Blazepanzer here, and I'd like to begin by thanking everyone for taking the time to check out my story, it means a lot! Now that is getting it's stats situation out of the way, I'm uploading my new stories and chapters to again, which wells great! I'll still be uploading to AO3 First just in case FF get's lazy again, but each new chapter should be uploaded to FF as well within a few hours to maybe a day at most, at least once I get everything synchronized. I also need to do some major spell checks and a few corrections on my old fics, so yeah, it'll take a while to get caught up.

With all that out of the way, enjoy! Note that Blazepanzer does not own Girls und panzer!

Her amber eyes opened as she gazed around, taken in the somewhat familiar yet different are of the facility. Glancing behind her, she spotted the three ever so faithful tanks that she had been commanding for quite some time now.

Any second now...she mused, glancing between the three strange girls and the familiar girls in the tanks.

"Oh my Maus where the Maus are we!?" one of her girls shouted.

"That's enough," she retorted. "Stay calm and relax, please," She added with a growl, before turning to the other three. "My name is Haruna Taeko," she added, extending her hand in welcome.

"Anzu Kanotani...and we bow in Japan," the girl in the twin-tails gazed at her warily.

"That's strange, we shook hands in our Japan," Haruna shrugged as she lowed her hand and bowed gently. "Still, my crews might struggle with that, our Japan...is probably different." she added regretfully.

"You come from a different world?" the girl in the ponytail tipped her head in confusion.

"Different timeline, universe...Maus if I know," Haruna shrugged. "Do you guys still have an Emperor?" she added quietly.

"Yes...do you?" Anzu tipped her head.

"Our ancestors deposed of him right after the uranium salting of Hokkaido. We managed to broker a deal where we kept the main islands and a small defensive army, or so I've been told," Haruna admitted. "Either way, we need to know where we stand." she added.

"Japan has a no child left behind policy, so you'll be fine as far as citizenship goes,"Anzu smiled. "But you'll need some form of education, and as it turns out, our school is under threat of closure if we don't win the national Sensado. And considering you girls have tanks..."

I remember where this is going...and I'm not keen on it, she mused to herself. "Two conditions on my part, one is that I am the team commander, and two is that you must place my girls in paid work conditions after school and before or after practice."

"Paid?" Anzu asked.

"My girls and I will work for our food," Haruna affirmed. "You may provide the room and board of course, but our food and extras we will provide for ourselves," she insisted.

"Very well then," Anzu allowed. "But the leader is going to be Miho." she added.

"Sorry, that I cannot do," Haruna insisted.

"Miho's a Nishizumi with a proven record. You're lucky to be given this opportunity!" The third girl finally spoke up.

"Miho's a risk to this team," Haruna insisted. "And has she even agreed to join the Sensado team?" she added.

"Of course she has!" Anzu insisted.

"Well, good luck then," Haruna walked over to her girls. "Alright we've got a partial deal, however..." she lowered her voice to her vice commander, "Until they get this Miho situation under control, we only give the minimal effort, understand?"

"Alright, if you say so Haruna."

"Thanks Lumi, you're the best," Haruna smiled gently before backing out and walking over to Anzu. "We'll agree to your terms under the condition that the moment Miho screws up she is replaced." She announced.

"We can deal with that," Anzu mused. "Now as for the room and board..."

"We just need a place where we can set up a few beds is all," Haruna promised. "Preferably away from other's dorms," she added.

"I know the old Sensado Classrooms could work, but why do you need..."

"Just trust me, you do not want these girls next to yours, unless you want a fight that is," Haruna growled gently.

"Oh...um...okay then," Anzu nodded. "You look familiar," she noted. "Similar to Hikurei Reimu," she added.

"Huh...do...I" Haruna touched her brown hair subconsciously. All my crew looks like character who don't appear in their world, with some minor differences, now that I think about it.

"Platoon, attention!"

Haruna glanced as Lumi broke up an argument about those who just wanted to attend school and those who wanted to just get a job.

"Leaf green," Anzu mused.

Haruna nodded.

"You know?" Yuzu asked.

