Chapter 25

Study Session pt2

Heavy, labored breaths graced the Dormitory hallway as Taihō clutched her ill gotten prize close to her chest.

She wouldn't even realize it's gone… the Sakura Empire Carrier laughed to herself as she gazed down upon the Commander's picture for the umpteenth time tonight. You belong by my side…

"U-umm… c-can I help you?"

A voice from behind her called out suddenly. She hadn't heard anyone approaching and the only one who had the ability to get a jump on her was…

"A-A-Albacore!?" Taihō shrieked instinctively as a deep pit of dread formed in her stomach. Not only for that damned submarine, but for her poor Commander as his godly image fell from her grasp.

Her quick reaction in the face of impending doom proved to be enough to prevent her Commander from meeting a shattered fate.

With her prize back in her hands, she swallowed hard, choosing to meet her doom head on.

A head of blue wasn't what she expected as she braced herself for that smug taunting smile of one scantily clad submarine.

It was only the baby of the Brooklyn class. Taiho had only seen the girl as she fumbled around the base like a useless klutz.

"O-oh…" Taihō released a sigh as all that impending dread left her body. She didn't have any reason to be afraid of this little insect. "It's just you…"

The poor girl trembled like some tiny teacup canine as she kept her hands close to her chest.

Just another pathetic insect…

Or so she thought, as the girl's arms dropped to her side, clinching into fists. As if the girl sensed her animosity, the air around them became still as Taihō found it difficult to breathe, like the air itself was being sucked away from her lungs.

"What were you doing in my sister's room?" she said with eyes that seemingly pierced through her very being.

The girl's voice boomed clearly in Taihō's head as she felt her own body start to tremble.

"..." Taihō tried to speak but she found it difficult to form words from her quivering lips. "N-n-nothing!" Was all she could muster as she hid the picture frame behind her back.

If the Carrier wanted to see tomorrow, she knew she'd have to get out of this hallway as soon as possible

With all her remaining nerves, Taihō forced her head downward into a small bow, "i-if you'll excuse me…" she barely got out before finding the strength in her legs to make a move.

With each step her muscles burned, like a thousand pins and needles coursed through them, nearly stumbling over her own feet in her desperate escape.

"W-wait!" The girl's voice called, but through tear filled eyes, Taihō grit her teeth forcing herself down the hall.

She kept running, blowing past a group of destroyers gathered in a common space, nearly knocking several of them over. Despite their cries and protests, Taihō did not stop.

Right out the door, free from the Eagle Union dorms, she still felt the need to run, only stopping until she reached the safety of the Sakura Empire facilities.

Her chest heaved as she tried desperately to breathe. Her lungs burned as it felt like they took their first gulp of air for that whole ordeal.

"Oh my goodness!" A panicked voice called out as a white haired figure rushed to Taihō's side.

The girl's gentle hands rubbed at the Armored Carrier's back as she slumped over, dangling from her knees, nearly vomiting out what she had for lunch. Her blouse had been soaked through with sweat that it was transparent.

"Are you alright?! What happened?!"

Pathetic! Taihō cursed in her mind as she swatted away the girl's arm.

"I'm fine!" Her blurred vision slowly focused on the figure next to her.

"You're clearly not…" Shōkaku said with a pout as she brought her oversized sleeves up to Taihō's brow, wiping away at her sweat.

"Come," the older Carrier slid under Taihō's arm, taking her weight onto herself, "I'll help you inside"

"S-senpai…" Taihō whined, squirming against her helping hand.

"Don't be so difficult," Shōkaku scolded, finally getting the younger Carrier to calm down, "I'm getting you inside, even if I have to drag you."

"T-thanks…" Taihō said, barely above a whisper.


o7

"What happened to you?!" Zuikaku tried to hold in her laughter at the sight of Taihō laid out on the porch, resting her head on her sister's lap.

"Shut it!" The younger Carrier snapped before Shōkaku bonked her forehead with the fan she was using.

"Zuikaku…" the older sister reprimanded with a stern look, "She was in pretty bad shape when I found her."

"I said I was fine!" She attempted to sit up.

"You were two seconds away from capsizing," Shōkaku pushed the girl back down on her lap, "so take a little breather and tell me what happened."

"I don't know!" Taihō groaned, "one second I'm fine, then the next… well…"

She really had no idea what could've caused her current condition, all she knew was that she was fine until she met that girl in the hallway. Albacore was one thing… but that girl…

"W-wait!" Taihō shot up despite her lingering headache. She patted herself down in a frantic search for her beloved Commander.

"Were you looking for that?" Shōkaku pointed to the picture frame face down on the table behind them.

"What is it?" Zuikaku went to reach across the table.

"Don't touch it!" Taihō tried to crawl towards her bounty before face planting on the tatami.

"Hey, isn't this Honolulu-senpai?" Zuikaku said as she flipped over the frame, "Oh there's Helena and St. Louis-senpai too!"

"Really? I didn't get a chance to look at it." Shōkaku scooted over behind her sister, "Hmm… this looks like it belongs to one of them…" she said, getting a better look, "Why do you have this?"

"I-I… uhhh… t-that… y-y-y'know…I-I-I c-can explain!" Taihō scrambled to pull an excuse from the top of her head.

"Hey! It's Shikikan! Shōkaku-nee, look!"

"Ara~ there he is…" The older Carrier squinted at the corner of the photo. Barely in shot, off to one side, was a younger Shikikan than what most Shipgirls were used to, "looks like you don't need to explain…" Shōkaku crossed her arms under her bust as she stared down at Taihō past her nose.

"I-I'll give it b-back! I swear!" Taihō slammed her forehead down on the tatami as she groveled by Shōkaku's feet, "t-tomorrow…"

"You better!" The white-haired Carrier scolded, "cause I don't feed thieves under my roof."

"Y-yes! Shōkaku-senpai!"

"Hmph!" She nodded with a huff before turning for her kitchen, "for now, we eat."

Taihō released a sigh as she raised her head off the floor.

"Then we reflect. Don't think you're off the hook yet!" Shōkaku added before disappearing into the next room.

All Zuikaku could do was shoot the younger Carrier a sympathetic shrug as Taihō slammed her head back down in defeat.


o7

Taiho stared up at her ceiling, her heavy as she lay restless under the covers to her futon. She hugged tightly to the picture frame at her chest, relieved that Shokaku let her take it back with her at all.

Even though her precious Shikikan was only a flat picture, she finally had him, all to herself, in her bed once again. Taihō would give anything to feel his rough but tender touch even just once more.

"Shikikan…" she rubbed her thighs together as her mind became clouded with memories from that night. One which the two united with intense fiery passion, befitting her name of "Great Phoenix."

"Shikikan~" she mewed as her hand dipped below her covers.

With the picture frame held high up in her view, Taihō focused solely on her beloved Shikikan. Like he loomed just above her, with both her arms pinned to her futon. Unable to move, he trailed kiss after kiss from her neck to her bosom. She felt his teeth graze at her nipple before taking it between lips, suckling, like he was a toddler.

