Blazepanzer here and I'll be quick, I do not own girls und Panzer! Enjoy!
Something of a slightly painful sensation gently flowed through her back, causing her green eyes to open slightly, surprised to see herself in a cream colored room as apposed to the white colored room she lived in.
She felt a gentle movement on her leg, and glanced down smiling as she noticed a sleeping Mari, laying down on her lap. She's so cute when she's like this! Hanoashi gushed, about to raise her hand and pet her friend on the head, but sighed in happiness while letting her hand sit gently on the floor when Mari let out a long hum of sanctification. "She's way too cute when she's like this," she whispered almost silently, instead letting memories of what happened last night flood through her mind.
Walking into the room, all Hanoashi could do was stare at the walls of war media, movies, TV shows, Video games, comics, albums, you name it Mari seemed to have it two entire walls filled to the brim with selves, which were in turn were filled with all the entertainment a girl could ever want. Well...if a girl was more of a military fan mixed in with a tomboy.
"This..." Masa whispered.
"This is worse than I remember," Momoe sighed.
"No, it's not guys I swear it isn't!" Mari pouted, shoving her hands down in protest.
"No, it's worse," Masa sighed.
Rikona's room is even worse, though hers is filled with romance novels, cars and racing dvds, not an assortment of war entertainment, Hanoashi mentally shook her head.
"You...haven't seen her bedroom," Masa muttered.
"Welp, if we're going to have to pack everything up, we might as well get started," Hanoashi smiled.
"Was a bit afraid you might back out," Momoe smiled. "Thanks for staying with us even after seeing how bad this is."
"No problem, but um...Mari...you did read section A-12 of the Ooarai girl's land school, right?"
"No, should I have?" Mari glanced at Hanoashi in worry.
"Um Mari..." Masa began slowly.
"What is it guys?" Mari whispered, before growing flustered. "Please tell me!"
"You um...gonna have to leave all this at your house," Momoe whispered.
"You mean I..." Mari's face reddened in shock. "No! Not my precious games! Not my..." She slumped down and sighed. "No, it's fine really."
"We are allowed to have an Ipad or similar tablet," Hanoashi knelt down, petting Mari on the head gently. "You can get some of this stuff on that if you like, but sadly, you'll need to bring this physical stuff home. Same as what I'm gonna have to do with my stuff."
"But how will I drag all of this stuff home with me?" Mari whispered. "I live all the way up in Kitaibaraki," she sobbed.
"Don't worry, Rikona will bring a truck," Hanoashi soothed.
"Will it have enough to fit everything?" Momoe asked, glancing around doubtfully.
Hanoashi simply laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh don't worry! Knowing Rikona, she could fit about a good five times this amount in the kind of truck she'd bring."
"Wow...at this state I'm almost kind of afraid to meet her," Masa whispered.
"Don't worry bout that, she's really friendly. Though she is tall," Hanoashi shrugged soothingly.
"About 190 centimeters, right?" Mari recalled.
"A bit taller," Hanoashi nodded.
"But...that's like...over six feet!" Momoe gasped.
"She's rather proud of her height," Hanoashi laughed. "Anyways..we'd really better get started," she added as Mari's bird clock resounded across the room.
"Ha...ha...so...tired..." Hanoashi huffed three hours later, whipping the sweat from her brow.
"Sorry Hanoashi...I didn't mean to cause you so much trouble..." Mari gasped, likewise tired out.
Hanoashi slumped down against the wall and closed her eyes. "I'm gonna take a quick breather." she huffed.
"Same," Mari panted.
Hanoashi opened her eyes as she felt something bump against her thigh and let out a quiet smile as Mari laid her head down on her thigh, and closed her eyes. Letting out a quiet smile, Hanoashi petted her head in response.
" You two..." Masa muttered, shaking her head and laying down on one of the two beds. Hanoashi raised one eye open and smirked as Mamoe curled up next to her twin sister and instantly began snoring softly.
"Hey...Hanoashi...you're finally awake," A gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Good morning Momoe," Hanoashi smiled.
"Sleep comfortably?" Momoe smirked, bending down and poking Mari on the cheek. "Your pillow is awake," she whispered.
"Muh...pillow?" Mari mummered, blinking open her eyes, which widened as she realized what she had done. "Oh my gosh Hanoashi I'm so sorry!" She gasped, her face turning red.
"No no, it's fine, really," Hanaoshi waved her arms, blushing likewise, though her blush turned into a quiet smile. "Anyways..."
"Hey you three, breakfast is ready!" Masa entered the room in a singsong manner.
"Um...okay," Mari squeaked, before blushing again and giving Hanoashi a sort of side-apology glance.
Following the three girls down, Hanoashi couldn't help but smile at the fresh smells emanating from the kitchen. She could tell breakfast was fish with two side-dishes, one being Miso soup and the other being brown rice with onions and eggs mixed in.
"Those two are health addicts so to speak," Mari whispered.
"What, the Lord gave us these bodies, we have a duty to take good care of them," Momoe shrugged.
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are," Masa recited. "Therefore, it's important for us to take care of our bodies," she added.
"Anyways, we really aught to eat," Momoe noted. "Dig in everyone!"
The meal was excellent all means and the four girls soon loaded up everything on a trolley, which included furniture. Hanoashi had used the restroom an hour after lunch and covertly told Rikona to brink a second truck via text. They both already had driver's licenses, though Hanoashi got hers from her tank driving days and all Matsumino were effectively race car drivers, as it was a tradition for all Matsumino to partake in at least one racing series before receiving their inheritance. On top of all the other stuff they had to do.
"Are you sure all this is going to fit?" Mari asked in concern.
Hanoashi smiled. "Yeah, it'll fit."
"You're...very confident," Masa sighed as she dragged out the repetitively small dolly. Or rather, the same dolly as the ones Mari were using, but just one where as Mari had three.
"Eh...just this one?" Hasoashi gasped, surprised.
