I just feel my wind
I just feel my shine
Rise into the sky
I've always known my dreams won't wait for me
even though the wind hurts me countless times
I'll reach out to the sun
and feel the resonance in my fingertips
I want to feel the blinking of the sun rays
I always take care of the foundations later
I'll shed my faux-adult defenses
and find the brightness
The light streamed through the sky overhead
with a speed that drew me from my sleep
Now it carries along my weak heartbeat
It tells me to be more than I am now
I'll rise to my feet
The semifinal results were such a pity.
How ironic that you should lose this year
just where we won last year.
Whoever wins or loses is often at the mercy of luck.
Here you go.
Thank you, Nonna.
You're welcome.
You're doing it wrong.
The jam doesn't go into the tea.
You put it on your tongue, and then drink the tea.
There's some on your cheek.
Mind your own business!
Have some potato cake too.
And cookies.
You're awfully composed in light of the semifinals.
Shouldn't you be practicing?
It would be a waste of fuel.
Our enemy is some minor power I've never heard of before.
Their Commander is due to inherit a school, though.
The Nishizumi School, in fact.
Why do I only find out about this now?
I've told you many times.
Well I didn't listen!
It's the younger sister, I should add.
What a relief.
She transferred from Black Forest Peak and took a perfectly unknown school quite far.
Did you come here just to tell me that, Darjeeling?
Oh, please.
I came here to drink your delicious tea, that's all.
Against Pravda!
While I was installing the elongated barrel
I also changed the exterior.
It looks a lot like the F2 now, doesn't it?
I know, right?
Thank you so much! We owe you guys from the Automobile Club.
Don't worry!
It was a lot of work, but it was really worth it.
We have a new gun for this one, and one new tank.
Our force is slowly but surely growing.
Um...
We have found a team for the Renault.
The Public Morals Committee will participate from now on.
I'm Sono Midoriko and these are my fellow members.
Nice to meet you.
Just call her Sodoko.
Show her the ropes, all right?
Please don't shorten my name, Prez!
What should we call the team, Commander?
Doesn't the B1 look like a goose?
Okay, Goose Team it is.
What? A goose?
Reizei, can you guide their Driver through the basics?
What? She's going to be teaching me?
Okay.
Don't get cocky just because your grades are good.
So you wanna learn it on your own from a textbook?
Stop being so irresponsible!
Explain it to me in simple words and be nice and thorough!
Sure, sure.
Just one "sure" is good enough!
Suuure.
Up next are the long-awaited semifinals!
What's more, our opponent is last year's champion — Pravda High.
We need to win no matter what!
It's the end if we lose!
Why's that?
Can't we try next year if we lose?
The opponent is last year's champion, you know?
Yeah, I figured we might learn a trick or two here—
That won't do!
We really need to win.
Nishizumi, your orders.
Right.
Very well. Let's start practice.
Roger!
Nishizumi.
I have something important to talk about, so come to the Student Council room later.
It's gotten cold, hasn't it?
We've passed the 50th parallel north, after all.
The next venue is the northern one, right?
Honestly, I wish they'd stop deciding venues through roulette.
So, you wanted to talk...
Come on, eat some of our anglerfish hot pot!
Her anglerfish hot pot is famous far and wide!
You should grill the anglerfish liver first.
Then you put in miso...
Sorry, but I'm not that interested in how to make a hot pot right now.
Is the table too warm?
No, it's fine.
The table is from the time Koyama was managing the budget.
You bought a lot of other stuff too, right?
Yeah, a refrigerator, a microwave, a hot plate and other things.
We used to spend a lot of time here before the sports or choir or school festival.
Last year there was a huge curry tournament!
Well, I didn't really come here to hear about your memories.
We've been on the Student Council since our first year.
Oh, I know!
I have something rare to show you.
Check this out!
See? Kawashima's smiling!
Hey, don't show that around!
This one is from the costume festival.
This is the water festival in summer.
Mud pro wrestling!
Looks like you had fun.
Yeah.
We did.
We certainly did.
Those were the days.
The hot pot is boiling.
That's right. Shall we eat?
Sure!
I wonder what they wanted to talk about.
We couldn't tell her in the end.
It's for the best.
We shouldn't put such a burden on a new transfer student.
