Chapter 3
Sibling Rivalry
Miho was panicking, pacing her apartment and hugging her Boko doll. "A date! Ano asked me on a date! I've never been on a date! How do I do this?!", she thought, as she took off her uniform.
She looked through her closet, as she scrolled past the few extra school outfits she bought at the beginning of the school year.
Her casuals involved a few dresses, shirts and skirts, that evil anglerfish dance outfit, and some PJs.
"You know, a dress that shows thighs might help.", Saori, who was sitting on the side, said.
"Saori, all our skirts show thighs, so it won't be a surprise.", Mako said.
"Maybe something casual.", Hana suggested.
"Maybe your regular school outfit.", Yukari said.
"That sounds good, but then he'll think you were lazy with preparing for the date.", Saori said.
"I think he said it was just dinner.", Hana said, smiling awkwardly.
"It's best to be prepared, however.", Saori said, holding up a finger as if she were proving a point.
"Yes, I suppose so.", Miho said. She took out a slim blue dress with a white bow on the back.
(Time lapse brought to you by a Carro Armato P26/40 being chased by a Schwerer Gustav on a self propelled platform)
Later, Miho stepped out, the blue dress slightly fluttering at her knees, the bow bouncing on the back. Miho also wore a pink bow on her head, above her right ear.
"Ooh, that looks good.", Saori said, applauding.
"It's beautiful!", Hana gushed.
"Go get 'im!", Yukari cheered, giving a thumbs up.
Mako snored on Saori's lap. Not that anyone noticed.
"Thank you, but...I'm not sure if he'll like it.", Miho said, timidly.
"Don't worry! As long as what you're wearing is fit for dinner, then he won't mind. He'll love it, trust me.", Saori said.
"Don't you have no experience on dating?", Hana asked.
"Shut up, I'm trying to help!", Saori hissed.
"Thank you, Saori. I trust you.", Miho said. She looked at her whole team, smiling.
Saori shook Mako awake, as the driver groaned and sat up.
"I trust all of you. It's thanks to that very trust that we all made it to where we are today with Sensha-dō.", Miho said. "A commander relies on her crew to keep the tank running, as the crew relies on the commander to keep the tank alive."
Before Miho could continue, Hana raised a hand.
"Uhh, not to interrupt, but your dinner date is in a half hour, right?", she asked.
Miho gasped. "You're right!", she said, before racing to the bathroom.
Everyone blinked, except Mako, who fell asleep again.
"You know, has Ano even mentioned where they were gonna meet?", Saori asked, putting a finger to her chin, cuz it's anime.
"I got that planned.", Yukari said.
"Oh?", Hana asked. Just then a knock on the door caught the three girls' attention.
Yukari opened the door, to see Erwin and Ano standing at the door.
"Hey, Yukari!", Erwin said, saluting.
"What's up?", Yukari said, as she and Erwin hugged each other.
Saori gaped at Ano. "You look so good!", she said.
Ano blushed, before reaching over and scratching the back of his head. "Thank you.", he said.
He wore blue jeans, with a white collared shirt and a black blazer. His hair wasn't as windswept, it was more smoothed out, with some hair sticking out.
"How'd you two get here anyway?", Saori asked.
"Oh, I sent Riko-"
*ahem*
"Right. I sent 'Erwin' Miho's address so she could get Ano here without any trouble with meeting and such.", Yukari said.
"Does Miho know this?", Erwin asked.
Miho stepped out of the shower. She wore a towel, and was currently scrubbing her hair.
"Hey, who's here...", she said, before seeing Ano in her apartment.
Ano turned to see Miho, half naked, right in front of him. Miho and Ano stared at each other, as Ano began to sweat. Miho's face began to heat up, growing very red.
Miho's scream could be heard from all ends of the carrier, as she rushed back into her bathroom, locking the door.
"I'll take that as a no.", Erwin said, answering her own question.
Later, Miho stepped out of the bathroom, wearing her dress. She was blushing madly, looking at the floor of her apartment.
Ano was just staring down as well, the tension between them growing so thick, the room was starting to feel like a tank.
"So...nice night we have?", Ano asked.
"Yeah.", Miho replied, almost too quickly.
The other girls had left, Hana and Erwin dragging Saori away, preventing her from listening in on the awkward conversation.
"Look, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have looked and-", Ano said, before Miho cut him off.
"It's OK, I didn't know you were here. I should've known Yukari and Erwin would've pulled a stunt like this.", Miho said.
