Author's Note

Well guys! here it is! A new chapter for a new year! Didn't think I would be able to upload on time huh? HAH! You lack faith in me! It totally has nothing to do with Maho coming back and pointing a gun at me! Certainly not that...hehe...please don't unfollow the story...

Maho: If you are that concern you should update on time.

Me: Yes my master...

*Maho pulls out her gun

Maho: What was that?

Me: Nothing my dear! Thank you for your advice!

Maho: Well then...Happy New Year dear readers and enjoy!

Chapter 16

"Say Keiji." Maho whispered. "Why are we doing this again?"

"Formality?" I guessed and got a wry look in return. "In all honesty I don't know. The two of them...have their way of doing things even when I was doing SurCom. I just go along with it at this point."

"Ladies and gentlemen welcome! Jerry here and thank you for tuning in!" Jerry announced in his usual enthusiastic tone. "It's been a week since that heart pounding match between Kuromorimine and Sparta High! Although it was a super crazy match but we were denied the epic conclusion to it! And here today we will have our conclusion!"

"Thank you Jerry. Greetings viewer and welcome. I am Tom. Jerry and I will be your announcers for today's match. With us is Ms Chouno, who is our guest, and Ms Nishizumi and Mr Shinamura, who are commanders of their respective team." Tom added.

"Do all your Surcom match start with this?"

"It's just my matches with them. It gets tiring but you get used to it." I replied seeing Maho shifted uncomfortably in front of the camera.

"A quick recap of the last match! Ms Nishizumi unveils an astounding new technique and kept Keiji on his feet even though he was able to just barely lead her on! The match then boiled down to both side going head to head with almost even numbers with Ms Nishizumi able to pull a quick one over Surcom's God of War!" Jerry recalled excitedly as her beckoned at the plasma tv behind him. "Though fans of both party did not get any conclusive results from the match between the tiger and the wolf they did get something far more juicier! A gentleman carrying his lady! Tell me Maho! What are your thoughts on Keiji after that match? On that note what is your ideal man? Do Keiji stand a chance on being that man?"

At that point the plasma tv turned on to show the video footage of me princess carrying Maho to my tank and stopped at the point where I smashed my shoulder onto the turret. The tv then showcase a picture of me jumping onto my tank. I internally groan and facepalmed at the amount of teasing I am going to get from my team. Besides that, there is also the attention I am going to get from now on whenever I am in Fukuoka. Being a legend in Surcom has already attract a considerable amount of fangirls, my mother probably also played a part in this but I am unable to prove anything thus far, but this would probably add to that number and also others who would 'ship' me and Maho together as a 'power couple' or somewhere down that chain of thought, again my mother probably has a hand in that. The two of us has already attracted quite some attention when I showed Maho around town a few days back and this would probably add fuel to it.

"I am grateful that Keiji did what he did. It is a brave thing. This would put him in a good light as a fellow Senshado practitioner and allow him and his team to be more accepting in the Senshado community." Maho answered in a professional tone after she clears her throat to recollect herself from Jerry's line of questioning. Though it was barely noticeable, I was able to make out a light blush since I was sitting next to her. "Though not in line with standard operating procedure, I believe what he did was the right course of action as he is the closest available to provide aid at that time."

"Of course that is good to hear. I hope you're feeling better." Tom commented while he smacks Jerry at the back of his head for asking too much. Maho nodded in response and Tom then looks at me. "I am sure that you are aware of the many speculations in the news and the internet about your reason for doing what you did. Would you care to shed some light on the subject?"

"Yes I am aware of some of the more popular speculations and I have to admit that they are interesting to read." I answered with a chuckle as I recalled some that are so convoluted that it was amusing. "But the real reason behind it is because it was what I was taught."

"To help those who are in need of aid?"

"That to some extent but not entirely Tom." I replied. "You see, my mother teaches Senshado. And being the only child, I help out a lot and was taught by her. One of her main principle, as her other students may know, is that you always prioritise the safety of everyone in the match and help out when you can. That's the only thing on my mind when I was 'being the knight in shining armour' as one of the internet theory puts it."

"I understand that there is an ongoing motion within the Senshado Federation Ms Chouno." Tom now said to Instructor Chouno.

"Yes. It is regarding the standard operating procedure for an emergency such as the one faced by Ms Nishizumi and Mr Shinamura. The federation understands that emergency responders would need precious time to arrive at the accident site. In some situation, there may not be enough time and hence the federation is working to improve on the safety procedures."

"I must say. You did up your makeup very well. The stitches are barely noticeable." I whispered to Maho.

"Thanks. Actually Koume did that for me when she finds out that I have to do this interview." Maho confessed stopping herself from touching the stiches on her eyebrow. "I didn't really have a say in it."

"Don't worry. You still look nice with or without the makeup. Guys will still be lining up to ask you out." I teased Maho getting a elbow nudge from her.

"I pray that the federation's efforts will bear fruit." Tom said with an approving nod to Ms Chouno before looking to the camera. "Now a quick look through the battlefield for today's match. Like the precious map, it is a ten by ten kilometre patch of land. But that is all the resemblance these two map share. This current map has little to no topographical feature with forest to the eastern quarter of the map. Basically, excluding the eastern edge of the map, the battlefield is open country. As for the starting location, Kuromorimine is in the north while Sparta High is in the south."

"Yes and that is a considerable advantage for Kuromorimine who are famous for their large calibre guns and thick armour! But then again Keiji has proven himself time and again, in Senshado and Surcom, that he can rise to the challenge and give us something astounding in return!" Jerry explained clearly recovered from the head smack he received from Tom. "So Steel Tigress, how will you deal with the Wounded Wolf?"

"I would give you hints like I did last week but I think Keiji would know too much if I do." Maho said casually shooting me a playful look at me, I rolled my eyes at her in return, before she turned back to Jerry. "So you will just have to watch the match."

