Kaiser was sitting against the center of a recently replaced barrel, now propped up on both ends by a pair of steel jacks. As the buzz of machinery and idle chatter floated about and around him he slowly thumbed through a small stack of papers in his hands.
What he held, was performance reports on his squad. Despite his early arrival for their practice, he was contrarily dreading it. Or to be more precise, prepared for the day's nuisances. Kaiser still recalled Virtanen's snickers when they had briefed each other the day prior.
-The Day Prior-
It was just after Kaiser had finished his witch hunt for the perpetrators of the scandalous article while inadvertently clearing Virtanen and Knight's names in the process. Now that the bitter thoughts and bruises exchanged were for the most part behind them Virtanen and Kaiser took to their original plans of training before the upcoming scrimmage.
Closing the office door behind them Kaiser began their conversation as Virtanen took a seat and removed his jacket. "So I avoided speaking of it in front of Knight and the others but what is the situation with your squad?" Kaiser asked leaning against the door frame and crossing his arms. "Not too many problems I assume? Other than what I expect to be you harassing poor Ms. Cartier" he quipped.
Virtanen reclined in his chair stretching and gave a satisfied yawn in the process. "None other than the usual squabble and no, I have not stepped out of line in regards to Piper," he assured. "But I have been making my presence known as a commander." he bragged.
"Ha, a nervous greeting and standing with your chest out whenever they glance around isn't much of an improvement" Kaiser scoffed in return.
Childishly Virtanen mocked Kaiser's words before pausing. "Although there is a cadet or two who seemed to have disliked my 'professionalism' as they put it".
"How so?" Kaiser asked, taking a seat, joining Virtanen in also removing his jacket.
"By comparing me to you" Virtanen deadpanned.
Kaiser's eyes drifted slightly at the awkward revelation. Glancing over he saw Virtanen's pouting expression.
The two held eye contact for a moment before Kaiser nonchalantly leaned into his seat and replied coolly. "That does seem to be a trend amongst certain cadets''. Virtanen rolled his eyes at the indifferent answer as Kaiser leaned back closing his eyes to rest. It seemed his schedule had caught up to him leaving him exhausted in the office. Despite the low traffic the room received Kaiser had never taken the risk of being caught sleeping in his Senshado uniform.
After the recent debacle of the news article Virtanen decided to give Kaiser this respite. "I resolved the issue by having us all compete with each other. Show off skills and knowledge, giving advice and such. Eventually, they all let it roll over and decided to relax a bit. Turns out you were right about teenagers caving in to social pressure and unexpected circumstances". He stated. He then stood up and walked to the adjacent wall as Kaiser gave a slothful thumbs up.
"So what's got you all beat?" Virtanen asked, making himself a cup of coffee. "Want some?" he offered only for Kaiser to wave the offer away with his eyes still closed.
Sluggishly Kaiser answered. "As you could assume my schedule has been tight. Team training, then personal squad training on top of usual work and routines. A few members have even invited me along to out-of-school meetings but I refused out of necessity. A majority seemed to think it was more so out of a vein concept of 'keeping an image'.Coincidentally the final straw has been the last one you had to deal with. Albeit much more irksome"
Virtanen gave a long whistle, showing little interest as the coffee began to fill the pot. "For you to say that it must be severe" he reasoned.
Kaiser began to explain the severity of his words. "It started small. The girl was one of the Kuromoromine transfers along with her sister. Started with disapproving looks during 'indoc'. Then it cooled for a moment when she found herself commanding the IS-1 in my squad. The fact her sister took the neighboring KV-85's command spot may have helped as well."
To this Virtanen gave a hollow hum as his eyes still lay more focused on the slowly filling pot.
Kaiser could tell the insincerity behind the hum but continued regardless. "Apparently, she grew more rebellious while I was supervising the Hawaii training camp and soon after began to speak her mind during practices. After we met with Saunders-"
"You mean your rendezvous with Kay?" Virtanen interrupted with a snicker.
"That rumor is as dead as you'll be if you keep it up" Kaiser warned, raising an exhausted finger. Virtanen took the threat, knowing Kaiser would be all too willing for a fight despite his state, and quieted down.
