(The Main Event: Turn 1) The Start of An Elaborate Game

*Darjeeling's POV*



"Is everything ready, Rukuriri-san?" I asked.

"Yes, everything is in order. Everyone is ready for the match."

"Thank you."

I made my way to the Churchill and saw Assam and Orange Pekoe waiting for me. The two were enjoying some tea, presumably to calm themselves for the match. Though as I was walking over, a black convertible drove up to the Churchill. Inside were two familiar individuals arguing with each other.

"Do I have to be here?"

"You're my assistant, it's part of your job."

"I don't remember that in my job description..."

"That's because you don't have one."

Rachael and Avery walked up to us, with a box with a ribbon tied to keep it shut.

"Hello again!" Rachael said, greeting us with a smile.

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"I wanted to greet our opponents so we'd have no hard feelings, no matter the outcome!"

"I see. We at St. Gloriana fight with elegance, and we will never succumb to petty disputes."

Rachael smiled, "Oh, and before I forget, we wanted to give you this!"

She handed me the ribbon shut box. I shook it a little, fearing for either a bomb or a clock. Though it sounded a little muffled.

"May I open it now?" I asked.

"Oh! Go ahead!"

I untied the ribbon carefully and took off the lid to reveal a cake with white icing and the St. Gloriana emblem made with more icing and candy flowers. The detail was impressive, with astounding likeliness to the real emblem on our own tanks and banners.

"Is it to your liking?" asked Rachael.

"Oh, yes. I'm impressed by the amount of attention to detail it has." I said, "Who ever made this must be a professional."

"Actually," Rachael started, with Avery giving her a look of disapproval, "Avery here was the one who baked it!"

Avery looked down toward the ground, most likely from embarrassment, and sighed. I giggled a little, seeing him look embarrassed. A complete contrast to how he was a few days ago. Oh how I'm going to have a field day with this. I grew a mischievous grin at the thought.

"You baked this cake?" I asked Avery.

"I wanted to try baking, and Rachael made me put your school logo on it." Avery explained.

"Really? Are you sure you didn't do this specifically for another reason, hmm?"

"I wouldn't do something like that even if my life depended on it."

I sighed, "Very well. I'll be sure to enjoy this cake later."

"Well, we'll be off!"

Rachael and Avery got back into their car, with Avery driving them off. I assumed they were going back to their area.

I walked over to Assam and Orange Pekoe, who had been watching my interaction with the two Point students.

"What did they give you?" Pekoe asked.

I placed the box on the table and lifted the lid, showing them the cake. Both Assam and Pekoe were impressed with the design and the quality.

"They made this?" asked Assam.

"Yes, they wanted to make sure that there wouldn't be any hard feelings between us."

"I'm assuming we'll be having this later?" asked Pekoe.

"Yes, I just need to find a safe place for this."

I walked off to put the cake inside my tent. I assumed it would be safe there seeing as no one really went in besides myself. I put it on my make-shift desk and walked out to get ready for the match.


*Avery's POV*


"Why did I have to come along again?" I asked.

"Why not?" Rachael replied.

I sighed, putting my focus back on driving and making sure not to crash. The dirt road we used was pretty well maintained, but I still had to be careful.

"You know, you could drive us back." I said.

"I don't have my license."

"But you do..."

I decided not to continue arguing with Rachael since it would be fruitless in the end.

It didn't take long before the two of us arrived back in our area for us to get ready. Rachael and I split with myself heading to get changed. Rachael would get everyone ready for when I come out. I walked into my tent and found the box with my costume and my sabre being in its sheathe on top of the box. I got out of my school uniform and put on my King attire, admiring myself in a mirror I had set up. I then got out of my tent and made my way to address the team, who were already standing in formation.

We are using 10 tanks, as per the limit. Four Pershing formed our main line, or the 'Pawns'. A single Super Hellcat would be our 'Bishop', commanded by Harry Lagato. A single Bulldog, armed with a 90 mm gun, which would be our 'Rook', and our two Ru-251s being the 'Knights'. The last two tanks were the E-75 and the Tiger I.

I stood in front of everyone, with them moving to stand at attention.

"Alright then," I began, "I'm sure you all know what you will be doing today. This is our first match, ad I want each and every one of you to show them what Point Academy's Tankery Team can really do. Now is the chance for you to get rid of the legacy that you have been chained too, and make a new one. No longer will Point be the laughing stock! We will be victorious!" I finished, pumping my fist into the air.

