Heart of Steel (Maho, Girls und Panzer)

Introductions

"So be there around 5:00PM, that's when we'll be having our Tankery meeting. I can introduce you to the Commander then and we can see about getting you signed up"

"Okay, sounds good" Paul replied as he put down his grocery bags and started to unlock his apartment door.

"So are you settling in well?"

"Yeah, I really like it here"

"I'm glad to hear it, anyway I'll see you tomorrow then"

"See ya"

---Timeskip: Paul POV---

"Hm?" Paul muttered to himself as he felt his phone vibrate.

3:42 - Michael: Hey, I know I said we could hang out this afternoon but Erika asked me to spend some time with her so I'll see you at the meeting okay

He chuckled at Michael's message, typing out "Yeah of course, I'll find something to do" in reply.

(Paul in head) "Sounds like he really enjoys spending time with his girlfriend... Good for him"

After finishing his reply to Michael he then slung his bag over his shoulder and started to walk into town.

"There's got to be something I can do to kill time, I just hope I don't get lost~"

---Timeskip---

While Paul was browsing some of the many shops around town he rounded a corner and was pushed over by someone who was jogging down the street looking down at their phone.

"Urg... Well there's always that to kill time~" He muttered to himself with a chuckle as he sat up slightly, turning towards the person who had knocked him over, who was doing the same.

"I'm terribly sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going..." They said softly as Paul's mind raced to work out where he'd seen them before.

(Paul in head) "She's wearing a school uniform and... Wait! It's that girl that was with Michael's girlfriend the other day!"

"I-It's fine, r-really~" Paul stuttered in reply, feeling nerves wash over him from being this close to an attractive girl.

"A-Are you hurt?" He then quickly added on, causing her to smile and brush herself off slightly as she replied.

"I'm fine thank you, how about you?"

"I'll be alright~" He replied with a laugh, raising to his feet and outstretching his hand towards her.

"Ah..." She muttered slightly, tentatively taking his hand.

"Thank you~" She half whispered, feeling her heart rate increase as he quickly pulled her to her feet.

"I should probably get going, I have somewhere I need to get to soon" She then said softly, looking down at the ground in slight embarrassment.

"Y-Yeah, I should probably get going as well"

"Okay then, bye~" Maho then added, stuttering slightly due to how awkward the situation felt.

"Yeah, see ya~" Paul replied with a smile, dusting himself off slightly and putting his hands into his pockets as he continued on his way.

---Timeskip---

"Well that sort of thing doesn't happen everyday, lucky me~" Paul joked to himself as he finished up his afternoon coffee and began to head back towards the school for the Tankery meeting.

"Running into a cute girl... It's pretty cliche though don't you think?"

Paul was so arrogant and ungrateful that it's a miracle he'd made it this far in life, maybe that's why he was still single...

"Hey!"

---Timeskip: Michael POV---

"Any minute now..." Michael mused to himself as he tapped his foot on the ground, looking down at his watch and seeing that it was already past 5:00PM.

"Who's that?" Erika then asked, noticing someone she didn't fully recognize enter the room.

"Hm?" Michael replied quizzically to Erika's remark.

"Paul!" Michael yelled out upon seeing his friend, gesturing for him to come over to where he and Erika were standing.

"Hey~" Paul greeted as he came over.

"So you're the guy Michael keeps telling me about?" Erika asked with a smile.

"I suppose that would be me, yes"

"Interesting..." Erika then mused to herself, squinting slightly as she examined Paul's appearance.

"Ah... Michael?" Paul wondered aloud, watching as Erika looked him over.

"I don't know..." Michael replied, shrugging his shoulders and putting his hands up.

"Never mind~" Erika then said cheerily with a wide smile, "I'm going to find the commander"

"Okay, see you later" Michael replied as Erika walked out of the room.

"Ah... Okay..." Paul responded, blinking a few times as he tried to work out what she was doing.

Eventually he just shook his head and let out a chuckle, sitting down in the seat next to Michael.

"Girls are strange~" Michael then said, laughing with Paul for a moment.

"Yeah... Strange..." Paul responded slowly, his mind flashing back to the events of earlier that day...