OCTOBER 12, 8:23 a.m.

Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School dormitories

Y-467 Harekaze, Kagerou-class destroyer, training

Ship on dry dock for repairs, crew on shore leave

"Public outcry over the reactivation of the super warship Kurushima still remains adamant despite the Blue Mermaids' official statement on the matter. According to a survey by the National Institute for Maritime Social Security, 65 percent of over 23,000 respondents said that the Kurushima should've never been pressed into service for fear of the ship's potential as a weapon of war—"

"Neighboring countries have expressed their concern over the sight of the Kurushima in open waters. In a statement, the South Korean ambassador to Japan asked for an explanation as to why the Blue Mermaids, a transnational peacekeeping body, maintain a warship bristling with weaponry. He sees no reason for peacekeepers to maintain—"

"Opposition in the legislature is clamoring for the deactivation of the Kurushima following the public outcry over its reactivation. Lawmakers cited its potential as a weapon of war as the main reason for their call to action—"

"The Blue Mermaids shouldn't have bought that ship. Right now, they're acting antithetical to their nature as a peacekeeping body. Are they expecting to be dragged into a world war? They can't even find a cruise liner—"

"Up next: I Hate Carrier Group—"

Mashiro fell short of throwing the remote at the media outlets flashing negative headlines about the Blue Mermaids. After turning off the TV, she let boredom do what it wants with her. Isoroku, which she took home in Akeno's absence, curled up on the single couch away from her, giving politics the proverbial, apathetic finger. The smaller Tamonmaru slept beside him, too innocent to be involved in such a mess. She looked at her phone, hoping for a friend to ask her if she was free today, but no such request came. "Now I'm unlucky and bored," she said.

But at least she had it easy. Her older sisters and, especially, her mother are taking fire right now—not from Abyssals but by politics. It seemed prompt for the principal to keep her students out of the changing situation. Now, she's home alone with Isoroku and Tamonmaru, clear of the volleys of criticism from the bureaucracy and the public.

Not that she could do anything about it. No way was the Harekaze ready to set sail, even if a month had passed since the crippling battle. The destroyer sat on dry dock, surrounded by hammers and torches trying to patch it up the best they could. The damage was beyond anything the Akashi could repair at sea. Even the Akashi's captain, after talking with Mashiro, thought the ship was lost.

Its crew was to remain on land until repairs, which could take as long as three months, were done. As much as their shore leave was a welcome change of pace, part of them still wanted to go back out to sea, hoping to make a difference. Who could blame them? Their beloved captain was still missing and their mysterious guest—not to mention the abominations—still needed to return to her world. On top of that, the Regal Ocean still hasn't been found.

"Just come back already, Captain," Mashiro muttered.

Someone came up knocking, but it wasn't the captain. "Munetani-san, are you home?"

Mashiro quickly got up and answered the door. "Come on in."

Her guest, Kuroki, took notice of her pale look in an instant. "Munetani-san, are you okay? You don't look so good. Are you still upset about the principal's decision?"

"It's not that," Mashiro replied. "I stayed up late last night watching a movie. So what's up?"

"The girls and I are going out. Do you want to come along?"

Deep down, Mashiro knew that Kuroki was right on the money. Her soul belonged to the sea, to the thrill only rescuing the distressed could provide. She held the Harekaze together the best she could, at least until she finds the captain. Her insipidness wasn't a result of a late-night blockbuster but the feeling of a failure.

"Munetani-san," Kuroki held Mashiro's hands (totally platonic, by the way). "I'm certain the Captain wouldn't want to see you sulking. Why don't you join us? I think it'll help in some way."

"Well, I…" Mashiro raced through her mind for an alibi. "I…I have to feed Isoroku and Tamonmaru."

A quick glance over her shoulder, however, revealed mountains of food in the cats' bowls. "Seems the cats still have plenty of food left, Munetani-san. Enough to last the whole day."

"Well, there's that and…I, uh…still have to wash my hair."

"Don't be silly. Your hair looks just fine."

"Really? I heard that saltwater can mess up your—"

"Munetani-san."

