Bond of Steel

Happy Ending

A month passed and it was starting to become cold. The trees had lost their leafs which were scattered on the ground, turning the streets and walkways into a mix of brown-yellowish colors.

Jeremy had just gotten a new haircut as he walked down the Main Street with two shopping bags in his hands. It wasn't long until he reached his house and got the key from his pocket.

He unlocked the door and swung it open. He stepped inside and almost lost his balance as he tripped over something.

Shoes.

Shoes?

Jeremy brought the bags into the kitchen and closed the door. He slipped out of his sneakers and looked at the second pair of shoes next to his.

(Those are Mahos... but where is she?) he frowned slightly. He called for her. „Maho?" his call traveled up the staircase.

Soon he heard frantic steps above him, then on the staircase. Maho came running down and jumped towards him. He caught her and almost fell over yet again.

„Welcome Hooome~" she nuzzled her face in his chest. „Hey Maho~" he looked down at her and she looked up to him.

They kissed and she quickly headed into the kitchen. „Aah! You brought groceries!" she began to unpack the bags. Jeremy leaned in the doorway and watched for a bit.

„Something wrong honey?" Maho turned towards him with a rather confused expression. „No, no. Everything's fine..."

„You trailed off, that means something isn't right." she put her hands against her waist and looked at him, wanting to hear an answer.

„We're having a match with Pravda in a few days" he finally spoke. There was a short silence before Maho replied. „What?" A slight tone on anger filled the word.

„Jeremy. My tiger is still in the workshop for a week, how am I supposed to command and participate in battle!?" she raised her voice, causing Jeremy to take a step backwards.

„N-now listen Maho, how about you-„ He tried to calm her down but was cut off. „I won't be able to fight... maybe I should let Erika command... or you... or we'll just decline or-„

„Maho!"

She took a step back and stared at him. „Listen Maho, I'll personally go to the workshop and help to repair your tank."

Maho blinked and looked into his eyes, something was resonating inside of them. Determination. She gulped and nodded. „O-Ok then"

—Timeskip—

The evening came faster than expected, the light snowfall had turned into a heavy blizzard, decreasing the view dramatically. As soon as the sun had vanished behind the hills the match started.

Multiple engines roared and the Kuromorimine team marched forward. The tanks made their way through the thick snow, leaving track marks on the surface.

„I'm gonna open the hatch" Jeremy mentioned as he got up. „Commander it's way to cold and the wind is raging" the gunner stated, causing Jeremy to stop for a second.

„I know" he proceeded to open the hatch and stuck his head out. The wind howled loudly and almost blew his cap and headset off and the snow blinded his vision.

Jeremy took his binoculars and looked through them. Although the snow and the darkness made it hard to tell, a town was in front of them.

„There's a town on 12 O'clock" he spoke into his headset, sitting back down on his seat whilst closing the hatch above him.

„Roger that" Maho replied over the radio. „Tank 12 and 13, head into the town for reconnaissance, tank 14 and 15 will follow as backup."

—Tank15–
„We're following them into town, stay behind the Tiger in front of us"

The tanks rolled into the snowy town, hiding behind buildings and preparing an ambush. Soon multiple engines of the same type roared in the distance.

„Multiple T34s I assume" Jeremy mentioned, listening closely. Suddenly the engines turned off and the only thing they could hear was the raging blizzard.

He opened the hatch again and stood up. He pinched his eyes together to see a bit better in the darkness. Suddenly something bright flew at him with rapid speed.

He quickly ducked and a large 85 mm shell soared past him and hit the building behind his tank.
"T34 on 11 O'clock! Distance is less than 400 meters! Fire!"

The Tiger shot into the darkness. Suddenly the radio jumped to life. "Pravda Flag tank has been knocked out! The match is over."

"Wait... what?!"

—Timeskip—

"Sooo I just figured I'd tell my crew to send a shell there. And before I knew it, we had knocked their flag tank out." Jeremy finished.

"Wow... that was probably the fastest victory for Kuromorimine yet..." Erika mumbled, frowning slightly as to why their flag tank had been all the way at the front.

"They must've though we'd pass through the valley. That way they could've easily ambushed us from behind." Jeremy concluded, pointing at the map as he did.

"Make sense..." Erika stopped frowning and hit Jeremys arm lightly. "Well, at least you have Captain Nishizumis full attention right now" she smiled.

Jeremy returned the smile and look down at Maho, who had laid her head on his lap. He brushed through her hair slowly.

—Timeskip—

It was almost time for Maho to graduate from her school. She'd already packed her things to visit Germany, just as her phone rang.

"Nishizumi?" She asked as she answered the call. There was a short silence before someone answered.

"Hey Maho! How are you doing? It's been a few months since I've gone back to Germany. The transfer to japan was really fun. I hope to see you again someday"

Maho instantly knew who it was and her day seemed a lot brighter than it did a few minutes ago.

"J-Jeremy! How are you? It's been so long since we last talked... so how is it in Germany... ah ok... really??... ok! I uh- have to go, I'll talk to you later ok Honey? Kisses" she put her phone away and got her Suitcase.

"Mother? I'll be on my way to the Airport now." Maho waited for an answer but none came.

She sighed quietly and put on her shoes. Suddenly Shiho was behind her. "Dear, please take good care of yourself ok? And please call me once you arrived."

She smiled at her daughter. Maho returned the smile. "Sure Mother."

—Conclusion—

Maho went to Germany to study Tankery on a special school. To her Surprise Jeremy also visited the school.

After they finished the School they began living together in Germany. Soon after they started a family.

—The End—