Girls und panzer: Carolus rex the emperor of steel

Shiho stopped in front of the mansion doors and turned towards us with her severe and imposing expression.

Shiho: Well, don't just stand there. Come in.

Her voice was calm, but it carried that firm tone that left no room for discussion.

My mother nodded with a polite smile, as if that rigid woman was just another acquaintance from the past... but I knew there was something more. For some reason, her presence felt suffocating... as if every word she spoke weighed more than necessary.

Upon entering, the first impression hit me like a slap.

The interior of the Nishizumi mansion was... beautiful.

It wasn't the ostentatious display one might expect from a prestigious family, but rather a showcase of refinement. Perfectly arranged tatami mats, folding screens with illustrations of cranes and pines, and in the center of the room, a small zen garden with white stones and a meticulously pruned bonsai.

There was no excess—only the right amount of beauty... as if every object was exactly where it needed to be, and no detail was unnecessary.

Erik (thinking): This is how a house with history should be... nothing more, nothing less.

I stood for a moment contemplating the courtyard from an open window, letting the fresh breeze brush against my face... until my mother's voice brought me back to reality.

Mónica: Erik, stay here with the girls. Shiho and I have things to discuss.

I only nodded, though something inside me tensed.

The doors closed softly, leaving only the three of us in the room.

The silence felt strange.

Miho timidly hid behind her sister, while Maho stood tall with her arms crossed. Despite being just a child, she already had that same serious expression as her mother... as if she was always evaluating her surroundings.

Maho: Hey...

Her voice cut through the air like a knife.

I turned towards her, surprised.

Maho: Do you like tanks?

I didn't expect such a direct question, but my heart skipped a beat.

My eyes lit up almost instinctively.

Erik: Yes! I love them.

Maho narrowed her eyes with a spark of interest... as if she was testing me.

Without saying anything, she walked over to a small table by the wall, opened a drawer, and pulled out a wooden box. The sound of metal pieces clinking together filled the room as she opened it.

Inside was a collection of scale model tanks, all detailed with surprising precision.

Panzer IV, Tiger I, Panther... the great icons of German engineering.

I recognized them instantly, but what caught my attention was how she arranged them on the carpet.

Not randomly...

Not like mere toys...

She placed them as if they were chess pieces.

Maho knelt in front of me with that serious expression that seemed to be her default face.

Maho: I'll explain the rules...

Her voice was firm but not arrogant. She showed me how the tanks had movement points, firing zones, and even makeshift cover with small stones.

I nodded at every word, feeling how a dormant part of my mind was slowly waking up.

Miho simply watched from the corner with curious eyes, hugging her small rabbit plushie.

The first match was quick.

Maho's Tiger crushed my little Strv m/38 without effort.

The second one too.

But on the third... after judging the enemy's strategy, a smile crept onto my face without me realizing it.

I began placing my tanks behind the makeshift cover Maho had set up. My light-armored tanks couldn't face a Tiger or Panther head-on—that would be stupid.

Maho advanced her tanks head-on, relying on the Tiger's heavy armor and the Panther's angled plating and firepower—they could afford to.

But if the weak points in War Thunder were the same here... I made my little tanks fire at the sides and tracks before retreating into cover.

Maho's brow furrowed slightly as she moved her tanks to hunt mine down, but my tanks had the advantage of cover and rough terrain. If one Panther advanced towards cover, another Strv m/38 would hit it from behind.

Bit by bit, I kept firing at her tanks' tracks, immobilizing them... until, under the pressure I imposed, I claimed victory.

Maho: I lost.

I nodded frantically, celebrating my victory, then noticed Maho's extended hand. I shook it with mine.

The game continued for several hours.

Maho began observing me with a mix of frustration and admiration, while Miho giggled innocently every time her sister explained the course of the battle in a calm voice.

When evening fell, Maho approached me while Miho slept under the tree.

Maho (whispering): Did your mother teach you to do that...?

Erik: No. With a curious look.

Maho: Then... how do you know?

Erik: I've read many books... but above all... I gave her a piercing look. I've died many times.

Of course, I was referring to War Thunder and other tank games. But Maho shivered at those words—too deep for a child my age.

Maho: You're strange...

Erik: I know, thank you for the compliment.

For the first time, Maho averted her gaze with a faint blush.

Shiho Nishizumi watched from the terrace threshold, arms crossed along with Mónica sitting on a chair in front of her.

Shiho: That boy... has the instinct.

Mónica approached with a glass of wine in hand, her elegant dress fluttering in the breeze.

Mónica (smiling proudly): Are you surprised?

Shiho didn't reply. Her gaze remained fixed on the blond child, whose expression wasn't that of a simple boy playing... but of a predator patiently waiting for his prey.

Shiho: In fact... I'd like him to study with my daughters at the same school. He has potential... If that boy were mine, he would already be learning to distinguish the sound of engines from any tank.

Mónica: Just like you told me when you made me part of the Sensha-dō club?

Mónica wore a nostalgic smile, chuckling as if recalling those days.

Shiho: You could say... more than you... Did you marry a genius to have this child?

Shiho's bluntness would have seemed rude to most people, but Mónica was used to her way of speaking, so she played along.

Mónica: Who knows?

But deep down, Mónica felt happy knowing her undefeated former commander saw potential in her son.

Mónica: Actually, I brought him here because he reminded me of our high school days—books scattered about tanks, my figures beside them... as if he was analyzing both at the same time. And I thought, "What if I let Commander Shiho evaluate him?"

Shiho: So... you brought him here with the intention of having him trained at my academy?

Mónica: I don't know... maybe... -With a playful tone-

Shiho frowned at the gesture, but the corners of her lips lifted slightly. She liked raising new talents from a young age—just like in the canon, where she trained her daughters from the age of three to recognize tank engine noises.

Shiho: Then... will you enroll him in my academy?

Mónica: For me, it would be fine... but it would be Erik's choice, not mine.

Shiho: It's an agreement, then.

The breeze was soft and warm, carrying the scent of summer. The distant chirping of birds blended with the rustle of leaves, creating an almost perfect atmosphere for a nap.

I was half-asleep, with Miho leaning lightly against my side. Maho was on my other side, her stoic expression unchanged even in sleep—like she could wake at any moment to defend herself from an invisible enemy.

But... the damn grass.

It itched, it bothered me... I couldn't stand it.

With a low grunt, I lifted my bare feet and gently placed them on Maho's feet.

She barely reacted, only wiggling her toes slightly... but she didn't move them away—as if she didn't even consider it important.

Shiho sat nearby with her arms crossed... but her sharp eyes caught the gesture.

Shiho: Maho... didn't pull her feet away.

That small detail didn't escape her notice.

Mónica covered her mouth to suppress a giggle.

Mónica: Come on, Shiho... don't make that face. It's not like they're going to get married... yet.

Shiho's marble-like face slowly turned towards her.

Shiho: Emotional attachment can cloud judgment on the battlefield.

Mónica: Ohhh... really? Is that what you told yourself when we trained together?

Shiho's lips pressed into a thin line, her jaw tightening.

Mónica: And don't forget... you let your husband sleep on your lap more than once.

Shiho remained silent, though a small rigidity in her posture betrayed her thoughts.

But when no one was looking... her eyes softened.

Shiho: He shouldn't get used to that kind of closeness...

At that moment, Maho shifted slightly in her sleep, grabbing Erik's hand unconsciously and smiling faintly.

Mónica barely held back a laugh while Shiho's frown deepened, trying to mask her frustration.