Chapter 27: Overthrowing A Champion
Elsewhere, the finals of the Japanese university level tankery tournament raged on in an urban battlefield. Maho's Rhineland University faced off against Hiroe's Romanov University; the contestants were almost evenly matched, and both had suffered many casualties and had a few brushes with defeat.
Maho, in the flag tank, a Tiger I, pursued Hiroe's flag tank through the streets. Hiroe's school had put up stiff resistance, launching ambushes and whittling down her forces. She had led according to the Nishizumi style, trying to keep her forces together, but keeping it up was difficult in the face of the chaos on the battlefield.
In spite of that, Maho fell back on the Nishizumi style, the style she had been taught since she was young, and she was expectd to practice as the heiress to the family school. It came somewhat naturally to her, and she knew that to some degree, her mother felt the same way.
Maho prepared to take Hiroe's tank in her sights as she closed in. The battle ultimately came down to crew skill, and Maho was confident in her skill and that of her crew. What was she, if not a tanker? Her crew had taken her this far, and she was confident that they would be able to do whatever she asked of them.
Suddenly, a well-placed hit from a KV-2 struck Maho's tank in the side. Hiroe had, through effective maneuvering, kept Maho on her toes, enabling the KV-2 under Hiroko's command to snipe her while she was preoccupied, unable to take her attention off the tank she needed to defeat to win, and could defeat her.
"Romanov University wins the tournament!" the announcer said.
Maho let off a sigh. This was the third time she had lost in as many years, so she was becoming used to the sensation of losing. A part of her wondered if the Nishizumis had aimed too high all along, expecting what was extraordinary for most people as a matter of course.
But unreasonable or not, she had fallen short of what was expected of her once again, and could only hope that the repercussions facing her and her team would not be too severe.
Inside the KV-2 that fired the winning shot, the crew, composed of the four members of Hiroko's crew from last year and a fellow freshman that they had befriended, celebrated.
"Did you see that, Toki?" Ryuuka said. "We won the tournament!"
"Obviously," Toki said with a satisfied smile on her face. "There may have been only a temporary vacancy for a loader, but I'm glad you were able to fill it this time."
Ryuuka nodded. Much to her surprise, it had been her turn to serve as a benchwarmer, due to a surplus of talented and experienced loaders at the school. But as luck would have it, Hiroko's loader had fallen ill on the day of the finals, and Ryuuka was able to fill her spot.
"It most likely won't be temporary after all," Hiroko said. "Some of our people are graduating and after this, I think Hiroe will be certainly willing to have Ryuuka be our loader full time."
Sera let out a loud cheer, releasing all the pent up energy she had. There was little that made her happier than sharing the victory with some of her oldest friends, and her fellow students.
The two sides came together at the end of the match, and exchanged bows.
"You did quite well this time, Hiroe," Maho said, as she extended her hand for a handshake. "I really can't make any excuses, so if you need proof that you could have won two years ago, here it is."
"Thanks," Hiroe said, taking Maho's hand and shaking it. "I wasn't entirely sure that last plan of mine would work, but if anyone could make it work, I could."
Hiroe looked at Maho, seeing the faintest hint of discomfort on her stoic visage. Since Maho was largely understated when it came to her emotions, a small sign of vulnerability was indicative of severe distress.
As the two sides' subordinates left, Hiroe and Hiroko stayed behind to talk with Maho, with one of their teammates standing some distance away.
"Is something wrong, Maho?" Hiroe said. "Do you think Miho's going to get into trouble again as a result of you losing? Is she going to be expected to defeat Kinue in the Nishizumi school's name, or maybe become heiress instead of you?"
"That's not it," Maho said. "Mother has essentially given up on trying to make Miho her heiress, or to make her conform to our family's ideology. In that regard, at least, I've succeeded."
Hiroko nodded and considered what Maho had said for a moment. She was an only child, and she had sometimes taken for granted her aunt allowing Hiroe and Kinue to choose their own paths in life, but she understood what Maho was trying to accomplish. Hiroko was thus glad Maho had succeeded, but curious as to why she seemed less than fully satisfied.
"But that isn't enough for you?" Hiroko said.
"Not anymore," Maho said with a shake of her head. "The fact that Miho is happy and able to do tankery her own way is reason enough for me to stay the course, but is it all I can accomplish as Nishizumi heiress? I feel as though I've invested too much of my life in this pursuit to not find out."
Hiroe paused, to consider Maho's words. She, too, had always considered tankery a large part of her life, and hoped to succeed her mother, but it had never been all there was to her family. Her mother had told her that if she failed to meet her expectations as a teacher, she would merely be fired, not disowned, and could seek another path in life with her mother's guidance and support. That had not happened, as Hiroe had excelled at teaching, so Hiroe had little idea of what advice to give Maho.
"And then what do you plan to do?" Hiroe said. "Have you gotten any ideas since we last talked?"
"I'm still not sure yet," Maho said. "I believe the Nishizumi school should be more open to change, more inclusive and about more than just winning. For the longest time, a lingering doubt in my mind has been whether it's right to fight in the name of the Nishizumi school, and enable it as it is now, even if it's for Miho's sake, but recently, I've started to realize that it can possibly be changed. Unfortunately,I'm not sure how I can go about enacting that change."
Hiroko let off a sigh. She knew that at this point, what she had to say would not likely be a pleasant appraisal of Maho's efforts, but believed Maho had to hear it if she intended to succeed.
