Authors Thought:

Hello been a while I know.

I had to step back as I had overdid it with the uploading and ran past my chapters. Updates might be a little irregular now because I want to write out at least four or five chapters before I upload so I can keep a schedule. Yet know I'm working hard on this volume to finish it by mid next month.

Also want to credit Hikari Nova for this first scene in the chapter, as I would have never it made it without their suggestion. Though I don't know how close I got to what we discuss, but put my best effort forward and thanks again for the idea.

Again, I try my best to take people's suggestion to heart, as it really helps with writing and makes fanfiction pretty awesome. Like I said before, this isn't my story, it's ours together.

Also in the last chapter I mention doing a cross bracket play for this tournament. I've taken that out of the book as it wasn't working for me going forward. so the tournament will have regular brackets now I've gone back and rewrote the last chapter to reflect the federation board rejecting the idea from the Director.

Do take breaks as needed with this long chapter.

Enjoy the read!


5 Days to Match Day

"This can't be real," Miho said in surprise, as she heard the news from Principle Hidemichi sitting across from her.

Hidemichi had call Miho in during their tankery practice because of this shocking news, so Miho left Nishi and Tamada to finish it. Luckily today was a light practice day, so they were just about done anyway.

Now Miho was currently sitting in his office in the late afternoon. The office was decorated with many pictures of Hidemichi's former students who graduated. With many of them now his staff at the school, and there was nothing but happy faces and pleasant memories that fill these pictures.

Yet there was no happiness in Miho at the moment, as she took in the news from the Federation about what was going to happen with the upcoming match against Oarai.

"I'm sorry Miho, this was a shock for me too. I didn't think the Federation would do something like this ever," Hidemichi said with a perplexed tone.

The sudden news of the Federation's approval of supplementing Oarai's force with foreign academy tanks to bring their number up to 15 was baffling. What made this all the more shocking was the very country that this force was coming from was America, a place that hadn't participated in Sensha-do at all and even disapprove of it, now apparently had a Sensha-do Academy built up.

Adding four tanks to Oarai's force was part of an experimental reinforcement perk the Federation wanted to use for next year. Yet Miho couldn't fathom why they do something like this when they already had taken out their best members from the team which was a justified punishment in all rights, but now this seem to be going too far.

"Luckily, the Federation was kind enough to provide us what tanks are being added to Ooarai's roster, so not to be totally unfair to us. Here is the sheet," Hidemichi said, while gently handing over some papers to the Miho.

Taking the documents in hand Miho took in the information with some pictures of the tanks being added. The tanks being added to Ooarai, came in the form of an M4 Sherman, M18 Hellcat, M36B2, and lastly an M4A3E8. All these tanks had a green base with a grey camo scheme over it, with a wolf's head howling its defiance on the sides of their turrets.

It was the same picture of the M4A3E8 that woman was carrying when Miho had bumped into that her after receiving the punishment from Director Kodama. That meant that women had probably been some instructor for their team and now that foreign team was going to oppose them. Miho remember feeling something akin to dread when she saw it then, now that feeling prove to be right as she kept staring in silence at it.

"Isn't this a bit unfair to us, we already lost all of our veteran teammates," Miho said still astonish, turning her eyes to the principal.

Hidemichi sigh, then spoke. "Yes, I feel the same way you do. Yet this seems to have been the perfect storm for the Federation to use to bring in these foreign forces for Oarai."

"How do you mean?" Miho ask.

"Miho, be honest with me, I wasn't your first choice for an alternative academy?" Hidemichi ask.

After fidgeting in her seat at the question, Miho spoke. "No, I was originally going to go to Oarai Girls Academy. I thought Maho told you that already."

"Yes, she told me. I can guess you wanted to attend that academy because they didn't have a Sensha-do team, well at the time they didn't."

Miho nodded. "I had originally hoped I could attend and just be a normal girl. Have no more expectations for me to live up towards, especially after my mother changed, and there was nothing but victory being the only thing worthy in her eyes."

"I understand," Hidemichi said sadly. "Shiho couldn't let her family name be dragged in the mud after what happen with your father. Yet she lost sight of what was important in her life along the way….I am aso sorry Miho."

"Wait, why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong," Miho said frantically.

Hidemichi gave the girl a sad smile. "I'm sorry I didn't reach out and help. Your mother, she was like a daughter to me. Yet when she returned to her cold and remorseless self, I stood by and watch it happen. Worse was watching you and your sister lose your smiles, it broke my heart."

Seeing Hidemichi looking so distraught, made Miho's heart go out to him. Even though she remembered him very little from her time as a child, it was him taking her into his academy that had saved Miho. Like the displaced girls that he took in, Miho had been one as well. Now here at Chi-Ha-Tan, she had found a place to belong too, a place fill with smiles, a place filled with laughter, and a place filled with love.

Miho reach across the desk to grab Hidemichi's hand, which cause him to look at Miho who spoke with a smile at him.

"Mister Hidemichi, I owe a debt of gratitude that can't be repay no matter how much I try. You allow me to come to your academy. It's your care you have for these girls, that was extended to me as well. I found friends, found my love for tankery I never thought I get back, and I found a person who I care deeply for."

Hidemichi felt his heart warm at Miho's words, though he had to tease her. "That special person wouldn't be Miss Tamada would it?"

"Oh," Miho said with a blush as she let go of his hand and took her seat again. "Well…ye…ye….yea, though she wants to wait to talk about it seriously. How do you know?"

"I love my late wife dearly before she pass. She always had this look in her eye that always told me how much she care about me, it's the same look you girls both give one another it seems like every waking minute," Heimlich said, chuckling as well.

Miho spoke shyly. "Are we really that obvious?"

"Yes, though it's not a bad thing."

"Do you approve of us?" Miho ask timidly, looking the Chi-Ha-Tan Headmaster in the eye.

Hidemichi lean forward with his elbows on the desk. "Why do you need my approval?"

"Well, it's two girls liking each other. I'm still surprised I would feel this way about another girl, I just wonder if it's ok for us to be together, or if our society approves of this sort of thing."

"Miss Nishizumi," Hidemichi said getting her attention again. "You shouldn't care what society wants in its normalcy, whether a man loves a woman, or a woman loves a woman, or a man loves a man. Whoever you want to be close to your heart is up to you and you alone, with no one having any right to tell you how it should be."

Miho took the words in, then spoke. "I wonder what my mother will think of me."

"I won't lie to you, I don't know if Shiho would look favorably on your relationship. Yet again this is your happiness were talking about here, and if you want your happiness to become true, you might have to stand up to your mother," Hidemichi said in a solemn tone.

Miho shook her head. "I don't want to stand up her, and I don't want to fight with her. Yet I know that in my heart when we speak again, that will happen and it terrifies me."

"I see a lot of Shiho in you," Hidemichi said with a warm smile.

"You….see me in her?" Miho question.

"Yes, Shiho isn't someone who likes confrontation with people. I know that seems silly when you look at her now, but when she fought with your father she hated every minute, not because she wanted to be right. It was because she hated fighting with the one she love, just as you don't want to fight with her, because you love her still," Hidemichi explain.

"I hated those times, I can still see it in my mind even being so young. The angry voices filled the estate all the time, I would run to Maho all the time to get away from it. Though sometimes I be brave enough to go and try to comfort my mother," Miho said sadly, reminiscing about those nightmarish nights.

"Yes, I remember them too. Every time your mother would call me to calm herself down, it sadden every time, since I only wanted the best for Shiho."

Miho nodded at that. "I can see why my mother always talk about you so highly, you are more than a former instructor to her, your family."

"Thank you for saying so, Miss Nizhi-."

"Please Mister Hidemichi, I like to think of us like family, so can call me by my first name. Since you been helping me as you did for my mother," Miho said with a heartwarming smile.

Hidemichi was stunned for a moment, then he spoke with a warm smile. "Well Miss Miho, I would be very honored to be looked at as a family, I just wish I could have been around more during those darker times. To think how much you suffer trying to match Shiho's high expectation that was only crushing you."

"Yes, but now I longer feel that crushing weight. Here, I find that there are others who want to stand by my side, they help me lift this weight off, and will stay with me through thick and thin," Miho said confidently.

"I'm glad you found your happiness here that you should have had with your mother. So again, don't hesitate to find your happiness with Miss Tamada, I know she had a rough upbringing, but cares deeply for those close to her. When you capture her heart, she won't let go, so you know," Hidemichi said encouraging wink.

Miho chuckled at him, then spoke. "Thank you again Mister Hidemichi, I can see why my mother came to you for support, you know just what to say to put a mind at ease."

"Don't mention it, it gives this old man some purpose to guide those to the light," Hidemichi said in pleasant tone, then decided to get back on point from earlier. "Now again, about Oarai, why do you think they wanted to do tankery in their final year?"

"You know they're shutting down?"

Hidemichi nodded at the question. "Yes, Maho told me that as well about their closing down, when she explain her reasoning for wanting me to take you in."

"Well, it does strike me weird as well why they wanted to do tankery as well. I can't imagine why they want to waste money on tanks when they will be decommissioned after their carrier is shut down."

"Something about them doesn't feel right to me, especially with these foreign forces being added now. It feels like Oarai is being used to push an agenda," Hidemichi said, rubbing his chin in thought.

"You think? Though it does make sense, since they didn't have enough tanks to meet the minimum 15, so having them get these new crews would probably have some alternate use. You don't think the Federation is being shady?"

Hidemichi shook his head. "I've known Director Kodama a long time, and he is an impartial man. He loves to see this sport thrive and wouldn't have ok this unless he thought it benefits the sport. He probably would have done this even if our team hadn't been punished."

"Which means there is something bigger going on in the background," Miho said, thinking about this critically.

"Maybe, but sitting here and making up theories isn't going to change anything. You best be off now, I'm sure that you need to take care of things in the tankery club."

"Oh," Miho said coming to her senses. "Yes, I've got some strategies I need to finish drafting, thank you so much for relaying this information to me."

"And thank you for the talk, if you ever want to get something off your chest know I'm here to talk alright?"

Miho stood from her seat and bow deeply to him, then spoke when she rose back up. "Thank you, know I will come to you with any concerns….grandpa."

