Blazepanzer here, and first I'd like to thank you for taking the time to check out my fanfic, I hope you enjoy!
A few things real quick. This fic is one of the three I began on AO3 back during the stat outage here on FF. New chapters will be posted there first, but should arrive on wither within a few hours afterward or the next day. Secondly, this fic mostly focuses on Taeko Kondou's adventure in Stardew Valley, and not much attention is destined to be payed to the other Girls und Panzer characters. They'll receive a mention here or there, but they won't play any important role in the story. I'll make a quick mention of what generally happened to the other girls at the end of this chapter. Third, This Fic is based off of the same igniting event which kicked off the events of the 444th Sensado Squadron and Wisteria of the Waste fanfics, with the main differences being no Bad Company programs and that Akibe never freaked out and fired into the Maus tank.
With that out of the way, enjoy! Note that Blazepanzer does not own Girls und Panzer or Stardew valley!
Her amber eyes watched as she waited for her brother to arrive, the white tee-shirt she was wearing feeling light after what she had to wear for the last six years. Never the less, the young woman felt happy to be getting out of her confinement for the first time in ages.
"Yes, I'm here to pick up a Taeko Kondou?" a boy barely out of his teens mused.
"Understood, she's sitting right over there, and she's free to go, one of the officers noted.
Rising up to him, Taeko let out a small but cautious nod. "Thanks for doing this for me Hatsu," she whispered.
"You're my big sister, of course I'd help you back on your feet. I know you'd do the same for me, Oni-chan," Hatsu smiled. "I'm just glad your back sis," he added.
"Yeah, I'm glad it's all over and I can get a new start on my life, and we have a lot of catching up to do," Taeko smiled briefly before frowning. "Although, speaking of a new start it's going to be hard for me considering I have a record now, and a serious crime on my record to boot." she added.
"You can stay at my apartment as long as you need to sis," Hatsu reassured her. "All I ask is that you prepare me some good meals and house cleaning services until you get back on your feet."
"And to play any games with you that you wish whenever," Taeko chuckled. "But yeah, I can do that for you." She then gave him a grateful look. "No, seriously than you for taking care of me. I"m...officially not even a Kondou family member anymore and yet you...you've always been taking good care of me."
"Of course, I'm your brother, and even if my parents disowned you that doesn't nullify the fact that you're my sister...my beloved sister at that." Hatsu reminded her.
"Mmm." Taeko hummed gratefully.
"Anyways, we ought to leave this place, we'll stop by a few places so that you can pick up the essentials and then you can rest at home for the evening," Hatsu noted.
"Right," Taeko smiled, following him out of the lobby. Gazing back at the complex, she shuddered at her time behind the bars at the maximum security prison. Six years of my life...wasted... she sighed, before scolding herself. Stop thinking of that...you've...
"Sis, please stop dwelling on the past six years and enjoy our time together, alright?" Hatsu paused, gazing at her in concern.
"Was just telling myself to do that," Taeko sighed. "It's just...the prison has been a major part of my life and leaving it is...strange."
"Just don't tell me you learned to love it," Hatsu muttered.
"Don't worry, I'm glad to be out and done with it, believe me!" Taeko smiled. "It's just...gonna take me a bit of time to readjust to having this much freedom is all," she added gently. "But I'll get there."
"Hopefully we'll get you to how you were before the arrest," Hatsu smiled.
"It'd be nice, to get back to that point. Thank you," Taeko smiled. But it will never happen, she added silently.
The walk remained quiet for a bit, with Taeko enjoying the silent company of her brother and the sun on her skin. For the first time ever she could walk around freely, without eyes constantly tracking her every move or bars restricting her movement to the small exercise yard. Walking around in a real tee-shirt and pants is so nice compared to the white heavy jumpsuits of the prison, she realized. I'll have to be careful with the shopping though, even when I do get a job as I'll be lucky to even get one of the lower pay jobs so to speak.
"So, why Asagari?" Taeko asked.
"Rent's fairly cheep, it's out in the countryside, away from the other Kondou family members, and close to where you were being held, besides, a mutual friend of mine got me a decent job right out of high school so to speak," Hatsu admitted.
Taeko couldn't help but smile. "Thanks..." she whispered, gazing around. "Your right, the scenery is quite beautiful," she added. "Are you enjoying your work?"
