KAPITEL FUNF: Behind Enemy Lines

"Wow! This Academy's really huge!"

That was apparently Yukari's first expression upon stepping foot into the IS Academy complex. She had already been on two school ships already, both being considerably larger than the academy in question. But seeing the renowned school first hand was something else altogether, at least in her mind.

Miho however was a bit more silent. She had no problems with blending in with the students, more so with the uniform that they were currently wearing. However, she was rather concerned about one thing.

"I don't know, Yukari-san," she said in a low, yet audible voice. "I read from the brochures that this academy's very tight on security. Also, only students who were sponsored by their respective governments are viable to enter here…"

"Not to worry, Nishizumi-dono. As long as we're wearing these uniforms, no one will be able to notice us," the brown-haired girl assured.

Yukari then brought out a map of the academy from her shoulder bag. "Good thing I went for something light for this mission. Had I brought out my backpack, I may have attracted a bit more attention."

"I'm just as intrigued by the fact that you could still fit a lot of stuff in that shoulder bag, Yukari-san," Miho commented, to which her companion let out a visible grin.

"Now, according to this map there are only two places where they could possibly store their tanks. And judging from where we are right now, the nearest possible location would be the battle arena."

Both girls quickly turned their heads to where the arena is. "But it does not seem to be well-guarded to be honest, even with the multitude of CCTV cameras around the complex," Yukari continued.

"Since the school is already protected by way of a multinational treaty, the only viable threat to the academy itself is more on its political aspects," Miho explained. "It's much like the reason for the school ships such as ours, although for a wholly different reason."

"Well, if the tanks are possibly not located there, then they may be at the open field, right?"

"Quite possibly; but according to the map, the field does not have a dedicated mechanical bay. All repairs to their IS units have to be taken to the bays in the arena."

"Which means that if they have tanks, then they will eventually take them there for repairs, right?" Miho nodded in response.

"Let us check the arena first, then. If the tanks are not there right now, we'll check the open field after lunch."

XXXXXX

Meanwhile, at an undisclosed location within the IS Academy complex…

"Kaichou, we've spotted our two guests. They're headed for the Battle arena."

The voice came from a third-year student who was busy monitoring their movements through the cameras around the school. She wore a short-sleeved blazer version of the standard uniform, with a Student Council armband on the left.

"Good work, Utsuho," uttered Tatenashi who was also overlooking the situation. "Just keep an eye on them for now."

"I still do not understand why you had to have those two monitored, Kaichou."

"Let's just say it's a favor I had to allow from our opponent in the upcoming friendly game," the President clarified. "I even had to pull a few strings to accommodate their entry here."

"… You mean this favor, Kaichou?"

Utsuho then flashed on the screen a piece of video footage from the fish market that Ichika visited days ago. She then froze the video on the scene where he handed the cellphone he retrieved from the thief.

"Wait a sec; is that the same girl as the one who entered the Academy just now?"

"Yes, and from the looks of things, she is apparently exhibiting the same mannerisms as your younger sister's earlier encounters with Ichika."

"No wonder Anzu requested this… Those girls must not know of this fact…"

XXXXXXXX

While those two were closely monitoring the "guests" from Ōarai, Teams Two, Three, and Five were having briefings in their separate rooms. Luckily, Cecilia and Charlotte managed to find willing crew members for the Cromwell and V39, respectively.

Although, like Houki and her team in the Easy-Eight, they only got at least 3 members each; which meant both commanders had to do double duty in the tanks. Charlotte took Radio Operator duties for the V39 in order to let her crew gain experience in the sport. Cecilia on the other hand was a bit more adamant with her team, insisting that she take Gunnery duty in the Cromwell.

As for Houki and her Easy-Eight crew though, things were a bit… off…

"Why the hell am I teaming up with this red-headed brat, Houki?!"

"You never told me that I'll be sharing tank space with this twin-tailed witch with no figure, Houki-san!"

The atmosphere was quite tense in the room where Team Five were having their briefing, as Class 1-2 Representative Lingyin Huang met up with the extra crew member for the Academy's Panzerkraft Team - her old childhood rival Ran Gotanda.