Hidemichi chuckled heartily. "Please just Mister Hidemichi will do, grandpa makes me feel older than I am."

Miho chuckled to. "I will, have a pleasant day."

Watching her walk out of his office, Hidemichi smiled thinking that he had gained another family member in Miho. Now his only wish was to somehow reunite her with Shiho, which seem to be an ever steeper climb as time passed. Yet he was determined to do just that, to heal the broken family that he remember so fondly from those summer days fill with love and delightful laughing.

He only needed the perfect situation for it to happen.

XxxxxX

In the Tiger garage, Chief Mechanic Himi was looking over the Tiger 1's engine which had been acting up a bit lately, but she chalk it up to Miho's more intense training as of late. Himi alone was the only one there at the moment in the entire garage, since she had sent her juniors to go take a break. Of course, they complain to her that they could go longer to get the last tweaks to the Chi-Ha-Tan tanks done, yet Himi took a hard stance that she wanted them to rest since she had been putting them through so much work lately.

That work had been mostly trying to get a handle on their new tanks to the roster in the 2 Type 3 Ho-Ni 3's, 2 Type 5 Na-To's, and 3 Type 97 Chi-Ha Short Guns. These new tanks were a welcome addition for sure, but they were a much more difficult tanks to learn its ins and outs to the letter. The Type 97 Short guns alone were constantly breaking their anti-recoil cylinders after firing more than ten times, which made Himi curse the tank silently no matter how powerful the gun was, which made it worse that it wasn't even a tank killer.

Yet these new tanks were gifted at just the right time, with Chi-Ha-Tan having a large portion of their team suspended for the next match, meaning they were relying on mostly first years against a team as deadly as Oarai. This new foe gave Himi some sleepless nights, mostly because of the unpredictability their team had, which would definitely test young Miho on how to match them.

However, despite all her worries, there was still an unshakeable fate that their commander would find a way. Miho just had that effect on her team, that even trickle down to the mechanics who work twice as hard as they did before. Himi sometimes had to scold her junior mechanics to go back to their dorms when they stay late into the night looking over the tanks, but there was a fire in their eyes that hadn't been there in the years prior.

Before Miho had changed the team and their culture, their team was always badly defeated by others because they charge in recklessly and wouldn't change their ways. Himi knew this well since she had once been part of the tankery club here, yet back then their tactics were effective against teams who only had lighter tanks like them. Yet when Sensha-do teams began to upgrade their tank forces and Chi-Ha-Tan didn't is when their outdated tactics came to the forefront with constant defeats to follow.

That had all changed now, with just one girl who took this club by the hand gently and show its members a bright future and how to obtain it. Himi, even though she was just the mechanic here, knew she was a part of that light shining down on their team, because Miho valued everyone who was part of the club, and it show with how hard everyone worked to honor her.

Touching the Tiger 1 with a smile, Himi spoke to it. "We got to thank you too for all your hard work, because with you around we can climb to the top I believe. I'll make sure to look after you and you make sure to watch after Miho and those cute first year cubs of her."

Suddenly the sound of a wrench dropping onto the ground grabbed Himi's attention. She sigh thinking one of her junior mechanics had snuck back into the garage, so she climb down the Tiger 1 to walk down a row of other Chi-Ha-Tan tanks that were line up neatly to the source of the noise. If she did find out that one of her mechanics was working, after she told them all to rest she was going to drag them out the garage by the ear.

She arrive to where she thought source of noise had come from earlier. She came up to a Type 1 Chi-He and saw the wrench on the floor that had most likely had fallen off from its place on the workbench next to the tank. Himi look to the tank for a moment and shook her head, then pick the wrench up to then whack it against the tank hard making a loud bang.

The loud bang cause someone she knew to be hiding in the tank to yelp in complete surprise.

"Ok, I know you're in there. I got a good sense to know when you girls are hiding, so come out and I won't be as mad as you think," Himi said, since she had done this a couple of times over the week to her mechanics who had tried to hide in the tanks and wait for her to leave so they could work on them in secret.

"Oh…oh…ok," a voice said timidly.

Himi watch the girl climb out of the tank, yet was surprised when what she thought was going to be one of her mechanics in their usual coveralls, but instead was a Chi-Ha-Tan student in their school uniform coming out of the commander's cupola.

The girl work her way down the tank confidently, to which Himi took note of. Once the girl was standing in front of her, she took a good look at her. She was a thin girl, with dark brown eyes, with chin-length brown hair that was straightened but was sticking up at odd angles, making Himi pity the poor girl's hairstyle.

"Alright who are you? And don't say a tankery member, because I know all of them and I have never seen you before," Himi questioned the girl.

"Well…my name…is…is…Tome Gozen," the girls said shyly.

Himi place her hands on her hip with a disappointed look. "Really? Your name exactly after a 14th-century female samurai?"

That statement seem to shock the girl. "You know about her?"

"Well, yea, one of our horses is named after her, as well as one our tankery platoon uses the name, well sort of, they actually combined the name, but you get where I'm coming from. So again who are you? Or better yet, let me see your student ID."

The girl fidgeted a bit, then spoke. "I'm sorry I left it in my dorm room. I wasn't trying to mess with anything in here, I just wanted to see the tanks is all."

A skeptical look cross Himi's face. "You go to school here, you would have seen the tanks if you watch the matches from the stands with the rest of the students."

"I…I…I'm just shy, I still haven't made any friends here, so I don't feel comfortable going to the games by myself," the girls said quietly.

Himi relented, not wanting to make the girl cry. "Ok, just tell me your name then?"

"Moto…Fujiwara," the girl reply.

"Are you sure?" Himi ask, feeling the girl had made that up.

"Yes, I'm sorry I wasn't honest before, I was just scared," Fujiwara said.

"Alright, well what are you doing in here anyway?"

Fujiwara turn back to look at the Type 1 Chi-He. "I wanted to see a rare Type 1 Chi-He up close, since only 170 were made and only kept for the defense of the home island."

A raise eyebrow from Himi follow the girl's explanation, since her history was on point. "Yes, that's right, a rare tank for sure. You seem knowledgeable about them."

"Oh it's nothing, I've always had a love for tanks, but never had the confidence to be in Sensha-do," Fujiwara said.

"Hm, really now? Well let's put your love to the test, eh?" Himi said with a smile.

"Huh?"

Himi pull the girl down the rows of the Chi-Ha-Tan tanks, till they were standing in front of the Tiger 1. Fujiwara suddenly gasp at the sight as she look it over. Then broke from Himi's side to touch the Tiger 1's armor with unbridle excitement, Himi watch the girl slide her hand down it as if she were touching something sacred and precious, which made Himi wonder if the girls got such a love for tanks why didn't she join their Sensha-do team.

"Wow, a Tiger 1," Fujiwara said silently. "The tank that made Michael Wittmann, Otto Carius, and Kurt Knispel famous in World War two."

"That's right, glad I got this up and running when I did," Himi said, now becoming more curious about this astute young girl.

"How did you even get it?" Fujiwara ask, turning back to Himi.

"Strangely enough, we found it right here on the Akagi down in the lower parts of the ship. Seem Germany did manage to slip one of these tanks to Imperial Japan, but the war was over by then so they left it on the ship I guess, to hide from the allies," Himi explain.

Fujiwara rub her chin for a moment while speaking. "So you just found it laying around your ship, just like us."

"What do you mean just like us?" Himi question.

That made the young girl refocus herself while waving her hands in surprise. "Oh, sorry just mumbling nonsense. This tank is commanded by Miss Nishizumi, it's such an honor to get a close look at it, especially after how well she fights with it."

Himi decided to drop the suspicion. "Yea, she is really something. Though she is a humble one, if you try to praise her for being an ace, she will just say she owes it to her talented crew. For someone who is such a great commander, she doesn't like the spotlight, but there something endearing about that."

"She is so amazing," Fujiwara said happily. "Her fighting style is so beautiful, and she's found a way to make use of these Japanese tanks to full effect. The fact that Saunders and Maple couldn't even deal with them is a testament to her skill."

"You seem quite timid before, but when you talk about Miss Nishizumi you get super excited about her. I hope you're not crushing on her too, because I know certain someone who's got eyes on her," Himi teased.

That made Fujiwara blush madly. "No, no, no I just have a lot of respect for her. I…I…I kind of wish we could have fought together."

"Well, it's not too late to join the Sensha-do team."

Fujiwara shook her head sadly. "No, I can't do that. As much as I wanted too."

Himi stare at the girl hard, wanting to question her further, but decided to cheer the girl up. "You want to see some other tanks."

That perk the girl right up. "Yes please!"

The two made their way to the other side of the garage, to where Himi had placed their more advanced Japanese tanks that needed more room. The sight of the Type 5 N-To's, Type 3 Ho-Ni 3's, Type 4 Chi-To, and Type 97 Short Guns, made Fujiwara scream in delight at the tanks, causing Himi to balk at the sudden girl's excitement.

"I can't believe it, a rare Type 4 Chi-To. It was said that only two models were completed, but were dumped into Lake Hamana in Shizuoka Prefecture! Did you somehow dig it up?!"

Himi nodded. "Had some diving buddies bring it back up some years ago and then work hard to get it in working order, luckily it was done by this year."

"Oh! The Type 5 Na-To! There were only two units were completed as well by war's end. I had thought they were lost to history, but here they are fighting for Chi-Ha-Tan academy! You even put a modified roof hatch over the open area too with periscopes, while you got that awesome Type 5 75 mm tank gun on it that would give a lot of tanks a bad day."

"Yea tha-," Himi try to say.

"Oh, the Type 3 Ho-Ni 3, only 40 or so were built by wars end! I've only built models of this, but seeing it up close is something else. It's got the Type 3 75 mm tank gun that was the same one used on the Type 3 Chi-Nu!"

"Wel-," Himi try to speak again.

"Ahhh! You found the super rare Type 97 Chi-Ha Short Gun, I've only read books about them, but seeing three of them here is a tank enthusiast dream!"

"Ok," Himi cut into the girl's excitement. "You seem to know a lot about tanks, that much is obvious. I really don't understand why don't join our club. If your worry about not making friends here, forget that, Commander Nishizumi makes everyone feel welcome and that would include you."

