Blazepanzer here, and just wanted to say thanks to all who have read my story so far and that I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Blazepanzer does not own Girls und Panzer or Monopoly.
"Well, I'm off, thanks for the ride mom!" Hanoashi smiled as she and Nova hopped out of the car, and separated into their respective classes. Today was going to be a bit of a special day for her class, as they were going on a kind of field-trip , hence why Hanoashi had on sandals and a simple sundress...and a one piece under her dress. While she wouldn't begin regularly swimming until she was in the first grade, she'd be getting her feet wet periodically in the nearby kiddie pool, although the days were somewhat random.
For those in the upper grades, they swam every Friday when the weather permitted, which was mid-may through mid September. The reason was simple, Japan required all schools to teach their students how to swim, what with it being a coastal island and such.
But Hanoashi and the rest of her class were not thinking about disasters at the moment, all they knew was that they'd spend half the day at the pool, then have lunch, and then finish the rest of the day doing who knows what back in the classroom.
"I'm a bit nervous," Mei admitted, shifting next to her, the girl's blue eyes shining with a mix of determination and fright.
"It's not that bad," Hanoashi reassured her. "Of course the water does sting the eye if you it contacts the pool water, but aside from that it's fairly safe."
"As long as we don't start roughhousing," Ayumi shuttered.
"Oh..." Hanoashi glanced at her in confusion.
"We'll be sharing the pool with the boys, hope they don't try anything too perverted," Anna stammered.
Yukaro would never try anything perverted! Hanoashi shot back mentally, glancing at the boy who was trying not to glance at her in anticipation. I wonder how he looks in swimming trunks, Hanoashi blushed before glancing away in embarrassment.
She now understood what it was like to have a crush on someone, and it was frustrating how neither of them could barely muster the strength to even talk to each other. And yet, she could envision herself with him one day, sitting next to him, bantering about everything and nothing much like how her parents did, perhaps with a few children of their own.
"Hanoashi...you ah...in the clouds or somethin," Ayumi prodded her gently.
"Huh?" Hanoashi glanced around.
Anna nearly smacked her own head with her hand. "Seriously, you two are a mess," she muttered.
"Oh...was I that obvious?" Hanoashi asked, glancing over at him, letting out a shy smile as he caught her eye. He tried to smile back, but began blushing and glanced away.
"Seriously..." Ayumi muttered. "What is so great about boys anyways," she shrugged, before walking off to visit Sara, a relatively new classmate of theirs who had immigrated from the States after some family troubles, or something. Hanoashi couldn't really fathom why as it wasen't explained to them. The girl had luscious long dark brown hair and the deepest blue eyes she ever saw. She was also incredibly nice as well so to speak, that is when she did speak.
"Pay her no attention, I kind of like Takou so to speak," Anna shrugged.
"You do?" Hanaoshi noted gently, turning her attention to the oblivious boy.
"Kinda..." Anna shifted her feet. "But I know that father is going to move sometime in the coming years, so it's not worth pursuing," she admitted quietly.
"Oh..." Hanoashi glanced down.
"Relax, it won't be anytime soon, and it takes father quite some time to grow bored of where he's living, so we have plenty of time together," Anna reassured her.
"Ri...right," Hanoashi smiled.
"Alright class, it's time to begin loading up for the pool!" Their teacher noted, clipboard in hand. "Let's go through another roll call real quick!"
The roll call was quick, and everyone was growing a tad excited by the prospects of swimming. Some of them, including Hanoashi herself, knew how to swim fairly decently, and some not at all. As she got on the bus, she found herself sitting next to Sara.
The girl stared out of the window, her blue eyes reflecting off of the window as it began.
"So, what do you think of Japan so far," Hanoashi asked gently, trying to make conversation.
"The language is...hard to learn," Sara managed to get out with broken Japanese. "But the people seem nice enough," she added.
"I suppose it is hard to learn. Mother has been pressing me and my brother Nova with it since birth, but..." Hanoashi trailed off as she realized that Sara probably didn't understand half of what she was saying.
"I guess," Sara mumbled, before gazing out of the window, letting out a sigh.