Everyone else did so as well, exclaiming their wishes to win.

"The match starts in half an hour! I expect you all to be ready before then!"

I walked off and put Rachael and Juniper in charge until I come back. I needed to get to the match start as part of the ceremony. I then found John in a similar black convertible waiting for me.

"Sup!" He said, waving at me.

I nodded, unclasping my sabre and getting into the passenger's seat. John then drove off towards where we had to be to start the match. I took out a book titled 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' to read along the way.

"Don't you get dizzy while reading on the move?" asked John.

"I try not to give it any attention, but now..." I shut the book, trying to ward off the feeling of needing to barf.

"Ah, got it. Sorry..."

We rode in silence until arriving to the point, which didn't take long at all. Already there were Darjeeling and two moderators, one from the JSF, and one from the NATL. Putting in my Sabre, I walked up in front of Darjeeling, ready for the match.

The JSF moderator cleared her throat, "This is a match between Point Academy and St. Gloriana Girl's High School!"

"Both teams, bow!" The male NATL moderator said.

Darjeeling and I did as we were told. With that out of the way, we made our ways back to our forces to begin the match.


*Kuromorimine Viewing Area: Maho's POV*


"I wonder what tank Avery-san will be in?" Alice asked.

"He didn't tell you what tank he'd be in, Alice-san?" I asked.

Alice shook her head, "No, when I asked, Avery-san said that he would be sitting that match out."

"You're already familiar with this Avery?" asked Erika.

"He helped me find Okaa-sama when I was lost!"

"He sounds nice." Koume added.

As the conversation wrapped up, a Bofors flak cannon fired, signaling the beginning of the match.


*Avery's POV*


"All units, advance to your assigned locations."

Everyone moved to their positions, stretching our lines without straining our own forces. The Pawns split up into two groups of vanguard, with one occupying the forested area in B-5, and another moving towards the hills at E-7.

"This is P1, we've occupied the forest. Standing by."

"Hold positions until I say so, P3, what's your status?" George asked.

"We're in D-6, on our way to E-7."

"They're on their way." George said.

"Good, have N2 move to support P3 and 4," I ordered, "And move Q1 to C-4."

George relayed the orders to the team, with both tanks moving to their assigned locations. I wanted to occupy the hill at E-7 as fast as possible to get a vantage point over SG's forces. The field around the center and the North East were open plains, and occupying the hill would give us an advantage. However, there was one variable I was unsure of, and that was if St. Gloriana had brought their Tortoise. Luckily, the field had no urban areas, which helped counter the Tortoise. Though it was still a lumbering beast, and a wild card in Darjeeling's hand. Nothing we have currently on the field can penetrate it's solid frontal armour, and I doubt Darjeeling will just have it in the open. That is, if she even brought it along.

I pushed away my thoughts and had George check in with Rachael.

"Q1, have you arrived at C-4?" George asked.

A moment of silence passed before George looked back at me.

"She's there, what now?"

"Have N1 and R1 move to E-7, and get B1 to support Q1." I said.

George went to work relaying the orders to their respective commanders, who then advanced. I turned to John and spoke, "Drive us to D-7, at the foot of the hill."

And at that, we were off. While on our way however, P3 had radioed back with news that they had spotted two Crusaders along the tree line.

"What direction are they headed?" George asked through the radio. A moment of tense silence passed until George looked back up.

"They're heading South West."

The terrain there was rough and unfavourable for their Crusaders, so why would they send them there? What was Darjeeling planning?

"Dispatch R1 to shadow those two, and have P3 follow. Darjeeling has something planned, and we need to know what."

"But wouldn't that weaken our hold on the hill?" Kevin asked.

"We'll reinforce the hill, relay the orders."

George got to work as John drove us up the hill along a dirt road. Before actually getting to the top however, I dismounted to try and hide our presence. Once there, I could see a large portion of the field. I turned to the commander of the Pershing already situated there.

"P4, where exactly did you see those two Crusaders?"

"Oh! Uh..." the commander took some time to read the map to make an estimated guess, "E-4, moving South West."

"They'll be most likely screening the field with their Crusaders in an effort to find us. Their main force shouldn't be too far."

"Do we just wait here until then?" The Pershing commander asked.

"For now."