"Well, I will be blunt, Maho," Hiroko said. "You do have a long way to go if what you just said is the extent of your current progress. It's just like how Aunt Masae was far from being able to establish her school when she left Black Forest, and probably a bit like Miho, as well, when she learned of the incident in your match with the German school."
Maho nodded. Hiroko's willingness to speak her mind, and skill at logical analysis were why Hiroe considered her the ideal second in command, and why Maho appreciated what she had to say.
"Yeah, it reminds me of something Mom said," Hiroe said. "She once told us that there are four steps to solving a problem- identifying the problem, resolving to do something about it, finding the solution and solving it; the latter two steps are by far the most difficult. But like her, you've made the first step; you know what you want and why you want it, even if you don't know how you can get it. The road will be long, like Hiroko said, but I believe you'll be able to reach the end, as your friend."
"So do I," Hiroko said.
"Thank you, Hiroe, Hiroko," Maho said. "I'll do what I can."
"Oh, and..." Hiroe said, gesturing to Toyone, who stood off to the side, "I've got a fan who'd really like your autograph."
"Really?" Maho said. Glancing behind Hiroe, she noticed, for the first time, an exceptionally tall young woman with long dark hair and a wide-brimmed hat. Toyone had been trying not to eavesdrop, and believed that since she understood little of the conversation, she would soon be able to forget it.
"Well, if it's not too much trouble," Toyone said, blushing and seeming unusually shy. "Since I was young, I lived in a fairly remote area, and went to a middle school that didn't do tankery, I've always been fond of tankery 'idols' who are good at the game. I've heard a lot of the big names, but tend to judge for myself based on what I see. You're one of the few who can give the Commander such a difficult fight."
Toyone produced her poster board and Maho signed it without hesitation, repaying Toyone's honest sentiment with one of her own.
"To Anetai Toyone, a true fan and fellow tanker."
-Nishizumi Maho.
As the teams went their separate ways after the closing ceremonies, Masae, along with the other Atagos who were watching, walked over to congratulate Hiroe and Hiroko.
"Way to go, Onee-chan, Hiroko!" Kinue said.
"Congratulations, Hiroe, Hiroko," Masae said, her face beaming. "I'm quite proud of the two of you and your teammates."
"As are we," Masaru and Masaki said.
"Thanks, Kinue, Mom, Dad, Aunt Masaki" Hiroe said. "I feel as though I actually did it this time, my way. Isn't it a bit like how you won the first time on your own in university, Mom?"
"I did," Masae said, "since Instructor Nishizumi- then an assistant instructor, was taking a sabbatical from tankery to help out at her mother's school. Still, as I told you before, Hiroe, Hiroko, I think that you're in a good place now for several reasons, not just because you happened to win."
Masae believed university was good for Hiroe, to give her some more tankery experience, learn about running a school and being a teacher, and take a few other electives of her own. It would also give Hiroe and Hiroko one last chance to do tankery together before Hiroko's path diverged, with her working toward her goal of becoming a scientist.
However, the question remained of what path Kinue would walk. From a relatively young age, she hoped to become a teacher of some sort, although she was unsure of what subject. In recent years, tankery had become a possibility, and Masae had sat down with Kinue to explain what would be expected of her. Kinue accepted- and welcomed- the idea of being treated like all of Masae's other subordinates. In spite of that, she still found the standards slightly intimidating, and wondered if she could perform on par with her sister.
"Is something wrong, Kinue?" Hiroko said.
"It's nothing, Hiroko," Kinue said. "I'm genuinely happy for you, my sister, and everyone else, but I can't help but think about whether I can accomplish the same thing."
Hiroe and Hiroko looked at each other a moment, as they pondered how to answer their sister and cousin's question.
"Well, I won't lie to you," Hiroko said, "in spite of her disadvantages, Miho will be a difficult opponent to defeat. This isn't to say that you can't, but she defeated Black Forest, too."
"That's true," Kinue said. "Victory may not be guaranteed, but it's something I owe to my school, and something I want to accomplish for myself, especially after you and my sister did it."
Hiroe nodded.
"I know where you're coming from, Kinue," Hiroe said, "but how many times did I lose before I accomplished this?" As Hiroe subconsciously held up all the fingers of her right hand, Kinue remained silent. "I may be rooting for you in the finals, but it isn't my intention to set the bar too high for you by winning."
"I know, Onee-chan," Kinue said. "But at the same time, I feel as though I've been following in your footsteps for a long time, constantly worrying about how I could be of use to you or contribute toward your goals. Now, this is something I'd like to do for my own sake and that of my friends. You inspired me to get on this path, and it's my decision to walk it to the end."
Masae nodded in approval, as did her sister. Kinue was a far cry from her aunt in terms of personality, tankery skill and career aspirations, but Masaki still identified with her, and was pleased to see that her advice, given from understanding Kinue's point of view, had proven useful.
"So this is your answer, Kinue," Masaki said. "Know that however the final battle goes, that realization, in and of itself, is a triumph."
Maho met with Shiho at the dock after the match. Shiho silently stared off into the distance at the sea, only turning around when she heard Maho approach.
"Mother?" Maho said. "I accept full responsibility for the outcome of the match, and make no excuses for my mistakes."
Shiho sighed and Maho, for the first time since approaching her, truly noticed her mother's expression. The stern and authoritative expression was gone, replaced by a subdued and almost sad expression, similar to the one she had when she witnessed Erika and Black Forest's defeat not long ago. At this point, it seemed unlikely that she was in any mood to scold Maho.
