I've been looking forward to this.
Sensha-Dō was a truely honorable sport. It taught young women the values of grace, discipline, poise, and unflinching resolve. The sport had names that rung through generations of young girls; Shimada, Nishizumi, and others lost to time.
Shiho Nishizumi took great pride in her family's long and proud history in Sensha-Dō. Indeed, they were there at it's very foundation, and had been champions of its practice ever since. Shiho herself had attended Kuromorimine as a young girl, becoming the Kommandantin and leading her school to victory against St. Gloriana in her very first year, and to two successive victories thereafter.
Perhaps the only thing Shiho loved more than Sensha-Dō was her daughters; She remembered when they were young girls, they'd play and drive the family's Panzers in their training grounds for hours. Even then, Shiho had tried to instill the value of their family name and style into her girls
That is why it had hurt her deeply when Miho had become so detached from the Nishizumi Style. Her loss against Pravda last year had disappointed Shiho immensely; Nishizumis pursued victory at all costs. It was the very lifeblood of their ancestry, and Miho had thrown it all away... Perhaps she was too harsh on her daughter, but the deed was done, and Miho was obviously not fit to carry on the Nishizumi family name. Shiho had taken this with her characteristic calmness; Emotions were a waste of time and should not be shown outside of very intimate and private settings.
When Miho had requested to transfer to Oorai, Shiho had not protested. Better her daughter to fade into obscurity than to poison their Sensha-Dō any more. When word had reached her that her youngest daughter was practicing Sensha-Dō again, Shiho had been enraged; Hadn't she wanted to leave Kuromorimine specifically to get away from the sport!? And now she dared to practice such a... a heresey?? What's more, she allowed MEN on her team! The very thought of it had disgusted her, and she had let it be known to Maho that such things were absolutely and completely forbidden.
It had been Erika Itsumi that caused her to consider a different point of view. Erika was a long time friend of her daughter Maho; In fact, Shiho could see Erika thought of Maho as much, much more than that. Maho, though, was harder to read. Still, Shiho knew her daughter, and she'd bet an entire Panzer that Maho felt the same way, at least to an extent. It was a bit awkward, sure; Erika was like a third daughter to Shiho, and practiced the Nishizumi Style almost religiously. But she guessed there were worse pairings.
So, when Erika had come to her and requested to speak about the Americans, Shiho had listened. They'd soundly beaten Erika in single combat, but the manner in which they did so... well, it was crude, sloppy, and amateurish, but the underpinnings were there; They had studied her style, and used it effectively. Shiho didn't know whether to be flattered or disgusted, in all honesty. But Erika thought highly of the man, and Erika's favor was not something one won over without being worthy of some consideration. So she would withhold judgment until she had a chance to analyze these upstarts for herself.
That chance had come at the Oorai Vs. Pravda match. The American tankers fought bravely, destroying many Pravda T-34s, but had succumbed to the monster that was the IS-3. Had they led a counter-assault, perhaps they could have turned that near loss into a decisive victory. But the Americans were not in command, and followed their orders to the end. That was... Commendable, at least. It had been Miho's refusal to assault the enemy head on, to advance without faltering, that had led to their near defeat.
Now, Shiho Nishizumi wasn't an idiot. Pravda, and especially Nonna, maintained their tanks in pristine condition. The fact that the IS-2 had failed to fire would, therefore, be attributed to luck by most fans.
Shiho was not most fans.
Pravda had broken the rules by kidnapping the American's loader; They hadn't been called out because Oorai didn't file a formal complaint, but they'd done so nonetheless. In Shihos opinion, that was a disgrace, and they deserved every misfortune that befell them. So, when she put the pieces together that the American must have had some involvement in their sabotage, she really couldn't feel any sympathy. After all, turnabout is fair play, and Oorai had not broken the rules until that point. Given that both schools now had suspicion of foul play, they would both likely simply sweep the clandestine operations under the rug, and accept the result of the match, odd as it may be.
Rising from her seat, Shiho decided that she would see her daughter and her newest teammates for herself.
"Come Maho. Let us speak to your sister."
Oorai's team had not celebrated this hard in... well, since the last match. But Hector Perkins had not been the hero hoisted up for all to cheer for before.The girls, once they learned of his part in their victory, had tried to even hold him up for all to see; unfortunately, it seems that Japanese schoolgirls aren't able to quite get an over 6 foot tall, 200 lbs American in the air, but that didn't stop them from clapping him on the back and his Rabbits from swarming him with hugs. He had to admit, it did feel good.
