"" Dialogue
'' Thoughts
Disclaimer: I do not own "Strike Witches", so this is just a fan made.

Chapter 6: About the Present

(or dealing with it)

They continued walking for a couple more of minutes until the forest ended and at the distance the school could now be seen and even the students as they were already leaving.

"We're too late." Yoshika disappointingly said, but near the door, she could recognize her friend and she began walking the opposite way. "it's Michiko, let's hurry."

And thus, they both rushed to catch her but as they were running, some students recognized her old friend and classmate and stopped her in her tracks.

"Excuse me." Yoshika politely said a few times trying to pass them but neither Shizuka nor she could as more people started to gather around her. "What's going on?" Yoshika wondered as all of them were speaking at the same time and shortly after, papers and pens were surrounding her.

"Sign my notebook" "My shirt" "My face!"

"Wait what…?" Yoshika added now overwhelmed and flushed. 'This still feels weird. They must have heard Commander Minna's speech.' She said to herself as she reluctantly began signing notebooks, and nothing else, there was no way she could sign shirts or faces or who knows what else.

Meanwhile, Shizuka could not help it but watch the whole scene with a grin on her face. Yoshika was already well-known among the navy, but it seemed that her feats had become recognized among the general population too. She was happy for her though, Yoshika had done so much for the war, and it just felt right that she got the recognition she rightfully deserved and for now, Yoshika was smiling again, more or less, yet she still felt guilty she made her cry just for pointless curiosity.

Michiko on the other hand, heard the commotion and noticed that a crowd was gathered around someone, yet she stayed there just watching wondering was the whole fuss was about.

"Michiko, it's Yoshika, she came back." A friend of hers told her as she rushed toward the group.

"Is that true!?" She beamed, she could not believe what she had just heard, so she rushed through the crowd hoping to find if her friend had really returned. And there she was, overwhelmed with papers around her.

"Yoshika!" She called her but unlucky for her, she could not hear her as it became quite noisy there. Some tutors heard the commotion too and started to scatter the students until all of them had left, save for Michiko of course.

"I'm so sorry, I've never expected to cause this much trouble." Yoshika bowed repeatedly to apologize for the tumult; but it was not a big issue because nothing really happened. Thus, they greeted her as she used to be one of their students too and congratulated her for the liberation of Berlin too. Shortly afterwards, they went back to the school as their workday was not ever yet.

And as soon as they left, Yoshika embraced her friend. "Michiko, I missed you so much." She cheerfully said.

"I missed you too." Shizuka beamed with teary eyes hugging her back even tighter. "I'm so happy to see you're really okay."

Shizuka overwatched them with a bit jealousy as they seemed to be very close, but shortly afterwards, Michiko hugged her too but not as affectionate as she was towards Yoshika.

"When did you came back?" Michiko asked the duo of Witches.

"We've just come home yesterday." Yoshika replied.

"But Shizuka, I heard you were helping Major Sakamoto to train new recruits, is that true?" Michiko questioned her.

"That's correct, I was stationed at the Witches school in Sasebo for a few months now, but Yoshika just came flying from Europe before yesterday." Shizuka stated.

"Flying? Do you mean on a Striker?" Michiko asked with surprise in her voice.

"Yeah, it took me a whole week, but I could do it." Yoshika answered proudly and so she started to tell the story of her journey as the trio walked home.

On the other hand, Michiko told them that everyone here heard Commander Minna's speech in Berlin as it was broadcasted all over Fuso, and everyone here in Kamakura were thrilled when Yoshika's name was announced as one of the heroes of the liberation of Berlin.

'I knew it.' Yoshika thought as now she understood why there was all the fuss when she arrived at the school. Shizuka also told her about the whole promotion thing and Michiko congratulated her for yet another promotion.

Both Witches also told her what they had been doing since Shizuka escorted Yoshika to Helvetia more than a year ago, though they avoided the dreadful details as there was no need to disconcert her. As they walked home, Yoshika got an idea.

"Hey guys, would you like to go with me to get some new clothes?" Yoshika asked.

"Why not?" Both girls replied in unison and thus they changed their destination, and they started their small shopping tour. While it was true that Yoshika sent most of her money back home, she also had saved some just in case she needed to get something for herself.