"Just what would you consider mistakes, Maho?" Shiho said. "The decisions you made in that match were ones that a Nishizumi style practitioner would naturally be expected to make... and perhaps that would be the problem."
"Perhaps so, Mother," Maho said, knowing that the course of the conversation had gone too far outside her expectations for her to know what her mother would want to hear. "Hiroe was able to see through my moves at almost every point, having faced me for years, and has spent all those years refining and improving her strategies and other techniques."
Shiho paused to think about what she had just heard. As unwilling as she was to admit that someone else had surpassed her, Hiroe had done what she had failed to do, having been forced to improve as a result of failing. Perhaps, in that regard, she was wiser than Shiho.
"For too long, I've found it difficult to admit that what I was doing was not necessarily right," Shiho said. "Part of the reason was that I had believed that if I did so, it would invalidate all the sacrifices I, as well as those who had come before me, had made in the name of our school. Another part was that blaming others- Miho, the crew of the tank, all manner of other individuals- was easier than admitting my own fault, and that it was easier to ascribe misfortune to bad luck than to find the cause."
Maho nodded. As someone who also held authority over others, she understood the former point, and the latter point was basic psychology.
"And what about you, Maho?" Shiho said. "What are your feelings on this?"
"It's hard to say," Maho said. "Hiroe and Hiroko are my friends, so I'm happy for them on a personal level. However, on another level, while I originally became heiress because you expected me to do so, and so that Miho would not have to, I did make the choice to try hard and strive for victory. For Miho's sake, as well as for the sake of those I command and teach, I honestly do my best, and hope to learn from this."
Shiho nodded. She had some idea that Maho did not necessarily work this hard out of blind adherence to the Nishizumi style, but largely considered it irrelevant. This time, however, Maho's motivation would be her source of drive in this difficult time, and if it was something she decided for herself, perhaps it would enable her to succeed.
"That's a good perspective," Shiho said. "You have been challenged in many ways that I was not, so perhaps that mindset, and a willingness to accept change, will be what we need to re-establish our family's school as the best in the nation."
Maho nodded, somewhat relieved. Her mother's priorities still remained the same, but it seemed as though she was becoming more flexible about how she could achieve them. If this was the case, then perhaps Miho had more of a place in the family than before, maybe even as an agent of change.
On her way back to her school ship, Maho's cell phone rang, and she saw that the caller ID listed Miho as the caller. Maho stepped onto the deck of the boat and took the call.
"Hello, this is Maho," Maho said.
"Hello, Onee-chan, this is Miho," Miho said. "I'm sorry to hear about your defeat."
"I appreciate the sentiment, Miho," Maho said. "That said, Romanov, especially Hiroe and Hiroko, fought well, so it was easy to accept."
"Incidentally, how's Mother taking it?" Miho said.
"Better than might be expected," Maho said. "Rather than scapegoating anyone, she's started to realize that there are flaws in the Nishizumi style that cannot so easily be dismissed. Perhaps if you succeeding where Erika failed, it will be the final proof she needs to reconsider her ways."
Miho paused, briefly overwhelmed by what she was hearing. For the longest time, she felt unable to question, much less disagree with her mother, lacking the knowledge of or skill in tankery to disprove the top school in the nation. But this time, she had a chance to prove her own way of tankery's worth through her own actions, as she had in the previous finals against Maho herself.
"I'll do what I can," Miho said.
"I know you can, Miho," Maho said with a smile. Having made a choice that would give Miho the freedom to choose her own path in life, Maho had always believed that Miho could do that herself.
Miho and Maho said goodbye. Each had their own challenges in the coming days and weeks, and each had their own strategies for handling it.
Miho called Hiroe, and, getting her voicemail, left a message offering her congratulations and hoping to talk to her later. Evidently, Hiroe was celebrating with her friends, and while Miho counted herself among that number, she did not wish to interrupt Romanov's happy moment.
Of course, Miho suspected that, even in victory, Hiroe was thinking ahead to her own sister's upcoming match, and hoping that she would succeed as well. Having recently talked with Emi, Miho had learned that in the wake of Emi's own match with Rinkai, she had eagerly anticipated Oarai defeating Koala Forest, while also preparing to fight whoever won. Some of Miho's friends from other schools were also her rivals, who hoped to defeat her even as they congratulated her for her victories.
So Miho chose to respond in kind, and got out information on Pravda's tank lineup and past matches. Having prepared for Pravda in her first and only year at Black Forest, she was well acquainted with how they fought. Her countermeasures would be different considering Oarai's smaller team and less powerful tanks, but she felt confident she knew her opponent.
The only piece of information that was missing was where the battle would take place. The arena was decided by roulette days in advance, and could determine which side had the advantage. Miho thus hoped it would be a battlefield that would be suited to Oarai, as they needed every advantage they could get in order to defeat their much more powerful opponent.
Kinue returned to school and met with Anastasia over lunch, speaking with her for the first time since her sister's match.
"I'd like to congratulate your sister and cousin on winning the tournament, Comrade Commander," Anastasia said shortly after they had sat down and started to eat.
"Thank you, Anastasia-chan," Kinue said. "Of course, for us, the most important and difficult match lies ahead."
Kinue nodded.
"True," Kinue said, "We're better armed than most of our opponents, which is why winning against Black Forest is such an accomplishment for us. But for Oarai, winning against Black Forest is nothing short of a miracle, and few schools have ever gone as far as they have with the tanks at their disposal."
