each other in a split second, and both face each other ever so quickly. Yoshika, however, quickly dove under Mio and aimed straight at her back. Much to Toshiro's surprise, Mio raised her hands in the air.

"Damn! That was fast!"

"That was time dilution… Only by fifty percent, but it was enough for Yoshika to overpower Mio…"

"Really?!"

"Yes. It seems Yoshika has linked with Kuji enough to use his time diluting capabilities in a very limited manner. She won't be able to slice time by a thousand fold like we can, but maybe she'll get two four or five times…"

"And we can only use a four digit factor in a VERY limited manner, remember?"

"Yes, yes…"

"Miyafuji… I'm greatly impressed… What was that? Time dilution?"

"Yes, Miss Sakamoto. After I've regained my magic, my bond with Kuji was reformed, so I can now his time dilution magic, but it's very tiresome…"

"Spot on."

"Very good, Miyafuji," Mio said with a soft voice and patted Yoshika on the head. "Now, let's do the patrol."

"Oh my… Thank you…" Yoshika's cheeks reddened.

"Mio honestly praising Yoshika? Am I seeing correctly?" Toshiro asked.

"Even I know when to praise somebody, Toshiro."

"Then why not call Yoshika by her given name."

"Nope."

"Aaaaaaaaw… Miss Sakamoto…"

"No means no, Miyafuji."

"What should I do more?! I… I saved you so many times already…"

Mio sighed and said, "Call me stubborn or heartless, but it don't feel like it yet… There's something missing…"

"Oh whatever now… But you've softened up towards me anyway, Miss Sakamoto, heehee…"

"Like I told you…"

"Yes, yes… I understand… Give back to Caesar and stuff… The workers are waiting to be protected, let's go."

"Hey, don't cut me off like that, Miyafuji!"

"Hahaha!" Toshiro laughed, imitating Mio's laughing style.

Mio puffed her cheeks and flew forward.

"How fucking boring…" Mio mumbled. "I already forgot how outright dull patrols are…"

"Good that we're returning already, huh?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes, high time!"

On the way back, they've passed their relief. After landing, they went for dinner.

"So, how was it?!" Shirley asked.

"Fast. How fast was it again, Toshiro?" Mio asked.

"Yoshika's Striker clocked out at 2510 km/h."

"Damn fast, but I'm still faster, heheh…" Shirley said with a smug face. "Say, Yoshika…"

"Yes, Shirley, have a go."

"Thanks!"

"Miyafuji, remember that we're training after dinner."

"Yes ma'am…"

"More enthusiasm, damn you!"

"Yes ma'am," Yoshika said indifferently.

"Whatever…" Mio shook her head.

"Toshiro, paperwork," Minna said with a smile.

"Hurrrgh… I hope you've collected every manual and piece of paper with anything written over it?"

"I did that," Adolfine said.

"You? But you're a Generalmajor; you don't have to do anything…" Toshiro asked with venom almost seeping through his teeth.

"Hey, I'm curious how this stuff works. Shirley won't let me peak into the manual of her Striker…"

"You don't, Shirley?"

"Only for Liberian eyes!" She answered proudly.

"And how is this situation different, Adolfine?" Toshiro asked.

"We have a technology trading agreement with Fuso, simple. With Liberion and the P-80, from what I've managed to find out, it was a one-time misalliance, although who knows…"

"Ah, fitting…"

Dinner was finished, and Shirley ran out like lightning. Toshiro slowly went to his office, but Shirley shouted after him, "Hey, Toshiro, the mailman was here!"

Toshiro turned around and saw her waving a big, brown envelope.

"Gimmie."

She threw the envelope and ran off.

Wonder what's inside…

He went on to the office, and sat in the chair behind the desk, the latter flooded with papers. He opened the envelope and pulled out the November issue of Die Luftwaffe, featuring Adolfine and him on the main page.

Heheh… Not bad, not bad… But fuck this shit, time to do some paperwork…

Toshiro valiantly fought his way through all the paperwork that was thrown at him, and he emerged victoriously from the office a few hours later.

"Uuuuuugh…" He moaned to himself while lying on the bed. "This is fucking tiresome… And Minna should help me more… She only dropped by, looked at the desk, and snatched off the mag…"

"And that's precisely why the mortal me hated paperwork," a familiar voice said.

