Author'snote- Apologies for not uploading last week as planned. I had kept up with writing over the holiday but upon returning home on the new year I had found my homes water pipes had busted. Long story short, a few repairs later and I was back on track. Apologies and enjoy.

Once again Virtanen, Kaiser, and Knight sat in the staff office. Once again going through paperwork and logging maintenance and service hours for the crews and vehicles along with awards and recommendations.

It was the usual scene when nothing of note was to occur. Virtanen leaned back in his seat releasing a heavy sigh. Kaiser stood and began preparing drinks, tea for Knight who was stretching his legs, coffee for Virtanen who was dozing off, and water for himself.

It was peaceful, to say the least. Work was progressing with no backlog, maintenance was up, budget concerns were settled, no infighting, and the new intel team was already proving results. His two peers took it as a sign they had reached a stage of success where they could relax somewhat, Kaiser himself felt it was a premonition of something worse to come.

As he prepared the coffee grinds and boiled the water, Virtanen began making small talk, as usual, to get his mind off of the numbing amounts of work.

"How's your project going Kaiser? The one with your new conscripts?"

Knight perked up in interest at the topic, the Puma's team having had little contact with the rest of the Senshado team as they were 'occupied' catching up in training with Kaiser.

The two watched Kaiser's back as he continued prepping the drinks. "Nothing special to report. The crew has been progressing at the intended pace and should soon be able to perform on the field, however, it would be pertinent to keep them out of the Oarai match."

"They're actually keeping up with your training?" asked Knight.

They're performing better than you with your head in the clouds" snipped Kaiser.

Virtanen chuckled at the remark and Knight's downturned expression. "Easy on him, who can blame the poor lad when his girlfriend works beside him and he gets to see her most of the day?"

"I can and will since she's holding his hand more than ever" quipped Kaiser as he began steeping the tea. "Rather than playing cupid and watching romance from afar, shouldn't you be pressing the team to perform better?" he asked as he poured the hot water over the coffee grinds.

Virtanen raised his hands in defense despite Kaiser's back turned to him. "They're performing great, I don't have it in me to be as harsh as you when it comes to training," he explained. "I don't want the stress and fatigue to wear them out before we face Oarai".

"Awfully considerate and possibly wise. Let's hope this doesn't bite us in the end."

Knight spoke up. "With respect sir, Oarai seemed to take a rather Laisses-fair approach and seemed all the better for it."

Grabbing the two cups, Kaiser walked to Knight then Virtanen. Placing the tea before Knight he explained. "We are not Oarai". Stepping to Virtanen and placing his drink he finished his statement. "Would we have lasted a moment against Pravda if it wasn't for the hundreds of hours of practice and sweat?"

Knight looked down at his tea and quietly sipped, knowing the answer. Virtanen, lax as ever, began throwing back the still-hot coffee without any thought of the taste. Bored of the short lecture and not wanting Kaiser's stern attitude to focus on him he shifted back to the previous topic.

"So what will you do with the gossip blog? You've said you would keep it up?"

"Kaiser grabbed his drink and sat. Turning in his chair, he nodded. "As I've said, it will be useful as disinformation while outsiders see it as a third-party source. "I've allowed Anna and her friends to continue making articles so long as they aren't so invasive. It may affect the level of gossip so many had fallen in love with but at least it will serve a purpose aside from pointless rumors".

"That's a shame you busted them" lamented Virtanen. "Some of the cadets were enjoying the little bits of fame."

Knight concurred. "Some were even competing for the front page at times" he added with a grin.

Virtanen snickered. "Shame you didn't join in, we could've set up a profitable racketeering scheme with you always hogging an article in each update."

Kaiser rolled his eyes. "I can thank Anna for that I suppose".

Knight posed a question. "Just who is that girl anyways sir?" She seems to know you rather well compared to most others on the team."

Kaiser cast a short side glance. "No one of concern, just another old acquaintance. Thanks to her however I suppose we have an interesting way to document our school lives now. Even if it did cause me many headaches at first with misunderstandings."

Virtanen deflated onto his desk. "Must've been nice for them having such an easy job. Making gossip articles about you must've been a big money-maker and attention-getter for them.