Again Fujiwara fidgeted. "As I said, I really like to. Yet I got my reasons, but I can't thank you enough for showing me these tanks when you really didn't need to, especially to someone who isn't in your club."

"Were a school that values everyone, and we're not just saying that either. Come on talk to me, why don-."

A loud voice boomed over the garage, cutting into Himi's question. "Hey Miss Busty, you in here?!"

"Damn that woman," Himi growled, with a bright blush coming over her face, making Fujiwara give her a sidelong look.

"Miss Busty you home?" Again the voice call out.

"Yea, I'm over here Miss Aozora!" Himi call back.

Soon Chi-Ha-Tan's air force captain Suzume Aozora came into view, wearing her flight suit that was unbuttoned and had the top half tied around her waist, while she wore a white tank top that was saturated with sweat and her brown hair flowing freely down her back.

"Ah, there you are. Your junior mechanics told me you scare them off from working, so I thought I come by to keep you company," Aozora said with a teasing grin.

"I didn't scare them off," Himi huff out.

Aozora came up to Himi and patted her on the shoulder. "Sure, sure you didn't, by the way who's the new girl haven't seen her around."

Turning to look at Fujiwara, Himi spoke. "This is Miss Fujiwara, and she is a student here. I caught her hiding in here trying to look at our tanks, and thought I show her around."

The brown hair pilot now stare hard at the girl. "Why were you sneaking around here?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just not that confident around people, and I just wanted to look at the tanks when everyone was gone," Fujiwara mumble out.

"She is really knowledgeable about tanks, should have seen her explaining about our new ones to me. A real tank fanatic if I ever saw one," Himi explain.

"Hm, say how about you join the tankery club huh?" Aozora ask, now staring intently at the girl.

"Well, I can't, like I said I'm not good around people," Fujiwara reply.

Aozora got a devilish grin on her face. "You won't feel that way once you meet our Tigress Commander."

"Huh!? Meet Miss Nishizumi! I..I…I…I can't," Fujiwara stuttered out.

"Oh yes you can, I'll take you to go meet her," Aozora said excitedly.

"Ah, sorry I just can't," Fujiwara said once more, then try to make a break for it out of the garage.

Though Aozora had already anticipated the girl making a break for it, moving with unmatched speed she grab the girl by the waist to hold her back. Fujiwara squirm in the older women's hold trying to escape, but Aozora prove she was too strong for her to get away.

"Miss Aozora let her go, if she doesn't want to meet her, then don't force her," Himi scolded coming over to help break the girl out of the pilot's hold.

"Ah, your no fun, plus look at her. She's got the look of a real tanker," Aozora shot back.

"Please it's alright, I just wanted to see the tanks," Fujiwara said frantically, still trying her best to break out of the hold.

"Oh no you don't," Aozora said with a chuckle, then lifted the girl over her shoulder, leaving her no room to escape.

Himi gasped at the pilot's handling of the student. "Miss Aozora, put her down. If Principle Hidemichi hears about this he wi-."

"He'll just chuckle. Don't give me that look, that man is more lenient than you think," Himi said with a wide grin.

"Please! I need to get back to my dorm room," Fujiwara try again to plead.

Aozora ignore her, then started to walk out of the tank garage. "Well I'll see you later Miss Busty, don't forget that we're going out for drinks tonight."

The Chief Mechanic try to argue, but Aozora was out of sight before she could, making Himi sigh in frustration, but then chuckle. "That over eccentric fly girl is going to be the death of me."

Then Himi turn back to new Chi-Ha-Tan tanks, while speaking to herself. "I don't know why, but that Fujiwara girl reminded me of someone, but I can't place my finger on it. Well, no use worrying about that now, got work to do."

XxxxxX

"You really think something like that will work?" Tamada ask Miho, standing up over the desk that Miho was sitting at looking over the map of the battlefield that had been designated for them.

Miho, Tamada, and Nishi were currently in an office designated for the commander of Chi-Ha-Tan's tankery team. It had been Nishi's before, but now it was Miho. The office was lightly decorated with pictures of past members of the team, with a large flag with Chi-Ha-Tan's emblem on it on one of the walls. It was cozy as well for Miho, with plenty of sunshine that emulated the office for most of the day.

Miho had already relay to them about the reinforcements being added to Oarai, which was why she call for a quick meeting with them. Tamada had been angry that the Federation was doing all they could to punish them, while Nishi was reserve about it. Yet, Miho could see her own displeasure at the whole ordeal now.

With that information now made known to them, Miho had drafted a strategy she thought might work for their team. Especially since the battlefield for their match with Oarai was also released to them to study and work out their tactics.

"You think it won't?" Miho ask.

"Mm, what you think Nishi?" Tamada ask her friend standing next to her looking over the map.

"Are you making this kind of strategy based on what Miss Kay told us?" Nishi question.

Miho nodded at that. She was making a strategy base on Saunders Commander Kay, who she met with when both their teams serve a punishment for discourtesy after their match, in the form of being teacher aids for a middle school spring camp last week. It was the last time the Chi-Ha-Tan's tankery team as a whole had been together before the designated suspended members couldn't come back.

Kay had relay to her some interesting information about Oarai's practice match with St. Gloriana, which offer some insight into the strategy Miho was forming now, to which Miho was thankful to the enthusiastic Saunders commander for the information. She was also thankful for her team not picking any fights with Saunders and vice versa. Though that might have been mostly because the kids were a handful for the girls so they had to learn to work together, before they got overwhelmed by them.

"Yes, with the knowledge I gain, I believe this will be the best way to get them off-balance," Miho said, looking the map over from her office chair.

"Well it's bold, and if I'm being honest is a bit villainous too," Tamada said with a smirk.

"Don't make me out to be villainess here, I'm just trying to think outside the box," Miho complain.

"Well commander, I have to say it does come off as something a villainess would do. Yet we're proud to enact this devious scheme of yours," Nishi said warmly.

"You both are the worst," Miho said with an embarrassed smile.

Tamada shrug. "It's just business as usual right."

Nishi chuckled at the comment, then spoke. "Alright, well show the team this tomorrow."

"Good, then let's wrap this up, right commander?" Tamada said.

"Yes," Miho said with a nod. "Let's wrap up the meeting, do you girls want to go somewhere to eat? I'm sure Hosomi, Ikeda, and my crew would love to come too."

Nishi spoke up frantically. "Oh, I just remember something all of us needed to do tonight together…ah…ah…sewing that its. We have some sweaters we need to knit together."

"Sweaters?" Miho questioned with a sidelong glance.

"Yes…for…for…the coming winter," Nishi said with an embarrassed smile.

"But that's so far away, we're still not even into summer," Miho questioned again, feeling like something is up.

"The early bird gets the worm as they say. Yet Tamada can't sew to save her life, so how about you two go out tonight?"

"Hey!" Tamada growled at Nishi. "I can sew, it's just hard to get the needle in the right place sometimes."

"Exactly, you're a liability to us," Nishi excitedly said.

"Wow, you're being brutal right now," Tamada spoke in a defeated tone.

Nishi then gave Tamada a look that said, this is your chance.

It was then Tamada understood what Nishi was doing. She was giving her a chance to finally confess to Miho. Tamada had been meaning to find time, but practices and schoolwork were getting in the way. Yet today they had had a light practice that ended early, while Tamada had gotten most of her school work done, so there were no excuses.

"Well fine, I don't want to sew some stupid sweaters anyway. How about it then Miho, just the two of us?" Tamada said, while silently thanking Nishi for this chance.

"Oh," Miho said, instantly blushing in excitement at the thought of being alone with Tamada, since they hadn't discuss what they were going to do with these feelings for one another, since the day the team punishment had come down.

"I would very much like that," Miho said, then nodded to Nishi thanking her silently for giving them this opportunity.

Nishi nodded. "Well, I'll let you plan things out, and be on my way."

After Nishi left the room, Tamada now felt instant nervousness being alone with Miho. Frankly, she had always dreamed of this moment for the past couple of days, since she had made it known to Miho that she wanted to accept her feelings for her and push forward. Yet now that moment had arrived, which left her feeling a little dumbstruck on how to proceed with this, even with all the planning she had done too.

"Well, were we going to eat?" Miho ask Tamada.

Tamada took a breath for courage. "Well, I ha-."

Before she could finish, the door to the office open without a knock and in came Aozora striding in with the usual confidence she had. Yet she wasn't alone, as she was carrying in some Chi-Ha-Tan student over her shoulder who was doing all she could to get away. However to no avail as Aozora was just too strong, who upon reaching the front of the desk, set the girl down, but kept a hand on her shoulder in case she ran.

"Uh, Miss Aozora, you aren't bullying her are you?" Tamada had to ask.

The brown hair pilot just chuckle. "Oh heavens no, Himi apparently caught her sneaking around our tanks."

Tamada instantly became defensive, now speaking to the girl. "Why were you sneaking around our tanks?"

Fujiwara just look at the ground bashfully and didn't answer.

That made Tamada a bit more peeve, but was stopped when Miho spoke up. "Tamada, calm down. She had to have some reason to be sneaking around, maybe she wants to join the club?"

"You don't need to sneak around for that to happen," Tamada said with a huff, but back off now.

Fujiwara then stop looking at the ground, as her eyes were drawn to Miho. The Chi-Ha-Tan commander upon seeing the girl look her directly in the eyes, felt some strange pull towards her, like she should know who she is, but couldn't place her hand on where she has seen her before.

"It really is you…Miho Nishizumi," was all Fujiwara could say in awe of this famous girl before her.

"Well yea it's her, everyone around school knows her," Tamada said, her suspicion of the girl growing.

Miho now stood from her seat with a smile at the girl. "Yes my name is Miho Nishizumi, it's a pleasure to meet you Miss…"

"Ah, Miss Akiya…." Fujiwara said, then stop herself.

"Miss Akiya?" Miho said questioningly.

"Well I…sorry I'm just so nervous meeting you and all," Fujiwara said again, trying to keep still.

Now Aozora laugh. "Yea she is nervous alright, but you should have heard what Himi told me earlier. Said the girl was going crazy when she saw our new tanks, knew all the history about them and stuff. Thought she might make a new member to the team. "

Miho look a little shocked at that, then turn to look at the girl. "You sound quite knowledgeable about tanks."

