"According to the outposts of the Japan Sensha-Do Federation approximately more than a thousand tanks of the Confederacy of Independent High Schools and the International Martial Arts Federation are surrounding the capital city and its agglomeration. The reports state that the IMAF forces stayed behind while the confederate army launched a general attack against Tokyo." said the announcer of a civil radio.
The members of the JSF directorate were sitting again in the meeting room. They've had troubled hours before. They've had stressed hours before. Now what most of them felt was pure fear. They were not speaking or looking at each other. Some of them were pale; some of them were just staring silently at the wall.
"Tsuji-san." said Lady Grey. "If we want any chances for negotiations… if we want to fray out a more or less ideal position for the Federation, we shall capitulate right now."
"Capitulate? Never!" slammed Tsuji his fist on the table. "Now the foreigners are not supporting the rebels! We will show them how our schools fight! Victory will be ours! We will never kneel to them before they march down the Aoyama-dori and the Omotesando! As long as we have this bastion called Tokyo we can reconquer all our territories step by step!"
The representatives of the different girls' schools now exchanged looks. Their eyes were saying: "He's gone insane."
"We still have a trump. Shimada-san! Mobilize the team of All-Star University and order them to engage the enemy!"
"…"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"No… Not at all Director." said Chiyo.
"That's what I thought."
Chiyo however had other plans. She looked at Shiho. The head of the Nishizumi family was nervously rubbing her hands. They looked at each other and Chiyo slightly nodded like she was saying: "I'm with you."
"Dismissed! Order your schools to resist!" said Tsuji.
As Shiho stepped out from the room, Chiyo took her aside. "Listen Shiho-chan."
"I think I know what you're going to say."
"You know me this much?"
"Come on, we've known each other for a long time." said Shiho. "You have no intention to send your daughter and her team into combat, right?"
"I'd lie if I said I have."
"Just as I thought."
"I've heard that your younger daughter chose to leave all of this behind not long ago. You want your older child to surrender too. Am I right?"
"Surrender… I still don't like this word. But if there's no other option…"
"And it's very obvious that there's nothing else left." said Chiyo.
"Except fighting…"
"Fighting yes. For what?"
"For the old beliefs of old fools. Old fools like this one." sighed Shiho pointing at herself.
"Please Shiho-chan. Don't push this "I am old" thing as long as you don't have a single grey hairbreadth."
"Okay, maybe not old, but fool."
"Don't worry there are two of us." said Chiyo with a weak smile.
"You're not a fool Shimada. Your girls were never on the battlefield."
"But I was supporting this "sacred cause". I lined up behind that four-eyed."
"So did I. But I want to correct my mistakes."
"Send a message to Maho-san then. I send one to my Alice." whispered Chiyo.
"Alright. Let's wish the best."
"The best." nodded Chiyo and the masters separated. They went to their offices.
Shiho locked the door behind her and sat down on her office chair. She looked uncertainly at the pencil and a sheet of paper on her table. She's really going to do it. She's going to turn her back on the JSF's principles. Her own principles.
When she finished writing she called in her secretary she trusted by all means.
"Send this please to my older daughter, Nishizumi Maho. To her own hands!"
"Yes ma'am!" bowed the middle-aged lady in respect and left.
Shiho was left alone. She leaned back in her chair and let out a deep breath. She was just sitting there in silence, only the ticking of the clock filled the air.
She changed, she had to admit. What she believed earlier was wrong. How she acted earlier was wrong. Is she a good person at all?
Maho's POV
Maho wasn't sure what to think. Short minutes ago she got a letter from her mother, in which she told her to cease fighting, leave the front with the entire team of Kuromorimine, board the school ship which was anchoring near Yokosuka in Otawa Bay, leave the land and wait on the sea until the war ends.
This was sure something Maho wasn't expecting, especially from her mother. Bet she was also happy that Shiho opened her eyes, and in fact she was glad of this news. After only one minutes of thinking she decided to do it. Yes, she will get her friends out of this once and for all.
There was only one problem with that. They were in southern Yokohama and they were cut from the peninsula together with Yokosuka and Otawa Bay by the enemy.
"Erika. Call the team together please."
Soon all the girls in black uniforms were standing before Maho.
"Listen everyone. What would you say if I said that I want to get you out of this nightmare?"
