A civilian car was driving along a road through a small town. The current driver of the vehicle was Zuikaku. Behind her in one of the passenger seats was her niece, Tsubaki. Currently, the crane was driving her niece to school, Zuikaku did this most days as her sister, Shoukaku, and brother-in-law, John, were normally very busy with their duties at the Azur Lane. The KANSEN didn't mind, however, as John gave his sister-in-law many privileges that other KANSEN didn't get, namely Zuikaku got to train as much as she wanted without being disturbed. The crane enjoyed having this privilege as it meant she could train as much as she wanted to surpass her rival, the Grey Ghost herself, Enterprise. Zuikaku also wanted to train as hard as she could now to protect her niece. Ever since her encounter with her META self and listening to her story, the crane knew that Tsubaki was of great interest to the Sirens. The KANSEN wasn't going to let her niece suffer the same fate as the Tsubaki of her META self.
Looking in the front mirror, Zuikaku could see the reflection of her niece sitting in the back passenger seat. Currently, Tsubaki was looking outside of the window with a smile on her face. The half-KANSEN was blissfully unaware of the danger she was in. Zuikaku wanted to make sure it stayed that way. The crane wanted to make sure Tsubaki never knew the threat the Sirens were to her. Now, during the school runs, Zuikaku made sure to take different routes every day. If the Sirens were aware of Tsubaki's existence, then they could strike at any day and anytime. The KANSEN wanted to make sure she did everything she could to prevent the Sirens from attacking her and Tsubaki.
When the pair eventually arrived at the half-KANSEN's school, Zuikaku took a quick look around for any signs of danger, seeing none the crane, then got out of the car then opened up the door for Tsubaki. The half-KANSEN stepped out of the car and then looked towards her aunt, "Enjoy your day Tsubaki, have fun, but remember to listen to your teachers." The crane said to her niece. "Okay, auntie!" the little girl enthusiastically replied. Tsubaki then ran off to join a group of young children whom Zuikaku suspected were the friends that the half-KANSEN had mentioned. The group talked for a bit until a young female teacher called them all inside. Once Zuikaku was sure that her niece was safely inside the crane had a quick look around the area again for any danger. The only thing that she could see were parents of other children walking off. No doubt they were either heading home or heading to work. Satisfied no threat was present, the crane got back into the car to head back towards the Azur Lane...
When Zuikaku returned to the Azur Lane, the first thing she did was inform Shoukaku and John to inform them that Tsubaki was safely at school and she would collect her later. After the crane told them the news, John then spoke to her. "Zuikaku, regarding what happened the other day. I'm sorry. I was drunk, I wasn't thinking clearly, and I thought you were Shoukaku. Please forgive me." John said to the KANSEN. He was still clearly embarrassed by the way his voice sounded. John also brought his cap down to try to hide the look of embarrassment on his face. "It's fine, John, really. I know you only meant all of that for my sister. So can we please forget that it happened?" Zuikaku was also embarrassed and just wanted to forget about it. The man replied that he would forget it happened and would make sure he never acted like that again.
Satisfied that what happened between the two of them would be forgotten, Zuikaku then asked if she was needed for anything else. John and Shoukaku replied that she wasn't needed for anything. The only thing she would need to do was pick Tsubaki up from school later. "Okay, I'll be at the dojo if you need me. I'll see you both later when I'm back with Tsubaki." The KANSEN informed John and her sister. Zuikaku then left the HQ to head on over to the Sakura Empire building and the dojo. The crane was intent on getting stronger so she could protect her loved ones and surpass the Grey Ghost. When Zuikaku arrived at the dojo, the crane grabbed a wooden training sword and immediately began practising her techniques. The KANSEN practised each technique she knew over and over again, Zuikaku wanted to make sure her skills were at a razor-sharp level.
During her training, the crane felt another presence had entered the dojo. Looking at who had arrived, Zuikaku could see her META self was the one who had entered and was looking intently at her, "Your techniques are good, but they need more refinement, my past self. At least you have taken my warning seriously about the Sirens and Tsubaki." The META crane said to her past self. "I'm training not just so I can be strong enough to protect Tsubaki, future me. I want to get stronger than Enterprise, I want to be strong enough to beat her one day." Zuikaku replied to the META. This caused Zuikaku META to chuckle. The META crane had that same dream once before. Zuikaku META also wanted to beat Enterprise in the past of her own timeline, seeing her past self also had that dream reminded the META crane of much better and much happier times.
"That used to be my dream as well, my past self. I also wanted to surpass the Grey Ghost. That changed,however, when Tsubaki was born, I simply wanted to protect her. But I became complacent, and I didn't get strong enough. I don't want you to make the same mistake as I did, past me. Keep trying to get more powerful, but for the right reason. Forget about the Grey Ghost, Enterprise isn't important right now. Focus on getting stronger so you can protect Tsubaki." The META told Zuikaku to focus on getting more powerful in order to protect her niece, not to surpass Enterprise. The leader of the Eagle Union was miniscule in the grand scheme of things, making sure the Sirens didn't get Tsubaki had to be her priority.
Zuikaku listened to what her META self said and could notice the sadness in her voice. She still blamed herself for being unable to protect her version of her niece. The META didn't want the crane to lose sight of why she had to improve. If she did, the same thing that happened to her could happen to Zuikaku. "I understand future me, I promise to not lose sight of why I need to get stronger. And I also promise we will find your Tsubaki no matter what it takes." The crane promised the META. "Good, see that you keep your promises. Because if you don't I swear that I will never forgive you if anything happens to your Tsubaki." Zuikaku META replied to Zuikaku.
