Author pow:
Hello everyone! As you might have seen, I decided to change the story Rating from M to T, mostly to not limit my reader count because come on, one bad word every 10 chapters isn't enough to make the story M, right? (Whatever, you can tell me in review section what do you think about it.)
With this out of the way, here is new chapter.
Maken pow:
"So, assuming that I got this right..." I began speaking to myself, as I entered the internet profile fo Japan's Sensha-do federation and subcategory 'Live Relations'. "... This is the place where the drawing of 64-th National High School Tournament takes place. And on addition, I have one hour to prepare before it starts so I can definitely see how the school is going and grab some snacks." I smiled, turning my cellphone off and putting it into my pants's pocket before I went out of my room to take something to drink and eat.
Rosehip pow:
"Wait, wait, wait. They what!?" I asked out loud as I heard the news from Aresa.
"What you heard, Da Gama girls gave up at the mere sight of our bigger forces." Aresa smiled, going as far as to leap on me with her embrace. "Also, thanks for help. I wouldn't survive this without you."
"Heheh, no problem." I responded, granting her a while to squeeze me. "After all, that's what the friends are for..."
Andou pow:
"So, have the results came in?" I asked my team as I slowly walked into the living room where they were already watching the TV.
"You missed the entire suspense, but Eclair did the same so don't blame yourself for that." Cayenne said from the side, pointing at the TV where the group stages have been already made.
(P.S. If you're confused about the schools, check the GuP fanpedia and go back o chapter 16, as for Cyuuritsu, look around the internet for debates and spoilers about Swiss-themed school in GuP):
Group A: Oarai, Phi Royal, Count, Olimp.
Group B: Adwa, St. Pharaoh, Yogurt, Anzio,
Group C: Karpatia, Pravda, Da Gama, Viggen
Group D: Maple, Gillbert, Chi-Ha-Tan, Bonple
Group E: Tategoto, Cyuuritsu, Pannonia, Koala
Group F: Saunders, West Kuregoji Grona, Tatenashi, Blue Division
Group G: Sudamericana, Waffle, Jungle Tunnel, BC Freedom
Group H: Belwall, Gregor, St. B-S-T, Atlas
Group I: Kebab, Kuromorimine, Three Rivers, St. Patrick
Group J: Hilled Gulf, Eastern Balkan, St. Archipelago, Windmill
Group K: Strait Vikking, Jatkosota, Maginot, Skanderbeg
Group L: St. Gloriana, Black Sandstorm, Endless Hills, Viking Fisheries
"Oh." I bitten my lips, seeing where our school was placed.
"Let me guess, you're still stressed about your old school?" Eclair asked from the other side, pointing at the screen. "Because of you don't want to fight them, we can go and plead Maken to go against other one. Jungle Tunnel is a hard opponent after all." She added, making few steps towards me before I stopped her with an opened hand.
"No. I think I go against them." I responded steadly, reminding myself of Maken's words.
"Don't let BC Freedom past get to your head..." His words echoed in my head, giving me confidence.
"You sure?" Ella asked me, turning around on the sofa and facing towards me. "It must be hard to fight your old friends..."
"All my friends left this school or were put into submission when I left it." I responded with arbitrary tone, making myself look more serious than usual. "The school is completly overrun by egoists posing as highly refined aristocracy or snobs put into the submission. In short, my friends are not there." I paused, taking a look around the room and seeing that the whole group was listening to me. "My friends are here."
Maken pow:
"Hmm... I haven't expected the lottery mechanisms to provide such a fun show, but there was a long time since I was suprised in a positive way so I won't complain." I said to myself with a smile, looking at the full display of group stage, twelve groups times four schools giving a total of fourteen-eight schools going with their goals, ambitions, orders and destinies, but only half being granted an exit from the groups to the next stage."But I might aswell just move on and analyse the groups. I might need the intel gathered now later on the road..."
(One hour timeskip.)
"Whatever happens, almost everyone is heading for an experience. And that includes us." I said to myself after the conclusive analysis of group stage, standing up from the desk and scratching my arms. "But now that I think about it, I need to prepare myself aswell." I added to my monologue before instinctively switching my attention to my cellphone and checking the report from my newest purchase.
Narrator pow:
"The group stage matches begin in a week, that should give me enough time to give my parents a visit. This place isn't after all as royaly sterilized from outside world as Gloriana." Rosehip said to herself as she and Aresa took a break in one of many parks their school had to offer on the outside.
"Sounds about right." Aresa replied, spinning her key ring between the fingers. "But how do you afford it? I mean, you're from a big, poor family right?" She aksed her, to which Rosehip sighed deeply.
"Yeah, about that..." Rosehip said with reluctance, checking her purse to see how much she had here and now. "...Six and a half thousand Yen. Not enough even for a one way trip." She added, closing the purse and looking in the clear blue sky above.
"And who said you will pay for the trip?" Suddenly a third voice joined, making both girls turn their heads to the left where Maken was approaching them with a small grin and waving his hand.
"I mean... It's not like somebody else will just pay me for it." Rosehip pouted, crunching her face.
"You think so?" Maken chuckled before pointing into the air where a four-engine turboprop airliner was on the last part of descending to school ship's airport.
"Wait. We have an AIRPORT!?" Aresa shouted in suprise, looking into the air as the sound of engine faded away behind her.
"Our school ship is an oversized aircraft carrier, y'know?" Maken smiled, making few steps towards them up to the girls themselves. "Besides, since I am the guy who runs the place I sort of have to provide as much as I can to fellow students, that includes visits to parents." He explained, cracking a smile as a text messeage from a member of Venezuelan clan called Godino came, confirming that the plane landed.
