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With Grace and Elegance
A Girls Und Panzer/Ranma ½ Crossover
Chapter Eight
Clubs and Cousins
By: Grounders10
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Ranma yawned, not bothering to try and stifle it in the depths of her own bathroom. She adjusted her uniform's sweater and then swept the counter clear of plastic wrappers into the waste bin. She turned away and twitched as a stomach cramp spiked hard. Ignoring it, she swept out of the bathroom and-
"Erk!" She stepped back as the cat statuette stared at her from a side table in the closet. After a moment of staring, she passed on the far side of the closet and hurried across her room, pausing only to grab her bag from a chair before practically running out of the room.
"Time to go," she said to Kasumi as she passed the other girl waiting for her on the second-floor stairs.
Kasumi followed with a small laugh. "Ran into the cat again, I take it?" she asked.
"It's stalking me again, I swear," she replied after shouting goodbye to Tsuya.
"It's wandering at most, Ranma," Kasumi replied, giggling as they walked out of the house. Ranma rolled her eyes.
"I know you don't take it seriously, but please don't start hanging cats off me again. That was absolutely terrifying," Ranma said, shooting the brunette a glare. It was one of the few things she really still held against Kasumi. Her friend had the good grace to blush and look away without saying anything.
Waiting for them together was the Matilda house driver and Rin. The other girl was waiting by the car as they approached. "Thanks for letting me ride with you," Rin said as they got into the car. Ranma waved her off. Rin had asked the day before during their Mexican lunch.
"Not a problem. We're going to the same school after all," she said before cracking open her bag to check for the cat. Seeing no sign of it she sighed with relief.
"Something wrong?" Rin asked.
"The statuette followed me home," Ranma replied bluntly. She watched as the other girl froze before glancing about the car. "Tsuya should be calling the antique dealer to come retrieve it while we're at school."
"Assuming it doesn't follow us there," Rin muttered.
Kasumi giggled and ignored the glares they both shot her way. "I think it's cute," she said with a shrug.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think she's weirder than you," Rin said.
"You know when she discovered I was scared of cats she went and started hanging them off me as 'therapy'," Ranma replied flatly. Kasumi looked out the window innocently.
"How are you two friends again?" Rin asked.
"Life is weird," Ranma replied with a shrug, getting a pout from Kasumi. She crossed her arms and turned to stare out the window. It was, thankfully, cat statuette free for the entire trip.
Arriving in their classroom they found Takara up on one of the desks, a finger pointed to the sky. "... Not the end of my resolution nor my commit-"
"Resolve would work better," Mari deadpanned from her seat by the window.
"Quiet in the peanut gallery!" Takara pointed the finger at Mari, only to receive a disinterested look over the top of the fluffy book Mari was still reading.
"Are you seriously monologuing in a empty room?" Rin asked.
"I'm giving a speech, there's a difference! And Mari's here!" Takara said before sighing, "And now the inspiration's gone. Thanks a lot, Mari."
"You're welcome," Mari said, sounding smug as Ranma took her seat. Kasumi giggled again.
The rest of the class filtered in over the course of the next ten minutes with Shiori just stumbling in moments before Ms. Jasmine entered the room.
"It's good to see everyone here again," Ms. Jasmine said as she set her bag down at her desk along with several thick clear plastic packets. Ranma leaned forward peering at them. They seemed to be brochures and pamphlets. "Now-"
The bell chose that moment to interrupt her, followed a moment later by the PA.
"Hello everyone, welcome back to our second week of classes," Student Council President Ginseng said, her voice crackling just slightly through the speakers, "Just a few announcements for this morning. First, the science building is off-limits for today and possibly tomorrow following yesterday's incident involving the chemistry club. On a related note, a new substance has been added to the prohibited list. Please see the school website or the phone application for details. Finally, first-year students are encouraged to look into our clubs and associations ahead of the yearly festival. Everyone, please enjoy your day with grace and elegance." The PA clicked off.
"What happened to the science building?" Takara asked.
"I'm not entirely certain," Ms. Jasmine said before picking up a plastic packet. "Now, following on from what Ms. Ginseng said, next Saturday and Sunday will be the yearly festival. On Monday you'll be required to select two electives and one club to take part in. These here are pamphlets and brochures from the various clubs and electives. Today, and everyday this week, we will be starting the day going over your official electives. Please make sure to read up on the clubs after class." With that, she handed out one clear plastic packet to each student. "First off we'll be starting with the Occult elective.."
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The week was, compared to the week before, a touch boring in Ranma's opinion. Not that she fell asleep in class. Unlike Nerima, there was a feeling of expectation weighing down on her that she had never experienced before. Her Pops had simply not cared about grades enough to get on her case unless she was failing. Unlike Genma, she really didn't want to disappoint her Grandmother.
The school's official electives were… eclectic. To start with there was the usual selection of shop classes, home economics, Drama, Dancing and other mundane classes. Then there were the odd but understandable classes like English Literature, European History, and Archeology. She'd never heard of an Archeology class for high school students, but it wasn't too strange overall. No, the weird bits were the classes like Occultism, Ninjutsu, Divination, and 'European' Alchemy.
It was weirder than Nerima in many ways, which she mentioned to Rin when she was visiting on Friday afternoon.
"Are you serious?" Rin deadpanned over a cup of tea, "All it takes is a few exotic electives to be stranger than Nerima?"
Ranma picked up a pamphlet and cleared her throat. "Demonology 2004, How to identify visitors from beyond. Why does this school have a
demonology course," Ranma asked. Admittedly it wasn't listed for first years students, but it was listed as one of the classes that required Occultism 1004, which was what the pamphlet was for.
"Because it's related to Occultism?" Rin replied like it was obvious. She sipped her tea.
"Why does a High School have
Occultism in the first place?" Ranma asked again.
"Because it's big in Britain?" Rin shrugged, "I find it quite fascinating myself. I'm planning on taking Occultism."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Kasumi asked with a frown over her own tea. Unlike Ranma, she had already picked her electives and had moved on to studying maths.
"It's fine. It's just a hobby. Everyone needs a hobby," Rin replied with a roll of her eyes, "Like, I said, it's hardly as strange as Nerima."
Ranma glanced down the list of later-year classes that the Occultism pamphlet boasted it was necessary for. It was… definitely unusual.
"I was wondering," Rin said, setting down her teacup, "Do you two want to go to the festival together tomorrow?"
"Carpool again?" Ranma asked as she set the Occultism pamphlet down and picked up the one on archeology. She raised an eyebrow at the list of later-year courses it was a prerequisite for. 'Egyptology 1111, Curses, Blessings and the Ironic Differences', 'Mythology 1112, Truth and Fiction Through the Eyes of Yesteryear', and over a dozen other courses that continued on into post-secondary programs.
"That's what I was thinking, yes," Rin said.
"Sure, why not?" Ranma said with a smile as she flicked open the pamphlet to go over the course itself.
"Found something interesting, Ranma?" Kasumi asked.
"... Just thinking I keep coming across strange ancient artifacts. It'd be nice to know what I'm getting myself into," she said, glancing over Rin's head to where the cat statuette was lounging on a shelf. The shop owner had picked it up days prior only for Ranma to discover it had found its way back to her that morning.
In the bath.
"I suppose that does make archeology somewhat more of a practical option, doesn't it?" Rin mused.
"A necessity maybe," Ranma muttered. The number of times she'd have liked to know what she was dealing with was… Higher than she wanted to admit.