At least, until Katyusha came up, riding on Nonna's shoulders with tears welling up in her eyes. Hector watched as the poor girl conceded defeat to Oorai's commander, before turning away dejectedly and sniffling.
Hector's loli-protection instincts had activated then; He didn't care that Katyusha was technically 3 months older than him, Hector was not going to sit around and watch the poor girl cry. Breaking away from his team, he jogged through the snow to the Pravda girls as they walked back to their truck
"Katyusha!"
Whirling around, Katyushas face lit up slightly as she spotted Hector
"H-hector-san??"
"Hey! Katyusha... Listen girl. You did great. You were smart and cunning and awesome. Sometimes... Sometimes hun, luck just isn't on our side. I'm sorry I had to fight with them, but the time I spent at Pravda with y'all.. I'm gonna miss you. All of you, alot more than I thought."
Katyusha pondered his words as Nonna stared silently
"Then... then you did not betray Katyusha because you hated her? You were simply being loyal to your team?"
"Of course not hun, I'd never hate you!"
Patting Nonna on the head, Katyusha dismounted and approached the burly American
"Hmm... Come. You must speak with Katyusha. Alone!"
Hector began walking with her, Nonna following when Hector spoke up
"Uh... Nonna, she said alone"
Nonna blinked at him, "I do not understand. Where Katyusha goes, I go as well"
"Yes! Katyusha would be nothing without Nonna! She is the right arm of Katyusha! No meeting may take place that excludes Nonna!
Joshua Whitman was a man of focus, dedication, and sheer fucking will. He prided himself on his willpower and ability to think only of the battle, to keep his cool in even the most dire of circumstances. Mentally, he was strong. And he knew it.
Miho was stronger. Alot stronger.
So you really couldn't blame him for his mind turning to mush when she pushed him up against his tank and locked lips with him, tugging on his jacket and lifting her leg like some cliche anime girl. He wasn't exactly complaining; in fact, he really wasn't thinking anything. The rest of the team had erupted into jeers, followed by silence as Miho leapt into his arms, and finally embarrassed retreat when she began kissing his neck, and showed no signs of stopping. Saori had to be pulled away before jealous rage threatened to consume her, but soon the young tankers were alone.
Pulling away from her paramore, Miho fixed Joshua with a loving gaze as the American looked stupidly into the distance
"So... Do um... you wanna come over tonight?"
"Muh?"
Miho giggled, hugging Joshua to her chest and sighing in contentment; She'd always been so revved up after a match, and this was the first time she had an actual outlet for it! Was she going overboard? Who cared!
"And here I thought you had taken up Sensha-Dō again as a way to regain your lost honor."
The voice was like an ice bath on Miho's back; She hadn't heard that voice, with that same dissapointed tone, since... well, since she had left Kuromorimine.
"But here I see the real reason. You use this sport as a way to frolic with boys, caring not that you nearly lost a match you would have been able to win."
Turning around, Miho faced her mother, shame and embarrassment on her face. She quickly seperated from her boyfriend, becoming even more embarrassed when she spotted Maho next to her mother.
"You are as ignorant as I remember, daughter. Sensha-Dō is a maidens sport, a holy exercise that shall only be practiced with inner strength and conviction for victory. And here you are, defiling it."
Joshua was sure he'd need a neck brace for the whiplash he'd just witnessed, as the Nega-Miho returned, next to a... Milf Nega-Miho!?
This was getting out of hand... now there were two of them!
He tried to salvage the situation, returning to the old American tradition of greeting people at awkward times
"I... Uh... Hi? I'm-"
"I know who you are, Mister Whitman. My daughter and my protege have spoken highly of you. I am dissapointed to see they may be mistaken. I am Nishizumi Shiho, the matriarch of the Nishizumi Style."
Shiho turned back to her youngest, "Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for my daughter. You are as much a dissapointment as when I cast you out. This only solidifies my decision. Not only are you sullying the name of Sensha-Dō, but your tactics and strategies are a shame upon the name Nishizumi."
"Now hold on, what-"
Glaring at the American, Shiho spoke coldly
"I will speak to you soon, Mister Whitman."
Shiho continued to berate Miho, who began to turtle up into her shell again. Maho had a cold, impassive look on her face, but her eyes spoke of pain and discomfort.
