Vol 1. Chapter 7 – Heret-Kau's Ascension

I was out of the helicopter as soon as it was solidly on the ground, feeling no desire to spend more time than needed on the death traps. I took a few deep breaths of the late-afternoon air to steady myself. While it wasn't quite as bad as my first trip on one of the damned things, it was still highly disconcerting. I could hear the helicopter crew begin their post-flight activities along with the actual act of unloading the aircraft.

I would have preferred any other method to get back to Abydos, but Rin was able to pull enough strings to get my emergency request pushed through. Unfortunately, that meant that the additional supplies came packaged on a single large standardized pallet. Far too big for me to twist into my storage without taking it apart and large enough that I would have difficulty just moving it from Schale to the closest train station. I shuddered to think about the logistics of moving the palette from the train station to the school building.

I did wonder if this was somebody's attempt to needle me over even making the request in the first place.

"Welcome back, Sensei." A familiar sleepy voice from behind greeted me. "I hope my adorable kouhai didn't give you any problems."

"Ms. Takanashi," I responded as I turned around, seeing the sleepy pinkette watch the Helicopter crew unload the palette into the running with mild interest, "They were on their best behaviour and of great help for their tenure with Schale. I take it all has been well here?"

Hoshino stared at me for a moment before giving me a sleepy smile. "Well, the Helmet Gang's been quiet since that beating you gave them so it's been real boring over here."

"That is excellent news. I was told that there has been a development on how they acquired their weapons?"

Hoshino shook her head, her cowlick flicking back and forth with the motion. "Ayane's still looking into it. She's said that she's almost got it figured, but not quite yet."

Hopefully not too much longer. I was sure the Helmet Gang wasn't going to be ready for a fight anytime soon, but I also doubted that they had access to heavy artillery and multiple tanks to begin with. Thugs and tyrants often wished to exert as much force as they could, and I was certain they would have used those weapons much earlier. Someone had to have given it to them after my arrival.

"For now," I said to Hoshino, the two of us watching as Serika and Shiroko jumped out of the helicopter to help the unloading process, "What say you and I find a place for the supplies I have acquired?"

Hoshino looked at me with faux shock at my question. "You're not going to ask lil ol' me to help them move those big heavy boxes?"

"No, Ms. Takanashi. I would hate for you to hurt your back with such activity." I replied, the barb dry as I looked down at the pinkette with mock concern.

The pinkette laughed and gave me a friendly punch, the strike glancing off my thigh, before walking back towards the school. "Come on, I think I know a good classroom for it."

I followed behind, only to pause as Hoshino stopped at the doorway to look at me. Her expression was uncharacteristically serious, but lacked the usual judgment that normally came with it. After a moment, she spoke. "It really is good to see that you're alright, Sensei. I don't know if anyone in Abydos would have been happy if you got hurt like that again."

I answered her with a smile. "I simply did what duty demanded. Think nothing of it."

A complicated expression crossed Hoshino's face, only visible for a split second before she schooled herself back into her usual lazy smile. It spoke of immense concern and, perhaps, guilt? Still, she didn't say anything else as she resumed her lazy stroll back into the school building.

We ended up taking one of the abandoned classrooms on the ground floor and looted several lockers, shelves, and tables from surrounding classrooms. I also had to clear some space on the rooftop. The afternoon had given way to evening between the additions to the room, unpacking the supplies, and making sure everything was here.

"It is only a small thing," I said as I stepped back to look over the work, "But it was the best I could muster for now."

"This is what you call small?" Ayane whispered, eyes tracing the outline of the renovated classroom. We had changed the classroom entirely into a miniature command center. A much more robust purpose-built drone command system sat against one wall and, above and around it, several large television screens displayed a live feed from the drones. A digital plotting table sat in the center of the room to help provide an overview of any given area being observed. Finally, several computer servers had been set up to service the entire arrangement.

I spoke with a grin as the rest of Abydos entered the room to look over the new equipment. "I requisitioned this equipment and the Council provided it to me. They likely intended it to be used by myself. However, Ms. Okusora, I believe it would be much more effective in your hands than mine."

My week in recovery had given me plenty of time to plan my next moves and what would best assist Abydos both in the immediate problem and the aftermath. The flaw in the system that led to that night was a failure in Abydos's communication network and command systems.

It was of no fault to the efforts of the Students, but they simply did not have the funds, time, or bodies to maintain the infrastructure of the district. The Council was also unwilling to help, either failing to see the reason to invest more money into a dying district or simply unable to.