Taking a slow breath Kaiser continued. "After Saunder's, she began to act in opposition and question my orders".
The sound of glass clinking momentarily arose as Virtanen voiced a brief opinion. "Oh. Oh, that is severely ignorant of her" he commented, taking a sip of the fresh brew. Kaiser hummed in agreement, knowing that Virtanen was the only one who surpassed him when it came to having no patience for those who questioned orders due to hubris.
"Not too long before I briefed you and Knight the other day there was a confrontation between us. Despite my efforts at not singling the girl out and causing a scene before others she would go on to do it herself. To summarize it in a few sentences, we were holding a normal practice on vehicle formations. Trying to perfect our squad's movements through the basics yet she questioned the validity of such repetition when she believed other concerns were more important.
"Naturally, I couldn't allow dissent during training and ordered 'questions' till afterward. That didn't blow over too well" he groaned." The small infraction ended with both parties unsatisfied and the girl's younger sister having to step in. After some words between the two siblings we moved on". Kaiser finished recapping,
Virtanen continued sipping his coffee imagining the scenario. "Sounds to me like you got your hands full" he sympathetically commented knowing he added no viable solution.
"Want to trade cadets?" offered Kaiser half-jokingly.
Virtanen scoffed into his mug. "Unfortunately for you, my team is finally coming together, old friend. So I'll have to decline".
Kaiser in turn didn't respond, glad to hear there was at least good fortune all around, except for him of course. With a sympathetic chuckle, Virtanen left Kaiser to his thoughts and perhaps some rest.
His body could rest but his mind was once more cluttered with thought. Clear dysfunctionality was a vital weak point, one an enemy could exploit. His quickest solution would be to terminate his troubling cadet's tenure in the team. The decision didn't sit right with him, however, and certainly wouldn't with other cadets. Kaiser gave a short snicker. 'Imagine me, compassionate only by process of elimination'. Surely Virtanen himself was wondering why Kaiser wasn't bringing down a quick and harsh punishment as most had come to expect of him, and the answer was because frankly, she didn't deserve anything so severe.
Contemplating, his mind fell into a train of thought. Had it been a male it would've been easier. Physical force, reasoning, appealing, all things he had done in the past. Working with a female in a sport was new to him, especially such a scenario. 'She has potential' his mind repeated.
He saw it in the way she trained. Her determination and clear viciousness when training. Her past exploits and skill were why she and her sister were his first choices for fellow vehicle commanders. Although if he had known of their personalities he may have reconsidered. It was too late and he couldn't just switch vital crew members right before a match, risking the team's success. It wasn't viable.
With a sigh announcing his return to reality, Kaiser stood and straightened himself. "Remember how I said we couldn't interfere in every one of our cadet's lives, trying to change them?" he asked. Virtanen simply stared up from his cup. "Well, I think I found one I have to interfere with".
Virtanen grimaced knowing all too well how much Kaiser voiced his dislike of needlessly interacting with others. "That bad?" he asked, placing down his cup.
"As bad as you and any of my siblings, so I'd say yes, this warrants my attention," Kaiser replied.
"I'm sure you'll manage just don't be too vicious like you were with certain friends." hinted Virtanen
"Your mother was the one to be, oh so polite, allowing me to continue the interrogation." Kaiser taunted back.
"I can't believe she baked you cookies after watching you waterboard me" recalled Virtanen, head shaking in disbelief.
"She truly is an unparalleled and gracious host" nodded Kaiser.
Shivering at the recollection, Virtanen changed the subject as Kaiser prepared to leave. "By the way, what's the name of the 'lucky' girl who's got your attention?" asked Virtanen.
Opening the door, Kaiser briefly glanced back. "Natalya Prokov," he said with an exasperated sigh.
Hearing the door click shut, Virtanen pulled up Ms. Prokov's profile on his computer, giving an impressed whistle. "If looks could kill" he muttered recognizing her face and adjusting his glasses to get a better look at the intensely frowning picture. "Adam's got his work cut out for him if that's what he's dealing with.