I walked back to the Tiger, where George was listening intently on the radio.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It looks like those Crusaders are going to act as a hammer, just like how you predicted they'd use them."

"Have N1 look for the enemy, we need to know their composition of forces."

George got to work relaying the orders to N1, with us seeing the Ru-251 zooming off towards 'No-Man's-Land', or the area between us and St. Gloriana.

"Still scared of that Tortoise?" Kevin asked.

"It can make or break this battle, of course I would be."

"King's paranoia knows no bounds after all." John commented.

"Ha ha ha..."


*Kuromorimine viewing area: Maho's POV*


"Nothing's happened yet." Koume said.

"Yes, usually some fighting would have started by now." Erika stated.

It was true that for most JSF matches, contact happens earlier on, with a few exceptions. Though this King could be brewing up some sort of scheme to take St. Gloriana's forces down in one fell swoop.

"We just need to wait." I said.


*Ooarai View Area: Miho's POV*


"It was nice of them to reserve a spot for us!" Hana said.

"Mmhm! They set aside reserved spots for all the school's Senshado Teams!"

"The match is pretty boring though..." Saori said.

"It's only been ten minutes, I'm sure the tension is thick enough to cut it with a knife inside those tanks." said Yukari.

"Wake me up when the fighting starts." Mako turned over in her own lawn chair and was about to fall asleep.

"If you sleep now, you'll miss the cakes we ordered!" Saori reminded her.

"I'm up." Mako said weakly.

I giggled at how quick Mako got up just from hearing that cakes would be involved. I looked back at the monitor that showed where both team's tanks were. St. Gloriana's forces were closely knit together, besides three tanks. What they were I could only guess. Point however spread it's forces out, but not enough to make it hard to control a single area. Each unit is poised to support each other if needed.

"What do you think will happen, Miho-san?" Yukari asked.

"Oh! Uh... I think that St. Gloriana is going to do a Hammer and Anvil type of strategy. They sent out two tanks already, and at the speed of their advance I'd assume they were the Crusaders. The third tank I don't really know."

"You got all that from arrows on a map?" Saori asked.

I laughed off Saori's comment and focused on the match. I didn't know who to root for, since I know some people from both schools. Though, I guess I do know Darjeeling more, and I've known her for longer. Either way, I would try and remain as impartial as possible.


*Avery's POV*


"George, drive us to E-6 and occupy the low hill there."

"On it."

The Tiger I lumbered off to another hill not too far from the one we were currently on. Sure it wasn't as tall as the one at E-7, but it's still good to have the high ground. We haven't made contact with St. Gloriana, which put the team on edge. I positioned them where they could rapidly respond to each other's calls for reinforcements if St. Gloriana followed its usual strategy. I assumed that they would keep the majority of their forces together, and with our forces being spread out, it could trick them into thinking they could overwhelm us. Even if they break through, the rest of us can regroup and surround them. Though their Crusaders could prove to be a problem.

"We're here" John said.

I found myself overlooking the field, trying to make out any anomalies or any sign of St. Gloriana. I took out my binoculars and peered through them. I had some trouble however, as I didn't take into account my mask.

"Kevin, take a look through these." I handed him the binoculars. I got out from the cupola and got down in front of the Tiger, "Can you make anything out over there?" I pointed to a tree line around a kilometer away.

"I see two, no three Matildas, and more dust is being kicked up around them." Kevin said, "What do we do?"

"Tell George to have Q1 lure them into the kill zone, and make sure that those Crusaders won't be able to come to their aid."

"So, Operation: Carrhae again?" Kevin asked.

"If it works, it works. Q1 is the second in command, and if she were to be knocked out, it would theoretically demoralize our forces. She's the perfect bait."

"And if they don't fall for it?"

"We move to plan B."

Kevin and I went back into the Tiger, with George relaying the orders to everyone to get ready for contact. I still had a feeling that the Tortoise would be around somewhere, but I tried my best to focus on the coming skirmish.

"George, have R1 and P3 fire on those Crusaders."

"Yes, sir."


*Darjeeling's POV*


We continued our way across the field to get to a more favorable position. I had sent out Rosehip to scout out the harsher parts of the field in case King moved his forces there.

"Rosehip, is there anything to report?" I asked.

"N-No! There's no sign of them here."

"Hmm..." So they weren't making use of the rough terrain there? The most likely spot for them to use are the hills near their starting point, "Regroup with us at point C-3."