The interview went on a little while longer after that and ended with a short discussion on the audiences, which this time have a considerably more number of Sparta High students than before. Maho and I are then sent back to the field where we conducted the traditional greeting before going back to our respective team.

"Are you sure this is going to work? Your usual plan is stupid but this is just...it doesn't make sense." Ryoji commented in his T-34.

"I have to agree with him here. This feels like a lazy way out. Especially the part about cutting tree branches and stuff." Fukuda added from his Jagdpanzer. "Your plans are usually more elaborate than this."

"Look. I am not going to do the same thing twice alright? They probably already know what to do if we do that. And with most of the map clear of anything call a cover, we are at a disadvantage. They can hit us at longer range and they can easily shrug off our hits." I explained patiently. "With that said, I am in no way interested in giving them a long range gunnery duel. So the only solution here is to get in close."

"Yeah but why do my group have to be out in front again?" Tetsuo grumbled over the team's frequency. "I tell you all they have to do is fart in my general direction for my tank to flip over. And I am not looking forward to that."

"Sigh...Your tank is has the smallest profile and the fastest and most agile. If you spot them, avoid being shot while we move in." I explained Tetsuo's role for the third time that day. "Once the furball is bad enough, depending on who is available, we can send someone out to hunt, if the flag tank does not enter the furball."

Meanwhile in the flag tank in question~~~

"Are you okay commander? If you need to rest just let us know." Reika asked her commander while she looked up from her seat. Though Maho had been in the tank with them for the last two days, Reika and almost everyone else on Kuromorimine's Senshado team cannot help but worry that the their commander is acting tough and is pushing herself too much. Though Maho had the outer appearance of a cold person like her mother her team still loves and respects her.

"Don't worry I am fine." Maho reassured looking into the turret at her crew with a smile. "Thank you for your concern."

"Commander. The starting flare is up." Erika said over the radio.

"Thank you. As was briefed, all tanks head to your assigned position and advance." Maho said while giving Erika a nod. In unison, all of the Kuromorimine's tanks surged forward in a southernly direction. One Panzer 3s, four Panzer 4s and a Panther entered the forest at the eastern edge of the battlefield as Maho's Tiger, Erika's Tiger 2, five other Panthers and the remaining two Panzer 3 thundered through the open field that dominated most of the map. Her strategy this time would be a simplified version of her earlier plan. They would scout with the Panzer 3s and engage with the heavy tanks while the Panzer 4s and if need be the Panthers would conduct a flanking manoeuvres. Maho had learned from her last match with Keiji. She knows that Keiji have a penchant of throwing a proverbial wrench to the most complicated of plans. With that in mind, she made a simple plan and thus providing the most amount of flexibility to respond to anything that Keiji could think of.

The minutes ticked by as Maho waited for report of enemy sighting. If it was any other Senshado commanders, she can expect them to use the forest as cover to get into effective firing range safely and would be focusing most of her team there. But since she had seen Keiji doing the unexpected, she had split up her team the way she did as it is anyone's guess as to where Keiji would be going. The tanks with longer range would advance through the open ground as they have the advantage there while more Panzer 4 is focus in the forest as it is known that engagement range in the forest to drop to almost point blank range due to the short line of sight. Maho had even draw up a special training plan for the group who are going into the forest. She had done all she can and the only thing she can do now is wait.

Maho did not have to wait long. One of the Panzer 3 attached to her group soon reported contact with the enemy's BT7. Learning from their previous match, the crew of the Panzer 3 did not pursue too far when the BT7 tries to lure them. Instead, they advanced with caution and only firing the occasional round at the BT7 when it came into range. They are buying time for the rest of Maho's group to catch up while taking care to not arouse suspicion from the BT7. The second Panzer 3 attached to Maho's group remained on the western side of the map to look out for a potential flanking attack from that direction. The rest of Maho group would quicken their advance so that they would be able to engage their opponents just as their opponents spring up an ambush on the first Panzer 3.

As Maho's group neared the southern edge of the map, she noticed that they were drifting ever more closer to the forest to the east. She immediately knows that the ambush is near and that it would come from their most vulnerable point, the rear or western side. It is classic tactic used by Keiji time and again in SurCom and at least once in her last match with him. Feeling a sense of satisfaction that she had seen through Keiji's little trick, Maho unconsciously smiled smugly as she gave the order for more than half of the tanks in her group to have their guns trained to the west. As Maho's tank fired off its first shot at the BT7 at the extreme range of the Tiger's gun, she can't help but feel that she had checkmate Keiji.

As expected, the ambushed is unveiled just as the shell fired by Maho's tank whizzed pass the BT7, with a cannon fire and a report by one of her Panthers that they were hit and out of the match. What is not expected is the direction of the shot. The expected shot was supposed to come from her right or the west. Instead, the shot she heard was from the left or east in the forest.

Impossible! Koume's group is there! She would have reported contact! She...no...her group would have been delayed by the forest! They would be somewhere further back! Shit! I messed up!

"Enemy contact left. All vehicles face left." Maho quickly commanded calmly in stark contrast to her chain of thoughts. Pushing her confused thoughts to the corner of her mind, Maho switch to her tank's intercom. "Shiori, update Koume and ask her to come in from behind."

Maho then turned her attention to the direction of the shot just as one of the Panther fired a shell in the general direction Maho indicated. She looked on as the shell flew pass a bush and detonating on the ground somewhere further back. At that point, the tree line in front of her light up as more shots can be heard as several bushes begin to rustle and move. Engines can be heard revving as Maho saw some bushes literally fall apart to reveal the enemy that she had been looking for. This time another Panther and the Panzer 3 that was chasing the BT7 reported that they are out. Two more shots were fired in response by her group in blind panic as two T34 and a KV1 charged them.

