Chapter 20: With Victory as the Foundation
On the side of the arena, Satoha stood in a crowd of Rinkai tankers, which was far larger in comparison to the crowd of Oarai tankers than she had expected going into the match; roughly a third of Rinkai's team was out of the game. As she stood among her defeated comrades, Satoha watched the match, intent on seeing the outcome even if she could no longer affect it.
She realized that regardless of how this match ended, the future would hold a great deal of uncertainty for people like herself, Emi and Megan, whose first year on the team would also be their last. They would likely go on to separate countries and career paths, and those who remained in tankery would quite possibly end up fighting against each other in international competitions.
But while Satoha and the other third years' time with the team would end at the end of the year, the team itself would not. Satoha and her cohort were laying the foundations for the future, and they hoped that an outstanding triumph in the first year would inspire future generations of students to succeed. The team's future success would be built with victory as the foundation, so Satoha hoped the first tournament would be as successful as possible, and she could succeed together with Emi, and the friends they made in their year at the school.
When Satoha thought of things this way, she understood what fueled Oarai's drive to win now that its school was no longer on the line. Its tankery team had become more than just a means to keep the school afloat, but their school's pride and joy, as well as a pillar of the school that they hoped to strengthen in years to come. At the same time, though, she was no less hopeful that the remaining Rinkai tankers, who possessed the same resolve, would put up a good fight against Oarai.
Rinkai's attack pressed on, and a column of tanks surged forward, with Rinkai attacking in force, cutting through Oarai's tanks. Like the Red Sea had parted for Moses, Oarai's tanks were forced to split in two by the advancing enemy tanks.
Once again, Oarai's forces had been split in two by the attack, with the Char B1 Bis forced off to the side, while Miho's tank and a few others were cut off by a large column of Rinkai tanks... but on the same side of the divide as Rinkai's flag tank.
"It seems not everything's going as Rinkai planned," Miho said. "Our flag tank is vulnerable, but so is theirs. Mallard team, can you stay in the game long enough for us to defeat them?"
"We can, Commander," Saro said, as confidently as she could.
Miho nodded approvingly. She realized that in each match, she often asked a great deal of her teams, but this was largely because the circumstances asked a great deal of Oarai.
Miho's counterattack began, in hopes of thinning the Rinkai forces, rescuing the Char B1 Bis and taking Emi out of the game. Each of these tasks were tall orders for Oarai in its present condition, but all of them were absolutely necessary to win against an opponent as strong as Rinkai.
Of course, Miho knew that while the battle would end once Emi's tank or Mallard Team was taken out of the game, neither of them would be the next tank to be taken out, as brutal fighting raged in the streets. Both sides were firing at will, resulting in a cacophony of explosions, many of which fell closer to the tanks than those inside them would like.
The Porsche Tiger fired, taking out a Grizzly with a powerful blow to the front of its turret.
Seconds later, an enemy Cromwell fired on the Porsche Tiger. A few other tanks hit it with their shells, but as the Porsche Tiger finished reloading, the damage proved too great, and it was overwhelmed.
But the crew of Rinkai's Cromwell had no time to celebrate. Oarai's own Cromwell quickly pulled up alongside them and fired on them at close range, disabling them.
"Sorry I'm late, Tsuchiya-san," Mutsuki thought. "You held the enemy's attention quite nicely, though, and took one of them down, so you can leave the rest to us."
As Miho's tank set out in pursuit of Emi's tank, the remaining tanks rallied around the flag tank on Miho's command.
As they did, however, Rinkai's forces regained their composure and began to return fire, firing a barrage of surprisingly well-aimed shots. Nelly's SU-100 shot the M3 Lee at close range, causing the white flag to raise.
Sparrow Team fired back, striking a glancing blow on the SU-100, and aiming to fire at it again.
But before Momo could pull the trigger, her tank shook as the Chaffee scored a direct hit on it, and she heard the sound of an explosion, rather than the blast of her gun. The controls locked up and the white flag rose.
Megan took a moment to notice the kind of tank she had struck, and let off a soft chuckle.
"Is this because of fate, coincidence, or how popular British tanks like this one are in tankery?" Megan thought, but then shook her head. "It doesn't really matter. I came through this time, and hope that the next tank I down will be the flag tank."
Nelly let off a sigh of relief. As much as she hoped to be the most valuable player this battle, she had to admit that she owed Megan one.
"That was close!" Nelly said. "Thanks, Meg."
Megan simply smiled, before ordering her crew to move on to other targets.
On the side of the arena, Leopon Team got a glimpse of what happened as they stepped off the Dragon Wagon. They had just gotten taken off the field, and it seemed as though Rabbit Team would soon be joining them.
