Chapter 27 – Elwyn no more

The next day, Toshiro woke up at the usual time. Or rather he was woken up by the usual person.

"Dobry deng," Yoshika said.

"You literally said "good money," heh…"

"Ah… Whoops, it was supposed to be "den," heheh…"

"The intention went through, and you've learned something. So, Yoshika dearest, what do you intend to do on this fine Monday the 12th?"

"Hummm… You know that my wishes follow after the daily schedule Mio and the rest set for me."

"I can always change it, if you want."

"Naaah… We had fun yesterday; it's time to work honestly today."

Toshiro sighed and said, "I sort of liked the more carefree Yoshika a bit more… But this will do to."

"At least you didn't change, you honest dunce," she smiled and flicked the tip of his nose. "I don't know if you've seen it, but Trudy was a bit weird during supper."

"Maybe it's because you did some burrowing in her private parts?"

"Oh please, that was two days ago… She behaved just fine the same day and the morning after that day, right?"

"More or less… So what, Toshiro Life Consulting GmbH, Frankfurt am Main Filiale is in business?" Toshiro asked.

"Heehee, it would be nice if it did."

"Sure, leave it all to me. Trude could be a ticking time bomb to be honest…"

"Oh? How is that?"

"Let's see… She hasn't' seen her cute little sister for over three months at least… She's still cats and dogs with Shirley on the outside… Her sexual orientation could be uncertain… Pretty much it."

"The first matter would probably be something trivial for another person, but Trudy is a diehard siscon… And her sexual orientation? I doubt it's at stake. I would rather fear the fact that she could follow up and take it to the next level… with you," Yoshika calmly enumerated.

"You think Trudy would stoop so low as to have sex with her own cousin?"

"I'm only listing possibilities, Toshiro… I don't really think it would happen, but still, people die of being struck by lightning…"

"Yeah… So it must be door number two. Maybe she's on the fence if she should come out with it?"

"Trudy is proud… I guess Erica being a genius she just chewed and swallowed down as a pleasant surprise, but this… No, this could be more difficult… Their feud is going on because of their differences in culture, upkeep, and temperament. But it's weird that they are still going at their throats, even after the curtain between them fell…"

"Oh Yoshika… Some feuds go on just because the sides are accustomed to the status quo, or they even like it. Some go on, but even the eldest don't remember why it started."

"I think I know what you're getting at… Okay, time to get some clothes on, and time to start the day."

"Yeah… Go on ahead, I'll crawl out of bed soon…"

"Heehee, okay."

Yoshika clothed herself and went out of the room. Suddenly, Kye appeared beside him in the bed.

"Well, you're blonde, but you're not Livy, scoot."

"As pleasant as usual, huh?"

"Bah…" he smirked. "Hmmm… Could this count as lying in the bed with you?"

"Heh, only if you use Bible language, Toshiro. My dear daughters weren't enough for you, you monster?"

"Hey, your hubbie said it was okay, so unless you have a different stance at that matter…"

"I don't," she interrupted him. "But Toshiro, imagine what would happen if you knocked one of up. Or both."

"Is that even possible?"

"Yeah, sure. Look at me and who I gave birth to."

"Ah, yes, right… Jeez, I would probably have to evacuate to a different omniverse…"

"Haha that would be the case if you were some random scumbag!"

"So if I knocked one or both up… And they would get pregnant… And nobody would perform an abortion…" Toshiro shuddered. "Geez, what a pickle I would be in… A fiancé, a lover, one or two minors pregnant because of me… Yoshika would be piss mad at me… Would I have to marry…"

"No, no…" Kye interrupted. "Especially not both of them at once. But remember that you would have to take care of your offspring and their mothers."

"Yeah… What a damn hassle that would be… Can you tell me if today will be an interesting day?"

"Most surely, Toshiro. I could, but I don't want."

"I hate you sometimes…" Toshiro pouted.

"Okay now, it will be an interesting day, you sourpuss. Somehow I can't stand seeing you pouting like that…"

"Heheh… I guess I could move my ass from the bed already…"

"You really are lazy, you know?"

"Oh shut up, you don't have to do anything besides existing..."

"True…" Kye shrugged and disappeared.

"Ehh…" Toshiro sighed deeply, and this time Livy appeared.

"Now, this I like."

She smiled and said, "Good morning, Master. I'm here as per usual practice."

"Ah, right, Post Kye Encounter Service," he snickered. "Do what you want…"

Livy scuttled closer and simply embraced him with her left arm, while tucking her right side into his.

"So… Um… Master, can I ask a personal question?"

"Let it rip."

"Did… Did your affection level towards me change?"