"It's…it's…its nothing really, I just always love tanks since I was a little girl and all," Fujiwara said once more.

Tamada wasn't convinced at all, and decided to go in on this girl. "I'm guessing you're a second-year like me, so how about you tell me what class you're in?"

"Uh, class 5," Fujiwara, with little confidence in her voice.

Now Tamada grin devilishly. "Well now, that's my class and I have to say I know everyone in there. So you care to explain how I missed you?"

Fujiwara began to stutter. "We…we…well I kinda just blend into the background, you know?"

"Then who was made to stand in the hallway after being late to class today?" Tamada question.

"Uh," Fujiwara said, scratching her odd hairstyle in thought then spoke. "You?"

Tamada began to chuckle. "You wouldn't be wrong, but that happened yesterday. Hosomi was the one late today, so that means you don't go here and you're lying about who you are."

Miho completely ignore the revelation, as she focus in on Tamada. "What have I told you about staying up late?"

"Uh, Miho this really isn't the time to be going mother tigress on me," Tamada said with amused shake of the head.

"Alright, so this girl doesn't go to our school. So tell me 'Fujiwara' who are you really?" Aozora said hotly, eyeing the girl hard now.

"Uh…" Fujiwara began, then shook off Aozora's hand on her shoulder and made a break for the door.

Aozora again anticipated the girl making a break for the door, but Fujiwara was quicker than her this time. She duck just in time to avoid the grab, yet just at the same time, Tamada had tried to close in to grab the impersonator which led to both her and Aozora crashing into one another and going down in a tangle of flesh. Miho jump out of her seat in shock to see her two companions now dizzy and tangled together after running into one another.

Miho stared at Fujiwara who had stopped to stare at her. "Who are you?"

Fujiwara now bow to Miho in apology. "Sorry Miss Nishizumi, my name is Yukari Akiyama and I'm a big fan of yours. I hope you can forgive me, but also hope to be friends with you someday, thank you for your hospitality."

Then without waiting for a reply, Yukari open the door quickly and made a break down the hallway.

Yukari Akiyama….that's… that's… that's… that's Oarai's commander, I knew she look familiar!

Miho thought, as she stare in befuddlement at the open door of her office, then something snap in her to go after the Oarai commander. In one smooth motion Miho climbed over her desk in pursuit, all the while Tamada yell for her to wait up, but Miho was too focused on capturing the Oarai girl to hear her cries.

Reaching the hallway Miho look left to right, then spotted Yukari just making her way to Miho's right down the hallway, most likely going for the exit and back into academy grounds. Miho wasted no time as she went into full pursuit mode, her legs pumping as fast as she could. Reaching the intersection, she took a left and caught the back of Yukari further receding as she went for the exit, various crew members who were walking about the halls, were now getting out of the stowaway's escape path, unsure of what was going on. They were, even more, confuse to see their commander hot on her heels down the hallway.

Miho didn't make calls for help, her mind focus on capturing this girl before she got too far. Yet now the problem would be if she got out onto the academy grounds, with a lot avenues of escape for her, while leaving Miho in a bind on how to capture her, and judging from what she was seeing, there was no way Miho was going to capture her on foot.

Soon Yukari burst through the front door and out of the tankery building. Her mind already remembering her escape plan, knowing her best bet was to get into town, then lose herself till she could find her alternate clothes hideout behind a convenience store, so she could put on her MEXT supply worker clothes on, then make her way back to the supply ship that should be heading back to Oarai next. It had been the same trick she use for Koala and would be her saving grace here again.

However, as she turn back, the sight of Miho Nishizumi hot on her heels added some panic to her. Since she saw how determined those eyes were to catch her, making a shiver run up her spine. She turn to the right, heading down the brick walking paths heading for the front of the school. A few students who were hanging about in groups or pairs, saw the two girls running wild through the school curious about why they were in such a rush, some began to gossip of a possible lovers spat.

Miho might have argued against that logic of her fellow classmates, but had priorities in her mind to catch her foe. Yet even running as fast as she could, there was no way she was catching up to this speedster who seem to have some hidden athletic talent, while Miho who like to think she was quite fit, couldn't compare with this girl obviously.

She watch as Yukari made a turn into the main plaza for the academy, with Miho losing more ground by the minute and seemingly no way to catch her. Then a sound of a neighing horse could be heard to Miho's right, she turn to see that they were passing by Chi-Ha-Tan's equestrian club. The members were riding their horses through some courses, leading them back to the stables to groom and feed, or riding them around the practice pen. Miho still remember the day she had try riding and was bucked by Little Gozen, but was encouraged by Tamada to try again.

Looking at the horses, her run came down to a jog as a plan form in her head as she spoke silently to herself. "I'm really about to be reckless right now, I hope Mister Hidemichi can forgive me later."

Steeling her resolve, Miho broke off from the pursuit knowing she had precious few seconds to waste. She climb over the fence to the course area, surprising some of the equestrian members who began to protest about a student interrupting their training. Miho ignore them as she scan for their club captain Juri Nagai, who she soon spotted attending to Little Gozen, the pride of their herd.

Juri noticed Miho coming up to her in a rush, making the equestrian captain stop brushing the horse to speak. "Well if it isn't the famous Tigress herself. Come to join our club? Not too late you know."

Miho smile at her, though she was in too much of a hurry to respond to the joke. "Sorry Miss Nagai, but may I please borrow Little Gozen?"

"Why you need to borrow her?" Juri ask in wonderment.

Miho took one look back to the where the girl had ran off too, knowing she was losing to much ground and made a bold move she hope wouldn't get her into too much trouble later on, when all was said and done.

"Sorry, forgive my rudeness," Miho said with a quick bow, then move to the other side of the Little Gozen, stepping into the stirrup and lifting herself up onto the saddle.

It was when she seated herself into the saddle, did Miho remember she wasn't wearing proper riding gear, mainly being breeches. Instead, she was still wearing her tankery uniform and the skirt did her no favors now being seated bare against the saddle, but she ignore it to the best of her ability.

Turing to Juri as she took the reins, Miho spoke. "Again I'm sorry. I'll make sure to write a formal letter of apology to you."

Then with a confident kick to Little Gozen's flanks, Miho took off. Even though she hadn't ridden again since she had joined Chi-Ha-Tan's tankery club, she felt completely at ease in the saddle though the bumping up and down with a skirt on was something she had to get adjusted too, while she could feel Little Gozen was ready to be put through her paces.

Juri watch in amazement as Miho rode Little Gozen through their practice field with expert handling, making Juri wish again that Miho had join the club, since she seem to have the making of a national-level type of rider. Juri was given one more surprise as Miho had Little Gozen jump over the practice fence with no problem as she rode into the academy grounds. Various club members were screaming after Miho to stop or were to shock to move.

A club member came running up to Juri in a state of panic. "Captain! We have to let Mister Hidemichi know about this, she stole a horse and is riding into the school grounds!"

The equestrian captain remain silent for a moment, then spoke. "Didn't think she was bold enough to wear black at this age."

"What!?" The club member said in disbelief turning to watch Miho ride further away. "Well, she's wearing a black skirt, what makes that so bold?"

Juri just chuckle at her club member. "It's not the skirt that was also black."

The club member thought over the statement a bit, then she blush madly. "Are you serious?! That's what got your attention, not the fact she stole a horse from us."

"Well, yea, plus not every day you see a girl ride a horse in a skirt that confidently," Juri said in an approving tone.

"Your too casual captain," the club member said with disapprovement.

Juri shrug. "Well, not much to do now. Let's be ready for when she gets back."

As Juri began to walk back to the stables, her club members made more complaints about their prize horse being ridden through the school. Then Juri heard more shouting in the distance, and turn to see Tamada and a bunch of members of the tankery team come flying down the brick walking path, running as fast as they could to catch up to the imposter and their commander.

The tankery club is never boring, especially with that Tigress of theirs

Juri thought with a chuckle, then headed into the stable.

XxxxxX

"Not good, not good, not good," Yukari said frantically, as she push herself to the entrance of the academy, where she plan to head for the convenience store where she left her MEXT supply worker uniform in a box behind the store. Yet the store was on the other side of the town aboard the school carrier, so getting there would prove problematic if they chase her all the way there, but luckily she had gotten away from Miho. Now she might have a chance to get away undetected

It still sadden her that was their first encounter, however Yukari figured that might be just the way it goes. Though she had been hoping for a chance to maybe meet Miho alone, then maybe try to befriend her in some way. Even if they were to be enemies in the near future, Yukari wanted to finally meet her idol and tell her how grateful she was that she inspired her to do tankery. Maybe that would come later, right now she just had to make it back home in one piece.

Suddenly the sounds of hooves clacking behind her on the brick path, made Yukari turn around and go wide eye at the awesome and frightening sight behind her.

Coming towards her at a furious pace, was Miho Nishizumi riding a horse with no fear in her eyes, only pure fortitude. The Chi-Ha-Tan commander's eyes were solely focused on Yukari, who for a moment was to star-struck by the sight, then realize that now she was at a huge disadvantage with her adversary on a horse chasing her that would easily outpace her.

Pushing herself as hard as she could, Yukari made a beeline for the academy's entrance, thinking she might have a chance to lose Miho in the town by going down alleyways. Her lungs were burning from the exertion of the chase, her legs starting to feel the strain from the constant pumping as fast as she could make them.

Yet, for all her effort, Yukari had nothing on Little Gozen as the horse outpace her quickly. Once Miho had overtaken Yukari, she pull on the reigns causing the horse to come to a drifting stop in front of the academy's front gate, effectively blocking it since there were high walls surrounding the academy that Yukari couldn't hope to climb over.

With her hair starting to return to its former fluffy state, due to intense running and sweat coming from Yukari, she stop knowing there was no way past Miho. Yukari took a look back to the school's ground, wondering if she should bolt back into the academy grounds, but gave up on the idea knowing Miho would just herd her in with her horse, and once the other tankery members caught up it be over. Now she was left flummoxed on how to escape.

"Please stop running, Miss Akiyama," Miho said, holding the reins tight trying to keep Little Gozen steady.