"You seem to forget it was at my expense" countered Kaiser, raising an eyebrow.

"Not everyone has circumstances that are so easy to gossip about!" exclaimed Virtanen. Not everyone's friends with some famous school commander or off in secret with their former enemy or have their crush confess to them!" countered Virtanen.

Kaiser's expression fell flat. 'So that's what this is about' he thought.

Knight sputtered slightly at the last claim. "W-was there an article about that?"

"Everyone knew!" spat Virtanen at the absurdity that it was ever a secret. Horrified, Knight looked at Kaiser who nodded in agreement with Virtanen.

Knight hid his face in embarrassment. With one target hiding, Virtanen's fit focused on Kaiser. "Don't you play ignorant either".

"All forms of contact I have are professional and work-related" defended Kaiser.

"As if" dismissed Virtanen with a groan.

Seeing a notification on his phone, Kaiser opened the message as he entertained Virtanen's complaints. "My head isn't filled with nonsensical ideations like yours. If you spent half that brainpower on your training, you would have a scholarship for Senshado by now."

Kaiser stood and straightened his gray trousers. "Perk up, there's a perfect distraction for your somber mood," he said walking over to Virtanen's desk and sliding the phone next to his face.

With his cheek still hugging the wood surface, Virtanen read the message. It was from Anna and with a picture of her with the contact. "Still bad at remembering people's names and faces I see"

"She insisted I take one of her besides I'd feel guilty if I was to just forget her. Now just read the message".

Virtanen's eyes scanned the text, causing him to sit up abruptly. The action led to Knight jumping and spilling some of his tea. "They found someone adrift at sea?!" exclaimed Virtanen.

Kaiser nodded as Knight wiped himself off. Cleaning up his mess, Knight asked "Who?"

Kaiser retrieved his phone and began relaying a summary of the message. "The intel team says that the naval studies students identified a floating object which was a single individual adrift. No identification yet but they have reported it to school officials who have directed that the naval studies turn it over to the student council."

"You're telling me Danny and his crew are taking them?" asked Virtanen.

"The student council president?" added Knight.

Kaiser nodded to both inquiries. "Seeing as how productivity was slowing for us all, why don't we take the chance to see just who it is?"

As expected Virtanen Jumped at the opportunity to leave the stuffy office and was already at the door. Knight stumbled along after, hoping his uniform wouldn't stain and at least dry soon. Kaiser followed once he secured the papers and locked the room behind them.

The three walked out to the side of the ship where the adrift vessel had been craned up and aboard. There were plenty of naval students who were generous enough to direct them. Already word had spread to some and passersby stopped for a brief viewing.

Past the scattered crowd, a notably denser group stood still, animatedly speaking to each other. The three could recognize a few faces, a couple of school officials, and pointedly, Danny and his entourage.

Virtanen, on shaky terms as ever with Danny, began marching straight to the group surrounding a single figure. His intent was clear as day. He was going to waltz forward and pressure Danny into letting him meet the curious castaway.

With each step, they could see a bit more of the figure. As the crowd around them spoke they only seemed to nod, not speaking themselves. A feminine figure shorter than them all at five foot three or four. Light blue clothing adorned their body along with a strange hat and instrument. Kaiser and Knight's eyes widened in realization as they approached.

Knight tried to inform Virtanen but was too late. His commander had already wrapped an arm around Danny and one of his entourages shoulders. "What's all the ruckus about here?" he grinned.

"Virtanen?!" shouted Danny in surprise before coughing quietly to regain his composure in front of the female castaway. "P-perfect timing. This here is-"

The castaway raised her hand to stop the boy and introduce herself. With closed eyes, she nodded and said "I am merely another follower of the wind".

There was a notable pause before Knight clarified. Leaning between Virtanen and Danny he whispered. "That's Mika! The commander of Continuation High School!"

Danny resumed. "Uh, right, and since she also partakes in Senshado, why don't you take care of providing hospitality?"

"What?" asked Virtanen at a loss.

One of the school supervisors concurred and finalized it. "If that's the situation then the student council can go on with their day.

