It was late afternoon with the sun setting over the calm seas, as the Akagi School carrier sail on, heading for their affiliated port city in Narashino in Chiba Prefecture, where they would dock so staff and students could leave the carrier for some shore time in the port city as MEXT would resupply the carrier with essentials before seeing it off back to sea. For many students, this was a much look forward to event to make port, as they were allowed small allowances to go out and enjoy themselves in the city, whether it be shopping, arcades, or eating out. Headmaster Hidemichi wanted them to go laugh and be free, after being constrained to the school carrier for months, as nice as said ship was, every once and a while it was good to let the girls enjoy the mainland.
Though for a certain group of girls, there was already a consensus that they didn't want to leave the carrier. Not because they were being punished or anything, but for the mere embarrassment they felt in themselves after recent events that the whole nation knew about. Those students belong to the Chi-Ha-Tan Sensha-do team who had suffered the ultimate humiliation handed down to them by Saunders University High School who had knocked them out of the first round, though that had been nothing new for Chi-Ha-Tan who been knocked out of the first round for decade and undoubtedly had become so normal for them, that most fans at this point expected it to happen, but the recent loss was unexpected in terms of how it happen.
Because they hadn't just charged to get blown away like the norm, as part of their team was instead taken apart piece by piece slowly and cruelly, while the other was given the taste of the Sherman Firefly's deadliness that all alone stunted the Chi-Ha-Tan special charge. Which now made all of the Sensha-do members want to stay on board, not wanting to show their faces to the public, because they had in their minds brought great shame on their academy and affiliate port city. Nothing hurt worse than that for the Sensha-do members, especially the 2nd and 3rd years, because they knew that the fans of the club had always stayed by their sides through everything, all the losses, and failure, they had always supported the club with donations and rallies.
Now, what did those fans have to cheer about? A team who had been brought to its lowest in decades. At least before they had been just taken out, but always display a fighting spirit that never fears any opponent they face, never wavering to any challenge, be it Kuromorimine or Pravda, Chi-Ha-Tan would cheer for the honor to take them on and win, then get blown away, but at least they believe they could do the impossible. Now, all that goodwill had been washed away with this recent match, with fans witnessing their proud team get taken apart in such appalling fashion was too much while showing nothing but what the Chi-Ha-Tan team really was on the surface.
A broken and divided team.
A team that needed an identity to get behind, but how to achieve that was the real question.
With this certain question rattling the mind of one such Sensha-do member.
That being Nishi, who was at present as well not going getting off the ship, even if she hadn't participated in the match itself. She also carries the great shame of what had happened in her heart, to see her upperclassmen toy with and disgraced went so far as to give her nightmares. Not to mention the brawl the team had after the match as they try to board the transport train for home. Which was only stopped by Headmaster Hidemichi, while Nishi did her best to keep the reserve group getting involved knowing that would only be adding fuel to the fire.
Though she had stopped her fellow first-years from getting into the fight, afterward Tamada got into Nishi's face about it. The two girls who came from very different paths in life had bonded to one another over tankery and were now separated by the code of the warrior their school follow. With Tamada howling about how they should have stood up for Mizuko, while Nishi argue about Mizuko sucker-punching Ako at the end that could have seriously hurt their commander. The argument went back and forth, till Tamada having reached her boiling point, told Nishi she shouldn't lead this club if she's not going to stand up with her tankery sisters when they need to.
The sharp words cut right through Nishi, who almost cried to see how much her friend seem to hate her. Though Tamada began to tear up as well, then simply walk away not wanting to fight anymore. This lead to Nishi with a need to get some fresh air, so she walk to the large forest area behind the academy, going through it till she found the river where a lot of the girls came to eat lunch at. It was a serene scene, which help calm Nishi down, as she sat by the edge of the water, taking her shoes and socks off to let her feet soak in the cool water.
"What am I going to do?" Nishi said quietly to herself.
As she was wondering what was going to happen to their club, with their upperclassmen gone, it was up to the first years to pick things up. Though that was easier said than done for the obvious reasons that none of the first years had any match experience, save for practice matches between each other. While they were currently very understrength for tank crews, being able to only field a small number of tanks with what they had. With no veterans to help them grow, Nishi doubt they could even get a sniff of their enemy before they were blown away, not to mention there was a divide of ideologies in their own group of traditionalists and modernists, that might just lead to the same thing happening as before, going into a match with a divided team.
Problems on top of problems, with no answer Nishi could conjure up, only making her more depressed as time went on.
"Hey you," a voice call out.
Turing over her shoulder, Nishi took in the sight of Ako, wearing the Chi-Ha-Tan school uniform like Nishi.
Immediately, Nishi try to rise from her spot and turn around to salute her commander, even if she was no longer part of the club, Nishi held Ako in high regard. Yet Ako just wave her hand to tell Nishi to stay where she was, which she did. Then the former Chi-Ha-Tan commander walk down and took off her shoes and sock, to sit down next to Nish and let her feet soak in the cool water along with her.
"Ah, nothing I tell, ever feels better than dipping your feet in this water," Ako said with a pleasant smile on her face.
Nishi said nothing, not knowing what the best words to say were.
Though Ako turn her face to her with a teasing smirk. "You know there's a rumor these waters might have healing factors, especially if you got athletes foot."
"I don't have athletes' foot," Nishi yelp.
That made Ako let out a hearty chuckle, grateful to get Nishi to react like that. To which the first year let out a small chuckle that soon began to form into uncontrollable giggles. For a moment and a much-needed one for them, both girls just let their laughter ring in the air, letting go of whatever was clinching their hearts, for an instant of freedom they both surely needed.
Ako was the first to calm down. "Well, glad to see that smile of yours is still under there."
"Heh, that's what you were after," Nishi said with an embarrassed smile.
"Of course," Ako said with a wave of the hand. "Can't have my junior feeling as down as I am."
That statement made Nishi's heart clinch, as she spoke. "Well, there's no denying things are in a bad way for us."
"Yep, we can laugh till dawn, but the reality is pretty crappy for us right now," Ako said, leaning back on her hands and looking up to the darkening sky.
"Is there a chance that you and Miss Mizuko can reconcile? Maybe use that to convince Mister Hedimichi to uplift the suspicion?" Nishi ask, hoping to get the answer she wanted.
"No, I already try to talk with her. Yet she brush me off, telling me I fail not just our club, but every tanker in the history of Chi-Ha-Tan," Ako sadly said.
Nishi reach over and touch Ako's arm to try and show support. "That isn't true commander, you did everything in your power to try to change this club for the better. You're…you're…you're better than every tanker in the history of this sport because you wanted to change."
