Location: Sakura Empire
Deep within the heart of the Sakura Empire's base, Z23 found a rare moment of peace. The air was filled with the gentle rustling of cherry blossom trees swaying in the breeze, their pink petals dancing gracefully to the ground.
The Iron Blood destroyer had always cherished these moments of solitude. The gentle trickle of water from a nearby stream mingled with the distant calls of songbirds, creating a symphony of nature that soothed her mind.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and closed her eyes, fully enveloped by the beauty and tranquillity of the scene.
She sat comfortably as her thoughts wandered until a Sakuran kansen brought her a tea bowl filled with matcha and a plate of uirō-mochi, a traditional Sakuran steamed cake made of glutinous rice flour and sugar.
"Danke," said Z23.
"Dōzo Omeshiagarikudasai," the Sakuran shipgirl said as she bowed and left.
As Z23 sipped the matcha from the tea bowl, she felt a deep sense of contentment from the savour of theanine, succinic acid, gallic acid and theogallin that contributed to its signature flavour.
Just as she was taking a bite of her uirō-mochi, Shigure's surprise squeal broke the silence of the peace, which almost caused her to choke on the food.
"So this Enterprise girl and that Boy Boy Boy boy beat Kaga? Wow! That's intense!" exclaimed Shigure.
"Heh! If it were up to me, Yukikaze of the Sakura Empire, the Eagle Union, the Royal Navy and even that Boy Boy Boy would stand no chance!" Yukikaze boasted.
Suddenly, Yuudachi who was eating a plate full of mochi choked on one of them and got stuck in the middle of her throat.
"Yuudachi! Calm down and eat slowly..." said Shigure, handing her a cup of tea.
Upon finishing her drink, it was Yuudachi's turn to speak to the group.
"Ayanami, I am jealous of you for getting into the battle! I can't wait to fight!"
"F-fight?" asked Ayanami as memories of the battle at the newly constructed base of Azur Lane and the interception of the Eagle Union flotilla flooded her mind.
She witnessed what she perceived as a form of friendship that knows no boundaries. From the sleepy bunny Laffey to the nice and friendly Javelin. Not to mention the shy, childish but brave Unicorn and perhaps the not-so-first impression-friendly but surprisingly powerful, and a bit simpleton, Boboiboy.
"As for that, I don't like fighting... I am just doing what is expected from me,"
Ayanami's response gained various expressions from the three.
"What's expected of you, eh? You are 'The Demon' Ayanami! Come on!" Shigure said as she poked her left cheek.
"Umph..."
Ayanami moaned before Yuudachi suddenly leapt onto her head and grabbed her mechanical animal ears.
"Demon! Demon horns!" Yuudachi playfully squealed.
"Yuudachi, please... Those aren't horns, they're my ears," said Ayanami, finding it uncomfortable.
"Oh, Ayanami. You can't just be strong, though. Like me, the famous Shigure, you must be blessed with good fortune!"
The Shirayatsuyu-class destroyer spoke with pride until Yukikaze exclaimed something that caught her off-guard.
"Yay! I won a freebie!"
True to the words of many Sakuran shipgirls, Yukikaze is always blessed with fortune and miracles; luck struck her today when the stick of the ice popsicle she ate revealed that she received another popsicle, much to the dismay of Shigure.
"Stop whining, Shigure! It's time to settle this once and for all!" Shigure exclaimed in frustration.
"Can everyone please be quiet in the restaurant!? YOU ARE ALL INSUFFERABLE!" Z23 shrieked, revealing that her shirt was stained with matcha tea due to Shigure's outcry.
"Erk! Sumimasen!" Shigure asked for forgiveness as she bowed.
.
.
The scene transitioned to a serene courtyard between the lush, blooming sakura trees.
Here, a Sakuran shipgirl stood firm with her eyes remaining closed, exuding a sense of calm and focus.
This Sakuran shipgirl is depicted as a tall woman with a slender figure and a large breast. She has long black hair tied in a high ponytail by a white ribbon and has orange eyes. She wears a white military uniform with a high collar, yellow buttons and an aiguillete, a white miniskirt, black pantyhose, black shoes and white gloves.
Takao
Suddenly, a cherry blossom drifted before her. In an instant, she unsheathed her katana and sliced the blossom in half with a swift motion.
As the petals fluttered to the ground, the sound of clapping echoed through the courtyard. She turned to see Zuikaku standing there, applauding her skill.
"Training hard, Takao?" asked Zuikaku.
"Zuikaku-kohai. You have returned," Takao greeted her.
"Erm, yeah... But, I can't say that I performed well," said Zuikaku as she scratched her back a bit.
"Tch... That boy's 'Itchy Leaf Blade' still had its effect lingering even after I took a proper bath..."
