The months continued to go by as the girls were working on their respective crafts. Whether scoring targets or tanks, they had them all. However a little known contender came along and managed to outdo them all.
Brook was busy cleaning her training rifle as Nonna, whom she promised to pay a visit to, was reading the paper and was surprised about it.
"Oorai girls Academy won the 63rd national Sensha-Do tournament. That match we were against, made Katyusha cry but she wished them luck along with me and they managed to do it." Nonna read to herself as Brook quickly reassembled her training rifle as she began to talk to Nonna.
"Bolt polished, fixed the firing mechanism and made sure the action is smooth." Brook listed what she had managed to do. Nonna soon nodded as she was happy to hear.
"Also I know this might be a not so great time to bring it up but Kay was asking me and Katyusha were talking about you and Kay said she wanted to attend university with you and take you back to your home country, she says she wants you to come with her after she graduates." Nonna told her as she wanted her to follow along with Kay. Brook however wasn't too pleased.
"Yeah tell her she's going and I won't follow." Brook began. Nonna was taken off guard as she was wondering why she didn't want to follow her former friend.
"But she'll be angry if you don't. Do you have other plans for your future?" Nonna asked her friend wondering about it. Brook sighed as she knew this was going to be harder to swallow than to speak it out. Brook soon began to speak.
"Nonna you've got to understand that me and America do not mix. I hate it there. I swore I will never go back to that land again and after a conversation with my father last night which I teared up to, I want to tear up my United States citizenship and defect over to another country. Possibly one that Katyusha would make me so proud of even if she tells us to speak Japanese and not the language you and I speak. I want to go there." Brook told Nonna her true intentions. Nonna was surprised to see the girl try to speak.
"I've been getting notifications about universities that Pravda has in touch with and by the looks of things, you want to come with me and Katyusha?" Nonna asked if Brook was willing to come along with them. Brook looked at her friend as she was polishing the rifle. She spoke once more.
"I would rather be a soldier than a student." Brook soon got up and walked away as she didn't want to speak to Nonna anymore about it. Nonna was shocked, how can Brook go ahead and turn down the offer was there a reason behind this? Nonna decided not to think about it and watched Brook leave the room. She was not going to question her.
Meanwhile Himari had managed to get in touch with Brook's mother as she wanted to get back at her family for abandoning her lifestyle. She was speaking to an enraged Himari about this and her plans.
"I've heard that Saunders has decided to expel you for trying to support the rights of black students?" A woman asked the now 18 year old former student.
"Yes Kay the pig that wants her so called democracy, literal pig!" The former student slammed her hands on the table. The woman looked at her as she soon began hatching together a plan.
"Yes, my former husband has been disloyal to me and divorced me almost a year ago, he's taken custody of my daughter with him and all the way back to Japan. Now it is up to you to take her out seeing how she and her father had betrayed me. Do it." She soon slid the former student a silenced Glock for her to use as well several clips of ammo. She nodded as she wondered about her name. "What is your name by the way?" She asked.
"Himari, I promise I will take her out." Himari soon got up and walked away with the said Glock in her hand. She was going to sneak her way back to Japan.
Days would pass as the summer's heat was finally returning. Brook was lounging around bored, Nina was busy taking care of the chores while Alina was looking up for something to do. Brook soon turned as she asked on what she wanted to do.
"Can we watch Stranger Things now?" Brook asked. Alina ignored her as she continued scrolling through the events that were happening as Alina soon caught something in her eye, she was soon excited.
"Hey Saunders is holding a carnival on their ship, everyone's invited. Katyusha says she and Nonna are going so naturally many of us want to follow along as well." Alina announced what was going on. Brook soon sat up as Nina finished her chores as she wanted to find out what was going on.
"Carnival, when? We want to go." Nina asked as she wondered when it was? It was something to be excited about. Brook sprang to her feet as she knew this was something to get excited over. Alina soon looked at the poster as she knew the timing couldn't be anymore perfect as she turned to speak to them.
"Carnival's tonight, let's meet Katyusha in about another hour or so. We can all attend it together." Alina told them as it would be the perfect opportunity to get out and celebrate for the year. The three of them soon went to get changed as they wanted to meet Katyusha and Nonna.