"Yeah, we didn't need much other than our King Jame Bibles and tablets. And most of our furniture are rentals so to speak, so that stays here."
"Same with my furniture," Hanoashi noted. "Expect my TV, that one was mine."
"I wondered why you were still using an old-back," Mari shook her head.
Hanoashi shrugged. "Better picture quality?" she piped up. Really, there wasn't any other reason for her to not invest in a tiny flat screen given you could get them for about 13,000 yen.
"Sure..." Mari suddenly yawned. "This warm weather is making me sleepy."
Hanoashi let out a quiet sigh as she was feeling the same.
"So, what's the plan?" Masa asked.
"I don't know if Rikona is going to bring a driver for the second truck, so I'll drive Mari and perhaps Sayrui to their houses to drop off their possessions, where as Rikona can drive Misami, Masa, and Momoe to their houses."
"Two trucks?" Mari gasped, before glancing down. "This is somehow my fault huh?"
"Hey, no sweat it," a gentle voice added.
"Rikona!" Hanoashi gasped, suddenly turning around and running up to the taller girl, hugging her. "It's been way too long!" she whispered.
"Easy there my little Blaze," Rikona soothed, then laughed. "But yeah, it's been too long, and don't worry, we have plenty of room."
Hanoashi let go after a bit and smiled. "These are my friends, Mari," she turned and gazed at the smaller girl affectionately. "Masa," she added, turning her gaze toward the black haired girl. "And Mamoe," she finished, gazing at the other brunet of the group.
Rikona bowed in respect. "It's very nice to meet you, Masa, Momoe, and Mari," she began. "My name is Rikona Matsumino."
A collective gasp erupted from the three girls, before they collectively turned to Hanoashi. "Your cousin is a Matsumino?" they gasped.
"Relax girls, we're just normal folk, only with way too much resources at our disposal," Rikona soothed.
"But like..." Momoe gasped.
"You're family has done so much for Japan!" Mari added in way.
"No, the world!" Masa gasped.
Rikona chuckled. "No no! Girls, you've got it all wrong! I mean sure, we've funded a lot of health projects and such, but it's been ordinary girls like yourselves working alongside us which made it all possible."
Regardless of Rikona's attempt to remain humble, Masa, Momoe and Mari all stared at her adoringly, as if she was a precious jewel of some sort. Hanoashi smiled quietly, though covertly she was slightly envious if her cousin's luscious brown hair. Not that she hated her ginger hair nor did she actually have an inkling to color it, she sometimes desperately wished that she had been born a brunet. Russet hair in Japan was tolerated, but a bright ginger like Hanoashi's...not so much.
Suddenly Hanoashi felt something rubbing on her cheek. "So this is our cousin Hanoashi eh?" Said ginger girl nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned around to see a a girl around 162 centimeter's high with shoulder-length brown hair which ended in a sort of a curl. The girl's amber eyes was gazing at Hanoashi adoringly.
"Rikona wasn't kidding when she said you were Irish looking, but talk bout a cutie," said girl smiled.
"Fusae, stop, please remember personal space," a second girl around 178 centimeters chidded the first girl, though her blue eyes were gazing at Hanoashi in what appeared to be friendless mixed with curiosity and tempered caution. She had waist lengh blond hair which flowed across her back.
"Come on Asuga, I told you to call me Sendia, remember?" Fusae pouted, though Hanoashi could tell Fusae wasn't really down-heartened. "So, cousin," she added, wrapping her arm around Hanoashi's shoulder. "I've bet ya got an awesome nickname, right? Let me guess, Yolko? You look just like her! You know the Sword art Online character?"
Hanoashi tipped her head. "Sword art online?" she asked.
"Yep!"
"Wait...you said cousin?" Hanoashi jumped up again shocked that she just put two and two together.
"Well yeah, we'd have met you sooner, but someone had been proliferating the rumor that you were dead, so..." Fusae trailed off.
Hanoashi basically proceeded to half tackle, half hug Fusae. "Thank you!" she sobbed.
"Uh, you okay there Hanoashi?" Fusae whispered.
"More then," Hanoashi smiled through her tears. "Me and Rikona have always been close, but still I've always wanted to meet more of the family."
Fusae patted her on the back gently which turned into a bit of a massage which caused Hanoashi to smile quietly. "There there," Fusae whispered.
After a bit the two broke off. "So, bout that nickname, what is it then? Something epic I bet! Wait wait...don't tell me yet, let me guess it first..." Fusae placed her hand to her chin in a musing manner. "You've involved in Sensado...so maybe...Blazepanzer?
"You...ah...kinda got that first part right," Hanoashi smiled. "My nickname is Blaze...feel free to use it if you like," she then gazed around. "That goes for the rest of you too!"
"Misami was wondering what nickname would suit you best yesterday," Mari noticed.
"So who's this cutie?" Fusae smiled, bending down to pet Mari on the head.
"Eak! You've got the Sayuri syndrome!" Mari squeaked, clearly embarrassed.
Hanoashi had to smiled at Mair's blushing face, it was just too cute. If she was a boy she'd probably fall for the girl even more than she was now in all honesty. The only other girl Hanoashi had feelings for was Rikona, though the fact that they were cousins definitely complicated that idea.
Didn't help that her own father actively said that if one of them was a guy and they weren't related they'd be in a relationship in no time flat. Her aunt Shelia didn't help by sharing that sentiment, and Hanoashi couldn't deny the truth in the manner.
"Um, Hanoashi, what's the Sayuri syndrome?" Rikona whispered, though her face was amused at Fusae and Mari's antics.
"Our friend Sayuri's kinda touchy, so we kinda say that one has the Sayuri syndrome when one of us gets a little touchy so to speak." Hanoashi laughed.
"Does Yukaro have the Sayuri syndrome?" Rikona teased.
Hanoashi simply shook her head in response. "Come on Rikona, you know he's a prude."