The Fortunate Crane muttered under her breath.
"I see..." said Takao.
.
.
The scene transitioned once again.
This time, Zuikaku and Takao made their way to a secluded part of the base that felt like a hidden garden. As they ventured deeper, the landscape gradually changed, transforming from the bustling activity of the base to a more tranquil setting. The path meandered through lush greenery and blossoming cherry trees, their petals gently falling in the breeze.
Following this path, they soon arrived at the edge of a cliff.
From this vantage point, they had a panoramic view of the entire Sakura Empire base. The expanse below was a bustling hub of activity, with ships coming and going, and Manjuus and Sakuran shipgirls moving about with purpose.
Eventually, they arrived at the edge of a cliff, offering a breathtaking view of the entire Sakura Empire base below. From this vantage point, they could see the intricate layout of the base, with its harmonious blend of traditional Japanese architecture and modern naval facilities.
In the distance, the sea glistened under the sun, its waves gently lapping at the shoreline. The combination of nature's beauty and the Empire's architectural prowess created a stunning panorama that left Zuikaku and Takao in silence, calm and awe.
"No matter how I tried... I still couldn't stand a chance against the Grey Ghost, let alone that boy..." Zuikaku muttered under her breath.
Somehow, Takao noticed this and slowly approached her as she continued to ramble slowly.
"I can't stay like this - I have to be stronger or else, I won't be able to protect Shoukaku and the others..."
PWAP!
Takao, whose intention was to slowly pat her, accidentally slapped her back.
"Ah! Hey!" Zuikaku retorted.
"Oh, apologies, Zuikaku! I may have hit too hard..." said Takao, realizing her bad action as Zuikaku whimpered.
"Yet, you shouldn't take on every burden, Zuikaku; you must rely on us as well, at least, a little more,"
The heavy cruiser then offered a hand to the aircraft carrier.
"We are companions, aren't we?"
The Fortunate Crane reluctantly accepted her offer.
.
.
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Location: Azur Lane's base
Evening
The sun dipped low in the sky, painting the horizon with strokes of orange and pink. Waves lapped gently at the shore, their rhythmic cadence a soothing backdrop to the lively chatter and laughter from shipgirls as they enjoyed the warm evening.
The salty air carried the sound of seagulls and the faint strains of music from a nearby radio, mingling with the scent of sunscreen and ocean breeze.
Some shipgirls rolled up their beach blankets and some strolled as their silhouettes etched against the glowing sky. The beach was still alive with energy, but the day's heat had softened into a comfortable warmth.
In the middle of this idyllic scene, a tense volleyball match was unfolding.
On one side were Boboiboy, split into three elements namely Earth, Wind and Lightning, Javelin, Charles Ausburne and Thatcher. On the other were Glowworm, San Diego, Cleveland, Kent and Amazon.
Charles Ausburne has a petite frame and a flat chest. She has long blonde hair tied in a low ponytail by a bolt her bangs pinned back by a white clip, and has purple eyes. She wears a purple & white star-buttoned sailor uniform with dark-purple collar and yellow neckerchief, white puffy-frilled shorts, purple sneakers with white folded cuffs and anchor motif, a single white glove on her left hand and a white beret with a purple band & a feather ornament.
Thatcher has a petite frame and a flat chest. She has long silver hair tied in a high ponytail and has orange eyes. She wears a purple & white star-buttoned sailor uniform with a dark-purple collar and yellow neckerchief, a white miniskirt, white thigh-high socks, purple shoes and a white beret with a purple band & feathers.
Amazon has a petite frame and a flat chest. She has long blonde hair tied in twin tails by black rings, has an ahoge on top of her head, and has blue eyes. She wears a black caped jacket with yellow linings, an aiguillette and a tailcoat over a white collared long-sleeved shirt with a crown-themed red ribbon tie, a brown belt wrapped around her waist with yellow vertical straps dangling on each side, dark-brown pleated skirt with yellow linings, black thigh-high socks, black boots, black gloves with black & white checkered cuffs and a rapier dangling on her left hip.
Each of their focused expressions and precise movements reflected a fierce determination to win. The match had started as a friendly game but had quickly intensified into a spirited competition.
Not to mention that the element powers of Boboiboy did use their abilities to score marks for their side, which was considered by the opposing side, and his side as well to be cheating.
For instance, Earth used his 'Earth Barrier' to block San Diego from scoring the point, Wind utilised his 'Wind Blast' that knocked the ball too far from the beach by accident and caused him to get reprimanded by everyone and as for Lightning, by simply sending a 'Flash Kick', which broke the rule, he electrocuted everyone on the opposing side.
Nonetheless, both teams were evenly matched, trading points in a flurry of spikes and saves. Sand flew up in tiny clouds with each jump and dive, the players' athleticism and skill on full display.