So, my solution was simple. I asked Yuuka and Rin for their help in acquiring an upgraded command and control system that I could deploy at Abydos. Yuuka helped find a suitable system for the small school, Rin convinced the Council to release the system into the care of Schale, and I bankrolled the transfer with funds from the Schale accounts.

Of course, the most expensive part of the deal was not even in the room. On the rooftop were 4 last generation ScanHawk drones, a small hangar building to protect them from the desert sands, and a VTOL launch and recovery drone. Yuuka had assured me that the system was relatively inexpensive and being phased out for newer versions. The drones could both serve as reconnaissance and as a communications relay system. Furthermore, thanks to their long service life, the drones were relatively easy to maintain. Superior in every way to the recon planes I used to carry.

Just so it happens, several such units awaiting disposal or decommissioning were in Valkyrie inventory. They put up quite the fuss having them transferred to me, despite their deprecated status, but it was nothing a bit of political force couldn't solve.

"So, this was what you spent the week doing…" Serika muttered quietly to herself, even as Shiroko wandered the room with wide eyed awe. "I just thought all that paperwork was to keep you busy."

"I will let you know proper documentation is critical to a functioning society." I replied with a soft tut. "It also did provide some amount of entertainment while I was otherwise deposed."

"Sensei, you're the only person I know that finds filing paperwork to be fun."

Hoshino popped up between the two of us, a sly smirk on her face as her mismatched eyes glanced between us. "Oh? Sensei? When did you start saying that, Serika?"

I stepped away as the two immediately began to bicker, with Nonomi stepping in my place to calm the two down. I found myself drawn to the smart table, currently set to project a digital map of the district's remaining city center. It was still significantly larger than I thought, even with all the ground given to the desert and abandoned.

The sound of quiet footsteps coming to a halt behind me drew me from my musing. They came to a stop just off my port. The two of us stood there, quietly watching the map, before Ayane finally spoke.

"Sensei," her voice was soft and uncertain, but she pushed ahead regardless "I'm happy you're ok; but we were really scared, you know? You shouldn't have to do things like that alone. You can rely on us too if we're working together."

We stood there in silence for a while longer, before I finally answered. "I apologize for scaring you, Ms. Okusora. I may be your Teacher, but there are still things I have yet to learn."

Ayane nodded, seemingly content with my answer. Then, she turned to look at me. Her gaze spoke of curiosity, concern, and worry. Then, just as Serika and Hoshino's argument paused, she asked the one question I was waiting for. "Sensei… What exactly are you?"

I could feel everyone's stare focus on me, Serika's most pointedly. I sighed, running my hand through my hair in the quiet dim of the room. "That is a difficult question, Ms. Okusora. I gave my word I would answer it, but it is late so-"

"Don't think you're going to delay this anymore, Sensei!" Serika interrupted, shouting from behind me. "Everyone's here now!"

"We should get food first" is what I was going to suggest. The answer will take some time." I finished as I turned to give Serika the flattest stare I could muster.

Serika, to her credit, at least managed to look embarrassed by her outburst.

It was late enough that most of the restaurants had closed so it was just convenience store meals. Not that I found that to be an issue, most of the meals were of at least decent quality. I and the rest of Abydos found ourselves in the Task Force club room after securing meals, drinks, and snacks.

"So, Sensei," Hoshino opened the conversation almost as soon as we started eating, her mismatched eyes looking at me with a distinct curiosity, "How do you wanna explain yourself."

I hummed in thought between bowls of salad, ignoring the looks every was giving to the pile of food next to me. Really, the hard part was just how exactly to begin.

"You must understand what I am about to discuss with you is not meant to be public knowledge." I started with as serious a tone as I could. The intention seemed to carry through and the group responded with various degrees of nods. "I suppose it is obvious, but I shall be explicit. While I am uncertain what exactly I am," and that admission seemed to garner all sorts of attention, "I am certain that I am not Human."

Everyone stared at me with varying expressions, none of which were surprise or shock. Shiroko was watching me impassively as always, Serika was doing her best to pretend to be more interested in her food, Nonomi had an innocent curiosity in her eyes, and Ayane had her phone out and poised to start taking notes.

But Hoshino? Both her eyes were watching me carefully like a hawk, assessing its prey. Her relaxed tone was at odds with the look in her eye. "Really? Coulda fooled me."