"Um...excuse me Hanoashi, but who's Yukaro?" the blond girl asked.
"Oh, he's my...fiance...i guess?"
"Huh...you guess?" Fusae mused, before gasping. "Oh, right, this is Asuga, our cousin."
Asuga bowed. "It's nice to meet you Hanoashi."
"Nice to meet you too Asuga," Hanoashi smiled, bowing slightly in response.
"Now now, no need for you two to be so formal!" Rikona laughed. "We're all cousins, remember?"
"But Rikona, you know this is just how I am," Asuga shrugged respectfully.
"Yeah, some people call her the Queen of Hokkaido," Fusae began, only to get gently whacked by Asuga. "See, even her wacks are gentle," Fusae chuckled.
"Anyways, it is true that I lived in Hokkaido, but for the next three years I'll be living in Ooarai," Asuga smiled.
"Same, though I lived in Kumamoto prefecture," Fusae smiled.
"In other words, the three of us are transferring with you," Rikona smiled.
Hanoashi couldn't help but hug Rikona in response.
Meanwhile, over at the land school:
Nine transferring? Mitsu wondered.
"Yep," her two friends smiled, eating together with her at the picnic table. "They'll be arriving tomorrow, so we've got to make sure the tanks and their rooms are prepared and stocked."
"But we don't know who'll be rooming with who," Mitsu tipped her head.
"We're leaving the preparation of the tanks to you, Mitsu," the elder friend smirked. "And Kasami, you'll be getting their uniforms ready, okay?"
Said uniforms included school uniforms as well as the school regulated outerwear, swimwear, sleepwear and of course club-wear if needed. The school uniform was a somewhat traditional sailor uniform, but Brown with white highlights and no tie. Brown thigh high stockings with white highlights were required with it, as well as the brown leather loafers. The other three sets contain a similar color scheme, but aside from the sleepers, which was just a pull-over simplified one piece of the school uniform with shorter sleeves, they looked different. They didn't have their Sensado gear set in stone yet as they wanted to come up and vote on different designs first before voting on a final one.
"Hai Sempai!" Kasami saluted. "Got their heights and sizes?"
"Yep!"
"Right, well, we'd better get ready...wait...are you going to prepare the rooms all by yourself?" Mitsu tipped her head.
Her sempai shook her head. "Nope, not gonna even bother! Karoi insists on doing all of the cleaning you know!"
"Right..." Well, I'll be off then!" Mitsu smiled, rushing off with abundant laughter. I can't wait to see all those tanks again! She thought with excitement.
That was until she remembered that Ooarai's tanks were kept in in a storage facility next to the nearby Nishmari's sensado team. Reason being was because the Ooarai land schools shared the same practice grounds as the neighboring town's. Both schools had to take the train if they wanted to practice, which was a bit of a drag, but it was what it was.
Although Nishmari students actually had to drive through a mountain where as Ooarai students just had to drive through an artificial tree line, used to help mark the boarder of the practice grounds. While smaller than most land training grounds, it was bigger than that most of the ship based academies had to use.
Getting on the nearest train, Mitsu opened her smart phone, surprised to see a list of the transferals names as well as their heights. Huh...might ought to go ahead and make Rikona a commander given her height, I'll have to discuss it with the other girls later. Still, I'm not sure what surprises me, the fact that we've got three Matsumino joining our humble land school...no wait...that's par for the course. The Matsumino prefer their students to go to somewhat more humble schools than the rich schools. Still, three at the same time and the same grade is surprising none the less. And then there's...
Her gaze widened in shock at one of the names. Hanoashi's...transferring...why the Maus isn't she in some place like Kuromorimine or Sanders!?
The rest of Mitsu's time was spend trying to figure out why in the world Hanoashi had even gone to Ooarai girl's sea academy in the first place. She won last years championship, and with a record four wins for the co-ed league...why didn't she get a scholarship for a more prestigious school than a dump like the Ooarai girl's ship?
It was only when she entered the tank hanger and actually say an all too familiar sight that her stupor eroded.
"Tell my plainly miss Akiyama, is this normal for your sister?" a tall woman with slender black hair and blue eyes began sternly.
Mitsu gazed between a tied up Amy and the instructor a few times before sighing. "No, it's beyond normal for her, actually." She then sagged. "Sorry you had to see her like this.
"Very well," Her instructor nodded, which sent three girls scrambling to untie the girl...well two of them, Sachi just stood there not too sure what to do in this situation. Which wasn't surprising given that the near Kuroyukihime look alike was missing her left hand and thus couldn't really untie the rope.
The only real difference between Sachi and the Accel world character, aside from the missing hand, was that Sachi was a little bit on the thicker side albeit not fat, and had a more sizable bust compared to her anime counterpart.
"Good, now drag her over here," the instructor nodded.
"Go as hard on her as you want Instructor Zemku," Mitsu noted. "She knows better than to tie herself up like that in a place like this!"
"Oh believe me miss Akiyama, I'm not going to go easy on her," said instructor stated in a cold manner of tone, before adding, "And call me Hime, okay?"
"Um...okay Hime," Mitsu noted, though she smiled at Hime's cold demeanor. It scared most people off in a way, but she liked it. Something about it told her that she could place her complete trust in Hime so to speak. The fact that Hime looked soft yet had such a hard personality was easy to like in a way.
"So...tell me miss Amy," Hime glared at the impetulant student. "Would you like for me to accidentally delete your record of being apart of this Sensado team and call the cops on you for trespassing? I hear that Handcuffs are a great form of bondage and you'll be constantly transported to and from your jail cell in them!"
Amy's eyes widened in shock. "No...not prison..." she whispered.
Mitsu just smiled. She knew that Hime wasn't that cruel, but her sister Ami had no idea.
"Very well, wait right here," Hime nodded, before heading to her office, quickly exiting with a toothbrush. "So here's what we're going to do, you...and you alone...are going to wash all of the tanks with this brush while Mitsu, Fumiko, and Sara get to take a well deserved break.