As the ball soared over the net, Kent set it up perfectly for San Diego. With a powerful leap, San Diego spiked the ball towards Javelin. Reacting quickly, Javelin managed to dig it out, sending it back up for Earth.
Earth, with his trademark confidence, leapt into the air and hammered the ball back across the net, drilling it past Glowworm who was trying to block it but ended up stumbled into Amazon's view which caused the two to collapse, and win the point.
Javelin erupted in jubilant celebration, bouncing around the court with an infectious energy that spread towards the rest of her team.
"Woohoo! We got them, Boboiboys!" she shouted while pumping her fist in the air.
Earth gave a satisfied nod before heading to the sidelines. He checked his watch, noting the time with a slight smile before the three merged and reverted to Boboiboy himself.
"Good game, Boy boy... I mean, Boboiboy," Kent called out, extending a hand as a gesture of sportsmanship.
Boboiboy, instead of accepting the extended hand, politely declined the offer, which caused her to raise an eyebrow.
"I am but a modest person, but you girls played well," said Boboiboy.
"Yes, well played. Even if you used your power, right?" Kent sarcastically replied.
"Hehe. Awesome," Boboiboy sheepishly chuckled as he gave a thumbs up.
He then headed towards the place where Unicorn could be seen building a sandcastle with Laffey whereas close behind them was Illustrious who was sitting stiffly in a beach chair, scanning the beach with careful, cautious looks, eyeballing everything that was going on amidst her calm expression.
"Hey, Unicorn," Boboiboy greeted.
"Oh, Big Brother,"
"Building a sand castle, eh?" asked Boboiboy as he crouched down as if he looked like he wanted to join in as well.
"Mmhmm,"
Unicorn nodded.
"Big Brother wants to help build the sandcastle, too?" asked her, and she received a smile from Boboiboy.
"Why not?"
He then noticed that Illustrious was calling for him.
"Excuse me for a moment," said Boboiboy before he made his way to the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier.
"Yes, Ms Illustrious. What can I help you?"
"Nothing, Boboiboy. Yet... That was a blatant cheating," said Illustrious as she pointed out how he played with the girls just now.
Boboiboy chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, I got a bit carried away. I'll play fair next time."
Illustrious nodded approvingly.
"See that you do. Now, why don't you go back and help Unicorn with her sandcastle? She seems quite eager for your assistance,"
Boboiboy smiled and returned to Unicorn and Laffey.
"Alright, let's make this the best sandcastle ever!" He declared enthusiastically.
As they worked together, the sun continued its descent, casting long shadows on the beach. The sound of waves and laughter blended harmoniously, creating a perfect evening at Azur Lane's base.
.
.
Several raps echoed through the quiet hallway, reverberating against the door of Boboiboy's quarters.
"Yes, I'm coming," Boboiboy called out, adjusting his cap with a quick flick of his wrist while hanging the towel on his left shoulder.
He cracked open the door, its movement restricted by a security chain, revealing Belfast standing outside with a serving cart.
"Oh, Ms. Belfast," Boboiboy greeted, recognizing her immediately.
He unlatched the chain and swung the door wide open.
"Good evening, Boboiboy - or should I say, Young Master?" Belfast greeted him with her signature bow, her voice carrying the refined accent of nobility.
"Eh? Y-young... M-master?" Boboiboy stuttered, taken aback by her formal address.
"Since Her Majesty assigned me to you and Enterprise,"
Belfast began, her voice steady and reassuring.
"It is the maid's duty to dedicate her all to her master, be it a man or a woman, a boy or a girl, regardless of status,"
Boboiboy scratched his head, clearly flustered by her unwavering loyalty.
"I... I see..." he stammered, struggling to find the right words.
Belfast gave him a reassuring smile, sensing his unease.
"Do not worry, young master," she said, her tone softening.
"I am here to assist you in any way you require, whether it's managing your daily life at the base or ensuring your meals are prepared to your liking,"
Boboiboy nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.
"Thank you, Ms. Belfast. I appreciate your offer of help."
"Your powers are indeed impressive," Belfast acknowledged.
"But even the strongest heroes need a proper meal to ensure they are fully prepared and in the pink of health,"
As she spoke, Belfast lifted the cloche covering the serving tray, revealing a portion of Cantonese-style fried rice accented with succulent pieces of meat.
While it looked scrumptious, Boboiboy couldn't shake a suspicious feeling about the meats.
"Err... Ms Belfast, may I know what meats these are?"
"Oh, these are barbecued pork," replied Belfast.
Boboiboy's eyes widened in a mix of surprise and horror, but he maintained his composure, not wanting to upset the Royal Navy light cruiser maid.
He politely declined the meal.
