She is radiant as ever.
And still clumsy as ever. And yet, I'm still admired you, Miho.
You commanded us. You moved us like your own limbs.
Against the All-Star University team. Against all odds.
We won. We triumphed. Because of you.
And you have saved your beloved school once more.
We're happy for you. I'm...happy for you.
And yet...
I didn't want you to go, Miho.
I didn't want you to leave Kuromorimine.
If it wasn't because of me...from that fateful final match...the 62nd…
Then you might...
If there was a chance...
If there was a second chance.
Then I...
I can…
You can...
…
…
…
"Erika-chan!"
"…?" It was like an alarm call, pulling her mind away from some blank zone.
"Are you alright? You're spacing out."
"L-Leila?"
Before Erika's eyes, there stood twin-tailed girl named Leila Rou, her childhood friend. Despite her childish attitude and overreact (occasionally), Erika still considered her a most trusted friend.
"You are actually remembered me! I'm so glad!" She expressed with joy.
What is she talking about? Eriika was puzzled by Leila's expression, like it was so long for the two met together again or something.
"H-huh? Isn't that natural? You always stick around with me all the time."
"E-heeh?! All-all the time…?" Her face was redden. "Well you're technically right…we did…together all the time…"
Erika could never fully understand what's on that girl's mind, sighing lightly, Erika continued.
"Where's Sheska, Kai and Cadenza anyway? Are they not here yet?"
"Uhm...Erika-chan? Who are you talking about?"
"Oh come on, you didn't drink the coffee this morning or..." Erika noticed there's something different about Leila. Her twin-tails were shorter than yesterday, even her…chest seemed to be smaller?
"Aren't you...a bit shorter than before?"
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me or something?" Leila's face was still red but the expression was shifted to slightly irritate. "Just letting you know that I have a good diet on my own, ok? And I drink milk every night before I go to sleep!"
"Look, I…"
Something then had caught Erika's eyes as it was fluttering gently in the air.
It was a single pink-colored pedal. And it was not just one, but many and more, dancing in the air. They're everywhere.
...Sakura (cherry blossom)? At this month? Wait a minute…Isn't it September?
At this moment, Erika turned her head from left to right, registering the surroundings.
"This is...the school entrance...? We already returned to Kuromorimine? Since when...?"
Weren't we on the Ooarai School Carrier after that match with All-Star University team? When did we return?
"What are you talking about? Of course, this is Kuromorimine and it's our first day of school."
"…First day?"
"Well yes! It's our first day of middle school."
Middle…school…?
…what is going on?
In her train of thought, Erika than noticed something else.
Wait a minute, Kuromorimine's entrance was different than before...wait…it looks rather old and…familiar?
"Look! Look! It's Kuromorimine parade!" A voice of a female student had Erika's mind changed her focus.
Parade?
Before her eyes, there was already a gathered crowd of students and people, even camera crews were on both sides of the road, watching a column of Panzer IIIs and Panzer 35(t)s rolled in with might.
"They're so cool~!"
"..."
"Look. Look! Is that who I think it is?"
Followed the girls' pointing finger. There she was, a dark brown-colored short hair girl was sitting at the back of Kübelwagen.
"Maho-san…?"
As she eyed over the moving vehicle, her heart ceased.
Wha…what…?
To what Erika saw, Maho was not the only passenger. Her little sister was sitting next to her as well, wearing Kuromorimine dark-gray colored school uniform same as Maho's, same as everyone here.
Miho…when did she…?
"Mih—"
"KYYYAAA! It's her. It's really her!"
Just before she could call out the name, the students' noises and reactions had drowned over her voice as the Kübelwagen carrying the two passed by.
"Maho Nishizumi, the Commander of Middle School Sensha-do team!"
Middle School… The words struck her repeatedly.
Steadied her mind, Erika scanned over the crowd, the students properly. Most of the girls were young, with body grown of a young teenage, unlike her…no wait…Erika looked down at her body. With a glance, she could tell that she was as same as everyone, smaller, shorter and…thinner.