Ako let a small grateful smile out to Nishi for her words, then spoke. "Thank Nishi, you know I came out here to comfort you, but really I'm the one being helped up. Embarrassing right, I'm the upperclassmen here."
"That doesn't matter, at least I think, you've been looking out for me since day one, help me realize what it means to be a real team. Your words are what are sewn into my heart, I won't ever forget them, as I want to use them to help others," Nishi reply with vigor.
"Once again thank you, Nishi, thank you for keeping the other first years out of that fight too that could have gotten ugly," Ako said.
"Of course, I knew it get worse if others join in, but still, Mizuko didn't need to sucker punch you like that at the end," Nishi said in a solemn tone.
Rubbing her jaw, Ako remember the force of the punch and was glad it did only enough damage to bruise her. "She's got a mean right hook, Mizuko was probably better off in boxing, not Sensha-do."
"Is she really going to quit? Along with the second years too?" Nishi ask now.
"Yea, she made it clear she won't be part of the club next year. Mizuko's just mad at Hidemichi suspending her for the first round of next year's tournament, so she's done and her second years aren't going to fight without her," Ako explain with a sigh following.
"How are we supposed to win then, so Miss Mizuko can come back?" Nishi ask.
That made Ako turn to Nishi with a bewildered look. "You seriously want to fight beside her? She practically tormented you, while if you won in the first round next year, all she would do is push you aside just to get what she wants, another massacre I tell you."
"Your right," Nishi said, but brought her eyes up to Ako with a fierceness to them. "Yet I can tell she cares for this club earnestly, even if her mind is clouded. I want to find the common ground like you tried and bring this club back up together, for you, for my tankery sisters, and our academy."
No reply follow the statement from Ako, as she stare a Nishi for a moment. Taking in the sight of the girl who on the first day was so flustered to even speak to her, but now that very same girl had this look of pure determination on her face, gone were any doubts about her role in this team now. Nishi was a Chi-Ha-Tan tanker through and through now, she was a leader, and most importantly she was the future from Ako's view, which warm her heart like nothing else.
"Nishi, I'm so proud of you," Ako said, with small tears forming in her eyes.
With suddenly being told her upperclassmen was proud of her and tears coming from her eyes, Nishi became frantic about what to do, which now made Ako laugh to see she still could act like a first-year when she needed to, telling Ako there was still lots of room to grow for the future of Chi-Ha-Tan Academy.
"I meant what I said," Ako said once her giggle fits had stopped. "I'm proud of you."
"Well…uh…thank you, for all you have done for me," Nishi said back with an embarrassing smile, then bow her head in respect of her upperclassmen.
"No thank you Nishi for all you're going to do," Ako said, bowing in respect back.
Bringing her head up, Nishi gave her a sidelong glance. "What do you mean?"
"The future of Chi-Ha-Tan's Sensha-do team is in your hands now," Ako said with an encouraging smile.
"Eh, that's a lot to put on me," Nishi mumble out.
"I know, forgive me for being selfish. Yet I fail in my pursuit in the new era of Chi-Ha-Tan, one that we were no longer just a punching bag for others," Ako said with some frustration in her voice.
"Do you really believe I can lead?" Nishi said timidly.
Ako nodded at her. "You can, but find your own style, which you don't have to do alone. You can find it with your tankery sisters to bring forth an age of Chi-Ha-Tan that will be so bright, it will push all the shadows that's cover it for so long."
"Heh, you really got a lot of faith in me, but I don't want to misplace your trust. I'll lead with whatever strength I can to meet these expectations, it just will be hard to do. Especially with Tamada and me at odds," Nishi said in a sad tone, thinking of her friend now.
"Don't worry, Tamada may have had Mizuko influence her, but I can see she greatly respects you. Probably the reason she left the carrier was that she didn't want to say something she regret," Ako try to encourage.
"Maybe your right, Tamada may have an angry streak, but she cares for the girls, they're the only family she has," Nishi said.
"You're her family too Nishi and like any family, you stick together through the good and the bad, till one day there comes the moment when all your struggles are shown to pay off and nothing feels better I believe," Ako said.
Nishi nodded happily. "You always know what to say…commander."
"It's a commander's job, while I have one last order for you. Keep our club together and find the path forward to an era of Sensha-do that will shine brighter than anyone can imagine, to really show the iron tanker you are…and…and I just hope I'm there to catch some of the light coming off you," Ako encourage, looking to the sky once more as if she was searching for the light that she hopes Nishi would bring to their club one day.
Nish felt tears brim at her eyes, because of great respect for Ako and the want to match this pride she had in her. Making Nishi stand up on her feet, locking her feet together to snap off a smart salute to her commander, whose words and belief would never be forgotten here, Nishi would keep Ako's dream alive for a new and unified era of Chi-Ha-Tan Academy.
"I'll accomplish this mission with all the strength I can muster, no matter the storm, I'll persevere this dream for you," Nishi said determinedly
Standing to her feet, Ako return the salute. "See that you do…commander."
Then the two girls drop their salute, with Nishi unable to hold back as she jump into Ako to hug her tightly as she began to cry. Ako felt tears begin to stream down, but kept her composure, trying to accomplish her job now as not a commander, but as an older tankery sister as she began to stroke Nishi's hair while whispering soothing words to calm her down.
For Ako's time was over.
The time for a ReRise was coming.
XxxxX
"Dammit, dammit, dammit," Tamada said to herself, as she walk the streets of the port city Narashino, as she had just left the Akagi to try and clear her head, wearing the Chi-Ha-Tan school uniform with her long black hair waving down her back.
Nishi had tried to stop her, but Tamada was having none of it, though unfortunately gotten into a fight about it with Tamada saying something she had regretted and hurt Nishi. That cause Tamada to leave before she was stupid enough to hurt her friend anymore, needing to be anywhere but on the carrier as she couldn't stand the dark shroud that had engulfed her team.
With the 2nd and 3rd years having quit the club because of the fight after the match as Hidemichi had suspended them from any other matches for the rest of the year. While Mizuko was also angry Hidemichi was the one to suspend her for doing nothing but standing up for the club's ideals that had been disregarded by Ako in the match, leaving part of the team to get wiped, and not fighting as a unit. Though Tamada couldn't argue against the suspicion since it was because Mizuko had sucker punch Ako when the fighting was over that could have seriously hurt her.
Now they were gone, with only the first years in club roster, but were severely understrength for crews, while also they had lost their upperclassmen who were their drill masters. Without them, they were lost how to even proceed with practice now, as their upperclassmen weren't there to provide them knowledge and experience to pass down, even as limited as it was, it was vital for up and coming tankers, who now were going to have to navigate the unknown of Sensha-do without a guiding hand, that even right now seem a daunting task.
