Second Moon
The admiral is the most esteemed person in the Naval Base, and also the person who supervise and leads Fleet Girls. Currently, rather than calling by “Admiral”, most of the destroyer fleet girls calls with “Commander”. Kagerou at times did so as well, at time she didn’t.
With the affiliation with Fourteen Destroyer Division being true, Kagerou’s hope of it being a mistake has been shattered to pieces. When she gave her report of taking the post anew, the first thing that the admiral said was, “please properly work with Akebono.”
Since she knew it would be futile to object, she had to say she would do just that.
“She is a good ship.”
“She shelled the office though….”
“Thanks to her I get a chance to be comforted. I guess today I’ll go to Houshou-san..”
Since it seemed like the admiral was in a cheery mood, Kagerou remained silent and gave a bow before she then walked out. Right now, so that it would be okay in any time in case trouble happened, once again the home office was rebuilt in a prefabricated building. Thanks for today being the first day of post, there was nothing to do. To just lie down in her private room seemed like a good idea but on the contrary it seemed like her anger to Akebono would only pile up. On top of that, there are still time until dusk.
(Oh yes, didn’t they say there are other Fleet Girl in the Fourteen Destroyer Division….)
Kagerou opened the document she received from the admiral.
“The first one is… Satsuki, huh.”
She had never met her in the first place but she had heard of her. If she wasn’t mistaken within Mutsuki Class, she was exceptionally courageous.
“This kid seems sensible.”
Where is this seemingly sensible Fleet Girl? She could contact Personnel Department but she wanted to take the fastest way for this.
Finally Kagerou went into the Naval Base Office building. No matter what the naval base, it can be estimated that well-informed person would be there.
“Excuse me.”
Kagerou raised her voice as she opened the door wide and looked here and there. Just as she thought, she was nervous. With the people in Kure being so scary, just by walking in front of any Fleet Girl made her back sweat.
Until there was permission, she wouldn’t step inside. While still standing by the corridor, she continued.
“I have something I would like to ask, would that be alright?”
“It’s fine. Don’t stay there, come in, come in.”
The young woman with drooping eyes who was inside, replied with a smile.
She was the Heavy Cruiser Atago. The second ship of Takao Class. Her vividly bright golden hair and imposing chest armor caught every eye, what’s up with this girl? Even within heavy cruiser class that was rich in well endowed chests, hers were exceptional. Her pictures were widely distributed among the society.
“Thank you very much.”
While Kagerou said her gratitude, Atago titled her head.
“Really, now. There are so many stiff Kure girls. Won’t you talk to me as if I am your big sister more?”
“It’s because I am the first ship of my class.”
She wanted to say that was because she obviously have no big sister, but Atago gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t mean that way.”
“Atago-san is the secretary ship. I cannot be impolite.”
The young woman before her waved her hand.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You see, according to the Admiral’s direction, for Fleet Girls to be friendly with one another is more important than anything else. All of us are sister, you know.”
Kagerou said, “I understand”, feeling the tension dissipated. It would also be easier for her and she felt thankful for that.
A secretary ship is, to explain it simply, the position as Admiral’s assistant. From assisting in construction and development to schedule adjustment and even healthcare, she assisted everything that happened. She was the Fleet Girl in the closest position to the Admiral.
There was nothing that she does not know. The Secretary ship girl of Kure was so composed she was scary, she could grasp the outcomes of everything one step ahead. If there were anyone who had the thought of spending ammunition wastefully, she would interrogate them until daybreak.
Secretary ship was a tad bit different with the other Fleet Girls, with them needing to have more than merely fighting ability. For example leadership, capability in negotiations, or capability in doing paperwork.
However it felt like Atago did not fit into any of the capabilities mentioned. If we talked about what would have fit her, it would have been things like “the one in charge of sex appeal”.
“Then, what business do you have, I wonder?”
Atago said with a light playful tone. Kagerou felt it’d be better if this kind of atmosphere not turning ugly.
“I would like to know where are the other girls of Fourteen Destroyer Division. For the time being, Satsuki.”
“Satsuki is that energetic girl, right. Rather than a little sister, she’s kind of like sibling.”
“I wonder where she might be.”
“I won’t tell you.”
“Pardon?”
Kagerou unintentionally replied. Atago puffed her cheeks.
“I’ve told you I want you to think of me as your Oneechan.”
“Indeed.”
“So if you don’t talk to me like you do to your Oneechan, I won’t tell you.”
“No, but…”
“I hate if you don’t call me Oneechan.”
With her hands balled into fists, Atago shook her body, making “I don’t like it! I don’t like it!” gesture [1]. As she did so, her breasts moved like ship in vibration training. [2]
Kagerou had no time to marvel of the size of those. She was just at loss of words.
“……”
“Say it, say it.”
“…. ummm… I don’t… have a big sister…”
Atago ignored the protest and instead talked as if she had found a good idea.
“Let’s do it like this. After the question, add “Oneechan””
“Haa?!”
Kagerou couldn’t believe her ears. Is there an outbreak of bad disease in Yokosuka or something? [3] Perhaps the sea breeze from Pacific Ocean is bad.
“If you call me Oneechan, I will answer you.”
“But…”
“Come on, call me.”
Atago smiled brightly. However, contrary to her kind expression, there wasn’t to be any chance of her telling unless Kagerou call her.
Kagerou gave up. She took several deep breath. Then let it out from her mouth.
“Wo… would you kindly tell where is Satsuki.. O… Oneechan…”
“That won’t do. You should put in more emotions.”
Atago’s puffed cheek remained. Kagerou finally said in desperation.
“Please tell me where is Satsuki, Oneechan.”
“Nnnnnnn, CUTE!”
Suddenly she was hugged. Kagerou’s head was buried between Atago’s cleavage.
“MMPH—”
“Not only Kagerou class has great performance but also so cute. Finally you call me Oneechan, didn’t you?”
“Mmph! Mmmmph!”
“If it’s for such cute little sister, I will do anything!”
Atago took a pen then scribbled on a paper. She then gave it to Kagerou.
“Okay, here. I wrote every member down. Where’s the gratitude?”
“… Thank you very much.”
“Wrong, right?”
“Thanks, Oneechan.”
Atago beamed.
“You did well. Next time, maybe we should do picnic together!”
While mumbling, “I shan’t, Oneechan.”, Kagerou hurriedly left the room.
——
According to the memo that Atago gave, Satsuki is in the dock.
“Is she hospitalized? I wonder if she got hurt.”
Kagerou walked fast towards the dock.
Within the many buildings in the surrounding, thanks to its small size, a beautiful new building came into view. It’s a facility for fleet girls’ exclusive use.
The official name was “Fleet Girl Exclusive Injuries and Sickness Recuperation Facility” however, the fleet girls call it dock. For those who received major damage whilst fighting the Abyssal fleet and deemed as needing medical treatment, they would be sent to this facility. After all, the only ones that could battle the Abyssal fleet were only the girls. That was why cures were generously given.
After taking the visitor pass by the entrance and receiving explanation, she walked inside. She knocked on the door with “One” written on it.
Once she heard a reply saying, “Come in~”, she opened the door.
It was a really spacious private room. For lighting, the window was wide and there was several flower arrangements lined up. To prevent boredom, in addition to television and radio that were a certain, they even go as far as breeding tropical fish. By the wall was a landscape painting. It depicted a farm somewhere, seemingly intended to calm down tired hearts from the battlefield. However, according to the fleet girls Kagerou heard there were also a battlefield painting “Okinoshima waters” to maintain the desire to fight in the girls.
There was a bed by the center of the room. But no one was there.
“Eh…?”
It was empty. There was supposedly a reply but no one was here.
“Over here! Over here!”
A voice came from the opposite side of the room. Kagerou walked toward the other side of the bed.