I really need to take my English studies more seriously. It's not Sara's fault her family had to move to Japan so suddenly...Hanoashi reminded herself. Plus I am genetically European, so it'd be a good idea for me to learn at least English...though adding Dutch and or Irish to my speech skills would be a bit too much and besides...no one in Japan would really speak it.
The girl of course had no idea of how complicated of a thought she just had. As it turned out she had been way too focused on her language and math skills compared to most girls, but Matsumino children were raised into prodigy, not merely born into it. Not that she or her brother would receive the monetary or prestige benefits, but still.
Arriving at the pool, the girls walked in, handed over their over-dresses, and conducted a quick shower as per protocol before finding their way into the pool area.
"Alright class, we'll be dividing into groups gendered, once you've been instructed on how to swim, you may join each other in the center of the pool to practice or just talk," Honoka smiled. "Girls, line up with me," she noted, before nodding to the boys. "Instructor Mako will guide you into your lessons."
Glancing over at Yukaro, Hanoashi felt a blush coming across her face as she realized how interesting he looked in swimtrunks. It was also the first time she had seen an ethnic Japanese boy in such swimwear, given that her parents had set them up with an easy set pool in the backyard for them to enjoy. Part of it was to teach her and Nova to swim in a safe area and part of it was to teach them proper swim etiquette.
She glanced away as her teacher called her up.
"Yes ma'am?" she asked gently.
"Since you've had swimming lessons at home, may we see your prowess?" Honoka smiled.
"Oh...of course ma'am," Hanoashi smiled, tipping her feet into the pool, smiling as she felt the cool water on her bare leg. Sighing as she walked in fully, she began to swim back and forth in the lane, doing her best to demonstrate.
Or she tried to. Not exactly as easy as I thought...I mean mom did teach me well, but this is kinda hard on the breath, Hanoashi noted sourly.
"That'd good deerie, you've proven that you can swim, so feel free to go to the center of the pool," Honoka smiled at her.
Thank goodness...I'm not too sure how much of this I can keep up! She sighed to herself, before swimming over to the center of the pool and letting her legs relax on the bottom.
Glancing over at the boys, she saw that Yakou had finished. Her heart sank a bit as she saw Yukaro being taught, struggling a bit with the concept of swimming. Will he be alright? She asked herself.
"Thank goodness that's over," a voice beside her sighed, and a quick glance at her revealed that Ayumi had just gotten done. "You're boyfriend struggling?" she asked, glancing at Yukaro.
"He will be alright...it took Mom three days to teach me properly," Hanoashi shrugged.
Ayumi snorted and walked off, clearly sensing that Hanoashi was more interested in Yukaro than her. She wasn't wrong.
After a while longer more girls joined her, and she just starred at her crush on and off. A few minutes later he swam over to the center, but simply walked to the edge of the pool and laid against the wall.
Glanced between him and the girls, she decided to head on over to him for once. "Mind if I join you for a bit?"
He glanced at her shyly, nodding before glancing away.
Making herself comfortable against the wall, she let out a small nod of determination. I can do this...she urged herself. "You...look nice in swim-shorts," she managed to get out, blushing profusely.
"You think so?" Yukaro noted. Before finally giving her a gaze over. "You look...nice...too..."He blushed, before gazing away.
Does he really mean that or...Hanoashi began, but mentally corrected herself. Of course he does, he's blushing as much as I am...
"Your name..." Yukaro mused.
"It's Hanoashi," she sighed in disappointment, thinking he'd somehow managed to forget it.
"No...I know it's Hanoashi...I just can't help but think of it," Yukaro shrugged. "It's really pretty," he added, before blushing sharply and glancing away.
"You...think so?" Hanoashi asked quietly.
"Yeah...just like the girl who...never mind!" He squeaked, swimming away as quickly as he could.
Hanoashi gazed at him dumbfounded, her face red with a mix of amazement and shock. He thinks I'm pretty...she mused happily, before a gentle splash distracted her.
"Earth to Hanoashi, we're about to play ball," Anna chided gently.
"Oh...coming!" Hanoashi smiled, briefly distracted at the prospect, before glancing back at Yukaro. "He's quite pretty as well," she mused to herself,
"Use the word handsome," Anna hissed. "Calling a guy pretty could be an insult to some," she added.
"Opps!" Hanoashi gasped.
"It's fine, he didn't hear," Anna smiled, nodding as they were also playing ball.
