Chapter 4
Camping Trip
The next day after school, Miho met up with her class for the camping trip.
Ano was talking with his tank-mates, and Miho saw that one of the boys he was talking to had a sort of contraption on his knee.
"My driver has shrapnel in his leg that they can't remove. It hurts every time he runs.", Ano had said the night before.
"Miho?"
Miho turned to see Saori and Mako. "What's wrong?", she asked.
"Oh, nothing. We just wanted to know how your little dinner date went.", Saori said.
Miho sighed. "There was no date. I ran into my sister.", she said.
Saori's brow raised in confusion. "Was she not liking the fact you found a cute boy?", Saori asked.
"No, more like the fact that Maho dated him once.", Miho said.
"What? I'm going to have a chat with Ano, that no good little-", Saori said, before Miho grabbed Saori's arm.
"No, it's not his fault! He didn't know we were sisters! And he was avoiding Maho for a reason.", Miho said.
"Wait, how does he date two girls with Nishizumi as a last name and not know?", Mako deadpanned.
"My sister kept her last name hidden, not telling him.", Miho said.
"Why would she do that?", Saori asked.
"I don't know. I guess Maho kept her last name a secret for a reason.", Miho said.
"Wait, you said he was avoiding your sister. Do you know why?", Saori asked.
Miho was about to talk when she looked over at Ano.
He was smiling, as his loader and gunner talking as well. The loader still had his gear on, most likely wanting to hide his missing eye.
Then again, if anyone knew about this...
"It's not really my place to say.", Miho said.
Saori got the picture that it was bad.
"OK, I won't ask.", Saori said.
"Attention, classmates!"
Everyone turned to see Yukari standing on M3 Lee, being the tallest tank in the group.
"The camping trip begins soon, so get to your tanks, we're rolling out!", Yukari yelled.
Everyone got to their tanks. Soon, the StuG, the Panzer IV, the Type 89B, the Porsche Tiger, the Char B1, the Hetzer, M3 Lee, the Type 3 Chi-Nu, and the several BT and T-26 tanks were rolling out.
The tanks drove towards an empty camping ground, before they reached it. It was at least half a kilometer long, and there was a pond and everything.
All the girls unpacked, while the boys set up the whole camping ground.
Miho took out a suitcase of clothes, when she turned and saw Ano and his whole tank crew tangled up in the tents. The boys were all laughing, while some were trying to untangle them.
From within the mess, Ano was smiling happily.
Miho let out a giggle before walking over to the girls' side of the camp. For someone who's both physically and mentally scarred, his smile was one to die for.
She looked around. Any girls not at the camp were talking with the boys.
Yuuki was sitting with a boy, who Miho recognized as the one who was juggling several wrenches and hammers yesterday.
Saki Maruyama was sleeping peacefully in the embrace of one of the T-26 commanders, who was also a first year student. Saori was talking to a boy, both smiling happily.
Even Mako had a boy to hang out with. She was staring at the water lazily, with the boy sitting next to her.
Miho suddenly felt very compelled to talk to Ano, but she knew it'd feel very awkward. But then, she didn't exactly want to feel left out.
She swallowed her pride and made her way to Ano.
She passed Kenn, who was trying to stop an angry Momo from yelling at a cowering Yuzu. Anzu sat by, eating dried potato chips.
She reached Ano, who was manning the big gun on the
"Hey, Ano?", Miho said. She blushed slightly as Ano turned to her.
"Yeah?", Ano asked. Miho looked down in shame, and the look on her face explained everything.
"I'm sorry for last night...and for hitting you...and getting mad.", Miho said.
Ano sighed. His face held an expression that feigned disappointment. "It's not your fault. I shouldn't have overreacted to seeing your sister, even though I didn't even know she was your sister.", he said.
"Yeah, no one's really at fault here.", Miho said, forcing a chuckle, only for her voice to break.
Ano walked over and hugged Miho, her face gently pressing against his neck. "Hey, don't be sad.", he said.
"I'm not...trust me.", Miho said, smiling. Ano smiled back and pat her on the back.
"I'm gonna take a swim, so I'll get dressed for it.", Ano said. He walked back to the tent, taking off his shirt in the process.
Miho's eyes went wide when she saw a large gash down the boy's back. There was exposed flesh, as well as blood vessels in the deep pink wound. The sight alone was enough to make her feel sick.
Miho felt her throat constrict, and her vision went blurry. Her stomach swirled and she ran towards the bushes. She reached a tree far away from the others and vomited.
Her tears streamed down her face, as the pain and disbelief from last night came back. She was about to sit there and start sobbing next to a puddle of her own stomach acid, when she looked over to the boys' tents.
Ano was smiling, as he chatted with Yukari and another boy. She didn't really want to spoil his smile, especially since that smile was the best thing about him.
Miho sniffled and wiped her eyes. She got up and jogged over to Ano. Ano looked over at her, and his smile turned into a look of worry.
