Duality (Rena and Ruka (Andou and Oshida), Girls und Panzer)

Not so Different

---Ruka and Claude POV---

"Well that's everything done...", Claude spoke with a sigh as the pair concluded.

"I-I'm r-really glad we got to spend this time together...", Ruka then softly spoke, looking down at her shoes as she shuffled them in the dirt.

"M-Me too R-Ruka, like I said I h-hope we spend more time together like this. A-After I all I really do like y-", Claude responded shakily, halting himself as the words caught in his throat.

Ruka let out a gasp as she heard what he said, her heart beginning to beat much faster in her chest and her breathing starting to become hurried.

"Y-You l-like...", Was all she stuttered out as she looked over to him with an expectant expression and blushing face.

Letting out a long sigh and taking in a breath Claude stepped forward to answer her.

"I r-really like you Ruka", he then said, putting on his best confident smile.

Ruka stood in silence for a short time, causing Claude's heart to sink momentarily while his expression dropped.

His expression then quickly changed again to one of confusion as Ruka, still not speaking, stepped closer to him until she was mere inches away.

Unexpectedly she then slowly leaned forward and hugged him tightly, pushing her face into the crook of his neck.

"I like you too...", She whispered, trying to hide her nervousness and embarrassment.

Speechless, Claude took a moment to process what was happening before softly putting his arms around her and pulling her close to him.

Claude opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it again as his expression turned to one of simple happiness.

---Timeskip: Ruka, Rena and Marie POV---

"So I take it the time spent with each others co-commanders was time well spent?", Marie asked with a curious expression.

"I-I suppose it was...", Rena stuttered in reply, glancing down at her feet at the thought of her and Adam's time spent together.

"And you?", Marie then asked, turning towards Ruka.

Ruka found herself thinking over her and Claude's confession to each other and smiled before feeling heat rise to her face.

"You're blushing!", Rena announced with a smirk, causing Marie to chuckle as well.

"A-Ah...", Ruka muttered softly as Rena continued.

"I bet you two were all lovey dovey all afternoon", She added.

Ruka's face became even more flushed as she turned her finger up towards Rena.

"How about you?! I heard you and Adam had your own intimate moment under a tree...", Ruka responded, regaining her composure as she spoke with a playful tone.

"W-well...W-We... Um...", Rena struggled to speak, feeling herself become flustered.

Marie chuckled again at this display and now stepped forward to speak.

"Alright you two, I have a confession to make..."

"Hm...", both Rena and Ruka muttered as Marie stepped towards them with a chuckle.

"You see I placed you two together with Adam and Claude to see if your feelings may finally come out. If some mere time alone together would be enough to bring those feelings to the surface"

"Y-You did what?...", Ruka muttered as a confused expression swept across her face.

"Oh...", Rena added.

"And it seems my efforts were a success based on your reactions", she added with a happy smile.

"I really am happy for you two"

Both Ruka and Rena stood for a moment in silence before turning towards Marie.

"Thank you", they said almost in unison as they bowed towards her.

Marie giggled at this and gestured for them to stand up straight.

"Now there's another matter I should mention..."

"What is it Marie?", Rena then asked as her and Ruka shared confused glances.

"I want you two to realize how similar you really are. I know you two deep down are close friends just like you've always been, but you've let things tear you apart to the point you see yourselves as worlds apart. Just remember that I pulled the same little trick on both of you to get you to confess to your partners and you both ended up doing so. How different are you really?", Marie concluded and glanced between the two of them as they both pondered over her words.

The pair then began to look at each other as small smiles formed on their faces.

"Did you really make out with Adam under a tree~", Ruka asked with a chuckle.

"Well we didn't go that far but we did get pretty close...", Rena responded sheepishly.

"You and Claude did too right?...", Rena then asked hoping she wasn't alone in her embarrassment.

"Well yeah...", Ruka then also responded sheepishly.

Marie then watched on with delight as the two began to reminisce about their childhood together and at least begin to men their friendship.

---Adam and Claude POV---

"So things are going good for you and Ruka too eh?", Adam asked as he and Claude approached where they usually met Marie, Rena and Ruka for training or hanging out.

"Oh yeah, hopefully things progress as we hope they do", Claude responded as they noticed Rena and Ruka sitting next to each other on the ground below Marie's FT smiling and laughing with each other as they spoke.

They both blinked for a moment and looked between each other and the scene before them for a few times before Marie noticed them and jogged over.

"So I heard stuff went well for you guys", Marie said as she approached them.

"Uh huh...", They both replied, still enamored at the sight before them.

Marie noticed they weren't really listen and followed their eyeline back towards Rena and Ruka."Strange isn't it?", she then asked.

"What happened?..."

"They're almost always at each other's throats..."

Adam and Claude spoke with still surprised expressions.

"Well it turns out the pair of them confessing their feelings for you two made them realize that they aren't so different after all. So good on you guys for bringing them together", Marie responded as she moved behind them and put her arms over their shoulders.

"Thank you for looking after my friends~", she then added happily as the three watched Rena and Ruka sitting happily together.