"But won't it cost too much?" Rosehip asked him, visibly nervous about the whole thing. "I mean I know our school has a lot of money, but having an entire plane for it is too-o-o..."
"... Much?" Maken asked with a cocky smile, making her stop at the stuttering part. "Ladies, please! Mexican clan is producing and selling my custom tank ammunition to goverment. I paid for a whole airport on this ship so I'm gonna use a whole airport!" He said in eccentric way, making Aresa's eyes go wide from immersion. "Now then, are you intrested to pay your families a visit? I pay for it all."
Andou pow:
"What is this!?" Ella shouted, pointing in the sky as a remotely old and big plane painted in green checkered and vertical yellow stripes descended onto our school ship, disappearing behind other building as it's engines became less and less noisy.
"That's a plane" I responded, looking with her from the side of our clan's restroom. "Don't know which one tho."
"That's Vickers Vanguard, whatever it means." Angela said, showing us the messeage from Maken on her cellphone. "Assuming he didn't lie to me, this is now school-owned plane to throw our students for vacation, family visits, official stuff where you must be in person and so on." She continued in calm manner while I struggled to hold Ella in one place.
"Our school is that rich?" I asked myself, squeezing Ella into submission before returning my full attention to Angela.
"Apparently yes." Cayenne responded as she, Beatrice and Nene joined us in the room. "Most of important clans do at least one big thing to earn money for the school. Sometimes on Maken's order, sometimes on their own behalf. All for a sake of school's prosperity and students luxury in comparison to most of other schools."
"Now that I think about it, how about we use the ocassion and take a trip with our buddies?" Ella asked, finally channeling her energy into something good.
"You know... Sure, why not." I responded, giving the others a nod. "Let's see what this plane thing is all about, and if it turns out good, maybe we can grab something for us aswell."
Author pow:
Now, I'll present the conclusions Maken made on his own in a bit more coherent way than narrating his whole thinking process, so you won't get lost in a thunderous monologue with a word 'thought' being used a trillion times.
Group A: Oarai has it in the bank. In most cases their joint equipment, individual skills put into teamwork mentality and general intelligence should give them a first place in group after a minor struggle. Going down the line, Count can go either way depending on luck and usage of their Maresal. In dependace of it is a chance for Olimp to be promoted from the group since Phi Royal doesn't have necessary equipment to compete with them on a larger scale, at least as for now.
Group B: An equalized group which results will depend on the choice of battlefields and matchday performance of each team. But if rule these factors out, it leaves mix of British and American tanks of St. Pharaoh with Adwa's gueriella tactics on top, since Yogurt's defensive tactics had proven itself weak many times and Anzio is, well... Anzio. Last Claudron Tournament and their match with St. Gloriana showed about enough.
Group C: Pravda just must winn three matches and go forward, neither me or Katyusha see the other option. As for the second promotion place Da Gama should be capable of beating Viggen unless Karpatia does something that wasn't meant to happen (aka. Wins any match.)
Group D: As Group B, anything can happen. Maple's own and British tanks, Gillbert's newly shifted lineup, Chi-Ha-Tan taking lessons from Oarai and Bonple's fierce will to fight make the ending result like a dice roll. No one can bet more than twelve Yen on one of these schools being promoted there and be called sane.
Group E: Tategoto doesn't have any chances to get into second phase. They might win once, but that's their maximum. Other three schools have equal chances given their comparable lineups. But I think Koala's choice of animal as overall commander will eventually backfire, so Cyuuritsu and Pannonia should go forward.
Group F: Saunders has three wins, end of discussion. As for the others... West Kuregoji might get a win on Blue Division but Tatenashi's ingenuity and mystery instead of a lineup should be enough to downgrade them into third place.
Group G: Oh yes, our group, that means longer expositon. BC Freedom and Jungle Tunnel are the biggest threats, mostly for ARL 44's and terrain usage respectively. But given our earlier match with Jaktasota we shouldn't fear them. And the Waffle... Nice opportunity to test those who couldn't get on board with two other matches. In the end, we should be first and the second goes either to BC Freedom or to Jungle Tunnel.
Group H: Belwall has the best tanks, but the worst crews. However, given Gregor's lack of coordination, B-S-T policy regarding their resources and Atlas lineup, this will be enough. In second place goes Gregor unless B-S-T gets a right battleplan against them.
Group I: Kuromorimine first for obvious reasons, second place for Three Rivers for wide spectre of tanks and collective ethos. British tanks and Kebab's... Something won't stand a chance with them.
Group J: A weak group, but here we are. St. Archipelago goes first thanks to British tanks and second goes to Hilled Gulf or Eastern Balkan if the latter didn't had any civil war mid-battle, which is unlikely. Windmill simply doesn't have what it takes to win with any of his opponents.
Group K: Jatkosota and Maginot will fight for the first spot while Skanderbeg and Strait Vikking will fight for third, the equipment gap is too big for something else to happen.
Group L: St. Gloriana should have a good time, assuming they won't fight Black Sandstorm in desert, Endless Hills in not-flat terrain or Viking Fisheries in snow. Other than that, Endless Hills should take a second place with their mixed lineup and inconventional tactics.
P.S. If you're intrested in Vickers Vanguard, I can offer you a small summary from wiki down here: https//url?sa=tsource=webrct=jurl=https/en.m./wiki/Vickers_Vanguardved=2ahUKEwiRquqsqND4AhXGlosKHZiMDi8QFnoECEUQAQusg=AOvVaw3Vnig90gW0IGcVGyXqG1Sc
Until next time!