"Yes Ma-" Rosehip had stopped as what I assumed was gunfire erupted, "Dudududududududududududududu."

"Rosehip? What's going on?" I asked.

"Point has a Chaffee- wait no! Bulldog! It's a Bulldog chasing us!"

"Is that all there is?"

"It's just the Bulldog, we're having some trouble outrunning it, but it's missing it's shots by a mile!"

"Very well, I'll dispatch two Matildas to support you, you are to meet them at point G-4."

"We're on our- Wait!"

Just as Rosehip was telling her driver to stop, a rare occurrence, a loud boom could be heard over the radio, coupled with the sound of what I assumed was the Bulldog's cannon.

"There was a Pershing waiting for us!"

I switched the channel from Rosehip to two of our Matildas.

"Rukuriri, Nilgiri, I need you to go to point G-4 and support Rosehip and Vanilla."

"yes Ma'am." The two said in unison, with both their tanks driving towards Rosehip's location. The rest of our forces continued to point C-4. There is still very little known about how King commands and how he fights, making it difficult to anticipate his actions. The only time King had fought in a match before was against Lannes. In a sense, we were fighting a ghost.

"Rosehip?"

Nothing, I was beginning to think she had been knocked out, only for her to respond.

"We're fine, but Vanilla wasn't so lucky."

"Rukuriri and Nilgiri are moving to G-4, rendezvous with them there, if you may."

"Y-Yes Ma'am!"

Rosehip signed off, leaving us to try and find Point's main force. Our Matildas won't be able to take a full on hit from one of their Pershings. The terrain at point C-4 would be the most favorable for us to set up a defense due to its dense trees and the sunken road acting as a sort of trench.

"Darjeeling-sama?" Orange Pekoe asked.

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to have some tea?"

I looked down at my cup to realize I hadn't taken a sip the entire time. I drank a portion and felt myself feel relieved, as if I were sitting back inside the tea room, relaxing. However I was not inside said room. Instead I was on a battlefield, fighting an enemy who only just made an appearance once before. Though the tea did help.

"Thank you for reminding me, Pekoe-san."

Pekoe nodded and went back to facing forward, shell in her hands ready to be loaded. We drove onward in a tense silence, with no sign of Point's forces. I highly doubt that they were all concentrated in that one area.

Boom!

A shell ripped through the air and landed right beside one of our Matildas. Luckily I, as the flag tank, was deeper within the formation. I turned and saw an E-75 with it's turret aimed towards another one of our Matildas. I recognized it as the same E-75 that the vice commander for Point used during the Lannes match.

"Everyone, scatter, try and dodge its shots."

We all moved as fast as we could away from each other in an effort to prolong the time of when the E-75 fires, as it would need to pick a target and line up its sights. While we moved about, everyone took a few shots at the Heavy tank, most not penetrating or glancing off its armour. The E-75 fired again, its shot landing right on target as a Matilda was knocked out. Using this opportunity, I ordered my driver to maneuver around its rear to get a shot off. However, the E-75 pulled back, most likely to link up with its own forces.

"Should we go after them, Darjeeling-sama?" asked Pekoe.

"No, it's most likely a trap, and I'm not buying it."


*Avery's POV*


"Darjeeling didn't chase after Rachael." George said.

"Not falling for it, huh? I guess it was a given, Ooarai did try a similar trick during their first match."

I looked across the field, seeing some smoke bellowing from the little skirmish between Rachael and St. Gloriana. I had George patch me in with Rachael's unit.

"They didn't take the bait, what now?" She asked.

"I want you to take command over B1, N1 and I'll lead the rest. After you regroup with them, you are to advance to the enemy's rear while I take them on frontally."

"Very well." Rachael then drove off.

"John, drive us to the St. Gloriana's last point."

"On it."

"George, get P4 as well as N2 to regroup at C-6."

George got to work relaying the orders, with John driving us towards the action. Matildas and Churchills aren't exactly the fastest tanks, so they shouldn't have gone too far. We followed the road where we saw four of our tanks waiting, three Pershings and one Ru-251. Their commanders saw us arriving as I ordered John to make a stop.

"P4, I want you to move to the southwest side of D-4 to cut off St. Gloriana's escape, P4, you'll follow."

The commander nodded and raced to their position.

"You're with me."