"Grab 'em by the belt buckle!" Keiji screamed over his team's frequency. In return there were more screams as everyone psyched each other up for what is to come.

"Their charging! Fire at will!" Maho yelled over the team's frequency for the first time as a third shot rang out from her ranks. But that shot and the other two earlier ones are ineffective due to the gunners being caught off guard or were in such a hurry that they just wanted to put something down range regardless of whether it was aimed or not. Knowing that if her team's nerves and their performance, which are on the verge of breaking, rest on how she reacts, Maho force herself to calm down as she made eye contact with Keiji who was hunkered down in his tank's turret with only his head poking out of the commander's cupola. "Defensive formation. They are aiming for my tank."

"Acknowledged! Get behind me commander!" Erika replied over the team's frequency as her tank got in front of Maho's and angled itself to maximise her armour protection just in time to bounce off a shell from Satou's KV1. By this time the remaining Panzer 3 in the group joined the remaining Panthers in the group, who had overcome the initial shock, rallied and counter charged their assailants. There is no way that they are going to allow Sparta High's tanks to get to their commander's tank without a fight. As Maho's driver, Narumi, reposition the Tiger so that they would be able to add their gun into the fray, an unholy crash between two metal beast can be heard.

Meanwhile in the flag tank that is Keiji's T34~~~

"Holy shit you see that!? You fucking see that!? Full speed right into their face!" Satou screamed excitedly over the team's frequency. "Fucking nailed it!"

"Keep going! Keep going! Don't stop!" Keiji yelled as he tank drove pass the Panzer 3 that had been rammed by Satou head on. He cringed as he saw the damage inflicted by Satou's heavier KV1. There was a noticeable scrape mark and dent at the point of impact. Besides that, its tracks were broken with a few of the road wheels bent at an awkward angle just like the barrel of its main gun while one of its front drive wheel is cracked. No doubt the turret would be jammed in place. Though the white flag did not pop out of the tank, it is safe to say that it was effectively out of the fight. Keiji mentally apologised to Satou's victims as he focused on the fight at hand.

Both charge had merged and exchanged ineffective cannon fire. Working like a well oiled machine, Keiji's group of three tanks split up and followed their assigned driving course while Tetsuo, in his BT7 also joined in the fray. They dodged and weaved their way through all of the Kuromorimine's tanks, firing when they have the chance of scoring a hit and pelting all of Kuromorimine's tanks. Most of the shots bounced but eventually some will find their mark.

The meaning of a firing line did not exist anymore in this clash. There was no elegant manoeuvres that would reward either side with the winning blow. It is not the civil long range combat that the world of Senshado is used to. It is not like the Battle of Jutland or the battle of Tsushima where battleships square off at extreme range. This is more akin to a naval battle from the Age of Sail where ship of the line got in close and pounded each other at point blank range to bleed each other dry. Like sailing ships of that age, these modern ships on tracks traded blows with each other and barely avoiding the fatal hit from their opponents.

Kuromorimine's team frequency is quickly flooded with all kinds of radio chatter. Some were reports of being hit while other were warning ot another vehicle that was about to get hit. Worse is most of the tank commanders reported frustratingly that they are unable to get a clear shot for fear of friendly fire. The situation was quickly getting out of Maho's control and Maho knows it. That is when the bush Maho saw a shell whizzed over earlier erupted with a cannon fire. She silently cursed to herself as another tank, a Panther, reported that they were out. Reinforcements were on their way but Maho needs to buy time.

"All remaining tanks rally on me. Form a circle." Maho instructed as her tank and Erika's joined the survivors of her group. "Erika have your tank face that bush. The Jagdpanzer is in it. Take it out if possible."

Just as quick as her instructions, her group, now consisting of her Tiger, Erika's Tiger 2 and the remaining two Panthers, formed a circle and fired whenever the Kuromorimine's gunners are able to. The first of their victim is the slower KV1. It quickly got the attention of the two remaining Panther. It was hit once in the turret and once in the side of its hull.

"Heavy is out! Sniper do you have a shot at their flag!?" Keiji called out over the comms.

"Target in sight! Relo-Boom-" Fukuda, the commander and gunner of the Jagdpanzer said before being cut off by the sound of an explosion. "Damn it we're out!"

Maho looked at the smoking bush to the east of her group with satisfaction as a report came in that Koume has came in from behind it. She was soon able to see the rest of her team emerging from the forest and firing at the Sparta Haigh tanks that were circling her group.

Meanwhile at the VIP seats~~~

"What a crazy turn in event! The initiative have see-saw back and forth so much that I lost count!" Jerry narrated excitedly. "But that all don't matter now as the ball is in Sparta High's court!"

"C'mon Keiji! Fight!" Keiji's mother, Takagi, cheered standing on her chair as a lone BT7 charged Kuromorimine's reinforcements. Her mood and response perfectly emulated those of the crowd of Sparta High students who are also cheering wildly for the black sheeps of their school. To her left is her highschool friend and the head of the Nishizumi Style, Nishizumi Shiho, who is covering her face with one hand out of embarrassment. To Mrs Shinamura's right is her husband who was apologising to Shiho for his wife's behaviour.

"It's fine. I expected this when I invited the two of you to join me. I just forgot how...enthusiastic she can get." Shiho said, her face a mixture of regret and nostalgia as she looked up at the plasma tv where the two announcers were nararating the match. "It's good to see that she hasn't change much."

"Look at that BT7 Tom! It dodges and weaves through all those shell fire like a ballerina! They clearly had practice this over and over!"

"Yes Jerry but what can that light tanks do against all those Kuromorimine tanks?!"

In the BT7 in question~~~

"Tetsuo dodge right! To the right you idiot!" Kasuma shouted out the instructions while firing back at the Kuromorimine tanks he and his crew had left behind.

