Tama POV
"I think this is a bad idea nya."
"It's too late to back out now," Satsuki-sama said.
"We could just remove the bucket," Mochizuki-sama pointed out.
"Now you two are getting nervous? You were fine with it ten minutes ago."
"Yeah, but now I'm worried about who else might come through the door."
"Yeah nya. What if Kaga-sama or Fuso-sama come through the door nya?"
"If one of them comes through that door you're on your own Satsuki-san."
"You have a good point," Satsuki-sama nervously said. "Tama-san, help me with the bucket."
"Okay."
We started toward the door when it opened, "WAIT!"
SPLASH!
I closed my eyes and bit my lip. I heard Satsuki-sama gasp and slowly opened my eyes. I froze in place and a cold shiver when down my back when I saw who was standing in the doorway. Fuso-sama was soaking wet, and she was not happy. Her eyes bored into us and I felt the urge to-
"RUUUUUN!"
Satsuki-sama and Mochizuki-sama spirited past me and out the door. Fuso-sama watched them and for a second I thought she would go after them and I would be spared her wrath but she didn't. She turned her fiery gaze back to me and I quickly looked away.
"DON'T HURT ME NYA!"
I dived for the bed and hid under the covers. I heard her mutter to herself and that heightened my fear. What if she was thinking of ways to punish me!? What if-
"I'm not mad at you, Tama-san."
"...Nya?"
"You don't have to hide under the covers." I slowly poked my head out. She didn't have the fiery look in her eyes and she was noticeably more relaxed but I could still see the tension in her body.
"...O-Okay." I pushed the covers away and stood up, "I'm not in trouble nya?"
She rubbed her forehead, "No, but don't do that again," she sternly said.
I snapped to attention and saluted, "Yes Fuso-sama!"
A small smile graced her lips, "Good. I'll have to talk to Satsuki-san and Mochizuki-san later. If you see them will you tell me where they are?"
"Of course, nya. It will be my revenge on them for leaving me."
"...Not the response I was expecting but okay. I didn't think you held grudges."
"I don't nya."
She looked at me for a moment before she headed for the door. "Have you seen Ise-san?"
"Not recently. I saw her eating lunch three days ago but I haven't seen her since."
"That's strange. If you see her tell her I need to talk to her."
"Can I ask why nya."
"There is a plan in the works for the invasion of Taiwan. Commander Shuko wants Ise-san and myself to start planning for the naval side of the operation."
"Okay. If I see her I'll let her know nya."
"Thanks." She walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. I cupped my chin in thought. It's strange that I haven't seen Ise-sama, at least in passing.
"Maybe Kaga-sama or Hiryu-sama know where she is."
I started to walk out of the room when I head a small splash. I looked down to see that all the water in the bucket was still here and it doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. "Won't take but a minute nya."
Three minutes later I left the room in search of Kaga-sama and Hiryu-sama. I searched for a few minutes but I didn't find them. The roar of a Zero drew my attention and I watched it head to the docks where it entered a landing pattern. I headed there and found them waiting.
"Kaga-sama! Hiryu-sama!"
"Tama-san? What do you need?"
"Have you seen Ise-sama anywhere?"
"No, Kaga-san?"
"I saw her heading to the Shinto shrine but that was an hour ago. Why?"
"Fuso-sama wants to talk with her about the strategy for Taiwan."
"Hmm," Kaga-san cupped her chin in thought.
"Hey! Tama-san!"
I turned around and Tatsuta-sama, Nire-sama, Take-sama, and Kaki-sama were walking towards us. I turned back to Kaga-sama and Hiryu-sama, "We're sorting!? Why didn't I know!?"
"Actually our taskforce is being split up," Hiryu-sama said. "Kaga-san, Tatsuta-san, Nire-san, Take-san, Kaki-san, and myself are heading toward Yokosuka under Admiral Goto's orders. You, Numakaze-san, and Namikaze-san are now part of the third fleet. Numakaze-san and Namikaze-san have been transferred into destroyer squadron twelve and you are now the squadron's flagship."
I froze at the word 'flagship' but quickly recovered. I didn't want Kaga-sama or Hiryu-sama to doubt me. "Okay. Why wasn't I told of this sooner nya?"
"Because the order just came down thirty minutes ago. Numakaze-san and Namikaze-san already know so don't worry. I sent Tatsuta-san to inform you but, you found us first."
"Oh, sorry," I sheepishly said.
Hiryu-sama waved it off, "Nothing to be sorry about."
"Soooooo did Admiral Goto tell you why you're heading for Yokosuka?"
"No, he didn't," Kaga-sama crossed her arms under her bust. " I know we're going to be involved in a large operation but, I don't know why he split our taskforce up."
"Maybe he was worried about leaving the third fleet understrength nya?"
"If that was true he wouldn't pull us off the front line," Hiryu-sama said.
