The third day's naval exercise differed from previous ones. For once, the semifinals were held in the morning with the final match set at night. This decision was made to ensure the finalists could be fully-rested but also alert enough to stay combat-ready, simulating conditions often seen in a naval campaign that could last for days. The team must focus on preserving their strength if they truly wished to grasp victory.
Quite a severe winning condition, but I suppose it's a good test as any.
On one side of the exercise premise was the Fifth Carrier Division led by Zuikaku. On the other side stood the Second Carrier Division, a force lacking only a rear escort to protect their Flagship. Aoto knew three of them—Fubuki, Takao and Atago—but the carriers were not ones he could consider having seen often even while out at the sea. Hiryuu, the white-haired woman in white and blue kimono stood with a hand resting on the pommel of her sword, her gaze steadfast and ready for battle. Souryuu, in the meanwhile, involved herself with the rest of her team; most probably to review tactics and mental preparation.
Both of them ranked exceedingly high in the navy's hierarchy. They also carried an air of professionalism tempered with experiences. I do wonder how this match will turn out.
"It seems everyone's here." A regal voice chimed in. Aoto glanced downwards, noticing the arrival of the referees. "The second semifinal match shall begin shortly. Have all of you fully prepared yourself for the upcoming battle?"
A round of nods answered her. Nagato responded in kind as she organized the two sides to form lines opposing each other. After a little encouragement speech that seemed to have been made with the crowd's excitement in mind, the referees stepped back to allow both teams to take their fighting stances. Once they were in a safe distance, Mutsu raised a flag.
Nagato extended her right arm forward. "Let the match begin!"
It all began with a charge executed by the opposing team's Heavy Cruisers. Takao aimed for Zuikaku along with her sister but Ashigara moved to block their path, her sword drawn while her rigging activated its offensive mechanisms. The barrels pointed at Atago and promptly fired, unleashing a volley which prompted her to retreat. In the next moment, however, Ayanami stepped in to cut the enemy's escape route.
"Eeei!" The giant sword in her hand fell into space right before Atago, unleashing a water column which stopped Atago from trying to break out from the front. Additional volley rained down around her that further isolated her in place. Before the obstruction receded, Ayanami leaped through the curtain of water and foam. "You're not getting away!"
"Arara, looks like this Onee-san has become rather popular." The Heavy Cruiser curled her lips upwards. "But don't forget your guest of honor, Ayanami-chan!"
Right then and there, a round of shells fired in her direction. The first few brushed her aside, but the other two struck her directly. Ayanami staggered as another volley reached her, but this time she flew out of the way. Smokes rose from her side, a visible dent with scorched marks engraved on her rigging. The power of the barrage wasn't nearly enough to defeat her, in which case—
"Heh hen," Fubuki's voice arrived along with her figure sliding into position. She stood at the corner of Ayanami's vision, very close to a blind spot with turrets and torpedo racks pointed to her. "Sorry, Ayanami! All's fair in love and war!"
"...that's true." Ayanami lowered her legs, readied her sword in one hand, and held the gun turret in her other hand. Her torpedo racks strapped to the sides of her rigging readjusted to aim at Fubuki and Atago. "Then—I will also give my all, Onee-chan!"
There was a clear disadvantage. Even with the difference of numbers and firepower in mind, the Second Carrier Division seemed to have never once entertained the thought of holding back against their juniors. Their movements as fluid as running water, their finely coordinated attacks a testament of their tactical advantage. Even before five minutes had clocked up, the opposing team successfully divided Zuikaku's team. What an outstanding performance.
"Shikikan-kun, don't you think you're focusing on the wrong side…?"
"Hm. While I certainly am rooting for Zuikaku, you cannot dismiss the severe disparity of strength." Aoto pressed two fingers on his chin. "It'd be one thing to have numbers backing the enemy up. If they also have the raw strength and discipline to act on their strategies, they are practically invincible. Willpower and bullheadedness can only go so far."
Shoukaku's wince told him more than enough of what she was thinking. It seemed she had reached the same conclusion as he did, yet she didn't want to admit it.
It was admirable of her to keep on rooting for her sister, but she needed to realize that there was no meaning in looking away from the truth. However, it wasn't about her this time; it was her sister. Zuikaku had yet to qualify for the leadership role. Her orders were haphazard, and while giving Ayanami and Ashigara free reigns past the general guidelines seemed like such a good idea at first, the lack of team cohesion and backup plans made things even more difficult than they already were for them. That girl needed to polish her leadership skill if she wished to be the fleet's Flagship, otherwise…
"They're not going to make it."