"Oh, now you're bugging me… Kye, answer me two questions, okay?"

"Fire away, and I'll see what I can respond."

"First of all, will all the jet Strikers need control panels?"

"Until microcomputer avionics get developed, witches using jet Strikers will need such panels to check the flight parameters. And even then, they will still be used, since there's never too much info."

"Yeah… And secondly… Your little prophecy came true… You probably were laughing hard, looking at me trying to solve it, huh?"

"I won't say no… I gave you a nice riddle," she smirked.

"Next riddle, perhaps?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Because even if I was as cryptic as Nostradamus, there's still a chance you would unravel the riddle, and the coming events are of such significance that it's preferred for you to be in the dark."

"Okay, you don't have to say anything. The girls are behaving?"

"Surprisingly, yes, heehee…"

"How's Toshiro Deuce doing?"

"I would show you, but you'd be so damn jealous, you would pop like a twenty year old abscess after being punctured."

"Heheh… I can imagine he's already much more powerful than the current me, living the peaceful life I seek… Ah, crap… Now I remember… You've distracted me from sulking yesterday, thanks."

"No problem, Toshiro. You're in the top ten of the nicest guys I've ever met, so it would be a shame to see you sulking and whining."

"Kye benevolent as always… Okay, time to call it a day. Bye, Kye."

"Bye, Toshiro."

Eh… Kye popping up like that… At least Livy has the good manners to behave after she does… Ah, right, Livy… Man, if I think of it, this is really weird… She loves me like a normal woman loves a normal man… I still don't fully understand why is that so, but… I can't just flat out reject her affection and devotion towards me, that would be cruel… And Yoshika is just accepting this as if it was the natural way to go! Ehhhhhh… So beautiful, yet so bothersome, Livy…

After no more than two minute, Yoshika entered the room and dropped exhausted on the bed.

"Hmmm… Looks like Mio plowed you hard…"

"Ha… Ha… Normally I would snicker at such a joke, but I'm tired…"

"Let's take a bath, okay?"

"But you'll have to take me there…."

"Your wish is my command."

Toshiro took Yoshika to the bath, where they bathed with Shizuka, Perrine, and Lynne.

"I see you two are in no better condition than Yoshika…" Toshiro noted.

"The Major… Oh, pardon, the Lieutenant Colonel seems to have regained her life energy after regaining her magic…" Perrine mumbled. "The horror…"

"I'll talk to her about it during supper. I don't want you four to look like sacks of moldy carrots…"

"Almost like old times…" Shizuka mumbled.

"You mean when she was your teacher, right?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes sir. I found it weird that Sakamoto-sensei has become a bit… lenient… But now everything is back to how it was."

"Whatever works…" Toshiro sighed.

After a good bath, they went for supper, made by Adolfine and Minna.

"Not bad for a surprise…" Mio said. "I hope it's not poisoned?"

"Shut up and eat, Little Mio."

"Why you…"

"Shut up…" Toshiro sighed. "There's still the matter of reorganizing the patrols, and I have a call to make."

"We boot Lynne and stick me in to your team, Toshiro."

"Well, if it fits, it sits… By the way, Mio?"

"Yes?"

"I hope you're not over-training the girls, now that you have your old drive back?"

"And who told you that, huh?" Mio said and looked at her trainees, causing them to stiffen up visibly.

"I have my eyes, Mio. The girls were never so damn tired like after today."

"Well okay, I admit, I went a bit overboard today. Sorry, girls."

"Now you're going to another extreme…" He sighed. "But it's nice of you to show some emotions, heheh…"

"Oh can it, damn lucky bastard! You don't have to train at all!"

"I don't have to train to uphold the status quo, but if the situation will demand, I'll show you how a man trains."

"Oh bring it on, Toshiro…"

"Kids…" Both Minna and Adolfine sighed.

After supper, Toshiro made said phone call.

"Hi, Uncs."

"Toshiro! How nice to hear you!" The Kaisers jovial voice almost pierced his right eardrum.

"And likewise, Uncle. The news I'm about to tell you… you'd better sit down."

"I'm already there, shoot."

"Adolfine has regained her full magic potential."

