Chapter 20: The first meeting.
Back in the gym, Miho and Saori, escorted by the rabbit team, made their way between two wings of hostile crowds, who gave them threatening looks. Climbing on stage they remained silent, waiting for Hana to open her mouth. Fortunately, the wait was short.
"After a long and heated discussion we decided not to remove you from command. However, know that thanks to your gesture you have lost all our esteem and trust. " The president announced.
"I understand ..." Nishizumi replied, looking down.
"Also, I invite you to look for two new members for your team, since neither I nor Mako intend to fight alongside you anymore."
Those words saddened Miho a lot. She had lost two precious friends forever, as well as the respect of all her companions. And to make matters worse, Yukari was on an espionage mission in a foreign school, and had not yet returned. Had it been discovered and imprisoned?
"I will do it."
Having said this, she got off the stage and walked, between looks full of hate and contempt and murmurs.
Out in the open, she went through the school gates and walked towards her house.
"Miho-chan!" Saori called her, joining her.
"What is it, Saori?" She asked, turning around.
"We have to find out who's behind this!" The auburn-haired girl answered.
"By now the damage is done, all our companions hate us and despise us ... And they are not wrong." Nishizumi admitted, feeling guilty for deceiving Mako and the others.
"In any case, we must unmask the author of this plot!"
"And in what way? I phoned all the schools we went through, and they all deny being involved in this affair!"
" You forget about Kuromorimine!"
Miho looked at her as if she had gone mad.
"The kuro? Saori, that's my old team, and it's led by my sister!"
"Still remains an opposing team, like all the others!"
"But we can't be sure it's their work!"
"I only know one thing: that because of someone now everyone here at Ooarai will hate us! And I intend to find that someone and kick him/her in the ass!"
"Easier said than done…"
"It doesn't matter ... We have to try!"
"Did you know that even if we identify the person in charge, this won't make us less guilty in the eyes of the others?"
"I'm aware of it ... But we can't stand still or the author of this conspiracy will go unpunished!"
"Look, let's go to my house ... we'll talk about it there."
Saori, although annoyed, nodded, walking with her friend.
Carrier school Kuromorimine 9.15 pm
At that precise moment Maho, sitting at her desk, sneezed.
"Health." Erika said to her.
"Thank you…"
She wiped her nose with a tissue, then looked at the clock hanging on the wall behind her.
"Hell, it got really late. It's time for me to go home ... Erika, you should do the same."
"Ok."
Having said that, the blonde yawned.
" Have you seen Sheska?" Her commander asked.
"By this time she will already be at her house." She replied.
"Keep an eye on her ... Given her behavior, I don't trust her."
"Yes…"
At the same time Sheska was in her apartment and watching TV, which was broadcasting Battle of the Bulge, a war movie. At one point, without warning, she remembered her first day at school at Schwarze Sonne.
Flashback start
A white Mercedes-Benz GLC-class had just stopped on the pier in the port of Hamburg, where the Flugzeugträger B, the carrier ship that housed the Black Sun school, was anchored. Sheska watched from the window the imposing floating school, with a mix of anxiety and awe.
"Everything good?" Her mother asked her, a woman in her thirties with short brown hair and green eyes.
"I'm very nervous." She replied, sweating cold.
"I understand you, I was also excited when I was admitted to this prestigious school." The woman admitted.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"I was on the same team with Leila Breisgau, the gray wolf team."
Hearing that name, Sheska's eyes widened.
"Leila Breisgau? One of the greatest sensha-do commanders?"
"Just her, the daughter of the current Kanzler Bradow."
"She is my absolute idol, I also have a poster in my room!"
At that answer her mother chuckled.
"As if I don't know ..."
"And if you're lucky you can also meet her." A man with short black hair and blue eyes added.
"Are you really saying, dad?"
"I know she occasionally goes aboard to visit her daughter."
"Oh, mein gott ... Oh, mein gott!" Exclaimed the girl, with shining eyes.
Once on board, the girl headed for school, while her parents went to their new home. However, being new to the place, she had no idea where it was located. So she decided to ask for information.
"Excuse me!" She said, turning to a girl with short black hair and brown eyes.
"What do you want?" The latter asked.
"I'm a new student ... Can you tell me where the school is?"