"Hmmm…" Toshiro pondered. "Well… If I think about it, I would say we went from friends to… well, I don't have a word on me right now… Hmm…"

"So… Not just some friend but still not a lover?" Livy asked.

"Yeah… But who knows, maybe I'll mature enough to love both you and Yoshika with the same passion?"

"I would be so glad, Master…"

He took by the chin and slightly kissed her on the lips. "If not during my mortal life, maybe in the afterlife… Livy, will you grant me and Yoshika something better than Ami can in that regard?"

Livy smiled mysteriously and said, "Master, there is already something set in motion in that regard, you don't have to worry."

"Oh, how nice…" he said and kissed her again, this time a bit longer. "I'm sorry, but I have to go now."

"Thank you, Master," she whispered and disappeared.

Toshiro slowly got up, dressed himself, and went of the room. Coincidentally, he bumped into Trude.

"Oh, hi…" she mumbled.

"Trudy, is anything wrong?"

Trude looked around and suddenly dragged him back into his room.

"Now what is this I'm experiencing, Trudy? You drag me into my room just like that? I hope you're not trying to…"

"Oh shush, you unbearable perv…" she interrupted. "Can I sit down?"

"Sure, sure."

Both of them sat on the edge of the bed.

"So, what do you want?"

"I… Would like to visit the town in which I've lived in recently…"

"And that would be?"

"München, but I spent my childhood in Kaiserberg."

"That's only a stone throw away from Ingolstadt, I see no problem."

"Well… The problem exists… You see… I would like to finally drop the masks with Shirley there…"

"Oh… Now this is getting interesting… But why not do it here?"

"My father has a bottle of wine stored in my house. I was supposed to drink it for my eighteenth birthday, but well, circumstances and stuff… I want to drink a Brüderschaft with the redhead…"

"Then let's just fetch the bottle and do the little show here, okay?"

"Hmm… That should work but… Still, I would like Shirley to follow me there…"

"Want to show her your crib?"

"We are friends after all…" she mumbled.

"Maybe I'll get a few other people to follow us. For now, let's just go eat something."

"Okay, Toshiro."

They went down to the common room and sat at the table. Mio and Minna were also present, beside Yoshika and Lynne cooking in the kitchen annex.

"Not cooking anything today?" Toshiro asked Mio.

"I'm taking a break with my culinary education and now we'll be focusing on housework."

"You? Housework? I imagine that dust just scrams when you yell at it, hahaha!"

"Ha! I wish it would be so! I have to learn everything, everything you hear! Dusting, washing, advanced cooking…" she lowered her voice and started whispering. "At least I don't have to take classes in lovemaking…"

"I beg to differ…" Toshiro said with a smirk.

Mio puffed her cheeks.

"Toshiro's right, you're a bit rough on the edges…" Minna whispered.

"But how the hell am I going to LEARN that?"

"Yoshika will come up with something…" Toshiro shrugged and looked at Trude.

The Karlslander was so red on her face that Toshiro could warm himself off it.

This time Mio spotted an opportunity, and placing her hand on Trude's shoulder, and with a serious voice, she asked, "Want to take classes together with me?"

"I… I… I…" Trude started stuttering heavily and squirming around. "I have to go to the crapper!" she shouted and ran off into the main corridor.

"Chapeau bas, Mio," Toshiro said.

"Thank you," she gave a mock, western style bow and smiled.

"Why did Miss Barkhorn run out?" Lynne asked innocently.

A devilish smile started sprouting on Mio's face.

"No…" Toshiro whispered.

"Oh yes… Time for that girl to finally know what real life looks like! And Perrine!"

"For all gods sake at least leave Francesca out of it!"

"Sure, sure, I'm not an idiot…" she said and turned around to Lynne. "Lynne, we're having supplementary classes' afternoon, so don't plan your day too far out, okay?"'

"Yes ma'am. What will these classes be about?"

"Stuff. Don't get ahead of yourself."

"Okay…"

They waited and Trude finally returned, just as the rest appeared.

"Now this is odd…" Shirley said. "Miss Panzerfaust is usually the first to come and last to leave…"

"She was indisposed," Minna said.

"Ah… Well, that's something new anyway…"

"Food's ready!" Yoshika cheered and they began eating.

Afterwards, before anybody could move, Toshiro stood up and made an announcement.

"Today, my dear cousin Trudy and I are going to München. The objective is the same as with the previous home visits. So, who wants to go?"

"Oh, me!" Erica and Yoshika shouted at the same time.

"And what about training?" Mio asked.

"Mmmmm… Mioooooo…" Yoshika pled with a cutesy voice and big eyes.

"I say let them go!" Trude cheered.

Sucker…

"Oh okay, but you'll join training ASAP after arriving."

"Roger!" the two shouted.