Joshua decided to revert to the other American tradition of simply yelling louder to get the point across
"HOLD THE FUCK UP!"
Shiho was stopped mid rant, turning slowly to Joshua, eyes alight.
"Have you something to say, Mister Whitman?"
"Yeah, yeah a few things! For one, what the hell is up with your names!?"
Shiho opened her mouth to respond, before freezing as the question hit her.
"W-what?"
Joshua pressed on, "Seriously! Miho, Shiho, Maho, I feel like I'm reading a goddamn Dr. Seuss book! What's next, you have a sister named Shaho?! And to top it off, you all look alike! Maho looks like Miho with a darker color scheme and colder eyes, and you look like Maho just grown up! It's tripping me the hell out!"
Shiho gaped at the American; She wanted to be offended, to talk down to him like the amateurish schoolboy he was, but the question was so... She didn't even know what it was. Unrelated? Random? Somehow strangely valid? For the first time in a long time, Shiho Nishizumi was left stunned.
Joshua pressed on, "Furthermore, Miho has led our team to the semi-finals-no, scratch that, to the championship- A team that hasn't had a Sensha-Dō team in over twenty years! We're using outdated tanks with rookie crews, and her unorthodox tactics have led us to victory after victory. Unless you think we somehow don't deserve our wins so far? Because that would be a bold claim, and I'd be happy to discuss it with the Sensha-Dō League officials and let all of Japan know that Kuromorimine is too cowardly to face a fledgling school on their own, and sought to win by a technicality"
Shiho narrowed her eyes, "Now you've said it, havent you? How dare you besmirch the name-"
"I AM NOT FUCKING FINISHED!"
The Mistress of the Nishizumi family looked aghast and insulted, but Joshua used the advantage to step to her. Fortunately, Japanese women tended to be on the shorter side, and Shiho, while tall for her peers, was shorter than even Joshua. If she towered over him, he doubted he'd have had the balls to actually step twords her.
"You've insulted my girlfriend, you've insulted my team, and you've insulted my name! I am a m
kind man, Nishizumi Shiho, but I am not a coward. I don't expect someone like you to back down from her words, or to apologize. So I will take great pleasure in destroying your team, your style, and ripping the championship from your grasp alongside Miho. As I'm sure Erika has already informed you, I've tested the Nishizumi Style, steel to steel, tank to tank, and I'm unimpressed."
Shiho glared at the American, but her eyes spoke of a glimmer of... not quite respect, but something akin to it.
"You are correct, Whitman. I will not back down, nor will I apologize for speaking harsh truths. But I will admit... you are not what I seem to have envisioned. I will grant you that. But I came to speak with Miho, my daughter, not you."
Joshua looked to Miho, who nodded her head
"It's ok Josh... I'll be fine..."
Giving Shiho one last glare, Joshua walked past her, hugging Miho and kissing her cheek
"You lemme know when you're ready to head home, alright baby?"
Miho blushed and looked down, hiding a grin
"...told you not to call me that..."
"I remember" Joshua said, smirking, before walking off. Walking around the corner, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, spinning him around to face the Nega-Miho.
"Mister Whitman. I'd like to have a word."
Shiho watched the American walk off, turning to her youngest daughter once he was out of sight.
"Mother... I-I'm sorry about him... He can be... he's... um..."
"Stop. The boy is brash, rude, and insulting. He speaks out of turn, and knows not when to stop."
Miho winced, "I-I'll try and work on him, Mother, but he really is very nice-"
"I approve."
"W-what!?"
Shiho moved twords the Panzer IV, running her hand along it's armor
"Your... companion, he is very protective. And he was not wrong. Your style of Sensha-Dō, while i find it... distasteful, has gotten you this far. I will admit that. But still have a far way to go if you wish to be a Nishizumi."
Miho balled her fists, tears in her eyes
"But I don't WANT to be a Nishizumi! Mother, since attending Oorai, I've had more fun than I've ever had at Kuromorimine!"
"Sensha-Dō is not for fun-"
"Not to you! And not to Onee-chan! But I don't want the Nishizumi Style, I don't want the name of our family and it's generations of responsibilities! I want to be Miho! Miho!"
Shihos eyes softened; She always knew. She had hoped that Miho would come around, but deep down... she always knew. Perhaps that's why she had banished her from Kuromorimine. Perhaps, without knowing it, Shiho had wanted to free her daughter of their family burden. She'd never been good at this sort of thing; Daughters were so unlike Panzers, in oh so many ways. But she would try.
