Before you read the story.

Please understand I do not own any of these songs from Youtube, I had to add it for atmosphere purposes.


www. youtube. com (/ watch?v=1vrEljMfXYo

The morning sun arrived from the east. Shining its rays of light upon the city of Kumamoto to meet its new day. The birds who were hibernating in their nests started to flying up in the sky, feeling the windy breeze of snow in the air. Miho only gave a flat smile to the new day that has come for her whilst a song was playing from her audio recorder.

Miho was sitting in her chair at the table in her bedroom in this morning. She was looking out through the window of her room, watching the snow that was already piling up on the roads, houses, and in her house's backyard. She really loved to see the sight of the snow, which reminded her about her last mission in Kazakhstan. She wanted to have a bird's eye view at the ledge back in Kazakhstan. Soap's crazy idea to sit and climb in the cliff is really paying off.

The 141 will probably be much crazier than Soap, remembering how many crazy Russians she got in her Task Force.

As she was looking out the window, she occasionally looked down onto the table beside her. She left some documents on the table, re-reading again about the previous information she had when she was with Soap and Price. And there was something else on her table, something for a memory. There two pictures set up on her table.

One picture, were four-men in combat uniform in it. On the very left was her old mentor who died, Soap. Next to Soap, was Captain Price, the old man who was a former mentor of Soap. Next to him again, was Sandman, she actually met him before on a couple of missions before they were united to rescue the Russian President. One special-crack unit from the US Delta Force who took part in Operation Kingfish, Miho would give a compliment to him about it because he along with Grinch and Truck stayed behind to their deaths that time to give Miho, Price, Yuri and the Russian President some time to escape the collapsing mine. They will be remembered for that. And the last one on the very right, was Ghost, Miho was always wondering how he went underground that time but she forgot to ask him that every time she was around him.

And there's one last picture on the table next to the first one. It's also a four-men picture but it had a couple of different people in it. On the very left was Roach, a good friend of hers who died in the Caucasus mountains, he posed himself to the camera with his right hand gave a thumbs up. On the very left of the picture was Ghost again, posing himself with a salute above his forehead while his left hand was holding his M4A1 by the barrel of the rifle. Between Roach and Ghost, there was Soap and Miho herself. Soap hugged Miho who was right next to him by her shoulder. While Miho in that picture, was holding her rifle by her left hand and also hugged Soap by his shoulder with her right hand. Oh, she missed Roach and Soap so much.

As she was looking over to the pictures on the table. Someone knocked on the door, and entered her room. She didn't even bother to turn her head around because she knows that was Maho, her sister. Maho closed the door behind her and stepped closer to Miho to see what she was doing now. Maho only smiled a little to see Miho sitting on her chair, looking at the pictures and out the window.

And what was much odd to her, is that the song Miho was playing in her room. She could tell it was an American song. But she doesn't know what kind of American song this was. Miho knew the song well actually, even the lyrics of the song. Maho didn't know that was an American country song. Miho even sing one part of the song loud while Maho was in there.

"Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, mountain mamma

Take me home, country roads"

Maho doesn't know the name of the song. But clearly, she started to like this song besides her favorite school song Schwarzwaldspite Girl's School Anthem. Maho shook her head to nod as she followed the rhythm of the song. Miho then turned her head to Maho, to see that she didn't notice that Miho was looking at her.

"Starting to like the song, aren't you?" Miho asked flatly, Maho yelped in surprise as she quickly looked at her.

"Um, yes!" Maho quickly replied, then slowly rolled her eyes to behind her. "I think I like it. An American song, isn´t it?"

"American Country song to be exact," Miho replied with a smirk. "It's called Country Roads, Take Me Home."

"What does the song mean?" Maho asked, which Miho thought for a moment about it.

"… The song is talking about the scene of nature mainly in West Virginia," Miho replied, then sighed. "shows the respect to the land, because seniority is linked to wisdom and often times we look up to our elders for comfort and advice. And about where the true writer and singer of this song, describes the only place where he belongs."

Maho chuckled to her reply. "Sounds nice," Maho replied with a smile and a nod.

"Why are you here?" Miho asked, Maho remembered what she wanted to say to her sister.

"Uh, well, you should take a bath now," Maho said, as she massaged the back of the neck. "Mother is cooking breakfast for us."

"Да," Miho replied with a nod. "I'll be in moment."

Maho nodded in reply, and the heading out for the door. "I'll see you."

As Miho watched her leave, Miho stood off from her seat and looked over to her cabinet. She walked over to it and opened it up. She has settled in all of her clothes she brought in here yesterday. She picked up the clothes she wanted to wear soon on her bed, and then took her towel and underwear with her. Before she headed out of her room and going for the bathroom.

After she entered the bathroom, she slides the door closed and filled the bath tub with water. She undid all of her clothes, before she slowly entered the bath tub full of water. Laying down in the tub as her head was above the water and leaning against the edge of the tub. Hff, it's been a long time she got a good bath like this.

She took a bar of soap and soaked it up. Before she rubbed it on her arms, her shoulders, before her body went underneath the surface of the water again. After the soap, she took a shampoo onto her hand and rubbed her hair until it was full of foamy bubbles of soaps. She then washed her own face with the water in the tub by splashing her own face and then rubbed it.

Now she was feeling so refreshed after that. She felt much fresher again after she took a fistful of water up to her nose and smelled it. Nikolai said it's a way of refreshing your own brain if you're feeling unfocused. After that she took a sad but playful little dip in the water tub as she was relaxing by herself. Trying to root out the stress in her head.