The first to fall was Ayanami. Cornered with no way out, the destroyer quickly accumulated damages to her rigging and succumbed to fatigue. She still managed to take down Fubuki, but her defeat allowed Atago to assist her sister in dispatching Ashigara. With the opposing team's carriers retaining their full strength, Zuikaku found herself surrounded with no way out.
Aoto saw the brunette biting her lips ash she scowled in frustration. Her eyes darted from side to side as if in search of the feeblest chance, but there was truly nothing left that could be done on her lonesome. The sword held in her right hand trembled until Zuikaku spat out a harsh breath. Sheathing her weapon, the last surviving member of the Fifth Carrier Division raised both of her arms to the air, the match concluding with her declaration of defeat.
"Huh… that girl chose to surrender," Shoukaku murmured.
"...why does that sound like she has a habit of charging headlong even when she's alone?"
"Well… there hasn't been a situation that could force her hands so far. For you not knowing it cannot be helped, Shikikan-kun…"
Why am I not surprised…
"Umm, since the match's over, I'd like to go to Zuikaku's side." Shoukaku abruptly stood up, seemingly jittery to rush down for her sister. "Shikikan-kun, are you not going?"
"I'd like to stay here for a bit longer. You can leave a shikigami with me."
"Okay…?"
After the post-announcement handshake between the two sides, there was nothing left to see until this evening. Both the crowds, the staff, and the referees had gone on their ways as afternoon break began in earnest. However, Zuikaku was the last to leave the premise. She stood on the ocean surface with her chin lifted, both of her eyes closed as if listening to the world around her. Aoto hummed in thoughts.
When Shoukaku joined the group, she had already seen everything she needed to know. All three members of her Division had cast their gaze downward in shame. She had somewhat expected them to feel bad for losing, but she certainly didn't anticipate Ashigara to join in sharing the weight of defeat with the others. As Zuikaku joined the group without saying anything, the atmosphere was growing so heavy it was difficult to even say anything at all.
"Errm…" Shoukaku started, unsure of what to do. She needed to handle this very carefully lest she makes her sister and allies more depressed than abandoned pets in the rain. "E-everyone…"
"Excuse me, Shoukaku. Can you hear me?"
"Wah!"
Shoukaku's sudden shout alarmed everyone. All of them turned in one direction, but instead of the thing they had expected to see, there was a piece of paper floating between Shoukaku and them. It had a white color, trimmed neatly, and folded to look like a person; the hallmarks of Shoukaku's finesse in the art of Onmyoudo.
"Shi-Shikikan-kun…?" Shoukaku replied, staring half in relief and half confused. "Is there something wrong?"
"Well, no. Not exactly in the way you should be worried about."
"Then…?"
"How should I say it…" The silence lasted for five seconds. "I was trying to buy a few drinks for you all, but it seems the vending machine broke down. I ended up having quite a few more than I asked for…"
From the corner of her eyes, Shoukaku noticed Zuikaku perking up.
"Can any of you help me out? I'm close to the harbor's entrance—"
"I'll go! I'll do it!"
Zuikaku…? Before the white-haired woman could comprehend her sister's fast response, the girl had already gone off and rushed out while telling them to wait for her. In a matter of half a minute, the brunette vanished from the corridor. Aaaah, there she goes…
Why couldn't that girl be honest to herself and the others? Shoukaku exhaled as she hoped for the best while expecting the worst to happen.
The harbor's front side possessed many warehouses, many of them currently used for the sake of the festival. Of course, now that the semifinals had ended, many people were on the moves, chattering as they talked about the matches and wondering how would the final match be like. Others, in the meanwhile, sought to go back to the upper layer to have hearty meals or just to have a well-deserved break.
Zuikaku pushed through the crowds, apologizing as she interrupted the flows of masses while taking care not to overstep her boundary. After a bit of a struggle, she reached the vending machine that only existed at the front side of the harbor. Her breaths were ragged, and the heat was starting to get to her. Fall had yet to go in full-swing, so traces of summer still could be felt in the air. It didn't help that she had to squish her way through the crowds just to reach her destination.
"You're here," the familiar voice of her superior reached out to her. However, it sounded rather apologetic this time. "Sorry for troubling you. It must have been tough to get here."
