Chapter Text
An early morning was not unusual for Andrew Montgomery, rather, the surroundings of a Japanese School-Ship were something that he had to get used to. Today was the first day of school for the lad, though it wasn't his first day of being a Second Year student, leading to his present grumbling.
Andrew Montgomery had been British-born and raised, until a month ago at least. That was when his father received a sideways promotion and, as part of his new job, he had to move to Japan. The move itself hadn't been troubling or difficult, nor had the language been a barrier. What Andrew was grumbling about on that fine Spring day was being gawked at like a museum exhibit or some new toy, and not in the child's sense of the word.
He reflected on this as he made his way to the school. Ōarai Girls Academy had recently undergone a change and had opened up their recruiting pool to boys and had rebranded themselves as Ōarai Co-Ed Academy. It was rumoured that some electives were going to be reinstated or introduced which drew his attention. Back in Britain, he had been a Commander of a Centurion in his school's Tankery team, so he hoped that the country that created the modern sport would have an opportunity for him.
Reaching the gates, he nodded to the gatekeeper and made his way into the main building. His first day in a Japanese school waiting to begin.
He was, in a word: bored.
Much of the school work in the morning classes was over material he had already covered back in Britain, though he had expected that. No, what had drawn out his boredom was the fact that it wouldn't be until the afternoon before they found anything out about the elective classes. That assembly was due for the shorter of the two periods while the longer one would see them complete the forms needed for it and would, in future, be for that elective.
His musing was interrupted when two boys sat down in front of him. "Hey there!" the red-haired one said. "You're the kid from England right?"
Andrew winced. "Wales actually, but pretty close," he replied. "Andrew Montgomery."
The redhead took the offered hand and shook, "Jacob Lancaster, my folks came here about three years ago from America. This here is Shichirō Kawashima, a native of the town of Ōarai."
Shichirō inclined his head slightly. "Good Morning Montgomery-san."
Andrew raised an eyebrow, "Why does that name sound familiar?" he murmured.
Jacob chuckled, "That's because his older sister, Momo, is the PR manager of the Student Council. Believe me when I say you'll hear her. Sometimes without the aid of equipment."
Shichirō grew a small smirk and made as if he recognised someone. "Good Morning Momo-san."
The about-face Jacob made would have been comical, as were the wide eyes and stammering. That is until he realised that Shichirō had taken the mick out of him. "One day Shichirō…" he muttered.
Shichirō chuckled and saw the look of confusion on Andrew's face. "Jacob here has been smitten with my older sister since we met three years ago. As such, invoking her name produces… amusing results."
Jacob huffed. "I could tell some tales about you and Miss Isuzu."
Shichirō's face darkened slightly, "I don't know what you are talking about. Isuzu-san wouldn't pay me the time of day."
Jacob looked as if he wanted to interject, but a sudden new voice shut him up. "You okay Shichirō-kun?" a dark-haired girl with unusually half a glasses asked.
Shichirō smiled at the girl, "Quite alright Momo-san, just greeting Montgomery-san."
Andrew inclined his head towards the PR manager of the Student Council. "Indeed, your brother and his friend have made me feel quite welcome."
Momo hummed before sitting beside him, across from her brother and placed a pamphlet in front of Andrew. "I understand you participated in the European version of Sensha-dō," she remarked. "While boys can't be in the tanks, they can be in supportive and tactical positions. Perhaps you'd be interested?"
Andrew looked at the pamphlet and frowned, "Quite the shift." he remarked. "Going from commanding a Centurion in a battle group to busy-body work."
Momo raised an eyebrow at the remark, "A shift yes," she replied, "but one that would be easier due in part to your former experience."
Andrew's frown deepened. "But would the tankers listen is another question. A clock only works if all the gears are properly aligned and well maintained." he countered. "From my experience, teenagers, regardless if they are male or female, will choose their own initiative over the counsel of one more experienced in the matter. Even if their intuition is grossly incorrect."
Momo adjusted her glass, "I can give you my word as PR Manager of the Student Council."
Andrew shook his head. "I've known too many Student Council Members to hold their word to be worth the paper they are printed upon," he replied. Then he inclined his head slightly. "With no offence intended ma'am."
Momo bit her bottom lip hard. Though she was loath to admit it, his reason was valid. Then she sighed and bowed her head. "Then I swear upon the grave of my Grandmother, Asuki Kawashima: we will follow your instruction."
