The Tigers of Chi-Ha-Tan ReRise Volume 4: The Scars of a Warriors Past

by Nazz11

With Miho leading the charge, the Tigress Corps have shown how deadly their fangs and claws are, as their roars of defiance echo across the land. Yet, while they rise, the Nishizumi family falls into disgrace, leaving Miho with a difficult choice. While a group of forgotten warriors returns to exact their revenge, and their target is the Tigress herself no matter what the cost.

5. Our Struggle And Our Resolve

Authors Thought:

Hello dear readers, back with another exciting chapter, as once more were exploring characters outside Chi-Ha-Tan, which has been a thrill to write. As we open up the complex nature of how others are feeling and doing, handling pressure and problems, and finding some happiness with a group or just that special someone.

Or just plain revenge.

Thanks again for stopping by, you all are just awesome, enjoy the weekend with friends and family, be well and be safe, I will see you again.

Till next Authors Thought.

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Our damn father expects so much of me…just because I'm smart…because he wishes me to be what he could not be…am I nothing but a prize cow to him?...

I…I…I don't know brother, please your scaring me…

You think I care how you feel…you get to go out with your friends, be a normal girl, no responsibilities on average Mizuko…

Don't call me that…

I'll say what I feel like…I'm the big brother here…your just here to help me..

Please, don't do this…

You must like this, seeing me put on a brave face while internally I'm being torn to shreds trying to meet our father's demands…

I don't, I want you to be happy...

Happiness is an illusion dear sister, it's not the real world, it's the fantasy one you want….or better yet…the one your still living in…

Why can't we be like we were before….

Silence ensued between the two, but only for a moment, as the sound of a fist connecting with flesh reverberated through the space, as the Mizuko fell to her knees, holding her stomach, spittle flying from her mouth, breath unable to come to her. Looking up, as her mouth gape open in pain, she saw nothing but a shadowing figure outline like a young teenage boy in a school uniform.

It was her brother, but his facial features were obscure, because she could not remember his face after so long. Only his voice, not the one that used to tease her with joy and talk with her for hours on end. No, this was the voice of a broken brother who had to live up to the genius-level their father had put on him, in turn fracturing her brother's mental state as he could not make even a single slip up or be subjected to beatings.

Then her brother spoke.

You don't think I want that! I want to be what we once were too! Yet that is never going to happen! At least not…not…not for me…

His voice became defeated

Brother, I'm still here for you…no matter what….

Yet words would not fix a broken mind, only anger it more.

You know father doesn't care what happens to you...

That's not true…

Mother never wanted you….

You're being cruel….

If you want your brother to be happy, then just stay there and give me something to take my stress out on…

Before Mizuko could respond, she was yanked up to her feet harshly, with an explosion of hot white pain in her shoulder, making her cry out. Yet this fell on deaf ears for her brother, who tossed her onto a bed, then climb up on with her.

Don't! Please brot-

Mizuko was silence with another punch to the stomach, causing a cry of pain to rise up from her lips.

Don't what!? Didn't you say you want me to be happy! Then take some stress off for me! It's all your good for in this world!...

With nothing left in her to reply, Mizuko began to cry, as no one was coming to save her from her brother. Her father would deny any wrongdoing of his prodigy son, while her mother would only mumble out that this was how things were and that Mizuko must bear it, for she was nothing more than a bystander to everything.

Maybe I should just die….

Get up! Stop lying in the dirt! A warrior never stays down, when you got the will to fight!

Suddenly there was no more pain, as Mizuko look to see she was on her feet now, wearing the Chi-Ha-Tan Sensha-do uniform she once wore with pride Then she look to see a figure standing in front of her, whose facial features she recognize more clearly, for it was her commander when she was a first-year, Mitsu Seto.

She wore the dark brown jacket with white lapels, the Chi-Ha-Tan commanders jacket. Her silver eyes bore down on Mizuko, her long dark brown hair matching her jacket, while shining like the sun baring down on the open sea. Her beauty was intoxicating to any who saw her, but for Mizuko, it was the conviction in those silver eye's had that had brought this runaway up from her darken state.

Are you going to cry because life was tough! That it didn't turn out to be all sunshine and rainbows for you!

Seto was up in Mizuko's grill now, but never did she waver in the face of her commander who gave her spirit back.

While letting the roots of the warriors code that all Chi-Ha-Tan girls were to live by work thier way into her very soul, as Seto spoke again.

Your past is your own, no one can change it for you! The now is what you must see! For your old self is gone when you put on that uniform! What you are now is a warrior!

Mizuko straighten her back up, her rich yellow eyes keeping focus on the greys ones in front of her.

That's it, show me that fighting spirit we got back out of you! This is what makes us into who we are at this club! We don't let what happen in our troubled past break us or defeat us, because our sisterhood is too strong! We will meet whatever challenges head-on, without fear, without hesitation, and not without each other! This is who Chi-Ha-Tan is meant to be! Do you understand Mizuko!?

Mizuko look to her upperclassmen with her fist clenching at her side, as the passionate words from the very girl who raised her from the pool of despair and made her a warrior, once more touch her heart.

I understand upperclassmen Seto!

Good, then never let the ideals of this club ever be broken! If any do, make sure they understand the price of breaking with not just our code, but our sisterhood! Not with words! With action! For we will always be warriors, in victory and defeat! Banzai!

Mizuko raise her voice to this, but she wasn't alone in this battle cry, as the sisterhood of Chi-Ha-Tan roared as one behind her, warriors of the past who even now held the code close to their hearts, for the club they had all love so dearly.

Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!

Their battle cry play on like a mantra, as this was their starting point to reclaim their lost honor.

Taken from them by a Tigress who learn the price of betraying the old way.

XxxxX

Suddenly Mizuko's eyes flutter open, greeted to her dorm room's ceiling. A soft light was starting to peek through the blinds illuminating her room a little, as dawn was approaching and another day aboard the Akagi School carrier was coming.

Sitting up some, Mizuko was dressed in her light blue pajamas, though she could feel sweat dripping down her face a little. Reaching a hand up she touched her damp forehead, feeling it must have come from the dream of her former life before she came to this academy, a life that she had tried to bury away for good, because it was nothing but pain and suffering. A life that had crushed the soul of a once happy vibrant girl who wanted nothing more than to do what any young girl wanted to do, laugh, go out with friends, and create memories that last a lifetime.

God must have laughed at me, for wanting the simple pleasures in life

Mizuko thought, feeling herself begin to shake with rage and anger, as she couldn't shake this past, which only became more amplified when she left the Chi-Ha-Tan Sensha-do team. Leaving it, meant leaving, in her mind, the stronger part of herself. A part that had risen above the sinking sea of melancholy that had consumed her as she walk the streets after leaving her home and shame behind.

It's only been a couple of years since that Chi-Ha-Tan counselor pick me off the street…seems like a lifetime ago

Again Mizuko thought, thinking of that moment she was sleeping on a bench one very cold night, with only her thin sweater and tights, being all she had time to put on before she ran. When a pair of police officers saw her and woke her up. They demanded to know where she live, so they could contact her parents, but Mizuko refuse and refuse, never wanting to return to that place of torment and misery. Which only agitated the police officers who look to take her in and force the answers out of her, but as if fate had decided to intervene at this very moment, a Chi-Ha-Tan counselor woman who happen to be walking by, approached and ask if the Mizuko was homeless.

After answering yes, the counselor inform the police of her academy's policy of taking in orphan girls, especially if some sort of abuse is involved and is the reason they ran away. After some such short legal work, Mizuko was placed under the care of Chi-Ha-Tan Academy, where she met other orphans, misfits, and runaways, while among regular girls as well. Then joined the Sensha-do team, where this broken girl was allowed to find her strength, once thought lost, with the code of the warrior burned onto her very soul.

Yet, for all this greatness, Mizuko was to have her world shatter, when she and her team lost to Saunders in a humiliating fashion in last year's tournament. To which Mizuko blame Ako, their then commander, for cowardice, leading to a fight between the two. Though it was broken up by their Headmaster Hidemichi, but with anger still at a fevered state, Mizuko threw a last second punch catching Ako in the face. That lead to Hidemichi suspending Mizuko for the first round of next year's tournament, which prompted Mizuko to quit the team entirely, with her fellow members doing the same, leaving then first-year Nishi to pick up the pieces of the club, as the third years quit as well.

"Now look at them, they've won, but at what cost?" Mizuko growl out, thinking of how the taint of this new era of Chi-Ha-Tan tankery was washing away fifty years of strict adherence to the warriors code.

