Author's note
Well I am done with this chapter! Wohoo~ *Did a victory lap around my room*. Considering that I manage to get this up this early in the month instead of in the middle of the month is a good enough victory in my book. And I manage to do it all by myself. Maho holding a gun to my head had absolutely nothing to do with it. It was purely me. Haha. She can just go and leave me to it at this point. Dang I am good at this!
Maho: Are you talking nonsense again?
Me: Uh...no. Thank you for what you did. It really helped me out. I hope you would continue to support me like you did.
Maho: That's better. Now finish up here so the readers can get to the story.
Me: Yes maam. *whimpers cowardly*
I hope this chapter is okay. I have exams at the end of the week but I wanted to finish this chapter before I studied for it. I checked it already and it looks fine but my judgement may be clouded and the quality may have dropped without me knowing. If it did, I am very sorry and feel free to let me know. And as always, any input you guys give would be greatly welcomed and appreciated so don't feel shy to spam me with reviews. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 13
"So did the meeting go as you expected?" Soujiro asked from his loader seat in our T34.
"More or less the same but they were more pushy because of our results. It was such a pain to deal with.." I answered leaning to one side of the commander's cupola while I stared off into the late morning sky. We manage to get our vehicles back into working order, the bare minimum at least, and are on our way back to our ship with my tank as the lead vehicle. "The school council won't shut up about their cost and finance while the Senshado VIPs are questioning our capabilities and such. Mrs Nishizumi didn't waste any time in pointing out that we are very bad at this while Maho tries to calm her down."
"She sounds like a real pain." Kyoji commented while playing with his gun sight. "Do you think she's like that at home as well? Must be hard if it is. Don't you think so Keiji?"
"Hm...I think she's the type that gives hard love to her daughters while Maho prefers a kinder approach. But you can see her trying to be strict like her mother. Possibly something to do with her being the heiress to the Nishizumi Style." I answered absentmindedly.
"Big difference huh? Between mother and daughter?" Satou gave his two cents.
"Probably took after her father on that part." I added.
"Since when did you know her that well?" Kyoji asked in a suspicious tone. "Are the two of you dating?"
"Wha-Why did you think that?" I responded being catch off guard. " We just get along that's all. I doubt she even thinks of me as a friend. Acquaintance at most."
"That's how it all starts boss. From acquaintance to friend and then to dating." Kyoji said. "I mean she's way out of your league but I am glad that a girl has taken an interest in you. Since you only have a small number of friend of the opposite gender we are actually quite concern about your future marital status."
"Please don't burden yourself with that. Someone else is already very concern about it." I answered rubbing the side of my head at the thought of what Kyoji said reminded me. "And you're high if you think that we would actually date. She has no interest in me."
"Whether you admit or deny it, just know that we are here if you need any help." Soujiro added with a smile.
"Right now you guys can help by changing topic before I decide to suicide by tank tracks." I said looking over the side of the tank before I remembered something. "Speaking of Maho. She and Kuromorimine are going to be our next opponent next week in Fukuoka."
"What!?" Kyoji asked in disbelief.
"Are you completely insane!?" Takashi asked slamming on the brakes of the tank to the revelation. His action was so sudden and violent that the entire column has no time to react and every tank end up ramming into the vehicle in front of it. A burst of curses and language that no child should hear flew through the air and the comms.
"Guys it's out! We are getting Kuromorimine next week in Fukuoka!" Satoshi announced over the comms with a hint of dread at the news. What comes next is another burst of curse and beautiful language as everyone is no doubt thinking of how high this mountain is.
"Did Keiji agree to this!? Is he high!?" Tetsuo asked loudly from his opened driver's hatch behind our tank. Tetsuo was unable to start his tank so we had to tow it with ours. "Our tanks barely manage to survive Shermans and now we have to face German heavies in a week!? Do you know the cost it's going to take to fix them up after that!? The work itself is going to be hell!"
"Keiji, you do know that Kuromorimine is considered the top in Senshado right?" Ryoji asked.
"Now now. Everyone calm down. Soujiro said over the comms. "I am sure Keiji has his reason for this. Right boss?"