"Well it's nice to see you taking an interest in something new," Kasumi said brightly. Ranma rolled her eyes but smiled at Kasumi nonetheless. Setting the Archeology pamphlet into the maybe pile she moved onto the next. She paused as she read the title 'Living a double life? Try Planning 1101: Secret Keeping for Secret Keepers', and promptly moved on to the next… and the next… and the next…
They still hadn't truly decided by the time Rin had to head home for dinner.
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The school was bustling with activity as Ranma stepped out of the car with Kasumi and Rin. A band was playing on a temporary stage set up by the main entrance where the student council's information booth had been set up.
Meandering their way through the crowd of students, their families, and others from across the ship -- the festival was technically an open house for non-students -- they retrieved a few paper maps being handed out by the student council with the locations of the club stands laid out on them.
Ranma dragged Kasumi, with Rin following close behind, into a small hedged-off alcove. The sound of the crowd dropped away instantly as they entered. "Any preferences on where we start?" Ranma asked as she checked the schedule that came with the map.
"Well we should make sure to have a good place to watch the Sensha-do club's parade at noon," Kasumi said.
"That's not something we should miss. I hear it's always an impressive show," Rin said, shooting Ranma a grin over the top of her map.
Ranma rolled her eyes. "I'll keep it in mind," she said, glancing at the listed route for the parade, "But we've got hours until then. Suggestions?" She did kinda want to see that parade herself…
"I hear the HEMA club has a few interesting items they're displaying from the local Museum of English and Japanese History," Rin said, "And it says they'll be holding exhibition matches throughout the day."
"Why don't we just wander for now? The festival is two days long after all," Kasumi said, "We can start with the HEMA club and continue from there?"
"They're not far from here either," Ranma said, glancing down at the map. She traced a path around the campus. She was curious as to the skill level of any fighters on campus. So far she hadn't seen any signs that there was much in the way of a martial arts scene on the Ark Royale, but you never could tell when a strange martial artist was going to pop out of the woodwork.
She scanned a clockwise path through the grounds with one finger. There was no easy path through the campus that would let them visit everything, even with two days. They were going to need to pick and choose. Still, the HEMA club was a good start.
"Let's go," she said, folding her map up and slipping it into her school bag.
The Historical European Martial Arts club was set up in a large colourful tent. Girls in European medieval cosplay, ranging from the highly accurate to the clearly fantastical -- several girls had opted for elven costumes -- were waiting on tables inside next to a fencing arena.
"Ranma, Rin, Kasumi!" a friendly voice greeted them as they entered.
"Shiori, I should've expected to see you here," Ranma said as their classmates walked over.
The turtle-bedecked girl was grinning, already dressed in protective padding which told Ranma just how low capability the school's club expected things to be. That sort of padding, while fine for average fights, was effectively useless at the level Ranma fought at. Not without a lot of ki reinforcement.
"Yeah, I've not really been quiet about joining the HEMA club, have I?" She said with an awkward laugh. She huggled the peace-bonded longsword in her arms. "I'm so excited!"
"We can tell," Rin said, "Did you already sign up?"
"Oh, I signed up earlier this week," Shiori said brightly, "You don't
have to wait for the festival to sign up to a club if you already know what you want."
Rin frowned. "I wish I'd known that. I'm planning on signing up for Sensha-do," she said with a sigh, "I would have already signed up."
"I don't think Sensha-do does it since they're technically a 'class' club unlike HEMA," Shiori said.
"Class club?" Ranma asked, not recognizing the reference.
"She means they get actual classroom time allotted for them rather than just after school events," Rin said, shaking her head, "Because of the amount of time you need for the club you actually get additional credit for participating. It's part of the reason so many Sensha-do players are part of the Tea Garden. Though they do have to actually perform well in class on top of that."
"I hadn't realised that Sensha-do was considered so important. I mean, I knew it had quite a bit of importance to St. Gloriana's but…" Kasumi trailed off.
"Sensha-do is one of the most important programs for any school ship. It's flashy, popular, and a way to show off the wealth of a school without becoming ostentatious. Usually," Rin said. She glanced toward the ring. It was currently empty. "So when do the matches start?"
"Twenty minutes," Shiori said, "Oh, have you seen the exhibit?" She waved toward the far 'door' where a sign declared 'Museum of English and Japanese History: Swords Through The Centuries.'
"We just got to school not even ten minutes ago," Ranma said with some amusement.
"Oh. Why don't I show you then? I'm not participating for at least an hour," Shiori said as she stood up. They followed her through the packed crowds around the tent to the other entrance.
There were far fewer people in the next tent despite it being nearly the same size which lent it a quieter atmosphere. Suits of armour on stands stood around the room on the raised floor of the tent. Everything from Roman centurions to medieval knights and samurai formed a ring around the outside wall of the tent. An inner wall blocked the view of the center. On it hung racks of weapons.
Shiori led them around the room, chattering about many of the items on display though she wasn't able to give the history of each item, she knew quite a bit about the history behind the type of weapons and armour. The eras, rather than the items themselves. Ranma didn't have the heart to interrupt her happy chatter, and honestly, it was rather interesting. Kasumi was busy snapping photos and always seemed to be lagging a few steps behind. They followed her around the tent until they reached an archway in the inner wall.
"And this is the main display this year," Shiori said, waving to the innermost room of the tent. A large round table with tall backed chairs and a single much larger throne, bedecked in a golden dragon, took up the middle. Medieval tapestries, all of which looked too new to be original, hung around the walls above displays of medieval weapons and armour. At the far side of the room, atop a dais of marble with an archway of stone was a gold-hilted sword jammed into a large rock. It took Ranma a moment to recognize the weapon as an arming sword.
The room itself was devoid of others except for a single girl with long black hair who was intensely examining the sword in the stone. She spared them a single look, her red eyes widening a little as they met Ranma's before she hastily turned away. Ranma rolled her eyes. Someone had clearly heard of her since she didn't recognize the girl at all.
"A recreation of some sort?" Rin asked, before pausing to stare at the table, "... Of the Round Table unless I miss my guess."
Shiori clapped. "Correct," she grinned, "The competitors of this weekend's tournament will get to eat a banquet here at the round table recreation tomorrow night. The winner gets to take the role of King Arthur. It's going to be a big event for the club."
"You've even got a recreation of the sword in the stone," Rin said with a grin.
"Not exactly," Shiori said wiggling a hand, "I'm told that the sword in the stone here is actually from England and actually stuck in there. There's an award for anyone who can get it out I'm told, but so far it's proven impossible."
Ranma raised an eyebrow at the stone and meandered over to it. A small sign beside it declared 'Try your luck! Be the one to pull the sword and receive a year's exemption from demerits for being late! Brought to you by St. Gloriana's Girl's College Student Council and the Ark Royal Museum of English and Japanese History.' Another sign proclaimed an award of one million yen to whoever managed to get it out of the stone 'without breaking it'.
"Huh." Ranma looked over her shoulder at her friends. "Hey, Shiori, have you tried?"
"Right away, and again this morning… and I suppose right now," her classmate said as she walked over to the stone. She planted her feet and gave the stone a solid tug. It didn't move even an inch. She sighed. "Oh well."
"It's stuck in there? Well, it can't be the original since all the stories say it broke," Rin said, stepping up.
"And the fact that it would have had to get all the way over here, right?" Ranma said dryly.
