Chapter 22 - Training
[Ooarai Girls School - Garage]
"Alright girls! Our next opponent is Pravda at the semi-finals." Momo said
"Dejavu..again.." Anzu said
"You all remember what happened last year when we fought Pravda..we got cornered because of our carelessness.." Momo said
"Don't worry Kawashima-senpai..we have learned from our mistakes and we won't do it again.." Azusa said
"We also have a new problem..Pravda now has new tanks based on the Siege Tank Battle recently.." Miho said
"They now have two SU-100s and a another IS-2.." Yukari said
"Not to mention a new war freak tanker.." Momo said
"The brother of Katyusha-san right? Kallan I think was his name.." Yuzu said
"Yeah..he is someone we need to look out for.."
"Nishizumi Taichou have they revealed the tournament field and mode?" Erwin asked
"Oh yes..it will be a snowy terrain with a mountain on the east side and a village just below the mountain..the mode will be Flag Tank Battle"
(The Student Council flashed a birds eye view of the map to the girls to give them a general idea of the location)
"Snow again...giving Pravda an advantage again.." Erwin said
"We can play Snow Volleyball!" Noriko said
"Ahahaha...I think snow volleyball is impossible because they also informed us that they have modified the weather as well and strong blizzards happen from time to time so we need to be careful.."
"We will be facing Pravda again and they have new tanks..but it will be the same for us..we now have Leopon and Anteater Team with us..and of course our outstanding rookie is here!" Anzu said
"Please stop calling me that Anzu-san..I just can't get used to that.."
"Come on..it's a great title! We will be counting on you again Tiger Team!" Yuzu said
"We will do our best everyone and let's make sure to reach the finals!"
"YEAH!" the girls shouted
"By the way you boys will be our flag tank in this match.." Anzu said
"Eh?! Well..no pressure I guess.."
(The girls all laughed and then proceeded with their daily practice)
[Pravda Girls High School Carrier]
"Katyusha-sama we will be going against Ooarai-Shirokumo Team"
"That is fantastic Nonna! We will be able to fight Mihosha again!"
"We may have a problem though.."
"I know..that White Tiger..we can't let our guard down Nonna.."
"He is just like the urban legend…" Nonna said
"What urban legend Nonna-sama?" Kal asked
"During the previous war, a legend spread around of a white tiger that fought against the soviets and destroyed over 100 tanks and disappeared..nobody was able to confirm if it was destroyed"
"Sound more like a ghost to me.."
"You may not be wrong about that Kal-kun.."
"Kal..you will be our flag tank in the match so don't do anything reckless" Katyusha said
"Of course nee-sama.."
"And another thing Kal.."
"Yes Katyusha nee-sama?"
"In this upcoming match, if ever me and Nonna falls, I trust you to take command of the others.."
"B-But I find it impossible for you to fall nee-sama!"
"I'm just saying "if" we fall..it's not guaranteed..but I have a bad feeling about that white tiger.."
"Understood nee-sama..I won't let you down!"
"I know you won't..this will also train you to be a commander..me and Nonna will soon graduate after all..and I have chosen you to be the next commander..you will be supported by Klara.."
"Thank you very much Katyusha nee-sama!" Kal was overjoyed
"Good..oh and don't forget that I'll be sending you to Siberia for 25 rubles because of what you did at the siege tank battle.."
(Kal's joy disappeared and got shocked then shriveled up in the corner crying while Nonna laughed a little)
[Ooarai Girls School - Garage]
"Everyone Otsukaresamadeshita!" Miho said
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH COMMANDER!" the whole team replied
(Everyone was about to leave when Miho noticed the White Tiger park and waited for Gero to come out. As the hatch opened she saw her brother wearing a white wet mask that caught her attention)
"Onii-chan? What's up with the mask?"
"Oh this? It's part of my special training with the boys.."
(As they got off the tiger all of them were wearing wet white masks during their training. Everyone was breathing heavily and a lot more exhausted than usual because of the mask)
"Haa~ Haa~ our Taichou here suddenly ordered us to do this in preparation.." Hajime said
"Preparation for what?"
"Matsu-kun said..Haa~..that we have to increase our lung capacity..Haa~..before the match against Pravda.. Haa~" Ken said while breathing heavily
"Lung capacity? Why?" Saori asked
"Remember when Miho-chan showed us the map for the semi-finals? There was a mountain right?"
"Yes I saw that but why do you have to do this kind of training Gero-san?" Hana asked
"As the flag tank for the next match..there may come a time that we have to lure the enemy into that mountain to get away from them.."
"I see! You are currently doing altitude training am I right Gero-dono?!" Yukari said
"Correct Akiyama-san.."
