8732. Taiho, Ryujo, Zuiho, Shinano, Hakuryu, and Ikoma would appreciate not being referred to as the "Kawai Butai".
8732a. Shoukaku, Zuikaku, Yamato, that means you!
Yokosuka
"We need a nickname."
"Eh?" asked Shinano.
"Think about it. Every other group's got some sort of nickname. Taffy 3, the Movie Stars, the Big Seven, Kido Butai, etcetera. We need a nickname to show everyone we're just as badass as they are!" said Ryujo.
"Ryujo-san, I'm not quite sure that's how it works." said Ikoma, their squadron's newest member while everyone else simply shrugged at Ryujo's latest brainstorm.
"Come on girls, we need one!" said Ryujo. "Don't tell me all of you are fans of being called the Northern Air Escort Fleet!?"
"Well, itis a tad unwieldy." said Zuiho.
"Fair point." said Taiho. "But does anyone have a better name?"
All of them stopped walking to the carrier dorms as they debated potential nicknames.
"The Northern Maidens!" proclaimed Zuiho.
"The Fish Fighters?" offered Shinano.
"The Sea Shepherds?" asked Hakuryu.
"That names taken, Hakuryu-chan." said Taiho. "And I'm pretty sure they trademarked it."
"How about the Wet Warriors?" said Ikoma.
"Um, it sounds a bit too much like some military hentai." replied Shinano.
"What do all of you think of Ryujo's Rangers?"
Her five best friends just stared at her.
"Ryujo-chan, we need a nickname, not a confession of love!" said Hakuryu.
Taiho smiled bemusedly as her companions argued playfully, idly trying to come up with her own nickname ideas.
"Everything alright, imouto-chan?" A new voice suddenly drew her attention, causing Taiho to turn around and see Shoukaku, Zuikaku, and Yamato standing behind them, ostensibly to welcome their little sisters home.
"Oh, don't worry about it, Zuikaku-nee. We're just trying to come up with a nickname for our squadron."
"It doesn't seem to be going well." remarked Yamato.
"Yeah, we're running into a few roadblocks. Actually, do any of you have any idea-ackpff!" began Taiho before both Zuiho and Shinano covered her mouth. Seeing the smirk on Zuikaku's face, Taiho shuddered as she realized she had broken one of the most sacred rules of little sisterdom.
Never ask your older sisters for help with nicknames, for that way lies madness.
"Well," said Zuikaku. "since you asked, imouto-chan, I'll be happy to help. In fact, I think I have one that'll fit you girls perfectly."
Looking at the six young carriers, Zuikaku broke into a smile before continuing. "Since me and Shoukaku are in the Kido Butai, you six can be the Kawaii Butai!"
As the newly nicknamed carriers collapsed into an anime-esque pile of embarrassed babbling, Yamato and Shoukaku started giggling.
"I, Yamato, approve of this nickname."
"It does fit, I suppose." sighed Shoukaku.
"Aw, you're just sad that I thought of it first." said Zuikaku. "Come on, girls, Hosho's whipped something special up for you six."
Shoukaku brushed the hair out of her eyes as the six carriers sped past her at a speed Shimakaze would have envied. "So, how long do we let this go before we tell them?"
"A couple days." said Yamato. "We are older sisters, after all. Teasing every now and then is in the job description."
Three days later...
"This is it, girls." sighed Ryujo. "Our attempts to be badass are forever destroyed."
"We'll never be taken seriously now!" moaned Zuiho.
"I don't think it's that bad." said Ikoma.
"Bad? Ikoma-chan, that name makes it sound like we're a bunch of lolis!"
"Well, I wouldn't be too worried about any long lasting effects." a new voice spoke up, and everyone stood up as Yamato and Taiho's sisters entered Ryujo's room.
"You mean?.." Taiho dared to hope.
"Yes, the Kawaii Butai is now relegated to story fodder for your nieces." said Zuikaku.
The six carriers immediately planted themselves at their comrades feet, thanking them as if a great weight had been taken off their shoulders.
"Thank you, onee-san." said Taiho. "But why. Usually you get a lot more mileage out of these things."
"You're right, imouto-chan." said Zuikaku. "Normally, I would have milked this for as long as I could, but something more important came up."
"Eh?"
Shoukaku and Yamato giggled. "You see, it's funny how you all wanted a nickname just as it arrived."
"Just as what arrived?" asked Hakuryu.
"We were hoping to present this when more of your families were present, but with the Admiral preparing for a new offensive, it's just the three of us who have this honor." said Yamato.
"A few days before you all arrived a group of fishermen from Hokkaido sent this to us to give to you." said Shoukaku, pulling a small plaque out of her hold.
"You six are really popular up north." said Zuikaku as they examined the plaque. It had a cast of all six of them at sea, surrounded by fishing boats, with Zeros and Reppus overhead. But what really caught their eyes were the words inscribed below them. It contained the names of over a dozen fishing boats and their crews, many of whom they recognized from their times in Eniwa and Kushiro, and stainless steel lettering that shone brightly against the bronze plaque.
THE FLEET'S ANGELS
"It's beautiful." stammered Ryujo.
"Oh, my god." whispered Zuiho.
"Wow." gasped Taiho.
"No words can describe this." said Shinano.
"Simply amazing." said Hakuryu.
"I don't believe it." sobbed Ikoma.
The six carriers barely got their words out before they were all brought into a bone-crushing hug by the older shipgirls.
"Congratulations." said Shoukaku.
"We're all proud of you." added Yamato.
"So girls, think you've found your nickname?" asked Zuikaku.