"Wow, you're riding a horse in a skirt, you really are a Tigress," Yukari said, now turning back to take in the sight of Miho in awe.

Miho blush at the statement,

"This is really embarrassing for me. Yet, please let's stop this fruitless chase and talk."

"We…can talk? I can talk to my idol?" Yukari said in quiet excitement.

A small smile crossed Miho's face, hoping she ended this chase for good, and was curious to learn about this Oarai commander. Then some yelling could be heard from behind Yukari, making both girls turn to see some of the Chi-Ha-Tan tankery members come running out through the academy grounds at them. At the head of the group were Tamada, Nishi, Aozora, and some random members of the first-year group coming towards them in a rush to catch up to their commander and catch the culprit who had snuck in.

Yukari yelped seeing how angry they look, while they were effectively pinning her in leaving no room to escape. Turing her eyes to Miho on her horse, an idea came to her in a flash and an awesome one at that in Yukari's mind.

In one quick motion she came up to the side of the horse, she first lifted Miho's foot out of the stirrup, then Yukari place her own foot in to lift herself onto the horse as well. Miho was at first surprised by Yukari's actions, then embarrassed by the feel of the Oarai commander against her back, making her let go of the reins for a moment.

"Sorry for the intrusion," Yukari said happily into Miho's ear, then grip the reins and turn the horse around and rode out of the academy's front gate.

As they left the schools ground, frantic voices call out to them to stop from the Chi-Ha-Tan tankery group.

"Hey stop!"

"Don't let her get away!"

"She's kidnapping the commander!"

"Miho!"

"Commander!"

Yet none could stop the duo from now leaving the grounds. Miho for her part finally got her senses back, yet made no grab for the reins of the horse knowing it be dangerous to fight over them, now with Little Gozen being put into a full gallop through the town. Many of the Akagi's residents who were walking the streets look on with astonishment at a horse riding through the streets.

Some cheered when they saw it was Miho riding on the horse as she was know quite well as the great commander of their tankery club, while some look on wondering why she was riding double with another girl. With a few questioned why they were riding a horse through the streets, but none made a move to stop them, mostly because it wasn't uncommon to see some of the Chi-Ha-Tan equestrian members ride through town, so they didn't make a fuss over it.

"I'm going to be in so much trouble," Miho said in quiet distraught.

Wow, this isn't even something I could dream of happening

Yukari thought, at first being just lucky to even speak to her idol, yet now she was riding double with her on a horse. If she had to admit, it felt a little romantic to her, but she put those thoughts on hold for now as she continue to gallop to the convenience store where she stash her clothes.

"Hey, where are you taking me? You're not kidnapping me are you?" Miho said fearfully.

"Oh, don't worry, I just need to go to pick up my MEXT supply worker uniform and then I'm making break for the supply ship so I can go home. I'm not kidnapping you, I promise," Yukari said excitedly.

"That's how you snuck onboard? Using the MEXT supply ship?" Miho ask, while looking over her shoulder slightly.

Yukari nodded enthusiastically. "Yea, cool right? I use the same trick when I snuck into Koala Forest High…are you mad about me sneaking into your academy?"

"Well," Miho started, then stop as she thought it over a bit, then spoke. "You didn't sabotage our tanks did you?"

Yukari shook her head. "No, never, that be like tank cruelty. Plus I love tanks so much, that I never do them any harm outside of a match."

"Oh, well if that's the case, then I'm not mad about you sneaking in. Theirs actually no rule against spying on other teams," Miho said causally.

The fluffy hair girl let out a sigh of relief. "Oh man, I'm so glad you don't hate me. Have to say your new Japanese tanks are so cool and rare, really grateful I got to see them before the match."

"I was hoping to keep them secret before the match, but I guess that didn't work out," Miho said with shrug, knowing she have to account this into her strategy that Oarai would know about their new tanks.

"Yea I get that, secrecy is the greatest ally right?"

Miho nodded. "Well, we could call it even. Since I know about your new tanks being added to your team."

"Really? I don't even know about that yet. How about you tell me?" Yukari said, eager to know about her new tanks being added to her team.

"Seeing how you snuck into see our tanks, I think I'll keep something secret from you," Miho said with a chuckle.

"Ah! You're so unfair," Yukari whine at Miho.

That made both girls chuckle together, then it hit Miho. She barely knew this girl, and yet even after she had snuck into their academy to spy on their new tanks, then led her on a chase through the school. Add on top of the kidnapping of her on the very horse Miho had hoped to stop her, even if Yukari said she wasn't kidnapping Miho. Yet after all that craziness, they were talking and laughing together like they were old friends and not soon to be enemies.

It again confirm to Miho that she seem to have some weird pull towards the girls of Oarai. Like she belong with them, she had first felt it when she saw a small group of them in the café after the national drawing and now the feeling was stronger than ever. It made it all the worse that she knew about their school carrier's shutdown, as Miho could tell by how go lucky happy Yukari was, that she didn't know anything about it or she wouldn't be this nice to her.

Should I tell her about it?

Miho struggled with the thought, knowing in her heart it felt wrong to keep the knowledge to herself. However, it would seem like some underhanded move on Miho's part telling her now, which would seem like she was trying to hurt their team morale by saying it and that was if Yukari believe her. While at the same Miho thought it look like she was playing dirty just to win, so for now she would say nothing about it still, again feeling some doubt in her heart about the whole issue.

"You seem to really love tanks, it makes sense you're a commander," Miho said, trying to keep the talking causal.

Yukari grip the reins tighter knowing she wanted to say what was in her heart to Miho. "Heh, it was you who inspire me to want to be in Sensha-do. I honestly never wanted to be a commander, I would have been just fine being a loader or something, as long as I got to be a tanker and made friends, which would be enough for me."

Taking the statement in, Miho reply with a question looking over her shoulder. "I inspire you?"

Leaning forward in the saddle, Yukari took in Miho eyes as she spoke with excitement. "Of course Miss Nishizumi. Watching you fight like Michael Wittmann in your Tiger 1 last year and this year, was awe-inspiring. Yet the most inspiring part for me, was your selflessness that day in the final of the sixty-second national tournament."

"The final?" Miho question again.

"Yep, seeing you with no hesitation, jump from your tank to save your teammates from drowning in the river show me that it's not just fighting in tanks that is important. It's the girls you stand shoulder to shoulder with too, that having each other's back is what we need to think of first," Yukari said, feeling her heart beat fast, saying the words she always wanted to say to her idol.

You must understand young one that your actions are always watched, and your compassion is what people saw that day

Those were the words Hidemichi said to her that day in the office of the director of Sensha-do Federation. Hidemichi, Kodama, and Ami Chono all praise Miho's actions as well. They had told her that she had inspired a lot of girls by her selflessness that day, while Miho for some time always just remember her mother's scolding tone about it, like her actions were a mistake that faithful day. Yet again, here in this moment was proof that Miho actions needed to be looked at in better light. Miho most of all needed to start believing that and she would from now on, thanks to this eccentric fluffy hair girl against her back.

"I…thank you, Miss Akiyama," Miho said with a smile.

"Huh? Why are your thanking me?" Yukari ask.

"For a long time, I always doubted my actions that day were something worth noticing. Yet recently I've learned people respect me for that, not because I'm a good tank commander. I now have you to also remind me, that I need to look at that in a positive light," Miho said gratefully.

Yukari said nothing, but just smile like a fool. Thinking that this day couldn't get any better, as she had spoken to her idol and got to thank her for inspiring her to be in Sensha-do, while she also got to have Miho thank her.

"Well, I'm glad you see your actions in a positive light. Oh we reach the convenience store," Yukari said, now bringing the horse to a slow canter, then she pull the reins to have the horse pull in behind the store.

Pulling the horse up to a stop once they were behind the store, Miho saw packages stack up neatly behind the store ready to be taken in. Yukari now lifted herself out of the saddle and made her way over to one of the boxes sitting off to the side. Opening it up, Yukari pull out a MEXT supply worker uniform, then look back at Miho with a proud grin.

"Neat huh? Wearing this made it easy to sneak aboard the supply ship, they thought I was part of the ship's crew," Yukari said with a smile.

Miho gave her a sidelong glance from the saddle. "How you get by them? Since you're literally a high school girl, they had to be suspicious?"

"Told them I ran away from home, wanting to make a life for myself. They totally bought it without question, apparently lot of their staff had the same backstory," Yukari said, the started to dress, but stop when she notice Miho looking at her.

"Uh, sorry, can you keep a lookout? I need to get out of this school uniform and back into this worker uniform," Yukari ask politely.

"Oh, yea sorry. Take your time," Miho said, then got down from the saddle and led Little Gozen away.

After some time, Yukari call after her that she was dressed. Miho turn around to take the sight of Yukari now dress in her worker uniform, wearing her proud face. Then she came over to rub Little Gozen's face, to which the horse let out a small neigh of approval of the touch.

"Sorry girl, didn't mean to steal you away too," Yukari said softly to the horse, to which Little Gozen neigh back, as if to say it was alright.

Miho watch this for a moment then spoke up. "You're really good with horses, are they also a passion of yours?"

"No, my dad used to take me riding whenever are school carrier would stop at certain ports. We go to this little hiking trail that offers horse rides. I think he did it because he wanted me to have other interests than tanks, yet it never stuck with me. Though I guess my horsemanship skills prove pretty useful."

"You're really something Miss Akiyama," Miho said with a smile.

"Oh, no, I'm not anything special," Yukari said frantically, unable to keep her blush down as her idol praise her.

"You are special, you took a team of rookies in your school and won two matches, with fewer tanks and less firepower. You're really a brilliant strategist and tank commander, and more importantly, you look like you're having fun all the while," Miho praised.

Yukari didn't know what to say at first. No one could blame her, as she was being praised by someone who inspire her greatly, now praising her skills. Miho had called her a brilliant strategist and tank commander, when for all the time Yukari watch Miho had thought of her as such. Yukari didn't know if there was any way this day could get any better.

"Thank you Miss Nishizumi. Your words mean a lot to me…..can I ask you something?"

"Yeah sure," Miho reply, looking at her now.

