An old friend of one of Kuromorimine's best tank commanders transfers to the school, and during their first few months at their new school they form an unlikely, yet closely knit bond with a very influential member of Kuromorimine's Tankery team...
"Well, it's time to go" Michael said as he stood up and stretched his arms out.
"To go home?" Paul asked, standing up as well.
"Yeah, it's well past 6 o'clock"
"Alright then"
"I'm going to find Erika, you want to come?"
"Okay then..." Paul answered tentatively, realising that he'd likely have to endure more heckling as they came across Maho again.
---Timeskip---
"There they are" Paul called out as he saw Erika and Maho walking back towards him and Michael from down one of the hallways near them.
"Oh, cool"
"Hey you~" Erika greeted with a smile as they approached each other, stepping forward into Michael's open arms.
Upon seeing this Maho looked away slightly, before quickly turning her head back towards Paul.
"Anyway, it's time for us all to go home"
"Yeah, we'll see you guys tomorrow~" Michael responded with a smile, putting his arm around Erika's shoulder as they headed off together.
"Are you heading home too Maho?" Paul then asked, part of him eager to prolong their time together fleeting though it was.
"No, not yet. I have to return to the classroom we were in and pack all of the material I brought up again" She answered matter of factly.
"Oh well... W-Would you like me to help you?"
"Ah..." Maho muttered softly, after all no one other than Michael or Erika had offered to help her before.
"W-Why?..." She added, not realising she'd said it out loud.
"Because I want to help you~" Paul replied with a confident smile, feeling his heart beat faster and faster as he did so.
"Okay then" Maho answered calmly, averting her eyes away from his as she walked past him and towards the classroom.
---Timeskip---
Once they entered the classroom the pair of them started to sort out the many piles of paper work near the front desk of the classroom. Soon, due to their working effectively together the pair had finished sorting and putting away all of the paper work.
"Well that's everything~" Paul announced happily, putting down the heavy stack of papers in his hands into the cupboard at the front of the room.
"Indeed, thank you for your help" Maho thanked in reply, smiling softly at Paul as he closed the cupboard doors.
"You're very welcome" He replied, picking up his bag and following Maho out of the room.
"So uh..." Paul stuttered out, fearing her response to what he was about to say.
"W-Would you l-like me to walk you home Maho?..." He then muttered, shakily turning his head towards her with a nervous expression.
Maho gasped at his question, blushing ever so slightly as no one had ever asked her that before. Her nervousness and surprise was compounded by the fact that guys her age tended to avoid her out of fear so she'd never had anyone even come close to asking her something like that.
"S-Sure~" She replied shakily with a smile, lifting her hand up to her face to adjust her hair slightly as the pair began to walk out of the school.
---Timeskip---
After walking for around 5 minutes in silence Paul began to criticize his indecisiveness...
(Paul in head) "Just say something you idiot, or she'll think you're a weirdo!"
"S-So uh... How was your day Maho?"
"It was very nice thank you, how about yours?" She responded with a soft smile, turning to face him with a quizzical expression.
"It was great thanks, I'm really starting to like it here" He responded, chuckling slightly as he looked her in the eye.
They stared at each other for a moment before Paul bashfully looked away, causing a slightly confused expression to form on Maho's face.
"So you're settling in well?" Maho then asked, genuine interest in her voice as she did so.
"Oh yeah, everyone's been really accommodating. Especially you~"
"Ah... Well I'm glad you're having a good time" Maho replied, smiling back as a slight smile grew on her face.
(Maho in head) "I'm glad he's happy here"
"So am I~" Paul responded with a smile, starting to feel slightly more at ease around Maho...
---Timeskip---
"Thank you for walking me home" Maho spoke with a smile, bowing slightly before Paul as they stood before the gate to her home estate.
"Y-You're very welcome, Maho" He replied, bowing back slightly, not used to doing so.
"Goodnight" She then softly whispered, opening the wooden gate and closing it behind her as she entered.
"Goodnight Maho..." Paul then said, elevating his voice slightly so she could hear him.
Upon hearing this she gasped slightly having never heard a guy other than Michael say that to her.
---Timeskip---
After leaving Maho's place and heading back to his own place he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket...
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"Michael would know how she was feeling I suppose..." Paul muttered to himself as he laid down in his bed and rested his head on the pillow.