Mitsu watched silently as as dejected Ami sighed, taking the brush and filling up a small bucket before bending down and starting with the IS-3, the largest of the tanks.
"I have plenty of brushes, so if yours breaks or wears down too much, let me know," Hime chuckled, before turning to the others. "You four are welcome to watch or leave, just no joining in to help out."
"But I was..." Sara began, but Hime stared her down.
"Young miss, you made a mistake when you accidentally shoplifted that pack of gum," Hime noted. "And I'm the one in charge of assigning you extra duties in addition to your loading and thus I can take away some assigned duties if I so wish. Is that understood miss Taylor?"
"Ri...right," Sara stammered, before sighing.
"Hey, it was an honest mistake on your part, you just forgot that you had that pack of gum in your purse," Mitsu whispered.
"Thanks Mitsu, you always know how to make me fell better...but still," Sara sighed. "All I wanted to do was watch the winter finals last year...and...now I have to repeat high school in a foreign nation. I...barely even know the language well enough to communicate properly."
"Like I said, it was an honest mistake," Mitsu reassured her.
Sara smiled gently, before turning to gaze toward the tanks. "Think we can win with this line-up?" she asked.
"Absolutely," Mitsu smiled. "The sea school is taking care of the nationals, which leaves us with either the singles tournament and the tournament of fives."
Still, for a Sensado team, we've got a weird contingent of tanks," Sachi chimed in.
"Yeah, four soviet tanks with the rest being from different nations," Sara nodded in agreement.
Back at the ship Academy:
"Ah...so we're finally all here," Sayuri gasped as she met up with the other girls.
"You're late," Rikona noted sternly.
"Only by ten minutes," Sayuri gasped as she tried to catch her breath, only to be whacked on the shoulder by Misami.
"She wouldn't wake up!" Misami growled. "I almost decided to leave her behind."
"Masama..." Sayuri whined, only to be whacked again by Misami.
"Well...seeing you two like that was worth the extra ten minutes, let's get you unloaded and then we can take off," Rikona chuckled.
"So sorry we're late," Misami bowed to Hanoashi.
"No no, it's all right!" Hanoashi reassured them.
"So, how did they take it?" Misami asked.
"Those three were in awe," Hanoashi chuckled as Sayuri stared up at the C-46 Commando in shock. "She is too it would seem," she added.
"Of course, it was only thanks to the Matsumino that Sayuri's still alive," Misami smiled.
"Really?" Hanoashi gasped.
"Yep! Just watch," Misami smiled as Fusae ran down the airplane stares and hugged Sayuri. "It's been too long!" she smiled.
"Same," Sayuri smiled, before the two began to laugh like old friends.
"So, we're going to get to tank together?" Fusae smiled.
"Yep, just like we promised Sendai!" Sayuri smiled warmly. "Though I was surprised to discover that you were coming with us!" she added. "You never told me that!"
"Well we were mostly online friends until we met today, remember?" Fusae smiled.
"So, what do you think of the craft she brought?" Hanoashi asked Misami.
"I put two and two together last night, so it's not surprising," Misami smiled. "Though...I've never flow in a plane before, so I'm a bit nervous."
"It's about the same as riding in a tank," Hanoashi chuckled. "And it's only my second time on a flight, so we're about in the same boat," she added.
"Oh, I assumed that you must have been on a lot of flights before," Misami bowed apologetically.
"Yeah...great grandfather kinda barred us from even interacting with Hanoashi until today," Asuga nodded sadly. "Believe me when I say that he will not be missed in the Matsumino family."
"That's kind of cruel," Misami gasped.
"He held Rikona at gunpoint and tried to get her to charge Hanoashi with assault," Fusae sighed.
"I kicked in the asshole's teeth, he didn't mess with me after that," Rikona smirked.
"You never told me that," Hanoashi sighed. "Though it doesn't surprise me in the slightest."
"But I don't get it, why did he hate Hanoashi so much?" Misami asked.
"Matsumino...hate for their daughters to marry into poorer families," Rikona sighed. "Well...us younger folk are determined to put an end to that, but still, our great grandfather was the worse of them. The grandparents...well...they're a mixed bag, not exactly approving of Hanoashi, but they, unlike grandfather, don't have the gall to try and threaten her nor us over interacting with her."
Hanoashi just sighed in response. As much as I love the opportunity to hang out with my cousins, I'd rather not discuss my involvement with the family like this, she mused silently.
Thankfully Rikona must have picked up on this as she urged them onto the plain, complaining about being late and all. Only Hanoashi, Fusae and Asuga knew that they were actually fifteen minutes early.
Sighing in happiness about being surrounded by friends and family, she strapped in to enjoy the ride.
Back at the land academy...
Shiori let out a small gasp as she paused in her running and took a drink of water, smiling to herself. Four Kilometers without stopping! Woo! She thought in excitement, before noticing her phone going off. Pressing the button on her wireless headset, she let out a quiet smile. "Saori?"
"Hey Shiori!"
"How's the sea ship this year?" Shiori laughed.
"Fantastic for the most part, aside for the fact that the student council tried to force Miho into joining Sensado. And the fact that our instructor turned out to be a stupid girl, and..."
"Sis, calm down, you're at a girl's academy. They're not going to give you a male instructor. Those are only for the male academies and occasionally the co-ed academies," Shiori chided.
"Yeah, but the student council president tricked me into thinking it would be a cute guy!" Saori whined.
Shiroi sighed as she sat down and placed her hand on the temple of her head in frustration. So much for thinking that this would be a straight-forward conversation! she hissed to herself. "Oni-chan, you're trying too hard to get a boyfriend," she began slowly. "You need to be yourself and stop acting so desperate. Otherwise you're going to scare all the boys off!"
