Monday bought new days and new challenges, but for once Erika didn't find herself meeting it with grim determination. For once, her morning run felt more like a refreshing activity than a habitual obligation.
Morning practice was good too - for a start, a certain tank's crews were still handling repairs so she didn't have to face that specific awkward situation, but also because everything went smoothly and Erika found herself reasonably pleased with proceedings. That saidl, there was the faint sensation that everyone was just pushing through the exercise on autopilot.
Classes passed in the usual fashion, holding Erika's attention just enough that she could do the required work but not enough that she held any real enthusiasm for it.
Straight after morning class she headed to the tankery HQ, to deal with the usual mountain of paperwork was waiting for her. Mostly minor property damage forms she'd have to sign off responsibility for after Sunday's debacle.
"Hey, have you had lunch yet?" Koume asked, tapping a sheaf of documents on her desk to straighten the paper.
"...No, I came straight here." Erika replied distractedly, stamping off a supply request.
"Me too. Do you… Wanna have lunch with me? I heard about this place that sells great bretzels."
"Oh, I made my own-" Erika began, but faltered when she glanced across at Koume.
She was wearing a hopeful smile, and for a moment Erika got a strange feeling, caught by Koume's warm brown eyes.
"I mean, I don't see why not? Let me just clear a couple more of these forms and we'll go."
"Great!" Koume replied with a gentle smile.
Erika cleared her throat awkwardly, and returned to her work. That was a very bizarre interaction. Still, she'd been hoping to talk to Koume after what happened yesterday.
.0.
"You know, I've actually got you to thank for something," Erika began as they sat down. The cafe Koume had taken her to was a pretty cosy little place, feeling very much like an old, traditional German establishment rather than the modern Japanese creation that it really was. The brezel was warm and sweet-smelling in her hands.
"Oh? What did I do?" Koume asked, looking genuinely surprised.
"Well, it's about 034, actually." Erika said, and Koume made a face.
"I'm sorry yesterday went so badly, Erika…" She said awkwardly. "I heard about what happened while you were picking up the other tanks."
"Not your fault, don't worry." She said, shaking her head. "And it turned out okay in the end."
Despite herself, she shivered at the thought of Misato's limp body dangling out of the cupola. Narrowly okay.
"Did something happen afterwards?"
"Actually, yeah. After I'd finished writing up all the paperwork, I ended up seeing the girls from 034 again, trying to run some drills outside the hangar."
"Oh? How were they doing?" She asked, with a bit of a smile. "Did they learn their lesson?"
"Not even slightly, they were terrible." Erika replied, and Koume's expression dropped like a stone.
"But!" She continued quickly, noticing how awful the story sounded. "I realised how… Ultimately, that was my fault."
"It was?"
"Yeah. Remember what you said to me, before I left? 'Go easy on them'? Well… I wish I'd started sooner. Those girls, they're scared of me, you know?"
Koume's reaction was one of discomfort, not surprise. Not a pleasant feeling.
"They were freaking out and making mistakes because they were scared of messing up in front of me. I can't lead through fear, nobody's going to get better if they just spend the whole time waiting for me to yell at them for slipping up!"
Koume didn't reply, but her sympathetic expression encouraged Erika to continue.
"But I can't help it! I just get so mad whenever people screw around or mess up! We're in such a vulnerable position now! Maho's gone, our winning streak is over, and Miho's… Well, you know. On the enemy team." Speaking Miho's name again opened up a chasm that had been poorly covered by the last few day's events. "I've got the biggest shoes in the world to fill, and if we fail, it'll be because I wasn't good enough."
"Don't say it like that," Koume replied, frowning sadly. "It's not right to place everything on your own shoulders. Didn't Maho need you, when she was in command?"
"Not really." Erika muttered. "I mean, she did a bit, but she always knew exactly what she needed to do, how to do it and when." Maho was the quintessential lady of the tank, everyone knew it. Perhaps Erika was exaggerating a little to reinforce her point, but Maho was always a girl with steel skin and a 90mm armour-piercing stare.
"Maybe…" Koume paused while she looked for the right words. "Maybe that's because this was always her school? Maho was always deliberate and precise, and led through silent expectation. And you're…"
"A screaming brat?" Erika offered. "I must look like Katyusha sometimes."
"You're passionate!" Koume replied diplomatically. "You're struggling to fill Maho's shoes because you can't do the same things that she can."
"You can say that again." Erika grumbled, taking a bite of her bretzel. Even in her sudden sour mood, it was pretty great.
"But!" Koume said, clearly trying to save the mood. "Maybe you should think about the good you did!"
"It was a really satisfying feeling to get stuck in like that…" Erika mused. Maho never would have done that. Would she have needed to?
"I bet! That's good leadership, you should remember that feeling! And please try and consider - if we're gonna be the best, we've all got to learn. And while a lot of us are gonna learn from you, you've gotta learn from us, too!"