Zuikaku was about to shake her head in response, but then she saw a can rolling to her feet and it made her pause. The brunette witnessed more than a dozen canned drinks ejecting themselves out from the vending machine without a sign of stopping. Tatsumiya Aoto bitterly smiled with six held in his arms.
"Wh-bwuh!?" Zuikaku recoiled in shock. "W-what did you do, Shikikan!?"
"What did I do…?" Aoto tilted his head and then pointed his chin to the vending machine next to him. "I only pressed the buttons and somehow this thing won't stop throwing out more…"
Gah, so it is broken!
"At any rate, it might be better if you could bring a tray or something." Once again giving off an apologetic smile, Aoto huffed. "Or you can contact the customer service, I guess…? This one is navy's property, so the RnD section might help us out…"
Zuikaku groaned, looking up to the clear blue sky that seemed to be out to mock her. She was starting to regret her past choice, now...
Hah, life always surprised you when you least expected it to. He never thought much of his luck, and neither had he ever relied on it even if it was for the most inane reasons. However, he didn't expect to have so many free drinks as a token of apology. The RnD section could be surprisingly thoughtful at times, though he wished they extended that kindness to the pricing and marketing department. What a shame.
The "splurging" aside, his companion seemed to have no interest to strike a conversation. It didn't mean she was not receptive to his invitation for dialogue, however, so he took that as a good thing. Perhaps, rather than talking about the merits and demerits of the battle, a simpler approach could work here. Rolling his shoulders, Aoto eased himself for his next move.
"I didn't expect you to raise the white flag," Aoto started. "I assume there's something to do with the sigh you let out after the match's over?"
He could have looked directly at her. Instead, he gave a cursory glance to bear witness to a hard wince from Zuikaku. As always, she was incredibly easy to read.
"Well, I won't pry if you don't want me to." The man grunted as he continued carrying the cans in his hold. "More importantly, were you having fun out there, Zuikaku?"
"...huh?"
Aoto quirked the corners of his lips upwards. "This festival has been full of surprises. It feels a tad overwhelming, but it's a warm welcome from the monotony."
Of course, there was more than just that. He learned more about his subordinates, received a degree of acknowledgment by his superiors, and he got to know the kind of firepower allowed for his division. It wasn't without rough sailing so far, but his efforts genuinely felt rewarding; as if he mattered this time around. It might have sounded a little depressing, coming from him out of all people, but there was no use in denying the truth.
Life became far more fulfilling this way, also eventful. Therefore—
"I'm looking forward to next year's festival." Aoto looked to the side, meeting the brunette in the eyes. "What about you, Zuikaku?"
At a loss for words, the woman hung her jaw. As she stared back at him with what could only be described as a perplexed expression, the Rear Admiral patiently waited. And then…
"That's… true," Zuikaku murmured, looking ahead once again. It was rather difficult to tell what sort of expression she now had, but Aoto didn't mind that. "We didn't win in the end, but still… the festival has been so much fun to each of us."
The maiden lifted her head and threw a wide grin his way. Bright, dazzling even. Aoto wasn't sure if he could resist losing himself in the audience of such radiant happiness like that, yet he somehow managed to; a testament to his efforts in adapting himself to his new role as the commanding officer of a kansen fleet. Certainly, it wouldn't be such a bad thing to recognize.
"Ah, but!" Zuikaku raised her voice, squinting her eyes. "Don't think you can get away from dropping awfully heavy questions like that out of the blue! I still haven't forgotten, Shikikan!"
Aoto chuckled while shaking his head. "So I cannot expect any answer in the foreseeable future, then? My, you've come up with a frightening punishment, indeed."
Zuikaku stuck out her tongue and she sped up to leave him behind as they entered a path surrounded by maple trees. He recalled there was a clearing with resting spots well-protected from the sunlight. The man then huffed as a white shikigami made its presence known on his shoulder. It had such a precise timing he believed it had been waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. It was highly likely that his other subordinates were waiting up ahead. Being worried was one thing, but perhaps someone ought to learn some self-restraint.
"...I can hear your thoughts, you know?" Annoyed retort reached out to his ear.
Aoto huffed in mild amusement. "Yes, that is precisely the thing I wished for, Shoukaku."