"That may be so," Anastasia said, "but part of the reasons why miracles are looked upon with awe is that they're highly unusual. If we play well and don't lose our heads, the odds will be in our favor when we face Oarai."
"I suppose so," Kinue said. "As such, we had best get started working on our plan to face Oarai. Do you have the information I need?"
"да, Comrade Commander," Anastasia said. "The battlefield has been selected. I brought you a printout of the relevant information, and I also made certain to forward a copy to our student council."
"Thank you," Kinue said appreciatively, in Japanese. While Pravda was modeled after Russia under Stalin's leadership in World War II, it, like Oarai, was largely run by its democratically elected student council. Kinue thus had to get their permission to move the ship to the site of the match for the day of the match, even if they were extremely unlikely to pass up the finals, and a shot at winning the tankery tournament.
Kinue scanned the document and, seeing which battlefield had been chosen, wondered if it was mere chance or perhaps fate that this place would be the place where Miho faced Pravda again.
"I wonder how Miho-chan feels about this...?" Kinue thought.
Miho reported in to the student council office before tankery practice on the same day Kinue received her information. While Miho was also expecting to receive word about the site of the finals, she found this somewhat unusual. Normally, she was informed of the information at tankery practice.
"You wanted to see me, President?" Miho said.
"Yes, Nishizumi-san," Shizuru said, "it's about the finals. We received word about where the final match will be located. Ordinarily, we were planning on saving this for the strategy meeting, but..." Shizuru passed the printout across the desk. "Here, take a look for yourself."
Miho looked at the printout and read it over, immediately noticing the arena location.
"The same place as two years ago..." Miho said, almost breathlessly, as memories of her rescuing the tank at the cost of winning the tournament flooded into her mind.
"We at the Student Council 'do our homework,' so to speak," Shizuru said, "both literally and figuratively. While we were researching Pravda, we naturally delved into the time they won the tournament, as well as the incident in the finals. As such, we have some idea of what the significance of this battlefield and that day two years ago are for you."
Shizuru paused, causing Miho to wonder what the point of this conversation was.
"So you understand that much," Miho said. "But what more do you want to know?"
"What we don't know... " Shizuru said, as she continued speaking, "is whether you believe you're ready to fight there again, even considering what happened."
After taking a moment to compose herself, Miho gave a stoic nod.
"I am, for two reasons" Miho said decisively. "First, the only times the battlefields for tankery matches are changed is if they're, for some reason, unusable, and most of the time, the matches are rescheduled instead. So, if you're asking whether we can do anything about it, the answer is no; the only things left to us are fighting there and winning."
"Well said, Nishizumi-san," Ayano said, pleased at how Miho seemed to be speaking her language and thinking of practical implications.
"And second," Miho said. "I am prepared to go back, to fight in that place one more time, and succeed where I failed. This time, I will win for the sake of our school, without sacrificing or risking any of you."
"Very good," Shizuru said. "And I would like to let you know, Nishizumi-san, that, if you ended up making the same decision as two years ago, we would support you. We, relative outsiders and newcomers to the field of tankery, do not share the same standards as your family's school. From the perspective of the student council, any students coming to harm would be disastrous for the tankery team. From our perspectives as your subordinates and teammates, Commander, we have no desire to see our friends and comrades hurt."
"Thank you," Miho said.
"I will say that I do have some idea why your mother asks a great deal of you and your sister, and her determination to uphold the Nishizumi name," Shizuru continued. "But at the same time, I do not believe that how far she goes or what she does for that sake is correct. You are a very different kind of leader, Nishizumi-san, one more suited for a place like Oarai."
As Miho nodded appreciatively, Shiina could not help but laugh, causing Miho and the rest of the student council to turn to her.
"Is something funny, Vice-President?" Shizuru said.
"Nothing, President," Shiina said. "I just find it somewhat amusing that you're talking about Miho's family issues while you've been referring to her by her family name the entire conversation."
"It's a matter of propriety and politeness," Shizuru said. "I do recall you calling me 'Mikado-san' when you don't refer to me by my title."
"I suppose so," Shiina said. "But I don't quite know what the Mikado family is all about, unlike the Nishizumi family. Your dad had his influence on you, but he didn't raise you to be like him the same way Miho's mom did."
"That's true," Shizuru said. She loved and respected her mother, but she saw her path as one she could not necessarily follow. She intended to go into politics, a line of work entirely different fro that of her father, and thus saw the Nishizumis as entirely different from her family.
"It's fine," Miho said. "If you'd like, you can refer to me by my first name, like Shiina-san and Natsumi-san do."
"Very good, Miho," Shizuru said. "Feel free to do the same, as long as I'm not on Student Council business."
Miho nodded appreciatively. Her relationship with the Mikado administration had been different from the Kadotani administration in many ways, but she recognized that deep down, they were ultimately human, and they cared for Oarai Academy and the students going to school in it. That goal was one Miho agreed with, even if it was not in the scope of her duties.
So long as Oarai had people willing to do what was best for those who lived, worked and went to school there, the future remained bright.
Just before the start of practice, Miho and Nodoka held a brief meeting in the tankery garage.
"So the finals are tomorrow," Nodoka said. "We should probably let practice end early today, so that our members can relax and prepare, which is more important than a small amount of last-minute training."
"That's true," Miho said. "It seems as though our situation has not changed at all lately. The new members still aren't quite where we need them to be, and we don't have any tanks, either."
