Chapter 40: Suspicions, rumors and announcements.

6.15pm

After hours of intense training the Yorktown division stopped to rest, and while the tank drivers were busy drinking water or talking to each other Sarah said:

"Listen, girls!"

They all turned in her direction, and silence fell on the camp. Sarah looked at them all, then spoke again:

"I congratulate with all you. Even today you gave your best. I announce that training ends here for today."

That news surprised (or perplexed, as the case may be) the girls.

"For what reason?" Minerva asked her.

"Hilda organized a welcome party for the new arrivals. The commanders of the various teams must be present, the presence of the students is optional."

But well, a little welcome party for the two sluts... But for us, nothing!

Samantha thought, irritated.

"So suddenly?" Madison asked.

"She was already announced yesterday, but for reasons unknown to me she was postponed." Her commander replied.

Hilda must be so grateful to me for saving Eva.

Kay thought.

"The party will take place at 8pm, until then you are free." Dwight added.

Immediately the tank drivers, in an orderly manner, set off towards their headquarters.

At the same time Francisca was breaking the same news to her girls.

"Okay, girls, listen to me carefully: tonight at 8 there will be a party in honor of Grandes and Patton, the new tank drivers. The commanders of the Main Team and the Foreign Legion will participate, and regular students will also be able to participate if they wish. For this reason training will be stopped early, at least for today. Requests?"

"Will we be able to participate too?" Carmen asked her.

"If you want it, yes."

"Will we have to wear regular school uniform?"

"That must be worn at all times outside of training and matches."

"Where will the party take place?"

"At school building, obviously. Until then you are free to relax, assuming you want to participate."

Immediately the girls, relieved by the end of the training (necessary but exhausting), headed towards their base, while El thought:

Damn… A party in my honor (well, mine and Kay's)! It's not like the festivals we used to organize between Blue Division and Anzio!

Suddenly someone patted her on the shoulder. She turned, noticing Teresa smiling cordially at her.

"You've ingratiated yourself with Hilda, huh? It's a good thing here at Black Sun." She stated.

"It doesn't surprise me… After all, I saved her best friend." The raven-haired girl replied.

"Yes, I heard about it. A true act of heroism, yours!"

El laughed embarrassed.

"Thank you for the compliment."

At that moment Hilda's words came back to her.

Gute Nacht, kleine Hure.

The reception would have been an excellent opportunity to ask her why she had called her a slut. She couldn't continue to be tormented by doubt.

Moscow, 6.30 pm

Ludmilla, commander-in-chief of the Sensha-do Team of the Kursk Academy, was sipping a can of Coke in a corridor when she was joined by a girl with short brown hair and light blue eyes, wearing a military uniform.

"Can she see me now, Alvina?" She asked.

"Da, comrade Ludmilla!"

Comrade…

"The Soviet Union fell long ago, Alvina…"

"True, but as a family we are nostalgic! Now follow me!" She invited her.

Sofiya's office was located on the top floor of the Sensha-do Russian Federation headquarters, a 4-story building dating back to the 1950s. The room was furnished with some pictures and paintings on the walls (including one depicting Vladilena Balalaika, current president of the nation), a small bookcase that housed some novels, such as War and Peace and the Kamarazov Brothers, and a cluttered pine wood desk of paperwork. Behind it sat Sofiya Balalaika, daughter of Vladilena, current director of the local sports federation. She was smoking a cigarette when she saw the door open and Alvina enter with Ludmilla.

"Leave us alone!" She ordered.

"Da ser*!" Alvina replied, taking her leave.

Sofiya took a drag on her cigarette, then turned to her daughter, pointing to the chair placed in front of the desk:

"Take a seat."

The girl obeyed.

"So, daughter… How's the training going?"

"Great… The girls are giving their all."

"Any problems to report?"

"Nothing revealing…"

Ludmilla snorted.

"Of course, Klara still shows skepticism about the victory."

Sofiya looked annoyed.

"Fucking defeatist… I'm starting to think she a Black Sun supporter, if not a fan."

Her daughter shrugged.

"Possible."

"If during the final that bitch try to favor our opponents in any way I swear I will expel her!" The woman stated, angry.

"I don't think it'll go that far, mat... Anyway, I'll keep an eye on her."

"I'm counting on it. At the first suspicious behavior on her part, remove her from command."

"It will be done."

Sofiya smiled, then put out her cigarette in the ashtray.

"You know it? Your grandmother is breathing down my neck, she wants us to win at all costs."

Ludmilla looked at her perplexed.

"For what reason?"

"Prestige, pride…. This is the first time that the European Championships are held in Russia, and it would be humiliating to be beaten at home."

The girl nodded.

"I understand… I will give my best effort in this match, and also in the boxing match. I will hold the flag of Russia high!" She stated, proudly.

Saunders training ship, 0:45 am

The Kay of the present lying on her back on her bed, intent on scrolling through her Facebook wall on her Smart. She suddenly received a video call from Kinuyo Nishi, commander of Chi-Ha-Tan Academy.

"Can't you sleep, Kay-san?" The Chi-Ha-Tan captain, a girl with long, straight dark brown hair and brown eyes asked her; Nishi was currently wearing light green pajamas.

"Not you either, I see." Kay stated, who was instead wearing light blue pajamas with the logo of V-Varen Nagasaki, her favorite soccer team.

"Yeah… So to pass the time I sat on my laptop and now I'm watching the match, Japan is winning greatly!"

Kay looked at her puzzled.

"A soccer match at this time? And then won't the next Asian Nations Cup take place in 2023?"

"In fact this is the Dynasty cup of March 1998: Japan-Hong Kong, full match!" Nishi clarified.

"Ah understood. But where are you watching it from?"

"Youtube, a channel that publishes full football matches, and not just of Blue Samurai! There are also world championships, European championships and even Italian Serie A matches! Anchovy is crazy about it, you know?"

At that moment a triple whistle was heard, and Nishi erupted into a cry of joy.

"YES! We won 5-1! BANZAI!" She cheered.

But… Are she celebrating a 21 years ago victory?

Kay thought in surprise, then remembering that Nishi and the other Chi-Ha-Tan girls were no strangers to bizarre behavior.

When Nishi had calmed down, Kay spoke again:

"Remaining in the football field, have you seen your favorite team's match recently?"

Nishi was a fan of FC Tokyo, who unlike V-varen Nagasaki played in J1.

"Hai… FC Tokyo beat Nagoya Grampus 1-0! I'm still galvanized!"

Kay giggled.

"It doesn't surprise me at all… Tokyo will have to face Urawa Reds in the next round, right?"

"Exact!" The brunette confirmed.

Kay smiled and nodded.

"Changing the subject, how are training going ahead of the tournament?"

"Very good. With our frontal assault we will rout every opponent!"

Kay laughed awkwardly.

When will she understand that frontal assault is harmful?

She thought, thinking back to the beatings Chi-Ha-Tan had suffered in previous championships.

The blonde girl let out a yawn.

"Now I'm getting sleepy, I think I'll go and fall asleep." She said.

"I'll stay awake a little longer. Oyasumi." Nishi replied.

"Night."

Kay turned off her cell phone, placed it on the bedside table (located on the right side of the bed), lay down again and after a few minutes fell into a deep sleep.

*Yes ma'am!