"I'd say that you are a very wise person taichō." said Jagdpanther-chan.
"And if you'd manage to do that you'd be a goddess for me." added the Elephant's commander.
"Good. Because I want to do that." said Maho.
"How?" asked Koume.
"We break through to our school ship and wait on the ocean for the end. However, that will not be easy. We'll have to scrape through the confederate line and as I know there are also large IMAF forces in that area. Well?"
"If you ask me taichō, it worth the risk." said a girl.
"I agree with her."
"Me too!"
"Okay, so we decided it. Are you ready to join me on this final journey?"
"WITH ALL OUR HEARTS!"
"Thank you girls." smiled Maho. "And thanks for the gods for giving me such amazing teammates. Let's go home!"
Tokyo, JSF HQ
"Secretary! Call here Nishizumi-san and Shimada-san, I need to talk to them." said Tsuji half-heartedly.
A few minutes later the man came back. "I can't find them Tsuji-sama."
"What do you mean you can't find them?" frowned the director.
"They are nowhere to be found. I've searched the entire building."
"How's that, where can they… Oh, damn it…" Tsuji hissed and stormed out of the room. He went to his office and took the phone. He tried to call both Shiho and Chiyo but couldn't reach either of them. Now he was pretty sure what was happening. He literally sprinted to the radio room. "Contact me Nishizumi Maho right now!" he yelled at the operators.
"Y–Yes…!" they stuttered.
Maho's POV
The enemy is on the other side of that rice field. "Help us now Fortuna!"
"Taichō! Incoming call from the headquarters!" said Maho's radio operator.
"Oh great. Let me hear it." sighed Maho.
"Maho-san, this is Tsuji Renta. May I ask what on earth are you doing?"
"What I should have done long ago Director."
"You're committing treason! Do you have the slightest idea of how much weaker the Federation will be without you?! If our ways matter to you…"
"DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ANYMORE!" shouted Maho. Her crew got scared by her. They've never seen her like this. "KUROMORIMINE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL IS OUT!" yelled Maho and ordered the radio operator to change frequency. "Attention all units! Speed up as much as you can! Our primary goal is to reach Yokosuka, not to battle the boys' schools. Just get through them and leave them behind! OF course you may fire in mean time. Do you understand?"
"Yes Kommandant!" every Kuromorimine tanker replied.
They encountered tanks of De Gaulle Boys High School. Luckily they were only AMX 40 light tanks so they got through quickly. But as the tanks of the german styled high school were speeding between orchards and gardens, heavier enemy vehicles began turning up and they opened fire at them.
The girls returned fire but as german tanks were not the best in aiming under way, many of their shells missed the target.
"Come on, faster! Don't mind them, just get out of here!" yelled Maho to her teammates. She looked back and saw that some of De Gaulle's tanks turned around and began chasing them. "The IMAF line is still before us. But we are not too far away. With a bit of luck…"
Anton's POV
"Seltsam (strange)." murmured the commander of the Austrian IMAF teams near the small town of Hayama. The gunfire was supposed to be receding. Instead it was closing to them. "Achtung alle Panzer! Turn northwards!"
The tanks got into position and waited. After a few minutes Kuromorimine's tanks appeared on top of a rocky ridge, charging down a narrow dirt road. Around them shells were exploding everywhere, fired by De Gaulle.
"Wait! Hold your fire!" commanded Anton his troops then he took his binoculars to see better what was happening. A Tiger I, seemingly the flag tank of Kuromorimine stopped on top of the ridge. Its commander, a girl with short hair was waving to her comrades, telling them to keep going. When no one was left, the Tiger went after them. Or rather, it would have gone after them.
Suddenly, a confederate grenade impacted directly near its right track and pushed the heavy tank down from the road, and on the steep stonewalls of the cliff. Luckily the Tiger has stopped after a few meters of slipping but even a small breeze could push it down into the abyss.
"Oh, verdammt! Let's go Franz!" told Anton his driver.
"Is everyone okay?" asked Maho her crew. Her eyebrow was bleeding; she must have hit her head on something.
"Yes Kommandant." the four other girls replied. No need to say how scared they were.
"Listen. Do not move too much." said Maho and carefully, slowly she popped her head out. She went pale. The Tiger was balancing on the side of the cliff, with many dozens of meter under them. If they fell down here.
