X

It's the day before the match and the Ooarai ship has made it into port unloading passengers and loading up supplies for their next departure to sea, all the girls had the day off so they can have time to spend on land.

"About time we do some shopping together," Saori said gleefully walking down the street with Miho, Hana, Mako, and Yukira.

"I was kinda hoping we find a tankery store," Yukira pouted.

"C'mon, Yukira, sometimes you gotta take a break from it all," Saori said otherwise.

"Hey, guys," looking back Miho and the rest saw that it was Kinuyo with Haru by her side to greet them, "How are things?"

"Just fine, having a little time for ourselves before our match," Miho said with a smile.

"Tomorrow's match gonna be a fun one, don't you think?" Hana noted.

"We'll be ready for ya, just you wait," Haru spoke with determination.

"See you there," Miho said waving goodbye.

The girls then split off enjoying their time they had til tomorrow.

\Later/

Getting back on the ship the girls decided to spend the time at their local ice-cream parlor.

"I think the dress I picked out is totally gonna turn boys' heads," Saori said feeling confident.

As they walked down the street they talked and laughed on what is a great day, until a random RC car comes speeding towards their feet.

"Whoa!"

"Hey!"

"Where did that little car come from?" Yukari asked jumping over the car.

The RC car raced around them in circles like it was herding them like sheep, the car then drives off the sidewalk speeding across the street where it came to end in front of Daulton who was just lounging on a chair at a small outdoor restaurant.

"It's that, Daulton, boy again," Hana said.

"Sheesh, what's your problem man?" Mako asked.

"You! You little twerps are my problem. YOU are the reason my plane is in pieces, and why I'm on this rust bucket of a carrier," Daulton reminded.

"Look we're sorry we shot you down, it was an accident," Miho tried to calm him down, "But we can make it up to you somehow."

"Can you get me back my plane?" Daulton again pressed on.

"Uhh..." Miho trailed knowing that there's nothing she can do about it, "No, but maybe-,"

"Then you're useless," Daulton cut her off.

Miho couldn't really believe how harsh the boy talked, but seemed to notice something she hadn't before, she saw that the boy, Daulton, was only wearing one glove over his right hand. One glove that had no matching pair.

"C'mon, Miho, we don't have to deal with him," Saori advised her walking off down the street.

Daulton watched the five girls walk along the sidewalk and when they disappeared from his sight he continued to test out the RC car he got recently today, making sharp turns, climbing up the curb, and then started tweaking on the antenna.

\Sunset/

"Alright I'll see you guys first thing tomorrow morning," Miho noted waving goodbye.

"Ugh... do we have to?" Mako groaned.

"Yes, sleepy-head," Saori said pushing her towards home.

"Bye, see you tomorrow," Hana waved heading back home.

Saori, Mako, and Hana split off as Miho and Yukari went the opposite, but Miho notices that her well knowledge friend was a little too quiet.

"Is something the matter, Yukari?"

"Huh? wha-? no, Miho, I'm fine, why'd you asked?"

"Because you're way too quiet all of a sudden."

"Is it that noticeable?"

"Yes."

"Sorry, but it just that I feel I should know where I saw that plane that boy was piloting from."

"Is it really that much on your mind?"

"it's like on the tip of my tongue, but I still having this block."

With that curious thought they soon walked the rest of the way undisturbed, they said goodbye and headed in for the night.

\The Next Day/

It was a clear and bright day, as all the people in town gathered to watch the match between, Ooarai and Chi-Ha-Tan Academy, closing down and clearing out almost all spaces for today.

"Please blow my shop up this year I need a new one," one shopkeeper prayed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, today's flag match between Ooarai and Chi-Ha-Tan Academy are about to commence. Please be seated," the announcer spoke through the microphone.

On the screen the spectators looked on with excitement seeing the Commanders and Sub-Commanders from both teams meet up.

"Alright let's have a clean match," Ami said.

Miho and Momo bowed with Kinuyo and Haru returning theirs, they then walked off to rejoin their teams.

"Alright, let's crush them," Momo said with determination.

"Relax, Miss. Kawashima, it's just a game," Miho reminded her.

\Starting Point/

The Ooarai and the Chi-Ha-Tan Academy were waiting patiently as the referee planes flew on by inspecting the field.

"Alright, all is clear," Ami said over the radio, then a bright red flare was shot into the air signaling to start the match.

\Chi-Ha/

"Alright, girls, advance forward," Kinuyo ordered.

All tanks moved ahead to engage with the enemy team feeling eager as usual.

\Ooarai/

"Alright everyone, Chi-Ha, will probably come at us with full force," Miho informed as they traverse through the field, "We should probably take position within the forest, it will give enough cover and leave them completely in the open," she read out the plan.

"Sounds easy enough, let's go win this," Anzu cheered.

\Somewhere Else/

On a secluded hill with a great view of the whole field Daulton setup a folding chair as he whistles a tune to himself, he takes out the RC car he had earlier places onto the grass, and with a modified controller he starts driving it off to the field, then he popped open a can of soda.