Watching, Hanoashi almost wanted to head back to the wall and simply watch her crush play, before she remembered her mom's advice on how it might not work out. Might as well play, she told herself, before turning to where the girls were playing.
"You like him?" Sara asked as she reached the area.
"Yes," Hanoashi nodded.
"But you're...embarrassed...right?" she pressed gently.
"We're both embarrassed," she added before tossing the ball to Ayumi.
"Hm...not to sure I'd want the same, but..." Sara tossed the ball to Anna, who sent it to Mei.
"To be honest...I kinda of like the embarrassment...or at least when it comes to him and me." Hanoashi smiled. "N...not that I want to embarrass him, but..." she added, before tossing the ball to Anna.
"Then it must be love," Ayumi smirked, hitting the ball a bit too hard into the guy's section. "Well...go get it Hanoashi," she hissed.
"Oh...okay then," Hanoashi noted, swimming to the guys.
"Oh hey Hanoashi, what's up?" A guy she still didn't know the name of asked.
"Oh...uh...hi...may we have our ball back?" she asked, not realizing that she was staring at Yukaro the whole time.
"You do realize that Ayumi tossed it over here to get you with Yukaro, right?" Takou noted.
"No, I did not..." Hanoashi admitted. "But...I don't mind..." she added.
"If you say so," Takou shrugged, handing her the ball.
Hanoashi nodded, using the ball to hide her blushing face as she walked backwards toward the girls. Or at least to where she thought they were.
She let out a small eak as she bumped against a wall, and a chorus of laughter from both the girls and guys erupted, even the teachers joining in. Blushing out of pure embarrassment now, Hanoashi sighed and walked up to the girls, a brief temptation to punch someone erupting through her mind.
Remember, a punch is an attack and as such should be used as a last resort, not on someone just because you dislike them or they do something you don't like...her mother's teaching echoed into her mind, and she relaxed. Gazing around she noticed that one person wasn't laughing at her expense, Yukaro. He seemed to be gazing at her worriedly.
Smiling at him assuredly, she want over to the girls and threw the ball, her anger forgotten.
After a while of swimming, Honoka got their attention. "Alright ladies, I know that we are having fun, but it's time to return to school," she noted.
"May we come back after lunch?" Takou asked gently.
"Afraid not, Mr. Nogata's class is up for the evening use," Honoka sighed.
"Awww..." most of the guys and girls chorused. Hanoashi noted that Yukaro was one of the few who didn't and she smiled at him, to which he promptly returned the smile.
"Come on now, Nogata's class was kind enough to let us go first, the least that we can do is let them take their turn. Besides, I'm sure that you are hungry," she added.
A chorus of growling stomachs erupted at the mention of food, Hanoashi's included. A short round of laughs erupted, some embarrassed chuckles while some thought that it was the funnest joke they'd heard.
Arriving into the showers, Hanoashi ruffled the soap into her hair, scrubbing to get the chemicals outs. Sara was beside her.
"Are you mad?" she asked quietly.
"Why would I be mad?" Hanoashi asked.
"That moving after you got the ball...was my idea," Sara admitted quietly.
"Oh...why you little sneak," Hanoashi laughed. "But no I'm not mad," she added reassuringly.
"Oh...okay then," Sara smiled, before quietly going back to her washing. After a bit, she glanced at her a bit. "But you were mad at first," she added.
"..." Hanoashi made a small noise, not wanting to admit at how much it had gotten under her skin during the first few moments.
"I see...I'm sorry, won't do it again," Sara promised.
Hanoashi glanced over at her, before turning to wash her hair, rinsing the soap out before going for the second application. "Don't worry about it Sara," she smiled.
The girl nodded, but didn't say anything, focusing on her hair washing.
It didn't take her long to find herself in the lunch room, and once again she was sitting across from Nova. It seamed as though he was always assigned her number, not that she minded.
Glancing at her meal, it was the same as everyone else except that the cake was sugar free, not that she minded. This time it was soup with a side of rice and fish.
Taking his seat in front of her, Nova smiled at her gently. "So how was swimming lessons?" he asked.
"It was fine, got to see my crush in swim-shorts, played ball, got embarrassed by the quietest and most polite girl in the class, so call it an adventure," Hanoashi laughed.