"Fuck you I am turning right! Get your directions correct!" Tetsuo yelled back while he pulled a lever for the BT7 to dodge a shell fired at them from the front. Just as the tank obeyed his command, a shell flew pass Tetsuo's vision slit from the back. "You idiot! That was a dodge left! Your left is my right! Get it right!"

"Will you guys shut up!" Tamaki added his own bit of shouting as he prepared to jam the steering wheel into the tank's steering mechanism from behind Tetsuo. "We're approaching turning point!"

"Right! Executing high energy turn!" Tetsuo called out as he operated the BT7's steering lever. This time the vehicle responded by drifting to the right. Tamaki, as practiced, jammed the steering wheel he was holding into the tank's steering mechanism and got back to allow Tetsuo room to operate.

The three of them waited as the angle of the BT7 continues to drift closer to their intended destination. The familiar metal creaks can be heard. The tracks were going to snap, and when they do, the tank will flip over and barrel roll. But no one in the tank was worried. They had practiced enough times to know when will the tracks snap. But that is as far as the BT7 is going to flip over as the next thing the crew felt is the impact of their tank slamming the side of one of the reinforcing Panzer 4 that they were aiming for. Tetsuo gave a satisfied smile as the reinforcing group open fire and shot up the BT7 as well as the Panzer 4 next to it without thinking.

At that point, Maho seize the initiative and have her driver move her tank forward some ten meters. The sudden move caught its intended victim, Keiji who was circling her group, off guard. Seeing the Tiger suddenly came out of it's defensive formation right in front of him, Keiji and his crew was unable to react in time and rammed into the side of Maho's Tiger rendering both tanks immobile. Following some distance behind, Ryoji in his T34 saw the chance to end the match there and opened fire as the Tiger's vulnerable side armour. But he was a fraction of a second too late. As the 85mm shell leaves the barrel of Ryoji's tank, Erika's Tiger 2 surged forward and got between Ryoji's shot and Maho's Tiger with enough force to push Keiji's disabled tank a good two meter away from where it stopped.

"It's not happening again! It's not going to be like the match with Oorai!" Erika declared fiercely with the memories of that match coming back to her. She was humbled by that match. She decided then to no longer be that arrogant brat looking down at people from her high horse. Since she had mellowed somewhat but to Erika needs to prove to herself that she is a better person by being there for her team and her friends. And now, Maho, her commander and friend, needs her support. Not just for the match, but for what her commander plans to do afterwards. That is why Erika resolved to not fail now. Her Tiger 2's large calibre gun fired and took out Ryoji's tank just as Koume took the match ending shot at Keiji's disabled tank and thus ending the match.

Several hours later~~~

"It was a close match." Maho admitted meeting up with me at the backstage of my school's assembly hall. She, Erika and Koume are here for the post match meeting about my proposal to have males join Senshado. But unlike before, there was an assembly that Mr Kenshin, the principal of my school, wants to conduct first. At the moment he is on stage thanking everyone for their attendance.

"It is a good match. I had a lot of fun." I replied with a smile. "Stopping right in front of me was a smart move."

"Thanks. It was a spur of the moment thing." Maho admitted while she got closer to me to the point where personal space can be called into question. "Are okay? You looked a bit pale and sounded tired."

"It's nothing." I waved off. "So when are you going to help talk to your mother?" I asked to change the topic.

"I was thinking after the meeting." Maho said now acting a bit timidly. "I know you would be busy with the tank repairs and all but...is it possible for you to be there?"

"I said I would be there so yes I will be there." I answered casually and Maho thanked me. At that point, Mr Kenshin's speech begin to peak both our interest.

"-until recently, I had lost hope that this school itself still have that proud Sparta High value. Everyone was only focus on the win itself. Though it is not a bad thing, it is not Sparta High's way. But recently, a few brave students decided that they will not stand for it. Because of that they were persecuted within this very institution. I am ashamed for what has happened. But these brave boys continued fighting for what they believed in. And today, they had shown the entire school what it means to be a student of Sparta High. They had shown us what it means to always keep fighting even with impossible odds. And I believe that everyone in here has seen it in the last few weeks as they took on the task of challenging other schools to Senshado. They are truly the shining examples of a Sparta High student. I held this assembly today to right the wrongs that had been done to these students and to thank them for what they had done for the school. Come! Members of Sparta High's Senshado team! Join me up here!" Mr Kenshin said as he beckoned me and the rest of my team to come up.

Not sure as to what was going on, all of us went out onto the stage and stood next to each other in a single line. As we did so, the assembly hall erupted into a round of applause. None of us are sure how to react so me just stood there at attention as the clapping ran its course. Then the student council appeared from the opposite end of the stage and handed something to Mr Kenshin.

"Mr Shinamura please step forward." Mr Kenshin said and I complied. He then presented me with the something that was handed to him. "There are two flags here. This is a flag of Sparta High. It is the highest honour that I can bestow upon any Sparta High student. In recognition of what you and your team has done for this school and its students I now hereby present it to you as a token of our gratitude and appreciation. This is proof that you and your team had done the school proud and if anyone shall deny it they are denying the will of this school. The second flag is the flag for the Senshado Club you have created. This is the school's way of acknowledging that this club has done the made the school proud and is a shining example for other clubs to follow. Please accept both of them!"

When the reality of what was going on finally dawned on me, I first blinked in disbelief. Then I look back at me friends and they all wore the same expression as me. Still in shock, I looked around the assembly hall. Sure there were still some who are unable to forgive what me and my team had done but I also saw expression of pride directed at us. In fact most of the students were smiling at us. I then look back th Mr Kenshin to figure out what to do, I saw his head slightly bowed while he presented both flags to me. On motor reflex, I gave a deep bow and reached out to collect them.

"On behalf of my team! I hereby accept your appreciation and gratitude! Thank you very much!" I managed to yelled out while trying to hold back the wave of emotions that were hitting me like a tonne of brick. As I stood back up, I can feel my nose getting runny and my eyes getting wet.