After a few minutes later of bathing, she went out the bathroom with her towel covering her body from the chest down to her legs. She then headed to her room and entered, closing the door behind her. Looking over to her clothes on her bed, she walked over to them and opened up her towel. She then proceeded to put them on one by one, as she wasn't noticed about how fast she got dressed in them.

Right now, she was wearing a black buttoned long-sleeved shirt. Along with the straps with the pouches around her shirt like the ones Price wore back in Africa. Miho was also wearing her grey long pants with a padded square colour of dark grey-brownish in the knee part of the pants. She was wearing on the beanie she had yesterday, noting she will wear the snowy fedora for another time.

She walked out of her room and headed for the dining room where she will have breakfast with her mother and sister. She forgot little about the paths around the house after a year of her disappearance. But then again, she managed to find that room in a minute. Miho met her mother and her sister in that room.

Well, Shiho really had prepared the breakfast for her daughters, Miho. There were dishes like Chahan, Katsudon, Sushi, Teriyaki, Ramen and other dishes like it. Every food Miho liked when she was around, she only smiled about it. Miho greeted them both, before sitting down at a spot between Maho and Shiho who were sitting on their spots, facing each other. The three then proceeded to pick their food for themselves and each other.

Maho and Shiho both were honestly surprised about what she was wearing, especially the straps and pouches she had around her shirt. Miho, before eating, put down her black beanie on the table beside her food and proceed to eat. Shiho and Maho smiled to have Miho eating together with them. Miho then ate a fish Karaage along with the ramen. It reminded her of something.

"Now I'm starting to miss Fish & Chips," Miho commented, to which Maho and Shiho were both surprised as she said that.

"Isn't that a British food, Miho?" Maho asked as she halted eating for a moment.

"Yep," Miho then looked over to Maho. "I forgot to tell you that I was a girl of two countries."

"Wait, what?" Shiho asked as she looked over at her. "You're a citizen of two countries?"

"Yeah, beside my citizenship as a Japanese," Miho explained. "I have the citizenship as a British."

Maho's and Shiho's eyes went wide for that discovery. "Woah, I didn't see that coming. Why do you want to have a citizenship as a British?" Shiho asked curiously.

"The first time I arrived outside London," Miho explained. "An old man of mine called Macmillan, Director of the Special Air Service forces said that the agency called the MI5 wanted to interrogate me thoroughly about how I get here. I think you know what that means, mother."

Maho didn't understand what that meant, but Shiho's eyes widened and left her mouth open to understand what that means. "You mean…? O-okay."

"So… Macmillan offered me to have a citizenship as a British Citizen so the MI5 would leave me alone," Miho continued as she eats. "True to his words, they have left me alone and won't bother me anymore."

"*Sigh* good to hear that," Shiho replied gladly. "But then again, you're already working as a soldier."

"Yeah, that's true," Miho said with a nod. "For Emperor, Queen and Country."

Maho and Shiho gave a flat expression to her words of whom she served. "Alright… then," Maho replied awkwardly.

"How are you feeling today, dear Miho?" Shiho asked with a flat smile as she eat.

"Just a bit tired actually," Miho replied. "Barely got any sleep for almost a month that time."

"Miho, that's not healthy," Maho added in little concern.

"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine," Miho replied softly, trying to comfort her sister. "Besides, seeing the snow outside of this house. It reminds me of the good winter I had back in Russia."

"R-really?" Maho asked, but then smiled in comfort. "Sounds great!"

"Wow, you've been everywhere, haven't you?" Shiho asked as she was drinking her green tea.

"Yeah, been so far as Africa," Miho replied, which Maho and Shiho got choke on their food for that.

"Africa?!" Maho asked quickly. "Isn't it really hot there?"

"Yeah, but there's something worse than that," Miho replied with a tilted head. "Malaria"

Maho's and Shiho's skins went pale to hear that as they eat. "Nah could be worse than that," Miho added again, her sister and her mother felt much more uncomfortable again about Africa.

Maho then remembered about what she wanted to ask yesterday before. "Umm, about your Task Force and you coming back from the future. Isn't it kind of…. Dangerous to break a timeline of a history?" Maho asked as Shiho looked at her, agreed to her question.

"Actually in this case I'm breaking a timeline of another universe," Miho replied with a shrug, she then continued to eat. "Because of that Type 10 that Ami has back there. I'm not sure if I was to blame myself to break the timeline or blame the manufacturer of that tank for making the Type 10 exist faster."

"Nani? What do you mean by that?" Shiho asked confused, especially when she mentioned the Type 10 Hitomaru.

"The last time I checked on the other modern universe version of the tank," Miho replied, she then scratched her hair. "The Type 10 Hitomaru was already in service in 2012, not in the 1960s."

Maho and Shiho halted their eating and froze after Miho's statement. Knowing the fact that Miho said about the Type 10 that already is in service during the year 2012. They both really need to ask Ami about it.

"Hey, don't bother about asking Ami that problem," Miho said, breaking their frozen state. "I don't want Ami to talk shit to me after you ask her."

"Oh, okay then," Maho then decided to change topic. "I'm wondering… how did you become a captain of the Task Force 141?"

