Vibrant colors painted the architectural designs, but the color red stood out among them all. From the gates in front of the commerce district to the pagoda-styled buildings, the grandness of their design and the color they had seemed as if they were trying to make a point about something she had no real knowledge of.

Staring at the sky from the bench owned by a confectionery store, white clouds could be seen spreading across the bright blue canvas. It was one thing to know from hearsay, but seeing it all with her own eyes gave an entirely different experience. The ceiling of the world was far and tall; so different to the skies of her homeland. The air, the culture, language, lifestyle and customs, even the daily habits of the people native to this land were different to what she was accustomed to. But the most important thing…

Everyone is having so much fun living their lives.

The girl wondered and worried. Dipping her head, memories resurfaced to let out echoes of the past. Words unsaid. Promises unfulfilled. A sudden farewell. And then…

"Niimi… finally, I caught up..."

The girl looked up. Ahead of her was the figure of a white-haired, red-eyed girl. Dressed in a traditional clothing native to this Far East country, the girl panted, seemingly out of breath with sheen of sweat on her face. It was as if she had been running… no, she had rushed out the moment she saw her.

...ah.

The two met each other in the eyes. The foreign girl's heart throbbed painfully. It was difficult to breathe, and a shiver ran down her spine. Her cheeks heated up as blood rushed past her neck to the tip of her ears. A smile eventually spilled out and tears flowed down freely.

"...Ayanami," the flaxen-haired girl called out. "It has been a long—"

"Niimi!"

Ayanami sprung to embrace her. The girl stiffened, not knowing what to say or how to react to the sudden gesture of affection. Then she heard a quiet sob from her friend as she felt the warmth of her body spreading through the physical contact. It was soft. Familiar, even. When was the last time she could be this close to other people, much less those who she truly came to acknowledge as her friends…?

"...yes," Z23 said. Placing away her tea cup, the girl returned Ayanami's affection by caressing her friend's back. "It has been a long time, indeed… ein freund."

Thus, the passage of time gently passed, soaking in the bundle of emotions kept hidden for a a short yet painfully long time. In that transient moment, all was right in the world.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't control myself…"

Ayanami hung her head low. Her friend, Z23, was the type to draw a line between personal and business matter. Her strictness extended everywhere, but it was all in good faith.

Suddenly throwing herself to her like earlier was a breach of manner. Though it was enforced by Z23 alone, Ayanami wished to respect her friend's boundary. Be that as it may, she did the opposite right after crossing path with her again. I want to bury myself in a hole...

"...I don't think you need to think too much about it."

"But, still…"

Z23 warmly smiled. "I'm happy to see you are well, Ayanami-san."

Butterflies danced in Ayanami's stomach. In a mix of embarrassment and relief, she let out a sigh and nodded to her friend's words. Even after all that happened… this was okay. This was more than fine for her. She didn't want to count her blessings, but…

I'm so happy I want to cry…

She didn't part ways with her close friends in the best terms. One day she was told to return only to find out that the Sakura Empire had left Azur Lane. The pain she felt upon realizing that she'd never be able to meet her friends again, even though they had made a promise to see each other tomorrow… it hurt, so much so that it tore her heart. If fate willed it, then she'd have loved to be with Laffey and Javelin as well, yet…

"Oh my, now this is a welcome surprise."

"Eep!?"

Before she had noticed, a silver-haired woman popped her head into the corner of her sight, making a surprising appearance that similarly stunned Z23. The two, frozen stiff like deer caught in headlight, stared at the one and only Admiral Hipper-class Heavy Cruiser—Prinz Eugen. The silver-haired kansen stared, hummed, and then slyly smiled as she slid her gaze to Ayanami's friend. Z23 began to sweat profusely.

"I see…" The moment she said that, Z23's shoulders jolted. The straitlaced gunboat horribly failed in maintaining her composure. "So, it looks like you didn't tell the whole story when you insisted to escort me and der kommandant, hmmmm? My, aren't you a naughty girl, Niimi~"

Just like that, Z23 turned flabbergasted with red face and a hanging jaw. A squawk flew out of her lips, and it looked as if there was steam puffing from her ears. That was… new. Ayanami didn't expect such a powerful reaction from her close friend.

"Der Kommandant…?" Ayanami paused, and then realized. "Am I interrupting something…?"

"No such thing, no." Prinz Eugen narrowed her eyes in delight. When she raised her hand to rest it on Ayanami's head, the girl sat still. However, there was no malice so she let the older girl to pat her head. It felt different to when the Commander did it... "We are here for work, but it is more that our Kommandant who is mostly in need of escorts."

"Oh…" So the same as what I've been doing for Shikikan.

"Ufu fu, such a dear you are, fraulein." Pulling her hand back, the Heavy Cruiser straightened her back. "You as well, Zerstörer. Had you admitted it, things would have gone much easier for you. Well, der Kommandant already suspected as much, though."

