Dein Weg ist Mein Weg
Chapter XXV
The Others
The world was black and darkness. The air was cold and humid. In the distance there were rumbles and explosions. The firing of cannons, the rumble of treads, a final last-ditch attempt at a counter-attack, and all of it utterly uninteresting.
Then, with a final blast of cannonfire ringing out over the woods, it all stopped. Silence fell over the dark world.
"It is done, Commander," a voice reported over the radio. A moment later, the same information was announced to the crowds. Not that there was any need. Anyone who gave the situation even a cursory glance could have told you the same information a month ago.
"Type 97 Ha-Go, Chi-Ha-Tan Academy's flag tank, is no longer operable. Kuromorimine's Girls Academy wins the match, and advances to the next round!"
Miho Nishizumi opened her eyes, and placed a hand against her throat, speaking into her microphone.
"You have failed me, Erika." It was the simple truth. The match had gone on far longer than necessary. Erika was supposed to end Chi-Ha-Tan's pathetic attempt at battle in at most half an hour, and should easily have been able to do so with the plan and two tanks of support Miho had given her. Instead, she had been forced to wait in their staging area for nearly an hour. "Report to my quarters at 1600 hours. Understood?"
"Y-yes, Commander…"
She lowered her hand again, placing it firmly on the roof of her Tiger II as she gazed at the dark clouds overhead. This had all been a formality, nothing but a waste of her time. She herself would have easily dealt with these charging upstarts in less than a third of the time even without support, but her mother's words, and the wisdom found within, echoed in her mind.
"A tiger bares not its fangs to common beasts…" she repeated lowly to herself, before returning her attention to the drab and uninteresting world before her. What need or purpose was there for her to show off her skills against a lowly opponent like Chi-Ha-Tan? Her superiority was already obvious, and there was no need in giving those beneath her more opportunities to witness her skill than necessary.
"She's finally done. Get me out of here," she ordered her driver. The heavy tank began to rumble back to Kuromorimine's camp, and the needless ceremony to end the match and certify her victory. Another hassle that only furthered the complete waste of time the day had been. If there was any point at all in her being here, it was to see the wild animals that called themselves 'Chi-Ha-Tan' grovel before their betters and brought to heel. Thankfully, their laughable adherence to 'honor' would compel them to recognize her obvious superiority.
It would also serve as a stark reminder to pawns below her as to why they followed her command. The Federation's overturning the results of Saunders v. Ooarai had set the world of Japanese Sensha-Do alight, and over what? A fluke of chance, overshadowing the humiliating and pathetic failure by her mother's heir to deal with even the simplest of foes. Regardless of this fire's lack of importance, the common fool had been drawn to the story like moths, and hushed whispers speaking of the previous commander's return had even found their way inside Kuromorimine's walls.
Miho had no patience for seditious thinking. Any who followed her command were to be nothing but a piece on the board, moving and firing at her whim. Any failure to do so, or any other errant or treasonous thoughts taking the place that was intended for her orders, was reason enough to be cast out and shunned.
And yet, despite all this, an undetectable smirk insisted on forming itself across Miho's lips. Kuromorimine would stand victorious in the finals again regardless of who dared face them, that much was already obvious. But her thoughts betrayed her. Fun was not a factor to consider in Sensha-Do. But the possibility that she would be allowed to crush Maho, regardless of how impossibly unlikely it was, did bring a smile to her face.
The alarm rang for the fourth time this morning, and Yukari did nothing but huddle deeper under the covers, using her pillow as protection from both the ringing and the sunlight beaming in between the blinds. She tried to reach out a hand to turn it off, but the alarm clock was nowhere to be found for her fumbling fingers, and so she just groaned and forced herself upright, still huddling under her covers to shield her eyes from the light.
She yawned and smacked her lips a few times, before finally finding the alarm clock down on the floor and turning it off. For a moment she didn't register the time showing on its face, but when she did, she bolted out of bed. She was about to be late.
Mere minutes later she slid to a halt at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in her uniform and her bag on her back.
"Yukari?" her mother said with surprised alarm, and looked up at the clock on the wall. "I thought you had already left. You're going to be late!"
"It's fine, I know a shortcut!" Yukari grinned, grabbed two slices of bread from the toaster, and rushed out the door with one of them clamped firmly between her teeth.
Yukari did indeed know a shortcut, which had helped her immensely on numerous occasions. By crossing through an alleyway and leaping over a fence, she could easily cut five minutes off her way to school. Sadly, she also knew it probably wouldn't matter. But who knew, she had been surprised before.