"She is the youngest Commander and a genius as well." The spectators continued on with their impression about Maho.
"I heard that she has already been promised the Commander seat in High School Division!"
High School…Middle School Division…This is...
What is going on?
"Erika-chan. Are you alright? You look...pale..."
"Leila, can I...can I ask you a stupid question?"
"Uhm...what is it?"
"Today. What is the date today?"
"Are you okay, Erika-chan? Are you having some fever or something?"
"Please answer it."
"It's the first of April. The first day of our school, Middle Division."
"…"
"Have you…ate something funny this morning?"
"…I…I need a moment."
Erika quickly removed herself from the crowd.
~0~
– Restroom –
Slashing with water onto her face made Erika felt a bit relax, only to some extent. Because her brain was cranking up in high gear on thinking function.
What...what is going on?! Why did I...Did I actually have gone back in time or something?
She looked at her reflection on the mirror.
…I'm really younger and…smaller…No. No. No. No.
Shaking her head wildly till there's some dizziness, Erika stopped.
Deep breath, Erika. Deep breath...
Maybe this is just a dream...
Using two fingers with relatively sharp nail, she pitched herself. A sharp pain immediately registered.
"Ouch! Okay. It's real. It's real."
Once again, Erika only looked at her own reflection without another word for some time.
"Have I...have I really have gone back in time?"
"Then everything that I've done. Everything I've worked so hard..."
"Being the Commander…the Radical…"
Maho…Karen-senpai…everyone…Miho…
Miho.
This is the Kuromorimine…the very one of the past. The one that had put a lot of pressure onto Miho…
By the Nishizumi name and its Sensha-do way…
'She is that kind of person.'
'For better or worse, she is too kind.'
They were the words coming from Maho Nishizumi. To Erika's extended knowledge, despite Maho's cold attitude, impassive expression and often reprimanding Miho for her indecision and faults, she was deeply cared for Miho genuinely. She would do anything in order to protect Miho. The match with All-Star University had proved just that.
'I'm sorry, Itsumi-san. I...I'm just tired of it all by now.'
'I just don't get it anymore. For what reason have I been trying my hardest all this time. I just…tired…of it. I'm sorry…I'm sorry…'
They were Miho's words, the words of dejected and giving up.
All because of that match…because of me…
If there was a second chance…Wait. A second…chance?
Her heart was then beating faster than unusual.
There was no denying it. There's a certain idea had appeared in her mind.
"...This might be a good...second chance. A…restart."
"Then I…yes, I can."
"I can help Miho...To help her get more confident. Helping her. Changing it."
"And maybe...for my action too...I can change it."
The 62nd final match…
"I can change the history..."
But what about your friends, your kameraden (comrades)? Everything you've done and achieved. Are you willing to throw it all away?
It was a whisper on the back of her mind.
"…"
She shook her head one more time to clear the mind.
Once more, she turned the faucet, slashing the water onto her face.
"…First thing first...where do I start?"
~0~
"Girls, nice to meet you all. My name is Ren Maaru, the Vice-commander. Welcome! To Kuromorimine."
Ren-senpai…It's sure good to see you again…again. I wonder how you've been doing when you had moved back to mainland after the Middle School graduation.
"Before we start the training session, there's one thing I'd like to say first." Ren said with her two hands placing on the hips. "This is Kuromorimine. We have traditions."
"To those who thought joining the Sensha-do just for fun or some passing time activities. We don't tolerate that here. I hope you girls keep that in mind."
This is nostalgic. I'm almost feel bad for senpais when the others and I applied those…fundamental changes.
…
…
After the assigning, Leila quickly went to her Panzer III while Erika quietly approached to a panzer that she long knew by heart.
Well. Well, Pz. 38(t)-san. It's nice to meet you again. You may don't know me but I do know you and I will be counting you a lot in the future. Please take good care of us…
Us…?
"Ah! You're must be our tank commander."
"Erika Itsumi-san right?"
When she turned her eyes to the source of voices, Erika's heart ceased beating. To her, it's liked seeing dead people appeared in front of her.
