It's been a day since I settled down here in Oorai; it's far away from Osaka, just like I wanted. I brushed my thick flushed blond hair to my left eye to hide my scar that ran across my eye. I fixed up my glasses and dusted off my uniform which was a white long sleeve polo shirt with a brown outer coat, brown slacks and brown leather shoes. I was mesmerized by the view on the carrier, a small town in a gigantic carrier complete with a school, and the insane part was the ship are operated by high school girls, every thing from maintaining the ship to navigating it to sea. I felt a bit awkward at first, the girls were out numbered the boys, but it escalated more by the time I got to school.
I stepped inside the school and I froze, I saw there's a lot of girls in this school, I can see few boys wandering the hallways. I awkwardly walked through the hallways and found the Teacher's room. A female teacher walked closed to me and led me to my classroom.
"Good morning class, we have a new student with us, try being nice to him. Please introduce yourself to the class." Then the students shifted their gaze to me at the door.
"Hello, I'm Matthew Wright, I'm part British and Japanese, Nice to meet you."
"Well then Wright-san pls. seat behind Nishizumi-san, near the window" the teacher pointed on the southern part of the room a table behind the girl with a short light brown hair and brown fluffy eyes.
I immediately went to my seat without any words uttered. It's nice and comfy where I sit, all I could see outside was the sea and the plants but the noise from the class bugs me.
Lunch time, Ooarai high school
Three boys walked up to me and started to eat on my table, all giving blank stares. A minute later, the boy with a shaggy but spiked orange hair broke the silence.
"So, you're Wright right?(I gave a nod), nice to meet you, I'm Fujita Eida, the guy with big eyes is Hasegawa Makoto" I turned my head to see the biggest eyes I've seen on a student in the school with his light chocolate hair brushed neatly to the side, He smiled and gave a thumb up. "Sitting to my right is Ishii Junichi" Fujita continued. I shifted my glance to the person to my right; He looked like an average student, with semi-short black hair. Fujita added "You can call us your first 3 friends here in school." He's good in English, but I told him it's ok, I can speak fluent Japanese.
"I'm surprised that you weren't intimidated, people find me intimidating when they first see me." I replied.
"Don't worry, I know you're a good person under that face."
"So, what's happening in school lately?" I continued.
"Well, Our Tankery team was defeated by the St. Gloriana Girls high school in a practice match, and they danced The "Anglerfish dance" Ishii Started.
"But Nishizumi-san destroyed a lot of St. Gloriana's tanks in the process." Hasegawa added.
"Huh, I watched the match on the internet, Nishizumi sure has a lot of experience" I added.
"She looks good too!" Fujita grew a smirk.
"Oh ho, starting to think about dirty thoughts again, have we?" Ishii blurted out, while Hasegawa and I eyed Fujita.
"No I'm not, she just looks good but I won't think about that!" Fujita growled.
"A Pervert in a School where Girls out number boys, hell they might even throw him out".
"All right every one, please take your seats" The commotion stopped once the teacher stepped in. I took my seat and saw a piece of paper lying on my desk. I started read the notes scribbled on it.
"Don't be afraid, we really are friends."
"Ps. You want to talk some more? See you around."
Same Day, Student Council Room, Oorai High school.
"Is it true?" Anzu and Yuzu stopped organizing the files a fixed their eyes on Momo.
"I'm afraid so, Pravda allowed men into their ranks. But they're not driving tanks, their part of the union project'' Momo explained the situation.
"The International Men's fighting league made an agreement with the Women's international Tanking Association, Every school which has a tankery team, must have a sizable infantry division."
"So that means, they will use an infantry corps!?" Anzu guessed.
"Correct, we must find male students to join our team, it's necessary to increase our chances of winning the tournament, but who's going to be their Commanding Officer?" Momo Continued.
"They should have separate commanders, and I think I already have a good candidate for the over all commander for the boys." Anzu took out a folder on the record cabinet.
Momo began reading the student's file.
"So?" She continued.
"Yuzu, will you please…"
"I Understand."