"What do I do now?" Tamada ask herself, walking by the passing wave of people who paid her no mind while going about their evening.
It was a question that was causing Tamada's heart to break, as she was worried about what was left of the team. With what happened, some of them were questioning if they wanted to do tankery anymore, some even outright saying it was probably better to leave since there was no way they could compete without getting equally embarrassed. Of course, Tamada didn't want to give up, but her approach to motivating her wavering teammates had been something akin to her upperclassmen Mizuko, berating them for betraying the way, to which only scare her tankery sisters.
Where Tamada's attempts only cause the morale of their remaining members to plummet even more, Nishi was the one to come in and keep it from completely falling apart. Talking with the girls in a sort of a motherly tone, a little harsh, but the stern words made all of the first-year group keep together, not wanting to break up over what happened. It was then Tamada understood why Nishi was so respected, she had a way to make others follow without the need to raise her voice. Unlike Tamada who only knew how to bring them down, which was the most upsetting part, because she didn't know any other way.
It was also why Tamada felt so utterly sick with herself now, knowing she had just cut into Nishi like everything was her fault when Nishi was the only one keeping them together. That's why Tamada was out walking the streets trying to cool her head enough, then she go back and find Nishi and apologize to her for all the words. Nishi was her family now, Nishi hadn't abandoned her like Tamada's own parents had done, she had stayed with her even when Tamada had done enough to make anyone leave, Nishi just smile and said it was alright.
"Why am I like this? My anger just makes me do stupid things…if only…if only Toh-," Tamada spoke quietly to herself, then felt someone bump into her.
"Hey, kid! Watch where your walking!" a passing male pedestrian said, glaring at her.
"Sorry," Tamada said with a bow.
"Damn kids these days," the man said, then went back to walking along with the crowd.
I need to find somewhere to stop and think, walking the busy streets might cause that to happen more
Tamada thought, then look around and found a small alley she could escape into. As she enters the smell of the cigarette smoke and booze fill her nostrils, making her grimace that maybe she should find another alley, but press on with the thought she just walk through and be out of there quickly. On either side the small alley had closed business of every variety, while some small stands were situated in the middle selling street food, that's delectable smell mix in now. It made Tamada's stomach growl, but she push that down, knowing she just wanted to get through this.
As she walk on, she pass a stall that was hoarded by a small group of boy high schoolers enjoying some Nikuman, which were Chinese Bazoi pork fill dumplings. They were joking and laughing with one another, making Tamada a little jealous, since she wish she could be out with her friends doing the same thing, instead she was alone on the streets, almost feeling like an orphan again.
Come on tough girl, no crying when you got me at your side
A voice play through Tamada's mind, the voice of someone who had once been her closest friend in the entire world. Tohaku, a fellow orphan she had met at the last orphanage before she came to Chi-Ha-Tan. She still remembers the first time he approach her with a cocky smile saying he was the toughest kid till she arrive, as Tamada had already let a couple boy's know she wasn't one to be picked on with some bloodied noses, to which the caretakers had scolded her about it, but it didn't bother her.
Tamada felt a small smile plaster her face, remembering the two got into a fight, with neither backing down. Till finally, they both fell over exhausted by their tussle, then began to laugh so hard their sides hurt, being a weird way for them to bond together. From then on, they never let anyone mess with them, as they kept close. While for Tamada, for the first time in her life open up to someone, letting her fears and dreams out, to which Tohaku was always there to tell her it's alright and encourage her. It got to the point where Tamada had begun to feel odd romantic feelings, but those were banished away when Tohaku ran from the orphanage after beating up some rich kids who were making fun of them, almost killing one of them if not for Tamada's intervention.
She hadn't seen him since that day.
"Hey," one of the boys at the stall said, after gulping down another Nikuman, getting his friend's attention. "That girl has been staring at us for a bit."
"Maybe she's got a thing for one of us," another boy said.
"Well, she ain't hungry for the food. See that uniform, she part of that Chi-Ha-Tan academy, lucky girl, gets to enjoy being out on the sea, instead of stuck in a cramped city," another of the group said.
A tsk from the other boys let know his frustration. "Why the hell is it only girls that get to attend those schools on carriers? Not to mention it's always the prettiest too, all our girls are plain as day at our high school."
"Yea, those reds eyes she got are pretty damn sexy and that long black hair too."
"Not to mention that figure, maybe one of us should go talk to her."
"I got this boy's," the last member of the group said, his hair was long and bundle into a neat ponytail, his facial feature strong and sharp, with light blue eyes that were captivating, with a slight tan due to his background in soccer.
"Oh man, Kinji is about to dribble for goal again."
"And he always scores, how many you already got Kinji?"
Kinji let a devilish look cross his face, then spoke. "Nine, about to get my ace when I get her."
"That's our Kinji for you!"
There was a round of agreements for the ace striker who score on and off the field. This only boasted Kinji's ego, as he wave for his fellow teammates to calm down, and left the food stall to go talk to the girl who was still staring at the group. He eye her over from top to bottom, he guess she was a first-year, which work for him since they were always the easiest back at his high school, always falling captive to his eyes, then he take them a secluded spot.
Now he thought to take a different challenge with a school carrier girl.
Tamada for her part, broke out of remembering of Tohaku, to notice the boy walking up to her. Making her curse since she had been staring too long and they must have thought she was captivated by them. Which was far from the case, making her need to leave quickly a must, but she didn't get far as the boy close the distance and call out to her.
"Hey there, couldn't help but notice you're all alone, want to come get a bite with us," Kinji said, flashing his smile at her to start things off.
Tamada gave him a hard look. "I'm fine, thanks for the offer."
"Come on, can tell you don't like being out here by yourself, if your uncomfortable with groups, then I can escort you. I know some fun spots around here, whatever you want, maybe the arcade, good food spots, or maybe something a little more fun than that," Kinji said slyly.
"How can I hang out with someone I don't know," Tamada shot back.
Kinji nodded his head with amusement. "Right, right, you got me there, sorry for being rude. My name is Kinji Masuyama, but you can just call me Kinji."
"That's a little improper," Tamada leaning her head away in suspicion.
"Ah, let's forget properness, it's boring. What's your name?" Kinji ask.
"Tamada."
"First name?" Kinji said.
"No, I don't give out my first name to strangers," Tamada said while crossing her arms in annoyance.
Man she's a tough one to crack, but for some reason, that's more exciting
Kinji thought, with his smile growing wider. "Fair enough, how about we hang out, and then we won't be strangers anymore."
