A sappy story I wrote after binging on one particular J-Pop song.
"Uhh...I hope I won't get lost in this..."
At her sister's urging, Beagle ended up going to the town outside the port on her next day off, reasoning she needed to go out once in a while - she would've spent it helping to do chores around the base otherwise. Though when she thinks about it, she found it preferable to wandering aimlessly from place-to-place.
Walking past a flower shop, she happened upon a familiar figure, browsing rows and rows of flowers. "Madam Illustrious!" She called out, causing the person to turn around, a warm smile on her face.
"Oh my, Beagle, glad to meet you here. Would you like to browse flowers with me?" She offered.
Relieved she met someone she knows, Beagle readily obliged and stepped inside the store, packed with both people and various kinds of flowers laid in rows; their scent overwhelmed the little destroyer's sensitive nose, and Illustrious let out a small laugh at her reaction.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," Beagle said after managing to adjust her senses to the sensation. "Oh, don't call me ma'am, makes me feel old; now I know how Hood feels when Abby calls her auntie," Illustrious good-naturedly replied, eliciting a small giggle from the younger girl.
"Sorry; so, are you buying flowers, miss Illustrious?"
"Yes, a gift for Hood's engagement of sorts; she's getting married, remember? Well, since Aurora provided me with suggestions - I swear, that lass sure knows her flowers well - I know what to buy, so now I'm just enjoying the sight of them before heading back."
"Ah, I remember. Managing to win the commander's heart, Miss Hood sure is amazing." Beagle said, adding under her breath, "Unlike me."
Illustrious, whose eyes were fixated on a bucket of Baby's Breath on display, took a cursory glance on her little companion. It was gone rather quickly, but she did look hurt for a moment.
"Ah, If I know Hood, she would say you are amazing, too. I have to say I agree with that, dear."
As she had expected, Beagle, who was not accustomed to being praised, started getting flustered. It was rather cute and distressing at the same time.
"Me...amazing?...but I...don't...can't do much..."
"Hmm...In my humble opinion, you did as much as everyone else, so why selling yourself short dear?
"...Sorry. Sometimes I just feel...I cannot really do anything meaningful for everyone in the base."
Illustrious sighed softly. Always stuck to small escort missions, the B-class destroyers; not their fault as they were never intended for major combat operations in the first place. However, while Bulldog took her lot in stride, the same cannot be said about her sister. Now Illustrious understands why Beagle always insists on helping everyone, even on her day off.
"Flowers sure are wonderful. You know why, Beagle dear?" Illustrious knelt in front of the destroyer to see her eye to eye, and after Beagle shook her head, she went on. "None of them fought to be number one. Each made an effort to bloom, even when no one notice and all of them are proud because of that."
"Miss Illustrious..."
"We too, we are like flowers that grow where people do not pay attention. Each of us carries a different seed to be nurtured until it blooms; and as long as we strive to grow, it's good enough. "
"So even...someone as small as I can..."
"Big flowers, small flowers, neither is better because none are the same when they gather together. No need for you to be on top, dear. After all, you will always be a special, one-of-a-kind flower."
Much to the delight of Illustrious, Beagle started to smile at her words, though she realized one's self-doubts cannot be erased in such a short span; it's a start, at least.
"I...see. Then...Beagle will try to keep doing her best."
"That's all I want to hear."
Satisfied, Illustrious gave the girl a quick hug before standing up, just as the flower shop owner came to her. "Here's your order, miss Illustrious." the old woman said as she handed the carrier a bouquet; she noticed Beagle and warmly smiled at her.
"Oh, I don't know you had a companion with you; she seems to be a sweet young lady, miss Illustrious."
Seeing Beagle getting flustered again, Illustrious chuckled. "Yes, she's a sweet young lady indeed, always ready to help people."
The owner seemed oddly pleased at the answer and the destroyer's reaction to her remark earlier. "I know it. Ah, perhaps she would love this flower; it fits her character. Go on, take it. It's free." The old lady plucked a dandelion and offered it to Beagle, who reluctantly accepts and softly murmurs her gratitude.
"Dandelion? How fitting. Here you go, madam, and thank you." Illustrious remarked as she paid the owner for her purchase. Moments later she and Beagle have left the shop, walking side-by-side. After some time had passed without neither of them speaking, Beagle broke the silence.
"Um...miss Illustrious? Thank you for your kind words earlier...and..."
"Oh, don't mention it, dear. I hope you are starting to feel better."
"And...um...um...let me carry that for you!"
"Of course, here you go." Illustrious handed the bouquet over to Beagle. Thankfully it wasn't that big, and she carried it without difficulty, a determined look on her face; clearly, she makes the best effort to be as careful as possible, a fact that Illustrious really appreciate. This time, she would show it.
"Well, Beagle dear, would you like to stop for tea before we head back? My treat."