"Minna?" Toshiro asked.

"Sadly no, I have to keep everything in check here."

"Oh come on, Mio could jump in for both of us."

"In theory she is the third in command, but seriously, Mio couldn't command a unit in its whole complexity."

"Yup," Mio confirmed. "I can command a unit in combat perfectly, but all the paperwork, procedures and whatchamacallits… I hate them with each fiber of my body…"

"Well okay then…" Toshiro mumbled and looked at Shirley.

"What, me?" she responded surprised. "Why should I go?"

Toshiro looked at Trude, making her baffled.

"Um… I would be nice if you'd come…" Trude squeezed out of herself.

"Who am I again?" Shirley leaned over while placing her open palm behind her right ear.

"Elwyn."

"Hmmmm… Wroooong," Shirley mused flippantly.

"Sh…"

"Yes?" Shirley leaned forward toward Trude.

"Shirley…" Trude blurted out with a crimson face.

"Much better, Miss Panzerfaust. Okay, I can go with you," Shirley said with a sly smile.

"How about the rest of you?" Toshiro asked.

"I want to take a nap, heehee…" Francesca said openly with a big grin. "Sorry, Trudy."

"Oh, maybe I could go after all?" Heidi asked.

"Okay, you can go," Toshiro answered.

"I'm going to test my Striker a bit more," Eila said. "I still got to break in that thing."

"And the rest is training. Fine, everything settled, let's go."

Once the expedition came to the hangar, Shirley asked, "So, what are you dragging me out for?"

"You'll see once we get there…"

"Toshiro, she probably told you what's cooking. Is it worth it?"

"Worth it from my perspective… As a commander, of course."

"As a commander… Hummm… Meh, whatever, I already said I'm going, so I won't jump ship."

They went to their weapons, and Trude took the new NS-45 from the floor.

"We still don't have a holster of the mags, Trudy. You might leave it be."

"Yes… I'll take the Panzerschreck and my akimbo MG's then…"

Once they were ready, they flew out southeast towards Munich.

They saw the war damaged city from miles ahead. Trude's face was even paler compared to before.

"So, where do you live?" Toshiro asked.

"See that blocky park in the west of the city?"

"Yeah?"

"Schlosspark Nymphenburg, I'm living in the south end of the Menziger Straße, which is connected to the park from the north-west."

"Nice localization…"

"Yeah… I always went to the park with Chris after I returned from school…" Trude said with a dreamy voice. "On Sundays, we would go to church with the whole family…"

Toshiro could see a single tear welling up in her right eye. He also saw that the sour looking Shirley on her left looked at her and a small smile donned the redheads face.

"Okay, Trudy, lead us down."

"Sure…"

They've landed on a street on which south side the park was present.

"A nice park indeed," Heidi noted. "Trude, where is your house?"

"You're standing right beside it," Trude smiled and pointed at the detached house on the street corner.

A two story, white painted, Prussian wall equipped house, with brown tiles on the slant roof.

"Looks familiar…" Toshiro said.

"Well, this IS a Karlslander style of building…" Erica said. "No wonder it can be familiar."

"Yeah, Adolfine's pad looks similar from the outside. So, Trudy, let us in."

"I would but… I'm pondering where the key is…"

"You were being evacuated, the Neuroi closing in on the city and you've locked the door? How more Karlslander can you be…?" Shirley sighed.

"Looters could appear every time and every place, Elwyn." Trude responded in a neutral voice. "Ah, I know where the key might be…"

She approached a patch of rocks near the entrance and started lifting them one after another.

"Aha!" she shouted triumphantly while lifting up a small wax paper envelope.

"Clever…" Yoshika said.

Trude ripped apart the envelope, took the key, and opened the door.

"Come in, dear guests," she smirked and took the pose of a chamberlain inviting the arrived.

The group entered the house, which immediately reminded Toshiro of something.

"Almost like Adi's, huh?" Yoshika whispered.

"Yeah… Just a bit more modest… But even the layout is almost identical…"

"Good that there's so many windows here, or we'd be blind…" Heidi said.

"As if you should complain," Erica gave her a nudge.

Heidi giggled and said, "Right, I sometimes forget, heehee…"

"I have to admit it, thought it pains me, that your house looks… solid." Shirley said while still looking around.

"Solid as Karlsland itself!" Trude said proudly.

"Ugh…" Shirley sighed. "So anywho, what's the deal? Why did you drag me here?"

"Err… Toshiro, could you give me some light in the basement?"

"Sure, why not… Better that than you tripping…"

"Hey, answer my question!" Shirley shouted.

"Don't get your shit in a knot, give me a few minutes."

"Hurrr… Whatever… Can we take a seat?"

"Go to the living room and rest your ass wherever."