"Thank you Soujiro." I said over the comms. "Indeed I do. With an opponent that tough, there's no other way but to work ourselves to the bone yes? I mean the alternative is that we get wiped even worse than today. I am sure there is no better motivation than that."
"This is stupid Keiji." Fukuda replied over the comms. "But with us, it just might work."
"Don't worry it will." I answered as the column got moving again. "And don't worry about the repairs Tetsuo. We will help out with that."
"Our funds should be okay for the match with Kuromorimine." Ryoji announced. "But, depending on the outcome, we may need external funding for the third match. That is worst case. We also need to watch our ammunitions for training and the actual match."
"That's a bit worrying." I acknowledged. "Any ideas on how to generate funds?"
"We could set up another betting group. Or we can bring in some stuff mainland and sell them? I mean the carrier ship only resupply like once every two weeks and so if we can get stuff here before the resupply then we can probably sell them" Ryoji suggested. "I can easily set back up the betting network and I still have my contacts for resupply thing. I did both so it's easy to set them up again."
"Which reminds me, were you caught for one or both? I heard you were only punished for the betting part. What exactly happen?" Satou asked out of curiosity.
"I was actually caught for the betting. But when they searched my place, they found the stuff that I was selling and there was an investigation on that too." Ryoji said beaming with some twisted sense of pride at his deed. "They can't pin the selling one on me though. It was my stuff after all."
"I am curious, why did you do it?" Fukuda asked.
"At first it was for a new pc. But when I was going to buy it, there was this charity drive the school was doing. One of the resident staff's child was sick. Very sick. Suddenly the pc don't feel that important any more. I dumped the envelope with all my savings into the anonymous donor bin and volunteered to help with his family and the event. When the dust has settled I helped him sorted the donations to figure out how much was received. When he reached my envelope, he opened it up, inspected its content and burst into tears in front of me." Ryoji said in a brittle voice. Through our headsets, the whole team can hear the sniffles coming from him. But beyond that, I can sense a hint of pride but also some shame in it. When he spoke again, his voice was going up and down. "In my rush, I left my details and my plans in the envelope. He then prostrated himself in front of me, at first to apologise then begging me to take the money back because he can't take it. His wife came in to see what the commotion is about and did the same as him. It took an hour but I manage to convince them to keep the money. The look in their eyes when they thanked me was something that will stay with me until I die. It made me realise that there was more I can do with my life than a new pc."
"That family, is it the one that ran that small ramen shop near the aft section of the ship?" Tetsuo asked and he received a mic click as confirmation. "My gang visit that place often after school. His four years old daughter is a sweet and friendly girl that can brighten the darkest days. He often speak highly of someone who saved her and she would often say that she wished she could thank that person. You did a nice thing for that family. Thank you."
"Yeah. So that was when I decided that I can do some good. When Yuuta and the rest found out what I did with my portion of the money, they also decided they would do as I did." Ryoji concluded.
"Then why didn't you just tell the school that?" Satou asked.
"Though the money was earned through honest means for a honorable cause, it was illegal because we didn't have permission and license. Its was a stupid technicality but rules are rules. At that point we have already made several more anonymous donations. If that got to light, those people would start to question the donation they received. We don't want that so we kept our mouth shut." Ryoji explained. "We did try to get approval for the selling stuff but were denied because it was against school rules for students to run a business that has nothing to do with academic purpose. So we just run that and the betting without permission .We wanted to make a difference and to help. We wanted to do good. When word got out of our side business, we decided to just say it was for personal use. That way our efforts would not be for nothing."
"I can't really agree with you using this kind of practice for charity." Fukuda said after a moment of silence. "But I can agree that what you did and your intentions are for a noble cause."
"I did what I believe in. And I will still do it again." Ryoji declared proudly now sounding more like himself. "So should I start it up again for Senshado?"
"Please don't do anything that would get you or the team into hot water." I requested imagining the amount of fire we would end up with. But Ryoji's second suggestion did have some sense. Not the bringing things earlier than the resupply and selling it but the part where we sell stuff. "At least the betting part. For the selling stuff part, I think we can make it work. Sinec this is a club related and all the school probably have no issue with it. Ryoji can you clear it with the school? Also check what can we sell. The remaining profits from this, after subtracting from the club activities, will be saved up for any charity event that comes by."