"I... I am sorry to say, Belfast, but... I cannot eat anything that has pork or anything associated with it,"
Belfast's eyes widened for a brief moment before she quickly composed herself, bowing apologetically.
"My deepest apologies, Young Master. I... I... Perhaps I should have asked you earlier whether you have any dietary restrictions. I shall prepare something more suitable right away,"
Boboiboy smiled appreciatively, touched by her quick response.
"Thank you, Belfast. I appreciate your understanding."
She nodded, her expression resolute.
"It is my duty to ensure your comfort and well-being, Young Master. Please, give me a moment to bring you a meal that meets your needs,"
"Oh, before that, Ms Belfast," Boboiboy called out.
"Hmm?"
"Since you mentioned that it is the maid's duty to dedicate her all to her master, can you do me a favour?"
"Yes, of course, Young Master. How can I help you?" asked Belfast.
"Okay... Firstly, from now on, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I don't want anything that can be associated with pork products,"
"Your orders for breakfast, lunch and dinner are to exclude bacon, sausage, pork chop and any food associated with pork. Understood, Young Master. Would you like anything else?" said Belfast as she jotted down the orders.
"Secondly, no alcoholic beverages, please? Even if it's meant to be used in cooking,"
"Understood. No alcoholic beverages even if it's meant to be used in cooking, are quite suitable for your age. Are there any other orders?"
"No more, thank you," said Boboiboy.
"As you wish, Young Master. I will relay your orders to the other maid ships within the Royal Navy,"
With that, Belfast gracefully turned her cart around, heading back to the kitchen to prepare a suitable meal, leaving Boboiboy with a newfound respect for her dedication and care.
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.
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Location: Sakura Empire
Dusk
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the Sakura Empire's naval base. The docks were bustling with activity, and the last rays of light illuminated the traditional architecture.
The buildings were a blend of ancient Sakuran aesthetics and modern naval functionality. Pagoda-style roofs with intricate carvings topped sturdy, reinforced structures. Cherry blossom trees lined the walkways, their petals fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
Near the dock, a Sakuran shipgirl named Shiranui, a Kagero-class destroyer, stood watching the scene unfold. Her gaze was fixed on the rows of Manjuus that served as the base's support staff, delivering supplies from Akagi's and Kaga's ships. Each Manjuu carried crates of provisions, moving with surprising efficiency despite their small size.
Shiranui had a petite frame and a flat chest. She wore a short black tie with a black ribbon featuring red flame designs, and mechanical bunny ears adorned her head. A red and black braid dangled on the right side of her face, partially covered by her sharp bangs, and her eyes were a striking red. She wore a red band around her neck and a black kimono with red flaming designs over a red gi. A black and red obi and sash were wrapped around her waist, with a large red and black ribbon at her back. She completed her look with white socks and red and grey geta sandals.
"Now, now... Where is that bumbling fool Akashi slacking off at?" Shiranui mumbled as she supervised the deliveries and checked the documents in her hands, ensuring that every item was accounted for.
The rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the dock mixed with the chatter of the Manjuus and the distant hum of ship engines, created a serene yet industrious atmosphere.
Unbeknownst to her, two shipgirls wearing Kitsune masks quietly passed by. They went unnoticed until one of them tripped and fell, accidentally revealing herself as a Royal Navy shipgirl.
"Oh, are you okay?" Shiranui asked, noticing the fallen shipgirl and approaching her to offer help.
The Royal Navy shipgirl tried hard not to move, her face turning pale as she worried her cover had been blown.
"By the way, are you..."
Before Shiranui could continue, the second shipgirl, also revealed to be from the Royal Navy, quickly approached and covered her companion's face with the Kitsune mask.
"We are sorry for disturbing you," the second Royal Navy shipgirl in disguise said, bowing as she helped her companion stand.
The two hurried away, but not before Shiranui called after them.
"Oh, excuse me... You dropped this."
The Royal Navy shipgirl in disguise had dropped her glasses when she tripped. She approached and took the glasses, placing them in front of her mask before quickly disappearing from Shiranui's sight.
The mechanical rabbit ears of the Kagero-class destroyer twitched as Shiranui wondered why the shipgirl wore glasses in front of her Kitsune mask, a curious sight that made little sense.
.
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"Ha... Why was I assigned by Her Majesty to this undercover mission!? I'm not cut out for it!"
The shipgirl who previously fell, Edinburgh complained after she switched to her maid outfit.
Edinburgh is a sub-class of the Royal Navy's Town-class light cruiser. She's pretty tall with a medium bust, she has long light-purple hair with two braided locks and a brooched ribbon tied on the side of her head and wears round glasses over her purple eyes. She wears a sleeveless thigh-length maid dress with ruffled ends and a white apron, she wears black arm sleeves with white cuffs and wears black gloves with two yellow bands, white high socks with two blue lines and black lady's shoes.