"Ahh~" Taihō pinched her tip at the memory, further igniting the flame in her core.

His rough, calloused hands kneaded at her chest, "S-shikikan… please be gentle…" but her plea went into deaf ears as he squeezed even tighter.

A yelp echoed through the dorms as her own delusions carried her to back then. Though the pain would be tame in comparison to what he did next. Taihō gripped at her sheets as the Commander filled her entirely in one swift motion.

She cried out his name as her fingers tried to recreate that sensation. He was aggressive, almost violent in his thrusts, paying attention to the girl's first real time, like he was taking out his pent up frustrations on her. She clawed at his back, sinking her teeth into his shoulder as her further pleas to be gentle went unheeded. Taihō's mind was a mess, drowning in the pain and building pleasure as he continued to use her as he pleased.

Her legs kicked and spasmed as she reached a crescendo. Her body erupts into the most all consuming sensation of her life. One she could not replicate, even with the image of her Shikikan in her grasp.

As her ragged breath slowly calmed her fingers resumed at a much slower pace. As much as she longed for that fiery union, she yearned for a more tender experience. She imagined lips pressed against hers as she brought the picture frame closer. Still in a daze her mind shifted focus as her eyes drifted to the subject of the photo. Her delusions transformed as Shikikan's cracked plump lips turned into the supple ones of a woman. She imagined a curtain of red draped around face as the girl's tongue explored her mouth. His once hard chest now supple mounds pressed against her own. A delicate hand now toyed with her loins, with fingers so deft and slender. Taihō's weak spots are exploited as if it were the girl's own.

The Armored Carrier struggled to keep her voice in as her modified delusion carried her to greater heights than she ever could reach on her own.

The thought was new to Taihō, who felt it weird but her own fingers would not stop. Not when such a release was so close.

"L-Lulu Senpai…" she uttered the girl's name right as everything went white. With a thump, Taihō's body collapsed back down on her futon as her legs gave way. Her own delusions proved too much to handle as she was carried off into unconsciousness.


o7

*ahem* Honolulu cleared her throat as she stood over Taihō at her desk.

The Carrier's shoulders jumped as she tried to shrink down into her seat unable to look the Cruiser in the eyes

"You have something of mine," Honolulu slammed down on the desk pushing into the Carrier's space.

"I-I-I…" Taihō's eyes darted around in a frenzy avoiding her face at all costs but as her gaze settled down Honolulu's blouse, she could feel a searing heat building up in her cheeks.

"And I would like it back!" Honolulu glared, just inches away from Taihō's face as the Carrier still refused to look her in the eye.

Taihō's scrambled mind hadn't recovered from last night as her actions swirled around at the forefront of her memories. It made her terrified that Honolulu could feel her heart as it beat hard against her chest. The scent of strawberries wafted from the Cruiser's hair, ticking at Taihō's nose as she tried her damnedest to steady her breathing.

She spent the entirety of the morning banging her head against the wall, much to Zuikaku's chagrin. What is wrong with me?

"Well?" Honolulu took a step back with her hands on her hips.

Taihō let out a breath of relief as her heart was finally able to rest.

"Sorry…" Taihō leaned forward in her chair, her head bowed hoping for forgiveness.

"I-Its fine…" Honolulu stammered, not used to this level of apology, "as long as you give it back.


o7

Both girls were a little nervous as they entered the Sakura Empire Dorms. Even if this was where one of them lived, it was the first time she had brought over a "friend" let alone one from another camp.

Taihō could feel the other Sakura Empire girl's stares as they walked by. She could hear them whisper with gossip on their lips.

"Taihō."

She felt a hand on her shoulder as she stopped to turn around.

"You alright?" Honolulu asked after noticing the Carrier's shoulders tense as they passed by the other girls.

Was she really being bullied by her own peers? Or was she just nervous around other people? If it was the latter, Honolulu could relate as she has had trouble connecting with her fellow shipgirls in the past. Though she did feel as if she was picked on sometimes, being the victim of many "pranks" gone wrong. But in the end she knew it was all in jest, as she's since come to realize just how much her friends and comrades treasure her.

"I'm fine!" She shrugged off the Cruiser's hand. Taihō felt a spark of rage burning inside of her chest as saw the look of pity from Honolulu's eyes.

This insect! Despite her usual mental outburst, Taihō felt a little sick of herself. I wronged her… yet she shows me pity! While she was relieved Honolulu didn't harbor any animosity, it seemed, it was still a far cry from the reaction she was expecting.

"Sorry…" Honolulu said, in a small voice, a little hurt.

"Stop saying sorry!" Taihō stomped her heel on the floor, "when you have nothing to be sorry for."

Honolulu stood, stunned. She just couldn't get a read on this girl. First she was angry, and now she says something like that!

"Taihō-chan?" Shōkaku called from down the hall "and Honolulu-Senpai too!" She bowed as she approached the two girls.

"S-Shōkaku-Senpai…" Taiho gave a small bow back.

"I see you're here to reclaim something that was taken from you." She said to Honolulu as she gave the Armored Carrier a quick side glance.

"Y-yes!" The Cruiser bowed quickly, "s-sorry for intruding!"

"There's no need for that~" Shōkaku giggled behind her sleeve, "unlike my other Senpais-" she said through her teeth, with a hint of venom in her voice, "-I'd say, you're welcome here anytime!"

"Thank you…" Honolulu smiled back nervously.

"If you want," Shōkaku's face lit up with a suggestion, "you should come over to our room for dinner!

"It's quite alright- " Honolulu did her best to turn down the offer politely, but her stomach had different plans. With the last time she'd eaten was this morning her stomach rumbled something fierce.

"Now that's not something I can just ignore," Shōkaku hid another giggle behind her sleeve as Honolulu groaned with cheeks flushed red.

"So come you two!" Shōkaku grabbed both girls by their wrists, "I've made far too much Tempura and I need some extra mouths to help me finish them!"


o7

With their stomachs full the two twin-tailed shipgirls made their way towards Taihō's room just next door.

"Your sisters were really nice…" Honolulu rubbed at her belly as she tried to make the silent walk a little less awkward.

"Hah?! Those two aren't my sisters!" Taihō snapped back, a little annoyed, but as Honolulu flinched at her reaction, the Armored Carrier sucked at her teeth.

"O-oh… I-I'm sorry… I-I thought…"

"I'm the only ship of my type…" Taihō said in a much quieter voice as she slid the door to her room open, "so I don't have any sisters…"

Almost like Wichita… Honolulu thought.

"But you're right… they've always been… kind to me…" Taihō looked almost embarrassed to say it out loud, "like I was one of their own."

"Shōkaku seems like an awesome big sister to have," Honolulu said, a hint of sadness in her voice as thoughts of her own sprung into her head.

"Annoying more like," Taihō said with a huff, "A meddlesome one too."

What Honolulu heard right after shocked her, a little laugh. Not Taihō's usual creepy spine chilling thing she does to herself when she thinks she's alone, but a genuine giggle that seemingly came from the heart.

"So you can smile like that…" Honolulu accidentally let her inner thought slip.