"You would do that?" Ryoji asked with excitement and joy.
"It was your idea. So it's only fair that some of the profit from your plan be used for what it was initially intended it for. Plus it would be for a good cause so that part would be fine." I answered nonchalantly.
"Wow, I don't know what to say. Thanks." Ryoji said moved by my suggestion.
"Besides, you would probably go back to your old habits if we don't do that." I joked. Chuckles and laughters can be heard over the radio in response over my jab.
"Ha ha ha. Funny." Ryoji replied in a monotonous tone. "Back to the topic at hand, are we seriously going after Kuromorimine in a week? You're not pulling our legs are you?"
"Nope. This is no joke. We really going up against them." I said looking back at the late morning sky.
"That means practice in the afternoon. We better get the tanks back into shape before then." Tetsuo pointed out. No doubt he already have the work ahead of us planned out.
"Don't need to rush for today's training. I did ask for reports." I reminded. "Get that done after lunch and we will meet up for training at four. You guys can rest until then."
"So where do you guys want to eat?" Satou asked.
"Why not that ramen shop that Tetsuo mentioned?" Fukuda suggested. "Always wanted to try that place."
"You haven't tried it yet!?" Tetsuo asked in shock. "How can you live with yourself!? That place has the best ramen!"
"Actually I've never tried it also." Youji, Satou's driver, added. A few others came forward with the same answers and it did not sit well with Tetsuo or his crew.
"That settles it!" Tetsuo announced. "I am going to make sure that everyone here has eaten from that shop by the end of this afternoon! And it is not up for discussion!"
With our lunch plans settled, we boarded our school carrier, parked our tanks in our garaj, inspected our tanks one at a time and all collectively agreed that a barrel roll is probably one of the worse things that you put a tank through. An engine knocked out of its mount, steering mechanism completely gone, turret jammed and suspensions that can barely work any more. Needless to say Tetsuo and his crew are not happy with the BT7's condition when we checked the tank. Considering how it fail to start, we had already had a rough idea of the damage. But that did not stop Tetsuo from shrieking in horror, Tamaki from entering a shell shock like state and Kasuma from begging the BT7 for forgiveness. It took a while to calm three of our gear head down.
Once they are in a stable enough mental state, work begin in earnest. Since the BT7 would need the most work, our gear head's effort would be primarily focus on it. Thankfully for us, the other tanks were significantly less damaged. The Jagdpanzer and Ryoji's T34 just need a new paint job at the spot, or spots for the Jagdpanzer, where they were hit. The same goes for the KV1 but with the addition of a few scratches on the rear armour of the tank. My T34 would also go through the same treatment and the replacement of a cracked roadwheel. Not wanting another mental meltdown of our mechanics, everyone volunteered to help them out after they were done with their own task. By lunchtime, the BT7 is up and running again. Sure the turret is insanely slow when turning, the engine rattled on its mount and the steering mechanism is a bit stiff but at least it was running.
With something close enough to a victory against the mechanical wreck, we all went to the shop that Tetsuo told us. The journey there was filled with joy and laughter. For many of us, it was the first time in a while that we had such a joyful journey to anywhere of the ship. We have decided that we will not let the looks our fellow schoolmates give affect our mood. They can glare at us all they want but we merrily went our way. What others thought of our past actions will not have a hold on us ever again. For the first time since our fall from grace, we were happy and carefree.
Though some of us may not personally know each other before I gathered everyone into that bleak discussion room on that late afternoon ages ago, we had all suffered through the same hardships. It showed us that we are never alone even in our lowest point on the ship. It showed that we have brothers in arms. Brothers who would support each other and who would fight for each other. Never again will we be suffering the ire of of our schoolmates in our own isolated group. We will now stare down those ire that seek to punish us.