"Well, yes," Rin said, "I can't imagine the English letting it out of their sight if it was the original so this is just a very accurate recreation. Is anyone even sure it
can come out? It could just be a metal rod somewhere inside the rock.
Shiori shook her head. "There are no signs of tampering," she said, "At least, that's what they say. Want to give it a try Ranma?"
Ranma shrugged and stepped up. She grabbed it with one hand and gave it a light tug. It failed so much as to even let out a rattle in the slot. She gave it a harder tug and to her surprise lifted the entire sword and the stone at the same time. Everyone, including the strange black haired girl stared as she set it down.
"I think it's stuck," she said, shaking her head.
"You don't say," Rin said with some humour. Beside her Kasumi snapped a picture.
The grip of the weapon spoke of good workmanship and good maintenance. She planted a foot on the stone and grabbed the sword with both hands. Putting a good bit of ki into it she heaved on the sword and the stone at the same time.
All she managed to do was overbalance and fall off the dais with the sword and stone. She let out a hiss as she felt the blade catch her in the leg. "Ow," she pushed it off of her and glanced down. There was a long and thin cut on her lower right leg. "It's sharp," she said.
"Are you okay?" Shiori asked, wide-eyed as Rin knelt at her side.
"Oh dear," Kasumi said, putting away her phone as she knelt by Ranma's other side.
"That looks rather deep. Let's get you to a medical tent," Rin said, pulling her to her feet with Kasumi's help.
"Not that deep, just sharp," Ranma said, wincing as she put weight on the leg. It stung something fierce, but she wouldn't have any issues using it. That was a well-maintained and sharp weapon despite its state. She waved her friends off and grabbed the sword. She dropped it back where it belonged with a small 'thunk'.
"There's a medical tent behind the competition tent. Let's get you over there," Shiori said, hustling Ranma out of the room. Ranma rolled her eyes, but let herself be herded out of the tent. She caught the eyes of the other girl in the room who immediately looked away again. Ranma rolled her eyes.
They caught a few looks as they shuffled Ranma into another side tent where a school nurse inside took one look at Ranma and sighed. "You aren't even one of the competitors," the English-looking blonde woman said with a tisk, "Sit on the bed. How on earth did you manage to get a sword injury?"
"The sword in the stone fell on her when she tried to pry it out of the rock," Shiori said, wringing her hands nervously.
"That thing is not normal," Ranma said, as the nurse sighed.
"I told them that thing could be dangerous," she muttered as she set to work on Ranma's leg.
"What do you mean?" Rin asked as she loomed over the nurse's shoulder.
"It was too sharp. I've blocked stuff able to cut clean through stone without a scratch and it cut me so easily I barely felt it," she said, wincing as the nurse patted the injury with rubbing alcohol.
"You're lucky. This isn't too deep. I should be able to simple bandage it up," the nurse said, "Now Ms. Hayashida-"
"It's Saotome actually," Ranma said.
"My apologies," the nurse said with a grimace, "Please try not to get too energetic with this leg. You're in no danger from the injury, but you could bleed all over the place if you open it up again." Shiori danced from foot to foot looking anxious behind the nurse.
"I know. I know," Ranma sighed, eyeing the clean cut. It reminded her of some of the injuries she'd received from magic swords in the past. Clean, straight and effortless.
"So what does that mean?" Rin asked.
"It means they've probably got a magic sword on display," Ranma said, "What do you think, Kasumi?" She glanced about. "Kasumi?"
Rin and Shiori looked around the medical tent. "She was with us a minute ago," Rin said before pulling out her phone. She rattled off a text in moments. "I've asked her where she is."
"... Now I really wish my pops would let me have a cellphone before I came here. I can think of so many issues that would have been easier to handle with one," Ranma sighed. She winced as the nurse began wrapping bandages around her leg.
"They are quite useful," Rin said as she stared down at her phone with a frown. "She still hasn't read it."
Ranma frowned. The last few weeks Kasumi had been basically inseparable from her phone. She'd even go so far as to say she was addicted to it at times. Photos, gaming, etc. "That's od-" Ranma paused as a wave of
something imperceptible rolled over them and an electric tingle rolled through her gums before fading to a dull itch. "What was that?" she made to stand, only to stop as the Nurse cleared her throat irritably.
"What was what?" Rin asked, looking up from her phone.
"I felt… something. I'm still feeling it," Ranma said, running her tongue over her gums as she settled back onto the gurney. "Like my gums are suddenly itching."
"Weird…" Rin frowned. She opened her mouth only for a loud bang accompanied by a tremor and the sound of shattering glass to interrupt her. Rin whirled and dashed to the door along with Shiori.
Ranma once again made to stand, only for the nurse to grab her ankle. "Sit," the woman said.
"But-"
"Sit."
Ranma sighed and sat down. She glanced at the doorway where Rin was standing. Shiori had disappeared somewhere beyond the door. She winced as the nurse tugged on the bandage. She tisked irritably and Ranma tried to ignore the annoyed look she was receiving.
After a few more moments Rin walked over. "Looks like it came from the museum tent. Since no one is screaming about fire or worse I think it's probably safe," she said.
"Only probably."
"I can hardly see through walls." Rin took a seat on the nearest bed and pulled out her phone. "She still hasn't read- Oh."
"Oh?"
"She just read it," Rin said. She brushed a lock of her black hair over an ear. "'Got distracted. Coming back, where r?'. We're… in… medical… tent. There," she muttered as she typed.
Ranma winced again as the nurse gave the bandage a last tug before clipping it in place. "Now stay here," she said before walking away to the door. She was nearly run over by a hurrying Kasumi.
"Sorry!" Kasumi said breathlessly as she hurried over to Ranma, "Sorry I got distracted and missed your text." Her hair looked windswept and ruffled.
"'Distracted' is it?" Rin asked with a grin. Kasumi gave her an uncomprehending look as Ranma rolled her eyes.
"Very distracted," Kasumi said, looking more confused as Rin started giggling.
Ranma sighed. "So any idea what that loud bang was?" she asked.
"Something happened in the museum tent I think," Kasumi said, fiddling with her hair with one hand and her phone with another. "Tons of broken glass from the displays."
Rin and Ranma both winced. "Sounds like we just dodged a disaster," Rin said, "And got to actually see them. I bet they'll be shut down the rest of the day and possibly all tomorrow."
"Whatever caused it was strange though. I could feel something right before it happened," Ranma said.
"Really?" Kasumi asked, looking up from her phone.
"Mhmm. Made my mouth tingle. It's gone now," she said, shaking her head. She craned her head to spot the nurse before loudly asking, "Can I go now?"
"I should call your guardian," the nurse said. Ranma rolled her eyes.
"I've had worse walking down the stairs. I'll be fine by tomorrow," she said with a scoff.
"Hmm," the nurse frowned before sighing. "You're just going to walk out when my back is turned, aren't you?"
"Basically."
"Go. I'm sure I'll be swarmed in a few minutes with people far worse off than yourself. Just keep off that leg as much as possible until it heals," The nurse said.
Ranma stood up, winced at the dull pain in her leg, and walked out. Rin and Kasumi followed with the latter girl looking rather distracted with her phone. There was a lot of activity still in the tournament tent just like before. A few more people were congregating around the entrance to the museum tent where several security guards were blocking the entrance, but that was it.
"Where to next?" Ranma asked, glancing at the time on her phone. They still had quite a while before lunch or the parade.