"...ah…" the flush on Taihō's face was like she was caught with her pants down (again) as she reverted back to her standoffish demeanor, "s-s-so what if I can?! You're here for your photo right? S-so just take it and leave!"

She'd done it again, It seemed, as Honolulu wordlessly lifted the picture frame from the table. Whenever someone got too close, she'd push them away. Just like in the days before the Sirens when Taihō first came into this world as she is now. The other shipgirls were eager to get to know their new friend, but Taihō would end up driving them away somehow. She already knew, with her twisted personality, everyone would get sick of her eventually, so after a point, she'd stop trying. Being alone was better, she always thought.

Taihō clenched her fists as she watched Honolulu quietly make her way to the door. She was losing out on her precious Shikikan, but a gnawing in her chest felt as if she was losing out on more. Opening her mouth to say something, no words would leave the Carrier's lips as the door to her room slid open.

Just leave then! She thought as Honolulu lingered by the threshold.

"H-hey… Taihō?" Honolulu turned back to face the Carrier, "so… same time tomorrow?"

"T-tomorrow?"

"Yeah~" Honolulu puffed out her cheeks, "you're the one who said you'll help me pass this class!"

"I did…" Taihō almost forgot.

"Didn't you want the Commander to praise you?"

"Of course!" The Carrier let out quickly. Did she even have to say anything?

"That's good…" Honolulu smiled back, feeling a sense of relief as the dejected look on Taihō's face was replaced by her usual spirited demeanor.

That smile again! Taihō grit her teeth, fighting back the blush that had built back up in her cheeks. From the first time she had seen it when she first helped the girl, that smile hadn't left her mind.

"W-well… I should get going…" Honolulu chuckled, "I gotta explain to the little sis why I'm skipping out on her dinner tonight."

"See ya tomorrow!" She waved quickly before disappearing down the hall.

"S-sure…" Taihō said to no one as Honolulu was already gone.


o7

A bead of sweat dripped tentatively from Taihō's brow as she sat deathly still in the stool across from Honolulu.

A sudden clink nearly made the Carrier jump from her skin as the younger Brooklyn cautiously set a tray of snacks and drinks next to them.

"Thanks~" Honolulu sang, plucking a chocolate straw from its little container.

"W-would you like some tea?" Helena shakily asked.

There was hesitancy to look the younger Cruiser in the eye for fear that that crippling feeling from the other day would return. But just like when Taihō first met Helena, the girl looked to be a nervous wreck, though Taihō herself wasn't in any better shape.

"S-sure…" the Carrier nodded her head cautiously as to not trigger whatever it was that affected her.

As Taihō's cup slowly filled with the steaming aromatic liquid, Helena took in a deep breath, before flashing the Carrier a small smile

It did help to alleviate Taihō's anxiety ever so slightly, but as she turned back to the textbook in hand, she couldn't focus on the page as Helena's presence could be felt looming just behind her.

What does this girl want?! She cried in her head. She was too scared to turn around, but she could easily see Helena through the reflection in her cup of tea. Through a glint in the glass Taihō catches a glimpse of the girl's arm reaching closer to her own. A chill went down the Carrier's spine as Helena touched her shoulder.

"I-I-I'm sorry!"

"Sorry!"

Both girls' heads connected with a solid thunk in their rush to apologize.

"You guys okay?!" Honolulu quickly peered over the other side of the island at the two crouched down, clutching the tops of their heads, "what the heck was that about?!"

Both girls nodded with a single tear in their eyes.


o7

Taihō stared out a window in the same way she always has, but there was no view of the sea from where she was sitting. Just the hustle and bustle of the shopping district off base on a nearby island. Shipgirls and Manjuu are frequent visitors on their days off given their innate mode of transportation. Some even take up part-time jobs at various establishments on the island, either to earn some little extra spending money, or to just help out the local populace. Humans are native here and are extremely accommodating to their Shipgirl neighbors. Some old totems and infrastructure were strewn about if you knew where to look, dating back to the land's indigenous streets are lined with palm trees with many taking shelter from the sun under their large foliage, just hanging around, talking amongst friends.

The atmosphere where she sat was much quieter, with a few idle conversations happening in the booths around them.

"Lulu?" another shipgirl exclaimed as she approached their table, eyeing the textbooks and worksheets laid out between them, "it's rare to see you all the way out here by yourself."

Taihō saw the girl's reflection through the window, a shorter Blonde, reminiscent of that tomboy from the Eagle Union, just a bit more… girly looking, though the frilly apron she was wearing had a lot to do with it.

"W-well n-not by yourself I see…" the girl laughed nervously as she caught the Armored Carrier's eyes in the window's reflection, "S-sorry, you girls studying for class?"

"Yeah~" Honolulu sighed, "they forced me to take one on torpedoes."

"Torps huh?" The girl cocked her head, "what? The Commander's planning on converting you into a Torpedo boat?"

"N-no nothing like that! A-at least I hope not…"

"He'd be a fool to trade in your firepower," the girl said as she punched at the air, "what did Brooklyn say? Gunboat Diplomacy, or something…"

"S-something along those lines…" Honolulu chuckled sadly, "but seriously, he just wants me to take this class for whatever reason."

"Well, if you need any help," The girl said, puffing out her chest, "there's no one better than me! As the only class of Eagle Union Cruisers with torpedoes, I'd be more than happy to teach you hands on! Sandy'd be just plain useless and with Atlanta being in the Atlantic with Reno that just leaves Juneau… and well… teaching isn't her forte."

"She's already got me!" Taihō hissed as she grabbed Honolulu's hand across the table.

"I-I see…" the waitress laughed nervously, "w-well it was just a suggestion anyways.

"I-is there anything I can ya girls?" she said, finally flipping open her little notepad

Honolulu scanned the menu one last time as she kept Taihō's hand in her own. She didn't really know what brought on that outburst, but for some reason it made her heart skip

"The pancake platter!" Honolulu said, handing over the menu, "with the sausage and eggs!"

"Extra whipped cream and a coffee?" she said finishing the order for her.

"Y-yes please!" Honolulu nodded embarrassingly, "T-thanks San Juan…"

"And y-you?" The young Atlanta a little apprehensive.

"Tea," Taihō said quickly, reverting her gaze back to the window, "green tea."

"S-sure…" San Juan said, committing it to memory, "a-anything else?"

"..." the Armored Carrier continued to stare out the window silently.

"T-that should be it!" Honolulu cut in.

"Alright!" San Juan flashed both girls a smile, "it'll be out in sec!"

Almost like she was waiting for the younger Cruiser to leave, Taihō let out an exasperated sigh.

"What's wrong with you?" Honolulu asked.

"Why are we out here again?" Taihō answered with a question of her own, "what could we do here that we can't do in your room?"

"I thought a change of scenery would be nice…" Honolulu fiddled with her fingers, "and a bit of sugar could help stimulate the brain." She said with a guilty chuckle.

