Author's Note: You know, at first Shouhou was NOT meant to be Airi's secretary in the original form of this fic.
Just because I am virtual,
please don't push me away
I still want to drown in your sound
GigaReol feat Hatsune Miku - Hibikase (Resonance)
Tuck tuck tuck
Stack of paper hit the common room table. Other than Asashio who stacked and did her report just now, the common room was empty. Kagerou, Shiranui, Inazuma, and Ikazuchi were out on on expedition while Ayanami, Mutsuki, and Makigumo was off to their fitting. Shigure was supposed to be around the dorm. As it was early winter, most probably the Shiratsuyu class was out taking care of their small garden or something. When the Admiral gave them a small patch of land, Mutsuki and Shigure decided that perhaps it would be good to plant vegetables. Ikazuchi had been saying to "count on her more" on watering them every day but so far she had always forgot. Inazuma and Asashio had usually been the one doing it for her. Mutsuki and Shigure would not be mad of it at all, it would be great for Ikazuchi to remember watering it on her shift. The small patch of land turned to their garden now anyway.
"Ah, Asashio," Shigure showed up by the common room door. She took off her dirty garden gloves as she peered at the common room. "You have yet to meet the Admiral?"
"Yes, I was about to report now. Maya-san forgot to tell me her observation in last night's sortie."
"I see. She will be worried. Perhaps you better hurry."
The Admiral asked Asashio to come report to her every morning. It had always been like that since her launching. Even if she was not the flagship, the Admiral would still ask her to come visit her after every expedition and after every sortie. The other destroyer eventually remembered as well and now Asashio had the whole dormitory remembering her to go meet the admiral if she hadn't for the day.
"Oh yes, before you go..." Shigure seemed to look for something in the common room shelf. She pulled out a fabric bag from one of the drawers. "Please bring some of the vegetables for the Admiral. I just harvested our vegetables before snow comes in. After the others are back, lets have Nabe party."
~ Blank Spirit ~
Asashio walked down the sidewalk towards the main office building, looking at the sakura trees devoid of leaves. It was almost winter, if not officially here already on the calendar. Most of the trees lining the road were sakura trees. It made the whole walkway seemed barren with them losing their leaves.
The fleet girls dormitories were located in a cluster separated from main office building. They were two storied building, the upper floor being the rooms and the lower floors being the common room. Asashio heard that before the current admiral, the state of the dormitories were pitiful. The only ones having real place to sleep are the battleships and carriers. The new admiral was the one standardizing the dormitories into what they were now, fixing or even completely renovating the whole place. She joined the carrier and battleship dormitories, saying they would not have more ship than the ones they had now; then added space for garden and other outdoor spaces. The light cruiser and heavy cruiser each have their own building, thanks to their rather large numbers. The Destroyer Dormitory was closest to the main building, only passing a small garden and the fork that leads to the pier. Asashio heard from Mutsuki that the place used to be the most rundown, with broken panels and even crumbling walls in one of the rooms, but then the current admiral renovated them. Now they had good healthy panels, clean beds, humane space. Asashio had no idea how it looked like before though. The other destroyers rather reluctant to remember the past as well.
"Asashio-chan! Good day!"
"Good day, Private!"
Several navy walked pass her, moving crates of supplies as she went. The navy personnel in this base were friendly with the fleet girls. She had heard that some of the heavy cruisers were taking it far from just partners, but Asashio would rather not comment. There had been rumors of the cafetaria going to be merged between fleet girl and human personnel. To be honest, Asashio did not see why it should be separated until now. With how close they were with each other at the moment, having one large cafeteria sound like a good options to boost space utilization.
Saying more greetings to some personnel (and fairies) tending on gardens left and right, Asashio walked inside the main office building. She took the stairs, hearing her shoes made quiet sound on marble floor. The Admiral beautify her own office and also the main building last. Supposedly it is already over half a year since the Admiral being assigned to her station but she just began the renovation on main building recently. Asashio could still smell fresh paints, thinner, and other smell of construction. A construction fairy walked passed her carrying a small saw, running in its tiny legs and jumping over stairs. Perhaps even now it had not properly finished yet.
The door to Admiral Office was a tall, sturdy oak double door. Asashio sighed when she realized both of her hands were occupied, one with her report, one with the bag filled with fresh vegetables Shigure asked her to bring. Placing the vegetable bag on the floor, she knocked.