Virtanen protested. "Wait a minute! We don't have the facilities nor any preparation for-"

"She's a castaway" deadpanned the supervisor. "None of us are prepared. The school will provide lodging and food for her until we can provide safe transport for her. You'll just be showing her around and ensuring she doesn't get lost or hurt while under our care"

Virtanen didn't want the extra responsibility but arguing with those above his billet wasn't his forte. Quickly he turned to his side. "Kaiser-" but his peer was nowhere to be seen, only Knight stood behind him.

The teachers and Mika watched him inquisitively. "If there are no further issues, the teachers will prepare everything and you can get on with showing her around. Just bring her to the main building before eight so she can get settled in."

Without any further discussion, the teachers and student council were off. Virtanen ground his teeth but quickly switched gears as he addressed his new charge. "Mika was it? I suppose there's no helping it. Where would you like to go first?"

"Wherever the wind takes us"

Another pregnant pause. Virtanen and Knight exchanged confused glances. Their eyes shared the same belief. 'Kaiser knew to bail before getting involved

And so the rest of their day went. A short tour of the ship until sundown when they began heading back to the school to wrap up. Mika had been of very few words, those that were not cryptic anywho. Virtanen would remain lost if it were not for Knight who had a previous tenure at St. Gloriana and some familiarity with the usage of quotes and proverbs.

The group met with a teacher who provided a key to the nearby student lodging. Given some spare linens and food, the three made to retire for the day. As the boys quietly carried the commodities for her, Mika lightly strummed at her Kantele as she followed.

Though relatively still early, her escorts bid their farewells to which she gave a polite nod. It wasn't too long before there was a knock at her door. The thought of how strange it was that she would have visitors never struck her as she whimsically opened the door.

It was none of the hosts or escorts she had met in her few hours aboard. Instead, she was met with a taller figure wearing a stern expression. Kaiser stood before her, looking none too pleased.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Mika's expression of serenity strained just the slightest at his question. His over analyzation tore into every minute detail of her.

"Ah, I thought I had heard the wind speak a familiar name."

"Cut the mysticism, we can talk inside or we can air our business out here. Your choice."

Mika hesitated to speak but stepped aside, allowing him to enter. "I apologize for not offering any hospitality but I have just arrived."

Kaiser ignored her pleasantries. "Answer my question. Why are you here?"

Mika hesitated at the bluntness of his question. "I was left adrift, unfortunately".

"Is that why I found your two stowaways hiding on your little ship?" Mika stiffened at the statement. "Aki and Mikko I believe? Mikko was rather stubborn but eventually, Aki came clean."

Mika's demeanor shifted instantly, her expression from disturbed serenity to mild annoyance. "What did you do?"

"Nothing yet, I'll set you all free once you answer my questions".

Mika relaxed slightly. "Then Aki has told you nothing if you need answers".

Kaiser now felt annoyed. "Always perceptive at the most inconvenient times" he grit. "We're both surprised here. I never expected you to set foot on my ship and you, perceptive as ever, are also infamously lazy. You didn't even look up anything past who the commander of this school's team was, did you? That's why you didn't know I'd be here."

"Surprised, I certainly am…"

Kaiser crossed his arms. "Come clean. I already know of your infamous thievery. So why did you come here? Someone with your background and standing conveniently drifting into a scholarship that has no relations with your school?"

Closing her eyes she reached for her instrument. "Obsession can destroy a man as fast as it can build one". She made to strum her instrument as Kaiser grasped it, clamping the strings down and cutting its sound short.

Uncharacteristic, sharp eyes slowly opened from Mika as she looked up at Kaiser. He showed a greater disdain at her aversion to answering him.

"I'm far from obsessed with you."

"Perhaps, but with victory it's another story, no?"

Kaiser snickered. "Something I'm familiar with unlike your school".

Mika's grip tightened on her kantele. "It seems you've missed the forest for the trees."

Kaiser rolled his eyes. "I'm aware of your philosophical sense of Senshado. I, unfortunately, don't have the pleasure of partaking in it. I have more burden than you or any other."

"Is it your's to bear alone?"

Kaiser released her instrument and stepped back. Running a hand through his hair he hung his head. "Difficult as ever. I want answers. You'll give them or I throw your boat and its stoway's overboard. There's no record of them being found with you so no one will miss them."

