The sea has moved inland.
Toppled concrete buildings leaning against each other, their windows shattered, moss and vines and even the occasional flowers and trees growing up their beams and out of their cracks and faults.
Flooded streets, fish darting through the currents beneath our feet as the shadow of our shipgirl rigging passes over them.
"Yamashiro, can you have your seaplanes scout around the next block?"
"Roger."
The fairies make tiny salutes from the cockpits of their miniature planes before buzzing around the corner and out of sight.
I hope they don't get eaten by the wildlife.
"What do you think, Yamashiro?"
As we settle to a stop in the sunken city, flagship Kongou calls out to me.
It's a vague question, but I don't think it's small talk. This is probably about our argument.
"Hmm. It's... nice?"
"... I see. Well, spend some time looking around. We'll be here for a while."
A while... That must have been the wrong answer.
Setting my rigging down in the shade of a partially collapsed parking garage, I sit down and loosen the sweat-soaked clothes clinging to my body where the mechanical rigging was mounted.
The fairies, having finished their reconnaissance, skim along the water's surface with tiny nets, trying to catch fish from their seaplanes.
This is what we're supposed to be fighting against, the destruction of humanity by the Abyssal forces.
Personally, I like this. I think it's beautiful. I wouldn't mind seeing more of it.
It's nice, and that bothers me.
Because I know I should feel the exact opposite.
"Um, Yamashiro?"
A soft voice stops my brooding, probably for the best.
Hesitating just past the edge of the garage's shadow is one of the destroyers, looking like a high school kid with an all black uniform.
It's making me sweat just looking at her, so I wave her in.
"Shigure? What is it?"
"I was wondering if you could ask the fairies to help look for something."
"Sure. What are you looking for?"
"It's a keychain, with a bright red ball and two gold straps hanging from it."
"Okay."
With a huff, I hoist the rigging onto my back and step out from the shade, into the oppressive heat bearing down from the midday sun and rising from the glaring water.
I count one by one as the fairies land their seaplanes with a squeak on the rigging's flight deck for resupply, before sending them back off to search through the buildings in groups of two.
I turn back to Shigure, but she looks away quickly, piquing my curiosity, or perhaps, anxiety.
"Something the matter?"
"No, it's just... you must really care about your fairies."
"Hmm? Why's that?"
"Since your smile was really pretty."
... What an honest kid.
"Well... It's easy to be nice to what can't hurt you."
That's right. An honest kid like that...
There's no end to the trouble in store for them.
Before Shigure can say anything, I ruffle her hair and begin skating away.
"Come on. They might've found something."