"I suppose that can't be helped," Nodoka said. "At my old middle school, things stayed the same way for a long time. It wasn't in danger of being shut down, but no one was particularly interested in buying us new equipment, and we couldn't just find it lying around the ship. Even considering Hisa-senpai learned about all the tanks they couldn't sell, we were extraordinarily lucky to find so many last year."
"That may be true, but our victory wasn't entirely about luck, Nodoka-san," Miho said. "You and I, along with everyone else, did the best with what we had. Those who had no experience had to learn quickly, while those with experience often had to think outside of what they were used to."
"I agree," Nodoka said, "since I am generally hesitant to attribute my victories to luck. I suppose I'm trying to say that Oarai is in some ways better off than my old school, along with many others that tried to achieve what our school has."
Miho nodded.
"Not everyone can achieve what we have," Miho said. "But I believe that by working together, an unlikely school can accomplish great things."
Nodoka smiled. In the past, she had often been critical of others' shortcomings, particularly when they did not possess her talent or determination. But while she strove to help others better themselves, she also respected their willingness to do so, and saw them as part of a team. For their sake, she resolved to do her best in the final match, and when she assumed command of the team.
That evening, Duck Team, along with the members of the volleyball team who were not participating in tankery, met in the gymnasium to do some volleyball practice. But as Noriko and the rest of Duck Team entered, they saw the new recruits waiting for them, and one girl, clad in the same Oarai PE uniform that the others wore, stepped out of the group to address her.
"Captain Isobe, Sasaki-senpai, Kondou-senpai, Kawanishi-senpai," one first-year who had signed up for the tankery team after the match with Koala Forest but failed to get in, said. "On behalf of the entire team, I'd like to wish you luck in the finals."
The girl handed Noriko a card that was signed by all the members of the team. Noriko opened it, smiled, and passed it to Akebi.
"Thanks," Noriko said. "It's always nice to know that we have your support."
"It's the least we can do," the girl said. "For almost two years, the team has persisted, its members supporting one another and the captain holding the team together. If we're going to get ourselves started again, or do well after that, we'll have to keep that in mind."
"That's true," Noriko said. "Nishizumi-san's a talented commander, but she couldn't have done this without her subordinates any more than I could have managed in tankery or volleyball without Akebi, Taeko and Shinobu."
"I appreciate hearing you say that, Captain," Shinobu said. "And I believe the same goes for the school as a whole. We kept going because people cared enough about it to make sacrifices. The student council may be among those students, but they're not the only ones"
"Yeah," Taeko said. "You'll be leaving next year, Captain, so it'll fall on the rest of us to ensure that the team, such as it is, stays together."
"I know," Noriko said. "But I'm fairly optimistic about it. First, I actually have on relatively good authority that they might be able to get us going again next year. Second, I can count on all of you."
"That's good to hear," Akebi said. "We won't let you down."
Sparrow Team went out to greet two alumni who were dropping by the ship to visit for the finals. The remaining and new members of the club found the two recent graduates standing at the bus stop nearest to the school, waiting for them.
Yumi wore a white dress, while Satomi wore a white shirt and a pair of blue work pants. The two's paths had taken them different places- Yumi went on to university, and was a new member of the school's mahjong club, while Satomi had failed her entrance exams and worked for her parents' business.
When the younger members were told of where the graduates had ended up, they appeared to pity Satomi, but Kaori mentioned that Satomi was happy, and, over the course of the year, would reconsider her options. Momo had mentioned that Yumi was the more conflicted, harboring some lingering regrets about giving up tankery despite enjoying and doing well in her time at her school's mahjong club.
"I'm glad to see you all here," Yumi said as she looked over the group of three that had arrived. "But where's Momo?"
"Here~su!" Momo said, leaping toward Yumi and giving her a hug.
"Ah, right..." Yumi said, blushing slightly. She sometimes wondered if Momo's lack of inhibitions toward such public displays of affection was casued by her lack of presence. "Now that I think about it, though, we seem to be missing the new first-years."
"They're with Octopus Team," Anko said. "Apparently, Maho and Hiroko go back some ways with Haramura-san and Kataoka-san."
"That's understandable," Satomi said. "Is it as far back as I go with Kaori, or more like I go with Yumi-chin?"
Anko shrugged.
"I think they said they knew each other in middle school," Anko said. "So it would be the latter?"
"Seems that way," Yumi said. "The two of us will be here for a little while, so we'll pop in to see them."
Yumi turned to Mutsuki, hoping to address something she had long hoped to discuss with her former subordinate- and now successor. While Yumi was not the president of the mahjong club- Satomi was- she was acknowledged as the leader of the club, as the person who kept the club organized, was the best player and held the remnants of the club together after it was dissolved and the title of president lost all meaning.
"I've heard a little bit from Momo about how you've been doing as a president and tank commander, Tsuyama," Yumi said. "And while I'm a bit touched that you put me on a pedestal, I don't think it's the entire truth."
"What do you mean, Kajiki-senpai?" Yumi said.
"I started out as a beginner, both in mahjong and in tankery," Yumi said. "Only after multiple defeats and a great deal of hard work was I able to become anything more than that, and be of use to my teammates and friends."
"That may be so," Mutsuki said. "But you realize that not everyone has been able to get as far as we have this year."
"I know," Yumi said. "But you should never stop trying, and never let go to the faint hope that you might be the one who triumphs against all odds. That doesn't always lead to victory, but every effort worth remembering has been undertaken with that sort of spirit."