Yukari struggle a bit to speak, then found her words. "I know you originally were going to transfer to Oarai and then opted out for Chi-Ha-Tan. Why is that?"

The question cause Miho to freeze up a bit. She didn't think Yukari would know about her transfer to the school, mostly because the offer was practically rescinded not long after she put it in, after Maho inform her of the schools shutdown. While also Yukari seem like just an ordinary student, to which only the headmaster or some higher up would have that knowledge of a transfer.

"I...I…I…," Miho stutter unable to find the right words, without possibly saying something she felt she had no right to say.

Yukari watch this struggle in Miho, while not knowing why she was struggling, making Yukari feel bad for putting her on the spot like that, especially when things had been going so well for them.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make things awkward. It's just when I found out, I couldn't keep it out of my head that there was a chance for us to fight side by side with each other, it would have been a dream come true for me," Yukari said.

Miho just smile at her sadly, seeing how earnest that Yukari was about just wanting to fight together. It only made it worse that Miho couldn't find it in her heart to tell her the reason, when it was for certain that Yukari didn't know what was happening to her school at the moment.

"No you didn't make things awkward…after this match between our schools, whether we win or lose. I promise you I will tell you the reason why I didn't transfer to your school ok?" Miho said, hoping this would be enough for Yukari.

Yukari was a little peeve about the request, but she honor it. "Certainly Miss Nishizumi."

"Thank you," Miho said gratefully, then held at her hand to Yukari. "Will be saying this before the game as well, yet I hope for a good game Miss Akiyama."

Yukari nodded, then came forward to take the offered hand but didn't notice the bottle on the floor. As she step on it, it led to her losing her balance, making her flail to keep upright, Miho seeing this immediately move to help her, but was too late as Yukari fell forward crashing into Miho and the both of them went down together.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow," Yukari said, then notice she was straddling Miho, who was under her.

"Uh," Miho groan out as she got her senses back, then saw Yukari on top of her and blush madly, speaking in a shy voice. "What are you doing?"

"It was an accident, I promise," Yukari said frantically, leaning back to wave her hands apologetically.

"Oh, ok, but can you get off me please," Miho said, still feeling embarrassed to have the girl on top of her.

Yukari didn't honor this request, as again she was too star-struck at the moment as she spoke. "To think my day couldn't get any better, first I meet my idol, talk to her, get praise from her, and now I'm straddling her."

Now a brighter blush came across Miho's face, as she cutely whine at Yukari. "Miss Akiyama, that's not something to be proud of."

"Oh, yea sorry," Yukari said, still straddling her with a laugh, then thought of something, "hey I bet I can guess your measurements just by looking at you."

"Wah!" Miho said in a flustered tone.

Yukari look down at her with a proud smile. "Bust 82."

"Eh!" Miho whined, covering her chest.

"Waist 56."

"Wait!" Miho whine again, covering her lower waist.

"Hip 84."

"Ahhh!" Miho cry out, though couldn't cover her hips since Yukari was straddling her still, so she cover her face in complete embarrassment, even worse Yukari had been on point with Miho's measurements.

"Ha…ha…ha….pretty cool huh?" Yukari boasted.

"How is that cool!" Miho said, while squirming in embarrassment under her.

"Hey!" An angry voice call out to the two girls.

Yukari turned to the voice, to which her proud face dropped to one of fear, while Miho lean up a bit on her elbows to look over her shoulder to the angry voice. Standing there was Tamada, who was breathing heavily from her long run to find her lost commander. Sweat ran down her face, while strands of hair had escaped her braid and were sticking to her face, yet even in this fatigued state, she was more than ready to have a go.

"You have to the count of five to get off her, before I show you how we girls of Chi-Ha-Tan deal with unwelcome guests," Tamada said with a scowl.

Terror instantly shot through Yukari, who quickly got off Miho. "Look, I'm sorry. It was an accident that's all,I wasn't trying to do anything weird to her."

"You could have fooled me, now get away from her," Tamada growled.

Yukari obey the command, stepping away from Miho gently not wanting to anger the reddish-brown eye girl any more than she was. Tamada now move forward, though she was a bit wobbly as she had overexerted herself trying to find Miho while running through the town. Seeing this made Miho frantically get to her feet and run over to Tamada, who reach out and hug Miho passionately glad that she was safe, with Miho returning the affection.

Pulling back from the hug, Tamada cupped both sides of Miho's face gently as she spoke. "Are you ok?"

Miho nodded into her hands. "Yep I'm fine, are you ok? You look like you overdid it."

"Pft, I just watch my commander get kidnapped. You don't think I would run my heart out to rescue you," Tamada joke back, making Miho giggle a bit, as it was just like Tamada to play the role of knight for her, yet Miho was glad that she would go so far for her.

"Ah, I don't mean to butt in, but I wasn't kidnapping her," Yukari said, while rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment, feeling like a third wheel here.

"Yea, you weren't kidnapping her, just like I'm not going to knock some sense into you," Tamada said, now pulling away from Miho, to go after Yukari, who look ready to bolt again.

Miho now move quickly to put herself between Yukari and Tamada. "It's ok, nothing bad happen. Miss Akiyama was only spying on our tanks."

That made Tamada raise an eyebrow at Miho. "How is that any better? We should string he-."

"Tamada," was all Miho said, her usually light voice, becoming hard making Tamada wince since she never heard Miho take a hard voice with her before.

"Fine, get out of here before I pummel you," Tamada said, staring off to the side with her arms crossed.

"Oh, ok, again I'm sorry I stole Miss Nishizumi away for a moment," Yukari said, with an apologetic bow, then rose up to speak again. "I hope for a good game between our teams in the end."

Miho bow back in respect, though Tamada continue to look away with crossed arms, still peeve that Miho had defended the girl.

"Get home safe Miss Akiyama, we look forward to a good game as well," Miho said back with a smile.

Yukari smiled back, then grab her bag and began to walk away from the two. Just before she turn a corner to head for the supply ship, Yukari turn back to Miho and wave at her, making Miho wave back. Then the fluffy hair girl turn the corner and left heading for home, her heart fill with joy after meeting with her idol, who now would be her rival, and then hopefully after the match be her friend.

Turning back, Miho saw Tamada had taken Little Gozen's reigns and guided her over to Miho. "Well, that was sure fun."

"Your voice says it wasn't," Miho said jokily.

"Of course not, I just watch my girl get kidnapped on a horse, while I had to run across town to save her. Worse I find her on top of you," Tamada said hotly.

"Yea, that was a wild chase. While please don't bring that up, it was uneasy for me to have her on top of me like that," Miho said with an embarrassed smile.

"Not as embarrassing as you riding a horse in a skirt?" Tamada teased with a wide grin.

"Ah! Don't remind me of that either!" Miho whined with a deep blush.

"Also, let's not forget the other part."

Miho felt dread at the statement. "What other part?"

"I spoke to Nagai before I got to figuring out where you ran off to and told me something interesting," Tamada said, with a still teasing grin.

"What!?" Miho said fearfully, hoping there wasn't more embarrassment to be added on to her.

Tamada turn away, covering her mouth with her hand as she spoke. "Really Miho, wearing black at your age, you really are bold, didn't think you take that whole shopping for black clothes so far."

At first, Miho didn't know what she was talking about, then it dawn on her as she grip her hips mortify. "I didn't buy them for you, they…they…they were on sale is all."

"Sure Miho, sure," Tamada said, then began to walk away guiding Little Gozen by the reigns.

Miho was quick to follow trying to explain herself, but Tamada shut her down as they had something more important to discuss, "Miho, we're still going out tonight right?"

"Tonight?" Miho question.

"Yep, will get a quick bite at your place. Then we are sneaking out to a spot I'll know you'll like," Tamada said happily.

"Uh, what have I told you about sneaking out," Miho said, with a weary smile.

"The usual, but that won't stop me, especially when it involves you," Tamada said, while reaching out with her free hand to intertwine hers with Miho's.

Miho smile at the gesture and squeeze Tamada's hand as well. "Guess you're right, but I think that what I like about you."

Tamada felt her heart soar, as the two walked down the streets, heading for home with Little Gozen in tow. Feeling that finally, she could let Miho know who she was, hoping that she would still want to be with her in the end. For Tamada couldn't imagine her life without Miho and that heartwarming smile at her side.

Yet for now she was content, walking hand in hand down a quiet street as the sun sunk down on another beautiful, yet wild day aboard the Akagi.

XxxxxX

The cool night grip the air now, as the sun was completely gone and the moon was hidden behind the rolling clouds still in the sky. Things were quiet aboard the Akagi as most residents were home, some heading for bed, others enjoying some last minute reading or T.V before sleep finally took them. Yet for two young girls, they were too restless for sleep as they climb through the large forested area that dominated the back half of the Akagi school carrier.

"We'll have to say, you got pretty lucky that all you have to do is a written apology," Tamada tease, using a flashlight to illuminate the path her and Miho were walking. Tamada was wearing light grey shorts that hug her lower frame and casual black shoes. For upper wear, she wore a loose open green hoodie with a plain black shirt underneath, since it was cold out, with her braid still over her left shoulder. She also had a backpack on, which made Miho wonder what she had brought along, since they had already had a small dinner at her apartment.

"Yea, Miss Jun was really casual about everything, was expecting her to yell at me," Miho said with an embarrassed smile, while she walk behind Tamada. Miho wore a short flowing white dress, with a red letterman jacket over it, with red converse on.

"Nah, she can't yell at a girl who rides as well as you, just not in her," Tamada said, looking over her shoulder at Miho with a bright smile.

"Heh," Miho said, while scratching her cheek in embarrassment, then decided to change the subject. "This a bit of climb, if I had known you were taking me hiking in the dark I wouldn't have worn a dress."

"Yea, sorry needed to keep this a surprise from you. Besides, I like seeing you in that dress," Tamada said eyeing Miho up and down, and then focus back on the path.

"Oh, I'm glad you like it," Miho said in a quiet thrilled voice, blushing at the statement.

Yet Tamada just couldn't help but ruin the mood with her teasing. "Though I have to ask, you aren't wearing black again are you?"

"Ah! Tamada don't be a pervert!" Miho said, coming up to side of Tamada now to lightly punch her shoulder.