Today was not such a day.
"Hello, Mako!" She said and knelt down to pull one of the near-unconscious girl's arms across her shoulders.
"Why do you keep helping me out like this?" Mako murmured, near unintelligible. "Aren't you already late?"
"You don't leave comrades behind, do you?" Yukari answered with an excited smile, and placed the other piece of toast in Mako's mouth. "Here! Breakfast!"
With not much more than a minute to spare before the bell, Yukari and Mako reached the school gates, and passed under Midoriko's censorious eye. This was far from the first time Yukari had cut it close, dragging Mako alongside her, so a scolding glare was ample replacement for the usual berating.
"There you are!" Saori exclaimed and rushed over towards the duo as they appeared in the hallway, thankfully taking over the burden of carrying Mako. "Go, we'll get her to her class."
Yukari nodded, and rushed up the stairs towards her own classroom. "See you at lunch!" she yelled back towards her friends as she turned on the landing.
"Hey, Yukari? Saori asked. "You're being very quiet."
"Huh? Oh… right… sorry…" Yukari looked back up from her plate with a sheepish smile and scratched at her neck, slightly embarrassed. "It's… it's nothing. Don't worry."
"You're lying," Mako muttered matter-of-factly, without looking up from her attempted nap.
"Is something the matter, Yukari?" Hana asked with concern, putting her third bowl of rice down on the table.
"N-no, everything's fine. Or… well… it's nothing, really. You'll just think it's silly."
Saori gasped, as she was want to do when presented with vague answers. "Yukari?! Is it a boy?!" she exclaimed slightly too loud, garnering them some scattered looks from the surrounding tables, and causing Yukari to laugh.
"No, it's not," she answered with a chuckle. "It's just… I was just thinking about how different my life has become in just these past few months. Even at the end of last semester, I was just alone all the time. I wasn't sad about it or anything, it was just kind of how my life turned out. I obsessed over tanks and everyone thought I was just a weirdo, and I'd never had any friends. And now I'm getting to do Sensha-Do for real in the national tournament. I get to fight beside Commander Nishizumi, and I get to have lunch and spend time after school with my friends." She looked at her trio of crewmates, and smiled. "So thank you. Thank you for being friends with me, even if I'm weird."
"Yukari!" Saori protested. "You are not weird. You're one of the coolest people I know. I don't know how you remember half of all that stuff, and you're the fastest loader on the team. You're cheerful and supportive and clever and all-around an amazing person, and anyone who can't see that is an idiot!"
"I agree," Hana concurred. "It is really quite astounding how much you know about tanks, Yukari. And you really are a great teammate. The team is happy to have you, just like we are. So thank you, Yukari, for being friends with us."
"Yeah, what they said… and thanks for breakfast all those times, I guess…" Mako mumbled.
"Aww, thank you so much…" Yukari could feel herself start to blush at all the praise, feeling both that she didn't quite deserve it and that she hadn't given enough in return. Not that she got a chance, as Saori quickly moved on to another subject.
"But on the subject of you, why were you almost late again? Didn't you finish Captain Chono's homework the day we got it?"
"Oh, yeah, I finished that ages ago," Yukari answered. "I was up looking at the recording of Kuromorimine's match against Chi-Ha-Tan."
"Maho's old school?" Hana asked. "Why?"
"Well, I've watched all the games in the tournament. Which is a weird feeling when you're actually participating." Yukari gave a quick awkward laugh. "But Kuromorimine's match was… different…"
"Different how?" Saori asked.
"So, you know how the first round is usually 10v10 tanks?"
"Yeah?"
"They only used 3."
"Wait, they only fielded 3 tanks? We've only got 5, and aren't they super-rich and experienced and famous?"
"No, that's the thing. They brought 10 tanks. They just left seven of them turned off at their starting point, including their command tank. Their commander, Miho Nishizumi-"
"Maho's sister?"
"Yeah. She just sent three tanks to engage all of Chi-Ha-Tan, and they took out every single one of their tanks, before dealing with the flag tank. Three tanks. And they carved their way through ten enemies like an AT-shell through an estate car. And they didn't even need an hour to do it…"
"They're that strong, huh?"
"Yeah… With a bit of luck they'll get taken out in the semis by one of the other Big Four, but if they do make it to the finals, I think we're pretty much doomed."
"The finals?" Hana asked. "Do you really think we can make it to the finals?"
"I mean, maybe? We'll probably lose against Anzio, but on the other hand, we've all been practicing like hell even without our tanks, and we have Commander Nishizumi to lead us, so anything's possible."