Still—
I want her to look forward to the match
rather than shrink away in fear after finding out.
Shall we have tea?
Is it all over?
You never know.
Into the Fray
Did you know of this?
I did.
Though she bears the Nishizumi name,
she keeps doing things her own way.
She cannot be allowed to expose herself to ridicule any longer.
Hit the target if you fire, let your defenses be of iron, and advance in perfect order.
Our laws are iron and our hearts are steel.
That is the Nishizumi School.
Maho.
I am a member of the Nishizumi School too.
But Miho...
Enough of this.
Into the Fray
I shall attend the semifinals as well.
She should be informed about her disinheritance.
You've got pocket heaters too?
There's no heating in the tank,
so we should make all the preparations we can.
Should we wear two pairs of tights?
I think it would be better to put on leg warmers too.
More importantly, shouldn't we put on some lipstick?
Right. The semifinals have a lot of spectators, after all.
Want to put some blush on too?
What say you?
I'll go with this.
You guys, make-up is not allowed!
And no costumes either!
That nagging's annoying.
This is just another part of school activities!
Stick to the regulations!
One directs the movie of one's own life.
What's that supposed to mean?!
I'm sure there will be many people watching.
Let's stick a recruitment notice for the Volleyball Club on our tank!
Good idea!
They've been so lively since we won against Anzio.
We've got to give it our best since the whole class expects a lot of us!
Shinzaburo told me he'd bring my mother and watch the next match!
15 tanks against 6.
And they also have 76mm and 85mm guns, as well as the KV-2 and JS-2.
Although we could make a break for their flag tank and pound it,
there would be no second chance if that failed.
Their specialty is counterattacking after retreating,
so we should keep our guard up and stay focused.
So cold! It's seriously freezing!
We put the snow chains on the StuG III.
You also put antifreeze in the radiator, right?
Yes.
Um...
It must be difficult to have your first match so soon,
but just stay calm and do your best.
Ask me over the radio if there's something you don't know, Sodoko.
I told you not to call me Sodoko!
My name is Sono Midoriko!
Gotcha, Sodoko.
Sure doesn't seem like it!
Not bad, comrades!
I wanna paint it red.
Who's that?
That's Pravda's Commander and Vice Commander.
Katyusha of the Swirling Snow and Nonna the Blizzard!
You must have gathered these tanks to give me a good laugh!
Hey, Katyusha.
Nice to meet you.
I'm the Student Council President, Kadotani.
Nonna!
You are all beneath me!
Your tanks, your skills, and even your size!
You're just riding on someone's shoulders.
I heard that!
How dare you insult me?!
I'll purge all of you!
Let's go, Nonna!
Oh, isn't that the Nishizumi School's...
Thanks for last year.
We couldn't have won without you.
We're looking forward to your assistance, little heir.
Goodbye and thanks for the pie!
Goodbye.
The cold is at least as much of a foe as Pravda here.
I wonder how they intend to win.
Anyhow, don't become overwhelmed by their numbers and keep a cool head!
Protect the flag tank and advance slowly.
Let's observe their movements for now.
That's one option, but how about launching a single decisive strike.
Huh?
Right.
Excellent plan.
That promises certain victory.
I see where you're coming from, but the risk is—
We'll be fine!
I think so too!
Our morale will carry us!
We should really try a quick attack!
I don't think we could lose!
Besides, we can't have them looking down on us!
Let's make them beg for mercy!
I like it! Mercy!
Mercy!
All right, that settles it.
Morale is important, right?
Alright then.
Let's go on the offensive.
Are you sure?
We were supposed to take a deliberate approach...
They might be more comfortable fighting on snow if the battle drags out.
And plus, if you're all this motivated...
Sun Tzu said this:
"If the fighting sees no victory, the men will lose their fervor."
A protracted battle doesn't benefit the people or the country.
Battles should go "boom" and be over.
Right, Nishizumi?
Right.
The enemy is fearsome, but we can overcome them!
Listen up!
Anyone they immobilize will be sent to Siberia for 25 Ruble!
I'm sure you mean "25 days of supplementary lessons in a classroom without sunlight."
Let's go!
We'll leave their flag tank hanging and destroy all the others!
