Disclaimer
I don't own Girls und Panzer.
Chapter 1 - Decision
There is a thing about the moment of negotiation. It begins with a glimpse of hope. Plans come into the mind. You hope that your side will get what it's wanted. Each side tries to reason with the other one. The refuses come. New reasons come. New refuses come with better reasons and so on. Each side comes with something. Sometimes, the negotiation is like a war without death.
The shadow created by the light covers his face. Only his glasses reflect some light. He looks like a hyena in the night. The girl in front of him doesn't move. Their glances are at the same height, even he is standing on the chair.
"About the school closing down, it's already been decided.", Renta Tsuji responded.
"But you told me that as long as we won the championship, the school would continue to operate.", Anzu Kadotani speaks to him.
"A verbal promise isn't really an agreement."
"There are case where verbal agreements can be legally binding. It's written in Articles 91 and 97 of the Civil Code of Japan."
"I already did all I could. Please understand."
"I understand."
Anzu feels as she was carrying shells on her back. Her mind is working like an artillery gunner. The bland smile still remains on Renta's face.
"I know is very hard to take some decisions. Let's sign an agreement for another match. If we win…"
"I would sign the paper with pleasure, but this is not about prizes. The financial situation of the school is very problematic and some wins would not help."
"I understand. I try to do my duty as best I can.", she broke the silence.
"I have seen that. Don't push yourself. Maybe, you will work in MEXT after some years."
She turns her glance to the floor. She feels as she losts some centimeters from the height because of the backpack.
"Can I ask for a financial report from your side for our school? I want to know what I could have done."
"It's not necessary to occupy time for these things. Better have fun with your friends."
Back to the camp for Oorai students, The Student Council and Miho gathered in a small room. They sit on the rustic furniture. A small table occupies the space between them. The voice of Anzu is only one heard in the room.
"He refused the option with the match…"
"What you did after?", Momo intervened.
"He has spoken about financial problem."
"There is no option left, president?", Yuzu asked with a soft voice.
"I have something in mind. That's why I asked you to bring Miho. But, before that I want to ask you something."
Anzu turns her face to Yuzu and Momo.
"Yes, president!"
"And I want you to answer honestly."
"Yes, president!", they responded simultaneously.
"Koyama, Kawashima, did you or anyone else took from the budget?"
"PRESIDENT!"
The voice of Momo Kawashima exploded. She rises from the chair like a rocket. Miho's face becomes pale. Yuzu remains unmoved.
"I swear… I have brothers and sisters. I will go home and kill myself in front of them if my stolen even 1 yen from the budget of the school."
Momo falls in kneels with tears in eyes. Yuzu and Miho drag her back to the chair.
"President, I swear on my life! I don't know anyone who has stolen from the budget."
"Momo, calm down!"
Anzu asks Momo while she caresses her.
"Don't call me Momo!"
Momo sits back in her chair and cleans herself of tears. Yuzu offers her a napkin. Anzu adjusts her position in the chair. She sticks her palms together.
"Calm down! I wouldn't do something to you. I wanted to be sure that there is no problem from our side. So, I can go with a plan."
"What is the plan, president?", Miho asked with a soft tone.
"Before I left, I asked if he can give us a financial report of our school from their side. He refused. What do you think?"
"They hide something from us.", Miho responded with a strong tone.
"So, we have to make it available to the public!", Anzu proposed.
"A video?", Yuzu asked.
"Not enough. We will go with the tanks to M.E.X.T. headquarter."
Yuzu and Momo remain muted with widened eyes.
"President? What we are gone do there?", Miho asked with a trebling voice.
"A protest."
"We will stay there?"
"I am not sure yet we can do it."
An uneasy silence occupies the room. Momo turns her glance to the floor. Her hands are on her knees. Yuzu has the same position, but she looks to the Anzu. Miho moves her glance to different direction.
"I talked with the students from Naval Studies. They remain on the ship until is scraped. It's in a shipyard near to Oorai now. We can go tomorrow there and take everything we need. Nishizumi, I need you to make a plan for the protest. I will focus on the negotiation with M.E.X.T."
"I understand, president!"
"We will tell others when we will have something."
The morning doesn't shy to come. With accurate and fast moves, Miho makes her bed. She looks around the room. Hanna combs her hair. Mako sleeps like a log. Her glance remains fixed on Yukari. The loader searches for something in a box. She inserts her hands deep in the box.
"Mako, wake up!", Saori yelled like an upset mother..
"The school is closed. No courses!", Mako mumbled like helpless patient.
"Come on Mako! We will have."
Mako barely moves her chest up. Her feet land slowly on the floor. Saori helps her to move.
"Miho, Yukari, came to the breakfast?", Hanna asked.
"In a minute.", Yukari answered.
"I will. Not now."
"Okay, But don't stay much time."
Hanna left the room. Mako holds left hand on Saori's shoulders. She moves like a zombie, but slower. Saori helps her to accelerate. After ten seconds, they left the room. Miho goes to the door and closes it. She turns her face to the loader.
"Uh... Yukari?"
"Nishizumi-dono?"
Miho hesitates, "How are you?"
"Good. You, Nishizumi?", She responded with a joyful voice.
"Good... Can you scout me a location?"
"Yes, yes! What location? Where?"
"I need to scout M.E.X.T. building... around it."
She blinks responding, "Okay! But why?"
"Why do you need, Nishizumi-dono?"
"We will go with tanks there."
