Nagato slowly opened her eyes, woken up by a sound of knocking on the door. Still half-asleep she felt something weighing on her chest. A quick glance revealed tightly snuggled Sakawa. Immediately, a wide smile adorned Nagato's face. Not only was she back home but had no nightmares for the rest of the night. Before she managed to get herself together, the knocking sounded again.
"C-come in.", Nagato's voice was still a bit shaky after just waking up.
The doors opened and a short woman looking to be in her late forties entered the room, leaving the door wide open.
"Good morning, Nagato-san. I've brought you a break-", the woman abruptly stopped after noticing Sakawa who was rubbing her eyes, trying to adjust them to the light room. "Sakawa-chan, what did I tell you about interrupting the patients? I believe I asked you to go back to your room.", she said with stern, yet gentle, motherly voice, somehow reminiscing of the smile she's been seeing in her dreams, while putting down the plate full of food. She then proceeded towards the only window and opened it to let in some fresh, autumn air.
"Buut Houshou-san! What if I wasn't here when she woke up? She'd be all alone, pya! Sakawa won't let that happyan!", the cruiser vigorously protested, still cuddled against Nagato and hugged the battleship even tighter, but stern glare of Houshou remained unrelenting.
"N-no, it's ok. Sakawa's presence made me feel at peace.", Nagato mumbled to defended her friend, causing a cheerful smile on the cruiser's sleepy face. Hearing this, Houshou let off.
Confused Nagato, however, needed a moment to process who's the person in front of her.
"W-wait a second! Houshou-san? This Houshou-san!?"
"In person, Houshou-class aircraft carrier, Houshou – the first aircraft carrier in the world. I'm overjoyed to meet you again after all those years, Nagato-san. I'm quite small and not very good at combat, so Takuya-kun asked me to take care of the wounded and new arrivals. I also own a humble izakaya in the base, please feel free to pay me a visit.", she bowed slightly after introducing herself, not failing to mention her, very popular, restaurant.
"I'm also glad about our reunion, Houshou-san. Forgive me for skipping the etiquette, but I still can't move properly, and please take care of me from now on.", Nagato bowed her head as low as she could.
"Now, before you start eating. You have guests, should I let them in?", but before Nagato could answer, a young woman peeked into the room. Her face beamed with enthusiastic and warm smile. Because of this unusual expression and navy hat, Nagato didn't immediately recognize her visitor. However, with the second look her well rounded cheeks ended with pointy chin, and a slightly upturned, well defined nose, turned out to be a dead giveaway of visitor's identity.
"Nagato-saaan!", Akagi called, waving her hand.
"Akagi-chan, please wait for your turn.", Houshou reprimanded the fleet flagship as if she was her daugther.
"But, Houshou-san, I just can't wait to meet her!", the younger carrier pouted, as a male hand appeared from behind the doorframe and grabbed her head.
"How many times must I remind you that you're on duty?", an annoyed, masculine voice came from the corridor.
"Meeeh. You're no fun at all, Takuya!", Akagi sighed, opposing her companion.
"And how many times do I need to remind you that while we're on duty, it's Vice Admiral Hara? No discussion.", the unseen man sternly voiced his opinion, pulling Akagi's head back into the corridor.
Houshou and Sakawa seemed amused with this exchange, but Nagato was left in a state of deep shock. Calling your superior by their first name is a heavy offense, not to mention when it's done on duty. Does Akagi have a death wish? How can a member of admiralty allow such behaviour to go unpunished?!
"So, Nagato-san, should I let our lovebirds inside?", Houshou giggled slightly.
"Wait, lovebirds? But romantic relations between members of the Navy are strictly forbidden and punishable by death! How can this be tolerated and not seen as dangerous and detrimental to morale?!", Nagato protested vigorously, yet for some reason her caretaker became even more amused.
"Oh, don't sweat such minor details, Nagato-san. Isn't it wonderful when a commander shares such a deep and special bond with his right hand?", Houshou seemed extremely happy about this breech of regulations, leaving Nagato even more confused. Would the girl behind that smile also think this way? she thought, but couldn't convince herself to accept such behaviour.
"Also, I nearly forgot, but do you need help with the food? I've heard from Akashi-chan that you had some problems back on the Wake Island.", she added after a short pause.
However, before embarrassed Nagato could formulate a comprehensible answer, Sakawa jumped to the food plate.
"I'LL FEED HER, PYA!", Sakawa beamed with enthusiasm and energy so contrasting with the sleepiness of just a moment earlier.
"That's decided then.", Houshou shrugged and smiled. "Now, what about your guests?", she asked, but confused and embarrassed Nagato was completely spaced out.
"Ah, yes… Please… Please, let them in.", the battleship finally answered.
Hearing that Akagi rushed into the room without waiting for Houshou's approval.
"Well then, if you need anything just press the button, Nagato-san.", Hosuhou pointed at a remote strapped to the bed, before bowing slightly and left the room.
"Aaaah! Nagato-saan! Welcome home! I really have missed you! Oh, oh! We're going to have a welcome party for you, so make sure to get back in shape as soon as possible! Houshou-san and Mamiya-san will prepare their best dishes for you! It's gonna be so amazing!", Akagi's love for food took the best of her.
"Oh… Y-yes, this sounds great.", Nagato answered instinctively, but without conviction, unconsciously accepting the food that Sakawa was feeding her. It took her a moment to realize that and she immediately blushed. The food however was extremely good, especially compared to the pulp from before. Nagato took a peek at the plate but couldn't recognize anything except rice.
"Pyacific saury, miso soup, maccha and natto, pya!", Sakawa explained seeing her friend's curiosity.
"Aaah, Houshou-san's saury… I'm so jealous!", Akagi's face turned dreamy.
"Ekhm!", a man who now stood in front of Nagato's bed coughed loudly. "Akagi, if you could stop daydreaming and return to our duty…", he paused, grabbing two chairs standing under the window and moving them to the bed. Disappointed Akagi sat to his right as the man opened up. "As you've probably heard, my name's Hara Takuya. I'm a Vice Admiral of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Shipgirl Project. To my right is the fleet flagship and my right hand, aircraft carrier Akagi.", Hara paused after formally introducing Akagi and himself.
Fleet flagship, huh? Akagi sure climbed up the ranks... However now that I'm here this honour will surely be mine once again. But just a Vice Admiral to become a Commander-in-Chief? Is this project so unimportant? And what's this Self-Defense Force? What about the Navy? Nagato's brain was taken over by a storm of thoughts. She was pulled out of it when the admiral spoke up.
"You are probably thinking why the Project is led by just a Vice Admiral, but that's not exactly important right now. I can however assure you that our little enterprise is the only thing standing between Japan and the Abyssal.", Hara said as if reading Nagato's mind, leaving the battleship dumbfounded. "If you'd like to become a fleet flagship, the position's always open, assuming you have what it takes. When it comes to work, all that matters to me is your merit. This is especially true now, after Akagi had to take over Zuikaku's duties as the flagship of the First Carrier Division.", these words, although spoken calmly, were filled conviction, resolve and determination. "And don't look so surprised, there are well over 150 shipgirls under my command, I've seen it all.", he added with a voice of an old, tired man.
This short, yet imposing speech, combined with an excellent show of foresight and ability to read the situation caused Nagato's opinion of Hara to take a sharp U-turn. He sure is a frightening man, she thought, feeling herself growing smaller in comparison to Hara.
"Stupid Crane, nearly caused another war.", the admiral added inaudibly.