Gripping the sheets of her bed, feeling her resentment boiling to the breaking point, Mizuko spoke to herself once more. "Damn them all…Nishi, that pamper girl has no place with us who struggle, she's just Ako's pet project…Tamada, Hosomi, and Ikeda…I train them to follow the path I did, give them back their spirit that this world broke, but what do they do when the chips are down…they don't rise to their feet, they look to rid the code for that damn Miho girl."

"Damn her….damn her, that spoil rich girl whose had everything handed to her, she doesn't fucking understand anything about our struggle, our tradition. She just manipulated them to believe in her cowardly style, but without her, those girls would fall, because they abandon what made they who they are…they forgotten me….like I'm nothing to them," Mizuko spoke rapidly, feeling herself grip the sheets tighter and tighter, as her other hand chew on the nail of her thump.

Before she could rant anymore, a soft knock came to her door, making Mizuko look up and then to her alarm clock. Reading it was only 5 in the morning, she knew it wasn't the dorm manager who comes around an hour later to rouse the girls up for the day, making her visitor have to be one of her friends though the purpose of the visit left Mizuko in wonderment.

Quickly climbing off the bed, Mizuko swiftly walk to the door, while opening it slightly. She was greeted by her close friend and gunner, Nori Umesaka, wearing her pink pajamas in the hallway that was quiet and bare for the moment as the rest of their third-year class was still asleep. Mizuko didn't say anything, but motioned for her to come in, which Nori reply with an approving smile as she crept in as the door close behind her.

"Well good morning, any reason you need to come to see me this morning?" Mizuko ask, as the two walk to the middle of the room.

"Yea, you're going to love this…hey, you alright? You're sweating," Nori ask now, taking in the sight of her friend's messy state.

Mizuko wave her off. "I'm fine, just had a bad dream, plus my room's air conditioning hasn't been working properly."

Though Nori wasn't convinced, as she reach out a hand to touch Mizuko's forehead, making her quietly yelp from the cold hand touching her now. With a precise eye, Nori felt to make sure that her friend wasn't suffering from any sort of fever or sickness, since for what she was about to reveal was too important to have Mizuko getting sick on her.

"Ahhh, are you done yet?" Mizuko said annoyed, as Nori was taking sweet her time checking her.

After a couple of moments more, Nori brought her hand down. "Yea, but you need to take care of yourself."

"I'm not a child," Mizuko argued.

Which Nori reply with a smug grin, while cocking her hip out and point to something in the room. "Try convincing me when you don't have those cute stuff animals over there."

Looking over to a shelf near her bed, Mizuko blushed as she saw two stuffed animals, one of them resembling a cartoonish yellow lion who seem to be sleepy happy with drool coming down his mouth, while the other was a green frog who wore a face of surprise with a blush on each cheek. They were popular toys in the city of Nashiro, Chi-Ha-Tan's affiliate port. Which Mizuko went and bought because she thought they were cute, but now was working against her because of her childness nature.

With a defeated sigh, Mizuko spoke. "Fine, now is there anything I can do for you? We got an hour before the dorm manager comes around."

Feeling elated with her early victory, Nori spoke in a jovial tone. "Yea, had to wait a day before telling you."

"Why?...wait, now that you mention it, what happened to you yesterday? I heard you skip class, which isn't like you," Mizuko ask, feeling some excitement build in herself from her friend's demeanor.

Nori though made a pose like she was some special agent from a spy movie, with a pretend gun in her hand. "I was on the most dangerous of missions, to help further our goals of getting revenge for our humiliation. It was life or death out there, but I saw it through to the end as a good soldier would."

"Ugh," Mizuko said, while rubbing her forehead in mild frustration. "Just spill will you, I don't have the energy this early in the morning for your games."

"Oh, what a party pooper. Well here, this is something that's going to give you a shot of energy like no other," Nori said, then reach into her pocket to produce a folded note that she handed to Mizuko, who eye it over for a moment, then gingerly took the piece of paper in hand.

Carefully, Mizuko unfolded the paper, then began to read its content. With Nori watching for every small reaction as her friend read feverishly as Mizuko began to understand what had gotten Nori so animated today. Once Mizuko was done reading, she simply let her arms slide down to her sides, with one hand still holding the note, while a wide grin began to spread across her face.

"Our luck can't be this good can it?" Mizuko had to ask.

"I call it destiny," Nori said back.

Not responding right away, Mizuko read the paper again just to make sure she wasn't seeing things, then spoke. "So, little Miss Tigress has left the carrier to go see her disgrace family."

"Yep, I think she left this with the intent of not taking her phone or anything with her, since the note said her team wouldn't be able to get in contact with her before she gets back," Nori said.

Looking to her friend with glee, Mizuko spoke. "How do you get this?"

Nori once more made a pose like she was some great spy. "I told you, I was out on a dangerous mission that I might not have come back from as I use my particular set of skills that make me a menace to my enemies."

A look of annoyance was all Nori got back.

"Okay fine, I went snooping around the hospital that Miho girl was staying early in the morning yesterday. Wanted to see if there was any juicy gossip going around or if she woke up. When I found her room, it was empty with just this note, a nurse walked in just as I swipe the note, made a mention she was gone, and book it out before they could get my name or a good look at me," Nori explain.

"Wow, that is dangerous, even for you. Yet this right here," Mizuko said, pointing to the note. "Gives us leverage. I'm sure the Headmaster isn't going to want this getting out that Miho left the carrier. Since he's convinced the community to keep quiet about Miho not waking up after their train got back to the carrier."

"I bet he probably told Nishi and select few girls only about her leaving. Had them probably keep quiet from the rest of the team, that's why I didn't come to school the other day, wanted to see the reaction, and with how quiet things have been, I think my theory is on point," Nori said, practically bouncing in place.

"I think your right…this is it Nori…our chance to make sure the code is preserved," Mizuko said, feeling her heart lighten at this chance.

"It is, so we going with the plan still?" Nori ask.

Mizuko thought it over a bit, then spoke with a devious grin. "Yes, though will make some adjustments. I want Nishi to feel fear before I break this thing wide open."

"You think that is wise letting her know what we're going to do?" Nori ask with skepticism.

A shake of the head from Mizuko was the response. "Doesn't matter, she can't stop me. She relies on that Miho girl so much, she can't stand on her own two feet, and I'll make sure she understands this."

The two grin at each other, knowing their chance for revenge was close and just needed to pounce on it before their team's tradition was buried away for good. With no Tigress to stand in their way, that goal seem to be easily obtained, and with it, the fall of this new era of Chi-Ha-Tan tankery, would see the last remnants of a dead ideal still hold on to its dying embers.

XxxxX

"She literally gave me step by step breakdown on how a T-34/76 was built so easily in the war that was the reason for the Soviets victories over the Germans, then had me build the model set of it she had, painting and all too. I literally stay up till two in the morning finishing it," Fukushu whine over the phone.

A chuckle escape Konomi's lips, as she walk the deserted streets. "Sounds like fun."

"Anything but fun, Yukari doesn't even let me sleep most of the time. You should see her room, thiers is literally every kind of tank imaginable, its mind-boggling. I don't think even some of the hardcore tank enthusiasts can top Yukari and now I'm always having to build sets with her. Even her friends do it enthusiasm," Fukushu said dejectedly.

"Well, you have to see where she is coming from," Konomi reply.

"Do explain," Fukushu said hotly.

"Yukari is an only child and until recently hasn't had any friends. Now she has more friends than she could ever hope for, while a little sister in you who loves tanks too," Konomi explain.

A sigh came over the phone from Fukushu. "I don't need another sister, plus her love of tanks is fanatical at this point, even I have my limits. Yet I guess it isn't all bad, her parents treat me very well, even…even after what I did."

Konomi could understand where Fukushu was coming from. The young girl had seen media outlets call for Fukushu to be charged with assault because of her punch thrown in that match against Miho. Social media was even worse, calling her names that Konomi wish to not even speak, let alone see. It broke Konomi's heart, because she was at fault for not understanding how Fukushu was feeling internally, her anger towards the Nishizumi family was deeper than Konomi ever thought, with her never thinking it was abandonment issues because Tsueno never gave Fukushu the love she deserved would play into it.

Steeling herself to be positive, Konomi spoke. "Fukushu, I know there is a lot of scrutiny on you because of what happened. Yet you need to push forward positively, for there will be a chance to redeem your actions, I promise you. I will be by your side the whole way, because we're in this together."

"Thanks mom, but I need to really talk to Miho. I can't imagine what's going through her mind with what's happening to her own mother," Fukushu said.

"Yes," Konomi said with a defeated sigh. "Shiho certainly got a harsh punishment handed down. With Kuromorimine breaking ties with her."

