-Azur Lane-
The Commander lent back in his chair and sighed.
"I can't believe how much I have to tell you..." He remarked as he stared at the ceiling.
The Takao sisters remained silent while exchanging looks with each other that told them their real feelings.
The Commander took a deep breath and continued his recitement.
-Memory-
I awake to a bright room.
Looking around, I confirm it is my own.
I reach for my phone and the the time says 9:51AM.
Ugh, don't have to get up for 10 minutes from now...
I end up scrolling through my phone, passing the time
"Atago, what would you know of cooking?!" Takao's voice resonates from downstairs.
I hear Atago's voice reply, but it is too muffled for me to make out what she said.
"I don't need suggestions from you, a person who doesn't know the first thing about food!" Takao is almost screaming.
Again, Atago replies, but I don't know what she says.
"Just get out of the kitchen!" Takao sounds incredibly irritated.
That's enough!
Begrudgingly, I slip out of bed and begin heading downstairs.
I see Atago standing near the fridge with a smug expression.
As I enter fully, I see Takao, standing at the stove, glaring at Atago.
"Kojou!~" Atago spots me and rushes over to embrace me.
Takao's expression softens as she sees me.
"Did Takao wake you?~" Atago asks, mockingly.
Takao's face sours again.
Should I be direct?
It would probably be best.
"Both of you, please stop." I say, freezing both of them in place. "I don't want to see any of my sisters fighting..."
My face heats up.
"Kojou, I..." Takao's voice is very soft now.
"...Never expected you to say that..." Atago finishes Takao's statement.
"What?" I ask. "Is it that odd for me to express my thoughts for you?"
"N-no, it's just...you never seem to enjoy yourself with us..." Takao sounds sombre.
Have I really affected her that much?
"Look, even though I may not show it, I do love all 4 of you." I say, so casually I surprise myself.
Atago and Takao both look at me with tender expressions.
Atago then hugs me.
"Kojou..." She says, flabbergasted.
Takao moves away from the pan and joins the hug.
"We...love you too, Kojou..." She says, in a comforting tone.
I...I'm on the verge of tears.
My sisters...they have really done a lot for me.
I can never repay them...
We stay in this cuddle for a minute before Takao has to return to her cooking.
"Kojou, please come with me to the table." Atago grabs my hand, gently, and pulls me to the dining area.
We sit adjacent to each other.
Atago begins stroking my hair and then my dog ears.
It's a strange, but comforting feeling.
"Do you know what we're doing today?" Atago asks, without removing her hand from my ear.
"No, what?" I reply.
"We are going to see a movie!~" She explains. "Though, we never decided on what movie to go to...Do you have a film in mind?"
"I...I don't follow movies, sadly." I elucidate.
"Then, what genre do you like?" Atago moves her hand away and places it on her lap.
"I like a wide range...action, fantasy, war...you name it." I answer.
"Oh my, you're a diverse person!~" Atago giggles slightly.
"I guess so..." I look at the table.
A movie, huh?
Guess I'll have to see what they're showing.
-Azur Lane-
The Commander stops.
He sits up straight and observes the Takao girls in his office.
Choukai had started to cry into Takao, while the rest all stared into nothingness with plaintive expressions.
The Commander wandered over to Choukai and knelt down.
"What's wrong?" He asked. tenderly.
"This life, memory, whaever it is...it's all I've ever desired since I materialized...in this form." Choukai continued to sob on Takao's shoulder.
"If it really is upsetting you that much, we can stop for now." The Commander patted her own shoulder.
"N-no, I want to hear it all now..." Choukai replied, squeakily.
"If you insist..." The Commander returned to his seat.
He lent back and continued.
-Memory-
The rest of my sisters have arrived and we are all enjoying our breakfast together.
Takao and Maya are chatting away.
Atago and Choukai are busy eating.
So I'm left here to revel in Takao's professional standards for food.
I'm lucky to have her close.
I chow on my own food while thinking over the event plan that Atago told me.
I just hope we decide on a movie everyone will like.
Seeing even one of my sisters unhappy will make me upset as well.
Heh, what am I even thinking?
...Maybe I'm closer to my sisters than I thought.
"Kojou!" Takao's sudden call startles me.
"Y-yes?" I answer, shakily.
"How are things with your breakfast?" She asks, while eyeing me up.
"It is very delicious!" I reply with as much enthusiasm as possible.
"Good, good." Takao returns her gaze to her own plate. "Correct answer."
...Somehow, I get the feeling that wasn't a joke.
More motivation to finish it I guess...
Today is going to be an enjoyable day, I can already tell.
Spending time with my sisters...I never really noticed how much I like it.
Until now.
They really are phenomenal siblings.
Why am I suddenly thinking these things?
I've never thought about my sisters this way before.
...Maybe it's because they are going to treat me this summer holiday.
It is something they've never done before...
I'll just have to see how it goes.
"Kojou!" Maya calls my name.
"Yes?" I reply, trying to hide my surprise.
"Finally, I've been trying to get your attention for several seconds now." Maya looks agitated, but I can tell it's not genuine.
"Well, sorry...I'm just deep in thought." I say.