"This is my third world I've been in," Haruna shrugged. "And no, I'm not Hikurei Riemu in case you're wondering," she added quickly. "For the record I'm only familiar with the name and looks of the character, not the games or whatever she goes with."

"Ah, understood," Anzu noted. "Now if you'll come with me we can get the buildings situated. School starts in a few days if you will."

"Good," Haruna nodded in approval.

Arriving at the sheds, she gave a nod to Lumi. "Separate the girls into clean up teams, one for glass cleanup and dismantling, one for insulation installment, and one for firewood duties.

"We can provide you with some heaters and it'll only take a few hours to get the electric up and running." Anzu promised.

"Alright then, all we'll need is dinner, breakfast, lunch, our job assignments, and sleeping bags," Haruna nodded.

"If it's all the same I'd like to count your contributions to the Sensado team as a paid job," Anzu offered.

"Just count it towards our rent in boards, and give some to Lumi if there's any left over. I'll need her careful watch on the team at home while I do other team related things."

"Deal," Anzu smirked. "Well, we'll leave you to it then," she added, taking off.

"Tools should be in the shed, I'll have a moral committee worker come over to assist in a bit," Momo promised, following the twin tailed girl.

"Right, let's get to work," Haruna barked, before heading to the sheds and dragging out some sacks and trash cans.

"Are we getting separate rooms?"

"Not yet Maya," Haruna sighed. "Eventually though, but right now we're just getting this center room set up and all the glass cleaned up.

"Ah, alright then," the brunet girl nodded before moving to help out with the glass clean-up. Tea Gardner, Haruna realized. I thought she looked familiar, but up until now I couldn't place my finger on it.

"Hey, we're trying to pick up glass here!" Lumi shouted. Glancing over, Haruna recognized Animi and Harmony having a fight. Both girls glared at each other before going their separate ways. "I want all the glass cleaned out of the central area, and after we get our bearings we'll clear out the remaining glass in the hallways and rooms. There is to be no exploring until we are absolutely sure that all of the glass is gone!" she called out.

"What about Windows?" A blond haired girl named Lucy asked, her twin-tails bouncing as she worked.

"We'll ask for some plastic panes to be used to cover them. Hopefully we can use that and not have to use plastic tarp," Haruna called. Wait...a blond Hatsumi Miku...Haruna thought silently.

"Plastic tarp, yuck!"Anami hissed.

"We have to take what we can get at the moment," Haruna shrugged at the girl. If Lura Croft had Black hair... she mused briefly then snorted. "Not that we can ask for too much," she added.

"That's why you asked for us to get paying jobs?" Lumi suggested.

"Partially, but you know how we operate under these circumstances," Haruna shrugged. "We'll decide on the schedule later, but for now we focus on the task at hand.

"Um...pardon me, but are you Haruna?" a girl asked quietly.

"Yes ma'am," Harnua bowed.

"My name is Pizomi, Anzu sent me over to help you set up. Is there anything you need?" she asked.

"A couple of heaters, twelve sleeping bags, and some tarps for the night. We'll need to board up the windows with some plastic panes later on, but for now that, breakfast, and dinner is all we really need for the night."

"What about uniforms, short sleeve or..."

"Short sleeve, Cap sleeve if you got it," Haruna requested. "And if possible I'd like to set up a meeting with Anzu about the work-school-sensado schedule when it's convenient.

"She'll be off ship for the next two days but I'll place you on top priority. As for the Snub sleeve...I'll have to ask for that. Anzu made it clear that your not ordinary students," Pizomi nodded.

"Let's just say that our breed of Sensado students are...weird so to speak," Haruna shrugged. "And by that we don't exactly play nice with the ordinary students. When you deal with a free for all team it's kinda hard for us to just jump into the whole team play thing."

"But you had a vice commander," Pizomi tipped her head in confusion.

"Lumi helps me keep the team organized out of battle. In the free for all matches we partake in, we're as likely to take each other out as a tank from an opposing team."

"And that's going to cause issues with the other students?" Pozomi guessed.

"Well, let's just say that singles tournament students don't tend to know when too far is too far some of the time. It will cause issues with the other part of our team unless we introduce them slowly." she added.