It was well past midday and as they were close to the city, they stopped at a restaurant to have lunch, again, and they chatted as they ate their food, though Shizuka did not eat much as the duo had already eaten before they came to the school.

Meanwhile, little that matter to Yoshika, she skipped breakfast after all, and while the food was not as good as of her family's; she still ate it happily as she had really missed the taste from her homeland.

The European dishes were not as tasty as Fuso's, that food always felt to her overcooked and unseasoned, but she never told anyone that, most of them were from Europe and they would not take it well. Though, she started to even miss that food on her journey, but now she can eat as much as she desired to.

After eating, they visited a couple of stores here and there, and she also bought some clothes for both Shizuka and Michiko even though they almost did not let her.

As they continued walking, Yoshika saw a different kind of store that caught her attention right away, thus, she grabbed their hands and entered to an ice cream store. It had been a while since she had a desert.

Yoshika ordered a chocolate milkshake, it was her favorite after all, while Shizuka and Michiko asked for vanilla and melon ice creams respectively. As they were enjoying themselves with the desserts, they continued just catching up and enjoying the time she had together.

Though, even after eating her dessert, Yoshika still had appetite, but she knew had eaten more than enough, so she contained herself from ordering another one. But she still gave a quick glance to her friends' desserts, and to her disappointment, they did not share their ice creams with her, though it seemed they did not notice it.

When they finished, they continued in their shopping tour. As Yoshika tried on new clothes, there was something she noticed, she was a bit taller, since the last time she bought clothes as her usual size did not fit her well anymore, no wonder her swimsuit was getting uncomfortable to use. She needed to get a new one and new underwear too as they had to have become uncomfortable as well.

Meanwhile, the girls just helped her to choose clothes that looked great on her, some skirts, blouses and even a dress for more formal events.

It was a black dress that ended just above her knees, it had a sweetheart neckline that showed just a bit of cleavage and it was tight enough in the waistline so that it shaped her just perfectly, and it ended in half circle thus it flowed freely as she turned around. *

As she finished dressing up, she got out of the dressing room and began modeling it for the girls.

"Don't you think it's a bit too much?" Yoshika asked sheepishly as she moved around so that her friends could have a better look and herself too.

"What do you mean Yoshika, you look amazing." Michiko praised her.

"Yes, you… you look beautiful." Shizuka added with a slightly flushed face trying not to look at her face. Though, Yoshika did not notice it as she was trying to look how she looked with dress.

"I guess I'm gonna get it if you think I look nice on it." She added then she went back to the dressing room to change back to her usual but new attire.

They spent the rest of the evening visiting other stores, but it was getting late, so they decided to go back home. The Witches promised her that they will pick her up after the school and after that Michiko went to her home and so did the two Witches. By the time they arrived at the Miyafuji clinic, the night had already come.

Shizuka and Yoshika greeted her family and explained how they spent the evening while making and then having dinner. Afterwards, they also checked out Yoshika's new clothes and they were also impressed that Yoshika had agreed to get a formal dress.

As Yoshika showed it to them, they agreed it looked cute, though Yoshika was reluctant to wear it again, but after some convincing, she coyly agreed. As she modeled them, Shizuka had the same reaction but now she looked more carefully at her, not only she, but everyone realized that she looked more than beautiful.

Yoshika was not used to that, she mostly preferred to use her sailor uniform or something less formal, but it is always nice to have choices, isn't it? After that, they all went back to their bedrooms and Shizuka then cuddled in it, but Yoshika surprisingly did not, instead she got one book out of the backpack she brought with her from Europe.

"Do you mind if read this for a bit?"

"Of course not."

"Thank you." Yoshika happily replied and then she turned the room's light off and she turned on the lamp on the desk, then she took a sit and began reading it.

After that, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of Yoshika flipping one page to the other. Shizuka side gazed her and noticed that her attention seemed to be completely devoted on the book, there were even notes in between the pages and she was underlining the text as she read it.

"Yoshika, are you going to focus solely on your studies from now on?" Shizuka asked with curiosity in her voice.

"If I had the chance I would, but when Commander Minna ask me to come back to the frontlines, I will return right away." Yoshika sighed, then her eyes focused on her lying down friend. "I even asked her to train me, just to be sure that this time, I won't fail to protect." Yoshika added as she continued reading.