"Edinburgh, quiet, please. We've studied their logistics after all, and it seems like they are building something massive," the second Royal Navy shipgirl, Sheffield spoke.
Sheffield has a short stature with a medium bust, she has light-brown hair tied in French braid and orange-yellow eyes with her bangs covering her right eye. She wears a black long-sleeved knee-length maid dress with ruffled ends, puffy shoulders with frills around it, and frilled buttoned cuffs. She wears a white corset and an apron wrapped around her waist, white thigh-high stockings underneath silver-coloured laced stiletto boots with metal knee guards with a cross motif. She wears a white frilled headwear and a chained choker with a cross pendant on her neck.
"Could it be another Yamato-class battleship?" asked Edinburgh.
"That would be impossible. If they are building another Yamato class, we probably have caught a glimpse of it at the drydock.
"Now, the question is, with all of the massive amount of resources to build a new massive warship, where is it?" said Sheffield.
That's when a glimpse of luck struck them as she noticed a Sakuran shipgirl who appeared out of nowhere had entered a tunnel as if she just found the clue.
She had a child-like stature, she had long green hair that reached the floor, it was tied in a braid at the end with a large brown ribbon, and she also sported cat-like ears and an ahoge on top, a bolt-like hairpin seen attached on her right bangs and she sports yellow-coloured cat-like eyes. She wears a white button one-piece sailor fuku dress with a brown collar, a yellow gear-like end and gear motifs, her oversized sleeves have yellow cuffs with paw-like motifs, white asymmetrical socks and brown shoes. She also has a red ribbon with a bell wrapped around her neck.
Repair Ship Akashi
"Shiranui doesn't know how to treat a cat, nya. I can't take it anymore, nya..." Akashi mumbled as she held a Meowficcer while walking through the tunnel before she felt something shining above her head.
"Where am I, nya?"
Upon noticing a beam of light emanating from the cave ceiling, Akashi was captivated by its exquisite radiance, resulting in her loss of grip on the Meowfficer. Subsequently, she identified a pathway and, driven by her curiosity, embarked on a journey along it.
However, as she delved deeper, a sense of being lost became increasingly pervasive.
"Nya... Now, I'm lost, nya," she mumbled as she proceeded with her path of travel.
At first, she thought that she might end up meeting a dead end, only to find rows of red railings. Her piqued curiosity drove her further to see what was at the end of the railing, and much to her shock, it was a massive warship, twice, no, maybe even larger than the size of the Sakura Empire's prized Yamato-class battleships
Akashi's eyes widened in disbelief and astonishment.
"Nya!? Could this be... Orochi?"
Orochi, derived from the name Yamato No Orochi, which translates into Giant Eight-Branched Snake or Big Snake of Eight Branches, is a legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed snake or dragon according to the legend of the Sakura Empire, akin to the Hydra of the mythology.
Yet, in this case, neither it is an eight-headed dragon, nor an an eight-headed snake, but a massive warship, a massive Siren-looking warship looked to be a hybrid of a battleship and aircraft carrier.
Its hull was long with the bow having a serpentine head design. At the stern of the ship in an 'A' shape was a pair of airstrips with multiple aircraft taking off. The middle of the ship housed two large cannons with a row of anti-air guns on each side of the rearmost cannon. In front of the two large cannons were two small triple-barreled cannons. At the stern just behind, the bridge were three medium triple-barreled cannons arranged in a triangular formation and surrounded by anti-air guns. The ship's armoured hull was coloured a dark grey.
"Is it okay for us to build something like this?" Akashi asked herself with a concerned tone as she scrutinized the details of the Orochi.
That's when she spotted a figure standing in front of the two large cannons which soon revealed to be Akagi.
"Akagi? What is she doing, nya?"
As we focused on Akagi, she could be seen holding the Black Mental Cube before it floated and unleashed a massive amount of untold energy pulse that caused the entire place to tremble while glowing brightly.
Akashi proceeded to watch the process despite what was currently going on, where she witnessed the Black Mental Cube merging itself with the hull of Orochi, hence activating its power as the hull began to shimmer with mysterious symbols that glittered in bright crimson colour.
There was a satisfaction painted on Akagi's face.
"With so much energy gathered, the activation of Project Orochi is imminent," a mysterious, female voice called out which seems to be familiar to the two.
"Wait... That voice... No, could it be..." Akashi slowly talked as she searched for the source of the voice and found who it belonged to.
