John was looking through the list of KANSEN who were to deploy for the exercise being conducted by the Sakura Empire. It was due to be a week long and was taking place fifty miles away from the Azur Lane base. Shoukaku and Zuikaku were on the list. While he wasn't concerned for them, he was more worried about how Tsubaki would react with her mother being away for a week. The last time Shoukaku was sent on exercise, Tsubaki couldn't let go of Shoukaku before she left. The little girl had a vice grip on her mother's legs and was crying incessantly that she didn't want her to leave. Shoukaku almost didn't, it was difficult for the white-crane to see her little girl like this, but she had to leave. She needed to make sure she had the skills to protect her precious daughter. Eventually, after much convincing, Tsubaki let go of Shoukaku, but the half-KANSEN was still incredibly upset that Shoukaku was leaving. When Shoukaku returned from her exercise, Tsubaki darted into her like a missile. She nearly knocked the white-crane off her feet, despite being as young as she was.
John didn't want Tsubaki to be upset like last time, but the man had a feeling his daughter wouldn't let Shoukaku leave just like before. "That's going to be a tough conversation, Tsubaki doesn't understand why her mother has to leave." John thought. Both himself and Shoukaku hated seeing their little girl upset, but this exercise needed to happen. Even if they were not fighting the Sirens, all factions of the Azur Lane had to maintain their skills no matter their circumstances. Shoukaku, even though she was a mother didn't exclude her from that. John also had another issue that he remembered because Shoukaku and Zuikaku were leaving for a week he needed another assistant with him. Not only to help run the base, but also help him keep watch over his daughter. His first idea was to ask Enterprise, but he immediately backtracked when he remembered what had happened before. "Okay, so if Enterprise is out of the question, who can I ask? Friedrich? No, all her attention would be on Tsubaki. No work would get done. Bismarck? Again, no, while she is certainly capable of helping me run the base, she doesn't have any experience with children. Come on, John! Think! There has to be someone who can help." John tried racking his brain for an answer, the man thought long and hard. Eventually, a perfect candidate came to mind from the Royal Navy. "Yes! Belfast would be perfect! She's incredibly diligent with her duties, and she seems like the kind who would help keep an eye on Tsubaki." With his candidate in mind, John left his office and the HQ, he then headed towards the building of the Royal Navy.
Once there, John looked around for Belfast. He searched high and low and eventually found her preparing tea for Queen Elizabeth and several other Royal Navy KANSEN round a table. John walked up to the table, and all the KANSEN noticed his arrival, "Greetings everyone, Greetings your majesty." John said to the KANSEN. "Greetings Commander Grey. It is a fine day, is it not? Please take a seat." Queen Elizabeth told John, and he did just that. A cup of tea was then placed in front of him by Belfast. John thanked her and then looked back towards Queen Elizabeth. Seeing John's attention back on her the Queen spoke, "So commander, while I am happy to be in your presence I imagine it is not just a social call that you have come here for, correct? I'm guessing you have come here because you require something of the Royal Navy?" Queen Elizabeth Guessed.
The KANSEN had guessed correctly, John then to the KANSEN why he was here, "You are correct your majesty, I have come to request the help of someone in the Royal Navy. As I am sure you are aware, the Sakura Empire will be conducting an exercise in a few days for one week. I will need help with my duties and for more selfish reasons. My wife Shoukaku and her sister Zuikaku will be away on this exercise, so I will need help in looking after my daughter, Tsubaki. I can not look after her alone and carry on my job. At the age she is now, it will be too difficult to do both. I need someone to carry out Shoukaku's duties and watch over Tsubaki for me. I have someone in mind. That person is Belfast." John explained. After hearing John's explanation, the Queen took a sip of her tea, and John waited nervously for what she would say.
Queen Elizabeth then called Belfast over to her, and the two began whispering to each other, John couldn't hear what they were saying and couldn't tell if it was a good or bad sign. After some time the two them finished and Queen Elizabeth began talking to John again, "Commander, after deliberating with Belfast, I have made my decision, she can be your assistant while your wife is away." John breathed a sigh of relief when he was told her answer, "Thank you, Your Majesty, you have no idea how much this means to me. I am grateful." Queen Elizabeth, however, spoke again, "However there is one condition commander, because you are depriving the Royal Navy of our head maid, we need to be compensated in some way. I know the Dragon Empery has some of the finest tea and bone china. We would like to acquire some. I am hoping you will be able to convince them to part with their tea and china, Commander." John was fine with this. It was only fair that the Royal Navy had compensation for depriving them of Belfast for some time.