"I do not intend to be flippant, Ms. Takanashi. The matter just bears confirming. I am not Human." I answered with a stare of my own. The two of us were silent for a moment, neither particularly ready to break off.

"Does that mean you weren't a sailor?" Nonomi asked, her interruption breaking my stare down with Hoshino as the two of us blinked and turned to look at the blonde. Nonomi glanced back and forth between us before giving us an apologetic smile. "Sorry, the question just popped up. You said you commanded a fleet before but if you aren't human, then how did you do that?" She paused, smile fading slightly, before continuing. "Unless you were lying."

I shook my head as emphatically as I could. "No, I did not lie about that. I just refrained from explaining where I was in the fleet. I did not command it as a person, but as-"

"You were the ship."

Everyone paused and all attention shifted away from me, to Shiroko. The wolfgirl watched all of us impassively before she continued. "You weren't the captain or commander but still commanded a fleet. So, you were the ship."

I blinked. That was a surprisingly good guess. "Yes… that is correct. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am His Majesty's Ship, Nelson, Name ship of my class, pennant 28 of the Royal Navy, and current Advisor to the Federal Investigation Club Schale."

"Wait," Ayane called out, madly typing on her phone. "What do you mean 'you're the ship'? If you're a ship then how are you…" The bespectacled secretary trailed off before motioning at me with her hands.

I ran my hand through my hair with a sigh. "I ask myself that every morning. But my duty is clear. I am here to help you. And I do not intend to stop now."

There were a lot more questions after that. Questions about my home, my history, and my titles. I knew Rin wanted it to be quiet, but I felt Abydos deserved to know. I was fairly certain they could keep it secret, but I owed them that much given what I just put them through.

I answered questions as the piles of food emptied and the moon rose above the school until, eventually, Serika yawned as I was about to answer one of Nonomi's questions. Possibly for the better. I was not quite sure how to explain the fact that I identified as a woman despite my Crew's Memories being all from men.

"Well," I began as I shifted the question, glancing at the clock on the wall of the Club Room, "I have no doubt you have more questions. However, it is late and you have classes tomorrow. I would advise you to head home and we can continue this again later."

Abydos answered me with a smattering of sleepy and tired agreement. The trash was taken and disposed of before, one by one, most of them grabbed their belongings and left for the night.

"Good night!" Ayane said with a sleepy bow, before sliding the door shut behind her and leaving me alone in the room with just Hoshino. I was leaning against a wall, and she did the same across the room from me. We both listened as the taps of Ayane's shoes slowly faded from earshot.

We stood there for a few moments, silent. Neither of us quite looking at each other so much as looking at a point near the other. Finally, the tiny president shifted and sighed.

"Why didn't you tell us from the start, Sensei?" Hoshino asked. Her voice brokered no condemnation or judgment, even as she avoided looking at me.

I hummed in thought, eyes counting the tiles on the ceiling as I spoke. "Would any of you have believed me if I did?"

Hoshino fell silent for a few more long moments, before she answered. "I think I'd believe you, but the others…" Her voice trailed off, not willing to quite speak ill of her friends but also not able to lie to make her point. "Is there anything else you're hiding from us?"

"Nothing I am aware of, no." I replied with a shake of my head. "For what it is worth, Ms. Takanashi, I regret not revealing it earlier. But I believed I could accomplish my task here without discussing it."

Hoshino stared at me, her orange and blue eyes nearly unblinking in the light of the classroom. After a few moments, she sighed and pushed herself off the wall. "Well, if you really want to make it up to me, then I suppose you can help lil ol' me with something."

"Of course, it would be my pleasure."

The tiny president looked at me with a sleepy smile before waving for me to follow her out the door. "That's the right attitude! Truth is, it's a job that needs a bit of muscle and I could use your help."

"Losing strength in your old age, I take it." I jibbed as I ducked under the door behind her.

Hoshino gasped with faux dramatic tension, before laughing. "I'm not that decrepit yet!"

Hoshino stood next to me as we both looked over the construction put together in one of the spare classrooms. The pinkette had her arms on her hips with a proud smile on her face, while I examined the structure with a much more confused look.

Finally, after I circled the entirety of the exterior, I locked eyes with the beaming face of Hoshino. She nodded imperiously, as if giving permission for me to speak.

"This is a bed." I stated, pointing at the collection of a single gym mat, cushions, and sheets scavenged from across the school and my stores. "We spent half an hour gathering materials for a bed."

