20—Vivid Blues

Fifty-two hours. Over two days.

Inazuma had assumed it'd be a hassle-free trip with their private jet, but it seemed like she had finally exhausted her lucky streak with the string of delays they sat through to reach Tropielle's capital. Holiday traffic congestion aside, the increase in Abyssal activity had compromised major air routes leading to eastern Serenoir countries, forcing delays and cancellations across all airlines. And while taking a detour to the north was an option, the erratic weather across those territories might only lead to further disappointment.

But all things considered, Inazuma knew they were still way more fortunate compared to the ordinary traveler.

As they got off the plane and entered the terminal, they were immediately escorted by several airport authorities and fleet girls to an empty office for the immigration and customs proceedings. Unlike the last two airports they had visited, everyone was relatively pleasant and accommodating. Some of them were chatty too, asking plenty of questions about her and her unit. Inazuma didn't mind humoring them as their queries were inconsequential, but she couldn't help but wonder if they were being friendly because the Liberator happened to be a Tropiellean too.

Or maybe it was just the simple fact that the Maritime Peacekeepers had a strong influence over the entire island chain? Couple that with the populace's general distrust towards the Navy since the wake of the last Awakening, she could see why they seemed to be less apprehensive about them.

There was no telling for sure without the man himself in the room, but she vastly preferred the friendly treatment regardless.

Anyway, the proceedings went on for about forty minutes before they were finally set free. As they passed through the security gates, Inazuma saw a familiar face approaching them from a nearby coffee shop. She and Lieutenant Harline quickly freed their hands from their luggage and saluted at the man. Iowa and Kongou exchanged looks before imitating them.

The man simply smiled, putting his free hand over his hip. "Welcome to Tropielle. You ladies took your sweet time getting here."

"W-We're terribly sorry, sir," Harline replied. "We did what we can to get here as fast as possible."

He furrowed his eyebrows as he leaned towards Harline, causing the lieutenant to flinch. "Lass, you okay? Jet lag got you good or what?"

"N-No sir! Just a little anxious that I finally got to meet a hero like you in the flesh!"

He laughed. "That so? You have a thing for terrible jokes, Lieutenant."

"Hero?" Kongou whispered beside Inazuma.

"O-Oh," Inazuma faced them, gesturing at the man. "This here is Mister Loue. He was second-in-command in the 31st Mobile Unit."

Iowa gasped. "H-Hold on, you mean Stalwart Loue?! The same guy who fended off an Abyssal ship with a sledgehammer?!"

He let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I only got to swing it twice and everyone's gone crazy about it!"

She opened her jacket, checking one of its inner pockets. "I knew it! You looked different from the pictures, so I didn't recognize you right away!"

"Sheesh, I'm not that old, you know?"

"Ah, I was referring to that dashing hair of yours!" She chuckled as she fished out a marker and three equipment cards. "Autograph, please!"

He laughed again. "Quite cheeky, aren't you?" He held up his free hand. "Can we do that on the way there? I just finished my snack, so my hands are a bit greasy."

"Sweetsauce! Thank you so much!"

He took a sip of his coffee before turning his attention to Inazuma. He stared at her without a word, causing her to break in a cold sweat. "U-Um, is there something wrong?" she asked.

"I was actually looking forward to this moment—to finally meet you face to face."

She averted her eyes as his stare became more intense. "E-Eh? Um, I-I'm honored to hear that..."

He patted her shoulder, smiling as she looked up to him. "Still not used to it, huh?"

She returned a small smile. "I don't think I ever will..."

"If I'm being honest here, it feels like I'm looking at a different person compared to what I've seen in those footage."

She looked away again. "I...I felt so helpless at the time that I just didn't care anymore."

"Moments of desperation like that bring out the best or worst out of people, and I think you did a great showing."

"I was just lucky..."

"Luck, huh? Guess we have a lot more in common than I thought." He glanced at the restaurant to their right. "So, what do you ladies fancy tonight? We could walk to the nearby strip mall if you want more options."

"Yeah," Iowa said, flashing her smartphone, "I've read that the shops there are open all night! We should check it out since we have to buy some swimsuits!"

"Swimsuits?" Inazuma and Loue uttered.

Iowa pulled Inazuma and Hatsuyuki together. "For these two! Can you believe they only brought their Peacekeeper-issued wetsuits?"

"U-Um, like I said," Inazuma replied, "I don't really have a choice..."

Hatsuyuki looked down, turning pink. "S-Same here..."

"Heh, you gotta be kidding me," Loue said, shaking his head. "What do you say, Lieutenant? We can't possibly have these two walk around the beaches wearing those drab and boring wetsuits! We need to get them the real deal!"

Harline crossed her arms, looking away. "I have to log every place we go to, you know?"

"And how's that a problem?" Kongou said. "We're just getting them swimsuits."

She sighed. "Fine. I had a feeling this would happen anyway."

"What, scared that they'll one-up your bikini?"

"Tch, just shut it before I change my mind."