You shall learn what real strength is!
a Ura! a
Apple and pear trees were blooming,
O'er the river the fog merrily rolled
On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode
On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode
As she walked, she sang a sweet song
Of her silver eagle of the steppe,
Of the one she loved she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept
Of the one she loved she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept
It's freezing.
It was a good idea to go for the knockout punch, I think.
Yeah.
I've got some hot chocolate in a thermos.
Please have some.
Thanks.
All enemy tanks are advancing in a northeasterly direction.
Speed is roughly 20 km/h.
Wanna take us head on?
Cheeky bunch.
Nonna!
I know.
Sodoko, what are you doing?
Gomoyo, you're supposed to go forward!
That's what I've been meaning to do, Sodoko.
Goose Team, pull back for now.
Take over for me.
Okay.
Scoot over.
Thank you!
Who gave you the right to just enter someone else's tank?
Just pretend I'm not here.
Hana, can you fire a shell at the snow ahead?
Roger.
Madam, it was Lady Hana who fired the gun!
With hands that arrange flowers...
Since we're already here, let's show support and cheer her on, please.
Look, a squirrel!
It's so cute!
When I hear the words snow, Russia, and war...
Reminds you of Stalingrad, doesn't it?
Don't even mention it.
Enemy tank at 11 o'clock!
All tanks, stay alert!
Only 3 of them?
Maybe they're the outer line of defense.
They've seen us!
Perhaps the time to use our new long barrel has come.
Prepare to fire!
Hippo Team, open fire!
Anglerfish Team, open fire as well!
We hit them!
Amazing! We hit 2 already!
We did it!
We crushed last year's champions in the field!
History is on our side!
We might pull through this!
Now's the time to say "Go! Go!"
We managed to hit their T-34s!
This is a big feat!
What's wrong?
It seems too easy.
All tanks, take up the pursuit!
Why are they running away?
Maybe because we're chasing them with all our tanks?
That must be it!
Men run away when you chase them, don't they?
They've gathered over there.
Their flag tank has been found!
This is a golden opportunity!
All right!
Attack!
Go!
Attack!
We hit it!
Stay right there!
Chase them!
Start moving!
Go! Go!
Crush them!
Blow them to hell!
Win this!
This will be a shutout!
Don't leave us behind!
Hey, wait!
If we just hit the flag tank...
We win!
Move to the east!
Quick!
What?
Rotate gun southwest!
We're surrounded.
The enemy is all around us!
Was it a trap?
Our gun was hit!
All tanks! Move to the large building to the southwest!
We'll hole up there!
They've hit our track!
The turret is jammed!
Fall back!
They've stopped firing.
I bring a message from Commander Katyusha.
"Surrender."
"I'll let you go if you kneel before me."
Her words.
What'd she say?!
She's nuts!
The Commander will wait 3 hours out of magnanimity.
End of message.
That is all.
Forget about kneeling!
She wants to make us smaller than herself.
We have to fight until the bitter end!
Let's break out!
But... now that we're surrounded,
someone might get hurt in the confusion.
I will follow your directions.
I don't mind kneeling either.
Me neither!
Reaching the semifinals isn't bad at all.
No need to be greedy.
No way!
We can't lose here!
We fight until the end!
But...
We have to win!
We have to win no matter what!
It's no use if we don't!
Why are you so hung up on this?
I think getting this far on our first appearance is great.
Panzerfahren is not war.
There should be something more important than winning.
And what exactly would that be?!
It was only after coming here and making friends
that I realized Panzerfahren could be fun.
I've grown fond of both this school and Panzerfahren!
That's why I want to finish this tournament with that in mind.
What are you talking about?
Our school will be gone if we lose!
Our school will be... gone?
Kawashima's right.
If we don't win the National Tournament,
our school will be closed down.
Start the mission!
Come here and let's start the chase!
We're together, we can do it.
If you fail, forget about it and move on!
Go past the punishment and learn from it with everyone
If you believe in someone, you'll be twice as happy
If you put in all your strength,
then it can become reality
Look how earnestly we run
Start the mission!
Come here and let's start the chase!
We have so much strength
Start the mission!
We always hold hands,
and make it through thick and thin
We go for the radiant, shining sun of dawn
that shines on a future where we are together
Episode Nine
Next time on Girls and Tanks:
Driven into a Corner!