The tiny president nodded in agreement, her smile never leaving her face. "That's right, it's a bed made from all the premium down cushions, mats, and silk sheets from Abydos's glory days!"

Hoshino walked up to the collected pile of material as she spoke and, without so much as a warning or guilty look, flopped down upon it. She actually sunk quite nicely into the mattress and the effort put into cleaning it at least seemed to have paid off.

"Ah, this is so soft and fluffy…" Hoshino exclaimed, a pleased smile on her face. "So this is how a down-mattress is supposed to feel…"

I nodded as I leaned down to take a feel for the mat. It certainly did feel quite nice now that we had managed to scavenge some additional items for it. "I hope this is to your liking."

"You bet. Now I've got a perfect napping spot, hidden away from the others."

"You certainly do enjoy your naps," I remarked, glancing out at the night sky past the windows of the classroom. It was less a nap and more sleep at this point. "But is there anything else you would like my help with? I wish to double check the consumable supplies I acquired."

Hoshino opened her eyes just to look at me, and roll them. She patted the space on the mat next to her. "Come on, give it a try. You helped me put it together so you might as well."

"I have my reservations about that," I answered with a frown, looking at the mattress. "I would hate to cause any damage."

"I insist." Hoshino's voice was casual, but the look in her eyes was anything but. She stared at me with some intent behind her eyes, to which I could not discern.

"Very well, if you insist."

I slung Arona's new backpack around to the side of the mat and gently sat down on my edge. To my surprise, it didn't immediately fail or launch Hoshino off of it. With its structural stability confirmed, I laid onto it slowly so as to not drop too hard onto the tiny president's hard-earned spoils.

"Well, how is it?" Hoshino asked from her spot beside me.

I hummed in response as I felt myself sink into the gym mat. It wasn't the most comfortable sleeping surface I could remember across my own experiences and my Crew's Memories. But it was a lot better than most of them, and quite possibly in the top 5. "I can certainly see why you were so elated to find one."

Hoshino laughed at the answer, fading into chuckles before she spoke. "I'm happy to hear you like it. I couldn't have done it without you."

The two of us laid there in the moonlight on the mat, quietly staring up at the ceiling tiles. There was silence aside from the quiet whistle of the wind outside, the groans of settling infrastructure, and our quiet breathing.

But quiet does not last forever.

"Sensei," Hoshino said, voice somber. I could hear her turn to look at me, feel her gaze lock on the side of my face. "What happened after Ayane's drone got destroyed? She and I spent the last week going over all the stuff the Helmet Gang had. It's hard to believe that you managed to destroy two tanks with how injured you were."

"I do not know." I answered truthfully. I tried to remember. I had spent the entire last week trying to remember. Arona couldn't help. She was in the backpack and I wasn't answering her radio during that time. She had no idea what happened aside from what muffled audio she could hear from the Chest's mic. I had to remember why. The token I found in Arona's backpack necessitated me to find out how it came to be. But aloud, I could admit one thing. "I remember trying to say something to Ms. Okusora, the impact of artillery, and then nothing. Just emptiness until I found myself holding onto Ms. Sunaōkami's wrist."

I hummed in thought as I sifted through what I could remember. "There is one thing," I admitted. "Although it is hardly an answer. The only thing I could remember, as I teetered on the edge of awareness, was anger."

"Anger?" Hoshino asked, a single eyebrow quirking up in the corner of my vision.

I nodded, eyes still staring through the ceiling. "Yes. Anger at the Helmet Gang for not knowing when to surrender. Anger at however they got their weapons. And Anger at having possibly failed you all."

"I don't think you've failed us yet. You're still here."

"But it was close," I answered. The memory of it made the weight of the token in my pocket feel heavier and colder. "If I was more seriously injured, I would not have been able to return to Abydos. That is failure in its own right.

Perhaps that fear of failure led me to fight on naught but pure instinct."

"Was that all you were scared of? You weren't scared of… what else could've happened?" There was something behind Hoshino's question. It was faint, but I could hear. A tone of worry, of fear.

"I may not be Human or a Student," I answered, voice calm and confident. "But I respect death as any should. My home does not have Halos like Kivotos, Ms. Takanashi. What you told me in Shiba Seki Ramen held true for most of those I remember."

Hoshino was quiet for a long time, as she stared at me. Then she asked, her tone neutral and eyes lacking judgment. "So, you had to-"

"I was a weapon then." I cut her off before she could finish. "I lacked the choice I have now. But I do not know if I would have chosen differently even if I could do then what I could now. I had oaths and duties to uphold then as I do now."