In front of Akagi, suspended in the air was an alien-looking humanoid that had a slim & petite frame and a flat chest. She has a calf-length curly silver hair, she has yellow eyes and a black & sharp ear-like headwear on top of her head. She wears a black frilled choker with a yellow ribbon, a black frilled top and a black bikini bottom. She sat on a black chair-like cannon with black frills and yellow-suctioned tentacles.
It was a Siren, a high-ranking Siren that went by the name of Observer Alpha.
"At this rate, I would rather say... One more, perhaps..."
The high-ranking Siren formed a new Black Mental Cube between her hands and sent it towards Akagi.
"The goal of Project Orochi is not to create an ordinary warship. It's a... What should I say? Oh yes,"
The Siren descended towards Akagi while pulling off some S̶u̶s̶s̶y̶ b̶a̶k̶a̶ behaviours.
"An ark carrying every wish across the ocean," said Observer Alpha before she whispered to her.
"Your reunion is soon,"
Upon hearing this, Akagi's expression shifted to one full of seriousness.
"Understood. Now, leave this place as soon as possible. You don't want to be seen," said her.
Akashi immediately backed off from the rail.
"Dear me, nya... I saw something terrible, nya..."
As the neko repair ship was about to run away...
"You there. What are you doing?" a familiar female voice called out which caused her to startle.
Slowly turning her head around, she saw Kaga, standing before her with her arms akimbo.
"Akashi... You saw it, right?" asked Kaga, narrowing her eyes.
"Wha? What are you talking about, nya? I just got lost, nya..."
Akashi attempted to doubt Kaga's question before suddenly, the yellow-suctioned tentacles of Observer Alpha grabbed her, startling her once again.
"Oh, she saw everything. Well, too bad, I guess..." said the high-ranking Siren as she charged her energy cannons.
"Like they say, curiosity killed the cat, isn't it?"
"No, nya! Help me, nya!" Akashi wailed, struggling to get herself out of the firm grip.
"Halt," said Akagi with a voice that sounded calm yet filled with a sense of authority.
"I won't let you have your way in the matter of the Sakura Empire,"
"You say that, but you must know that she can't just be left alone, right?"
Suddenly, a bullet cut through one of Observer's tentacles which helped to unloose the grasp on Akashi, allowing her to slide for escape.
Everyone looked around and saw Sheffield, now in her maid outfit while sporting a pair of rather peculiar-looking handguns that resembled the light cruiser's turrets that housed three BL 6-inch each.
"Who are you!?" exclaimed Akagi.
"That ludicrous outfit - a Royal Navy shipgirl!" said Kaga as she launched a set of her blue paper planes towards her.
Sheffield threw a sheet that helped to foil the attack before she skillfully jumped and retaliated by firing many rounds at them. Quickly, Kaga spread her paper plane to halt the bullets.
The Town-class light cruiser jerked and ran on the surface of a nearby wall while her guns steadily aimed for Kaga though her rounds failed to inflict any harm at her.
Sheffield then proceeded to attack Akagi by sending her a roundhouse kick.
The waist-length, dark-brown-haired kitsune swiftly evaded the attack, only for her to see something... Something... S̶u̶s̶s̶y̶ b̶a̶k̶a̶ that caused her to gasp while blushing, to the point that she didn't even realize that the Black Mental Cube in her hand slipped off.
"No!"
Akagi tried to catch the Cube, but a lucky shell fired from Sheffield once she landed managed to find its spot and caused her to fail in capturing it.
"Edinburgh, now!" Sheffield yelled.
At the floor level, Edinburgh came out from her hiding spot and tried to catch the Black Mental Cube by moving side-to-side while holding her arms up, only for it to land directly onto her face.
What an awkward situation...
"I got it, Sheffield!" Edinburgh exclaimed.
Observer Zero charged her cannons, not wanting to let the Royal Navy shipgirl easily go away with the Black Mental Cube.
"Retreat!" Sheffield exclaimed before she pulled the pin of a smoke grenade and threw it towards the three.
Instantly, a shroud of thick smoke covered them, allowing the two Royal Navy shipgirls to safely evacuate from the scene.
"Tch! Impudent fools!" Kaga snickered as she used her paper planes to clear the shrouding smoke.
"They've got away!" said Akagi.
"Oh, dear... Welp, this is on you, Akagi," Observer Alpha blatantly replied.
.
.
The air raid alarm reverberated across the entire base, sparking apprehension among the Sakuran shipgirls.
"What the!? What is the cause of this disturbance!?" inquired Zuikaku upon the activation of the alarm.
"The only way to ascertain the situation is to investigate it!" stated Takao as she descended from the cliff.
"What is going on!? Can anyone explain!?" exclaimed Shigure in a bewildered state as the siren blared intensely.
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The scene transitioned towards the dock of the Sakura Empire, where we can see the two previous Royal Navy shipgirls running towards the exit after passing by the rather confused Kako and Furutaka.