Takeko.
A girl with short hair, bearing the brown-orange colored. She was the energetic one among the other two. She would be the driver.
Takami. A black-haired girl with a pony tail, who would become the gunner later on.
Megumi. She was having the same short hair like Takeko but slightly long as her ends touch both of the shoulders. Her role would be the radio operator.
Why she knew? Because they're her kameraden. Formerly, after that match.
They're her companions. The crewmates who had fought alongside and under Erika command all the way from Middle Division to that fateful match. By Erika's decision, it led the three all transferred out of school due to that…treatment.
"What's wrong? You look kinda sick." Megumi asked.
"Ah-no. I'm alright. I am…Erika Itsumi. Nice to meet you all…"
Not to mention…
"Oh, you guys are already formed up together." A voice called up, gaining everyone attention.
"Yeah, it's certainly too bad. Don't be sad, alright?" Takeko teased.
"Uhm-uhm. I won't."
Erika looked toward to the one with short, fluffy brown-haired and have blue eyes. To Erika's memory, she would soon become a part of her crew as a loader.
Koume…
"Oh, hello there." She greeted as soon as their eyes met.
"…It's nice to meet you too, Koume…Akaboshi-san."
"Oh? You know my name?"
"W-well…I did memorize the name on the roster."
"Wow! Looks like we've got ourselves a genius here." Takeko grinned.
"Looking forward to work with you, Itsumi-san." Megumi extended her hand toward.
As Erika's hand was about to reach hers, voices echoed.
'Those who I could trust...'
'Well...starting with you two, I guess…'
'That's right. I want you to join my crew here, as a driver.'
'Perhaps you can count me in too.'
'Leila, Sheska, Cadenza, Kai and me. Five unlikely members in one team.'
"…Likewise." Erika's hand quickly shook it.
~0~
– Sensha-do Training Grounds –
« Number two. You're falling behind. Pick up the pace! » Speaking over the channel was a senpai who supervising the recruits.
« Y-yes! I'm sorry! » replied Leila, the commander of Panzer II.
Leila really isn't suit for the commanding role... Keeping mental note aside, Erika looked over their moving path. The sharp maneuvering training was sure taking her back, however, having an experience with Sensha-do, one might said a veteran and with the age of 17. Erika was remained calm and collected.
"Driver. There is an obstacle ahead. Drive around it." Erika said.
"Hmm? But I see it's quite flat." said Takeko, the driver.
"Trust me."
Followed Erika's instruction, the driver really surprised that there's truly an obstacle which was hidden by a bulge of grass.
"Wow! How did you know that, Itsumi-san?"
"Erika."
"Eh?"
"You can call me Erika, just Erika is fine."
"Well. Well, aren't you being friendly? Then you can call my first name as well! I'm sure that we'd make a great team."
…
…
"How's the new recruits?"
Putting the binoculars away, Ren Maaru shifted her eyes to the approaching person, one bearing the fame and the Nishizumi name.
"Ah, Commander. Yes, it's going quite well." Ren reported.
"That tank over there, Number 4. Its performance is very impressive. With a makeshift team, the commander is leading them well. She must have quite a good experience with Sensha-do."
"And what's her name? The tank commander?"
"Erika. Erika Itsumi."
…
…
It wasn't long for the training lesson to end. Standing at attention in rank and file formation, everyone was bearing the smell of oil and sweat, yet they're satisfied of their achievement.
"Good works everyone." Standing with might and charisma before everyone was Maho Nishizumi, the Commander of Sensha-do Middle Division. "The training had helped us to see the potential and power in you. Some of you might still see this is rather confusing, but fear not. From today on, you're our comrades."
Maho-san. It sure makes my heart fluttered seeing you like this.
Even though she had already fulfilled her inner desire: being closed to Maho, walked with her side by side. But at this moment, it was too surreal for Erika. It's like watching an old movie while having that same experience and feeling for the first time again.
"You will train further with our training so work with your hardest and be proud. You're bearing the pride as the members of Kuromorimine. You're Kuromorimine."