An hour passed as the three of them walked over to where Nonna and Katyusha were standing, by standing the author meant that Katyusha was sitting on Nonna's shoulders. Katyusha looked down to them.
"Excited for tonight?" Katyusha asked as she was looking down on them. They nodded as they soon prepared to head to the USS George Washington where the carnival was being held. Upon arriving, the five students entered a helicopter that was going to take them there as they were discussing what was going to happen. Nina soon spoke next.
"Yes I am. I hope the schools will have food from all over the world like your favorite." Nina responded as Katyusha was beginning to think about Beef Stroganoff.
"Yes Beef, onions, sour cream. Can't wait to eat all of that up." Katyusha smiled as she was getting hungry. Nonna soon turned to Brook as she was looking out the window.
"Brook, is there something on your mind?" Nonna asked as she knew the girl was nervous about something. Brook turned to Nonna as she began to speak about it.
"I'm not so sure that my former classmates would really welcome me back on their ship. Looks like I need to be one of them to have fun." Brook sighed as she knew something was tugging her as if she was off about this. Nonna soon looked at her as she soon put a hand on Brook's shoulder, reassuring her that everything was going to be alright.
"Who said you needed to be a Saunders student to join the fun?" Nonna told her as if she was trying to encourage her to enjoy herself tonight. Nina looked down as the dark skies were among them as she noticed that they were there. "Maybe you make some friends and enjoy some of the rides and games, nothing needs to be down."
"Hey, we're here!" Nina shouted excitedly. The helicopter was landing as the rides had lit up in the dark nighttime skies. The students got off the helicopter as they soon began making their way to the entrance. Kay, Alisa and Naomi were waiting as the Pravda students disembarked to head for the Fair.
"Hey there Katyusha, we weren't expecting you here." Kay told her as she greeted the short commander. Katyusha soon nodded as she began to climb onto Nonna so she can look down at them. Once on top of Nonna, she began to speak.
"I am more than glad to be here, looks like we're too late for the party." Katyusha teased them as Kay laughed.
"No the main event is happening now, we just opened an hour ago, the planned firework show will come on at midnight." Kay told them as they were right on time. Naomi soon recognized Brook as she walked over and hugged her.
"Brook! I'm so glad you're still alive. Kay told me about this and your hairstyle changed and you've grown up so much." Naomi was more than excited to see her friend again. Brook soon released her as she began to speak.
"Yeah I feel more loyal to Katyusha and Nonna since they saved me." Brook responded as Naomi and Alisa looked at Katyusha and Nonna. Smiling. Kay soon walked forth.
"I paid for all of your tickets for the games and the lines on the rides go by quickly, I encourage you to have fun." Kay told them as she gave them the tickets. She soon began pulling them along into the carnival as they wanted to have fun tonight. Kay was busy giving out tickets to some of the games as she was giving them instructions. "We're going to go on some of the rides and then get some food. You can decide on what you want." Kay, Alisa and Naomi walked off as the five of them knew they were left on their own. Nonna began laying out her own plans.
"Okay, Nina, Alina, Katyusha and I would go off and buy some snacks for us to have. We'll meet up with Kay since she and the others are going to take their time. So let's settle down. Brook you can do what you wish but don't go far." Nonna told her as she was going to let the girl wander off on her own. Brook tugged Nonna to the side as she was watching some of the games. She soon began to speak.
"Они сфальсифицированы, эти игры?" Brook asked out her curiosity thinking she is going to waste her tickets on the games and not win anything. Nonna looked at her as she began speaking.
"Да." Nonna responded. She soon began laughing to herself as she knew the girl could win a prize while they went off getting snacks.
"Они не выглядят фальсифицированными…" Brook paused as she was wondering how she was going to win this. Nonna gave her a thumbs up as encouragement that she can win one of the supposed rigged games. She looked up as the games required one ticket as she soon got out her tickets. Soon she looked over as a dart game was happening, maybe she was going to try her luck.
"Step up and try your luck to win a prize. One ticket 3 darts." The man at the game shouted, wondering for the students to try their luck. Some of the smaller children that were attending wanted to see who was going to win. Brook walked up to the game as she tore one of her tickets off. The crowd of children watched as she handed him the ticket.