"We can debate about 'why' all we want but we won't know for sure until we arrive at Yokosuka," she paused for a second, "and we need to depart now."
"That we do. Hopefully we'll meet again Tama-san."
They entered the water closely followed by Nire-sama, Take-sama, and Kaki-sama. I grabbed Tatsuta-sama's hand when she walked by.
"Be careful nya."
"You too."
I let go of her hand and watched her head out to sea. I sighed and head back into the base.
WHAM!
"NYA!"
Thump!
"Tama-san! Sorry! Here."
"It's fine nya. That's what I get for not paying attention." I grasped the outstretched hand and was pulled to my feet. "Oh, Ise-sama! Fuso-sama is looking for you."
"Tanks for letting me know." She smiled and continued on. I turned and walked down the hallway. I rounded the corner and nearly ran into someone else.
"Tama-san!"
"Oh, hello Asagiri-sama."
"Soooo, I invited Shinonome-san, Uranami-san, Natori-san, and Kinu-san for a game night and there's room for one more. You want to play some videogames?"
"Sure. What are we playing nya?"
"I think it was called War Thunder. Shinonome-san said it was fun but I've never played it before. Come on."
Asagiri-san lead me through the base toward her dorm room. She pushed the door open, "Shinonome-san, you've been trying for ten minutes. I don't think you're going to get a connection."
"You're not helping, Kinu-san. I don't know why it's being so difficult! It worked perfectly this morning!"
"What's wrong Shinonome-san?"
"The game! Anytime I try and join a match I just get pulled into the ground by an invisible chain!"
"An invisible chain nya?"
"Lag."
"What?"
"Lag. That's what causing you to be pulled into the ground."
"How does lag pull me into the ground when I'm 1,000 meters in the air!?"
"I don't know. When you have lag strange things start to happen and you can't really do anything about it."
"This base needs stronger internet!"
"I'm sure the Commander would buy a better router if you just asked him nicely."
"He's not like our first Commander. He's stricter so I don't think asking him to buy a better router is going to get me anywhere."
"Huh, I didn't think you'd answer like that."
"Also, your sarcasm is not welcome."
"There it is," Kinu-san smiled and Shinonome-san glared at her, although, to me, it looked more like she was pouting.
"While Shinonome-san tries to get the game to work have you heard the news?"
"What news?"
"Kunashiri-san, Hachijo-san, Miyake-san, Awaji-san, Nomi-san, and Kusagaki-san were detached from taskforce Lightning."
"Really, why?"
"Awaji-san told me the abyssals were increasing their attacks on convoys and they needed more escorts. They're on their way to Japan now."
"What about taskforce Lightning? Is it going to be disbanded and merged into taskforce fifty-two or fifty-five?"
"I don't know. If they don't get reinforcements then it's likely they will be merged into one of the taskforces but I don't know which one."
"Well, while we're on the topic, Kaga-sama and Hiryu-sama have left with most of their taskforce and are heading to Yokosuka nya."
"Really? Who's here with you?"
"Numakaze-sama, and Namikaze-sama. We've been merged into destroyer squadron twelve nya."
"WORK YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
THUMP!
CRASH!
...
...
...
"...Oops."
"W-What did you do!?"
"I uh, I broke my computer."
"Why did you throw your mouse at the screen?"
"I didn't know it would break the screen!"
"You have the strength of a destroyer behind you! Even a light throw would shatter it!"
"I didn't think it through okay!"
"Everyone calm down. Other than Shinonome-san's, computer nothing was damaged and no one was hurt."
Shinonome-sama closed her eyes and took three deep breaths, "Okay, I'm good now."
"Well, now what are we going to do?"
"Asagiri-san, don't you have an... X-box? I think that's what you called it."
"Yeah. Give a minute and I'll get it set up."
"So, while she gets it set up, does anyone know why Fuso-san was marching through the halls like she was hunting something?"
"I don't have anything to do with it."
"You know that just makes us think the opposite, right?"
"Uh, Tama-san? Are you okay?"
I snapped out of my frozen state and nodded, "I'm fine nya."
Kinu-sama crossed her arms, "I'm not buying that for a second."
"Come on Tama-san! If you know something you have to tell us!"
"Yeah! Come on, tell us!"
"Okay nya! It might have involved her getting a bucket of water dumped on her head."
"A bucket of water?"
"Someone put a bucket of water on top of a door and when Fuso-san opened the door it fell on her head."
"Who would be crazy enough to prank Fuso-san? Tama-san do you know?"
"Nope," I popped the 'p' when I answered.
"Okay, everything is set. What do you want to play?"
We shared looks with one another and shrugged, "We don't know. You're the one who knows the most about these videogames nya."
"Okay, let's see. How about this one?"
"Sure, why not."
She put the desk in and handed me a controller. "Nya?"
"I'm going to teach you how to play."
I shrugged and turned the controller on.