"Right...by the way, you look similar to Reimu..."

"Well, I have brown hair, brown eyes, and a sharper look than her, but I've been told that nonstop since we arrived in this world," Haruna shrugged.

"Um, Haruna, we might need a computer with at least limited internet access," Lumi walked up.

"Yeah, but that can wait a few days, and the computer doesn't need to be anything fancy or expensive, just capable of internet access," Haruna reminded her, before turning to Pozomi. "Just a few old desktops will do, ones that are capable of internet video watching, tops."

"Why not laptops?" Pozomi asked.

"We could use them, but desktops would be better. We...have a habit of typing fast and hard so we might accidentally break the laptop as a result. It's happened before," Haruna glared at two of the girls, who looked down in guilt.

"Ami Aobi and Kuroyukihime?" Pozomi guessed.

"Huh?" Lumi asked, tipping her head.

"Apparently we look similar to fictional characters from their world," Haruna shrugged.

"You seem familiar with them," Mei walked over. "Haruna...the girls are wondering what we're having for dinner," she added.

"We're getting to that," Haruna sighed, before turning to Pozomi. "Got a paper?"

"Um sure," Pozomi handed her a pen and a notebook.

"I'll just write the intermediate needs, later on we can fix the rooms for a more individual basis," Haruna quickly wrote the list down.

"Right, this should be easy, we'll get it to you...but these meals seem simple," Pozomi pointed out.

"We have pancakes and rice every morning and evening respectively. We provide our own lunches as we each have our own preferences," Haruna explained. "Once we earn our own money we can provide for ourselves," she added.

"Sounds good," Pozomi smiled. "Either way, welcome to Ooarai," she added with a smile.

"I think we'll do fine for ourselves," Haruna smiled in return before turning back to the girls and helping out where she could while keeping an eye on the girls.

It took them a few hours to clear the glass from the floor, and as they pushed the last of the trash bins against the walls, Pozomi returned with a number of wagons. "Has the electric been turned on yet?" she asked.

"Haven't checked," Haruna shrugged as Lumi flicked on the light, which flickered briefly before deciding to work. "That's settles it," she added with a smile.

"That's good, we brought twelve sleeping bags, a couple of heaters, food, and some other things you might need. Anzu also donated each girl ten thousand yen for expenses," Pozomi added.

"That's good, we can provide our own meals for a while thanks to that," Haruna nodded gratefully, before turning to the girls. "We'll take a third of that for communal meals and medical provisions. As long as you leave enough for your meals, you can use the rest for a few creature comforts. I'd recommend a cheep set of undies," she added.

"You girls have a strong sense of community," Pozomi noted.

"Luxury items are purchased as affordable, but only once the base communal items have been bought," Haruna noted. "We're family out of the match and rivals in the match, so we pool our money together for the basics."

"I see. Well, here's our number, we've included a phone you can use to call us if there is a need or emergency," Pozomi handed her a paper, before nodding to the girls who walked off.

"Right, Lumi, pick a few girls to help you with the unloading, I'm going to take a few shopping," Haruna nodded. "Once we return, we'll finish up and start cooking, and you can take the rest shopping," she added.

"Here's the money," Lumi handed over a box, containing twelve wallets each with ten bills.

"Right, we'll be diving up three bills from each person, the rest is yours to spend," Haruna decided as she handed the bills to the girls.

"That's a bit less than a third," Lumi chuckled.

"We don't need to be that exact," Haruna shrugged. "Besides, that's thirty-six thousand yen for our needs," Haruna noted.

"That'd be about two hundred fifty in your original world huh?" Lumi teased.

"Hush, but something like that," Haruna shrugged. "Mei, Lucy, Nisan, Mikikko, and Lui, you're with me," she added.

The girls quickly divvied up their money, splitting it with Lumi for later use. They took a glance at the food situation, realizing that they had at least several days worth of food. "For now, we'll buy Tampons, hydrogen peroxide, band-aids, toiletries, and the like. Everyone is to also buy themselves at least an extra set of undies, and no, do not even think of sleeping in just your undies. Also, you may buy yourself a cheep set of lounge-wear, but please keep it sensible."