"In the name of Her Majesty, I prefer gold ingots!" Edinburgh swore.
"Complain about it later, Edinburgh!" said Sheffield before she noticed that Akashi was dangling on Edinburgh's back.
"Why are you carrying that extra load?"
"Eh?"
"Don't leave me behind, nya!" said Akashi.
"Wha? Why are you following us!?" asked Edinburgh.
"Nya! They would have gotten rid of me! Silenced, nya! Dead cats tell no tales, nya!"
"Right, right... I suppose we have to see this through... Let's head for the ocean and get ourselves out of here!"
The two (now three) reached the end of the dock and leapt towards the ocean, activating their riggings and getting themselves away.
"If we can make it to that small island..."
"Edinburgh, watch out!" Sheffield exclaimed as she sensed an incoming danger.
True to her words, a pillar of water exploded in front of Edinburgh as if a shot was given. Sheffield looked around and saw the attacker - Takao, standing on top of the Torii with her riggings letting out fumes after firing a warning shot upon them.
"You're not getting away that easily!" exclaimed Takao as she jumped off the Torii.
"That's Takao, nya!" exclaimed Akashi.
"I will handle her! Edinburgh, get yourself and that cat out of here without me, now!" said Sheffield.
"Sheffy, but..."
Before Edinburgh could even finish her words, Sheffield charged for Takao, summoning her handguns and began to focus fire on the pursuing heavy cruiser who seemed to skillfully evade the shots.
Pillars of water followed by clouds of smoke begin to form, blinding both sides.
"Impressive... Let's see if she can handle this," Sheffield deactivated her handguns and concentrated an energy orb.
Once the orb was big enough, she launched it at the heavy cruiser which was coincidentally right in front of her, trying to take advantage of the smoke.
Takao saw this and immediately blocked the energy orb with her katana. At first, the blast of the energy orb was strong enough to push her a few feet, but after gathering enough strength, and with a roar, she sliced the energy orb with a tremendous force.
Sheffield was taken aback.
"This is absurd, no cap..." she muttered in disbelief.
"Slow and steady wins the race. Dripping water wears away the stone. My sword has been trained over a long period..."
Gripping her katana tightly and at an unbelievable speed, Takao dashed herself towards Sheffield with deadly intention.
"There's nothing it cannot sever!"
Shing!
An upward, 'X' shaped slash attack was executed, yet it only managed to slice several strands from Sheffield's hair. In retaliation, the Royal Navy light cruiser resummoned her handguns and attempted to engage Takao at point-blank range, only for the Sakuran heavy cruiser to counter by trying to slice her off.
Sheffield quickly evaded, yet she got struck by the katana's saya. The hit was strong enough to trip her over, but she managed to stabilize herself by literally firing the handgun on her right side as Takao pursued her.
"My praise goes to you, my enemy," said Takao, with a hint of mocking in it.
Before Sheffield could attack her, another Sakuran shipgirl hopped in to join the fray - Ayanami. The Fubuki-class destroyer tried to hit her with her katana, but Sheffield dodged just in time, thus the failed blow created a pillar of water.
Sheffield realizes she is in a difficult two-against-one situation, with slim chances of winning.
.
.
Unbeknownst to the three, behind the nearby pile of rocks, Edinburgh and Akashi witnessed the intense stand-off.
"Oh, no... What should I do? What should I do?" Edinburgh asked herself while trying to figure out how she could help her sister to get out of the situation.
"Don't ask me, nya! But... Aren't you going to run away, nya?" said Akashi.
"That's true, but I need to do something to..."
Edinburgh's eyes were diverted upon a rope that was tied among the pile of rocks.
"What is it, nya?"
"Ah... I think I've got a good idea," said Edinburgh while clasping her hand, not realizing that it would going to be a bad idea.
Less the Town-class light cruiser realized was that the place had been designated by the Sakura Empire as a disposal area for unexploded ordnance.
.
.
The scene transitioned towards Sheffield, Ayanami and Takao.
The stand-off between the three was interrupted by the noise of an approaching boat behind them that eventually grew louder.
"What is this?" asked Takao.
Everyone witnessed Edinburgh and Akashi riding on what appeared to be a Shinyo suicide motorboat.
"Edinburgh!" Sheffield exclaimed.
"Sheffy! Over here!" Edinburgh exclaimed while extending her arm.
Suddenly, the motorboat's engine compartment lit up, igniting a small explosion that resulted in a massive flame.
The two were startled.
"It's on fire!" Edinburgh shrieked in fear.
"Nya! Not just that, this motorboat is also rigged with explosives, nya!" said Akashi while clinging to her.
"Wait!? Explosives!?"
"Ever heard of suicide motorboat, nya!?"