-Present-
After having arrived early in the morning, the hangar doors opened allowing an influx of cadets to enter. At the forefront was the crew of his Tiger. Three females taking the loader, gunner, and radio operator positions while a male took the driving position. The girls chatted amongst themselves while the male seemed to be dragging himself along.
Then came the KV-85's crew without their commander similarly chatting and finally the IS-1's crew entering with stiff faces and slight irritability, the self-evident reason following. Natalya and her sister Valerya entered behind them.
The older sister standing taller than the younger and with an unflinching frown plastered on her face as she glared at her team's backs. The younger in contrast was practically skipping with a smile and making light talk to her sister. They were like fire and ice. The older a frosty gaze and icy personality while the younger was akin to an inviting flame. Only Kaiser seemed suspicious of the younger's facade as far as he could tell. His instincts warned anyone who got too close to the overly friendly girl would get burned.
The younger sister Valerya was shorter than her 5'8" sister at 5'4" with sparkling green eyes and longer platinum blonde hair. Rumored to be fun, outgoing, lax, and through scrupulous hearsay, flirtatious. The latter may have just been a poor attempt at discrediting the girl whereas her sister's image was one of confidence and strong beauty, her reputation garnered jealousy as her image of confidence, talent, and feminine beauty drew eyes far and wide. In further contrast to her sister whose feats lied largely in physical competition, her grades and knowledge were advanced compared to the rest of her year which led to her position and rank as a Cadet Second Lieutenant.
One could argue the only similarity the two held other than their close bonds with each other was their personal "assets", even though Valerya was shorter and held a more fragile frame than her toned sister she still gave Natalya a run for her money in this department. Such so even Kaiser had noticed. This led to an even larger division between male admiration and female ire towards the younger sister.
The problem child in Question, Natalya Prokov was similar to Kaiser himself in a few ways. At first glance through personality and a few normal features such as brown eyes and hair. However, as with anyone, the finer details made the individual.
Her brown eyes and long golden brunette hair were both much lighter than his own. Her attitude was strict, conservative, and she was quiet in class and training. Though not at her younger sister's level, a top student as well. Unfortunately, it seemed these were the only similarities and hence the glaring differences. What she and Kaiser did have in common only seemed to cause more friction.
Kaiser had learned she and her sister had never been a part of Kuromoromine's Senshado team but had reportedly given thought to it before. Her popularity was a subject of controversy at the moment as the Senshado team was uneasy towards her attitude despite being only assigned the rank of Cadet Sergeant First class. Yet outside in the school proper she seemed to be admired for her knowledge, skill, and beauty. For the males, her developed curves seemed to be the driving point of attention for them as opposed to the female's curiosity on her quiet mystique.
Most notably, she was accompanied by her sister at all times. Valerya was a year younger yet still in the same grade due to their birthdays aligning closely to each other in the school year. This allowed them to always be near each other and hardly left room for others to interact with the two siblings.
One of the only times Kaiser had spoken to them before was to explain the purpose in their rank assignment. After explaining he needed Natalya as a firmer hand to guide as an NCO while Valerya would guide as an officer with her exemplary knowledge, there had been no purpose to speak individually to them again. The sisters were obviously close and their opposite personalities seemed to draw more fanfare, making any reason to approach less appealing to him lest he gets caught in more needless situations.
It seemed his attempt to avoid interactions had bit him in the ass, however. Neglecting the welfare of the two may have been the cause of Natalya's attitude problems. In preparation Kaiser dug through what information he had on the Prokov sisters to help his approach of the situation.
The information on the two came from prior in the year when he first learned of their transfer's being accepted, their parents stating their eagerness to claim a place on the team. The sibling's parents exchanged messages between school staff and him leaving much to wonder of why they pushed their daughter's enrollment so fervently.
A few messages caught his eye but he hadn't pried knowing it wasn't his place and instead took the good omen of their acceptance. It did draw a feeling of concern from him, however. Further digging by simply messaging some of their old schoolmates revealed little more than hearsay of Valerya being a vicious flirt and Natalya hating males but there was no evidence of either claim on paper and in the past month they had worked in the team without issue. At least until recently and that seemed limited towards himself. Natalya did correct her team often but that was both male and female and was just that, corrections.