\On The Field/

Settling their tanks into position the Ooarai Academy sat waiting for the Chi-Ha Academy to come into their sights, the Rabbit Team played cards, Hippo Team played board games, and the Duck Team serve passes to one another. Miho looked through her binoculars scanning the open field until she spotted a dust cloud.

"Heads up everyone I spotted the enemy team," she called out and everyone rushed to their tanks.

Both commanding tanks were the flag tank, and Ooarai loaded their barrels and the gunners took aim.

"We'll fire the first shot to get their attention and when we have their undivided attention open fire," Miho explained, "Load in a round Yukari."

"You got it Commander," Yukari complied sliding a shell into the chamber, "Gun's loaded."

"Fire when ready Hana," Miho said.

Hana looked down her sights seeing the Chi-Ha tanks zooming on by and then squeezes the trigger, the shot echoed out as the round ripped through the air, and lands right in front of the enemy team.

"Hm?" looking off to the side Kinuyo spotted one of the tanks from the Ooarai team reflecting sun light out to them, "So they're hidding behind the trees, well then, all tanks charge straight into forest," she ordered.

"Yeah!"

"Full frontal assault!"

"BONZAI!"

Now that the Chi-Ha Team have taken the bait Ooarai started firing off at will, rounds flew passed rapidly across the field, with the Ooarai Team concealed behind the trees the Chi-Ha Team weren't landing any of their shots. But Ooarai on the other hand were picking off the enemy team one by one, white flags popping out everywhere.

"C'mon we can make it," Haru said undeterred, but was immediately taken out, "Dang it!"

"Advance, use the already down tanks for cover," Miho commanded.

All of Ooarai slowly moved forward emerging out of the tree line.

"The enemy flag tank is the only one left," Midoriko notified, spotting Kinuyo's Type 97 all by itself.

"Uh-oh, looks like Chi-Ha Academy's flag tank is the last tank standing," the announcer said.

As the Ooarai Team carefully moved in on Kinuyo's position Miho heard a noise that sounded familiar, it sounded very small and fast, looking around Miho turned behind seeing a RC car driving right towards them.

"Huh? what's that little toy doing out here?" she asked herself, and when the tiny, little car got closer the cover flew right off revealing C4 charges wired onto the car, "Ah! Mako move forward! move forward!"

"What! why?" Mako questioned.

"Miho what's the matter?" Hana asked wondering why her commander is suddenly panicking.

"There's a-," *BOOM!*

Before Miho can tell them about the threat the car has already drove under their tank and went off with a powerful explosion that was strong enough to make the Panzer hop. A big smoke cloud engulfed Anglerfish's tank catching both teams and the spectators off guard, when the smoke cleared Ooarai's flag taken was taken out.

"Ooarai Girls Academy's flag tank... has been eliminated?" the announcer confusingly informed.

"What?"

"How can this happen?"

"Who took out the flag tank?"

Everyone brought up questions confused to how this happened.

"*cough!* *cough!* How were we taken out?" Mako coughed.

"I got a good clue to who it might be," Miho said.

\Elsewhere/

Sitting on top of the hill with a detonator switch at his side laughing hysterically as he wired the car to blow.

"THAT'S HOW IT FEELS!" Daulton roared across the field, packing up before anyone sees him.

\Later/

After much examining of the situation the Sensha-Do Federation decided to label this match as a tie seeing how Ooarai's flag tank was taken out by a third unseen party. The tanks were loaded up to a truck so they can they be taken to get repaired, while on the other hand Miho and the rest of the Ooarai team stormed down the street on the Ooarai carrier.

"We're gonna pulverize that punk," Noriko said angrily as she pounded her fist into her palm.

"Leave some for the rest of us," Momo said.

"Yeah," the rest agreed.

They soon found Daulton sitting at the very same spot when Miho, Saori, Hana, Yukari, and Mako last saw him yesterday.

"Hey if it ain't my favorite girls in the whole wide world," Daulton greeted the angry team of girls, "How was your match? I bet it was a... blast," he mocked.

"How'd you know where we'll be at the match?" Miho brought up and Daulton took out a piece of paper which was the map to her battle plan, "My map!" she gasps taking the paper back.

"You should've zipped you bag shut," Daulton remarked.

"I can't believe you would sabotage a tankery match, have you no shame?" Yukari questioned him.

"Oh kiss the bullet wound that's on my ass," Daulton shot back.

"How about we kick your ass instead," Caesar threaten.

"Bring it!" he responded getting up off his chair.

"NO!" Miho stopped the fight before it could happen, "Look we're sorry we destroyed your plane, but that doesn't mean you should go starting trouble for us," she told him.

There was a long moment of silence between them with Miho trying to square up to Daulton until he started to chuckle to himself, then goes back to take his seat.

"Hehehehe... heeee... you girls run along now," he waved them off as he only find them laughable.

The girls were growing impatient with Daulton, but Miho just told the girls to just let him be and so she leads them away.

"I can't believe one guy has the audacity to ruin our matches," Oryou spoke up.

"Where in hell did he get C4 at?" Momo demanded to know, but none of them realized that they walked passed an ACME store.

"I guess we'll never know," Aya figured not having a single clue to where Daulton got the explosives