"Yikes, I didn't think you get violent on me," Tamada chuckled.

"Sorry, you just say things like that so causal, like it doesn't affect you, I'm not like that," Miho said, staring at the ground as they continue to walk.

"No you aren't like that, you're a refine lady after all. Completely opposite from my brutish nature," Tamada said.

Not liking how Tamada was talking about herself, made Miho reach over to grab her hand as she spoke. "I don't think you're brutish at all, maybe a little bit of a tomboy, but you're so gentle and caring when you need to be. It's because of all your traits I was able to find my confidence again."

Tamada turn to look at Miho. "Well, you sure know how to beat someone down and bring them back up."

"You don't know when to take a compliment," Miho shot back playfully.

"Sure, sure. Oh, looks like we're almost there. Come on, I know you're going like this," Tamada said, guiding Miho off the path to the right.

They walk some more, till they finally found the break in the trees to an open clearing. There was nothing but soft grass and a single tree. Yet from the elevated position of the hill, they look down on the entire Akagi community that was lit up by lampposts and various lights from other buildings. The control tower's lights was evident in the distance, while the bright moon seem to pick this moment to reveal itself, shining down on the school carrier now.

"It's beautiful," Miho said, looking down at the entire community.

"Yea beautiful," Tamada said, though she wasn't staring at the sight before her, but at the girl at her side.

Miho felt Tamada's eyes on her, then turn to meet them. The reddish-brown eyes took in her light brown ones. For a moment they said nothing to each other, just feeling their hearts beating fast at the sight of each other, coupled with the scenery that had all the makings for a romantic moment that anyone would wish for.

Hold Tamada, hold now, there will be time for that later

The thought ran through Tamada's mind, then spoke to Miho. "Come on lets go to that lone tree over there."

"Oh, ok," Miho said bashfully.

The two soon arrive at the tree, Tamada reach into her backpack to pull out a blanket that she lay on the soft grass under the tree, since she didn't want to get Miho's dress dirty. Then the two sat down next to each other, with no space between them and their shoulders touching. Yet again nothing was said, each wondering how to proceed, till Tamada found her courage, since she had to be the one to take the first step.

"Miho, I have a present for you," Tamada said, making Miho turn to her in excitement.

"Really what is it?" Miho ask in wonderment.

Tamada just grin at her, then turn to her left to to grab something else from her backpack. Then slowly, Tamada turn back to Miho, feeling nervous that her present might not be enough, but after all the hard work she had put into to making it, gave her some final resolution to press forward.

As Tamada now turn fully to Miho, she got a good look at the present in Tamada's arms. It was a Boko bear, with the usual arms bandage up, with one of them slung up. There was a Band-Aid on its head, with its right ear bandage as well. Yet the difference in this one, then the others she own, was that it had the Chi-Ha-Tan camouflage scheme all over it, with the schools logo on its belly.

"Is that a custom Boko bear?" Miho ask in quiet astonishment.

"Ye..ye..yea," Tamada said, hoping Miho like it.

"I…I…I…I've never seen one like this before. Did you custom order one for me?" Miho ask, now looking at Tamada.

Tamada blush a bit. "No, I sew this one together myself."

"You hand-made it?" Miho ask, her eyes going wide and voice almost a whisper.

"Yes, Hosomi help me a little to get it started. The rest I did myself, this is a gift for you," Tamada said, now handing the bear to Miho.

Miho took the bear in hand, looking it over with a precise eye of a dedicated fan of the toy. Tamada all the while watch her reactions with quiet intensity. Wondering if she had done alright, since she knew Miho had an obsession with toy judging from the horde of them in her apartment.

Feeling impulsive, Tamada reach out to take the bear back. "Here give it back to me, its amateur work at best. I'll order one that's actually made by a professional."

In flash Miho twisted away from Tamada's hand, gripping the Boko bear in both arms like a mother holding their precious child as she spoke. "No its mine!"

"Eh?" Tamada said, surprise by the reaction.

"I love it, thank you so much Tamada. I'm going to treasure this forever," Miho said, now blushing with a lovely smile, holding the Boko bear to her chest.

"Oh, thank goodness, I thought you were going to hate it. Especially since I hand sewn it myself, knowing how much of an expert you are on it," Tamada said back with a lopsided smile.

"How can I hate it? You put so much effort into this…it shows how much you care about me," Miho said, holding the Boko bear closer to her chest, feeling happier than she's ever felt in her life in this moment.

"It does, I hate to ask, but why do you like that bear so much?" Tamada ask.

Miho let out a defeated chuckle. "I know, it's weird for a girl my age to want something like this."

"No that isn't wha-," Tamada try to explain.

"Maybe something is wrong with me," Miho said, now staring off at the sleeping community below them.

Tamada gasp at the statement. "There's nothing wrong with you."

"My mother gave me my first Boko bear when I was four," Miho started, making Tamada clamp up to listen to her. "She told me that this bear represented someone that even if your weak, that if you stand up every time you could never lose. For me, I took it to heart, since I struggle alot with upholding my famlies Sensha-do stlye."

"I'm sorry that happen," Tamada said, dejectedly.

Miho smile at her friend, then spoke again. "Holding onto this bear made me push to keep getting up when I felt scared. Sometimes I find the courage to go find my mother after a fight with my dad, to comfort her as best I could. I think it help, since she pick me up and held me close telling me everything was alright."

Stopping for a moment to get her emotions in check, Miho continue. "When my dad left, my mom change. She no longer was the loving playful mother I once knew, only the upholding of Nishizumi style was all that was left. It was then that Boko was even more important to me, it was what reminded me , that no matter how tough things got, if I kept getting up and giving it my all eventually things would work out. It might be the only reason I didn't run from home earlier, as weird as that sounds."

"What about your sister?" Tamada ask.

"Big sis change too, but I know now that it was because she was trying to protect me. She work hard to become what my mother wanted, so that the pressure would be alleviated from my shoulders. For some time I thought she hated me, since she never smile at me, or wanted to hang out together. It was only after the 62nd national tournament, that she came back to me, to explain why she had change and that she would always love me."

"Wow, your sister change because she wanted to protect you," Tamada said quietly.

"Yea, if she hadn't done that. I would have gone to Oarai because I wanted to run away from Sensha-do for good. If that had happened, things would be different. I would have never met all my friends I treasure now…I might not have ever met you Tamada."

"You were going to Oarai?" Tamada ask, since Miho before had never unveiled that to her before.

"Yes, at the time they didn't have a tankery club and also were the only school carrier not to have one. I plan to transfer there and hopefully be just a normal girl," Miho explain.

"Yet now they do have one. They most likely would have try hard to recruit you to their team, knowing who your family was," Tamada said.

Miho nodded. "I'm pretty sure that would have happened. And we might have been enemies instead of friends if we were matchup in tournament."

Tamada chuckle at her friend. "Well, maybe I would have made you fall for me in some other way."

"Tamada, you're impossible sometimes," Miho said with a smile and shake of the head.

"Well guess you share some deep stuff with me, time to share something with you," Tamada said, then took a deep breath for courage.

Looking to her left at her braid, Tamada touch the ribbon holding her braid together. Again remembering what it meant, a promise from a boy who she care for. Yet now she needed to let go, for the future she wanted, so in one smooth motion she pull the ribbon from her hair, letting it come loose now. She quickly hand combed her hair over her shoulder and down her back.

"Tamada," Miho said quietly, looking at her friend's long black flowing hair. It was the first time she had ever seen her like this, and if she were honest she like it a lot better.

"Kind of look like some punk rocker huh?" Tamada joke.

Miho giggle. "Just a little bit, but I like it."

"Glad you do," Tamada said, then turn to look at the ribbon. "This ribbon belong to a boy who I…I care for deeply."

The joking mood now became serious, making Miho wince hearing about a boy who Tamada care for in a romantic way.

"His name was Tohaku," Tamada began again. "We met up in the last orphanage before I came to Chi-Ha-Tan. We use to fight a lot, but in turn we use to beat up some of the bigger kids who try to pick on us. We get into all kinds of trouble back then, and I really became a problem child that no one wanted. Yet I never care as long as I had Tohaku at my side."

Miho said nothing back, doing her best to endure Tamada talking about him.

"Then came a day I can never forget. Me and Tohaku were walking down some alley and ran into some high school boys. They were from some rich academy, and snobs at that. One of them taunted us about our dirty clothes and appearance. I plan to ignore them, thinking they were just some daddy boys, living off their wealth."

"I'm sorry they were so cruel to you," Miho said in an earnest tone.

Tamada smiled at her, then continue her story. "Tohaku though wanted to put them in their place. The final spark was when one of the boys made a joke about paying Tohaku's mom to have her for a night, saying that was most likely how he was conceived and then abandon. That sent him into a rage and went after them."

A small pause from Tamada was needed to compose herself for the next part

"The fight was one-sided. The rich kids were no match for Tohaku, yet the one who had made the joke about his mom he didn't stop after knocking him down. As Tohaku just kept hitting him…and hitting him…he just didn't stop. I could see he was going to kill him, so I jump in trying to stop Tohaku. Yet he was in such a rage that he hit me as I try to pull him off."

"He hit you," Miho said with deep concern.

"Yes, he ran from the orphanage after that, before the police got there trying to arrest him, while I was spare because I call for help and the black eye afterward convince the police I was a victim too. I tried to look for him after things calm down, but Chi-Ha-Tan Academy came to take me to the carrier not long after. We met up again, after the humiliation from Saunders in the 62nd national tournament, after we made port in Chiba prefecture. He had found out I been taken to Chi-Ha-Tan and came to the port city to apologize profusely about what happened…saying he was in the wrong….then…then…"

Watching Tamada now struggle with her words, Miho shuffle over a bit to comfort her. Yet Tamada raise a hand to stop her, wanting Miho to hear what she was going to say next, knowing this might change things between them for good.

"I was angry and frustrated about the loss with Saunders that night as you can imagine, coupled with the infighting that was going on as well that threaten to destroy our club only made things worse. Yet by some miracle, my old friend was back and I was excited to be near him after worrying about him for over a year. Tohaku then convince me to forget all the terrible things going on, by enjoying some beers he had stolen as we caught up, I was a fool that didn't make much of an argument about it, and just went along. Then we…we had sex that night in some woods. The next morning he left this ribbon for me with a promise that he come back for me, but I haven't talk to him since, and he never was waiting for me when we made port in all this time."

