WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of Strike Witches: Road to Berlin, "What the Two of Us Can Do" now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Shizuka Hattori appeared in Strike Witches: The Movie as a witch trainee and major fangirl of Yoshika Miyafuji. Now, thanks to Major Sakamoto's recommendation, she has joined the same team as Yoshika and can soar the skies with her. Unfortunately, there are a couple of things keeping Shizuka back from accomplishing this: her inexperience in battle, her insecurities over her relationship with Yoshika and Yoshika's uncontrollable magic pressure.
Two characters need training for the upcoming Berlin battle, Yoshika and Shizuka. Despite Yoshika being key to freeing places like Gallia, she only recently regained her magical powers and can't fully control her magic like she used to. Yoshika is now back to the drawing board, needing to do basic training to get a hold of her magical abilities again. It's a smart way to nerf Yoshika temporarily as she has become quite overpowered, and it's a good way to also put her at the same level as the newest member too.
Shizuka also has to work on her fighting skills. More importantly, she has to develop stronger relationships with the rest of the team. Currently, she relies heavily on the support of Yoshika to get through the day. When Shizuka tripped during her introduction speech to the rest of the 501st, it was Yoshika who encouraged her to cheer up instead of laughing at Shizuka's embarrassing mishap.
Yoshika and Lynne were instructed to show Shizuka around the swanky Nederland base. It's clear Shizuka noticed the distance between her and Yoshika compared to Lynne. Lynne is Yoshika's best friend, so it's natural she and Yoshika are comfortable enough to discuss bathing in the same bath or sharing food together, but for Shizuka, this makes her feel quite insecure and perhaps even jealous of Lynne too. Like Lynne, Shizuka also adores Yoshika dearly but feels she has to fight for Yoshika's attention. When Lynne shows off the row of Striker Units, Shizuka makes sure to note how she and Yoshika are a pair thanks to having the same Striker Unit model. After walking around like a third wheel to Yoshika and Lynne all day, it felt like Shizuka was grasping at straws to find something she has over Lynne.
Naturally, Shizuka has grown a bit distressed from her new surroundings and how she is no longer the center of Yoshika's attention. During flying practice, she falls behind and needs Yoshika to pick her back up, And during a paintball match, Yoshika uses her shield to defend Shizuka so her team could win.
What rings in Shizuka's head at nighttime is something Perrine had warned to her earlier: that those you love won't always be beside you. This line hits hard since it rings so true for Perrine. Something that makes the 501st feel a bit empty now is the lack of Major Sakamoto. Perrine loved Sakamoto, and with her gone now, it seems even she is a bit lonely without her. Despite feeling empty, Perrine realizes she needs to work hard to make up for the fact Sakamoto is no longer a part of the 501st.
After waking up from a nightmare, Shizuka continues to panic over her inability to assist Yoshika properly. She notices even in the dead of night Yoshika struggling to get her Striker Unit running, using up her magical pressure to exhaustion. In a final bit of desperation, Shizuka asks Lynne to save Yoshika. Unfortunately, there isn't much Lynne can do for Yoshika other than watch over her and be supportive. But, Lynne also realizes this is all she needs to do because she trusts in Yoshika's abilities to recover and thus asks Shizuka to figure out what she can do for her.
The following day, a Neuroi appeared and had split into three to trick the witches. Harkening back to Season 1, Shizuka and Yoshika demand Mina to send the both of them into battle. Alone, their fighting power might be half a witch, but together they make a full witch. Luckily, this plan works. Yoshika protects Shizuka with her shield as Shizuka carries her and serves as a distraction so Mina can shoot the Neuroi core.
Shizuka and Yoshika still have to work on making themselves self-sustainable, but they managed to figure out a temporary solution to their insecurities. Hopefully, in the future, we will see both of them able to shoot down Neuroi solo.