"Yeah but you..." Saori began
"I got with Trevor because I started running with him daily back in middle school and we developed a relationship over time. You on the other hand are approaching things from a be my boyfriend first perspective rather than the right way, which is to just strike up a conversation first and let things develop! Furthermore, whenever a guy does show interest toward you, you freak out and assume they just got the hots for you, so you scare off any potential suitors."
"But..."
Look sis, I'm not going to spend anymore time discussing romance with you, right now I've got three test tomorrow I need to study for." Shiroi pointed out.
"But I hear cars honking!" Saori protested.
"Because I took a break to run, but now I'm back at my student apartment. Anyways...I'll talk to you later." With that the girl hung up.
"You lie very well," a boy beside her noted.
"Whatever you say Trevor," Shiroi laughed. "Ready to go another four kilometers?"
"You bet!" the boy laughed. "But first let's stop and get a Mcdonalds," he suggested.
"Good idea," Shiroi smiled, her mouth figuratively beginning to water, though not in anticipation of food, but rather Trevor. Which was not surprising considering he was a jock in a muscle shirt.
But he was a kind jock so to speak. And furthermore he was Shiroi's jock, and no, Saori can't have him!
She didn't care that he was giving her the same look, and why not? A Japainise brunnet wearing her hair in a ponitail, while also wearing a tee-shirt and short sorts? What's not to like?
Mitsu walked along the rooms, pausing as she saw the family name written on the door. Knocking hesitantly she let out a small quiet smile as the door opened, and three girls were studying for a test. Although diffrent heights and hair colors, all three of the girls shared the same freckles and dark green eyes...as well as the same last name.
"Sorry to disturb you," she began entering the room and closing the door. "I was just wondering if you knew anything about this girl," she added, pointing to Hanoashi's last name.
A blond haired girl walked up and surprise lit up her dark green eyes as she saw the last name. "No, I've never heard of her before." she began slowly. "Hey sis, cousin, come take a look at this!" she added.
The two others, came over, their light brown and black hair swishing behind them as their eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, Haruna, have you heard of her before?" the brunet of the group asked.
"No, Fumiko, I don't believe that I have," the black haired girl known as Haruna shook her head. "Although I just discovered that I was your cousin last year, so it is possible that she could be a cousin to us."
"Yeah," Emica sighed, before nodding toward Mitsu. "Sorry, but we don't know her."
"Ah well, just checking," Mitsu smiled. "She's coming over tomorrow, so perhaps you could greet her and help her and her friends settle in?"
Emica smiled. "Of course! Cousin or not, we'd be happy to help them fit in!"
"Yes, now we're kinda excited to meet her," Haruna smiled. "It'd be nice to know that there's more Katoni than us three."
Fumiko smiled. "We were so excited when we discovered Haruna and us were cousins."
Mitsu smiled, though she knew there was the distinct possibility that the the and Hanoashi weren't cousins. Well...Mitsu had no doubt having actually seen Hanoashi via recordings of her Sensado matches and noticing that she shared the freckles and dark green eyes that Emica, Fumiko and Haruna shared. "Well, anyways, thanks! I'd better to and see if Kaori needs any help with the room cleaning," she added.
"Good luck, knowing her she's got it all done by now," Fumiko sighed.
"She looks so cute in her maid uniform!" Haruna gushed. "I wish I could wear one!"
"Haruna..." Mitsu began slowly. "Kaori's only allowed to wear one due to the fact that she's a maid in training working as our dormitory maid in exchange for free tuition. It's hard work on her part."
"Oh, right," Haruna smiled. "She's still cute though!"
"Excuse me madams," a gentle voice began from the door frame with a knock. "I do believe it's time for your room's cleaning."
"Right, we nearly forgot that today was the day!" Emica noted as she opened the door. "We'll put our books away and you can get right to cleaning," she added.
Kaori walked in, and bowed to Haruna. "Your kind words made my day young miss, thank you," she smiled, before she began to clean.
Mitsu watched the girl as she worked, fascinated by her English-Japanese features. Blond hair with amber eyes, white porcelian skin, which complemented the black and white short sleeved maid dress she almost always war outside of Sensado and exercise. She even had one for sleeping in so to speak.
Kaori's family, the Samko, had a something of a tradition if you will. The girls of the family all became maids so to speak, never marrying, though they were allowed to have artificial insemination if they wanted to have children at expense to the Samko elders. The same elders also paid the girls handsomely in addition to other benefits. Of course the Samko girls could renounce the benefits and get married if they so wished, yet even those who do get married never truly abandoned their maid-ship, focusing it more toward their husbands than professional work. Word was they were almost never out of a maid uniform.
Another one of their traditions was that the Ooarai land girl's academy dorms were always staffed with at least one Samko maid, something of a long standing tradition dating back to the early 1800s, albeit in a different town back then given that Ooarai wasn't even founded at the time.
Back in the C-46 Commando:
"Hey girls!...I've got a text," Fusae called over. Seems like the student council is requesting that we give them our rooming arrangements."
"I'm rooming with Hanoashi!" Mari and Rikona called instantly, causing Hanoashi to let out a quiet smile. It was three people to a room and those two were the ones she felt most comfortable with. Not that she was only interested in rooming with those two, Sayuri and Fusae would be an adventure, and the rest seemed like they'd be a present group to room with. Plus, she was dying to spend more time with Fusae and Asuga.
"I'm rooming with Sendia," Sayuri nodded.
"I'm rooming with the twins then," Misami announced, causing Sayuri to give Misami a look of protest, but Misami ignored her.
Hanoashi didn't miss the quick look of relief over Masa, Momoe and Mari's face over this revelation. Is there something bout Sayuri they're not telling us? Hanoashi wondered, but quickly shook off any curiosity out of her mind as she overheard the pilot announce that they were ready to land.
Either way good times are coming fast! She smiled as she buckled in.
Near the land academy:
Emika shifted her legs impatiently. "How long until they arrive," she groaned.