Reaching the shop, we were greeted by the mid thirties shopkeeper and his family. Tetsuo's group in particular had been keeping them updated on our venture into Senshado and hence they were very welcoming to outcasts like us. The shop is filled with laughter as the shopkeeper and his wife prepared our orders. Some of us chatted with them while others talked amongst ourselves. Tetsuo entertained the shopkeeper's daughter with stories of our morning match. No doubt he was exaggerating but the small girls listened in intently. The food, like Tetsuo said, was incredible. The noodle texture was just the right consistency and the sup being just enough to tingle your tongue. The shopkeeper beamed with pride as we piled on praise after praise for his cooking. We can tell that he truly enjoys what he does.
"Say uncle! Tell me what's your secret to the sup?" Tetsuo asked as he took a second helping.
"Hahaha! I can't tell you that boy. It's my own secret recipe." The shopkeeper replied with a laugh. "Took me three years to perfect it!"
I chuckled as I watch Tetsuo jokingly begged the shopkeeper to reveal his secret. It was clear that the shopkeeper was fond with Tetsuo and his group. Around me, everyone was having the time of their lives and enjoying themselves. As I leaned back to soaked in the atmosphere of the shop, I felt my phone vibrate and pulled it out of my pocket. It was a message from Maho.
[Hi Mr Shinamura. Nishizumi Maho here. Hope you are doing well. Is your team fine with the arrangement?]
[Hey! Don't worry they're fine with it. There were some grumbling like usual but they digress. And wow...that's one of the most formal text I have ever seen. Hope you are doing well? Really?]
[It is my first time contacting anyone with Senshado related matters via text. These matters are done via email. I apologise for any grievance I may have cause.]
Is she pulling my leg or is she serious with this?
[Uh...that message earlier was was meant to be a joke. You know that right? You don't have to take it seriously. I was trying to break the ice. Apparently I am terrible at that. My bad. Sorry!]
[Again. My apologies. I did not intent for your effort to be friendly to go over my head.]
I think she is being serious about this.
[Maho you can text like we are having a normal conversation. There's no need to be this formal. That part was already done on the email.]
[Are you certain of it? The subject of discussion is for a formal event and thus require a degree of formality.]
[Maho. I am certain its fine. Do I look like I am going to eat you because you were not formal? While we are on that subject, do I look that devious?]
[Sorry. I am used to a formal tone when using email. And usually topics like this one are done through an email.]
[Sounds stressful. Just text like how you would converse. I heard too much stress would age a lady looked like an old hag.]
[That's mean! You shouldn't talk that with any girl! It's a taboo subject.]
Thank god she is texting like a normal person now.
[You still look pretty so just relax more and you'll be fine. On a separate note, are you going to test out your new tactics or are you going to stick with the usual style for next week?]
[I am pretty? *fake blush* Are you actually doing recon through text?]
[I just realise how flirty that pretty compliment sounds. And yes. It was worth trying. So you plan to use the new tactics? Have you made plans to speak with your mother?]
[Well I am planning to showcase the new tactics in our match and speak with my mother after that. But until then my mother only knows that I am working on some what ifs scenarios.]
[Cool. All the best with your mother. If you need any help with either you can always ask me.]
[Thanks you. Talk to you later.]
[Yea...remember to tell me your plan! Haha]
[It's a secret. :P ]
"Hey boss! Who are you talking to?" Soujiro asked approaching me with a drink.
"Maho. She was worried about how the group would react to the news of us going up against them." I answered accepting the drink. Seeing a questioning look on his face, I shrugged. "I got her number sometime after our match today. I mean she can be considered a friend at this point and its normal for friends to exchange contact right?"
"It's surprising that you hitting off with her on such a pace." Soujiro said with a smile. "When we first met you, you were a guy who is the least likely to make any friends. You were not the most sociable of people. The only guy you hung out with was Satou back then."
"Yeah. I had some issues to work out." I said rubbing the back of my neck at the memories of the first few weeks of my junior year came back to me. "You guys really helped me out. Still have some issue here and there but I think I can deal with it."
"Well, the four of us and Satou will always have your back." Soujiro said and looked around and gave me a pat on the back. "I think everyone here also has your back. So there's no need to worry."