"It's quite a long story actually," Miho replied as she eats her ramen. "I was a recruit that time when I joined up. But when they learned that I was an expert commander of tankery, they asked me to teach the men of the Task Force about the Panzerfahren lessons. They quickly promoted me to a Lieutenant after they learned their ways around with their tanks even they know how to drift a tank by now. After the Third World War, I was raised to a Captain of the Task Force. More than that, the United States have also awarded me with the Medal Of Honor after I was ranked up because my fight was way beyond the call of duty. The Russian government also have awarded me the gold star medal titled 'Hero of the Russian Federation' for rescuing the Russian President, Mr. Boris Vorshevsky from the hands of the terrorists. Those are the two highest medal awards besides my Military Medal and Distinguished Service Order medals I got from the UK government."

Maho and Shiho were very impressed and felt very proud to hear what achievements she has received during her call of duty. "Wow, you fought a lot for those achievements," Shiho complimented, happy of her daughter.

"I know, but…" Miho frowned, making Shiho and Maho wondered why she's frowned. "I'm not sure…"

Maho then quickly interrupted her. "About teaching the Task Force of the Panzerfahren, do they have a name for it?" Maho asked.

"Panzerfahren of the 141?" Miho asked back. "Well… It's simply called, '141 Way Of the Tank'."

"Oh?" Maho and Shiho replied in unison. "Sounds good enough for us"

"You mates have any plans for today?" Miho asked, wondering what they will do for today.

"Well, I'm going to have a hangout with my commanders around Kumamoto," Maho replied. "You're in?"

"Well, yeah I'm in," Miho then looked over to her mother. "What about you, mom?"

"I'm afraid I have some business with the Sensha-Do foundation for the moment," Shiho replied. "Please be careful while you two are out there, alright?"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure we're doing fine out there," Miho replied with a nod of her head, the three then proceeded to finish up their breakfast.

Soon they're going to do their activities for today.


3000 feet above Kumamoto City. Japan.

Inside a Black Hawk chopper

11:00 AM

Chemo was with Chrome, the young Canadian white man with his cap facing to the backside of his head and blue eyes with short thin black hair. Nothing else was quite special from Chrome, except for his Canadian-like tradition that Chemo was always confused about. With them, are the three ladies and a man from the JGSDF and an official from the Sensha-Do Foundation. The first lady is of course, Ami Chōno. She managed to talk with the officers of the JGSDF and they were willing to meet with the 141 with the presence of a male officer and a female officer from the JGSDF to represent the JGSDF officials. And surprisingly Chiyo Shimada was also among them to meet the 141.

The male officer's name was Akashi Seijuro. A man with the rank of Major in the JGSDF. He was around his 40s, thick eye brows, no beard, tanned skin. Had a good sturdy body and short black hair and he was a little handsome for an officer.

The last who is with them besides Ami and Chiyo, was actually a best friend of Ami. She was a Lieutenant of the JGSDF. She had purple eyes, white skin like Ami's, slick eye brows. Her face was nearly as pretty as Ami and her orange-colored hair was tied into a ponytail. Her name was Amagiri Yuko.

It was the first time for these Japanese people to board a Black Hawk helicopter. Despite Ami that has her own helicopter, she thought it was best to ride the ones Ghost sent to respect him. Good thing the Black Hawk has 6 chairs inside, she and her other friends were able to sit comfortably inside. Ami was sitting next to Chrome and Chemo near the left side of the closed door of the helicopter, while the other three Japanese officials were sitting across them. Ami was looking out through the window of the left door, seeing the view of the city that was passing underneath them.

"It's a good view isn't it?" Chemo asked who was right beside her as she looked at him.

"Sure it is," Ami replied with a smile. "I've seen this sight many times but it never bores me."

"And so we are," Akashi added with a nod of agreement. "More than that, I didn't expect to meet a black man here."

"Sir, don't be racist to him, alright?" Chrome asked, Chemo only chuckled at him.

"Sorry, I'm just stating the fact actually, no offense," Akashi replied with his palm raised to him.

"What happened to last person who was being racist to him?" Yuko asked, wondering if that ever happened.

"The last person was a terrorist that time," Chrome answered as he leaned to her. "He insulted my buddy here just because he is black. And Chemo tied a rocket up the terrorist's back and Chemo sent him flying for about 1500 feet."

Ami, Akashi, Yuko and Chiyo were surprised of what Chemo did to the last guy with their voices of 'ah?!" "That's a sick way to make him fly," Chiyo commented.

"Heh, I taught him to fly that time," Chemo added with sarcasm. "He was one lucky bastard of course. He was able to survive that fly by landing into the river."

"Nani?" Ami asked in disbelieve. "That was 1500 feet!"

"I know," Chemo replied, agreeing with Ami with a thumbs up. "Hard-cracked terrorist I suppose."

They fell silent for a few moments as they looked around the helicopter. "So, where are we heading again?" Akashi asked, slightly forgeting about where they're heading.

"Just east side of Asagoyama Mountain, bro," Chrome replied, then he looked over to the pilot of the chopper by tilting and raising his head a little to see the pilot. "Hey, Hannibal, get us the cold ones when we reach there!"

"Oh come on, get them by yourself!" the pilot, Hannibal, replied with annoyance. "I have enough shit to do than your drinks!"

"Alright then, sorry!" Chrome replied, which confused the Japanese and Chemo on why he shouted out sorry to the pilot.

"Hey, no need to apologize, alright?" Hannibal replied, as he flew a turn with the chopper. "Just don't bother me until my free time when we get there."