The door opened without so much of an answer. Usually the Admiral would say, "Come in." or something along the line...
True enough, Shouhou was the one opening the door.
"Ara, Asashio-chan. Here for the Admiral?"
"Yes, is she around?"
"Aaaaah... unfortunately she got company just now and is off the office."
Company? Asashio looked down to her filed report and down to the vegetable bags. Shouhou followed her eyes.
"Why don't you search for the Admiral around the base?"
"Eh?!" It was extremely unusual for Shouhou to suggest anyone to disturb the Admiral in her duty. "But isn't she escorting someone-"
"It is not a formal visit. The Admiral did say that she wants to meet you today. I think it will be okay."
It would always be okay, somehow Asashio knew. The Admiral never EVER be mad at anything. She was always incredibly kind and receiving. If anyone would like to run rampant Asashio knew they could but no one would. Everyone loves her. And that was also exactly why Asashio wondered if she should not go disturb her Admiral.
"Perhaps I should just go back later..."
"Even I dont know for sure if the Admiral will be back to the office," Shouhou smiled. "Don't worry, I think the Admiral would like to meet you too. Are those vegetables for the Admiral?"
"Ah, yes," Asashio showed the bag. "Shigure said that we are having a big harvest and may have a nabe tonight. This is for Commander."
"Oh, then you can go ahead and deliver that to her. I will take your report."
"Eh?"
"That is your sortie report, right? Just drop it here and deliver the vegetables to the Admiral yourself."
"Isn't that the other way around, Shouhou-san...? Shouldn't I deliver the report myself and drop the vegetables here?"
Shouhou laughed. She took the reports from Asashio's hand.
"Asashio-chan, the reason why the Admiral always wants to see you is not mainly because she needs your report."
"Eh?"
"Go on, she will be happy to get some vegetables from her destroyers."
The light carrier smiled but said nothing else as she closed the door.
XXX
The saying "Go search her around the base" is so easier said than done. The base is huge, despite "small" compared to other base. It still has basic facilities such as the factories, dormitories, and sport areas complete with running track, a pool, and a gym. That was excluding the pier, training ground, cafeteria, clinic... So many place to look. Asashio stood at the front of the main building, sighing. With a vegetable bag in one hand, she wondered where she should go.
The pier sounds like a good idea. You would probably take a guest to the pier for some sightseeing. Or maybe the dock and the factory. Usually you would like to boast about the facilities.
The Admiral would always come back to her office before she come home, or at least inform Shouhou. There was only a really really small chance that the Admiral would just come home without notice. If she could not find the Admiral, she could always wait in the Admiral room. Of course, it was not Asashio if she did not try to search in every nook and cranny before giving up and went to the last resort.
In a short while, she found her self by the factory. The factory was empty but the engineers. They seemed to be working on a new equipment with the fairies, so Asashio did not bother to come over further. Both of the two development rooms were busy... however there was no sign of the Admiral.
"Asashio? Is there anything you need?"
Deep, calm voice of Lieutenant Kouseki turned Asashio around. The engineer bowed down his big body as he tried to get rid of oil from his hands by rubbing it hard with a cloth. After a compulsory salute and greetings, Asashio showed her vegetable bags.
"I am looking for Commander Tendouji to report and give these."
"Vegetables?"
"Shigure-san harvested our garden. We have more than we need, so she thought of giving some for the Commander."
The Lieutenant gave a crisp laughter.
"That will definitely make her happy indeed," he said as he put his now rather dirty cloth to his back pocket. He straightened his body that quickly towers over Asashio, and squinted his eyes as he looked outside. "The Admiral was here a while before with her friend. Supposedly she hasn't gone too far. Perhaps either the pier or the dock."
"Thank you very much, Lieutenant."
Pier. She would have to walk along the shoreline.
Lieutenant Kouseki observed the destroyer's expression.
"You don't seem as enthusiastic as you usually do, Asashio. Is there something wrong?"
Lieutenant Kouseki was in charge of their fitting, fixing, and overall maintenance. It could be said that he was their equipment and overall condition doctor. Thus, he interacted with them a lot and has always been a kind presence to have. He had this aura that made people want to rely on him.
The destroyer suddenly felt like sighing. The worry that had been weighing her was finally out.