"Now on behalf of the school, I apologise for how you and your team were treated and hope that all of you would be able to find it in your heart to forgive us!" Mr Kenshin said giving me and my team a ninety degree bow. Following his example, most of the students present stood up and gave a similar bow.

"We apologise for our behaviour towards you! Please forgive us!" The entire assembly hall echoed.

Is this it? All that we have been working for. All that we have to suffer for. Have we finally achieve it?

Seeking another confirmation as I tucked both flags under my left arm, I looked over at me team again. Some were shocked. Some stood stoically with tears their eyes. Some just smile. Others stood, for the first time in months, with a sense of pride. They were all looking at me for a direction. Giving them a nod, I stood at attention. My team emulated me exactly as we all bowed back at the entire student body.

"Thank you very much!" We all yelled with all our hearts as the assembly hall breaks into a series of applause and cheering. It was then I felt a light pat on the back. It was Mr Kenshin.

"You've done it. You've done what I cannot do. I have never been more proud of a student." Mr Kenshin said and I thanked him in response. "Go on and be with your friends. You should share this moment with those misfits that you saved." Mr Kenshin said and gently pushed me on my way. There were some more cheering but soon the assembly was over and me and my team gathered back at the backstage.

"I think congratulations are in order." Maho joined me with Erika and Koume as I was talking with Satou.

"Thanks. It's just still hard to believe." I admitted still a bit shocked.

"Yeah. I still can't believe you stood on the stage like a fool while your principal is presenting you something so important." Erika sniped in a friendly manner as Koume looked on happily. It was then that she noticed Satou's face. "Satou, are you crying? I know it was moving but are you-"

"S-Shut up okay! Am not crying!" Satou said wailing with tears pouring out of his eyes like a waterfall while his nose ran like a tap. "There's a lot of dust backstage and someone is cutting onions okay!?" Satou tried to explain as he cried harder. At that point some of the more cheery members came over.

"Yes Yes Satou! There were onions indeed! Come! Let's go back to the garage!" One of his crew member said and together with a few other, dragged him off.

"So you will be in the meeting right boss? We will be in the garage waiting for you when it is done." Soujiro said coming up to me.

"What for? We're done for the day right?"

"Celebration of course!" Kyoji said joining in. "We did all this afterall!"

"Of course you and your team are free to join us Ms Nishizumi." Soujiro said to Maho and her company. "As a thank you for the match."

"Is it really fine?" Erika asked.

"Its fine. Just some eating and celebrating." I reassured.

"Then we will accept. Erika, Koume, can I leave it to you two to coordinate with them?" Maho said with a bow. Erika acknowledge and starts taking out her phone while Koume discussed things over with Soujiro. Maho then turn to me. "We also better get going. The meeting starts soon."

"Oh right. Let's go." I said and the two of us departed.

"Hey Keiji! She starts to look more and more like you girlfriend with how she is reminding you of stuff!" Kyoji managed to throw at me while I was still in earshot. I flipped him off in response earning a disapproving look from Maho.

Twenty minutes later in one of Sparta High's meeting room~~~

"Like I said before in the last meeting Mr Yamada, I need time to count up the cost for the battle. You can expect a report on that tomorrow. I know that at the moment it is the school's money but tomorrow is the best we can do no matter how much you ask." I said tiredly while rubbing my eyes as I leaned back and slumped into my chair. "Mrs Nishizumi, I think the battle speaks for itself so I think there's no need for comments. Mr Kodama, you will be suggesting that it may not be suitable for my team. To that I say thank you for your good intention and can it. Mrs Shimada...I assume its a comment on the match so thank you. And Mr Tsuji...for the likes of me I don't know why you're here."

"Mr Shinamura...need I remind you of your manners?" Mr Kenshin asked with a groan.

"Sorry, I am tired and I just want to quicken the meeting by surmising it." I said as I straighten out my posture. "Pay no heed to what I said earlier and please do continue."

"Alright then. So I will wait for the costing report then." Mr Yamada said. "That will be all from me."

"Though I still do not like the notion of males joining Senshado, but I have to admit that your team has improve significantly since your last match with Saunders." Mrs Nishizumi said giving a short comment. "Your matches thus far is interesting. I will be looking forward to seeing what you come up with next."

"I am sorry but that sends a mix signal." I stated bluntly not wanting to put any thought into what Maho's mother meant. "You dislike the fact of male joining Senshado but you look forward to my next match? What do I make of that?"

"Mr Shinamura…" Mr Kenshin groaned again. "Sorry Mrs Nishizumi, he means no harm by that."

"It's fine sensei." Mrs Nishizumi said waving it off before looking at me. "That is for you to figure out."

"Fair enough." I said and turned to Mr Kodama, the director of the Senshado Federation. "Is there anything to add?"

"Well as long as you're comfortable with Senshado, there is nothing for me to say." Mr Kodama replied uncomfortably at my attitude.

"You can be quite cute when you are tired~" Mrs Shimada commented as she looks on happily.

"Well, now we can move on to the subject of your team's expulsion. Or them avoiding it." Mr Tsuji, the spectacled MEXT official I have been dealing with, said. "This is a Sparta High internal matter. Do you prefer to discuss this in private Mr Kenshin?"

"I think it would be best to discuss it in the next room as it involves the private matters of of a student." Mr Kenshin said before looking at the other outside guests. "I hope none of you mind."

"Not at all sensei. We can understand." Mrs Nishizumi said. Without a word, Mr Kenshin led me and Mr Tsuji into the next room.

"So what do you want to discuss sir?" I asked as I shut the door behind me.

"Well, I am here to tell you that your team are safe from expulsion now." Mr Tsuji said taking a seat to make himself comfortable. "They had met the requirements that were outlined so all is well. For them at least."

"Well, that is to be expected isn't it?" I asked still confused as to why is he bringing the subject up now.

