Chapter 51 - The Truth
(A week had passed after their practice match against Ooarai. Only two more days before the opening ceremony of the 64th National Senshado Tournament. They thought that it was smooth sailing from here on but they were wrong)
[Kuromorimine Tank Garage]
"We have 2 more days before the start of the 64th National Tournament! We'll train twice as hard so that we won't leave any regrets no matter what happened! Do you get me!?" Erika shouted
"JAWOHL KOMMANDANT!" everyone replied
"Good answer..now first we'll-"
"SENPAI!" Sheska shouted
"Sheska? What's wrong?"
(Sheska then came running towards Erika. She was so out of breath and trying to regain composure)
"Senpai haa~ you've got to haa~ see this haa~.." Sheska tried to get her words out
"Calm down first..catch your breath.."
*DING *DING *DING *DING
(Suddenly everyone else's phones started ringing and receiving notifications from their social media. As everyone looked at their phones everyone's face was met with shocked expressions and disbelief)
"What? What the heck is happening?" Erika shouted
"Here senpai..look!" Sheska said as she pointed her phone towards Erika
(What Erika saw gave her shock as well because what Sheska showed her was the leaked pictures of Gero with Miho and Maho and there were different titles)
"THE GREAT WHITE TIGER SPOTTED EXITING THE NISHIZUMI HOUSEHOLD TOGETHER WITH NISHIZUMI MAHO EARLY IN THE MORNING! DID HE OR DID HE NOT STAY THE NIGHT?!"
"KUROMORIMINE'S WHITE TIGER SEEN LEAVING AN ICE CREAM SHOP WITH NISHIZUMI MIHO! AFTER ESCORTING HER HOME HE SPENT 1 HOUR IN HER APARTMENT! WE LEAVE IT TO YOUR IMAGINATIONS WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE!"
"IS THE GREAT WHITE TIGER A TWO TIMING JERK? LET'S FIND OUT!"
(As Erika read the posts and saw the pictures she was filled with rage not towards Gero but towards those that posted those malicious photos and false rumors online)
"What the hell is this? Who the hell uploaded this?!" Erika shouted
"The sources are anonymous..it's being posted everywhere..they're even on newspapers..they most likely sold the pictures to the media.." Sheska said
"Those damn vultures..they'll post anything if it gives them profit..where's Bakatora?" Erika was pissed
"He's at the Student Council Office with his crew.." Sheska answered
"What are your orders Erika-san?" Koume asked
"Have everyone start training just like usual..handle things here for me while I'm gone.."
"Jawohl! Where are you going?"
"I have to fix this stupid scandal as fast as possible..the last thing we need is for the team's morale to go down before the tournament.." Erika said as she walked away
[Student Council Office]
(Erika headed straight where Gero was to know what is now currently happening)
*KNOCK *KNOCK
"Come in!"
"Hey Bakatora how..did..this..happen…uuhhmm?"
(Erika was surprised to what she saw inside the office and it was Gero and his crew together with Maho just sitting and drinking tea like nothing was happening)
"Yo Erika! Want some tea?"
"Sure..I'll have some- wait no! How can you be so relaxed when big scandals are being spread all across the country?!" Erika shouted
"Hmm? Oh you mean the leaked pictures of me and my sisters?"
"Yes! What else could I be referring to?!"
"Erika..please calm down.." Maho said
"Of course I know about it. I'm actually very pissed off right now and I'm trying my very best to calm myself down..do you really think I don't feel anything when somebody just placed my sisters' private life online?" Gero said with a very serious tone
(Erika got scared a little bit when Gero's tone changed. She thought of herself as an idiot for getting mad at Gero and saying he was relaxed when in fact he isn't)
"S-sorry..I just got so pissed also.." Erika said
"It's fine..here drink some tea to calm down.."
(After drinking some tea and getting ample time to relax and calm their nerves. Gero then explained to them the current situation)
"I'm sure this was a shock to you all..but rest assured because it's part of my plan.."
"You mean you let this happen?!" Erika shouted
"I have been feeling the gaze of somebody for days now..they were watching my every move..it was a bait to lure them out and they took it.."
"Who are they Matsu-kun?" Ken asked
"They would be the same people that attempted to take my life 12 years ago.."
(Everyone was surprised by his reveal and the room was filled with a heavy mood. A lot of mixed emotions were being felt by everyone)
"Why would they do this Taichou? What's their goal?" Hajime asked
"Probably to scare me..or to ruin the mood of everyone for us to fail at the tournament..but of course it won't work.."
"For you it doesn't..but for the team all of them were discouraged and I can tell that their morale is going down.." Erika said
"Sorry onii-sama..if I just took a better look at our surroundings I could've also felt the malice that was watching us that morning..I could've done something to prevent this.." Maho got sad
"Don't be sorry Maho-chan..it's not your fault..I enjoyed our lovely morning walk to school that day so please don't regret it.."