"What?"
Meanwhile, the girls from Student Council are in the yard.
"Rabbit team, Leopon team?", Momo yelled.
The girls turn their faces to her. Azusa, Ayumi, Reira and Maria respond verbally, "Yes!"
"Can you come with us? We are going to the carrier to take some things."
"The school wasn't closed?", Azusa asked.
"It was. It is still in a shipyard now."
The majority of the girls nod affirmative. Azusa and Reira respond verbally, "Okay"
All of them leave the yard.
In Anglerfish's room, Miho continues to give the explanations to her comrade.
"I need details like: the width of roads, stairs, obstacles, traffic... To see how we will deploy the tanks."
"No problem."
Miho opens her pocket, "Take this money. You will need to stay in Tokyo until we will come. Don't forget to take backup clothes and some hygiene products."
"Yes! Guderian is sending his scouts!", Yukari replied before she left the room.
"Be careful, Yukari."
In the principal's office, Anzu sits on the chair with a serious attitude. She discusses with the principal.
"We want to take the whole team to Tatenashi High School. They have just one tank. It's not far away, in Nagano Prefecture. We don't want to lose our team."
"I understand. I have seen you working hard and I respect that. ", The principal responded.
"We want to take some things from the ship that can be helpful for us: tools, trucks, equipment."
"You can take what you think you need. Just tell me what you take. I need to make the papers for them."
"I understand, principal."
The Sun hides shyly behind the mountains. The girls of Oorai mind their own business. Saori peels some carrots. Hana spices up some fishes. Mako boils some rices.
"Did you find something strange in Miho's behavior? She looks more static. ", Hanna asked.
"I find she received a message about some trucks."
"Saori, It's not polite to look in the phone of other people."
"Sorry. I have just seen when I passed by her."
"I don't know. I haven't seen Yukari after the breakfast.", Mako spoke.
"We will talk with Miho. Maybe she knows something.", Hanna has spoken.
The sound of engines roars outside. Mako and Hanna turn their glance to the window.
The girls on the Hippo team exit from the building. 10 units of Type 97 4-Wheeled trucks are in front of them. These have nearly 6 meters length. The back for goods is covered with a green canvas. Their chassis is green like their M3 Lee tank. The girls of Rabbit, Turtle and Leopon teams exit from the trucks.
"What's up with these trucks?", Erwin asked.
"We will talk after dinner.", Momo answered with a serious tone.
The members of Sensha-dō team are gathered in a big room. The Student Council and Miho are in front of them.
"I talk with Renta Tsuji about the situation. I proposed him a match and our school will remain open if we win. He refused. He stated that the school is closed because of financial situation. I asked him a report about the financial situation of our school. He refused.", Anzu spoke.
The silence occupied the room. Azusa frown. Aya's eyes enlarged. Ceasar and Erwin turn their glance to each other.
"What do you think? You say that you know the financial situation, but you can't give a report about that.", Anzu asked.
The mumbles occupied the room. A frown develops on the face of Midoriko and Moyoko. Taeko, Shinobu and Akebi turn their faces to each other. Noriko tenses her jaw. Anzu turns her face to Miho. She sees it and make a short step forward.
"After a discussion we decided to go with the tanks to the M.E.X.T. headquarter.", Miho spoke.
"WHAT?"
"That is impossible!", Karina spoke.
"We will be eat by the army!", Noriko yelled.
The room is occupied by words and yells.
"WE WILL NOT ATTACK THE MEXT!", Momo intervened.
The silence occupied the room again, but the face of girls show concern. Momo speaks again.
"We will park our vehicles around the building. The violence will not be used. We will treat everyone with respect. Okay?"
No word comes from the girls. Their eyes widen. Yuuki exhales a big mouth of air. Their hands feel as they carried a 122m projectiles in each hand for a hour.
"How we will know nothing bad will happen?", Azusa asked.
"If anyone of you doesn't want to participate in the protest against M.E.X.T, then you can leave the room.", Anzu told them.
Miho turns her glance to the door. Saori and Hanna remain tense. Mako turns her glance to the floor. Nekota, Piyotan and Momoga look at each other concerned. Nekota bites her lips. Tsuchiya plays with her fingers. Keiko takes a big breath of air. Saemoza clenches her fist.
Yuuki raises from her place. She turns her face to the door. Step by step, she gets in the front of the door. She stops a little. Her heart beats like an engine of a tank. She takes a small breath of air. Miho sees her. No one is moving. Her teammates look at her.
Yuuki stares blankly. No one comes to stop her. Her hand is not far away from the doorknob. The dark-haired girl doesn't move. She stays for two seconds. For another three seconds, she stares at the doorknob. She returns to her place.
Azusa raises her hand, "Miho, who will drive the trucks?"
"The trucks will be used to transport provisions. We will talk more details in the morning. I send Yukari to scout the place. I hope she will provide us with information tomorrow."
"I hope that she will not get arrested.", Mako told Hana and Saori.
"At this moment, in the trucks we have: hygienic paper, 4 mobile toilets, sleeping bags for all of us, longer boots, plastic boxes, bags, fuel and parts for tanks.", Yuzu spoke.
Oryou raises her hand, "We should name this operation. It will be the biggest one of our school."
"Operation Barbarossa!", Erwin spoke.
"Operation Alesia!"
"Operation We get our rights.", Miho spoke.
Anzu intervenes with a grin on her face, "Let's be more precise: Operation M.E.X.T."