"Embarrassed?" Nova asked worriedly.
"Yeah, Ayumi threw the ball over to the boys to get me close to Yukaro...we were playing ball with our respective genders. Anyways, I had the idea to walk backwards toward the girls and Sara convinced the other girls to move away while I wasn't looking, and I kinda made a sound when I bumped against the side of the pool.
Letting out a small laugh, Nova smiled at her. "Bet you were mad," he noted.
"A bit,"Hanoashi noted, nabbing a bite of fish. "But really I was just embarrassed more than anything. Mom's lessons about anger management really helped me keep my cool," she added.
"Sounds like you were a bit more than a bit upset," Nova scrutinized her.
"Okay fine...I was incensed," Hanoashi sighed, before smiling. "But it only lasted for a brief few seconds."
"That's all it takes sis, thank goodness you took mom's advice to heart," Nova mused.
"I guess so," Hanoashi noted, understanding where he was coming from. Reacting on that anger would have been really...really bad now, and could have got me in prison had I actually done it when I was older.
"Hey, you didn't react to it, take some pride in that," Nova smiled at her.
"Remember what the Bible says about pride," Hanoashi reminded him sternly.
"Good point," Nova mused. "So...what did you think about seeing your crush in a swim-suit?"
"Fascinating," Hanoashi mused as she swallowed a spoonful of rice. "Actually, we complimented each other, and he confessed that he liked my name and even stated that he thought that I looked cute..." Hanoashi mused, blushing slightly but using another spoonful of rice to cover her embarrassment."
"Well you do look cure sis," Nova smirked.
"Cheek!" Hanoashi gasped gently, before shrugging. "But I guess that I do look good in that swimsuit," she added.
"I always thought so," Nova smiled. "So you're finally talking now?" he added.
"I guess we are...if not then we're getting there," she noted gently.
"You'll get there," Nova smiled at her.
"I hope so," Hanoashi sighed. I really...really want this to work out, she added to herself.
Lunch was over in a flash, and she quickly found herself in the classroom, not too sure of what to do since they were given ample free time.
"Um...Hanoashi, may we talk?" Yukaro asked.
"Sure," Hanoashi breathed, joining him at one of the group tables.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, his eyes glowing with concern.
"Y...yes?" Hanoashi was a bit taken aback at his sudden concern for her.
"I mean...back when the girls caused you to crash into the pool wall...you looked mad is all," he added.
"Oh...that..."Hanoashi gazed down. "Yeah, I'm fine," she mumbled, blushing a bit.
"Are you mad at me for...you know...bringing it up?" Yukaro asked hesitantly.
Hanoashi simply shook her head, before glancing up at him. "No...honestly I find it as funny as they did...well...maybe not quite that funny but looking back at it..."
"I'm not too sure I liked how they tricked you," Yukaro admitted, blushing a bit.
"Yeah...me neither...but...I'm actually impressed that Sara was the one who came up with it," Hanoashi shrugged, glancing over at the brunet who was playing a board game she was unfamiliar with.
"You're not thinking about getting her back, are you?" Yukaro inquired.
"I'm not that kind of girl," Hanoashi retorted sourly, this time being a bit upset that he'd think that of her.
"Yukaro...checkers!" one of the guys called.
"Coming!" Yukaro shouted.
Sighing, Hanoashi went over to her desk and busied herself with drawing.
"Didn't know you liked to draw," Ayumi leaned over her.
"Sometimes I do," Hanoashi admitted.
"What do you like to draw...flowers?" Ayumi asked, sitting backwards in Anna's chair.
"Sometimes...sometimes houses...towns...computers..." Hanoashi noted.
"Computers?" Ayumi asked.
"Mom has one she uses to print off worksheets for Nova and I to work on," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Why?" Ayumi asked, tipping her head.
"Apparently she thinks that school isn't enough for us," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Cheater..." Ayumi huffed.
"Wh...wha!?" Hanoashi gasped.
"Relax, I'm just teasing ya," Ayumi chuckled.
"I mean in a way it's kinda is now that I think about it..." Hanoashi noted, focusing on drawing a dog.
"Not really, I mean it's not your fault your mother presses you so hard." Ayumi noted. "Besides, you'd get into trouble if you refused, right?"
