Blazepanzer here, just wanted to thank everyone for reading my fic up to this point! Hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Note that Blazepanzer does not own girls und panzer!
Hanoashi woke up, feeling the ever familiar arm of her cousin around her. "Morning Kona," Hanoashi smiled.
"Morning Hanoashi," Rikona smiled back at her. "You excited for the beach?"
Hanoashi let out a small nod, rising out of the bed, her cousin following. The two quietly got out their swimwear, Rikona going in a two piece and Hanoashi sticking to her familiar one piece.
As she slipped it on, she let out a quiet sigh. Seems like the last time I wore this it was for a grounding. Really don't want to ever repeat that again...she thought determinedly.
"Look at you Rikona, going in a two piece," Ayumi smirked as she had on a teal one piece.
"I've always liked two pieces, allows the water to flow freely over my belly," Rikona shrugged.
"I can understand that, but I always feel too naked in a two piece, or at least I assume that I would," Hanoashi noted as she put on her sleeveless swim overdress. "Mom would never let me wear one though," she added.
"Yu was always a tad more naturally prudish than I was," Shelia admitted. "You girls ready to go?" she added.
"Yes Shelia," the girls chorused.
"Great, let's have fun at the beach!" Mizoma smiled, wearing a stereotypical pair of large sunglasses and a large straw hat on top of her blue and white striped swimsuit.
Shelia wore a plain gray one piece...or she was under her pink tee-shirt and short shorts so to speak. She also had on a pair of sunglasses, though she had on a black and pink baseball cap instead of the straw had that Mizoma was wearing.
The girls rallied into the car, smiles plastered on their faces as they eagerly awaited their journey to the beach. "This is so cool, I get to see more of Nishmari!" Rikona whispered beside Hanoashi.
"Home sweet home," Hanoashi smiled. "Not as much to do as in the big cities though," she added teasingly.
"I kind of like that to be honest," Rikona confessed. "The small town life...sometimes I wish I could move to Hokkaido, and live life as a peasant farmer, relaxing to the radio and antenna tv while working in the rice fields..."
"I'm guessing you don't like the rich lifestyle," Mizoma guessed from the driver's seat.
"It has it's perks and annoyances. At least my path to becoming a nurse is clear, and approved by the Matsumino," she noted.
"You want to be a nurse, Rikona?" Ayumi asked, from the front seat, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Yeah, it's always been my dream job."
"What about you Hanoashi?" Anna asked from her other side.
"Stay at home mother or High school English teacher," Hanoashi affirmed.
"That's a pretty good life path," Anna affirmed.
"With Yukaro?" Ayumi teased. "He's still head over heels over you by the way," she added.
"I...I wouldn't mind that..." Hanoashi stammered, blushing.
"Who's Yukaro?" Rikona asked.
"A classmate who has a crush on me," Hanoashi mumered shyly.
"From the sounds of it you have one on him as well," Rikona teased.
"Can't deny that," Hanoashi muttered, half in reluctance, half earnestly. But we're just six Rikona, Hanoashi added silently. We have at least twelve more years become we can get married...right?
As the girls stepped out of the beech, their reactions were different. Rikona's eyes shone at the sparkling water, yet she made no sound. Hanoashi half wanted to rush into the water and half wanted to sit by the adults and soak in their conversation.
"Alright! The beach!" Ayumi shouted excitedly, jumping up with her fist in the air. "Let's go!" she shouted.
"First we stretch," Shelia noted. "Line up girls!"
Obeying, Hanoashi took off her cover dress and began the exercises, which consisted of about twelve sets per stretch type.
"Did we really need to that many," Sara asked quietly after they had finished.
"Rikona and I would have had to do...how many?" Hanoashi asked, gazing at her cousin.
"Thirty, plus twenty push ups and sit ups on top," Rikona smiled.
"Th...that many?!" Sara squeaked.
"Yep! The Matsumino push their children harder than most, and that's in all aspects," Hanoashi noted. "Yu wasn't quite as hard on me as Shelia is with Rikona...but..."
Before she knew it she found a beach ball being thrown at her. "Catch Hanoashi!" Anna smirked.
"Oh you lot are on!" Hanoashi smiled as she joined in the game of catch.