Then she ran off to the Principle.
2 days after enrollment of Matthew Wright, lunch time. Oorai high school.
I was sitting on my table taking to my friends again.
"Hey guys, what are planning on doing today?"
"I'm going out with Mayu-chan tonight" Fujita replied.
"Just going to the Mall with my Imouto, and Hasegawa" Ishii said.
"I don't have any other plans for today, I'm just going to stay at home, do nothing,*sigh* my life is a bore, I wish I could do somthi-" A loud crash interrupted me.
All of us inside the room shifted their gaze to the door.
A small girl, along with two other girls approached me.
"Please come with us. It's important." She lends me her hand. The class then shifted their gaze to me.
We came out of the classroom and went upstairs; it was complete silence when we walked along the corridors. We walked across the hallway until is saw a large door.
My eyes widened as I learned it was the Student Council room, I began digging in my thoughts for answers, and maybe it's because of the incident that happened the other day. Nonetheless, I prepared for the worse. But I didn't prepare something other than this.
"Sorry for the inconvenience" She opened the door and I saw a very familiar face.
"Grandfather? Is that you?" I saw him leaning on the wall with his two bodyguards.
"Matthew, please, join your school in the union project." My grandfather popped the question.
"I know your father taught you to fight in hand to hand combat, also taught you to repair, maintain and fire basically any weapon that you can get your hands on."
"Sure, if it's my Mother's will to make me a great commander like my father then count me in."
My Grandfather replied, "Very well, report at the school's depot tomorrow, you are dismissed" My grandfather gave me a military salute. I saluted back to him, we both exchanged smiles. And the door closed off, making a temporary silence until…
Anzu called out my name "Matthew pls. wait, were going to discuss some things with you"
"Okay (I took a seat), what's on your mind?"
"Matthew, we are going to be team mates, this means, you will have to listen to what the girls will say, in order to achieve our goal. Tomorrow, you will be introduced to the Girls. By the time you get there you must have at least your own team. We'll try to find more male students to take up the project."
I replied, "I Think I have just the team for that."
Tomorrow, School Tank Depot.
I went to the school depot, I saw Ishii and 5 others leaning on a M3 lee, supposedly foreign students.
"Hey Matthew! Where's the others?" Ishii asked me.
"Fujita and Hasegawa are on cleaning duty, and the others are coming down. (I look to my side and saw five students leaning on the lee.) Who are these guys?"
"They just arrived here a moment ago, the guy sitting on the turret is an American, Martin Hendricks, the one sitting near the main gun is German, Gerald Schmidt. The one standing with Gerald is Valentin Zaytsev, the two sitting on the floor are Andrew and Ryan Lee, and they're twins from Australia.
A group of five joined us, it was Fujita, and Hasegawa with three others, the Canadian, Marcus Anton, the English, Mark Eden, and another German, Albert Goldstein.
Soon, the student council along with some girls arrived.
"Ten, Hut!" I screamed and the guys formed their ranks, all the boys stood straight with their chin up. Soon after, the girls formed a rank too.
Momo introduced us. "Girls, these boys are part of our team, they will be covering you on foot, scouting or attacking tanks and enemy infantry. Matthew, (I looked at her) could you go with your boys and distribute their roles?" She asked me.
I Gave a Quick nod and signal the boys to get out of the depot. We walked outside then we let out a long sigh.
Marcus coughed up "I didn't know standing that straight will hurt my body!"
"Don't Worry American, the pain is transitory" Valentin stretched his body.
"I'm Canadian, not an American."
"It's because you stood up straight so much." Andrew shouted on the side.
"I think every bone on my back snapped." Martin stretched out his right arm.
"Okay so much for that mates, Matthew what's you're orders?" Eden patted my shoulders.
I gave a nod. "You know fuck it, just go pick which role you want but, if it's an A-T team or a machinegun team or a Sniper team, there will be a maximum of 3 per team, except the rifle squad." The boys gave a nod and scattered out to pick their roles.
