I'd like to begin by thanking Seekermeeker for his review and his words of encouragement. I'd also like to thank all you you who took time to read this story, I know 19 views might not seem like a lot to some but to me each and every one of those views are important to me.
Next, I've got a quick thing to say about this and the next chapter... they are split into two. It's not in so much due to length but the amount of content packed into this chapter. ?We are going to learn a lot about Rikona, Fic-cannon about Ooarai (Cannon only as far as this fic is concerned) as well as some of the differences between the main cannon and this story.
Waking up to the sound of her alarm clock, Rikona rose out of bed, stumbling to the shower. Smiling lightly as she felt the got water washed down her face, both soothing her and waking her up. She brushed her hair mid-shower, a habit of hers to ensure that her shampoo reached all the way through her hair rather than just the top.
After about half an hour later she stepped out of the shower and dried off, before slipping on her attire for the day, this time a brown dress tee-shirt with a pair of brown slacks and black shoes. She also sported a brown leather watch, mostly plain with a one centimeter wide band.
While as acting headmaster, most of her lectures where held in her office, just in case she was needed for some reason. It was also for this reason she had some choice in attire, unlike most of the students attending the classes. While the uniform was perfect for the students, it was ill-fitting for her situation.
Breakfast was a quick affair, consisting of water and dried cereal. Save for the fact it was Cinnamon Toasters, an American brand of cereal, nothing was unorthodox about her breakfast. She quietly washed her bowl and cup out, before heading out of the door.
Beside her house was where her pride and joy lay, a 1992 Crown Victory ford, formally a police car, but de-modified for compliance with civilian use along with being restored with new parts. She smiled as she gently caressed the front of the car, painted brown with a white V-stripe on the hood, something she had done in honor of her favorite race car driver, Asa Akasuki. Although he didn't drive a ford Crown Victoria, she couldn't think of anything better to drive than her favorite car painted in the paint scheme of her favorite driver.
Climbing in, she made the drive to school, passing many houses on the way. It didn't take her long, after all there wasn't much driving one could do on a five mile long ship, albeit she did see some of her old middle school friends for the first time in a while, most notably Ayumi and Miho.
As she parked she watched in stunned silence as a driver suddenly did a spin out on the pavement before parking beside her. As she claimed out of the Victoria, her jaws nearly dropped as her idol stepped out of the car, alongside a girl who looked closer to her age, if not exactly her age.
"Akasuki Asa?" she asked, slightly in awe and slightly dumbfounded at the sight.
"Yes. And you are?"
"Matumaso Rikona... the intern headmaster and Heiress of the school." she admitted. Could this day get any better? She asked herself quickly.
"Ah, so you are Rikona? I've heard about the discovery of your inheritance, but I didn't think you'd be so...young."
Rikona let out a small sigh. "I get that a lot." she them let out a smile. "I've always wanted to meet you, I'm a big fan of yours," she added politely.
He smiled. "I'm guessing that's why you painted your Ford like that," he guessed, causing her to smile.
"Yeah, do you like it?"
"I love it!" he beamed before gazing over it. "Police issue?" he added.
"Yeah, I bought it and had it unmodified though. I needed a car to drive, not to do patrols in." she admitted, adding in the last part as a joke.
He let out his signature laugh. "That's true. By the way, this is my daughter, Akasuki Hoshino."
"H...hi there," Hoshino began, before bowing. "It's very nice to meet you, Headmaster Matumaso," she added politely.
For her part Rikona was caught between a smile and a blush. While she was happy that Hoshino was being both polite and proper, though it was more for her own sake than Rikona's, she had never really received this much respect, even as the team caption of her Sensado team during middle school. She simply bowed gently in return. "It is an honor to meet you as will, Akasuki."
"Welp, I'd better get going, gotta catch a flight to Nishmari for the Nishmari 400. Hey, if you'd like, I could reserve you some tickets," He offered.
Rikona let out a small smile. "I'd love that, but I'll need to see if I have an opening first."
"Alright, let me know if you do," he replied, before climbing into his car and taking off.
Glancing at the girl as she walked along the halls, she let out a small hum. "Your father is really nice," she commented, trying to make conversation.
Hoshino smiled back. "That he is, Headmaster Matumaso," she began, but paused when Rikona let out a small sigh.
You don't have to call me headmaster every time you wish to speak to me. Maybe just the first time we meet during the day, but otherwise Rikona is fine," she offered kindly. At her warm smile, she could see Hoshino relax.
"Thank you Rikona."
Continuing on their way, her green eyes fell on the student out of curiosity. "So, do you do any racing yourself?" she asked.