"Alright then!" Chrome replied, before he comforted himself in his seat to his original position.

"Chrome, why do you have to say sorry despite he didn't need any apology?" Yuko asked.

"Because he's Canadian," Chemo replied, which made them much more puzzled.

"Uh? We don't get it," Akashi replied with winced eyes. "What it has to do with him being a Canadian?"

"We Canadians always said sorry," Chrome replied with a smile and widen arms. "whether it's very small or big trouble we caused. We always said sorry."

But then Chrome remembered what nationality Chemo was. "Wait, aren't you yourself a Canadian?"

"That was because my American father married a Canadian woman," Chemo replied annoyingly with his arms crossed. "I grew up in the US before I moved up to Canada by myself and worked for the Canadian Army."

"Oh, that make things clear," Ami commented in understood, awkwardly.

"You're saying that because it is the Canadians tradition?" Chemo asked whilst tilting his head to the right as he looked at Chrome, he never been taught of that tradition by his mother before.

"Yep," Chrome replied with a flat smile and a nod. "I even scratched the word 'sorry' on my bullets."

The Japanese and including Chemo were quite amazed to what Chrome said, but then it caught the attention of the pilot who was flying the chopper on the front. "Hang on, so you're the one who marked the all of the cannon shells and missiles with the word 'sorry' back in the base?!" Hannibal quickly asked aloud in shock.

"Yeah why you asking me that?" Chrome asked aloud back to Hannibal.

"Because most of our Russian friends are getting sick to get those kinds of spams!" Hannibal loudly replied. "They all were blaming all of the Canadians for that."

"Well, you can tell Vicek and the other Russians to kick this guy's ass," Chemo replied aloud, as he patted Chrome's shoulder.

"Oh, I will, Staff Sarge," Hannibal replied with a satisfying smile. "I will!"

"Alright, I want to know more about this 141," Akashi demanded. "More than it's just a multinational Task Force."

"It's the best handpicked soldiers in the Special Forces," Chemo explained as they listened to him. "Best warriors on the planet. 141 is a special Task Force that are composed of expert infantry, right now the numbers of the 141 are a battalion sized unit. The type of forces in the TF141 are Special Operations Force and Special Mission Unit, plus with Miho Nishizumi joining up amongst our ranks of the 141, the 141 has also developed into a Tankwondo Armored Division unit."

"Wow, for real?" Yuko asked in awe. "And by Miho Nishizumi, you mean….?"

"Yes, she's alive," Ami replied quickly with a smile. "The man who will meet you at the base will give you the details about it."

"And what about the Task Force 141's roles in combat?" Chiyo asked curiously.

"The top role of the 141 is clearly Spec ops, Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, and Counter-Terrorism." Chrome explained. "More than that, 141 also play the roles in Hostage Rescue, Combat Search and Rescue, Unconventional Warfare, Counter-Insurgency, Information Ops, Counter-Narcotics, Counter-Proliferation, Foreign Internal Defense and other types of roles we played in."

"Wow, that's a lot of roles for a Task Force," Ami commented quite impressed, the rest of them awed of the 141's roles, Akashi however smiled to hear that.

As they waited in silence for a moment again, Hannibal looked behind him and looked over to the passengers. "Alright people, welcome to the 141 Headquarter."

www. youtube. com (/ watch?v=ec0XKhAHR5I

Ami, Chiyo and Yuko were the ones who looked out the windows of the doors first. True to Miho's word, there was the 141 base below them. Quite a large base they made if they had to admit. The barracks were there, an airfield was present, and other facilities such as the training facilities and the command center near the airfield. Besides the strange American song that was playing, they were able to see some modern tanks they have never seen before besides their own Type 10 tank.

It was a remarkable thing for them to see. A large base with an organized Task Force from multiple countries. This was something the Japanese officers never had in mind.

"Flight Control, this is Yellow Birdie 2-1," Hannibal the pilot said as he made the chopper approach the Helipads. "Requesting permission to land, be advised we have Japanese government officials with us."

"Permission granted, proceed to helipad 2 for landing," Flight control replied, as Hannibal landed the helo on the helipad.

After the Black Hawk landed Chrome open up the heli door on the right side by sliding it open. "Alright people, let's get out from the chopper!" Chrome said aloud in cheer, as they proceed to get off the chopper one by one.

They then walked over to the nearby open hangar that was filled with ammo supplies and tables full of documents to get away from the cold weather of the snowy wind, they then stood there waiting for someone.

"So where is he?" Akashi asked, looking over to Chemo.

"Should be here any minute now, sir," Chemo replied they then looked forward. His words were true.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," Ghost shouted from a distance, walking towards them.

"That's him?" Yuko asked, surprised by his appearance with the skull mask.

"Yes, it's him," Chiyo replied, as Ghost already reached them and stood in front of them.

"Welcome to the home of the 141," Ghost said aloud as his arms widen to his sides. "May I know who am I talking to?"

"My name's Major Akashi Seijuro," he said as he shakes his hand with Ghost. "A pleasure to meet you"

"My name is Lieutenant Amagiri Yuko," she said as she shakes her hand with Ghost. "Just call me Yuko."

"It's an honor to meet you both, along with Ms. Ami and Ms. Chiyo," Ghost replied with a nod to them. "My name is Lieutenant Ghost, I´m second-in-command of this Task Force."