Now silence ensue between the two, as Miho process what Tamada had just told her. Especially about her hooking up with the boy. They had done something that brought them closer than Miho could ever be with Tamada. It hurt to think that the boy had something precious from Tamada, but at the same time Miho's feelings were too strong to be stop now, but she needed some assurance of Tamada's true feelings for her.

Reaching over Miho took one of Tamada hand's to make her look at her as she spoke. "Tamada, I won't lie to say I feel uneasy about what you did. Yet I have no right to judge you…well the drinking part is something that will never happen again right?"

Tamada nodded. "Yes, I will never underage drink again ever. I promise you."

"Ok, but you been waiting all this time for him. Are you truly ok with leaving him behind for me?" Miho ask, looking in those reddish brown eyes searching for Tamada's conviction.

Tamada stare happily at Miho, knowing she was looking past her impulsive actions and wanting to still be with her. Yet she needed to prove to Miho that she wanted to be with her, that she wasn't going to go back now. Tamada needed to show Miho that her heart belong to her now, and there was only one way she knew how to do that, by being bold.

Standing to her feet, Tamada walk away from Miho now heading some ways from the tree they had been under. Miho watch her friend walk off, while still holding the Boko bear against her chest, wondering what Tamada was doing.

Looking over her shoulder for a moment with a teasing grin, Tamada turn back to the sleeping community down below, then cup her hands around her mouth to yell the words in her heart. "Miho is the cutest in the whole world! I want to be her lover! I want spoil her! And I want her to know she is always going to be number one in my heart!"

Miho's mouth drop open in embarrassment, next dropping the Boko bear on the blanket. Her face became flush from the bold declaration that she was sure the whole community heard now. In a panic, she got on her feet and came up to Tamada, for again she had been bold not caring for how embarrassing it was for Miho.

"Tamada! Are you crazy?! The whole carrier probably heard that," Miho whined at her, gripping her arm tightly.

The fiery tank commander just chuckle a bit, then turn to Miho. "Sorry Miho, but that's what's in my heart and I'm trying to make you see how important you are to me. I mean I just made my declaration for the whole carrier, isn't like my heart is beating so fast now from embarrassment. Yet for you, I tell the whole world my feelings if that's what you need to see, so you know how I feel about you."

"I…," Miho try to say but couldn't argue against Tamada anymore, then decided she be bold too. "If tha…That's…the…the…case I wish to make a request."

"A request?" Tamada said with a chuckle. "Sure go ahead."

"I want to call you by your first name," Miho said, barely able to keep her voice straight.

Now Tamada blushed. "I…I…I don't think I'm ready for that."

"Why? you call me by my first name all the time," Miho fought back.

"Eh! You're the one that told all of us that you wanted to be call by your first name," Tamada fought as well.

"I know, but if we're going to be lovers, I want to call you by your first name too," Miho said, not backing down.

"Fi…fine alright, but only when we are alone. It will be just something for us," Tamada reply back.

Miho took a deep breath, then said the word in a soft voice. "Haru."

Hearing her first name coming from the lips of Miho in such a lovely honey voice of hers, sent Tamada into overdrive. She press forward to wrap her arms around Miho who gasp at her actions, but soon wrap her arms around Tamada glad to feel her warmth against her.

"Miho, can I kiss you?" Tamada ask, pulling back to take in her face.

"Really Tamada?" Miho said, chuckling a bit.

"What?"

"You're asking for permission for once," Miho joke.

That made Tamada chuckle as well. "Ok, that is true. Yet this is something special for you. I don't want to force something like this on you, so again, may I kiss you?"

A gulp from Miho follow the request. "Yes, but be gentle with me. It's my first time."

"Yeah, I will, now close your eyes and just follow me," Tamada said in a quiet seductive voice.

"Yes Haru," Miho reply softly, shutting her eyes.

Not seeing when Tamada would kiss her made Miho antsy. Yet she felt her now lovers hot breath come closer, then felt something soft brush against her lips in a teasing first chance of a kiss. Yet Miho didn't move to capture the lips, not wanting to muck up her first and letting Tamada lead.

Then she felt it, the soft lips taking hers, at first Miho became stiff again not knowing how to properly kiss back. Yet Tamada was gentle with her, she started with a couple of small ones, trying to ease this inexperience rookie into it, which made Miho sigh in pleasure with each kiss as she began to find her rhythm with Tamada, now leaning into her small flurry of soft kisses. Miho never knew Tamada's lips could be so soft and warm at the same time, making her eager to taste them some more.

So far it was just lips coming together with soft sighs of pleasure from both girls escaping them, but feeling her rage of lust starting to take over, Tamada now decided to step up her game a bit. Pushing forward, her tongue now work her way past Miho's lips, shocking the light brown hair girl who sigh again in more pleasure feeling her lovers tongue. Unsure of what to do, Miho press her own tongue forward to battle with Tamada's around their mouths as the drunkenness of pleasure was taking over, both of them wanting to become intoxicated with each other's desire.

Unable to control herself, Tamada lower Miho down into the grass with her never breaking the kiss all the way down. They were soon both on their side facing each other, their mouths still warring with one another. While their legs now became entangled as well with each other, as they were lost in the need to devour one another. Yet Miho couldn't keep pace with her more experienced partner, now breaking from the kiss breathing heavily from the exertion.

What is this? It feels like I ran a mile, but all I'm doing is kissing Haru

The thought past Miho's mind as she try to get her bearings and breathe back.

Yet Tamada was still eyeing her prey, as she still was hungry for more. Seeing Miho lean back a bit exposing her slender neck, to which Tamada now attack with her lips first, then slid her tongue over the area, then her lips again. She continue this pattern which made Miho lose her senses as the feeling of pleasure was washing over her, and a strange warmness was beginning to build in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't describe.

Miho move her hands up to take hold of Tamada's hair, running her hands through it. The black hair, even though it was braided most of the time, was so smooth in Miho's hand, like fine silk that melted as her fingers flow through it like a harpist. Tamada let out small moans as she felt her lovers soft hands running through her hair that only excited her more as she continue her assault on Miho's neck with even more fury than before.

"Ah….ah…Haru…mm…Haru…," Miho said quietly, grabbing Tamada's head and pulling it forward to keep assaulting her neck that she wanted more of, lost in her pleasure.

"Miho…ah…Miho…Miho," Tamada said in between her kisses bombarding Miho's neck.

Covering her mouth with her own hand, Miho try to keep a moan of her rising excitement down that was threatening to come out loudly. Yet it was a losing battle with Tamada who seem to get more eager with her kisses on her neck hearing Miho's muffled moans, as now her hand snaked up to Miho's skirt, lifting it up as she felt the smooth supple thigh underneath wanting to reach further up till she touch…..

It was the feeling of her skirt being pulled up and then one of Tamada's hand gripping her soft thigh greedily and then working its way, that brought Miho back to reality. She grip her lovers adventurous hand in panic to stop its climb to a sensitive area.

"Haru…I...I...I don't think I'm ready for that yet," Miho said quietly in a shy voice.

Tamada pull back to look at Miho stopping her neck assault, breathing heavily from the excitement earlier. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get pushy. Just got a little overstimulated, especially with you calling me by my first name."

"No don't apologize, I was getting into too….we did something naughty didn't we?" Miho said with an embarrassed smile.

Tamada chuckle. "Yea, kind of skip a few steps there."

"Is that normal? Are we moving too fast?" Miho said with concern.

"No," Tamada said wanting to put her lover's worry to rest. "I think everyone has their pace when it comes to being lovers. This might just be ours. I don't see you just for passion Miho, everything about you is what I want to hold dear to me and never let go."

"Me too, I want to be held in your arms, I want you to be by my side when things are tough, I want to hold you whenever you're feeling down, and I want you to s…."

"To spoil you?" Tamada joke.

Miho let out an embarrass chuckle. "Yes please."

"Alright, then now we are officially lovers. Be prepared, I'm going to be bolder now," Tamada said with a grin.

"Just keep your hands to yourself in school Haru," Miho shot back.

"Don't call me by my first name in school either, only in private, I want to only hear you say it," Tamada said timidly.

"Sure Haru, sure," Miho said, then cuddle up close to Tamada to feel her warmth as the night air became chillier.

Tamada made sure to pull Miho close while laying on her side, wanting to feel her warmth too, then she notice something in the sky. "Miho look, it's a shooting star!"

Turning to the pointed direction, Miho look up to the sky just in time to see a shooting star fly across the night sky. "Oh wow!"

Tamada now turn her face to Miho. "Go on make a wish."

For a moment Miho just stare at the sky, to where she saw the shooting star streak too. She thought about what kind of wish she would like to make, but for some odd reason, nothing was coming to her at the moment, when there were thousands of things to wish for in her life. However, there was something holding her close, warming her and her life that made such a need for a wish unneeded in her mind. That with just this warmth near her, would help her push forward and make any wish Miho wanted to become reality by her own actions.

Turning to look at Tamada now, Miho spoke in a gentle tone and her heartwarming smile on her face. "Silly, didn't I tell you before already. I have everything I want right here, right now."

At first, Tamada was shocked by the statement, then a smile plastered her face. "Me too Miho, me too."

Then Tamada lean down for another kiss, to which Miho met this time with confidence.

Now their hearts that had been reaching for each other for what seemed like years, had finally found each other and would intertwine themselves together, to hold each other, to cherish each other, and if it came down to it protect one another.

For there was nothing that would stand in the way of their happiness that would become brighter here at the place they both belong too.


Authors Thought:

Finally!

Is what I believe most of you are thinking as we finally got Tamada and Miho together, after what seem like an eternity of trying to get them here. I didn't plan on wanting to draw it out so long, but it felt better with this route then just making them lovers right off the back. The slower progression now feels like a better and natural pay off for them, as they both encourage and inspire each other.

Now the real challenge begins on how write out their relationship moving forward, but one I'm looking to take on.

Thanks for taking some time out of your day to read this, have a great day and be well.