"Sure…"

"We too?" Yoshika asked.

"Yes, you can rest your sweet tucus too…"

"Heehee…"

Toshiro followed Trude to a door, which was the basement entrance.

"So, light up, Toshiro."

"What am I, a voice activated torch or what?" Toshiro shook his head and enabled the Sacred Flame.

They descended down the stairs to a small basement. Toshiro saw some firewood, coal, preserves, and a few wine bottles. Trude grabbed a bottle made from pink glass.

"This is it, Toshiro."

"Is this some kind of rite of passage in your family?"

"Yeah, from the middle ages… You should take a sip too, you're a quarter-Barkhorn yourself, heheh…"

"Ain't it a bit too late for that for both of us? And isn't this a bit personal."

"Tradition must be upheld, even if a bit tardy. And yes, the wine was made especially for me, but nobody knew about you so…"

Or maybe… Hmmm… Grandma was a Barkhorn… Hmm…

Trude extended her hand to the rack and took another pink bottle.

"Chris's," she said and laid it back on its place. "Okay, let's go back."

"You know… Those preserves look scrumptious…" Toshiro said.

"Hmmm… Afterwards, okay? I'll take a sack and we'll take whatever looks edible."

"Very good idea, dear cousin."

"Heehee…" Trude blushed a bit.

They went out of the basement.

"Okay, you go to the rest; I'll get some glasses from the kitchen."

"Sure… Wait, didn't you plan this for later?"

"Change of plans, the cameral atmosphere here is better…"

"Okay…" he shrugged

Toshiro went to the living room, where the girls were surprisingly all standing.

"The dust… Just look at it…" Erica mumbled.

"Maybe it's good that we're all standing…" Toshiro said with a wry smile.

"Huh?"

"Wait a second, you'll see…"

After waiting for those few second, Trude came into the room with the bottle uncorked and two glasses in her hand.

"Hey, Barkhorn, drinking on duty? Now I don't fucking understand you at all…" Shirley said surprised.

"Major Yeager, I request you to drink a Brüderschaft with me," Trude said with a strong, energetic voice.

"You request… What?" Shirley tilted her head. "Oh, this…" she smiled wryly. "We're finally dropping the curtain?"

Trude nodded.

"Finally! I waited since we've arrived in Sint-Truiden you oaf!"

"You… You did?! Why the hell didn't you tell me?!" Trude yelled back.

"Pfff… I wanted you to be the one to step forward, since you're the blockhead…"

"Why you…" Trude murmured angrily, but she took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I admit, I was reluctant…"

"Uh… Can somebody explain what's happening?" Heidi asked.

"You see, Heidi… Trude and Shirley's little feud is serious only on the outside. When they are alone, they're best buds and such," Toshiro explained.

"Oooooh… Now this is interesting."

"Heh, I literally knew Trudy is playing coy, heheh…" Erica snickered.

"You knew?"

"Pssshh, it's obvious. I am a genius after all, right?"

Trude sighed and said, "Let's get this over with…"

She poured half a glass of wine each and gave one to Shirley.

"You know the drill?" Trude asked.

"More or less…"

They interlocked their arms and Trude said, "Gertrud, but you can call me Trudy."

"Charlotte, but you can call me Elwyn, Shirley, or whatever."

The two smiled and drank their wine.

"Wooooow! This is so good! Woah, it has a kick…" Shirley said.

"It's nineteen years old after all," Trude said. "I wonder how the wine kept its sweetness after all these years…"

"Maybe they had a good winemaker prepare it?" Heidi asked.

"Well, who knows, maybe my father ordered it from your father, heheh..."

"Who knows…? Oh, I would like to taste it too!"

"And me!" Yoshika cheered.

"If it's everyone, then everyone…" Erica said.

Trude forced the bottle upon Toshiro and returned to the kitchen. He took a whiff of the bottles content.

"It even smells sweet…"

Trude returned with more glasses and everyone got a bit for themselves.

"Mmmm… Sweeet!" Erica cheered. "But shit, it really does kick in…"

"My… Comparable to papa's wine…" Heidi said.

"Good I guess, but I'm no expert…" Yoshika shrugged.

"Ditto on that, but I would add that it's really good on the palate," Toshiro added.

"Good that it tasted you all. Now about the preserves… I'll go search for a bag in my room."

"Hey, Trudy, show me your room!" Shirley cheered.

"Me too!" Yoshika raised her hand.

"Hey, I want in too!" Erica joined the cheer squad.

"Toshiro, Heidi?" Trude asked.

"Nah…" Toshiro answered.

"Ah, why not… I'm coming!" Heidi cheered.

"Toshiro, you can preemptively check what preserves we can take with us."

