Looking Forward, Looking Back (Anchovy, Girls und Panzer)

Introductions

The chanting of the people surrounding the tank slowly dissipated as the school bell rang signalling that it was lunch time.

"Lunch Time!" Everyone yelled, running away from the tank off in all different directions. Within seconds the area around the tank was empty leaving just the green haired girl atop the tank and Carlo standing with a confused expression.

"Aw come on! This is way more interesting than lunch is!", the green haired girl yelled as they ran off, slumping her shoulders.

"I should've known..." she continued, jumping down off the tank. As she did she looked up and noticed Carlo staring at her.

"Can I help you?" She asked as she tried to remember if she actually knew him or not.

"A-Ah..." Carlo stuttered, not being good with talking with new people, especially cute girls...

"I-I'm new here... I just started today"

"Oh, so your the transfer student then"

"Y-Yes that's me. I'm Carlo" He answered outstretching his hand tentatively.

Anchovy took it with a smile and shook it slowly, "Nice to meet you Carlo. I'm Anchovy, Anzio's student council president and the head of our Tankery team"

"Oh so you're who I'm supposed to talk to... Wait, did you say tankery? What's that?"

"It's a school elective that we run here, we compete with other schools in mock battles in tanks. Our school takes it's Tankery inspiration from-" Anchovy started, stopping as Carlo interrupted her.

"Italy I take it"

"Exactly And we just got this new tank, the p-"

"P40 Italian heavy tank, equipped with a 75mm main gun and decent sloping armour all around. This tank was produced late in the war by Italy and thus the majority of the units produced were allocated to German panzer divisions serving to halt the Allies' advance through Italy and with some Italian units fighting on the southern Eastern front..." Carlo added, losing all of his anxiety as he lectured Anchovy about her new vehicle.

Truth be told she didn't know all of what he said but what really impressed her, and made her smile, was seeing his previous anxiety wash away as he spoke.

"Well you certainly know a thing or two. Maybe we should add you to our Tankery team" Anchovy said with a smile.

"W-Well I don't know if..."

"You'll be fine. Besides, that'll allow you to get to know everyone better. Now come one, I'll show you around the school", Anchovy responded cheerily.

---Timeskip---

After accepting Anchovy's offer to join the schools Tankery team (despite him not really knowing what that meant) Carlo was shown around the school by Anchovy and was even introduced to a couple of her friends.

"Carlo, I'd like you to meet Pepperoni and Carpaccio"

"Hello there" Carlo greeted cheerfully, finding himself moving into a more relaxed state after his tour around the school with Anchovy.

"Hey" Pepperoni responded with a smirk, "So are you Duce's new boyfriend or something?"

"W-What?!" Carlo asked frantically, his mind still trying to process what she asked.

"B-Boyfriend?! What are you on about?!" Anchovy replied, her calm and relaxed demeanor being replaced with a flustered one.

"Stop causing trouble Pepperoni" Carpaccio stated, "He's clearly new here so that would make him that new transfer student"