The Ru-251 drove on the right of the Tiger. We drove towards B-6 to occupy the break in the tree line and the road that went through it. P1 and 2 were also along the way occupying the forest in B-5. P3 and R1 radioed back in, with George stating that the two came across two Matildas supporting the Crusader. I now knew Darjeeling's main force was now vulnerable to a well timed ambush. However, the presence of the Tortoise was still unknown.

The Ru and the Tiger rode on until we came across P1 and 2, the two tanks joining us once they saw us arriving.

"P2, take D-4 and cut off their escape."

The Pershing rode off, with the rest of us driving to meet Darjeeling's force. Rachael's contingent would circle round back and drive into Darjeeling's formation's rear, sandwiching them between the two of us.

We continued on our way when suddenly a shell slammed into the ground to our left. There I saw St. Gloriana's force entrenched in a sunken road. I counted three tanks, two Matildas and one Churchill, with a blue flag signifying it as the Flag Tank.

"P1, P4, return fire."

Our own guns roared back at St. Gloriana, one shot landing near them and another glancing off the top of their turrets. As the two Pershings were stuck in a fire fight, the Ru and I moved into cover behind some trees. P1 then got knocked out from a shot in the lower glacis, with P4 moving into cover as well.

"We're pinned." David said.

"But Q1 is not."

We continued this skirmish for a few more minutes, with both sides unable to hit a critical piece of armour. St. Gloriana made good use of the sunken road to allow only their turrets to be visible, and from where we were, it was hard to get a good lock on target.

One thing was made certain for me. The presence of only three tanks instead of five as they should have. Meaning the Tortoise has to be around somewhere, most likely accompanied by a Matilda or another Crusader.

"George, contact Q1, and David, fire at the Matilda to the left."

George got onto the radio, trying to get in touch with Rachael as the Tiger's 88 mm gun fired at a Matilda, landing it square on the top of the turret, knocking it out.

"Rachael came across B1 and P3 and are now on their way."

"And of the Crusader's force?"

"One Matilda was knocked out, and B1 is stuck in a fire fight with the other. The Crusader escaped."

I was thinking of what that Crusader could do. They could come over here and support Darjeeling, or circle around. My mind was torn out of its thoughts as a shell ripped through a tree on my right.

The shell seemed more powerful than the usual 2 pounder guns or the 75 mm on the Churchill. No, this was different. I came to the realization that Darjeeling had finally played her trump card.

The Tortoise rolled out from some trees to our right, firing another shot at the Ru, missing it barely.

"Kevin, load HE. George, aim for the Tortoise's tracks, try and immobilize it."

"Round up!" Kevin said.

George stared down the gun's sights intently, making sure his shot hit true.

"Firing!"

Boom!

Both the Tortoise and the Tiger fired in unison, however the Tortoise had missed barely, as George's shot hit right on the treads, snapping them.

"Get N2 to circle around the Tortoise."

The Ru drove around the Tortoise, just about to get a clear shot on it's rear. As it was about to fire, a Crusader fired at the Ru, hitting it in the back of its turret, knocking it out.

"Tsk! When will Q1 arrive?"

"Should we pull out?" asked Kevin.

"No, we hold. Q1 has to be close. If we were to withdraw now, it could jeopardize the match for us."

And so we held on, the Tortoise was unable to get a clear shot on us as we constantly were moving from cover to cover. We also released some smoke to mask our movements and give us some breathing room.

"David, fire HE at the Tortoise's Cupola."

"Um... why?"

"To make the lumbering giant blind."

Kevin loaded an HE, ready for David to fire. He peered through the sights and aimed the gun at the front of the Tortoise.

"Firing!"

The Tiger's gun roared to life as a shell was sent towards the Tortoise, hitting it just below the Cupola, but enough to presumably crack it and smudge it enough to make it hard to see through. The beast was now more or less blind.

"Now we wait for Q1."

For the next few minutes the Tortoise was still able to fire some accurate shots, however they would miss by a few feet. We got a message from P2 saying that they had met up with Rachael's detachment, meaning they were close.

And surprise surprise, a Crusader came barreling into the field, followed by a shell hitting it square on its rear, knocking it out. Following the Crusader were the rest of our forces. Rachael's E-75 aimed toward the enemy Flag Tank, letting loose a shell. It hit right on its side, knocking it out.

"Point Academy has knocked out St. Gloriana's Flag Tank! The Match goes to Point Academy!"