Watching the two enter, he noticed they were quietly talking alone, separated from the larger body of cadets. Judging by the tension and irked glances cast between all, Natalya most likely had just gotten done chastising or correcting her teammates for something or another. Her corrections were valid yet her tact was lacking and clearly grating on her peer's nerves. Their only reprieve being when Valerya, seemingly evident to only Kaiser himself that she was well versed in manipulation, was able to get Natalya under control.
Approaching the cadets from his seat, Kaiser announced the day's training objectives. Another squad-only practice to improve teamwork, simple. The only worry was if Natalya would let him do his job and it seemed to also be on other minds as they watched him approach. The cadets straightened themselves out into a small formation of three files per their assigned vehicles on his command.
With a dismissive wave of his hand, Kaiser ordered "At ease". Immediately the cadets slackened their posture. Quickly Kaiser glossed over their faces, seeing all were present then briefed them. "Today will focus on individual operations and supporting the main body should we not be designated as such or an advanced guard. This will primarily take focus on our cannon's long ranges at distance while maneuvering. Any questions?"
Immediately Natalya's hand rocketed up. Clearly, the first to do so yet Kaiser had turned his head disgruntled "Yes, Von Belle?" he asked. The Tiger's gunner, a shy female with silvery hair and hazel eyes had meekly raised her hand. Her eyes darted about erratically, unable to look directly at Kaiser.
The reason was a more private matter he had worked with his crew on. Simply put Belle was uneasy around the opposite sex. Despite this, she was adamantly working to correct her phobia. His crew cheered her on while Kaiser's remained indifferent, only praising her skill and stating "it would be a loss to the team if she quit" It seemed the hot and cold encouragement helped her face her slight androphobia.
Her secret remained but his easy use of her nickname "Von Belle" drew some questioning glances. It was unusual to hear casual speech and reference from him, and the curious gaze's, in turn, pushed Belle to shrink away from time to time.
With skittish eyes, and an urgency to no longer be the center of attention she posed her query. "Will this be focusing on the gunner's ability to fire during movement?" she asked, resuming a position of attention.
"That is correct. Namely, the practice of coordinated advance's with allied suppression followed by a focus on fire while advancing. Anyone else?" Kaiser asked looking over the crowd once more. Once again Natalya made her presence known with a click of her heels as her hand raised, only for the process to repeat.
This time a boy from Natalya's vehicle spoke up, ensuring he didn't look at the intense glare Natalya directed at him. "What will the radio operators be doing sir?"
Kaiser nodded at the boy as he lowered his hand. "The RO's will be exchanging chatter and coordinating the vehicles while the commanders observe. Needless to say, if the need arises I will expect everyone to be capable of fulfilling any position should a teammate be rendered incapacitated."
At this response, Natalya's glare focused solely on Kaiser. Quickly she voiced her opinion seeing to it that she would not be glossed over again. "If you're done ignoring me sir-"
"I'd never dream of it Prokov, just saving the best for last, naturally" quipped Kaiser, Receiving a few stifled chuckles from the formation drawing more ire from the girl. Surprised her frown and glare could deepen Kaiser encouraged her question.
Glancing left and right, silencing any straggling giggles Natalya demanded an answer. "How are the commanders supposed to improve themselves if we are only to observe?"
Kaiser instinctively wished to dismiss her upon hearing the tone, yet he remained professional. No matter how many others would shy away from those fierce eyes of hers he looked directly into those fiery irises. "The commanders were selected because of their advanced skills and comprehensive learning abilities. Until the rest of the unit is capable of performing as desired there will be no need for further focus till then," he responded blandly
The response garnered a boastful grin from Valerya standing behind her sister taking the implied compliment in stride. Natalya however seemed bolstered by the statement.
"Then I find myself compelled to further ask why we are maintaining this amateurish training regiment when we have an ever-looming defeat incoming." She seethed. Despite the loud metallic clangs and traffic around the hangar, her voice, level and unwavering was heard by all.