"Sweetsauce!" Iowa patted the back of the two destroyers. "They have at least a dozen of brands in there, so I'm sure we aren't gonna leave empty-handed!"

"I-Is this really necessary...?" Inazuma asked.

"Absolutely! You're a worldwide sensation now, so you gotta step it up!"

And so, after taking a quick dinner, they commenced their little shopping operation. Their plan of attack was to visit each and every beach apparel store on the second floor, browse through their catalog, and pick the standouts among them. Once they filled out their list, Iowa and her jury would be selecting their personal picks in that list to help the destroyer pair in making their final verdict.

But what made this simple task more daunting than it should be was the one hour time limit Harline imposed on them. Despite knowing nothing about swimsuit fashion, she and Hatsuyuki had to make a decision within that time. And once they made their pick, they would be stuck with their chosen swimsuits for the rest of their stay in Tropielle.

Couple with the fact that Iowa and the others would be looking at their selection with scrutinizing eyes, Inazuma never would've thought that shopping could get so intense and stressful. Sure, she could just pick the last swimsuit that catches her eye and call it a day, but she felt that it would be a waste if she didn't give it her best shot. She could at least say that she tried, saving herself from further disappointment.

As they entered the first store, Inazuma was immediately overwhelmed with the number of options available. Fortunately, she already had an idea of what swimsuit she really wanted.

Around ten minutes of rummaging through the aisles and shelves, she gave her thanks to the saleslady and headed straight to Iowa standing next to the dressing rooms. "Done!"

Iowa looked at the basket Inazuma was holding. "Oh, nice haul," she said, gesturing to the dressing room in front of them. "We don't have a lot of time, so let's go!"

"I-I'm going to try all of them?"

"Yup! How else will you know if they're the right fit for you?"

"Y-Yeah, please wait a moment."

She stepped into the room and quickly put on the first swimsuit: a white one-piece with a flower pattern all over it. Once she finished her adjustments, she mentally steeled herself and opened the door.

"W-Well, what do you think?" she asked, taking a small hop towards Iowa.

"A one-piece with sleeves, huh?" Iowa put her forefinger under her chin. "Going by your reaction with the suit last time, I can see why you'd prefer them."

She took a deep breath as she turned pink. "Th-The more it covers, the better..."

"Hence, the wetsuit?" As Inazuma's cheeks became even redder, Iowa laughed. "Come on, showing off a bit of skin wouldn't hurt anyone!"

She glanced at Hatsuyuki and Kongou across the aisle. "I... I guess..."

Inazuma's heart raced as Iowa leaned towards her, tugging at suit's shoulder strap. "Polyester. Waist frills. Hmm..."

"S-So, is it good?"

She took a pass around Inazuma. "Not bad, but it's a bit plain to be honest. Could use more pizzazz, if you know what I mean."

"I-I see." She ran back to the dressing room and tried the next swimsuit. "Then how about this one?"

"Mostly nylon. Double straps. Meshed waists and collar..."

"So...?"

"A more daring pick, but I'm not sold on the back part. Plus, bright and warm colors would fit you more."

And then another.

"How about this one?"

"Hmm... the pattern and colors look modern," she pointed at her chest, "but they make your torso look short... and flat..."

"Eh? Really?"

She nodded. "Normally, you'd want something that would accentuate your assets while hiding your weaker points."

Inazuma let out a deep breath. "I'm not really good at this, am I?"

She paused, staring at Inazuma. "Since we're on the topic, what do you think is your best asset? We can start from there if you want to find the right swimsuit."

"I-I don't know..."

"What do you mean you don't know? It's your body."

She turned crimson, twirling her sidelock with her index finger. "M-My hair...?"

Iowa looked at her with wide eyes before laughing. "Being modest, are we?" She winked. "No matter. I already have a few designs in mind that would work on you."

She pouted. "You know, you could've taught me about swimsuits before we started."

"I let you pick first so I can have a better grasp of your tastes, but I think what you really need right now more than anything else is some confidence!"

"W-Well, I can't help it." She turned around, facing the mirror in the dressing room. "A runt like me has nothing to show for."

"You're clearly overthinking it. With that mentality, it wouldn't matter if we did find the best swimsuit available here."

She lowered her head, feeling a bit of guilt. "That's true... I guess I'm just so concerned about what other people would think of me..."

Iowa nodded twice. "Everyone does, but that's just how the cookie crumbles. We all have our preferences after all."

"Preferences, huh?"

"Some prefer your petite build, some prefer mine—you just have to play with your strengths, but you can't do that if you aren't confident enough to make it work. It's a cardinal rule when it comes to fashion, you know?" As Inazuma let out a deep breath, Iowa frowned. "Still not convinced?"

Before Inazuma could answer, Kongou and Hatsuyuki ran up to them. "So! Howzit coming along?" the former asked.

"Eh?" Inazuma uttered, eyes focused on Hatsuyuki's checkered two-piece. "You two are already done?!"

Hatsuyuki nodded, running a finger on her neck strap. "Our first run, at least..."