"I understand your majesty. It shall be done. I have a good relationship with the Dragon Empery and should be able to convince them to send some tea and china your way." John said. Satisfied with her commanders' answer, Queen Elizabeth smiled. She then said to John, "Good, now that this business is concluded, why don't you stay for a while commander? It has been some time since we have had a casual talk with each other." John did have things to do but thought that it wouldn't hurt to stay for a bit. He could catch up with the KANSEN from the Royal Navy. John decided to stay and talk with the KANSEN around him, they asked him many questions, such as how his job was going, how was it being a father, and finally many questions were asked about his daughter. "She's a handful, I will tell you that. Some days, she runs rings around me and Shoukaku. I swear I don't know where Tsubaki gets all her energy from." John told those around him.
The KANSEN around John all had a quick chuckle at his answer. They knew that in truth, he loved his daughter greatly, that he would give her the world if he could. John eventually realised that he had to get back to work. He got up from his seat and bid the shipgirls goodbye as he prepared to leave. Just before he left, Belfast approached him, "Excuse me master, about the duties that you need me to carry out. What exactly does this entail, if you don't mind me asking." She asked. "Ah yes, I forgot to tell Belfast what she needs to do. It's best Shoukaku explains to her, but it isn't that hard to do." He thought. "Belfast, come to my office tomorrow morning, and Shoukaku will explain everything. She has been doing this for years, so it's best you hear everything from her." John told the shipgirl. Belfast thanked him and told John she would be at his office first thing in the morning. John then left the Royal Navy building and headed towards the Dragon Empery to convince them to part with what the Royal Navy wanted before heading back to HQ.
At the Sakura Empire building, many supplies were being moved about and accounted for, including ammunition, oil, and many other supplies that they would need for the upcoming exercise. Shoukaku and Zuikaku were currently on a break, Shoukaku had been working since this morning, and Zuikaku joined her when she dropped Tsubaki off at her school. "How was Tsubaki this morning, sister? Did she seem in a good mood?" the white-crane asked. Her sister replied, "She seemed fine this morning. Why do you ask Shoukaku?" Zuikaku replied. Shoukaku remembered how her daughter behaved last time she had to leave for exercise and didn't want it to happen again. By the looks of it, Tsubaki wasn't aware that she would be leaving for a week at this moment. That would have to change when she was back from school. Shoukaku hoped that her daughter would understand why this needed to done, even though it pained the crane to be away from her, she wanted Tsubaki to understand that she was only doing this to make sure she had the power to protect her. Shoukaku couldn't always rely on other KANSEN, and with what she had discovered from Zuikaku META, the danger of the Sirens taking Tsubaki was a very real possibility.
The white-crane knew she had to do this. She wasn't going to let the Sirens get their hands on Tsubaki, Shoukaku would lay down her life if needed to keep her daughter safe. Zuikaku could see something was bothering her sister, "Sis, what's wrong? You know you can tell me, right?" she asked. Shoukaku knew that she could tell her sister, the pair had been through so much together throughout the years, "I'm just worried how Tsubaki will react when we leave, you saw what happened last time. I just wish she could understand. It's not that I want to do this, it's that I have to do this. I have to do this for her." Shoukaku said. Now, knowing what the problem was, Zuikaku tried to think of an easy solution. Deep down, however, she knew there wasn't one, Tsubaki was more than likely going to make this difficult no matter how they told her. The best they could do was prepare for the inevitable crying and begging later when Tsubaki was back home.
The two cranes then returned to preparing for the exercise, Zuikaku was called over to help some of the destroyers with a different task, and Shoukaku was left sorting out barrels of oil on her own. As she started working again, the white-crane could feel she was being watched. Looking around, Shoukaku couldn't find anyone at first, but then she managed to catch a pair of red eyes looking at her from the shadows. "Okay who is that? Is it Akagi trying to annoy me again?" the crane thought. She got closer to the individual, Shoukaku truly believed that it was the kitsune. However, when Shoukaku was closer, she could see that it wasn't Akagi. It was Taihou. "Taihou? What is she doing? Why is she looking at me like that?" the white-crane wondered as she noticed the look Taihou was giving her. Taihou had a look that signalled to Shoukaku that she had bad intentions for her. It was sending a chill down her spine. Shoukaku wanted to ask what the phoenix's problem was with her, but before she could, Taihou quickly left. "Just what was that all about?" The crane pondered once she was on her own. Shoukaku then returned to her work , but that look from Taihou...Shoukaku knew she would have to be on her guard around the phoenix from now on...
Later on in the day, Zuikaku collected Tsubaki from school, and the crane could see that her niece was in good spirits. But Zuikaku knew that was going to change soon. On their way to John's office, Zuikaku asked Tsubaki how her day was, and the half-KANSEN told her aunt everything that she had learned today. Tsubaki also said that she was beginning to make friends. This put a smile on Zuikaku's face. She was glad her niece was living the life of a normal child. At least as normal as she could with the circumstances she was in. The pair then arrived at the HQ and walked up the stairs to see Tsubaki's parents. No doubt Shoukaku had a lot to deal with regarding the exercise. John also probably had a lot on his plate today as well especially since Shoukaku couldn't help him out with his duties. The crane probably thought he must have had a mountain of paperwork and planning to go through.