"Right commander," The five girls saluted.

"Should we use our funds to buy anything when we go out," Lumi asked.

"I'll let you know if we need to, in all likelihood though we'll reserve that for groceries," Haruna nodded, before walking out, the five girls following her.

"Um, commander...are we going to have enough money?" Mei asked quietly.

"Keep to the cheep meals if you want to eat lunch," Haruna nodded. "I'm hoping that I can convince our bosses to give some of us a weekly payment for the first month, which everyone can repay at the end of the month if we need to."

"Huh...that does sound right," Mei shrugged. "Miss the days when we had a steady job," she added to herself.

"We did have more resources," Haruna shrugged. "Working a part time job on top of the winnings from the training and such, still it looks like Ooarai is cooperating. And well adapt," she added with a small smile.

"With you in charge, I'm confident we can," Mei smiled.

"I do my best," Haruna nodded. "But if we make it though this, we do it as a team," she added.

"Going to take some time adjusting to cooperating on the battlefield though," Nisan admitted. "I mean we do get along for the most part in private, but we were trained to fight each other when in the tanks, and now..."

"That's what I'm most worried about," Haruna admitted softly. "We need to prove that we can adapt to the team play, and I have my doubts that this Ooarai will keep playing nice if we start screwing up. "

"So we just have to play nice?" Lucy shrugged.

"As long as we get citizenship, we win," Haruna noted. "Everything else is just bonus as far as I'm concerned. We have no contract, and it's unlikely we'd remain together if we did get a singles tournament contract, so we enjoy each other's company while we're still together, play our part, and see where the chips fall," she explained further.

"I don't want to separate though," Mei mused quietly.

"Most teams don't want to separate, but it is a thing we have to contend with," Haruna reminded her.

"You're right, I haven't forgotten how I transferred in two years ago from the BT-5," she added quietly.

"We'll make it," Haruna promised as they arrived at a small convenience store. "Let's see what they have," she added quietly.

Entering the store, the old lady eyed them warily. "You on the automotive team?" she asked quietly.

"Something like that," Haruna noted warily. "We're...kinda of volunteer Sensado students in a more direct way," she added.

"They're bringing Sensado back?" she quizzed.

"So they said, took us off the streets and into the ship in exchange for our services, so yeah," Haruna shrugged. "Mind if we look around?" she asked.

"Go ahead, if I can help you with anything, let me know," she asked.

"What's with the books?" Haruna asked quietly.

"Clothing, I keep them out back as I don't have enough room to display them," the shop lady gazed at her curiosity.

"We do need undies," Haruna mused.

"Basic white and basic black, all sizes," the lady noted.

"Anything else?" Haruna asked.

"Basic jeans, and a sleeper set with a long sleeve conversion coat," the girl noted. "Some guy stuff too."

"We don't really have boyfriends, though some of us will probably snag one at some point," Haruna noted.

"Anything else you need?" the lady asked.

"Anything that a girl will reasonably need, as well as some basic first aid materials," Haruna noted.

"That's in the back there," the clerk noted.

"We should introduce ourselves, think I'll become a regular. Name's Haruna Taeko," she bowed gently.

"Lanky, and it's a deeper bow for your elders," she added annoyed.

"Much apologies," Haruna bowed deeper, resisting the urge to grit her teeth. The old Japan I came from would have slapped an elder silly for expecting this kind of extravagance. Then again bowing was true in the Japan of my original universe...

"Everything but clothes," Mei reported.

"It's in the book apparently," Haruna noted.

"May I look?" Mei asked Lanky.

"Go ahead," the shopkeeper yawned.

Mei gingerly looked in the book, and smiled. "The sleepers are cute," she noted.

"We could use a set," Haruna noted. "Pants and tee-shirt as well," she added.

"Do we have the money for that?" Mei asked quietly.

"Unfortunately no," Haruna admitted. "But we can sleep in our work clothes until we get our first paychecks," she added.

"I suppose I could offer you a tab if you agree to a partial payment," Lanky offered begrudgingly.

"No thanks, we don't do debts," Haruna rejected. "Not in our nature," she added softly.

