Chapter 8:

"Minna, I think I'm in trouble" Miho sighed. "I guess the right thing to do is try to explain to Anzu that Yusei missed his boat and-"

"Nonsense, Miho-san!" Minako insisted. "Your own personal white flag hasn't popped up yet, so there's still a chance we can get away with this!" She called out, "Yusei-san, hide in your girlfriend's clothes closet! Hurry now! There isn't much time!"

"Hai!" The distraught boy appeared and squeezed his body into the confined space, concealing himself behind one of Miho's school uniforms.

"Stay really quiet until Miho tells you it's safe to come out, ok?"

"I'll do my best, Minako-san."

Minako slid the door closed. "There!" the blonde giggled. "No one will ever know!"

The apartment's door buzzer sounded again. "Good luck, Nishizumo-dono" Yukari whispered, holding up crossed fingers.

Miho took a deep breath to compose herself and opened the door, finding Usagi in the hallway. "Hi, Miho-san!" the odango-haired blonde grinned. "Sorry to bother you before your important commander's get-together, but has my tea arrived yet? I'd really like to have a cup."

"Oh! It's you, Usagi-san! Hai, your package of tea is in that box on the table. Please help yourself."

Before Usagi could reach the cardboard box, Minako intercepted her blonde friend and grabbed her by the arm, steering her into the kitchen and whispering urgently in her ear.

"Nani? He's here now?" Usagi blurted. "Ohh! Miho-san!" she giggled, giving Miho a knowing smile and turning the young commander's face red.

"Ssshhh! No one else is supposed to know he's here!" Minako hissed. "Just remember what I asked you to do in the future, ok?"

"Hai! I won't forget!" Usagi nodded.

"It's getting busy in here tonight" Mako spoke as the buzzer sounded yet again.

Miho once more answered her door, forcing herself to smile weakly at the three girls staring at her. "Konnichiwa. Momo-san, uh... why are you here tonight? This meeting is for-"

"I think we all know why I'm here" Momo replied, her voice hard and cold. "Mind if we come in, Miho?" Without waiting for a reply, she strode past the Anglerfish commander and entered the apartment, with Sono and Anzu following.

"Ah... I see our tea has finally arrived" Anzu chuckled, spying the Sunkus courier box.

"Hai. The uh... the tea" Miho murmured.

"This isn't about the tea!" Sono exclaimed angrily. "It's about how it got here!" She peered around the apartment, frowning, and told Miho, "As leader of the Public Morals Committee, I'm reminding you that boys are strictly prohibited from entering girls' apartments on the Zuikaku, Miho. Breaking that rule is a very serious offence, with harsh penalties for anyone who dares to try! Isn't that right, Momo?"

Momo grinned evilly at Miho behind her half-glasses. "Penalties for that particular transgression range from the loss of a significant number of school credits, up to permanent expulsion from Ooarai Girls Academy. Since we haven't had anyone break that rule before, I believe the latter would be most suitable, as a warning to any other girl foolish enough to think she can get away with it."

"You really know how to liven up everyone's evening, Momo-chan" Mako muttered. "You must have a gift for it."

"Don't you dare call me that ever again, Mako!" Momo yelled at the Anglerfish driver.

"In my official capacity, I am hereby searching your apartment, Miho" Sono announced. "Because I know what's going on!"

"That's a first, Sodoko" Mako said.

Sono glared at her. "I'll remember that!" She went on, "You were planning on keeping your boyfriend here with you all night and sleeping with him, weren't you Miho? That makes your crime even worse. Much worse."

As Miho's cheeks turned crimson, Sono took two steps toward the tiny kitchen. "Your boyfriend Yusei is hiding in your apartment, isn't he Miho? Don't try to deny it. I watched him come aboard our ship, and he didn't leave when the supply boat sailed. You're in very deep trouble."

Miho swallowed hard, and was about to confess to the girls when Minako and Usagi emerged from the kitchen. "Ohayou minna!" Minako bubbled. "Nice evening for a big Sensha-do meeting, isn't it?"

"What are you two doing here?" Sono eyed the blondes suspiciously. "You aren't team commanders."

"I just dropped by for the fancy tea!" Usagi grinned. "As a matter of fact, if it's fine with you I'm going to make some right now, Miho-san! I just love the stuff!"

"And you?" she glowered at the second blonde. "What's your excuse, Minako-san?"

"Me?" Minako giggled. "I... uh... I was just running an errand for Miho, Sono-san! That's all." She reached into her purse and extracted the pack of cigarettes she had bought for herself at the convenience store, handing them to the Anglerfish commander. "Here's the cigarettes you asked me to pick up for you, Miho-san. I know you didn't have time to get them yourself, with that important strategy meeting thingy you have taking up all your valuable time tonight."

