Fuso POV

"Fuso, this is Sergeant Shoko we need fire support at the following coordinates!"

"Understood."

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

"Affect on target?"

"Good hits!"

"Understood, out."

For seven days, there has been near unending fighting for Miyako-Jima. Due to this three of the four supply ships sent to resupply us had to return to Japan instead of Okinawa as we had already depleted the stores of food they had reserved for us. Our supply shortage is made worse by the probing attacks from the abyssals. Throughout the day and night our destroyers and cruisers are involved in multiple skirmishes and some of them require Kirishima and I get involved and in others, Kaga and Hiryu assist eating through more of our supplies.

The troops are in a desperate struggle to hold their positions against an abyssal counter-attack and we can only provide limited support. We are almost like observers to the battle and I hate that.

Grrrrrrrr.

I glanced at Kinu and briefly saw her rub her stomach. To conserve our supplies we started eating less and it has worked but it causes us a large amount of discomfort. It's worse for Kirishima, myself, Kaga, and Hiryu as we need more food. Kaga and Hiryu have it worse as they need to resupply their planes with ammunition, bombs, fuel, and replace planes they lose on top of what they need for themselves. Because of that, they receive more food then the rest of the fleet and its easy to see that they disagree with that.

GRRRRRRRRRR!

"Fuso."

"I'm fine Kinugasa."

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I quietly hissed in pain. Kinugasa cleared her throat. "No, you're not. Go eat Fuso that's the fifth time your stomach has rumbled in the past thirty minutes."

I winced from another spike of pain as my stomach rumbled again. "Alright."

She nodded, "Satsuki, Uzuki escort her to the supply ship."

"Ma'am!"

"I don't need an escort."

"You're getting an escort Fuso. I don't want what happened to Ise to happen to you."

"…Alright."

Her eyes filled with regret, "I shouldn't have said that."

"It's fine. Ise got lucky. I might not have that same luck."

I broke away from the fleet with my escorts. A few minutes later I noticed Uzuki sneaking glances at me like she wanted to say something. I didn't push and eventually, she worked up the courage, "I'm glad you didn't argue with Kinugasa-san."

"She had a good point. I do need to eat." She nodded and played around with her hands. "What are you nervous about?"

"N-nervous?"

"Uzuki, I can tell you are nervous." She continued to fiddle with her hands and mumbled something.

"I didn't hear you."

She took a deep breath, "I don't like seeing you hurt," She quietly said.

"Uzuki, we are at war. All of us are going to be injured at some point."

"I know! And I hate that. I wish I was a battleship or a carrier, then I could actually protect you."

Her head tilted down and her whole body seemed to slouch. I sighed and placed my hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to be a battleship or carrier to protect us. You are a destroyer, an escort for the fleet. And as a destroyer you protect the fleet greatly, far batter than a battleship of carrier could."

"Really?"

"Indeed. You protect the fleet from submarines and destroyers allowing the cruisers and battleships to deal with larger threats. Your torpedoes give you a punching power far above your displacement. Your job is to protect the fleet and you excel at that."

She wrapped her arms around my stomach and nuzzled her head under my ample chest. I stood there for a minute before I awkwardly hugged her back. She pulled away a few seconds later and beamed at me. "Thanks, Fuso-sama."

I smiled, "You're welcome. Now get back in formation."

She bowed slightly and sailed into formation. "Don't say a word." I could sense Satsuki looking at me and knew she was smiling. "My lips are sealed."

We sailed in confrontable silence for a while until it was broken by artillery fire.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

I could see smoke rising from the island. A group of D3A1s made their dive and pulled out before heading back to their home carrier. I could see the flashes on the horizon from Kirishima's guns followed by the smaller flashes from the cruisers.

"Fuso, do you read?"

"What do you need Commander?"

"Just want to know how the fleet is doing."

"We are doing alright sir," my stomach rumbled loudly and I felt my face heat up. He definitely heard that.

"I have news regarding the supplies four replenishment ships just left Sasebo and will arrive in forty-six hours."

"That is good to hear sir."

"Indeed. I have more news, Harusame, Awaji, Tenryu, Shigure, and Hatsuyuki are fully repaired and will join the convoy. Ise's repairs should be finished by the time the convoy arrives. They are eager to rejoin the fight."