Mutsuki nodded. She had always known that, even in the best of times, the mahjong club had never been able to put up much of a showing in competitions with other schools, and was content with that. Even now, as Oarai faced their most difficult opponent this year in the tournament finals, Mutsuki was simply grateful to be included in the team's efforts, and sought to repay them by doing her best and not allowing her worry about how good her "best" was compared to her predecessor or colleagues to hold her back.
Anteater Team and Turtle Team had dinner together. Shiina, unable to decide between whether to spend the evening before the finals with Anteater or Turtle Team, had proposed that they do it together. Shizuru had accepted, hoping to meet Shiina's friends outside of their work for the tankery team.
"So, how's everyone here doing?" Shiina said, as the conversation shifted to their personal lives.
"I can't help but be a little nervous," Momogawa said. "Last year, we were taken out almost instantly in the finals. It was fun just to participate, but I'd like to do better this time, both for the sake of my own enjoyment and as my duty to the team."
"I know where you're coming from, Momogawa," Shiina said. "I've got a friend on Ancient Legacy Online who plays a warrior, and is one of the weaker damage dealers in the guild. It's not particularly fun being the weak link, especially when our guild master recently told her to find a way to increase her damage output or find a new guild."
"Is it really so unreasonable to expect a certain level of performance from one's teammates?" Ayano said. She had known from the campaign that her colleagues, even the ones she did not know as well, were competent, but she, with the limited information at her disposal, saw room for doubt in the raid leader's mind.
Shiina shrugged.
"Not really," Shiina said. "I get what he's asking of her- of all of us- since we're up to Vulcan the Lava Titan, the second hardest boss in the raid after Pyrrhon, God of Fire. But dual wielding- the only viable DPS build- is a bit tough to master, and..."
Shiina paused, wondering if she was boring her friends yet again. Natsumi played some video games, but had never gotten involved in Ancient Legacy Online, so anything she told her would likely have to be explained to them. Similarly, the others on Anteater Team cared relatively little about the game, having tried it, only to be turned off by the considerable time investment that was required. When she recalled this, she was amazed by how long they had persisted in tankery despite their initial difficulties, as well as how far they had come. Perhaps in a more demanding team, not unlike her guild, they would have been cut before they had a chance to improve, something that was unpleasant for her to imagine.
But before Shiina could get the chance, her thoughts were interrupted as an answer to her question broke the silence.
"Perhaps I could help your friend with that if you're willing hear me out. Hit and Attack Speed are most important for your friend to keep up the Open Wounds debuff that does damage to your enemy over time and comprises a large part of your damage. If she isn't already, she should be using swords or axes for the Slice and Dice talent, which increases damage and bleed effects by 10% for those with bladed weapons. As for her abilities, you'd have to tell me which ones she invested her talent points in, since there are a few viable builds."
Shiina listened to the speaker and nodded. This sounded like good advice to her friend, at least worth a shot.
But she never expected Shizuru to be the one giving it.
"Mikado-san?" Shiina said. "You play Ancient Legacy Online, too?"
"I do," Shizuru said. "The idea of girl gamers shouldn't be that much of a surprise to you, Fujino-san."
"No, but I didn't think a girl like you would be into that," Shiina said. "It does take a lot of time to level up. Nekota, Piyotan and Momogawa, all veteran gamers, were turned off by the level grind."
"I'm fairly good with time management," Shizuru said. "I may be a relatively 'casual' player, but I take my play time seriously, and do work on bettering my ability to play my class, as well as help out those who need it. It's the same for tankery, even if I won't end up doing it for long."
Shiina nodded. This attitude seemed quite like Shizuru, who took everything she did seriously. Perhaps tankery and the student council could be considered somewhere between pleasure and work, as things that she believed were important to do well, but also things she had chosen to take on herself.
"I see," Shiina said. "To be honest, Mikado-san, you're the one who inspired me to work hard at things. I noticed that I started enjoying and doing better at my position, and when I think about it, you're the one who's most inspired me to do so."
"That's good to hear," Shizuru said.
As the meal concluded, Anteater Team asked for a way to get in touch with Shizuru online. Shizuru, complying, told her fellow gamers her character name- Kiyohime, named in honor of the woman in the folktale.
"So I'm going to be calling you 'Kiyohime' in the game, 'President' on duty and 'Mikado-san' off-duty?" Shiina said with an amused chuckle. "It's going to be quite an adjustment."
"I understand," Shizuru said. "But if I may be so bold, Shiina, I have one other adjustment I'd like to make to you and Natsumi- the same offer I made to Miho."
Shiina and Natsumi looked at each other. They had spent a long time working with Shizuru, and realized that it had changed over time. What had started out as a way for them to fulfill their separate goals gave way to a sense of camaraderie that eventually blossomed into friendship.
"Not a problem, Shizuru," Shiina said with a smile.
As she parted ways with the others, Shiina pondered the time she had spent in the student council, which was not at all like how she had originally envisioned. She felt as though she had changed, learned a great deal and, surprisingly enough, had fun in her work.
"And to think I believed that this would be just another waste of time after school club," Shiina thought. "Thanks for goading me to get into this, Mom."
Leopon Team did some last-minute work on the tanks, inspecting them to make sure they were in working order. Ordinarily, the need for maintenance would have made a last-minute practice session entirely impractical, but the new Leopon Team had become as able to do repairs on a rush job as their predecessors had, thereby enabling their team to go over the basic skills prior to the match.