"Suicide... What!?"
Desperations were quickly spread among the three combatants.
"This is a bit..."
"Bad, yes..." Ayanami finished Sheffield's line.
"Wait! Don't come this way! Divert that motorboat away!" Takao wailed in absolute horror.
The suicide motorboat was moving out of control as Akashi covered Edinburgh's view, rendering her unable to steer it away from the three.
"Someone help to stop me, please!" Edinburgh yelled in defiance.
With nothing to stop in its path, the suicide motorboat accelerated towards the three and once it was within proximity, it exploded, creating a shockwave that threw everyone in its radius.
.
.
Night
The atmosphere, instead of serene and filled with the crickets' chirping noises, was shrouded with anticipation and worries as everyone gathered at the dock while the wind gently blew.
Gracefully landing on Kaga's hand was her paper plane that had performed a reconnaissance mission. With a heavy heart, she informed Akagi.
"I must apologize, nee-sama. It seems like the enemy has escaped,"
"I see... That's too bad," Akagi replied.
"What's more. The enemy has taken the Black Mental Cube,"
"Then, let's organize a pursuit force. Yet, strange enough, this could be good for us, too,"
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"If Azur Lane is going to nurture the Black Mental Cube for us, perhaps we should accept their help,"
"Oh,"
Suddenly, Akagi's expression turned one full of grim coupled with a sadistic smile.
"Yet, like that will happen... Especially with the present of that boy. I think we should also include our allies, the Vichya Dominion and the Sardegna Empire in the pursuit force,"
Kaga at first seemed to be afraid to respond, but she did anyway.
"B-b-but... Won't the Iron Blood be enough to be in the pursuit force?" asked Kaga.
"I know, Kaga. Yet, that's not enough. We need to teach him a lesson to not interfere in adult matters, especially regarding the conflict between the Crimson Axis and the Azur Lane.
"Tell Prinz Eugen to convey my message to the leader of the Iron Blood, Lord Bismarck, to lend us some of her forces aside from her and Z23. I bet the 'Ugly Sisters' would be eager to join in, too,"
Kaga nodded, her anxiety palpable.
"Understood, nee-sama. I'll make sure the message reaches Prinz Eugen immediately,"
.
.
"A gratitude from me to you, Ayanami, for saving me," said Takao as she and Ayanami passed by a Torii gate.
"Ah... Please don't mention it, Takao-san. I'm just glad that you're okay," Ayanami replied, a shy smile playing on her lips.
"Ayanami!"
Upon their arrival at the dock, Shigure, Yuudachi, and Yukikaze rushed over to greet her.
"Whoa! Ayanami, are you alright?" asked Shigure, concern etched on her face.
"Of course, she is! The Goddess of Good Fortune, Yukikaze, is with her!" Yukikaze declared proudly.
"Too bad I'm late to the party again! I wanted to fight!" Yuudachi complained, pouting.
Ayanami tried her best to come up with an appropriate response to her friends' enthusiastic greetings. Takao watched with a gentle smile.
"You all get along very well," Takao observed.
"Mmhmm... They are precious friends, after all..." Ayanami agreed, her eyes softening as she looked around at the dock.
She saw all her friends from the Sakura Empire - aircraft carriers, destroyers, and more. Yet, she felt it wasn't enough.
"So, I have to, for everyone...," she murmured to herself, determination flaring in her eyes.
Ayanami's thoughts drifted back to the day she first met Javelin, Laffey, and Unicorn, with whom she was charmed by their kindness.
That day had marked the beginning of the Crimson Axis' declaration of war on the Azur Lane. It was also the day she witnessed a boy, a mere boy, wield a force beyond her comprehension.
A force of nature.
The memory was vivid: lightning speeds and lightning blades, leaves that stunned not just the body but also the riggings, fiery knuckles and kicks. There are more, she perceived, and it'll get progressively stronger and unstoppable, just like nature itself.
As the flashback ended, Ayanami's resolve strengthened.
She turned to her friends, her voice steady and filled with purpose.
"We have faced many challenges, and we will face many more. But together, we are stronger. For the Sakura Empire, and all our friends, we will fight and we will prevail,"
Her words resonated with her companions.
Shigure nodded, Yuudachi's eyes sparkled with excitement, and even the usually composed Yukikaze seemed moved.
"Let's do this!" Shigure exclaimed, her determination mirroring Ayanami's.
"Yuudachi is ready for anything!" Yuudachi cheered, her previous disappointment forgotten.
"With my luck on our side, nothing can go wrong," Yukikaze added confidently.
Takao placed a hand on Ayanami's shoulder, a proud smile on her face. "You have grown so much, Ayanami. We all believe in you."
Ayanami smiled back, grateful for the support of her friends.
To Be Continued