"Alright!" Asuza smiled as Rikona dove back and caught the ball, not noticing the particular snail which was preparing to strike her. Thankfully she moved out of the way just in time.
That's a weird snail...Hanoashi mused, before joining back in the game, not thinking anything of it.
They continued like that for some time and like back at the day at the pool, Ayumi accidentally threw it a bit too far. "I'll get it!" Hanoashi called out, running over and bending down to pick up the ball before she gazed upward to see a familiar face. "Hayle?" Hanoashi gasped.
"Hanoashi!" Hayle smiled as she basically scooped her up in a hug. "So you went to Nishmari?" she added, stepping back.
"Yep! Shelia's using my father's house as a base of operations considering it's large enough to hold about ten folks.
"Lucky, I'm rooming a Taeko Kondou, apparently her family's countryside house is large enough to hold five people," Hayle smiled, gazing over towed the girl who was approaching.
"She a friend of yours?" the brunet asked, her amber eyes friendly as her near waist length, dark brown hair flowed in the wind.
"This is Hanoashi Katoni, she's in my class," Hayle smiled. "Hanoashi, this is Taeko Kondou."
"It's very nice to meet you Taeko," Hanoashi smiled as she brushed her own ginger hair out of her face.
"Likewise Hanoashi," Taeko smiled in return. "So how are you enjoying Japan?"
"Eh?" Hanoashi tipped her head in confusion
"Oh, her family's lived in Nishmari for..."
"I'm a forth generation Nishmarian," Hanoashi affirmed, rescuing Hayle.
"Oh...I'm so sorry!" Taeko gasped, bowing slightly in apology.
"It's fine," Hanoashi smiled. "I get that a lot whenever we went outside of Nishmari and Ooarai...people are so surprised when they hear how fluently I speak Japanese and with no Irish accent."
"Do people give you trouble?" Taeko asked gently as she rose up from her apologetic bow.
"Not that much, sometimes I get the tourist side-eye, so..." Hanoashi began, but before long she heard Rikona calling for her.
"Sorry, gotta go!" Hanoashi smiled. "It's nice seeing you again Hayle...and meeting you Taeko," she smiled.
Taeko and Halye echoed the sentiment as Hanoashi rushed over to rejoin the ball game. She tossed it to Sara, who tossed it to Asuza.
After a while, Shelia called them them over to a picnic blanket, where Mizoma was slicing a water melon. "Time for a little snack!" she smiled.
"Alright!" the girls smiled, settling in as they received their slice.
"Ready?" Shelia prompted.
"Thanks for the food!" the girls chorused before digging into the watermelon.
Hanoashi's eyes widened as she realized how sweet it was. "Is it alright for me to be eating something this sweet?" she asked Shelia.
"Of course, Watermelon doesn't have too much sugar," Shelia smiled.
"Oh...okay then," Hanoashi smiled as she dug in, her eyes glittering with enjoyment.
Everyone was enjoying it, even Mizoma. Perhaps she was enjoying it a little too well as she didn't notice another peculiar snail practically glaring at her, and a small needle shot out a few times as if in warning. Thankfully their chaperon was too far away for it to connect, but it would have freaked her out had she known, which would have sent everyone else freaking out as well.
"Thanks for the watermelon," Sara smiled, as she rose as if to head into the water.
"Make sure to wait thirty minutes before you swim!" Rikona called.
"I'll keep an eye out for her," Ayumi promised, going to follow her.
Hanoashi watched as the girls shuffled out, before finding herself yet again alone with Rikona.
"You enjoying yourself cuz?" Rikona asked.
"You bet!" Hanoashi smiled.
"Same," Rikona smiled, gazing out at the ocean. "Reminds me of our swimming lessons," she mused.
"Don't remind me," Hanoashi groaned.
"Oh come on, we have fun!" Rikona shoved her ever so gently.
"Yeah, and then I'm almost always too tired for my English lessons afterwards," Hanoashi yawned just thinking about it.
"Try not to do that in public," Rikona chided.
"Sorry," Hanoashi squeaked.
Rikona simply took her hand and smiled. "It's alright cuz," she reassured her.