"Gave a bit of patience sis," Fumiko whispered, her waste length light brown hair flowing in the wind, or rather the long portion of it. She liked to keep most of her hair shoulder-length, but she did have about a five inch section waste length. Sometimes it was in a loose ponytail, sometimes in a braided ponytail, sometimes twin tails. Today though it was just loose. "Besides, there's no guarantee that she's one of our lost cousins."
Haruna gazed forward intensely, pushing down her own excitement. I remember when Emika and Fumiko discover me...and that was exciting enough! Is...this how they felt when they heard about me? She wondered.
Nine students approaching! Emika nearly shouted as they approached. Light ginger hair, but she has the same freckles and dark green eyes as we do. Nope, there's no doubt about it, she's a Katoni!
"Hello there, are you by any chance the nine transferring to Ooarai Girl's land academy?" Haruna began, shooting her two cousins a look to discourage them from charging at the ginger haired girl.
"Yes ma'am!" Rikona bowed. "My name is Rikona Matsumino, and these are my cousins and friends," she added.
"Fusae Matsumino," Fusae began, before going down the list.
"My name is Hanoashi Katoni," Hanoashi bowed, completely unaware of the revelation which was going to come in the next few seconds.
"It's nice to meet all of you," the blond haired girl smiled, though her attention on Hanoashi was not lost on the ginger haired girl. "My name is Emika Katoni, and this is my older sister, Fumiko Katoni," She nodded to the brown haired girl. "And our cousin, Haruna Katoni," she finished.
Hanoashi let out a small gasp. "Wait...you're saying that we share the same last names?"
"Well little Blaze, it looks like you've found more cousins!" Rikona smiled.
But...what...this is...Hanoashi took a deep sigh, trying to comprehend what was happening. Finding out that two more cousins from my mothers side of the family wanted to get to know me was shocking enough! But...now finding out that I have cousins from my Father's side of the family...
She desperately didn't want to rush to judgment with these three. It wasn't that she hated them or anything like that, rather she couldn't quite wrap her head around the possibility of other Katoni in Japan. I was under the impression that it was just me and Nova, and with me changing my last name to Akiyama once I turn eighteen and Nova living in America...
"We do share the same freckles and eye color," Hanoashi began slowly. "What do you know about a Drake Katoni?" she added.
"We saw his name in our old family record book, but..." Haruna glanced away. "We didn't really have anything idea he was still alive."
Hanoashi let out a small nod. "Not too surprising," she sighed. "He nearly died in a company fire. Mother...she..." Hanoashi took a deep sigh. "She died when I was six, and Father hasn't been healthy since."
"Oh...I'm so sorry to hear about that," Haruna whispered.
Everyone looked down briefly.
"Still, it's amazing that we managed to find each other," Hanoashi smiled. "I was under the assumption that me and my brother and father were the last of the Katoni."
"Strange, Fumniko and I assumed the same, that was until we met you and Haruna," Emika smiled.
"Wait...you have a brother?" Haruna gasped right as Emika finished speaking.
Hanoashi nodded. "He lives in America, but..."
"What's he like," Haruna gasped, grasping Hanoashi's hands in excitement.
Hanoashi was speechless for a brief moment before letting out a quiet smile. "Well...from what he's written to me he's very athletic and loves music," she began. "Oh...I should explain why he's there...Father wanted to keep us both, but...with his health issues he could only keep one of us and since Japan was more safer for a girl he kept me home while we went to live with a distant repetitive."
"More cousins?" Emika smiled.
"Great Grandmother's younger sister," Hanoashi admitted. "That's who he went to live with," she added.
"Ah, I see," Fumiko smiled.
"Anyways, we've got a long day ahead of us, right?" Fusae yawned, only to be whacked by both Misami and Asuga.
I guess dealing with Fusae and Sayuri are the same, good to know, Hanaoshi noted amused. "Yes, we should get to our apartments and then head on over to see the tanks," she noted. "You'll be traveling with us?" she asked.
"To the dorms, yes, but Mitsu will be guiding you to see the tanks. She's kinda...our intel specialist as well as in charge of supply so to speak. Second year too," Haruna noted.
Hanoashi glanced at Misami who nodded in response. The two had the same idea. Deputy commander. Granted, with only nine tanks they wouldn't really need one, but having a line of succession was important and making one of Ooarai's own the deputy commander would show the land school that the six girls weren't just trying to hog all of the glory.
"Very well, if you'll follow us, we'll lead you too your rooms," Haruna began as she turned and motioned for them to follow.
Hanoashi was surprised to see how clean the floors were. Even though she had gone to a land school almost all of her life, she had heard rumors that most of them were filthy. Nishmari's high school consisted of six person apartments, each containing three boys and three girls, unless you had a contract to marrage licenses or were already married, in which you were given the oppertunity to stay with your partner in a small appartment complex if you liked, provided you agreed to the no sex policy. Natcuaslly had she gone to Nishmari, she and Yukaro would have formed together.
"I can tell you're impressed," Fumiko smiled.
"It looks so clean," Hanoashi noted.
"It's all thanks to our resident maid," Haruna added.
"Maid?" Hanoashi asked.
"Are you aware of the Samko family?" Rikona asked.
Hanoashi shook her head. "No cousin, I'm not," she admitted.
"Wait...you're cousins with the Matsumino?" Haruna gasped.
"Well yeah, she herself said so, remember?" Emika smirked. "Though I'm surprised really," she added.
Hanoashi shrugged. "Until yesterday Rikona and Shelia were the only Matsumino who even knew I was still alive."
"Yeah, our Great grandfather lied to us, telling us Hanoashi was dead simply because he and the other adults didn't like that Yu, Hanoashi's mother, married into a poor family," Fusae sighed. "Well...poor by comparison."
"But I though that the Matusmino married into poor families all the time," Haruna asked, tipping her head into confusion.