"About?" Maya pressures me.
"The day plan!" I quickly retort, without thinking.
"I see..." She doesn't look convinced, even though that's the truth. "Anyway, after we're done here, I need your opinion on this passage of my book I'm writing."
"Okay?" I'm confused. "I don't see why you need mine..."
"I've already got everyone elses, so I need yours." Maya defiantly returns to her remaining food.
I silently begin to polish my own plate.
Why does she suddenly want to speak with me, apart from she wants my opinion?
Usually, I hardly see her.
So why has she suddenly invited me to her room? If only for a short while.
Eh, can't be any deeper meaning behind it, right?
I realize I've finished my breakfast.
"Looks like you're done." Maya says, hinting at her impatience.
"Yep, I'll come and review it now." I stand up and let Maya take the lead.
All the way to Maya's room I'm wondering what it could look like.
Will it be pristine?
Will it be a mess?
What colour theme will it have?
All these questions about to be answered.
She stops in front of her door and opens it.
"Don't touch anything, got it?" I can't help but notice that her agression is fake.
"Yes, ma'am!" I do a false salute.
I swear, for a second, I saw a smile on Maya's face.
We enter her room.
It is...dark.
Surprisingly so.
The only lighting is some scented candles and some smoldering incense.
However, I can tell that it is a well kept room.
Maya guides me to her computer and turns it on.
I'm left standing behind her awkwardly, waiting for her to find the document.
"Here!" She exclaims.
I look at the text.
It seems to be a horror novel.
Something about an asylum that was exposed for doing experiments on inmates and the ones who died can't rest until the place is demolished.
However, I can't deny that it is stunningly written.
"What do you think?" Maya asks, in the most friendly tone I've heard from her today.
"This is awesome, Maya." I tell her with a genuine smile. "You're a good writer!"
I see her lips trying to form into her own smile, but she suppresses them.
"Ahem, thank you, but that doesn't really...you know, mean a lot..." Maya looks away.
"Ouch..." I say, feigning hurt.
"Anyway, you've said your piece, you can leave now." Maya returns her vision to me and gestures to the door.
I'm not going to stand here and argue, so I silently exit.
That was interesting...
Maya's room is not what I expected at all.
But it did tell me a lot about her.
"Kojou! Maya! Start getting ready for the day!" Choukai calls up the stairs before starting to ascend them.
"Okay, I'm on it!" I call back as I enter my room.
-Azur Lane-
The Commander stopped again and looked at the women in his office.
Choukai had ceased crying and now joined the others in looking very baffled.
"What do you think so far?" The Commander asked the four.
"Well, it's...a lot to take in..." Takao replied.
"But I want to learn more!" Atago jumped in.
"Very well..." The Commander lent back again and closed his eyes.
-Memory-
I exit my room in some semi-smart clothes and see Atago in a stylish black, long dress that accentuates her...
You know...
She sees me and smiles.
"Do you like this dress?" She does a small twirl to show it off to me.
"It...makes you look...quite beautiful..." I say while scratching my head, flustered.
"Awww...Thank you." She pats my head.
She also put on extra makeup.
Seriously, you'd think she's going on a date or about to strut down a catwalk.
We're only going to a cinema...
Either way, I walk with her down to the entrance where Takao and Choukai are already waiting.
"We are just short of Maya again." Takao mutters. "Why is she so stubborn to go out with us?"
I think for a minute, not intending on giving my answer out loud.
Looking around me, then picturing Maya, I get a potential reason...
"If you want you can wait in the car." Takao tells us.
"I'll go." I'm the first to agree.
"Me too." Choukai follows suit.
We exit the house together and greet the Chauffeur who opens the door for us.
Choukai sits next to me.
"Excited?" She asks.
"We don't even know what movie we want to watch, so I don't know if I'm excited." I answer.
"Well, I heard from Atago you like a wide range of films, so there's a pretty good chance that, whatever we watch, you'll enjoy." Choukai smiles, as she's known to.
"What do you like?" I inquire, authentically curious.
"This might surprise you a bit, given I'm so friendly and kind, but I'm well into horror." Choukai explains.
"Wait, really?" She wasn't lying, that is a surprise.
"Yes, I love myself a bit of psychological terror." She ruffles my hair, much like Atago.
"You are full of revelations..." I remark as I turn to the window.
I hear her giggle softly.
Takao is dragging Maya by the ear again.
From the looks of things, Takao was quite mad that Maya took so long and got fed up.
Maya's makeup looks incomplete.
For some reason, I feel kind of bad for her.
The Chauffeur opens the door and Atago, Maya and finally Takao enter the car.
The Chauffeur then gets in the driver's seat.
"Where are we going, ladies and man?" He asks.
Atago gives the name of the cinema and the Chauffeur affirms it and begins driving.
I look around at my sisters.
They all seem excited, except for Maya, who looks uninterested and...jealous?
I should express more gratitude to them...
After all, they are doing all these nice things for me over summer break.
Though, sometimes, it may be a bit strange for me, given I'm the only male sibling.
Still, they treat me so well.
I guess I really an lucky to have such compassionate and caring sisters.