"So anything with mold on the jar or inside is disqualified?"

"Yup."

"Sure, I'm going."

Toshiro once again descended to the basement, lighting his way down with the Sacred Flame.

"Now let's see… Nope… Nope… Good… Nope…" he muttered to himself as he went through the preserves.

After a few minutes, he ended with a big stack of "Nope's" and a rather compact pile of "Good's."

"Hey, Toshiro, how is it?" he heard Trude's voice from upstairs.

"I guess homemade preserves have an expiry date…"

"Oh crap… How much?"

"About 70%. There's enough left to take it into a medium sized suitcase."

"Aaaaaaagh… Okay, come closer, I need some light…"

Toshiro came up closer to the stair and he saw Trude carrying two bags. One was on a sling hung around her neck, and one in her hand.

"Two bags should be more than enough…"

"One bag, Toshiro…" Trude blushed.

"Huh? What's in one of them?"

"An album with photo's…"

"Oh… Well, I won't protest. Oh, and that bag is bigger than I thought. Let's pack and get back."

After they loaded the bag, they came back up, and then out of the house. Trude locked the door and said, "I'm glad I've been here today… I feel so good…"

"Me too, heh… Finally we've got that out of our system…"

"But what will the rest say to this?" Trude asked.

"I assure you, the only one who could be surprised is Shizuka," Toshiro said.

"You didn't tell anyone, right?" Trude asked.

"Nope. But most of the girls are already a few years with the two of you, and they have their eyes and brains…"

"Geez…" Trude mumbled. "I hope you're wrong… This would be so damn embarrassing…"

"Tell me, sister…" Shirley mumbled along.

"Leave the shamefulness for later, we have to go back," Toshiro said.

"Roger…" the two sighed.

They all mounted their Strikers and flew up in the air.

"Toshiro, the enemy!"

"Where?!"

"Coming in fast from the north-east!"

"Roger, thanks for the info!"

"Girls, battle formation, the enemy is upon us!"

The girls tensed up immediately.

"But we should be out of reach for the nearest hive!" Trude protested.

"No, fuck… München is still in the reach of the Prague hive!" Toshiro shouted while recalling the circles on the map, which Minna drew still in Sint-Truiden.

"Let me at them, Toshiro…" Trude said with a cold voice. "Those things won't chip off another shingle from München…"

"So what's your plan?"

"I'll rip them a new one with my bare hands if it comes to it! Especially now that I have a new friend…" she looked at Shirley with a roguish smile.

"Here they come!" Yoshika shouted and pointed out three medium-sized Neuroi coming towards them.

"Toshiro, let me in on one!" Trude shouted. "And take all this shit from me!"

"I don't know what you want to do but… I'm interested as fuck!"

Toshiro flew up and took the bags from Trude and he pulled up his shield. Trude clung unto his shoulder and he dashed forward.

"Heidi and Erica, Yoshika and Shirley, you take care of those on the sides, we're going for the center one!"

"Roger!"

The two teams fired at the chosen Neuroi, making them chase after the girls.

"Trudy, if you want to divulge your master plan, tell it now."

"Straight forward!"

"Ah what the fuck ever! Chaaaaaaarge!"

Toshiro enabled the afterburner and rushed head on for the Neuroi.

"When I tell you, just veer off in whatever direction so I can continue forward alone, okay?"

"Okay!"

The Neuroi was shooting its beams at Toshiro's fiercely, but it had no effect whatsoever, thanks to his Celestial Aura shielding him.

"Now!" Trude yelled.

Toshiro banked right and looked at Trude. The time around him slowed down.

"Toshiro, look at this."

"What…"

His vision suddenly blackened out, but he saw a white horizontal stripe.

"Yuki?"

"This is something I discovered lately, after you've unlocked the improved Hebigan. It appears that I can detect gravity anomalies, but it's rather… difficult to see anything else."

"So that stripe is…"

"Trudy's Final Art, some kind of gravitational distortion…"

"Lift this vision mode, and let's see what happens…"

The time accelerated again, and Trude simply smacked the Neuroi with an overhead punch, roaring loudly at the process. The Neuroi flew into the ground with an astounding speed, leaving an afterimage behind itself, falling into pieces.

"Whaaaaaaaaat…"

"That punch… It seems Trudy can use zero-point energy manipulation with her punches… Hoho… The Neuroi just witnessed what it is to get hit with the acceleration of 10000 G."

"Mother of god…"

Trude looked dumbfounded at her fist, then at the crater that the Neuroi left, and finally at Toshiro.

"Hey, don't look at me! You go there help Erica, I'll help Yoshika."

"O-Okay!" she shouted and turned around, rushing towards the two battling the Neuroi.