'Fail to protect.' Shizuka repeated to herself wondering what she meant. 'She hasn't failed to protect anyone nor anything, has she?' Shizuka asked herself, unless…

"It's because what happened in the dome, isn't it?" Shizuka asked her, but Yoshika just continued reading and passing the pages of the book, without saying a single word and the minutes went by as it nothing had been said.

Ironically, the lack of an answer gave Shizuka the response she sought, that was why Yoshika had asked for special training. She had never underestimated Yoshika's skills, she even considered her an Ace, a Super Ace even, but she also knew for a fact that she just trained what just she was required to.

Even when she regained her magic back, Yoshika continued with her life as a civilian, studying at Lausanne and that was what she did until the whole incident in Antwerp and then when she joined the 501st. She would have never requested to train unless there was a reason, a solid reason like when she could not control her magic pressure but now, she is in control of it. It all made sense to her now.

But she could just wonder if what Yoshika saw there was as bad as she had been led to believe. Nevertheless, the truth was that she vaguely remembered what happened after she was shot and crashed. the last thing she recalled before passing out was seeing Yoshika's crying over her and then hearing Yoshika's desperate cry and nothingness after that.

Who knows how much time passed when she regained her conscious, and then she recalled she was being carried in her arms, surrounded in her magic, healed and then how Yoshika went to face the enemy by herself and with the help of the rest, they destroyed the hive.

That was everything she recalled and that was she told she Minna when she was enquired about it.

"It was not your fault Yoshika; I should have been more careful." Shizuka added deciding to break the silence.

"None of that would've happened if I could control my magic pressure." Yoshika said yet she continued reading.

"You tried your best, I saw it, everyone saw it, you can't blame yourself." Shizuka retorted her.

"But it wasn't enough," she added rising her voice, "you could have… died." She added with her voice fading and her eyes were still focused on the book.

Shizuka had indeed accepted that possibility the moment she entered the dome, and she was willing to, even if it meant only Yoshika survived and if she could somehow accomplish that, she could have died in peace. She was no strange to the death, after all, her father passed away in the line of duty.

"Yoshika, I know that, but even still I wanted to protect you. Even, if I didn't make it." Shizuka confessed with a firm tone voice.

"Don't you ever dare say that to me ever again." Yoshika snapped, slamming the book shut.

"I would never forgive myself if I let you or anyone die, if there's something, anything I could do." Yoshika sighed to soothe herself, "that's why, I've been training."

Shizuka knew that Yoshika was determined, stubborn even when it came to protect people; but now her willfulness seemed to have become stronger, worse? She could not tell for sure what Yoshika was really feeling. 'I guess, it would be better if I let Commander Minna know this.' Shizuka made a mental note.

"I know that Yoshika, I… we saw how much you improved in these couple of months." Shizuka added yet Yoshika just opened her book again and continued reading it speechlessly and the silence took hold of the room once again.

Shizuka just sighed in regret; This had not been a good day, she hoped she could spend it happily with her, but she screwed everything up, badly. She had made her cry for meaningless meddling and now she was mad at her. She was now just watching the ceiling, hearing the pages of the book being turned, thinking in a way to make things up with her but as hard as she tried it, she could not.

"And… and what about you Shizuka?" Yoshika softly asked.

"I… I will return to the frontlines, it's the only life I know." Shizuka sighed now relieved that Yoshika seemed to have calmed down. "I mean my father was a soldier, so I've never envisioned anything else." Shizuka added with a hint of doubt in her voice.

"I bet you can become a great commander, just like Major Sakamoto or Commander Minna." Yoshika added with a neutral tone of voice, but Shizuka just continued watching the ceiling for a few seconds.

"I guess… that could be a good idea, but I must become a better Witch if I want to be like them." Shizuka said, 'or like you.' She said to herself. Truth to be told, she had admired Yoshika even before she met her, and she hoped to become a great Witch just like her someday.

"It's late I guess." Yoshika added, then she turned off the lamp, and got into her futon. "I'm sure you will, I believe in you, Shizuka." She added with a more familiar tone of voice as she turned around.

Sometime later

It seemed that Shizuka had fallen asleep as she had not moved in a while, yet Yoshika could not. It was getting way too late but even though she tried different sleep positions, she could not fall asleep, she was still thinking about what the conversation she had with Shizuka, it was either that or how the conversation went, she was not sure.