"At least there's something admirable of you lot. The rest of the Automotive-club just tramps in, all oily and stinky and such. Good money, but causing people to need to clean the floors is just..." she let out a quiet sigh of defeat. "Not to mention the fact that I'm getting old and no one want's to accept a part time job to help out is taking it's toll."

"I don't know exactly what hours I can work yet, but once I do I could help out," Haruna offered.

"Aren't you leading the Sensado team?" Lanky tipped her head.

"Apparently a Miho Nishisumi is leading the team," Haruna shrugged. "Or so I've been told. Besides, we're guest of this school, so Miho or not, someone from Ooarai is going to be leading the team besides us as soon as we get a qualified candidate," she added.

"If you insist, just make sure you can put in at least four hours to make it worth my time. If it's open by then, the job is yours," she added.

"Thank you, "Haruna smiled. "So a undie set is eighteen hundred yen?" she asked.

"Yes, you buying?"

"Yeah, we'll have to look into the rest but we'll each buy a set. Our money is limited so..."

"The tab is still there," Lanky offered.

"Like I said, we don't do debt. But if my first month's pay can be weekly it'd help us out some," Haruna countered

"You sharing your pay?" Lanky asked.

"Our plan is to try and get some of us weekly payments so as to split among us for lunches and other things," Haruna explained. "Once we get the first month over with those who are paid monthly can repay some of the money to those who took weekly payments."

"You look out for each other then," she nodded in respect. "I'm starting to respect you lot, or more than those stinky automotive club at least."

"There's six more of us, they'll be shopping once we return," Haruna admitted. "I'll direct them here as a favor," she added with a quiet smile.

"Are all Sensado students like you?" Lanky asked quietly.

"We're all a bit different, but we're taught to respect folks, even if we don't get everything right we learn when and where we mess up," Haruna admitted.

"You sound like you come from a different country," Lanky eyed them suspiciously.

"We come from Japan, but a different world," Haruna confessed.

"You certainly act different from most folk," Lanky nodded. "Bowing wasn't a part of your culture?" she added.

"We did away with all of that when America nuked Hokkiado," Haruna frowned.

"It was Nagasaki and Hiroshima in our world," Lanky noted.

"Just two cities?" Mei gaped.

"It was bad enough," Lanky frowned. "My mother suffered life long scars from the burns she received from the blast."

"Blast?" Mei tipped her head.

"In our world nuking was dropping radioactive particles from a plane to poison the ground. I'm guessing you managed to actually test the bomb?" Haruna guessed. In reality she knew the answer, but she didn't want to reveal that this was her third universe that she had lived in.

"Yes. It could have been worse though," Lanky sighed. "Dispute what some of the elders say, America was merciful to us in the end.

"Same as our universe, albeit in our case it's because we rebelled against the emperor and the army. In the end we kept a small navy, air force, and volunteer army." Mei admitted. "Oh, and we kept the islands, although Hokkiado was just being repopulated last year."

"Sounds like you guys had it worse than we did in some ways," Lanky noted.

"I think we've got the basics," Lucy walked up with two carts full.

"That looks right," Haruna noted. "I'll pay for this first and then we can pay for our undies separately if that's alright. We...have a separate fund for the basics."

Alright then, that will come to nine thousand, five hundred and eighteen yen," Lanky tallied.

"Sounds good," Haruna handed the money over, bowing, "Thank you very much," she added as she bowed.

"Now you're learning," Lanky nodded. "And your paying individually for the undies?" she added.

"Yes, we have to provide for our own clothes," Haruna explained.

"Reasonable. "Tell you what though, I'll give you a bulk discount if you buy all at once, same for your other group as well, at thousand yen per set." she offered.

"Alright, we'll write down our sizes," Haruna noted, before turning to the girls. "We each give a bill," she noted to them, who nodded in response as they handed her a bill."

"Thank you ladies,I'll go fetch them right away," she smiled as she took the list and went into the back. They did not have to wait long as they were each handing their respective sizes, some choosing black and some white.

"This means a lot to us, thank you," Haruna bowed as did the other girls.