Andrew started ever so slightly at the frank declaration, though to be fair, so did the other two boys at the table. "Well…" he finally said, with slight trepidation in his voice. "Just get me the times and location and I'll join." he said drawing a hopeful look to Momo's face. "Though I have a request: I wish to wear my old uniform, I've become rather attached and a mite superstitious." he began.
Momo interrupted. "I see no problem with that," she replied before pausing a moment. "Chief." she finally intoned.
With that, she stood and walked off. Andrew silently sat there for a moment before raising his hand to his forehead. "O Arglwydd, beth ydw i wedi anghofio fy hun i mewn?" he muttered.
Jacob shook his head fondly and tuned out, Shichirō on the other hand spoke up. "Momo-san is deadly serious if she invoked our grandmother in her oath," he muttered.
Andrew sighed and looked at his hands. The idea of building the team from scratch was not one that he relished, but perhaps he could make something of it. But there was something he could not shake. "Why do I feel as though I've been told to climb Everest with nothing more than my boxers?" he murmured.
Neither boy had an answer for him, but Shichirō spoke up. "Well, if boys can be in Sensha-dō, and Ōarai is starting a team, perhaps others could join. Who knows, might even be fun."
Andrew rubbed his brow and pinched the bridge of his nose. Jacob picked up his stress immediately. "What's wrong Andrew?"
Andrew sighed. "If Ōarai is starting a new team then I am concerned as to the state of the equipment. It may be more economical to purchase entirely new tanks rather than using whatever the old team used and stashed away," he replied before rubbing his face. "And there's the fact that out of everyone on the team, the odds that I will be the most experienced member are quite high. And I was only a tank commander, not a team commander or even the strategist. And I was only a member of the team for a year before I moved here."
Both Jacob and Shichirō looked at each other, none of what Andrew was saying would have occurred to them. But before they could question him further, Andrew sighed. "Time to earn my heritage then," he muttered before standing and heading off. Where to, neither boy knew.
As it happened, Andrew set off to find the Student Council Office. He had many questions that needed to be answered before he could do his job. Finding the door open, he entered to see one person sitting behind a desk, his memory telling him this was the President of Ōarai. "President Kadotani?" he called.
The girl looked up. "Ah, Mister Montgomery, I was wondering when I would see you," she said, setting aside a sheet of paper. "I presume you are here to find out information about the Sensha-dō team?"
Andrew nodded. "I am, though Madam Kawashima already recruited me for Tactical," he replied before sitting across from her. "So, as such, I want to have an understanding of the team. Skill levels, Equipment, Condition, that sort of thing."
Anzu Kadotani flushed slightly. "I see," she replied with no quiver in her voice. "To be frank: Only one person has experience with Sensha-dō and she was… reluctant to join the team," she replied. At Andrew's questioning eyebrow, she pulled out a file. "Nishizumi Miho, I personally figure she'll be commanding the team, even if she doesn't know it yet."
Andrew pursed his lips, he knew of Miho Nishizumi, and the circumstances that led to her withdrawal from Kuromorimine. As such, he had a suspicion he wasn't being told everything. Choosing to say nothing, at least for now, he looked at her expectantly. "We, presently, have one tank, though I intend for the first team-building exercise to be to use the documents we have from the old team to find the other tanks."
Andrew bit his lip. "Depending on their condition, it may be more viable to purchase new tanks rather than rehabilitate whatever…"
"That's not possible." Anzu interrupted.
Andrew waited for a moment to hear her reasoning. When she wasn't forthcoming, he leaned forwards. "You may not face a choice in the matter." he pressed.
Anzu grimaced, "You are correct, but in reverse. I have no choice but to use what was left behind." she replied before leaning back in her chair. "Next year, after we win the tournament, we'll see about new tanks. Until then, we make do with what we have."
Andrew hummed before standing. "Then I shall see you tomorrow afternoon? I presume you are joining the team."
Anzu nodded. "Yes, the Student Council will crew a tank."
Andrew hummed before giving her a slight bow and leaving the office. As he walked home that evening, his mind spun. The merger of the two academies into one, the introduction of a sport that would compete in a tournament that had a cash prize, the lack of desire or ability of the Council to invest in said team yet expecting a win, and the insistent recruitment of himself was leading him to come to a conclusion he did not like: The school needed the win. Either that or the Council held expectations and confidence that he, the experienced one, did not have.
Kicking off his shoes at the entrance, Andrew sighed to himself. He had a feeling that if there were bets laid on the tournament, then he would either have been laughed out or called a sucker for laying money on Ōarai. He did not see any way other than defeat in their future, but then again, one could have said that about Britain's prospects after the Fall of France in 1940. And great things can occur when one is desperate.