"K-kwaaah!?"

Z23 was beginning to sound more and more like a dying bird, now. She really had changed in the time they missed each other, but… If what Eugen-san said is true, then Niimi also feels the same way I do...

Still, that actually raised a question. Iron Blood was half a world away. The routes one must take to cross the Land of the Gods was simply beyond the norm that it should have cost a fortune just to pay a friendly visitation. Ayanami then tilted her head; why did the two travel so far out from their country to Sakura Empire? With their Commanding Officer too, at that...

"Your face is making a look that wants to know why we are here," noted Prinz Eugen.

Ueeeh?! H-how did she notice!?

"Now that is top secret," the Heavy Cruiser sang with a smile and a finger raised in front of her own lips. "The mystery box will open at the end of festival, so do look forward to it~"

"U-uuh…? Okay…?"

"A-at any rate!" Abruptly standing off from the bench, Z23 took a few steps forward and turned around to face the two. "Time's a wasting! Eugen, I thought we're supposed to buy souvenirs for Hipper and the others?!"

At Eugen's carefree laughter, Z23's face lit up like traffic light. It really was a sight to witness, but Ayanami couldn't help but to follow the former's example. She laughed, laughed, and laughed until she had her fill. Even as she glimpsed the look of betrayal on her friend's face.

Aah, she thought. This is so nostalgic…

They were not in the past. Javelin wasn't here. Laffey was also not here. In the end, nothing could be done about what had happened, but that didn't mean everything was lost. After all…

Niimi is here for now, so…

"Then, let me help you both." Leaving her seat, Ayanami patted the skirts of her yukata.

"E-eh? Huh, is that alright with you…?"

"Un. There's nothing to do today, plus…" Ayanami smiled. "I know the stores around here. So, can I help you both…?"

Like that, the decision was set. The three marched out as a group, exploring the commerce district to browse for items of interest. Sometimes busy and sometimes slow, there was no fixed rhythm during their shopping spree. Z23 and Eugen didn't have much knowledge of local specialties, so it was all up to Ayanami to help explain it all to them. Laughter echoed, shouts and complaints flew by, yet the three never stopped moving. There was simply no need to; not when they were all having so much fun.

Eventually, however, all things came to an end, even this magical moment.

Orange shades began to light up the streets. Lanterns and torches shone bright that they chased away shadows of the night. The warm ambiance of the festival was extremely telling, yet things began to slow down as people's activity winded down. The three had gone all over the places, checking every nook and cranny. As a result, both Eugen and Z23 now held a pair of bags riddled with gifts in each hand. It was a good thing to know that even without rigging, kansen were already above normal humans in physical conditions.

"Then, we will be on our own way," Z23 said at the entrance of the commerce district.

Ayanami cast a downtrodden gaze, prompting stutters from her friend.

"I'm sure you can see each other again tomorrow," the Heavy Cruiser said. "We will be here for the following week. Unfortunately, we can't just leave der Kommandant be."

Ah, I guess that's true, too.

"Niimi… is your Commander… a good person?"

"W-whatever do you mean by that?" Z23 averted her gaze, clearly not wanting to talk about it.

"Well, ours is as stiff as Zerstörer here, but…" A glint flashed by Eugen's eyes. "Feel free to come and join us. More fun to have, no?"

Ayanami stilled, considering the idea briefly. However, it didn't take long for her to answer by shaking her head.

"Oh? Would you mind telling us why?"

The Fubuki-class destroyer inhaled. How was she supposed to say it…? "Our Shikikan is… a good person. Nice, but distant. Even so, he's really nice to everyone."

But is that all he is about?

She had known him only for some months, no more than a season and a half. Nevertheless, that person never seemed bothered by the admittedly shallow bonds he had forged so far. He preferred to take his time, no matter how long. Even though he was already pushing past his prime, there was just something about him that seemed content to let things flow the way they ought to. Like a hermit patiently waiting for a fish to bite the lure as seasons went by.

No, that's not what I want to say, Ayanami rebuked herself. If there's a reason why, it's—

"Shikikan is… a very lonely person," Ayanami concluded. Meeting the eyes of the Iron Blood's Heavy Cruiser, she conveyed her thoughts and feelings as best as she could. "I don't want to leave him be, or else… he'd up and disappear while nobody's looking."

Yes. That faint feeling, as if that back burdened with sorrowful past would abruptly vanish from sight… Ayanami didn't want to see that unpleasant thought to come true.

She might not know the complete truth. She might just be presuming things and acting as if she knew better. Even so… she hoped that the she could be by his side, all so that he'd not look back for the rest of his life. The kind of life Tatsumiya Aoto had right now was just far too lonely be it for himself or for people who knew him.