"That's right Maho-san! All we can do now is sort things out to bury this scandal!" Ono said
"Easier said than done..it's spreading everywhere faster than a virus..do you have a plan Taichou?" Hajime asked
"I always do! It'll fix the scandalous pictures as well as the morale of the team in one go!"
"Why do you always do this?" Erika asked
"What do you mean?"
"This may be going just as you planned it but it doesn't change the fact that you're still the one being insulted by the media! Your reputation is always the one that gets tarnished! You always get the short end of the stick! DO YOU LOVE HURTING YOURSELF THAT MUCH!" Erika shouted in anger
(Erika wasn't just venting anger at Gero but she was truly worried about him. All those rumors that spread revolve only around Gero. Miho and Maho might get questioned by people but all the doubt, anger, and every negative emotion gets pointed at Gero)
"I understand what you want to say Erika..but if I were to choose between me getting hurt and you getting hurt or any other people precious to me getting hurt..then I'd choose myself..you know that right?"
"..." Erika didn't know what to say back
"Besides..this is a small price to pay for what we are going to accomplish soon..sorry Erika..that your boyfriend is a self sacrificing idiot like me.."
"Damn you..that's not what I wanted to hear from you.." Erika mumbled
"With that said..the whole situation will die down before the tournament starts..please trust me Erika.."
(Erika set aside her anger and sadness and just accepted the fact that even if it was a painful solution it was the best one at that time)
"I do..I have always trusted you..and I always will.." Erika said with a smile and blush
"Thank you..let's go back to the team and practice..we only have a few days before the tournament.."
[D.O.M.E Stadium - Ooarai Ibaraki Prefecture - Two Days Later]
(As per tradition the opening ceremonies of the national tournament and the tournament itself will be held at the hometown of the last year's champions which was Ooarai Girls Academy)
"Ladies and gentlemen! Viewers and tankers! This is what all of us have been waiting for all year long! Welcome to the opening ceremonies of the annual 64th National Senshado Tournament!" Kodama announced
(The stadium was filled with loud cheers and applause for everyone was excited again to witness the most intense and amazing matches of Senshado. All schools that will partake have lined up inside the D.O.M.E Stadium and were listening to Kodama's speech)
"I thank you all for taking the time to come here today! It gives us great pleasure to be able to bring you the best Senshado experience from all over the country! Let me introduce you to two people that have made this a possibility! Please give your hands for Renta Tsuji and Yamato Himura!" Kodama announced
(Two individuals then got up the stage and bowed in respect to the audience. They were given a warm round of applause as well before they took a sit together with Kodama)
"We'd also like to thank the Seven Seats of Senshado for handling the necessary preparations to make this work! So thank you very much!" Kodama said
(Everyone then turned their attention to the left side where the Seven Seats were)
"It is our pleasure Kodama-san to fulfill our duties for these events.." Kikuyo bowed
"Hey Darjeeling..that guy is the one that tried to close down Miho's schools but failed right?" Kay whispered
"Failed twice I might add.." Darjeeling said
"I still can't make sense of him being too obsessed over closing down a small school like that.." Anchovy said
"It's not just for profit I'm sure..there must be another reason.." Asparagus said
"Hey..that guy next to four eyes..is that someone from your family?" Katyusha asked Kaede
"Yes..he's my Uncle..he was a teacher at Red Wings a few years ago then he became a board member of the Federation.." Kaede said
"I see..good for him that he became successful.." Katyusha said
"Enough about my uncle..how about we talk about the great white tiger..I'm sure all of you know about the spreading rumors about him.." Kaede said
"Oh that? You mean the half-assed way of trying to destroy his name by using underhanded ways?" Katyusha laughed
"I refuse to believe such stupid things..I know the kind of man Gero-kun is.." Darjeeling said
"I'm still bitter about it but Darling isn't the type to be two timing!"
"Then how would you explain the photos? And why Maho-san isn't present here today?" Kaede said
"There must be a proper explanation for those photos..we'll just have to wait and hear it from himself.."
"That's right! He's supposed to be the one to do that!" Katyusha smiled
"Do what Katyusha-san?" Oowada asked
"You'll see! It's going to be a blast!" Katyusha cheered
(A loud cheer and applause again was heard from the audience)
"Now we're going to start off this tournament very differently than before! This was suggested by the SSS and we approved it. Feast your eyes on the first ever Senshado Cauldron of Embers!" Kodama announced
(He then pulled a cloth covering the Cauldron with the logo of the Federation and showed it to everyone)
"Now this is just like the Olympics where we would light the Cauldron as a sign of the beginning of the 64th National Tournament! And each year the one to light the cauldron will be the commander of last year's champions! Meaning it would be none other than Nishizumi Miho commander of Ooarai Girls Academy!" Kodama announced
(Cheers echoed all over the stadium as Miho entered the stage and walked up to the Cauldron. But there were also whispers and murmurs in the audience due to the rumors that spread about her and Gero. Kodama then gave the mic to Miho and sat down together with Renta and Himura)
"Thank you very much Kodama-san! It is an honor to be chosen as the one to light the first ever Cauldron of Senshado!" Miho said
(Everyone was waiting for her to light it up but she wasn't. All of them was confused as to what was happening)
"But before I light this up I believe there is someone much more deserving to light this. I want you all to give a round of applause to none other than Matsumoto Gero of Kuromorimine University High School!" Miho shouted
(Everyone was shocked and wasn't able to give an applause. But Erika and her teammates cheered and gave Gero an applause as he went up the stage. He didn't went up alone for Maho was also with him)
"Kodama-san is this allowable?!" Yamato Himura was agitated
"It's fine let them be..I'm sure they want to clear something up.." Kodama said
(Miho then gave the mic to her brother)
"Thank you Miho-chan.."