Meanwhile on Kuromorimine~
"Commander, who are you texting?" Erika asked while still making notes from a file she has. There would be a meeting with the other commanders about the match a week from now and it would be good for her to study up so that the meeting would be more productive.
"Is it Miho?" Koume asked with a soft smile while she prepares the slides for the meeting. "You only smile like that when you it's her."
"Hm? Oh no. It wasn't her. It was Keiji. He is the commander of Sparta High. I met him the other time I went to Sparta High with my mother and have been discussing Senshado with him for a while." Maho answered getting back to what she was doing. It took her a few seconds but she eventually noticed the other two girls in the room with her has stopped what they are doing. All eyes are on her her at that point. "What? Was it something I said?"
"Nothing at all~" Koume said blissfully as she tilted her head and covered one side of her now slightly blushing cheeks as she thought off the only other person who could make her commander smile like that and what it meant.
Erika just looked on with her mouth open in shock. The only time she seen Maho smiling like that was when her commander was interacting with Miho. And now that insensitive piece of meat was able to do that? There was no doubt in Erika's mind that he was a good person but he can be so infuriating at times that he can drive her to pull at her own hair in frustration. Erika finds it impossible that her commander was so accepting of such a person. And no. The fact that he constantly teased her in no way skewed or affect her judgement of the Keiji whatsoever. Her opinion of the man is purely neutral and in no way biased. In fact, the teasing probably solidify what she thinks of as Keiji's personality. That's right! Her opinion is the most accurate and most neutral alright! She was the most neutral person there is!
"Are you alright Koume? Your face is red. Do you want to visit the infirmary?" Maho asked out of concern, oblivious to what was going on in those two's mind.
"M-Maho, y-you and Keiji are just acquaintance right?" Erika asked shakily trying to affirm her belief that that piece of meat is still had not captured her commander's attention. There is no way that Keiji can make Maho smile like that.
"Yes, I consider him a friend. He is fun to be around." Maho answered while wondering where is Erika going with this question. Then some gears in her head turned and a playful smile crept to her face. "Erika, do you have feelings for him? Is that why you're asking me this?"
"W-what? No! No I don't have feelings for him!" Erika rejected shaking her hands. "Why would I have feelings for Keiji of all people!?"
"Don't worry Erika. I won't get in the way." Maho said faking understanding.
"Oh my. A love triangle." Koume said covering her mouth in shock. At that point
"K-Koume...its...its not…" Erika tried explaining as she looked like she was about to cry.
"Koume, I was just teasing Erika. She and Keiji knew each other since childhood. There is nothing more to their relationship." Maho clarified as she pats Erika's head. "Sorry Erika. Your reaction makes it irresistible to tease."
"Hick...Please don't be like Keiji." Erika said recomposing herself.
"I'll tease you less." Maho replied and the three got back to their work.
Back at Sparta High~
With lunch done, we went our back to our own place to reflect on the morning's match. It was an eye opener to all of us. It had showed us the difference in experience between us and a seasoned Senshado team. It had shattered our image of ourselves and brought us down to the cold and hard reality of things. We had put all our fate in our training and that had made us overconfident and we fooled ourselves into thinking that we can do a lot more than we actually can. We were hopelessly outclassed. Our opponents had more experience and training than we had and that there is a lot of work to be done for us to catch up. Now that everyone had understood our folly and the situation we are in, we would now work harder than before and remind ourselves to be humble and not delude ourselves with what we think we can do.
When we got back later, we went through the match with a fine comb. Every detail is first went through examination by our naked eyes, then a magnifying glass and then a microscope. The usual joking atmosphere that dominated all our previous meetings is noticeably absent. We were all dead serious this time around. For all we know, our relaxed attitudes may have contributed to our overconfidence to some degree. When everyone entered our meeting room, no words were said. There was no need to highlight the day's agenda or coaxing to start the meeting. Everyone got in, sat down and immediately start off with their reflective reports. We first went through the weakness of each individual crew member in each tank.
