Chapter 18: A Meeting of Nations

As Rinkai had made a name for itself with its past victories, they had gained Oarai's attention even before Oarai knew for certain that they would have to face them in the semifinals.

While having dinner at Miho's apartment the night before their semi-finals match, Oarai discussed their next opponent. Since it was none of them had seen before this year, it was outside of Miho's experience, but her analysis as an experienced tanker, and someone who had also commanded a newcomer team, would prove useful.

"So what kind of tankery team does Rinkai have, anyway?" Saori said as she served the food.

"Apparently, it's a school with a large number of exchange students," Miho said. "It's the top choice for foreign exchange students, because of its strong Japanese As A Second Language program and good academics. Now, they're forming a tankery team composed of many people who did well in their home countries. Some of them, including their commander and vice-captain, also won their countries' national tournaments."

"That's what I heard, too, Nishizumi-dono," Yukari said. "I heard that apart from the exchange students, a large portion of the tankers are first-years who did tankery in middle school."

"That's true, Yukari-san," Miho said. "Prior to this year, most of the students who did tankery in middle school went elsewhere for high school, to high schools where they could continue their tankery careers. But even now, a large portion of those who might otherwise be considering Rinkai would prefer to go to schools with established teams. It's natural for those who would want to do tankery."

The others nodded. Not only Miho was only still doing tankery because her new school just happened to get back into it, relatively few of those who arrived at Oarai last year had much tankery experience. Part of the reason Miho hoped to do well this year was so that many new students, including those who had done tankery before, would choose to come to Oarai.

"Indeed," Hana said. "But at the same time, some of the students at Rinkai apparently won the national tournaments in their home countries, before coming to a new tankery team in Japan. Perhaps not everyone simply wants to move on to larger and better teams."

"Yeah, but we also won our national tournament," Mako said. "How does our accomplishment stack up with theirs?"

"That's a good question, Mako-san," Miho said. "The level of competition varies from country to country. Germany has many strong tankery teams, as well as tankery programs in elementary school. Emi-chan once thought we in Japan were just playing around by comparison, but this was before she learned more about the Nishizumi school and its methods."

The group silently nodded. By now, Miho's family's school required no further explanation, although it was somewhat surprising that Emi was used to programs that were perhaps closer to the rest of Miho's family's approach to tankery than Miho's own approach to tankery.

"So they didn't necessarily have an easy time accomplishing what they did," Saori said. "But did none of them come from a school that's as much of an underdog as ours?"

Miho shook her head.

"No, I don't think so," Miho said. "One article I read seemed to indicate that many of them came from strong schools, and some of those who came from schools without much of a tankery team were from the stronger schools in their country."

"I know," Yukari said. "There was this one girl from Georgia- whose name I can't pronounce- who was commander for her school's team. She apparently competed in a handful of exhibition matches with no more than 10 tanks per side... and won every one."

Miho nodded.

"Our victory in the national tournament is no longer so special compared to what they have accomplished," Miho said. "At the same time, though, we have almost always been at a disadvantage against our opponents in one way or another- numbers, manpower, experience or luck. Let's overcome these disadvantages once again."

On the morning of the match with Rinkai, Anglerfish Team, in their tank, dropped by to pick up Mako. As soon as Mako heard the clattering of the tank, she opened the door and walked out, wearing her school uniform and carrying her tankery uniform.

"Good morning, Mako," Saori said as Mako came.

"Morning, Saori," Mako said. "Luckily for you, I'm already up."

The others simply smiled and nodded. Mako's normally low blood pressure had improved from doing tankery, and with it, her punctuality. As a result, they no longer needed to resort to extreme measures to wake her other residents of the neighborhood were quite thankful for this, since it meant that they could sleep in and enjoy peace and quiet.

As Mako was about to get in the Panzer IV, she got a call on her cell phone. Picking it up, she recognized that it was her grandmother calling.

"One second, Grandma's calling me," Mako said.

"Feel free to take it, Mako-san," Miho said. "We have time."

While her tone was reassuring, Miho was privately worried what sort of news the call would have for Maho, considering what had happened the last time she had gotten an unexpected call from her home shortly before a tankery match.

With a nod, Mako took the call.

"Hello?" Mako said.

"Hello, Mako," Hisako said. "I hope I'm not waking you up."

"No, Grandma," Mako said. "I've been up for some time, and my friends are picking me up right now."

"I should hope so," Hisako said. "You can't always force Saori-chan and the others to get you to wake up on time, and I'm sure that Sodoko girl is tired of lecturing you for being late almost every morning."