"Very much so," Hatsu smiled. "Being an air traffic controller is a bit on the stressful side, but it pays decently enough."
"How'd you snag that job?" Taeko asked, surprised.
"Well...I went to an academy which offered air traffic controller schooling," Hatsu admitted. "Got my qualifications by the time I graduated and well...here I am."
"You've always been a hard worker Hatsu," Taeko smiled, petting his head a bit.
"You were the same way Taeko," he smiled in return.
"I guess..." Taeko glanced down. "But I just had to join that stupid Sensado team and..."
"That wasn't your fault Taeko," Hatsu reminded her.
"But we were warned Hatsu, we were warned!" Taeko growled. "Hanoashi Katoni warned us that we were being too reckless and we just ignored her! Plus, she had to spend five years in that prison for assault because our good for nothing Sensado instructor just couldn't let it go at simply expelling her from the team for making her star pupil look bad!"
"I know Taeko," Hatsu sighed. "But you were just in the tank, you had no idea that the Hetzer was going to collapses under the weight of the Maus like that." he soothed.
"I was in the tank that broke the camel's back," Taeko gazed down quietly. "That's bad enough. I...I didn't like prison to be clear, and while I know that I really didn't have any further involvement in the incident other then being there, I...I feel like I deserved those five years in prison."
"It was more like five and a half if I recall," Hatsu pointed out.
Taeko was about to respond when a rock landed next to her, her eyes widening as she saw about three people glaring at her, rocks in their hands.
Gasping and eyes wide, Hatsu grabbed her hand and dragged her away, the three thugs following in close pursuit.
"Is it just because of my involvement in the incident, or is stoning now common?" Taeko gasped.
"No talking, just running!" Hatsu urged. Thankfully they didn't have to run very far, or rather the large crowd they ran into discouraged the three punks. "Thank Maus that's over," Hatsu sighed, pausing to catch his breath.
"Prison has...done nothing...good...for my...stamina..." Taeko gasped.
"Maybe I ought to just order your clothes and things," Hatsu suggested, blushing slightly at the idea.
"Alright...but you'll have to take my measurements first," Taeko noted.
"You're not embarrassed?" Hatsu asked, surprised.
"Maybe a little bit," Taeko confessed. "But compared to prison, this is nothing to get scuffed at," she added," she rose and frowned a bit. "If anything I'm more embarrassed by my lack of stamina than getting my measurements from my little brother. I used to run for kilometers."
"You can build yourself back up if you like," Hatsu encouraged.
"Not if I'm going to run the risk of becoming stoned if I run outside," Taeko muttered darkly. "Still even if I have to stay locked inside the apartment it's better than prison. Though we cannot permanently do that."
"Speaking of which, we're just a short walk away," Hatsu encouraged.
"Right," Taeko smiled, following him into the decent apartment. "This is nice," she mused as she sat down on the couch, still exhausted. "Damn I hate being this weak," she added ruefully.
"There's a treadmill and an exercise bar you can use, just promise me that you'll take it slowly, alright?" Hatsu noted.
"Will do," Taeko sighed happily.
"But first we'll take your measurements," Hatsu began. "And then you can put us on some mac and cheese."
"Right," Taeko nodded, standing up and closing her eyes as her brother gently measured her, making sure to get her height as well. "One seventy four centimeters tall, not bad sis," he smiled as he finished. "So what kind of clothing would you like?" he asked.
"Just whatever is cheep and not too revealing,"Taeko shrugged. "After wearing a prison jumpsuit for five years I'm not too picky." she added.
"Right," Hatsu nodded and headed into the back room. Taeko meanwhile made her way into the kitchen, which was a bit on the small side, but held enough room to work comfortable, albeit just one at a time. "Mac and Cheese...let's see if I remember how to make this..." she mused as she took out a family sized box, which was all that he had.
"I upgraded to the family size once I was sure you'd be released," Hatsu noted from the door. "Would it be alright if I ordered you this pink blouse and dress?" he added, handing her a tablet.
"You sure...they aren't the least expensive clothing," Taeko gazed at the pair, the blouse being long sleeved and costing about thirty-six thousand yen and the dress being twice that much, going from the knees to just covering the shoulders.
"Yeah, considering a welcome home present. Oh, and any particular underwear color?"
"Pink, brown, or white, which ever is cheapest. Nothing risque," Taeko began to place the pot on the over and turned it on as she poured the right amount of water in it.