"I'm good, I have to get back to the carrier before curfew," Tamada said, then began to walk away feeling she needed to get back before this boy continue trying to talk to her.
Yet, Kinji was not deterred as he follow Tamada. "You can say that, but I can tell you don't like to play by the rules, so why act like the good little student you're not?"
That made Tamada turn on heel to him, as now they were face to face. "You don't know me, stop trying to act like you do."
"Oh, but I do know you. I can see that rebellious spirit you got because I got it too, you can hang out with me as late as you want, even know some cheap internet cafés that allow overnight guests," Kinji press with a roll of the eyebrows at the suggestive idea.
"You think I want to spend a night with you? You're too confident for your own good," Tamada said with a shake of the head.
As she try to walk away from him again, Kinji call out. "I'm sure you want to spend the night forgetting the humiliation your Sensha-do team went through."
Once more Tamada stop and turn on heel towards him, but with an angry look. "How do you know I'm part of the club?"
A shrug follow the response from Kinji. "A guess, but your facial expression tells me you are. I compete in sports too and know if I went through something like that, the last place I want to be is near my club. I need to find a way to vent as I'm sure you're trying to do out here."
Tamada was about to argue, but clamp up, as that was exactly what she was trying to do. Though she hadn't found a source to vent out her frustrations, having been left to just walk around hoping that be her best way to let off steam, but so far hadn't been that effective, feeling like she needed something else.
"Do you think we brought shame on the port city because of that match?" Tamada ask, not knowing why she was seeking an answer from someone she didn't know.
"Well, it's the talk of the city for sure. But you didn't fight in that match?" Kinji ask.
"No, but we share it as a team," Tamada said, rubbing her shoulders to try and calm herself down.
"True, but you're a first-year, you got time to grow," Kinji said soothingly while drawing closer to Tamada.
"I don't know about that," Tamada said, turning her face away.
Then she felt a soft hand cup her cheek, bringing her eyes back to Kinji whose blue eyes bore into red ones. For a moment she was lost in them, unable to fight back against him touching her without permission. He drew his face closer to hers, making Tamada's heart beat fast wondering why she couldn't find her will to resist.
"I can help you forget, at least for a night," Kinji said in a husky voice.
Then something snap in Tamada, breaking the trance he had on her, hearing him all but say he just use her. Tamada then rip head away from his hand, then with all her might behind her arms, gave the philander a powerful shove to his chest sending him careening onto his back, with a painful gasp to follow.
Tamada then stood over him, with a growl. "You think you can just use me? I had a friend whose ten times the man you'll ever be, who doesn't' abuse girls in a desperate state for his own amusement."
"You fucking bitch!" Kinji angrily said, rising to his feet.
Though Tamada was more than willing to punch his lights out, she knew that look bad for the academy if she was caught out brawling with the local high schoolers. Headmaster Hidemichi had Tamada's respect for having taken her into his school to give her a family, so she wouldn't tarnish that by doing something that would hurt the image of the place she love, just because she was angry.
Turning quickly around, Tamada made a beeline for the other end of the alley away from Kinji who scream at her to stop. Then heard him call his friends over to chase her, making Tamada push hard to escape, as the few pedestrians watching on seem to not care about what was happening, and simply move out of the way of the fleeing girl not wanting to get involved.
With her breaths coming in short and sweat beginning to run down her face from the exertion of the escape, Tamada look left and right, but it seem like she was in an endless maze as she couldn't find the exit to the main street, while she didn't know this area at all. She finally came to a T intersection, looking both ways, then to her rear as she heard Kinji and his goons catching up with every second she wasted. Finally, she made up her mind and made a left turn down the dimly lit alleyway.
Though it didn't take long for that to prove to be a mistake, as Tamada found nothing but a dead end.
"No, no, no, no," Tamada said to herself, looking to see if there were any doors, but found nothing but solid walls around her.
Soon a host of footsteps made her turn around to see Kinji who seem to be in perfect shape and his boys behind him close her off. Effectively trapping her against the dead end, making Tamada quake with fear knowing she was outnumbered and there was no one to call out for help. Her only option was to fight to get out of this situation.
"Well, now you're going to pay for that little shove earlier," Kinji said with a smirk, then nodded for his boy's to go get her.
They all came at once at her, with Tamada calming herself while raising her fist up. This wasn't her first rodeo, she had been in plenty of fights in the orphanage, against kids bigger than her. With this being no different this time, as she was going to have to do the very thing she had done since she became an orphan, and that was fight for survival.
"Take this!" One boy said, coming in with a clumsy punch.
That made Tamada smirk to see how much of an amateur he was, as she slipped the punch to the left, then answer with her own punch right into his kidney's that must of sent an explosion of pain in the boy's body, as he let out a howl of agony into the night air, falling to the ground holding the injured area. This made the rest of the group stop and do a double-take on their foe, seeing she was no amateur and was going to do the same to them if they weren't careful.
"I thought you had some fight in you, and how right I was, I like it," Kinji said, as he came forward as well.
"You're disgusting," Tamada said, holding her fist up ready for another go.
"Will need to break that spirit here, now rush her," Kinji order, as the rest of the group including him came forward.
Readying up again, Tamada met the group of boys with a flurry of slips and counter punches as they made to grab instead of box with her. Yet for their combined efforts, they couldn't even touch Tamada as she evaded even in the limited space, throwing counter punches in vital areas to keep her foe's back. Yet soon the numbers began to tell for Tamada who felt her breath coming in short gasp and her body beginning to slow down, even with the adrenaline running through her. As now Kinji press to the front to try his hand at her.
"Come on, show me some more of that fight," Kinji said, grinning like a madman, enjoying every second of this.
"I'll just show you how flimsy your jaw is," Tamada growl back while coming at him with a solid left jab.
Yet Kinji, unlike before, reacted in kind to Tamada's strike, slipping it, that surprise Tamada. While he follow up with a counter strike, putting all his power into a gut punch, that caught Tamada square, making her exhale sharply from the force of it, with spittle flying from her mouth. Then she fell to her knees, holding her stomach trying to find her breath that refuse to come to her, while Kinji and his boys surrounded her while chuckling at her.
"Well girl, hope you had fun, because I as sure as hell did," Kinji said standing over her.
Tamada try to speak, but she still hadn't got her breath back, having to find it still while holding her stomach.
"But I need some more fun," Kinji taunted, then grabbed Tamada by her black hair, making her yelp in pain, as he made her turn to look at him.
"Now, you're going to make sure me and my boy's get some payback for all the trouble you caused us," Kinji said with a sly smile.