A fleet girl was there. This girl must be Satsuki. It’s just that, it was just so hard to say anything.
The reason was because the girl was laying on push up position with only her tanktop.
“So sorry!”
Said Satsuki while still looking at the floor.
“I was just beginning my push up, you see. I couldn’t come out.”
“Ah, no… it’s alright but…”
“Why don’t you do it together?”
“ME!?”
“It feels good, you know. Let’s!”
Kagerou mumbled. In the naval base, both push up and running laps are famous. Fleet girls who did any mistake would be told to do it. For that reason, there exists no fleet girl who actually have a good impression on it.
However Satsuki alone was different. Kagerou tried to find a reason to object but since she was hurried on, she helplessly put both of her hands on the floor.
“Then, from the beginning. Oooone.”
With Satsuki’s voice, they moved their bodies.
“Twoooo.”
Uwaa, as I thought my body felt so heavy, thought Kagerou. If one missed on this hand training, the effect would wear off in a blink of an eye. When she became the fleet girl canditate and being worked hard to the bone in Edajima, she was made to do it so often it feels like everyday thing, but since it has been a while it seems like the creaking of her body had increased.
“Teeeeen. Well then, for what business do you come here?”
“Aaaa… I’m Kagerou. I have been assign to Fourteen Destroyer Division.”
“Fifteeeeen. Aa, so you’re the fleet girl in charge as leader. I’m Satsuki. Yoroshiku.”
“Yoroshiku… Hey, hey, Satsuki. So in Yokosuka dock, it is required to do basic stamina drill?”
“Nope. It’s not like that.”
Tweeeenty. As she said something along that line, Satsuki talked.
“It’s my hobby. During sortie I injured myself, but in the dock there was nothing to do so I do it like this.”
“Is is even necessary for an injured person to do push up? For destroyer’s injury, isn’t just by being in the dock for a while you can go out again right away?”
“Thiiiiiirty. Because for us, strength is our capital asset, isn’t it? We shouldn’t purposely skipping it.”
“Just because, you said. But for me… to be told to do it as well…”
“Foooourty. You’re not the only one. Everyone who came visiting did it too. But you see, everyone stopped in the middle of the way. Suddenly the kids who come visiting gone and I got assigned to Fourteen Destroyer Division.”
Satsuki gave an “ahahaha” laugh.
I see now, I understand, thought Kagerou whose two arms began to gradually trembled.This girl, are testing the other girls like this. She wanted to see if they could pass her or not, challenging their real strength. Of course those many girls would shout “Don’t make fun of me!” and get away from her. Well of course, coming to visit and instead get forced to do push up, anyone will get mad.
This girl, along with Akebono, are also leftovers, lamented Kagerou in her heart.
There, Satsuki raised her voice.
“Fourty niiiiiine. Fourty eeeeeeight.”
“Wait! Why is this in group training count system?! Usually we stop by fifty, isn’t it.”
“Eeehh? You’re tired already?”
Satsuki said with a calm expression.
“I thought those from Kure could do a bit more than this~”
“Ku….”
Kagerou gritted her teeth together. With that, a fire lit up.
“I’ll go along with you no matter how many it is!”
Now you’ve done it. Just like what Akebono said, Kagerou Class took pride in their physical strength. At Edojima, while their comrades were collapsing and falling, she and Shiranui together were the only one doing push up endlessly. When their cruising distance was so long that their comrades collapse, the limit between them are just different. If it’s a challenge, the only answer is accept!
“Thirty niiiine. Ooo, Kagerou, you pull it off~”
“Thirty eeeeeight! Come on, let the count come!”
“Thirty seveeeen. We can’t have it another way.”
From the numbers nearing fifty it got even lower and lower, but when she thought it would soon reach zero, the numbers just increased again. It was a seemingly never ending competition of willpower.
As their sweat accumulated akin to river, finally Satsuki stopped her count.
“Fiiiiifty. Aaaaah, so tired, so tired.”
Although she said fifty, in reality it was nearing two hundred. Satsuki stood up, taking the two towels prepared on top of the bed.
“You can use this.”
“Thanks.”
Making a composed expression, Kagerou took it. In truth, her feet were weak and her hands were trembling, however she supported the obstinacy against what seem to be white flag raising.
“Kagerou really pulled it off huh. There is no other fleet girl who is able to stick with me until this far.”
Satsuki said like she was relieved. Kagerou wiped her sweat.
“Heee. So YokoBase girls are quite weak in physical strength huh.”
“Ahahaha. There you said it. Well then, did you come to call me? That I am okay to go out of the dock?”
“Just like that. There is the permission from Atago-san.”
At the same time when Kagerou as told the the locations, she also gained the leave permission.
Satsuki shouted, “Yes!”
“So Atago-san said it’s alright!”
“You better thank me. I put myself on the line.”
“Don’t tell me, you called her Oneechan?”
“Yeah I did.”
Satsuki seemed to be surprised, before then she let out a laugh while clutching her stomach.
“Even though everyone is refusing and running away! You’re amazing!”
“Ee?! I I thought the others called her that way too….”
“It’s just Kagerou.”
I’ve been deceived, Kagerou lamented. It’s no wonder that Atago was so happy and elated
“W-Well, let’s forget that. Next, you have to do according to my direction okay.”
“Yep. Sure.”
Unexpectedly, Satsuki answered easily.
“Since you keep up with me in the push up until the end. I will follow Kagerou.”
“Then it’s good.”
Kagerou rolled up the towel.
“This, after I wash it I’ll return it.”
“I give it to you. Since tomorrow I will be leaving the hospital, let’s do push up together again.”
As expected, Kagerou answered, “Not for the second time, sorry.”
Kagerou sat down outside the dock. Around the time she was leaving, she saw Satsuki was preparing for an abdominal muscle workout. What dry dock patient, are you really even injured?
She took a second to take a deep breath, and then stood up. Well then, next. She needed to go meet her comrades, whose whereabouts were not even certain.
“The next one is. Arare, I see……. Arare?”
For a second she thought she misread it but there was no mistaking Atago’s beautiful writing. Surely, it says Arare.
It was written that she was always by the study room, so Kagerou went to look.
The study room was located besides the destroyer dormitory. What is meant by destroyer dormitory is that its the boarding house where destroyers sleep. Of course, that place was exclusively used by destroyers. One by one the desks were assigned to respective girls, it was made so that they can study or search for materials.
There are many desks by the destroyer training room. It was because the number of destroyers are high. In Carrier Dormitory or Battleship dormitory, with the same amount of space the number of desks are fewer and because of that they can use it with ease. In the past there was a voice to go protesting, “It’s tyranny!” but right at that moment it was brought down when they were told, “if it exceeds the ship capacity, we will expand the study room.”
Upon entering the study room, Kagerou headed towards the deeper end of the room, slipping through scattered equipment. Since there are instances of fleet girls constantly needing to refer back to the manual in order to look for information about their borrowed equipment, here and there gun turrets and torpedo firing tubes were prepared. Inside, things like a Type 90 Torpedo with an unloaded warhead or even default ship turbines scattered about.
She skillfully slipped past them. This can still be considered a decent condition. In Kure, there were hammocks hanging like silkworm shelves around where gun barrels were placed.
“A, there she is!”
She approached the girl she was looking for.
Arare was facing the desk. Even among destroyers where girls with small statures are common, she was especially small, her body was also slender. Because it was inside a room, her destroyer garrison cap was taken off, and it was easy to spot her with her lightly wavy hair.
She hadn’t changed from that time.
Kagerou turned happy, then called her.
“Arare, hey, Arare!”
Arare turned around. A childish, but composed facial features.
“Hasn’t it been a while?!”
Arare stared at Kagerou. For a while she was silent.
“…. who…?”