"It's no problem, if you need anything else then you know where I am," Lanky smiled in return.

The walk back was short and as they arrived Lumi ran up to them. "Everything is all set up commander," she saluted.

"Good work, we have the basics," Haruna smiled. "There's a small convenience store about a quarter hour's walk form here, says she'll sell your group some undies if you buy in bulk, a k of yen for a pair."

"That's pretty decent," Lumi nodded. "What about sleepers?"

"I'd recommend we sleep in our mechanic uniforms for now, what we don't spend of undies needs to be spent on food," Haruna recommended. "But she does have sleeping clothes and we will buy them once we get some cash flow."

"Sounds good, though some of us aren't going to be happy about sleeping in our maintenance clothes," Lumi shrugged.

"We'll have to grit though it," Haruna shrugged. "Our money is limited if you will," she added.

"At least we'll have plenty of room," Lumi noted. "Well, I'm off," she added with a smirk, before leading her girls off.

She watched the girls as they left before she went over to help Lucy tack the tarps over the windows in the other rooms help keep in the heat.

"This isn't going to do permanently," the blond twin-tailed girl sighed.

"Like I said, we're just trying to make it for now. We're lucky to be given what we have been given that we're undocumented," she added.

"Undocumented with three massive weapons," Lucy shuddered. "We could have outright been killed."

"Exactly," Haruna whispered, a bad memory flashing before her eyes, but she shook it off. "We need to focus on the here and now though," she muttered.

"You remembering it again," Lucy guessed.

Haruna let out a small sigh. "Trying not to, but yes, I'm still struggling with that nightmare," she admitted softly, before returning to her work.

"Sounds like the rice is getting done," Lucy noted after a half hour.

"Smells nice," Haruna noted as she finished tacking up the last tarp.

"When does school start?" Lucy asked.

"The sooner the better," Haruna muttered. "We don't have much entertainment, and idol hands are the influenza's playground," she quoted.

"Oh come on, we can be trusted," Lucy huffed, amused.

"We all have a tendency to be rowdy," Haruna reminded her.

"Except you," Lucy eyed her curiously.

"You know I don't like talking about that part of my past." Haruna warned.

"Guess so. Was it weird?" Lucy asked.

"I was colder and my skin was smother, but that was it initially, that and my color reception is a bit different, though I'm not sure if it was caused by that or my change in eye color," Haruna shrugged. "Sense of smell was the most overwhelming though..."

"And later on?" Lucy challenged, a gleam in her eyes.

"I've had some harsh shit sessions in my original universe, so that new experience wasn't that bad," Haruna smirked. "Besides it's not nearly as bad as getting shot." she added in a tone that singled that she was done with this situation.

"Message received," Lucy raised her hands up in defeat.

Just then the door opened, and a ginger haired girl walked in. She was clearly Irish, with dark green eyes, slightly reddish skin, and heavy freckles on her face and the parts of her neck and chest that she could see. The girl vaguely reminded Haruna of Yolko from Sword art online, if the character had been Irish.

"Um..." she shifted nervelessly, her green eyes hopeful but uncertain.

"Can we help you?" Haruna asked.

"Um...my name is Hanoashi Katoni...I was kicked out of my dorm and...um..."

"You can stay with us, but you'll have to share my sleeping bag for the night. And you'll be working and participating with us," she added.

"That's fine," Hanoashi bowed. "Thank you for letting me stay with you," she added. "Yuzu told me to try asking here first," she added as she rose up, glancing around.

"We just started, but if someone needs to they're more than welcome to join us," Haruna offered. "But you'll either need to get a job to contribute to our collective funds or agree to work as our maid," she added.

"I can do either if you like," Hanoashi offered. "My boyfriend Yukaro agreed to marry me once I graduate, but his parents want me to graduate high school first," she explained.

"So, why not transfer to..."

"I've got a scholarship to this school and leaving would incur a penalty," Hanoashi sighed. "Believe me, I'd love to go to school with him, but..."

"I understand," Haruna smiled, but at that moment Lumi walked in. "Who's this?" she asked quietly as she began circling around the ginger haired girl.