With a sigh, as if speaking to a child, all eyes turned to Kaiser. "Fancy theatrics don't win battles and certainly don't win wars" Kaiser calmly replied. Breaking eye contact for a moment, he addressed the formation as a whole. "Only the basics, rinsed, and repeated to a polished perfection will save you when the worst comes about. I know this. Your commander Virtanen knows this. We have both trained our hearts out in InfanterieKampf and are here to show that level of dedication to you here in Senshado."
Seemingly mesmerized by the message, the cadets remained still, Natalya seemed repulsed, as if unconvinced, and told an outright lie. Seeing her distaste Kaiser addressed her personally. "You are talented Prokov, yet if you wish to improve yourself so much then see to it that those around you are at your level. You'll find yourself growing even more so."
Natalya's response was to rebound with critique. "Is that who you're always surrounded by? The best of the best? Sir?" She spat.
Kaiser's expression didn't change at the remark, instead, maintaining his disinterested tone as before. "That is why I surround myself with no one" he answered.
Varied responses from the formation came at his words. Natalya's eyes widened before narrowing as the rest of the formation seemed conflicted over the remark. 'I'd rather not stunt anyone's growth' he reasoned internally, yet the self-depreciative thought it seemingly wasn't translated well.
"So- high and mighty.." muttered Natalya raising her voice. "Then if you'll excuse me, Sir. I think I'll follow your lead" with a final huff she exited the hangar.
Kaiser along with the rest of the formation, watched her storm out. As hushed murmurs passed between cadets Kaiser felt a slight tap on his shoulder. Glancing to his lower left, he saw a head of platinum blonde hair.
Valerya gave a polite smile fluttering her eyelashes. "Do you mind if my sister and I take the day off?" she asked, obviously trying to sweet talk him.
With a sigh, he gestured with his head. "Get going. I already said the commanders were only to observe today". As Valerya stepped past him with a happy stride he leaned in to her ear and whispered. "See if you can get her to calm down and return tomorrow. I won't hold you two here involuntarily but your teams still need you."
With a short double take back, Valerya seemed surprised at the consideration. Her response wasthe same default and graceful smile. With a nod and a flirtatious wave, she followed after her sister. With the spectacle now out of the way, Kaiser turned to the formation, calling their attention.
"We have only a month together and nearly two hundred hours of training. This is heavier than the average high schooler or even Senshado teams training but that means nothing! While they had all summer to work we were being cobbled together. And now we face Saunders. Our sister ship and therefore closest enemies. Mount up, we have work to do!" With that, a resounding answer of 'Yes sir!' came about as cadets scrambled to their vehicles.
The practice went as he anticipated. Without the Prokov's, smoothly and with little interruption aside from corrections and alterations. Eventually the vehicles were reorganized and dismissed, heading home. Not long after, he was waiting in the office for Virtanen's to return from his own squad's practice.
A half-hour after his own arrival and Virtanen entered, looking exhausted and loosening his collar. Dragging his feet and splaying himself out along the length of the couch before him Kaiser stood ready to offer him a glass of water. "Where are the other three?" he asked, setting down the glass.
Greedily Virtanen drank before answering. "Dunno, Last I saw O'Diveley had gotten his hands on Sokolov and Knight insisting they need to 'lighten up' or else end up like a certain commander of theirs" he informed giving a knowing glance at Kaiser.
"It seems like we are the only ones who use this office at all" instead griped Kaiser.
Virtanen let out a satisfied gasp, slamming the glass down. "Thanks. AC in our vehicle broke and evening practices are none too kind with the heat. Anywho I prefer this. It makes our talks more secure as I'm sure what you're about to tell me is either important or you find ofgreat annoyance."
Kaiser gave a single nod to the claim. "As always a bit of both with some muddled in-between" he grunted. "First off, I've received Saunder's official reply.
Virtanen quickly shifted to rapt attention. "What did they say? No changes right?"
"Verbatim or summarized?" asked Kaiser.
"Latter" answered Virtanen.
"From Kay of Saunders Academy to Lieutenant Colonel Kaiser of Transcendence Academy, Saunders Senshado team formally accepts your proposed skill assessment test in hopes of improving both schools relationships with their sister naval vessels as well as the individual student's interactions" repeated Kaiser.
