This is the one hundredth installment of my live blog, making it the one with the most posts and comments. Thank you for reading and commenting on it, and I hope you will continue to do so in the future.
Shizuka congratulates Asparagus for now being able to distinguish them as the enemy, but then fires on Asparagus' tank, defeating her. A moment of Stunned Silence follows as Centipede Team's victory is announcd, before Centipede Team's fans celebrate. In the sweltering heat of the tank, Shizuka caresses Rin's face, while Rin throws her arms around Shizuka's waist.
BC Freedom does not take this well, and some of the BC side demands the commander's resignation, while the Freedom side tries to push responsibility onto them. Alisa notes that this is all too common among BC Freedom.
Incensed, Shizuka gives a "The Reason You Suck" Speech to BC Freedom, saying that if they fight amongst themselves, they can't call this tankery. A Freedom side member complains that Shizuka only won because of the infighting, and Shizuka says this is true, but that Asparagus fought as well as she could in spite of that, and that BC Freedom did not lose to Shizuka or because of the leader, but lost to themselves. It's a good point that Asparagus shouldn't be scapegoated, but a large part of the mutual hostility seems to lie with her.
Endo asks Rin why Shizuka is saying this, and Rin concludes that she is, in her own way, standing up for Asparagus. Chastened, Asparagus shakes Shizuka's hand and promises not to lose next time, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Erika. It's good to see Asparagus finally show something resembling redeeming qualities, even if it's after being thoroughly humiliated.
Rin and Shizuka work on the tank with the sake brewery's crane when Endo comes in, announcing that merchandise is being sold. She mentions a plastic model of Centipede Tea (which is apparently real), and Shizuka's severed warrior head pencil case (which isn't). Rin concludes that they'll need the money for replacement parts, since they just barely made it through, and one more match without major repairs will likely doom the tank.
Rin says that she, unable to understand the instruction manuals, learned by doing, since she isn't a genius like Mako or Leopon Team. As a result, her hands are cut up, but Shizuka finds them to be "a working person's beautiful hands."
Anchovy walks in, and, after greeting them and taking a moment to look around, issues a written challenge, wanting someone to train on, and Shizuka eagerly accepts. Meanwhile, Yaika of Bonple hears of Anzio entering tankathlon and vows to show them true tank battle.
All this leads up to the first chapter, back to the confrontation between Shizuka and Yaika; Ribbon Warrior took quite a bit longer to get to the part where it began In Medias Res than the original series did. As Yaika says that they do battle rather than playing games, Shizuka tells Yaika that true tank battles are her ambition.
The spectators are momentarily shocked at Yaika's arrival, but many soon start cheering it on. Pepperoni, angered at the intrusion, charges in, only to get taken out in one shot by Yaika, who mocks her while doing so. As Anchovy protests, Yaika, in full Evil Gloating mode, sneers at her for not expecting ambush or betrayal on the battlefield. She withdraws, leaving behind a rose and issuing a challenge, which Shizuka accepts, with a Slasher Smile.
- Next Installment: To Be Determined