Without saying anything else, the META then walked on over to the training rack and picked up a wooden training sword, then got into a fighting stance and faced her past self. Zuikaku knew what her future self wanted. She wanted to test how strong she was. The crane also got into a fighting stance and faced her future self. The two then looked into each other's eyes. They were waiting for the other to make a move. Zuikaku was the first to do so and charged at the META crane. Zuikaku META could see her past self coming towards her and easily dodged the attack, Zuikaku META then lightly smacked Zuikaku from behind and knocked her off balance and onto the floor. "That was too predictable, past me. Your footwork was sloppy. Get up and try again." The META told Zuikaku to try to attack her again.
Zuikaku did so and got back to her feet. She then faced her META self again. The crane this time waited before deciding to strike. She knew that the META in front of her knew all her techniques and weaknesses. The META was her future self after all. Zuikaku META also had better techniques and power from her time protecting Tsubaki and becoming a META. The crane knew she couldn't just charge in again blindly and began to hesitate while thinking of a plan of attack. The META crane could see her past self hesitating and decided to take the initiative. She quickly charged at Zuikaku and was on her before Zuikaku had time to react. With a few quick strikes, Zuikaku was on the floor of the dojo again, "You took too long to think, past me. The Sirens won't give you the time to think if they come after Tsubaki. Get back up and try again." Zuikaku META told her past self to get up again. The crane once again got to her feet and faced the META just as she did before, Zuikaku knew this spar between the two was not going to be easy...
After over an hour of sparring, Zuikaku META decided to call their training session to a halt. Zuikaku was glad the sparring session between them was over. Her META self had not been easy on her. Zuikaku could hardly muster any offence against her future self. Whatever offence she did manage to achieve the META crane was able to counter it rather easily. Most of the time, Zuikaku was on the defensive. Whatever mistakes she made, the META could see them and told her what she needed to do to correct it. Zuikaku META wasn't angry with her past self but knew the crane needed to improve; she had to improve and quickly. "Remember what I've taught you today past me and put it into practice." She told her past self. Zuikaku nodded to signal she understood the META. Both of them then put their training swords away and decided to sit down for a moment, Zuikaku needed a rest bit she also had some questions for the META.
The crane looked at her future self, and the META could see the crane wanted to speak to her, "What do you want to ask me, past me?" Zuikaku META enquired to the crane. "It's about your Tsubaki. Has John decided to start looking for her? If he has, what has he done about it? Neither him or Shoukaku have told me anything yet, and I want to know if he has said anything to you." Zuikaku asked the META crane about John and if he had started to look for the META's niece. The META scoffed before replying, "He has, though I don't agree with what he's done. I think even he has second thoughts about what he's done." This response caught the crane by surprise, by the sounds of Zuikaku META's response John had decided to act but sounded like he was regretting it. Zuikaku wanted to know more, and the META was more than willing to tell her, "He has sent Akagi of all people to look for her alongside Amagi and others that she has chosen. They are at an outpost working alongside human fleets. Personally, I think it's a bad idea, Akagi could turn on us if she wishes. Amagi might not be able to keep her under control, especially out of John's sight. I think John sees that now and regrets his decision, but he wanted to give Akagi a chance to atone for what she had done. But I know Akagi has worked with the Sirens before, and she could be more than willing to do so again. I just hope this decision doesn't come back to bite us." Zuikaku META told her past self what John had done.
The KANSEN groaned at what the META crane had said. She also didn't agree with this decision. "John wants to give Akagi a chance to atone?! How can he be so stupid?! I know he now sees the error he's made, but it's too late to fix it!! Akagi should have been dismantled, not given another chance!! If she allies herself with the Sirens again, then who knows what she will do?! She could go after Shoukaku again!! Dammit John!! I can't believe you have done this!!" Zuikaku was absolutely mortified with her brother-in-laws decision. In her mind, it was too dangerous. The kitsune knew all the strengths and weaknesses of the Azur Lane. If the Sirens found out that information from Akagi, then they would be vulnerable. Shoukaku would be in grave danger, Tsubaki would be in grave danger. Everyone in the Azur Lane would be in peril. John had taken a huge risk by not just sparing the kitsune but also posting her away from the Azur Lane. The KANSEN could also imagine her sister wasn't happy with his decision, Shoukaku however wasn't the commander and didn't have the final say. The crane prayed that this simple act of mercy towards Akagi wouldn't come back to haunt them.
Zuikaku META could see that her past self was thinking the same as she was, "I know how you feeling, past me. I don't like it either, but it was John's decision to make. All we can do is prepare in case Akagi does betray us. We can not let our guard down. If she does ally herself with the Sirens, then we need to be ready." Is what the META told her past self what their next course of action should be. The KANSEN agreed with this. The two had to think of a plan if the worst-case scenario came to fruition. Zuikaku was about to begin discussing what the two of them should do, but the sounds of rapid footsteps approaching the dojo halted that for now. The two looked towards who had come to the dojo, and the pair could see a sweating Haruna had arrived, "Both of you!! You need to come to the HQ!! A group of META's are attacking a fleet not too far from here!! The commander wants everyone available in the briefing room right now!!" the battleship shouted at the cranes while panting, Haruna had rushed around to find the pair.
Zuikaku and her META looked at each other before getting up and joining Haruna, the three then left the dojo and Sakura Empire building to head towards the HQ. "Those META's...I need to speak to them. They must know something about Tsubaki!! It can't be a coincidence that they are attacking humans!! They must be working with the Sirens!! They have to know something!!" The META crane was certain that the META shipgirls were working alongside the Sirens if they were attacking humans. In her mind, they must know something about her niece. Zuikaku META wanted to find out what they knew. While the Akagi situation needed to be dealt with in the future, the main priority right now was stopping her fellow META's and discovering what secrets they knew about her missing niece...