"Rabbit Team got taken down..." Tsuchiya said.
"Yeah," Nanami said. "Apparently, their attacker's leader is our age, and she's one of the best performers at their school."
"Is that really surprising, Nanami?" Gotou said. "People have been doing tankery since middle school, and I heard that this is especially true for some of Rinkai's recruits."
Nanami nodded. Since middle school, she had read many auto magazines and technical manuals, hoping to prepare herself to work on a car even though her school considered such a club off limits to students her age. She realized that those who had prepared were at a leg up over their competition and so hoped to catch up to them so that she could be of use to whatever club she joined. In spite of he initial reluctance, she and the rest of the newcomers applied that same sort of determination to tankery.
"True," Nanami said. "You could say that they put the same amount of time into tankery that we put into auto maintenance."
"Well, we aren't slouches in tankery, either," Rokubungi said. "There's nothing I wouldn't give for the chance to get back in there and show that girl what we can do."
Tsuchiya smiled approvingly. Oarai was fighting against a fellow champion, but its members had not lost their spirits. Perhaps the auto club could no longer contribute, but the others were of the same mind. The time had come to show those who had won the tournaments in their home countries how Oarai had succeeded in Japan.
As they pursued the Rinkai flag tank through the streets, Anglerfish Team, accompanied by Anteater Team, fired and took out a Turan III, disabling one of the flag tank's escorts. Anteater Team was able to fire on and take out Myeonghwa's Char B1 Bis before Emi's tank returned fire and eliminated them.
"I'm sorry, Emi," Myeonghwa said. "I couldn't keep them off of you."
"Nah, that's ok," Emi said. "You bought me some time, and I can deal with Miho myself."
Miho was hardly surprised by Emi continuing to fight even when it seemed as though her back was to the wall. Emi had once admonished Miho for seemingly giving up in the face of her sister's apparent skill when Miho's crew of amateurs faced Maho and her crew of Nishizumi school students years ago, saying that she fought to win. Speaking with Emi recently, Miho realized that Emi's competitive spirit had not diminished, even if she had no desire to emulate the Nishizumi style, at least not consciously.
Miho knew that Emi often preferred to lead from where the action was thickest, as part of the way she generally worked with Satoha. Miho, from her tankery battles, realized that it was often advantageous for commanders to see the action themselves, rather than hear about it second-hand through their subordinates. At the same time, however, since Emi was in the flag tank, she had made herself vulnerable, and Miho, by putting on a pursuit, had forced her away from her troops.
Emi had her reasons for doing what she did. Losing oversight of her forces and leading outside of her comfort zone would have put her at a disadvantage. But because she did what she did, Miho had an opportunity to force her out of her defensive position, giving her a chance to take her out and win.
"Emi-chan hasn't given up yet," Miho thought. "I'll show her that I'm not the person I used to be."
Emi was fully aware of the developments, and realized Miho had come a long way from the tanker and person she had used to be, as had Emi herself.
"You've really improved in more ways than one, Miho," Emi thought. "Unfortunately, now that I've got a satisfactory look at what your style of tankery is, I won't have any regrets once Meg and Nelly blow away your flag tank."
Shiho and Maho continued to watch the match. From time to time, Shiho's mind wandered away from the implications the outcome might have for the Nishizumi school, and focused on the match. There was little point in thinking about how Black Forest would fare against Rinkai when neither school had yet won the semifinals.
"I would say that Rinkai should not be having this much trouble with a school that has Oarai's numbers and tank strengths," Shiho said, "but after what happened last year, I'm hardly in a position to judge."
Maho nodded. One reason why she drove herself to succeed was to prove that she was strong, and that Miho's victory against her was proof of her and Oarai's strength, rather than Maho and Black Forest's weakness.
"To be honest, Mother, I do have to wonder how strength can be measured," Maho said. "Is it how effective one's tanks are? Relatively weak tanks can be used to great effect. Is it crew experience? Novices can perform surprisingly well compared to veterans, and can potentially improve enough to nullify the veterans' advantage."
"Yes, one does have to wonder," Shiho said. "Whatever our advantages may be, our school has not been one for relying purely on strength, but in prevailing no matter what our circumstances. If Erika and the others were to defeat Rinkai despite some of their members' success abroad, this would be a good show of their strength."
"Miho has been forced to overcome the odds many times in the past, Mother," Maho said. "In spite of the disadvantages she has against Rinkai, the possibility remains that she will do so again today."
Shiho nodded. Perhaps her younger daughter's methods were not characteristic of her school, but she had succeeded by the Nishizumi school's standards. That thought had gradually dawned on her as Miho continued to win difficult match after difficult match, to the point at which it no longer surprised her. Perhaps Miho was still short of the Nishizumi ideal in some ways, but Miho was quite strong in her own way.