Miho, checking on them before leaving with the rest of Anglerfish Team, had asked whether they were fine with doing that, and they had said yes. All of them believed that work was only unpleasant when they did not want to do it, and only stressful when they worried about other things.
The truth was that their opinion about tankery was not the only thing that had changed; their way of thinking had as well. Having become aware of the benefit their work had for the team, they no longer felt as though it was a waste of time. Having come to appreciate the inner workings of tanks, they no longer saw it as orthogonal to
As Miho's own perceptions of tankery had changed over the years, she understood what they had experienced. She was glad to show more people the fun and fulfilling side of tankery, and hoped that, whatever their path would be in life, they would enjoy tankery for years to come and cherish their memories of doing it.
While the current Mallard Team lacked Sodoko's overzealousness, the three of them were businesslike and serious. It thus naturally followed that even as they ate takeout in Gomoyo's apartment, which had an excellent view of the ocean, the conversation would eventually return to disciplinary committee business.
"How's the search process for your replacement going, Saro?" Gomoyo said.
"I've got some good news and bad news, Gomoyo," Saro said. "The good news is that I've got a few candidates who seem willing and able to do the job. The bad news is that only applies to the disciplinary committee, not tankery. Worse still, I'm unable to fill your and Pazomi's positions, not just the commander position."
Gomoyo sighed, her expression full of disappointment, while Pazomi gave a dejected frown. The three third years had hoped to leave the school with their positions on the disciplinary committee and tankery team filled, and on the latter regard, they were disappointed.
"So there may not be any disciplinary committee members on the team next year," Pazomi said. "Sodoko most likely won't be pleased to hear this."
"I actually talked with Sodoko recently and told her this," Saro said, "not long after Reizei-san got her letter. She said that we, the disciplinary committee, enforce the rules, it's ultimately up to students to be accountable for their own actions, now and in the future. As such, we may no longer need 'representatives' on the team, unless some newcomers want to volunteer."
"That's true," Gomoyo said. "Of course, one would be remiss not to point out that Sodoko enforces the rules quite hard out of the belief that following them forms good habits."
"True," Saro said. "But both she and I have seen individuals come to various epiphanies over the years, learning things that others have tried to show or tell them. In the end, a point being driven home a hundred times is less valuable than a single moment in which you realize what you must learn."
"I suppose I understand what you're saying, Saro," Gomoyo said. "To be honest, you seemed less than enthusiastic about the disciplinary committee in our first year, and now here you are, in our first year. People can change a great deal."
"Indeed, Gomoyo," Saro said. "And that's why I believe that once Nishizumi-san and Haramura-san have moved on, there will be people who will step up to take up their mantles, become the pillars of our team, and lead us to victory once again. I may never meet those individuals, but I'll wish them luck and be grateful for their efforts."
Hippo Team returned to the bench where they had spent the evening before the finals last year.
"Remember last year?" Caesar said. "We were sitting like this before the finals, not knowing if our school would continue to be open."
"I do," Saemonza said. "Back then, we didn't know we would win, much like Sanada Yukimura didn't know whether he would prevail in the Siege of Osaka Castle."
"And we still don't know whether we'll win the finals," Oryou said. "If we're getting a bit nervous here, imagine how we'd fare in a real battle."
"Soldiers have all sorts of reasons to want to fight, even when they risk their own lives by doing so," Erwin said."Sometimes, it's out of a sense of patriotism or loyalty to the cause. Sometimes it's to ward off a threat, whether avoiding punishment or defeating their country's enemies. Sometimes, it's to earn a reward. Still other times, it's for a sense of a warrior's honor or a soldier's duty, or even the thrill of battle itself."
"What do you think we're fighting for?" Oryou said.
"A bit of this and a bit of that," Erwin said. "Oarai is our school until the end of the year. We'll proudly call it our alma mater, and we want it to be known as a strong school. We also do it because we enjoy tankery, and see a bit of historical re-enactment in it. Apart from all that, it's also something fun to do together."
"True," Caesar said. "But even if we do not end up on opposite sides, like the members of the Triumvirate did, we will be going our separate ways at the end of the year. Rabbit Team will be the only team left completely intact after this year."
"That may be inevitable," Erwin said, "but it hasn't happened yet. Let's make the most of the time we have left."
The others nodded, not willing to contest it. They decided to relax while they could, so they could end the year on a high note. Perhaps history would remember the outcome of the finals more than moments like this, but the latter could still become cherished memories of friendship and camaraderie, so the four girls vowed to remember them.
Rabbit Team once again settled down for a movie night. They took turns having movie nights at each of their places, and this time, it was Karina's turn. Karina's apartment was relatively small, and decorated with posters and figurines from certain movies.
"Didn't we do this at Yuuki-chan's place this time last year?" Karina said.
"I think so," Yuuki said. "I definitely had all of you over either before or after the finals, since I wasn't sure whether I'd ever get to show you my place."
"Things were really tense back then," Aya said. "We had no idea whether we'd come back to the same school or not this year. Even if things did turn out for the best, we didn't take that for granted."
Saki silently nodded in agreement.
"That may be true, Aya-chan," Ayumi said. "But at the same time, there are those who would, if they knew it was their last day to live, spend the day doing all the things they liked. We spent that day doing what we could because it might be our last chance, and we'll spend the rest of this year and next year doing similar things because we cherish our time."
"In any case, we'll be coming back here next year, and I'm grateful for this," Azusa said. "I wonder whose turn it will be at that time."
