Chapter Text
Chapter 1: It’s a Tradition!
“Don’t worry about it, Azusa! You’ll find your Senshado way!”
Despite the biting February cold carried on the sea breeze to their school ship, Miho’s gentle smile put Azusa at ease. Though it never entirely erased the creeping fear she felt as her senior vanished into the school hall for her last entrance exam to Shimofusadai University. At least with her Senshado scholarship, Miho would be unlikely to need to fall back on only her results.
Even months later, under the blooming Sakura trees, it was hard to shake that subtle dread as Azusa welcomed the new members of the Senshado team. Or, rather, prospective new members. Miho may have propelled Ooarai to Senshado fame, but that did not stop MEXT from holding a grudge against them. Even with the influx of students looking to crew tanks for their new school, funding was still a disappointing trickle.
It was a wonder they had won using the same worn-out nine tanks. At first as a dark horse, and now they were a reigning champion poised to triumph for the third year in a row. If Azusa could only manage it as their new commander. With the meet and greet with the first years over, Azusa and the rest of Rabbit Team strolled from the Senshado practice field back into the school building to the Student Council room.
“So, how should we divide up the new members?” Aya asked as she sank into her chair behind the president’s desk.
“Do we even have enough tanks for all of them?” Karina interrupted from the sofas at the front of the room.
Azusa shook her head, remaining standing in the middle of the room. “The Student Council can’t transfer us more funds?”
At this point, the Senshado team and the Student Council were one and the same to the entire school. The third year in a row that the executive committee was also part of a tank crew. Though whatever Kadotani-senpai was doing that gave her so much power ended when she graduated.
“I even asked the Senshado Federation,” Aya replied as she began to clean her glasses. “There’s nothing they can do about what the education board decides. They increased our budget but earmarked where most of it must be spent.”
“At least the other clubs are still supporting us.” Azusa sighed. “Some of the new members said they are more interested in working on the tanks than Senshado. I’ll have them join the automotive club instead.”
“Ooh!” Yuuki perked up from her phone’s screen. “Can they finally get around to upgrading the M3?”
Azusa shook her head again. “We spent most of our money on modifications for the Mark IV.”
“Eh?” Karina said. “Did you just do that because Murakami-senpai threatened to bully us more before she graduated?”
Azusa clasped her forehead. Hoping that Rabbit Team would outgrow some of their more ‘youthful’ behaviour was a pipe dream at this point. “No, I did it because it’s the oldest tank on the team. Their guns and armour needed refitting.”
“What about us?” Yuuki whined. “The 37mm is super weak too. Right, Aya?”
“I want something cooler to shoot.” She replied with her feet now up on her desk. “Something that will make a big boom! Like Leopon team.”
“We could have if only we had more money,” Azusa replied with an exasperated glance at their student council president.
As usual, no one else on Rabbit Team bothered to do much additional research on their own tank or the rules of Senshado. They would have found out that because there were no up-gunned variants of the M3 used during the war, any modifications mounting a larger gun were not Senshado worthy. In fact, the upgrades they were having done to the Mark IV were already questionable. Not to mention the Porsche Tiger’s current engines. Then again, the only detailed restrictions were on weapons. Everyone overhauled their engines and transmissions to standards that exceeded their original performance.
“Well, the Stug III also hasn’t been upgraded, so we’re not the only ones.” Ayumi smiled.
“Panzer Schürzen” Saki mumbled.
“Oh, that’s right, Erwin-senpai used the money given to the history club last year to buy them,” Aya said. “That means it is just us and Duck Team that hasn’t had an upgrade to our tanks since we found them.”
“They should be back from the gym soon,” Ayumi said.
“Duck Team never wants to change the Type-89 anyway,” Yuuki added.
“That still doesn’t change that we have only nine tanks,” Karina said. “There are only new positions for the Stug III, Type-3, Mark IV and the… Panzer IV.”
A silence fell over Rabbit Team as they lounged around the Student Council room. The Panzer IV was a special tank. It was so intertwined with Miho’s legacy that they would have let her take it with her to university if she wanted to. Even if they could hardly afford it. It was nothing but unnatural to crew it with other people and call them Anglerfish Team.
“Azusa?” Aya asked, snapping her out of a daze. “Why don’t you take command of the Panzer IV?”
Azusa flinched, becoming acutely aware of her position in the centre of the room now. “What? Me?”
“You are the overall commander now.” Ayumi smiled warmly.
