Chapter 8 Shiho 5: Without Resting On Their Laurels
The topic shifted back to Shiho's leadership of Black Forest. Those at the table knew that there was no better high school than Black Forest to prepare one for the rigorous demands of leading a school devoted to achieving perfection.
"One of the most difficult parts of being commander of a team with a winning streak, or carrying on a school's tradition of winning without fail is keeping up the record over the years," Shiho said. "It requires tireless efforts and does not allow one to become complacent or relax one's standards."
"Perhaps that is true," Masae said, "even if I think your school has not adequately adjusted itself for the times."
"I don't see it as a matter of change, Instructor Atago," Shiho said. "Many of the decisions that I am referring to, such as leading well, separating the strong links from the weak ones, and so forth, are ones that are done on an almost daily basis, or a yearly one, even if tankery remains static and unchanging. For example, after winning a tournament, an influx of new recruits will arrive, some of whom are quite promising, while others want to ride our coattails to victory. Telling the difference between the two is crucial for both the commander of Black Forest and the head of the Nishizumi school."
24 years ago
Shiho pored over the large stack of applications for spots on the tankery team. The vast majority were new first-years, while some were people who had only become interested in tankery in the middle of their high school careers.
Shiho was fully aware that her application for the position of commander was once a piece of paper in a large stack, but did not think for a moment that she was like one of those new recruits who talked at length about their interest in tankery, but could say little about their skill.
Shiho started off by sorting them into piles based on their desired position, then started making piles for those who actually had experience in each position. Even after that reduction, there were still far more applications than there were open positions.
So Shiho then got down to her main task, designating each application as one of three categories- those who were ready to be part of the main team, those who would be viable backups, and those who needed significant training before they could represent Black Forest in any fashion.
A little less than an hour later, Shiho had sorted the applications into three piles, and prepared to share her findings with the coach. She realized that she would be merely discussing the possibility of including the people from the first pile.
Shiho found the task difficult, but only in terms of the amount of time needed to sort and process all those applications; she prided herself on her ability to make such decisions wisely and dispassionately. Shiho believed that only those with the skill to be part of the champions should apply; those who did not could settle for a lesser school, saving her from wasting her time, and sparing them the disappointment. Only a few would have the honor of representing Black Forest in the tournament, so all Shiho could do was select those who were most deserving.
Perhaps people would question Shiho, but she resolved to show anyone who believed they had been unfairly rejected a recording of the team's victories in the tournament. It would serve as proof of how high Black Forest's ambitions were, and the level at which it expected its tankers to perform.
Present day
"I actually did see and vaguely remember your sister's name among all those applications, Instructor Atago," Shiho said. "Atago Masaki, was it?"
"That was her maiden name, Instructor Nishizumi," Masae said. "After marrying, she took on the name Funakubo, as did her daughter, Hiroko."
"After some discussion, the coach and I determined that she was a possibly viable recruit," Shiho said. "So I did give her a chance, at least."
Masae simply nodded. The opportunity to discuss that matter would come fairly soon, but she chose to hear Shiho out.
"Of course, even if the new recruits met your standards, that didn't necessarily mean they were entirely ready to fight for Black Forest," Masae said.
"That's correct," Shiho said. "Naturally, training them was my duty then, as it is my duty now. But that does not include coddling those who fall behind, or taking in those unprepared at the most basic level."
24 years ago.
Black Forest's teams practiced in the fields, doing a variety of drills meant to both improve and gauge their performance in actual battles.
Shiho, overseeing the practice, looked over her notes, and wrote up a list of names, before handing it to the coach.
"These students are not performing to standards," Shiho said. "I would like to see them in my office, and inform them that they are being dropped from the team."
"Some of them won't like it," the coach said flatly. Shiho knew that the coach had made such decisions in the past, but also knew that the coach liked playing devil's advocate, and warning Shiho not to make her decisions lightly.
"I did make my standards clear to them in the beginning, Coach," Shiho said, "just like they are in the handbook for the tankery team."