Kagerou was almost overturned.
“It’s me! Me! Kagerou! In Kure weren’t we in the same Sixth Destroyer Division!?”
“Aa…”
Arare made a movement indicating that she didn’t quite remember.
“… now that you mention it…”
“You remembered?”
“Maybe…”
Arare muttered something worrying.
Kagerou was in the same fleet as Arare in Kure. The others were Shiranui and Kasumi. Being the so-called comrades who eat from the same trencher, their relationship was something Kagerou was proud of.
Arare had her assignment changed before Kagerou. It’s just that Kageru didn’t hear where. In any case Arare was a silent girl, so she didn’t inform where she was going to be transferred. This trait was what makes Kagerou had time she suspected that the anmitsu she was treated to eat a lot was a change for silence.
Regardless, being able to see a nostalgic face made Kagerou feel relieved.
“Arare, you also became part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division, right.”
“Yes…”
“You know, I am so happy I met an old friend.”
“… Me too… well…”
Even though the words somewhat placed some distance between them, Kagerou didn’t care.
“Can I hug you?”
“Well, that is a bit….”
“Don’t say that.”
Gyuuu. She forcefully hugged. Although she thought, am I becoming kind of like Atago-san? the deep emotions of a long time reunion continued in her.
Arare remain silent and complied. From the very beginning she wasn’t a girl who pushed her self assertion to someone else.
“Hey, Arare, I had been feeling so nervous wondering if I am all alone in Yokosuka. Among the people, I met the girl who call herself “boku” and start doing push up, then I faced this bad mannered fleet girl.”
“That’s Akebono…”
That cynical person seems to be very famous.
“But with Arare here, I am happy. Why are you in Fourteenth Destroyer Division?”
“There was a fleet assignment… when somewhat I remained silent… I was told to go to Fourteenth Destroyer Division…”
“You’re quite taciturn, aren’t you. But I am here too so it’s alright.”
“What is it that’s alright?”
Along with the voice, suddenly her neck was caught then being pulled back.
Upon turning around, a lone fleet girl was there. A girl with eyebrows that looked as if they slanted upward, along with soft smooth hair. Her facial expression and tone seemed to harbor strong will; rather than a fleet girl it was easier to feel her presence as that of feudal samurai warrior or a knight.
Seeing her black-dominated sailor uniform, Kagerou knew right away. Isn’t this girl from Mutsuki Class?
“…. You’re Nagatsuki, aren’t you. As I thought, you’re part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division.”
“I am. So you’re Kagerou.”
Nagatsuki said while giving an unfriendly gaze.
“When I thought of going inside the study room, I saw you hugging a submissive Arare. Are you a newbie molester or something?”
“I’m not! I’m just warming up to a friend!”
“It’s unnecessary to do that, isn’t it.”
Being extremely outspoken, Nagatsuki slipped into the space between Arare and Kagerou.
“This is Yokosuka. Not Kure.”
“Now I am also a part of Yokosuka.”
“If so, then there are other destroyers. You’d better go to them.”
“I was given orders by the Admiral, I can’t help it now, can I?”
“That person will listen to anything as long as Houshou-san or Ikazuchi gives a pat on the head. Go bribe the two of them.”
“Why does it have to go that far?!”
Involuntarily Kagerou raised her voice. Giving a cold gaze, Nagatsuki continued with a bit of emotion.
“From the start, it was only Arare and I in the Fourteenth Destroyer Division. Just when we were talking about the two of us making it the strongest fleet, right then, people like you and Satsuki were moved in, even Akebono was assigned in. Wouldn’t that dampered the long awaited spirit? That is why, go away.”
Somehow, Kagerou understood.
In other words, Nagatsuki felt Kagerou’s existence as a hindrance. Right at the time when they thought about doing a lot of things together, outsiders who she should watch out for came butting in. Perhaps it would be appropriate to describe it like a kid who goes inside the sandbox just to trample on it.
That is something pitiful, but this side cannot pull back either.
Kagerou deliberately cleaned her throat.
“Because I’m the lead ship, you should obey me.”
“What did you say?”
Nagatsuki’s reaction was unexpected. It seemed she had not heard of it.
“Why does a destroyer become the lead ship of other destroyers!”
“Ask the Admiral. In any case, this time, I am the most esteemed ship in Fourteenth Destroyer Division. I won’t forgive disobedience.”
As expected, even she herself felt that was a bit over the top. However, she could not think of any other statement. Overconfident assertion, for Kagerou, is personally an unfavorable conduct, but there is no space for careful persuasion. Even if the worst would happen, since this is the hierarchy of organizational order, she of course would not disobey the words of the superior, would she.
However, Nagatsuki opposed.
“I refuse.”
She said it while moving as if she would protect Arare.
“I will not acknowledge you as lead ship. The Fourteenth Destroyer Division is a fleet of Arare and I alone. Leave us alone.”
“You’ve been saying nonsense this whole time. Aren’t you from SaBase? (Sasebo Base) Being a Mutsuki class, instead of Arare, aren’t you supposed to be hanging out with Satsuki?”
“I don’t need that muscle training maniac. I’ve decided to be with Arare.”
Nagatsuki gave a stare that said she would not hear anyone else’s opinion. Akebono was rebellious, but this girl, she was stubborn. Kagerou also realized this later on, but it seemed that it was because this girl’s personality was so reactive, that she was moved to the Fourteenth Destroyer Division.
“I have no business with you.”
“Well, I do.”
“If I say none, then there is none. Arare, let’s go.”
Nagatsuki pulled Arare. Arare who looked like she was daydreaming, followed just like that.
There was no time to shout “wait”. The both of them have gone somewhere else, and Kagerou was left just like that, dumbfounded.
Her mouth mouthed a “He”. What the heck, why is it only these kind of girls? Does the Admiral having some kind of grudge against me or something? Saying please do something for the leftovers, because it isn’t a troop made out of scrapped stragglers.
To say it honestly, I think it’s almost similar to that already. With Arare -who’s always silent- as the only decent one, it’s a set of a cynical girl, a muscle-training maniac, and an obstinate girl. I bet I, too, am in that category somehow.
She mourned about it alone. Thinking of looking for the last person, Kagerou walked out of the study room.
The last member of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division was Ushio.
She was thinking that she would get fed up with having to laboriously search for another troublesome person, but that did not happen. That person herself came to her.
That fleet girl came rushing towards Kagerou, who was just going out to go to the port. She swiftly bowed.
“E-excuse me, are you Kagerou-san? Kagerou of the Kagerou class.”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Ushio.”
Kagerou said “Aaa~”, feeling anticlimactic as just like that all of her objectives were achieved.
Ushio seemed demure and her appearance did not look tough. Judging by her attitude, it looked as if she was right about to burst out crying.
Kagerou thought, another somewhat extreme personality, I see. Many destroyer are like, either they have a small size and on the contrary, a big attitude, or those that once they shut up, they will remain silent until the end of the century. Called “Destroyer” in English, it was said that perhaps, in order to make the big ships go “eat this!” and target them whenever they meet, that the destroyers all have eccentric personalities. This is the case in the place beyond the ocean, but she heard that because same sized ships were so many, they all deliberately act like weirdos.
The fleet girl right before her eyes, how to say it, felt so timid to the point she didn’t look like a destroyer.
For the sake of formalities, Kagerou said,
“So you’re also in the Fourteenth Destroyer Division, right?”
“Yes. Umm… I will be in your care.”
In reflex, Kagerou replied, “Now, now, I will be in your care as well.” while bowing her head. She was an extremely polite fleet girl.
Ushio bowed her head down. Just by that, her breasts shook.
Kagerou heartily muttered.
“Despite being a destroyer….”
“What is it…..?”
“Nothing. Well then, with this, everyone is complete….”