The most common were slow reload, bad vehicle handling, lacking in firing on the move and slow response time of the commanders. Advice were traded on how to fulfill our roles better. Like for reloading, Soujiro, my tank's reloader, suggested to build up muscles to make lifting the heavy shells an easier task while another suggested to aim for muscle memory to shorten reloading time. For tougher shortcomings that everyone had issues with, solutions were suggested and discussed and agreed to be tested on. The only thing what was left hanging in the air was the issue all our gunners had when firing on the move. According to them, the shells just don't want to go where they want them to go. Seeing that we are getting nowhere with it, I volunteered to asked around the Senshado community for advice while our self-proclaimed shooting expert Kyoji said that he will also look into it.
Next up was the performance of the crew members as a team. For me and my team in our T34, our sluggish reaction to events around us and me being slow in giving commands. Both issues can be traced back to me who was over burdened and not used to coordinating the entire team while commanding my own vehicle. To remedy this, my crew has volunteered to work more independently while I focus on coordinating the team as a whole. Satoshi also suggested that I could focus more on managing the tank when we are in combat and give him orders to relay to the rest of the team. The key point to this would be to give the team objectives to compete and leave the rest to the team's own judgement. That discussion ended with me agreeing to do the former when out of combat and the latter when in combat.
We then move on to the Jagdpanzer commanded by Fukuda. The general issue with his group is that their reload time is atrociously slow. Considering how cramped is the vehicle and the size of the gun in the hull there was little that we can do. But we nevertheless got assurances from them train to reduce the reload time. The other issue is the amount of dust the vehicle kicks up after firing its cannon. As we found out in the match earlier in the morning, two shots is enough for the enemy to notice it so it is recommended that Fukuda consider relocation often.
The discussion for the remaining three teams were less lengthy. Tetsuo's group was asked to watch out for their driving as their rough handling of the BT7 probably contributed to the tracks breaking. They accepted the suggestion and entertained the thought of breaking off the track intentionally when needed so that the tank can use it's wheels for added speed. For Satou, since his tank rammed into mine, he was advised to be more more aware of his surroundings as his heavy tank can do some serious damage to any lighter tanks while suggestion were made on how he could use that to our advantage instead.
Last was Ryoji's group that had no major issues whatsoever. But seeing that everyone had something to do, his team insisted that they also have something to do. It was then that I noted that with only five vehicles on our team, the volume of fire we can put down range is limited and suggested that maybe they could figure out a way to increase their rounds per minute to twenty or more since their team clocked the highest rate of fire. Even if they could only do it temporarily it would be a big help when the time calls for it. They happily agreed to it and all of us proceeded to train for the rest of the day.
Our vigorous training went on for the next three days without pause. It starts with a morning briefing followed by training after school was over. We did not stop until the sun has set. After cleaning up our tanks we then held another meeting to review our progress for the day and plan for the next. It is a strict lifestyle that leaves little time for relaxation. But for all the demands our new schedule required of us, we did not miss out on socializing with each other. All twenty one of us made it a point that we would eat together and that we would proudly eat in the cafeteria during lunch and any place of our choice for dinner. We had enough of hiding in our rooms and eating our poorly cooked food. The hell with how the other students looked down at us and what they thought of us.
"Everything seems to be coming along nicely." Soujiro commented while he and I took our trays to our usual seats. It is two more days until we docked at Fukuoka and have our match with Kuromorimine. We were a bit nervous about the coming match. Not only because we were fighting one of Senshado's best team, but also because we were also fighting at Sparta High is based at. In other words, we were fighting at home. Though the school's toxic 'must win' outlook has infected Fukuoka, it is safe to say that the population expects a Sparta High worthy match. A match filled with determination and excitement. A match where we would fight like lions regardless of the outcome.
"Not everything." Ryoji groaned joining us. "Still can't get past twenty rounds a minute. Last we clocked in at nineteen a minute."
"It's still quite a good rate of fire if you ask me." Soujiro said looking on the bright side.
"Yeah but its still frustrating as hell." Ryoji continued his complaint. "I even pitched in to help with the loading and still no improvement. It just takes too much time taking the shell out of the ammo rack and loading it."
"I have something in mind. Care to give it a go?" I asked after some thought. Receiving an eager yes I continued as the three of us seated with the rest of our team. "I heard that British warships have an insane rate of fire that was in match by any other nation during the First World War. From what I recall it has something to do with their way of handling ammunitions. I will look into it and see what I can find."