"It's an honor to meet you, Lieutenant," Akashi replied with a smile and a bow to him. "Um, may I ask why you're still wearing on your mask?"

They all fell silent for a moment, as Ghost only gave a blank stare to Akashi for a moment. "It's… another personal thing besides keeping my Identity anonymous."

"Ghost never opened up his mask if that's what you're asking," Chemo added to them, which earned a couple of confused glares from them about Ghost's lifestyle.

"Alright, may we have a tour around this base?" Ami asked to Ghost.

"Sure, follow me, ladies and gents," Ghost said as he gestured his right hand to follow him.

"By the way," Yuko added as they walked. "Where's Miho Nishizumi? She's here, right?"

"You mean Captain Miho Nishizumi?" Ghost corrected as he turned his head at her. "She's not here."

"Why?" Akashi asked as he looked at Chemo and Chrome who were with them.

"It's because she went home to the Nishizumi Residence in Kumamoto," Chrome replied, making Akashi and Yuko glare at him.

"I heard she was really stressed out since becoming a commanding field officer of this Task Force," Chiyo added, knowing what's what.

"So she kind of on a vacation for now," Ami added again, achieving an 'oh' from Akashi and Yuko.

"Yeah, we've been through the Third World War in our universe," Chemo replied. "And Miho had the worse anxiety during that time."

"I understand," Akashi replied, must've been hard for a girl.

When Ghost along with Chrome and Chemo gave them a tour around the base, they can say they were awed of what the 141 have around the base. Primarily they are interested about the tanks they have. Ghost said they were M1A1 Abrams, T90s, and Leopard 2 tanks. Those tanks they had in base were only for the people who learned about Tankwondo however.

When it comes to aircraft, it interested them much more. There were helicopters like Black Hawks, Little Birds, Sea Knights, Mi-24s, Mi-8s, and Pave Lows. For the jet aircrafts, however, they had a couple of A10s, F-15s, several MiGs, and there's one big plane they had on the runway. Ghost explained to them that the big plane they're looking at was the famous AC-130.

"One of the most scary and destructive planes in the entire air force. Used for air support on the ground. Armed with two 25 mm Gatling guns, in case if friendly and enemies troops are both were too close. 40 mm bofors auto-cannon making small explosions on the targets and fully automatic. Last but not least, the 105 mm howitzer cannon. One shot is enough to blow up any tanks in its sight."

As they took the tour further, they felt very eager to work with this Task Force for sure. After the tour, they stood by an armory to check out the weapons they had in store. Seeing how much armaments they had inside, they were very awed and impressed by this. And Akashi said this is something that made out from the future predicted movies (Which Ghost and the other Russians and Frenchies inside said 'what the fuck' in their hearts).

As Akashi, Yuko, and Chiyo talked with Chemo and Chrome about what's special with the armory. Ghost walked over to Ami who was watching the overview of the airfield runway. Ghost grabbed her shoulder and Ami yelped in surprise. When Ami sees Ghost's unseen expression underneath his mask, Ami wondered if there's something wrong.

"You were looking for me?" Ami asked to Ghost.

"Yeah, there's something I need to tell you about Miho," Ghost said as his right hand rested on the hip and his left hand scratched his neck.

"What's with her?" Ami asked, starting to concern about Miho.

"She might have…. Suicide tendencies to be honest," Ghost replied in doubt, Ami's eyes were wide to hear that. "Could you tell her mother… or at least her sister to keep an eye on her if you meet them?"

"Sure, I'll let them know when I meet them," Ami replied with a nod and a small smile.

"Good," Ghost then looked over to Yuko, Chiyo, and Akashi who are still talking to Chemo and Chrome. "Come on we have some business to discuss."


Kumamoto City, 14:00 PM

Miho was walking down the streets full of snow with her sister, Erika, Akaboshi, and the other four Kuromorimine commanders. They were at the south side of the town, visiting the sites of Kumamoto around. Miho felt a little disturb about what her 'old friends' and her sister were wearing. Despite the cold weather of snow outside they all were wearing their school uniforms with gloves and scarf's and without any protection against the cold for their legs, while Miho was wearing her long-sleeved black shirt and grey padded pants along with her black beanie, brown tactical gloves and straps around her torso. Her friends and Maho were still confused about why Miho was wearing something like that.

As they walked, the girls who were with her can see Miho was actually pulling out something out of her pocket. It looked like a small box that she was holding in her left hand.

Miho then took out her lighter from her right side of her pouch on the strap. Erika first thought that Miho wanted to burn something in that box. While the rest including Maho and Akaboshi, thought she wanted to burn the whole small box she was holding. Geshiko noticed that there was writing on the box Miho was holding. Something… Villa.

Miho then opened up the top of the small box, revealing some sort of brown sticks inside the box. They're not sure what that was inside the box. She took one of them and put back her box back inside her pocket and held the stick in her left hand. When she lights up the edge of the stick, that's when their realization got up quickly.

It was the first time to see Miho smoking.

After her cigar lighted up, she put it in her mouth and stashed her lighter away in her pouch. Erika and Maho observed Miho smoking, as the rest only kept their eyes forward and tried to ignore Miho's smoking habit. She inhaled in her cigar, before pulling it out from her mouth. Then blowing out the smoke from her mouth softly. She repeated her process of smoking as they walked down the street.

"Miho, why are you smoking?" Erika asked, bothered a little about the smoke.

"Stress relieve," Miho replied softly, she then looked over to Erika. "Why?"