"As it turns out," Kongou said, giving Hatsuyuki a friendly slap on the back, "Hatsuyuki's a natural at this."

Inazuma walked around Hatsuyuki, inspecting her backside. "But wow... you look really good in it. I'm a bit envious..."

"Oh, wanna check the shelf where we found it? There are some cute ones in there too."

"N-No, it's okay."

Kongou paused, staring at Inazuma. "Hmm... the pattern on that swimsuit doesn't work well with your body."

"Yeah, already told her that," Iowa said. "By the way, can you two help me out with my pep talk here?"

"Pep... talk?" Hatsuyuki said.

Iowa explained the situation to the two, much to Inazuma's embarrassment. "If that's the case," Kongou raised her hand and clenched it, "then we'll just have to give her some motivation!"

Iowa tilted her head. "Motivation?"

She faced Inazuma and huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "Call him."

"Umm... what?"

"Call your admiral. We'll just have to ask him about his preferences!"

Inazuma hopped in place. "W-Wait, you don't need to drag him into this!"

Kongou raised an eyebrow, giving her a sly grin. "Don't you wanna know what he looks for in a woman?"

Her eyes widened, slowly moving her gaze away from Kongou. "W-Well... I..."

"Don't worry! I'm the one who's gonna do the asking!"

"Even if he did humor us," Iowa said, "what makes you so sure he'll give the answers Inazuma wants to hear?"

Kongou blinked before furrowing her eyebrows. "Sheesh, you'll never get a boyfriend with that attitude."

"Right back at you." She sighed, shrugging. "But I admit I am curious about his tastes."

Inazuma gasped. "Y-You too, Miss Iowa? But—"

"Come on, give him a call already," Kongou said. "The clock's ticking, you know?"

"O-Okay..."

Inazuma fetched her phone from her jacket and did just that. As she put it on loudspeaker, they suddenly heard monstrous growls and water splashes from the other side.

"Whoa?!" Iowa uttered.

"M-More alligators?!" Inazuma cried.

"Don't worry," Yuu replied. "It's just Akatsuki trying to wrestle one. She said it'd be a good warm-up for her sparring session with Warspite later this afternoon."

"Oh..."

"Why did you call? I thought you're gonna buy swimsuits."

She stared at Kongou, who was making frantic gestures with her hands. "W-Well, Kongou here wants to ask you some questions."

"About what?"

"I-I don't know. I need to change out of this swimsuit I tried, so I'm gonna give the phone to her."

He paused for a bit. "Alright."

Kongou gave her a thumbs up as she took the phone from her. "Admi—Commander Yuu, sorry for the bother! Don't worry, it's nothing serious or anything!"

"Go ahead."

"So... I was wondering if you're a guy who prefers buttocks over breasts. Or is it the other way around?"

Inazuma gasped, covering her face. S-So direct!

He paused before letting out a sigh. "This is about her, isn't it?"

"Yup, you catch on quick! I guess that's just expected of you!"

"Then why are you consulting me? I'm not the one who's gonna wear the swimsuit."

Kongou paused, looking at Inazuma with a knowing grin. "Because you might be just the ticket to give her a much needed boost in confidence!"

"What do you mean?"

"She thinks that her body type doesn't appeal to anyone, so we want to prove her wrong with your help!"

"So you want me to pretend that I prefer women like her?"

"That's ri—wait, what do you mean by pretend?"

"I actually prefer taller and curvier women."

"E-Eh...?"

"And to answer your first question, I'm into the latter. The buxom ones, to be more specific."

As Hatsuyuki began to snicker, Iowa facepalmed. "Ugh, what did I tell you?"

Kongou started to sweat bullets. "Th-This isn't how it was supposed to go!" she whispered, covering the smartphone with her hands. "I thought he was really into her!"

"Seriously? Just because he was friends with another Inazuma in the past?"

"It's destiny, Iowa!"

"You're just going to—" Iowa and the others watched Inazuma silently approach a nearby bench. "Scratch that, you've already destroyed her morale!"

Inazuma sat on the bench and let out a deep sigh. "See?" she said, hugging her stomach. "Th-That's why I don't mind wearing my wetsuit later..."

"You've really done it now, Kongou..."

"Kongou, still there?"

Kongou gasped. "U-Um, yeah!"

"So, are we still doing this or not?"

"O-On second thought, leave this to us! I'd feel bad for Inazuma."

"Alright. You should really wrap it up soon though. You have a busy day ahead of you."

"Y-Yeah, sorry for the bother." As she ended the call, she handed the phone back to Inazuma with a teary face. "Err, I'm sorry."

Inazuma frantically waved her free hand. "I-I'm fine! You don't have to apologize!"

"A-Are you sure?"

She forced out a smile. "Yeah," she replied, glancing at the dressing room. "I knew I was asking for it anyway..."

"Don't say that..."

"I-I'm going to change now..." Inazuma ran back to the dressing room, locking the door with a sigh. What's gotten into me...?