I smirked, "That is good to hear sir."

"That's not all Furutaka is with the convoy as well."

I smiled, "I'm glad to hear she has recovered."

His voice became serious, "What is the situation with the abyssal fleet?"

"Still probing attacks sir. They are fighting a war of attrition we can not win."

"I know. I had a plan that called for the fleet to attack Ishigaki but it was shot down."

"What about the submarines sir, have them form a blockade around the base and they can ambush the abyssals who try to leave," I stopped when I realized what I said. "Sorry sir I was out of line."

He was quiet for a few seconds, "Yes you were but you bring up a good point so I will ignore it. Out."

I felt the tension leave my body. I thought he was going to discipline me. I silently scolded myself for that slip-up.

GRRRRRRRRRR!

Uzuki gripped her stomach and groaned in pain. Satsuki seemed to be handling it better but the slight twitches of her face showed her discomfort.

"Both of you need to eat."

"I'm fine Fuso," her stomach grumbled in disagreement.

"You're not. I had this same conversation with Kinugasa. You are eating when we get to the supply ship."

Uzuki looked like she wanted to argue but another rumble of her stomach and her resolve crumbled, "Yeah eating sounds good."

I turned my attention to Satsuki and she held her hands up, "No argument here food sounds amazing." Her stomach rumbled and her cheeks dusted pink, I chuckled at how embarrassed she looks.

"Fusooooooo," she wined.

I stopped chuckling but still smiled, "Alright, let's go eat."

Satsuki and Uzuki talked about various topics to distract themselves from their hunger. I listened but didn't join in. I glanced upwards and five Zeros sailed overhead. They are quickly followed by six D3A1s. Their markings indicate they are from Hiryu.

With our aforementioned supply situation, Kaga and Hiryu switch who provides support and they limit the number of planes they send for support missions. Replenishing one carrier at a time saves supplies for the rest of the fleet and with them limiting air support they don't consume as much and they can stay on station for a longer period.

A few minutes later my spotters reported the supply ship on the horizon. Since it is such an important assist the destroyer escorts of taskforce Lightning are vigilant for any threats to the ship.

"Finally, for a second I thought my cooks would mutiny."

"Come on don't exaggerate Uzuki."

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

She wined and gripped her stomach while glaring at Satsuki.

"Tell your cooks to quit complaining. You will be resupplied in a few minutes."

"Don't worry, my crew is already on it."

We boarded the ship and Uzuki rushed to the mess. Satsuki didn't rush but she's certainly wanted to get to the mess quickly. I wasn't in a rush like they are but I did walk a little faster. The crew didn't complain about them and saluted when they passed. Uzuki and Satsuki didn't notice but I returned it. A lady must show respect.

They were already eating when I entered the mess. The delicious smell of food caused my stomach to growl like a bear. I grabbed a plate and got my food and sat down with Uzuki and Satsuki who had sat with Kaga and Tama. I spared them a quick nod and started eating. Unlike Uzuki and Satsuki I paced myself but I did eat quickly. It was only after five minutes of constant eating that my hunger pains lessened to a degree that I could slow down and actually enjoy my meal.

"Tama."

"Nya?"

"Please clean your face."

Uzuki started laughing, "It looks like you, hahahahaha!"

I looked at her, "How did you get food in your hair?"

"I might have gotten carried away nya."

I shook my head in disbelief as Satsuki started laughing. She blushed bright red and cleaned her face with a napkin. "Better nya?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Tama why do you always say 'nya' when you talk?"

"I don't know nya. I just do."

With Tama and the sisters engrossed in their own conversation I asked Kaga, "What is the situation on the ground?"

"It is a stalemate. We push them they push back. We can't break through their defensive line not without heavy support." A frown marred her face.

"The Commander told me four supply ships had departed Japan along with Furutaka. Ise, Harusame, Awaji, Tenryu, Shigure, and Hatsuyuki will join the convoy at Okinawa and reinforce us. Once we have our supplies taking the island will be easy."

"Hm. I'm glad to hear Furutaka is well. Have you told the others?"

"No, I want it to be a surprise." I started eating again and saw her lips curve upward into a tiny smile.