In mean time the rest of Kuromorimine came back to help their friends. Tanks of De Gaulle have also arrived but they signaled Kuromorimine that they do not want to attack. Seeing Maho and her crew in danger made their humanity prevail over the hostility. However, neither of the sides wanted to go any closer. They were afraid that the tanks would shake the ground too much, which could have been fatal. Then?
"Do we have rope?" asked Erika.
"Negative vice-commander."
"Oh, crap…"
"Nishizumi-san. What's going to happen?" asked Maho's loader worriedly.
"It's okay. It's okay. We'll get out from here." tried Maho to calm her down. If only there was someone to calm HER down…
"HEY! Hey, over there! Do you hear me?" a male voice yelled in english.
Maho looked out again. She saw another Tiger I and its European crew dressed in old Austro-Hungarian styled uniforms on the other side of the scarp. The five boys climbed out of the tank and stood on the edge.
"Jump over here!" their commander shouted.
"What?! Are you mad?" asked Maho's driver.
"You can't climb up from there!" replied Anton. "Your other tanks can't tow you back, there's no enough place for that! And I guess none of us have a helicopter! Jump over here! We'll get you! Trust us!"
Maho was considering their chances. Actually the other side was not too far away, maybe four or five meters and a bit lower than they were. With a big long-jump… Not impossible after all. But what if they jump too small? Not to mention that it was the enemy who offered help.
"Kommandant?"
"Do we have any other chance?" asked Maho.
"…"
"I go first. If I can do it, you can do it too." said Maho, then with careful movement she climbed out to the outer surface of the Tiger. Holding into the cannon she looked down then to the other side with huge sweat drops on her forehead. Then he looked at that foreigner with an asking look.
"Jump. I promise I will catch you." he said, holding out both of his arms.
Maho closed her eyes, took a deep breath and sprung forward. She spent only two or three seconds in the air but it felt like eternity. As she was flying she felt how fragile, vulnerable humans are, including her. Her eyes were still closed. Will she make it?
Finally she stopped and felt strong arms around her. She looked up and saw a blond, blue-eyed western boy encouragingly smiling at her. "Herzlich Wilkommen." he said.
"T-Thank you… You are Austrian, right?"
"That's right. My name is Anton Groß. Don't worry, we'll get your friends down from there too."
"Danke schön. Uhm… You can let me go now."
"Oh… Yeah… Sorry." shook Anton his head and took a step back.
Much to Maho's relief, her entire crew was safe within a minute. "I think I should introduce myself too. Nishizumi Maho." bowed the Nishizumi heir.
"Nishizumi Maho… I've heard about you before."
"Really?"
"Yes, I know that you and your family are very talented in Sensha-Do."
"Thank you. But I'm not sure anymore if I shall be proud of that."
"Why is that?"
"That would need a longer talk to explain it. What is more important in the moment: Groß-san. We would like to… surrender to you."
"I see."
"Originally we wanted to break through your line and flee to our school carrier but… as you can see bad luck had a different opinion."
"Bad luck? All of you are in one piece. I would call it good luck." said Anton.
"True. And thank you again very much for saving us."
"With pleasure."
"What shall we do now?" asked Maho.
"If you want to go home, you can go right now."
"Oh really?" This surprised Maho. Anton seemed to be a nice guy indeed, but can it really end so simply?
"Really. If you leave all your tanks behind."
"Ah. I thought. Well… So be it." lowered Maho her head.
"General!" said Anton's radio operator with a serious expression on his face. "De Gaulle High School's commander wants to talk with you."
"I'm coming. Sorry Nishizumi…"
"Call me Maho please."
"Maho. I have to leave you here for a minute."
"No problem. I've experienced worse things in my life than being alone."
Anton walked back to his Tiger I and took the radio. "Aha. I understand. No, everything is alright here, we made an agreement. Okay. Then please, guide her here." He put down the device and went back to the brown haired Japanese girl. "Someone would like to see you Maho.
Not long after this two Somua S35s appeared on the hill where Kuromorimine came from earlier, followed by a fancy Toyota.
"Mother?!" asked Maho in disbelief. The three vehicles – two armored, one civilian – stopped before them and Shiho got out from the car. With Maho they were staring at each other for a long time silently. When did they see each other last time? Too long ago. Maho didn't even know what to say. Then Shiho did something that she hasn't done in a long time. She run to her daughter and hugged her tightly. Another big surprise for Maho.