"Well we could meander along here," Rin said, drawing a line through several points of interest on the map she held out for them to take a look at.
"A cafe, really?" Ranma deadpanned.
"After this, I think a cup of tea would be wonderful," Rin replied. Ranma hesitated before nodding.
"Point."
"And after that, we can stop by the Flower Arrangement Club's display before visiting the Drama Club's morning performance of
A Midsummer Night's Dream," Rin suggested.
"I'd rather not be on the drama bit," Ranma replied, getting an agreeable hum from Kasumi, "Why not here?" She pointed to a cluster of minor clubs in the small village of stores and staff housing outside the theatre. It was conveniently near to where the Sensha-Do club's parade would start.
"Cafes, carnival games, and is that a stage?" Kasumi asked.
"'St. Gloriana's Rock and Roll Appreciation Club'," Rin read out before checking her phone. "They've got a list of songs posted. Apparently, they'll be finishing just before the parade."
"Sounds good to me," Ranma said.
"You did suggest it," Rin replied.
"It also sounds good to me. And one of those clubs seems to be hosting a knickknack exchange," Kasumi pointed out.
Rin nodded slowly before folding the map up. "Tea first, I think," she said. Neither Ranma nor Kasumi complained as she led the way.
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After a cup of tea from the Sub-Continent Appreciation Society Cafe -- It seemed vaguely themed after India -- not Ruby Red to Ranma's regret, they meandered their way through the Flower Arrangement club's gallery. They crossed paths with Yume -- who seemed to be considering joining the club -- and Setsuna and spent five minutes filling them in on the incident at the HEMA club's tent. After agreeing to meet up again for lunch at a restaurant near the parade route they continued on.
They heard the music well before they reached the small village around the theatre. Ranma paused to listen to the singing. It was in english.
"Here comes the sun, here comes the sun. And I say it's all right... "
"What song is that?" She asked Rin.
The other girl paused to listen. "I think it's a Beatles' song… Here comes the sun, I think?" she said. They listened for a moment before continuing toward the little village.
The area around the theatre was bustling. Stalls for clubs and school events sat beside professional food stalls selling everything from cotton candy to takoyaki. Crowds of students and others swarmed about a large stage where the Rock and Roll Appreciation club was performing. A large sign next to the stage proclaimed 'The Beatles Forever'.
"Ooh, look, old book trade over there," Kasumi said, pointing to a spread of tables set up on the patio of a cafe.
"I think I'm going to stop at the cafe on the corner and get some tea," Ranma said as she scanned the crowd. It may have included a little bit of hopping to see over the packed streets. The cafe, which wasn't quite full on the patio, had a good view of the stage in the center of the square. It also happened to have her favourite tea.
"Craving tea already?" Rin asked with a giggle.
"Am not," Ranma said, glancing away, "It just has a good view of the stage from the patio."
"And serves Ruby Red if I recall," Kasumi said, tapping the corner of her lip with a smile. Both of her friends grinned at her knowingly.
"I'm just here for the music," Ranma said. It would let her waste the time until they were due at the restaurant… she pulled out her phone. "Going to see if I can get us a reservation at the restaurant."
"Oh they're probably booked solid," Rin sighed.
"Well better to find out now than later when we need it," Ranma replied as she futzed with the device. Why was the reservation button buried that deep? After a few minutes of navigating the menus, she was asked to put in her student ID. She blinked as a notification appeared, 'Do you wish to use the Reserved 'Matilda House' table?' She turned the phone around to show Rin.
"You have a permanently reserved table, seriously?" Rin deadpanned.
"Apparently?" Ranma glanced at her phone as Kasumi snickered, "I wonder if anywhere else around here has the same thing?"
"Likely. You are a Hayashida," Kasumi said.
"She has a point," Rin said, "Thinking about it your family might just have a permanently reserved table everywhere on campus."
That was an odd thought to have for Ranma. She considered it for a few moments before tapping yes. Odd or not, she wasn't going to not use it and it would be easier in the future. "That's done. I'm going to get a good seat on the patio while they still exist," she said, giving them a wave as she headed out. She politely ignored Kasumi's giggling. So what if she wanted a proper cup of tea?
Ten minutes later Ranma sipped her cup of ruby red tea as she listened to what the singer called 'Strawberry Fields Forever'. She nibbled on a cookie and indulged in a little bit of people watching as she folded her injured leg over the other. She unfolded it a moment later as the sword wound flared with pain.
"Stupid magic weapons," she muttered. What even was a magic sword doing in the middle of the museum's display? There had to be some irresponsible idiot who was getting chewed out for letting the darned thing out of their sight. Or maybe the museum didn't even have a clue that what they had was anything out of the ordinary?
She continued musing on the mystery as she sipped her tea, listened and watched the crowd flow through the streets. She returned the waves of the few people outside of her class who recognized her. Rosehip waved vigorously as she hurried along with Orange Pekoe in the direction of the club's warehouses. Probably looking to finish up the last-minute preparations for the parade.
Well onto her second cup of tea, really there was no reason not to have a second, Ranma noticed a flash of yellow in the crowds. She turned in her seat to track it. Was that a black spotted bandana?
Her focus was interrupted by shouting over the band as well as the rattle of a carriage and the clatter of hooves on the paving stones. Entirely reflexively she glanced in the direction of the noise. An old-fashioned black carriage was being pulled through the crowds by two large white -- no, they were albino -- horses.
She glanced back toward the yellow bandana and frowned as it had already disappeared. "It couldn't have been," she muttered as she turned her attention back to the carriage. People were rushing out of its way as it circled the square. She wondered if this was one of the day's events. That thought came to an end as the carriage went around the entire square only to come to a sudden halt next to Ranma. Six feet and a rope fence separated her from the carriage.
The driver -- a middle-aged Englishman dressed in a grey overcoat and bowler hat -- hopped from his seat and unhooked a folding step stool from under the carriage which he set up before the door. He knocked firmly on the door. "Young Miss, we've arrived," he said.
The door was thrown open from within, nearly striking the driver as he hurriedly stepped out of the way. A young woman with flaming red hair in a St. Gloriana's uniform stepped out of the carriage. She was quite pretty with her hair flowing loosely over her shoulders and a leather handbag hanging from her shoulder. Her eyes locked on Ranma's for a moment before she glanced down and paused, one foot hovering over the spilt remains of someone's coffee.
"Weatherby!" She snapped, her tone waspish as she put her foot firmly back on the stepstool.
"Terribly sorry, young miss. I hadn't noticed it," the Englishman said, whipping off his coat and laying it across the tiny mess of spilt coffee.
Ranma took a sip of tea as she watched the girl, who looked to be a little older than herself, nod imperiously at the mess and step down from the carriage. She ground her heel into the coat and shot 'Weatherby' a disapproving look.
"Be sure it does not happen again," she said, tossing her hair before turning back to Ranma. She looked Ranma up and down. Ranma glimpsed a muscle twitch that ran down from her right eye to her shoulder. "So you are my… Cousin."
Cousin… Ranma had suspected as much. Red hair was quite rare after all… And the girl looked vaguely familiar from the theatre. She turned her chair and crossed her legs, ignoring the pain in her injury as she half-faced the other girl. "Are you sure about that?" she asked with a smirk, "I could just be any random girl with dyed hair."
Her alleged 'cousin' sniffed imperiously. "Playing the fool suits a Hayashida ill, Cousin," she said, placing a hand on her hip.