Hoshino gave out a small nod. "Yes, but so far it's only been go-carts. My father wants me to get my driver's license first, and I've only gotten my learner's permit at the moment."
"Well, you are well on the right path. By the way do you know what club you wish to join?"
Hoshino paused, looking thoughtful. "Well, I'm torn between the Sensado club and the mechanic crew," she replied at last.
"You can link those clubs if you like," Rikona admitted, before pulling out her student brochure and pointing out where it stated you could link those clubs. Granting, club linking was rare as a student needed to be able to join two clubs which operated in a similar line of work, such as Sensado and mechanic, reading and writing, or drama and play-writing.
Hoshino smiled. "I think I'll do that then."
They soon came onto her classroom and said their goodbys. Leaving the Heiress to her own business. It wasn't long before she ran into Miho. Normally the two would have hugged, as they had always done on the rare occasions they got to meet, but now they had to remember that they where worlds apart. Rikona was now both Heiress and headmaster of Ooarai, while Miho was still vice Heiress of Kuromorimine, dispute now attend Ooarai.
"Hello Miho, it is good to see you again," Rikona smiled, bowing slightly. Even if they couldn't share a hug like they use to, they could still be friendly with each other.
"Likewise Rikona," Miho smiled back. "So, what do you think of Ooarai?" she added after a breif pause.
Rikona, for her part let out a small laugh. "Funny as I should be asking you that, Miho." after receiving a small laugh in return, she answered the question. "Well, the teachers are strict, the council is snotty, and the students are about as nice as the building. Just like Nishmari."
Her friend cracked up. "Oh man you are never going to let that go, are you?" Back at Nishmari, the student council had decided to play an April fools joke on everyone using ink bombs. Well...by their joke they learned how not to make Rikona happy, and by the time her cuss-fest ended the student council had already signed the resignation papers.
"I'm still kinda proud of myself, just not prideful about it." she admitted, blushing slightly.
"Still, no one could really blame you too much, I think we all where a bit upset about it.," Miho pointed out.
Nodding in agreement Rikona allowed her memories to flow briefly. "So are you joining in Sensado this year?" she asked.
Miho's eyes oppened. "T...there's Sensado in this school?" she stammered.
Rikona nodded. "Yes," But why are you so shocked by that? You know I love Sensado, and being the Headmaster of Ooarai...she trailed off her thoughts. "You don't have to join if you don't want to, Miho. I just thought it'd be fun to be in the same team again, like at Nishmari."
She could tell Miho was about to say no when the girl's expression turned thoughtful. "What are your opinions about winning?" she mused in a way that indicated she didn't expect an answer.
"Well... obviously the team should train hard and do their best, of course. But victory, whether in an individual match or the championship itself is a fleeting thing. While it is true that I expect victories, I fully understand that the most important thing is the benefits to the students, not the added prestige to the school. That alone is enough to motivate the students to strive their best to achieve victory without resorting to more...harsh encouragement, I believe." She paused, slightly out of breath albeit one wouldn't know. I hoped that I convinced her, or that I did, at least, convince her that I'm not a victory or nothing headmaster and commander.
Her friends gazed at her, before nodding slowly. "I'll...think about it." Miho promised before heading off to class. Rikona watched her for a moment before heading to her office.
"I've finished my work, instructor," she announced, before handing her school work in to her teacher.
"Very good. I'll grade these papers while you take a break for an hour. Nab yourself some lunch, you've earned it today," her instructor informed.
Rikona smiled, wholeheartedly agreeing with her private tutor. Collage work is fairly hard, but at least I'm able to learn it all, she mused, her mind feeling quite exhausted at the moment. Bowing to the instructor, she left to head towards the cafeteria.
There where a total of ten cafeteria at Ooarai, which was actually not very many considering that larger schools such as sanders and Kuromorimine had as many as thirty or more. In Ooarai's case, it had two on each room for the students for a total of six, one on each floor for the teachers, and a final one for the janitors and other faculty. As headmaster and student, she could eat at any of the ten, though once she graduated she'd only have her choice of the teachers or faculty cafeteria.
Unless she decided to eat in her own room, but that presented more problems than it was worth on a busy day.
Heading for Cafeteria F-A, she got in line, which prompted quiet mutterings. She guessed they where trying to figure out who she was, after all while the fact that Ooarai had a new headmaster was well established, most people hadn't ever meet said headmaster, or even realized that she was still a student. All that neglecting the fact that she was not in the proper uniform, nor a club-approved uniform.