"Preposterous! She's twenty-five; her shield is like wet tissue-paper!"

"And yet, it's true. So… I would like you to lift her ban on sortieing…"

"But are you absolutely and positively sure she's fit for combat?"

"After a few refresher courses, she'll be as good as new!"

"Okay then. I'm formally rescinding her ban on sortieing, but only the condition she won't never fly alone."

"Of course, Uncle."

"How's Yoshika by the way? I've heard she's also regained her magic."

"Yup, that's true. She's still the same, cheerful girl as usual, only now, she can whoop Neuroi ass like never."

"Hohohoho! Good! Okay, I have to go now, since Keitel will be meeting me soon."

"Nice coincidence, huh?"

"Yes, indeed. Good night, Toshiro."

"Good afternoon to you, Uncle."

Toshiro hooked off the phone and exited the office, while taking a stack of papers with him. He saw Adolfine leaning against the wall near the door.

"Done, Adolfine. You can now officially fly again; under the condition you have a wingman."

"Thanks!" Adolfine cheered and hugged him.

"Heheh, okay, okay, enough of your gratitude. Time to hit the hay."

"Reading material?" She said as she looked at the papers.

"For Yoshika and me. We have to know what makes the Kikka tick-ka."

"Heheheh… Night, Toshiro."

"Good night, Adi."

Toshiro went to hjs room and saw Yoshika staring at the ceiling.

"There are twelve cracks directly above your head, I've counted," Toshiro said.

"Heehee, okay, I'll take your word for that. Whatcha got there?"

"Manuals for the Kikka, you'd better read them."

"Okay, but you first."

"Sure, why not…"

"But not today."

"Not today… Why?"

"Because… Well… Livy?" Yoshika asked with a mysterious smile.

"Yes, Mistress?!" Livy asked eagerly, appearing as suddenly as usual.

"Toshiro, how about we have fun with Livy, hmm?"

"You're that lenient, my love? Hmmm… Well then, I can't say no to you!"

"Oh my…" Livy gasped. "Master, does this mean…"

"What does it mean, Yoshika?" Toshiro deflected.

"I think I'm willing to accept Livy as your lover, Toshiro. What do you think?"

"I only waited for your approval, Yoshika," Toshiro smiled. "Livy, I can't just look down on, or ignore such feelings coming from such a magnificent person."

Yoshika looked at him, and the two hugged the blonde haired goddess.

"This… This is… This is more than I ever thought I would experience…" Livy said through tears. "Thank you…"

After a moment that the two gave Livy to cool down, she asked, "Um, Master and Mistress, does this mean that we will… have sex more often?"

"Yes," Yoshika said. "I'll tell you more! If you want, you can have sex with Toshiro alone! You can encapsulate him in a pocket dimension, and let loose!"

"What?!" Both of them shouted surprised.

"Seriously, Yoshika? You're willing to go that far?" He asked perplexed.

"You're the man that will save the world," Yoshika said softly. "I firmly believe it. This means that you deserve everything you can wish of, and I'll make sure you'll get everything I can bestow upon you. And besides, if Livy really wanted you for herself, she could just erase you out of the consciousness of every being in this universe, and abduct you. And yet, despite her power, she didn't do that. She wants to do it the way humans do it. I'm actually flattered that you're considering me somebody worthy of sharing Toshiro with you, heehee… That's why we can now form a new type of relationship, where every one of us is on par with the other."

"How selfless…" Livy gasped, tearing up quickly.

"I wouldn't have said it better…" Toshiro said lifelessly, but he quickly snapped back into attention and said, "Selfless or not, Yoshika, you also deserve the best. If you want anything, really, don't hold back. Just be reasonable, I don't know how to make moon rock, heheh…"

"Heehee… I know that, Toshiro…" she said as she knocked the side of her head with her index finger.

"Ah, riiiight…" Toshiro smirked. "I also know something else, Yoshika…"

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "Do tell?"

"I know, that you know, where the most sensitive spot in your body is…" He grinned. "I think I'll abuse it today…"

"M-Master… I can tell you where I have such a spot…" Livy mumbled.

"Let's go then!" He shouted.

There are many views about the name Kikka and the designation, but I'll leave it as it is.

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