It's been a week since Nagato was assigned a personal trainer to get her into some sort of shape. Unexpectedly the shipgirl in charge of her turned out to be her oldest friend, Kongou-class fast battleship Kongou. Remembering her personality very well it came as no surprise that their trainings were starting early, finishing late and pushing Nagato to her limits. Despite all this, she couldn't feel disappointed – just after two days she was able to walk and gained some much-needed stability for her hands. She still had problems using chopsticks, but at least western cutlery was fine. Eating was a new and a bit weird experience, but Houshou's cooking was truly pleasing. Then again, Nagato didn't have much comparison.
On the third day she was already able to run. As such, Kongou decided to tone down on the amount of physical exercises a bit and pay more attention to educating Nagato about the modern world and its laws. Even if Nagato hoped for a breather, the old lady had a different idea of toning down. While number of different exercises went down, the intensity skyrocketed as Kongou decided to walk the newbie through a special training routine she was taught by a British battleship Warspite during multiple operations they've conducted together in the Indian Ocean. However effective, the training had one more important upside. It took Nagato's nightmares off her mind and even allowed for few calm and restful nights.
Throughout this time Nagato was reunited with multiple old comrades. She was happiest about meeting Ushio once again after last seeing her during their last stand at Yokosuka. However, a formal introduction was in order as Nagato didn't recognize the destroyer. For once something in this new life didn't come as a surprise, as thanks to Akagi's and Vice Admiral Hara's efforts, Nagato was fully aware that not all ship spirits materialize as humans the way she did. According to the briefing, some were thrown into human hosts resulting in a possession-like and highly unstable state. Ushio was a rare case of host not being hurt in the process. The battleship suspected it was because of the meek and caring personality of the destroyer as well as her host.
In addition to Ushio, Nagato was visited by Akagi and Sakawa nearly every evening, mostly accompanied by members of the fleet that rescued her. The most interesting and educating visit was paid by Yuudachi, accompanied by Shigure. For the first time the battleship could witness the kind of technological wonder the shipgirls truly are. Not only had the fourth destroyer of the Shiratsuyu-class had her blown-off hand replaced immediately after returning to Japan, but she was already able to not only move it, but also perform precision work. Akagi surely didn't exaggerate during her lecture on shipgirls' ability to quickly return to health. Nagato's imagined the seemingly endless possibilities coming with such body. As long as she was mindful of her head, she could be brought back from the brink of dead. Another pleasant visit was paid by Kaga. Despite still being stuck up and prideful, her and Akagi's attitudes have drastically changed. They weren't just respectful, but actually friendly and concerned with Nagato's well-being. It was satisfactory to say the least and tasted like a major victory.
Today was the last day of her training and all that was left was finally summoning her crew's spirits.
"Yoooshi, Nagato! You just need to feel their burning love for you and return it! I believe in you, old fox!", Kongou was fired up, even for her standards.
Nagato giggled slightly and nodded before focusing her mind on the affairs of her old crew. She's gone through multiple memoirs and biographies over the week, swallowing them like a hungry dragon. She was ready and she knew it. First memory that came to her was the day she got to fire her guns for the first time. The excitement she shared with her crew. She slowly opened her eyes, but the open palm remained empty.
"No giving up!", Kongou let out a cheerful yell in English, squeezing her thumbs even harder.
Nagato reached deeper, to the time her crew got to know about Admiral Yamamoto's death. She could feel their shock and sadness with her entire being. Tears ran down her cheeks, but again no fairy appeared. Yooshi! Another one! she thought, pulling herself together. This one was much more personal. A humble celebration of one of her gunners' birthday. He received a slightly larger portion of rice and even a small cup of sake. There were no gifts, but all men crewing the same turret received a day off board. They've spent the entire evening talking about local food and their trip to a public bath house. Good things can happen at any time. Nagato smiled and called out to this lucky gunner's spirit. Slowly but steadily she established a connection, but when she was ready to pull him out it broke. Again, her palm was empty.
"Nagato-san, maybe you should change your approach? It's true that most shipgirls reach some sort of mutual connection with their fairies, but there are exceptions. Yours is not a motherly personality, maybe try to act more like a father? Be imposing, strong and order them to show up…", Shigure who's been watching the two battleships training walked up to her and offered some advice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt or eavesdrop, but you are more of a commanding type, like Nachi-san."
"NICE IDEA! As expected of the Shigure of Sasebo!", Kongou shouted, giving the destroyer thumbs up. In her mind, however, she was bashing herself for not thinking of this before.
"Well… Sasebo has nothing to do with it, but thank you… I guess.", Shigure seemed confused with Kongou's sudden outburst.
"Commanding, huh? Yes, this sounds a lot more like it!", Nagato's past as the flagship of the Combined Fleet manifested itself. She raised her hand high, closed her eyes and thought of the battle off Samar. "All hands to the battle stations! Turrets one through four prepare to open fire!", the battleship roared, imitating Rear Admiral Kobe Yuji's behaviour and mannerism during the engagement.
Instantaneously she felt small and light steps on her left shoulder. Turning her head, she noticed a small being rushing to its non-existing post. If not for Nagato's timely reaction the fairy would have fallen down. As a spiritual being no harm would come to her, but the battleship didn't want such an incident to taint such an important moment. She would have stood there for a moment, looking at her little gunner, proud like a parent seeing their kid walk for the first time, but Kongou had other plans.
"Yees! Now, it's time for the last part of your adjustment period! Follow me!", the anglophile shouted pointing in an undefined direction, probably prouder than Nagato herself.