"There is still a problem with your expulsion. It was not part of the deal remember?" Mr Truji reminded while he produced a document from his briefcase.

"Yes I know. I prepared the contract so you don't have to remind me. My expulsion is something of a separate deal altogether." I replied rolling my eyes. "We hammer out the condition for dropping my expulsion together didn't we."

"Yes. I just want to remind you of it." Mr Tsuji said in a irritably smug 'I got you cornered' tone of voice. "We made a bet as I recall. You are to win three out of five matches in order to drop the expulsion."

"I only counted two matches."

"Of which you lost. One more and it is expulsion for you." Mr Tsuji said as he clasped his hands together as if catching something.

"Do I need to explain to you what is the meaning of the best three out of five?" I asked not bothering to hide my annoyance.

"Keiji calm down." Mr Kenshin said. "Mr Tsuji, I think the boy knows clearly that he has to win at least three out of five matches to avoid expulsion. With that said, We thank you for your reminder all the same. Is there anything else you like to discuss?"

"That is all. If Mr Shinamura is aware of that then all is well." The four eyed MEXT official said shrugging his shoulders as he gets up and look at me. "Do get started on winning. No matter what you say about only putting up a fight, you still need three wins to avoid expulsion."

"Thank you. I will keep your advice close to heart." I lied as I opened the door. "Now Mr Tsuji if you would."

"Thank you. I'll be going then." Mr Tsuji said as he went his way.

"That is tiring." I groaned once Mr Tsuji is out of sight as I walk out of the door followed by Mr Kenshin who shuts it.

"I know it is but please do work on your patience and manners." Mr Kenshin said as he went ahead back to the previous meeting room. "Take a breather before going in. And lead the cuter Nishizumi who was eavesdropping on us in with you later."

"The what?"

"She's behind you." Mr Kenshin said to me and went into the meeting room and closed the door behind him. Turning around I saw Maho quietly peek out of a corner at the end of the corridor and waved at me like a child caught in the middle of a mischief and is trying to hide it.

"So how much did you hear?" I asked as I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms while I give her a wry look.

"The part where you will get expelled if you lose more than two matches." Maho admitted as she joins me by leaning against the wall. "Is it true?"

"Yes. Due to some extenuating circumstances I have a separate deal from the rest of my team. I have to win three out of five matches to not get expelled." I surmised shrugging my shoulders nonchalantly. "Please keep it to yourself. I very much prefer no one else finding out."

"My lips are sealed." Maho said. "If you need help with it or someone to talk to about it, I am always available."

"Thanks." I said giving myself a stretch. "Well I am ready to go back in. You coming?"

The two of us entered the meeting room and Mr Kenshin quickly wrapped up the meeting soon after. Before leaving, Maho asked Mr Kenshin for permission to use the room for a little while as she has something to discuss with her mother. Sensing that this is a private matter, he ushered everyone else out of the room. Annoyingly though, he made a very obvious effort to avoid booting me out along with the others. And to make sure that I know he left me out on purpose, he gave me a wink and closed the door behind him.

I really want to suffocate him with a pillow.

The room now became dead quiet as Mrs Nishizumi sat at the head of the long table while Maho sat to her right. Knowing that tension would be high between the two of them, I decided to make a fresh batch of green tea from the food cart that was wheeled in from the earlier meeting. While I was busy putting tea together both mother and daughter kept quiet for most of the time. There is the occasional question or comment about the match earlier that day but for most of the time both of them remained quiet. The silence in the room became more awkward than when a parent walked in on their child's internet 'personal fun time'. Not that I have experienced that before but I can imagine how bad that would be. But thankfully for them, I was quick enough with the tea. After serving the tea, I sat beside Maho and smile at her mother as she shot me an inquisitive look.

She probably thinks why is an outsider here. I wonder if I should leave...

"Keiji is here on my request mother." Maho explained knowing what her mother was thinking while she clasped both her hands out of nervousness. "He has some involvement in the topic at hand."

"And what is the topic you wished to discuss Maho?" Mrs Nishizumi asked in a very business like manner. From where I am sitting, I noticed Maho's hands tightened.

"It is about the tactics I used in today's match and last week's. I would like to explain myself." Maho begin getting a nod from her mother. Maho straightened her already straight posture and took a deep breath. "For some time now, I have felt that the standard doctrine that the Nishizumi Style use has some weaknesses. I have tried to cover for these weaknesses as best as I can but I feel that those are only a stop-gap measures because those are on a doctrinal level. With that said, they cannot be properly addressed unless part of the doctrine itself is altered."

"And what are these weaknesses you speak of?" Maho's mother asked after taking a sip of her tea.

"The first is the tendency overly rely on long range gunnery. Though practicing that make it difficult for the enemy to approach, the gunners tend to find it more difficult to track their targets at closer range. This is because at longer range the target seemed to move slower while at shorter range the target seem to move faster and a gunner used to long range engagement would struggle with shorter range while a gunner used to longer range can do both." Maho explained, all the while getting tenser as her mother just stared at her. "The second is the over reliance on big formations that are too unwieldy. Again, it would be difficult to approach but if an enemy entered the formation, the engagement tends to fall apart. This is because we would be too reliant on others to support our flanks and hence when that support is gone the individual tanks are not able to perform."

"You seemed to have given it some thought." Maho's mother commented while Maho took a break. "I hope this is not the extent of it."

"No mother. I have prepared detailed report for you to read through at a later time. I only want to point out three major weaknesses to you." Maho answered as she re-adjusted her sitting posture. While she was doing it, Maho placed both her hands on her lap underneath the table to hide her ever tightening balls of fists. "For the third issue, it is the dependency on heavy tanks. Though this is to mount larger calibre gun and thick armour to out range the enemy, it makes it difficult to chase down the much faster light and medium tanks. With that in mind the enemy would often outrun or out-manoeuver us and often be at a more advantageous position to engage us."