“The Panzer IV doesn’t have enough room for all of us.” Azusa began to gently sway back and forth. “And what about the M3? We can’t all just abandon her.”
“I don’t know how to drive the Panzer IV!” Karina said. “It’s too different from the M3’s controls.”
“With so few seniors this year, Pekoe did recommend us to split up to take command of different teams and spread out our experience.” Azusa pondered.
“That’s so mean!” Yuuki cried. “I don’t want to have to do a year of Senshado on my own.”
A cheeky grin was plastered over Aya’s face. “You’ll have more kouhais that adore you.”
“But we’ll need to re-learn so many things.” Karina continued.
Yuuki nodded. “The radios and guns in all the other tanks are different from ours.”
Azusa sighed, looking at her teammates on the room's couches. It was clear they were reluctant to leave each other. They quickly devolve into complaining instead of discussing their organizational plans. It would have been a lie if she said she didn’t feel the same way about this situation.
Even if Yuuki’s point was self-serving, it was true. All of them were experienced with operating the M3. But even if the basics were similar across all tanks, it would take time to learn their specific quirks. At best, they could quickly convert to a Sherman or some other American tank. And they would all have to take the same roles. None of them had bothered to cross-train at each other’s stations.
It was no wonder that most schools chose only to field tanks from one country. Training and maintenance would be more straightforward with a family of vehicles with the same lineage of controls and weapons. Maybe it would even save them money since they would not need to buy ammunition for so many different types of guns. But in the end, Ooarai always made do with their scrap metal arsenal, and Azusa intended to prove she could do the same.
With the commotion going on and Azusa lost in thought, Rabbit Team took little notice of the new people entering the room.
“Hold on!” Kondou Taeko said, raising her hands in unison with the rest of Duck Team. “We already said we weren’t going to split up the volleyball team.”
Rabbit Team’s gripping stopped as they turned to Azusa to answer for them. “Did you at least get another member for your crew? Since Noriko-senpai graduated?”
The three remaining volleyball team members stifled a sob, clenching their jaws and fist. “Senpai!...” Akebi cried.
Azusa gave them a weary smile. “I take that as a no then.”
“No one wanted to join our team again this year.” Shinobu sighed. “President, are you sure we can’t get some funding for new equipment? So we look better to the first years.”
“Rules are rules,” Aya replied with an apologetic smile. “You need at least five members to be an official club.”
“But the sports budget—”
“There’s room in it. But you’ve seen the meeting minutes I put up.” Yuuki said, cutting her off. “The other sports clubs have requested more funds as well. It wouldn’t be fair since they are official clubs with coaches and more members.”
“I tried to argue for you all.” Azusa continued. “But they were convinced that the money would just be spent on the Senshado team. To upgrade your tank or something.”
“We’re not changing the Type-89. We like it the way it is.” Akebi insisted. “Captain, you told them, right?”
Taeko nodded in response. “The Type-89 doesn’t need any upgrades. And we don’t need a new crew member. I’ll operate the radio from the tank commander position as well.”
“Isn’t that a bit much? Loading the gun, commanding, and communicating with the other tanks?” Azusa replied.
“We’ve got the will to overcome any obstacle!” Taeko’s words prompted a cheer from Akebi and Shinobu.
“You’re the deputy commander. The Type-89 and the crew are your call.” Azusa continued. “But that still leaves us with the problem of four tanks having only first-years.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having all new first-year crews,” Shinobu responded. “We did just fine two years ago.”
The rest nodded in agreement.
“We also had commander Nishizumi then—” Aya clamped her mouth, attempting to reign in her impulsive statement. Though it was too late.
“Don’t worry, Aya.” Azusa smiled weakly, waving her hands to assuage her guilt. After a moment to collect herself, she resolved to take control of the meeting so they could come to a decision. “I know I’m not Miho-senpai, and we’ve got to make up for that.”
“I can try being a commander….” Ayumi said. Though she avoided looking directly at Azusa, staring down at her shoes instead as she shuffled them back and forth across the carpet. “I don’t know much besides shooting the 75mm. But I think I picked up enough by listening to you. Are you sure this is the best way to do things? Mixing people from different years and groups together?”
“Plenty of other schools do it like that: Saunders, Kuromorimine, Anzio, and St. Gloriana. That way, there is always an experienced second or third year to become the tank commander each time someone graduates. If we want to make sure Ooarai’s Senshado team has a strong future, we need to change our crew organization.”