"I wonder if I am not good enough for the Commander that she has always wanted me to report to her directly."
The lieutenant raised his eyebrows. Asashio continued, hugging the vegetable bag.
"She always asks me to come to her room. I wonder if my progress has been unsatisfactory that she wants to observe me more closely. I know that the other destroyers have better experience than I do since I am recently constructed. I wonder if there is anything that I should have done even more..."
But the Admiral never said anything about that. She usually just sit there behind her desk, watching her with those brown eyes. Sometimes she would ask her to come sit with her at the tatami room, or walk her to the pier while she asked her many things about her sortie, her training, her fitting, and everything else. Asashio wondered if she had been inadequate, if the Admiral was worrying about her more than the other destroyer. There was this weight she felt, one was because she was the nameship of Asashio class so she had this feeling of responsibility to set a good image of her class, and also the fact that she wanted to be a good ship for her Admiral. Kind as she always was, Asashio wondered if there were thing the Admiral did not want to tell her, or to ask of her, even if she wished for that something.
Was it my build? Should I train even more to finally be on Kagerou's level? Or maybe there is something else I should do?
"Do you not want to meet the Admiral every day?"
Lieutenant Kouseki's question made Asashio looked up and flustered.
"O-Of course that isn't what I meant, Lieutenant! I have never thought of such a thing! I just thought that, perhaps... perhaps she was worried... of me... or something..."
There was something in the way Lieutenant Kouseki looked at her, that told her he must have known something. He did not voice it, however. Instead he folded his arms.
"Asashio, has the Admiral ever told you that she was dissatisfied?"
"No."
"Has she ever reprimanded you about something?"
"No."
"Has she ever commented about anything wrong in your report?"
"She did give comment about a thing or two from my report, but she never exactly said it was wrong..."
"Then you don't have to worry,"
If only it was that easy. Asashio bit her lips. She knew, but...
"The Admiral is not someone who con others," Lieutenant Kouseki put his large hand on Asashio's head. He smiled. "Her reasoning has always been simple, straightforward, and honest. You don't have to worry. If she doesn't tell you, then it simply mean there is nothing from her to tell you."
He patted her gently. His eyes shone knowingly.
"Also, she has always been proud of her ships. Always. Each and every one of you. She can't stop talking about you even in her breaks. I have never heard of her complaining about any of you, ever."
"But then why...:
"Perhaps you should ask her directly," said the lieutenant, laughing. His eyes glinted as he smiled. "I really believe her answer will be a lot simpler than what you think."
XXX
Asashio found the Admiral not long after she said goodbye to Lieutenant Kouseki. What the engineer said was right. The Admiral was by the pier, together with a seemingly same aged brown haired woman wearing a casual peacoat. The two of them seemed to conversed merrily, since even from afar Asashio could hear the Admiral's laughter. The Admiral sounded so happy. Disturbing the admiral's relaxing time with petty thing like delivering vegetables seemed so absurd that Asashio stood by her place for quite a while, thinking hard about various options that would best fit the situation. Perhaps she should wait? Maybe tail after her? Or maybe...
"Asashio, Dear, what are you doing over there?"
"Ah!"
Asashio jolted, gasping. A few meters away from her, by the edge of the pier, the Admiral was shouting at her. When the destroyer looked up to to see her in panic, she gave a warm smile then gestured her to come closer.
"Come here, Sweetling. Is there anything you need?"
"Ah, No, Commander! I.."
"Come."
"Yes, Commander."
Asashio obediently walked to her Admiral's place, griping the vegetable bag tighter. She bowed to both her Admiral and her friend, then walked closer. Her eyes briefly swept her Admiral's friend, whose eyes followed her in interest, but eventually locked on her Admiral firmly. The Admiral calmly and kindly observed her, a smile never left her face. When Asashio finally right before her and gave her a firm salute, she gave a knowing smile.
"How are you, Asashio?"
"I am in perfect condition, Commander! I am ready for any mission at any time!"
The Admiral's smile widened.
"Splendid! And your report?"
Asashio nodded, then started to tell her in a format she knew by heart. The Admiral always asked her the same kind of question, with the same order. How many enemy encounters, how many rounds of shelling and torpedoes she released and how many hit, how was her damage, is there any significant injury... also if she any problem with any of the ships, if she had her breakfast and if the meal was good around the cafeteria, then overall destroyers' condition. The last part of her report eventually brought about the time to show her vegetable bag.
