Our Bonds

It has already been a week. Murasame has almost fully recovered. She can finally walk and run again. She is still unstable when on the water, but that can be relearned. I send in a request to be put on standby instead of participating in the operation and HQ accepted it. Brunei Anchorage will take care of the first mission, Sasebo for the second, Kure for the third, and Yokosuka for the fourth. Maizuru will be in charge of providing support to all four missions. This mainly involves going on support expeditions and assisting in covering their retreat. This is a good thing. Not only my girls don't have to travel halfway across the globe, I can focus on Shigure and replenish my resources. I feel sorry for affecting the whole operation but I'm thankful to them for doing this.

Rei sent HQ a sample of the micro-organisms found in Shigure's destroyed eyeball the other day. The micro-organisms found matched the samples taken during Azur Lane's investigation in the Philippine Sea and the red glow covering the Beast Abyssals. That name was given by Naval Intelligence. Fortunately, it only affects Abyssals, giving them enhanced physical abilities at the cost of their sanity. Not like they were sane in the first place. Their transformation is believed to be caused by a Siren Singularity in the Philippine Sea. A plant-like structure appeared in the Philippine Sea and started spewing out spores, which affected all Abyssals that passed through the area. From then on, they proceeded to run rampant. We had another attack yesterday. Akashi and HQ Engineering Department developed a new trap just to counteract this temporary threat. Surrounding our perimeter is a large steel net, designed to withstand Beast Abyssal attacks and disable them. Battlesh.i.p.s equipped with AP shells will then destroy the restrained Beast Abyssals. Until the Siren Singularity has been disposed, this is our strategy for now. Azur Lane has decided to push forward with the mission and are going to be supported by the remaining girls from Brunei Anchorage.

Despite what I said, I have no idea how to help Shigure. I thought treating her the same as usual would yield some results. I have moved her things to my room so I can personally take care of her. I have been talking to her, giving her headpats, pampering her, feeding her, sleeping with her. So far, nothing changed. She barely responds, barely eats, and just spend the entire day staring out of the window, looking at the ocean. She only leaves the bed when she needs to go to the toilet or to bath. During the night, I can hear her sobbing. I want to help, but I don't know how.

"Shigure, I bought some red bean soup. Want some? It's already December, some hot soup should warm us up."

"Not now. I'm not hungry." (Shigure)

Without turning to face me, Shigure answered me whilst looking towards the ocean. Outside, Noshiro and her fleet have just returned from the an expedition. It's only been a week and Shigure already misses the ocean.

"How nice..." (Shigure)

"Does it still hurt?"

"A little... bit." (Shigure)

Shigure gently touched her eye patch, which covers the spot where her eye used to be.

"Do you want to join me in the Kotatsu? It's warmer there."

"No, thank you. I'm fine here." (Shigure)

"I see. Do you want anything to eat? Or maybe drink?"

"Sorry... Admiral. Can I have some time to myself? I want to be alone for a while." (Shigure)

"R-right... Sorry. I'll be outside if you need me."

And that's how our conversation always ends. Shigure will always chase me away. I know I need to give her more time but still...

"She chased you away again..." (Zuihou)

Zuihou was tucked in the Kotatsu, peeling a orange.

"Yeah. It can't be help. It's still painful for her."

As I sat underneath the Kotatsu, Zuihou fed me a slice of the orange she was peeling. Zuihou and Zuihou-chan have also been helping me with Shigure. The three shipgirls would chat about things. At times, the other Shiratsuyu sisters would join in as well. Shigure-chan would always stay longer and the two of them would talk about the latter's lessons. Even though Shigure was smiling when they talked, I can see a tinge of sadness in her eye.

"What can we do now?" (Zuihou)

"Do we have a counselor? For shipgirls. Akashi... isn't one. I can try calling in the military counselor but I doubt he can do much."

The military counselor is a small group of counselors working for the military. This includes JSDF, JMSDF, the Air Force and IJN. They usually take care of problem regarding humans, namely soldiers and sailors. Shipgirls are not part of their clientele.

"We can try. What's important right now is for Shigure to get out of this slump. That being said, she also needs to put in some effort." (Zuihou)

"Give her time. She just lost everything she stood for. The wounds of the heart take a longer time to heal."

"I just hope she doesn't do anything crazy." (Zuihou)

"By the way, where is Zuihou-chan?"

I haven't seen that small light aircraft carrier for a while now. Neither have I spoken to her. For someone that was so supportive of me creating a harem, I thought she would be the first to enter herself.

"She is having lessons now, I think. I talked to her the other day. She told me it's not the time yet and she doesn't want to jump the queue. Once there are two people and the situation has stabilized, she will join. I have no idea what is she talking about." (Zuihou)

That girl... I more or less get what she meant. Though, why wait? She could secure her spot first. And what did she mean by jump the queue? It's as if she knows who else has been harbouring feelings for me.

I heard the door open and Shigure came out,

"Shigure, want to join us? I peeled some oranges?" (Zuihou)

Shigure just shook her head,

"Toilet..." (Shigure)

Shigure dragged her feet into my bathroom and locked it from the inside. Should I be worried? Nah. She is just going to the toilet. I shouldn't be concerned about such small things, right?

I heard the sound of running water. Oh, she decided to take a bath. That's fine.

Zuihou fell asleep under the Kotatsu. She has fallen victim to the Kotatsu Demon. I can still hear the sound of running water. She is taking quite a long time to fill the bathtub. I'm starting to get worried. I got up from under the kotatsu and went to knock on the bathroom door,

"Shigure? Is everything alright?"

No answer...

"Shigure?"

I knocked again. Still no answer.

Oh no. Please don't do this to me.

"Shigure! Open the door!"

I started banging on the door. Negative thoughts start to fill my head. I need to get in there quick.

The master key! Where did I put it?