It didn't take long for Tamada to figure out what he was suggesting. "No, not that, anything but that."
"Heh, so tough before. You think you Sensha-do girls be a bit tougher, but once that armor is peeled away, your just ordinary girls out in the open, don't worry will maybe be gentle," Kinji joke, causing a round of laughs at their captive.
"If…if you do this, you'll get in trouble," Tamada said fearfully, hoping that back them down.
"You sure you want to preach to everyone that you're loose," Kinji said.
"What-," Tamada try to argue.
"It will be our word against yours, I got a bunch of witnesses here who will say you wanted this, sure will get reprimanded, but you'll have to live with the humiliation, but then again that's what your club is best known for," Kinji taunted.
Those words cut right through Tamada, as she once again was reminded of the humiliation her club was enduring, worse being that her team had only added to the legacy of failure they were currently going through. Now she would have her own humiliation to live with as she felt her resistance fail her, just wishing someone was here to help her, to bring her back up, to wipe away all this terrible feeling she was carrying.
She wish for him.
"Well you're a real gentleman," a voice call out.
All eyes turn back to the alleyway they had traveled down to see a lone figure standing by a dim light. Tamada scrunch her eyes hard trying to bring into focus who it was, as the figure was dressed in black jeans and matching colored converse, with a green hoodie on with the hood itself drawn up covering the person's face.
"If you know what's good for you, just walk away before we pummel you," Kinji challenge.
"That sounded like a threat," the hooded figure said.
"It was," Kinji reply.
The hooded figure nodded his head. "Good, just wanted to make sure."
Then the hooded figure came forward with a charge, surprising Kinji and his group, but quickly Kinji order his fellow teammates to get the hooded figure. They charge to meet their foe but were surprised as they slip their punches without retaliation, till they were past them all, then came right for Kinji who let go of Tamada and came to meet this foe with a solid job.
Yet the jab only found air, as the hooded figure gave him the slip as well, then came around to send a kick into the boy's rear end that sent Kinji flying forward onto the concrete. To which made the hooded figure chuckle at seeing the proud bully now rubbing the area with a hiss of pain. Then turn around to Tamada who was looking up at him from the ground.
"Come on tough girl, no crying when you got me at your side," the hooded figure said.
Tamada felt her breath hitch at those words, as small tears form in her eyes, as she ask the question. "Who are you?"
The hooded figure pull back his hood, to reveal a young boy, only a year older than Tamada. His large green eyes drank in her sight, his neat black hair was a neat fade and with the top comb over. With strong chiseled features with a slight scar over his left cheek, which had happened when the two had fought off some bullies back at the orphanage which was always a must to be tough to avoid being picked on.
"Tohaku…it's you," Tamada voice out like a whisper.
"Yep," Tohaku said, then held a hand out to her to help her up.
"But how?" Tamada ask, taking his hand.
"Will talk later, seems we got a fight on our hand, so let's take care of it first," Tohaku said with a warm smile.
"Yea…yea…yea your right, let's do this," Tamada said, then took a fight stance next to her long lost friend, which fill her heart back up with the will to fight.
Taking a stance next to her, Tohaku spoke. "Like old times huh?"
Tamada just nodded with a smile, then look at her foes.
Kinji rose to his feet. "You'll pay for that, come on guy's we ain't letting a bunch of street rats beat us."
A battle cry went up from them as they came forward, to which Tamada and Tohaku nodded once more to each other and charge as well into the fray, side by side, just as they had done since they met.
The fistfight was over in seconds, as the proud boys were no match for two souls who've only know what it's like scrape and fight for survival. They had been built tough by their upbringings that had molded them to be able to push through anything, that included a bunch of punks who thought they were tough, yet were nothing but a bunch of pretenders in front of the real thing.
Soon enough, Tamada and Tohaku, breathing hard from their fight, look around to see Kinji and his boys all on the ground holding their injured areas and moaning in pain from the beating they deserve. Both of them look at each other and smile as they had won, then Tohaku walk off to kneel next to Kinji, grabbing him by the collar and pull the bully up to look at him.
"Now, let's get one thing clear here, you will never tell anybody about this right? Or I'll come to visit you, I know what school you go to," Tohaku threatens.
"Ye...ye…yea fine, we won't breath a word about this promise," the philander blurted out, his earlier confidence all but erase.
"Good, now one more thing, apologize to my friend or I'll beat your face in till no girl will even walk the same street as you, or better yet I'll just let her beat you into that state, its more than you deserve," Tohaku order.
Looking past him, Kinji spoke in a frightened tone to Tamada. "I'm sorry for what happened, that was wrong of me. I totally deserve what I got and I won't breathe a word of this to anyone, now please let me go."
Tamada didn't bother wasting breath on him and just nodded.
With that, Tohaku was appeased, then drop the boy on the ground and walk back to Tamada. "So, long time no see."
"That's an understatement of the year," Tamada joked.
"Right, well I know you got questions, but best find somewhere else to talk, come on," Tohaku said, then turn on heel to walk out of the alley.
Tamada watch him for a moment, thinking this couldn't be real, but there he was, someone who had been with her in the darkest moments of her life. Been at her side to help her up and the first person in this world she could call a friend, to which she was wasn't going to let go of now or ever.
Yet first, she was going to scold him for being absent from her life, with that thought making her smile as she ran to catch up with him, thinking that this night got a whole lot better. With curfew being damn, for she was going to be with him for as long as she needed to help push these dark clouds from her mind, that she knew he could do.
XxxxX
"So when are you going to start explaining yourself?" Tamada ask in an irritated tone.
A soft chuckle follow the question from Tohaku, who look at Tamada with a wide smile. "What do I need to explain?"
The two were currently walking down the streets of Narashino, after having given the bullies something to remember in the form of a beating. With Tohaku taking her to a secluded place so they can talk, to which Tamada couldn't contain her questions anymore, and she had every right to not want to contain them. As her friend, someone she thought lost was right here walking with her as if nothing happen.
"Uh, everything. Where have you been? Are you alright? How have you been surviving out here since you left the orphanage?...those kinds of explanation that you so far are avoiding," Tamada said walking by her old friend's side.
"In good time, alright?" Tohaku said with an amuse look.
"Guess that annoying vagueness hasn't been lost on you," Tamada said.
"While your sharp tongue hasn't left you, still as feisty as ever," Tohaku shot back, giving her that dumb smile that made Tamada ease off.
"Whatever," Tamada said, while flicking her head to the side so she didn't have to look him in the eye.
"Alright, alright, we're almost there, so quit your pouting," Tohaku said with an amused roll of the eyes.