"Not to mention that press conference the Director had the other day," Fukushu said solemnly.

Which made Konomi equally solemn. Just yesterday, Federation Director Kodama had made an announcement to the public of issues with the Nishizumi family of late. Saying that along with Shiho's tankery schools being shut down, she was also being let go from the Federation board, which all but doomed the family from recovery as now their influence was all but mute at this point. Which frustrated Konomi, because she was a large part of the reason this was happening.

Yet what choice did she have? Not want to gain back her honor lost that day in Panzer Kettō, seeing her idol cousin Shiho take her apart, then Konomi's own mother throw her out on the street. Anybody would want revenge, but Konomi was realizing that just like back then, she was a tool. This time it was Chiyo Shimada, who promise Konomi revenge, that now was plain as day to Konomi as a ruse to let Shiho and her pummel one another, while Chiyo watch from the sideline as her family now was the last true tankery school in Japan.

All my fault…worse I use Fukushu like my mother use me…what a terrible cycle were in…

Konomi thought, then spoke over the phone. "I'm sure Shiho will be alright, though I wonder too how Miho is going to handle this. She's the only Nishizumi left in Sensha-do and I don't think she would want to take up the role of an heiress."

"Does that mean our family is going to fade now?" Fukushu ask with trepidation in her voice.

"I honestly don't know...which scares me to no end…feels like I'm back to square one," Konomi admitted.

"Well I still want to be in Sensha-do no matter what, I'll make up for what I did," Fukushu said resolutely.

That made Konomi smile, knowing her surrogate daughter wasn't giving in. "Good, because you're still going to shine bright in this sport."

"I just hope that I can see Jasmine, Morena, and Ellie again. They won't pick up my phone calls, they aren't mad at me are they?" Fukushu ask.

"I'm not sure honey, I haven't had a chance to talk to them either. Though I'm sure they're almost home, best not dwell on it for now," Konomi said, trying to ease her daughter's worries.

"Ok, so what are you up to?" Fukushu ask.

"Visiting someone," Konomi said.

"Who?" Fukushu ask.

Konomi was quiet for a bit then spoke. "Don't worry, I'll talk to you later okay?"

"Oh, ok, just be careful please and stay out of trouble," Fukushu said, her voice etch with concern.

"I'm the adult here, that's supposed to be my line, since you are a rascal," Konomi joke.

"Am not!...oh Yukari's home, gotta go, love you," Fukushu said quickly then hung before she could get a reply.

That made Konomi shake her head, as she shove the phone into her dress pant pocket. Then look to down the street as she was closing in on her objective. With each step now making her heart beat faster, for she was going to take on her past once more. A past she wanted nothing more than to forget it existed, like a bad nightmare she woke up from some time ago. Yet this nightmare was a reality, one that she couldn't escape no matter how much she wish it away. Which made her only choice was to face it, as much as if caused her pain.

On either side of the road, small houses were closed in together, with their only separation being a thin stone wall. These were made in order to not to take up so much space with Japan's limited living situation on their island nation that was becoming a problem with population growth. Which Konomi knew why the Carrier program was so important, allowing people to live out on the sea in communities help reduce the cost of infrastructure.

Konomi had dreamed of being on the Kuromorimine carrier when she came of age, before the duel happen. Dreams of fighting side by side with Shiho fill her mind, but those dreams had been crushed and her life turned upside down. Yet she had grown to accept that part of her life, that she and Shiho were products of their time, with Konomi no longer able to deny the truth that she might have well turn her back on Shiho had she lost. Not because Konomi had no heart, but understanding who her mother really was under the veil of a playful mother was what had made Konomi sure of this probable alternative outcome.

Asami Nishizumi.

A woman Konomi had once called mother, a woman who put on mask for her newborn daughter, a woman whose only true love was being in control. With Konomi being the tool to make that happen, but Asami had played the playful mother, but strict in her teaching of Sensha-do to Konomi. While Konomi came to see the sport as more fun, than just plain duty, which became the start of where it all went wrong. As Konomi thought Panzer Kettō would be a friendly duel to test each other skills, but when she lost and learn it was for control of the family to which she fail, did Konomi understand the gravity of what was the price of failure.

Shaking her thoughts away, Konomi saw she was at her objective. A single small two-story house, which was squeezed on either side by its neighbors. It was all white with a brown rooftop, a small walkway led to the Shoji sliding door, with well-kept grass on either side of the path. Steeling her resolve, Konomi walk down the path till she reach the door, then took a breath and rang the doorbell.

A few tense moments passed, before finally the door opened, revealing the home's occupant. An older mature lady in her late fifties, with large brown eyes, coupled with her long black that was neatly combed and flow down her back, with a few single strands of silver in it. Though quite mature, the woman had very few creases on her face, and her figure seemed to be tone under her simple grey sweater and blue denim pants.

"Well now, I didn't think you actually come when I called you," the woman said, with a sly smile on her face.

"Only to talk with you one last time and that's it," Konomi said with a deadpan look.

Placing a hand on her hip, Asami Nishizumi, once head of the Nishizumi family simply shrug. "Oh, we shall see about that. Now, come in my dear."

Konomi regretfully nodded her head and enter the house. This home was not that one she grew up in, which she was glad for, since the memories of being kicked out might have caused her to leave as soon as she enter. Yet there was still an uneasiness about all of this, as her mother had reached out to her after so long and invited her to talk. The smart thing to do for Konomi would be have been to tell her mother off and hang up, but with all the forgiving between her and Shiho, had opened Konomi up to the possibility she could squash the terrible past with her mother and set things right.

"Is father here?" Konomi ask, as the two reach the divining room, where cups filled with green tea were waiting for them on a table.

"Unfortunately, he left me years ago. Last I heard of him, he lives in Kyoto near your brother, as you can imagine they want nothing to do with me," Asami said, though Konomi could understand her mother was not looking for sympathy in that regard.

The two were soon seated, then began to drink their tea, then once they were done with their initial drink, Konomi place the cup gently on the table and spoke. "So, what do you want from me?"

Asami smile at Konomi, then spoke. "Can a mother not want to see her child after so long?"

"Funny, I don't know mothers who throw their daughters onto the streets for failing," Konomi shot back.

"Oh, still sore about that, you have to understand that was part of the family's culture then," Asami said casually, then took another sip of tea.

"Are you serious?... Do you even know what happen to me?" Konomi said, her voice rising a little.

"You fell into the clutches of some man who thought to play your prince, but in reality turn out to be a devil in disguise looking to sate his lust," Asami said, as it was the most obvious thing in the world.

That made Konomi rise from her chair, slamming her hands on the table. "He used me! How can you not be angry?! Even worse when my brother came to my aid, when no one else did, you had the gall to demand him to bring me back to the family put me into an arranged marriage!"

"Of course, I wanted you to find some happiness after that terrible mess, yet you try to spite me by purging yourself of the ability to have children, quite the outrageous move on your part," Asami said, then coolly took a sip of her tea.

For a moment Konomi had no response to that, then spoke in a silent tone. "You must have lost your mind."

"Oh dear, I've never been saner. If anything you are to thank for that," Asami said.

Konomi regretfully return to her seat. "Why is that?"

"Because you made up for your failure, as in one single match you brought Shiho and her whole family down," Asami reply, then began to clap as if she were never prouder in her life.

"That was a mistake," Konomi said, turning her face to the side, regret etch all over it.

"No it was redemption, think of how Shiho humiliated you, think of all you have lost," Asami said, her words trying to poison her daughter's mind once more.

Yet had no effect on Konomi. "You think she's to blame, you knew what that duel was all about. However, all those years training me you were nothing but loving and tender. Why the mask?"

Asami place her elbow on the table, so she could lean her head in her hand. "I figure a lighter approach be the best way, instead of beating you as my own mother did me. Though more so I could have your loyalty when you did win."

"Wait…your mother beat you?" Konomi ask.

A wide smile dance across Asami's lips. "Oh yes, as you know we are the true Nishizumi family, part of the original members. With such responsibilities and the need for traditions to be upheld, meant strict adherence to keep the status quo. My mother was cruel, beating me for even the smallest mistake on the battlefield, never once did she smile or praise me."

"That's horrible, then again, how do I know you're not making this up?" Konomi accuse.

"Believe what you want. As I've moved on from it, especially when that old hag die and I was made head member, but all that change when I lost to the bitch Nayoko," Asami said, her free hand on the table beginning to form into a fist.

"So, after you lost you started to plan your revenge, with me as the key," Konomi ask.