Apart from the Nishizumi doctrine, Shiho tended to cite the team rules. They tended to stay the same for long periods of time, and were absolute and inflexible. The students who joined the team had to abide by them, and the decisions made by those enforcing them were final. The students had a limited ability to appeal, but only if disciplinary procedure had not been properly followed, which was a very rare occurrence.
Shiho's coach was not a member of the Nishizumi school, but Shiho believed she understood the value of fair and easily understandable standards, and how important it was for her team to win. They did not share an ideology, but they shared a goal, and Shiho hoped that her methods would lead to the desired results for both of them.
Present day
"In the end, the Nishizumis believe that tankers trained under our rigorous standards will be the best possible asset for their tankery teams, or in whatever future endeavors they choose to go into," Shiho said. "There is no greater justification for why we do the things we do."
"And what about those who wash out, Instructor Nishizumi?" Hiroko said. "They won't be learning any additional lessons from you, and it's possible they will likely be too embittered to learn what you hope they will learn."
"They were told what we expected of them," Shiho said flatly. "And with the statements before them laid out so clearly, they cannot easily dispute that they fell short of our expectations."
Hiroko, at a loss for how to respond, looked to her aunt, but Masae shook her head, conceding Shiho's point.
"I understand what you're saying," Masae said. "When I have to enforce the rules, it's easier to speak in terms of concrete and indisputable standards; you know the people in question did something wrong, leaving the question of how to deal with them, which is usually also written in the rules. But I've often found that it's easy to hide behind an absolute principle, and use it to self-righteously justify one's actions, even if it's a justification made up after the fact, when people come before you to demand an explanation."
Shiho, having heard Masae's comment, had some idea of what she was referring to.
"You were referring to that time we met in the office, Instructor Atago?" Shiho said.
"Among other things," Masae said. "But make no mistake, Instructor Nishizumi, your decision back then bothered me less than how you arrived at it. So before I share my perspective, I would like to hear more about your decisions."
Shiho reluctantly nodded.
"Agreed, but what makes you think my answer will be any different?" Shiho said.
"The fact that my question is," Masae said. "Before, I asked you to explain one decision. Now, I would like you to share your perspective that guides all of them."
Shiho pondered Masae's question.
"I understand," Shiho said. "What I'm about to say is likely what you already know, but bear with me, as it leads up to my point, and is for the benefit of those who have not gone to Black Forest- everyone except the two of us and my daughters."
Masae nodded.
"Black Forest has always been blessed with a large quantity of tankery students, many of whom meet, if not exceed, our expectations," Shiho said. "It thus stands to reason that, with so many people applying and not everyone able to get a position on the active team, you would choose only the best, and keep them around so long as they remain useful to you."
"Perhaps, Instructor Nishizumi," Hiroko said. "Hiroe and I have made our share of difficult decisions regarding the team lineup at Pravda, relegating many talented, hard-working and enthusiastic people to the bench. Those decisions, however, have been made all the more difficult by the fact that it's not easy to quantify people's talents or potential."
"It never is," Shiho said. "You simply need to find a valid approach to understand the information and know what to look for."
"That's not entirely it," Hiroko said. "I'm something of an enthusiast for collecting and analyzing data, but I know people aren't numbers. Kinue's initially subpar standing in the team did not show her enthusiasm and good sportsmanship. By contrast, one of our better performers in our first year had a notable unpleasant streak that reared its ugly head when Hiroe and I weren't around."
"That's where the interview comes in," Shiho said. "When I chose my vice-captain, I looked at twelve applications among those with the minimal qualifications, and called in four people for interviews. I then selected Instructor Atago as my vice-captain for our second year."
Hiroe gave Shiho a skeptical glance, still finding it hard to believe that Shiho had ever given someone like her mother such an important position.
"There were a few factors in her favor," Shiho said. "She had more experience than most of the team, including being a team commander. She was remarkably committed to improving herself. She had performed well in battles. All this was not unlike the reason I suggested that Maho make Miho her vice captain."
"But I had to clear the decision with the coach, first, and give the other candidates a fair review," Maho said. "I do have my responsibilities to the school, and chose Miho because not only did I trust her, but I did honestly find her to be the best candidate, even considering what happened in the finals last year, and especially considering her victory this year."