Mika was stunned. Her silence was acceptance enough for Kaiser.

As he awaited her to come to terms and play along he got a different conversation instead.

"You've certainly changed haven't you?"

Glancing up he saw a concerned and complex expression on Mika. "And you haven't changed at all"

The first somewhat friendly exchange eased the tension somewhat. Kaiser sat in a nearby chair as Mika sat on the couch, her instrument silent as either failed to speak.

Kaiser felt he had wasted enough time and broke the uncomfortable silence. "I don't want to be here either. I'm here for my school. That means preventing you from doing whatever master plan or grand heist you're drawing up".

Mika eyed her instrument before responding. "There is no such thing"

"I'm not inclined to believe you. We have friendly relations with Pravda now and I've even spoken to Nonna and Clara personally. They did not paint you in a kind light."

"Not all meetings are foreordained… some are simply fortuitous."

"And that means?"

Mika then began explaining, her cryptic way of speaking faltered as she went on with Kaiser picking apart her explanation as if it was a tall tale.

Kaiser felt almost as if a cold condescending laugh was warranted. "You're telling me that you actually did end up adrift?" Mika nodded. "You were on your way back to your school from intel gathering when you ran out of fuel?" Again she nodded. "Which just so happened to have been your fault because you forgot to steal fuel and instead raided Anzio's food supply?"

Mika's cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as she lowered her head and plucked a single string of her kantele.

Kaiser leaned back in his chair, disbelief apparent. He couldn't help but ask himself why he had ever come to know this girl in the past over such a trivial reason. Letting the awe of the tale fade, he sat back up and began piecing together the story.

"And the reason why your friends hid is that they were smaller and therefore easier to hide. They would then raid our school's rations so you could escape, possibly with intel or even some key components from our team."

Mika's face was still lowered but he could tell from the tension of her forehead that her eyes were wide at having been read so easily. Kaiser stood and approached her, seeing her tense as he came near.

"I've been meaning to ask, what the hell is with this hat?" with one motion he swiped the hat off of her head. He had not held it for a few seconds before Mika reached up after it. Without her hat she was clearly more flustered or perhaps it was because she did not have it she became so. Either way, Kaiser felt a tinge of satisfaction at the desperation she showed to retrieve it.

Her expression showed serenity as always but her frantic pawing and flushed cheeks betrayed her. Backing away, he kept it out of her reach, taunting her with a bemused expression. Eventually, he backed into the wall, and in her attempts to take back her property, she pressed against him. On her tiptoes she exerted herself, straining against him to reach without a care for her posture.

Kaiser felt his cheeks brighten for the first time in quite some time. Quickly, he pushed her an arm's length away and pressed her hat into her chest while averting his eyes.

"You"

Kaiser glanced over at Mika who with upturned eyes, held her hat firmly down onto her head. "You've become quite cheeky."

Kaiser cleared his throat and stepped away towards the door. With a hand on the handle and his back turned he spoke. "You've been accepted as a guest here. You can stay until deemed otherwise and I will make arrangements for your peers to join you. I'll see that there is food and fuel provided as well for your return. Our match with Oarai will overlap your stay. Do not cause trouble and there will be no issues. Understood?"

"I see it is true. A tree does not move unless there is wind."

Kaiser glanced back. "You're more of a cyclone" and left.

Quietly Mika sat and strummed her instrument once more, calming herself after the tumultuous exchange of emotions, surprise, anger, shock, and even empathy. "Perhaps we are no more than candles in the wind…"

The night would see that Mika was joined by her peers who Kaiser had detained but never actually threatened. When he had returned to inform them of their permissive stay Aki was trying to assist Mikko who had gotten stuck trying to break out.

With directions given the two girls left to join Mika, praying she hadn't eaten the food given and wasn't asleep, leaving them locked out. Kaiser offered them a short tenure at his room but Aki bashfully declined and took Mikko who didn't seem as adverse so long as she got a bed.

Seeing them off, Kaiser's night was far from over as once he turned the corner to his barracks, Virtanen stood waiting for him with a displeased look.