Mako considered pointing out that Sodoko had graduated at the end of last year, but decided that was irrelevant at the moment.

"Right, right," Mako said, not wanting to get dragged into another argument with her mother, especially not when she suspected that there was something more important to discuss. "But that isn't why you called, is it, Grandma?

"No, unfortunately," Hisako said. "I'm not feeling especially well today, so I won't be able to come see your match in person."

Mako sighed in disappointment, but noticed that her grandmother seemed oddly evasive. Something seemed odd about her voice, but it was difficult to tell over the phone.

"Are you alright, Grandma?" Mako said. "Usually, you can insist that you're absolutely fine, and that the doctors are making mountains out of molehills."

"Well, I don't feel that bad," Hisako said. "But I can't just ignore it this time. Hopefully, I'll be feeling better for the finals, and, of course, you'll be competing in them, too. The latter's what matters, so don't you dare lose this match on my account."

"Got it," Mako said.

"That said..." Hisako said. "I won't always be around to watch you. At some point, you should become motivated to do things on your own, not because someone else is nagging you to do them. In any case, I believe winning the semifinals and passing at the top of your class are within your ability, so prove me right and do them. But don't do them for my sake or because you feel you owe it to your late parents, but because you can and because they're worth doing."

"I know," Mako said. "Goodbye for now, Grandma, and I hope you feel better soon."

Mako hung up and turned off her cell phone. She then turned to her friends, who were trying not to eavesdrop, but were having trouble making sense of what they heard.

"Grandma can't make it this time," Mako said. "She's not feeling very well."

"That's a surprise," Saori said. "Your grandma's usually energetic, and loath to give any indication of vulnerability. Is something wrong?"

Mako shrugged.

"I don't know what's going on, and I suspect Grandma isn't telling me everything," Mako said, "but I didn't want to get in a fight with her, since her blood pressure's high enough already. For now, I'll turn off my cell phone and wait until after the match. Let's win this match so that I have some good news to tell Grandma."

"That's the spirit," Miho said, as the girls got in the tank and drove to the rendezvous point near the ramp.

Rinkai's ship pulled into port in Tokyo, which happened to be Rinkai's home port. The tanks were unloaded and transported to the battlefield, an urban combat area outside the city.

When the entire process was done, Alexandra met with her team's commanders.

"I have to meet with the organizers," Alexandra said, "so that I can discuss getting the broadcast going."

The others nodded. Rinkai, working in conjunction with those who were holding the matches, offered streaming of the tankery matches for the families of those who could not make it to the match or see them on television. While the parents of Japanese schoolchildren could easily arrange travel to their children's matches, it was another matter entirely for many families of Rinkai students, who often lived half the world away from where their children were going to school.

"The match isn't for a while, though," Satoha said.

"In that case, feel free to relax until the time for the match comes again," Alexandra said. "You can even talk with the other team, as long as you remember, 'loose lips sink ships.' Of course, it would be a potentially good opportunity for you to meet Japanese tankers."

"Thank you, Coach," Emi said. "There's a certain someone I'd like to see again, and also many others I'd like to meet."

In the pre-match preparation, Maho walked over and found Miho's friends.

"Hello, Miho," Maho said. "I'm glad I could come to watch your match this time."

"It's good to see you came, Onee-chan," Miho said. "Did Mother come, too?"

"She did," Maho said. "She's meeting with an associate of hers, so I was able to get away for a few minutes to talk with you. As for my team, we have a day off."

"That's good to hear," Miho said. "And I'm glad to see you here to watch us today, Onee-chan."

"It's nice to see you and your friends again," Maho said, "and under better circumstances than last time."

Yukari nodded. She remembered the last time she had talked with Maho, after the previous tournament's semifinals, and gotten to know her better as a person. Unfortunately, that encounter had given her an idea of how troubled Miho's family truly was.

"If I may ask, though," Yukari said, "how is Nishizumi-dono's current family situation?"

"As far as I know, our mother has abandoned all plans to disown Miho," Maho said. "That said, Mother's first priority remains restoring her school and her alma mater's good names. She is currently rooting for Black Forest to win the tournament, proving itself against Oarai or Rinkai."

Hana sighed disapprovingly. The sentiment reminded her of her mother at her worst, without the same warmth and amicability that her mother also possessed. Yuri had once cast her daughter out of her family for the sake of her ideals, but had come to regret it- the fact that Shiho showed no apparent remorse for her attitude toward Miho was troubling.