"I'm sorry." Shiho whispered with teary eyes. Maho then slowly raised her arms and hugged her mother back. She lost this feeling so long ago. After long minutes Shiho took a step back to have a look at her child. Maho was weary, exhausted and tired. But the most painful for Shiho was that there was almost no light in her eyes. What has she done to her, oh God. "Do you know anything about your sister?"
"She's safe and at home in Oarai."
"I wonder what she would say to me now."
"She loves you Mother. I'm sure she wants to see you too as soon as possible."
"Hope you're right. Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No. Thanks to this kind Austrian boy." Maho gestured at Anton.
"What happened?" Shiho went pale when she learnt that Maho had a near-death experience. Then she stood before Anton and bowed as deep as never before in her life. "Thank you for saving my daughter."
"Please. I only did what everyone else would have done." waved off Anton the praise.
"Nishizumi-sama." said one of the Somua's commander. "Our president, Hamada Kyousuke heard that you are here. He's on his way and he would like to meet you."
"Oh. Okay. I'm waiting for him."
"Good. He'll be here in a few hours."
"Until then, please join me in my tent." said Anton.
"We don't want to be a burden." said Shiho politely.
"I would be pleased."
"As you wish."
The trio went to the tent and sit down at the table. They spent the next hours with talking. Anton even managed to make the two Asian ladies smile. His friends always told that he was pretty good at conversations.
Finally Kyousuke has arrived with a jip. He entered the tent and bowed to the three other persons inside. "Groß-san, Maho-san. If you don't mind I'd like to have a talk with Nishizumi-san in private."
Anton and Maho left and Kyousuke and Shiho were left alone with Shiho still sitting at the table and Kyousuke standing. "What brings you here Hamada-san?"
"I wanted to see our victory with my own eyes." Then there was a minute of silence between them. "You surprised me with this step of yours."
"I've wanted to do what is right. Huh. I've waited with it for too long, right?"
"Yes, you can say that. A year at least. But actually I appreciate it."
"Whatever you and your fellows want to do with me I'll accept it." said Shiho.
Silence again. "You'll not be a member of the JSF directorate anymore. You'll not have any role in the federal leadership anymore. You will be the director of Kuromorimine and master of the Nishizumi style but nothing more." Kyousuke said in a neutral tone.
"Fair enough." nodded Shiho.
"I wish you the best. Goodbye." said the confederate president and turned around.
"Hamada-san?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think that if someone seeks forgiveness truly then he/she'll find it?"
"I want to believe it Nishizumi-san. I really want to." said Kyousuke and left. After a minute of thinking Shiho stood up and went out to Maho.
"Can we leave now Groß-san?"
"Of course. Have a nice journey to home. If you want to, we can bring the rest of Kuromorimine's team home."
"We would thank it." said Shiho with a smile. "Come on Maho."
Maho opened the door of the Toyota but turned back for a moment. "Anton-san."
"Yes Maho?"
"Uhm… Can we meet again?"
"That would be nice. I'll make sure to find you."
"Great. I live in Kumamoto."
"Kumamoto. I note it."
They exchanged smiles then Maho got into the car and the two Nishizumis headed to the school ship in Yokosuka. "You would REALLY like to meet him again, am I right?" asked Shiho.
"M-Mother, what are you…?"
"Nothing." said Shiho with a teasing smile and they continued their way to home, to their old life.
Chiyo's POV
Chiyo got out of her own car in the heart of Tokyo at All-Star University. Alice was already standing at the gate to meet her.
"I've got your message Mother."
"What's the status of the team?" asked Chiyo.
"They are ready for battle, but I didn't give order to engage as you said."
"Tell this to them please: Ignore the orders from the headquarters. Do not prepare for a battle against the Confederacy. Surround the campus and fire only if they get attacked."
"Yes Mother." nodded Alice and went to inform the team.
Chiyo watched her. "What kind of bastard would I have been if I've ever sent her to the battlefield?"
The master of the Shimada-style sighed. She knew that in that exact minute the enemy was starting the attack against Tokyo, the core of the JSF. And that it was only a matter of time before the curtain falls.