Murmurs of content were heard.
She's as grateful as ever. Maybe I better take picture and saved it for the future.
"And moving on. I have an announcement to make."
Upon hearing it, Erika's face soon shifted to a certain expression.
Ah. There it is...this event...
"In light of today, we have a new appointed Vice-commander."
The crowd started muttering to each other about this sudden change of Vice-Commander.
"Miho Nishizumi, come forth!"
Following Maho's call, one girl began to detach herself from the group.
"…U-uhm, excuse me."
Soon she presented herself before everyone. She was a girl with short hair, bearing brown-orange colored, brown eyes. To be honest, despite bearing the same family name, she was like your ordinary school girl, hardly leave out any impression like Maho Nishizumi or even Ren Maruu.
"From now on, Miho Nishizumi will be your new Vice-commander." After her line, she looked over to the person standing next to her.
"Miho. Greet them."
"I-It's a pleasure…to meet all of you!"
Among the surprised and puzzled faces, one remained her impassive expression as she began to think of a…master plan.
Here we go again. Now...how do I work on this?
~0~
"That girl, is she really Nishizumi-san's sister? Because she looks nothing alike."
"I feel you girl."
"Probably she is adopted?"
"Hehe, that's harsh."
"She is a first-year just like us, and she is our Vice-Commander? That's really something."
"Maybe she is as good as her sister."
Looking at one group was discussing about Miho, Erika couldn't help but sighed, shaking her head.
Funny, I remembered the time how I was so dejected seeing Miho was appointed as the Vice-Commander like that.
I was really childish, wasn't I?
Now at least, I've got some opportunities to learn more about her.
But how do I make the approach to this?
It's not like I can go: 'Hey Miho! I know this is your first time seeing me but trust me, I know a lot of things about you. Why, you ask? Because I'm from the future!'
"Goddamn it! That would be a one-way ticket straight to the Mental Hospital!"
Erika noticed a few nearby was looking at her, probably caught what she was saying. Erika immediately acted away with a poker face, making them to think that probably they've heard it wrong.
"Shit. I'm speaking like Karen-senpai…" She muttered under her breath.
Karen-senpai…
If I remembered correctly…she is not at Kuromorimine at this time…nor her older sister, Aki…
The bell rung in the air, a new period began as everyone quickly returned to their seat.
Middle school. Guess I still have plenty of time. Who wouldn't love it, going back for a youth?
…
…
The ringing bell for the last time of the day, telling the school time was over. While many began to do on their own activities, Erika Itsumi quietly made her way to a certain destination.
"Let's see, if I remembered it correctly, Miho's classroom should be around here…"
Erika noticed her foot had stepped onto something.
A key chain?
"What is it doing here?"
She picked up the item and examined it. It was not some ordinary key chain. It had a shape of a bear clad in bandages. She noticed that its hook was broken.
Unless someone here has a same taste as Miho, I'd bet my entire savings on her.
…
…
Erika soon arrived to the location.
The classroom was vacant, except for one short-haired girl who crouched down to the floor, searching for something.
"Mi—Vice Commander?"
Hearing Erika's call, Miho had a jump.
"A-ah?! Y-yes—Agh!" The moment she stood up, her head hit the underneath surface of the desk. Following the impact, the pencil case, the note on her table promptly fell out. The content inside her pencil case were spilled all over the floor.
"Geez! What are you doing?" Erika quickly approached and helped Miho picking up the dropped items.
"You're…Erika Itsumi-san…thank you."
"…"
Erika realized that this was their very first meeting (for Miho, at least), face-to-face, and yet Miho had already learned her name.
This girl really has a good memory.
"Here. You also dropped this."
When Erika showed the keychain, Miho's face was immediately brighten up.
"Ah! Boko!"
"I found it around the corner. Guess I might find you here, looking for it."
"H…how do you know it's belonged to me?"
It's a good question. After all, how did Erika know it's belonged to Miho when they were practically haven't talk to each other at all?