"As an Isuzu, I have some idea of what it means to have a family-run school, and pass down your responsibilities to your children," Hana said. "But I still cannot approve of viewing Miho-san that way, or wishing for her failure for the sake of the school; she is still her mother's daughter, even if she cannot be he heiress. Perhaps it is because flower arranging does not have the same competitive element as tankery, but that is how I feel at heart, and I do not believe it can easily be changed."

"No, you're not wrong to think that," Maho said. "But as Mother's heiress, I, too, have to keep my private life and professional self separate. Last year, as much as I personally hoped Miho would succeed, it was my duty as the commander of Black Forest and the inheritor of the Nishizumi school to win in the name of my high school and family school, roles I assumed so Miho would not have to. Do you all understand that much?"

The others nodded. What Miho had told them provided a look into the workings of the Nishizumi family, albeit from the perspective of someone who wanted no part in the family school. Miho's friends found it easy to understand why she felt that way.

"Yeah, I've got some idea," Mako said. "In life, you certainly have to do many things you don't want to do. But still, you also have to look out for your family members, and I'm glad you're thinking of Miho with so much else on your plate."

"That's certainly true," Maho said. "This may sound like an unrelated tangent, but may I ask how your grandmother's doing?"

Mako paused to think for a moment.

"She recovered from her fall last year," Mako said. "In that regard, at least, she's doing well."

"I'm glad to hear that," Maho said. "But what do you mean?"

"Never mind," Mako said.

Maho glanced at Miho, who shook her head. Maho let off a soft sigh and decided not to pursue the line of questioning any further.

"So where were we?" Saori said. "Were you about to say something about Miporin's family situation?"

"Not really," Maho said. "I described the essential situation- one that's been this way for a long time, and cannot be easily changed. That said, I'm glad that all of you have been here for Miho. I don't see much of her these days, so it's good to hear that she has close friends at her new school."

The others nodded approvingly.

"Good to see you're all getting along here," Emi said, making her presence known. "If there's one thing I know about you, Miho, it's that you've always strongly wanted those close to you to get along with each other."

Miho nodded. Her first group of tankery related friends had gotten off to a rough start because of an argument between Chihiro and Emi, and had been shaken by an argument between her and Emi over Emi's hatred for Maho. Back then, Miho had quite a few people she valued in different ways, and she hoped that they would get along with each other the same way they got along with her.

"That's quite true, Emi-chan," Miho said. "I'm glad to see you're here."

"How are things going for Rinkai?" Yukari said.

"We're in the process of setting up, but the match isn't for a while," Emi said. "So we're taking the opportunity to meet the members of the other team."

Nodoka walked over, talking with Satoha. Having gotten to know the opposing commander, Nodoka was hoping to meet her opposite number on the Rinkai team.

"Ah, there you are, Nakasuga-san," Nodoka said. "I was hoping I might find you here."

"So was I, Haramura-san," Emi said. "I met some of your friends in the previous round; it seemed as though they fought hard last year just to see you again."

Nodoka politely nodded. She had hoped to face them again this year, without the same stakes as last year, but she did not begrudge Emi for defeating them, especially considering that Emi hoped to face Miho for similar reasons.

"I know," Nodoka said. "But what about you, Nakasuga-san? Didn't your leaving your school and your country mean leaving your old friends behind?"

"Well, Satoha's probably my best friend from Germany, so I was glad I was coming back to Japan with her," Emi said. "But as for the others, I recognize that life takes me certain places, and so did they." Emi paused. "Of course, I was glad to see Miho, Hitomi and Chihiro again for the first time in years."

"As was I, Emi-chan," Miho said.

Almost on cue, Hitomi and Chihiro arrived.

"Looks like we made it in time, Miho-chan, Emi-chan," Chihiro said.

"It's nice that you're here, Hitomi-chan, Chihiro-chan," Miho said. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends."

Miho went about introducing her old friends and her new ones, who exchanged bows after hearing one another's names.

"It's nice to meet you, Yuzumoto-san, Yusa-san," Hana said. "We heard a great deal about you, and how you did tankery with Miho-san in the past."

"Yeah," Saori said. "Miho once said you were a lot like us in a sense, being relative amateurs."

"That's true," Hitomi said. "Tankery was the first thing I tried hard at, even if I couldn't try as hard as many of the Nishizumis."

"Miho always had fun with tankery," Emi said, "even if the Nishizumi style was too strict and harsh for her. The obvious solution was to find a way that she could enjoy doing it, even if it wasn't a short or easy process. When I realized that both Maho and I had that in common, I actually started to like her."