"This is Hanoashi Katoni, she'll be joining us considering she was kicked out of her dorm," Haruna explained.

"Did she explain why she was kicked out of her dorm?" Lumi challenged. "Not that she looks dangerous, rather she looks clean,"

"My father died two nights ago and the rent bounced," Hanoashi glanced down.

"Oh...I'm sorry," Lumi gazed downward.

"It's alright...I'd be doing the same if I was in your position," Hanoashi smiled. "So um...what exactly is going on? I mean Yuzu told me that you'd take me in and that you were basically students, but she didn't explain further," she added.

"Rice is done!" Mei called.

"We'll talk over lunch, there should be plenty for us, and we can make more if we need too,"Haruna offered.

"Oh, um...thanks," Hanoashi smiled.

"You have something other than your Ooarai uniform?" Lumi asked.

"Just my spare tee shirt and tennis skirt," Hanoashi shrugged. "Why?"

"Just making sure you don't have to sleep in your uniform is all," Lumi shrugged.

"All we have is our maintenance outfits," Haruna admitted. "We did get some spare undies," she added.

"I'll have to pick up a pair later," Hanoashi noted.

"We all really need some different clothes," Haruna admitted.

"I might be able to help with that,"Hanoashi offered.

"We couldn't possibly..." Haruna gaped.

"I have money, not enough to pay for more and a few months of rent, but I can help out with the clothes," she offered.

"Sorry, but we need to work for our own clothes," Lumi eyed her warily. "You however can buy a maid outfit and..."

"Quiet," Haruna hushed, glaring at Lumi before turning to Hanoashi. "I greatly appreciate the offer, but we must decline. My girls want to work for our things and thus we can't take that kind of charity.

"I understand, sorry if I offended anyone," Hanoashi glanced down. "I'll buy the maid uniform first thing in the morning," she added, gazing at Lumi.

"You don't have to force yourself," Haruna sighed, glaring at Lumi in disapproval.

"I actually like to do housework, so it's fine," Hanoashi affirmed.

"Very well them, we'll work out the wages later," Haruna nodded. "Also, first or last..."

"Blaze...that's my nickname."

"Very well then Blaze," Haruna extended her hand. "Welcome to our little abode," she smiled.

To her surprise Hanoashi accepted the handshake.

Dinner was fairly fast,some of the girls went for seconds, some just stuck with first. Well...that's kinda how it worked. Once those who wanted second finished their food, the girls would split the remainder of the rice.

"By the way...Blaze?" Mei asked.

"Hm?" Hanoashi asked.

"When does school start?" Mei asked gently.

"Around four days, I was just trying out my uniform to get used to it, why?" she asked.

"Just wondering," Mei asked.

"So, are you sure about this maid business?" Haruna asked, gazing at the Irish girl.

"I'm sure," Hanoashi promised. "Out of curiosity, could you write me a list of the duties you want me to preform?"

"Yeah, though it's mostly laundry, cooking, shopping and cleaning," Haruna noted.

"I'll be going with you for the shopping," Mei noted. "Just in case you need an extra pair of hands.

Lumi snorted, causing Haruna to glare at her.

"Be nice Lumi," Haruna growled, before gazing at Hanoashi in pity. "Don't pay her any attention, she doesn't trust strangers," she added.

"I understand," Hanoashi admitted.

"No, you don't," Lumi hissed, before walking off to the edge of the room.

Haruna watched silently as Hanoashi made the mistake of walking up to the girl. If she want's to get punched in the face...let her, she mused, feeling a bit sorry for the girl, but she was asking for it.

"Lumi...can I work with you?" Hanoashi asked quietly.

"I..." Lumi let out a small sigh. "Maybe later, for now just give me my space...please," she begged softly.

Hanoashi nodded and took a seat next to a window and sat in silence as if in thought.

Weak sunlight caused Haruna to shudder in her bag, and she shot up as she realized that Hanoashi was nowhere in sight. Bolting up, she was beginning to freak out until she smelled the aroma of pancakes.

"So, let me get this straight, you have the same breakfast and dinner, but choose your own lunches?"