"Also, Shigure asked me to give you this, Commander, from our garden. It may not be of to your liking but we sincerely wish that you will kindly receive this humble gift."
"Ooohhh! This is really awesome!' The Admiral's face instantly lit up when she took the bag. She turned to her friend. "Look, Kanon! Veggies! Let's have some nabe and beer in my place tonight, what do you think?"
"Sounds awesome for me," The Admiral's friend, Kanon, gave a chuckle. "I don't know your ships can produce crops too."
"My ships are all geniuses," No one can mistake the proud tone the Admiral had. She patted Asashio gently on the head, then gently guiding her closer to her body with a gentle push on the back. "They always give me more than I ever ask for. These veggies are going to be awesome. Thank you very much, Sweetling.'
Her face practically by the Admiral's side belly, Asashio could not express anything but blush. She was so warm,so kind, Asashio could feel something hot welled up inside her whenever she met her Admiral. It was something more tender than just loyalty, but she did not know what to make of it. This was among the reason why she was agitated lately. It was increasingly getting more... normal for her to let herself actually... receive such kind gesture. Was it even allowed for a destroyer to be so spoiled? Should she resist? But then it was not as if it was wrong either. Asashio was utterly confused. She felt like there was this wall, that if she got over she may not be able to get back to. She did not even know if she could have just crossed it over. She did not know if feeling these thanks to her frequent meeting with the Admiral was okay. The Admiral did not give her order in this one, she did not know what to decide. It was not as if she hate it, not at all. She may not understand the burst in her heart but she knew exactly it was not anything near hate or even dislike.
Her superior's body... was comfortable. She had the fragrance of spring flower. And she was warm, just like spring.
The Admiral talked while rubbing her back gently. Only when she said thank you, was the time she looked down at Asashio by her side. Seeing her destroyer's beet red face, she immediately let go.
"Ah, I am terribly sorry. I did not mean to."
The destroyer quickly took a step back, but instead of looking up to meet her Admiral's eyes, she looked down to the ground. Her face felt hot.
"No, Commander." She clenched her fists together tightly and mustered enough courage before she looked up. "Asashio is honored. I am glad you like the gift."
The Admiral's eyes were dim as if they were thinking about something, but she still smiled. She gave Asashio a pat on the head.
"Of course, all of you cared for this garden. Thank you very much."
The destroyer nodded. She still stood straight ready for order. The Admiral talked a bit to Kanon, giving her friend the bag while saying something in low voice. She looked back at Asashio after a while, still finding the destroyer in her previous position.
"Is there anything else, Dear?"
"Ah! No, Co... Um."
"Perhaps you should ask her directly."
The Admiral raised her eyebrows. Usually Asashio would answer with a firm straight no, in which the Admiral would then proceed to dismiss her. It was unusual for Asashio to stutter. She would always without fail, follow orders and refrain from asking unnecessary question.
"Yes?"
M-Maybe I should stop. Asashio suddenly felt uncertain. A weapon should not question their superior. It was not as if it was wrong for the Admiral to ask her anything either. A report is necessary to monitor the base.
But then...
"Is there anything that's bothering you?"
"N-No, Commander! I just..."
The Admiral suddenly kneel, leveling her eyes with her destroyer. Asashio gasped, her face reddened right away.
"C-Commander! You will soil your pants, you don't have to-"
"It's okay, I want to listen. Tell me anything."
Now she did not have another choice. At this moment, a part of her regret that she actually hesitated. As they say, a few second of hesitation was all you need to lose a momentum.
Now she had to answer.
"I... I am just wondering if there is anything inadequate about me, Commander. If I do, please, tell me. I will do my best."
The Admiral seemed surprised. Asashio clenched her fists and tried to keep her eyes steady on her superior's gaze, waiting for an answer. Anxiety griped her. There might have been a long list of things the Admiral would want to talk to her about, considering how the order was practically reporting every day. Silence spanned as both of them waited for one another to begin. And then the Admiral chuckled.
"Sweetling, I think I need an explanation," she said in genial expression. "I don't understand, you have been performing flawlessly. Why do you have such an idea?"