"I see. I am aware of these weaknesses for a while now." Mrs Nishizumi replied now leaning forward from her seat with her face as hard as stone and her expression colder than ice. "What do you plan to do about these issues?"

"I...I would…" Maho stuttered hesitantly. Though it was subtle, I can already see her trembling. Hoping that it would calm her, I discreetly reached out with my left hand and gently held her right hand. It have the opposite effect of startling her but she quickly hold my left arm tightly with her right hand. She quickly calmed down after that and cleared her throat. "With your permission mother, I would like to change the doctrine of the Nishizumi Style. Of course I would still adhere to the core values of the Nishizumi Style. I only want to change the doctrine so that we can react better to the opponent and maybe even dictate the terms of the engagement."

"I understand. There was a time when I mentioned this to my mother so I can understand how you feel." Mrs Nishizumi commented. Maho's grip on my left arm loosened significantly. "She asked me what would I do if she says no. So now I will ask you the same question. What will you do if I say no?" Maho's mother asked with a very scary expression. Maho's grip got so tight that her nails begin to dig into my arm.

It's begining to hurt. Please relax Maho.

"Mrs Nishizumi if I may." I spoke when Maho said nothing and looked at the table in front of her. I can tell that she has never disobeyed her mother before so I can understand that it would be hard for her to do it now even if it is against her own wishes. Getting an approving nod from Mrs Nishizumi I took a deep breath. "I had been discussing this with Maho for some time. If you are worried that what she does will change the core values of the Nishizumi Style I can assure you that it is not the case. What she plans to do is to use those core values to build up a doctrine that would be beneficial to your style."

"I know. And I am asking what would she do if I say no." Mrs Nishizumi reiterated. Maho's grip tightens again and I can feel her nails starting to pierce my skin,

Damn it woman! You're going to make me lose my arm! Will you stop freaking out your daughter!

"Maho thought that you would say that as well." I replied forcing myself not to scream out in pain. "And she mention that she would try to convince you." I added drawing deep breath at this point.

"Is that right Maho?" Mrs Nishizumi now ask looking at her daughter. "Are you going to convince me?"

"Yes mother." Maho said now looking at her mother. She is still gripping my arm tightly but she has at least stopped trembling. "I believe that a change is needed to improve on the doctrine. And if you do not approve, I am willing to come back to you as much time as needed to change your mind on the subject. The Nishizumi Style teaches one to be unrelenting. I will not relent."

"If that is the case then there is nothing more I can teach you." Mrs Nishizumi said in a relaxed manner after a moment of silence. Maho's grip tighten again and I can feel blood trickling down my arm.

Dear god and everything that's unholy! It huuurtssss!

"Mother? A-Are you disowning me?" Maho asked out of fear and shock. Her sister nearly met the same fate for doing something similar so it is not a far fetch thought. Rather, it is more obvious in Maho's case because she is openly rebelling against her mother while her sister had just 'slip up'.

"Why would I do that? You have finally learned the most important lesson of the Nishizumi Style after all." Maho's mother asked in confusion. "It took you a while but I don't think that is enough of a cause for that."

"Lesson? Mother, I don't understand." Maho said in a more confuse tone of voice as her grip on my arm loosened. "What did I learn?"

"I suppose that I should explain what is happening." Mrs Nishizumi said after giving some thought about the confusion between her and her daughter. "If I recall I also needed some explaining from my mother."

"Should I leave? I don't think you would want an outsider to listen in on this." I asked holding my one good arm up.

"No that is not required. You helped my daughter figured out the lesson in mere months. Something that I failed to do for years. And that annoyed me." Mrs Nishizumi said with a smile that sent a chill down my spine. "And so to pay you back you will listen in and help her for what is to come later. That way I will be able to torment you."

"I think I would like a legal advisor on this matter." I said fearing for what is to come. Her smile is the same as my mother's when she gets angry.

"About the lesson you have learned Maho. The Nishizumi Style's most important value is to be unrelenting. 'If you shoot, you hit. If you defend, you defend strong. If you advance, you advance without faltering. Iron rules and a heart of steel.' It means that whatever you do, you commit with your heart and soul and never surrender. That is the only core value of the Nishizumi Style that you need to hold in your heart. The rest are just add-ons built on that value." Mrs Nishizumi said to Maho, completely ignoring me at this point. "The other thing to hold dear regarding this value is how one learns it. For you to learn it, you must be able to stand up against me regardless of the obstacles and fight for the Nishizumi Style that you believe in and I must be insistent that my Nishizumi Style is the right one. By standing up to me, you would have proven to me that you have fully understand the style and thus complete your learning of the value."

"So what you said about rejecting my proposal was just a test?" Maho asked after processing what her mother just said.

"Yes."

"And all those years that you have been saying that this is the right Nishizumi Style and forcing me and Miho follow it?" Maho asked, her face now getting dark. "Is that also part of the test?"

"Yes." Mrs Nishizumi answered curtly. Maho's grip on my arm quickly got tighter than before. I can feel her nails quickly re-dug themselves into my arm and my blood quickly flows again. It took all my strength so not scream in agony.

Sweet Mother and Baby Jesus! Maho what did you use to file your nails!? They're sharper than a razor!

"All this years of strictly following everything you said. All of that is a test?" Maho asked expressionlessly.

"Maho look at me." Mrs Nishizumi said, with her elbow still on the table and hand clasped but now leaning forward to Maho, in a gentle tone. Maho looked up at her but in her eyes I can see anger. "That is the cost of knowing the true value of the Nishizumi Style. Senshado teaches us how to live our lives and sometimes in life you must keep fighting...to be relentless. Never give up. That is what the lesson imparts. Something like that cannot be taught to a person. It must be learned through experience. I am sorry for what I put you and your sister through but if anything I want the two of you to learn that. So that when I am gone you would have the strength to carry on. I know I am cold and strict to you and Miho. I know that I am difficult to understand. I know I am not a good mother and never will be. But I have always love the two of you. And I want what is best for the two of you. Even if you two grow to hate me, I will do all I can to make you two strong enough to get through life."