"Altitude? As in like how high a plane is?" Saori asked
"Yes..when climbing a tall mountain..the air gets thinner..which means it gets harder to breathe when up there..especially this time it's a snowy mountain and inside a tank so it's a lot worse"
"Ohh! So to counter that you wear these wet masks to train your lungs!" Miho said
"You are correct my little sister..we will be doing this for the rest of the remaining days of practice.."
"But Gero do you think this will be enough?" Ono asked
"It won't..so at the last day of practice before the match we will be going somewhere special..!"
"Just dial it down a bit alright boys? No use if you get injured right before the match.."
"Don't worry..we can handle it..right boys?"
"Yeah! Haa~ Haa~" the boys said while having trouble breathing
"Oh by the way you are not allowed to remove your masks even when sleeping..the only times you can remove it is when replacing it with a new one and when eating.."
"You know Matsu-kun..I didn't know you were this Spartan when it comes to training.."
"Me either..I guess it's in my blood.." Gero said with a smile
(Miho and her crew smiled at the boys as they saw them giving it their all for the team. The next days flew by with the boys doing their training with the masks. They were gradually improving and getting used to it while driving a tank. But they knew that it would be a lot worse when snow is added to the situation)
[Shizuoka - 6AM]
"Woooah it's really Mt. Fuji!" Ken shouted
"We actually got here in just a short amount of time.." Ono said
"Thank you Okaa-chan for the ride!"
"Of course, I am actually quite excited as well" Shiho said
"Nishizumi-sama, thank you for allowing us to ride your family's helicopter in this selfish request of our Taichou.." Hajime said
"It is the least that I could do for my son's friends, thank you for supporting him until know and being good friends with him.." Shiho bowed to Gero's friends
"Please lift your head Nishizumi-sama..we are also grateful to your son.." Ono said
(Currently in this moment Gero and his crew along with Shiho have arrived at the foot of Mt. Fuji via helicopter from Ooarai. They got surprised when Shiho suddenly knocked at their apartment door to come fetch them)
"So Matsu-kun..we are here to climb right?"
"Yes we are Ken..to further prepare ourselves"
"Do you mind if I tag along with you?" Shiho asked
"Of course Okaa-chan! It will be our first mother-son bonding!"
(Shiho just smiled at her son as she couldn't fully express her happy feelings that she gets to spend quality time with her son after 12 years of separation. The five of them then suited up then went up the mountain and it would take them 5 to 7 hours to reach the top and another 3 to 5 to go down.)
[Mt. Fuji - 1000 Meters]
"Alright let's stop here for now and rest.."
"But we can still go on Gero.." Ono said
"That's right Matsu-kun! Let's keep going!"
"This isn't just a normal climb guys..we need to stop here so that you could get used to the altitude..if we are not careful..we won't be able to move further than this.."
(The group then decided to rest up and get used to the thin cold air)
"I'm starting to get you now Taichou..the air is not just thin..but also freezing.."
"Yup..so just stay put for now..we will move in 1 hour.."
"Roger!" three said in unison
(As they rested up Shiho sat beside her son while watching the view)
"Okaa-chan..don't you want to ask me?"
"Ask you what?"
"Why I suddenly dragged the boys here in .."
"You wanted to train them to prepare for your battle against Pravda..as I recall there is a snowy mountain in the field about 2000 meters.."
"Yes..but that's only half of the reason.."
"Then what is the other half?"
"Now that I've regained my memories..and currently doing Senshado..I want to test how much I can do using my gifts..the gifts that made people hate me and forced me to be separated from you and my sisters.."
"Are you scared of what you might become?" Shiho asked
"No..I just won't be able to forgive myself if the people I care about gets hurt because of me.."
(Shiho then placed her hand on Gero's head and gave him a love pat)
"You are my son, and I know that you have a good heart, that's why you have so many amazing people around you and drawn to you..I know you will make the right decisions..I trust you.."
"Thank you Okaa-chan..I love you very much!"
"I love you very much as well"
(Gero felt at ease when he is with his mother, it's the kind of feeling that you can only experience with your mother or father)
"By the way, how are you getting along with Itsumi-kun?"
"Ehh?! That's a sudden question-"
"Do you like her?"
"Wha-..Okaa-chan!"
"You don't?"
"Yes I do! Happy now?"
"I'm just looking out for my possible daughter-in law that's all.."
"I haven't even—"
"How far have the both of you gone?"
"Okaa-chan!"
(After being interrogated by her mother about his love life at 3000 feet above sea level they now proceeded further up the mountain)
[Mt. Fuji - 2500 Meters]
"We are now roughly above 2000 meters. Can you feel the difference boys?"