"I can't deny that," Shiho said. "Miho has, in her own way, had to try hard, endure a great deal and overcome difficulties of her own. Perhaps through these continuing trials and long, desperate matches, she will continue to show her determination."
Meanwhile, Hitomi and Chihiro watched their two old friends facing each other in tankery combat, together with what remained of their respective schools' forces.
"So, Hii-chan," Chihiro said. "Having not just watched, but taken part in many tankery matches over the years, whose team do you think will prevail? Miho-chan's or Emi-chan's?
Hitomi beamed a smile for a moment, glad to be considered a tankery expert, albeit as the only one within reach.
"It's hard to say, Chii-chan," Hitomi said. "Both teams are trying so hard, but I've learned long ago that determination alone isn't enough to win."
Chihiro nodded. When Hitomi was willing to put in sustained effort over a long period of time, she was one of the most determined individuals Chihiro knew, even compared to Chihiro's fellow athletes. In spite of that, Hitomi was in a school with a largely second-rate tankery team, and no matter how hard she tried or how much she improved, she alone could not make the school into a strong contender.
"I suppose so, too," Chihiro said. "And looking at this, I'd say that Miho-chan isn't the only reason, either. Everyone else had to rise to the occasion, just like you and I had to learn tankery so we could keep pace with Miho-chan and Emi-chan."
"That's true," Hitomi said. "Reizei-san's probably the only one who gained the experience needed to perform on par with the others right off the bat. For everyone else, it's been a long, hard process of improvement."
"I imagine," Chihiro said. "And when Miho told us about the newcomers, while I understood why she couldn't necessarily include them, I also realized that there was a time when we were like them."
"Yeah," Hitomi said. She clearly remembered her humbler beginnings, especially considering that, in many of her short-lived pursuits, she never progressed past being a beginner. It was impossible for her to judge the shortcomings of one of Chihiro's teammates when Hitomi herself never learned how to kick a ball, or for her to be too harsh on a lackluster tank driver without acknowledging her initial difficulties driving.
"That said, we couldn't stay that way," Chihiro said. "The original group of tankers at Oarai had to improve their skills to be able to stand against the veterans. Now, this group- both those who have been in the team since its inception and the newcomers- will have to step up their game even further to deal with their rivals this time."
As Emi's tank fled through the streets, Anglerfish Team sped after it, trying to land a shot. The tank hastily rounded a corner, just barely avoiding one of Anglerfish Team's shells.
"It seems Nakasuga-dono is playing defensively," Yukari said. "Could it be that they know this place well?"
Miho shrugged. While the battlefield was close to Rinkai's home port, most tankery teams practiced on their ships. Rinkai had a few exhibition matches, but they were primarily as the visiting team. That had not stopped them from triumphing against their opponents each time, but at the same time, it was proof that they had as little experience on this battlefield as Oarai did.
"As far as I know the Rinkai team doesn't have the advantage of knowing this terrain especially well," Miho said, "but at the same time, the longer they stay away from us, the more likely the others are to be defeated."
Hana fired again, getting a glancing blow on Emi's tank. Her shots were getting closer, but that was not enough to inflict any significant damage, much less disable the tank.
"I am trying to get a good shot, Miho-san," Hana said. "I apologize for my failure, but the tank is quite evasive, so I will have to be trying."
"I'll stay on it," Mako said. "It won't be long before you get a good shot, Hana."
Miho smiled and nodded
"Please do, Mako-san," Miho said. "And please do what you can, Hana-san."
Anglerfish Team turned a tight corner, narrowly dodging an enemy shell as they rounded it, and entered a tunnel. In the end, the skills of both crews would determine this clash between the two tanks, and in all likelihood, the outcome of the match.
Megan's Chaffee and Nelly's SU-100 advanced on the Char B1 Bis as it fled through the campus of what looked like an abandoned elementary school. Each of the Rinkai tanks' commanders had a great deal personally invested in their team's success, and did not wish to fail at this juncture. But both were part of the team, and willing to put aside any of their personal desires for the sake of the group's success.
"The flag tank's almost in range, Nelly," Megan said. "I hope you don't mind if I take a shot at it."
"Not at all, Meg," Nelly said. "Just don't be too hasty about it, and be sure you hit it."
"All right," Megan said. "But since this and the Panzer IV are the only tanks left, it's not like they're launching any kind of rescue operation. It's only a matter of time now."