"They have agreed to all rules set for the nine against nine elimination match so long as no outside help or equipment is utilized. After all-" suspensfully Kaiser cleared his throat. "This is a friendly match and not war after all, or so she said post message".
Virtanen Raised a brow at the quoted line. "Seems a little strange to say, guess she does know you after all" he quipped.
Kaiser huffed at the remark. "More to remind herself than me if you ask. That girl can get a bit wild when she's serious."
Suppressing his urge to ask about Kay even more, Virtanen chose to remain focused on matters more relevant. "Then onto the annoying problem you mentioned. I suppose the great annoyance you're here for is the Prokov issue? How's that going?"
With a sharp glare and a short huff of breath through his nostrils, Kaiser vented. "At a loss of what to do if I am to be frank" he confided. "She's intelligent, ambitious, talented, and god awfully stubborn" he continued.
"First time dealing with a woman?" Virtanen chided.
Running a hand through his hair Kaiser leaned into his seat. "I've already told you, had my fair share of 'troubles' not too long ago..." a glance at Virtanen's rolling eyes showed his explanation was fruitless. "And you still think I'm lying for some reason."
"Can ya blame me?" reasoned Virtanen. "I don't think anyone on this boat would believe you had some affair a couple of years back, I was around you more often than your own siblings and I don't recall anything other than your overcommitment to work."
Kaiser gave a small grunt. "It was no grand events and I know how to keep my affairs private."
"Anyways-" conceded Virtanen.
Kaiser nodded and moved on. "It's as if Prokov has blinders on. Only looking forward but never around her".
Virtanen chuckled in turn. "Sounds similar to you."
"In that case, I'll leave all of your work to you. Snipped Kaiser.
Virtanen's laugh quickly became uncomfortable before he coughed awkwardly. "Word through the grapevine is that she started another spat".
"Figures Piper would tell you" Kaiser griped as he shifted in his seat for comfort.
Surprised, Virtanen stuttered. "H-how do you-"
Kaiserrolled his eyes "I'm not daft Virtanen. She's the likeliest one. Sitting up and raising a fist, he extended a digit each time he spoke. "First off I have ensured that each member of my squad knows the consequences of gossip. Second and her peers would be the only ones within earshot of that 'engagement', as they were tending to the vehicle's." Raising a third and final finger Kaiser concluded his reasoning.
"Finally Cartier wouldn't gossip. She would confide in someone, her worries of others if she were somehow involved with them. For example how she has taken a motherly role amongst the team welcoming whatever damages they receive and then rallying her mechanics to repair them."
Shifting once more he turned a condescending glare at Virtanen. "She would convey these worries to someone in a position to do something. Someone who would gladly listen. Someone who has been jumping at any opportunity to hang around her like an insect would to honey. Something Unnecessary."
Virtanen's back had quickly shown itself as a response to Kaiser's glare, focusing intently on the walls, slightly drumming his fingers against his leg in the ensuing silence. A few seconds passed before Virtanen let out a long breath, confessing.
"Alright fine! I have been going out of my way to speak with her!" he shouted guiltily, his eyes closed in embarrassment.
Leaning back in his chair, Kaiser threw his hands behind his head, closing his eyes and resting after his verbal victory. "Oh, I know Virtanen. If it wasn't already because of the proof I have, it would be because of the endless tells you give off when lying."
Virtanen glossed over the remark, wondering why he was under scrutiny at all. "Why am I being persecuted here? Do I need to feel guilty about liking a girl?"
Kaiser slowly opened an eyelid. "Should you feel guilty?"
Closing his mouth, Virtanen sought a proper response. "...I know you advised me not to but... I see her every day. And she seems more and more radiant every time I look at her. This feels more… real than before and I want to try and make something of it." he professed.
Kaiser's response was slow coming. First silence, then a small sound. A quiet "Pfft" escaped his lips. Before Virtanen could get embarrassed and enraged Kaiser leaned forward raising a hand to stop any reprisal. "I understand" He agreed.
Virtanen's mouth dropped at the words.