Toshiro also turned around and looked at the battle unfolding, or rather folding, because after the Neuroi turned its back towards Yoshika, she simply skewered it, destroying it on the spot.

I guess Yoshika remembers the core locations for all the Neuroi types by now…

He turned around to where Trude should be and saw another crater blooming on the ground below.

Damn this is scary… If that worlds Trudy would get this power… Brrrrr….

The girls assembled at Toshiro's location.

"How did it do?" Yoshika asked.

"Peeeerfectly. But I guess Trudy is our MVP today."

"Yeah, Trudy gained a nice punch!" Erica cheered.

"Heheh, so I did… Never knew I had it in me…" Trude said flustered.

"So let's go back to base you all, before more Neuroi swarm us."

"Roger!" they responded and they all flew back to the base in Frankfurt.

"Okay, you can give me my bag back…" Trude said when they were going towards the exit of the hangar.

"Which one?"

"Oh you know which one…"

"Heh… Care to show me the content later?"

"I have something better planned, don't worry…"

"Okay, I won't then. Have a nice day; I have to do some paperwork."

"Poor you… But there isn't much else to do around here…" she sighed.

"We're in the middle of nowhere on the frontline…" Toshiro sighed in accord.

"Oh, but be sure to get the preserves to the pantry first!"

"Sure, sure…"

Toshiro, Trude, Erica and Heidi went into the common room, while Yoshika split off and ran away to find Mio.

"Oh, watcha got?!" Francesca asked vividly.

"And how did you end up here?" Toshiro asked.

"I got thirsty."

"Meh… We've got some preserves made by Trudy's mom."

"Oh, anything good?!"

"Strawberries, plums, apples, cherries, raspberries…"

Toshiro saw as Francesca literally drooled all over the table.

"Brooooo! You're making me hungry too!" Erica grumbled.

"I'll see if we can't open up some of the jars at dinner, but for now, nope!"

"Aaaaaaaw…" Francesca and Erica moaned.

Toshiro went into the pantry and unloaded the bag on the shelves. However, not entirely.

"Bro… What's that you have?"

"A small jar of peaches, what else?"

Erica puffed her cheeks while staring fiercely at him.

Toshiro looked around the room and found nobody beside them. He sighed and opened the jar.

"Here…"

"Thanks!"

She reached with her small fingers into the jar and pulled out a quarter of a peach. After putting it into her mouth, she looked as she attained enlightenment.

"Good?" Toshiro asked with a big smile on his face.

"Delicious! One more piece and I'm leaving you be!"

"Sure, sure."

"Or… Maybe two pieces… Maybe Trudy will want one…"

"Okay, but if I don't hear from her that she ate it, you'll be spanked."

"Toshiro, please… Who do you think I am?"

"A glutton."

"Heh..."

Erica took her share and scooted off to the second floor. Toshiro in turn went into the office, where Minna was reading a newspaper.

"How's the weather?"

"Ehh… Boring and boring again…" she said and looked over the paper. "Oh? Peaches? Where'd you get that?"

"Courtesy of Mrs. Barkhorn. Erica already molested me about them…"

"Figures… So, you probably want to do some paperwork in a good company while eating peaches?"

"Pretty much yeah…"

"Heh, come on then."

"Where did you get the newspaper anyway?" Toshiro asked.

"Oh… I took the liberty of subscribing it through Witch Airmail… I'll be getting them with one-day delay, but it's still better than nothing."

"I'm not mad or anything, if that's what you're worried about… You're probably paying for them out of your own money anyway."

"True, heheh…"

After a few hours, dinner rolled in.

"Um, before we start eating… I have an announcement…" Trude said.

Shirley and Erica smiled wryly.

"Err… Well… We… That is Shirley and I… We kind of made up for all times… And… Stuff…" Trude said with her head almost steaming.

"Hah, the world is ending!" Mio laughed. "But it's nice you finally did it!"

"Yes, finally!" Eila concurred.

"How nice…" Sanya said with a smile.

"Yes, yes…" Lynne said while nodding slowly.

"Finally the two Huns will stop their war…" Perrine sighed.

"Heehee, Trude and Shirley are now best buds!" Francesca cheered.

"Oh, this is unexpected…" Shizuka said.

"Wait, so you knew all along?!" Trude asked absolutely stupefied.

"Trude… We have spent so much time together that it's natural we would discover some small details…" Minna said.

"My words exactly," Toshiro followed up.

Trude just slumped on the table and mumbled, "What a bother…"

"Well, at least we can behave like normal people at the table, right?" Shirley asked.

"I suppose so…"

After everyone ate, Mio stood up and said, "Perrine, Lynne, Shizuka and… Erica, you'll have supplementary classes now, Yoshika being the teacher."