Nelly nodded. Rinkai had lost most of its tanks, but even apart from Emi and Megan's tanks, there were still two others hunting down Mallard Team, cutting off its routes of escape in hopes of cornering it and gunning it down. All of them were doing their best for the sake of the team, and Nelly believed that it would not be long before one of them succeeded.
Megan calmly aimed at the fleeing tank, hoping to make her shot count. This was no longer about making up for last year, as while she would never forget what had happened, she had forgiven herself for what she had done. Rather than be weighed down or obsess over making up for past mistakes, she sought to do her best and win the match for the sake of Rinkai's future success.
Saro and the rest of Mallard Team continued to evade Nelly and Megan's fire as they rounded the main school building, as shells fell where the tank had been moments before, when the Rinkai gunners had pulled their triggers.
Saro wanted to believe that Miho, knowing better than most what it meant to have the responsibility of commanding the flag tank thrust on her, had chosen Mallard Team to be the flag tank, but she knew better for two reasons. The first was that it was not Miho's choice to make. The second was that Mallard Team's performance was mediocre at best. The crew had a pedestrian command of using its tank, but had rarely played a significant role in winning matches for the school.
It was obvious to Saro that Miho was aware of the first fact, and Saro believed that, while Miho believed in her teammates, she was also aware of the second fact. Saro was somewhat surprised that Miho was able to believe in her teammates, even if they did not seem to justify that faith. Saro had seen many people come and go from the disciplinary committee; apart from those who graduated or transferred out, several had resigned, and a few were dismissed because of infractions or poor performance. Saro was by no means an elitist, but believed that not everyone could be assets to their respective organizations, herself included. Why, then, did she have to have such a crucial role in a high-profile match?
As she struggled desperately to think of a way to remain in the match, Saro's mind went back to one of the few pieces of tankery-related advice Sodoko gave her.
"I don't necessarily believe that you can accomplish anything if you try," Sodoko had told Saro, "but I do know that people like us will never be able to make anything of ourselves without a lot of hard work."
Saro agreed with the sentiment. Perhaps she would never be much of a tanker, but she was determined that Oarai's run in the tournament would not end here, now or because of her inadequacy.
Her tank barely avoided Megan's shot, but the track was blown off in the process. As Nelly's crew finished loading, Saro began one last desperate attempt to avoid the final shell.
"Sodoko, you once said that trying hard was all you were good at," Saro thought. "Here, this last desperate effort may ultimately be pointless, but it's all I can do for the team, and our one hope at surviving long enough to win."
As Emi's Panzer IV sped ahead through the streets and toward a tunnel, Miho's tank followed in hot pursuit. They were almost out of shells, so they were aiming carefully, hoping to make their most of the remaining chances to disable Emi's tank and defeat Rinkai.
"Can you keep up with her, Mako-san?" Miho said.
"I can," Miho said. "I'm going to give my grandma a good show this time, even if she has to watch a recording later."
The two tanks entered the tunnel, and sped through, on opposite sides of the road and with pillars in the middle. There were many obstructions to firing a shot, but not enough to present an obstacle to the teams' respective gunners. The one that hit first would win, but if that one missed, she would most likely not get a second shot.
As Emi's Panzer IV fired on Anglerfish Team's tank, Mako stopped just short, causing one shot aimed at her to strike the median. Then, quickly yet decisively, she backed up, enabling Hana to fire a shot into the enemy Panzer IV's side. The shot caused a large explosion, and it was clear that it had made its mark, but even so, Anglerfish Team stayed vigilant, preparing themselves for the enemy's counterattack.
As the smoke cleared, the enemy turret stood still, pointed off slightly to the side. There was no need to correct its aim in order to hit Oarai's Panzer IV, because it would not be firing another shot in this round.
Moments later, the white flag raised on Rinkai's flag tank.
"Oarai wins the match!' the announcer said.
Author's Notes
I'd like to thank Stalker117 and KMT4ever for beta reading this.
The bit about international tournaments is vaguely alluded to in the Saki manga, as the Megan's coach and four teammates are discussing the lieutenant match. Unfortunately, since the series will end once Miho leaves Oarai (and Saki will probably end once the individuals do- which will probably take at least three to five years in real time), we won't get to see this in play. Still, it perhaps does give some indication of how people's mahjong and tankery careers may continue in the future, and that there are many areas of competition out there besides the Japanese tournament.
This match was also intended to give Mallard Team a chance to shine, as it's fairly short on impressive moments in canon; only Anteater Team; (a.k.a. the team that can't drive in a firefight and gets taken out in their first contact with the enemy in their first and only battle) does worse than they do.
The fic's just passed the 200,000 word mark, but it's getting near the end of the story, as the tournament is winding down. There's two matches left- the other side of the semifinals and then the final match.