“Umm, may I ask where Akebono-chan is?”
“Who knows. Maybe she’s somewhere over there?”
“I’ve been looking for her the whole time, but I couldn’t find her…”
Kagerou answered half-heartedly.
“Maybe she’s around places like the naval base office building’s rooftop.”
“It seems like she was quarreling with another destroyer there. I’ve told her stop picking fights with everyone she sees…”
That must have been me, thought Kagerou. So, it wasn’t solely to newcomers, but she picks fights with everyone equally.
“It’s okay now. Because I’ve met her.”
“But its about Akebono-chan, who has finally being assigned to a fleet. All these times no matter where it was, she was always being left behind… a, there she is, there she is!”
Far far away, near the sport ground used for training, was Akebono.
Ushio called, “Akebono-chan!”. Akebono glanced towards them, then ignored everything and continued walking. Right at that time, Ushio rushed over, saying something.
It seemed to have been something along the lines of “be good friends with everyone okay”. Akebono seemed like she was stubbornly unaccepting, with her actions of rejecting everything that Ushio said. She may have been pouring profanity, since she even flailed her hands around.
Even from afar, it was easy to see Ushio was feeling dejected. Unable to bear it, Kagerou voluntarily walked closer.
“Wait a moment, Akebono.”
Akebono glanced and met eyes with Kagerou.
“So you come again? How meddlesome.”
Her usual bad mouth. Her rough short breathing must be because they had quarrel before. Her whole body exuded a [don’t approach, don’t touch, and don’t get close] aura.
In contrast, Ushio had tear filled eyes. For no surprise, Kagerou was angered, she put her hands on her waist.
“You, treat your friend more kindly, will you?”
“Friend? Is this by chance about Ushio?”
“Of course. She had especially been looking for you!”
Akebono let out a laugh.
“Don’t be stupid. I don’t even ask for it. What a chore.”
“You listen here, what’s up with saying she’s not a friend while she has been frantically looking for you!”
“Trying to make me who is fine alone belong to a fleet, is nothing more other than meddling in someone else’s business.”
She just said she wouldn’t listen. Kagerou got increasingly furious.
“It’s because of wanting to know about everyone!”
“There are girls who are just like Shimakaze running around alone, okay.”
“That’s because she has that extreme speed that she can do nothing else, though!”
Shikamaze has no ship of the same class so it was hard to affiliate her with the other destroyers. That was why she has special treatment.
Akebono is of the Ayanami Class. Since it is the next class after Fubuki Class, there are other ships within that same class.
“Because they held on together is why destroyers have battle power. If we go astray, let alone scouting for main force, we can’t even escort!”
Suddenly, as if she had been hurt, Akebono shouted,
“Escort?! Don’t be stupid! That’s the job of a miserable stupid destroyer! I refuse such thing!”
“Haa? It’s an important duty, you know.”
“This simpleton! Doing it like that, getting flattered then letting yourself be used and destroyed, that’s why the destroyers are being looked down upon!”
Kagerou was bewildered. Escorting is a destroyer’s important duty. From big vessels to fleets, whatever is in need of protecting, they protect it. Things like shooting down flying enemy aircraft, driving away submarines, rescuing victims are the things they do.
She held those duties as something to be proud of. Her former flagship, Jintsuu, also taught her by saying repeatedly, “escorting is something that can only be done by destroyers. It’s an important duty.” It’s worth bragging that thanks to them, the large ships can utilize their power.
However, what’s up with that remark.
“….. who’s exactly the one who makes the destroyers be looked down upon now!”
Kagerou finally lost her temper.
“It’s because bad mannered girls like you that destroyers’ image is falling! Me who get pushed in like this, is what, a scrap vendor?”
“That kind of manner is unpleasant. You’re the first of the Kagerou Class, right. Just like Ant lion, disappearing in an instant is the joke.” [4]
“It’s because you keep on saying cynical things like that that you are being hated!”
“I know enough that I’m being hated. Leave me be!”
“Even I want to leave you be, but we’re fellow destroyers! Aren’t we comrades!”
“If you have no need of me, why don’t you drop me out?! If you say that to Atago-san I bet she’d do that for you.”
“Yeeesss, I’m going to do just that, you shitty idiot! I’ll empty your equipment, throw it over the port, and make you a target ship in Wakasaoki!”
“Quick and be done with it, kay? Else, in place of smacking you with a ship oar, I’ll rain torpedoes on you!”
After dropping an “IDIOOOOOOT!” remark, Akebono turned her back around and ran away.
Kagerou didn’t stop her. Fury still coiled around inside her stomach.
“Excuse me…”
Timidly Ushio called her.
“What”
When she glared back, Ushio was shocked.
“A…. I’m sorry…”
Looking at her expression, regret sank in right away.
“Ah no… I also apologize. It wasn’t even your fault.”
Kagerou pushed away her anger, forcing herself to give a smile. She would sooner have nothing but anger welling up for Akebono, but to lash it on Ushio was unmistakably wrong.
Ushio still seemed to be unsure of Kagerou’s feelings.
“I am sorry… I apologize in place of Akebono-chan.”
Since she really bowed down, Kagerou quickly stopped her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s all Akebono’s fault.”
Ushio looked at Kagerou from under her brows.
“Excuse me… About Akebono-chan, will you really drop her out….?”
“I wonder~”
Perhaps because she had seen the troubling situation, Ushio’s eyes welled up in tears. Panicking, Kagerou denied it.
“I won’t, I wont. Since she’s still a part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division. If I drop her out just because I did what was told to, it’ll look as if I’m the one who lost and isn’t that frustrating? We will be together.”
Ushio brushed her chest.
“Thank you very much. I am relieved….”
“I should also polish my bad mouthing, don’t you think.”
It was meant to be a joke, but Ushio seemed to take it seriously.
“Please don’t be so affected by Akebono-chan. All the others destroyers until now, everyone ended up having strained relations with her. I think it will be much better to just look after her.”
“Ushio, you’re kind, aren’t you.”
“Thank you…”
“But you’ll only be used, why don’t you just cut your ties with Akebono?”
Ushio shook her head.
“I can’t do that. I have finally been included in the destroyers that Akebono-chan has accepted. I will stick with her to the end. With this as a trigger, I hope I can bring back the amenable girl she used to be.”
“Amenable? Akebono?”
She thought that it must have been a joke but Ushio was dead serious.
“Yes. I don’t know any destroyer as genuinely devoted to her duty as her.”
“No waaaaaay.”
Involuntarily Kagerou cackled a laughter. Ushio gave a serious look.
“It’s true. The shelling of the main office, it was because the admiral asked her to. The admiral said, be careful not to damage anything else, just destroy the main office. With that, the admiral can go to Houshou-san and battleship-san to be spoiled.”
“Aa….”
Kagerou remembered the admiral’s “For today I guess I will go to Hoshou-san~” statement.
That aside, to be able to only shell the main office without involving anything else, actually is a note-worthy ability. Even Kagerou who felt the after blow, was unscathed.
“Mmmmm…. Devoted, huh…..”
“I understand what Kagerou-san would want to say. However, I am also partly responsible in Akebono-chan becoming like that. That’s why, I beg you to forgive her.”
“Is that so?”
Kagerou unconsciously asked back. However Ushio repeatedly bowed down, saying only, “Please, I beg of you to take care of Akebono-chan.”
1. ↑ She’s throwing a tantrum. Just Imagine this http://i.imgur.com/GTq65.gif
2. ↑ It’s probably not what you guys are thinking about. It means the vibration of the ship’s hull due to the engine or so it seems… I can’t really put my finger on the meaning
3.↑ Basically she’s calling them nuts
4.↑ A pun. “Usubakagerou” literally means ant lion, but usubaka means idiot. Akebono was discreetly saying Idiot-gerou.