Valentin and Gerald were our sniper team. Valentin was our main sharpshooter is using the Mosin Nagant with the scope covered in rags and Gerald is our spotter, wielding the Gewehr 43 and a scope.
Andrew, Marcus and Ryan are handling the MG42. Andrew will be the shooter, Marcus will be wielding the Kar.98k, and Ryan will be the loader.
Fujita, Martin, Hasegawa will use the M18 57mm recoilless rifle or otherwise known as the "Bazooka". Fujita is the loader, Martin will be the shooter, and Hasegawa is wielding the M1 Carbine with the ammo-pouch attached to the foldable butt-stock.
Mark, Albert, Ishii, and I will be the rifle squad, Mark's wielding the Lee Enfield and the S&W 1917 revolver, 44. Hand Ejector, and Albert will be using the Mp44 and the luger, Ishii is using the Type-100 sub-machinegun, Arisaka type 38 and the Nambu pistol, and I'm using the Thompson Sub-machinegun, colt 1911, and the M1903 Springfield rifle, with a scope.
Our equipment is Pre and post- World War II weaponry, we went to the range and fired of some shots.
"Aim down your sights, it will be easier to aim if you crouch too." I guided them in shooting.
"Valentin, Schmidt, take up your positions and hit that target" I pointed at the small dot, over 600 yards away. The two aimed down their sights and immediately started to shoot their targets. From my point of view, I think the two are fighting to hit their last target, I hope this will not end in rivalry.
I aimed my Thompson and started to fire on the shoulders. I manage to hit several targets with just one clip, I fired bursts, so I could practice conserving ammo.
The ammo we are using is called Simmunition rounds, the bullet is made out of a hardened material, and the tip is a small but dull needle, it is molded into any type of caliber, depending on what type of gun you are using, due to the heat from the charge of the cartridge, the hardened tip of the bullet will become soft and exposing the tip of the needle. It will send a 50,000 volts of electricity if it comes on into anything, the same wattage coming from a Taser gun. It will only generate the charge if the bullet is fired, it will not active if the bullet is unused or discarded. It's still accurate as a real bullet, it even has the "rifled grooves" but it still provides a punch which can knock even a human off their feet. Still we were advised to wear googles, so if the bullet hits our eyes, it will not penetrate but it's considered as KIA, if it hits the head, the helmet has a small computer chip and will calculate if the bullet will penetrate, if it does, the helmet will send a small shock to the body, indicating that the player is out, and there is a special kind of shell for tank guns to use on infantry, the HEAF shell.
If fired, the same principles of the summunition round will be applied. If the shell will come in contact with the ground, small darts will eject which will pump a high-dose of electricity.
Andrew was handling the Panzershreck really well, and Martin is accurate using the Mg, and Ryan is attentive and reloads very quickly, Gerald and Valentin have a great eye in marksmanship. From what I know, Valentin's Great grand-father is a hero in WWII, picking off enemies from a distance in liberating Stalingrad.
As we were shooting, the tanks rolled up, it was a Panzer IV Ausf C. with KwK 37 L/24 short-barreled 75mm gun. A Panzer 38(t) 3.7 cm KwK 38(t) L/47.8, an M3 lee with a hull mounted 75mm Gun, and a StuG III Ausf. G with its stock 7.5 cm StuK 40 L/48 Hull mounted cannon.
A loud bang ruptured in the air, the Panzer IV shot off a shell, it whistled through the air until hitting its target with near-deadly accuracy.
Soon after, the StuG soon fired some shell, so did the M3 lee and the Panzer 38(t).
The Shock waves from the cannons rippled through the soft ground, we felt the earth shaking in fear, and we can't aim properly without moving a centimeter every second.
A Girl soon emerged from the Panzer, a girl with short brown hair placed her binoculars in her eyes. She was Miho Nishizumi.
"Isuzu-san, it's a direct hit!" The Commander proud of her gunner, Hana Isuzu.
The StuG Manage to hit some targets, but the M3 Lee only manage to get 3 out of 7 shell fired. And the Panzer 38(t) managed to hit only one.
