Always Here for You (Erika, Girls und Panzer)

Making up for Lost Time

Authors Note: The image above was taken from the 'Girls Und Panzer Wiki'.

"I don't know about this Maho..."

"You'll be fine! You said you wanted to spend time with him didn't you?"

"W-Well y-yes but..."

"Then what's wrong with going to dinner with him?"

"Well... I-If it's j-just me and him w-won't it s-seem like it's a d-date?..."

"It is a date Erika!"

"I'm s-sure he w-won't want to-"

"Of course he will!" Maho replied as she opened Erika's wardrobe.

"We just need to find something for you to wear..."

---Michael POV---

"Are you going to tell him?" Berndt whispered to Schultz.

"Yeah of course, when I get the chance!" Schultz whispered back loudly, perhaps too loud...

"What are you going to tell me?" Michael asked with a confused expression as he approached behind Berndt and Schultz.

"Oh h-hey Michael!"

"So?"

"Well uh..." Schultz muttered "Maho wanted us to tell you that she..."

"She, what?"

"She set up a date for you and Erika!" Berndt yelled, causing Schultz to sigh loudly.

"Really?... I was trying to ease into it..."

"Well now he knows..."

"A date?! I don't know if..."

"Of course it's a good idea!" Schultz responded with a smile, pushing Michael towards the door.

"Oh... Fine!" Michael replied with a shrug of his shoulders "Where are we going?"

"Here~" Schultz said with a smile as he showed him the text Maho had sent him.

"Alright then, I know the place" Michael said as he made his way towards the door, feeling his heart rate increase drastically once he realised what he'd be doing...

"Oh and Michael!" Schultz yelled from across the shed.

"What?!"

"You might want to get changed first!"

"Why do you say... Oh..." Michael muttered to himself as he looked down and realised he was wearing his overalls that he wore for working on the tank...

---Timeskip: No one POV---

After getting himself into some more acceptable attire for a date, Michael found himself wondering what Erika might be wearing...

"H-Hey Michael~" Erika greeted with a smile as Michael turned to face her.

Upon seeing her his heart skipped a beat and he felt his face heat up profusely...

"A-Ah... h-hi E-E-Erika~" Michael managed to stutter out, his nerves reaching a level he never thought possible.

"D-Do I not look okay?..." Erika responded, not knowing why Michael was acting so strange.

"N-No! Y-You l-look amazing~"

"T-Thank you~" Erika replied, looking away to hide her blushing face.

Michael chuckled at Erika's cute reaction and felt some of his nerves begin to dissipate.

"S-So should we go?"

"Sure~" Erika replied as Michael opened the door for them and they entered the restaurant that Maho had chosen for them.

(Michael in head) "Maho sure picked a nice place, I gotta remember to thank her later~"

(Erika in head) "Why did Maho have to pick such a fancy restaurant?! I've never been to a place like this before!"

After sitting down, Erika and Michael both looked at the menu to decide what to order.

(Erika in head) "I can't even pronounce half of the things on this menu!"

"Do you know what you'd like Erika?"

"I... I'm not sure..."

"That's alright, take your time~"

"H-Hey..." Erika said tentatively as she lowered her menu.

"Yeah?"

"Can you t-tell me w-what this is?" Erika asked shakily as she turned her menu around and pointed to a dish with an obscure name.

"Er... I think it's a kind of fish..." Michael said with a chuckle.

"I-I'll try that then~"

"Sounds good~" Michael said with a smile as he gestured for the waiter who took their order...

---Timeskip---

(Erika in head) "I feel so out of place..."

Ever since they'd entered the restaurant, Erika had been exceptionally nervous. Not just because she was on a date with Michael but also because she felt as if she would screw up in some way...

Due to this Erika had been very reserved, saying very little and trying to act as proper as possible.

(Michael in head) "She's acting strange..."

"Is something wrong Erika?"

"W-Why do you ask?"

"You seem to be acting different tonight ..."

"I... er..."

"If you aren't enjoying this then-"

"N-No, I really am enjoying it! It's just that..." Erika muttered as she lowered her head.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked in a concerned tone, putting one of his hands on one of Erika's that was on the table.

"I f-feel like I'm embarrassing you here..."

"Why would you think that?" Michael responded, as if it was the craziest thing he'd ever heard.

"B-Because I'm not as vested in this sort of stuff as you are..." She added, gesturing around the room to the various other couples sitting around them.

"And you think I'm a good example?~" Michael mused with a chuckle.

"O-Of course! Y-You a-are so c-confident, you look so h-handsome in that suit and I..."

"Look beautiful~" Michael finished for her, causing her to gasp.

"B-But..."

"You're the most beautiful girl here tonight Erika~" Michael added with a wide smile, lifting her chin with his other hand, bringing her eye line up to his.

"Michael..." Erika said softly as she tilted her head in towards his.

The pair then shared a short kiss before pulling away slightly to look into each others eyes...