A loud cheer reverberated across the harbor. As the day came to an end, so did the main focus of the festival. With the victorious division crowned with a trophy, the audience reveled in the momentous occasion as they listened to the speech delivered directly by none other than the dearly beloved regent of the empire. The Shrine Maiden of the Sanctuary nodded in silent recognition before she thanked the people for their ceaseless devotion to supporting the country, rousing the people's spirits in this turbulent time.
Certainly, it was a magnificent sight to behold. The race aptly named as kansen were known for their prowess and absolute trust in mankind, a perfect breed of soldiers all armed forces would have given everything to have. Although, if she could add a little thing of note, it would be the fact that this land worshiped the grounds those girls walked on. It was certainly a kind of culture shock, but she had come to enjoy the strange sight by now.
"My, it seems like you have found yourself a rather excellent viewing spot."
The silver-haired woman paused, relishing at the moment before acknowledging the presence that seemed as if it had appeared out of thin air. Without a single doubt, some sort of sorcery had been put in place to conceal her arrival.
"Dear me, now. You could have given me a message if you wish to seek me out." Prinz Eugen tilted her head to the side, her sight capturing the approaching figure of an uninvited guest. A late-blooming cherry blossom petal gently landed on the surface of the drinking cup she had taken a liking to, the petal floating while creating ripples across the surface of the local brand of liquor she had poured in it. "Come and sit down. Though, I suppose that'd be an act of impudence from me considering you are the owner of this fine establishment, isn't it?"
"You jest, but it is not entirely wrong." A lighthearted giggle left her guest's lips. "The exclusive district was built for the sake of those girls' wishes to live as close to the people who they had sworn to protect as possible. Needless to say, only those who have distinguished themselves are allowed to have a saying in changing this little corner of our paradise."
"Such extravagance."
The Iron Blood hummed, her gaze returning to the festivity beyond the open-air terrace facing the commerce district. For normal humans, it'd be difficult to recognize the signs, but Eugen was no ordinary person. She could make out the subtle signs where people gave wide berth for seemingly no reason at all, and those who promptly stopped whatever they were doing in favor of getting enraptured by the charms kansen naturally exuded. She would have taken a little time in teasing the latter kind; the Kommandant was far too stoic and no-nonsense if compared to that person, not unlike Bismarck and Tirpitz.
For the briefest moment, a scene from the past replayed itself in the forefront of Prinz Eugen's mind. "How long has it been ever since the last time I indulged myself, I wonder…"
"Pardon?"
"No, it's nothing…" Prinz Eugen lightly shook her head before she returned her attention to her guest. "Well, it was only yesterday did we see each other. Is there anything more you'd like to discuss with our side?"
"A tempting offer," the smiling fox said. "But no. We already have more than enough. Even our ruler is satisfied with your unexpected generosity."
Oh my. If she could, she would have laughed there and then. The Admiral Hipper-class Heavy Cruiser was certainly no spymaster, but even she could tell when a person told a bold lie. This woman in front of her relished in the knowledge that she knew that she knew. A cunning fox through and through, the Flagship of the Sakura Navy was not a person to be trifled with. Had our straight-laced honor student been nearby, she'd have fallen for the trap right in the spot.
Still, two could play the game. The Kommandant might not approve it, but it wasn't like there was any other option when she was confronted by the other party like this.
"Then, I assume there will be no problems?" Prinz Eugen asked.
"Yes. With this, all conditions have been met." The puppet master nodded, wearing the same soft smile that had been rehearsed to perfection. "Though it will take some time, I assure you, our research data will undoubtedly accelerate your project's development. In exchange, we are looking forward to your efforts and cooperation."
The silver-haired, red-eyed woman acquiesced, and with that, there were no more subjects to discuss. Her guest bowed in place of parting words, but as she left the premise…
"You are playing a dangerous game," the steel shark said. Despite her warning, her gaze remained latching on the commerce district. The lanterns glowing in red and yellow flickered, the hustle and bustle melding into the backgrounds, and the faraway sounds of beating drums echoed through the seemingly magical atmosphere. "I hope you are ready for what is about to come. We do not need allies who cannot commit themselves to their causes."
She had expected little. Her suspicion would have been proven had silence persisted for any longer, but a surprising answer unexpectedly delivered itself to her.
"But of course," Akagi said as the sound of sliding door opening and closing drowned into the festivity. "All that has been sacrificed, and all that I will sacrifice—everything shall be engraved in this heart of mine… as well as this world's history."