"Yes, though knowing how much I hated my mother growing up, I wanted to try to be a kinder approach," Asami said, flashing a lovely smile, that was fake beyond doubt to Konomi.

"While making me into your puppet. Ruling the family through me for your own gains," Konomi said with a low growl.

"Oh, don't look at it like that," Asami said, now taking her head off her hand. "You would have been made the heir of our family, I would have let you marry a man you love, you would have had many daughters that would have only gone on to help strengthen our families legacy."

"Why are we talking in what ifs? What's done is done, hell I don't even know why I came here. All of this is pointless," Konomi said, shaking her head in anger.

"You're here, because you still answer to me. Your holding onto a hope that I might change my ways, be the loving mother you remember, how amusing I find that I still have your loyalty after all this time," Asami said with pleasure in her tone.

That statement made Konomi grit her teeth, as some part of her mother's words held truth. As much as she wish the worst kinds of horrors on her mother, some small part of her, some nagging want, some unwashable love still made Konomi respond to her mother's call. As memories of their happier times together still work their way into Konomi's soul, and the worst part of it, was those memories are what she wanted Fukushu and her to have now, breaking the role of teacher and student.

Yet the burning memories of living off the streets were not to be tossed aside, they be with Konomi till the day she died, and what would always remember to push back the façade her mother play, to see the monster underneath.

Giving her mother a deathly scowl, Konomi spoke. "Even if part of that is true, you're nothing to me now. You're a relic still trying to find relevancy in your existence, but I was more the fool to give you that light. I and you are done mother, never again shall we meet, this was a mistake from the beginning."

A small look of disappointment wash over Asami's face, with a hint of burning anger behind it. Which please Konomi to see she had stuck it to her mother, then she bow and began to stand up to leave the house. Konomi didn't even get halfway out of her seat, when she was slapped across the face so hard it sent her back down into chair, then bring both hands to the spot of the slap that stung so viciously that it made Konomi wince even brushing her fingers against it.

Before Konomi could even make sense of it all, Asami was standing up from her chair now, her face's earlier neutrality turn to a look of pure abhorrence that border on insanity. Her breath was shallow as if the older woman was struggling to find it, her hands shaking frenziedly, the veins in her head bursting out. For Konomi, she felt like her younger self when her mother first berated her for losing in Panzer Kettō. The yelling, the beatings, and none of her family came to her aid when it happen.

A memory was made a reality once more.

"You damn daughter of mine! The gall of you to stick your nose up at me! Like your any better me!...Ahahaha….ahahahahahah! You're a bad joke if you think yourself so righteous now, especially after what you've done," Asami said, her face letting a sadistic smile form, making Konomi cower as she did so long ago.

Asami continue tirade. "You could have lived in America and just be an army mechanic…don't give me that look, your brother spilled everything to me, thinking it make me angry knowing you were living free from my clutches. Though it seems that turn out to be a good choice in the end, because you wanted revenge all along, taking up with a secret American Sensha-do Academy, raising Shiho's ex-husband daughter to do it as well. In the end, you're no better than me, in fact, you're just like me."

"I'm nothing like you! I didn't beat Fukushu or throw her out on the street as you did to me!" Konomi said rising from her chair, the side of her face showing angry shades of red, but she didn't back down.

"Yet you used her, for she was the key to beating Shiho once and for all, it's only bad luck that took her chance away from defeating Miho in that match," Asami said excitedly.

That made Konomi's face grow incredulous at the accusation, but quickly reply. "I know I used her, but unlike you, I recognize that fault of mine and told her. For that, we are stronger as mother and daughter, which will fix this situation."

"Oh my word, you told yourself the lie so long, that you don't realize the truth," Asami said with a shake of the head.

"What truth?" Konomi question.

"You really believe she's your daughter…it's your maternal instincts that are desperate to reach out for a child to hold close once more, since you destroyed yourself from ever having one of your own," Asami stated.

With her fist clenching hard at her side, Konomi replied seething. "I've come to terms with that, while Fukushu is my daughter, I lov-."

"No, you love the idea of what she can accomplish that you yourself never did. You mean to live your life through her, as I did with you. Do you see this cycle we are playing? And you are so blind to it," Asami lecture, her anger gone, replace once more with amusement as if she knew everything.

Which only anger Konomi more. "Damn you, I don't need to sit here and listen to this. Just live in this hole in the ground till you die for all I care, it's less than you deserve."

Then Konomi began to walk down the hall, with tears in her eyes. Knowing this would be the last time she and her mother would ever talk again. Her only regret is she couldn't rid herself of the memories of her mother's smiling face and the laughs they shared, even if they were all an act for Asami to gain Konomi's loyalty, they were still happy times that could not be let go of.

"Dying…yes one day I will die…but our family will die before that," Asami said, making Konomi stop in place and turn around to her mother.

"What are you babbling about?" Konomi said in an icy tone.

Asami slyly smile at her daughter. "After what you have done, brawling with Shiho and your daughter punching Miho. You all but destroy the Nishizumi name in these couple of weeks, quite the feat really."

"Thi…things will work you, Shiho I kn-," Konomi try to say.

"Shiho is disgraced. Kuromorimine has cut all ties to her, with more legal actions on the way I bet, leaving our once proud family a shell of our former self. Which means we need someone to fill in to save us from crumbling into dust," Asami said, hoping her words would get through.

"That someone being?" Konomi ask, much to her regret she was playing along.

"Miho."

Konomi said nothing for a moment, then spoke in a frantic tone. "No way, she's in no position to take over the family."

"She's in the perfect position to take over and she will need the guidance of someone. Since you have already shown yourself willing to steal others' daughters, why not take her under your wing?" Asami suggested.

A moment of silence passed between the two.

"Are you truly insane?" Konomi ask. "You want me to take advantage of our own family's weakened state? For what? Instead of thinking of prestige or families honor, think of the girl. Miho's already going to be devastated to learn her mother and sister are in deep legal trouble, but you want her to be pressed into service like a machine."

"The Nishizumi style demands we are made of iron, with are petty wants and needs be place aside for the sake of the families honor. You think that girl is weak, but I see the potential all of us were looking for. She might be the one," Asami said, her excitement starting to build.

"The one?" Konomi ask.

"I cannot tell you now, not until I can trust you will take custody of Miho," Asami said.

"No…no…I'm not playing your game. Your venom words aren't going to infect me once more, because I know who you really are and I will not let you near Miho or any of our family," Konomi shot back.

Asami just shook her head at her. "Even now, you wish to hold your family back with your ineptitude, unwilling to do what must be done. What a waste…fine…go on and believe things will work out."

"They will and I will do all in my power to support Miho," Konomi said, her eyes showing nothing but pure fortitude behind them, making Asami back down now.

Yet Konomi decided to leave with some respect, as she bow to her mother. "I hope you find some peace in your final day's mother, for this is the last time we will speak."

Asami said nothing, but watch Konomi rise then walk down the hall, and then out of the house. With her gone, Asami sat back down at the dining table, taking a sip of her tea that had gone cold. Then let out a deep sigh, but not one of sadness, for she could not make Konomi bend to her will. It was to be expected, having done what she did to her own daughter. Yet there had been some small hope that Konomi would see reason, with the Nishizumi family falling to pieces now, with only one person able to bring it back up. Yet the one to bring them out of this miserable state had no inkling on how to run the family, what it required you to sacrifice for its needs and wants, throwing yours to the curb.

I wonder my little niece, how are you going to drag our family out of this?...

Asami thought, then a grin spread across her face. "Well should be interesting, to say the least. Let us see if you are truly the one we all fought to be, it might just give my damn soul a little something to hold onto before I join your grandmother, we might even become friends in the afterlife….ahaha…ahhahaha…ahahahahaha."

XxxxX

Quiet chatter echoed across the auditorium that was full to the brim with girls. They were dressed in the well-know Sensha-do uniform that every school around the entire league knew well because of their long treasure history, which was filled with victory being their watchword. The uniform consisted of a dark red shirt and matching skirt, along with a black jacket worn over and a side cap with matching red trim.

Every seat was filled with every crew member from first to third years, who all were wondering what this big meeting was about. The importance of it though, was understood by them, because even the Kuromorimine tank mechanics were present, which only added to the anxiety everyone was feeling. Their fears mostly down to their head instructor, the master of the Nishizumi style, a woman respected by every member in this hall like no other.

Was now no longer their instructor.

Then add on to this miserable situation was that Maho Nishizumi, their commander, was now in the hospital due to an illness she had kept from the doctors, or more to point bribe their team physician to keep quiet about it. The physician was already let go by the school, while the team was wondering if there was even the slight chance Maho could come back to them.