"Speaking of Maho…" Saori noted. "Have either of you seen her lately? I don't think I've caught a glimpse of her since we got back from the Saunders-match, and that was over two weeks ago."
"No, I have also not seen her," Hana answered. "She seemed very downcast over losing, so I hope that her mood has improved now that the Federation overturned the result."
"How about you, Yukari? You usually keep an eye on her, don't you?"
"N-no… I-I mean…" Yukari said, flustered, waving her hands before her in protest. "I've been keeping my distance for a while. The Saunders-match was the last I saw her, same as you. Although I did go down to Ogin's yesterday…"
"And? Had she seen her?"
"No, she hadn't. Not recently anyways. Apparently Commander Nishizumi was there the week after the Saunders-match, but then some girl came by and talked to her last Saturday, and she hasn't been there since."
Silence fell over the table for a moment as they contemplated what could have happened, picking at their food in the process.
"The teacher's all seem to think she has the flu or something," Saori said. "I hope she's not too sick. Or that she's stuck inside feeling down…" She looked down at her food for a moment, before looking up again with a smile. "Well, we'll probably see her at practice, won't we? Maho's a big girl and can take care of herself, so there's no need to worry without reason!"
"...and so with the Meiji restoration completed, Japan could begin a sweeping series of modernizing projects, such as a rapid industrialization and westernization, in turn leading to…"
The skies were clear outside the window of the classroom, with only the occasional white cloud drifting across the sea of blue. But looking at the faint reflection of Irisa in the window, Azusa's thoughts were far away from the teacher's dull lesson.
The sight more or less summed up what she felt like; a faint reflection of her sister. She gave a quick sigh, and swore under her breath. Irisa was slipping away from her, and she didn't know what to do to halt it.
But as the days rolled past, she began to see less and less of Irisa in the mirror, and more and more of someone she didn't know. And the mere idea terrified her. The world wanted Irisa, not her, and if she wasn't Irisa anymore, then who was she? And how would the world think about whoever that person was? She didn't know, and she didn't want to find out.
During the past two weeks she had been doing her best to just play her part, and not do anything stupid, which seemed to do the trick. At least in part. It had of course helped that all the tanks were being serviced, meaning the normal hands-on practice had been replaced with lectures and seminars on tactics, rules, and the more technical side of Sensha-do, as well as the fact that her arm was just beginning to reach its pre-injury status, so anything actively stupid was mostly a physical impossibility.
But now, with practice starting up again and the possibility of having to deal with Maho and her lies again were disrupting that progress. Azusa felt like her head was the set of a cold war-spy movie, with conflict and disagreements happening in the shadows of her mind where she couldn't quite see them. She enjoyed sensha-Do. She enjoyed being around her friends, and the rest of the team as well. She couldn't deny that. Or at least, she was pretty sure she couldn't.
But she also couldn't deny that being on the team made her start to slip up in her role, making her less and less like Irisa. She became angry, she became competitive, and she became cold and bitter. She started to become like Maho…
Maho...
Azusa had been angry when her mother told her to quit the team and just study, thinking she was stupid for even suggesting it. But as the days and weeks had passed, she had begun to waver in her conviction. The fact that she saw less and less of Irisa when she looked in the mirror each day was part of it, yes, but there was also the fact that she wanted nothing more to do with Maho.
And seeing as the two of them were in separate grades, the only real reason the two would ever interact was if she continued doing Sensha-Do. If she quit, she could still see her friends, she could even meet with some of the other upperclassmen on the team. But she would eliminate any possibility of Maho walking back into contact with her.
But on the other hand, why should Maho get to decide what she did with her life? Why should Maho get to push her away from something she was pretty sure she enjoyed? Why should she bend to the will of Maho? Maho quit the team, and good riddance. At least with her no longer on the team, Azusa was free to do what she wanted.
But still, the question remained: What did she want?
She didn't know, but she was pretty sure that she wanted to-
"Miss Sawa?" Her train of thought was derailed by the teacher dropping a book down on her desk with a large thud, returning her to the classroom. "Is there perhaps a butterfly on the other side of that window that you find more interesting than my lesson?"
"Oh, n-no sir…" A round of giggles made its way through the classroom, which quickly died down at the teacher's glare.
"Then I would perhaps suggest you keep yourself in the here and now, instead of halfway to Okinawa."
"Yes, sir…"
"Now Momo," Anzu said as the trio left the office and headed towards the Sensha-Do-team's garage. Today was the first actual afternoon of practice since their battle with Saunders. "I want you to play nicely with Nishizumi from now on."