*Kuromorimine Viewing Area*


"Point won, huh." Koume said.

"I don't really see anything special with Point's style," Erika stated, "Their commander just sat there for most of the match."

"Maybe he leads best from the back?" Alice asked.

"Maybe, though their tanks are interesting." Maho said.

Maho looked at King as he stood out of his cupola, trying to get a sense on who he was. She had suspicions that Avery from before was King, but she wanted to make sure. For all she knew, Avery was telling the truth about everything.


*Ooarai Viewing Area*


Everyone was a little down to see St. Gloriana lose, but they still enjoyed the match. They made a note to greet Darjeeling later on.

"Point Academy's pretty strong." Hana said.

"What were those Light Tanks, Yukari?" Saori asked.

"Well they have two Ru-251s and one Bulldog, but its gun is different."

"Different how?"

"Well, its a 90 mm gun. The usual Bulldog only had a 76 mm."

"It looks like they use German and American tanks together, I wonder why?" Miho said.

"It could be because of the US's activities in West Germany during the Cold War, or they use them because they work together well?" Saori said.

"Woah, you actually thought of that?" Yukari said, surprised to hear Saori talking about such a topic without being forced too.

"Why? is that so bad?"

The two got into a little argument, to which the rest of the girls just smiled and watched.


*Avery's POV*


"George, you know what to do."

"Got it."

I grabbed a bag inside the Tiger, with George and I quickly leaping out of the Tiger before anyone else came around. I unclasped the sabre and threw it along with the bag towards George. The bag had duplicates of the 'King' attire. I got into my tent and got changed into my a light brown hoodie and skinny blue jeans. I put a hat over my head and put the rest of the clothes in a gym bag. As I walked towards the rest of the team, who had just arrived, I looked over at George, decked up as King. He approached the rest of the team, acting as much as 'King' as possible. I turned away and walked up to Rachael to make sure I didn't need to stick around any longer.

"Need any help?" I asked.

"No, I have everything under control."

"Great! I'm going to get something to eat then."

I walked over to all the stalls that were up to get something to eat. I was quite hungry from the match, and I had forgotten to eat breakfast earlier this morning.

There was quite a crowd already there when I arrived. I found it pretty hard to move through the dense crowd, however it started thinning out as I made it closer to the center. I looked around for anything that caught my eye when I saw a stall selling some burgers. Luckily the line wasn't too long, with four people. It didn't take long until I was in the front of the line. I took the time to scan the menu before hand so I had a good idea of what to order.

"Hello sir," The main said, "What would you like to order?"

"I'll take the Extra Cheese combo."

"And your drink?"

"I'll have some Doca Cola."

"A moment please."

The man went back and started up making my order. Before long he gave me a tray with my food.

"Enjoy your food!" The man said happily.

I nodded and walked over to one of the little tables to eat. The burger was pretty good. The bun was a little crispy, but just enough to add the perfect amount of texture. The fries were good as well, with a good amount of salt laid onto them. Personally though I would have sprinkled some cinnamon, but what can you do?

I finished eating and brought my tray over to where the rest of the empty trays were. There were still quite a few people around, despite the match being over. Usually events like these are used by people to socialize or hang out with their friends and enjoy the different stalls. I was never exactly a people person myself, so I couldn't relate.

I walked out towards the parking lot that was set up after putting away my tray. Taking out my keys, I was just about to walk over to my bike when I saw a familiar mop of red hair long with a head of blonde with a black ribbon.

"Rosehip-san, don't touch it, it isn't yours."

"But imagine how fast you could go with it! I'd trade my Crusader for this beauty!"

"The Crusader isn't yours, it's St. Gloriana's, now come on, we need to go."

"Excuse me?" I called out.

Assam and Rosehip looked towards me, Rosehip being startled of my sudden appearance.

"Can I get to my bike now?" I asked.

"Don't worry," Assam said, "We were just about t-"

"This is yours?!" Rosehip yelled.

"Y-Yeah, why?"

Rosehip ran over to me and took both of my hands and clasped them together.

"Can I ride it?" She asked with starry eyes.

"Do you have a license?"

"Um... I command a Crusader?"

I thought about it, hesitant to let her drive it. Though she does command a Crusader, and she seems competent enough.

"Sure, go ahead."

