This one was pretty much inspired by the throwaway line said by the Freshmen team in OVA 6. The line where they said how the canned anchovies were discount items, and how that school had no money. If they had to resort to that, it would make sense if they were in a similar situation to Ooarai. A little discussion at the WoT GuP thread later (it was so short, does it even count as a discussion?) and this spawned.
Oh, and I took some liberties with Carpaccio's birthplace, because she doesn't seem to have a set hometown, unlike the other characters. If she did...oh well.
"So, they won. Ooarai Girls' Academy. I honestly didn't think they would get that far," a twin-tailed figure seated in a cushioned chair spoke while twirling a photograph of a light-brown haired girl in her hand. "Looks like I may have misjudged Miho Nishizumi. I wonder how different her actions would have been had she had a more potent lineup of vehicles."
"Her tactics were certainly unconventional, Duce," a taller, longer haired girl responded as she placed a clipboard on an office table in front of the seat, "but nothing you could not have come up with, and we certainly would have performed better if we had more, better tanks."
"You don't need to sugarcoat everything you say to me, Carpaccio. It's not like I will be your commandant for much longer," the Duce, or Anchovy chided, "nor will I be leading this ship for much longer." She stood up, and walked to one of the vast windows that lined the walls. "I'll certainly miss the Aquila," she stated, placing her hands behind her back.
The fact of the matter was, academy warships cost a fortune to run, enough for the Japanese government to deem retiring one a necessity for the survival of the country's economy. Sure, Ooarai was a candidate, but it was never the only candidate. When Ooarai's school president, Kadotani Anzu started making all sorts of fuss to keep her school afloat, it was decided to decide between the two most likely candidates through the senshado national tournament: whichever team lost would have its home school scrapped. The government did not care which one was being removed, as long as one was removed. Might as well make the selection progress something of a spectacle. The two selected were Ooarai,…and Anzio. Both academies were short on funding, and were not as well-known as others.
Not even Miho Nishizumi might have known, but in that match, the two schools were fighting a battle to the death, to the bitter end. Which was why Anchovy acted as if she despised her so, and why she was so obsessed with winning. As the commandant of her Academy, it was her responsibility to keep the academy alive. And she failed. As soon as she and Carpaccio marched out of Ooarai senshado club's view, they were approached by the Ministry workers, who commented on the battle, and handed them an enclosed letter. Anchovy did not even need to open the thing to know what it said; she simply threw it into a fireplace when she returned to her office.
Apparently, although the government was clamouring to retire their ship at the earliest possible time, the Ministry, from the kindness of their heart, decided they would hold off anything until the end of the current school term. At which point the Aquila would be docked, and the students transferred to various existing schools. Anchovy was not even told about her beloved ship's eventual fate; the whole ship could be reused as a whole piece as an apartment or something, or it could be cut up into scrap metal for constructing buildings and smaller vessels.
"Duce?" Carpaccio's sudden voice broke Anchovy out of her musings. "They are asking us if we would allow them to handle the tanks and tankettes as they see fit. Since they were purchased with the club's funds, they cannot touch them until we give permission."
"Just sign the thing; as if they are expecting any other answer," Anchovy said, barely keeping a snarl back as she ground her teeth. Because of the paltry funding for the school, their senshado team always had to provide for themselves; all their vehicles were proudly purchased by the fruits of their own labour; they did everything from collecting the smallest coins in piggy banks to starting a club-run pasta store in Aquila's home city. Even then, their income barely allowed for a few serviceable and less popular gun tanks, forcing them to swell their ranks with worthless tankettes. Necessity made sure Anzio found ways to make them useful, namely as harassment and distraction units for their few capable tanks to engage a confused enemy. As much as they were underwhelming in battle, they were actually fun to drive at times, and it was truly theirs. And those dogs were taking them away.
"Duce, are you alright? You have been acting depressed lately," Carpaccio chanced the question.
"No Carpaccio, I'm not. You know how I feel about this place; you were my aide ever since you transferred here from Italy. The Aquila is my home. I led it for many years. I doubt anyone would appreciate having their home torn down for someone else's pocket money." Anchovy turned towards Carpaccio and the table between them. She reached for a pen, and signed the form. "Well, nothing that I can do will change anything now. At least they're letting us keep the P40. But even if we do, how will anyone be able to maintain a tank privately…"
Anchovy collapsed into her seat, resting her head against its back. After a length of a quiet moment in which she sat idle, and Carpaccio continued her work of gathering missing finance paperwork, Anchovy asked, "What will you be doing when this term ends?"
Carpaccio paused. She seemed pensive. Finally after a few agonizing seconds, she replied, "My family has been calling for me to come back home, even more so after that last defeat. I think…I think I might take up on their offer. What about you, Duce?"
"I think I might transfer to Ooarai. I won't be able to stand all the other themed schools. Besides, they still have a shortage of numbers, so our P40 may still prove useful, and find a new home. Speaking of which, we should probably congratulate them for winning. They deserve to be congratulated even just for that stunt they pulled on the Maus, anyway."
Carpaccio frowned. "But what will you send, and how? The Ministry forbade us from spending any money that did not have to do with utility and maintaining a school. We can't even purchase a pack of chewing gum without them knocking on the door. Unless…"
Anchovy reached under her table, pulling open a drawer. She plucked a wallet, closed the drawer, and held it for her subordinate. "I will not cheat the school treasury just to send some presents; anything I send will come out of my own pocket. Buy and mail something you think will be appropriate for them, and use whatever's inside the wallet. Don't worry about the cost as long as it's nothing that's worth a fortune. And please, don't go anything being sold at a discount; I don't want the school be seen as a cheap place, especially when it's about to die."
Carpaccio refused. "I will not steal money like this from you, Duce. I'm sure the Ministry will allow us to use the school money if we pleaded-"
Anchovy cut her off. "No. Don't bother. I'm done with them. I don't even want to argue with them anymore. Just…take it and go."
Carpaccio remained in her place, hesistant, before finally taking the wallet with trembling hands. As she was about to leave the office, she heard the legs of the Duce's seat drag on the floor.
"I think I'll go for a walk while you shop. And Carpaccio, when you return…remember that small bottle you said was sent from your family for your birthday? The one that you tried to share with me and I refused because I am not at a drinking age in Japanese law? The Grappa? You may bring it here into the office later."