Before our battle with Saunders High school, we were fitted with WWII Uniforms
Valentin will be in a camouflaged, standard infantry uniform of the Red army, while Gerald will be clothed with the German SS uniform.
Andrew, Marcus and Ryan will be in dressed in German Volksgrenadiers patterned in jungle Camo.
Fujita, Martin and Hasegawa will be in US Airborne uniform with the camouflaged Net helmet with leaves and branches attached to the net. Complete with the 86th airborne insignia on the side.
I was dressed in the US Airborne uniform with the 101st airborne division insignia sown on the shoulder sleeve, Mark will be in the 1st airborne regiment uniform, with the "Red Devil" Patch etched on the side. Ishii will be in a Japanese WWII Pacific uniform, and Albert will be in a Panzer Grenadier outfit with the woodland pattern. All of our uniforms have the school's emblem sown on the right side, and the girls are dressed in a black long sleeve coat.
The boys and I went to the rooftop to eat our lunch, it's just a get together, and a team needs to build a strong bond right?
"So, the match will be next week, it's going to be exciting isn't it?" I started to make a conversation.
Valentin replied "Yep, it is, I'm going to test my marksmanship, My Great-Grandfather will be proud if we won the match."
"Actually, my Great-Grandfather was a member of the British "Red Devils" Mark added
"My Great-Grandfather was a Tiger tank commander. He manage to stop 7 incoming M4 Shermans with his Panzer division while protecting their own convoy in the France." Albert Replied.
"My Great-Grandfather was an Englishman in the 101st airborne division, he fought at Carentan and recaptured France, and I think he rode in a Sherman Firefly when the gunner got killed." I took out my Pendant, which bears the insignia of the 101st, with the Eagle.
"Good thing you guys have a Great-Grandfather to look up on, my Great-grandpa was just a regular Volksgrenadier, but he did rescue a family of Russians in an attack the country side in Russia." Gerald told us.
"That's something to look up on Gerald, your Great-grandpa rescued a family, that's something enemies wouldn't do in the battlefield" I complimented him.
"Yeah you're right, I should make him my guide in the next match."
Soon some girls entered the rooftop, it was from Hippo team, Saemonza, Erwin, Oryou and Caesar, part of the history buffs club, some girls from duck team and the angler fish team.
All of our gaze shifted to the girls, then the girls shifted their gaze unto us. It was complete silence until I broke it.
"Okay…. It's getting awkward, should we eat?" I said sheepishly.
"I guess so, should we join you?" Saori replied.
"Sure, ok guys, make space for the girls."
We pushed to the side and we let ourselves for a circle, it was a little awkward, considering that Saori is sitting next to me, and her pink bra was a little visible I tried to pull away, but the colors were flashing in my head, but…
"What are you looking at?" Saori Caught me.
I Jolted and blushed little bit and look to my left with my eyes pointed upwards "Oh, it was nothing actually, I was just, umm… looking at your food!" I tried to make a stupid excuse for looking at her bra.
"Oh, you want some?" She picked up the piece of breaded pork with her chop sticks.
"Sure. Here, have my cheese omelet"
"Wow, this is great! Did you make this?"
"Yes. Your omelet is surprisingly delicious!"
"I made it, I always lived alone in my apartment, and I always cooked for myself and my parents died 5 years ago, I always felt lonely" I tried to smile.
"Aww, that's terrible, living alone and having no friends is really bad for people" she comforted me.
"It's fine, I go out once and a while, but I always stay at home and-"
"Looks like Wright-san is getting good with Takebe-san" Fujita shouted, both all the girls and boys looked at us in unison.
"Wait, Umm…, it's not what you think! Were just talking here." She blushed to her ears and tried to neutralize the atmosphere but, and I can feel her leaning a little bit on me.
"We know you want boyfriend, but flirting in front of us is too much Saori-san" Isuzu switched her expression into a large grin.
"That's not it!" She looked very embarrassed and she went redder, it's pretty cute when she does that.
"Let's just eat, this is making me uncomfortable."