In John's office, the man himself and Shoukaku were waiting for Tsubaki and Zuikaku to arrive. They had a lot to do today. John saw the Dragon Empery and was able to convince them to send tea and China over to the Royal Navy, it was the least he could do for them letting him borrow Belfast as his assistant for a while. He also explained to Shoukaku that Belfast would be his assistant while she was gone. The white-crane had no problem with this. She would go over everything of what was required from the maid in the morning. Right now, Shoukaku just wanted to see her daughter. She knew that what she was going to tell her would be difficult, but it needed to be done. John and Shoukaku waited until the doors opened, and they heard, "Mama! Papa!" their little girl was back home.
Shoukaku walked up and embraced her daughter, "How was your day, sweetheart? Did you have fun?" the white-crane asked. Tsubaki replied, "Yes Mama, today was fun. I'm making new friends Mama, they are all really nice." This put Shoukaku in a good mood. She was happy her daughter was making friends her own age. Shoukaku then looked at Zuikaku, who was standing by the door. She then turned to her husband. Each had a look on their face, that said. "She needs to know." This quickly dampened Shoukaku's mood. What she was about to tell her daughter was going to be tough for the little girl. Tsubaki could notice something had quickly changed with her mother, "Mama, what's wrong? Why do you look sad?" the half-KANSEN asked. Shoukaku sighed before speaking to her daughter, "Tsubaki I have something to tell you. Mama and auntie need to go away for a while with our friends soon. I need you to be a big, strong girl, okay? Your papa will still be here, sweetheart, so you won't be on your own." Shoukaku told her daughter.
Tsubaki took a few seconds to register what the white-crane said to her. When she registered what was said, the eyes of the half-KANSEN started to water. She then gripped Shoukaku's kimono with her hands. "No Mama! I don't want you and Auntie to go away! Is it my fault? I'm sorry, Mama! I promise to be a good girl! Please Mama don't go!" Tsubaki cried into Shoukaku's kimono. Everyone else in the room expected this reaction. They hoped Tsubaki would understand, but by the looks of it, the little girl didn't. Tsubaki kept crying into her mother. She was begging Shoukaku and Zuikaku not to go. Tsubaki's reaction was making it difficult for both cranes. They didn't want to leave either, but they had to do this. Seeing the situation, John decided to get down on one knee to speak to his daughter.
Tsubaki turned her head and noticed her father next to her, John could see the tears running down her face. The man knew he had to word this delicately. He took a few seconds to think of what to say to Tsubaki. "Tsubaki, listen to me. Your mother and auntie have to do this. Nobody wants them to go, but they need to. There are some very bad people out there, Tsubaki, people who will hurt others. Your mother and auntie need to stop them. That's why your mother and auntie are going away. They need to make sure they are strong enough to stop those bad people. If they don't those bad people will hurt others. They want to protect them. More importantly, they want to protect you." John told his daughter.
Tsubaki listened to what her father said. She then pulled away from Shoukaku. She then looked her father in the eyes and then spoke, "So Mama and Auntie need to stop bad people? Is that why they are going away? Are Mama and Auntie heroes papa?" the half-KANSEN asked. John replied, "Yes sweetheart, they are heroes. Everyone who is going away is a hero. Everyone here is a hero." Tsubaki's mood then changed when John told Tsubaki what he did. The little girls eyes stopped watering. She then turned back to her mother, and Shoukaku could see a look of awe on her face, "Really mama! You and Auntie are heroes?" Tsubaki asked. Shoukaku then said to her daughter, "Yes sweetheart, me and your Auntie stop bad people and protect innocent people. That is what heroes do."
Tsubaki's mood had completely shifted. No longer was she upset that they were leaving soon. The half-KANSEN was in awe of her family members. In her mind, her mother and aunt were heroes. They suddenly became the two most amazing people in her life. Shoukaku looked at John and mouthed, "Thank you." The white-crane was thankful that her husband was able to describe everything the way he did without mentioning the Sirens. That was something Tsubaki would know when she was older. For now, the white-crane was just happy her daughter understood things in her own way. The little girl was hugging her with a beaming smile on her face.
At the door, Zuikaku was happy that Tsubaki was no longer upset. Seeing her niece happy made her happy. "I want to protect that smile." The crane silently thought. Remembering what happened to the niece of her other self Zuikaku planned to push herself as hard as she could on this exercise, she was going to make sure she was strong enough so her own niece wouldn't suffer the same fate. She wanted to be strong enough to protect herself, her sister, her brother-in-law, but most importantly, the little girl in front of her...