"B-Because..." Is this allowed? But she did not have any other choice. "Because you always asked me to come report to you every day and after every sortie. I wonder if there is anything wrong in me that you are worried about me. I wonder if there has been anything unsatisfactory about my performance."
Understanding painted itself on the Admiral's eyes right at that moment. The change encouraged Asashio to continue.
"Do you not want to meet the Admiral?"
"I did not mean to say that I dislike your treatment," She quickly added, remembering Lieutenant Kouseki's question. "I am not against it at all. I am just wondering, because... because I don't want to take up more of your precious time. You have seen so kindly looking after me. I know you have been busy, but you gave your time for me. If there is anything I can help you with, even if just a little bit easing your worry, please I will try my best to meet your expectation."
A second silence followed.
The first thing she received was a head pat. Asashio bit her lower lips, feeling the hot feeling crept to her face again. Her heart jumped when she identified how the Admiral looked sad.
"I am so sorry, Sweetling."
"Eh?" Goosebumps crawled to her skin immediately. "N-No, Commander! Don't be! I just want to ask..."
"I am sorry that I make you feel that way, I did not mean to make you feel inferior with the others, really I did not."
No, you did nothing wrong. Asashio panicked. Just as she feared, this took a wrong turn. However, she could not say anything because the Admiral seemed to have not finish her statement.
"Well, that is my fault after all for not telling you," She smiled sadly. "After all, all I want is just to meet you every day."
Eh?
"You are always so formal and hesitant that unless I order you, you will not come to me. I want to talk more with you. So I thought of just make it a mission for you to come see me every day. I did not mean to make you feel that way. I should have known better than trying to push myself on you. That was really insensitive of me. I should have been more perceptive, I apologize, Sweetling."
"N-No..I..."
Suddenly it all made sense.
"Asashio-chan, the reason why the Admiral always wants to see you is not mainly because she needs your report."
"Her reasoning has always been simple, straightforward, and honest. You don't have to worry."
The Admiral put her hand down on her lap and smiled.
"I apologize. If you don't want to do it, you don't have to. No, Sweetling, you have never done anything wrong, nor if your performance has been unsatisfactory. You are good ship and you have performed very, very well. I am really sorry that I make you feel uncomfortable. From now on, you don't have to..."
"I... I do not hate it!"
Her voice went off louder than what Asashio thought it would. What was control, she had none even with her own reaction. The Admiral rubbed her destroyer's arm gently.
"Dear, you don't have—"
"I enjoy talking to you too, Commander!"
"Unless I order you, you never come to me."
"... because I dont want to take up more of your precious time."
Even if it was not an order, it must be fine now... isn't it?
"After all, all I want is to meet you everyday."
"If that is alright with you, I..." Asashio did not realize her fists now trembled. "I will continue my report! Commander, please allow me to meet you every day!"
The Admiral now the one who blinked in surprise.
"Also, I..."
"Ah, I am terribly sorry, Sweetling. I did not mean to."
"... I do not dislike your treatment to me at all." It was her limit. The destroyer now could only look down at the concrete ground of the pier, feeling her face turned bright red again. "I instead apologize if I seem to give to the wrong reaction. I just do not know yet what is the right conduct to take. I hope you do not mind, Commander... B-But I will try my best."
Asashio closed her eyes tightly.
No. I shall be brave. I should look firm and proper and...
A chuckle.
Then a laugh.
When the destroyer looked up, what she saw was her Admiral laughing, even though she knew it did not sound like she was laughing over a joke. Still having a chuckle, she gently cupped her destroyer's face. She did not say anything, just her brown eyes observed her girl. Wonder, love, curiosity, everything flooded in those eyes. Asashio did not know what to do, so she just silently answered the gaze. Eventually the Admiral drew her to a gentle hug.
The destroyer closed her eyes tightly.
This feelings again. This warm, warm feeling that burst in her heart.
Asashio involuntarily grabbed her Admiral's white sleeve by one hand, burying her face in the older woman's shoulder. She somehow wanted to cry. This feeling, once again, strengthened. Now it was so overwhelming that she knew it would burst one day. This felt so foreign yet so familiar. It was a feeling of... longing. Asashio did not even know if she longed for something. She had never realized longing even existed, or that she identify this bittersweet feeling as one of such thing. However it welled up so strongly inside her heart that now she could not say it was anything else.