"Yeah...first time I refused something I got a good time out...strove to never refuse any more requests after that," Hanoashi noted.
"I'm kind of envious...my mom doesn't seem to give a care about sis and I," Ayumi sighed, before lifting up her skirt to show her a scar on her thigh. "My older sister was playing with a butter night and accidentally scratched me hard with it...only got a stern talking too," she added.
"Nova or I do that to the other and we'd get grounded for...hm...a long long time," Hanoashi mused.
"A week?" Ayumi asked.
Hanoashi snorted. "Try a month or two.
"That long!?" Ayumi gasped. "Anyways, what's it like being grounded?"
"Well...in my family's case...It involved being confined to the guest bedroom with nothing but your school materials, and whatever assignments mom makes. We have to eat in the room, and we also have to do all of the chores during our time. Oh...and we'd have to wear our bathing suits unless we are outside of the room, and we'd have to earn the privilege of talking to our sibling so to speak." Hanoashi explained.
"Oof...that's a nightmare," Ayumi noted. "Sounds like you've had experience with it though," she added.
"Once...just for a day and a half after I acted like a complete brat during a trip to the hospital. Believe you me, I've learned my lesson," Hanoashi confessed.
"At least it wasn't very long...must have been boring," Ayumi sympathized.
"I just filled out my multiplication charts," Hanoashi shrugged.
"Multipl...what?"Ayumi stared out at her blankly.
Hanoashi gazed over toward the count by chart. "That, for some reason the school thinks that Multiplication is a bit too hard of a word for us young ones, so they be cute about it and call it count bys."
"Ah...Multiplation?"
"Er...close enough," Hanoashi sighed, really not in the mood for a teaching lesson right now.
"So what else do you learn?" Ayumi asked.
"Just the usual..." Hanoashi began, before Mei walked up. "Wanna play monopoly?" she asked.
"Oh you are on!" Ayumi smiled, before turning to Hanoashi. "You wanna play?"
"I think I'd better watch first," Hanoashi noted. "But next time though, sure!" she added with a smile.
"Great!" Ayumi smiled, and Hanoashi followed them to the table.
"You ever play monopoly before," Yukaro asked.
"Oh, I'm not playing, just watching," Hanoashi shook her head.
"Oh come on Hanoashi, it's an eight player game, you might as well join in just for fun," Honoka urged.
"But I've never played Monopoly before," Hanoashi admitted quietly.
"I'm sure they'll be able to help you out," Honoka smiled, before walking on.
Sitting down with a sigh, Hanoashi realized that she was next to Yukaro and Mei, and she felt nervous for a brief second.
"So here's what you do," Yukaro leaned over. "Each player is given 7,500 Yen to start with. At each player's turn they roll two dice simultaneously, and the combined number they land on is where you move your counter to. If you land on an un-owned property, you can either buy it outright or opt to auction it. If you buy it, then anyone who lands on it has to pay rent to you...according to the amount your property is worth," he explained.
"I don't get it," Hanoashi shook her head.
"Would you like me to guide you through it?" Yukaro offered.
"S...sure..." Hanoashi blushed, grateful but a bit shy. Glancing over at him, she noted that he had a bit of a blush on his face as well, but he turned to the others in the table. "Who plays first?"
"Hanoashi, so that you may guide her in the game," Ayumi noted.
"A...alright," Hanoashi noted, realizing that she had received the thimble piece. Taking the dice, she glanced at Yukaro, who nodded. "Just kind of roll them gently, we don't need them to go flying but be do want a good roll."
"Roll the dice," Hanoashi whispered, managing to roll a two and a three.
"That's a good roll," Yukaro noted. Now you move the Thimble over to Reading rainbow," he noted.
Doing so, she gently moved the thimble, before glancing at him.
"Do you want to buy it, or do you want to auction it?" Yukaro asked.
"Which should I do?" Hanoashi asked.
"That;s for you to decide," Yukaro smiled. "I'm just guiding you though the game, not making your choices for you." he added.
"So how do I buy?" Hanoashi asked.
"Well, since it's 1,000 yen, you simply place it in the bank, and take the proper cards into your possession," he noted.
"So...now what?" she asked as she did so.
"For now your turn is over," Yukaro noted apologetically.