As many couldn't see how they were to proceed without Maho. Sure they all understood a day would come where they have to fight without a Nishizumi leading them, but with all the positive changes Maho had made this year made it hard to imagine how to push on. The once severe and emotionless girl had all but shed that side of herself this year, being more open with the team. Ask them for their opinions and what they fear. There was no strict adherence to do as they were told in years past, a sort of freedom to be themselves had been unleashed that had only made the team become closer as a fighting unit.

Now their leader was gone, their source of light snuffed out. Even if the media try to paint the Nishizumi family in a bad light, these girls knew better. Their loyalty would be to the Nishizumi style always, no matter how much time passed. It had been what made Kuromorimine the school it was and no one could take them from them. Not even the new headmaster of their school, who if rumors were true, had berated Shiho Nishizumi, which had earned him no respect from the team.

Which only raised their ire that he was the very one that called for this meeting.

Suddenly said director walk onto the raise stage, dressed in a well press black suit, with a crimson tie, with a small pin on his lapel that was the Kuromorimine school emblem. Even as much as the girls loathe him, the man was quite handsome only pushing into his late 30's with fair skin, with his black hair neatly cut into a comb-over, a thin and neatly trimmed mustache, and dark brown eyes. His name is Horiuchi Morimoto their new headmaster.

Behind him was the temporarily appointed Kuromorimine Sensha-do commander in Erika Itsumi, the sliver-golden hair girl who was Maho's loyal second in command, with behind her was Koume Akaboshi, a girl who could have lost her life in last year's tournament. Yet had stayed with the team even after everything that had happened when she had every right to leave, while only growing stronger and becoming a feared platoon leader, which garner much respect from everyone.

"All rise!" One of the Kuromorimine platoon leaders said.

As one, speaking their iron discipline built into them, the tank commanders and crews rose up, with the mechanics as well in one fluid motion. Next, they bow in respect to the trio on the stage, then were quickly ordered to return to their seats, now awaiting to listen to what their new headmaster was to say, even if they didn't care to him at all.

Taking his spot at the podium, Horiuchi clear his throat a bit, then spoke. "Ladies of Kuromorimine Sensha-do team, as you know, we are in a very precarious situation. I have had to unfortunately and with a heavy heart let go of Miss Shiho Nishizumi, because of the accusations being placed against her for brawling during the match, but also other charges that will be brought down on her that due to legal reasons I can't disclose to you."

"That only makes it worse your commander Maho Nishizumi was to make a terrible decision by bribing the team physician with money to try and fight through her illness in matches. With these two events, our school's Sensha-do team honor has all but been tarnished. All that you ladies have worked for has been sullied. Even now the media outlets make calls that our school integrity is in question. Which doesn't help when last year we almost lost Miss Akaboshi in the final as her tank fell in the water, yet instead of being asked if she was ok, your seniors of last year wanted her to pay for a perceived failure."

Horiuchi made a show of slamming his fist on the podium to show how upset he was. "This is not how our team should operate! Your minds have been poisoned by the likes of Shiho to think of only winning and forget everything else. That should be the farthest thing from your mind, for you should care for each other, care for what you can accomplish together. We may be facing a tidal wave of backlash from the terrible actions of the Nishizumi family, but together we can wash their teachings away and form a new era of Kuromorimine Sensha-do that will take the world by storm!"

Then the new headmaster let a proud smile cross his face, feeling like his speech had reached the team. Wanting them to raise their voices to his challenge for a new era. Because now, this new headmaster didn't have the backing of Chiyo as he had hoped would be the case as the two work together, Though the headmistress of the Shimada family abandoned him the minute he fulfilled his goal of kicking Shiho to the curb. All dreams of the Shimada leading Kuromorimine were gone, especially with Alice possibly being their future leader that would raise their school to heights even higher than Nishizumi's ever did.

Or what was now only a dream that would never come true. Now Horiuchi had to rally the troops to take his side, for they were all he had now. Kuromorimine's bread and butter of their academy was their Sensha-do program, it was what draw sponsors in, what made millions of girls want to attend it. If it started to fall apart as it had done so long ago, ironically being saved by Shiho herself, there be a drop off of all these luxuries. Because they were respected for the one word that was always associated with them.

Victory.

If that became something hard to obtain under this new headmaster reigns, who's to say another powerful family doesn't make a bid to MEXT to take over if the school's performance drop. Which added to Horiuchi's worries that he needed to rectify any grudges the girls had against him for getting rid of Shiho.

Yet instead of thunderous applause, the new headmaster was met by what he feared most. Every girl sitting in the auditorium just stare at him. None show any hint of emotion, all just bore their eyes into him, with Horiuchi seeing there was silent anger behind them that they hid well. Even the mechanics didn't look the please or be his saving grace in the end. Making Horiuchi frantic to maybe try a different approach to getting them on board, with his thoughts of maybe having Erika say a few words on his behalf.

Turning to look over his shoulder, Horiuchi was about to gesture for Erika to come to speak, yet he was met by the same neutral gaze, that bore hatred behind it. Erika's hands were clenched into fists at her sides and he could see they were slightly shaking as if to announce his indignation. Looking away from her, Horiuchi hope maybe Koume could help out, but found the short reddish-brown hair giving him a deadpan look, making him balk to see that she wasn't taking his side after mentioning her.

Silence ensued in the auditorium, which was leaning towards being completely awkward.

Finally, Horiuchi gave up on the whole venture as he spoke in a defeated tone. "Thank you ladies for your time, please give your attention to Miss Itsumi, who has a few words for you."

The new Headmaster walked away from the podium completely crushed, not that anyone was going to have feelings of pity for him. His speech was forced, trying to manipulate the situation to make the Nishizumi's out to be the bad guys, but that wasn't how these iron ladies would ever see them. Talking bad about them was next to heresy, for all their family members who had led Kuromorimine to victory after victory had garnered only approbation and loyalty, for many girls in this very room had mothers who fought here before them, making them devoted to the family from an early age, as many wanted to emulate their own mother's achievement.

Now with the hated Headmaster gone, Erika took a deep breath and walk to the podium, with Koume following some, but remain to the side with her hands behind her back. Looking down from the podium, Erika took in all the faces of her teammates, who had more animation in their faces than before seeing Erika at the podium, they sat up straight in their chairs, and their eyes were completely focused on her.

Yet for all the posturing earlier, Erika felt a little nervous now to speak with them. When she had informed the team of what had happened to Maho, it had only been the tank commanders, and even then she was a little nervous to announce it. Mostly because now there was a void in leadership that couldn't possibly be filled. Even if Maho herself show such confidence in Erika to take over, it wasn't something that could just happen with the snap of the fingers. Erika herself was starting to understand the difficulties of leading now, every minuscule detail that needed to be attended to, constant reviews of strategies, having to talk with every member of the team about any problems of issues that needed to be dealt with.

As the Sub commander, it had been done in a smaller role, being more focused making sure drills were being done to the top peak efficiency. Now all those task fell to Erika, which even now was all temporary as the team still needed to have a talk about how things were to proceed as a whole. Luckily for Erika, Koume had become her source akin to a balanced pole walking this tightrope. The girl was a ball of positivity, making sure Erika understood she had her back, handling a mass amount of paperwork, all while making sure Erika had a cup of coffee in hand working late into the night.

With all this in mind, Erika spoke aloud to her team, trying to remember the speech she had gone over in her head. "Iron ladies of Kuromorimine, we have been handed a terrible twist of fate. To have Maho who's been our pillar of stability this year taken from us. Though many outside these walls question and chastise her actions, I have been with Maho since elementary school."

Erika stop, as she knew she had steadied herself, then spoke again. "Back then, all I ever did was beat her in Sensha-do. Wanting to prove my skills of being a tanker far outreaching hers…yet I after a time, I realize instead of fighting against her, learning and growing from this prodigy might be better. Maho was never one to praise me, not because she thought I was deficient in my tanker's ability, but because praise was only earned when you show your heart and commit to this sport."

"I love Sensha-do, more than ever. As before, we acted like machines wanting to do our simple duty of winning like the members of old. That wasn't the case this year, because Maho changed, she wanted us to be a team that truly fought together. Know each and every one of you in this group matters to our success that can only be achieved through the unity of our hearts."

"Even now, I can see the flaws of the old Nishizumi style," Erika said, feeling her heart clench to speak any ill of the style that gave her purpose. Some in the audience gasp to hear Erika say that as well, knowing how dedicated she was to it, yet Koume let a small smile cross her face knowing Erika had more to say on the matter.