It felt as if... her heart was trying to identify her superior as something else. Something else beyond the wall.
Commander...
"Commander, I am sorry... that I don't know how to... return..."
… What is this?
A gentle rub on her back.
"You don't have to try so hard. Do what you want to, Sweetling. In this case, what you want will always be right. You don't have to worry."
The destroyer's grip on the sleeve tightened.
Will it... really always be right?
She wanted... really wanted to identify her Admiral as something else she was not at this moment.
"Asashio, I am still learning as well. I can be wrong. Tell me if there is anything I do that makes you uncomfortable, okay?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Is this alright with you?"
'… Yes, Commander. Thank you very much."
The Admiral eventually let go of her hug. She was surprised though, upon finding tears on her destroyer's eyes. She quickly cupped her cheeks, brushing the tears with her thumb gently. They still flowed, but somehow Asashio did not know why.
"What's wrong? If you don't like it you can tell me, Sweetling. I am sorry."
"No, Commander. I am just... I am just so happy... and relieved."
… The wall is broken, Commander.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I will try my best."
Can I acknowledge you as my mother?
The Admiral smiled and gently kissed her forehead.
XXX
"I think you push yourself on her a bit too far there, Ai."
They were watching Asashio walking back to towards the dormitory, unable to actually move from what had just happened. Airi understood what her best friend meant.
After all, perhaps this best friend of her understood the Kanmusu more than herself.
"I noticed. I cannot help myself."
Airi felt like apologizing to Asashio. Indeed, to be just another normal admiral would have been easier for both of them. She could not contain her own desire however.
"Well, it's not like I can tell you what is right or wrong anyway," Kanon put her hand inside her coat pocket. She gave a smile. "This is a new research field. Any research to this field has been suspended since a long time ago in exchange for other military interest. But anyone can tell that destroyer is confused."
"Yes, I know. I am sorry."
Kanon laughed. She pat her best friend's back.
"Ai, I am not the one you should apologize to. Beside, I don't even know if you should apologize to anyone at this rate. No one knows, really."
No one knew. They were treading the unknown. By science at least. Airi rubbed her hands together, then faced her best friend.
"Can you help me knowing where I go, however?"
The brunette grinned.
"Well, I can consider it."
She lifted the vegetable bag she still hold in her hand.
"I got a free nabe meal and beer. Is this what you are offering me for my service?"
Airi laughed, tapping her best friend's hand that was still by her shoulder.
"If you take that as my first bargain, that is incredibly cheap."
"That's my point, Ai. You gotta push on something more valuable."
"You want something expensive? I can give you a voluntary win in Shogi if you wanna, Non-chan."
"Goddarn it. Just you wait, I will DEFINITELY win over you one of these days."
"I am eager to meet your frequent tries."
Making a playful grunt of annoyance, Kanon hugged the admiral then strengthened her grip so tightly the admiral laughed and finally admitted her defeat. They laughed for sometime, until the mood died down again.
The waves crashed. The sun would soon set.
"... You watch her grow yourself, Kanon."
Airi still remembered the white room, the tube, the strange lights. She remembered touching a metal steel.
"She is my first construction. I created her. I can't help myself. She is technically my daughter."
Her best friend closed her eyes and sighed. All admiral had been taught the basic of construction. The steel, fuel, bauxite, ammunition would create the medium for these ship girl, and the core brain of their machine. The cell, would be the purified stem cell of Abyssal that has been used since the first ever successful Kanmusu construction. Calling the soul of warship would be the admiral's own soul. If Airi had called on the soul of Asashio from the pool of warship soul, then Kanon had watched Asashio grew from one cell into her form. After all, she was one of the scientists in charge of research and development. She developed Ikazuchi and Inazuma for Jiro, who did not even see his destroyers being completed before he was stripped off his place... and just recently she developed Asashio for her best friend's first construction. She had witnessed many birth. Asashio was just one of the many copies.
"You made her choose, you give her free will, when what us scientists have been trying to eliminate is options. It is natural that they are extremely conflicted. What you are creating here in your base is a huge experiment."
"I believe they are pure. So far they have never shown anything against that. They are capable to function outside of orders for a good purpose. They need respect."
Kanon chuckled.
"Most of the military do not think so."
"Most of the military is being apathetic."
"You sure, Ai? We are swimming in a different military, I think."