One of the teachers walked up to her. "H...Headmaster Matumuso, what brings you here?" he stammered, apparently quite stunned to see her among the students. She held her gaze evenly to his.
"I'm here to eat with some of my friends I know from middle school. Is their some rules against it while I'm attending this school?" her tone dis-invited any arguments against it.
Of...of course Headmaster, my mistake." He quickly backed away, leaving her in quiet as she brought her lunch over to the table where her friends sat.
"I see you had no trouble handling yourself," one of her friends commented as she sat down.
"Well, I've gotta keep a partially stern image of myself, Mako," she admitted. "By the way, why are you in the freshman academy again? I know about the absences, but not why you where so late all the time."
Mako let out a sigh. "It's my low blood pressure. I let it get out of hand, and combine that with my ailing grandma, it just... got out of hand."
Rikona gently placed her hand on Mako's shoulder blade. "It's okay Mako, I know what it's like to have a family member who is not in good health. Her Father had died over the summer, dealing with a severe bout of cancer. Despite the recent wealth at her disposal, the experimental drugs her father had tried had no effect on the patent.
Just don't let it get out of hand again, Mako. Please, don't make me sigh the expulsion paper for my best friend, she thought to herself silently. In high school, you only had one chance to complete a grade if you where held back. If you failed the next year, the headmaster had no choice but to sign the order of expulsion, irregardless of the situation.
Removing her hand the three began to eat in silence, that is until Ayumi spoke up. "So what clubs are you two going to join?"
"Sensado." Rikona didn't even have to think about it, her life had partially revolved around the sport every since it had been offered at Nishmari three years ago."
"I think I'll try it out again." Mako smiled lightly.
"I guess we'll be in the same club this year," Ayumi admitted.
Rikona glanced at her friend in surprise. "Your mother will be okay with it though, right?" she asked, partially concerned. "She didn't want you joining in middle school, remember?"
In order to join Sensado at the middle and high school levels, you had to have a signed permission slip from your parents with a stated intention that they are okay with it. If they where not, they'd sign a different form with the reason why she couldn't or why you didn't want her to. Unless caught lying about a medical condition, there was nothing a headmaster or instructor could do if a parent said no.
Ayumi gave a nod. "Well, part of the reason is because I'm a lot more mature now than I was three years ago. I also offered to go to this school so that my older sister can attend a good collage next year, in exchange for permission to join the Sensado team.
That was enough for Rikona.
"All students, report to the gym. I repeat, all students report to the gym." Rikona rose and stretched, before putting her financial documents away, something she decided to do to distract her from her worries about Mako.
"I still have Ooarai's old tanks, so if we need to I can fix them up if and when we need new tanks," she mused, though internally she doubted she'd even have enough members to fill her current roster of tanks as it is.
On the way she nearly bumped into another student. "Oh...I...I'm so sorry," she began, but paused as the red harried girl starred at her like she had seen some sort of a miracle.
"Is that you, cousin?"
Blaze: So we have the daughter of a famous racer, a joyous reunion between Miho and Rikona, an actual consequence to Mako being late all the time, A hint of trouble for miss Hana, and the mystory of Rikona's cousin.
Rikona: I bet I know who it is.
Blaze: No spoiling. Please.
Rikona: About Mako, though. Don't you think you should explain that a bit more.
Blaze: Pretty sure I did.
Rikona: * Shakes head slowly * No, I meant why you decided to have her remain as a freshman, even though the anime didn't.
Blaze: Well... 245 times being late with no repercussions just seemed too...light. Also unless the girls und panzer universe has something like forty or fifty day months, it'd be impossible for someone to have 245 tarties and still participate in the championship afterwords in the same year.
If you where to roughly only take eight days per month to represent weekends off, and give no other breaks, including winter and summer breaks, you would have 96 days of breaks. Subtract that from 365 and you would get approximately 269 days for school. If you are late for 245 of those days, and the instructor arrived on day 245, that's only give you 24 days. 24 days to repair the damage from the first practice match, for the match with ST. Gloriana, the practices between there, the official matches, the time to repair the tanks between said matches and the ova episodes. Especially the first two, which seem to take place early on, mostly likely sometime before the sanders battle and before the Anzio battle, (Due to the unmodified Panzer IV, the lack of the hall monitors and the Char 1 Bis.
Rikona: * Sighs * Long story short, he doesn't think it's possible for the events of the anime to have enough time to occur if Mako had 245 tarties that year before the events of the anime occurred. So instead of flowing with the cannon, he altered it slightly. Anyways, want me to say it again?
Blaze: * Nods *
Rikona: Please feel free to read, favorite, follow, review, and share if you'd like to.