Ranma restrained the urge to roll her eyes. This girl was reminding her far too much of Kodachi or Tatewaki at their most pompous. "And you haven't even given me your name," she said, dropping her expectations lower. This was the girl her Grandmother had mentioned? She was starting to get why her Grandmother was impressed with her.
"As if one of our family could not know the name of our greatest rising star," she said.
Ranma sipped her tea, glancing about at the crowd forming. She had just wanted a quiet couple of cups of tea and some music before the parade. Now she was at the center of something that was reminding her far too much of Nerima. "Odd, Grandmother must have forgotten to mention a… rising star?" Ranma said, shrugging lightly before settling the saucer for the teacup against her leg. "She mustn't have considered it important."
She punctuated her words with a casual sip of her tea.
Her cousin reacted like she'd slapped her, reeling backward with wide eyes. "Well I- She must-" She noticed people staring and straightened up. "I am Hanako Hayashida, Commander of the second section of St. Gloriana's Sensha-do Club and rising star of the Hayashida family," she declared, flipping her hair over one shoulder. A few girls in the area squealed and Ranma gave in to the urge to roll her eyes.
"I am Ranma Saotome, Heiress of the Hayashida," she replied, "Is there a reason for the dramatic introduction, or were you just feeling bored, Cousin?" She busied herself pouring a third cup of tea, noting the twitch over Hanako's eyebrow.
"I simply wished to finally welcome you to our school, Cousin," Hanako said, "And assess the… current state of our family's Heiress."
Ranma noted the tone of contempt and fought the urge to snort at the other girl's tone. It was grating on her and she had to fight the ingrained urge to knock her onto her ass with the saucer of her teacup. It was difficult but she managed it.
"Not that your opinion matters on that," Ranma said, calmly sipping her tea even as she delved gently into the soul of ice to keep her temper in check. She failed to notice many of the girls around them stepping back from the scene as her expression hardened.
"And yet it would behove me to at least investigate such scandalous rumours as have reached my ears. Word about how it says that you have no experience with Sensha-do. Were it true, it would be… Unfortunate," Hanako said, "Enough that I would have to write Grandmother with many questions."
"Our Grandmother is busy enough without you wasting her time, Cousin," Ranma chided, "Now, I believe you have a parade to join? Unless of course, the second section is staying out of it?" She glanced pointedly at a temporary outdoor clock that had been set up over the fountain.
Hanako followed her gaze and stiffened visibly. "Time is indeed short. Weatherby, we must go or I'll be late! Enjoy your tea, Cousin," she said, turning and storming back into the carriage. Despite her perceived hurry she took a moment to drive her heel into the jacket one last time before closing the door behind her with a gentle click.
Ranma simply sipped her tea and watched impassively as the middle-aged Englishman collected his coat before opening a compartment on the side of the carriage. The old man slid it into the compartment before tapping something inside and closing it. As he opened another compartment -- full of neatly folded and pressed coats -- a sound vaguely akin to a washing machine began emanating from the carriage. Weatherby tossed on a new coat before climbing onto his seat. A crack of the reins and the carriage trundled onward, turning once again across the square before disappearing behind a house.
Slowly the crowd began to disperse leaving Ranma to sip her tea and listen to the music again. Listen, and consider the girl who had just introduced herself.
"Ranma?"
She jumped in her seat, spilling some of the tea on her lap. "Ow ow- Rin!" Ranma protested, patting her lap with a napkin to tidy up the spill. She mentally whispered a thankful prayer for the soap she used.
"Sorry," the black-haired girl said apologetically as she sat down across from Ranma, "You alright? You're looking a little bit rough after that looney came by."
"That looney is my cousin," Ranma said as she refilled her cup of tea with the last of the pot. "Grandmother said to be careful around them, but I wasn't expecting her to be a full-on Kuno." It was like talking to Kodachi during her more lucid moments. She glanced about. No one seemed to be paying too much attention to her at that moment. She leaned against the table and rested her cheek on her fist. "It took everything I had not to deck her with the saucer."
"... Deck her with the what?" Rin asked. Ranma waved the small china saucer before putting her teacup back on it. "Do I want to know how?"
Ranma mimed flicking a shuriken. "Straight to the forehead. Freakin' loon," She grumbled. That sort of crazy was the estranged half of the family's 'heiress'? Just the thought of her Grandmother having to pick a loon like that made her clench a fist hard enough to leave nail marks in her palm.
"It looked rather… Unreal? Honestly, I thought I was hallucinating for a moment," Rin admitted.
"She'd have fit into Nerima just fine," Ranma deadpanned, "I dealt with lunatics like that every day for over a year." She was not sad that she didn't have to deal with them crawling out of the woodwork anymore.
"Well if that isn't a condemnation, then I don't know what is," Rin deadpanned herself.
Kasumi stepped out of the crowd "Ranma? You alright?" she asked, stopping at the rope fence.
"I'm fine, Kasumi," Ranma sighed, "Today is just… Ugh, she'd fit in with the Kunos."
Kasumi grimaced. "She did seem a little…" She twirled a finger beside her head.
"Yeah," Ranma sighed, checking the time. "Are you both done? We need to get going." She set her teacup down and stood up with her bag.
"Sure. Might as well. I think half the people here are still staring at you because of that stunt and I'd like to get away from it," Rin said, shooting looks at the other people in the cafe. A few were still staring at Ranma and hastily looked away.
Ranma rolled her eyes and stepped over the rope fence. "I think it's… this way," she said, leading the way down the street.
Their destination came into view shortly. A three story Victorian manor house styled building with a large terrace out front filled with tables. It took Ranma a moment to read the swirling cursive English name written on the sign that hung from the second story terrace:
Ocean Exiles: Fine Maltese Cuisine.
"Rin! Ranma! Kasumi!" Yume shouted, bouncing up and down at the steps leading to the restaurant. A few of the people on the packed terrace glanced their way.
Ranma waved as they walked over. "Yume!" Rin met her friend with a hug and a laugh, "I hope you weren't waiting long?"
"Not long. Hey, did you see the carriage that rolled by earlier? It was being pulled by two beautiful albino horses," Yume said, pointing back the way they came.
"We noticed," Ranma sighed, "Hi Setsuna."
The green-haired girl smiled. "Good morning again, Ranma," she said as their group started up the steps. "Have you had an interesting morning so far?"
"... That's one way of putting it," Ranma sighed, "Tell you once we're settled."
Rin and Yume brought up the rear of their group as they chattered about their days. Ranma noticed that they were garnering quite a bit of attention from the other students and their families who were seated at the restaurant. Or at least, she was getting attention. That seemed to be the norm this morning. She slipped her phone out and pulled up the reservation information.
They were met at the door by a middle-aged woman in a black dress. "Welcome to Ocean Exiles. Do you have a reservation?" she asked.
Ranma flipped her phone around and held it out to the woman.
"Oh, the Hayashida party. Welcome Ms. Saotome. It's been quite a while since the Hayashida table has been used," she said, gesturing for them to follow her. "This way please."
The first floor was laid out like an old manor house turned restaurant with tables tucked away in 'converted' rooms. Round tables, booths, tables for two tucked in beside a window near the stairs. Never so many as to be crowded, but it certainly gave an atmosphere alongside the dark hardwood walls, rich carpets and wrought iron and bronze chandeliers.