"W-Well! I just happen to saw it hanging on your schoolbag." It's a good excuse (lie) to say.
"Oh, thank you very much, Itsumi-san."
"…" Okay, make a conversation, Erika. Make a conversation.
"…It's an odd looking bear." She said, looking at it in Miho's hands.
"Oh, this is Boko."
"Boko…?"
The name which she had known for long, but a question was a best way to make a conversation after all.
"Boko is amazing. No matter how he's always got beaten up. Over and over again. He would stand up, again and again."
Even though this is the second time she explains it to me. It still confuses me.
"Because that's what makes him Boko huh?"
Miho was looking at her with an astounded face.
"Ye-yes! Because that's what makes him Boko!"
Her sudden exclaiming made Erika was shocked as she reflexively back away with a raised elbow.
"A-ah! I-I'm s-sorry! I'm so sorry!" With a face was like a tomato, Miho quickly bowed her head.
She is going to be a handful, isn't she?
After a moment to calm down one's mind, Erika continued.
"I would like to ask you this, if you don't mind."
"Uhm…Sure, what is it?"
"Are you nervous? Taking this Vice-Commander position right away after the enlistment?"
Miho's shoulders were flinched upon the question as she looked up to Erika who was waiting for the answer.
"…to…To be honest. Yes…I am…" Miho answered nervously. "But I have to do it, work hard for everyone. Onee-cha…Commander and our mother are expecting a lot from me."
Nishizumi Style.
Headmistress.
Kuromorimine.
Everything was weighing down on this poor girl. Even my bitchy attitude back then just added more to her plate.
Damn, I'm such a bitch.
"…Sure it's rough for you." She patted on Miho's shoulder gently. "Hang in there."
"Itsumi-san…"
"See you at the training tomorrow." With a waving hand, Erika exited out of the class, leaving Miho alone.
…
…
It was quite a lengthy walk for Erika from the school to her assigned dormitory room. As soon as the door behind her was closed, she had her knees touched the floor as both hands were pressing hard onto her head.
"Oh what hell was that?! That was the lamest shit I've ever pulled…"
"Sure it's rough for you…hang in there…" She muttered the words she had said to her. "What am I, her mother? Her guardian angel?"
It was too…beyond. It was so unlike of her. Never before Erika would go all out for someone's sake like that. Her Commander, Maho? Would be an exception. But for Miho? She…she couldn't…
"Shit…please…take me back to my own current timeline…"
It didn't take long for Erika to learn that she wasn't able to.
…
…
And so the time passed by uneventful. Training. Studying. Training. Studying. They're all what we had been doing. Well at least, with my 'second' time, I managed to ace some subjects at ease.
I do feel I'm kind of a cheater though…
~0~
– One week later –
Standing in rank and file, everyone was waiting for Miho, the Vice-Commander to finishing up the overview of their training schedule planned by the Commander.
"Vice-Commander. We have been doing the formation training for a whole week." asked a second-year senpai. "How about we start on a new lesson?"
"Well, you have a good poin—"
"No. We have a plan from the Commander and we're going to follow it to the letter." The other senpai disagreed.
"Come on, we don't have to follow the same routine all the time."
"The judgments are reversed for the Commander. We have no right to say in this matter."
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." She was getting irritated.
"Yes it is. Your tank couldn't pull that maneuver on time in seven seconds anyway."
"Oh, you think you can do it so well that you can walk over me, is that it?"
That was it, like something had snapped. The two senpais stood by a distance quickly made the approach, closing onto each other as their hands clamped the shirt, the jacket.
"Wa-Wait! You two…please!" Miho was at loss, seeing the situation was fast-slipping out of her control.
Just before something was ticked away like a volcano…
Suddenly, a loud whistle was made sharply in the air.
"Whoa, that is some whistle."
"Who did that?"
Faces turned as pairs of eyes scanned over the crowd, till they finally pinpointed a certain girl with light blond hair who kept her two fingers by the mouth.
"Erika-chan?" Leila was utterly surprised.
That's louder than I've thought…thanks Obama.
