6766. This time, and just this time, we are not complaining about an unauthorized summoning, as we desperately need repair ships at Yokosuka. So, please welcome repair ships Mihara and Momotori once Akashi's finished hugging them.

Yokosuka.

Akashi knocked on the door to Goto's office, bracing herself for whatever came next, whether a convoy was bringing in a critically damaged shipgirl or the Yubaris' had tried yet another scheme involving a big red button.

Ooyodo opened the door, and Akashi entered to find Goto sitting at his desk, reading a report.

"You wanted to see me sir?"

"Ah, yes Akashi. Please, sit down." said Goto, gesturing to a chair. When she sat down, he continued. "Now, I wanted to talk to you about your request for a second repair ship."

"Does that mean that the USN sending someone from Pearl?"

"Unfortunately, neither Admiral Holloway or Admiral Briggs has an extra repair ship available."

Akashi sighed. She should have expected this, she really should have, she thought. While she enjoyed her work, being the JMSDF's only repair ship aside from the retired Asahi took it's toll from time to time, and with operations currently on the rise, with a corresponding growth in patients, she'd hoped that either Medusa or Vulcan could get assigned to help her deal with the heavy damage.

"However, we have found an alternative." said Goto, snapping Akashi back to attention. "Niyodo should be bringing them in now."

The door opened, as if on cue, and Akashi recognized Ooyodo's sister as she led two other women in. As her eyes focused on the strangers, they widened, and the only sound Akashi could make was a half-choked gasp. Standing before her were two Kanmusu that, aside from hair color, looked exactly like her.

"Repair ship Mihara, reporting for duty." the greenette said, bowing.

"Don't forget me." the bluenette added. "Repair ship Momotori here. Who needs fixing?"

Akashi said nothing as she stood up and walked over to the newcomers, shaking. Now face to face with them, she reached out and gently gripped them with her hands, to assure herself that they were really there, before she broke down in joyful sobs.

A few hours later...

As Goto and Ooyodo watched Akashi show her sisters the infirmary, the Admiral broke the silence with a chuckle.

"What's so funny?" asked Ooyodo.

"Oh, I just find it funny that as soon as you discover a huge surplus of supplies in Sasebo, a small portion disappears before it can be tallied, leaving no actual discrepancy on the records." he said, a seriousness in his voice. "Then all of a sudden, two repair ships show up out of the blue, just as Akashi says she needs help."

"Coincidences are funny like that, I suppose." said Ooyodo, inwardly quivering as she realized she'd been found out.

"Don't worry, Ooyodo. As long as this doesn't get repeated, I'm all for this remaining our little secret. After all that's been happening recently with the upsurge in operations, Akashi needed some good news." said Goto, smiling as he left.

Now alone, Ooyodo thought back to why she had done it. How she, while trying to find Akashi in her office, had found the repair ship's sketchbook open to a drawing of Akashi and her two sisters, sailing side by side. How she had noticed the old tear stains next to them, and how she remembered another shipgirl, also longing for the family she had never had in her first life until one day, when her wish had been granted. Her mind came back to reality, just in time to notice a pair of subtle winks coming from Akashi's sisters, promising that their secret would remain intact. Getting one last look at Akashi's smile, she smiled herself and left.