That made Tamada turn back to him now, with an annoyed look. "I am not pouting, you of all people should know I don't do that."
"And you're doing what now?" Tohaku said.
"About to get even," Tamada said as she stop walking to take a fight stance.
Following suit, Tohaku stop to turn back to her, seeing how serious she was. It wasn't like he didn't expect this from his old friend, especially after running from the orphanage after that tussle with the rich kids who had been taunting the both of them. While not to mention the worst part of that whole ordeal of having hit Tamada as she try to get him off one of the rich kids in his blind rage, as he hit her by accident when she pulled him off.
He remember that look of betrayal on her face afterword's that broke him, because he had hurt the first person in his life who gave a damn about him. Which prompted him to run away, hoping to not involve her with his troubles anymore, which seem to have paid off in the end in some way for Tohaku, after he came back to the orphanage and ask the kids where Tamada had gone. He learn from them that she had been adopted to Chi-Ha-Tan Academy, which saddened him to know he have to put his apology on hold till he could meet her once more.
With now being that day to atone for that, but first, he needed to calm her down.
"So if we do this, will settle down you wildcat?" Tohaku said, with a teasing smirk.
That made Tamada growl to hear him call her that nickname he used to call her. "Maybe, but you might not like the result."
"Funny, that should be my line," Tohaku said, while taking a stance now with a smirk.
Knowing he was onboard, Tamada came forward with a right handed jab that was met with no counterpunch as Tohaku shifted his head to avoid it. That didn't deter the fiery girl who kept up the jabbing barrage, alternating left to right, making her foe and friend back off while not fighting back that only made her angrier.
"Come on, throw a punch coward," Tamada said angrily.
"Why? I'm letting you let off steam, which was the point of this right?" Tohaku taunted, still backpedaling calmly from Tamada's barrage.
"No me punching your face in for leaving me is the point of this," Tamada shot back.
That statement made Tohaku frown, knowing Tamada had the right to feel that way. Though her way of going about it was less than ideal but was just who Tamada was, making Tohaku glad his old friend hadn't changed one bit. Especially since now she was being surrounded by luxuries that they had both only dream of back in their orphan days, which he knew could have warped her mind to probably look down on him now that she had everything they wish to have.
This obviously wasn't the case here, because Tohaku knew she would only get to this angry because she either was protecting someone or someone she care about hurt her, that now Tohaku was going to fix, because he was that someone who had hurt her.
After dodging another solid jab that might have cracked his jaw if it had connected, Tohaku press forward now grabbing both wrists of Tamada, who let out a gasp at the sudden counter attack. Then began to squirm to get out of his hold, even going so far as to throw a sharp kick at his knee that now made Tohaku hiss in pain, but kept upright while having had enough.
"Ok! You made your point that I was a selfish jerk who left you behind," Tohaku said earnestly, no longer teasing.
"You think that will make things better? The first person in my life to not look down on me, left me behind like my parents, do you know how much that hurt?" Tamada argue.
"I don't, because it hurt more seeing I was the one to hurt you," Tohaku said with a grimace.
Remembering the accidental punch, made Tamada lower her head. "I knew you didn't do it on purpose, those damn rich kids try to label your mother as a….a…"
"A whore, that's what they label her as and why I beat them so harshly, even if I never knew her, my heart tells me my mother did all she could to make sure I at least had a chance at finding my way in this world. Yet if you hadn't done what you did, I would have killed that one rich kid, and would have tarnished all my mom probably wanted of my life," Tohaku said, his grip loosening on Tamada's wrist, as his face drop to the ground.
Feeling the slack on her wrist Tamada calmly pull herself out of Tohaku's hold, while holding her hands to her chest. "I didn't want you to go to jail and be locked away for something that stupid."
A chuckle from Tohaku follow the statement. "You're a real magician with comforting words."
"Shut up, I'm not good with that kind of thing," Tamada with a blush said, turning her face away.
"Nah you are, I just think your minds clouded by wanting to punch my lights out, quite understandable for sure," Tohaku said a nod.
A sigh came from Tamada as she had lost the will to fight her friend anymore. "Alright, let's just put things on hold for now."
"Good, have to say if I hadn't improved my boxing skills you might have taken my head off, sure you're in the right sport?" Tohaku said, glad things were cooling off.
The mention of sport, made Tamada begin to rub her arm in frustration at what was happening to her team at moment. Knowing full well their Sensha-do team might break up after what had happened against Saunders only tugged on her heart more. While the tankery family that she had come to love so much, might go their separate ways into other sports if the club shutdown was gut-wrenching for the family needy girl.
Seeing the sad state his friend was turning into while knowing just by looking what was hurting her, made Tohaku come up to Tamada and place a hand on her shoulder. "I heard what happen to your team in the tournament, I'm sorry about that."
Not knowing how to vent her frustration properly, made Tamada begin to tear up. Yet the small friendly gesture made Tamada feel a little easier about things, which prompted her to look up at Tohaku, to see his large green eye completely focus on her, seeming to push all the anger and loss she felt away. Which sent Tamada in a need of more than a friendly gesture and practically jump into him for a hug, wrapping her arms around his back to hold him close, as Tamada buried her face into his jacket, that's warmth became hers to hold close to her heart.
"Woah," Tohaku said, having almost been knocked over by the force of Tamada's surprise hug, yet kept balance and slowly began to wrap his arms around her.
For a moment that seem to drag on forever, they both held each other close, just relishing in the feeling of comfort they both were giving one another.
"You've got to be the weirdest girl I know, first you want to punch my lights out, then next you want me to spoil you," Tohaku joke.
A small yelp came from Tamada who pull her head back to look up at Tohaku with her arms still around him. "I am not weird, because I'm still going to punch your lights out later."
"Alright, alright, so can we can we finally get on to the spot?" Tohaku ask.
"Fine," Tamada said, then release her friend.
Then the two continue to walk on, though to each's other surprise they reach out to grab the other's hand, as they walk down the streets, caring little for what others thought of them, for they had each other.
XxxxX
The night air seem to get chiller, or so Tamada thought ever since they enter the small woods with Tohaku heading for the spot he wanted to take her to. The woods they were now in, was located in a large park used mostly for walking, but no one was out this late at night, save for some police patrolling the area, but Tohaku seem to know the spots to get by them. With now the two of them getting lost in said woods.
He's still holding my hand
Tamada thought with a blush, but even if she felt embarrassed, she hadn't let go since they grasp one another. Maybe it was just because she was in a whirlwind of emotions that made her want to grasp something to make her feel grounded, especially her lost friend who by some miracle had found her and saved her from those bullies nonetheless.
