Chapter 24:
Ami closed the cover of the Panzer operating manual she had been memorizing and placed it on her desk. Still dressed in her school fuku, she glanced at her bedside clock, surprised to find it was nearly one in the morning. The studious teen left her chair and was about to undress for bed when she heard the buzzer on her apartment door.
Puzzled, she walked up to the entrance, wondering who it could possibly be at such a late hour.
"Yes? Who is it?"
A familiar voice replied, "It's Minako, Ami-chan. I need to talk to you about something really important."
"Hai." Ami unlocked her door and swung it open. "Ohayou, Minako-chan. Please come in."
"Arigatou." The blonde who entered her apartment appeared deeply troubled. She waited for Ami to close the door, then told her close friend, her voice sincere and filled with regret, "I need to apologize, Ami-chan. I won't sleep a wink tonight until I do."
"Oh? Why?"
A frown formed on the girl's pretty face. "It's because of the horrible way I teased you at the shore party earlier tonight."
"Minako-chan, there's no need to-"
"But there is" her blonde friend insisted. "I made fun of you and embarrassed you in front of Rei and Mako-chan. That wasn't right. It's not who I am." She hung her head and said, "I'm very sorry and I hope you will forgive me."
"Of course I forgive you, Minako-chan!" Ami smiled. "And I can certainly understand why you teased me. You were only trying to do your best for Miho and Hana and our other new friends, and I guess Rei, being Rei, gave you a rather difficult time about it. So you became upset and..."
"And I picked on you. My most kind and most gentle friend in the whole world. Ami-chan, I promise I will never, ever, behave that way again. Moushiwake arimasen deshita."
Ami reached out her arms and gave the blonde a tender hug. "As I said, your apology is fully accepted. And deeply appreciated. Arigatou, Minako-chan."
Minako smiled and returned her hug. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu, Ami-chan."
A sudden second buzz from outside surprised both girls. "Goodness! What a busy night! Who could that be?" Ami again went to answer the door. "Hai."
"It's Rei, Ami-chan. May I enter?"
"Certainly, Rei-chan." A few moments later the miko was also standing in the tiny apartment.
"Minako-chan, I'm glad you're here too. I tried buzzing your apartment but didn't get an answer, so I assumed you were asleep."
"Is something wrong, Rei-chan?" Ami asked. "Are you feeling ill?"
The miko shook her head. "I just left Usagi's apartment a minute ago. You both know how I've been giving her a difficult time ever since we got here. No, make that since... forever."
"Well, you have been somewhat critical of her at times" Ami agreed. "I suppose everyone's gotten so used to the way you tease her that we don't really think much of it anymore."
"Well, those days are over" Rei announced. "It took me far too long to realize I've been a poor friend to Usagi, and sometimes to you as well, Minako-chan. So I asked Usagi for her forgiveness, and now I'm asking you for yours. I promise to try very hard to always remain patient and keep my tongue in check from now on."
"Rei-chan, you are officially forgiven!" Minako beamed. "How couldn't I forgive you? We've all been through so much together, good times and bad times too."
"Hai. We certainly have" the raven-haired girl nodded. "And in a few hours, we'll all face another challenge together. But this time, I want us to face it as a true team of close friends. Friends who support and encourage each other in every way possible."
"Hai" Ami nodded. She smiled, "Let's do that."
. . . . .
At nine the next morning, Makoto and her teammates stood outside the tank hangar in their fresh new uniforms alongside the girls of Anglerfish, Turtle and Hippo teams. They listened closely as Miho gave everyone a brief pep talk.
"Minna, I hope everyone had a restful night! It's a beautiful day for our match against St. Gloriana, and this time I'm confident we're finally going to emerge as the victors!"
Makoto noticed that Mako was fully awake, and that Anzu seemed none the worse for wear after the previous night's wine incident.