Second Moon
The admiral is the most esteemed person in the Naval Base, and also the person who supervise and leads Fleet Girls. Currently, rather than calling by “Admiral”, most of the destroyer fleet girls calls with “Commander”. Kagerou at times did so as well, at time she didn’t.
With the affiliation with Fourteen Destroyer Division being true, Kagerou’s hope of it being a mistake has been shattered to pieces. When she gave her report of taking the post anew, the first thing that the admiral said was, “please properly work with Akebono.”
Since she knew it would be futile to object, she had to say she would do just that.
“She is a good ship.”
“She shelled the office though….”
“Thanks to her I get a chance to be comforted. I guess today I’ll go to Houshou-san..”
Since it seemed like the admiral was in a cheery mood, Kagerou remained silent and gave a bow before she then walked out. Right now, so that it would be okay in any time in case trouble happened, once again the home office was rebuilt in a prefabricated building. Thanks for today being the first day of post, there was nothing to do. To just lie down in her private room seemed like a good idea but on the contrary it seemed like her anger to Akebono would only pile up. On top of that, there are still time until dusk.
(Oh yes, didn’t they say there are other Fleet Girl in the Fourteen Destroyer Division….)
Kagerou opened the document she received from the admiral.
“The first one is… Satsuki, huh.”
She had never met her in the first place but she had heard of her. If she wasn’t mistaken within Mutsuki Class, she was exceptionally courageous.
“This kid seems sensible.”
Where is this seemingly sensible Fleet Girl? She could contact Personnel Department but she wanted to take the fastest way for this.
Finally Kagerou went into the Naval Base Office building. No matter what the naval base, it can be estimated that well-informed person would be there.
“Excuse me.”
Kagerou raised her voice as she opened the door wide and looked here and there. Just as she thought, she was nervous. With the people in Kure being so scary, just by walking in front of any Fleet Girl made her back sweat.
Until there was permission, she wouldn’t step inside. While still standing by the corridor, she continued.
“I have something I would like to ask, would that be alright?”
“It’s fine. Don’t stay there, come in, come in.”
The young woman with drooping eyes who was inside, replied with a smile.
She was the Heavy Cruiser Atago. The second ship of Takao Class. Her vividly bright golden hair and imposing chest armor caught every eye, what’s up with this girl? Even within heavy cruiser class that was rich in well endowed chests, hers were exceptional. Her pictures were widely distributed among the society.
“Thank you very much.”
While Kagerou said her gratitude, Atago titled her head.
“Really, now. There are so many stiff Kure girls. Won’t you talk to me as if I am your big sister more?”
“It’s because I am the first ship of my class.”
She wanted to say that was because she obviously have no big sister, but Atago gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t mean that way.”
“Atago-san is the secretary ship. I cannot be impolite.”
The young woman before her waved her hand.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You see, according to the Admiral’s direction, for Fleet Girls to be friendly with one another is more important than anything else. All of us are sister, you know.”
Kagerou said, “I understand”, feeling the tension dissipated. It would also be easier for her and she felt thankful for that.
A secretary ship is, to explain it simply, the position as Admiral’s assistant. From assisting in construction and development to schedule adjustment and even healthcare, she assisted everything that happened. She was the Fleet Girl in the closest position to the Admiral.
There was nothing that she does not know. The Secretary ship girl of Kure was so composed she was scary, she could grasp the outcomes of everything one step ahead. If there were anyone who had the thought of spending ammunition wastefully, she would interrogate them until daybreak.
Secretary ship was a tad bit different with the other Fleet Girls, with them needing to have more than merely fighting ability. For example leadership, capability in negotiations, or capability in doing paperwork.
However it felt like Atago did not fit into any of the capabilities mentioned. If we talked about what would have fit her, it would have been things like “the one in charge of sex appeal”.
“Then, what business do you have, I wonder?”
Atago said with a light playful tone. Kagerou felt it’d be better if this kind of atmosphere not turning ugly.
“I would like to know where are the other girls of Fourteen Destroyer Division. For the time being, Satsuki.”
“Satsuki is that energetic girl, right. Rather than a little sister, she’s kind of like sibling.”
“I wonder where she might be.”
“I won’t tell you.”
“Pardon?”
Kagerou unintentionally replied. Atago puffed her cheeks.
“I’ve told you I want you to think of me as your Oneechan.”
“Indeed.”
“So if you don’t talk to me like you do to your Oneechan, I won’t tell you.”
“No, but…”
“I hate if you don’t call me Oneechan.”
With her hands balled into fists, Atago shook her body, making “I don’t like it! I don’t like it!” gesture [1]. As she did so, her breasts moved like ship in vibration training. [2]
Kagerou had no time to marvel of the size of those. She was just at loss of words.
“……”
“Say it, say it.”
“…. ummm… I don’t… have a big sister…”
Atago ignored the protest and instead talked as if she had found a good idea.
“Let’s do it like this. After the question, add “Oneechan””
“Haa?!”
Kagerou couldn’t believe her ears. Is there an outbreak of bad disease in Yokosuka or something? [3] Perhaps the sea breeze from Pacific Ocean is bad.
“If you call me Oneechan, I will answer you.”
“But…”
“Come on, call me.”
Atago smiled brightly. However, contrary to her kind expression, there wasn’t to be any chance of her telling unless Kagerou call her.
Kagerou gave up. She took several deep breath. Then let it out from her mouth.
“Wo… would you kindly tell where is Satsuki.. O… Oneechan…”
“That won’t do. You should put in more emotions.”
Atago’s puffed cheek remained. Kagerou finally said in desperation.
“Please tell me where is Satsuki, Oneechan.”
“Nnnnnnn, CUTE!”
Suddenly she was hugged. Kagerou’s head was buried between Atago’s cleavage.
“MMPH—”
“Not only Kagerou class has great performance but also so cute. Finally you call me Oneechan, didn’t you?”
“Mmph! Mmmmph!”
“If it’s for such cute little sister, I will do anything!”
Atago took a pen then scribbled on a paper. She then gave it to Kagerou.
“Okay, here. I wrote every member down. Where’s the gratitude?”
“… Thank you very much.”
“Wrong, right?”
“Thanks, Oneechan.”
Atago beamed.
“You did well. Next time, maybe we should do picnic together!”
While mumbling, “I shan’t, Oneechan.”, Kagerou hurriedly left the room.
——
According to the memo that Atago gave, Satsuki is in the dock.
“Is she hospitalized? I wonder if she got hurt.”
Kagerou walked fast towards the dock.
Within the many buildings in the surrounding, thanks to its small size, a beautiful new building came into view. It’s a facility for fleet girls’ exclusive use.
The official name was “Fleet Girl Exclusive Injuries and Sickness Recuperation Facility” however, the fleet girls call it dock. For those who received major damage whilst fighting the Abyssal fleet and deemed as needing medical treatment, they would be sent to this facility. After all, the only ones that could battle the Abyssal fleet were only the girls. That was why cures were generously given.
After taking the visitor pass by the entrance and receiving explanation, she walked inside. She knocked on the door with “One” written on it.
Once she heard a reply saying, “Come in~”, she opened the door.
It was a really spacious private room. For lighting, the window was wide and there was several flower arrangements lined up. To prevent boredom, in addition to television and radio that were a certain, they even go as far as breeding tropical fish. By the wall was a landscape painting. It depicted a farm somewhere, seemingly intended to calm down tired hearts from the battlefield. However, according to the fleet girls Kagerou heard there were also a battlefield painting “Okinoshima waters” to maintain the desire to fight in the girls.
There was a bed by the center of the room. But no one was there.
“Eh…?”
It was empty. There was supposedly a reply but no one was here.
“Over here! Over here!”
A voice came from the opposite side of the room. Kagerou walked toward the other side of the bed.