"Have you look who is marrying into the poor families?" Rikona asked. When Haruna shook her head, Rikona let out a quiet sigh. "Only the males dare marry into the poor families, us girls...well...we're free to get married, but best be sure to get married into a rich family."
"Us younger Matsuimino are sort of rebelling, not in so much that we're actively seeking to marry into poor families ourselves but rather that we've agreed to an oath, that our children can marry into the poor families freely if they so wish," Asuga explained.
"But aren't you afraid of being disowned?" Emika asked quietly.
Rikona shook her head. "Between the anger of being lied to about Hanoashi's death and what was done to me, they're afraid to stop us on this manner. Especially since every Matsumino youth was confederate together in this oath, meaning that the only choice would be to disown us all and try to mass adopt or have new kids."
"Anyways, these three are you're rooms. Let us know if there's anything you need, alright? Mitsu will come by at noon to pick you up." Fumiko smiled as the three left the nine girls to their own devices.
Hanoashi Mari and Rikona entered their room, surprised to see how large the beds were. "These have got to be queen size beds," Hanoashi noted.
"Well yes," Rikona noted. "We slept in a queen sized bed together, remember?" she added.
"Oh yeah, right," Hanoashi nodded, remembering how she had lived with Rikona during the first month after the fire. "Ah, good times," she added. "Even if they were shared with grieving over mother," she added quietly.
"This is more than what I'm used to," Mari prodded the bed experimentally.
For some reason Hanoashi imagined Mari being used to sleeping in a dog bed and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Rikona asked.
Hanaoshi shrugged, trying to get over the funny moment. "Ah, it's nothing cousin, just a funny thought entering into my mind," though she had to fight from giggling.
"Anyways, we should change into our uniforms," Rikona reminded them.
"Right," Hanoashi noted, walking up to her closet, surprised to see two different uniforms.
"I've heard of these," Rikona noted. "Supposedly these are sleeper onesies," she added.
"Huh," Hanoashi mused, taking one out to gaze at it experimentally. "The sleeves and skirt are a bit shorter on these...and the material is elastic," she noted.
"Looks comfortable," Mari noted from her closet.
"Guess this means we're not sleeping in our undies?" Rikona guessed, before undressing and quickly changing into the school uniform. "Yuck, thigh highs," she growled, reluctantly putting on the socks.
Hanoashi didn't really have too much of an issue with the thigh highs herself. While not her thing, she didn't hate them and in reality would agree to wear them regularly if Yukaro asked her too. Not that he was the kind of boyfriend to ask his girlfriend, or spouse to be in this case, to wear anything. Too shy on that front even though she kinda wanted him to ask her about wearing new things. Long as it wasent jewlery or handcuffs, that's were she drew the limmit so to speak even if only one limmit made any sense.
"Rikona, you look so cute!" Mari gushed.
Turning around, Hanoashi let out a quiet smile.
"Come on Mari..." Rikona groaned softly.
"You look really good cousin...if I were a boy I'd eat you up right now," Hanoashi teased.
"Muh!" Rikona shouted, pushing her hands down in anger before crossing her hands and looking away.
"Let me guess...the guys fawn over you when you wear thigh highs?" Hanoashi guessed.
Rikona relaxed and nodded. "I'm not like you and Yukaro...proper when it comes to romance," she sighed. "I mean...I do want what you and he have but I also want...you know..."
"First off, you shouldn't be too surprised that most guys don't want to do that to a girl," Hanoashi begin. "Secondly, well...relationships are about compromising in some aspects. You might have to accept the fact that the guy you like says no to one thing or another you want."
"Like how Yukaro wanted you to go into professional Sensado with him but you said no," Rikona nodded.
Hanoashi nodded. "Sensado...for me at least...is a temporary thing. A passion close to my heart if you will, but not one which I want to partake in past high school. Marriage and motherhood is where my calling is so he's more then welcome to partake the profesional leagues, but me...he'll have to accept me outside of the sport."
Rikona nodded, before sighing and staring at her legs, clothed in brown thigh highs with white highlights. "Still..." she sighed again, before a knock on the door was heard.
"Mitsu's waiting in the hall," Misami noted.
"Well, let's go meet her then," Hanoashi smiled.
"You know her?" Mari gasped.
"Not intimately, but Yukaro did introduce me to her when we met after a Sensado match. His cousin if you will."
"Seems like you're getting to become everyone's cousin, Blaze," Mari smirked.
Hanoashi let out a quiet smile, happy that her friend was using her childhood nickname. "Seems that way."
Introductions were quick, and the drive, though taking an hour, was pleasant. As Hanoashi stepped into the hanger, a familiar sight greeted her.
"Well met Blaze," he smiled.
"Yukaro," Hanoashi smiled in return, before rushing over to hug him. "It's been way too long," she smiled.
"So this is you're fiance," Fusae teased.
"Hanoashi told me bout you a few hours ago," Yukaro bowed respectively. "Well, I can't stay long, I've got to inspect the Nishmari co-ed league tanks, so..."
"I'd imagine so. By the way, what tank are you commanding?" Hanoashi asked.
"Panzer IV H, you?" Yukaro asked.
"No idea," Hanoashi noted.
"That'll be for her to decide," a woman walked up, gazing at the ten assembled girls. "I am Instructor Zemku, but please just call me Hime," she added, introducing herself. "And Yukaro, why don't you watch to see what tank you're wife selects. I suppose you could bring her along with you to see her old team's tanks as well before you begin to inspect the co-ed tanks, Harturo won't mind I'm sure."
Yukaro nodded in response.
"I was under the impression that instructor Harturo was retiring last year," Hanoashi tipped her head.
"He was, but then the high school decided to raise a Sensado team of it's own, and well, Harturo insisted on helping to get it off the ground. Even if it's just seven tanks right now," Yukaro admitted.
"Just seven?" Hanoashi tipped her head.
"Yeah, We're only partaking in the tournament of fives for a while."
