Heart of Steel (Maho, Girls und Panzer)

An old Friend

Authors Note: FYI the name 'Paul' is just a name to represent you the reader and 'Michael' is one of the returning characters from my story about Erika as mentioned in this story's description.

"Hahaha No way! I haven't heard your voice in years!"

"Well I figured it was about time I gave my best mate a call after all this time~"

"Well I'm glad you did. How have you been?"

"Pretty good thanks, how about you?"

"Not bad, not bad... I started high school, I got a girlfriend I-"

"Wait what?! You managed to get yourself a girlfriend?! Congrats man!"

"Cheers~"

---Timeskip---

"So what are you up to tomorrow?" Michael asked as he laid back in bed, talking to Erika on the phone.

"I'll probably be going to the tank festival with Maho. Are you still not able to come too?" Erika replied, leaning back in her computer chair in her apartment.

"Yeah, I wish I could but I need to be there when Paul arrives to show him around. It will be his first day after all"

"How long have you know him for again?"

"Since we could walk really, we kept in contact for a while after we moved apart but for the last few years I haven't really talked to him. Apart from the other day of course."

"So you've known him even longer than you've known Maho then?"

"Oh yeah, much longer"

"Do you think he'll do Tankery?"

"I hope so, it'd be great to spend some time with him again doing something like that but we'll have to see I guess..."

"Yeah... Anyway, I should probably go to sleep soon. I need to get up early tomorrow after all" Michael added with a chuckle.

"Okay then, sleep well. I love you~" Erika whispered with a smile.

"I love you too~"

---Timeskip: Michael POV---

"It's too early..." Michael muttered with a yawn as he waited on the observation deck for the ship to finish docking.

"It's all because of that idiot that slipped on the tea that he spilled... If that hadn't have happened we wouldn't need to put into port before we planned..."

*BRRRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNG*

 "Ah!" Michael exclaimed as he heard the loud bell ring, indicating that they had finished docking and that disembarkation and embarkation could commence.

"Now where is?..." He whispered to himself, scanning the crowd of people moving onto the ship looking for a familiar face.

After about a minute of watching a continuous crowd of people move onto and off the ship a confused expression formed on Michael's face.

"I though he said he'd meet me near here once he got on..."

"And I did~" Paul joked, causing Michael to jump due to being startled.

"You scared the crap out of me~"

"I was hoping so~" Paul responded with a laugh, a smile covering his face as the pair leaned forward and shared a quick hug.

"It's good to see you~"

"You too mate~"

"Alright then, it's time to go" Michael announced as he began to walk away.

"'Go' where?"

"To your new apartment of course"

"Sounds good~" Paul replied with a chuckle and a nod, following Michael towards town.

---Timeskip: Maho and Erika POV---

"So why didn't Michael come today?" Maho asked as she and Erika walked between the many stalls at the festival.

"He's busy showing around a new transfer student"

"He volunteered for that?" Maho asked with a quizzical expression, not expecting Michael to want to do something like that.

"Not really, the guy who is coming here is an old friend of his from when he was really young so he wanted to catch up before school started again"

"Oh, right..." Maho muttered, surprised to learn that someone from Michael's childhood years would be attending their school.

"I am sort of sad for him though, he would've loved this festival~" Erika added with a chuckle.

"Yeah he would have, I guess he won't have time though and I doubt he'd want to waste time here when he could be spending time with his friend..."

"Exactly"

---Timeskip: Paul and Michael POV---

"A Tank festival?! Hell yeah let's go to that!" Paul exclaimed as he and Michael walked down the street near his new apartment.

"But I was going to take you on a scenic tour of the gardens next..." Michael replied, trying to stop himself from laughing.

He then turned towards Paul who had a confused expression on his face before they both burst out laughing.

"Yeah alright let's go~" He responded as he continued to laugh...

---Timeskip---

"So tell me about your girlfriend Erika, what does she look like?" Paul asked as the pair browsed through the stalls of the festival.

"She uh..." Michael started glancing to his right and seeing Erika and Maho smiling and laughing together as they played a carnival game together in the distance.

"That's her there~" He added with a smile, pointing over towards them.

"Which one?..." Paul asked with a smirk, seeing two girls where Michael had pointed.

"The Blonde" Michael replied as they turned around, still laughing and smiling at each other.

"Oh, she's pretty cute. I never expected you to get a girl like her. Good for you~" Paul responded with a chuckle, pushing his elbow into Michael's stomach.

"Cut it out"

Paul responded with a laugh, stopping slowly as he found himself partially captivated by the Brunette standing next to Erika.

"Oh~" Michael mocked with a smirk.

"See something you like?~" He added with a laugh, smiling widely as he saw Paul's face heat up slightly.

"Shut up..."

A slight smile formed on Michael's face as they both continued to browse through the stalls before them.

(Michael in head) "That's very interesting..."