Hana nodded. While she had grown dissatisfied for flower arranging for a time, tankery had not only helped her find her own style, but also reminded her of how much she loved it.

"That being said," Emi said, "many of my teammates are similar to Miho. They're determined but not obsessed, and are also the champions in their respective nations. They'll put up quite a fight today."

Miho paused to consider what Emi had said. Emi had met most of those girls on her team less than a year ago, but she had come to trust all of them, some of whom were new friends. That trust was forged as a result of the many battles they had fought together and was necessary to win said battles. Miho found Emi's sentiment touching, in large part because it was one she shared with her own school. Her teammates had come through for her in her absence, and she believed they could do so again.

"So will mine, Emi-chan," Miho said with a confident smile.

The rest of the Rinkai team split up and decided to meet with various members of the Oarai team. One of them, Hao, went in search of Sparrow Team, having heard that its members had interests that were similar to hers.

"Is it true that all of you are part of the Oarai mahjong club?" Hao said, after introducing herself.

"Were," Mutsuki said. "Around the same time that the tankery team was launched, the mahjong club was shut down. We initially participated in hopes of re-establishing our club, only to find that we had to win the tournament, lest our school would ."

Hao nodded.

"Yes, I've heard; those are certainly unusual circumstances," Hao said. "But now what? What happens now that you've succeeded?"

Mutsuki paused for a moment to formulate her answer. She had frequently been asked- and asked herself- that question. Sparrow Team's efforts had accomplished a great deal, but not the purpose for which they had originally been formed.

"We still do hope to get the club re-established," Mutsuki said. "But we're also continuing a tradition of helping to represent the school in tankery. It may be a different game than mahjong, but we're still competing for our school, and so we do our best."

"I see," Hao said. "Mahjong is something of a hobby of mine; I considered joining the club at my school, but for two reasons. The first is the schedule conflict with tankery; I like mahjong, but I wouldn't choose that over tankery. The second is that I'm not as familiar with riichi mahjong, which is what my school's club primarily does."

"Primarily?" Hiroko said.

"I heard there's an offshoot of the club that meets on Sundays and plays Chinese mahjong," Hao said, "but since it's not part of the club and attendance isn't mandatory, there's relatively few people there."

"You could say the same about us," Anko thought. "And yet, I've come to realize that even this fairly small, humble and defunct club is fun to be around, so perhaps you should give them a chance."

Anko, however, did not voice her thoughts out loud. She believed Hao had figured out that much about their club already, and in the end, the answer of whether to join that offshoot or do riichi mahjong was one that she could only make herself, for her own reasons.

"Well, it's always nice to broaden your horizons," Kaori said. "I was once a newcomer to mahjong and tankery, before my childhood friend, Satomi-chan, got me started."

"I see," Hao said. "I might give riichi mahjong a try some time. With over two years left at Rinkai, I have a lot of time to try new things."

"That's good to hear~su," Momo said. "Perhaps we might be your opponents in that."

Hao nodded, pleased. Even in a school very different from the one that she had left, and in some ways, even the one that she now attended, she had common ground with some of the participants. Perhaps they were her opponents in this match, but they might potentially become her friends as well.

During the mingling, as the members of Anglerfish Team went their separate ways, Mako encountered Myeonghwa, and they exchanged introductions.

"Which one's your family name?" Mako said. "I know Koreans put the family name first, but I'm not sure if you're used to introducing yourself with Western order."

"Good question, Reizei-san," Myeonghwa said. "I sometimes have to specify it myself. Myeonghwa is my given name, and Choe is my family name"

Suddenly, Myeonghwa's phone began to ring. Mako quickly checked her pockets, but confirmed that her phone was still off. She looked up, and then saw Myeonghwa answering her own phone.

"Ah, right, that's not my ringtone," Mako thought.

"(Hello?)" Myeonghwa said in Korean.

"(Hello, Myeongwha)," Professor Choe said. "(I'm calling to let you know I'm watching for the stream. But did I get you in the middle of something)?"

"(Yes)," Myeongwha said, "(I'm having a pleasant conversation with a member of the opposing team,)"

"(I see, then I won't keep you,)" Myeongwha's mother said. "(Good luck, Myeongwha, and please tell your new friend that I'm interested in seeing how she does.)"

"(Thanks, Mom,)" Myeongwha said.

Myeongwha hung up and turned back to Mako.

"I'm sorry about that," Myeongwha said. "Normally, I wouldn't take the call, but this was one that I had been expecting."