She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard Hanoashi's voice. She had no idea why, but she sensed something similar to her in the Irish girl, even though she didn't know nearly enough to fully trust her.

"Pretty much, it allows us to customize our preferences to our needs if you will while providing a healthy baseline," Mei's voice noted.

"That works for me then," Hanoashi mused.

"We don't eat snacks by the way," Mei added. "I mean you can if you want, but I'd do it in secret if I were you."

"Whatever you girls don't do, I'll avoid doing," Hanoashi affirmed. "I want to fit in with you," she added determinedly.

"Even with girls like Lumi?" Mei asked quietly.

"Don't let her hear you say that," Haruna muttered as she walked over. "Still, I'm glad you feel that way Blaze," she smiled approvingly.

"I'll do my best," Hanoashi promised.

"Commander," Mei began to correct, but Haruna shook her head. "You heard what the student council said, Miho's the commander."

"You are aware she practically ordered a Panzer III into the drink, right?" Hanoashi glanced up in alarm.

"So you are familiar with her then," Haruna gazed at her quizzically.

"Only in name," Hanoashi admitted. "Being how the Co-ed league instructors love to show us what happens when we are placed in dangerous situations..."

"What were you, if you don't mind me asking," Mei asked quietly.

"T...Team commander," Hanoashi stammered.

"Figured that much," Haruna smiled.

"Looks like you have some competition," "Mei smirked.

"I...don't exactly want to compete for that title though," Hanoashi glanced away.

"What do you mean exactly?" Lumi announced her prescience.

"I'm just exhausted from it all," Hanoashi gazed downward in submission.

"What are you, a puppy?" Lumi glared at her, before petting her on the head. "Relax Blaze, I wasn't judging you that time," she added gently.

"Um...thanks," Hanoashi glanced up hopefully.

"You've still gotta prove yourself to me though," Lumi warned. "But after thinking bout it, I'm willing to give you a chance...or two if you don't blow the first too badly. Speaking of, I thought that you were going to..."

"I asked her to help with breakfast first," Mei interjected. "She needs to learn how we like our stuff anyways," she added.

"Fair enough," Lumi nodded. "Actually, that was good thinking," she approved, before glaring at Haruna. "You see, I told you that she'd make a good commander, didn't I?"

"I only said we'd take her on as a temp at the first," Haruna huffed, glaring at Lumi."

"Singles team?" Hanoashi piped up in curiosity.

"How'd you?" Lumi gasped, clearly in surprise.

"They way you bicker," Hanoashi sighed. "I mean I know you're all good friends and all, but full teams and tournament of five teams don't bicker like that," she added.

"I guess so...wait...tournament of fives?" Mei asked.

"Five on Five matches," Hanoashi explained. "Technically you can qualify up to seven tanks, but it's five on five."

"I see," Haruna mused, but at that moment there was a knock on the door as Yuzu came in. "Oh good, you accepted her," she smiled.

"Care to join us for breakfast? It's just two pancakes a piece, but you're welcome to join," Mei offered.

"If you're sure," Yuzu smiled as she walked over. "By the way, we got some substitutes willing to teach the core classes, if you want we could work that around a four hour work day before practice," she offered.

"That'd work, and Hanoashi has agreed to work as our maid, so we'll be giving her some of the money we earn from our work," Lumi

"Really, Yuzu glanced at Hanoashi, but the Irish girl nodded in return. "Remember how I told you that my number one career choice was stay at home mother, and that my boyfriend and I were getting married after I graduate? Well, this will give me some practice on the domestic chores so to speak."

"Will you be joining the Sensado team?" Yuzu asked.

"If I need to, but I'm exhausted from my adventures at Nishmari, so I'd rather not if that's okay."

"That's fine, you don't need to push yourself, and you can always pick up one of the empty seats if you change your mind later," Haruna offered, giving Yuzu a don't you dare challenge this look.

Thankfully the vice president didn't. The meal was quick, and before long Mei was seeing Hanoashi off to pick up the maid uniform, while the girls were dispersing into the different rooms to decide on various arrangements, as well as to test things.

I think that this will work out just fine, Haruna began, before exiting the building. She needed to do something first, or rather warn somebody.