"I want you to understand, Hoshino." I said as I turned my head to face her. Our eyes locked as I continued unabated. "I am intimate with violence and death in a way that few in Kivotos may truly understand. I hope, for all your sakes, that I remain the only one who is like this."

There was something behind the look she gave me. Not disgust or fear, but… sadness. An expression of sympathy and understanding. I turned to look back at the ceiling. There were things one should not ask. I didn't want to know, likely as much as she didn't want to be asked.

A few more quiet moments passed. Not uncomfortably, but peacefully. It was Hoshino who broke it again. "Sensei, why didn't you have Serika wait with you? You had a connection; you could have kept us updated through that. You didn't have to get that injured."

'I've been meaning to ask that too, Sensei.' Arona's voice crackled over the radio. 'I could've kept updating them from the Instaberry account.'

I was quiet, my eyes still counting the specks on the tiled ceiling. I could feel Hoshino was doing the same, even as Arona's quiet humming crackled softly in the back of my mind.

"It was better that I was the only one in danger."

Hoshino turned to look at me, waiting for me to continue my answer. I heard Arona's breathing in my mind as the computer girl listened in on the moment. Neither was left waiting for long.

"I have a duty and responsibility as your Teacher," I explained, keeping my eyes locked on the ceiling. "And among them is to ensure the safety of those in my care. When I was injured, I was no longer able to ensure both Ms. Kuromi and my own safety. I could only choose one."

"So, you choose to keep Serika safe?" Hoshino asked, her soft voice carrying through the quiet of the classroom-turned-nap room. "Why not split the risk so you didn't have to?"

"I gave my word that I would help you all save Abydos. I could not risk my mistake causing harm to any of you." I answered, voice equally soft. "I want all of you to see it, that bright future waiting for you." I chuckled and shook my head, the motion sending my hair rippling like blonde waves across the dark blue mat. "Far better that one such as I, with no future to lose or risk, to face the storm alone."

Hoshino actually sat up at that, staring at me with clear concern in her eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means what it sounds like, Takanashi. Whatever you may see of me, whatever I see of me; the truth does not change. I am a weapon. A weapon that has outlived the war they built me for." I said with a smile before pulling myself into a sitting position to look out at the moon through the classroom window.

I recalled all the battles that led me to this room. The losses of friends and crew I've endured. The people I could have helped and saved if I was just a little bit faster, a little bit tougher, or a little better built. I wasn't sure if I was truly aware of those times, but the faint impressions of history and my Crew's Memories were enough. The pain was real enough.

"Few weapons think of what awaits them after the war. Fewer still get to enjoy the peace they create. I am no different." Hoshino listened to me with rapt attention, expression inscrutable as she watched me with her mismatched eyes. "There are no grand dreams or goals for me, no real future. The war saw fit to take those from me. The President's final duty entrusted to me as Advisor to Schale is all I have. So, I will give it all I can."

"That sounds…" '… really sad, Sensei' Hoshino and Arona's voice and answers overlapped, overlaid. In my mind's eye I could see the dejected expression of the computer girl as much as I could see the melancholic look in Hoshino's eyes.

My hand came down on Hoshino's head, gently ruffling her pink hair. She looked up at me, melancholy and curiosity mixed in her eyes. "Perhaps it may seem that way. But even if I have no future or dreams, I can still protect them. I can still take up and safeguard the dreams of Abydos, make it my responsibility to see through as well."

Hoshino stared at me, expression unreadable, before she sighed and flopped back onto the mat with a sleepy smile. "Well, if you ask lil ol' me, you're being a bit too dramatic about this."

"My apologies, Ms. Takanashi. I would hate to bore you." I drolled, lying back down beside her.

"I don't think a Teacher who's actually a battleship could ever be boring." Hoshino's answer was as dry as the desert outside. Any follow up that she may have had was lost as she yawned. "I'm feeling really sleepy, Sensei…"

"Are you really going to fall asleep like this?"

"Mmm… maybe," Hoshino muttered as her eyes closed, her halo slowly flickering out of existence. "I'm pretty tired and an ol' lady like me needs her beauty sleep."

I sighed dramatically and stood up. "Well, I would hate to get in the way. Have a good night, Ms. Takanashi."