If I can't go on. Know my faith is in you to lead our school to victory

The words Maho spoke to Erika before she left still rung in Erika's head. A seemingly final order to make sure Erika understood that this was her team now, this was her moment to no longer follow, but to lead. Yet there was still nagging self-doubt, knowing the pressures to lead these mighty ladies of Kuromorimine. A responsibility that require more than just strong leadership, it demanded action, for its leader to be at the forefront when the team face the enemy shells being thrown at them. With Erika needing to take up the torch and show she could weather the storm and see them through.

"Though know, even if many denounce the Nishizumi style. We….we ladies of Kuromorimine will follow it still! Maho has given us the blueprints of the new Nishizumi style, but it is up to us to carry it! The challenge will not be easy! The road will not be kind! However, the fruits of our hard work if we persist, if we struggle, if we sacrifice everything not for victory alone, but for each other! Will be something that will burn bright in our memories till our dying day!" Erika roar to her team.

Her words resonated with crews and mechanics alike, a challenge to fully grasp the Nishizumi style that Maho had left behind. Their fallen leader's last embers still burning lightly, which included their still respected master instructed Shiho in it. This would be their homage to them, to advance forward, but not leave them completely behind, for their spirits would stay at Kuromorimine for all time. Even years and years down the road, never would any forget the Nishizumi style, even if their new headmaster did all he could to wipe them from their school, their culture was intertwined with this and never be broken.

Yet, doubt still remain for the girls, as they wonder if they could fully take this challenge on.

Silence still envelope the auditorium, with every member in the audience looking at each other wondering how they should respond. For all they needed was that final push to grasp this new era.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Suddenly the sound of someone stamping their feet on the hardwood fill the auditorium. With all eyes turning to the source, which even included Erika, as it was none other than Koume herself tapping her right boot into the floor in a steady rhythm, her face was flush with red from embarrassment. For Koume had a little stage fright in her and wasn't used to acting out, especially in front of such a large audience. Yet she was going to do all she could to support Erika and give her team the final push they needed.

With that push being a song that spoke to their tanker's spirit.

Koume took a deep breath, then let her angelic voice fill the auditorium.

Ob's stürmt oder schneit,

(Whether it storms or snows,)

Ob die Sonne uns lacht,

(Whether the sun smiles upon us,)

Der Tag glühend heiß

([Whether in] The day's scorching heat,)

Oder eiskalt die Nacht,

(Or the ice-cold of the night,)

Verstaubt sind die Gesichter,

(Dusty are our faces,)

Doch froh ist unser Sinn,

(But joyous is our mind,)

Ja unser Sinn.

(Yes, our mind.)

Es braust unser Panzer!

(Our tanks roars forward there!)

Im Sturmwind dahin!

(Into the storm's wind!)

Once Koume was done, she kept tapping her foot in a steady rhythm, staring at her team seated looking back in awe. For this song was well known to them, for it spoke to their drive to face any obstacle in their path and meet it with the roar of their panzers advancing. No matter the trials or tribulations, these tankers would meet it head-on, even now so more than ever, to honor the style and the very family who has molded them.

Suddenly a girl stood up from her seat by the name of Anna Iruma commander of a Panzer 3, then began to match her foot-stomping to Koume's. This was followed up by another girl by name of Emi Kojima commander of a Jagpanther, then another, another, another, and soon enough the whole team, mechanics included were standing on their feet stomping their feet in complete synch with one another.

Then as one, let their voices ring across the entire auditorium, its awesome sound making the place reverberate as if their very panzers were driving by.

Ob's stürmt oder schneit!

(Whether it storms or snows!)

Ob die Sonne uns lacht!

(Whether the sun smiles upon us!)

Der Tag glühend heiß!

([Whether in] The day's scorching heat!)

Oder eiskalt die Nacht!

(Or the ice-cold of the night!)

Verstaubt sind die Gesichter!

(Dusty are our faces!)

Doch froh ist unser Sinn!

(But joyous is our mind!)

Ja unser Sinn!

(Yes, our mind!)

Es braust unser Panzer!

(Our tanks roars forward there!)

Im Sturmwind dahin!

(Into the storm's wind!)

Once they were done with the chorus, they started up once more, their voices seeming to roar louder than before. For this was the sound of their hearts beating as one, for not just to press forward into the unknown, but to press forward together. They would do as their new commander ask of them, to hold close the Nishizumi style that they would carry on for Maho, for Shiho, and for Miho.

Do you hear them Maho?...we aren't finished…I'll find my own Sensha-do with all that you've taught me…to whatever end, in this place that is my home and these girls who are my tankery sisters

Erika thought, having to hold back some proud tears, blinking them rapidly away. She then turn around to see the new Headmaster staring at the display in complete awe, as well as dumbstruck. Making Erika smile to see that he had no idea of how deep the roots of the Nishizumi style had in their team and he would not be the one to wash it away.

Soon enough the singing die down, as Erika call for calm. The girls return to their seats, their faces a bit red from the excitement of singing together, their faces full of joy and giddiness to get out on the practice field. To hear the roar of their panzers that they believe would echo to all carriers to remind them of the might of Kuromorimine.

Erika spoke her final words to the team. "As you know, the leader for our team is always earned, never given. Maho has entrusted me to lead this team, but I don't take the torch without the voice of my team behind it. If you feel you are up to the task of leading better than me, then please challenge me for the right to be the commander and I shall prove my mettle. So ladies, am I worthy to be your commander?"

This was final step for Erika, for this young girl heir to a proud house, who wanted to finally step out from the shadows and be her own person. To do away with the brooding and snobbish person she had been, but be one that others could look up to and be a proud example to them.

Like before, the team rose from their chairs and declare in a solid voice the ancient oath of Kuromorimine to their new commander.

"We iron ladies follow Erika Itsumi into the storm's wind and will not take one step back!" The team swore as one.

Letting a breath of relief out Erika steady herself and spoke with a steely resolve. "Thank you! Now let's show the world what real tankers are made of, Panzer Vor!"

"YEEEEAAAAAA!"

XxxxX

"Mmmmmmmm, nothing like a hot shower after practice!" Rena Andou said happily as she finish dressing in the bathroom of her dorm.

Andou rub the towel over her long shoulder-length spiked-messy black hair, then made a couple of touch ups on her tan skin to make sure she was dry. She wore nothing but a light blue tight-fitting tank top, with her black cotton short shorts.

Feeling quite refreshed, Andou made sure to apply some moisturize on her face before she left, ready to jump into bed for a nice long sleep. Her body was still sore from the more intense drilling their Sensha-do commander Marie had been putting them through lately. With strict adherence to proper formations and movements, making use of their maneuverable French and now newly added American tanks that had helped them through the first round.

Even now, Marie had been secretive about how they had been able to receive their new tanks, and whenever Andou prodded for answers, she get rebuffed by her cake-loving commander to just enjoy the fact they had tanks on par with other teams. To which now Andou just accepted since now she had bigger dreams of making it all the way to the final and winning the whole thing. Though nothing had been made easy for this team, as they had to overcome the archaic divide in class with the students that trickle down to the Sensha-do team's culture.

The Escalator faction of students was the nobility of their school, with most of the girls coming from well-off families. Making them by Andou's account a bunch of snobs who stuck their noses up at anything even slightly lower than them. They were even given their own half the ship that was elegant in its constructions like their girls, filled with cafés and high dining restaurants.

While Andou was part of the Examination faction, consider being the bottom part of the student body. All of the girls came from middle-class or downright poor families who couldn't afford the school's tuition, but because of high grades were given a scholarship to their school for their education. They live in the other half of the school, which was downright atrocious compared to the other side, being almost a slum in this regard.

It was a definite shock to Andou when she first arrive on the carrier, even going so far to argue why they needed to live in this filthy place. Yet this had been a staple of their school carrier's culture since it was founded, so no one made much of an argument. Which left Andou to brood over it during her first year that would eventually spill over going into her second year.

Yet, with all this divide, there was one thing that brought the divided factions together and that was Sensha-do. Though both sides still were separated to fight in their factions, on the battlefield they learn to work alongside each other with little complaints. At one time they were considered a top-four team, only inching out Saunders for a short time, that had been during Azumi's time.

Though Andou never fought alongside her, Azumi who was now a College lever tanker, and an ace at that. Still visited her old school, offering instruction and encouragement. Azumi never care much for the divided factions, all she cared for was the team. Andou had been wary of her for a time, but eventually, the beautiful women's charm and care won Andou over, with Azumi's instruction only nurturing Andou's love of Sensha-do along the way.