I tossed over my keys to Rosehip, her eyes falling on them with an expression of bewilderment and excitement. She leapt towards me and gave me a hug, nearly pushing out all the air in my lungs.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!"

She hopped onto my bike and put the keys into the ignition, starting it up. She brought it back to a more open space in the lot and began driving it. She went a little fast at first, causing me to begin to regret my decision of allowing her to ride it. Though she was able to get a hang of it after the initial send off. She drove around the empty part of the lot, letting out laughter and a few 'woahs' every now and then.

"I think I got the hang of this!" She said loudly.

"Are you sure letting her ride your bike was wise?" Assam asked.

"Sure, what's the worst that could happen?" I said, clutching my sore abdomen.

I could not have said that at a worse time, as I saw Rosehip speed up uncontrollably, swerving left and right before crashing my bike into some trees. Assam face palmed, as if she expected this to happen.

A feeling of anger rose up within me. Though I did my best to keep it down, it got the hold of me.

"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-"

I was cut short as Assam put her hand over my mouth. We turned back to Rosehip, who rose her arm up into the air after getting the remains of my bike off of her.

"I'm okay!" She said.

"MY BIKE!"

"I'm sorry for your loss." Assam said, patting me on the back.

Rosehip got up from the crash site, only having a few nicks and scratches. My bike however was completely totaled. The bars were all mangled up and the wheels were completely bent in ways they were never meant too.

"How the fuck did you survive that?!?!" I screamed, still angry over losing my bike, "The average speed of that thing would have sent you flying! You should at least have broken your neck!"

"Hehe..." Rosehip laughed, scratching the back of her neck in embarrassment and guilt.

A set of footsteps approached us, with a certain sophisticated feminine voice speaking.

"My my, what happened here?" Darjeeling asked.

"We heard a crash sound coming from here." Orange Pekoe said.

Assam pointed to the crash site of my bike and a slightly bruised and nicked Rosehip. As to how she even survived that without any broken bones is beyond me, and I'd rather not know the answer.

"Rosehip?" Darjeeling said.

"Y-Yes!" Rosehip said, quickly standing at attention.

"Did you crash that bike?"

"Um..."

"Who's bike was that anyway?" Orange Pekoe asked.

"It was mine!" I yelled.

"Don't worry, we'll pay for its repairs." Darjeeling said, "And Rosehip?"

"Yes!"

"Apologize to Avery here."

Rosehip walked over to me and went into a bow.

"I'm sorry for crashing your bike!"

"It's fine, I guess..."

Rosehip looked a little down, to which I felt a sudden tinge of sympathy. It definitely didn't help that she looked liked she was tearing up.

"H-Hey, it's fine, really, no need to cry." I said, trying to comfort her.

"Oh, I know!" Darjeeling spoke up, "You could join us for the cake you baked for us!"

"I actually just ate," I explained, "I was planning on leaving, but I don't know how to get home now."

"You don't have a ride?" Orange Pekoe asked.

"Not anymore..."

"We can give you a ride." said Darjeeling, "It's the least we could do. You could also join us for some cake."

"I think I'll take you up on that offer," I answered, "But I won't stay for cake, I'm already full."

"Very well, now if you'll follow us, we'll take you home."

I went along with the St. Gloriana girls towards their bus. I got a few odd stares, but Darjeeling was able to clear up any confusion. I still heard some gossiping being done, but I dismissed it as normal. Most of these girls probably haven't had any real interaction with those of the opposite sex, not that I can't say the same for myself, I usually avoid social interaction.

I was seated near the front near Darjeeling, Assam, Orange Pekoe and Rosehip, to 'Keep an eye on me' so to speak. I had told Darjeeling my address before hand, to which she told the bus driver. The bus started on its way soon after we got into the seats.


*Britanica Viewing Area*


Olivia looked at her laptop, which she had saved the match on. There she examined the strategy used by a certain masked commander, finding some similarities to someone. However, as some reporters were asking questions to King, he seemed different. It was subtle, but Olivia caught on to it. She made a note to keep an eye on King later on.

"Hey, Olivia." Joseph called out.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be right there." Olivia replied, "Just give me a few more minutes."

"We'll be leaving in 15 minutes," Joseph said, "and we will leave you if you're not fast enough."

"I'll just catch a bus?"

Joseph sighed, "Just hurry it up, whatever you're doing."

And with that he walked away, leaving Olivia to herself.

"King..." Olivia said to herself, "King..."

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