Everyone on the Sensha-do team was very excited to see their alumni come back after the very exciting match between the All-Stars and Oarai. Everyone gathered at the tank garage to wait for Rumi.

Mika was still sitting under a tree, playing her Kantele, enjoying the warm and calm spring, with not a care in the world.

"Senpai, you're back!" One of the more excited members goes up to hug Rumi just as she enter the team's tank garage.

"Yes. I am. I'll be staying here for a few days." Rumi said as she struggles against the hug her former subordinates gave her.

As she looks around, she wasn't surprised to see Mika and her crew not in the bunch waiting to meet her. "Where's Mika? I need to… To talk to her." She hesitates for a second before finishing her sentence.

"By the lake, usually under a tree. She usually stays there. Her BT-42 missing is usually a good indicator." A mechanic responds, while the others throw a damning glare at her, clearly understanding Rumi's disfavour of Mika. The mechanic is definitely a new recruit, not here when Rumi was the overall commander.

Rumi immediately takes her turn to the door, after leaving a thanks for the mechanic. She did not want to involve herself with whatever that may happen next.


As Rumi walked towards the tree, she could hear a kantele playing the old Sakkijarven Polkka tune. She just followed the sound and saw a figure sitting underneath a tree. "The wind has just changed direction. Is anything wrong, Senpai?" Mika asks her uninvited visitor.

"Is your Kantele sonar?" Mika responds to the question with a soft smile. "Also, no. Nothing is going wrong. I'm not here on a social visit."

Mika continued playing her Kantele, letting Rumi finish. "Here, I got a letter for you. The headmistress personally told me to give it to you." Rumi walked up and handed the letter to her. She had to keep her arrogance in check. She can't afford to mess such important matters up, or else she would be in big trouble with her headmistress.

Mika was surprised. Rumi was not making fun or avoiding her, so what would make Rumi come and meet her? She was also intrigued. A letter from the headmistress of All-Stars? This likely won't be personal. She made a mental guess at what the letter would be.

The letter had the official Sensha-do team symbol of the All-Stars University on it as the seal and a neat, cursive handwriting writing on the other side, "From the All Stars University". From this, Mika could already guess what was the letter about. She saw her mother once sorting through the admission letters for the Sensha-do team, which she used a special seal. As she opened the letter and started reading it's content, she was not surprised.


To Mika Shimada:

Congratulations! Due to your extraordinaire performance in Sensha-do, we are glad to tell you that you are offered a Tankery scholarship at the All-Stars University, one of the finest Universities in Japan.

Please reply to Admission AllstarsU to inform us of your will to enter our University. We sincerely invite you to join us.

Best Wishes,

Chiyo Shimada,

Headmistress of All-Stars University.


Another note in handwriting was also included. Mika also quickly read through it. The note brought a smile to her face.


Mika,

It has been some time. I hope you are fine. Alice and I are very well.

Alice has been looking for a high school as she wishes to enjoy the life of a high schooler. I hope you know the implications following this. Alice has also repeatedly mentioned you after the match with Oorai. She does miss you a lot.

I'm sure you have been looking into admission into Universities. All-Stars have offered you a tankery scholarship. If you have nowhere to go, do come to All-Stars. Even if you do not want to come to All-Stars, come and visit us before the holiday ends. I do want to meet my daughter again.

C. S.


The elegant handwriting of the note's author was recognized by Mika immediately. It is definitely her mother's and she smiles at the recognition of her handwriting. She hasn't seen her mother's handwriting in well over 2 years and this warms her heart.

Mika understood the implication of the Shimada leaving the helm of the All-Stars' Sensha-do team. Perhaps the Bermuda Trio will be able to keep All-Stars remarkable, but they won't graduate to the outstanding level. Only an heir or distinguished follower of the style schools will be able to keep the school outstanding.

Mika stands up and turns towards Rumi. "It looks like we will be cooperating soon, Senpai." "I sure hope it will go fine. You better not desert the team and go on a camping trip when you do attend All-Stars." Mika chuckles at Rumi's statement.


Mika still had to respond to her mother. As she returns to her apartment on Keizoku, she turned on her laptop and composed two emails. The first was addressed to the All-Stars University's admission department to confirm her interest in joining All-Stars, the other to her mother.

Mother,

I have just sent All-Stars the confirmation of admission letter. I will be attending All-Stars. I hope you will be happy for this. I know you still have to fulfill your responsibilities, and the only way would be me.

I have a request for you. Will you be able to secure 2 seats for my friends? For Aki, my loader and gunner and for Mikko, my driver. I don't want to leave them behind at a prefecture university, rotting their capabilities away. It will only be fair for a quid pro quo.

Perhaps a simple life is not achievable. The wind is changing directions again, and they lead me to All-Stars.

I will be coming home the coming Sunday along with them. They already know, so it will not be a problem.

M.


Chiyo's reading was interrupted by Mika's email. She chuckles as she reads the email and replied.

Mika,

Very well. I will give them their offer of admission later.

Your room has not changed at all, same as the time when you left.

How has your school life been in these three years that you've been away?

C.


Just like that, the two of the Shimada family sent emails to each other throughout the night, catching up on the 3 years when they barely contacted each other.


I still have no idea how you fellas really feel about this.

Leave a review at your discretion. That would help me work and improve with this story.