A fleet girl was there. This girl must be Satsuki. It’s just that, it was just so hard to say anything.
The reason was because the girl was laying on push up position with only her tanktop.
“So sorry!”
Said Satsuki while still looking at the floor.
“I was just beginning my push up, you see. I couldn’t come out.”
“Ah, no… it’s alright but…”
“Why don’t you do it together?”
“ME!?”
“It feels good, you know. Let’s!”
Kagerou mumbled. In the naval base, both push up and running laps are famous. Fleet girls who did any mistake would be told to do it. For that reason, there exists no fleet girl who actually have a good impression on it.
However Satsuki alone was different. Kagerou tried to find a reason to object but since she was hurried on, she helplessly put both of her hands on the floor.
“Then, from the beginning. Oooone.”
With Satsuki’s voice, they moved their bodies.
“Twoooo.”
Uwaa, as I thought my body felt so heavy, thought Kagerou. If one missed on this hand training, the effect would wear off in a blink of an eye. When she became the fleet girl canditate and being worked hard to the bone in Edajima, she was made to do it so often it feels like everyday thing, but since it has been a while it seems like the creaking of her body had increased.
“Teeeeen. Well then, for what business do you come here?”
“Aaaa… I’m Kagerou. I have been assign to Fourteen Destroyer Division.”
“Fifteeeeen. Aa, so you’re the fleet girl in charge as leader. I’m Satsuki. Yoroshiku.”
“Yoroshiku… Hey, hey, Satsuki. So in Yokosuka dock, it is required to do basic stamina drill?”
“Nope. It’s not like that.”
Tweeeenty. As she said something along that line, Satsuki talked.
“It’s my hobby. During sortie I injured myself, but in the dock there was nothing to do so I do it like this.”
“Is is even necessary for an injured person to do push up? For destroyer’s injury, isn’t just by being in the dock for a while you can go out again right away?”
“Thiiiiiirty. Because for us, strength is our capital asset, isn’t it? We shouldn’t purposely skipping it.”
“Just because, you said. But for me… to be told to do it as well…”
“Foooourty. You’re not the only one. Everyone who came visiting did it too. But you see, everyone stopped in the middle of the way. Suddenly the kids who come visiting gone and I got assigned to Fourteen Destroyer Division.”
Satsuki gave an “ahahaha” laugh.
I see now, I understand, thought Kagerou whose two arms began to gradually trembled.This girl, are testing the other girls like this. She wanted to see if they could pass her or not, challenging their real strength. Of course those many girls would shout “Don’t make fun of me!” and get away from her. Well of course, coming to visit and instead get forced to do push up, anyone will get mad.
This girl, along with Akebono, are also leftovers, lamented Kagerou in her heart.
There, Satsuki raised her voice.
“Fourty niiiiiine. Fourty eeeeeeight.”
“Wait! Why is this in group training count system?! Usually we stop by fifty, isn’t it.”
“Eeehh? You’re tired already?”
Satsuki said with a calm expression.
“I thought those from Kure could do a bit more than this~”
“Ku….”
Kagerou gritted her teeth together. With that, a fire lit up.
“I’ll go along with you no matter how many it is!”
Now you’ve done it. Just like what Akebono said, Kagerou Class took pride in their physical strength. At Edojima, while their comrades were collapsing and falling, she and Shiranui together were the only one doing push up endlessly. When their cruising distance was so long that their comrades collapse, the limit between them are just different. If it’s a challenge, the only answer is accept!
“Thirty niiiine. Ooo, Kagerou, you pull it off~”
“Thirty eeeeeight! Come on, let the count come!”
“Thirty seveeeen. We can’t have it another way.”
From the numbers nearing fifty it got even lower and lower, but when she thought it would soon reach zero, the numbers just increased again. It was a seemingly never ending competition of willpower.
As their sweat accumulated akin to river, finally Satsuki stopped her count.
“Fiiiiifty. Aaaaah, so tired, so tired.”
Although she said fifty, in reality it was nearing two hundred. Satsuki stood up, taking the two towels prepared on top of the bed.
“You can use this.”
“Thanks.”
Making a composed expression, Kagerou took it. In truth, her feet were weak and her hands were trembling, however she supported the obstinacy against what seem to be white flag raising.
“Kagerou really pulled it off huh. There is no other fleet girl who is able to stick with me until this far.”
Satsuki said like she was relieved. Kagerou wiped her sweat.
“Heee. So YokoBase girls are quite weak in physical strength huh.”
“Ahahaha. There you said it. Well then, did you come to call me? That I am okay to go out of the dock?”
“Just like that. There is the permission from Atago-san.”
At the same time when Kagerou as told the the locations, she also gained the leave permission.
Satsuki shouted, “Yes!”
“So Atago-san said it’s alright!”
“You better thank me. I put myself on the line.”
“Don’t tell me, you called her Oneechan?”
“Yeah I did.”
Satsuki seemed to be surprised, before then she let out a laugh while clutching her stomach.
“Even though everyone is refusing and running away! You’re amazing!”
“Ee?! I I thought the others called her that way too….”
“It’s just Kagerou.”
I’ve been deceived, Kagerou lamented. It’s no wonder that Atago was so happy and elated
“W-Well, let’s forget that. Next, you have to do according to my direction okay.”
“Yep. Sure.”
Unexpectedly, Satsuki answered easily.
“Since you keep up with me in the push up until the end. I will follow Kagerou.”
“Then it’s good.”
Kagerou rolled up the towel.
“This, after I wash it I’ll return it.”
“I give it to you. Since tomorrow I will be leaving the hospital, let’s do push up together again.”
As expected, Kagerou answered, “Not for the second time, sorry.”
Kagerou sat down outside the dock. Around the time she was leaving, she saw Satsuki was preparing for an abdominal muscle workout. What dry dock patient, are you really even injured?
She took a second to take a deep breath, and then stood up. Well then, next. She needed to go meet her comrades, whose whereabouts were not even certain.
“The next one is. Arare, I see……. Arare?”
For a second she thought she misread it but there was no mistaking Atago’s beautiful writing. Surely, it says Arare.
It was written that she was always by the study room, so Kagerou went to look.
The study room was located besides the destroyer dormitory. What is meant by destroyer dormitory is that its the boarding house where destroyers sleep. Of course, that place was exclusively used by destroyers. One by one the desks were assigned to respective girls, it was made so that they can study or search for materials.
There are many desks by the destroyer training room. It was because the number of destroyers are high. In Carrier Dormitory or Battleship dormitory, with the same amount of space the number of desks are fewer and because of that they can use it with ease. In the past there was a voice to go protesting, “It’s tyranny!” but right at that moment it was brought down when they were told, “if it exceeds the ship capacity, we will expand the study room.”
Upon entering the study room, Kagerou headed towards the deeper end of the room, slipping through scattered equipment. Since there are instances of fleet girls constantly needing to refer back to the manual in order to look for information about their borrowed equipment, here and there gun turrets and torpedo firing tubes were prepared. Inside, things like a Type 90 Torpedo with an unloaded warhead or even default ship turbines scattered about.
She skillfully slipped past them. This can still be considered a decent condition. In Kure, there were hammocks hanging like silkworm shelves around where gun barrels were placed.
“A, there she is!”
She approached the girl she was looking for.
Arare was facing the desk. Even among destroyers where girls with small statures are common, she was especially small, her body was also slender. Because it was inside a room, her destroyer garrison cap was taken off, and it was easy to spot her with her lightly wavy hair.
She hadn’t changed from that time.
Kagerou turned happy, then called her.
“Arare, hey, Arare!”
Arare turned around. A childish, but composed facial features.
“Hasn’t it been a while?!”
Arare stared at Kagerou. For a while she was silent.
“…. who…?”
Kagerou was almost overturned.