"I wonder if Azumi is coming to see our next match," Andou said, as she felt ready for bed, putting the towel back on the hanger next to her roommate's own, which was far more elegant than hers.

"I wonder how piss she be if I use her towel…oh well, miss opportunity's," Andou said with a shrug and chuckle, then walk out of the bathroom.

After closing the door behind her, Andou took in the sight of her dorm room. Which by most standards wouldn't be considered a dorm, more like a small apartment by how large it was. With enough room to fit a couch and mounted T.V if they wanted to. Yet they had the standard two beds, separated to either side of the room was still the practice. Each side being polar opposites of one another, Andou had plain sheets and blankets, her wall filled with sports stars she like.

While the other side was a noblewomen's dream. Lavish and expensive silk sheets. Blankets and pillows of the highest quality, while the wall was bare. A desk lay at the foot of the bed, where a laptop was closed.

"You should be thanking me for leaving a barbarian like you some hot water," a voice huffily said.

Que my blondie roommates retorts, jeez she never lets up…though guess I'm getting used to it if it doesn't anger me as much as before

Andou thought, then turn to the elegant bed where her dorm mate sat on the edge. There was no denying she was a beauty. Her skin a light pale color that seem to shine with room's light, her fluffy blonder shoulder-length hair, and captivating ocean blue eyes. She was wearing a Luxurious French-style satin nightdress that reach down her shins.

This was Andou's frenemy, Ruka Oshida, a girl from some well-off family back on the home island. A girl who Andou had come to hate since the day they cross paths, as the blonde always seem to pick her out especially to taunt. With Andou always fighting back, which went on and on and on. It was only recently with Marie's takeover of the Sensha-do team and her new policy of destroying the animosity between the two factions that had caused their fighting to die off.

Well somewhat if truth be told.

Mostly because Marie made the two of them vice commanders and were made to live together in a dorm at the start of the year. Even with a rough start to their living together, eventually, Andou broke down and tried to come to an understanding with Oshida and soon a resemblance of friendship took root, which was starting point for both factions putting differences aside for the sake of the team.

Feeling a little hot under the collar, Andou push down her desires, as she walk over to her own bed, all the while those blue eyes follow her every movement with quiet intensity. After checking her phone to see if she got any messages, Andou pull the sheets back and settle herself on the edge of the bed, feeling ready to let the inviting sheets take her to dreamland, yet it seem Oshida was in no mood to let that happen.

"Are you ignoring me?" Oshida said, her face contorting into a pout.

She's cute when she pouts…even for a rich pamper girl…

Andou thought, smiling slyly at the blonde and spoke. "You know, they say if you got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all."

That made Oshida huff at the reply. "They say when you give someone your time, and they don't appreciate it, send them a bill."

"Ugh, theirs those sharp retorts of yours again," Andou reply with a deep sigh, feeling too tired for the usual back and forth.

"It's because you make it so easy, as expected of Examination students, all bark and no brain," Oshida said with a look of disappointment.

At that moment, gone was Andou's fatigue, as she stare hard at the blonde with a scowl. "What makes you Escalators so special? Just because your families shill out money to get you everything you want, makes me half surprised you don't complain about chipping your nails when we do tank maintenance."

"Oh my," Oshida said, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth, with a mock look of surprise. "You don't have mechanics to take care of that, you are seriously out of date."

"Guess having those mechanics take care of your tanks, must be the reason you have this much energy, damn monarchist," Andou said with a growl.

"Hmph, resulting to petty insults you damn goat herder. Try to be more inventive, but that might be too much for you I guess," Oshida shot back.

"Gah! You're so damn frustrating! I don't have the energy for this!" Andou said exasperatedly while flopping back onto her bed with her arms sprawled out.

Instead of another retort sent Andou's way, she just heard some giggling begin to fill the room, making her sit up to see Oshida hunching over to contain her laughter, which only irk Andou more than usual. Yet Oshida soon got her laughter under control, as she stood up from the edge of her bed and walk over to Andou's bed, then sat down on the edge as well, making Andou sit up now. Their bodies were close, with their hips down to their legs pressing against each other.

A jolt of nervousness spread to Andou about the close proximity, while Oshida look at complete ease. It was as the blonde was so close, that Andou noticed Oshida had a tablet in hand. There was an image of their tank roster on it, with Oshida flicking her finger to make the screen scroll down to something.

"What are you looking for?" Andou ask, leaning over to get a better look.

"Lady Marie sent me a text while you were in the shower about some new tanks being added. Also, you should thank me for setting up your bed, ugh, it's like you never had to do house chores before," Oshida chastise.

That made Andou growl at her completely ignoring what was said earlier. "What's the point? The bed is just going to get messed up anyway in the end."

"It's called being responsible," Oshida said with annoyance.

"That's rich coming from you. Especially when you had maids take care of all your needs, some of us aren't so lucky," Andou shot back.

Oshida pouted now. "Which makes it worse that I have a better grasp of basic chores than you."

"Whatever….maybe you make a better maid than some pamper girl," Andou tease.

"You insolent pleb. Learn to speak to your betters," Oshida said angrily.

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it?" Andou press on, leaning into the blonde a little.

"This," was all Oshida replied with while taking her hand and slipping it under Andou's shirt to pinch her side.

"Ow! That hurt," Andou yelp out, while rubbing the spot, already planning her reprisal.

Making Oshida shake her head. "I need you to focus, remember what I said earlier. Lady Marie texted me about new tanks added to the roster."

"Yea, yea, I hea…wait what?! New tanks! Again!" Andou said excitedly.

A sigh came from Oshida, but press on. "Yes, they were just delivered to us when a MEXT ship came to dock with us tonight for resupply."

"Let me guess, they were from our gracious shadow supporter. The same one that gave us those Sherman's, Wolverines, and Stuarts," Andou said, while leaning back a bit on the bed.

"You insinuate again that we only go-," Oshida try to warn.

Yet was cut off as Andou wave a hand in her face. "If I insinuate that Lady Marie has a secret lover that's financing these new tanks, you wouldn't hesitate to send me to the Bastile. I heard you the first time, sheesh, I was only going to say it's weird that we're getting more tanks. I mean, why now?"

Calming down, Oshida turn back to the tablet in her hand. "I honestly don't know, but at the same time I don't care."

"Really?" Andou said, giving the blonde her full attention.

"Yea," Oshida said, then turn her head to her frenemy, with her blues eyes shining. "We have a chance to win against a top-four school. We get a chance to show Azumi all our hard work, to bring our school back up to where she once led them to. I have a chance to show my family, what I am made of."

For a moment, Andou didn't say anything back. Letting her dark silver eyes drink in Oshida's blue ones. Nothing but a fierce gaze was returned to Andou speaking of her frenemy's ambition that burn bright in her heart. Not that Andou didn't understand this, as this was also her goal as well, to bring BC Freedom Academy out of its mediocre state and see it brought back to the top four that it once shared with Kuromorimine, St. Gloriana, and Pravda. Yet that seem like a lifetime ago, but that didn't stop the dreams of these two girls want to see it become reality.

"Your family still not talking to you?" Andou ask, knowing this change in subject went hand in hand with her frenemy's goal.

Quickly Oshida averted her eyes. "Yes, they never approve of me coming here and they definitely didn't approve of me doing Sensha-do."

Seeing her once fiery friend look completely downtrodden made Andou sigh sadly. Thinking back to first knowing of Oshida's own family troubles, with it happening in the most bizarre manner. Being roommates didn't do any favors for the two of them who bicker and bicker over little things. Then it got ugly one night when Oshida seem particularly in a bad mood, chastising Andou for every little thing, making Andou lash out and call her nothing but some spoil brat who's only going anywhere in life because her family pays for everything. Which sent Oshida into a rage and tackle Andou to the ground, but before any damage could be done, Andou was shocked to see Oshida crying.

Oshida was crying because her family had all but disown her because she wouldn't go along with their want for her to attend a private rich academy on the mainland. They wanted her to follow the path like Oshida's two older sisters, one being an Olympic level fencer and the other an Olympic level gymnast with both going to represent Japan in the upcoming world cup. Yet Oshida could never be as graceful or athletic as her older sisters. Making her feel the mounting pressure of upholding the family sports name, not to mention her mother was a silver medalist in gymnastics way back when, but these traits never passed down to Oshida.

For years before BC Freedom Academy, Oshida try to find a sport she could great at, but nothing stuck, to the point her older sisters began to tease her about being the rotten egg in the bunch. Then going so far as to tell Oshida she be nothing but a nice wife for some rich man to help the family along. Oshida felt shame and hatred altogether, not just at her sisters, but at herself. Wishing she could be something more, wishing she wasn't just a failure in her mother's eyes, and wishing someone would support her.