Kaiser slowed to a stop in front of his peer. "Virtanen?"

"Kaiser" he responded. "We need to talk."

"About? I'd rather get some rest if possible"

"I got curious as to why you disappeared all of a sudden. Found Anna. She told me everything"

Kaiser let a long sigh out. Planting a hand over his eyes he conceded. "Fine. Let's go to the nearby track. I think it best if we both keep it short."

In contrast to his words, his pace was slow. Kaiser knew of the uncomfortable conversation to come. Stepping to a nearby bench, he didn't even have the chance t sit before Virtanen began tearing into him.

"What happened? You usually cover your tracks so thoroughly."

Kaiser shrugged indifferently. "I didn't even know Anna went to this school until last week. I certainly didn't expect her to go spilling everything to you for no reason."

"She saw a reason. She thought we were friends and that I must have known. Now I'm questioning if we ever were."

Are you going to tell me just what you know?" deadpanned Kaiser.

Virtanen's face contorted into anger. Kaiser's usual indifference having a stronger effect than usual. With an accusative finger pointed at Kaiser, he spoke. "That you confessed to Mika a few years back! That your whole personality shift was because she rejected you? I even had to hear the poor girl say that you used her as a rebound!"

Kaiser felt an indignant rage. Gripping his fists tight to temper himself, Kaiser corrected Virtanen. "That's quite an unfair summarisation. I told her the basics of the situation and you're filling in the gaps with your imagination."

"Am I? Cause it seems that everything lines up time-wise! Your brooding! Your attitude! All for a girl?! Is that why you joined Senshado to Show her up?!"

"Is that what you seriously fucking think?!" The outburst silenced both for a moment as Kaiser calmed himself and lowered his tone. Virtanen released a heavy breath as Kaiser paced for a moment.

"You were there! I signed up and recommended you here! You know why I wanted to get away!" Kaiser took another breath, easing his tone as he tried to be practical in his explanation. "I know you're stressed. I am too. Nothing has been easy for either of us. But think. Don't let our recent arguments and personal grudges blind you. You know exactly why I left InfanterieKampf."

Virtanen nodded animatedly and threw a hand back. "Of course I do. It was because of how you treated our team! The hazing, the fights, don't forget how everyone banded together to decry your position to get you banned from the team!"

Kaiser grasped Virtanen's jacket and shook him. Virtanen grabbed his arm but was unable to shake him off. In a threatening hiss, Kaiser reminded him further. "Their betrayal hit me before I ever felt anything for that girl. Or any other. The hazing was something we all went through. Violence was our way of communicating."

Kaiser pushed Virtanen back and lowered his hands. "Then after our victories, people got cocky. Didn't want to practice. Thought I was too harsh a leader. Cliques formed, grudges shaped. I got jumped more than once. I was kind enough to dismiss any injuries on either side as practice related. But they didn't like that they couldn't take me down through paperwork or violence. So they went through belligerence."

Virtanen recalled the match. "Against east high. I remember."

"Of course you do. They disobeyed you too because you were an associate of mine. We barely won and that's because I still had a few loyal peers. I was still immature. Hell, I still am, we all are. But back then I snapped. Threats, fights, inflicting pain, or threatening suspension from matches. You saw how I turned out. I made them fear me so they'd fall in line. No one wants to risk future prospects after all. And when they did as told, I treated them as disposable to get the results they all wanted."

Virtanen remained silent. Bitterly recalling the more tense days that seemed so far off even though they were no more than a year or two prior.

"I knew how things would turn out. We were lucky to get that championship. So I quit before things disintegrated. Passed on the mantle to a reasonably popular and capable peer and quit. Then I was given the offer to come here. That Mika bit happened a few months before and once I was rejected I had pretty much forgotten about it all besides the lingering embarrassment."

Virtanen had simmered down but was still tense. Kaiser on the other hand had had enough for the night. With an exaggerated motion, he slumped onto the bench next to him. Leaning his head back he looked at the night sky and took a slow breath of the cold air.