“It’s me! Me! Kagerou! In Kure weren’t we in the same Sixth Destroyer Division!?”
“Aa…”
Arare made a movement indicating that she didn’t quite remember.
“… now that you mention it…”
“You remembered?”
“Maybe…”
Arare muttered something worrying.
Kagerou was in the same fleet as Arare in Kure. The others were Shiranui and Kasumi. Being the so-called comrades who eat from the same trencher, their relationship was something Kagerou was proud of.
Arare had her assignment changed before Kagerou. It’s just that Kageru didn’t hear where. In any case Arare was a silent girl, so she didn’t inform where she was going to be transferred. This trait was what makes Kagerou had time she suspected that the anmitsu she was treated to eat a lot was a change for silence.
Regardless, being able to see a nostalgic face made Kagerou feel relieved.
“Arare, you also became part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division, right.”
“Yes…”
“You know, I am so happy I met an old friend.”
“… Me too… well…”
Even though the words somewhat placed some distance between them, Kagerou didn’t care.
“Can I hug you?”
“Well, that is a bit….”
“Don’t say that.”
Gyuuu. She forcefully hugged. Although she thought, am I becoming kind of like Atago-san? the deep emotions of a long time reunion continued in her.
Arare remain silent and complied. From the very beginning she wasn’t a girl who pushed her self assertion to someone else.
“Hey, Arare, I had been feeling so nervous wondering if I am all alone in Yokosuka. Among the people, I met the girl who call herself “boku” and start doing push up, then I faced this bad mannered fleet girl.”
“That’s Akebono…”
That cynical person seems to be very famous.
“But with Arare here, I am happy. Why are you in Fourteenth Destroyer Division?”
“There was a fleet assignment… when somewhat I remained silent… I was told to go to Fourteenth Destroyer Division…”
“You’re quite taciturn, aren’t you. But I am here too so it’s alright.”
“What is it that’s alright?”
Along with the voice, suddenly her neck was caught then being pulled back.
Upon turning around, a lone fleet girl was there. A girl with eyebrows that looked as if they slanted upward, along with soft smooth hair. Her facial expression and tone seemed to harbor strong will; rather than a fleet girl it was easier to feel her presence as that of feudal samurai warrior or a knight.
Seeing her black-dominated sailor uniform, Kagerou knew right away. Isn’t this girl from Mutsuki Class?
“…. You’re Nagatsuki, aren’t you. As I thought, you’re part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division.”
“I am. So you’re Kagerou.”
Nagatsuki said while giving an unfriendly gaze.
“When I thought of going inside the study room, I saw you hugging a submissive Arare. Are you a newbie molester or something?”
“I’m not! I’m just warming up to a friend!”
“It’s unnecessary to do that, isn’t it.”
Being extremely outspoken, Nagatsuki slipped into the space between Arare and Kagerou.
“This is Yokosuka. Not Kure.”
“Now I am also a part of Yokosuka.”
“If so, then there are other destroyers. You’d better go to them.”
“I was given orders by the Admiral, I can’t help it now, can I?”
“That person will listen to anything as long as Houshou-san or Ikazuchi gives a pat on the head. Go bribe the two of them.”
“Why does it have to go that far?!”
Involuntarily Kagerou raised her voice. Giving a cold gaze, Nagatsuki continued with a bit of emotion.
“From the start, it was only Arare and I in the Fourteenth Destroyer Division. Just when we were talking about the two of us making it the strongest fleet, right then, people like you and Satsuki were moved in, even Akebono was assigned in. Wouldn’t that dampered the long awaited spirit? That is why, go away.”
Somehow, Kagerou understood.
In other words, Nagatsuki felt Kagerou’s existence as a hindrance. Right at the time when they thought about doing a lot of things together, outsiders who she should watch out for came butting in. Perhaps it would be appropriate to describe it like a kid who goes inside the sandbox just to trample on it.
That is something pitiful, but this side cannot pull back either.
Kagerou deliberately cleaned her throat.
“Because I’m the lead ship, you should obey me.”
“What did you say?”
Nagatsuki’s reaction was unexpected. It seemed she had not heard of it.
“Why does a destroyer become the lead ship of other destroyers!”
“Ask the Admiral. In any case, this time, I am the most esteemed ship in Fourteenth Destroyer Division. I won’t forgive disobedience.”
As expected, even she herself felt that was a bit over the top. However, she could not think of any other statement. Overconfident assertion, for Kagerou, is personally an unfavorable conduct, but there is no space for careful persuasion. Even if the worst would happen, since this is the hierarchy of organizational order, she of course would not disobey the words of the superior, would she.
However, Nagatsuki opposed.
“I refuse.”
She said it while moving as if she would protect Arare.
“I will not acknowledge you as lead ship. The Fourteenth Destroyer Division is a fleet of Arare and I alone. Leave us alone.”
“You’ve been saying nonsense this whole time. Aren’t you from SaBase? (Sasebo Base) Being a Mutsuki class, instead of Arare, aren’t you supposed to be hanging out with Satsuki?”
“I don’t need that muscle training maniac. I’ve decided to be with Arare.”
Nagatsuki gave a stare that said she would not hear anyone else’s opinion. Akebono was rebellious, but this girl, she was stubborn. Kagerou also realized this later on, but it seemed that it was because this girl’s personality was so reactive, that she was moved to the Fourteenth Destroyer Division.
“I have no business with you.”
“Well, I do.”
“If I say none, then there is none. Arare, let’s go.”
Nagatsuki pulled Arare. Arare who looked like she was daydreaming, followed just like that.
There was no time to shout “wait”. The both of them have gone somewhere else, and Kagerou was left just like that, dumbfounded.
Her mouth mouthed a “He”. What the heck, why is it only these kind of girls? Does the Admiral having some kind of grudge against me or something? Saying please do something for the leftovers, because it isn’t a troop made out of scrapped stragglers.
To say it honestly, I think it’s almost similar to that already. With Arare -who’s always silent- as the only decent one, it’s a set of a cynical girl, a muscle-training maniac, and an obstinate girl. I bet I, too, am in that category somehow.
She mourned about it alone. Thinking of looking for the last person, Kagerou walked out of the study room.
The last member of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division was Ushio.
She was thinking that she would get fed up with having to laboriously search for another troublesome person, but that did not happen. That person herself came to her.
That fleet girl came rushing towards Kagerou, who was just going out to go to the port. She swiftly bowed.
“E-excuse me, are you Kagerou-san? Kagerou of the Kagerou class.”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Ushio.”
Kagerou said “Aaa~”, feeling anticlimactic as just like that all of her objectives were achieved.
Ushio seemed demure and her appearance did not look tough. Judging by her attitude, it looked as if she was right about to burst out crying.
Kagerou thought, another somewhat extreme personality, I see. Many destroyer are like, either they have a small size and on the contrary, a big attitude, or those that once they shut up, they will remain silent until the end of the century. Called “Destroyer” in English, it was said that perhaps, in order to make the big ships go “eat this!” and target them whenever they meet, that the destroyers all have eccentric personalities. This is the case in the place beyond the ocean, but she heard that because same sized ships were so many, they all deliberately act like weirdos.
The fleet girl right before her eyes, how to say it, felt so timid to the point she didn’t look like a destroyer.
For the sake of formalities, Kagerou said,
“So you’re also in the Fourteenth Destroyer Division, right?”
“Yes. Umm… I will be in your care.”
In reflex, Kagerou replied, “Now, now, I will be in your care as well.” while bowing her head. She was an extremely polite fleet girl.
Ushio bowed her head down. Just by that, her breasts shook.
Kagerou heartily muttered.
“Despite being a destroyer….”
“What is it…..?”
“Nothing. Well then, with this, everyone is complete….”