Hoshino made some noncommittal sleepy noises and fell silent, aside from the lightest sound of breath. Slowly, quietly, I picked up Arona's backpack and made my way to the door. My hand was only on the handle when Hoshino's voice echoed out behind me.

"Sensei?"

"Yes?"

"You asked Ayane to trust you." I turned to look at the tiny president, to find her lying on the mat with her eyes shut; her halo barely visible in the moonlight. "But you should trust us too. You don't have to take it all alone. You're one of us now, and we're all in this together."

The next Foreclosure Task Force meeting was after classes were done for the day. Or, well, what passed for classes in Kivotos. Most of the instruction seemed to be from a combination of video lectures, remote classes, and standardized examinations. Nothing that resembled the more classroom-oriented schooling that my Crew remembered. It was certainly interesting to see the first few times, but the videos did lack variety.

However, my presence within Abydos opened up the possibility of an in-person lecture which I tried. However, it quickly devolved into more questions about my history. I answered best I could, but I would have to amend the report and list the class as a Social Studies or History class.

Still, that left paperwork to be filled and documents to be submitted. Hardly a problem when there were only 5 Students in all of Abydos but still enough work to see me be the last to enter the Club Room.

"Welcome back, Nelson Sensei!" Ayane called from where she was standing next to the whiteboard, writing in the timetable for the meeting.

Nonomi waved from her seat, a beaming smile on her face. "Good afternoon, Sensei."

Shiroko looked up at me, nodded with a quiet "Nn." and went back to doing something on her phone.

"Hello, Nelson Sensei." Serika said as she arranged several documents in front of her.

Finally, Hoshino cracked open an orange eye from where she was laying on the table. Her gaze fell on me and she gave me a lazy smile. "You're late, Sensei."

"My apologies," I answered with a small smile. "The course paperwork was more arduous than I expected."

I was halfway to the clear spot on the Club Room wall when Hoshino's voice cut through with a lazy lilt. "Sensei, come on, sit next to us so we can get the meeting started."

"I appreciate the offer," I replied, before motioning at the folding tube steel chairs that surrounded the table. "But I have my serious doubts as to the compatibility between your furniture and myself."

"See, I thought you might say something like that."

I paused midstep, rotating on my heels to look at the tiny president. She matched my gaze with a sleepy smirk and continued, unbothered by the focus. "So, I prepared a surprise while you were helping me!"

Hoshino, still laying out on the table, reached over and pulled out the chair next to her with the practiced ease and talent of a first-year drama student. Her smirk softened into a smile as she patted the chair next to her. "Come on, take a look."

I walked over, quiet, to look at the seat she had just revealed. I hadn't noticed it when entering but it was a different design from the others in the room. It was an old weathered steel frame with a well-worn wooden seat and backrest. A single Abydos school insignia adorned the back of the backrest.

"I'm guessing it must have belonged to an Adult from the main school building." Hoshino explained as she pushed herself up to look at me. "Pretty sure if one of those old rust buckets felt comfortable sitting in it, you would as well. Give it a try!"

I could feel all of Abydos staring at me with bated breath, silent as I pulled the chair fully out and sat down. The metal and wood furnishing groaned but did not budge. A few test wobbles saw it hold firm.

I turned to Hoshino, who was looking up at me with a smile. She asked, beaming. "Well?

"I believe this will do. Thank you, Ms. Ta-"

Hoshino tutted, cutting me off with a dramatic point of her finger. "You don't have to be so formal; you know? You've helped us a lot over the last two weeks. You're one of us now."

I looked around at the rest of the room and the Students greeted me with a range of smiles and nods.

"Very well then," I said, waving towards Ayane. "Okusora, could you please begin?"

And now instead of smiles and nods, I was met with stares and sighs.

"Well, I guess that's as good as we're going to get from Sensei." Hoshino declared, sitting up and leaning into her chair. "Let's get this meeting started, Ayane."

AN: And we're hopefully back to posting a chapter roughly a week for the next few weeks. I may have held onto this chapter because of its name. With the KanColle event ending soon, I should have more time/energy freed up to focus on writing so hopefully I can keep my buffer topped up.

This chapter is a bit of a departure from what I had written in previous chapters, with most of the focus only entirely on two characters and it being more conversational/personal? Than the more typical action/adventure I've been writing. While I've definitely had these kinds of moments in previous chapters, I never tried to center a chapter around it. I tried to keep the characterization on target, but please feel free to let me know your thoughts.

As always, thanks to my friend for taking the time to beta read.