"Perceptive, aren't you? You sure you shouldn't be in charge?" Erika asked with a smile.
"Don't make fun of me, I'm trying to help!" Koume replied, and for that brief moment Erika wasn't sure if she took it seriously or not.
"I know, I know. And you are." She replied, as comfortingly as she could. "I guess I'm just defensive about being reminded that I'm not perfect."
"Nobody is, but I'm proud to be led by you nonetheless."
"Heh, thanks." Erika chuckled. But then she had a thought. "Actually, talking about putting you in charge… Would you mind being my lieutenant? I don't really have one right now, and I'd appreciate someone to tell me when I'm going too far again."
"Oh! Um, well I'd be honoured!" Koume said, looking a little taken aback. "I'm not sure I'm qualified, though…"
"You're one of the most experienced girls in the school." Erika reminded her. "Besides, you're not scared of me. I appreciate that."
The rest of lunch was concluded pretty much in silence, but Erika was still thankful for the company. It was nice to get out of the "office", and not just eat the same things she cooked in her apartment the night before.
Before heading back to afternoon classes, they agreed to meet up for lunch again soon, and Erika reluctantly offered to find the location next time. Honestly she couldn't think of a single place - she was too regimental and focussed to be fussing around over chic cafes and other such nonsense.
That said… This had been nice, despite her best efforts to sour the atmosphere with her shitty attitude. Maybe she should put more effort into trying to make friends?
Koume was a lovely girl, and even from a purely business-based perspective she was an excellent tank commander with a lot of wisdom. Erika really enjoyed the time they'd spent together over the last few days too. There was just one problem.
Koume was friends with Miho.
This shouldn't have been rare in Kuromorimine, but in all honesty it was. Miho had been respected before, to be sure - even before she found her own way she was as much a tankery prodigy as her sister. But her lack of confidence and other... personal issues had prevented her from getting close to most of their classmates. Koume was different, of course. They were both sweet as honey and kind to a fault, and Miho had… well, saved her life. It was no surprise that their friendship would have lasted.
At Maho's suggestion, and for her own wellbeing, she was trying to get over Miho. Getting cosy with her closest friend at the school seemed antithetical to this goal.
.0.
Such thoughts consumed her for the rest of the day, though evening practice had offered a small reprise. She had decided to roll out her new tactic of patience to the rest of the tankery team. It hadn't made a huge difference right away, but she appreciated how 034 didn't regard her with outright terror anymore.
After practice, she had remained in the hangar, to do a little maintenance and put off any paperwork waiting for her upstairs.
"Commander Istumi!" A voice broke her out of her reverie.
"What is it?" Erika asked. She looked up from what she was doing - oiling the tank ring of her beloved Tiger II. Her hands were filthy, and she likely had some on her face as well. Maintenance was a good, brainless task that let her reflect on the day's events. However, today it hadn't brought her any revelations.
"Priority hail - from the British!"
"Gloriana's?" Erika asked, mostly out of rhetorical surprise than a need for any clarification. "Thank you. Tell them I'll be up in a moment. Who's asking for me?"
The girl nodded. "Commander Pekoe, ma'am." And with that, she dashed off again.
Pekoe? Interesting choice. Erika thought idly, rubbing her hands clean with the cloth before tucking it into her pocket. The girls loved to act as though the whole thing really was a military operation, and for the most part Erika enjoyed indulging it. She essentially lived like she was in the army anyway, and if she was honest the roleplay was rather fun. The fact that the other schools insisted so strongly on living up to their own cultural stereotypes only made it more enjoyable.
Eager not to make Pekoe wait, she hurried back upstairs to HQ. Maho had kept a pretty good relationship going with Darjeeling while the two had still been with their respective schools, and Erika intended to maintain the relationship as best she could. Darjeeling was one of the few school Commanders who didn't seem in the slightest intimidated by Maho's presence or reputation. Actually, Erika couldn't remember if she'd ever seen Darjeeling with any expression other than mild interest and amusement.
The phone was waiting for her when she arrived at her desk. It was a painfully old-fashioned thing, designed to resemble the antique devices used by german officers in the 40s, much like all their field equipment. Erika considered this a bit excessive considering the fact that they used modern computers and printers, but apparently such things were 'vital for immersion'.
She picked up the phone, cleared her throat and brought it up to her face.
"Erika Itsumi speaking." She said. She wasn't sure what the best protocol was for introducing herself like this - calling herself the Commander seemed a bit stuck up - but at the same time, they were rivals.
"It's been too long! Orange Pekoe here." Her voice was just as delicate and polite as she remembered. Orange Pekoe had always been a rather timid lieutenant of Darjeeling's, and though they hadn't spoken much before, Erika thought she was nice, if a bit weak-willed.