'I better get some milk', she thought. She carefully got up and exited her room as quietly as possible to not wake her up. As she entered to the kitchen, she almost bumped into someone as she was not expecting anyone to be awake this late in the night.

"Grandma, you scared me." she said with her hand over her chest.

"Yoshika, what are you doing here?" Yoshiko asked.

"It's just that I can't sleep so I came for milk."

"Thinking about someone? Maybe a young man.", she asked while she handed her the milk.

"No, of course not." She replied blushing slightly. "It's just that so much has happened in such a short time." Yoshika added with a more serious tone of voice.

"I got my magic back but… but… I don't know."

"Are you worried about of something?" Yoshiko said.

"I'm not sure, maybe."

"What is it child?"

Yoshika took a sip of her milk. "It's just that…" she gulped, "even with my magic, I'm still afraid of not being good enough, I mean dad and… and… after what happened to…" She trembled. a "I mean in Berlin."

"We heard what happened on the radio and Major Sakamoto confirmed it to us." she stated making Yoshika gulp.

"Why didn't you tell us?" She added yet Yoshika did not reply and could not even look her in the eyes. "Do you not trust us?"

"Of course, I trust you" Yoshika added.

"Then why?"

"I just… didn't want to worry you."

"Yoshika, we are more worried if we don't hear anything from you."

"But I did write you." she admitted.

"You know what I mean." Yoshiko argued back, making Yoshika look down regretfully.

"I'm sorry." She sniffed with teary eyes, "I promise, I'll write you".

"Yoshika, we also have had problems controlling our magic", Yoshiko asserted.

"Is that… is that true?" Yoshika asked with genuine curiosity.

"Yes child, we could have help you to overcome it." Yoshiko added.

"I've… I've…. Been training so that I've never had to feel helpless again." Yoshika reassured with now a firmer tone of voice.

"We've realized that as well but bear in mind that sometimes things will not always go the way you want no matter what you do," she said as she wiped Yoshika's tears, "but give it your best so you don't regret anything." she encouraged her, then she held hands. "And no matter what happens, we always will be by your side".

"Thanks grandma, I really appreciate it." Yoshika replied with more cheerfulness in her voice.

"Now, finish you milk and go to sleep" and then Yoshika gulped the rest of her milk and went back to her room, leaving Yoshiko behind.

As she slid the open as quietly as possible, she realized that fortunately, Shizuka had not woken up. Yoshika just stayed there, glimpsing at her, noticing how serenely she was sleeping and free of any harm. Yoshika could not and was not angry with her, she could understand Shizuka wanted to protect her but not at the cost of her own life. It must not have come to that just for her uselessness. She knew she could not control everything, but she was in charge of herself, and she would never let it get to that point ever again.

After a couple of minutes of just standing there with her thoughts, Yoshika decided to try to sleep one more time. But this time, she cuddled in Shizuka's futon and with her warmness, she could finally fall asleep.

Later that night or very early in the morning

The were still a couple of hours before it dawned, yet it already felt warmth or at least that what Shizuka was feeling. She tried to move again in the futon, only to end up touching Yoshika, again, however, to her relief her hands did not end in her breasts but underneath.

'Again.' Shizuka thought, and she watched her for a bit of time, feeling the warmness and fondness of her breath yet her face was gleaming slightly with the moonlight.

'She's been crying.' Shizuka said to herself, then she recalled what happened the last days they spent in Den Helder, she realized that the nightmares she was having was about what happened to her. Guiltiness was getting into her, realizing that none of this would have occurred if she had not failed to protect Kiel back then, she still regretted that but that was in the past, and now, she could just embrace her, hoping to sooth her and hoping to continue sleeping.

Author notes:

*It's the dress that's been show as publicity for the upcoming concert.

Now some of you may be thinking that Yoshika's popularity may be too much but keep in mind that Yoshika herself said they were making a shrine on her name and also don't forget that she was just a student in a normal school, not in a Witches school.

Now this chapter turned to be a bit shorter than what I expected and the next one would be also short but the next ones hopefully will be longer.

And finally, regarding the whole relationship between Yoshika and Shizuka, the story is tagged correctly.