Takako 2: Lessons From Failure
"There's more to Black Forest than the strength of its German tanks, no matter what its critics may say," Takako said. "Through harsh training and discipline, we make relative amateurs into skilled tankers."
"That may be true," Masae said, "but I still don't think it justifies the Nishizumi school's harsh teachings or proves that they're the only path to victory."
Harue, Yoshiko and Ami nodded in agreement, while Takako let out a soft sigh.
"Don't misunderstand, Instructor Atago," Takako said. "Nishizumi students may have faith in their teachings, but they don't necessarily think the Nishizumi style is infallible. My methods are different from those of the Nishizumi school in some ways."
"How so?" Masae said, slightly skeptically.
"You seem to have some knowledge of the Nishizumi school teaches its students, so I'll ask you a question," Takako said. "How do you deal with students who fail to meet your expectations?"
"Outside of extreme situations, which only happened a handful of times, I typically call them into my office and warn them that unless they take certain necessary steps, they will flunk out," Masae said. "There's no yelling, no corporeal punishment; I simply explain the situation to the student, while answering their questions and hearing anything they have to say for themselves."
"I thought so," Takako said. "How does it usually go? Do the students improve?"
"I'm glad to say that most of the time, the student effectively turns things around and ultimately passes," Masae said. "So I believe these talks serve their purpose, and that most people, given a second chance, will be able to put it to good use."
"In the end, it's ultimately up to the person with the second chance to decide what to do with it," Takako said. "And on that note, I'd like to tell you of one time I made a mistake."
Masae paused, never having expected to hear a Nishizumi student talk about her own mistake.
"That's a surprising admission coming from someone like you," Masae said. "Few people in general, and fewer among the perfectionist Nishizumi school are willing to easily admit to a mistake unless prompted. Because of that, I'm interested in hearing more about it."
"Very well," Takako said. "It was in my first year at Black Forest. Some of my senpais were leery about having me, as a supposedly untested first-year, on the regular team, and I had to prove them wrong."
Takako sighed and chuckled. Black Forest tankers had a reputation for being arrogant, and while this was not always true, there were those who lived up to the stereotype. Toward outsiders, some of the Black Forest tankers tended to flaunt their schools superiority. Among themselves, the stronger players sometimes lorded over the weaker ones, and some of the newcomers tended to posture in an effort to prove themselves to their superiors. Takako had once been in the latter group, and saw many tankers with that mindset, but even considering her mindset, her failure almost came off as a bad joke.
"To put it simply… I didn't quite succeed," Takako said. "All I accomplished was overtaxing my engine and taking myself out of the game."
"And then what happened?" Yoshiko said.
"Black Forest went on to defeat St. Gloriana, of course..." Takako said. As she mentioned the victory, her voice carried a sight hint of arrogance, before she resumed the humbler tone she used when discussing her mistake, "...no thanks to my efforts, though. After the match, the commander called me in for a meeting with her and the coach to discuss what I had done."
"Because you failed to get there in time?" Harue said. "Or because you got yourself eliminated?"
"The latter," Takako said. "To be honest, at the time, I wasn't really thinking of wanting to help the team, but allowing my friends and I to save face. I thus acted with reckless haste, to both my and the team's detriment."
"But, of course, the mistake didn't doom your team to defeat or you to dismissal, correct?" Masae said.
"That's correct," Takako said. "Things probably would have been worse for me if we'd lost. Of course, even in this 'least worst' scenario, I was honestly expecting to get kicked off the team, but I was mistaken."
12 years ago.
Takako stood at attention in the Black Forest tankery commander's office, while the commander and the coach sat at the desk. As Mashiro was a student of the Nishizumi school, Takako had some idea of how she would deal with failure, and remained silent as she awaited her judgment..
"I heard from your crewmates, Kubo," Mashiro said. "Losing the track was an unfortunate occurrence, but you should have been able to catch up with the others without trying to resort to a shortcut you knew your tank could not handle. In the heat of the moment, you lost your composure, and made a mistake that you should have known better than to commit, if you're also a member of the Nishizumi School."
"I understand, ma'am," Takako said.
Angered, Mashiro stood up, and walked over to Takako, who remained frozen in place; Mashiro's anger was terrifying to behold, but in spite of that, she remained in control of herself while angry. Mashiro then raised her hand and slapped Takako across the face.
"Do you, now?" Mashiro said, not at all placated by Takako's apology or the slap. "If you have the tendency to break down like that, there is no place for you on the team. I have no need of someone who cannot pull through in a critical situation."
Takako gulped and sighed, as an eerie silence continued. Mashiro glanced at the coach, before glancing back to Takako.