The others let the conversation drop as they started up the DVD. They knew that while they could not predict the result of the next day's match, much less what would happen a year into the future, they were glad that they could count on Oarai still being around the following year. They, along with the three younger members of Duck Team, Nodoka, Saki, Yuuki and Momo, would be the last remaining members of the original team, but they hoped the team would continue to remain true to itself, and that its members would continue to improve themselves and enjoy tankery..
Octopus Team, along with Maho and Hiroko, had dinner out at a family restaurant, one that they had eaten at before. It was one of Yuuki's favorites, since tacos were on the menu, and one waitress knew that she ordered them every time..
"This place looks a bit different from when we were here last year," Saki said.
"It is," Nodoka said. "Since the end of last year, the place has incorporated tankery decorations around the shop. There's been a slight increase in business, although I'm not sure if it's because of the decorations."
Mako nodded, as she thought back to two years ago, before any of her teammates had arrived.
"I'd say you're right, Nodoka," Mako said. "But I think, all over the ship, people have been revitalized by the school remaining open. In my first year- and from what I heard from Hisa, the year before that, as well- business was declining in this place, particularly among students, possibly because of Oarai Academy's unimpressive reputation."
"That's kind of depressing, djey," Yuuki said. "Ignoring whether or not a school is weak, do you really want to think of yourself as being part of a bad school? As having graduated from a school that won't teach you much? I don't, and it's probably even worse for people like Akiyama-senpai, who live on this ship."
"Yeah, I get what you mean, Yuuki," Mako said. "Of course, at the tail end of my three years here, I don't think Oarai's such a bad place myself, and I believe it's worth having around for future generations of students. What do you think, Maho, Hiroko?"
Maho and Hiroko nodded in agreement, the answer already clear to them even in spite of being at Oarai for less than a year. The obvious truth, one that did not need to be spelled out, was that if Oarai had shut down, they would have been unable to come to Nodoka's school and do tankery there with her. Now, two years at Oarai were ahead of them, and they eagerly looked forward to the prospect.
Meanwhile, Anglerfish Team had dinner at Miho's apartment. The group typically eschewed extravagant celebrations, typically finding that spending time with each other would be appropriate for most occasions, from celebrating an individual or the group's triumph, to helping console a troubled member, to simply passing the time and enjoying themselves together.
Their reason for gathering was for several reasons. They, as a team, were proud to have made it this far. They were also somewhat concerned about Mako, who was still deeply affected by her grandmother's recent passing. But more than anything, they enjoyed each other's company, and hoped to enjoy dinners together while they could.
"Will you be ready for the match tomorrow, Mako-san?" Miho said.
Mako nodded as enthusiastically as she could manage.
"Most likely as ready as I'll ever be, all things considered," Mako said. "I'll probably be scanning the stands for my grandma, and if we win, I'll probably end up wishing she could be there to see it. After all, I heard from Myeonghwa that you never completely get over losing a loved one, so this is something I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life." The other members looked at Mako with concerned expressions on her faces, but Mako responded with a slight smile. "But I know Grandma would want me to not dwell on her passing, and to keep on fighting and doing my best, so that's what I'll strive to do tomorrow, and from here on out."
Miho faintly smiled, relieved. What had happened to Mako had caused her to more keenly appreciate the fact that her 'father had not perished from his accident, and that he was slowly but steadily recovering.
"What about you, Miho?" Mako said. "I realize that even if I urge you to not put off dealing with your family problems, they won't be solved that easily."
"From what I understand, my mother is not counting on me to win, nor will she gain anything if I lose," Miho said. "As such, whatever she feels is a non-issue for me. I'm doing what I'm doing for all your sakes, as well as my own."
"That's something of a relief, Miporin," Saori said, "although I still don't understand why she'd be so strict and demanding with her own children."
"I don't expect you to, Saori-san," Miho said. "For better or worse, I do still love my family, and they have influenced me, but they are not my only influence. I did not return to tankery because my family expected it, but because it's something that I enjoy doing with my friends. Now that I have an opportunity to succeed where the Nishizumi school's students failed, I do not want to do so to prove my superiority over them, but to show what unlikely individuals- namely, my friends and I, can do together."
The others nodded. The stakes were different than last year, but they were still determined to do their best, come what may, and face their final opponent together.
Author's Notes
I decided to revisit the teams before the finals, both to touch on some of the Oarai teams, and also see how they react when a significantly larger portion of the team will be leaving. Everyone except Rabbit Team will lose at least one person, and three entire teams- Anglerfish, Hippo and Turtle- will be gone, so the team will likely be very different next year. (The departure of so many characters from Oarai is one reason why the series will end after Necessary to Keep Winning).
Next up is the finals. The last few chapters of the story are written up, and will be ready after some fine-tuning, so you will likely see them very soon.
Character Analysis: Maho Nishizumi
Maho is largely defined by a conflict between her desire and her duties. At her heart, she isn't the perfect Nishizumi heiress Shiho wants, but she can't do everything for Miho's sake.
In addition to Maho's desire for Miho's happiness, Maho also feels a great sense of responsibility toward her school and her team. For her, winning is something she does for the sake of the people she fights alongside
But are the Nishizumi ways as is a good idea for the next generation? Maho is less than sure of that, even disregarding her personal feelings. It's thus likely that she, on some level, feels a desire to change the school.
Of course, Hiroe's parting question, of whether she herself would want to do things her own way, resonates with Maho. And now that the Nishizumi School has been shaken by repeated failures to win the tournament, she may have to find the answer, one that might just be an approach Miho can get behind.