"Hey, Miho...what happened?", Ano asked.
"What?", Miho asked, confused.
"Are you sick? Or is someone hurt?", Yukari asked.
The other boy pointed at Miho's uniform. She looked down to see it was covered in vomit, streaming down on her skirt.
Miho's face burned a bright crimson, as waves of embarrassment flooded her senses.
"Miho, are you alright?", Ano asked.
Miho looked around before seeing that everyone else was coming over. Their faces feigned worry, concern, and confusion.
It was too much for her. Miho suddenly collapsed, gasping and choking on the air she was breathing.
Everyone gasped as Ano and his loader helped her up, as Yukari brought over a sleeping bag. As they lay Miho on the bag, Yukari felt her forehead.
"She's burning up.", Yukari said. "What the eck happened?"
"I don't know, but we need the council here now!", Ano said. The loader saluted and hurried off.
"What's...happening?", Miho coughed.
"You're sick with a fever. You need to get back to the school. We need to cancel the trip.", Yukari said.
Miho gasped. "No! I'm not gonna let a little cough spoil everyone's fun.", she said.
"Commander! Your safety is more important than some fun!", Caesar said.
"We can wait to camp a little longer.", Aya said.
"Agreed.", Taeko said.
Miho was about to protest, when she let out a cough.
"Please, let's go back.", Yukari said.
Anzu, Momo, and Ano's loader ran over. "Oh my, that doesn't look good.", Anzu said.
Momo acted quickly, pressing a bag of ice against Miho's head. Almost immediately, the ice began to melt.
Miho just yawned and slowly nodded. "I'm sorry I got sick...I ruined everything...", she sniffed.
"It's not your fault. Come on.", Saori said. They laid the sleeping bag with Miho on it on top of the Panzer IV, before they went back to the school tank garage.
They took Miho to the nurse and waited for her to come back.
The nurse came back and handed Kenn and Anzu a report. Everyone leaned in and waited.
"She's severely sick. Her mental state is fine, but she'll get migraines here and there. However, the vomiting and coughing are to be expected for a month or so. Sensha-dō is highly unrecommended for that time period.", Kenn said.
"Furthermore, the paper says she's to come back every week for her status on health.", Anzu finished.
Ano looked down. "I see.", he said.
Yukari and Hana looked at him. "Oh, come now. I don't see how any of this is your fault.", Yukari said.
"You will once I tell you what happened last night.", Ano said.
In the nurse's office, Miho was given a mint for her coughing and heavy breathing, and a list of things she needed to do or take for her sickness.
She walked outside to see Saori ranting in the corner while Hana, Yukari, and Ano were talking.
"Hey, what's going on?", Miho asked, her voice raspy.
"I told them what happened.", Ano said. "About last night...they didn't take it well."
"I had no idea he'd been through so much!", Hana said.
"Not just him, everyone. I can't believe those fascists just cut you guys down.", Yukari said.
"Even if it was just a match.", Hana said.
"Now I don't like your sister as much now.", Yukari muttered.
"Anyway, what's the sit?", Ano asked.
"Sit?", Miho asked.
"Uhh, situation?", Ano clarified.
"Oh! Umm, I'm to stay home for a month, classes and homework are online, and no Sensha-dō for the month I'm out.", Miho said.
"Wow. I'm sorry...it's my fault.", Ano said.
"Huh? How's it your fault?", Saori asked, walking back towards Ano. She'd stopped ranting, for what purpose, Miho didn't know.
"It's my fault for this. I shouldn't have yelled at your sister. I may still be mad, but I'm kinda sure I took it out on you too.", Ano said.
"No, don't worry. That wasn't the reason why I went nuts through this, it's because of your scar and-", Miho said, before she immediately shut up.
Ano's face went bright red. "Y-you saw it?", he stuttered.
Miho slowly nodded. "When y-you took off your shirt to change.", she said.
"My scar was that bad? It made you sick...", Ano said.
"Please, let's not dwell on this!", Hana said. "We're all gonna come over and take care of you for the month you're bedridden, OK?"
"But-", Miho protested.
"Yes!", Yukari cried.
"You're in good hands!", Saori said.
"G-guys!", Miho said. "I kinda...wanted Ano to...come over."
Everyone was quiet.
Miho's cheeks burned red, being from either the fever or the embarrassment.
"I was hoping to finish that dinner date? I owe him that much.", Miho said, shyly.
"You don't owe me anything. But I'll be happy to oblige.", Ano said, gently.
Saori squealed, and Yukari and Hana giggled. Ano just rolled his eyes and smiled.
"If anything, I owe you that much.", Ano said. "It was my scar that got you sick, apparently."
"Which my sister gave you.", Miho said.
The two shut up immediately.
"I'll take you home.", Ano said, quickly.
"Yes, thank you.", Miho blurted out.
And the two quickly hurried home.