"It's the first time we see you smoking, Miho-san," Akaboshi replied, Maho agreed to this with a nod. "And it's also not healthy."

Miho only chuckled as her cigar still stuck in her mouth. "Sometimes we have to die from something, Ms. Akaboshi."

Everyone then slowly glared at Miho in concern after that word she said. That word reminded them of something. The case of Akaboshi that was nearly killed along with her crew because they were drowning in their tank in the river, until the last second they were rescued by Miho. If that was the case Miho meant about then they had bad feeling about it.

"What if Akaboshi nearly died from drowning until you saved them?" Maho asked. "Isn't that what you meant about those words you say?"

Miho sighed with her eyes closed, then looked over to her sister. "What you're saying right there Сестра. Is an incident. Not someone that has died from something."

"Oh," everyone simply replied, they were wrong about it.

Then Mauko wondered about the name what Miho called to Maho. "Miho-san, you called Maho 'Sestra'. What does that mean?"

"It's a Russian word for 'sister', my friend," Miho replied with a smile as she smoked her cigar.

"Wait, you can speak Russian?" Sangou asked in surprise, along with the others.

"Да, я могу, мой друг," Miho replied, to which they don't understand what she said except the word yes.

It was quiet odd for them to know that Miho learned Russian language aside from Japanese, English and German. "From who did you learn that language?" Ritaiko asked as she leans her head ahead of Miho.

"I have a pal of mine, his name is Nikolai," Miho replied, she then tipped her cigar before continue to smoking. "He was a former Senior Sergeant during the Soviet-Afghan war. He was our ex-informant, best pilot, and best hacker. He taught me to learn Russian language for my own benefits in missions."

"Is he a nice guy?" Erika asked curiously, as her hands picking to each other on her chest.

"He's a good man," Miho replied as she looked at her. "More than that, he has a sense of humor and quite resourceful."

As they kept walking on, they noticed of how much the crowds were there than the streets they previously walked through. Most of the people were playing with the snow in the street as more cars were driving down the slippery road next to them. Well, well, a busy street as always in Kumamoto. They kept walking on and chatted to each other as they ignored everything in the street. They all also noticed that Miho just finished smoking her cigar and dumped the leftovers into a nearby dump after extinguishing it.

They kept walking forward, until they saw someone. Someone who is out of ordinary and did not look like most of the Japanese crowds around. The man they were looking at was in desert vest with pouches, dark blue long-sleeve shirt, black jeans and a black cap with his headphones on his head. That's when Miho immediately recognized that was Vicek, her friends were surprised to see Miho's face looked like she knew someone ahead of them.

"Привет, капитан Нишизуми!" Vicek greeted aloud with his hand waved to her and her group as they get close to him. "How are you doing?"

"Привет, Вичек," Miho replied as they walked up to him, and as they don't understand what Miho said to Vicek. "Какого черта ты здесь делаешь?"

"Just taking a tour around the city," Vicek replied with a shrug. "And I was about to see you back in your residence."

"I thought you were helping out Ghost back in the base," Miho stated to him.

"He actually asked me to see how you're holding up," Vicek asked, Miho could do nothing but face palm slowly to herself.

"I'm doing fine actually, thanks for that," Miho replied in annoyance.

"Who are you, sir?" Maho asked, they never met him before.

"My name is Vicek," he replied with a bow to Maho. "A good friend of Miho."

"And a Sergeant operator of the 141," Miho added.

"Капитан. Who are these girls with you?" Vicek asked as he eyed the girls with Miho.

"It's my old friends and my sister," Miho then waved her hand to her sister. "This is Maho Nishizumi, my sister."

"It's good to meet you, Ms. Maho Nishizumi," he said as he shook Maho's hand, who looked troubled to shake hands with him. "Heard about you and your charming words from Miho."

Maho blushed at the thought of what he said. "Charming? Wha-what do you mean?"

"He meant you sounded very nice and cute to him," Miho replied, making Maho feel even more shy about it.

"Umm…. thank you?" Maho replied awkwardly as she blushed.

Vicek then looked over to Miho's other friend and shook hands with them. "What's your name?"

"My name is Erika Itsumi, Vice-Kommandant of Maho's."

"Koume Akaboshi, commander of one of the Panther Tanks and a good friend of Miho."

"My name is Mauko, commander of Kuromorimines Maus Tank."

"The name's Ritaiko, commander of the Jagdpanther Tank."

"Sangou, commander of a Panzer III."

"My name's Geshiko, Kommandant of the Panther Tank."

"It's good to meet you all," Vicek replied with a smile as he looked around to his surroundings.

Miho recognized the look he made as he looked to his surroundings. "Looking for something to eat, aren't you?"

"Eh?" Vicek asked in surprised as he quickly looked at her. "How did you know?"

"I know that look when we were around Nikolai," Miho replied with a smirk. "But I hope you know there's no Russian food for your Russian mouth."

"It's Czech-Russian-, Captain," Vicek corrected, Miho's friends were surprised with wide eyes because of his nationality. "Por maldita real, capitão?"

"Sim, sim! Vamos encontrar um restaurante para você comer," Miho replied as she waved her hand to his face, her friends are now even more confused at their language as they decided to walk on.

Maho and the rest gave their winced eyes to them because of that language they never heard of before. "In what language are you talking to him just now?" Erika asked as her face was a mix of puzzle and disbelief.

"Portuguese," Miho replied as she looked behind her.