As she was about to shove her phone back into her jacket, Yuu called again. Her lips trembled as she squinted her eyes at the screen. After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally answered the call.

"Um, hello...?"

"I'll give you points for effort. But I'm honestly more surprised that you went along with their idea."

She turned crimson but also relieved that she was alone at that moment. "Sorry..."

He sighed. "Just wear what you're comfortable with. Like I said, you're not gonna buy that swimsuit for me."

She clenched a hand over her chest as if to calm her beating heart. "Yeah, you're right..."

"Besides, aren't you already plenty of cute?"

Her eyes widened as steam rose from her head. Wh-Wh-What is he—

"Well, all of you fleet girls are. It's just you underselling yourself again."

She paused for a moment, letting her emotions subside to a more manageable level. "Here you go again," she whispered, leaning on the wall.

"You were asking for it."

"And, um, there's one more thing I want to ask," she said with a quieter voice.

"What is it?"

She paused again, tugging the construct band on her neck. "A-About the things you said earlier. Were they actually true or...?"

"Who knows?"

She took a deep breath and smiled. "O-Of course..."

"Of course what?"

"Nothing..."

"You know, I'm starting to see a pattern here."

"O-Oh, you're overthinking things." As he let out an exasperated grumble, she laughed. "I'm going to change for real this time. Let's talk again later."

Putting the phone away, Inazuma looked into the mirror once more.

I may be just a fleet girl, but I still have my pride as a woman. She furrowed her eyebrows. I still have a long ways to go, so I can't just keep running away...!

Riding on her renewed determination, she crouched next to her shopping basket and fished out the only bikini in it. She hastily put it on and took a deep breath.

I never really planned to wear this one, but...

She unlocked the door and swung it open, surprising her friends.

I have to start somewhere, right?

"I-Inazuma...?" Hatsuyuki uttered.

She approached the group, eyes glued on the floor. "W-Well, what do you think?"

"What... exactly happened in there?" Iowa asked.

She gasped, looking up. "Eh?"

Kongou had a worried look on her face, taking a step back. "Wh-Who are you and what did you do to Inazuma?"

Their reactions shattered her confidence in one fell swoop, causing her to hightail back to the dressing room. "Inazuma, wait!" Iowa shouted. "That actually looks good on you!"

I knew it! This is just too much for me!

As they exited the fifth store, Inazuma sighed and looked down at her forearm terminal. "Around twelve minutes left, huh? We don't have enough time."

"Don't sweat it," Iowa said, walking ahead of them. "We already have a solid list."

"You say that," Harline said, "but your meticulousness is only giving Inazuma a hard time."

She stretched her arms up. "That first bikini she took looked great on her though!"

"We already talked about this," Inazuma said.

"But the stripes really fits well with—" As they were about to turn around the corner, Iowa suddenly stopped walking and pointed at something. "Huh. There's one here too?"

"What is it?" Kongou followed suit. "They aren't listed in the online catalog, so maybe they just opened recently?"

"Curls and Folds?" Inazuma said, stopping beside Kongou.

"Their swimwear selection's limited compared to the others, but maybe we should check it out?"

Upon entering, Inazuma felt like she stepped into the chamber of an aristocrat from the last century or two:

Velvet furnishings, candle sticks, and saleswomen dressed as maids—the store's theme was definitely a head-turner.

Being a brand of women's undergarments, it made a lot of sense somehow. Though it could be intimidating shopping in there alone.

As the rest of her friends went to the swimwear section, Inazuma couldn't help but check the rack of camisoles near the counter. Upon closer inspection, the camisoles came with matching bloomers as a set.

"W-Wow... these look really cute," she mumbled, taking one out of the rack. "They're just as pricey as the other swimsuits we've seen earlier... but I can fit these in my budget if I—"

"You have good eyes. These are part of our new lineup this season." Inazuma faced the ponytailed fleet girl who was now standing beside her. "Drizzle in the Dusk, as our designer calls this particular set."

"O-Oh... I really like how soft the fabri—" Her eyes went wide as she recognized the device on the fleet girl's neck. W-Wait, isn't that...!

The fleet girl in the business suit glanced down, touching her construct band with her free hand. "What's the matter?"

"Wh-Where did you—"

She suddenly let out an excited gasp. "Ah, you just gave me a wonderful idea!" She approached Inazuma, who took a step back in reflex, and reached out for her construct band. "Hold still for me, please?"

Her instincts told her to get away from her, but she found herself staring into the fleet girl's bright blue eyes instead, unable to move her legs. The fleet girl then smiled and held the button on her construct band.

"Wh-What are you—"

She looked down at her tablet. "Ah, it's paired now." She pulled her hand away from Inazuma and started pressing on its screen. "The catalog isn't complete yet, but most of our best designs should be in there for you to try."

As Inazuma started to back away from the fleet girl, Iowa ran to her side. "This is pretty cute," she said, taking the underwear set off her hand. "Planning to buy this one?"

She faced the battleship. "W-Well, I—"

Iowa presented a two-piece swimsuit with her other hand. "Cute, isn't it? They have a brand new line of swimsuits over there!"

