Narrator pow:

"Oh damn, they are quite dedicated." Maken commented, observing from the plenary as Andou's chosen team kept themselves busy with Sensha-do skill mastering.

"Indeed." Pekore added, patiently drinking her tea on the side. "As the saying goes, practise makes the master."

"Can't deny that it's all true." He responded, feeling a tear rolling in his eye. "I feel kind of proud for her."

"Is it just pride?" She asked back.

"Do not tease me, please. You know I'm prone to agressive behavior if provocated."

"I know, I know this very well." Pekore chuckled, placing her tea aside on the coffee table. "But maybe there is more from you to her than you know?"

"... Oh, no." Maken rested his head, doing what he could to appear as stoic. "I shouldn't do it to her."

"Do what?" Pekore asked, taking few steps up to him.

"Have bigger feelings. Not me, not to her."

"Should... It's a relative word. It all depends on the perspective."

"And my perspective is no."

"Are you sure?"

"No, but playing both sides isn't good in this regard."

"Because leaving leader can't be in love with the incoming one?"

"I guess so."

"Says a first male Sensha-do student in this country. A one who was in female school prior to that nothenless. And then became the owner of autonomous school that makes deals with Japanese military while still being a second-year student." Pekore countered his opinion, spreading her arms widely. "You are the one to break the norms here, so at least do it one more time. Give her, and yourself, a chance."

"I don't remember Andou wanting one." Maken clenched his fists, turning around to face her with his narrowed eyes.

"Neither you wanted one when I reached out to you back then."

"... Fair, I am not a hypocrite." He sighed deeply, taking a bit more positive posture. "But I can't do it alone."

"I can give you practical training and help."

"... What the-"

"Eclair just reported that she will join us on the match against BC Freedom." Dornier reported, as he and Andou were leaving the training grounds.

"That's great, now we have all crews and tanks ready for the match." She responded, almost making him flinch with her serious tone.

"Are you always so tense?"

"No, but I actually have something to prove now so I have to get serious."

"That much?"

"And how much is the right ammount in your opinion?"

"Not the one that makes you agressive."

"What did you call me?"

"See? That's what I'm talking about."

"Maybe if you actually cared about something you would understand."

"I do, you know?"

"And about what?"

"My clan, my team and my friends."

"Me too, so?"

"So far you only emphasised the BC Freedom shtick with Oshida."

"It doesn't deny that I care about my friends."

"But are you caring about them as much as about petty revenge? Or maybe less?"

"..." Andou silenced herself, looking down with badly hidden shame.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Dornier responded, taking out from his frontal pocket an Iron Cross and clenching it in his hand like a rubber ball. "It's time for you to look inward, and begin asking yourself the big question. Who are you and what do you want to achieve?"

"I... I don't know."

"Exacly." He pressed on, showing her the medal he just took out. "In case you didn't know by now, this little thing was given to me by a girl called Maho..."

"... Nishizumi?"

"Yeah, that one."

"And when did she even bother about you?" Andou asked him again, confused about the whole orderal.

"She gave it to me when we met at the airport. I was returning to Japan from family in El Salvador to study in the land of the ancestors, she changed her study choice at the last time from Europe to United States."

"Fair enough, but why?"

"She said something about her Mother being the one to pick the field of study for her. And she, being now an adult, took the life into her own hands and changed the choice."

"Alright, but what does it have with the Iron Cross?"

"Leaving the not very happy past where it should be left. Which is with herself and behind the one who has her. At least that's what I understood."

"And she gave it to you?"

"You know, I also happen to be looking for who I actually am. And the fact that she gave it to me just happen to do the trick."

"Mhm, and th Dornier as a name?"

"Adopted from German culture thanks to this gift. My real name is Dorian."

"Oh, right." Andou nodded, making a bit sour face as the two approached the paved road. "So you suggest me to find the sense of life in somebody else?"

"Yup, it worked for me." Dornier smiled, turning to his left and walking away from her. "I would join Bellwall if not gender restrictions, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah..." She responded with a slight hesitancy, waving after him until the two lost the track of eachother. "Find the sense of life in somebody else? Fine then, genius. But in who?"

"How are you liking the course?" Yashabushi Nakiyama asked, as Maken tumbled into his office with Pekore and Assam following shortly after him.