Only God knows how many languages she knew. How the bloody hell she can speaks Portuguese?

"What were you two talking about in Portuguese?" Akaboshi asked curiously.

"We're going to a restaurant," Vicek replied as he looked back at them.

After he mentioned that, everyone's stomach except Vicek and Miho grumbled. Forcing them all to stop in their tracks as Miho and Vicek blankly stare at them in amazement. They awkwardly chuckled to Miho and Vicek as they held their own stomachs. They felt very embarrassed for that unexpected sound from the crowd of hungry people.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me…" Miho commented slowly in irritation and disbelieve, they all flinched and were frightened to Miho's swearing.

"Uhh… Where do we eat?" Erika asked awkwardly as they waited for the answers from Vicek and Miho.

They have come across a good restaurant and entered inside. After the nine of them got seated on a ten chair-table, they picked what they like from the menus and waited for the waiter to come. As they waited with a bit of chatter amongst themselves including Vicek who was right across Miho, Miho only waited in silence as she looked around the restaurant. Quite a good looking restaurant they were in.

The walls and the ceilings of the restaurant were all made from elegant wood that makes this restaurant has a Japanese classy touch along with the box shaped wood holes around the walls. The floor of the restaurant was made with shiny black ceramics that gave a cool look if it reflects with light. The tables were T-like shape tables that gave spaces for legs and the chairs have cushions for their bottoms and their backs. Moreover, the restaurant's wall was decorated with arts of the Traditional Japanese Era, ranging from drawings to banners.

One thing that took Miho off-guard, was the sight of a small figure of a tank at the counter of the restaurant. The one that she recognized as the Panzer IV. From where the owner of the restaurant got that, she doesn't know. But now seeing that tank, she was reminded about how her friends from Ooarai were doing right now.

After their foods and drinks were served, they all picked up their chopsticks (except Vicek who used spoon and fork) and began eating. It was quite an enjoyable restaurant if they had to admit it. Miho only enjoyed her food in silence as the others ate and got lost in their conversation at the same time. After Erika who was sitting right next to Miho uncomfortably (forced by Maho with a threat to make Erika have some relationship with Miho), noticed Miho being silent as she eats. She decided to talk with her, with a bit of doubt after she remembered how her attitude to Miho was back in the old days.

"Miho, you okay?" Erika asked, as she noticed a bothered expression that Miho made. "You look like you are bothered by something."

As Vicek and the rest divert their attention to her, Miho sighed… then looked over to the Panzer IV figure at the counter in a distance. "There is something I'm wondering about."

"What is it, Shisutā?" Maho asked as they were waiting for Miho to answer.

"Those girls of my crew from Ooarai," her reply startled everyone as they blankly stared at her, except Vicek who was wondering who she is talking about. "Saori Takebe, Hana Isuzu, Yukari Akiyama and Mako Reizei. You know them?"

The girls of Kuromorimine slowly looked at each other in agitation, but then they nodded for the acknowledgement of the names as they looked back to Miho. "Y-Yes, we know them. They were the first ones who reported that you died in the river during the mock-up battle practice a year ago."

"How are they doing?" Miho asked again coldly, this time Miho looked at them with her full attention. They swear there were seeing something in her eyes that gave them the creeps. Vicek, only acted casual about it since she was the best 141 in the unit and the only captain of his Task Force.

"The last time I heard, they were devastated to know that you were gone," Akaboshi replied softly, a tone that comforted Miho a little. "Though, they are still studying in Ooarai High School until now."

Akaboshi rolled her eyes back uncomfortably and looked around the table a little bit faster, there was something in her eyes that she was hiding. "Are you okay, madam? You looked like you´re afraid to tell me something," Miho asked as she tried to be soft as she can towards Akaboshi.

"Erm, it was nothing," Akaboshi replied with a quick shook of her head.

"Are you sure, you're alright?" Miho asked, as she leans her head forward to Akaboshi to provoke her.

"Yeah, I'm fine, seriously," Akaboshi said, as she waved her palm to her with a 'forced' smile.

"It's just about the accident that happened in the restroom of our school," Sangou added as calmly as she can whilst fixing her glasses. "It was kind of an awkward situation… that time."

"What? Ritaiko accidentally slips and accidentally stripped Akaboshi of her clothes as you both accidentally destroyed a sink and then Geshiko found you in the restroom?" it was an unpleasant thing they heard from Miho, including Vicek. When they were starting to have that image in their heads, they quickly regretted that imagine as they blushed in embarrassment.

"Uhh… yeah, that!" Erika interrupted quickly with a pointed finger to her, Maho nearly face-palmed at Erika's answer. "That's what happened in the restroom!"

Miho could only blankly stare at her coldly, but then nodded. "Oookay then."

"Jesus, what the hell am I hearing?" Vicek commented in disbelieve.

Miho returned back to her eating routine along with Vicek and the others. Erika on the other hand, looked over to Maho in agitation. Maho did look at Erika, and gave a shook of her head to her. Erika only nodded in silently understanding as they both continued to eat. They both including the Kuromorimine girls actually lied to Miho about what's bothering Akaboshi, but they weren't ready to tell Miho about it, even though they were telling the truth about Miho's friends from Ooarai still studying there.

Maho then leaned forward to look over to Miho, she wanted to talk about something else. Something that is about her own family. Something that had Miho part ways from her own family at the time. And she knew it wasn't a pleasant thing to talk about.