"…or at least that is what I would say in most situations," Mashiro said. "But I spoke with Coach Kurosawa before I called you in. We discussed your performance until now, and determined that at this point, letting you go is not necessarily the most prudent move."
Kurosawa nodded. Takako realized that Kurosawa, while a Black Forest alumna, was, while strict and disciplinarian not part of the Nishizumi School. But any ideological differences Mashiro had with Kurosawa were less relevant than Kurosawa's position of authority as the coach, and Mashiro, like Takako, had been taught to always follow the orders of her superiors.
"I agree fully with what Yukimura said," Kurosawa said. "After a mistake of such severity, albeit of limited impact, you deserve to be punished, Kubo. But I also believe in giving second chances, and people learning from their mistakes. You will remain on the team, but you will not be given this leniency a second time."
"Thank you, ma'am," Takako said.
"Thank me by not making me regret it, Kubo," the coach said. "You are dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am," Takako said, saluting before doing an about face to leave the office. If there was a time when she could break down, it would only be after she parted ways with everyone else. For now, she had to make it clear that she was sorry, but more than that, that she had learned from her mistakes and was prepared to rededicate herself to victory.
Takako walked out of the office, nursing her cheek, and closed the door behind her. Outside, Ami and Kikuyo met with her, and gasped in shock at what they had seen. They had overheard some snippets of the conversation while waiting for her, but were not expecting this.
"Takako-san…" Kikuyo said, barely able to articulate her thoughts. "I'm sorry... I followed you because I was worried, and couldn't help but overhear the conversation..."
Kikuyo trailed off, unsure of what to say next, and deciding to let what she had to say speak for itself.
"I can't believe it," Ami said. "Not just berating you, but also slapping you over a mistake like the one you made? That really seems too much from the coach and the commander. I don't care who did it or who stood by and watched; I would never go about disciplining someone that way."
"It wasn't entirely bad, Ami," Takako said. "The commander had considered ejecting me from the team. But the coach argued in favor of letting me stay, and convinced her."
Ami put a hand on her chin and pondered for a moment.
"Is it possible that's what they want you to think?" Ami said. "They suggest that you avoided a worse punishment to get you to accept the lesser one you got stuck with? Or is it possible that Coach Kurosawa arranged this all to make herself look merciful compared to the commander?"
Takako shook her head.
"It's in the principle," Takako said. "They believe that I'm worth scolding for this, and also worth keeping around. I'm going to do what I can to prove myself worthy of that trust."
"I can't really argue with that," Ami said. "If you made a mistake, Takako, you probably do deserve a rebuke of some sort, but also a second chance. I just don't agree with the commander and the coach about what kind of punishment it should be."
Takako paused as she noticed the ambivalence in Ami's voice. Part of Ami was hesitant to declare that Takako was in the wrong or deserved what happened to her because she was her friend. But another part of Ami found it difficult to not only question her superiors, but imagine what she would do in their stead with knowledge and experience that she did not yet possess. Takako, knowing that neither she nor Kikuyo could claim otherwise, could say only one thing in response.
"We're not up to their level of experience or competence yet," Takako said. "And maybe their discipline is what we need to get that far; once we do, then we'll understand what we have to do in order to win."
Ami simply nodded, before the girls changed the subject. They had won in spite of Takako's mistake. Even if that was the bare minimum for the Nishizumis, that was cause for celebration for the three friends who had worked together to make that possible.
Present day
"As you said, Instructor Atago, you may not expect to hear this from a Nishizumi disciple, but everyone makes mistakes," Takako said. "The only variations are how often they are, how serious they are, and whether one can learn from them."
Ami nodded in agreement.
"The most we could expect from Instructor Nishizumi for performance that meets her standards was mild praise, mixed in with significant criticism," Ami said. "She does not wish for us to become complacent, or to give up on improving ourselves. Of course, she acknowledges that we're less than perfect."
"So what happened to your predecessor, Coach Kubo?" Harue said. "She's obviously not coach for Black Forest now, so where did she end up? "
"She wasn't my immediate predecessor," Takako said. "In fact, she was gone a little over a year after that conversation."
"What exactly happened?" Harue said, slightly surprised.
Takako frowned, as the conversation had reached a sore spot for her, one that she did not like discussing but was an important part of her story.
"Why don't you ask Instructor Atago?" Takako said.
Masae sighed before answering, wondering if Takako held her responsible for her student's indirect role in what happened.
"Eleven years ago, Takahashi Aiko, one of the first graduates of my school, led Pravda to victory against Black Forest in the finals of the tournament," she said.
"Ah, her," Ami said. "I know Instructor Takahashi from the JGSDF, as a fellow instructor."
Masae nodded.