"I'm just going there, the inaugural speech for the school year will begin shortly. If you want, I'll take you there. "
"I would really appreciate it!"
"Then follow me."
On the way, Sheska looked around: many people and vehicles circulated the streets, in particular students. One thing that struck her most were the swastika flags hanging on the balconies of the houses.
"Am I wrong or should those flags be prohibited by law?" She asked.
"Yes, but if you have the right friends, certain grains can be easily bypassed."
"I understand ... Are you a student?"
"Do you think I stole this uniform?"
"Sorry for the obvious question ... Are you on the sensha-do team?"
"Of course, I'm in the wolf team, that of the captain ... Indeed, of the fuhrer Hilda."
"What's your name?"
"Eva Raubal. You?"
"Sheska Braun."
"Nice to meet you."
"My pleasure." The brunette replied, smiling.
"I hope you'll feel good here."
"It depends ... Could you give me some clarification on the school rules?"
"Willingly ... First of all keep in mind that the supreme authority is represented by the student council, made up of three members. They exercise totalitarian power, and are very strict about the rules."
"I understand."
"So always keep a respectful behavior, both towards them and towards your companions. In case you annoy someone or misbehave you will be expelled."
"I understand."
"Do you have cash with you?"
"A few euro notes ..."
"We use reichsmarks here, but euros are also welcome."
Sheska looked at her bewildered.
"What are reichsmarks?"
"The school currency."
Eva stopped, rummaged in her shoulder bag and took out a silver coin from the new arrival. Sheska turned it over in her hand, noting that a face was engraved on one side.
"As soon as I can I will also show you some local banknotes. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
"I would have one ... Does this ship follow a precise route?"
"Usually the stages of our itinerary are the following: Amsterdam, Brest, Lisbon, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Athens and other Mediterranean ports. Sometimes we head to the Baltic or Iceland."
"You never go any further?"
"Once we also landed in the ports of the Levant and North Africa, but in recent years those regions have become ... Unstable, dangerous." Eva affirmed.
"True ... What type is the commander?"
"Ah, Hilda is an adorable girl! She is always friendly and helpful to everyone, and has an unparalleled charisma and determination! "
Sheska was positively impressed with that description.
"I can't wait to meet her."
"You will soon have the chance."
In the square a stage had been set up, covered by a blue cloth and located near the statue of Hilda. An immense crowd gathered around it, made up of new students. They all looked towards the stage, with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. Sheska and Eva had to make room with armfuls to get to the front row.
"And now?" Asked the brunette.
"Now it's my turn." Her companion replied.
Having said that, she went up on stage and once placed in front of the microphone she said:
"Welcome, students of Schwarze Sonne. Now our fuhrer, Hilda, will give the inaugural speech for the school year."
She looked towards an indefinite point in the square, then announced:
"Hilda is here! Make her way!"
Immediately a gap was created in the crowd. Initially Sheska was unable to see the famous Hilda, and had to wait for her to go on stage. She was a blonde with blue eyes, in the company of two other girls: one stocky and the other bespectacled, with an intellectual air. Sheska recognized her as Hilda when she approached the microphone, saying something to Eva who stepped aside. Once seated, the blonde motioned to her companions to get off the stage, and they obeyed, imitated by Eva. This done, she began to carefully observe the people gathered in the square, without saying a word. Sheska looked at her bewitched: she was beautiful, and her bearing combined with the high uniform she wore gave her a solemn appearance. She reminded her of Freia, an ancient Norse deity, revered by Scandinavian peoples in the pre-Christian era, together with the best known Odin, Thor and Loki.
Why don't she say anything?
She wondered, noting that she didn't mention starting the speech.
"Why are she silent?" She asked to Eva.
"It's her way of raising suspense." She replied.
After a while, in fact, Hilda began to speak.
"Students from Schwarze Sonne, I welcome you to my school! My name is Hilda, student council president and captain of the sensha-do team. Let me say that I am happy with your decision to enroll in this prestigious school ..."
"You are Sheska, aren't you?" A female voice asked, the voice of an adult woman.
The direct interested turned around ... And almost did not have a heart attack. In fact, in front of her was Leila Breisgau, a former commander of the Black Sun and a leading exponent of the German federation of sensha-do.