"Why should I?" Momo muttered. "She's not gonna be around anymore, is she? She quit, and she's a narcissistic bitch even if she didn't."
"Nah, I'm sure she'll show up again. She's our commander after all. Won't she, Yuzu?"
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see..." Yuzu said with cautious optimism.
"Indeed, but I feel pretty certain. She doesn't seem like the type to just run away. Besides, if she did, how would she live with herself knowing I outlasted her?" Anzu grinned for a moment, before turning back to Momo with a serious look. "So again, Momo, play nicely with her. Just like the office and school are my domain, the garage and team is hers. She's the commander until the team decides otherwise, and her commands are just as much law during practice and matches as mine are on school grounds. Have I made myself clear?"
Momo didn't so much answer as she just bitterly mumbled something inaudible.
"Have I made myself clear?"
"Of course, Madame President," Momo grumbled. "Crystal."
"Prez?" Yuzu asked as they began nearing the garage. It seemed they were among the last to arrive, as a small crowd had gathered by the open doors. "Why didn't you tell the team why we actually got handed the victory against Saunders?"
"I didn't see the point," Anzu answered absentmindedly. "What difference does it make if we won because of a computer error or because Saunders cheated? It just seemed like telling the team they actually did get a killshot on the flag tank would be better for morale than saying 'yeah, we were probably screwed either way but Saunders cheated so we won anyways'."
"I see…"
"Besides, we might as well save Kay the embarrassment. She didn't know what was happening, so why should she be blamed for her juniors cheating? She apologized and forfeited the match to us, seems the least we can do is keep quiet about it."
"Alright, I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's great to be back!" Saori cheered as they walked across the grounds towards the garage.
"Yes, it has been quite the long wait, has it not?" Hana concurred. "Let us just hope that Maho is feeling better, and that she will show up. Captain Chono is an excellent instructor, but there is only so much we can do without our commander."
"Do you really think Maho is alright?" Yukari asked, worried. "Shouldn't we check up on her?"
"Well, whenever we've tried before she just seems to get worse and more angry," Saori replied.
"True, but I mean, two weeks is a long time to be gone… Don't you think… that she's been gone long enough that we should go check on her?"
"You're right!" Saori took a few jumping strides to the front of the group, turned, and stopped in place, smiling. "Ok, here's the plan. Once we're done with practice, we go get some food, and get over to Maho's place. Some food and company always makes people feel better!"
"Are you really sure about that, Saori?" Hana asked thoughtfully. "
"Definitely! We'll make her feel as giddy as Yukari in a tank shop!"
The lack of forceful protest settled the matter, and they continued on their way, rounding the corner of the tank garage. As they did, they saw the rest of the team crowded around the opening to the garage, and a great deal of commotion could be heard.
"It's robbery!"
"Sabotage!"
"A heist of the highest order!"
"Uh, guys?" Saori asked, trying to get a word in. "What's going on?"
"We've been robbed is what's going on!" Noriko yelled. "Who the hell has the guts to just sneak in and steal from a team like that?!"
"What do you mean robbed? What's been…stolen..." Pushing through the crowd, Saori, Hana, Mako and Yukari could see for themselves what was missing. Within the garage stood their tanks, with a large gap where the Panzer IV usually stood. It was gone.
Next time on Dein Weg ist Mein Weg: What has happened to the Panzer IV? How will the team prepare for the battle against Anzio? And where is Maho?
Author's Notes:
Well, despite this being the big milestone of 25 chapters, you get a bit shorter of a chapter than usual today, but a neat change of pace I think compared to the pretty dense chapters I've been putting out in recent weeks. Fun fact, this is the shortest chapter since ch8, which was four months ago. My, how time flies...
Anyhoo, as for the events of this week. We get to see Miho in action (kinda) for the first time, there's some more insight into the Student Council, Azusa has a continuation of her ongoing identity crisis, and it's been a while since we saw things from Yukari and the rest of the Panzer IV-crew's perspective, which was really fun to write.
Oh, and there's also the fact that I continue being an evil bastard and not giving the slightest hint of what's happening with Maho.
As always I really appreciate all of you leaving thoughts and feedback in your reviews, and especially the speculation as to who the mystical "she" is referring to. I can't wait to actually get to the reveal, and see how many, if any, of you manage to guess right. Keep leaving reviews if you want to and can, since it always brings a smile to my face to read them. Thank you all for being awesome readers.
I'll see you all back next week, and perhaps I will be bringing some answers? Stick around and find out!
Until next week, See ya!
/Rihno