"Kill. Me."

"Worse than usual then."

"I am already making research on the potential candidates to-" Assam joined with her opened laptop, but stopped speaking as Pekore rised her hand.

"Science is not the most optimal way of talking about human relations." Pekore explained, looking back at Maken who managed to gain a hold on himself. "Besides, I think I already know a perfect person for partnership with you."

"You do?" Maken and his assistant reacted, asking her at the same time.

"Darjeeling taught me a lot about people and how we can see their inner sides." Pekore smiled, looking back at Assam. "Now then, shall I stop torturing you by practising the advises on me and begin the more... Direct part?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright then, thanks for telling me." Andou said, ending her phone call as she made it to the entreance of her group's building. "Well, I guess my team isn't as close to me as I need right now. But maybe if I-!" Her thoughts were interrupted by Maken, who just opened the doors for her as at least dozen of other students made a gossiping crowd behind him.

"Andou! May we have a talk?" He asked her, stepping to the side so she could walk in.

"...I guess we can. No issue." She responded, walking inside as the two walked forward towards the staircase. "But shouldn't they follow after us? You are their Caudillo after all."

"That's why they don't follow us. Respect to mine privacy prevails." He answered as they made it to the stairs.

"Sounds fair, you are the number one in here." She nodded, mildly suprised.

"Also, aren't you against..."

"Having the talk in my room? No."

"Thank you then. At least we won't have to walk all over the place."

"Are they inside?" Rukuriri asked on the phone call, coordinating the current effort.

"Yup, all according to plan." Assam responded, observing Maken and Andou walking inside the latter's room.

"Mhm, keep updating me."

"Very well then. They... Seem to take sit down on her bed and..." Assam paused, adjusting her equipment. "... Talking."

"About what?"

"Can't tell since I don't see their lips, but it's... Serious... Very serious."

"I feel you. People who have no idea about what to do tend to end up in bad mental states." Maken said with spare body language, relaxing his arms.

"I know." Andou responded, giving him a doubtful glare. "But if the only idea I have is not only from someone else but also about a relationship, then..."

"... Then maybe you should at least consider it?"

"Wait, what?"

"You know, my luck just had it that Orange Pekore helped me today with a similar issue and suggested the same solution as Dornier to you."

"A relationship?"

"It seems she meant exacly that."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"... I don't think any would go on me in this state."

"Bullshit."

"And why?"

"Did you try to, you know, talk to one with the aim of getting him into relation with you for at least some time?"

"No. This school is mine first experience with actual boys of my age in two years."

"Fair enough, I am also a total newbie who never exceeded the limitations of courtesy at official party."

"... You?"

"Exacly! Having my focus be absorbed by school I never had time to engage in the more affective side of being a teenager."

"So you go below your le-?"

"Not below my level. Because people with issues are my level."

"If you put it that way, then I won't complain."

"Then how about relationship of convenience?"

"... Convenience?"

"Oh, you know. Since we are both looking for someone to take care of our emotional lows, then maybe we should do it to eachother? Me with your identity issues and you with mine identity issues."

"And for how long are supposed to go with it?"

"For as long as needed. Until me make up our minds about this or find better solution than being with eachother."

"Heh, I guess that makes sense." Andou smiled, moving herself closer to him. "But don't think it will be easy."

"Nothing in my life is easy." Maken responded, recieving a bump into his shoulder.

"Stop with that edgy nonsense please."

"Fine, fine, don't beat me please."

"And?" Rukuriri asked on the phone, still occupying Assam in the middle of latter's work.

"Please, tell Pekore that our operation was a complete success." Blonde espionage head of St. Gloriana responded, looking at the window where Maken and Andou began to laugh in a bit childish way. "They seem to be good as for now."

"Understood. I'll tell her right away."

"Thank you." Assam nodded before the call ended. "Oh well, it is no shame for a lady to help with a martial bliss. Not when asked by a friend..."

"So match against BC Freedom is tomorrow? Sooner that I thought." Andou commented, as she walked out of her room with a graceful stride.

"Yup, schedule mixing really is a mess in current situation." Maken responded, following after her just as swiftly. "But that won't best you."

"Oh, I know it won't." Andou smiled, looking back at some of her team crowding on the staircase. "Not with such friends."