"Helena bakes cookies all the time…" Taihō groaned. They had become a staple to their study sessions, an "apology" for that "incident in the hallway," or so Helena said. Whatever that means…

"..." Honolulu had no rebuttal for that one, "I-I just wanted some pancakes, okay!"

"Whatever…" Taihō waved her hand in defeat, "as long as you take this session seriously."

"You're just grumpy cause you can't stare at the Commander all day." Honolulu said with a pout.

"T-that's!" Taihō let out. While entirely true, it wasn't really the whole story. There was a peace and tranquility to being alone together, one that this bustling atmosphere in the diner couldn't afford, "y-yeah… well…"

"Y'know, if you ask St. Louis, she probably has at least one pic of The Commander she could give you."

"S-she does?" Taihō shot up from her seat, "Anything! I'll do anything!"

"Easy with the crazy eyes," Honolulu laughed, "but yeah, probably. She's got tons of pics of us from our early days so there's bound to be one."

"Please ask her for me!" Taihō said in a single breath, slamming her forehead on the table in a bow. The bump on it from her contact with Helena was mostly gone, but this only made things worse.

"Alright, alright! So stop with that already! Before you hurt yourself!"

"What the heck are you guys doing?" San Juan said as she approached their table with their order in hand.

Taihō quickly went back to her aloof stare out the window.

"N-nothing," Honolulu let out a suspicious chuckle.

"Huh…" San Juan hummed as she placed their orders in front of them, "well, I'll leave you girls to your little study date…"

Honolulu blushed at the thought.

"And…" she continued as she slid Taihō her tea, "sorry for intruding." She said with a wink.

With San Juan gone, Taihō let her shoulders relax as she went to take a sip of her tea. The sight across from her was an amusing one as Honolulu drowned her stack of pancakes in syrup, a sparkle gleaming in her eye all the while.

"Really?" Taihō let out a giggle, "pancakes in the middle of the afternoon?"

"It's never too late for pancakes!" She slammed down on the table in her overzealousness. The offended pout she had on was too cute to take seriously, "and the ones Nevada makes here are soooo~ good!"

Taihō couldn't deny they smelt good as well as her mouth watered watching Honolulu cut into her stack.

"Mhmm~" the Cruiser moaned.

"We're here to study," Taihō huffed, but the growl her stomach had let loose betrayed her serious demeanor.

"..." Honolulu blinked before cutting up another piece, "want a bite?"

"I am fine-"

"C'mon," she chided playfully, holding up her fork in the air, "say ahh~"

AHH?! Taihō panicked in her mind as the fork came closer here focus darting between it and the lips they just came from, "W-what do you think-"

But before she could voice the rest, the soft fluffiness of perfectly made pancakes clinked into her mouth. The rich, buttermilk flavor blended well with the syrup and whipped cream.

"Mhmm…" Taihō let out as the fork was pulled from her lips.

"See~" Honolulu giggled, "they're good right?!"

"Y-yeah…" Taihō did her best to hide her reddened cheeks in her palm as she leaned over the table.

"I don't mind sharing if you really want."

Honolulu hadn't a clue what she had done, Taihō groaned in her mind. She was just sitting there, with a stupid wide smile on her face. Look at her, looking so happy… as she impaled another slice with the very same fork that had just left her lips…

H-hold up! "W-wait! Taihō panicked again as she got up from her seat, reaching out for the fork in Honolulu's hand, but it was already too late.

"An indirect-" Taihō face planted on the table yet again, flopping back down in a heap, "kiss…"

"Y-you wanted another bite that badly?!" Honolulu said surprised as the stuff on the table jumped from the impact.

"You girls alright?!" San Juan came running back from the kitchen.

With a hand slowly raised in defeat, Taihō lets out, "I'll have what she's having…"

"R-right… coming right up…"


o7

The bell above the diner's door rang as San Juan bid her guest's farewell. The sun was almost down past the horizon, casting long shadows off the buildings and palm trees on the cobblestone streets.

"Ahh man~" Honolulu held her arms high, stretching towards the quickly darkening sky, "I'm so full~"

"In both stomach and mind I hope," Taihō said, taking a spot at the Cruiser's side.

The street lamps illuminated, one by one, cascading up the path. Various neon signs of all the shops and boutiques blinked to life. Taihō rarely ever ventured to the shopping district, only for basic supplies and toiletries, and never this late in the day. There was a calming yet energetic warmth to it, reminiscent of the festivals back in her home port.

"Yeah, I think I'm done with numbers and theories for today…" Honolulu chuckled weakly. Maybe it was the new environment, but Taihō seemed a bit more distant than normal.

"Remember, you have that test next week."

"I know…" Honolulu sighed, "but, hey~ it's we! You're taking it too!"

"I'm not the problem here," Taihō huffed.

"But…" she had been looking away the whole time, unable to look the Cruiser in the eyes, so she didn't catch Honolulu's playful pout, "y-you've got potential… a battle sense if you will…"

"..." Honolulu was caught off guard with Taihō's seriousness.

"So I don't doubt you could ace this class if you really put your mind into it…" Taihō kept going, "which is no surprise, since you've got a ton of experience under your belt…"

She had been around a long while, Honolulu thought, but most of it was spent doing nothing at all, sprinkled with some of the darkest moments of her life. Such is life for a warship…

"...unlike me…"

Honolulu noted Taihō's somber tone. She had seen this before, she knew it all too well with her self-deprecating little sis.

"Who cares what happened in the past…" Honolulu reached for the Carrier's hand, giving it a light squeeze, "it doesn't matter if all you know is theory, it still doesn't change the fact that you're amazing!"

"..." Taihō froze in her tracks as she tried to process Honolulu's words.

"You're one of the smartest people I know!" Honolulu flashed her a smile, "but you can be quite dense!"

"W-what?!"

Watching as Taihō's features shifted from compliment to insult threw the Cruiser into a laughing fit.

"E-Explain yourself!"

"It's nothing~" Honolulu wiped a tear from her eye as she calmed down, "just know… The Commander isn't the only one who's looking out for you."

She knew what Honolulu meant, but Taihō's cheeks flushed red, like she was only talking about herself. The fact that their fingers were now intertwined didn't help.

"Want to stop by anywhere before we head back to base?"

"Huh… uh… n-no," The Carrier blinked back from her thoughts, "w-wait actually, we could use more notepads!"

"Ugh…" Honolulu regretted bringing that up, seeing as how her textbook was more sticky notes than actual textbook right now, "I think there's some over there," she pointed at a little shop known for their stationery, "Helena comes here all the time."

There was an old woman behind the counter, mostly asleep as a couple of Manjuu manned the register in her place.

"Which one do I get?" Honolulu bent over as she scanned the stacks of multi-colored sticky notes.

"It doesn't matter!" Taihō stomped her foot in exasperation, "they're all the same, so just pick a couple."

"But these look so cute~" Honolulu picked up a red stack, holding it towards the Carrier, "Look! They've got these adorable little birds on them!"

Taihō had no choice but to observe its rather strikingly beautiful design as they were practically shoved in her face, "I-I guess they're pretty cute…" Taihō felt her cheeks heat up as Honolulu's face lit up in excitement. Like a giddy little puppy…

"Right?!" Honolulu giggled, "and they kinda remind me of you."