"Would you prefer the dining room or the patio?" the woman asked as she led them up the stairs.
"Whichever has the better view of the parade," Ranma replied.
"The deck then. Is this your entire party or should we expect others?" she asked.
"This is everyone," Ranma said as they started up the stairs from the second to third floors. She just barely heard a few clicks from the woman's left hand. Tightly controlled almost like morse code.
Yume was looking about with wide eyes as they stepped onto the third floor. The woman paused at a set of double doors. "I am Qilan, your Maitre de for today. I welcome you to the Hayashida Room. May you enjoy your meal here at
Ocean Exiles and the parade." She turned and pushed open the door.
The inside was a large dining room in much the same style as the rest of the building, though it had doors leading out onto a third floor balcony -- located directly across from the entrance -- and its own toilets through a door to the right. They had to walk around the long table in the middle of the room.
Ranma gazed around the room. It was odd, having an entire section of a restaurant set aside
just in case someone in her family wished to have dinner or lunch there. Stranger still was the fact that the room was decorated with victory pictures of various, undoubtedly Hayashida led, Sensha-do teams.
The balcony had more tables than the main dining room, though they were all much smaller. Two had been pushed together close to the railing so as to provide enough space for five as well as a good view of the street where the parade was to take place. A steaming teapot of something, likely tea, was already sitting by the head seat into which Ranma was led. A waitress pulled her seat out for her. Others were helping her friends into their seats as well. Yume in particular seemed quite out of her depths.
"Thank you," She said as she set her bag down and took a seat.
"Tea, young miss?" the waitress asked, offering the teapot.
"Please."
The waitress gracefully poured a cup for Ranma, who waved off offers of milk and sugar. She sniffed the tea, noticing that it smelled awfully familiar. She took a sip and paused.
How had they known to prepare Ruby Red?
"Before I depart for the moment, does anyone wish for a drink?" Qilin asked, "Water? A soda perhaps?" Everyone but Ranma chimed in. She simply raised her teacup while staring at it.
Once the Maitre de was gone, and the wait staff had backed off, Ranma said, "This is Ruby Red."
Rin giggled. "At a guess, they did their research," she said with a smile.
"Yeah, but how?" Ranma asked, sipping the tea again. It was definitely her preferred type. How? Just… How?
"They have you as a VIP client. Your family has a reserved room here at all times apparently," Rin said, "Of course they did their research the moment they realised you were on the ship."
Ranma sipped the tea and glanced out at the street below. Usually treated as just a walking path, the center of the road had been marked out with warning cones wide enough to permit a tank to drive easily through. Workmen were still setting up cones as she watched. It wasn't much further to the beginning of the parade course.
Finally, Ranma picked up the menu that had been sitting where her plate would normally sit once the food arrived. She scanned the menu and after a long moment looked up. "I have no idea what any of this is," she said, earning a snicker from Kasumi.
"I've had Maltese Cuisine before," Rin said, shuffling her chair over to lean over Ranma's shoulder, "What were you looking at?"
Ranma gave her a flat look. "... Everything?" It wasn't like she'd ever been to Malta before.
"Right…" Rin leaned over and they started from the top. Her friend didn't know every dish on the menu but she knew enough.
When Qilin returned some five minutes later, accompanied by waiters with the requested drinks, Ranma had some idea of what she wanted to order. "Does everyone know what they want to order, or do you require more time?" Qilin asked.
"Actually," Kasumi said before anyone else could, "Why don't we start with appetisers for now? We can order a few Platt Malti to share?"
Ranma glanced over at the appetiser section. That was a… variety platter according to Rin… Eh, sure why not. It would be something nice to share when the parade rolled by. They could have a real meal afterwards. "I'm up for it," she said and the rest chimed in to agree.
Qilin disappeared again, giving them more time to consider their actual lunch orders while they waited for the Sensha-do-led parade. The conversation drifted from the menus to the many clubs everyone had seen before swinging back as Qilin returned.
"And two Bragioli… Oh, and a bowl of Aljotta," Ranma said, smiling at the Maitre de as she finished listing off her desired dishes. The older woman looked bemused.
"Normally I would never ask such a thing, but… Are you certain you can eat all of this, young miss?" Qilin asked with a touch of concern that earned her a field of giggles from Ranma's classmates.
"It's a bit of a light lunch for me actually," Ranma said with a shrug as she folded up the menu.
"I see. Do you want them brought up all at once, or one at a time?" Qilin asked, professionalism barely keeping her disbelief in check.
"As many at once as you can manage. I don't mind having to wait a little while for the rest," she said, waving the woman off with a smile. As she left Kasumi shook her head.
"It's like she's never had to serve a martial artist," the brunette said.
"Martial artists are one thing. I've seen you eat and I'm still trying to figure out where everything goes," Rin deadpanned. She had ordered a comparatively minor ftira biz-zejt, which was apparently some sort of sandwich with tuna, olives and a few other things Ranma hadn't paid much attention to.
Ranma smirked and sipped her tea, half turning in her chair to watch the parade route. People had started crowding the route, clearly staking out places to watch the coming show. More tellingly, the lingering sounds of the rock concert had disappeared.
"Anyone have the time?" she asked.
"Five minutes until the parade starts," Kasumi said after a moment, "Probably another five to ten until it reaches us."
"Is it all just the Sensha-do club?" Setsuna asked.
"I don't think so," Rin said, checking her brochure, "I think there's more to it… Yeah. See: 'Including floats by the Theatre club, Chemistry Club-' Etc. It's a full parade by as many clubs as wanted in by the looks of it. Ooh… That looks interesting."
"So are they starting with the Sensha-do club or ending with it?" Ranma asked.
Rin paused. "It's spread out actually," she said, "The Crusaders will be leading the parade followed by a stretch of floats before the Matildas of the first, second and third sections will appear together then more floats and finally a 'new addition' to the club at the end. Huh, I wonder what that is?"
"New addition? It has to be something different from the usual Matildas then," Yume said, "Ooh, do you think they finally picked up more Churchills? They really need something more durable than those old Matildas."
"Might be Cromwells. Not as durable, but they've got a very good gun in comparison to the Matildas," Rin mused.
Ranma grinned behind her teacup as the two Sensha-do practitioners started tossing theories about what it could be. She snorted when Yume suggested it might be a Centurion.
"I think Ranma might have a clue," Setsuna said as everyone glanced her way.
"Why would I have a clue? I don't do Sensha-do, remember?" Ranma said, waving a hand airily.
"Yeah, but your Grandmother is Lady Hayashida," Yume said.
"And you're looking far too smug," Rin added.
"Well if I know then I'm not spoiling it," Ranma replied, sipping her tea. She tuned out the grumbling from the two Sensha-do fanatics and turned her attention back to the parade route. She could just barely hear cheering in the distance. She crossed her legs and winced again at the pain of her injury. Maybe not that then.
Platters of food were delivered only a few minutes later. The Platt Malti was mostly finger foods with some dipping sauces. The other girls split a pair while she had one to herself as she watched the route expectantly. Students, parents and visitors lined the route thick enough that anyone walking was forced to practically hug the hedges or walk through flowerbeds.