"Ah," the fleet girl in the suit said, "our Sunset Splash series—designs which we feel evoke a fleet girl's love for the sea. While they're specifically made for casual wear, their improved ergonomics make them a great fit to any adventurous spirit."

Iowa stared at her for a moment. "So... are you like the manager here?"

"I may not look the part, but I'm actually the company's chief product officer." Smiling, she stepped forward and offered her free hand to Inazuma. "Shiratsuyu-class destroyer Samidare. It's an honor to meet you, Miss Inazuma."

Not wanting to make the situation even more awkward, Inazuma took her hand and gave it a weak shake. "L-Likewise..."

As if sensing her hesitation, Samidare gave her yet another bright smile. "Are you going to buy a swimsuit too?"

"Um... yeah..."

"Wonderful!" She then walked past them, making her way to the swimsuit section. "This way, please."

Once she was out of earshot, the pair exchanged looks. "I doubt she'd try anything crazy in a place like this," Iowa said, "but we still have to be careful."

With that in mind, they followed Samidare to where their other friends were. "Time's almost up, you know?" Harline said.

"Y-Yeah," Iowa said, jutting her thumb at the shelf next to her, "but since we're already here, might as well go all the way, right?"

She sighed, crossing her arms. "Is that okay with you, Sir Loue?"

"Don't sweat it." He started walking back to the lingerie section. "I'll just look around while you're at it—maybe I'll find something nice for my wife."

"Well, there you have it. I had a feeling this would happen anyway," she placed her hands on her hips, "but that doesn't mean you girls should dilly-dally! It's already so late!"

"If you're pressed for time," Samidare said, tapping her construct band. "the digital catalog I gave to Miss Inazuma has everything we currently have in stock. Mag-ion constructs obviously can't replicate the feel of the real ones, so you should still try out the actual swimsuit that you'll end up choosing later."

Samidare drawing attention to her construct band rose the tension even higher, but the fleet girl didn't seem to care. Her confident yet detached disposition somewhat reminded Inazuma of her commander, which only confounded her fear and distrust towards her.

In any case, they wouldn't be able to do anything about it, so Inazuma decided to follow along and enter one of the dressing rooms near the counter. But before she could close the door, Samidare appeared with a one-piece swimsuit in hand.

"Um, do you still need something?"

"If you don't mind, I'd like to recommend this swimsuit to you."

"Why?"

She smiled. "To commemorate this chance encounter. Won't you at least try it on?"

The sweet tone of her voice sent shivers down Inazuma's spine as she reluctantly took the swimsuit. "Th-Thanks..."

"Wonderful. If you need anything, I'll be at the counter."

Wh-What's with her? As she closed and locked the door, she fished out her phone and called Yuu. "H-Hello, sorry for calling again."

"Look, if it's about your swimsuit, I—"

"N-No, listen. I met a fleet girl wearing a construct band."

He paused. "Are you positive that it's an MVCB?"

"Y-Yeah, she even sent me some presets." She directed her gaze to the door. "That means she's a member of the Dusk Arbiters, right? If it helps, she's a fleet girl called Samidare."

"Hmm... does she happen to wear a wavy high ponytail? How about two fancy rings on her left hand?"

She gasped. "Wait, you know her?"

"She's one of Samuel's concubines."

"Concubine?"

"A mistress. Anyway, I only met her twice, but she spends most of her time on the business side of things for him."

"R-Really? Then does that mean we're getting worked up over nothing?"

"Pretty much."

"I'm still worried though." She placed a hand over her chest. "The way she speaks and presents herself feels so intimate, so comforting. It's scaring me..."

"She has that effect on people. She's definitely someone you don't want to cross."

"I... I'll keep that in mind." She sighed. "How do you even manage to acquaint yourself with people like her?"

"You just play along for the most part. You'll get used to it eventually."

"I hope so..." She paused, facing the mirror. "I'll call again if something comes up."

Feeling more relaxed, she started trying out the swimsuit presets through her forearm terminal. At first, she found it a bit surreal to be able to change into so many outfits almost instantly, but the sheer convenience of the technology was certainly a game changer. She could only wonder if the Arbiters would be interested in releasing such a device to the public any time soon.

As she was done checking out the entire swimsuit line of the catalog, she turned her attention back to the swimsuit given to her by Samidare: a four-tone halterneck one-piece. She really loved how the sunset colors made its splashy-wavy design pop out, but her exposed back and accentuated buttocks made it a tough sell to her.

Despite her reservations though, it ended up as her most favorite among the bunch, so she wore the real swimsuit and stepped out of the dressing room. Her eyes immediately landed on Samidare, who shot her a proud grin. "I knew it'd be the right fit for you!"

It took some effort to pry her eyes away from her. "Th-Thank you."

"The colors, the curves..." Iowa fist-pumped. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Yawning, Harline placed a fist on her waist. "So that's your pick for this store?"