“Umm, may I ask where Akebono-chan is?”
“Who knows. Maybe she’s somewhere over there?”
“I’ve been looking for her the whole time, but I couldn’t find her…”
Kagerou answered half-heartedly.
“Maybe she’s around places like the naval base office building’s rooftop.”
“It seems like she was quarreling with another destroyer there. I’ve told her stop picking fights with everyone she sees…”
That must have been me, thought Kagerou. So, it wasn’t solely to newcomers, but she picks fights with everyone equally.
“It’s okay now. Because I’ve met her.”
“But its about Akebono-chan, who has finally being assigned to a fleet. All these times no matter where it was, she was always being left behind… a, there she is, there she is!”
Far far away, near the sport ground used for training, was Akebono.
Ushio called, “Akebono-chan!”. Akebono glanced towards them, then ignored everything and continued walking. Right at that time, Ushio rushed over, saying something.
It seemed to have been something along the lines of “be good friends with everyone okay”. Akebono seemed like she was stubbornly unaccepting, with her actions of rejecting everything that Ushio said. She may have been pouring profanity, since she even flailed her hands around.
Even from afar, it was easy to see Ushio was feeling dejected. Unable to bear it, Kagerou voluntarily walked closer.
“Wait a moment, Akebono.”
Akebono glanced and met eyes with Kagerou.
“So you come again? How meddlesome.”
Her usual bad mouth. Her rough short breathing must be because they had quarrel before. Her whole body exuded a [don’t approach, don’t touch, and don’t get close] aura.
In contrast, Ushio had tear filled eyes. For no surprise, Kagerou was angered, she put her hands on her waist.
“You, treat your friend more kindly, will you?”
“Friend? Is this by chance about Ushio?”
“Of course. She had especially been looking for you!”
Akebono let out a laugh.
“Don’t be stupid. I don’t even ask for it. What a chore.”
“You listen here, what’s up with saying she’s not a friend while she has been frantically looking for you!”
“Trying to make me who is fine alone belong to a fleet, is nothing more other than meddling in someone else’s business.”
She just said she wouldn’t listen. Kagerou got increasingly furious.
“It’s because of wanting to know about everyone!”
“There are girls who are just like Shimakaze running around alone, okay.”
“That’s because she has that extreme speed that she can do nothing else, though!”
Shikamaze has no ship of the same class so it was hard to affiliate her with the other destroyers. That was why she has special treatment.
Akebono is of the Ayanami Class. Since it is the next class after Fubuki Class, there are other ships within that same class.
“Because they held on together is why destroyers have battle power. If we go astray, let alone scouting for main force, we can’t even escort!”
Suddenly, as if she had been hurt, Akebono shouted,
“Escort?! Don’t be stupid! That’s the job of a miserable stupid destroyer! I refuse such thing!”
“Haa? It’s an important duty, you know.”
“This simpleton! Doing it like that, getting flattered then letting yourself be used and destroyed, that’s why the destroyers are being looked down upon!”
Kagerou was bewildered. Escorting is a destroyer’s important duty. From big vessels to fleets, whatever is in need of protecting, they protect it. Things like shooting down flying enemy aircraft, driving away submarines, rescuing victims are the things they do.
She held those duties as something to be proud of. Her former flagship, Jintsuu, also taught her by saying repeatedly, “escorting is something that can only be done by destroyers. It’s an important duty.” It’s worth bragging that thanks to them, the large ships can utilize their power.
However, what’s up with that remark.
“….. who’s exactly the one who makes the destroyers be looked down upon now!”
Kagerou finally lost her temper.
“It’s because bad mannered girls like you that destroyers’ image is falling! Me who get pushed in like this, is what, a scrap vendor?”
“That kind of manner is unpleasant. You’re the first of the Kagerou Class, right. Just like Ant lion, disappearing in an instant is the joke.” [4]
“It’s because you keep on saying cynical things like that that you are being hated!”
“I know enough that I’m being hated. Leave me be!”
“Even I want to leave you be, but we’re fellow destroyers! Aren’t we comrades!”
“If you have no need of me, why don’t you drop me out?! If you say that to Atago-san I bet she’d do that for you.”
“Yeeesss, I’m going to do just that, you shitty idiot! I’ll empty your equipment, throw it over the port, and make you a target ship in Wakasaoki!”
“Quick and be done with it, kay? Else, in place of smacking you with a ship oar, I’ll rain torpedoes on you!”
After dropping an “IDIOOOOOOT!” remark, Akebono turned her back around and ran away.
Kagerou didn’t stop her. Fury still coiled around inside her stomach.
“Excuse me…”
Timidly Ushio called her.
“What”
When she glared back, Ushio was shocked.
“A…. I’m sorry…”
Looking at her expression, regret sank in right away.
“Ah no… I also apologize. It wasn’t even your fault.”
Kagerou pushed away her anger, forcing herself to give a smile. She would sooner have nothing but anger welling up for Akebono, but to lash it on Ushio was unmistakably wrong.
Ushio still seemed to be unsure of Kagerou’s feelings.
“I am sorry… I apologize in place of Akebono-chan.”
Since she really bowed down, Kagerou quickly stopped her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s all Akebono’s fault.”
Ushio looked at Kagerou from under her brows.
“Excuse me… About Akebono-chan, will you really drop her out….?”
“I wonder~”
Perhaps because she had seen the troubling situation, Ushio’s eyes welled up in tears. Panicking, Kagerou denied it.
“I won’t, I wont. Since she’s still a part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Division. If I drop her out just because I did what was told to, it’ll look as if I’m the one who lost and isn’t that frustrating? We will be together.”
Ushio brushed her chest.
“Thank you very much. I am relieved….”
“I should also polish my bad mouthing, don’t you think.”
It was meant to be a joke, but Ushio seemed to take it seriously.
“Please don’t be so affected by Akebono-chan. All the others destroyers until now, everyone ended up having strained relations with her. I think it will be much better to just look after her.”
“Ushio, you’re kind, aren’t you.”
“Thank you…”
“But you’ll only be used, why don’t you just cut your ties with Akebono?”
Ushio shook her head.
“I can’t do that. I have finally been included in the destroyers that Akebono-chan has accepted. I will stick with her to the end. With this as a trigger, I hope I can bring back the amenable girl she used to be.”
“Amenable? Akebono?”
She thought that it must have been a joke but Ushio was dead serious.
“Yes. I don’t know any destroyer as genuinely devoted to her duty as her.”
“No waaaaaay.”
Involuntarily Kagerou cackled a laughter. Ushio gave a serious look.
“It’s true. The shelling of the main office, it was because the admiral asked her to. The admiral said, be careful not to damage anything else, just destroy the main office. With that, the admiral can go to Houshou-san and battleship-san to be spoiled.”
“Aa….”
Kagerou remembered the admiral’s “For today I guess I will go to Hoshou-san~” statement.
That aside, to be able to only shell the main office without involving anything else, actually is a note-worthy ability. Even Kagerou who felt the after blow, was unscathed.
“Mmmmm…. Devoted, huh…..”
“I understand what Kagerou-san would want to say. However, I am also partly responsible in Akebono-chan becoming like that. That’s why, I beg you to forgive her.”
“Is that so?”
Kagerou unconsciously asked back. However Ushio repeatedly bowed down, saying only, “Please, I beg of you to take care of Akebono-chan.”
1. ↑ She’s throwing a tantrum. Just Imagine this http://i.imgur.com/GTq65.gif
2. ↑ It’s probably not what you guys are thinking about. It means the vibration of the ship’s hull due to the engine or so it seems… I can’t really put my finger on the meaning
3.↑ Basically she’s calling them nuts
4.↑ A pun. “Usubakagerou” literally means ant lion, but usubaka means idiot. Akebono was discreetly saying Idiot-gerou.