"H-how so?!"

"I dunno~" she shrugged, "it's red, and it's got cute little birds…"

"I am a Phoenix!" Taihō said proudly, unconsciously summoning the large fan of her riggings behind herself, sending a gust of wind throughout the store, shaking everything on the shelves, "not some mere bird!"

"..." Honolulu stood, stunned at the display. Not only for the elegance, but for the disturbance it caused in the little shop as the old woman broke from her sleep.

"O-oh auē~" the woman said as she held onto her chair's armrests after being startled awake.

A guilty shadow cast itself over Taihō's eyes as she realized what she had just done. "S-sumimasen!" Her rigging dissipated with a flash as she threw herself onto a deep bow.

"I-It's alright, koa nani," the lady took a second to organize herself, "E komo mai, please make yourself at home!"

An unusually conscientious Taihō took refuge behind the Light Cruiser.

"Ah! Aloha akua Honolulu!" The woman's face brightened up as she greeted the young Brooklyn, "no Helena today?"

"No~" she gave a polite smile, before stepping aside, "just me and my friend…"

"A-ah, T-Taihō," the Carrier stumbled her introduction, "nice to meet you…"

"So many beautiful new faces recently!"

"Yup!," Honolulu nodded happily, "There's been a ton of transfers into the base lately, so rest assured kapuna, no Sirens are getting near these islands!"

"Oh, I never doubted that one bit!" The woman said as she rang up Honolulu,"is this all you're getting?" She asked as the two after noticing Taihō was staring at a rack of keychains. Ones popular with the locals were mostly tiny cutsey versions of various Eagle Union shipgirls.

"Yeah that's it for me," Honolulu smiled back before making her way to the exit.

"Koa nani, It's good luck to have one~" The woman sang to Taihō.

"Ah… N-no it's alright!" Taihō tried to decline.

"It's said to bring us closer to our loved ones~" the woman tried one more time, "and it's such a cute mini version of our akua!"

That first part did perk up the Carrier's ears as she snatched the little keychain from its hook, "F-fine! I'll take it!"

"Mahalo!" The woman waved the Carrier goodbye, "please come again!"

Honolulu held the door for Taiho as the Carrier rushed out, hiding her newly bought charm in her hands from view.

"What'd you get?"

Taihō quickly shoved the little charm into her cleavage, "n-nothing~"

"If you say so…" Honolulu hummed at her unconvincing laughter.

There was still a sliver of orange, fading fast, just over the horizon as the two girls' feet hit the water. They weren't in any particular rush to head back to base as they skate leisurely along the surface.

"Hey…" Taihō was the first to break the silence, "back there… the woman called you akua…"

"O-oh, that…" Honolulu scratched at the back of her head as a flush crossed her face, "it's nothing really-"

"What does it mean?"

"Eh…" Honolulu looked away, "it's embarrassing…"

"Just say it-"

"It means goddess…" Honolulu said quickly, as she buried her face in her hands.

"How is that embarrassing?"

"I dunno…" she whined, "it just is…"

"The locals in my homeland revere us too," Taihō said, almost smug, "they leave us offerings at our Base's gate sometimes."

"Well that's because you guys are so…" Honolulu peeked from between her fingers, "I dunno~ magical… and I'm just… me…"

"I-I won't deny your first point," Taihō said with a blush of her own, "but there has to be a reason as to why she would call you that."

"It's not just her… It's all the locals…" Honolulu said with a sigh, "it's because of my name…"

"Your name?" Taihō hummed to herself in thought, "ah!"

"Yeah…" Honolulu let out a quick laugh at her realization, "it's the capital of these islands. So the locals keep saying I'm their Guardian reincarnated or something. It's probably just a joke, but it stuck…"

"It's not a joke!" Taihō said, a bit more spirited than intended, "a-at least to them… you really are their Guardian."

"Part of the reason I just roll with it now," Honolulu chuckled, "and why I don't normally go out by myself… If they see me I end up with a crowd and I don't do crowds very well…"

"Such a shy Goddess~" Taihō teased.

"Stop~" Honolulu pushed the Carrier away in embarrassment, "Helena had to bail me out last time it happened, and if I'm with St. Louis… she just makes it worse!"

"Must be rough," Taihō laughed as she glided back to Honolulu's side, bumping her slightly.

"It is…" Honolulu playfully bumped her back.

The stars broke through the light clouds as they crested the calm waves. Their pace slowed even more as they took in each other's warmth, fighting off the chill of the moonlit seas.

"Your other sisters…" Taiho spoke up after a while, feeling Honolulu's shoulder tense at her words.

"What about them?" She replied in an almost sad tone.

"N-nothing~" Taihō felt as if she brought upon a heavy topic, "haven't seen them on base is all…"

"Phoenix and Boise are down south…"

"Phoenix…" Taihō parroted, feeling a connection with the name.

"You'd probably get along," Honolulu said before she really had a chance to think about it. Two intense hot heads in one place might be a recipe for one giant headache. And when it came to Boise… well if she could even get her bunny ear loving sister to even willingly greet someone new would be a challenge in itself. "O-on second thought… maybe not."

"And how about the one next to my Shikikan?"

Honolulu could only chuckle nervously at the hint of venom in Taihō's voice, "Brooklyn?" She wanted to say it like it is, but decided to hold back exact details of their relationship.

"W-well s-she's…"

"She's his secretary, is she not?" Taihō said, oddly calm, "I've seen the two together before, back in the Sakura Empire…"

Crap, there goes her plan to lie, though she did feel a little relieved not having to.

"W-well, I wouldn't say that…" Honolulu wasn't lying per se, "Brooklyn's more like… our HR?" she just so happens to be the one person the Commander trusts above all, but she wouldn't tell her that.

"You can't fool me," Taihō gnawed at her thumb as a dark shadow came across her face, "I've seen the way those two are!"

"Enough about my good for nothing sister!" Honolulu exploded with exasperation before speeding off ahead, "she could stay where she is for all I care!

"W-wait up!" Taihō kicked up some spray behind her as she rushed to catch up.

Now it really felt as if she struck a nerve. This level of unease on how to proceed was new to Taihō.

"You're not on good terms?" Taihō said, like she was stepped on eggshells.

"I dunno?" Honolulu sighed as she scratched at her head. She knew her outburst was uncalled for but that was the first time she'd been able to vent her frustration with their current relationship,"we haven't spoken in three years…"

Taihō stayed silent as she couldn't find anything to say.

"Probably 'cause she's so busy all the time…" Honolulu continued in a softer voice, "so it's not like I don't get it…"

"...but it feels like she's just running away…" Honolulu mumbled to herself, balling up her fists.

"Away from what?" Taihō said as softly as she could as she retook the Cruiser's hand.

"I-It's a long story-"

"I'll hear it!" Taihō cut in, squeezing at Honolulu's hand, "all of it!"

