[Memory]
Atago is walking around my room, still thinking I'm asleep.
Instead of announcing myself, I choose to watch what she's doing.
She picks up some of my laundry.
I thought I was going to do that.
She suddenly looks over to me, forcing me to close my eyes.
She sighs.
Have I upset her?
No, she would tell me if I have.
I continue to look at her until she leaves.
Might as well get up myself.
Once I'm up, I stretch and begin to get ready for the day.
[Azur Lane]
The Commander looked at the Takao class seated in his office.
"I'm surprised how quick you were to believe me." He remarked.
"What do you mean?" Takao herself looked back at him.
"Well, I have no way to prove it to you other than my recounting." The Commander explained.
"It just sounds like a nice life..." Choukai said with a plaintive expression.
"You are right." The Commander leant back again. "To be honest, it is the life I wish I could return to..."
He closed his eyes and resumed his telling.
[Memory]
I exit my room, clothed, and begin my way downstairs.
Takao seems to be cooking in peace.
"Good morning, Kojou!~" Choukai calls to me, looking up from her phone.
"Hello, you two." I reply.
"What about me?" Takao peeks around the entrance to the kitchen.
"Yes, you as well." I turn to her. "Hello."
She smiles and disappears back into the kitchen.
Atago also smiles at me.
I take a seat between her and Choukai on the sofa.
"How are you this morning?" Choukai asks.
"I'm feeling fine." I flatly respond.
"Good!" She sits up straight.
"What about you?" I look up at her.
"Hmmm...what's this?" She moves her hand to the top of my head. "Kojou is being friendly in the morning?"
"Don't start this..." I try to move her hand off but she resists.
"Maybe I should check if Hell has frozen over..." She caresses my dog ears.
I shiver out of reflex.
Choukai simply giggles and removes her hand.
Atago shuffles closer. "We've all got work today...are you going to be okay on your own?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." I turn to her. "You have no need to worry."
"Okay." She smiles again. "Just making sure."
She treats me like I'm still a little kid sometimes.
It's getting a bit hard to control my temper when it happens...
"Breakfast is ready!" Takao calls from the kitchen.
"Coming!" Atago and Choukai both exclaim while I silently trail behind.
The three of us all gather round the table.
Once again, I'm inbetween Choukai and Atago.
They are the most affectionate, so it makes sense that they spend the most time around me.
Takao comes out, carefully transporting the first tray of food.
"Here we are..." She says as she places it on the table. "There's still one more, so don't touch until that is out and we are all here."
She purposefully strides back into the kitchen to retrieve the second batch.
Atago stands up. "I'm going to get Maya down here."
"Have fun." Choukai remarks as Atago leaves the dining room.
It is pretty awkward when it's just me and one of my sisters.
We need other people to create a talking point...
Luckily, Takao comes back within a few seconds.
"Where is Atago?" She inquires as she deposits the food on the table.
"She went to get Maya." I answer.
"Can't complain..." Takao sits in her respective seat. "Saves me a job and an earful."
"Guess it is pretty draining, being shouted at by someone so close every day." Choukai interjects.
"You have no idea..." Takao breathes out, heavily. "How about you do it, Kojou?"
"I think that would be even worse." I protest immediately.
"How so?" Both Takao and Choukai ask in unison.
"I get the feeling Maya doesn't like me that much..." I look to the side.
"Don't say that." Choukai leans forward and embraces me.
"Yes, she's just easily irritable." Takao elucidates.
"Are you sure?" I find myself slowly succumbing to the warmth. "Because it seems to me that, whenever she's with me, she is in a bad mood."
"Have you done anything in the past to tick her off?" I hear Choukai's voice boom from above.
"Not that I can remember." I reply, while shifting my vision to the wall.
"Hmmm..." Takao ponders to herself. "Well, I'm sure if you just spend more time together, she'll warm up to you."
"Pretty hard when she's actively trying to push me awa-"
I cut myself off as I see Atago and Maya enter the dining room.
"You took your time." Takao looks at the two arrivals.
Maya sighs and takes a seat.