"Hmm, so even this faraway land has a person worthy of your loyalty."

Ayanami snapped out of her own thoughts. Looking up, Eugen's gloved hand fell upon her head, once again caressing and ruffling her hair like before. Looking back to the two in front of her, the girl saw her friend softly smiling, seemingly relieved while Eugen curled her lips into a gentle, elder sisterly smile. Squinting her eyes, Ayanami let out a tired but satisfied sigh, now knowing that she had become capable enough to properly tell others of her own feelings.

For once, luxuriating in praises wasn't a bad thing to have.

The way back was dark. In any other circumstances, a girl seen wandering alone by herself in a road devoid of people would have been a cause for concern, but Ayanami was never any ordinary person. Navigating herself out of the commerce district, the noise began to decline in volume, eventually fading into the backdrops.

"Ah, Ayanami-san?" Crossing paths at an intersection, Ashigara's appearance came to be a surprise. A pleasant one, but still a surprise. "Good to see you again. Have you just returned from attending the festival?"

"Un. It was fun," Ayanami replied. Especially since I could talk about so many things with Niimi. "Ashigara-senpai, have you recovered enough to freely walk around?"

Asked like that, the Myoukou-class warship wore a slightly embarrassed face. She scratched the back of her head, her legs shifting and rubbing against each other. It seemed something happened while everyone wasn't around…

"W-well… I was harshly reprimanded by my sisters for overexerting myself, so…"

Ah, that explains it all.

"A-anyway! I've fully healed so please have no worries! I'm sure we will win tomorrow's match!"

Ayanami paused, recalling the announcement and the tournament lineup. If she remembered it correctly, the next match was going to be…

"We are going up against the Second Carrier Division, though…"

"...oh."

Let it not be said that as much as Ashigara's encouragement was better than pessimism, they were going to fight the cream of the crops. While the First Carrier Division was comprised of the strongest, the Second Carrier Division was only a few steps behind them. Plus, they had a better lineup, team synergy, as well as a wide array of tactics honed with experiences. In a battle between kansen, the Second Carrier Division might be the best throughout the fleet.

Winning against them would be… challenging, to say the least. Onee-chan is also there with Takao-senpai and Atago-senpai.

"T-that might be true, but we will never know if we don't try… right?"

Ayanami gave her senior a pitying look. Not even Ashigara herself was convinced by her own attempt to lift the mood.

Dinner that night was a bit stranger than the usual. The first ones to return were Shoukaku and Zuikaku, Aoto, then Ayanami followed by Ashigara. The last one in particular looked pretty haggard, while Ayanami was humming a tune to herself. Aoto shifted his gaze to the crane sisters who looked like they knew something he didn't.

"I met my friend today," Ayanami suddenly explained over dinner. "A close friend… and she's been doing well. We went around, buying souvenirs for her friends."

"...I see." Aoto nodded at his subordinate's latest tale. It was unusual. Ayanami was never this upfront. It was… pleasant, to see how cheerful the girl was, compared to her usual self. In fact, Aoto preferred to see her like this. "Was it fun?"

"Yep!"

Aoto once again nodded in response. He lifted his hand, reached out, and ruffled Ayanami's hair. Once, twice, thrice. The girl hummed with an infectious smile on her face.

"...somehow, aren't you doting on Ayanami-chan like a parent would, Shikikan-kun?"

"Hm? Aaah, I suppose so." Pulling his arm back, he scratched his chin. "I wasn't planning to make this a habit, but I guess it just somehow turned this way."

"I'm not saying you're doing something bad," Shoukaku refuted his statements, walking a little ahead of the group. "But… aren't you already at marriageable age? I don't think I have ever seen you taking some days off to meet your family..."

Oh, so it's about that? It wasn't an open secret by this point. Aoto was indeed about to reach 40 years old this year. He was no longer a top shelf product even with his deceiving looks, but how could he say it…? It's difficult for me to think of a future where I could settle down.

"Eh? Do you swing the—"

"Shoukaku, finish that sentence and I'm going to cut your paycheck by forty percents."

Ignoring the horrified gasp, Aoto lifted his chin as he pondered about her earlier question. It was rather difficult to process when asked so suddenly, but even then… Even if it was in a different circumstance, his answer would be—

"Having family… I don't think I will ever be ready for it," Aoto admitted. "Never once have the thought occurred to me. Perhaps because I only know how to live as a soldier all my life."

At the confused gazes of his subordinates, all Aoto could do was smile.

"Well, my own story will have to wait," he continued on. "For now, let's have our fill and rest up. Tomorrow is semifinal for you three, right?"

Acknowledging their responses, Aoto resumed consuming dinner, keeping himself busy. Yes, there would come a day where he could tell his story, but that wasn't here or now. He'd rather leave the troublesome things for later.