"I'll come clean." Virtanen hesitated but sat next to Kaiser and glanced over as he spoke. "You've known me long enough. Results are expected of me at every turn. Reveling in the danger and violence of InfanterieKampf was a stress relief. Senshado is too for me. It was my escape. Shaping you to be a commander was my way of experimenting. To see if I could make someone with a kinder disposition succeed where I failed."

"I was a project?" asked Virtanen indignantly.

Kaiser shut his eyes, wincing at the headache he felt from the day's events. "Yes. Other than a hiccup or two, I'd say so far it's a success.

Virtanen's rebuttals were silenced. Kaiser continued. "Certainly a work in progress though. Knight even more so."

Virtanen gave a reluctant snicker at the remark. Taking a seat next to him, the two seemed content to simmer in the cold for a bit. Virtanen's worries were dismissed and so his usual curiosity came to the forefront. Breaking the silence he asked his largest question. "How did you even meet her?"

Kaiser gave an exaggerated groan which Virtanen chuckled at. Despite Kaiser's protests he continued prodding until he caved, giving a lackluster explanation.

"It was after some match. I don't even recall who we were against honestly. I just know we won and there she was. She had a family member who played on the opposing team and watched them play. Almost feel guilty we stomped them. Anyways I was a little more reckless then and went up to her."

"I'd say you're more reckless now"

"I at least think before I rush in, unlike back then."

"You didn't get broken bones or blown off tanks back then"

"We jumped and fell out of buildings."

"Not helping your point" Virtanen laughed.

"Kaiser rolled his eyes. "Anyways we spoke for a bit and I ended up asking her out. I should've known after all. She was on, at the time, an all-girls school ship and we were landside. Imagine my surprise when I saw she was Continuation High's leader. I just couldn't see past the rose tint. I didn't hold it against her but it still hurt."

"I can empathize with you there" nodded Virtanen.

Kaiser gave a single laugh. "Our situations differed greatly in the amount of drama"

Virtanen laughed loudly. "I suppose so! I can piece together the rest with Anna and such. Therefore I have one more thing to ask."

"Shoot"

"Did the heartbreak have anything to do with you not trusting others?"

Kaiser mulled over what to say, his explanation hard to word. "Yes and no. I dated Anna not long after right? We got along well but I felt that I wasn't giving her proper attention and hadn't sorted myself out. That was why I called it off. Yet it did somewhat accelerate what I already felt."

"When the team started turning on me I knew I could do a lot. Lead, follow, work, even minor miracles if I was prepared. But trust was one thing that was slipping. Hell, I don't even know if it was there. I did whatever it took to win and eventually, hardly anyone could keep up. That is if they even wanted to. I fell head over heels and well, I had never experienced that level of disappointment before. I started studying more, training more, and doing whatever I could to improve. To me trusting others is out of reach because it seems unnecessary."

Virtanen had no response. Glancing to his left he saw Kaiser's blank expression, looking up listlessly. Standing with a groan he stretched his legs and rubbed his cold hands together. "Well, we better get some rest. Busy days ahead and the match isn't too far out!"

As Kaiser stood Virtanen gave a hearty slap to his back. With a surprised grunt, Kaiser nodded and yawned in agreement.

"Sorry for the trouble there, I kinda lost my mind and all."

Kaiser shrugged. "I've grown to expect no less from you or anyone else we work with. I never explained it because-"

"It was pertinent information. I know" interrupted Virtanen. With a wave, he turned on his foot and began heading home. Looking back he saw Kaiser slink to his barracks room. Watching him enter the door and briefly turn the lights on and off.

Thinking back on the conversation he felt he had learned a whole new aspect about his old friend. Regrettably, he seemed to understand how he thought. The way he inferred it, his peer had exchanged compassion for talent. That was heartbreaking in and of itself, but hadn't they come quite far? The Pravda match was certainly a rough spot and he held no close ties to any cadets other than the Prokovs. But here they were. Succeeding and making headlines.

But was that from positive change or Kaiser being right?

Virtanen scratched his head, emptying it of the dilemmic thought. He had enough on his plate and he was sure his mother was gonna tear him a new one if he didn't hurry home. In her eyes, being a commander was second to being her son, therefore all excuses were void. Running back he felt relieved and hopeful for the coming days.

-Chapter End-