"That's all we do?" Hanoashi asked, surprised filling her voice.
"For now it is," Ayumi noted. "Later on things will pick up with trades and such, but that's for now. Yukaro, I believe it is your turn?"
"Right...we're going clockwise for reference, it's usually better that way," Yukaro added, before rolling the dice, landing on a six. "Vermont...sure, I'll buy," Yukaro smiled as he paid his dues and collected his card.
Before long the line had revolved to Mei, who landed on Hanoashi's railroad. "Guess I owe you 125 yen," she noted, exchanging 200 yen for the required change.
"My turn again?" she asked Yukaro who nodded. This time she rolled a two, and found herself on the Chance column. "So...now what do I do?" she asked.
"You pick up one of the chance cards," Yukaro noted. "Hope you get something good," he added encouragingly.
Doing so, she picked up the card and nearly squeaked. "Go directly to...jail!?"
"Sorry, but you've got to do it," Sara mused quietly.
Sighing, she moved her thumbnail piece to the jail section. "Seriously..." she moaned.
"Sorry," Yukaro apologized.
"It's alright...it's...not your fault Yukaro," Hanoashi flashed him a quiet smile.
"Still...I''d visit you if it did happen for real," he mused.
Hanoashi blushed, both moved but embarrassed at the notion of him of all people seeing her in prison. "Thanks..." she whispered.
He blushed in return, before taking his die to roll.
"Just so you know, you can get out by paying a fine of 250 yen on your next turn before you roll," Mei noted.
"Really...that's all it takes?" Hanoashi whispered.
"Or you could try rolling doubles. You've got three turns to do it, but after the roll on the third turn you'll have to pay the fine anyways," Mei added.
"I think I'll pay the fine," Hanoashi noted. Anything to get out of prison...she added bitterly.
To her surprise Ayumi glanced toward her after landing on the railroad. "Hanoashi...you could sell your railroad to me for...1200 yen?" she offered.
"First...you can do that?" she asked.
"Of course," Yukaro smiled at her.
"Even when I'm in jail?" Hanoashi whispered.
"Of course!" Mei smiled.
"Er...I don't know...I kind of like the rent money from it," Hanoashi backed away.
"Darn," Ayumi muttered. "But for the record, never sell a railroad for cheep," she added.
"Wha...but..." Hanoashi gasped, gazing at her in confusion.
"I was going to tell you after the game, but I kind of feel sorry for you," Ayumi noted.
"The handcuffs are most uncomfortable," Hanoashi joked with a half sighed, half hissed.
"What are handcuffs?" Mei asked.
"Something you wouldn't like wearing," Yukaro sighed, giving Hanoashi a sympathetic glance.
Waiting her turn, she paid the 250 yen fine, before rolling, this time she rolled a four and a six, resulting in her going from the jail part to the free parking.
"Hm...alright, not much else you can do for now," Yukaro noted.
"What exactly are those little red and green houses for?" Hanoashi asked.
"When you own all of the properties of a specific color, you can buy them to increase the rent income of your properties," He explained.
"Oh, alright then," Hanoashi smiled.
After about twelve more turns, she realized that she didn't have the money to pay the load to Yukaro. "So...what now?" she asked.
"You could mortgage your properties, sell, or bow out," Yukaro noted.
"Hm...I'm guessing my prospects aren't too good?" she noted.
"Unfortunately...but you played quite well for your first game," Mei smiled as she as also out.
"I...think I'll dip out then," Hanoashi noted.
"So you declare bankruptcy?" Ayumi asked, her blue eyes gleaming.
"I guess so...yeah," Hanoashi noted, rising up, and bowing gently. "Thank you for teaching me," she added.
"We should play again sometime," Ayumi smiled, the other students agreeing with eager nods.
"Sure," Hanoashi smiled, watching as Yukaro finished up against Ayumi, albeit it took a while longer. However, he didn't have much time to celebrate his win as the time to clean bell rang.
Grabbing her chalkboard cleaning supplies, Hanoashi sprayed the board before stopping in her tracks. Yukaro and I actually had a conversation...and it didn't turn into a massive mess! She realized, glancing at the boy who was sweeping with Mei. Sighing, she went back to her usual cleaning, though she felt as though this was her best day at school yet.