"What?" all the interested tilted their heads.

"Shut up and follow me, double time!"

"Yeeees…" they moaned.

"Coming too, Trude?" Mio asked with a sly smile.

"Urgh… Whatever, I'm coming…"

The whole group went up the stairs to the second floor and disappeared behind the door.

"What was that about?" Shirley asked.

"Heheheh… You'll see later…"

"Whatever, time to do some tinkering with my Striker."

"Orussian learning for me," Toshiro said.

"Should I help you today, Toshiro?" Sanya asked.

"Mmmmhhhmmm… No, maybe tomorrow. I would like you to help Yoshika while we're at it."

"Okay, no problem."

Toshiro went to his room and dropped down on the bed with one of his books.

"Yesli vy mozhete chitat' eto bez perevodchika, ya snimayu shlyapu… Yawn…"

Suddenly he felt a pleasant weight on his shoulder, and he asked, "Livy, maybe you could review some material with me?"

"Oh, if it would help you… Okay, Master, I will do it gladly!"

A few hours have passed, and Yoshika dropped into the room, visibly tired.

"You look like you've had the longest lecture ever…"

"Geez, Toshiro… What a clusterfuck…"

"Tell me."

"Basically, after Mio told everyone, including me, what the lessons were to be about, the girls went into a stupor."

"That was predictable…" Toshiro rolled his eyes.

"Well, Trude looked more or less sane, but… Heh… I didn't knew Erica was such a shy girl…"

"Really now? A genius like her blushes when talking about those things?"

"Heh, you don't know everything, Toshiro. But somehow, we managed to pull it through."

"And how did the lecture look like?"

"You think I'll tell you? Pfff, fat chance you perv!"

"Oh, so interesting things must have happened… But whatever, I won't pry into the matter."

"Heheh… Okay, I guess I should start learning a bit before making supper, or you'll be on native speaker level before I will be able to write three sentences straight."

"Hey, you probably have my IQ level right now, you'll manage."

"We'll see in a week…"

"I asked Sanya to help you too, so you'll get straight in no time, heh…"

"Oh, you did? Thanks!"

"No problem, Yoshika. It's nice to be multilingual…"

"Maybe we should start learning something else? Like… Hispanic?"

"Yoshika, learn Orussian perfectly first, then we'll see."

"Okay, okay…" Yoshika said, and her nose started wiggling. "Mmm… Toshiro, I feel some Livy around you…"

"Errr… She helped me…"

"With Orussian learning? Toshiro! You cheater! Cheater! Cheater! Cheater!" she shouted while poking him in the ribs repeatedly.

"Livy, save me!" Toshiro said dramatically.

"Oh Master, don't be like that…" Livy sighed as she appeared. "Mistress, I'll devote my time to help you individually with your language studies. Is that okay?"

"Heehee, exactly what I hoped for. Thank you, Livy."

Once supper rolled in, Toshiro couldn't simply resist to ask, "So, how was class, girls?"

All of the attendees, except for Mio and Yoshika obviously, blushed vividly.

Toshiro chuckled and said, "Then how about some live practice?"

Yoshika smacked him on the back of the head swiftly and said, "Come on, don't be such a dick…"

"Hey, I saw an opening, I used it. Hmmm… That sounded a bit ambiguous…"

"Heehee…"

"So what was this all about?" Francesca asked.

"Oh… Um… Birds and bees…" Mio mumbled.

"Oh, you mean sex?"

Everyone's jaws dropped instantaneously, with the exception of Shirley.

"Her mom told me to tell Franny about the stuff…" Shirley shrugged.

"Still, a bit too early considering what was told today…" Mio coughed.

"Maybe, yeah… Taking into account what Yoshika knows... Heh… Heheh..." Shirley laughed creepily.

"Okay, let's eat in peace now…" Minna commanded.

Once they all ate, Toshiro went to his office and grabbed the phone.

"Operator, get me Keitel."

"Sofort."

After a few seconds, Keitel's voice was heard.

"Keitel."

"Good afternoon, boss."

"Ah, our little tourist. So, how was it?"

"Happy end, we've got new gear."

"I do hope a report is coming my way soon, right?"

"At the usual time boss."

"So, what do you want?"

"Heh… Well, I've noted that some of my compatriots have their ranks a bit… inappropriate compared to their age and achievements."

"Oh do tell…"

"Well, I have a few witches who could use a promotion, but they are just loose suggestions…"

"As a Generalmajor your voice weighs much more, but still isn't the truth revealed. But let it rip, maybe I can push forward some of your candidates for promotion… Or rather approve them immediately, if I wish so…"

"Heh… Okay then… Major Gundula Rall from the 502nd, promotion to Oberstleutnant."

