Alec's day began like how it usually began since his time here. He got up at six in the morning, spent ten minutes washing his face and then headed outside. His destination was the small shooting range that was set up by the Eastern Division of the Human Resistance. His reason for going there was obvious, he wanted to try and see if his aim had improved over the past few weeks.

Once he reached the location, Alec went to the armor and picked up a simple pistol and loaded it with a magazine of regular bullets. Given that Anti-Siren bullets had greater importance in the war, regular bullets were about as dangerous as blanks. He made his way to the shooting range, picked a spot and held up the gun.

He grasped the weapon firmly with two hands and stared down the iron sights. He saw the target and took a breath. Then, he pressed the trigger multiple times without flinching or blinking even once. The fact that he managed that alone was a significant step for anyone, but to Alec that was nothing. In his mind, he should be able to load and fire a gun with one hand.

'He'd be able to do it,' thought Alec, emptying the clip 'hell, I'll bet he could do it and land the shot without even looking.'

He reached the twelfth bullet and fired. When he was done, he put the gun on the wooden table and made his way to the target. Once close, he saw that the paper target had several holes in it. Out of the twelve bullets he fired, seven of them hit the target. Of those seven, only two hit the head and the heart.

Alec sighed and kept thinking what he was lacking. There had to be something missing in his thinking.

"Heya," said a voice from behind and started him. He spun around and saw Alicia standing a little behind him, dressed in a short-sleeved grey top and black track pants.

"Alexis," he said, calming down a little "please don't do that again. You scared the life out of me."

"Why?" she asked, shrugging "it's not like I'm a Siren or anything."

"Still," he said, "what are you doing here?"

"I've been noticing that you've been sneaking out of your room every morning," she began, looking past him and seeing the perforated picture "I was a little curious and wanted to see for myself."

"So, why are you learning how to fire a gun?" she asked "you're in the safest position on the fleet Alec. The girls are more than capable of defending you."

"Ah, well," said Alec, looking left and right "it's kind of difficult for me to put into words."

"Try."

"I wanna… I want to try and help James more."

"And firing a gun is the best way to do that?" asked Alexis, not following the logic.

"No," he said, dismissively "look, as long as I can't defend myself, I am a liability to the fleet. Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arizona, and California are benched keeping myself safe when they should be out there helping the fleet."

"They do more than protecting you," said Alexis "they're also helping coordinate movement, provide updates on enemy positions…"

"You and I both know that James is more than capable of doing that on his own," countered Alec "I heard the girls talk about it: even with bullets flying everywhere and all those explosions, he's still able to get a clear grasp of the big picture and move the fleet accordingly."

"Ah, I see," said Alexis, smiling at him "you say you want to become strong to defend yourself for the sake of the fleet, but in reality, you don't want James to think of you as a liability."

Alec's grunt of frustration confirmed her suspicions.

"Can you blame me?" he asked "while everyone's out there fighting and putting their life on the line, I'm sitting in some safe room, miles away and barking out orders."

"That's usually how war works Alec," corrected Alexis "it's typically soldiers on the frontlines while the leaders and strategists hang back and direct the action. The Azur Sky bucks the trend but that's how it works."

Alec said nothing at the comment.

"Why do I get the feeling that it's more than just wanting to be useful?" asked Alexis, probing Alec with an inquisitive look.

"It is that," he said, plainly denying her insinuation. "For a long time, I lived my life on the sidelines. I was content with watching the world go by while I did nothing. All that changed during the war and I decided it was time to start moving forward."

"Only problem is that when I look back, I see I haven't come that far at all."

"And what makes you think that?"

"Because here I am doing nothing but belt out orders from a safe distance while James is on the front lines taking Siren ships head on."

"Compared to him, I…"

"Compare anyone to James and you'll find they all fall short," said Alexis, trying to put things in perspective "first of all Alec, you shouldn't compare yourself to James."

"And why not?"

"For starters the gap in experience between you two," she replied "from what I hear, James was fighting Sirens for a whole year and before that he was a decorated soldier of the Navy. Compare that to the amount of time you spent learning how to use a gun. Of course, you're going to fall short."

"So what do you want me to do?" he asked, sounding a little hostile "watch in silence as he moves further and further ahead?"

"I'm asking you to set your sights on something tangible and real," she suggested "you're like a level 1 player in an RPG trying to catch up to a level 50 player in a few months."