"She has come a long way from when she first started," Masae said. "She almost flunked out of my school, and never would have made it at the Nishizumi school. But she has improved considerably and achieved a great deal, and I'm proud to call Instructor Takahashi a colleague and fellow teacher, not just a student."
"Exactly," Takako said. "I didn't see what happened in person, but if you saw the match, you will notice that, in the final minutes, the Black Forest flag tank panicked and broke from formation in the face of a Pravda assault, going headlong into a Pravda ambush in the process. The rest of the Black Forest team went after it, but their formation was broken, and Pravda made short work of them. Because of that one tank commander's mistake, we lost the match."
"I respectfully disagree, Coach Kubo," Masae said, politely but firmly. "The Pravda team performed well that day, especially their commander, who brilliantly executed the final assault on Black Forest's position and drew the flag tank out. Black Forest's efforts were befitting those of a reigning champion, but they made a few mistakes over the course of the match, failing to seize several opportunities to take the upper hand."
"Some of my schoolmates agreed with your perspective," Takako said, "but few among them were willing to speak out. A more vocal group moved to scapegoat the flag tank commander, as well as the coach."
"Why the coach?" Harue said.
"I can't say for certain," Takako said, "but rumor has it that the flag tank's commander had been in a disciplinary hearing with the coach and commander- for a mistake that was highly similar to the one that cost Black Forest the tournament- but the coach had allowed her to stay on the team."
"What had she been disciplined for in the past?" Masae said. "It wasn't simply inadequate performance, was it?"
Takako shrugged.
"It was a rumor," Takako said. "When a member of the team is called into the commander's office, it's strictly confidential; I'm probably not even supposed to be telling you about what happened in my disciplinary meeting the year before that happened. But for a rumor, it seemed like a plausible one, or at least easy enough for a fair amount of the team to believe. The school administration certainly did."
"So what happened to Coach Kurosawa?" Masae said. "Did she get fired?"
"Not officially," Takako said. "The higher-ups at Black Forest debated doing so, but they supposedly were unsure of whether they could. Meanwhile, a lot of people came out of the woodwork to accuse the coach of other mistakes and misconduct, from giving certain players too harsh punishments to inadequate punishments for other players. I'm not entirely sure if they were taking advantage of the opportunity to take shots at her over their petty grievances, or if their accusations were legitimate."
Takako sighed.
"But regardless of whether those people had a full house or were merely bluffing, the coach folded, so to speak," Takako said. "She resigned by the end of the year."
11 years ago
Kurosawa stood in front of the assembled Black Forest tankers, at the end of the last tankery practice of the year. Her usually impassive and stern expression was gone, and she seemed oddly tired. Mashiro's expression was also more grim than usual.
"That's all for today," Kurosawa said. "But before you go, I have an announcement for you. As of this morning, I submitted my resignation effective the end of the academic year."
Takako did not follow the rest of the speech closely, as it was mainly Kurosawa apologizing for her mistakes- while not specifically naming them-and wishing the team the best in the future with their new coach. It all sounded like a canned speech given by someone who resigned in disgrace, in the faint hope of saving face. Takako had heard the truth- that the coach was leaving.
Perhaps there would be some way of finding the answers the coach would not give to just anyone, or at least, to find how the coach saw this in the lens of her previous lessons about accountability for one's failure.
Takako ran to catch up with the coach, after she finished talking and took her leave.
"Coach Kurosawa!" Takako called out, catching up to the coach at the faculty parking lot near the tank garage.
"What do you want, Kubo?" the coach said.
Takako cleared her throat, realizing that she had seconds to prove she was not just another person who was criticizing the coach over her failures.
"Is it really true, Coach?" Takako said, with a tone expressing that she wasn't sure whether the news was true and wished that it was not. "Are you stepping down over our flag tank commander's failure?"
"Yes," Kurosawa said. "I essentially bet on her potential, and lost, so now I must take responsibility for my actions. You must always be willing to take accountability for your actions, Kubo, and hold those under you accountable for theirs. If you learn nothing else from my time as coach, you should understand this principle."
"Yes, ma'am," Takako said. "My mistake in the match with St. Gloriana was my responsibility, and I hope to ensure that you do not coe to regret giving me a second chance."
"I thought you'd get it," Kurosawa said. "You have shown the ability to learn lessons from failure, so surely you can learn from those of others. It seems you did have potential, after all; once you find someone like that, do everything you can to make them realize it. I'll be expecting great things from you."
"Thank you, ma'am," Takako said. "I will not disappoint you."
"Good," Kurosawa said. "It seems I might not regret giving you a second chance."