"Um, yes," Inazuma replied. "What about you, Hatsuyuki?"

Hatsuyuki presented a three-tone one-piece swimsuit with cut-outs. "Haven't decided on my final choice though."

"Me too..."

"Ugh," Harline shook her head, "are we gonna spend another half an hour here?"

Inazuma whimpered, raising her hands up in defense. "S-Sorry..."

"Then..." All eyes went to Samidare, who had an index finger up. "What about I make things simpler for you two? If you buy those swimsuits now, I'll throw in two undergarment sets of your choice for free."

"Wh-What...?"

She presented the underwear set Inazuma had taken earlier and winked. "A great deal, wouldn't you say? Consider it a holiday gift from the Curls and Folds family."

"Seriously?" Kongou said. "Then I better grab one too!"

She placed her free hand on her cheek. "Oh, don't get too excited now. I'm the one who's going to pay for them, you know?"

Inazuma exchanged looks with Hatsuyuki and Iowa, forcing a smile. She completely had us wrapped around her finger...!

Once they were done with their shopping, they headed straight to a nearby port and boarded the fishing boat Milkfish. Inazuma and the others thought that the boat had a very distinct silhouette for a commercial boat, but Loue revealed that it was actually a repurposed Prowler-class Navy patrol boat from the last decade.

Seeing all the equipment and the transparent fish tanks on the deck made Inazuma want to explore the boat for a bit, but her body demanded her to get some shut-eye. And so, she followed her friends to their cabin and made herself comfortable on top of the left bunk bed. She had to share it with Hatsuyuki though as there were only four beds available.

She didn't mind anyway as she had been yearning to rest on a flat bed, as opposed to the recliners on the private jet. And while she wouldn't be able to move much, the warmth from Hatsuyuki made her feel at ease, lulling her in a deep slumber. It was also fortunate that Hatsuyuki was a heavy sleeper or else she would've noticed that she latched onto her throughout the night as if she was a bolster pillow.

As she woke up past nine in the morning, she went up the deck and observed the crew cleaning up the nets and traps along the deck's perimeter. Loue called her some minutes later, offering her a cup of coffee and a can of biscuits.

"Slept well, I hope?"

She gave him a nod before taking a sip of the strong coffee. "I was wondering. How far does Milkfish usually travel out in the sea?"

"Depends on the season really. Mossnite crabs are in season right now, so around 160 nautical miles south of Mangifera. For the usually gallery of fishes like tunas and sardines, you don't need to sail far to the east. But she sometimes can go as far as 250 miles if we have fleet girls using her as a recon station."

"Ah, that's good to hear. I heard the Abyssals near Tropielle are provocative, so I thought the fishing industry here isn't doing well."

"Both the Peacekeepers and the Navy do a good job keeping them occupied. On the other hand though, it's not like the Abyssals get a kick out of raiding trade ships in the first place."

"That's true." As she finished her third biscuit, she suddenly shuddered as an unnatural chill gripped her body. "H-Huh?"

Loue furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

Before she could respond, she was struck with a headache accompanied by the horrible ringing in her ears. "Mnngh—! W-Why all of a sudden?"

He took the cup from her hands. "I'm not an expert or anything, but it's probably because we're almost at Mangifera. To Irregulars like you, the islands there are gonna look bizarre... to say the least."

"What do you mean...?"

He led her to the boat's bow. "See?"

A huge spatial flux sat over the horizon, reflecting its colorful bloom in the sky and sea. She didn't know if she would call the typhoon-like distortion beautiful or terrifying, but the sheer scale of the flux was certainly breathtaking.

"I-It's been there since the Awakening?" she asked.

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his head. "Good thing it doesn't really do anything to anyone in the area. It'd be annoying though if us ordinary folk could see those awful lights from the sky."

As she stared into the ebb and flow of the distortion, she felt her chest tighten, almost squeezing the air out of her lungs. At the same time, the stifling chill in her body grew worse, fogging up her consciousness.

She could feel it—the rage bubbling up from within her core, the delirious fury threatening to consume her. She had definitely experience this sensation before. Back in Operation Shallow Shores.

Bloodchill...?! She collapsed on all fours and clutched her chest. B-But why is it happening again?

"Tch, don't move. I'll take you back to the cabin."

The moment she felt Loue's hand over her shoulder, Inazuma suddenly shoved him away. "N-No! Don't!"

"Wh-What's going on?" came Hatsuyuki's voice.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to turn around as her friend ran up to her side. "B-Bloodchill... I need to make it disappear somehow...!"

"B-But the only way to do that—!"

Inazuma fell to her side as she summoned her shield MAU. "N-No, this should be faster," she said, removing the shield from her forearm. "S-Set the shock strength a level higher though...!"

"A-Are you sure about—"

"Please, hurry!" As Hatsuyuki wore the shield and took aim, Inazuma braced herself. "Do it!"

She had always wondered what it would be like to get hit by one of her darts, but her increased pain threshold due to Bloodchill made the electric shock feel inconsequential.

