Strike Witches: Black Masks

Chapter 14: Forget You Not

Date: September 1st, 1944
Location: Dover, Britannia, Europe

"September 1st, 1944... It's been five years since I arrived. Five years... I was supposed to live a normal life. By this time, I should've already graduated high school and attend college but fate..had other plans... Instead, I was brought to a world that was somewhat in a state of war. A world similar to mine except the time period is different, along with the geography. Throughout my time here, I befriended two wonderful people named Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke and Kurt Flachfeld. A couple who helped me during my first days here. They brought me to a recruiting office. I trained and was assigned to JG53. I befriended more fliers, Gertrud Barkhorn, Erica Hartmann, Manfred Meyer, and Charles Morgan. I somewhat had a good time while fighting against an alien race known as the Neuroi. During Operation Dynamo, Kurt died... Minna and I were devastated...It was my fault..If only I was faster I could have saved him... In 1942, some Black Masks, myself included, were grouped together and we took on Neuroi craft for a few days. Sometime later, we arrived at a new base which served as the HQ for the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, also known as the Strike Witches. I found it quite funny that we arrived there one at a time except for me and fellow BM Kaneyoshi Mitchell. Meyer soon joined us. After a pair of witches arrived, a BM would arrive shortly after. Quite funny we came to the base after the people we're sorta named after arrived first. After our numbers grew, Mio Sakamoto went back to Fusō. After she came back, she brought a new recruit for the 501st. Her name is Yoshika Miyafuji. Her presence here caused the air within the base to change a bit. She got along well with almost everyone. Perrine seems to dislike her. The recruit seems to have a really good friendship with Lynette Bishop and our latest Black Mask, George Taylor. It also seems that Barkhorn took a liking to her after she got injured in battle, along with Meyer who showed up and tried to block a beam from the Focke-Wulf Triebflügel-looking Neuroi. Until we find a way back home, every single BM is going to have to do what they can to help win the war. I am conflicted about this. I want to go back but at the same time, I want to stay here... for a few reasons... This'll be all I'll write for today."

-Journal entry of Wolf-Dietrich Smith, now John W. Smith.

The book closes. On the front of it is a hand in a black glove. John sighs as he looks out his window. "The start of a brand new day..."

He puts the book into an inner pocket of his black trench coat. "Breakfast and then paperwork..." The BM opens the door and walks out. He closes the door and makes his way to the dining room.

--

A certain brunette is walking to the hangar. A group of men wearing black uniform jackets, shorts, caps, and boots, are seen doing maintenance on the Striker Units in the hangar. The machines are on tables in front of their storage units. "I wanted to thank you for all your help." They stop and turn to the source of the voice. "Hmm?" "Hm?" To their left, at the opening of the large room, is a short-haired brunette wearing a white-blue sailor uniform and white shoes. The girl is holding a plate that has a small paper bowl filled with sweets and with the paper bowl is a tea kettle and some cups. "I made some snacks for everyone to eat as a way of saying thank you." She looks at them and to the snacks. She gives the men a close-eyed smile and giggles. The mechanics stare at her for a second before resuming their work. "Hmm." "Hm." Yoshika sees this and closes her eyes while chuckling nervously. She slightly tilts her head to her right. "These desserts are from my homeland, Fusō." One of the mechanics responds while still focusing on the Unit. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Commander Minna has prohibited us from having any unnecessary conversations with any of you Strike Witches." Yoshika opens her eyes and looks surprised.