Before long, the other presence in the place vanished. Left to her device, Prinz Eugen took a slow and long sip of her liquor. The warmth of the so-called atsukan had been a pleasure to have when the cool autumn breezes swept the observation deck, but it had rapidly cooled down within minutes. Such a shame. The lucky cherry blossom petal struggled so much to stay afloat, and yet it ended up sinking to the bottom of the drinking cup.
"Well, it is none of my business." Prinz Eugen brushed strands of her hair over her ear. "This empire doesn't have much time left since the rumors are true."
I suppose I should prepare an apology to Leberecht, she'd no doubt be upset about the bargain we had to sell to our ally.
The last hours of the festival was a ritualistic dance performed by none other than the sibling priestesses of the Sanctuary. As resounding beats of percussion instruments filled the air, a tune of flute followed plucked strings of yamatogoto. A song of the Old World ushered in figures clad in red and white, the shrine maidens donning masks that represented the Eight Million Gods who had created this archipelago.
At the central plaza of the commerce district, people began to mingle and take each other's hands, following the tradition to act on the stage graced with the blessings of the gods.
"The Mikagura, huh…"
Even while being preoccupied with the dance, Zuikaku did not miss the sardonic smile on her superior's face. There was a glint in his eyes, a sort of indescribable emotion that seemed to almost boil over, suppressed only by sheer self-control. As they sat on a bench below a cherry blossom tree, the brunette hummed to follow the familiar tunes of the ancient song; enough that she didn't come off as overly curious, but around the appropriate volume that her voice could be picked off amid the noise. It elicited a little reaction from the Rear Admiral, so she looked to him from the side.
"Shikikan, you know of the imperial ritual dance?"
"Not in the way you'd describe it, though." Her superior leaned back with his arms propping up his upper body. "I was under the care of a priest after the earthquake. Some shrines and temples somehow survived the horrifying calamity, but it was better than nothing. Thus, they became shelters for people who had nowhere else to go but to believe in the gods."
"...life seems rough back then."
Aoto chuckled. "It truly was. Rebuilding the city was an insane undertaking, but people always managed to find ways to make do. It is only natural."
Is that all there is to it? Zuikaku had lived out her previous life as a warship, but that did not mean she was entirely clueless about human behaviors. Her existence was suffused with the life and vigor of the ship crews that commanded her, and as their legacy, she carried their spirits proudly in her chest. However, the scope of the Great Kanto Earthquake could hardly be called normal. After all, the empire should have been shielded by graces of the gods, no matter how weakened they were at the time.
Would it be impudent of her to say more? Still, she'd assumed he'd have gone out to join in even if it was just for the festivity. Is he restraining himself, because he still thinks he needs to work for our approval?
Zuikaku looked up, her gaze listless for a full minute before she dragged her chin down. She let out a sigh. The young woman left the bench and turned to face her superior with both of her arms akimbo. A displeased expression made itself known on her face, one which Aoto quickly took notice of judging by his raised eyebrows. As they stared at each other, Zuikaku felt a sense of irritation built up and so she immediately grabbed his hand to then pulling him toward the bunch of dancers encircling a burning pyre. She heard him addressing her in confusion, but she didn't care.
"Come on," Zuikaku said as they reached a fairly good spot to go along with everyone's and the song's rhythm. Having finally grasped her intention, they faced each other before moving in opposite directions, walking in a circle with their gazes at their respective partner. "You're not bad at this, Shikikan."
"Well, I learned many things from the priest." Aoto shrugged, taking a step forward as Zuikaku took a step back, beginning the prelude to the dance. "The Mikagura is set to a certain tempo and tone. That's because the song used is always the same."
"Guess it must have bored you, huh?" Zuikaku raised her right arm, offering her hand.
The man surprisingly shook his head, even as he took her hand. "It helped me sleep through some rough nights. I guess it is more fitting as a lullaby than a ceremonial song."
"...I see."
As they entwined their hands, Zuikaku felt the warmth transferring to her core. This human warmth was something she had felt before, but it was now more pronounced than ever. It seemed she had to give it to Akashi and Shiranui; the sort of bond made between a kansen and a proper Commanding Officer was far beyond the psychological boundary. The life, faith, history, and love of mankind created the foundation that formed a kansen. Nevertheless, she was not ready to trust him just yet.