"Are you mad at them?", Ano asked.
Miho sighed. "Not really.", she said.
She buried her face in her hands. "Come on, we are going out to dinner, right?", Miho asked.
"Yeah.", Ano said.
"We want to have a good time, so let's forget all this and go.", Miho said, wanting to get rid of all the tension.
Ano smiled. "Sure, let's go.", he said. He held out a hand, and Miho froze.
The sight of the cute boy in front of her made her immobile. His green eyes twinkled in the light, and his hair and blazer blew from the wind coming in from the open window.
"Oh! O-of course.", Miho said.
Ano's smile went away, and Miho almost begged him to smile again. "Are you having second thoughts? Cuz if so-", he said.
"No! I just...got caught up in the moment.", Miho said. She got up and smoothed out her dress. "I'm ready.", she said.
Ano smiled again, and he held out his hand. Miho took the hand and the two walked out in the hallway.
Almost immediately, they bumped into someone.
Maho Nishizumi rubbed her head as she looked at Miho.
"Hello, Miho.", Maho said.
"Hi, Maho. I'm just going out to dinner.", Miho said, cheerfully.
"Oh, with who?", Maho asked, as she dusted her legs off.
"Maho?"
Maho looked to Ano and her eyes went wide.
"Ano?", she said.
Miho blinked. "You two know each other?", she asked.
"Yes, we do.", Maho said, her attitude changing.
"How's it feel to be top dog again?", Ano said, his tone turning spiteful.
"What're you talking about?", Maho asked.
"You beat our academy and injured dozens in the process. And all you cared about was your damn victory.", Ano spat. Miho cringed.
"So you start going out with my sister? That's how you get back at me?", Maho asked.
Ano's expression turned from one of hate to confusion as he looked to Miho.
"You're sisters?", he said.
"Yeah, both our last names were Nishizumi.", Miho said.
"Actually, I never told my last name to Ano when we dated.", Maho said.
"You two dated?!", Miho cried.
"I'm sorry, was that important?", Maho asked.
"Yes! I would've known your sister was nicer than you, you heartless psych!", Ano said.
Miho snapped. "Can someone tell me what the hell is happening right now?!", she cried, shutting the two up.
Maho and Ano looked to Miho, who was seething red.
"Someone explain what happened so long ago that you're still salty about this now?!", Miho said.
Maho was surprised. Miho almost never used meme material.
Ano sighed. "The last time we were trying to get our boys academy initiated for Sensha-dō, your sister and I were dating.", he said. "We found out we were enemies, and we broke up."
Miho nodded, as Maho stayed silent.
"One match, that Tiger and her platoon ambushed us, blowing up all our tanks. Most of us were injured, some severely. Only a few of us were unscathed.", Ano said.
He looked to Miho. "My loader, the guy I sent to tell you about the match yesterday? He's missing an eye. And my driver has shrapnel in his leg that they can't remove. It hurts every time he runs.", he said.
"Were you hurt?", Ano asked.
"I wasn't hurt, until after...way after we were eliminated.", Ano said. He grew somber.
Everything was silent for a while. Then Miho spoke up.
"What-what happened?", she said, slowly.
"After we all got out of our tanks, Kuromorimine used their machine guns against us. They were all non lethal, but against wounded, some could've died.", Ano said.
Ano looked down. I have a scar from Maho's tank when fired the 88 near me.", Ano said.
Miho gasped and turned to Maho, to see her older sister's eyes were wide in surprise.
"Ano-you...you never told me this-", Maho said.
"Why should I?", Ano cried. Tears were streaming down his eyes. You destroyed dozens of lives just for a single match?! I wouldn't have been surprised if you tried to kill your sister the next time you two are in your tanks."
Miho slapped Ano, hard. She glared up at him. "I know my sister was strict with winning! But don't you dare make an assumption like that!", she said.
Ano just stared at Miho. "Tell me this. If you saw your sister cut down others, people who couldn't do anything, what would you think?", he asked.
And with that, he stormed off, but not before wiping his face.
"Ano, wait!", Miho cried. Ano disappeared behind the corner, and Miho's cries turned to sniffles.
Maho looked at the boy with a worried expression, before looking at her sister.
"Miho-", she said, before Miho cut her off.
"Just...don't...please.", Miho said, sadly, as she went back to her room.
Maho could hear the cries of her little sister, as well as Miho's former date, before she walked out of the apartment, a tear forming in her eye.