The Blue Fleet and Kongō had decided to stay at Hawaii for the night and that meant that Zeitwächter had decided the same.

That didn't mean that she had brought her vessel to rest with the others, though, the pitch black ship with the red lights circling the island in a seemingly never ending patrol.

"Hyūga didn't lie when she said "loosely"", Sō said while staring at the silhouette in the distance, so dark that the night couldn't even swallow it whole.

Kyōhei was munching a piece of bread and warming his body on the fire all the humans and some of the Mental Models had gathered around: "Who do you guys think she's based on? Doesn't look like anything Japanese to me."

Zeitwächter didn't have a pagoda, so that distinction was easy to make.

"I think it's German", Sō guessed, "her superstructure looks like it could've belonged to a German warship."

In school they were mostly taught about what was known about the Fog and of course about modern ships, but they also had had one or two dips into naval history because of the Fog taking after historic ships and of course none of Blue Steel's crew would be here if they didn't have an interest in naval warfare, so they logically knew certain design details of other nations.

"Not bad", Hyūga had gathered all information about the Fleet of Masks she could over the years and also done her own research – she was able to tell with an insane accuracy who was based on who, "it's Bismarck or Tirpitz, actually."

"You can't tell who of the two?", Takao asked, her freshly constructed Mental Model having her hands on her hips.

Hyūga pouted playfully: "Takao~, the two are too similar…"

She huffed in response.

"If you're so interested in who it is you can go and ask Zeitwächter directly."

"I'm not interested in that!"

"Sure sure~"

Gunzō smiled at their exchange and then looked to Iona sitting beside him. She looked troubled, like a lot was on her mind as she watched Kongō and Zeitwächter in the distance.

They had walked away to talk about some things as per Zeitwächter's request and still hadn't returned, the fire's light not even reaching them fully, but showing enough to reveal an amicable conversation: "What's on your mind?"

Iona looked at Gunzō for a moment: "I'm not sure…"

Kongō almost seemed to laugh at something.

"Will she be alright?"

"Yes", Iona was sure of that, "Kongō is still hurting, but she will be alright", a short pause, then, "What do you think of Zeitwächter?"

"Zeitwächter?", he watched the battleship's two Mental Models excitedly jump around the other, "she seems to like her."

It looked like she liked her a lot, actually.

"I think so too", a soft smile began to form on the girl's lips, "I hope that they can understand each other and become friends."

"I'm sure they will", Gunzō smiled as well, though if he smiled at the prospect of a blooming friendship or at Iona's own happiness would remain a mystery.

The two Mental Models exchanged a few more words, before Zeitwächter's arms suddenly shut up in a triumphant gesture and her call of "Really!? Yay!" travelled over to them, making the group look over as the three finally stepped into the circle of light as well.

Kongō smiled softly, Zeitwächter beamed like a thousand suns and Churchgrim had a light jump in his gait.

They settled down beside each other in the free space left beside Iona.

When they didn't say a word about what had happened even a few silent moments later, Hyūga finally couldn't stand it anymore: "So, what did you talk about?"

"That doesn't concern you", Zeitwächter fired back instantly, still beaming, "you will see soon enough anyway."

Hyūga made an inquiring sound, raised an eyebrow and supported her chin on a hand: "Will I now?"

She gave Kongō a meaningful look and this time cocked both eyebrows – the blonde's eyes flashed in warning.


With the next morning also came the next goodbyes.

The Blue Fleet gathered on I-401 and the other three boarded their own ships, the black metal glistening in the sun.

"It was nice meeting you, Zeitwächter", Gunzō saluted them as they all left for open waters.

They would sail side by side for a few miles, then part ways for the American mainland and the open sea respectively.

"Same here! Ah, but, if you talk to anyone else about me, please call me Akuma!", she called back, "and Vanisher is Echochaser!"


"I'm merely chasing echoes."


Gunzō ignored the bypassing flash of memory and nodded: "May we meet again", he joined in waving goodbye to the ships.

"Kongō!", Iona called needlessly.

The fast battleship's eyes had been mostly on her the entire time anyway: "I know. If I'm lonely, I'll come by for a tea, don't worry", she hadn't forgotten, and most importantly, she had actually meant it when she said those words less than a day ago.

Their repeat seemed to lighten Iona's heart though, for she smiled finally and waved at them, which the blonde returned.

Both parties were out of sight soon after.

Kongō sighed.

Really, what were they going to do now? With Zeitwächter now following her, she couldn't just roam across the sea aimlessly.

She looked at her hand, the one Iona had held, and pressed it against her chest while cradling it with the other; it was still tingling warmly.

Thank you.

"Zeitwächter."

The battleship was watching her like a hawk, those intense eyes surprisingly pleasing.

"Where do you want to go?"

She cocked her head: "I'll go wherever you go."

Kongō knew that: "Is there no place you want to see?"

"There are no places I want to see if you're not there."

Wha-

The blonde stared. A long while.

How… does one react to that?

"You're awfully honest, aren't you?"

"Of course", she blinked innocently, "I'm always honest to you."

So you lie to everyone else?

Kongō was being half-sarcastic, but little did she know that that was pretty much the truth.

"I see."

"Kon-chama!"

"Yes?"

"Permission to board?"

Kongō stepped to the side and made an inviting gesture, to which Zeitwächter and Churchgrim immediately jumped over, eyes sparkling.

"Where do you want to go?", Zeitwächter leaned on the railing with her lower body, the upper one leaning forwards.

"...I don't know."

What place would someone like her, who didn't even have interest in travelling the world prior to one day ago, like to see?

She didn't know – in all fairness though, she probably couldn't really know.

The fast battleship looked out at the open sea, thinking.

Maya would probably have enjoyed Russia simply for the jam and then she would have wanted to go to a carnival, if there was one in Russia or not and how they would have gotten there Kongō's problem.

She sighed: "Let's just see where we end up."

"And then go sightseeing?", Zeitwächter seemed neither particularly excited nor listless about the prospect.

"We might as well."

That's true, the other supposed.