Everything changed when Oshida found Sensha-do, watching and finding it deeply fascinating to her. It didn't require you to be athletic to be able to prove yourselves better, but instead require a strong mind and quick thinking. Not to mention teamwork to get the most out of the tanks, so Oshida decided to join BC Freedom Academy as the noble appeal of the school culture stuck with her, while hoping her mother and sister would cheer her on.

Yet none of that happen, all Oshida got were scornful looks and cold shoulders. In turn made her bitter, which Oshida took out on the escalator faction, needing to vent her own frustrations on others. Yet in the end, she found her rival in Andou who didn't cower before Oshida like the others, she stood up and call Oshida out time and time again.

On and on it went, the two constantly at each other's throats, even together in Sensha-do practice. Yet one day that all changed when Andou praise Oshida after a duel, saying with a smile that Oshida was quite the warrioress when she wasn't hurling insults, but instead cannon shells. From then on the two simmer down their insults especially now being roommates had mostly dissipated the fighting.

In the end, for Oshida, it was the first time someone ever really supported her, and in turn, made her frenemy someone who she respected greatly.

"Aw, if they don't wanna come around, then that's their fault," Andou said.

Oshida was dragged from her bad memories and pleasant ones, to look at Andou who stare deeply at her.

"We're about to shock the whole world when we beat Kuromorimine. Even they will have to take notice and when they do, don't pick up the phone. Just let them wallow in their grief their daughter is doing big things without their approval," Andou declare with a smug smile.

Staring at her frenemy for a long moment, Oshida began to chuckle now, making Andou raise an eyebrow in wonder, as the blonde's laughter became louder.

Soon enough Oshida calm down, then wipe a tear from her eye as she spoke. "I forget your simple and crude way of comforting."

"Ah, are you making fun of me?" Andou said with her eyes squinting in suspicion.

"No, no, I'm just grateful to what you said," Oshida said with a small smile on her face.

Suddenly an arm wrapped around Oshida's shoulder making her yelp at the sudden contact, while also being pull close against Andou's side. Instantly Oshida felt her heart begin to beat fast, as this wasn't something new for her being close to Andou, but still play on her nerves because she was always so flustered. Not to mention the tingles that felt like small shocks of electricity as Andou's fingers slide up and down Oshida's smooth pale arm in a soothing motion.

"Don't just grab me like that you pleb," Oshida said, trying to hide her embarrassment under being snarky.

Which Andou saw right through, turning her head to look at those bright blue eyes she come to like so much. "Oh, you could fight back mademoiselle."

"I'm holding an expensive tablet in my hands. I'm not about to break it because your feeling clingy," Oshida fought back, but slowly snuggle herself into comfortability at Andou's side.

"Excuses, excuses," Andou said with a chuckle, then spoke again before Andou could fight back. "I'm serious, just forget about your mother and sisters scorn. Right now you got a team at your back, even if I still loathe the rest of the Exclamation faction, I'll admit you all do have some tasty food."

"And you make some tasty chocolate-filled takiya, which does go well with my green tea. Hmph, when I become a powerful businesswoman, maybe I'll hire you as my chef, you like that wouldn't you," Oshida said with a proud smile.

"Maybe it's the other way around, with me making you my personal waitress. Your cuteness can definitely get me some extra customers when I open my own shop one day," Andou said with a smug look.

"You mean to use me for my beauty, how drool. I have other assets like a grasp on finances, while you can't be asked to count past ten, any wonder how you measure distances when it comes to range finding during practices," Oshida shot back.

Which made Andou shrug. "Guess I got good instincts."

"More like lady luck," Oshida said with a roll of the eyes.

"She sure does like me. Anyway, let's get back on topic, what's the word on these new tanks," Andou ask.

Focusing herself on the tablet, Oshida enhance the screen so Andou could see. On the screen 6 tanks that were to be added to their team made Andou go wide eye, pulling her face close to make sure she wasn't seeing things. While Oshida smiled at her friend's reaction, knowing this was how she felt when she saw the tanks for the first time.

"Are you serious? Is that ARL-44 even legal?" Oshida ask.

"It is. Section 3 Article 1, states for vehicles that never advanced from the planning stage, the League will decide on their eligibility on a case-by-case basis. Lady Marie confirm with the Federation Board that it was ok to use them, but limited us to only being able to field three in a match, since their gun is quite powerful, to keep things fair," Oshida said.

"What about those American tanks?" Andou ask.

"Technically the French did have one in their arsenal, in the 1st Armor Division Blindée, so they are approved for use. Which should give us the extra edge on Kuromorimine," Oshida said with a smile.

Feeling like she was out of breath because her excitement was through the roof. Andou once more fell back onto the bed, dragging Oshida with her, making the blonde complain profusely at her roommate. Yet Andou didn't care in the least as their team for the first time was going to be on even ground with a top 4 team. No longer were they going to be held back by having less than superior tanks be their achillies hell.

"Hey you farm girl, I told you to be careful. This tablet isn't cheap you know," Oshida complain.

"Can you believe it," Andou said, ignoring the complaints. "We're going to have a chance, were going to do the impossible."

Seeing the shine in Andou's eyes, coupled with her unbridled excitement. Oshida relented as she spoke with a smile on her face. "Yes, we're going to show the Sensha-do world why were to be feared now. Show them why Lady Marie is the best commander. Though it's quite unfortunate that Kuromorimine doesn't have their commander with them, feels like a shame to not face a Nishizumi."

"Yea, heard about that scandal Miss Maho is in. Always thought she was dutiful and law-abiding type. To bribe a team physician with money to keep quiet about a sickness is extreme," Andou said with a sad sigh.

"Maybe she had her reasons?" Oshida question.

With her arm still around the blonde, Andou pull her closer to her as she spoke. "If you ever did that, I be angry as hell is all I know."

That statement made Oshida blush to hear the passion in Andou's voice. Which in turn made her happy to know how much she cared. More care than Oshida's own family had for her, that only made the relationship that had been built with Andou all that more special and surprising for Oshida.

Tilting her head back, Oshida could see Andou still staring at the ceiling. Then the blonde lean up to press a gentle kiss on that rich tan cheek. Once she was done, Oshida pull back to see Andou turn to her in wonderment, but the black hair girl quickly smile and then lean down to capture Oshida's lips. It was a soft and drawn out kiss, each savoring the others taste as if it be the last time they ever do it.

Once it was over Andou leaned back. "You know, I never would have thought my frenemy be my lover."

"How rude! I'm a capable lover," Oshida said with a pout.

"Alright, alright," Andou said with a wave of the hand. Then stare again at the ceiling as she spoke. "You know your parents will never approve of us."

"I know," Oshida said in quiet sadness. "I might not be able to go home ever again."

"Well good," Andou said.

"Wah, how is that good?" Oshida said with baffled face.

Making Andou turn her head to her once more. "Because that means when summer break starts you can come back with me to my island home."

"Yes, because being eaten alive by insects sounds so appealing," Oshida said with an annoyed look. Then switch to a questioning one. "Will your family approve of me?"

"Of course, my mom, dad, and little brothers always knew of my taste. They're an open-minded bunch, so you'll just need to show them you ain't some pamper girl is all to earn their respect," Andou said with a chuckle.

"I am not pamper!" Oshida argue.

"Are you sure about that? Since I spoil you all the time," Andou argue back with a smug look.

That made Oshida pout again, then place the tablet at safe distance on the bed. Next breaking out of Andou's hold as she sat up and straddle Andou who was surprised by the sudden actions of the blonde. Going so far to raise herself up, but Oshida place a hand on her chest to send Andou back down as Oshida tilted her head to give off a devilish smile.

"It is me who is spoiling a farm girl like you," Oshida teased.

"Maybe your right, this is a pretty good sight," Andou said, running her hands up Oshida's thighs while pushing her nightdress up.

"I'm glad you approve. Be ready to enjoy it more when summer comes as I have a lot of swimsuits I want to show off," Oshida said, trying to repress her moans, as Andou's hands work under her nightdress.

"I will, but I like the present better. My beautiful diamond is with me and an upset on the horizon," Andou said, drinking in every reaction of her lover.

"Ah…yes…I quite like that. I like to see my lioness roar loudly in battle and more importantly tonight," Oshida said, lowering herself to touch either side of Andou's lovely face as lean down to kiss her once more.

As this night was theirs, with a mighty battle to be fought in a couple of days, yet for now these two only care for this moment, as the most unlikely of people had found each other's souls, intertwining themselves to never be broken by anything or anyone.