"M-miho..."
Miho looked up; Mother rarely ever used her name
"... I... I am sorry you had to leave. I do... miss you. Never think I did what I did because I do not love you. It's just... Our family... Sensha-Dō is such a sacred thing. Your style and actions were wron- were at odds with it."
"I know mother... I know."
Shiho came around, standing next to her daughter
"I still do not approve of your style. I do not think your Sensha-Dō is correct. But... The man you have chosen embodies our ideals, even if he is rather crude about it. That gives me hope that you may return to the true Sensha-Dō some day."
It wasn't much; really, it wasn't anything. But, at the same time, it was something. Miho began sobbing, hugging herself in the cold Pravda night. Shiho was at a loss of what to do; Their father was so much more suited to these things. A mechanic at heart, she always counted on him to fix it when her daughters suffered a mechanical or emotional failure.
Awkwardly, she put her hand on Miho's shoulder, who grabbed her hand and hung on for dear life, before hugging her mother.
"I just w-want you to accept me! To still love me even though I don't f-follow what you preach! You're my mother! My mom! I miss you, and you weren't there! Y-you aren't here! B-but I want you to be!
Shiho stood there, her daughter sobbing in her chest like a young child again, fighting off her own emotions. She wouldn't show weakness, she had shown far too much already. She wouldn't acknowledge the ache in her heart, or her desperate desire to hug her youngest daughter and tell her it would all be ok. She wouldn't show her love so openly.
For that was not the way of the Nishizumi Style.
Joshua had stared down the barrel of an 88mm high velocity anti tank gun as it fired at him, and ordered his tank forward in a desperate, devil may care charge. He had opened the safety of his turret in order to fire his machine gun with reckless abandon on numerous occasions, his face filled with grit and spitting thunderous metal at his foes.
But the prospect of facing his girlfriend's older sister scared the living hell out of him
Maho had walked him over to a different part of the battlefield, away from Miho and Shiho, before motioning for him to sit down.
"Uh... listen, Maho, I'm sorry about what I said, it was-"
"Don't be."
"Huh?"
Hopping up on the side of the StuG and sitting, Maho continued
"Mother was being... unreasonable. Miho has always needed a more delicate approach... Mother just never knew how to do so. I think you actually impressed her, you know. You didn't back down at all, and fought for her. And for that I thank you."
Joshua relaxed a bit, "Yeah, well, you know..."
"That doesn't change the fact that I caught you violating my little sister's innocence behind the tank, however. Did you not think she would be cold if you had undressed then and there?"
Joshua nearly choked at that, "Whoa whoah whoah, we- I wasnt- we weren't- WE WERENT GONNA FUCK! SHE VIOLATED ME FIRST!"
"Oh? So you're saying my little sister is a harlot?"
Joshua paled, looking anywhere but Maho before he was forced to face her eyes. To his shock, her face was the same cold expression as always, but her eyes were gleaming with laughter
"You-y-youre playing with me?"
Maho raised an eyebrow, "Oh, no, I would never, how do you say, 'play with you'. It seems my sister does that enough for everyone. Not that Erika wouldn't still like to try, it seems."
Joshua couldn't help it; He barked out a laugh, which became a chuckle, and turned into a full on laughing fit. Who'd have thought Maho would be a troublemaker??
"You... you're alot like your sister. Alot more than I thought."
"Well, we are sisters. We grew up together. Miho was just... always more sensitive. That didn't sit well with mother. And when Erika came into our lives, well... Erika can be a bit... abrasive."
Joshua snorted, "more like a full on psycho"
Maho glared, snapping at Joshua "Don't insult Erika!"
The American grinned, "Oh? You seem pretty defensive of her."
"I-I am nothing of the sort! I will not simply hear you insult Erika, who is a smart, capable and beautiful young woman-"
"Aha, Miho was right! You do like her!"
Maho stopped, shutting her mouth, but her reddening cheeks told all he needed to know
"It's alright, you know. Miho says she likes you too. More than me, though why she's obsessed with me is a bit... concerning."
"Yes... That caused some feelings of... confusion, with me. I'll admit that. B-but I do not like Erika in that way!"
"Sure, sure." Joshua replied, sticking his tounge out at her, causing Maho to smile-very slightly, of course- and shove him
A comfortable silence settled over the two, as they watched the snow fall along the fields before Maho spoke up
"You know, you're easy to talk to. I don't open up easily. Perhaps it's because you're my sister's boyfriend."