Just then Anna and Lynn ran past, laughing like it was no care in the world. Hanoashi's eyes narrowed as she saw a third peculiar snail not even a centimeter from Anna's feet. The snail shot out something that thankfully missed Anna, not that Hanoashi knew just how close she was to losing her friends.
"Come on, let's wade in the water," Rikona smiled.
"Right behind you!" Hanoashi rushed after her.
Running her hand through the water, Hanoashi smiled as she saw a few shrimp fly past her. The ocean is so full of life! She thought in happy wonder as she began to observe life around her.
A squirt of water interrupted her as she glared at Ayumi. "Water gun fight?" she asked.
"Sure!" Hanoashi smiled as she caught the water gun...well more of a squirt tube given actual water guns were somewhat looked down on. Rikona joined her, as did Anna, though Lyn, Asuza, and Sara opted to search for sea shells.
Hanoashi focused on the firefight, thoroughly enjoying herself as she was constantly spayed and spraying the others. However, right before she was about to spray Rikona she heard a rather loud "Sara, don't touch that!"
Gazing over to where Sara was about to pick up one of those peculiar snails, the girl jolted back right before the snail's whatever you called it struck her. Right at that point she heard a blood-curling scream of "Misaki!"
Gazing around, she saw a teenage boy holding onto a girl who was unresponsive.
I..I...I've got to get out of here! Hanoashi screamed internally as she ran out of the water, trying to reach the safety of Shelia when all of a sudden she felt a small sting on her food and then the world went black.
A beeping noise.
She didn't dare open her eyes, frightened by the idea of what happened. Between the bout with pneumonia and then the dung being pulled out of my ass...not to mention mother's death, I really...really don't like hospitals...she groaned inwardly.
"Hey, snap out of it kid," a rather gruff voice muttered.
"Hm...Wayne?" Hanoashi mused groggily as she opened her eyes to her her great grandpa hovering over her..
"You've cost the Matsumino a lot of money by running like that," Wayne growled, before he let out a sympathetic grumble. "But it's not your fault that no one taught you about cone snails...at your age anyways," he added.
"Cone snails?" Hanoashi blinked opened her eyes, surprised to see the IV being removed from her arm.
"Some of them can be very toxic. You were lucky that life-guard was paying attention to Shelia screaming at Sara so that he noticed the moment you got struck. He's saved at least four lives prior to yours from cone snail stings, though his many years of the work..." Wayne noted a bit of pride in his voice.
"I don't think I'll ever go to the beach again," Hanoashi muttered.
"Very wise of you," Wayne grumbled. "But an unnecessary sentiment. The beach can be a very beautiful and enjoyable place, but it has it's dangers." He then rose and walked out. "I trust that you'll study such dangers on your own from now on while not letting your fear overwhelm you?"
"I'll defiantly study more from now on," Hanoashi promised earnestly. But I'm never going back to the beach if I can help it! She noted to herself determinedly.
"I'll let Shelia and Rikona know that you're out of the coma. Don't move anything," he called before walking down the hall.
Laying down on the pillow, she let out a small sigh. "I've ruined everyone's day at the beach," she whispered.
"It's not your fault," a nurse reassured her. "So...Hano...hanos..."
"Hanoashi," she noted.
"Quite the mouthful," she smiled. "I'm Miyama Stone, your primary nurse," she noted.
"T...thanks for saving me...how long was I out?" she asked.
"Four days," Wayne noted as he entered the room. "Shelia and Rikona are on their way," he added.
"Fo...four days!?" Hanoashi gasped.
"Yep kid, cone snail stings are no laughing manner, and you flat lined a few times," Wayne noted.
"Fl...flat-lined?!" Hanoashi gasped. I died? She thought numbly as imagines of her aunt and cousin graving flooded into her mind. She let out a tear and a sob as she then though of how her father would have felt had she died.
"Please don't scare her Matsumino sir," Miyama insisted.
"No, I need to be scared like that, so that I don't do it again," Hanoashi insisted, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Suit yourself," Miyama muttered.
"Don't be too hard on yourself Hanoashi, it was an accident, and you survived," Wayne smiled. "The important thing is that you realize the value of this second chance at life and that you learn what you must from it."
"I understand," Hanoashi reassured him.
At that point Rikona rushed in, tears in her eyes. "Please don't scare me like that again!" She whimpered through her sobs, grabbing onto her arm as if to try and stop her from running.