The connection between people, after all, must go both ways. She wasn't naive enough to think that she'd be given with everything from the get-go. That was why…
"I want strength," Zuikaku eventually spoke out. With the scarlet flame that consumed the pyre as a witness, the shadows cast by the two flickered. Weaving through the crescendo of the ritual dance, she could feel the dragon veins energized. It was subtle, a fact only known by those like her who had practiced the arts of Onmyoudo. "I want to be stronger than I am now, in a different way to my previous life. Do you think… that's a bad thing?"
Yes, that was why she chose to give up. Because she needed to accept the bitter taste of defeat, to see through her decisions no matter how humiliating. But it's so childish and naive, we all know what sort of ends await those who willingly surrendered in wars.
Would he be upset? When she lifted her gaze, she saw his unblinking eyes while his black hair swayed in the gentle breeze. The uncanny mask plastered to his face oftentimes made her feel as if there was something more about it. And yet, the way he narrowed his eyes, the way he softly smiled, and the way he gently tightened his hold of her hands told her more than enough about what he was thinking. She didn't want to admit it; her heart skipped a beat, just a bit. Then, as she spun in place to settle the last part of the ritual dance...
"Isn't it fine?" The Rear Admiral replied, taking her hand one last time. "Live the way you like, make as few regrets as possible. That's not a bad way to live, no?"
…
Zuikaku didn't realize she had been holding her breath. Even so, she let out a sigh as the tension left her shoulders. Before long, she felt her cheeks loosen. As she pulled back her hand, the song coming to an end, the woman puffed her chest and impishly smiled.
"Geez, if that's what your caretaker taught to you, no wonder you are so sloppy most of the time, Shikikan."
Aoto chuckled self-depreciatingly. "Well, I'm just practicing what I learned…"
And isn't that the problem, there? Not only was he such a carefree individual, but he also rarely bothered to get his act together because of that. One more thing she came to learn about him, and it just had to be another disappointing bit she already knew about him. She had a feeling that she must beat the bad habits out of him, lest he'd truly be slacking at work. I can't believe how hopeless you are—
"Hey, look…"
Zuikaku blinked upon hearing a wave of confused noise. There she looked around, finding the people around her to stare in one direction. Many of them confused, yet many more of them wore anxious looks. She followed their direction, unease invading her mind—
"Thank you, everyone. For participating in this wonderful festival once again." Atop the stage set at the far back of the plaza was a figure of a woman dressed in red kimono. Her long dark hair fluttered in the winds as she stood together with the Priestess of the Sanctuary by her side. "Truly. Everything could never be done without your cooperation. I can only thank the people of our beloved empire for this. Know that my gratitude has no bound for the hope and prayers you have given to us."
As the torches lighting up the stage crackled, the banner of cherry blossom could be seen on the makeshift wall meant to be the background of the stage. For the spirit of untarnished purity, justice, and unwavering faith is embodied within the flower which could only bloom in this land shrouded by divine fog.
"Do you remember, dear people of the empire? The day where the sea was once still ours?"
As the shadows stretched, the clouds moved to block the light of the moon. An oppressive silence, therefore, brought forth attention to the speaker's voice as well as words. From then on, something began to change.
"The Second Dark Age stole so much from us. The invading force of the unknown shattering a short-lived peace that tore the world asunder. Surely, you still remembered. Surely, it was a nightmare like no other. Despair so insurmountable that there could no longer be light even through the starry night."
A third figure walked to the stage, making Zuikaku widen her eyes. It can't be—
"We have sacrificed so much. We have fought and lost so many things precious to us. And yet, what has the world done for our painful struggle? I'm sure all of you realized by now."
Right next to the banner, a new one rolled down to reveal itself to the world. Striking black, white, and red comprised a symbol that extended to four directions. Nobody could dismiss this as a joke any longer. None could deny the symbol of a nation that now flew right next to the banner of the empire. Even so, the people's spirits began to move, showing one emotion only apparent during the moment the world turned its back to the Sakura Empire.
"Let the world know our strength," Akagi announced. "Let the world's twisted righteousness be broken. We shall henceforth usher a new page of history, a turning point towards the correct future! All as our God willed for!"
1944, New World Calendar—the beginning of Autumn. Twenty-three years had passed ever since the emergence of Siren as well as the First Contact War. Approximately ten years ever since the Second Dark Age, the collapse of world order, and the rebuilding of civilization.
"Hereby, I announce the formation of Crimson Axis!"
It was in this fateful night that the rusted gears of destiny began to turn once more.