She wasn't prepared for the earnestness in the Carrier's eyes, but as she felt the firm but gentle pressure at her palm, Honolulu had almost forgotten that Taihō was the most genuine person she'd ever met. And for this moment, she had rarely felt this level of reassurance outside of her sisters.

With deep breath, Honolulu finally felt able to say what she'd been wanting to say for the longest time.


o7

Taihō face planted her futon the near instant she'd stepped into her room. She had gotten an earful from Shoukaku about breaking curfew, but what really did her in was listening to Honolulu vent about her sister's for nearly two hours.

It was her own fault, she supposed, but as she rolled over onto her back, she pulled her newly bought charm from between her breasts. She held it up to where it dangled in front of her face. It spun slightly as its chain straightened, holding taught. For some strange reason the sight of it brought a calmness to her heart, despite the tiny pout forever carved into its cute little face.

It really does look like her… Taihō giggled to herself as she held it in her hands, turning it over to observe all its little painted details. The plastic it was made out of was a little soft, almost rubbery, but as she ran her fingers over its surface, she could say with 100 percent certainty. Not as soft as the real thing…

A blush flashed across her cheeks as she recalled today's fork incident. She felt foolish for making a big deal out of it, but with how hard her heart beat against her chest, she had trouble dealing with the swirl of emotions bubbling up inside her.

"Lulu-senpai…" Taihō whispered. The Cruiser really revealed a lot tonight. Things Taihō felt she wasn't deserving of yet, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't a little that Honolulu opened up to her of all people.

Her little moment from the other night, alone with herself and the picture frame also came back into her memory as her face flushed even deeper. It was entirely unexpected, but not at all unwanted…

"Lulu-senpai…" Taihō's voice grew a little ragged as she imagined it was her lips instead of the fork… Almost unconsciously she brought the little keychain lower to where her lips met with it's.


o7

An alarm blared loudly as the Shipgirl in the bed groaned, fishing around her bedside table for the sleep button. She hugged tightly onto her plushie, not wanting to break from the warmth of her covers. It was barely 10 past five in the morning as her eyes slowly blinked awake, slowly focusing on her bedside clock, but that wasn't the only source of light in her still darkened room. From the bottom of her door, light from her kitchen spilled through as a shadow bounced around on the other side.

A strong aroma of freshly baked pancakes too, roused the still drowsy Cruiser from her bed. Who could possibly be here so early? She thought as she groggily made her way to the door, plushie still tight to her chest.

"Helena? Is that you?" Honolulu said, remembering she did tell her sister's about her big test today. Did she come here to help me out? It was so early that she did feel a little bad, but she appreciated the gesture anyway.

"You didn't have too-" Honolulu said as she cracked open her door. Though the girl with the long raven black hair and stunning figure, wearing an apron in the middle of her kitchenette wasn't at all who she was expecting. With some batter on her cheek she licked at the spatula before she noticed the Cruiser's presence.

"Ohayō!" Taihō greeted with a smile, "they should be done soon, so please have a seat!"

"W-what are you doing?" Honolulu pulled down at her oversized shirt in a panic, covering her complete lack of bottoms.

"Making pancakes~" Taihō answered quickly as she flipped one into the air before catching it back on the pan.

"I-I see that.." Honolulu stammered out, "h-how'd you even get in here?!"

"It's your big day senpai~" Taihō smiled again, not even acknowledging her actual question, "a lot is riding on today, so I'm here to make sure you're off to your best start ever!"

Alarm bells rang in her mind, like she was about to run aground on the shallows, but maybe due to her drowsiness, she felt oddly calm, almost as if she welcomed it. Her anxiety stemmed from the fact she stood at the doorway, still half naked.

Honolulu retreated back behind her door as she peeked around it, pulling her shirt down as fast as it would go, "l-lemme get dressed first…" she mumbled in embarrassment before gently shutting the door.


o7

Honolulu stopped by the Classroom's entrance as she took in a very deep breath. She would normally be fine with just getting by on a test like this, but with all the time, not only herself had invested, she had to show results, lest she disappointed the one who had helped her through all of it.

"Wish me luck~" Honolulu chuckled nervously at Taihō next to her.

"psh-" The Carrier exhaled through her teeth, "there is no luck-" she said with her nose upturned, vitriol in her voice, "hard work is the only thing you need, and you've done plenty already!"

A giggle escaped the Cruiser's lips as she took in Taihō's over seriousness. Like all that anxiousness washed away from her, "Thanks, for that…" she whispered to herself.

"Hmm?" Taihō cocked her head, unable to hear what she said, "let's just go in and get this over with already!"

"O-oh! You girls!" Langley jumped at her desk as the sliding door slammed against its stop with a bang, "g-good morning!"

"Morning teach!"

"Sensei…"

Both girls replied back on their way to their desks.

"Sensei…" Langley parroted to herself, wondering why it felt so odd to hear those words. All the other Sakura Empire girl's call me that…

"Ah!" The tiny teacher slammed down on her desk, earning some weird looks from the only two students inside. For the longest time, Taihō had never called her anything, let alone even acknowledged her. Her communication towards the younger Carrier usually consisted of lectures, trying to coax the girl out of her shell, but all she got back were grunts and short one word replies. Despite trying to get her to open up for almost two months now, this was the first time Taihō had acknowledged Langley as her teacher. The older Carrier was so happy she could almost cry

"S-sensei…" Taihō spoke up again, "everything alright?"

"Y-yes~" Langley strained as she clutched at her chest, "no need to concern yourself with me~"

Twice in a row! The little Carrier screamed in her head, desperately fighting back the grin building up in her cheeks.

"Want me to get you a drink?" Honolulu stood up from her desk, "I can run down and get you something."

"N-no no," Langley shook her head, "you still got 30 minutes before class starts. You should use that time to study-"

"I'm good~" Honolulu smiled, "so I'll be right back!" She said as she rushed out of the classroom.

"W-wait! Lulu!"

"She'll be fine…" Taihō said evenly as she stared out her usual window.

"Still though~" the older Carrier pouted, "I worry about her…"

"Then there's no need!" Taihō turned to look her teacher in the eye, "she's a very capable person!" She said strongly before her cheeks tinged red, "a-and besides, I'm c-confident in my tutelage…" the Carrier quickly turned away, hiding her cheek in her palm.

Oh god… Langley clutched at her chest yet again as she collapsed onto her desk, "such good little students…" she said a little ragged, hoping Lulu would come back with that drink as quickly as possible.


o7

"You think she's alright?" Helena peeked up at her sister beside her as she held her handmade sign out in front of herself.

The bell had rung just a few minutes ago as the two Brooklyn's waited patiently for the students to filter out of the school building.

"I'm pretty sure~" St. Louis placed a reassuring hand on the girls shoulder

The other shipgirls had tired, hardened faces as they stepped back into the sun, like they had just fought in a grueling night campaign. Upon seeing the two sisters and their signs at the base of the building's fountain, their spirits were lifted as they all shared a giggle or two at the peculiar sight.

"T-there she is!" Helena excitedly hopped as St. Louis waved her arms in the air, hoping to get her attention, "Lulu~!" Both sisters called in unison.