But regardless, the single dart did its job, knocking her unconscious almost instantly.

By the time she came around, she found herself on a comfy bed. The pleasant wind blowing from the window next to her made her want to nap a little longer, but she brought her upper body up instead and gave her cheeks a couple of slaps with her hands. She also checked the time on her forearm terminal, realizing that it had only been over an hour since she lost consciousness.

Wondering whose room was she in, she happened to notice the row of framed pictures on a long study desk just in front of her. And when she hopped out of the bed and took a closer look, Inazuma pursed her lips.

I-It's them...

Just as she was about to take one frame, the picture on the far right sent her heart in a frenzy. She took that frame with shaky hands and took a deep breath.

In the picture was Yuu in his high school uniform. And on the bench beside him was Inazuma.

The Inazuma whose heart was currently inside of her.

She forced out a chuckle. "Putting it that way kinda feels awkward though..."

"Yeah, it is awkward."

"I know, ri—" She turned to the person beside her, almost dropping the picture frame. "Hawa!"

The gray-haired fleet girl simply cocked her head. "You know what else is awkward?" She leaned closer, her green eyes widening. "Finding the spitting image of a long-lost friend inside the room of her boyfriend."

"Wh-What?! Boyfriend?!"

She let out a guffaw, much to Inazuma's embarrassment. "Oh boy, you even react the same way as her!"

"Y-You scared me there for a second, Miss Kinugasa..."

"Look who's talking, coming here sleeping like a rock."

"It's not like I—"

"Easy. My husband told me what happened." Placing a hand on her hip, she stared at Inazuma from head to toe. "So... feeling better, I take it?"

"Y-Yeah." She paused for a bit, returning the picture frame. "I'm just scared that it might happen again..."

Kinugasa wore a grave expression for half a second before reverting to her cheery smile. "If it comes to that, feel free to wail on me like a punching bag! Even a retired heavy cruiser like me can still take a vicious beating or two!"

"Please don't make jokes like that."

She let out an awkward laugh, straightening her apron. "Y-Yeah... sorry..." She heaved a sigh and averted her eyes. "Kind as always."

Inazuma then gave her a firm salute. "Just this once though, please allow me to thank you for your service a decade ago. Courageous fleet girls like you have always inspired me to do better."

Like a flip of a switch, Kinugasa's face turned sour. "Courageous, huh?" Upon seeing Inazuma worried expression, she suddenly waved a hand. "A-Ah, yeah! That's what us fleet girls do! Nothing special, really!"

She put down her hand and forced a smile amidst the awkwardness. "I still wanted to let you know."

Kinugasa nodded. "Thanks. You know, maybe we should continue this in the eatery. Your friends are waiting there."

As the two of them stepped outside house, Inazuma scanned her surroundings with her mouth agape. The kaleidoscopic light reflected from the flux above made her feel like she just entered a dream or video game world of sorts. And strangely enough, she didn't find the experience too distracting.

"So weird," Inazuma stretched her hands up in the air. "I wonder what's causing all this."

"Tashie told me that dropping a nuke in the dimensional rift caused a chain reaction of sorts, damaging the spatial integrity of the area." She looked up in the sky. "Not that we had a choice about it."

"If it's damaged, maybe we can find a way to repair it somehow?"

Kinugasa ran towards the building across them, opening the door. "It will actually heal on its own. Might only take it a couple of decades at the very least."

As they entered the beach-themed dining area, Inazuma saw her friends eating by the window. She immediately joined them at their table, sitting beside Hatsuyuki. Meanwhile, Kinugasa went behind the counter and gave Inazuma her plate and utensils.

"I'll be honest," Harline said, pointing her fork at Inazuma. "You getting afflicted by Bloodchill will make things more complicated. And if the Navy caught wind of this, they'll have a strong case to send us back to Auspice and bar you from traveling altogether."

"Why does it matter?" Kongou asked. "They already knew she's an Irregular, right?"

"That's one thing, but her randomly going berserk is another. It's a risk we can't just take for granted."

Inazuma furrowed her eyebrows, clutching the hem of her skirt. "I won't let it happen. I promise."

She took her glass of cucumber juice. "I know you won't, but we don't even know what's causing it to trigger. And it's also possible that it can get worse over time."

"Th-That's true..."

As Harline started drinking her juice, Loue chuckled from the table behind them. "Quite a downer, aren't you?"

Harline choked on her drink, slapping her chest. "I-I'm being considerate here!" she said before taking a deep breath. "I'm worried about her too!"

"You brought two battleship escorts for a reason, you know?" Iowa said, giving Inazuma a thumbs up. "We always got your back, so try not to worry about it too much."

Kongou slammed her palm on the table, causing all the tableware and utensils to clatter. "What she said! Stressing yourself out over it won't do you any good anyway!"

But before Inazuma could express her thanks, the chimes on the kitchen doors rang as more food trays made their way on their table. The colorful spread of dishes were tantalizing, but their server was equally eye-catching, wearing nothing but a frilly bikini and headband.