The cheers grew stronger and soon Ranma could make out the low rumble of treads over the cheering. Then the first tank turned the corner and rumbled out into view. Low-profiled and painted a grey-blue with an elongated diamond-shaped turret, Ranma recognized the distinctive form of the Crusader Mark VI. Sitting in the hatch wearing the red jacket of the Sensha-do club was Rosehip. The pink-haired girl was waving to the crowds with one hand wearing a bright grin as her other hand held a cup of tea on a saucer. Then she seemed to notice Ranma watching. Her free hand went to her throat before lifting her tea which she raised toward Ranma.
A murmur swept the crowd as the commanders of the next three tanks imitated her, each one turning to raise their teacup as they showed themselves.
"What are they doing?" Yume asked. All eating had stopped at the table as everyone watched the four tanks slow down before the restaurant.
"They're saluting," Rin said, half standing.
Ranma blinked, her teacup clicking against the saucer as she nearly dropped it. They were- What? Why?
A fifth crusader emerged from around the corner and the girl there raised her teacup as well. The eyes of the crowd had shifted from the parade toward the balcony.
Ranma stared.
"It's more like they're saluting the Hayashida family," Setsuna observed.
Right. The family that Ranma represented. A few tattered thoughts mixed with her rushed lessons on deportment sparked in the back of Ranma's mind and she stood.
"Ranma?" Kasumi asked as the redhead carried her teacup to the railing.
There had to be dozens looking at her. All watching to see what she would do, not as Ranma, but as the Hayashida Heiress. She could ignore it. Could just pretend it didn't matter, but…
A flash of her encounter with her cousin flitted through her mind and her grip on her teacup firmed up. Her pride burned when thinking about being related to the pompous idiot. It stung that the spoiled idiot who had probably never experienced a lick of the real world had looked down on her. Moreover, the thought of giving Hanako's mother more ammunition to use against her Grandmother rankled something fierce.
Smiling outwardly, Ranma lifted her teacup toward Rosehip and her section. Cheers erupted from the crowd, accompanied by a few wolf whistles. Rosehip laughed and climbed out of the turret. She planted a foot forward and shouted something, pointing forward with her free hand. With a roar of the engine the crusader surged forward accelerating down the road. One by one her section sped up to follow her.
As the last tank departed and floats for various clubs began to arrive, Ranma turned away and sat down in her seat. "I didn't expect that," she said, setting her teacup down before reaching for her food.
Rin drummed her fingers on the table. "You know, I don't think the parade route has changed in decades," she said, casting a glance around the balcony.
Ranma didn't miss the implication. "So what you're saying is, I accidentally picked the one spot where my family would watch the parade?" she asked with a touch of exasperation. Of all the bizarre luck…
"... basically," Rin said, "And since your family has always been respected…" she trailed off with a shrug.
Ranma didn't groan. She didn't. It was tempting, but she didn't groan. She did, however, sigh deeply. "Great," she grumbled, pouting as she turned to watch the parade. Kasumi giggled.
A float rolled by with the name 'St. Gloriana's Fashion Club' on the side in classy purple ribbons. Girls twirled and danced on the pavilion-like stage atop the float in all manner of outfits. The next float in line seemed to fountain sparks into the sky above what looked like a mad scientist's laboratory. Girls in lab coats swirled from station to station pausing only slightly to toss the results into the air producing bangs and flashes of multi-coloured light.
Ranma had to wonder how the chemistry club had gotten their float passed the approval committee. It didn't seem very safe. The parade continued, float after float rolling by. Everyone seemed to have a favourite.
Setsuna perked up as the dance club's float rolled by, their members performing despite the moving stage.
Rin oohed over a particularly spooky looking float that either belonged to some sort of occult club, or a horror film appreciation club. Ranma wasn't entirely sure it wasn't both.
Yume sighed as she watched the gardening club walk by beside their float, which was just a truck with its bed filled to bursting with bright colourful flowers.
Kasumi, however, couldn't seem to decide, oohing and ahhing over pretty much every single float. "They're all looking well done," she said when Rin asked.
The Platt Malti had just been finished off when the first Matilda turned the corner. Painted in tan as though they had just rolled off the boat from North Africa, each of the machines was emblazoned with the teapot and flowers of St. Gloriana's on the side of their turret.
Unbidden, Ranma rose from her seat, taking her teacup with her as she stepped up to the railing. She didn't raise it in salute, instead, she leaned against the railing and sipped at it as the Matildas rolled into view led by the Churchill. Sitting on the back edge of the Churchill's turret, a teapot resting on a rack mounted to where the machine gun would normally go, was Orange Pekoe. The third-year commander of the club looked calm and serene compared to Rosehip's endless energy. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun at the base of her neck.
A dozen meters beyond the hedge Pekoe turned her attention from the crowd to the balcony. She lightly raised her teacup in greeting with a gentle smile. Ranma returned the gesture. Her heart thundered as tank after tank rolled by and without fail the commanders raised a teacup toward her. Even her cousin raised a teacup though she looked like doing so was akin to drinking undiluted lemon juice.
As the last tank rolled around the corner, leaving on the parade floats, Ranma remained at the railing. These people respected her family. It was a strange and alien sensation to have people look at her without immediately dismissing her worth. Sure, those who knew her didn't do so but outside of those she'd proven her skills to there was a certain negative reputation to the Anything Goes school that had been wholly earned. Between the perversion, theft, and scams, why would anyone respect the Anything Goes school? It was powerful, sure, but it scarcely cleared the minimum to not get Ranma tossed out of dojos in the past.
That wasn't the case with the Hayashida.
Ranma raised her teacup to her lips, her eyes staring emptily down at the parade floats. She didn't know how to handle this.
"Ranma?"
She started, nearly spilling her tea, when Kasumi spoke from right behind her.
"Are you alright?" her friend asked softly. Her other classmates watched with worried looks. Even Setsuna and Yume.
"I- yeah, yeah I'm fine," she said, glancing down at the crowds. This respect, it came with expectations, conditions really.
With Grace and Elegance, we step forward into battle.
It was an expectation of leadership and guidance. That the Hayashida would continue to grant them victories in Sensha-do. It wasn't really that big of an imposition, was it? For a little bit of respect, all they had to do was win.
Ranma sipped her tea and stepped around Kasumi to take her seat again. As she did so, carts began to roll out of the dining room. She smiled. The food was good and Ranma got just a little bit of enjoyment out of watching the horrified expressions of the wait staff as she ate.
They were halfway through their meal when the familiar rumble of tracks reached the balcony. "Ohohoh!" Yume jumped out of her seat and dashed to the railing, "That'll be the new tanks!" The others hurried for a better view.
Ranma took a last bite of the Bagioli, wiped her mouth and stood up with her teacup. She joined her friends, taking a spot between Rin and Kasumi to the right. She shared a smile with Kasumi as the other three gossiped and speculated while shooting them annoyed looks.
Soon the rumbles turned into the creak and squeal of rubber treads on stone as the Valentine rolled around the corner.
"A Valentine?" Rin said, sounding confused, "Why would they…" She trailed off as first one Archer then another rolled into sight. "Tank destroyers. They modified Archers to comply with the rules?" She turned to look to Ranma, who raised her teacup toward the commanders of the trio of tanks. Teacups were raised in reply.
"Because they needed more powerful guns? Archers mount a seventeen-pounder. It can disable basically anything on the field from much further than a Matilda or Churchill," Ranma said, sipping her tea as she eyed the crowd. Reactions seemed mixed to the tanks. Well it was a bit of an odd choice in comparison to the more conventional Matildas and St. Gloriana loved their Matildas.