Airi turned around, facing her best friend. Her eyes burned.
"I believe in the good heart of people. Anyone with common sense can see these girls have hearts. Most of the admirals in the navy are just being complacent. We only need to push them enough."
"The military will not like that. Us scientists are pressured to create a more "efficient" weapon with an obvious reason."
"I am not trying to change or alter them. All I want is for them to be acknowledged, and thus given constitutional protection. This is surely not against the military.'
"Depending on those protection, you may limit the scope of our research. That is a potential threat in itself. You wish to change a whole military's perspective."
"I wish to change the current accepted majority's perspective."
"You are being extremely specific there, Ai."
"I have faith in people, Kanon," Airi pushed her tone. She stepped forward. "I believe in humanity. People only need to be ushered away from their complacency. We only need to move, just a little, to overturn status quo."
Kanon raised her eyebrows... then eventually sighed. This one best friend of hers, perhaps it was thanks to her upbringing, or maybe something else, but since she was a small little kid, Airi was extremely kind and can be a tad bit naive. She was too kind for her own good, unfortunately.
"How was Admiral Kudou's reply?"
"Senpai is extremely receptive. I will meet him around next week. He and Admiral Fukumoto have been in this struggle longer than I am. They have their Kanmusu protected in their base, that is their way to defy the constitution. For me that is not enough. I won't be able to retire peacefully if I don't know whether or not my girls will be treated with the same respect once it is given to someone else. That is why I want the constitution to change. That is why I need your help."
"To convince Grand Marshal?"
"Yes, and also to steer me if I in case I accidentally step on a wrong direction."
They met eyes. Kanon almost smiled. Her best friend, although naive, was not stupid. Airi took a deep breath and continued.
"I don't say that how I treat them is right for every Kanmusu. You know more than me about their nature. I need your insights."
The scientist tilted her head. Airi smiled at her.
"You have seen my base, my ships, my staffs. Kouseki-san and I will help you gather your data. I will lend you my ship at anytime you wish. Kudou-Senpai and Admiral Fukumoto would also be open for your proposal, if you ever wish to see their ships. All I ask for is an objective research. What I want is a better future for my ships. I want to know if what I do will harm them or not."
"You are just as scared as they are."
Airi laughed at her best friend's statement. She raised her shoulder.
"Perhaps I am. I am clueless. I am but a green Admiral, Kanon."
Naive, but intelligent and gutsy.
"You need power."
Kanon's dark green eyes sparkled. Airi knew that one fact since the first time she said what was in her mind behind the factory, in front of Lieutenant Kouseki.
"I need power."
"This will be long, Ai."
"I know."
There was no elevator on this military rank ladder. She needed to establish her place. She needed to earn the respect of her peers. With her current fame, it would not be easy.
However, she had her trump card.
"I have my fleet, though, Kanon."
What was in the Admiral's eyes were solid trust.
"I believe in my fleet."
The firmness of her words, coupled with unshakeable belief, made Kanon sighed. Airi had always been that kind person that no one usually pay attention to in class, unless it was about wealth, because everyone would accuse her of having so much. She did not, however. Kanon knew first hand how the Tendouji barely gave their kids anything nice or above ordinary despite their wealth. Airi was the kind that usualy went in the background fixing tables and chairs unknowingly, giving rabbits feed when others forgot. She would never get any credit for what she did, nor would she ask to be acknowledge. For her to actually take the first step to something to huge and take the spot light, there must be something that had affected her so.
That alone, was enough of a bargain.
"... I will take the nabe and the beer. As long as you cook."
The sparkles in the brown eyes of the admiral, were unmistakably bright.
"I will cook for you, merely because I am worried of gastronomic catastrophe."
"Ai, can't you even be a least bit lenient on me?"
"Now THAT is even more expensive than the Shogi, Non-chan. You should have taken that one bargain."
"Your sarcasm is beyond me, really."
"You will have plenty of those as we have our dinner tonight."
"... I will look forward to it I guess."
Their banter continued, as the sun slowly setting in the west. The nabe tonight would be lively. At least Airi would not be having it alone this time.
They would have one long talk, beyond their nabe and beer.
~ To be Continued ~
Author's note: Hakurei Kanon is written 白霊 佳暖
Yes, Asashio was actually the original supposedly secretary ship.