Shrugging a shoulder Kaiser explained. "I never forbid you from seeking affection let alone speaking to a girl. I just advised you to put priorities in line and wait till after the Senshsado season. I know what you're going through believe it or not and I'll support you, just don't be reckless, and please be prepared for the worst. Love is a battlefield. One I can't do everything for you and I certainly can't rig it in anyone's favor. Not that I won't try"
Virtanen's jaw lowered each passing second, picking it up as a realization dawned on him. "Y-you actually fell in-"
Clapping his hands together, Kaiser stood. "Alright then. Now that you have permission to run around like a rabid dog I'll focus on my problems and get them situated before the match" he declared.
The talks direction changed as Virtanen snapped out of his stupor, taking the hint moved on. "How will you do that then?"
Kaiser grabbed his belongings and set out. "Perhaps ease her into a comfortable environment and gently speak with her" he joked.
Virtanen chuckled to himself at the image. "Counseling doesn't seem like the way out of this" he nodded. "Do you know anything about her?"
"Just that she seems heavily opposed to the opposite gender" Kaiser answered.
"Your proof?" Virtanen asked.
"Upon witnessing the males from multiple squads grappling in free time she had sought to watch and instruct with advice. Upon a passing remark of joining in and perhaps an immature joke of groping she eagerly joined. There were multiple casualties. She also did the same in her physical education class." Virtanen's eyes widened slightly at the news of her single-handedly beating multiple males.
"It took a teacher to defuse her from the P.E class situation and a passerby to get me for the second. I had to pry her off the poor lads and then we almost went at it before her sister came rushing in to calm her."
Virtanen was now utterly surprised. "Bit more happening there than you led on huh?" Kaiser grunted a weak response. Bringing a finger up to his chin, Virtanen thought aloud."Well, I suppose at least your entire squad is skilled in one way or another. As for my team, individually our skills are lacking but the teamwork is there. It certainly helps our fluidity."
VIrtanen then began listing off the other squads. "Knight may be hesitant and lacking in confidence but his squad is more than willing to make up for that. They all stand ready in support of him, I'd even say that his team is the best when it comes down to working in tandem. O'Diveley's team excels in small unit tactics but is ignorant of large-scale strategy and planning. Sokolov's is too cautious to act unless they are certain of the circumstances as well as having hardly any communication between vehicles".
"If anything" He summarized. "It seems a rather small feat you have to achieve there." reasoned Virtanen.
Kaiser deadpanned at the remark. "Yes because I'd much rather deal with the emotional stress of a teenage girl who seemingly hates me for no reason as opposed to what I have experience in, such as instructing."
Virtanen helplessly raised his hands in a gesture saying 'I don't know what to say'.
The school's bell then echoed through the halls signaling the closure of the building proper and soon after the dismissal of after-school activities. "That's the bell," Virtanen commented. Let's go home and think on it."
The two boys made their usual route out and soon off school grounds. Leaving the gate, Kaiser heard a crack in the air. Dismissing Virtanen's question of "what's the holdup". Kaiser excused himself, saying he needed to inspect a vehicle before heading home. And returned to campus.
Rather than going to the hangar as he said he took a left, following the noise. Soon finding himself by the school shooting grounds for the marksmanship club. 'The clubs should have all gone home by now. Who could be firing this late?' He pondered peering through the cordoned off area's fencing.
He stopped in place as another crack echoed in the air. Light golden brown hair tied up, her school jacket removed. Comfortably sitting to the side with a loosened necktie and untucked shirt. An easy-to-remember face, at least for him. Natalya Prokov was at the firing range alone, hitting targets that bore an eerie resemblance to his outline. Despite the obvious focus for her anger, it was her face, even at his distance, he stood that caught his attention. A combination of anger, and strife with the telltale signs of repressed tears.
He stood mesmerized for a moment. Another second and he immediately left realizing the familiar tugging at his stomach. It was sympathy, an emotion that regrettably led him to a new conviction pertaining to the girl he had struggled to find conviction in dealing with. Seeing her battle her solitude and emotions he no longer knew he had to act, he felt compelled.
-Chapter end-