EPISODE 1: TIGER TANK, REPORTING! (PART 1)

Okinawa, March, 16th, 2012. 06:00 AM...

The alarm clock besides the bed crackled, and from inside the blanket, a hand turned it off. Under a little sunlight through the curtains, a sharp chin, high nose, black-grey hair with the tiresome red eyes slowly appear within the dawn...

"My name is Ryukou Kurogane,

My parents were all in a big company, but they had never met at the workplace, also at home for more than two numbers a month,

So, besides going to school, I have to struggle with my feeble monthly supplies. Electricity, water, tuition,...such those things made me spent half of a month with only cup-noodles and glasses water. A full, tasty meal, was just in my dream...

And, damm...I also get my ass into Okinawa Academy. That fucking school! It'd dug a deep hole into my pocket, half of my money spent to it. Nothing special at all, with general studies, I think it's the big waste of cash.

If this thing keeps happen, in no time, I will...become a dried, hungered, withered corpse."

...

Okinawa Academy,

The locker door had just shut, Kurogane saw a familiar face next to him, a pure black-haired with crafty yellow-eyed and a little smile with a little arrogant. Seeing the friend's sigh, that boy asked:

-Didn't find any jobs, Kuro?

Our main guy, who grins softly before answer:

-It's the fifth time, but aren't you joking with me, Soujirou?

Soujirou, name of the young man who asked Kurogane recently. Giving to his friend a bunch of leaflets, he says:

-Why don't you join a club? Rumors told that, the competent members will get juicy scholarships.

Kurogane reluctantly takes those papers. Let's see, Kendo, Karate, Sports, English, Haiku (a type of Japanese poem),...Bah, all rubbish and waste of time. But then, the last one...Senshado, or...Way of Tank? That boy heard about this club, he just imagined a bunch of Otakus who obsessed with Tanks of World War 2, only such things that made him shiver like in the cold...Damm! I lost control of my head! Well, at least it's the new one. Why don't I get a feet into it? When seeing I can't adapt to this, quitting isn't late at all! He self-thought. The school-bell rang again, Soujirou gets his books and leaves some words before heading to his class:

-So, that's it for now! You just think clearly before making your choice, ok?

-So, wait!-Kurogane interrupted-What club do you inside?

Soujirou has a slight smile, then turning his back for the class. Seeing a band on his left-sleeve, there are some decorated words...Sen...shado? Kuro doesn't believe into his eyes...Isn't that, Soujirou? He self-thought...

After the class, Kurogane stays in the classroom and heading his eyes down to the schoolyard. Down below,...tanks? Not the fakes, since the boy saw the metal platings shining under the sunlight, not the cartons...

-So,-Suddenly from behind, Soujirou's voice started-Did you make your choice?

Get into the same vision as Kuro, that guy continues:

-I'd known you're suspected this! And fortunately, today is the Recruitment Day, it'd just helped me explain it all,

-Recruitment Day?-Kurogane rises his left eyebrow.

-Yup!-Soujirou nodded-In the last time of spring and start of winter, Senshado organized a day of mass recruitment! I'm the recruiter of the team, so I'd remembered you.

Kurogane nodded, then keep seeing the crowd below. There's too many, every tables were all full of people. Back to Soujirou, that black-grey haired boy asked:

-You think I have any chance to pass this Selection?

-I'd put my trust to you, Kuro-kun!-Soujirou patted Kurogane-Remember the day of October, 30th, 2010? ("This is the day first server of World of Tanks publicly opened")

-Don't call me like that, Soujirou!-Kurogane was a bit annoyed-By the way, game is game, reality is reality! Who could make sure I will be a good tank soldier?

-Because,-Soujirou smirks-I trust that you're not a "keyboard hero"! (A idiom that states a person who acts aggressive in the games or social networks)

Then, that boy heads closer to Kuro's ear, and whispers:

-The competent member will be awarded with a juicy scholarship, to the day of his graduation!

Kurogane shocked with what he'd recently heard. After a quick thinking, he decided:

-Let's get this over this! (A famous quote of Captain Price, Call of Duty Modern Warfare series)

...

Isn't that thanks to Soujirou or not? But Kurogane finally appeared in the garage of Senshado. No tanks, this place is empty as the first meeting of the new faces. The guys who passed, only 1/10 of the crowd who participated the recent Recruitment. Before the rookies, a boy with a notepad who hides his cold steel face behind a pair of glasses, coming faces to faces, his eyes keeps seeing to the photos attached in the notes. When Kuro is the next, he looks into the paper first, showing the full name and details of the one he's facing...

-Ryukou Kurogane?-That boy started.

-I am!-Kurogane replied-Something wrong?

-I'd heard about you before!-That guy replied with a nod-Nothing special in study, if you don't want to hear the word "miserable"! What'd brought you dare to join Senshado?

-Cause I see this place good with me,

That would-be-officer boy surprised with what Kurogane said. Looks into the details, that recruit got nothing above 60, never put any feet into the clubs...Nothing states he's a true potential to be a member of Senshado. That guy, who turned back to Soujirou standing behind, with somewhat suspicious. Nodded a little, he suddenly asked:

-What's the legends of Nazi tanks?

Kurogane calmly answered:

-Including Panzer IV, Panther, Tiger and King Tiger!

-Who defeated Michael Wittmann?

-Joe Ekins of British!

-And,-The officer boy continued-Who's the best tank commander in your mind?

A question of self-choice? Not so hard for holding Kurogane back, he answered:

-Kurt Knispel!

That tough guy nodded, then heading to the next for asking. He suspected Soujirou from behind, if he did something to help his friend...

...

After the check up, the boy who made a hard test with Kurogane stands in front of the new faces and starts the introduction:

-Welcome to Senshado! My name is Kitagawa Shinobu, Vice President of the team. Like what you had seen and heard, our objective is to collect the most talented students of Okinawa Academy to participate in the bloody tournaments between companies of tanks all around Japan, also the World! I hope you guys will do the best, for the development of our Senshado, also our academy!

"ROGER!" The company of new faces replied, except Kurogane. That made Kitagawa feel worse, cause that boy got no inspiration. Forget it for a while, the officer guy continues:

-Now, just stand in the line to get your tanks! We will have a short drill at the first time.

"So, that's it!" Kurogane uses his palm to cover his wide-opened yawning mouth. Standing at the last of the line, he gradually heads on for the first tank of his career.

...

What Ryukou expected...a Tiger? He's a bit surprised, who thought newbies should take a less important ones, like Panzer III or something worse. Seeing that face, Kitagawa from afar thought:

"Now you're done, Ryukou! A kind of shit like you don't even dreaming about driving a Tiger. Soon or not, you will get your ass out of here!"

The crew assigned with Kurogane, three strangers, and...Soujirou?

-What are you doing here?-Kuro surprisingly asked.

-As the assignment,-Soujirou replied-I'll be the mentor of the whole crew! So, it explained your question.

Let's see, three new faces, one artist-like, one with the thick glasses, and the last, with the blonde-haired, who appears to be a pro-wrestler. Look into the profiles, Sanada Hajime - the artist, Yoshikawa Nihou - the short-sighted and Musashibo Ken - the big boy. But, only names and bios, so where are their positions? Surfing the profiles for times, Kurogane started:

-My name is Ryukou Kurogane, it's good to see you guys! From now on, we will fight together on this tank. I hope we will do our best in the next battles!

(To be continued)