"Thanks! Should be interesting." Ryoji said before digging in. As usual the entire cafeteria's attention was on our group again while we minded our own business. In smaller group it can be disturbing but in a large group like ours, it was easier to ignore. So far the atmosphere is just awkward and no one has dared or bothered to approach us. For the most part they would just toss an occasional glance at us before going about their own business. But on this particular day, a group of students, led by a familiar face, approached us.
"Shinamura and his group of trash eating in the cafeteria like a normal student." Senji said in a mocking tone. Ever since our little chat, he had not shown his face and I just assumed that he had easier people to antagonise. In hindsight, I should have known better. And apparently he has gain quite a few more followers as well. "Funny that the lot of you are showing up and eating with the rest of us these past few days. Did you guys found your balls? But that can't be the case since you guys are doing Senshado right?"
"Whatever is the case, apparently we still have more balls than you and your lot." I replied nonchalantly still enjoying my food. "I mean I haven't seen you or your group since I made you eat dirt. Isn't that right Satou?"
"Maybe he was looking for his missing balls?" Satou suggested with a shrug.
"The hell are you doing here? Pieces of trash aren't supposed to eat here. They are supposed to eat at the trash can. Not here." Senji said strolling towards our table with his crowd. "You and your group of Senshado practicing sissies should put your faces into that trash can where you all belong."
"Are you picking a fight Senji?" I asked slowly getting up and standing up to full height to intimidate him. It was probably a wrong decision on my part. Though I like to think that my nearly six feet of height is slightly above average, Senji, same year as me, stood one head higher than me. Knowing what I was thinking and seeing the height difference, Satou snickered at me.
Thanks for having my back Satou. You are truly a good friend.
"You might have floored me last time, but don't think that you can get away with that this time." Senji threatened. At this point, the tension in the cafeteria is at an all time high. Though we were pariahs, little had made any effort for an all out confrontation. Alienation and disgusted looks were more of the norm. "I have more guys with me this time."
"You think we'd let him fight alone?" Satou asked as he and the rest of the group stood up behind me. "I will personally beat you up Senji."
"Why don't you keep out of this Satou? Your meddling has already landed you and your buddies in several suspensions." Senji said with a glare at Satou who in turn glared back. "And as for the rest of you lot, you should all sit back down like the dogs you are. To disgrace the school like the lot of you did. You betrayed the school, it's spirit and what it stood for. You are all nothing but traitors."
"We betrayed the school?" I asked in an incredulous tone and laugh mockingly at Senji. "Do you even know what this school stands for?" I asked Senji. I looked around at all the other students present in the cafeteria. I had had enough of the perversion done to the school's value at this point. To say that me and the rest of us betraying the school's value when it was the opposite was the last straw. I had initially plan to only show the school but I have lost all patience. Before I knew it, I was standing on my chair and addressing the whole cafeteria. "'To always keep fighting'! Do any of you morons even know that phrase!?"
"That's the school's motto so what?" Senji asked.
"So what?" I asked rhetorically in the same incredulous tone. It is what the school stands for! It is the core principle where this school was founded on! It is the very soul of the school! And We have been doing exactly that ever since we joined the school and you dare call us traitor!? You lot who only want to win!? How dare you!? How dare you all!"
At this point the school's prefect has entered the cafeteria. There was no need to guess that they were expecting a fight. When they saw that that nothing of the sort was going to happen, the relaxed their guard a bit. Unless things got physical they would just be satisfied to just monitor the situation.
"This school was supposed to teach students to have the courage to keep fighting! To never give up!" I yelled at the top of my lungs in a fit of rage. "What you bunch of morons learn is to only win! And for what!? So that you can show off to the others!? You should all be ashamed of yourselves! You've twisted the school's ideals into your own disgusting self-serving purpose and you all have the galls to look down on us!? Us whose only crime is to stay true to what the school stands for!? Is glory and pride the only reason you came to this school!? If that is why then you don't deserve to be here!"