"Yes...same for us," Hina admitted. "Unless and until the Ooarai ship school closes down that is."
"Anyways, it's time for us to chose the tanks," Mitsu noted.
"Why don't you pick first," Misami offered to Mitsu, glancing at Hanoashi who nodded in approval.
"Really, but why?" Mitsu asked, confused.
"You've done a good job with the supply, and we want to make you deputy commander," Hanoashi nodded.
"You sure...we only have nine tanks and this is only my second year of Sensado," she tipped her head in confusion.
Hanoashi nodded. "Well, what do you say deputy commander?" she smiled, extending her hand.
Mitsu nodded determinedly, accepting the handshake. "I won't let you down vice commander Katoni," she smiled.
"You'll do fine," Hanoashi reassured her.
Mitsu turned around, her gaze landing on the T-34. "I think I'll pick this one," she noted.
"You're turn Hanoashi," Misami offered.
Hanoashi's gaze landed on the T-50 light tank. "Think I'll gun for the familiar territory," she smiled.
"Then I'll go for the IS-3," Misami noted. "Mari?"
"I'll go for the T-32 SID," Mari determined. "I'm more used to smaller tanks anyways and my smaller size will fit better with this one," she added.
Hanoashi noted how she used the phrase smaller size instead of small size and inwarldy laughed a bit. The way Mari went out of her way to argue aganst her being small was always cute in her mind!
"Su-100!" Sayuri shouted Su-100!"
"I'm driving that thing then!" Fusae smirked. "Always wanted to pilot a soviet beast like this!"
"P-40" Momoe called out.
"Sentinel," Masa nodded.
"That just leaves the Ram and the Semovente 75/34," Hanoashi noted.
"I spoke with the others and we want Rikona to command one of the tanks," Mitsu admitted. If that's okay with you," she added.
Hanoashi and Misami nodded and turned to Rikona, smiling slightly. "Which one do you want?"
"The Ram, it looks tall enough for me," Rikona noted. "Plus I like the look," she added smiling.
"So the Semovente 75/34..." Hanoashi began.
"I have a few ideas on who might be an ideal commander for it," Mitsu begin. "But we don't have to choose right away," she added.
Hanoashi let out a small nod, before gazing at the tanks, letting out a quiet smile as she did so. "We've got quite the line-up here," she smiled. She felt someone grab her hand and smiled as she recognized Yukaro's touch.
"Right, I'm off for a bit! Misami, Mitsu, I trust you can handle things for a bit by yourselves till I get back?" she asked.
"Knock yourself out," Misami laughed.
Hanoashi smiled, and followed her friend into the co-ed section. Which was just as large, dispuite feeling more cramped. which made since considering that it housed both the Highschool and middle school tanks. Nineteen in total.
"I see the old line-up hasn't changed," Hanoashi smiled, gazing at the tanks she used to command. Walking over, she placed her hands on an all too familiar T-50 light tank. "We've been through a lot of adventures, haven't we Clydesdale?" she whispered.
Tanks couldn't talk or feel so to speak, but Hanoashi felt as though her old tank was happy to see her again. Of course the tank she commanded the team from was the Panzer III, which was a common co-ed middle school tank for commanders due to it's ergonomics. Glancing around she frowned when she couldn't see it.
"Fubuki's over here," Yukaro pointed to a Panzer III M.
Hanoashi gazed at her old tank, smiling as she remembered the found memories. "The turret is different," she noticed right off the bat.
"Look above it," a new voice mused, one Hanoashi recognized as her old instructors.
Letting out a small gasp she saw a dark yellow sheet of metal, with her name across it, as well as six other names. "Kira, Mokuba, Liara, Fin, Liam, Yukaro..." she whispered, before taking her fiancee's hand gently. "This...this means a lot to me...thank you," she whispered as she recognized just what had happened.
It seemed after the Homestead match, they had decided to move the Panzer III Fubuki to the high school team, upgrading it to the M model. However, before they replaced the turret they took a chunk of the metal, a piece which still had her and her crew's name painted on it from the homestead tournament, and put the chunk on display.
"You were the first team commander to bring Nishmari to a championship win, so naturally we wanted to honor you in some way," Yukaro smiled. "Shifting Fubuki to the high school team was just part of it, taking some of the metal and displaying it like this was the other part."
"It...it...was a team effort," Hanoashi glanced down, suddenly growing shy at the fact that everyone would know her by name in that way.
"Come now Miss Katoni, you practically put this team on the map, so take some pride in yourself!" Harturo pointed out.
"Only thanks to your instruction and the mentors I had while as a driver and deputy commander," Hanoashi reminded him, before bowing slightly. "Seriously instructor Harturo, thank you for everything."
"It's nothing miss, you were a pleasure to work with," Harturo smiled in return. "But anyways, Yukaro, you were going to inspect the tanks?"
"Um, right," Yukaro nodded, before turning to Hanoashi. "You look great in thigh highs by the way," she smirked.
Hanoashi blushed, wondering if this is what Rikona had felt when guys would constantly praise her over thigh highs. "It's required wearing so to speak," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Still, it suits you," Yukaro smiled, before turning to the Panzer IV H. "Welp, better get started.
Hanoashi bowed to her old instructor. "Well, I'd better get back to my group. It was nice getting to see you again," she smiled.
"Likewise, you're always welcome to drop by any time you wish," Harturo smiled.
Rising, she walked over to her hanger. Actually the hangers were connected via hallway, but each school had it's own hanger, with enough room for at least thirty tanks. Though Nishmari was splitting it's Hanger between the co-ed middle and co-ed high school, but in reality fifteen tanks was all the co-ed schools really needed. Not to mention that the hangers could be extended at any time if they really needed to be.
As she entered the hanger, she let out a quiet smile as her teammates were clambering all over the tanks, getting a good look of the insides of the tanks. I think we're going to have a fantastic year! She mused excitedly.