"She's stubborn..." Atago remarks as she sits next to me.
How long ago did Choukai release me?
Meh, not like it matters...
"No more delaying it..." Takao speaks up. "Enjoy!"
As she gestures at the food on the table, Atago and Choukai almost leap at it.
Me, Takao and Maya just sit back and let the skirmish subside.
[Azur Lane]
Maya stood up straight.
"Let me get one thing absolutely clear!" She shouted. "I do NOT dislike you, Commander."
The Commander looked at her.
"You misunderstand." He said. "I'm saying the Maya in that life seemed to not like me."
"Yes, I got that part. I just don't want you thinking that I actually hate you here." Maya slowly sat back down.
"It's okay." The Commander leant back again. "Everyone here knows that."
[Memory]
Choukai stands at the door.
"I'll be back as soon as possible, alright?" She pats my head.
"Yes, I'll be okay." I reassure her.
She's the last to leave, but the first to return.
"If you say so, Kojou..." She opens the door. "Bye! Try not to feel too lonely."
The door closes and Choukai is gone.
The whole house to myself for several hours...
What am I going to do?
I have no friends, so I can't invite anyone round.
Can't drive yet, so nowhere to go...
The Chauffeur won't agree to take me anywhere.
I sigh.
Guess I'll just stay in my room.
I make my way, slowly, up the stairs and into my messy room.
Soon, I'm switching between playing games and watching videos on my phone.
Initially, I was looking forward to my sisters' days at work, but now I realize that it's boring beyond belief.
I never really noticed how much I relied on them to go places.
Maybe I could make something to thank them.
I've never done that before, so it would be a nice surprise.
Yes, I'll do that before I change my mind.
But, what should I make?
A cake?...I've never baked before.
How hard can it be?
I just need a recipe that looks good and follow it as best I can.
I begin to search online for a cake recipe.
...This is more time consuming than I expected...
Finally!
This recipe for a Victoria Sponge looks alright.
Now I just need to make sure that I have everthing I will need.
I find myself almost running back downstairs to get to the kitchen.
If we don't... well, damn.
...Yes, we actually have all I need.
My luck recently...
I retrieve a mixing bowl and get to work.
I actually am hoping I do well...
Disappointing them would upset ME...
What is with my thoughts recently?
I shake my head and resume following the guide.
-Several Minutes Later-
Everything is mixed for the sponge.
I don't know why I waited until now to start heating the oven.
Oh well, it's not like I'm on a strict time schedule.
I take out the jam and cream.
The jam can stay as it is, I need to sweeten the cream.
I pour it into a separate bowl.
The vanilla extract will finally come in handy.
I open the confectioner's sugar and proportion it.
Then, I add it to the cream.
Next, I mix in the required amount of vanilla extract.
...That looks like a good consistency.
The oven is hot enough.
I grab the bowl of batter and place it in the oven and close the door.
30 minutes with nothing to do...
Might as well pass the time by scrolling through my phone.
Please be good...
I didn't waste this amount of time for the end result to be subpar.
I know Takao has some pretty high standards for food, but I don't have any idea what the others will vocalize.
[Azur Lane]
"That's nice..." Atago remarked.
"Would you do that for us here?" Choukai asked the Commander.
"Of course, if I had the time." The Commander smiled back at her.
"Maybe we'll take you up on that..." Takao said.
"Noted." The Commander closed his eyes.
"Here we go again..."
[Memory]
The sponge should be done now.
I use a tea towel to take the cake out safely.
I take a skewer to test the thoroughness of the bake.
Perfect.
Now to let it cool...
This takes a lot of waiting around.
Thankfully, I can actually occupy myself.
It might be best if I play a long video while it cools down.
I place my phone down on the counter and watch the cake.
...This is tedious.
I feel the warmth of the sponge.
...should be fine to apply the fillings now.
I take a bread knife and begin cutting the thing in half.
Gotta ensure that it's cut as close to the exact middle as possible.
There we go...
I set the two halves down.
On the lower half, I begin spreading the fillings...
...That looks good.
I put away the jam and the remainder of the cream.
I hope it is to their liking.