"Yeah..my body feels heavier Gero..Haa~ Haa~" Ono said
"Matsu-kun..Haa~..it's getting..Haa~.. harder and harder to breathe..Haa~"
"Let's rest here now for 2 hours. Control your breathing. Get used to it again."
"Taichou..Haa~ Haa~..how come you are not as tired..Haa~ as we are?" Hajime asked
"That's because I've already climbed when I was 6 years old with Okaa-chan.."
(A big sweat drop appeared on his crew's head and thought what kind of childhood their commander had)
"It was also snowing at that time right Okaa-chan?"
"Yeah..we also got caught in a blizzard while going up.." Shiho said
(An even bigger sweat drop appeared on his crew's head and thought if those two were even human)
"This is how it feels already without snow..I'd guess it's hell on ice at our match tomorrow.." Hajime said
"I just hope that we can win without having to go to that mountain.."
"Why is that Matsu-kun?"
"I'll tell you when we reach the top.."
(After resting for 2 hours the group now then headed for the peak of Mt. Fuji)
[Mt. Fuji - 3700 Meters]
(As the group reach the peak of Mt. Fuji they saw a view that was more than enough to call a reward for their venture. They now overlook the whole land from atop the tallest mountain in Japan.)
"Wooooooow! This is really something worth remembering!" Ken shouted
"Yeah..this is definitely one of the best days of my life.." Ono said
"Thank you Taichou and Nishizumi-sama for giving us this wonderful chance to see this beautiful view.."
(Gero and Shiho smiled at the boys and gazed upon the wonderful view as they rested and got used to the altitude)
"Hey Matsu-kun what did you mean that it would be best if we don't have to reach the mountain during the match?" Ken asked
(The boys waited patiently for their commander to give them a reply)
"If ever the time comes that we go up that mountain tomorrow..I might have to show you a very scary and ugly side of me.."
"What do you mean by that Gero?" Ono asked
"I am a Nishizumi..eldest of the Nishizumi Family..born with gifts that I still don't know how it will affect me or others around me..I was trained since I was little to be strong and bold..but I also was trained to be merciless and brutal.."
(His crew were not talking and just continued to listen)
"If we are pushed into a corner up that mountain..I will use everything that I know..to achieve victory...and I'm afraid that..I might do something that I would regret.."
(Ono and the rest saw Gero's hand shake in fear. They saw how it took all Gero's strength to tell them what was troubling him all this time. Shiho saw how her son feared himself and his gifts)
"I-If that ever happens and someone got hurt because of me..I'd never forgive myself for it.."
(After listening to their commander Ono and the rest stood up and walked over to Gero. Ono placed his hand on his best friend's shoulder and spoke to him)
"Gero..my answer will be the same as that time you told us you were a Nishizumi..no matter what you do..no matter what you decide on..I will always be your ally...your comrade and your best friend.."
"Matsu-kun..to me it doesn't matter if you are a Nishizumi or not..I know for a fact that you are a nice guy and I know you have a good heart..you will never be ugly in my eyes..and I will support you all the way as your driver..but most importantly..as your friend.."
"Taichou...you are defined by the actions you do and not by what blood runs through your veins..Nishizumi or not..I know you will make the right decisions...if you appear to be straying away from your path then we will do what it takes to pull you right back.."
(All those words his crew said to him gave him the courage he needed to move forward. He knows that no matter who he is they will always be there to back him up. Shiho was smiling at the sight of his son being supported by his crew and that she doesn't have to worry anymore)
"I see..thank you guys..for being with me here.."
"Let's give Pravda a great match tomorrow Gero!"
"You bet we will..come on..time to head back..this marks the end of our training..don't you think Okaa-chan?"
"Yeah you all earned it..let's go home"
"Okaa-chan let's drop by the souvenir store first, I wanna get something for Erika.."
"Sound good to me..I know a great store.."
"Matsu-kun when are you gonna confess?"
"Wha-..why do I have to answer that?!"
"Do your best Gero.."
"I know a great restaurant Taichou..you should take her there.."
"Nice idea Hajime-kun..tell me the details so I can reserve it for them.." Shiho said
"Okaa-chan!"
(The whole trip to the souvenir store was filled with teasing from his friends and his mother)
Coming Up Next : Chapter 23 - Snowy Situation
Author's Note:
Hi guys! Merry Christmas to all of you! May God Bless you all and I pray you have an amazing Christmas with your loved ones! This will be my last chapter for now since it's the holidays. I'll upload the next maybe a week after New Years. Spend time with your family and friends! With that said advance Happy New Year to all of you! Stay safe always!
Shout out to : "Jez10" once again thank you for the favorite!
As always if you like what you see leave a Favorite, if you want to see a notification as I post a new chapter please Follow! If you have comments and suggestions leave a review for me to read! Thank you again and have a nice day!