"Oh no, don't go getting a crush on me too now."
Maho fixed him with a blank look, "Don't worry. You aren't my type."
"Not blonde enough for you?" He replied, grinning
The Kommandantin kicked him, "I'm going to destroy your tank now. And it will hurt."
Joshua coughed; Now that was a legitimate threat.
"Sorry, sorry."
Maho hopped off the tank, looking around
"Well, we should return. And Joshua?"
The American turned, surprised she was using his first name
"Yeah?"
"thank you for taking care of Miho. Don't hurt her. She's... been hurt enough as it is."
"Maho... I can't promise I'll never hurt her. I'm human... we make mistakes. We do dumb things. And I don't see this thing with Miho as a short term relationship. I actually see myself with her for a long time, and that's alot of time for ups and downs. But I can promise I won't ever intend to hurt her, and if I do, I'll make it right in any way I can."
Maho nodded, sticking her hand out, "Then I suppose that's all I can ask for."
Joshua took it, shaking hers
"Though, one question. If you two get married in Japan, you understand its custom for you to take her name, yes?"
Joshua blanched; it was a little soon to be talking about that wasn't it!?
"Joshua Nishizumi... Well, at least it won't rhyme."
The American swore he could see that same teasing look in her eye as she walked away. Still, he'd have to ask Sam about that; There was no way that was legitimate.
Right?
Late that night, Joshua laid in Miho's bed. Normally he'd be elated at the thought; Though they hadn't done... that... a late night cuddle and kissing session were always welcome. But something was bothering him, burning into his very soul.
That something was an old Boko toy that Miho insisted on sleeping with, and it was staring right at him, with its creepy ass eyes. He hated that bear. So much.
Miho was currently changing into her sleepwear; It had been an exhausting day for them both. Miho had hugged him tight when her mother finally departed, and though she wasn't happy per se, she said it went... relativly well. They had a date planned tomorrow in port, and they were set to leave in three days time. Mako was utilizing the time to sleep, while Yukari was out with Erwin hunting for rare model tanks. Sam had taken Shinobu on a tour of the city, along with Saori of all people, and Rachel accompanied Hana to the various restraunts around town. They'd already been banned from three buffets last he heard.
Hector had dissapeared since the Pravda match, before emerging late at night with Nonna, Klara, and a very happy looking Katyusha. He refused to talk about what happened, though Nonna and Klara had insisted on getting pictures taken before he left. All he said was that 'the debt was paid' and left it at that, before giving the Rabbits an old reel of film that they had collectively fainted over, before locking themselves in the schools theater room. They, Hector, and Katyusha were set to go out to movies and a tank themed arcade restraunt tomorrow, along with Nina and of course, Nonna and Klara. Michael was nowhere to be found ever since he left with a backpack and several changes of clothes, and most of the girls agreed it was better that way. He'd turn up. Probably.
All in all, it was a nice respite before the match. Joshua had received a love letter from Erika, written in Japanese interspaced with German, commending him on his bravery during the match and stating how 'thoughts of his final stand kept her warm on the long cold nights alone in her Königstiger'. He preferred not to think about exactly what she meant by that.
Miho emerged from the bathroom in her nightgown, smiling brightly at Joshua before jumping on the bed and sniffling up to him. As the two became entranced by eachother, two thoughts entered his mind:
The first was that he was excited and nervous, but with Miho and his friends by his side, he was looking forward to the championship more than he thought he would. They'd pull through.
The second was that he fucking hated that bear, as he kissed Miho only to see it our of the corner of his eye, staring at him.
Watching.
Learning.
Judging.
Well, I hope I did justice to our happy little Nishizumi family. I was looking forward to the meeting between them all.
I wanna say that I know I made Shiho a bit nicer than she was in the anime, but in the mangas she is shown to actually care deeply about Miho, just not knowing how to show it. She's also torn between dissapointment in her Sensha-Dō and the love a mother has for her daughter.
Maho also is a little bit more teasing than she's shown normally, but I think her and Miho have more similar personalities than most expect. Maho just has to hide it alot better. Also threw a little more fun homebrew Garupan world lore, what with Sensha-Dō being a female dominated sport and men not having the right to vote, I figured why not, let's make the guys take on the girls names in Japan. Sensha-Dō is already shown as having a huge cultural impact, and I play it for laughs.
As always, read, review, lemme know what you think.