I stopped myself to catch my breath. I was about to continue launching myself into another tirade of rants when I felt someone tapping my hand. Looking down I see Satou looking on the floor but motioning me to get down. It was then I noticed the students in the cafeteria, even Senji, was no longer glaring at us. Rather, they dare not even make eye contact at me or the rest of my group. Something I said must have a direct hit on them.
The second thing I noticed is my group. They were surrounding me like a human shield, possibly thinking that it may get ugly. To see that they got my back without even me asking made me feel safe and secure. I am glad that I had chosen them to be my friends and comrades. But what caught my attention was that all of them were either looking at me with watery eyes or at their feet. Apparently what I said also struck a chord with them. Without another word, I got down from my chair and continued my meat. The rest of my group quietly joined me as well. As I picked up my chopsticks, I felt a stinging pain at the palm of my hand and instinctively dropped them on the table. Inspecting both my hands, I noticed fingernail marking on both my palms. My short nails must have dug themselves into my palm when I was ranting.
"Here. Use this." Satou said handing me a fork while looking as his food. "You're still the same. Always protecting your friends like a fool."
"That's what friends do right?" I asked wiping my wet eyes when I realised they were watery.
"Keiji." Fukuda called out from the other side of the cafeteria table. Looking up, I see my whole group looking at me. "Thank you Keiji. You manage to say what we were thinking all this time. Really thank you." Fukuda said with tears streaking down his face as he got up and bowed at me. In unison, the rest of them got up and did the same. Feeling my eyes getting watery again, I nodded and asked them to get back to what they were doing. For the first time, we felt a humongous weight lifted from our chest as we finished our meal.
The crowd in the cafeteria, Senji and his group included, went back to what they were doing before the commotion started. They acted as if nothing happened but there was no doubt that in their mind they were rethinking about what I have said.
"That is your senpai Uzaki. I am sure you understand him a bit more now." Suzaku said to the newbie of the club. The person in question merely nodded. When news had gotten out that Keiji's suspension led to the loss of a major Surcom match, Uzaki had viewed his one time role model as a traitor and did not understand why the senior members of the Surcom club still viewed him as a friend. He now understood his former role model a bit more. "About the petition I mentioned to you earlier, I still want your help in it. Will you do it now?"
"Yes sir. I will." Uzaki said and cleared his throat. "Rather, it would be a great honour. And I would keep going at it until it is approved."
"Glad to hear it. Now go. You can have your squad and the rest of the Surcom team help out." Suzaku said as Uzaki excused himself. Suzaku lingered a little while longer with a proud smile on his face. "Captain, if you can only see the rookie now. He is moving the mountain like you said he would in the match against TOR High. Like you said then he is bringing back the school's value."
"Yeah. He is exactly as my brother said he is." Sagara Taichi said casually strolling towards Suzaku. He had rushed to the cafeteria when a prefect reported to him that there was a disturbance there. He was ready to help the prefects break up the fight but there was no need for him or the prefect to do anything. "It's a pity that I didn't join Surcom like my elder brother , Ohgi, said. He is some sort of force of nature."
"Are you glad that you put in a good word for him to Mr Kenshin as the Student Council President when Keiji was proposing Senshado to the old man now?" Suzaku asked smugly.
"Yea yea yea. I am buying you something to drink for talking me into it. Happy?" Taichi asked rolling his eyes. Satisfied that things were now okay, he went back to his usual relaxed self as me led Suzaku to the nearest vending machine.
Ending Note
So this chapter I experimented on texting as a way for characters to converse. Anything in [ ] these brackets are conversation done in text. Let me know what you think of it. It is good? Bad? How con I improve on it? I will be studying now. Hopefully I didn't screw myself over. I mean its either suffer three days of intensive studying or a very angry Maho with a loaded gun so a loss either way.
Maho: Oh author~ Why are you still wasting your time? You should be studying right now.
Me: I am finishing up here alright!? God! first is hurry with the story and now you're rushing me to study!? What are you!? My personal slave driver.
*Maho arms her Luger
Me: Okay okay. Don't need for that. I am going.
So see you guys next month!
p.s I miss out on some part earlier...I corrected it. Embarrassing I know. Sorry~