INTRODUCTION
The Tiger I advanced into the abandoned school area as it chased after Miho and her teams Panzer IV. The Ooarai's Tiger P followed close behind and slid its hull to a twist at the front entrance of which both of the sisters went storming through. As the rest of the Black Forest team closed in, the Tiger P kept on continuously bouncing off enemy shells till its armor finally gave way to its weak spots.
Meanwhile, in the turns and corners of the abandoned school, Miho's team came to an open square. When they were beginning to turn for a slight corner, the team noticed Maho's tank pulling up right in front of them.
"There is no running away in the Nishizumi-style." she paused, "We both have no choice but to end this here."
"I accept your challenge." Miho replied firmly.
A brief moment of silence was between them. Then, the Panzer IV bolted pass the Tiger I and back into the winding curves and turns of the alley. Back on the outside, the other Black Forest teams began to ponder on how to get past the broken Tiger P that blocked the front entrance. However, after minutes of trying, they finally got through and began to pursuit their leader.
By the time they got there, a large cloud of dark smoke had engulfed the square where the two sisters were fighting. Everyone held their breaths and waited for the smoke to clear to see who the victor was.
The white flag emerged…The Panzer IV was out…
Suddenly, a voice came over the loudspeaker, "All of Ooarai Girls High School's vehicles have been eliminated! Kuromorimine Girls High School is the winner!"
The sight and sound of this message caused the teams of Ooarai to let out an outcry. A few teams, including Rabbit Team, were sobbing, while others like Turtle and Hippo Team were discouraged and disappointed, with the exception of Momo crying aloud.
I can't believe this." Anzu murmured, "We actually lost."
"After all that hard work and strategy, we have been defeated." Erwin said crossly.
"Indeed, it's a sad day for us." said Cesar.
Miho poked her whole head out of the tank to only see the sight of her sister staring back blankly at her. The other girls of Miho's team opened up the side hatches and looked behind themselves to see the white flag waving back and forth. They all faced each other in a state of shock and sadness. They all knew what was going to happen. Erika and the rest of the Black Forest Peak tanks pulled in and surrounded the two incapacitated tanks.
"Ha ha!" Erika laughed triumphantly, "Once again, we are victorious!" boasted Erika to the other girls behind her.
Maho turned her head and swiftfully faced her Vice Captain with irritation.
"Erika please…"
Turning back to her younger sister, Maho noticed her siblings face downcasted.
Later that day, all the teams were transported back to their schools holding areas. All of Ooarai's teams were in a state of remorse. Miho and her team pulled up on a truck carrying their destroyed Panzer IV behind it.
"Umm… Hello everyone." Miho stuttered, "I have some bad news."
"Yes, we know you do." replied Anzu in a low tone.
Miho fell silent, until Yukari broke into the conversation.
"I know everyone is sad, but we must all try to come together and think for a moment. Is the whole school getting closed down or just our Tankery team?"
"Both I'm afraid; our council double checked the documents the night before the games." Yuzu answered.
Momo stepped forward, "It also appears to me that you don't remember what I said about everything closing down."
"This is completely unfair!" Saori and Hana bursted out in anger.
"I know it is, but what can we do? There's not another fundraiser thats coming up to collect enough money for our entire school." Momo said disappointed.
"It's all over." Mako finally spoke.
Everyone stopped and turned towards her. A group of girls walked up to Miho and her crew. In their hands was a large paper written in Japanese. One of the girls handed Miho a pen.
"Please read and sign this." she said coldly.
"Why? What for?" Miho asked.
Anzu looked at the paper over Miho's shoulder and began to read it to herself silently.
"No, this is unfair." Miho said shaking her head, "There must be another option."
Then, the student council stepped up to Miho and her crew.
"That means that our only opition is this." Anzu grimly responded while holding out an Anglerfish Suit to Miho. She felt a shiver go down her spine when she learned about the truth of the future.
"I thought that this was a one time thing?" Miho said in confusion.
"We must give them a show if we are not going to fully agree on their terms."
Realizing the pit that they were in, she accepted the suit and walked away. Hana, Yukari, Saori, and Mako did the same once they obtained their suits. Afterwards, so did all the other crew members. Later on that evening, Anglerfish Team and all the others teams performed their dance on stage. Miho noticed many of the girls from the other schools in the crowd giggling and pointing, causing Miho's eyes to start tearing up.
"Stay focused my friend, it'll be over soon." Hana panted heavily from across the way.
Miho took note of this and tried to take her mind off of the audience, but she always had trouble doing so. After that was finished, the Kuromorimine High girls were called up to take the Sensha-do flag of victory. While on stage, Maho looked outward for her sister, but couldn't find her in the sea of heads.
"I really thought that Ooarai would win." said Orange Pekoe to Darjeeling.
"I thought so too my friend… I thought so too…"
"Well, they still fought long and hard and I really think they deserved to win." Kay said to Alisa and Naomi.
"However, the Kuro forces proved once more to be the victors." Alisa replied.
Naomi only answered back with a nod of approval.
"This can't be, after they've destroyed that Maus, how could they lose?" Katyusha squeaked aloud on top of Nonna's head.
"Unfortunately, that just had to happened." said Nonna.
"It's not fair, though." Katyusha bursted out again almost falling off of Nonna's head.
Just before the sun setted on the blurry horizen, everyone began to return to their destinations and head homeward bound. Maho Nishizumi, with victory flag in hand, walked next to her mother, with the rest of the Kuromorimine team behind them.
"Your performance today seemed to have lacked from my expectations." said Shiho, "However, you still have prevailed."
Maho remained quiet. Though she has indeed won the Championship and restored a prideful title to the Nishizumi Name, something inside her kept saying, "Why couldn't it been me that lost instead of my sister?" She decided to ignore it and continue thinking about future thoughts.
-UNDER THE BLACK FOREST FLAG-
BY: OVERWATCH TROOPER 12
RATED: FICTION T
The next day, word got out all around the school about Ooarai Loss and that the school, with very little money left, will be closed in about a month or so. To prepare for the worse, Ooarai's school board has decided to shorten classes and start auctioning off the schools tanks as soon as they could to get money in. As the days go on, no serious progress was made.
"I'm surprised that none of our tanks have been sold yet." said Saori to her friends.
They were sitting on their Panzer IV looking over the latest recordings that they have received from recent training.
"They're all probably waiting for a good price on the high value ones." Mako suggested.
"Oh no! Theres no way that they're taking MY panzer!" Yukari shouted while hugging the nozzle of the cannon.
"Oh don't feel so alone. We all feel the same." replied Hana.
"Besides, all of our tanks are going soon, not just ours." Miho added.
Then, from across the way, the main hangar doors opened and a large transport truck with a trailer came inside and parked near the Tiger P. The Automotive Team was told to get out of the cockpit that they were tinkering with and go with Ami Chouno and the men in the truck. The Tiger P was then transported away.
"Well, there goes the first of many tanks." Mako said in her usual depressing tone.
The others were stunned silent. They had no idea who or what was next.