Heart of Steel (Maho, Girls und Panzer)

The Truth

---Maho POV---

Despite everything seemingly being patched up between Maho and her mother with regards to her relationship with Paul, Maho still found herself feeling a bit uneasy.

She knew she liked him very much and from his actions and what he'd said he obviously felt similarly, but she was still worried that after all the trouble she'd put him through that he'd come to dislike her.

She paced around her room quietly as she pondered everything that had happened, resolving that soon she would make her feelings perfectly clear in the hopes of learning his true feelings towards her as well.

---Timeskip---

"So what have you got planned? You were saying yesterday about doing something special with Maho?" Michael asked as he and Paul walked out of class and headed towards the Tankery sheds where they were to meet their girlfriends.

"I want to show her just how much she means to me..." Paul replied with a sigh, looking to the ground with a slightly embarrassed expression.

Michael chuckled softly at Paul's nervousness, tapping him on the back.

"You'll be fine, just be yourself and all that" He added as Paul laughed in response.

"Yeah you're right"

"So what you thinking? Dinner date? Movie date? What's it going to be?"

"I think I'll save the answer to that for her tonight~" Paul responded with a wink and a chuckle in reply as he began to jog.

"Oh come on, not even a hint?" Michael asked with a teasing tone as he ran to catch up with Paul.

"No chance!" Paul responded, "Race you there though!"

"You're on!"

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

"I just hope he accepts me..."

"I'm sure it'll be fine Maho, he really does-" Erika started in reply, stopping as she saw Michael and Paul approaching in the distance. Running towards the entrance to the tankery shed.

"Speak of the devils~" Erika added in joking tone, confused expressions forming on both her and Maho's faces as they entered the shed and almost keeled over, breathing heavily.

"Which... One of... us... was..." Michael spoke, speaking between labored breaths.

"First..." Paul finished, breathing much like Michael.

Upon hearing this Erika and Maho giggled to each other and stood up, walking over towards them with confident expressions.

"Does it really matter?~" Erika mused with a soft tone as she approached Michael and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Not really" Michael replied with a smirk as he leaned forward and put his arms around Erika's waist.

Upon seeing this display Maho felt her heart sink slightly as she turned towards Paul and stepped in his direction.

"Hey you~" He greeted as she slowly slipped her arms around him and leaned up slightly to nuzzle her face into his chest.

Paul chuckled slightly at how cute her expression looked after doing so, reaching down and brushing a lock of hair out of her face as Erika spoke.

"That was very cute~" She said with a giggle as Paul pulled Maho tighter and she rested her head on his chest.

---Timeskip---

After spending the afternoon with Michael and Erika, Paul told them he and Maho had plans and so they left together and headed towards town.

"W-We have plans?" Maho asked, worried she'd simply forgotten him arranging something for tonight.

"Well not set ones" He responded with a laugh.

"But I wanted us to spend some time together, just you and me" He added as he gave her hand a slight squeeze.

"Oh... I'm glad then" She whispered in reply, turning to him with a wide smile as they continued.

"So um... Where are we going then?" She then asked, curious what he intended for them to do.

"Here~" Michael responded with a chuckle as he used his free hand to point to a nearby park that was lit up with numerous small candle like lights.

"It's beautiful" Maho muttered without thinking, her eyes going wide and her expression dropping as she stepped forward. She found herself basically spinning on the spot slowly as she admired the groups of flowers and lights around her. Stopping as she found herself looking towards Paul who was watching her with a smile.

Upon seeing the way he was looking at her she bashfully looked away as a light blush dusted her cheeks.

"I'm glad you like it" He whispered as he stepped closer and took her in his arms, looking down at her with a soft expression.

"Um..." Maho muttered as her thoughts from earlier that day formed in her mind.

(Maho in head) "Now would be perfect... And very romantic..."

"I... Have something I w-want to tell you so..."

"What is it?" Paul asked with a slightly confused expression as Maho looked away for a moment and took in a deep breath, before turning back towards him and looking up into his eyes with a confident expression.

"I'm so glad you came here and that um... That you've spent so much time with me..."

"And I've loved every second of it~" He replied, cupping her cheek in his hand.

She let out a slight whimper as he did this, feeling her heart flutter as she rose onto her toes and leaned forward.

"I love you Paul..." She whispered as she finished the kiss and pulled away slightly.

Paul's lip quivered for a moment and his eyes watered as he looked down at her.

"I love you too" He responded after processing what she'd said, pulling her into a tight hug as tears rolled down his face.

As he did so Maho let out another slight whimper as she gave him a squeeze, a wide smile forming as a single tear rolled down her own face...