"You got it sis,"Hatsu went back into the room, and Taeko could hear some typing. Starting to feel like home already...though different. My brother is a full blown adult now, not the young pre-teen he was when I was shipped off to...Ooarai
It took a half hour, but she got it done, and just as she was draining the last of the water Hatsu came in. "I managed to save some of your personal things, but...they...you know..."
"At least you saved some of them, thank you for trying," Taeko smiled, ignoring the hurt she felt over the fact that her things were trashed.
"Oh, I managed to save that letter Grandpa gave you," Hatsu added. "How come you never opened it?"
"He said that they'd come a time when I'd grow burdened with the toils of work life, that I'd be ready for the contents of this letter." Taeko shrugged.
"Are you?" Hatsu asked quietly.
"Hmm...not really, but I'll give it a look anyways," Taeko noted. "It might provide me a path forward or something, and at this point I'm ready to try just about anything."
"You don't have to rush sis," Hatsu reminded her gently.
"I know," Taeko smiled in return as she divided up the food and sat his down before hers, before taking a seat, clasping her hands and giving thanks. "But I'd like to start working out my life as soon as possible," she added as she began to eat.
"That's honorable, but seriously, don't press yourself too hard, take things slowly," Hastu urged.
"Right," Taeko smiled.
For the next hour Taeko busied herself with various household chores, cleaning, washing clothes, and the like. Once she had finished it was becoming evening, and thus she was tired as she entered her small room and sat down on her bed, gazing at the box with her things on it.
Opening up the box, she saw a few things, some of her trophies, a box with her pictures, another box with letters and cards, and also a smaller box. She glanced inside, seeing her grandfather's letter in the box. She ignored it for the moment, and went to shift through the old cards, sighing as memories began to flood through her as she remembered old family members, friends, and teammates.
One photo caused her to sigh as she remembered Nova, her boyfriend and Hanaoshi's twin brother. He had been a great friend to her, but she had to move back to Japan due to her father's work where as he had to stay in the New California Republic.
Letting out a quiet sob, she contemplated calling him, but then decided against it. I can't move to the NCR with my record and it'd be unfair for me to ask him to move to Japan. Besides, we broke up close to seven years ago, and there's no telling that he is single or even would want to get back with me. For all I know he could be married and with kids at this point. He did want at least one or two after all...
Letting out a quiet sigh she placed the photos back in the envelope, and took out the letter, sighing as she moved her hand over the seal. It's...not quite what you wanted, but here goes... she breathed, undoing the seal, here eyes widening as she found a title deed, some cash, and a note.
"For my beloved daughter Taeko Kondou:
If you are reading this, then you are in need of a dire change."
That's true...I mean it doesn't more dire than just being released from prison, having to rely on your younger brother for food and shelter with little to no hope of getting a job. Not to mention I barely escaped getting stoned... Taeko huffed, though she smiled a bit as she continued to read.
"The same thing happened to me years ago. I'd lost sight of what mattered most in life...real connections with other people and nature. So I dropped everything and moved to the place I truly belonged."
That's why you became a farmer? Taeko began to muse, but her thoughts were interrupted by a knock. "Come in," Taeko called, and her brother opened the door, gazing at her. "You're busy..." he began, but she shook her hand. "No no, come and sit by me, I want your opinion on this," she urged.
As he sat down and leaned in, his eyes opened wide as they read the contents of the letter.
"I've enclosed the deed to that place... my pride and joy, Sillman farm. It's located in Stardew Valley, on the southern coast of the Ferngil Republic. It's the perfect place to start your new life. This was my most precious gift of all, and now it's yours. I know you will honor the family name, my girl.
Love Grandpa."
"Family name," Taeko muttered.
"That wasn't your fault sis," Hatsu whispered, gingerly grasping her hands.
"Maybe not...but still..." Taeko sighed.
"So, what are you going to do," Hatsu asked, removing his hand and gazing at her intently.
"I can't move to another country with a record,"Taeko sighed.
"The Ferngil Republic never really cared much about those with a record provided they served their time. It would mean giving up your Japanese citizenry and you would probably not be allowed a passport though."
"A one way trip then,"Taeko noted, gazing right at him. "What do you think?" she asked.
"Honestly, as much as much as I'd love to have you with me forever, we both know that's not possible. And this is a good way forward, provided you're willing to put in the work. You already have enough money to get you started, and it would be easier than finding a job."