Takako saluted the coach as she proceeded to her car, started it up and drove away. People would come to say that Kurosawa resigned from her position in disgrace, but Takako disagreed. To Takako, the coach's tenure had ended as it had continued, with her standing by her principles and teaching a final lesson to her students.
Present day
"The ultimate test of one's principles is how closely you stick with them when doing so is less than convenient," Takako said. "The coach realized that the same standards of accountability that she held on others ultimately cost her the position of coach. When last I heard of her, she was doing well in a professional tankery team, and didn't begrudge her superiors for firing her. Some may see the Nishizumis as overzealous and inflexible, but they stand by their principles."
Masae nodded. It made sense that the Nishizumi School's leaders and teachers were as ruthless and unforgiving with themselves as with their subordinates. But one thing, however, did not quite add up.
"I do have a question, Coach Kubo, and forgive me if it seems impertinent," Masae said.
"Ask away," Takako said. In the face of Black Forest failing to win the tournament for two consecutive years, she was getting used to answering difficult questions.
"You believe in accountability for one's actions," Masae said. "Why, then, were you not pressured into offering your resignation after what happened to Black Forest last year, or Black Forest being defeated again this year?"
Takako sighed; Masae had posed an uncomfortable question for her, albeit one she had expected.
"For the former, it was because Miho was, to put it bluntly, a convenient scapegoat for the public and several members of the team, so I was not viewed as culpable, and could more easily be kept around," Takako said. "For the latter, it was because of several factors; Oarai surpassing our expectations, some key members not performing at certain points, and a few others. Of course, I am on somewhat thin ice, so to speak, and one mistake- most likely failing to win again next year- will likely cost me my job at this juncture."
Ami nodded, starting to understand some of the pressure Takako was under. Perhaps there were more practical reasons for her to be harsh on the team.
"It's surprising, really," Harue said. "To think that most of the shame I felt over the loss to Black Forest was self-imposed."
"That's the difference between our schools, Akado-sensei," Takako said. "For you, victory is something to strive for, and you can be content if you did your best. For us, it's a matter of course."
"I've always been aware of that difference," Harue said.
"As am I," Masae said. "And from what I've heard, I can understand why you would choose to lead a team differently than Akado-sensei or I would."
"Technically, I wasn't the one leading the team in our last year of high school," Takako said. "But I believe this story is Ami's to tell."
Author's Notes
I'd like to thank the troper known as Jonakhen for adding the original Necessary to Win to TV Tropes' Fanfic Recs page for Girls und Panzer.
If you're interesting in giving your own interpretation about whether Ami's theory is correct, here's some facts to consider. Mashiro is a Nishizumi school student, while Coach Kurosawa is not. In spite of their different ideologies, Mashiro will do whatever the Coach tells her to do so, but otherwise leads on her own when not given any instructions. The rest is up to you to interpret.
Character Analysis: Mashiro Yukimura
On the surface, Mashiro is a standard Nishizumi. She's dutiful, loyal and respectful to her superiors and strict towards her subordinates, expecting from them what she gives to her superiors. She believes in the superiority of the Nishizumi style, and expects those who have followed it to uphold the tenets and bring honor to the Nishizumi name.
But what about those who don't follow the style? Mashiro has high standards for Nishizumi-style tankers and those under her command, but she recognizes that not all women do, in fact, take tankery. She loves and looks up to her older sister, even though she flunked out of the Nishizumi school. Her solution to Miho's troubles with her family is for Miho to find something to do with her life that does not involve tankery. And while she would treat her niece like any other subordinate, she has no desire to push her into tankery if she has no talent or interest in it.
Unfortunately, this side of her is one that she does not consider becoming to her professional image or image as a Nishizumi disciple, and so she keeps it hidden from most people, including the people at the table.
For more information on her, see "Off Duty" in Necessary to Win: Side Stories.
Character Analysis: Coach Kurosawa
Coach Kurosawa was yet another influence on Takako. She's strict and harsh with discipline, but willing to give second chances, albeit while seeing third chances as another matter.
Coach Kurosawa faces a difficult situation. She's well-respected enough that Mashiro does whatever Kurosawa says without any complaints, in spite of Kurosawa not being from the Nishizumi School. But Black Forest's coaches are expected to win year after year, and when they lose, the people held responsible pay dearly. It is widely debated as to whether Kurosawa was at fault, or whether she was being scapegoated.
Not unlike the Nishizumis, Kurosawa believes in practicing what she preaches, and in taking responsibility for one's decisions. When her decision seemingly cost the team a victory, and she was facing mounting pressure, she resigned. In the end, her tankery career eventually recovered, but she took a path away from coaching. Her influence lives on in Takako, though what will happen to Takako now that Black Forest has lost twice in a row has yet to be seen.