There were some reluctant nods of agreement, though Azusa could tell she was losing them. Not to mention breaking this to the first and second years. Many of them joined not just because of Ooarai’s new fame but also because Senshado allowed them to work closely with their friends as a crew. It was utterly different from solo sports or team games where individual players could be substituted at will. Most of the time, it was the whole tank crew or not at all, fostering a close bond among each team and between them and their tank.
“Can I not be assigned to the Stug III?” Aya said, bouncing up from her office chair. “I’m not sure I can learn how to use a tank without a turret.”
“Eh! I don’t want the Stug III either, then.” Yuuki replied.
Sometimes it was hard for Azusa to believe that they had become the Student Council executive committee with the way they still behaved. Turning to the only member that had not spoken for some time, vice-president Saki looked blankly at Shinobu before turning to Azusa. Despite the vacant expression, the shaking of Saki’s head seemed to carry far more consideration than the outburst of the rest of Rabbit Team.
As if on cue, Shinobu spoke up. “Fuku-chan told me that Chi-Ha-Tan arranges their teams like we do now, by year. I think Pravda does it as well, and it seems to work for them.”
“But they’re much larger schools,” Azusa sighed. “They also cross-train on different positions and tanks so that they all have experience.”
“Fuku-chan does know how to drive a Type-97 as well. And operate both its old and new turret.” Taeko said.
“Aaaah! Must we split up?” Karina said. “Each team being different is what makes it so fun.”
Or perhaps, so successful. Pekoe had once told her watching Miho lead Ooarai in battle was like watching organized chaos. And despite sowing it in their opponents, the lack of coordinated formations or command never seemed to phase them. Each team knew how to fight together and operate independently in their own ways.
But she knew attempting to emulate Miho was impossible. After all, she was already Kuromorimine’s deputy-commander in her first year, trained from young at Senshado. How Miho kept track of every team and what they were doing while also commanding Anglerfish Team was beyond her. Either one took up almost all of Azusa’s attention.
Did they have any real choice? The schools that could afford crews made up entirely of students from a single year were much larger than them. And they had a fleet of tanks that were easy for them to convert between. Mixing their crews now was not only tricky since most of Rabbit Team only knew their position and how to work with each other, but it also meant possibly undoing Ooarai’s greatest strength.
“Commander Sawa,” Shinobu started.
“Just call me Azusa.” She said, blushing. Although the title was no longer new, it still felt strange for the other third-years to call her that.
Shinobu shook her head, insisting on it. “Maybe we should trust the first years more to rise to the occasion. The new members last year from the Automotive Club and Public Morals Committee that took over Leopon and Mallard Team did well.”
“But Miho-senpai was around.”
“She was around in our first year, but it didn’t stop you all from abandoning the M3 during our first match.”
Aya choked on her water, almost falling over from her chair. “Stop bringing that up! It’s so uncool.”
“Yeah!” Yuuki added. “If my new boyfriend hears about this, he may break up with me.”
“What do you think, deputy commander?” Azusa asked.
“We shouldn’t change what is working,” Taeko responded, getting nods of agreement from the rest of the third-years.
“I don’t think we can afford to iron out all the new teams through just friendly matches,” Azusa said, clasping her chin.
Their first match against St. Gloriana years ago, while humiliating, had little stakes attached to it. They were just an unknown team then, and no one expected anything less. Now, if they put up a poor showing, it would damage the reputation they worked so hard to build. Even if only tournament matches really mattered, and the other schools they were friendly with would not think much of it, a dip in their public image could give MEXT an excuse to try something again.
They could only do drills in the practice yard and in the woods behind the school. If only they had more tanks, then they could at least practice something close to an actual match in private. Right now, fighting with only four a side was not enough to simulate the real chaos created when there were dozens of tanks firing at each other on the field. Nor was it enough to practice any complicated manoeuvres.
Looking up, the rest of Rabbit Team had become disinterested in the discussion, thinking that it had reached a satisfactory conclusion. They were now all glued to their phones as Duck Team started talking to Yuuki, no doubt in another dubious bid to revive the volleyball team.
“Maybe we can try grouping our tanks together,” Azusa said. There must be a way to coordinate them during the match itself. Even if she was not as gifted as Miho, she still could manage to coordinate them and replicate some of that Ooarai magic.
“Like?” Taeko asked.