"I guess you're right," Taeko nodded somberly. But I would love to spend more time with you as well.
"It's be easy enough for me to swing by and see you every year, maybe even twice a year," Hatsu reminded her. "But it's not something you need to jump into, give it some thought first."
"I'll probably go," Taeko confessed. "Besides, if those guys were trying to stone me over what happened nearly six years ago, it's kinda dangerous for me to head on out.
"So when do you think you'll head out?" Hatsu asked.
"Beginning of spring, if I can get everything done in time," Taeko determined.
"I can see that your mind is made up sis," Hatsu nodded. "For now how bout we play some Minecraft together, alright?"
"Alright," Taeko smiled, following him to his room.
Taeko had kept surprisingly busy. With her brother being an air traffic controller, and she shifting her time between housework, interviews, paperwork, and of course gaming with her brother, she had her plate fairly full, but it was worth it. He had thoroughly converted her into a gamer by that point, but really she didn't mind it too much.
She had also made some progress on the exercise. She didn't get to where she was before, but in all honesty she didn't need the same skills to farm as she needed to do farm work. Speed and agility had a limited amount of use, but she needed upper body strength and stamina more.
And then...the day came. It was a warm spring day, and Taeko had just packed her bags when her brother came in.
"I guess this is goodbye for now sis," Hatsu whispered.
"Yes..." Taeko whispered, trying to keep her emotions in checks. Her Japanese citizenship was to expire in five days, as Japan didn't allow for dual citizenship. Technically Ferngil didn't either, but at least she had a chance there.
"Right..." Hatsu helped her carry her bags, which were fairly light, containing her small wardrobe which she had acquired over the months, and a few other necessities.
The walk to the airport felt somewhat similar to the time she had been escorted down the juvenile prison hall for the first time, except this time there was no handcuffs binding her hands or officer grasping her arm. There was just her, her brother, and the knowledge that this would be the last time she'd see the nation she had been born and raised in with her own eyes.
"Sis..." Hatsu paused at the airport.
"Yes?" Taeko's voice cracked, knowing what he was about to say.
"I know it's too late, I really didn't want you to go," he whispered.
"I have to," Taeko sighed. "Let's face it, every time I'd go out I'd be railed on or have stones thrown at me. They'd narrow you down eventually, and might try to harm you as well. And no place in japan is safe or welcoming for me to live at."
"I...understand," Hatsu glanced downward, pushing her luggage toward her. "I wish you the best of luck sis," he whispered, before turning and walking off.
He waited six years to spend time with me, and now we're being forced to separate again, Taeko realized sadly. But this was my only option, and as much as I hate leaving Japan and more importantly you, this has to be done. Besides, it's too late now...
Clutching her luggage, she entered the airport, showing her documents which the workers thankfully didn't seem too concerned by her or the situation. Avoiding looking at anyone, she quietly placed her baggage on flight DC-10-1077. Her flight would be boarding in twenty minutes, and she found herself a place to sit, not really wanting to risk anyone recognizing her.
So, as promised, I'll briefly mention what happened to the other girls.
After the collapses of the Hetzer via the combined weight of the Maus and Type89, (Which subsequently killed the student council team), Miho as well as the Duck team and the crew of the Maus were arrested and charged according to their involvement. The most they received would have been about ten years. Since there wasn't any Bad Company Sensado programs like in the 444th Sensado squadron or Wisteria of the Waste fanfics, these girls would have their crimes recorded on their records and would face the same struggles Taeko did once they got out. A few won't make it, but most would find a way.
The rest of the Anglerfish team as well as the Rabbit team would be placed into the juvenile prison system for a few months, more so for protection, but would get out and most would receive a clean record depending on their cooperation and the leniency of the judge. While they'd still struggle to find work, as long as they kept their heads down and didn't run into anyone who knew them and was hostile towards them, they'd make it.
The rest of the girls would barred from Sensado but would survive just fine so long as they didn't brag about their involvement with the Ooarai Sensado Team or didn't risk anything much more prestigious than a minimum wage job and or stick to marrying a somewhat lower-class individual. A few would find higher work, but trying it would be risky and nearly impossible others would find out the hard way.
It's not really necessary to the rest of the story as it mostly just focuses on Taeko within Stardew Valley, but I thought I'd mention it for the curious.
