Harder snuck around Yokosuka naval base engaging in her favorite past-time, trolling Japanese destroyers. It was time for the usual ASW exercises and it was up to Harder and *shudder* Mingo to serve as target ships. Of course, Harder had vigorously protested this duty but after the incident with a repair bucket, a chainsaw, and five ounces of nails she didn't really have a choice. Her hunt didn't get off to a good start when she found out that the target was Heywood L. Edwards. She didn't know what it was but she especially detested that destroyer going full weeb. She decided to just settle for a death glare before Heywood turned around and said, "May I help you?"
Harder's response was to just run looking for her next target. She got her wish in the form of a bespectacled destroyer that was clearly a Yuugumo-class talking with Hatsuharu. Sometimes she really loved how the new shipgirl forms significantly simplified silhouette spotting, even if she still couldn't tell the difference between Ikazuchi and Inazuma. The Yuugumo-class destroyer finished, "Th... Thanks. I'll... make sure to get this to the... commander." She then walked off to turn out all alone, perfect. Harder almost immediately jumped out at her only to be greeted by a screech and a 5-inch gun turret being swung at her nearly giving her a haircut and lobotomy. "Jesus!" Harder yelled, "What the hell!"
Okinami stuttered, "I'm... I'm sorry. You... caught me off guard. You must... you must be here for the... ASW practice. I was... kinda hoping to improve my aim. Never can... seem to hit my target."
Harder then recovered from her shock before saying, "Well, I look forward to seeing you try. I'm one of the best submarines out there, USS Harder. Also known as 'The Destroyer Killer'."
Okinami meekly smiled, "Well... I hope I can... wait... we've met before haven't we?"
Harder briefly thought about the fact that she had just been summoned before realizing the implications and grinning, "Make sure not to scream too loud when you remember 'kay?"
Okinami simply responded, "June 10, 1944. Tawi-Tawi. You were... that idiot that tried to torpedo Musashi."
Harder immediately lost her grin before stating, "Idiot?!"
"Sticking your... periscope up in calm seas and broad... daylight? I mean, come on!"
"You seem awfully confident for someone who got hit by two torpedoes."
"Are... are you kidding? Those... torpedoes were... too easy to avoid."
Harder met this revelation with confusion, "I swear I heard... what?"
"Honestly I... I don't know how you managed to... survive that depth charging."
"THOSE WERE DEPTH CHARGES?!" Harder practically screamed.
Okinami answered, "Yeah? I mean... if you insist on... attacking destroyers in perfect visibility, you'll just... get yourself sunk."
~o~
(Meanwhile in the Atlantic)
"Achoo," the sneeze reverberated through the darkness.
Dallas suddenly yelled, "What was that! Was that an enemy?!"
Stewart sheepishly said, "Sorry sis, someone must be talking about me."
~o~
Okinami waved her hands in front of Harder's face saying, "Hello? Are you... okay in there?"
The Gato-class submarine remained unresponsive as Okinami tried snapping her fingers in front of her face.
Okinami eventually sighed and said, "Ah... well... I can worry about it later."