"You guys are spoiling them too much," Harline said. "You're gonna regret it before the day even ends."

The server just laughed, taking an empty plate and pitcher from the table. "Oh please. We serve fleet girls from the nearby base every day. Not to mention birthday parties and events arranged by the Peacekeepers every month."

"Really? With a crew as small as yours, it is impressive you can keep up with their appetite. Especially battleships and their bottomless well of a stomach."

As she said that, Iowa and Kongou suddenly froze. "W-We're not that voracious," the latter said. "Us big girls have big tanks to fill is all!"

She narrowed her eyes, staring at her chest. "Yeah, sure."

"Lighten up, will you?"

Kinugasa sat at Loue's table, taking off her apron. "Iku's right though. Stop worrying about our pantry and just eat to your heart's content!"

"But what about the others in the kitchen?" Inazuma asked, receiving a bowl of fried rice from Iowa. "Aren't they going to eat with us?"

As if on cue, a familiar old lady exited the kitchen along with a couple of fleet girls in matching aprons. One fleet girl wearing a hoodie stopped behind the counter, staring at Inazuma. Upon making eye contact though, she immediately yanked her hoodie to hide her face.

She must be the one Yuu told me about...

"Oh, don't you worry about us dear," the old lady said, approaching their table. "We'll have our turn later."

Inazuma set down the bowl and faced her. "Are you sure, Mrs. Adelle?"

The shortest fleet girl among them nodded. "Well... who's going to cook us more servings if we all eat at the same time?"

"Um... good point..."

Adelle adjusted her glasses before taking Inazuma's cheek in her hands. "But my, it's been a long time since I saw this adorable face!" She then started feeling out her arms. "They're lean yet stiff in the muscles. Getting plenty of workouts on the job, I bet?"

"Y-Yes. Training during our downtime keeps us in shape too..."

"Hmhm... my grandson could learn a thing or two from you. That said though, you should bulk up a bit more, so I don't want you skimping on your meals while you're here, alright?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

She faced the other fleet girls. "Well then, let me introduce these hardworking ladies to everyone." She placed a hand over the short fleet girl. "First off, our sous chef. Tsushima."

Tsushima beamed. "Welcome to Tropielle. How's the food so far?"

"Awesomesauce!" Iowa said, pointing at the crab stew. "What do you call this one?"

"Elena Express."

"The succulent crab meat complemented by the spicy coconut sauce is just amazing!"

Tsushima laughed, covering her mouth. "Of course... coconut milk works well with a lot of things. On the other hand, consuming too much of the stuff can be rather... dangerous..."

"D-Dangerous...?"

"High calories and fat content." She stared at Harline, who was nibbling on a crab leg. "One of the leading causes of high cholesterol in Tropielle."

"Don't scare them!" Kinugasa said.

Adelle laughed. "Next up, Commandant Teste. Or rather, Tournant Teste as we call her in the kitchen."

"Good day," the blonde fleet girl said, bowing.

"Our ever popular waitress, Iku."

She flashed a peace sign, winking. "Gimme a holler if you need anything, alright?"

"Here's our all-rounder porter, Hatsuzuki."

She gave them a curt nod. "Nice to meet you."

"Aaand..." She looked over to the silver-haired fleet girl behind the counter. "The shy girl over there is our pastry cook. Say hello, Yamakaze."

Her right cheek suddenly inflated as if she had a golf ball stored in her mouth. "Hello..."

"There are still a few more, but you'll meet them later in the evening."

Kongou raised her free hand as she pointed her spoon at the chicken curry. "I never had curry this creamy before! What's in it?"

As the conversation shifted to the food in front of them, Inazuma noticed Yamakaze was still stealing glances at her. After a minute of deliberation, she decided to take the initiative and break the ice.

"Hi, Miss Yamakaze."

She recoiled. "O-O-Oh...! Hello! O-Of course you could do it too..."

"A-Ah, sorry for surprising you."

"I-It's okay. And please, just call me Yamakaze." She smiled. "You don't look like one, but you're definitely an Irregular. I wish I was like that."

"I think you still look cute though."

She turned pink, tugging her hood over her eyes again. "R-Really...?"

"When I look in the mirror, I sometimes imagine what would it be like having black or silvery hair. And to be honest, I wouldn't mind if it's a temporary makeover."

She suddenly perked up. "Oh... so you can't change forms at all?"

"Um, yes."

"W-Well... I guess that should be already obvious after watching the footage." The protruding ball in her mouth shifted to her left cheek. "Then that probably means you were a test model for the new generation of Irregulars."

Inazuma blinked. "Erm, if you don't mind me asking, what's that thing in your mouth? I wanna say candy, but..."

Yamakaze nodded, pulling out a bag of round candies from her jacket. "Jawbreakers. Do you want some?"

"I might have to pass. Just looking at them makes my jaw hurt already."

She smiled again. "Then you should at least try out all of the desserts I made. They may be different from what you guys are used to, but I hope you'll like them..."

Inazuma returned the smile. "I'm looking forward to it!"