"Ugh…" Honolulu's cheeks burned bright as she immediately spotted her sisters in the courtyard. She could hear them shouting her name before they even made it to the building's steps.

"Heh," Taihō snickered as she read the sign Helena was holding, "congratulations indeed~"

"It's just a stupid test, not like I'm graduating or anything…" Honolulu grumbled to herself.

"It must be nice…" Taihō said quietly, "to have people who you can share your triumphs with…"

"H-hey now~ we won't know how well we did till tomorrow," the Cruiser chided playfully before switching to a softer tone, "a-and y-you've got me…"

Taihō did her best to suppress any reaction, but with her cheeks turned the same color as her eyes, she failed miserably.

"A-and Shōkaku a-and Zuikaku too~" Honolulu quickly added with a nervous chuckle.

"R-right…" Taihō coughed into her fist, "those two…"

"Lulu!" The pair could hear Helena more clearly as they got closer.

"Y-you guys didn't need to do all this…" Honolulu covered her face in her hands as the other shipgirls snuck glances, giggling as they walked by.

"Congratulations!" The two bluenettes sang in unison as they went in for a hug.

"Geez~" Honolulu was squished between her two sisters as she whined, "I don't even know if I passed yet!"

"With how hard you two went at it," Helena said with a smile, "I highly doubt you wouldn't!"

"T-thanks for the confidence I guess…"

"We should celebrate!" Helena hugged a little tighter, "I've got some new recipes I want you guys to try~"

Taihō stood back as she took in the sister's banter. This kind of dynamic always made the Carrier feel warm inside but she knew she was just an outsider. This moment was best served with family, she guessed as she was about to turn heel back to her own room.

"And where do you think you're going~?" St. Louis sang, snagging the Carrier's blouse before she could leave, "you're very much a part of this too y'know."

"..." Taihō wanted to pull away but the almost quiet pleading look Honolulu had in her eyes as she horsed around with Helena, was enough to keep her feet planted.

"M-Mind if I invite two more?" The Carrier asked in a small voice, her head hung low.

"Mhm!" Helena hummed with joy.

"I-I'll head back and ask them then…" Taihō's shoulders relaxed, "I-I'll see you guys in a bit!" She said, before she turned to run off.

Honolulu's room became a bit crowded that night as she showed the Crane sister's inside. To no one's surprise, St. Louis and Shōkaku hit it off, drinking and laughing as they both teased Zuikaku into the night. It was a good thing Helena made extra as Cleveland and her sisters descended upon the room, wondering what all the commotion at the end of their hall was all about.


o7

A few weeks later…

A Manjuu trembled, clutching at its oversized courier bag as it waddled out in front of Taihō who was making her way to the Eagle Union dorms. While most Shipgirls were a friendly bunch, there were a minority few that were less than approachable, whether it was due to their tendencies to bully and tease their kind or even even ones where they outright feared for their lives when the Shipgirls in question couldn't suppress their predatory instincts. One thing was for certain though, this little Manjuu had a job to do, and it would make damn sure its delivery would make it to its destination.

The intense glare from the terrifying Carrier made it more difficult for the tiny Manjuu, with its little wings trembling as it rummaged through its bag.

The click of the Carrier's teeth made the Manjuu search a little faster, before it finally located its parcel.

Taihō wondered what the Manjuu wanted as it stepped out in front of her, but as it carefully slid an envelope out of its comically oversized bag, she became acutely aware of the red seal at its face.

The Manjuu barely had enough time to extend out its little wing before the envelope was snatched from its grasp nearly instantly.

"T-t-t-this i-i-is…" Taihō's eyes went wide as she forgot how to breathe for a second.

The Manjuu was suddenly rocked back and forth, its brain scrambled from the rough tousling of the feathers on its head.

"Thank you!" Taiho beamed, before kissing the little bird atop its head, leaving it in a daze as the Carrier took off at flank speed down the path.


o7

Honolulu brushed at her long twin tails in the mirror, stroking at her bangs so they sat perfectly above her face. With a glance at the clock, she still had 15 minutes before their usual meet up time. Enough to deliberate between which skirt she would wear for today. The bold black one with the cute lace trim or the comfortable one that came down past her knees. There was no real reason to show off for a simple hang out session, but Taihō had a striking beauty to her, one that Honolulu felt weirdly compelled to match, or at least try to.

"Getting ready for a date~?" St. Louis sang teasingly as she bounced at the foot of her sister's bed.

"D-date?!" Honolulu stammered out as dropping the skirt she was holding onto the floor.

"Aren't you guys done with studying?" St. Louis cocked her head in confusion, "so there's no reason for you girls to be meeting up anymore~"

Honolulu had completely forgotten. Their last study session was a few days ago, right before the final tests were due. Maybe it was out of habit, having done this routine every other day for a couple of months now.

"S-she's my friend…" Honolulu blushed, "we don't need a reason to hang out."

Yeah… it had become normal. She expected a knock at her door soon, like clockwork, before spending hours reading through formulas and theories, well into the late evening. Well more like hours talking about various things as Taihō struggled to keep her focused on her textbooks.

"I know, I know~" St. Louis giggled, "I was only teasing.

Did they have a reason to hangout anymore? Did Honolulu look a fool as she stood at her mirror picking out an outfit for someone who wasn't even coming over.

A bang at her suite's entrance drew her attention before heavy footsteps stormed their way to her bedroom door.

"Lulu-senpai!" Taihō called breathlessly as she pushed into the room.

"T-Taihō!?" a startled Honolulu said, still unsure how the Carrier kept getting inside, but her exhausted state made her believe something was going on.

"I-I-I… I…" Taihō's legs gave way at the threshold as she leaned against the doorframe, "Shikikan… he…"

"Oh dear!" St. Louis said as the two sisters rushed to Taihō's side before helping her onto the bed.

"What the heck's going on?" Honolulu asked as the Carrier started to calm down.

"Shikikan…" she said again, pulling a sealed envelope from her bust, "h-he sent Taihō a letter…" she held it out in front of herself, eying every last detail of his signature wax seal.

"That definitely looks like one of his…" Honolulu said, peeking over Taihō's shoulder, "you didn't open it yet?"

"..." She felt hesitant to break the beautifully sculpted seal at first, but her curiosity became too much.

"Dear Taihō,

It has been quite some time since we last spoke, and yet, not a day goes by without thoughts of you crossing my mind. Word of your achievements have found its way to my desk, and I am not surprised in the slightest.

Your dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed, and I have always had the utmost faith in your potential. You've come a long way from when I first met you, and I couldn't be more proud of the person you are today.

While circumstance and duty may keep us apart, our bond remains unbreakable. Your impact on those around you is immeasurable, and the reason I have assigned you to the Joint Base. Because I know you can spread your beautiful wings, to take others under them in their times of need. You are an irreplaceable asset to the war effort and more importantly an irreplaceable friend.

As you continue to progress, I offer you my heartfelt encouragement and praise. Your efforts have led you to where you are today, and I hope you find continued happiness and success in all your endeavors. Always remember your worth and the significance of your presence and voice. If ever you need guidance or support, know that I am here for you, now and always, as are those around you.