Miho continued, ''My talk with your commanders last night gave me several new ideas about how best to knock out Darjeeling's Churchill, and soon we'll find out if they work. So, minna, climb into your tanks, follow my lead to the staging area, and let's all show St. Gloriana what the girls from Ooarai can really do!"
An enthusiastic cheer rang out from the teams, and as they broke ranks and walked toward their tanks, Miho intercepted Minako. "I just wanted to say thanks for last night, Minako-san" she smiled. "I still don't know how you did it, but... you helped make us very happy."
"Just doing my job, Miho-san!" the blonde giggled. "I hope everything works out wonderfully between your team and their new boyfriends."
"Boyfriends? Hai, now that you mention it, I suppose they are!" Miho laughed. "My feet are still tender from all that dancing with Yusei!"
Her teammates walked over and thanked Minako as well. "You really are the world's greatest matchmaker, Minako-san!" Yukari blurted, bowing deeply. "I can't wait to call Ryota after the match and arrange our first date!"
"I'm so happy for all of you" Minako smiled. "Minna, don't forget Mako-chan's good advice from dinner. Take it slow at first, trust your heart and let nature guide you."
"That wasn't exactly what I said, but it's close enough" Makoto chuckled from beside her Panzer. "Minako-chan, we need our driver. Go fire up the engine and let's get this show on the road."
. . . . .
The four tanks formed a line, with Miho's Panzer IV in front and Makoto's following. Behind her came Riko's STuG III with Anzu's Hetzer bringing up the rear, and all four commanders stood high up in their cupolas, taking in the scenery. Makoto spoke over her tank's intercom, "Erwin really loves that hat! Maybe I should get one too."
"That's fine, Mako-chan, as long as I don't have to salute you!" Usagi's giggling voice echoed back in her headphones.
"I wouldn't get a hat if I were you" Rei laughed. "You'll crush your ponytail!"
After making their way off the ship and through the seaport, the girls' tanks reached a main road that led to the staging area. As they rumbled along, Makoto was surprised to find the roadside lined with spectators, enthusiastically cheering them on.
"I feel like a celebrity!" the tall brunette exclaimed. "Ami-chan, Rei-chan, open your hatches and wave to the crowd." She waved as well, along with every other girl in Miho's other teams.
"I really like this!" Minako giggled from the driver's seat, soaking up the attention like a sponge. "Maybe later on, we'll have our own poster for our fans to sign, Mako-chan! If only my love muffin could see me now!" She added, "You know, this is just like the Sensha-do introduction movie we watched on our first day of school!"
As they neared the staging area, a large brass band and drum ensemble from St. Gloriana's music department began to play Ooarai's school theme song. "This is all quite spectacular!" Ami spoke above the music, then she recognized five familiar faces in the thickening crowd. "Minna, the Anglerfish team's boyfriends are here!"
Miho and her crew also spotted them and began waving at the teens, who were cheering wildly. Saori spotted the young man she had danced with and playfully blew him a kiss, making the boy blush and cheer even louder. Usagi's voice crackled over her radio, "Saori-san, if we win, be sure to give him a real kiss later!"
Saori promptly turned around in her hatch, leaned to one side and gave Usagi a big thumbs-up. She radioed back, "I won't be stopping at just one kiss, Usagi-san!"
With Miho's Panzer still leading, the four tanks drove into the staging area and parked side-by-side in a neat line, just as the band finished their song. The drivers shut down their engines and the girls all climbed out, standing in groups in front of their vehicles.
"Now that was an entrance I'll never forget!" Makoto grinned. After a brief period of silence, she next heard the sound of flutes as the band launched into the opening notes of 'The British Grenadiers'.
"Minna, our opponents are arriving" Miho told the Luna team, and soon, from a different road, Darjeeling's massive Churchill came rumbling into view, followed by three Matildas.
Minako's eyes widened at the sight of the lead tank. "That thing looks really tough, Mako-chan! It'll probably take a million shots to knock it out!"
"Hai" Makoto nodded. "That's what worries me."
. . . . .