"Miho, I want to talk you about something," Maho said as she looked at Miho in concern by leaning forward on the table.

"What is it?" Miho asked as she looked at her and took a drink of her soda.

"I just want to talk to you about…" Maho paused in doubt, then sighed. "It's about your disinheritance."

Maho and the rest including Vicek were expecting that Miho was surprised and choke on her drink. Instead, it was the opposite of it, which baffled them considering Miho herself was the one who dishonored the Nishizumi heritance. Miho only put her drink down and looked at Maho with a couple of cold eyes that made Maho flinch at Miho's personality, especially when looking straight into Miho's scarred eye.

"Why the bloody hell do you want to talk about that?"

It's the first time they heard this of tone of anger from her, they are starting to don't like it. "Well, it's just… I feel like to talk to you about it."

"So you can talk about it to our mother about it, correct?" Miho asked with raised brow.

"Erm, yeah," Maho replied, she then scratched her hair as her eyes rolled down to her bottom left. "Ever since you came back and… changed… it would be a good thing to know if you're following your heritance or not."

"Is it really that important to talk to her about that?" Vicek asked in annoyance about this heritance bullshit.

"Yeah, it's kind of important to us actually," Erika added with a nod. "We just want to know if you really agreed to the Nishizumi inheritance."

"What? No matter what befalls us, we must advance?" Miho asked in retort but kept her body calm. "And me saving Akaboshi and her crew from dying by drowning is a wrong fucking thing for me to do instead of advancing?"

"Miho, you did the right thing," Akaboshi replied as Miho quickly looked to her.

"I know what you say, Koume-san," Miho replied quickly, before looking at the rest of the commanders. "But I know the answers from the rest of you are bloody different than Akaboshi's."

"We-we know what we said back then, but-," Maho said nervously but then got cut off by Miho quickly.

"And what was your word that time in the TV a year ago?!" Miho asked in retort and sarcasm, nearly aloud as she pointed her index finger at her. "There is no running away in the Nishizumi-style. Guess what? Mine is very different than you and it includes running away if the situation is impossible!"

"B-but that does mean you don't have the heart to be a brave person to do something right?" Erika asked quickly, disagreeing with Miho's statement.

Miho only paused a moment as she coldly stared at Erika's eyes, then, she began softly and seriously to speak to them. "The difference between being a coward and a brave one, is not whether you're scared or not. It's what you do while you're scared."

They all fell silent to hear what she said as she took a drink of her soda again. "Even if you really have the courage to do something, wouldn't you have the logic if there are things that are not possible for you to do instead of doing it foolishly when there's zero chance you'll survive a bad event? Like when the surface of the ocean was calm while underneath the roaring waves that are thrashing back and forth."

Vicek nodded in agreement to his captain, as the rest felt awe and their minds were worked up to think about what Miho said. "Bravery is being the only one who knows that you're afraid."

There was something right about what Miho said. Especially what Miho said about the difference between a coward and a brave person. It was a good thing for Miho to remember and learn the quotes she heard most often while back in 2016. Miho also learned to speak like that from Captain Price in and after World War III.

After the girls of the Kuromorimine Academy thought for a moment of Miho's words, they all looked like they agreed to what Miho said to them. They have exchanged nods to each other as Vicek and Miho only kept silent to themselves, observing them. Miho did saw Akaboshi was smiling to Miho, she very much agreed to what Miho said. They all then looked back to Miho, Erika opened her mouth.

"You… you're right," Erika replied in defeat. "I should have pulled my words."

"I know," Miho replied softly, she then sighed toward Vicek. "You're just stating your opinion. I don't blame you about it."

"But not for that tournament, right?" Geshiko asked, wondering if she won't forget about it.

"Correct," Miho nodded, as she continued to eat.

As they all continued to eat again, there was someone who was wondering about something. Ritaiko was wondering about Miho's friend, Ghost. The mysterious person they met yesterday he was really a good guy but there was something bothering her. The only question about why Ghost kept his face anonymous.

"Hey, Miho, Vicek," Ritaiko called as they both looked over to her. "I was wondering about something…"

"What is it?" Vicek asked.

"It's about Ghost," Ritaiko replied. "Why does he never opens up his mask?"

Her question left everyone including Miho and Vicek speechless. For Vicek, he wasn't sure about how he should respond to that question. Miho however, looked quite surprised for Ritaiko to ask that.

"I don't know about that," Vicek then looked over to Miho, who was still looked surprised. "Captain? Why you look so surprised?"

"Well…. It's the first time I got a question like that," Miho replied awkwardly. "But I do know why."

"Wait, I thought he never told you about that," Vicek replied in slight surprise.

"Nah, he was quite open to me unlike with the others," Miho replied. "He did tell me why he is always wearing his mask."

"Really?" Mauko asked, and then Sangou continued. "Tell us why."

"He said he is always wearing his mask so he can remember about all the faces of death he sees every day from the results of his own hands."

If that was the other reason why he was called Ghost, they'll be scared shitless about it. But since he was a good friend of Miho's, they felt relaxed a bit to know that.

"So that's why," Maho commented, understand what Ghost always did.

"Yeah," Miho replied. "Quite unpleasant if you imagine the things he did."

"We know," Akaboshi replied with a smile. "All that matters, he is your friend."

Miho smiled as she looked at Akaboshi, but then looked down as she thought on one thing.

"Sometimes I wonder if I can meet my friends from Ooarai."