While she knew that all three of them, including herself, have romantic affections over the same man, Houki was a bit more composed during the briefing, letting off nothing more than a sigh. Still, she decided not to speak too much in the confrontation.

"Let's not get ourselves hot off our heels here, girls," said third-year student Mizuki Sugiyama, whom Houki personally recruited for gunnery duties due to her being the president of the Archery Club. "While we are only participating in a friendly game, we need to remind ourselves that we will be representing our Alma Mater; or future Alma Mater in Gotanda-san's case."

"I was expecting someone who had no connection to Ichika whatsoever to be our crew member, Houki. You know full well how rocky my relationship is with the Gotandas, especially with her," said Rin who was clearly ignoring Mizuki's explanation.

"Well, as long as I'm not sitting beside her," declared Ran who was appointed as the Easy Eight's co-driver and radio operator. Rin turned away from Ran in response, possibly out of jealousy.

Unfortunately for them, Houki has had enough.

*PAK* *PAK*

"Hey, what was that for?!"

Both of them were scratching their heads, while they looked up to see their commander angrily wielding a paper fan.

"I am only going to say this once. I chose both of you as my crew members because you were also Ichika's childhood friends. I wanted to at least use that as motivation for the three of us since, compared to the others, we at least shared a significant amount of our childhood with him."

She then went back to the table and laid down her paper fan. Rin and Ran both looked at Houki with a small amount of fear; apparently they were thinking of one certain thing:

"Wow. I never thought Houki would become so stern and scary at times; she is almost at par with Chifuyu-san… "

Before Houki could continue with lecturing the two though, her phone rang. Upon seeing as who was calling her, she quickly left the room.

"You know what, Houki has a point. I mean, as Ichika's childhood friends, we should at least show the rest why we're more compatible with him, right?"

"I will have to agree with you on that one, Rin-san. I guess it won't hurt putting our past aside for now…"

XXXXXXXX

"Hello? Shinonono here…"

"Houki-chan, it's Tatenashi. I hope you don't mind if I request a favor from you and Mizuki-san."

"What is it, sempai?"

"Well, I got a couple of guests from Ōarai Academy roaming around our school on their own right now. I fear that they might get into trouble later on…"

"So you want me and Mizuki to help out some 'spies' from our opponent school?"

"Well, yes. It's a bit of a long story if I were to explain it to you. And besides, we were the ones who authorized an espionage mission on them in the first place."

"I see… I think Mizuki-san and I can do that."

"Good. I'll send to you the pictures of our guests via your IS's private comm channel. The two of you are the only ones I can trust with this; do not tell the others, especially our guests from Schwarzer Hase."

"I got it, Sempai. I'll contact you again once our 'guests' have safely left the Academy."

-CLICK-

XXXXXXXXX

Back with Miho and Yukari, they have safely entered the Battle arena without any problems, and are now walking at the bleachers. And, with a stroke of luck, they chanced upon all 5 of the IS Academy's tanks parked on one side of the arena near the repair bay.

"Okay, we've found the tanks," Miho silently uttered. "Let's take pictures of them and leave."

Yukari then brought out her camera and aimed at each of the tanks, taking at least 2 pictures for each. Unbeknownst to them though, the area was not as empty as they thought.

"Hey, what are you two doing there?"

The voice came from one of the Schwarzer Hase members who patrolling the arena for intruders. "I need an answer right now!"

"Um, Nishizumi-dono…" Yukari whispered. "I think we'd better leave…" Miho lightly nodded as both of them slowly took a few steps backward.

Unfortunately, another Schwarzer Hase member appeared from behind, apparently cornering them. This left Miho with no other choice. "Yukari san…"

"Yes, Nishizumi-dono…"

"…"

"LAUFEN!"

XXXXXXXX

-INCOMING TRANSMISSION-

Well, this is apparently my longest one so far. Unfortunately, with developments occurring in one of my Fanfics, Kapitel Sechs will apparently be posted at a much later time…

Do stay tuned, chaps…

-END TRANSMISSION-

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