“The Broadcasting Club is still going to crew the Hetzer, right?”
Aya raised her hand. “They told me they would even though Taiga-senpai graduated. I think they actually started to like Senshado. They’ve already made it up to us for printing that article about Kawashima-senpai.”
“Good,” A smile started to grow on Azusa’s face. This was something she could work with. “So they can operate on their own. Of course, Duck Team can as well. So, If I group first years in the Mark IV with Leopon and Mallard Team, they can probably help lead them and form a heavy armour group. So that leaves us with the Panzer IV, Type-3, and Stug III as another group that I’ll coordinate more directly.”
“So, we’re sticking together?” Karina said, jumping out of her seat on the couch.
Azusa nodded. “I think this can work out.” Or rather, she hoped she was up to it. “Aya, is there any news about the exhibition match before the tournament starts?”
Turning around to the president’s desk, Aya was on her phone. “… mmm, yes, I’ll work it out.” At least it seemed like official business instead of someone flirting with her.
“Azusa! Someone special wants to speak to you!” Aya held up her phone, giving her a smug grin as she approached.
Handing over the phone as Aya left for the others on the opposite side of the room, Azusa heard a pleasant voice as she placed it next to her year.
“Hello? Azusa-san?”
“Pekoe!” She hid her expression by turning away to face out of the Student Council room’s windows. The sun began its descent, washing the school grounds in a brilliant amber. Had they really been debating for that long? Or had the meeting with the first years taken longer than expected.
“I was calling to inform your President of where to direct the Ooarai school ship to for the exhibition match.” Orange Pekoe replied. Though she tried to keep an even tone, just like Darjeeling had taught her, there were hints of excitement as her pitch fluctuated more than usual.
Having an exhibition match near the start of the school year had become a tradition. Growing out of that first, simple, friendly match between Ooarai and St. Gloriana to the unorthodox but exhilarating clash between four schools after Ooarai’s first championship win. Since then, the other schools had wanted to participate, and the public was clamouring for more Senshado. And so, each year, one match was organized for the spring and for the fall among the various high schools.
“So, are you our opponents this year?” Azusa asked. “Feels a bit bad since you helped us with the modifications for the Mark IV.”
“Not at all. I don’t think it would be very sportswomen like to fight someone at less than their best. It would be a hollow victory if it were happening.”
“You drew the lots, so who is Ooarai up against?”
“This year will be a team match.” Orange Pekoe replied. “It will be us against Pravda and Chi-Ha-Tan.”
“Hmm, interesting. So Nina-san and Fukuda-san will be our opponents.” Azusa was grinning, though she kept her back turned to the rest. Even two years after her first awkward meeting with Pekoe, her teammates continued their annoying and baseless teasing.
“Unfortunately, the East Fuji Maneuver Area is currently occupied. The Senshado Federation informed me they are already preparing it for the world championships in autumn.”
“Will you be hosting this year then? Though Yokohama is a bit too built up to host a match within the city limits.”
“Pravda offered this time.” Pekoe’s words started to lose their excitement.
“It’s still going to be quite cold in Aomori this time of year.”
“Indeed,” Pekoe said with a slight giggle. “They’ve also decided to make the most of their home-field advantage. The match will be hosted in the Hotokenmua wetlands.”
Azusa held Aya’s handphone against her ear using her shoulder as she searched up the area on the president’s computer. “Near Lake Ogawara and Misawa Airbase, right?”
“Exactly. While Pravda’s heavy tanks may have some trouble, the waterways and patches of marshy ground will favour the Chi-Ha-Tans.”
“Not exactly good for your Churchill either, right?”
“I’m afraid not. But I’m sure you’ll come up with some ingenious strategy to make up for it. Some of your suggestions for work on the Mark IV were… interesting.”
“That was Ogin-senpai’s ideas. And the strategies, you know they were all Miho-senpai’s.”
“Uneasy is the head that wears a crown.”
“You know, with each passing year, you sound more like Darjeeling-san.”
There was a brief giggle from Pekoe before she replied. “You sound a lot more like Nishizumi-san yourself. Even catching her undeserved self-doubt.”
Thankfully, the amber light spilling into the room hid Azusa’s blush from the others. Though they were not paying much attention to her, lost in their own lively conversation.
“So, when can we discuss our plans for the match? I hope you will give us a full tour as well.”
Azusa’s eyes brightened. “You’re coming here?”
“Of course. And we’ll come bearing gifts.”