"Don't worry Kona, I've learned to be more careful," Hanoashi promised.
"Several beach workers have been fired for incompatibly," Shelia noted to Wayne.
"Good," He grunted. "There's no excuse for such sloppiness."
"I...I think some of the girls almost got stung by those devilish things," Hanoashi shuddered.
"They're not devilish things," Wayne hissed at her, causing the Irish girl to flinch. "They're just living things that are spooked by us and feel the need to defend themselves, and they are correct to do so," he added more calmly."
"Even so...why does their sting need to be so potent?" Hanoashi whined.
"You say that you learned things and yet you're still whining," a groggy voice noted, before erupting into a fit of caught.
"Father?" Hanoashi gasped, trying to rise up but she was feeling fairly weak.
"Uncle Drake has a hard time talking still and he'll be in the hospital for a few more weeks, but he'll make enough of a recovery for him to care for you," Rikona noted. "According to the doctors at least," she added.
"That's great!" Hanoashi smiled.
"Thanks for looking out for her," Drake bowed to Wayne in gratitude, though his voice was very raspy.
"She reminds me too much of her mother," Wayne grunted, before exiting the room, pausing to look back at Drake. "You've got a wonderful kid there, don't ever let her go. And Rikona...don't ever let me hear you..."
"Just shut up and let her have her uncle," Shelia growled hotly.
"Just keep it under wraps then," Wayne grunted, before walking off.
"Matsumino drama, gotta love it," Hanoashi muttered.
"We're not all that bad!" Rikona moaned.
"True," Hanoashi conceded.
"I see that you and Rikona get along famously," Drake half laughed, half rasped.
"Of course!" Rikona smiled. "I just wish we could have seen each other sooner is all," she added.
"It was always my and Yu's intention to introduce you as teens," Shelia admitted. "We...ah...kinda wanted to do it the Matsumino way, though more-so on the down-low in your case," she added.
"Meanie," Hanoashi and Rikona muttered simultaneously, before gazing at each other and joining the room in laughter.
"So, Shelia says that you want to become an English teacher," Drake rasped.
"That's only if I don't fine someone to marry first," Hanoashi noted. "But...if that's too much of a reach then I'm more than happy to work as a daycare worker," she added.
"The same motherly instincts that Yu had," Drake rumbled in sorrow. "I...I'm sorry that..."
"You don't need to apologize for that father," Hanoashi reassured him. "You and mom were doing your duty to get everyone out, and that is nothing to be ashamed of."
"You...you are too kind...but still..." Drake broke off in a fit of coughing and began to shake.
"You ought to go lie down Drake," Shelia urged gently. "You're still weak from the fire and there's no telling how far you'll truly recover, but if you push yourself..."
"Alright then..." Drake noted reluctantly.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her," Rikona promised earnestly as Shelia guided Drake out of the room. Turning her attention back to her cushion, Hanoashi let out a small smile. "Sorry if I worried you again," she whispered.
"It wasn't your fault, we were all panicky. Ayumi nearly stepped on a Lionfish and Anna has a scar on her leg from a stray box jellyfish. She's kind of proud of it for some reason," Rikona reassured her.
"How is everyone by the way," Hanoashi asked.
"They all went home after the beach accident, but we've been trying to keep in touch through Mizoma so to speak," Rikona noted. "They'll be relieved to hear that you survived, and intact at that," she added in relief.
"Nearly intact...I don't think I could ever go to the beach again after that close call," Hanoashi shuddered. "And before you give me a speech, Wayne already gave me one about it...didn't change my mind about going back," she added sternly, though her voice shook a bit.
"That's fine, there's a lot of other things that we can enjoy together," Rikona smiled. "Though it is concerning...your newfound fear of the beach..."she paused, her light green eyes scrutinizing her a bit. "Is...something on my face?" she asked.
"Don't see any freckles," Hanoashi teased.
"You cheek!" Rikona growled playfully.
"Nah, all is fine cuz...it's just...I can see what my group was saying, about our sentence structure being so advanced for our age," Hanoashi noted.
"What do you mean by your group," Rikona growled, before laughing. "Yeah, I didn't really understand it myself actually until I met your classmates."