"Good to hear from you." Erika said truthfully. "I take it you're in charge of St Gloriana's now. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Can I not just be calling for a friendly chat?" Pekoe asked, and Erika heard a soft giggle from her. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No, just some routine maintenance to clear my head." Erika saw no reason to be dishonest. "How are things on the Ark Royal?"
"Quiet, without Darjeeling." Orange Pekoe admitted. "I think all of the girls still miss her. But I'm sure you understand. It's a lot of pressure to be stepping up, isn't it?"
"It is." Erika replied, refusing to elaborate. She didn't want to discuss the Maho-shaped hole in her heart with someone she'd almost definitely be fighting this year. "I hardly get a second to myself."
"Time is a storm in which we are all lost, wouldn't you say?" Pekoe replied, in a voice clearly reminiscent of, but sadly lacking, that knowing tone with which Darjeeling spoke.
Erika stifled a laugh. It didn't sound right coming from Pekoe. "Was that an impression?"
"Trying to relive the past, I think." Pekoe replied, a hint of solemness in her tone. "I do quite a good impression, if I do say so myself, but I fear nobody will recognise it soon."
"Perhaps someone will be doing impressions of you, soon?" Erika ventured. She hoped that was a kind thing to say. What happened to the British stiff upper lip? I feel like a phone therapist.
Fortunately, Orange Pekoe laughed. "Hopefully! Still, speaking of our legacies, I admit that I didn't just call up for a chat."
"Oh?"
"Well, I was wondering if I might be able to cut the teeth of my girls against your steel tigers, so to speak." Orange Pekoe said cryptically. "This year's tournament will be starting in a couple of months, and I'd like to show my new recruits what we'll be up against, if you don't mind."
"An exhibition match?" Erika asked, trying to gauge if she'd properly deciphered Orange Pekoe's language.
"Precisely! Is that alright with you?"
"I don't see why not. Where and when?"
Over the next few minutes, Orange Pekoe detailed her intentions for an upcoming exhibition match, and Erika quickly wrote everything down. She'd have to clear the stop-over in the port Pekoe was describing with the navigation studies girls, but tankery held a huge sway in Kuromorimine so she'd probably get her way without too much sacrifice in return.
Pekoe also insisted on making all of the preparations land-side, which Erika was secretly very happy to let her get on with, citing some favour that Maho had done for Gloriana's last year that she was returning. So long as Erika got a chance to investigate the map with enough time in advance, she didn't really mind. St Gloriana's could always be trusted not to pull any funny stuff.
After that, they said their goodbyes, and Erika put down the phone.
Now she had work to do.
.0.
Orange Pekoe
"Perfect!" Orange Pekoe said, setting down the phone with a smile.
She sat at St Gloriana's opulent Commander's chair at the desk previously occupied by Darjeeling. Though she'd grown a little since last year, the huge padded back of the chair swallowed her up. She felt that she looked a little comical, but was confident she'd grow into it.
"Did Erika agree to the match?" Assam asked, sitting nearby on Pekoe's left. Her position within St Gloriana's command structure actually hadn't changed. She was far too good at gathering intelligence and compiling data for a start, but honestly there wasn't much further she could climb, without sitting in Pekoe's seat.
"She did! As you suspected. I trust you'll be able to assess their most likely line-up?"
"No problem. What are we fielding?"
"Mostly cruisers, I think. We'll take the Churchill though, she's our figurehead."
"Are we going to take any of our… newer purchases?" Assam asked. She was looking directly across at Orange Pekoe now, over her reading glasses.
"Well, this is just an exhibition match," Orange Pekoe said gently, before sipping on her tea. "Still, this would be a perfect training opportunity… Rose?" Pekoe turned across to her right, where her second-in-command was sitting.
"Y-yeah?" Rose blurted out, having clearly been lost in concentration up until now.
"Do you think you'll be ready for the exhibition match?"
"Oh! Yeah, yeah we'll be ready." She looked a little frazzled by the sudden attention. For all her energy and confidence inside a tank, Rose hip was surprisingly jumpy and easy to fluster elsewhere.
"Perfect! We'll be relying on you, then." Pekoe said, before settling down to do her paperwork. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her two lieutenants exchanging glances, and Rose started blushing. She rolled her eyes, but smiled to herself nonetheless. She remembered that feeling all too well.
"We'll start training in earnest from tomorrow," she remarked to the room in general, her tone polite. "Make sure that the girls do their homework on Kuromorimine's tactics from championship footage. I know this is only a friendly match, but I'd very much like to win."
.0.
AN: And that's chapter 4! Sorry it's getting updated a little later than planned, turns out that even with the world crashing down around our ears, I can't always find the time to write. Plus, that conversation between Erika and Koume turned out to be harder to write than I thought it'd be! In the end I wrote and scrapped it about three times, and the last version was nearly twice as long.
As a result it's only a short chapter this time, but please let me know what you guys think!
Also, I've added a bold subtitle when the character viewpoint changes. I don't know if it's entirely necessary, but I feel like it'll make it a little easier to read.