"I will like to take the shot." Brook smiled confidently. The man soon began the game as she was handed a dart. Brook sighed as she gripped the dart as she was ready to throw it. With one swift throw. The dart struck one of the balloons as it made a popping sound. Brook looked overjoyed as the man soon handed her the dart.
"First balloon popped, and here's dart number two." He handed her the dart as the crowd of children watched around her. She soon threw the dart as the dart struck another balloon as the small children shouted with glee. One of the children held up his hand as Brook touched it with hers "One more for the small prize!" He encouraged her to see if she can pop one more balloon to win. He handed her a dart as another kid cheered her on.
"You can do it missy!" The kid called out. Brook nodded thanking him as she regained her focus. She soon took the dart as she threw it, popping one last balloon. Soon sirens began ringing out as it was clear she won. The man looked over seeing the little children yip and cheer.
"We have a winner!" He shouted looking at Brook he soon got a small brown and white plush of a puppy as her prize. Brook smiled with glee as she turned and began walking over to the others. "Next up." He told the crowd of children.
Brook was walking up to Nonna as she was happy with the prize she won as more people were advertising their games to see who could win their prizes. Nonna was busy taking care of the snacks while Katyusha was holding two corn-dogs.
"Нонна! Здесь все честно!" Brook shouted happily holding her prize she managed to win. Katyusha looked over imitating a Woody Woodpecker laugh as she knew the games could be won and the prizes were just as good. "Здесь все честно." Brook was having the time of her life, however that wasn't going to last.
The former student council student Himari was back and in her hand was a glock with a silencer. Things began to slow down. Himari soon tilted the glock up with the silencer facing Brook. Soon a female student threw a dart from the game Brook was at moments earlier, popping a balloon but the noise was enough for Himari to make a move. Raising the glock up to the right position, she jerked the trigger, the shot hitting Brook in the shoulder. She tilted the glock down as she kept walking.
"Fucking communist pig." Himari muttered to herself describing Brook in her own words. Brook looked over as a large red spot was pooling in her left shoulder as Alina and Nina looked over as they were the first to notice this.
"ALEXEI!" Nina shouted as she began to run to Brook. Brook soon placed her hand on where the pain was for a moment. She took it away as her hand was now red. It meant one thing, blood. Brook began spinning around as the others walked past. People looked on as they were busy entertaining the students that they were oblivious to what had happened. Things began speeding up again as Nina soon grabbed Brook. "Alexei!" Nina shouted as Alina ran over. She soon took off her sweater putting it on the red mark that was pooling around.
"You know what to do, keep pressure on it." Alina instructed. Nonna ran over to the two students as she was trying to figure out what was going on.
"What's going on, is there something wrong?" Nonna asked as she was wondering why the two students were panicking. Nina soon spoke.
"Yes there is, Brook has been shot!" Nina told Nonna as Nonna soon knew she needed to let Kay know about this immediately. She soon got out her phone as she began calling Kay while Katyusha called for emergency services.
Kay was walking along with her friends when her phone began buzzing. She soon picked it up as it was Nonna.
"Hello?" Kay told her as she was on the line. Nonna began to frantically call out to her.
"Kay! Get your friends out of here! Brook's been shot and is bleeding, Try hiding somewhere so you don't become next. And hurry!" Nonna shouted at her as Kay soon hung up as the three of them began running. Soon one of the students noticed this as she began to shout.
"Oh my god! That girl, she's… she's… she's got a gun!" Soon the screams of students began ringing out as Himari was now on a shooting spree seeing how many students she could take down.
Emergency services arrived a few minutes later after Katyusha gave out the call. Brook was feeling very dizzy as she was loaded onto a stretcher. Nina was holding onto Brook's prize which thankfully didn't get any blood on it. The police soon went deep in as they went to go find Himari as Nonna looked at her.
"You'll be fine, trust me. We'll meet you there if we can, I promise!" Nonna told her as she wanted to meet up with the girl. Brook's eyes couldn't focus on Nonna, she soon closed her eyes completely, finally passing out.
[A/N]: Leaving this on a cliffhanger as I was a bit more motivated and excited to write this chapter than usual as you guess who returns to ruin the party. Now the others are in a panic as a crazed fascist hit man, girl in this case, is shooting up the carnival. Will resume the story next chapter as everyone will mostly get out okay. That is all.