(Gero then looked towards everybody and the stadium was silent. But suddenly there were random voices shouting against him)
"TWO-TIMER!"
"SCUM! HAVE YOU NO SHAME?!"
"PATHETIC!"
"Wow..right off the bat huh? First things first..please forgive my sudden intrusion Kodama-san.."
(Kodama just smiled and gave a nod to Gero. All of a sudden a commotion started by the entrance of the stadium. A group of paparazzi were able to get through the security for some reason and ran towards the front of the stage where Gero was. Ami Chouno then suddenly ran up the stage angry at what was happening)
"Who the hell let them in?!" Chouno shouted
"Ami nee-san..it's fine..let them.."
"Gero-kun.." Chouno was worried
(The numerous paparazzi and reporters then stormed Gero with questions and was taking photographs of the him and his sisters)
"Is it true that you were seen exiting the Nishizumi household together with Nishizumi Maho?!" asked a male reporter
"We have information that you spent an hour inside Nishizumi Miho's apartment! Can you tell us your relationship with them?" asked a female reporter
"What do you feel about them? Are you clearly two-timing the both of them?!" asked another reporter
"Hey watch your filthy mouth!" Chouno shouted in anger
(As Gero was being brutally interviewed in front of everyone the Seven Seats couldn't do anything and they were getting impatient)
"What the hell is this?! What the heck are the security doing?!" Kay shouted
"It's no good! I can't get into contact with the security!" Asparagus said
"I'm going to have to have a chat with whoever is in charge later..this is preposterous!" Darjeeling said
"Look at him! He can't even answer! I guess it's true!" Kaede said
"How about all of you shut up and watch.." Kikuyo suddenly said with a scary tone
(Everyone got scared again when Kikuyo gets angry. Gero then raised his hand to stop the questions for he was about to answer)
"Now regarding the question of me leaving the Nishizumi Household..yes that is true..I spent the night there and went to school with Maho-chan the next morning.."
(The whispers and murmurs increased inside the audience)
"What about spending an hour inside Nishizumi Miho's apartment?" asked a reporter
"That is true as well..I escorted her there, drank tea with her and talked..that's all that happened.."
"Finally..how do you feel about them?" asked a reporter with an evil smile
"I love them very much..both of them..I treasure them and care for them.."
(Gero answered the question right away with a big smile. Erika and Alice also smiled because they knew what he meant. Both Miho and Maho were blushing and smiling as well. The whole audience was in an uproar after his confession suddenly a reporter asked again)
"How can you say that with a smile on your face? Do you really think this ugly truth will go away?"
"Ugly truth huh..what is truth anyways? There are different kinds of truth, am I right? There is the honest truth, deceitful truth, painful truth, acceptable truth, hidden truth and many more..but what I said in front of all of you is what you call an ugly truth.."
"So what if I did call it that?" said the reporter
"The simple truth is, not all of us become the men and women we once hoped we might be, but we are all God's creation, and we all have the freedom to choose what we want to be.."
"And the truth is…"
"I am a Nishizumi.."
*CUE IRON MAN MUSIC (LOL)
(As Gero said those words with a big smug on his face. The faces of everyone, especially Kodama, Himura, Renta Tsuji, Yamato Kaede, and the rest of the Seven Seats were priceless. Everyone in the audience and the tankers all had priceless shocked expressions on their faces. It took them a whole 30 seconds before they could respond.)
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?" the whole stadium reacted
(Cameras started flashing after his big confession and once again the reporters started asking him questions but there were too many to understand. Gero just stood there in front of the flashing cameras with a big smile on his face. On this day the Heir of the Nishizumi Family has finally been revealed to the world)
Coming Up Next : Chapter 52 - The Heir
Author's Note:
Hello to everyone! Looks like Gero has finally gone public with his identity! His public reveal is the same as Iron Man in the first movie hence the iron man music part XD
I know that this is a short chapter compared to the others but do not worry! The next chapters in this Arc will be the one of the darkest, most intense, action packed, and feels trip of the story! Questions will be answered and secrets will be revealed!
Shout out to : "Darth1Bane" thank you so much for the follow! Welcome and enjoy!
Shout out to : "Stealth Magician" and "Asheshuntox" thank you for the favorite!
Thank you for the wonderful support you all are amazing! As for the replies to your comments check the reviews section as always!
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