Going along with Minako's excuse, Miho innocently took the pack and placed it on the table. "Arigatou, Minako-san. I'll pay you for them later."

"I don't believe any of this" Sono muttered. "You're all just stalling for time. Please step aside. Now!" she ordered Usagi and Minako. The Morals Committee leader strode quickly past the two blondes into the kitchen.

"Lose something, Sodoko?" Mako smirked. "Your clipboard, perhaps? Try looking in the refrigerator for it, that's where I keep mine."

Sono emerged from the kitchen empty-handed and scowled at the Anglerfish driver, next striding over to the bed and stooping down to peer under it. "He's not here either, Momo."

Minako laughed, "You should look under my bed, Sono-san! I always keep a few spare copies of my boyfriend stashed away under there. You know..." she winked at the black-haired girl, "just in case!"

Sono glared at her. "That isn't funny, Minako-san."

"I thought it was!" Usagi cackled. "Good one, Minako-chan!"

Inside the closet, Yusei's heart ached as he listened to the conversation outside, knowing that his luck, and the luck of his beloved Miho, was fast running out. Leaning further away from the door, one of Miho's fuku tops brushed lightly against his nose. The sixteen-year-old boy quickly clamped his hands over his mouth, vainly attempting to muffle a soft sneeze.

"Ahchoo!"

"Did you hear that?" Momo grinned wickedly at the closet door. "Gotcha!"

Miho unconsciously wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "Uh... hear what, Momo-san?"

"Your clothes closet, Miho. It just sneezed."

"It must have allergies, Momo-chan" Mako shrugged. "It is that time of the year."

Inside the closet, Yusei suddenly felt a strange and powerful tingling sensation sweep over his entire body as he sat in the darkness. His head slumped forward and his eyes closed, the boy instantly falling into unconsciousness.

On the other side of the closet door, Momo marched over and placed her fingers on its handle. "Minna, I think it's game over for our amorous little Anglerfish commander tonight. In her place, I'll be assuming complete charge of our teams during tomorrow's match."

"Like hell you will!" Yukari blurted, shocking everyone in the room.

"Silence, Yukari! You'll do as I say from now on!"

"Sumimasen!" the curly-haired loader blushed, though her dark brown eyes still flashed in defiance at the other girl.

Momo continued, "Anzu, as Student Council President, it's your decision regarding how severely we punish Miho for breaking the no-boys-in-the-apartment rule. What will it be? Loss of credits? Or expelled?"

Anzu looked up from the box of tea she held and smiled at the girls. "Miho's punishment? It will be... nothing."

"Nothing?" Momo and Sono yelled together, staring at each other in utter disbelief.

"Hai, you heard me. Nothing. At least..." the Council President grinned at Miho, "not this time."

"That's a ridiculous decision, Anzu!" Sono protested angrily. "We can't let her get away with-"

"Minna, listen to me" Anzu interrupted the two deeply upset girls. "If it wasn't for Nishizumi Miho joining us a couple of months ago and single-handedly building up our Sensha-do program, and her incredible skills as a tactician and tank commander, we'd all be out of a job. We would've lost the national tournament, probably in the first round, Ooarai would be shut down, and you'd be scrambling to find another school to attend. And need I remind you both, not as a P.R. Rep or a hall monitor, but as regular students. Let that thought sink in for a minute."

"I'm opening this closet right now and proving there's a boy hiding inside it!" Momo fumed. "Maybe that'll change your mind, Anzu!" She viciously slid the door open, her eyes widening when she discovered only Miho's clothing neatly hanging within. "This is impossible!" she yelled. "I heard someone sneeze! I really did!"

Mako walked over to the tall thin girl and gently patted her on the shoulder. "There, there, Momo-chan. We've got a tough battle coming up tomorrow. Maybe you should go home now and get some rest."

"There is a boy!" Sono muttered. "There has to be!"

Miho stood beside Usagi, smiling brightly. "I know the future you was behind this, Usagi-san" she whispered in the blonde's ear. "Yusei and I owe you a huge debt. Arigatou gozaimasu."

"If I can have a cup of tea before I leave your apartment, we're even!" Usagi smiled back.

"Absolutely!" Miho giggled. "Drink as much as you want! And take mine too!"

The apartment's buzzer sounded, and this time Minako answered the door. "Hi, Mako-chan! Here for your commander's meeting?"

"Hai." The tall brunette entered the apartment and looked with surprise at the collection of girls gathered there. "Am I missing something?" she chuckled.

"Here? Noo!" the blonde giggled. "There's nothing to see here, Mako-chan!" Minako laughed. "Nothing at all!"

. . . . .