Noticing every eye were on her, Erika had a slight panic.
Shit! This is making me blush. Stay calm, me. Stay calm.
Erika's hand then was raised high.
"P-Permission to speak, Vice-Commander?" She asked in a clear voice.
"Ah? Y-Yes? Itsumi-san?"
Erika began to detach herself from rank and file formation. She made her own approach as she ignored the two confused senpais who was about clash at each other.
Standing at attention before Miho, Erika began.
"Vice-Commander. I would like request a challenge duel with you."
"!?"
Upon hearing her words, everyone promptly went gasp, bewildering. Miho, obviously, was like a reindeer caught in headlights.
"Itsumi-san…you…"
"…"
All the attention had paid for the argument now quickly shifted to the newly developing event.
"Itsumi-san! What are you—"
Ren's voice was ceased by someone's hand who stood next to her.
"Commander!"
"Actung!"
Somebody called out when they saw her as well, putting everyone back to attention.
"Onee…Commander."
The Commander, Maho Nishizumi quietly made the approach and stopped when she was close enough, looking over Miho and Erika, with arm folding.
"May we know the reason?" She asked.
Looking at Maho, Erika couldn't help but sense a shiver run through her back. Because at this moment, she was like a predator, observing every move with her sharp dagger-like brown eyes.
Shit! This is way more dreadful than the other timeline…
Erika gulped down her saliva as she steadied herself momentary before she speak.
"Perhaps it's best that I would have my action to speak for everyone here. Or maybe…it's just me." Erika shook her head lightly. "The point is. I want to know that if Miho Nishizumi is worthy for the Vice-commander position."
Erika's words put the whole group into a rowdy state.
"Is she serious?" "Is she crazy?" "Damn!" Those words were loud enough for Erika to hear.
"…Her performance back on the Training Grounds. Well, I think that many here would have the same though as me: 'This girl is not fitted for the Vice-Commander position'."
Stunned and gasps ensured, a few faces were even turned green, probably thinking: 'Oi. Oi don't you dare get us involve in this.'
Miho casted her eyes down to her feet.
"However, I'll respect the one once they're proved themselves competent and skilled."
After the explanation, she turned her body facing toward Miho who was visibly shaking.
"So Vice-commander, I would like to hear your answer. Can you prove it to me that you're willing to fight…with your own will and…not just being as a…Nishizumi?"
This time, Miho looked up at Erika with a dumbfounded face while Maho simply lifted up an eyebrow.
"What is she talking about?" "Beats me." "What did she say? What did she say?"
The students hearing her words were confused.
"Also. This is for my…my own Sensha-do. So please, prove it to me. Vice…Miho Nishizumi-san."
She bowed her head toward Miho.
"My own…Sensha-do…" Miho muttered the words.
"Miho?"
"I...I..."
"…"
Miho drew in her breath before she give the answer.
"I accept. I accept your challenge!"
"""OOOOHHH! !"""
The crowd exclaimed as they're rowdy up once more.
"Is this really happening?" "This is interesting." "Erika-chan..." "She got balls, I dare say." "It's happening. It's happening." "They're really going to do it!"
In the midst of it, Erika furtively let out a small relief sigh.
Right. First step completed. Sooner than I've originally planned though…
Now...what do I do next?
...
Okay...before anyone of you try to murder me. This is just some wild idea I've came up during my work shift. Damn it Brain! Couldn't have pick a better time for writing. It probably got inspired by some light novels and manga I happened to read like [I swear I won't bother you again] or [I Reincarnated into an Otome Game as a Villainess With Only Destruction Flags…]
Second chance, rather an interesting trope but how can I utilize such tag into this story? Only time will tell. And does this actually involve with the story of Erika the Radical? Yes, to some extent. Is the main story still ongoing? Totally! Consider this one as a...side story or something. You name it.
Writing with parallel ideas is going to be a pain...
Inner me: Well, at least this is going to be a faithful EriMiho story.
Me: EriMiho?
Inner me: It's my religious.
Me: *Look at [Erika x Harem] tag by the door*