"Good news and bad news," Shelia noted as she entered the room.
"Is Father alright?" Hanoashi sneaked in alarm.
"He saw Yu's spirit in the flesh," Shela deadpanned. "Not really, he's perfect fine, or he would be if he'd rest, the nurse tattled on him hard," she added. "knowing my sister she's probably ranting about how he needs to take his rest seriously and such..."
"No fair...I wanna see mom too," Hanoashi teased.
"It's about you actually," Shelia mused. "Good news is that you are clear to go, bad news is no exertion for the next four days," she noted.
"So um?" Rikona placed her hand to her chin.
"In other words, we'll be readjusting our vacation, and she won't be going to school or doing chores, for a few days." Shelia noted.
"Awww..." Hanoashi groaned.
"Quite whining," Sheila deadpanned sternly. "It is what it is."
"Sorry about the vacation," Hanoashi whispered, eyes widening as she realized what it meant.
"That's alright, Rikona tends to hate these things anyways," Shelia smiled. "Anyways, let's get you two home, I've already got your stuff in the car, Hanoashi," she added.
"Right, let me help you," Rikona smiled as she helped Hanoashi off the bed.
"You really don't like vacations?" Hanoashi asked as she leaned onto her cousin, realizing how weak she had become.
"I like small ones...just not the big week long ones," Rikona sighed. "I...I get too homesick after some time," she added, "let alone the exhaustion!"
"I see," Hanoashi mused to herself. "Will you be alright without me doing the chores for a few days?" she asked in concern.
"Absolutely...I'm not quite as eager about them as you are, but still...it's what I'd be doing anyways," Rikona noted quietly.
"I'll resume helping as soon as I can," Hanoashi promised.
"I look forward to it, chores are always more fun when done with a friend...or cousin in our case," Rikona smiled.
"So long as you don't start playing Frisbee with the dishes or broom hockey," Shelia teased.
"We Katoni don't know the meaning of playing while doing chores," Hanoashi laughed.
"Cheek!" Shelia laughed.
Hanoashi's mind flew back to the time when her mother first tried to teach her how to clean, and she couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"What's so funny?" Rikona asked, and Hanoashi's explanation sent her cousin and aunt into a fit of laughter.
Waking up, Hanoashi was about to get up when she remembered the doctors orders, and so she laid back down, nearly letting out a small groan. Why did I have to panic?! she muttered to herself.
Gazing at the sleeping Rikona, she found herself staring at her as she sleeps. She's so wonderful and kind...but also beautiful...she realized. Lin was right, we have something wonderful here, and my recklessness almost destroyed that...she thought guiltily, looking away as she was unable to bear the thought of the pain she almost caused.
Rising up, she walked over to the window, watching as Leah went about her way in the gardens. Can't even enjoy walking through them, she muttered to herself.
"It's only a few days, right?"
Glancing around she noticed that her cousin had awoke. "Good morning Rikona! Yeah...but it's going to feel like forever though" she muttered.
"True, but we'll still get to have fun together," Rikona smiled. "By the way Shelia is bringing us up food, it's rare that we get to eat in our rooms."
"We get to eat snacks though," Hanoashi noted.
"Cheek! But yeah, that we do," Rikona noted. "Even if it's just the healthier stuff," she laughed.
"Are you sure Shelia didn't steal away the sugar content just for my sake?" Hanoashi asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Nope! It's always been beef jerky, dried seaweed, nuts, rice crackers and dried fruit since I was old enough to begin eating snacks," Rikona reassured her. "See...Shelia's under the idea that a lot of the snacks like chocolate and cookies and potato chips are...toxic."
"I suppose so..." Hanoashi nodded. "I guess my SC-type 4 Diabetes keeps me from a lot of that stuff as well," she added.
"Breakfast is ready," Shelia noted as she entered the room.
Pancakes and sausage," Hanoashi smiled. "Smells great!"
"Yep!" Rikona smiled.
"Here' sit at the table and you may eat. I'll come and pick it up later," Shelia smiled as she placed the food on the table, giving Hanoashi the pancakes with dried strawberry powder and Rikona the chocolate chips.
"Thanks for the food!" Hanoashi and Rikona chorused, digging in as Shelia exited the room.