"I appreciate hearing that, Onee-chan," Miho said. "But it still felt a little hard to lead, with everyone looking up to you. Did you ever feel that way, Instructor Atago?"
Masae sighed, realizing that the honest answer would not be entirely comforting to Miho.
"Not exactly," Masae said. "There have been times when I doubted myself, but I do generally consider myself well-suited to lead. But in all fairness, I don't think my leadership style would be as compatible with Oarai as yours would be."
Kinue nodded.
"Giving orders comes naturally to Mom and my sister," she said. "I suppose a large part of that is saying what needs to be done and being willing to stand by it."
"I suppose so," Miho said. "I don't think I'm infallible, though, or that those under my command are necessarily wrong."
"Not all of your subordinates will be so charitable when you are doubtful, Miho," Shiho said. "Incidentally, how did you choose your new vice-captain?"
"I approached Nodoka-san, one of my few subordinates with prior commanding experience, and asked her about it," Miho said. "She seemed willing to take the position after some convincing, and agreed to my request to become the vice-captain; no one else volunteered."
"I see," Shiho said. "So I assume no one is unhappy with your decision, at least not openly so." Miho nodded. "I had to tell several willing and able individuals that I had chosen someone else as my vice captain- namely, Instructor Atago, and defend my decision if necessary."
24 years ago
Shiho finished typing up the last of her rejection letters, and stuffed them in the mailboxes of the candidates she had passed over. In the days before e-mail, she could not simply copy and paste one message into the body of another, or send a mass mailing out, but had to type up and print out each of the letters on the computer.
Shiho had long since prepared herself for the task of rejecting others, and knew that she had to select the one application that stood above all the others. She hoped the others had sent in their applications with the honest and justified belief that they could do the job, but the realization that they would likely not be chosen.
Shiho then put in a letter to the one candidate she had chosen- Atago Masae.
"You wanted to see me, commander?" Masae said as she reported in to Shiho's office.
"Yes, have a seat,"Shiho said. "I have chosen you as my vice-captain for the next year."
"Thank you, ma'am," Masae said.
Shiho gauged Masae's reactions. Masae appeared fully pleased that she had gotten the position, but wondered why Shiho did not congratulate her.
"You realize that there were many others who were passed over in favor of you," Shiho said, her tone indicating that this statement should go without saying at Black Forest, and was a prelude to her actual point. "All of them professed a commitment to be the vice-captain Black Forest needed, and I found your statement to be more believable than theirs. So to repay me, prove my belief right."
"I won't let you down, Commander," Masae said.
Shiho simply nodded. She realized talk was cheap, and Masae's commitment would be tested through the next year. But while Shiho could not predict the future, she could make decisions that would be in the best interests of the team.
Present day
"Now that I think about it..." Masae said, "I think that this time, above all others, was when I saw the real you, and saw you expressing as much of yourself as you could."
"Every time I make a decision as commander, I essentially stake my reputation, as well as that of my family's school and the organizations to which I belong, on it having a positive outcome," Shiho said. "It's obviously best for all concerned if I do succeed, which is a large part of why I am willing to do anything necessary to win. But even if many people are expecting me to do what I do, it's also my choice to do so"
"I understand what you are saying, Instructor Nishizumi," Masae said, "just as I did back then. The only thing I didn't understand was whether victory was that dominant a priority for you"
"Isn't winning all the reason one needs?" Shiho said. "Or do you not agree?" She already knew Masae's answer, but wanted to hear her explanation.
"I once thought that," Masae said. "But after what happened in my second year, I began to question myself. Even if you entrusted me with the position of vice captain, I felt as though I had more in common with those who would be dismissed as second-rate than I did with you."
Miho nodded, finding Masae's story familiar in some regards. Some said Miho had been forced out of Black Forest, but Miho saw her decision to leave as much her choice as her decision to save the tank; one she made in spite of the opposition to it. She was thus curious what sort of opposition the seemingly more confident Masae had faced, if any at all.
Author's Notes
Thank you for the reviews, favorites and follows.