"Let's see… Rall has an old injury; she can't get the promotion until she gets in full shape. Her current ranks of Major is almost forced."

"Her back is healed perfectly, thanks to Yoshika."

"Oh is it? I'll tell the doctors from the Imperial Army to visit her and check it."

"Thank you. Next, Stabswachtsmeister Edytha Roßmann, same unit, promotion to Leutnant."

"Ah, Edytha… I have to admit that we forgot about her, and she is getting close to her retirement age, or rather she should be retired already… And her Striker crash rate is much lower than the rest of that godforsaken unit… You know what, I'll promote her to Oberleutnant, and if she decides to retire, she'll be a Hauptmann."

"Heh, thank you. Speaking of Hauptmanns… How about Krupinski?"

"You must have eaten cicuta…"

"Okay, moving on… Marseille to Major?"

"Now this is interesting… She should be promoted some time ago, but she refused somehow… You might want to talk about it with her."

"Sure thing, boss, will do. Okay, last one – Leutnant Raisa Pöttgen, same unit."

"She isn't some kind of superstar or wonder girl… But from what I remember, but her skills in combat are to be reckoned with… Approved."

"Thanks, boss. I'll be calling Marseille now."

"Call me back immediately afterwards, this could be a nice publicity stunt."

"My whole damn unit was promoted by one rank, and nobody batted an eyelid…"

"Tough luck," Keitel said, and Toshiro pictured him shrugging in his office.

Toshiro interrupted the connection and connected with the 31st JFS.

"Keiko Katou."

"Sup, Keiko?"

"Oho! Toshiro! Long time no hear!"

"Yeah, I kind of forgot about you gals. Listen, do you happen to know where Tina is?"

"In her room probably, why do you ask?"

"Call her in, it's about her promotion."

"Okay, wait a second…"

After a few minutes, the lazy voice of Tina said, "Yeah?"

"Sup, Tina?"

"Hey, the big man himself! What up?"

"Tina, I'm disappointed. You are being presented with a promotion and you deny it?"

"Ah, that shit… I didn't want one because… Um… Trude…"

"What, you wanted to be the same rank?"

"Yeah…"

"Bahahahahahahahaha! She's a Major for over two months already!"

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"It seems that it went under the radar, heheh… Oh, and Erica is now a Hauptmann, Minna is an Oberst, et cetera, everybody got promoted by one rank."

"Motherf… I want that promotion now!"

"Heheh… Will do, Tina…"

"COUSIIIIIIIN!" a shout pierced his ears suddenly.

"For fucks sake…" Toshiro mumbled. "Hello, my obnoxiously loud but not exclusive cousin."

"Not exclusive? Huh? What do you mean?"

"After careful research, it turned out I'm Trude's first cousin."

"No way!"

"Way…"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw… But I hope I'm still your cutest and best cooking cousin, right?"

"Of course you are, Sweetie…"

"Heeheehee…"

"Say, want a promotion?"

"Oh? Could you pull one out of your sleeve? I would get more money!"

"Then I'll call Yamamoto tomorrow or something. Now, nobody else has any business to me?"

After a few seconds of asking, Mami said, "No, nothing."

"Then good night, my sweet cousin."

"Heh, good night!"

Toshiro repeated the needed rituals and he was again talking to Keitel.

"Yes?"

"Marseille agreed, boss."

"Splendid. How did you do that?"

"Pff… I just pulled the string of her rivalry with Trude…"

"Ah, yes… Good work, Toshiro. Have a good night, there's an operation slated for you unit soon."

"Again?"

"Yes. Operation Bohemia."

"So we'll be going to Prag…" Toshiro pondered.

"Smart as usual. But this one will be slightly different… More details soon."

"Okay, good day to you, boss."

Toshiro dumped the receiver on the hook.

"Huuuuurrrrrrrr… My limit of doing good deeds has been exhausted today…"

He went on to his room, where Yoshika was diligently studying.

"Ey, devushka."

"Oh, Toshiro, heehee… Errr… Chto ty khochesh' (What do you want)?"

"Bum-bum," he said while forcing himself not to laugh, but Yoshika didn't have enough willpower after hearing that and laughed sincerely.

"Oh, Toshiro… I will suffocate one day because of you…"

"Better from laughter then on something."

"Heheh… Oh you dirty, dirty fiancé of mine…" Yoshika said with an alluring voice. "Hmmm… Livy, can you sit out today, I feel like doing it with Toshiro only today."

"Of course, Mistress, have a good time, and good night," Livy's immaterial voice said.

"Now, where were we?" Yoshika asked.

"I think you wanted to deepen your bond with me…" Toshiro said slyly.

"Ah, yes… Let's see how deep it can be…"

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