"You are right mother. You are cold and strict, but it is because you want what is best for us. You are difficult to understand but it is because you always have difficulty expressing yourself. You will never be a good mother because you are a great mother. Miho and I knows that you love us and that we love you too." Maho said. "We know it is difficult being a single parent. We know that you have been pushing on since father's passing. We know that what you have done, you have done for us. Although sometimes we don't know the reason or your thoughts behind it, we know it is for our sake."

"Then are you angry at me? For what I did to you and Miho? How can I make it up to the two of you?" Mrs Nishizumi asked with watery eyes as she looks into her daughter's eyes.

"I would be lying if I said I am not. But the more I think about it, the more I understand why. Now I am just frustrated at myself for not seeing it." Maho said with a soft smile. "You don't need to make it up to us. Just talk to us from time to time. That way we can understand why you did what you did."

"Thank you Maho." Mrs Nishizumi said with a nod.

"I am curious, do you have the same conversation with Maho's sister? For that matter, why send her to Oorai and what about the disowning part?" I asked nearing the end of my pain tolerance.

"Keiji there is a time and place for that and you are not the one to ask." Maho hissed at me while she tighten her grip more. By this point my eyes are watering and my legs have completely lost all strength.

This is it. I am going to die from the pain. Skip the hospital and call the morgue!

"It's fine. I imagine you have questions about your sister." Mrs Nishizumi said getting back to her straight sitting posture. "Since Mr Shinamura mentioned it, we might as well take this chance to discuss it. What would you like to know Maho?"

"That match where Miho jumped into the river to save those girls." Maho said. Her mother nods to show that she knows what Maho was talking about. "You went into the first aid tent and talked with her. Is it the same as this?"

"Similar. She said it was wrong to focus on the match when others are in danger and was adamant about it. I then explained the lesson to her. The first thing she ask was whether you went through this as well and offered to help you learn it when I said you haven't." Mrs Nishizumi said with some amount of pride for her younger daughter. "Since she has some mental trauma from the rescue, I suggested Oorai to take her mind off Senshado. I also suggested while she was there, she can try to come up with her own style if she is feeling better. I just didn't expect her to come up with one in such a short time. In return for Oorai, she suggested to use her to pressure you so that you may also learn the lesson."

"So the part about disowning her was…"

"All for show. Along with any bad-mouthing of her. It was all a show suggested by Miho." Mrs Nishizumi answered her daughter.

"I...didn't take Miho as the kind to use deception in such a way." Maho commented with amazement at her little sister. "We would have a lot to talk about."

"Yes the two of you were inseparable when you were younger. She really wanted to help you."Maho's mother said with a nod. "Back to the lesson at hand, you will have to design a doctrine of your own. You can do as your sister and design something entirely different or improve on existing doctrine as I have. The choice is yours. You are free to seek advice or guidance from anyone."

"Can I make this core value a public knowledge?"

"I rather you not. This is only pass from mother to daughter. But the final decision is in your hand as well as Miho."

"And the others in Kuromorimine who practice Senshado? Some of them are your students in the Nishizumi Style." Maho asked wondering about her comrades.

"Having them figure it for themselves takes time. So what your grandmother , and I, did is instill the drive to keep going. That way they would have learned the style entirely without knowing it." Her mother explained something that sounds suspiciously like laziness to me.

"When I was young, you mentioned that it was grandmother that started the Nishizumi Style. I would like to follow in her footsteps as well as yours and add into the existing doctrine." Maho said after giving it some thought.

"As long as it is what you decide on I am fine with it." Mrs Nishizumi said in a relaxed tone. "And I will also be looking forward to your progress."

"Thank you mother." Maho said now feeling the weight coming off her shoulders. "And the report about the weaknesses…"

"I will read it too. I am interested to see your findings." Mrs Nishizumi said before looking at me. "Maho I think it's time you let go of Mr Shinamura's hand. Any more and he may need a blood transfusion."

"K-Keiji's hand!? Transfusion!?" Maho exclaimed with a mixture surprise, shock, embarrassment and confusion. She then looked down and saw her nails in the bloodied mess that was my left arm. She instantly let go and hold up my arm to inspect the damage. "Aaah! Keiji! I am so sorry are you okay!?"

"I am fine Maho." I said in a broken happy yet pained tone after collapsing onto the long table face first in relief. "Mrs Nishizumi, thank you for noticing. I thought I was going to die."

"Oh I actually noticed it when Maho was startled. After a while I can tell that you were in pain but at that point I was frustrated about you being able to help my daughter learn when I was unable so I kept quiet to get back at you." Maho's mother said with the straightest face I have ever seen as her daughter started to blush. Though it may have been my imagination brought on by blood lost, but just for a fraction of a second I thought I saw a satisfied smile on mrs Nishizumi's face.

You demon!

"Mother please don't joke around! He is actually bleeding! Should we administer first aid? The nurse's office? Hey Keiji! You're okay right?" Maho asked in panic as she shook me to get a response while I lie on the table with all my strength sapped out of me. "Keiji!"

Ending Notes

Well there's nothing much left to say I guess? No experimenting here...just a normal chapter? Well not exactly...I did cram three event into this chapter...what do you guys think? Too long?

Also I tried to come up with an explanation as to Shiho's behaviour in the anime and manga. She was nice to her daughters when they were younger so I try to come up with a reason for the 180 degree turn in her behaviour and this is the best I can come up with...So what do you guys think? Does it fit? Also feel free to let me know what you think of the chapter and the story so far. As always any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

That's all for now. See you next chapter!