"Shigure, thank you for your support.", Nagato bowed and quickly rushed after Kongou who was probably approaching the speed of sound.
"Don't mention it, Nagato-san. I'm glad I could be of assistance.", Shigure smiled and returned the bow.
After a short walk both battleships arrived at a long, white building located somewhere in the center of the base. Both girls were passing it every day during the training routine. Constantly exposed to dust and sea the building required daily maintenance to be kept in this snow-white shape, especially in autumn and winter. As such one of shipgirls' duties in the base was cleaning the outside walls. After the events on the Wake Island the schedule got temporarily scrapped and for the past week Nagato's only seen one girl, constantly assigned to this duty.
"Poor Zuikaku… Admiral's sure working her to the bone…", Kongou turned her bemused face towards Nagato.
"Of what you've told me, she's lucky to not be executed. Vice Admiral Hara sure had to pull a lot of strings.", Nagato had no sympathy for the Crane – after all it was her own doing.
"You should show some more empathy, Nagato. Comes a long way nowadays."
"Empathy does not win wars, old friend."
As both girls entered the building, Kongou took the lead once again. Their objective was located on the second floor, opposite to the entrance. Massive, mahogany doors were standing wide open – an invitation extended to all and any guests.
"HEEEY ADMIRAL!", Kongou barged into the room, ignoring the proper etiquette for greeting her superior officer.
"V-vice Admiral Hara, Nagato-class battleship Nagato, reporting!", slightly crestfallen Nagato entered the room and stood at attention, saluting her commander.
Akagi sitting at the desk to the right of Hara's, let out a loud giggle, visibly amused with the contrast between the two battleships. Or maybe just lack of Nagato's experience with the relations between the personnel in the base.
"At ease. See Kongou? You should learn from our new friend.", the admiral answered from behind his desk, not taking his eyes away from a stack of documents lying on the desk. "So, I assume Nagato's training has been successfully brought to an end?"
"Yeees!", the older battleship let out in English, "She's a full-fledged shipgirl now… sir!", she added quickly as if able to read admiral's unimpressed expression without seeing his face.
"Great… Akagi, could you please walk her through the formalities?"
Without a word the carrier reached to one of the drawers in her desk and took out a thick folder.
"Nagato-san, please take a seat. Kongou-san you are free to go for now. I'll drop by for some tea and scones in the evening.", Akagi raised her face and smiled at the oldest member of the Japanese Shipgirl Project.
"Anytime! See you later, alligator!", the fast battleship bid farewell to the admiral and his right hand - again with broken English. "I might need to lock the fridge…", she added nearly inaudibly when passing Nagato who couldn't help but laugh, having experienced Akagi's appetite first hand. She quickly realized her blunder and put on a more professional expression, before sitting down in front of her flagship.
"I know it may seem sudden. You've just finished your training after all, but it's time for you to decide your future. As you may remember there are three choices: firstly, you can join us here at JMSDF; secondly, you are free to join any other Project in the world as long as they accept you; last but not least, we're giving you an opportunity to resign from the navy and lead a civilian life. This comes at a price however, as you will be banned from any romantic relationships, your job will be chosen by the admiralty and you will need to check in on a regular basis. Obviously, you will be forbidden from talking about the Shipgirl Project or who you are.", Akagi explained, presenting Nagato a different set of documents for each of the options. "Please, take your time to decide. Remember that nobody will hold your choice against you."
Without as much as a second of consideration, Nagato reached for the first pile.
"Isn't it obvious, Akagi-san? Now, what do I do with this?"
"As expected of the Big Seven. Just grab a pen and sign wherever it says to do so, Nagato.", Hara's voice was filled with enthusiasm of a little boy who just got his first bike. "Your kanji is fine, just add today's date. 24 November 2025.", he added seeing Nagato's confused look.
Disregarding the content of documents in front of her, Nagato grabbed a pen handed to her by Akagi and started carefully signing each and every page, some of them twice. Her handwriting is awfully sloppy but considering that just a few days ago she could barely hold a fork… the carrier thought while overseeing the document signing process.
A few moments later, Nagato handed the documents back to Akagi. After a short check, the carrier stood up and reached out towards the battleship.
"Welcome to the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force's Shipgirl Project, Nagato-san."
Carrier's radiant smile reminded the battleship of the mysterious woman from her dreams. She spaced out for a short moment, making Akagi a bit uncomfortable. When the carrier was going to lower her hand, Nagato snapped out of it.
"Please, take care of me from now on, Akagi-san! It will be an honour to fight at your side, as the future fleet flagship!", Nagato grabbed carrier's hand in a handshake. She looked her comrade in the eye, challenging her to a fight. Akagi locked her eyes with Nagato's, accepting the contest.
"Now, now, Nagato. You are as far from becoming the fleet flagship, as I am from becoming a shipgirl. There's still a lot you've got to learn.", Hara put down the fire raging in battleship's heart quite quickly. "Firstly, let me officially welcome you to the Project. I'm thrilled to have another member of the Big Seven join us."
"The pleasure is all mine, Vice Admiral.", the battleship took a deep bow.
"A handshake would be enough, Nagato. There's no need for such formal greeting.", the admiral paused. "Your combat training will start tomorrow. For now, please follow me to the arsenal, your rigging is in need of adjustments and fitting.", Hara signaled her to follow him.
Nagato remembered the battle at the Bikini Atoll and passing the training grounds. Each and every shipgirl donned heavy equipment called the rigging. She realized that she'd materialized stark naked with no weapons to fight with. The thought of finally getting her turrets back and the prospect of just firing them made her body shake with excitement.