"I can see that she allows chocolate in the pancakes," Hanoashi noted.
Rikona swallowed her bite and smiled. "Well...it's the most purest form of milk chocolate, so it's not as bad. Not something you'd want to use as a snack considering how expensive it is, but still, it lacks the more toxic ingredients of the more common chocolate," she added.
"I see," Hanoashi smiled.
"Wanna try a bite?" Rikona offered.
"No thanks, mom used to make pancakes with chocolate chips as well, though she only had a few chips per pancake. Actually...she would drop in the chips only after she poured the ego so to speak," Hanoashi noted.
"Ah, I see," Rikona smiled. "I'm also guessing that you don't want to upset your condition as well?"
"Absolutely not," Hanoashi agreed.
A few minutes after they finished, Shelia came in. "All done?"
"Yes mother, Aunt Shelia," Rikona and Hanoashi chorused respectively.
"Great, I'll take the dishes back with me then," Shelia smiled.
"May I help wash them?" Hanoashi asked, temporarily forgetting that she was ordered not to exert herself.
"Thought you were supposed to be taking it easy for the next four days," Shelia chastised. "No, I'll deal with these, though Rikona will be helping at lunch time, and she can come down and vacuum the floors in the mean time."
"Aww...I wanna vacuum the floors," Hanoashi pouted.
"Hanoashi Amelia Katoni...what did I say about pouting?" Shelia noted sternly.
Hanoashi's eyes widened as she thought she could hear Yu's voiced echoed alongside Shelia's. "Sorry aunt Sheila," she gazed down in submission." Sorry mother, she added silently.
"Good, remember that. Now lie down on the bed and rest. You may turn something on tv if you like.
"The 1987 NASCAR Daytona 500 rerun is coming on in about ten minutes, you could watch that," Rikona offered.
"Think I will," Hanoashi nodded as Rikona turned the tv on for her and flipped to the channel. "I'll be back soon," Rikona promised.
"Be sure to be through," Hanoashi reminded her.
"Cheek," Rikona spat playfully, before giving her a thumbs up as she followed Shelia downstairs.
Sighing, Hanoashi laid down in the bed, watching as the multi-colored cars zipped around the track. At lease these still look like cars. The Formula one cars? Yeah they look cool, but I prefer realistic cars to the more fantastical cars to be honest.
As her eyes watched the cars jokey around for position, she felt herself grow a bit tired. Yeah, no the doctor is right, I do need to take it easy at the moment...she noted to herself, before letting out a tired sigh.
A scrunching on the bed announced Rikona's arrival. "You alright cuz?" the brunet asked as she made herself comfortable.
"Just thinking about everything," Hanoashi noted, clearly trying and failing at fighting off a yawn.
"It's a lot to take in," Rikona mused. "But it's done with and you'll be perfectly fine just so long as you rest up for the next half week or so," she added.
"Here's hoping it's not the next week...I hate being lazy," Hanoashi muttered.
"Recuperating from sickness is not being lazy young miss," Rikona noted sternly.
Gazing at her she expected a teasing gaze but only saw a glare, confusion filling her mind for a bit until it clicked. "R...right, sorry," she sighed before laying down, folding her hands under her head.
"It's fine," Rikona smiled, dipping into a familiar position. "So, about this Yukaro guy?" she added.
"Oh him?" Hanoashi blushed. "Yeah...we have a mutual crush on each other, but talking is...well...we can manage it but still...it's a bit odd."
"Does he treat you well?" Rikona asked.
"Yeah, he's the kind of guy who'd never hurt a fly," Hanoashi smiled.
"As long as he treats you right," Rikona smiled.
"So would it be possible for me to call the other girls?" Hanoashi asked.
"I'll be able to tell them at our school that you're alright in the morning," Rikona reassured her. "Do you know the phone numbers of those you went with Nishmari with?" she asked.
"No...I don't," Hanoashi shook her head. "Not too sure if mother would have been alright with me calling a bunch of girls though," she added.
"I'll see if Mizoma can get in contact with them for you," Rikona offered.
"Thank you cousin," Hanoashi smiled, before letting out a small yawn.
"Let's nap together," Rikona suggested, curling up next to her.
"Right..." Hanoashi whispered as she felt sleep wash over her.