"That's not really a problem," Mako said. "I've turned off my cell phone, though. But I'm curious; who was that?"

"It was just my mother, calling to wish me good luck," Myeongwha said. "She's fairly busy with her job as a professor at a university in France. In spite of that, she'll be coming by to watch me in the finals, as she has a talk to give in Japan. That's why I want to win this round; so that she can come watch me live."

An oddly wistful expression appeared on Mako's face.

"Is something the matter, Reizei-san?" Myeonghwa said.

"Nothing," Mako said, but continued after a beat. "Actually, my grandma was going to come watch me, but wasn't able to this time. Oddly enough, she usually catches my matches, even if she has to do so on TV.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Myeonghwa said. "Is anyone else in your family coming?"

Mako's silence told Myeonghwa more than any way she knew to say "no" ever could. Her suspicions had been raised when Mako gave a somewhat incomplete answer to her previous question, but this answer confirmed that this was not a line of questioning she should be pursuing.

"I apologize, Reizei-san," Myeonghwa said, deeply bowing in apology. "I didn't mean to pry."

"Please don't, Choe-san," Mako said. "Deaths in the family can be difficult subjects, but not everyone likes it when people walk on eggshells around that subject."

"That's true," Myeonghwa said. For a moment, she wondered whether Mako knew about her father, but she realized that it did not matter. Mako was speaking from personal experience, and had reached the same conclusion Myeonghwa had.

"I will say, though, your mom seems like a nice person," Mako said in the hopes of changing the subject. "And while I'm going to give my all for the team, even if it's not always easy for me, I do sympathize with you."

Myeonghwa smiled and nodded.

"I wish you the best, Reizei-san," Myeonghwa said, as the two exchanged bows and parted ways.

The two sides came together for the pre-match greetings, which largely seemed to be a formality at this point, with few words exchanged apart from wishing each other luck, after both sides had bowed, and Miho and Satoha had shaken hands.

Miho looked around and saw the Rinkai tankers. While their school was new to tankery, most of them had some degree of experience, and some of them were once champions in their home countries. This was a far cry from Oarai's humble beginnings, and proof that Rinkai could not be taken lightly, not when Bosporu, Continuance and Saunders had all fallen against the newcomer in spite of trying their hardest.

The world was a large place, and as much as Oarai had accomplished, it still had room to improve. Miho knew that many of Rinkai's tankers had that in mind when coming together to a foreign country, along with keeping an open mind to how school and tankery would be different. Because of that, they would not be taken off guard easily and would not be vulnerable to complacency or arrogance.

But Miho believed that just as she and her school had risen to the challenge many times in the past and emerged stronger, they could do so again. Perhaps their contestant this time was new, but her school's skill and resilience remained a constant, so Miho felt prepared to face whatever challenges would come her way.

Author's Notes

Thank you for the favorites and follows.

This is another chapter that leads in to a battle, allowing the combatants to face each other.

Incidentally, in canon, Rinkai is from East Tokyo in canon (Shiraitodai's from West Tokyo, where the tournament's held; Saki's goal in the first anime series is to make it to the nationals so that she can see her sister again, since her sister moved to Tokyo).

As for the other schools, here's the prefectures they represent, along with where the Saki characters in them are from.

Oarai: Ibaraki Prefecture, although there are some (apart from Miho, who transferred out of Black Forest), who aren't from Ibaraki- namely, all of Leopon Team except Hoshino.

St. Gloriana: They represent Kanagawa. The Kazekoshi characters are from Nagano Prefecture.

Saunders: Nagasaki (I had them represent Nara in this fic, because of the Achiga cast). Apart from the Achiga girls from Nara, they also have the Shindouji team (Kirame, Mairu, Himeko, Yoshiko, Hitom) from Fukuoka.

Anzio: Aichi Prefecture. The Bansei characters (everyone except Anchovy and Carpaccio) are from Nara.

Pravda: The island of Hokkaido. The characters from Himematsu (Hiroe, Kinue, Suzu, Yuuko, Kyouko), and Senriyama (Hiroko, Toki, Ryuuka, Sera, Izumi) are from South and North Osaka, respectively.

Black Forest: Kumamoto Prefecture, although according to supplementary materials, they don't dock in Kumamoto. Teru and the others from Shiraitodai (Sumire, Takami, Seiko, Awai) are from West Tokyo, as I mentioned before.

I haven't heard which prefectures BC Freedom, Joghurt, Koala Forest and the others represent.

Next up is the two-part battle with Rinkai.

Edited to fix a few typos and other mistakes.