"Your friends sound nice," Tohaku suddenly said.
"Oh," Tamada said, snapping back to the now. "They are, I wish you could meet them. They're really friendly, though I kind of snap at them on the first day of the club making for a less than ideal start."
On their walk to the park, Tamada had begun to unveil her life at Chi-Ha-Tan academy, telling Tohaku of her first day and joining the Sensha-do club. How she became a tank commander that even now still baffle her that her team had chosen, since all positions were decided by who the team thought was best, with no favoritism, only did you earn it. While also telling him of the time outside the club, as she hang around her friends who she found out some were orphans too, yet even those who came from families, still made Tamada hold them close as her surrogate family.
"That might be a bad idea if I meet them," Tohaku said with a chuckle.
Tamada gave him an odd look. "Why?"
"Might think we're dating or something," Tohaku tease again.
Which made Tamada turn a beet of red with embarrassment. "No, they wouldn't, were friends!"
"Friends, who hold hands?" Tohaku kept pressing.
"You grabbed mine!"
Tohaku shook his head with a smirk. "No, you grab first."
Then they went back and forth with their childish argument, which only made both remember their day's at the orphanage that this sort of thing was a staple for the two of them to argue back and forth till they got bored of it and just began to chuckle over how dumb the arguments were. Which just show how close they were still even after being separated.
"Alright," Tohaku said first as their chuckles die down. "Were here."
Turning her eye's front, Tamada took in the sight of what looked to be a small campsite that had been set up in an opening in the woods, with a bright mood shining down on the break in the trees. It was simple by nature, with a small tent, a couple of fold out chairs, a cooler, and lastly a small campfire that wasn't lit.
"Don't tell me you're living here?" Tamada said aghast.
"Nah, found this a week ago, guess it's some spot for some party kids to enjoy themselves," Tohaku explain.
That made Tamada let a breath of relief, then a question pop up in her mind. "Where are you living then? Not on the streets?"
It was a simple question, but Tohaku didn't respond right away, as his facial expression turn slightly grave, which made Tamada's worry go up. Yet her friend turn to her with a warm smile, then led her over to the campsite while not answering her question, but Tamada put it on hold as she could tell it was something that bother him, and right now she didn't want to get into any more fights.
Coming close Tohaku gesture for her to sit down on a blanket by the tent, which made Tamada frown. "That is clean right?"
Tohaku nodded. "Yea, yea, bought that for myself the other day."
"With what money?" Tamada hounded.
Yet Tohaku once again didn't answer and walked off to the cooler, that only peeve Tamada to see he was avoiding questions for some reason. To what end, Tamada didn't know, especially when she had so many questions still, but she calmed herself down and took a seat on the blanket with her back to Tohaku as he went about doing whatever he was going to do.
Soon he return to her, while taking a seat as well next to her, then handed her a canned beverage. Tamada took it thinking it was a soda, without even looking at it. Then pop the lid and took a sip, which instantly made her balk and spit the drink out. As the liquid she had just drunk was undeniably sour, which prove it was not soda at all. Making Tamada bring the can up to her face to see it was indeed not soda, but a beer can.
"What the hell," Tamada said, then turn on her friend with suspicious eyes.
Tohaku seeing Tamada had gotten her first taste of alcohol, let out a chuckle. "It's beer."
"Uh, yea captain obvious, why you give me a beer? Were underage…actually why are you drinking this like it's nothing," Tamada challenge, seeing Tohaku take a solid sip next to her.
"Because I'm use to this," Tohaku said with a shrug.
That made Tamada give him an incredulous look. "You shouldn't be drinking this at this age, what's wrong with you, did you steal this?"
"No, those party kids stole them, I'm just helping myself to it," Tohaku said causally.
"Stealing is stealing," Tamada fought back.
"So you say, but the fact is, this right here," Tohaku gestures to the can. "Is something that can help you forget the pain."
"That's not a good way to look at it," Tamada said with a defeated sigh.
"What? you hate me for just enjoying something that helps me forget that I'm a street rat that people don't even take a second look at," Tohaku challenge back now.
"No, of course not," Tamada said, turning her face away from him.
Seeing he was upsetting his friend, Tohaku calm himself down, not wanting to make her want to leave. "Sorry, I just…I just have had a rough time of it out here. Beer I know isn't good for me, but it sure helps, especially when I left you behind."
Turning back to him, Tamada saw he was hurting which took any disappointment out of her as she spoke. "No, I'm sorry, I just said that without thinking. I've enjoyed a nice easy life on the Akagi, with warm beds and food. Yet you're still out here in the cold and merciless place called society, I have no right to judge you."
"Not like I totally drink all day and night, it's just for some nights I need to kick back and special occasions, like meeting an old friend," Tohaku said with a smile.
"I guess you're right, okay I'll drink, just this one time," Tamada said, then took another sip of the beer, though the taste was still digesting, it was a little more pleasant than the first sip.
"It gets better," Tohaku said with an encouraging smile.
Tamada still had a grimace look at the taste but decided to change the subject. "How do you know where to find me?"
"I found the needle in the haystack," Tohaku joke, which made Tamada chuckle as well.
"Seriously," Tamada shot back jokingly.
"Ok, ok, I was looking for you after I heard the Akagi was coming to port, so I hung around the dock area but never saw you. I walk around the area hoping that maybe I get lucky and see you around. Till I overheard some passerby's talking about a girl with red eyes being bullied by some high schoolers, to which I knew could only be the one and only Tamada," Tohaku explain.
"Heh, guess I should be glad for those idiots for picking a fight or we may never found each other," Tamada said with a chuckle and another sip of the beer that was becoming more pleasant to taste.
"I wouldn't look it that way, those guys might have done something terrible to you if I hadn't found you," Tohaku said angrily.
A nod of understanding follow the response from Tamada, who now took a bigger sip, feeling the liquid having its effect. Making her feel a little lightheaded and if she were honest she did feel like her worries were starting to drain away. With a feeling of excitement and happiness starting to flow through her, then took a long chug of the beer till the entire can was empty.
"Damn, calm down," Tohaku said with a bit of concern to see how taken with drink his friend was.
Tamada though ignore him, as she stood up and toss the can into the darkness with as much force as she could muster, surprising Tohaku as she started to laugh as she spoke. "Your right, this does make me forget."
"Yea and you need to slow down," Tohaku said, standing up as well, seeing that she was a little too tipsy after one drink.
Lightweight, maybe this wasn't such a good idea
Tohaku thought, then watch as Tamada move back to the cooler, looking grab another beer, much to Tohaku's shock, who was baffled by how quickly she had changed. Then he move after her, trying to stop her, but was too late as the red eye girl grabbed another beer and quickly open it. Next starting to chug it like it was water which only raise Tohaku's fears as came up to her and rip the drink from her hand.