"And they couldn't just get Fireflies? Archers have a good gun, but they're not line tanks. They're tank destroyers that lie in wait for their targets," Rin said.
"The procurement rules don't permit fireflies, Rin. Remember?" Yume pointed out, "They aren't British originally."
"Yes, they're a Sherman derivative, but only the British used them," Rin replied, throwing her hands up in the air, "These are just so out of type for the team."
"That's the point, I think," Ranma said.
Rin paused. "That's the point?" she repeated.
"Mhmm. I think my Grandmother thought the team was too homogeneous. Even with the crusaders, and those are a fairly new addition if I recall," Ranma said, thinking about what she'd read. To Ranma it was a bit like not relying too heavily on a particular move. Sure she could beat everyone with a Hiryu Shoten Ha, but all that technique required was for the opponents to not fall into the spiral. Well, originally anyways. She'd mostly worked that kink out, but the point was over reliance on one thing could prove disastrous.
"Ooarai has won the last few tournaments with their team," Yume said, "And they don't have a single pair of identical tanks in their entire roster."
"They also drive those tanks like lunatics," Rin said, "Have you seen what the Type 89 crew has been doing?"
Ranma turned away from the parade and her friends to get back to eating before the food went cold with a muffled snicker. A few minutes later, after the rest of the group had retaken their seats, Ranma said, "So, after we're done eating, why don't we go see the Sensha-do Club?"
Rin paused to eye Ranma. "Suddenly eager to see them, hmm?" She smirked.
"Yes," Ranma said honestly, "By the time we're done eating and walking across campus to their site they should be there, right?"
"Likely," Kasumi said after checking her phone.
Rin hummed thoughtfully as smiled at Ranma. "What?" Ranma asked.
"Nothing," her dark-haired friend replied innocently. Somehow Ranma didn't believe her.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Once the meal was done and paid for, the group set out from
Ocean's Exile following the path to the Sensha-do Club's 'event'. The Sensha-do Club was, in spite of its prominence, set up away from most of the festival on what was usually a pair of football fields. On basically the opposite side of the campus tucked behind the science building.
The crowds along the route were beginning to disperse as their group departed the restaurant. Yume and Setsuna parted ways, citing a desire to visit the HEMA tent to see Shiori. That left the other three to continue on their way through the crowds down the parade path.
Kasumi led the way, following her phone's map as she kept an eye out for the right path to the football fields.
"Your luck is really strange, you know that Ranma?" Rin said as they passed an ice cream truck.
"I know," Ranma sighed.
"Either your family has reservations everywhere, or we somehow picked the one place that sets aside an entire dining room just for you," Rin said, musing on the experience at the restaurant. Ranma had to admit her own curiosity on the matter.
"I'll ask Tsuya about any outstanding reservations when I get home," Ranma replied. It would be nice to know what places had something set aside permanently.
"Oh. Is that Ryouga?" Kasumi asked, coming to a sudden halt and staring across the street. Ranma spun on her heel and peered through the crowd. It took a moment but she caught sight of the familiar boy in his yellow and black shirt with his bandana tied around his forehead. He was talking with a group of girls and looking particularly flustered.
"What's he gotten himself into this time?" Ranma groaned aloud. She went to run across the street only to backpedal quickly as a service truck drove by… and another one… and another one… and another one. By the time the last one had passed the crowd had swallowed Ryouga. Her eyebrow twitched. "Oh come on!" She stamped her foot. He was onboard the ship! She hadn't been crazy when she'd caught sight of him from the antique shop.
She tensed to jump after him when Kasumi grabbed her arm. She looked back to find her friend shaking her head. "We'll see him again at some point. Let's not make a scene now, okay?" She said with a smile.
Scene… Ranma grimaced. Jumping over the street, in the process providing the perfect angle up her skirt, was probably not the appropriate behaviour for her these days. Especially not at school where people would
remember her doing it. "Point."
"So eager to see a boy Ranma?" Rin teased, nudging her in the side. Ranma groaned and rolled her eyes.
"It's not like that!" She protested as they started moving again.
"Sure it's not. Is this that one boy you said wasn't terrible, hmm?" Rin asked, a wicked grin on her face.
"When was this?" Kasumi asked, leaning in with a grin herself.
"Well, back when we were shopping," Rin began, leading to Ranma groaning as she expounded on their little shopping trip. Mentally Ranma chocked up another point to the black-haired girl.
After suffering through a great deal of teasing from her two friends -- one of whom should have known better -- they reached the football fields. For the days of the festival, they had been transformed into a giant parking lot for the Sensha-do Club's tanks. Rows of Matildas lined either side of the fields. The crusaders formed a U-shape in the center in which sat the three new tanks and the Churchill.
A tea garden took up much of the free area while a tent that was only modest compared to the HEMA club's own pavilion. Sensha-do Club members were in their battle uniforms of a red long-sleeved jacket and black skirt as they spoke with people passing through. Though, they weren't entirely done putting away the tanks after the parade as she could see several in the back being repositioned. Presumably after letting the stars of the show into the center.
"Well, we're here," Rin said, stretching as she glanced about.
"Yup," Ranma said as she walked in under the decorated archway that had been erected by the club. She scanned the crowd for her cousin, but failed to spot another head of red hair. She had either left already, was out of sight in the tent, or in one of the tanks. Not that it mattered since she would have to get used to her cousin's presence from now on. "Let's go to the tent."
She led the way, ignoring the amused glances Rin and Kasumi shared behind her back. She stepped aside to let a couple of older girls wearing the ordinary St. Gloriana's uniform out before slipping in.
There were several desks on the left manned by members of the club, but most of those she could see were mingling with anyone who entered and showing them some of the tanks that had been set up. A Cromwell tank seemed to be the main attraction in the center with several groups hovering around it.
"So they do have a Cromwell still," Rin complained, "Why don't they use it anymore?"
"Because it's an actual museum piece these days," the cheerful voice of Rosehip said from their right. The pink haired girl waved as they turned. "Hey you three. Enjoy the show?"
"It was good," Ranma replied, stepping around Rin.
"Great to hear. You know after you declined my pitch I didn't expect to see you here," Rosehip said.
Ranma smiled despite the faint blush she could feel burning her cheeks. "Well… About that Rosehip… That offer wouldn't happen to still be open, would it?" She asked.
Rosehip blinked as Ranma's friends burst into giggles. She shot them exasperated glances. Was she that obvious?
"I'm sorry? You what?" Rosehip said.
Ranma rolled her eyes. "Hi, I'm Ranma Saotome. You wouldn't happen to know where a girl signs up for this, would you?" she asked cheekily. Rosehip stared at her for a few moments, then started laughing hard enough half the tent turned their way.
Really, it wasn't
that funny.
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A/N: Ello everyone~ Happy Halloween~ I've got a nice little tale of woe and horror here for you.
Well no, it really isn't, is it? Something far too fluffy and chill for a day like today but it is what it is~ And I hope you like what it is~
Thanks go out to my patreon supporters~ and a reminder that I have a Discord server (linked in my signature on SV and SB)
*Fills Gekkou's pillows with candy*
*Gekkou sorts the candy und starts giving away the least liked to people whom has it as their most liked*
Grounders10: *keeps back filling the pillows as Gekkou removes candy*
Gekkou_Yoko: *begins mining for candy*
Grounders10: Such is the cycle of Candy. Happy Halloween everyone~!
Gekkou_Yoko: Happy All Hallows Eve everyone!~