"F-freulein Breisgau!" She exclaimed, intimidated.
"Call me Leila ... Your mother and I were teammates once."
"She told me."
"Are you going to join the sensha-do team too?"
The girl nodded.
"I am passionate about it."
Leila became cheerful at that answer.
"Glad to hear it." She stated.
"Are you here to see your daughter?"
"And also to listen to it."
Sheska was stunned by that sentence. She looked at her confused, then glanced at the stage, where Hilda was still speaking.
"Due to the theme adopted by the school, we had many problems of various kinds. Many, at home and abroad, have criticized us, insulted us, branded us as criminals, accused us of racism and anti-Semitism. These are totally unfounded accusations: we believe in equality and freedom. In our ranks there are both German and foreign students: Icelanders, Greek, Portuguese, Russian and other nationalities. They will be able to confirm that since they lived here they have not experienced any discrimination. All girls are the same, no matter where they come from or the color of their skin! "
"You understand, don't you?"
Surprised, Sheska turned to her interlocutor.
"Hilda is your daughter?"
"Exact. I called her that in honor of Hilda Fagan, my old radio operator. "
Sheska shook her head in amazement.
"My mother fought alongside you, years ago ... And I will fight alongside your daughter!" She said incredulously.
Leila chuckled.
"Maybe it was destiny ..." She said, winking.
"By the way, if you're friends with my mother, how come you never came to see her?"
"Because of my job, which keeps me nailed in Berlin ... Indeed, to be honest, I have lost sight of her for years. However, despite the distance, we still feel chatted." The blonde woman explained.
"I understand…"
"I hope you feel comfortable here."
"I hope so…"
After the inaugural speech, the square began to empty itself. Sheska there and there knew what to do, and stood looking around. Suddenly Eva took her hand, saying:
"Follow me, I'll take you to her."
The brunette looked at her confused.
"Her, who?"
"Hilda!"
That response startled her.
"But ... Can I really?"
"Sure."
"Then we go!" She exclaimed enthusiastically.
The two girls made their way through the crowd until they reached Hilda. The blonde, in the company of her collaborators and surrounded by some guards in black uniform (with the inevitable band on her arm), was heading towards school.
"Hilda!" Eva called her.
The blonde stopped, turning around.
"Eva ... Who's the girl with you?"
"Anna's daughter, she called Sheska."
The fuhrer smiled at that answer. She approached the new student, staring at her with a benevolent air.
"My mother and yours are great friends, and they have been close teammates. I hope the same kind of relationship will be established between the two of us."
Sheska blushed.
"I hope so too ..." She said, happy.
"Are you going to enroll in the sensha-do course?"
Sheska nodded enthusiastically.
"I've always wanted to follow in my mother's footsteps ... And you is my absolute idol!"
Hilda's smile widened. Without warning she pulled her towards her and hugged her.
"In that case, I welcome you to my school and my team! You will be assigned to my team, the gray wolves, and you will be my deputy!"
"Your... your deputy?"
"Exact. The same role that your mother played."
"Mein fuhrer, this is an act of nepotism ... We cannot entrust this task to a new freshmen." The bespectacled intervened, earning a dirty look from her commander.
"Do you dare to question my decisions, Himmler?" The latter asked, suddenly turning dark in the face.
"Nein, mein fuhrer ... Mine was a simple opinion." The dark-haired retorted, sweating cold.
"When I want to know your opinion I will ask you! But until then, keep silent!"
"Forgive my insolence ..."
Hilda stared at her severely, then returned to turn to Sheska, after loosing her embrace.
"Come on, follow me. I will show you the various areas of the carrier school, so you will learn to orient yourself."
"Are you going to guide me? You personally?"
"Exact. I like you, Sheska, I won't lie to you. I can recognize people with the right requirements and you... Yes, you are one of those!" She affirmed, enthusiastic.
More and more embarrassed by those compliments Sheska became red like a tomato.
"I ... I'm really flattered by such confidence!"
"You deserve it ... But now let's go."
Having said that, the blonde started off, followed closely by Sheska, Eva, Himmler and the others.
End flashback
An adorable girl and a valiant commander ...
Sheska thought, smiling at that memory.