"What' the hells your problem," Tamada angrily said to him, practically growling.
"You're drinking too much, I understand you want to forget, but too much and you lose yourself," Tohaku explain.
With small tears in her eyes, Tamada let everything out, as the drink had made her bold. "Then tell me what I'm supposed to do?! I've just witnessed my tankery family get humiliated in front of me, with nothing I could do but watch…it…it..it…it was like watching your sister getting beaten up by a bunch of bullies, while you're just stuck behind a steel fence just to watch it happen with nothing you could do!"
Tohaku said nothing, seeing all of it come out at once. Tamada's anger that she was putting into words for him to understand.
"Now our team is on the edge of collapse! While I've done nothing! Nothing! Just sat in the back! I'm the worse because all I do is preach about wanting to protect this new family I have and I've done nothing to protect it!"
"Tamada, there was nothing you could have done," Tohaku tries to soothe.
A dark chuckle follow the response from Tamada. "That's all I'm good for isn't it, doing nothing. I did nothing when you ran, when I should've gone with you, but I stay behind like a damn coward."
Not liking the self-loathing she was having, made Tohaku press close, while wrapping his arms around her. "Stop…just stop alright. You're not a coward, your damn good person. If not for what you did, I would kill that rich kid which took more than courage to stand up to me, knowing how hard I hit and how blind with rage I was. While if not for your being around, I might not have known what having someone I can rely on could feel like, because of you I don't feel so lonely in this harsh world."
Pulling back, Tamada look at him with quiet intensity. "What do you mean?"
Tohaku just smile warmly, while he move a hand to brush some hair from her face, as he drank in her beauty. "You must have known…about how I feel about you?"
A blush came on Tamada's face. "You…you like me?"
"Of course, I've liked you since the day we met," Tohaku said, his voice becoming like a whisper, his face drawing near.
"Why now?" Tamada said, her resistance leaving her.
"Because I've learned how lonely life is without you," Tohaku said.
Tamada said nothing, with her heart beating fast, her lips yearning, and a warmness building in her stomach she couldn't explain. Slowly she brought her hands up to touch both sides of Tohaku's face, feeling the smooth skin in her hands. She lightly trace her hand against light scar on his left cheek, which seem to only excite her friend who let out a little gasp.
"I've missed you," Tamada said, her eyes shining at him.
"I've missed you…I've missed you….so much," Tohaku said, then without warning press forward to capture Tamada's lips, which made her gasp at the sudden warm lips capturing hers, taking her first kiss.
Maybe it was the drink or maybe it was her true feelings for a boy who she care for deeply, but Tamada answer in kind by kissing him feverishly back. Small moans escape her mouth, as she was needing these lips to keep taking hers, keep pushing back the dark clouds, to make her forget all the terrible things happening with her tankery family.
Suddenly Tohaku broke from the kiss, then work on her neck, making Tamada moan in pleasure as she found her neck quite sensitive to these lips that felt like an electric shock of pleasure each time they place a small kiss on the skin. Then he work his tongue with it, only adding to Tamada's excitement, as she gently caress the back of his neck and head, practically telling him to keep going, to which he did, as he move over to the other side to tease her, making Tamada feel more excited.
Finally done with his teasing, Tohaku whispers bold words into Tamada's ears. "I won't abandon you, I promise. I'll be here for you, through thick and thin, like always."
"Me too," Tamada said, then return the favor, by attacking his neck with kisses, making Tohaku grunt in pleasure.
"Alright, I can't hold back," Tohaku said, then scoop Tamada up into a bridal carry, making her yelp in surprise.
"What are you doing?" Tamada meekly said, with a blush on her cheeks.
"I'm going to tame a wildcat," Tohaku tease, as he walk with her in his arms over to the blanket.
Knowing exactly what he meant, Tamada blush even harder, but a part of her wanted this.
"You'll be gentle, right?" Tamada ask, looking up at him with those shining red eyes that captivated Tohaku like no other.
"Of course, I be a terrible lover if I had my way, plus you'll beat me to a pulp if I didn't," Tohaku said with a chuckle.
That put Tamada at ease, as Tohaku never lie, especially to her, then she spoke. "For me and only me?"
"Of course, for you and only you," Tohaku said, then lean down for a gentle kiss that Tamada met.
Soon the night air was filled with these two souls' voices, their body's melded together, their warmth entering and surrounding each other. Their moans soft, their pleasure pure, and their lust unquenchable for each other. Holding each other close as if they fear if they let go, they disappear without a trace from each other's lives. Each whispering soothing words into each other's ears, while begging for more of this first taste of love making.
Soon each reach their euphoric climax and cuddle up for the rest of the night.
By the next morning, Tohaku would have to leave, much to Tamada's want for him to stay. He told her that he would make a life for them to have together one day, with a white ribbon to cement that promise of his return and because he told her having her hair down in tankery seemed liable to get caught on something. While Tamada had to head back to the carrier to start the long rebuilding process that seem like an impossible task, but she had found her resolve to keep pressing forward.
Yet promises aren't always kept.
As destiny aligns itself for a Tigress to upend everything.
To build a team from being a joke, to one that needed to be feared.
To show their fangs to any who challenge them, then shred them to pieces with their claws when the enemy press in.
To form a tankery family that would never quit on a long climb to the top of the Sensha-do Mountain.
As the Tigers of Chi-Ha-Tan were about to get a ReRise, that look to shock the world.
Volume 0 End.
Authors Thought:
Well there we are, the final of this volume. The second half was short, but there wasn't a lot to explore since it was just me retelling events but now with deeper detail. Giving I hope a reason of why Chi-Ha-Tan was so set in with their traditions, which will come to light once more in this series that will cause its own issues. Got to give Nishi her own little story as well, trying to fight against it and have her learn her role as a leader.
Yet the biggest thing was giving my boy Tohaku, who has been so far pushed to the background, is now given some screen time that he deserved. Seeing how he actually has played a part in Tamada's life, which was nice to write out, instead of just mentioning him in passing.
Why give him screen time? who knows XD
Now we're on to the next volume, that I know were all dying to get to, that will be out soon for you I promise.
Yet thanks to all of you who come by to read this weird take on the Nishizumi warrior's past and Chi-Ha-Tan's fall, that has been so awesome to write out to all of you.
So I bow to you readers for everything as you make this series possible by reading, favorites, follows, and reviews and can't wait to see you again.
This is the Authors Thought signing off till next time, be well and be safe.