Mashiro stalled no more, but it left a more bitter taste in her mouth. The cup of coffee she had at the wee hours felt nothing compared to a heavy heart. "I'm sorry, Hiromi-san. But I want to be left alone for now. Go have fun."

Kuroki saw just how deep her beloved idol had gone. Too bad she refused to have none of that. "If that's your decision, then you leave me no choice." With a snap of her fingers, a towering Musashi (the KanColle one) popped out from behind.

"W-Where did you come from?" Mashiro said, shocked.

"Tis not the time to dwell on guilt, skipper of the Harekaze," Musashi grabbed Mashiro by the collar of her sweater. Considering that she tots around with heavy gear all the time, a student half her size is no problem for her. "Thou must raise the crew's morale by enjoying the day!"

"H-Hey! Let me go!" Mashiro wiggled her way out of Musashi's grasp, to no avail. "I said I want to be alone today!"

"Let us go, Hiromi-dono!" Musashi carried her load off. "The day shall not last forever!"

"Let's not keep the girls waiting," Kuroki smiled. "And don't call me Hiromi-dono. It's awkward."

"At least let me get my wallet!" Mashiro yelled.

~O~

What are the ways to spend shore leave? Let the girls count the ways.

Start off with a simple walk in the park, along a trail of cherry blossoms falling off their parent trees. Why not take a picture along the way? It makes for a good addition to someone's scrapbook. Press that button the moment Hime chokes on a cherry blossom deciding to take a closer look at human biology. Even funnier, have the strong Musashi give Hime the classic Heimlich treatment.

Follow up that happiness with a trip to the arcade, especially to play the new hit game called Blue Mermaids: Peacekeeper. Command the Blue Mermaids frigate Biwa and fight off unmarked warships wreaking havoc in territorial waters. As expected of a top student, Moeka set an all-time high of 22 ships destroyed before losing the game. As a reward, Musashi carried Moeka on the former's broad shoulders with ease, drawing the attention of a few.

"Captain on the bridge!" exclaimed Musashi. "Musashi, set sail!"

"Musashi-san, put me down!" replied Moeka. "This is embarrassing!"

The funny thing is that this was Moeka's first time in the arcade, much less playing a game in one.

Since a café sits next to the arcade and lunchtime is fast approaching, curry is next on the itinerary. Tama would've enjoyed this part of a good time if she wasn't down with the flu. Upon the first spoonful, Fubuki and Musashi took a direct hit from awe. The dish itself, while without a doubt delicious, feels like a far cry from the curry they used to eat back home…probably because it isn't made out of bauxite.

"What does bauxite even taste like?" Hime wondered. She never got her answer, but it didn't matter. Mankind still has plenty of meat to go around…for now.

The calm sea provides plenty of leisure for the rest of the afternoon. The day went by in a matter of hours, but it achieved its goal of making everyone smile, even the once-gloomy Mashiro. For a time, all the nerve-wracking moments they experienced from the get-go were put aside, if not removed in its entirety. They enjoyed the only silver lining brought by the Harekaze on dry dock.

Then, fate slapped the girls in the face as they came across their beloved ship. All the bad moments flooded into their minds as fast as they were put aside earlier.

"The Harekaze…" Kuroki winced at the sight of mangled steel above deck.

"Even though a month has passed," Mashiro remarked. "There's still more work to be done."

"It…it really is over for us, huh?" Kuroki's pessimism caught everyone with their skirts down. "The search, I mean…"

"If only I had been a bit more insistent, this wouldn't have happened," Mashiro added.

"Nobody's to blame, Munetani-san. Nobody could've foreseen this."

"How I wish I could have."

Moeka put her hand of support over Mashiro's shoulder. "You brought our schoolmates back safe and sound. As far as I'm concerned, it's hardly a failure on your part. I'm sure Mike-chan would be proud of you."

"Well said, Moeka," Musashi said. "Anyone can rebuild a ship, but no one can rebuild lives lost."

"We all have to do our part to bring her back," Moeka added. "So when the time comes to welcome her back, we'll be ready."

Kuroki and the rest had no words to express their gratitude, although Mashiro added with a smile: "Then we can all enjoy the next shore leave together."

"I'm looking forward to it," Hime said.