As much as he didn't want to admit it, that was a very apt analogy.

"You know," said Alec "I've seen the way the girls look at James. If he says they're going to win, they treat it like it's a fact, like it's a foregone conclusion. Richelieu, Rossiya, Bremerton, and the rest. At first they were doubtful of his methods but now though, now they believe in him just as much as the rest of them do."

"I want them to see me like that too, I want the fleet to respect me like they do with him."

"Respect like that isn't something you get in a short time," said Alexis, "I know the look you're talking about. I've seen that look in the last mission and let me tell you right now, James didn't earn that look in a week or so. No, he earned their respect through blood and sweat."

"If you want them to look at you like that, then I suggest you first start seeing the ways you can help where James can't," she continued. Alec looked like he was about to say something, but she raised her hand up to silence him.

"There will be. He's not perfect, he's human. And humans make mistakes. So, find out how you can help and with enough time, you'll earn their respect too."

She could see Alec ruminating on those words. She could also tell that his mind had begun analysing ways in which he could use his intellect to help the fleet. The Azur Sky was a formidable force true, but there were bound to be weaknesses or defects. If Alec could find them and find ways to rectify them, it'll earn him the respect he wants from the girls and from the man he continually compares himself to.

"And for what it's worth," she said "I'm positive that James is also comparing himself to someone just like how you are."

On hearing this, Alec shot her a dismissive look.

"No chance," he said, "James doesn't look up to anyone. People look up to him."

"Let's confirm it then," said Alexis and grabbed Alec's arm. The man tried to protest and stop her, but her increased strength as a Siren rendered all objections moot.

It did not take long for them to catch up to James, who was having breakfast with Akagi. From a distance, it looked like the pair were enjoying a conversation over something. Alec and Alexis waited as neither wanted to interrupt the moment the couple shared.

Once done, James and Akagi left and headed somewhere else. Alec and Alexis pursued and caught up to them rather quickly.

"James," called Alexis and the man turned around "Alec has something to ask you."

Alec froze like a deer in headlights, not at all enjoying being put on the spot like that.

"What's on your mind?" asked James while Akagi took a few steps back and stood next to him.

"Are… are… is there anyone you look up to?" asked Alec.

"Oh yeah, plenty of people," he said almost instantly, which genuinely surprised Alec.

"What? Who?"

"Well, for starters, my old man," said James "and to clarify, my old man was the Captain of the ship I spent most of my life on. He taught me everything I needed to know in life."

"And recently, I also look up to the Azur Lane too," he added.

"What?" asked Akagi, sounding surprised "you never told me that."

"The Azur Lane?" repeated Alec.

"Yeah, they're bona fide heroes. Compared to the six of them, I'm nothing."

"Oh James, don't say that," said Akagi, trying to reassure him.

"It's the truth Akagi," he said "even though you gave me that title 'The Will of Azure' I've often wondered if I'm really doing enough to be worthy of that title. Hell, there are times I wonder if everyone's faith in me is misplaced."

Akagi was about to say something, but Alec interrupted her saying "you're doing plenty."

"If you ever think you're not doing enough, just remember that humanity would be wiped out by now if you didn't arrive."

"Thanks Alex," he said, giving out a light chuckle "by the way, what brought this on?"

"Uh, well…"

"Alec was just a little curious and wondered if he should ask you or not," replied Alexis, answering then putting her arm around Alec's shoulder.

"Come on, we've got stuff to do," she said and left before Akagi or James could say anything.

As Alec and Alexis headed back, he reflected on the brief yet illuminating conversation he had. Just as he was trying to measure himself against James, James was measuring himself against the Azur Lane.

"I hope that cleared any doubts you had Alec," said Alexis.

"Yeah, it did, thanks," he said, smiling at her.

"Right," she said, realizing something "there's one more thing I want you to remember."

"Hmm what's that?"

"James didn't get to where he is on his own. He's the Commander through hard work, sweat, and because everyone supported him on that journey."

She paused, turned to him and said "what I'm getting at is, he was never alone. So if you feel like you've hit a brick wall or something, you can always come and talk to me."

"I'll always support you," she said and to emphasize the point, she gently held his hand in hers.

It was at this moment that Alec began to feel his face getting red and recalled the feelings he once had for Alexis. At first it was a slight interest but with the war and with what happened to her father, he pushed those feelings aside.

Now though, with things as they are, those dormant feelings were rising back to the surface.