Take care, and may your journey be filled with happiness and achievement.

With the deepest respect and warmest regards,

Your beloved Shikikan

P.S. ~I hope Akagi isn't giving you too hard a time and vice versa.

"Commander sure has a way with words," Honolulu whistled.

"He sure does~" St. Louis said with a light blush.

"..." Taihō's hands began to shake as droplets of tears fell onto the letter.

"H-hey~" Honolulu said in surprise, taking the Carriers into an embrace, stroking at her hair softly, "I thought you'd be ecstatic?"

"I…I am…" Taihō sniffled before crying into Honolulu's chest.

St. Louis smiled to herself as she quietly let herself out of the room leaving the two a moment for themselves.


o7

"Yo! Helena!" A tiny shipgirl called as she suddenly broke through to the surface of the water.

"A-Albacore!" The young Brooklyn said a bit startled, almost dropping the few crates she had in her arms.

"S-sorry!" The young Gato said as she shook the water from her hair, only slightly sorry, "but what's all the commotion about?!" The girl bounced atop her little submarine, "they keep sending me on boring patrols, and this is the fifth one this week!"

Helena could only offer a sympathetic chuckle.

"We gettin more visitors again? I thought everyone's already here?" She said, referring to the Summit attendees. "Unless… The Commander's coming?!" The smaller girl jumped up onto the docks as her submarine disappeared into a stream of cubes.

"W-well… Something along those lines," Helena answered with a sad smile before shaking her head "but N-no, just my sisters."

"Aww man~" Albacore pouted, a bit disappointed, "but you must be psyched!"

"Y-yeah," Helena hugged at the crate of decorations more tightly, "just a little…"

"So Brooklyn's coming in place of the commander? I guess that makes sense…" Albacore pondered as she rubbed at her chin, "being his right hand gal 'n all…"

Helena loved her big sister, just as any little sister would, but even she had trouble admitting to herself that she hardly knew anything about Brooklyn. She knew the kind of work her name ship was involved in, the kind that kept her busy with hardly any time for herself. But outside of that, Helena came up blank, much like her memories before she was brought back.

"Oh, I've been meaning to ask, cause I've seen her around our dorms a lot recently" Albacore grabbed a couple of crates as she took the Light Cruiser's side, "about Taihō…"


o7

The morning was more lively than usual, Taihō noted as she watched Helena and a few other shipgirls directing a small army of Manjuu all around the base. She knew about the Summit in a few weeks and everyone was busy prepping and greeting the other factions representatives. Richilue and her escorts arrived only last week and it seemed everyone was prepping for more arrivals. Taihō had hoped to find Honolulu to get some answers but as she discreetly entered the Cruiser's room, she was nowhere to be found. She had an easy time getting around the Eagle Union dorms lately, mostly due to a certain submarine pain in the stern also not being around.

"Maybe she's on sortie…" Taihō sighed to herself as she rested her head on the railing overlooking the moored ships. Honolulu's ship also wasn't in her usual parking spot.

She couldn't bother Shōkaku or Zuikaku either as it was the same story for them, but they had departed a few days prior.

"Something big is coming…" she thought, as she recalled seeing Ayanami off to hunt down a nearby Siren fleet. And whatever or whoever, sure needed a ton of security. With the submarine pen being mostly empty, cemented the thought in her mind.

There really was only one person in her mind that would warrant such a response. And as she hugged at herself to suppress her excitement she could hardly contain the creepy smile that formed on her face. It was a good thing no one else was around.


o7

Several hours later…

"Senpai!~" Taihō called out as she noticed Honolulu sat in the shade by her lonesome. She looked pretty exhausted chugging down a water bottle as sweat dripped down her furrowed brow, "Haven't seen you all morning!"

"Hey…" was all the light Cruiser could muster as Taihō leaned against the tree she sat under, "just came back from seeing Biloxi and Wichita off…"

"Hmm…" Taihō hummed as she sat behind Honolulu before draping her arms over the girl's shoulders. "I just wanted to ask you about that…"

Honolulu groaned as Taihō leaned against her back, transferring her weight onto her, but she did nothing about it, "just your regular run of the mill escort job is all"

"Hmm…" she hummed again as she traced a figure eight along the Cruiser's lower back.

"...What else do you want to know?" Honolulu whined as she lazily tried to unhook Taihō from herself.

"..." Taihō pouted as she pressed her entire weight forward causing both girls to stumble onto the grass.

With a little yelp, Honolulu found herself staring upward at Taihō who had her pinned. Her long black twin-tails draped down, tickling at Honolulu's nose.

"You better not be hiding anything from me~" Taihō said in a voice that made Honolulu shiver, for a multitude of reasons, one of which made the Light Cruiser blush as she averted her gaze from Taihō's domineering eyes.

"I-It's not what you're thinking…" Honolulu said in a small voice.

"Senpai~" Taihō pouted, bringing her face closer to Honolulu's, "that hardly sounds convincing…"

Honolulu was certain Taihō wouldn't hurt her, at least 80% certain, but that didn't stop her heart from beating hard against her chest as the Armored Carrier tightened her grip on her wrists.

"Shikikan… he's coming…" Taihō grabbed Honolulu's chin, forcing the older girl to look her way, "isn't he?"

"I already told you it's not that!" Honolulu forced herself to sit up, pushing Taihō back.

"But who else could it be?!" She said back desperate, still straddled on Honolulu's lap.

"Just my stupid sister…" Honolulu spat.

"Brooklyn…" Taiho said with a voice as cold as ice.

The dark shadow that cast itself over the Carrier's eyes frightened Honolulu, even more so when the girl started to laugh.

"It's alright Senpai~" Taihō whispered into Honolulu's ear as she hugged her tightly, stroking at the back of her head, "leave everything to Taihō~ I'll take care of things…"

"..." Despite her reassuring words, Honolulu still felt a level of unease. She wouldn't hurt anyone… would she? "S-sure… H-Helena would probably appreciate the help…"

"Yes…" the Carrier drew out the simple word, "I'll go and do just that~" she said as she got up from Honolulu's lap.

"I'll see you in a bit, Senpai~" Taihō finished before leaving in the direction of the docks.


o7

Okay… Well I know this was a longer wait than normal, but I'm currently on vacation in LA and it's a little hard to write smut with your friends on the same hotel bed as you…

And forgive me if it was pretty bad, it's still only my second go at such a scene.

With that said, I know this chapter seemed a little all over the place. I wanted to do so much more that this could end up being a separate fic entirely. (Maybe someday)

Oh and about this being a 2 parter… well I guess I lied~

I'll finish up the flashback next chapter as I don't want you guys waiting too long for an update as I'm probably gonna be taking a short week long break from writing, for as long as I'm away from work and home.

By next time we'll see just what Taihō has planned and the consequences of that. And that should Segway into the present with the conclusion to the party chapter after Honolulu ran off.

And again, if you've got any critique on how the story is progressing so far, please let me know!