Our Bonds

I stood in front of my house, waiting for the three girls to prepare themselves. It's not much of a big deal. We are just visiting my parents.

During the first two weeks of the year, government and military personnel are allowed and encouraged to visit their parents. Rei already did hers, although she didn't seem to happy when she came back to work. I think she was reluctant to leave her family. Today is my turn. When the three girls heard about it, they pestered me to let them tug along. They are panicking now.

"You girls... Relax. There is nothing to be nervous about."

"There is!" (Zuihou, Shigure & Zuihou-chan)

This is the first time the three of them are in sync. I can make several manga references here but this isn't the time for that.

The three of them look extremely nervous. They remind me of my first day at the academy.

Just to be safe, I had the three girls disguise themselves. They are going to stand out if they wore their usual outfits. The activists have been becoming more active recently. Protests in front of government buildings, naval bases and public places have become a common sight this week. Even though the new years has just started, there are already troublesome things happening around the country.

Zuihou has her white parka and green jacket with pleated skirt. Shigure has her white shirt with black off-shoulder vest secured at her waist with a white belt and a red tie. While Zuihou and Shigure have their alternate outfits, Zuihou-chan didn't have one of her own. We stopped by the mall to buy her a set. She is now wearing a white shirt with brown vest and a blue flared skirt and black tights. Kind of makes her look like a high school girl, or maybe middle school because of her height. Why did I pick that outfit for her again? I thought it might look cute on her. I mean, it is cute but now that I think about it, that outfit may cause a misunderstanding. Especially in a neighborhood like this.

"Are you three ready?"

"I think so." (Shigure)

"Yeah. I'm ready." (Zuihou)

"Me too. Actually, wai-" (Zuihou-chan)

I rang the doorbell. Seconds later, the door swung open, and familiar arms wrapped around me,

"Welcome home, Keita!" (Mom)

A woman in her mid-fifties opened the door and hugged me. She has black shoulder-length hair and wore yellow long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans. This is my mom, Tokomaki Chiyoda.

"I'm home, mom. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year. I haven't seen you in a long time. I missed you!" (Mom)

Well, it has been a year.

"So, who are those three lovely girls behind you?" (Mom)

My mom let me go after noticing the three girls behind me.

"Let me Introduce you. This is Zuihou, Shigure and Zuihou-chan."

"Nice to meet you. I'm the Shouhou-class light aircraft carrier, Zuihou." (Zuihou)

"From the same class and with the same name, I'm also Zuihou, but please address me as Zuihou-chan to avoid confusion. Pleased to meet you." (Zuihou-chan)

"I'm Shigure, second ship of the Shiratsuyu-class destroyers. Nice to meet you, auntie." (Shigure)

"Oh my. Are these the three girls you told me about? They are cute." (Mom)

The three of them started blushing.

"Anyway, let's not talk out here in the cold. Come on in." (Mom)

As the three girls take off their shoes in the hallway, my mom pulled me to the living room for a talk,

"Is it true all three are your lovers?" (Mom)

I actually call my mom in December. What was supposed to be a simple 'I'm coming home during the New Years break' became I got myself into a relationship with three of my surbodinates. A major slip of my tongue. I should have just answered her questions and not go off on a tangent. I fell into her trap. She knew about my working environment and ask whether I got myself a girlfriend yet. She was shocked and obviously elated on I mentioned I have three. Me and my big mouth...

"Yeah. Zuihou and I just had our 1st anniversary not long ago. Shigure and Zuihou-chan confessed to me last month."

"Are those two twins? They look completely the same. And they have the same names. And why does the Shigure girl have a eyepatch? Is she one of those Chuunibyou kids? Or is she really injured?" (Mom)

"It will take a while to explain. I will tell you all about it later."

Once my mom gets curious about something, she won't stop interrogating us about it.

"Where is dad?"

"Oh. He is meditating in our room. It's his routine." (Mom)

My father, Tokomaki Haruo, is a Buddhist. Not a devout one but he still follows their teaching and practices to a certain degree. He does meditation, chanting of mantras, and goes to the local temple for lessons during the weekends. He says it helps him to relax. I usually fall asleep a few minutes after starting my meditation.

"I see. What about Nen?"

"He has work today. He should be back in the evening." (Mom)

My brother, Nen, is a pest. He will irritate me whenever he feels like it. He also has a bad temper. I'm surprised he actually found a job at a restaurant as a mixologist.

"Geez. What are you doing?" (Zuihou)

"Ouch. Why are my feet hurting?" (Zuihou-chan)

"It's a new shoe. Your feet aren't used to it yet." (Shigure)

"What's wrong?"

I went out to the hallway and saw the three of them still at the door. Zuihou is trying to help her younger sister with a shoes. Zuihou-chan was wearing high-cut boots, the kind with lots of laces. Zuihou is trying to help take off the boots.

"I think she has got blisters." (Shigure)

"Ow! Slowly!" (Zuihou-chan)

In the end, Zuihou and I managed to help her take of the boots by taking off the laces. There were no blisters but her feet were red and a little swollen. I helped her over to the living room while my mom went to get some ointment.

"This is a nice house." (Zuihou)

"It's just a normal one."

I poured some tea for the three of them. Shigure wanted to help but I told her to just sit back and relax.

My mom came back with the ointment and I applied it on Zuihou-chan's feet.

"Thank you, auntie, Admiral." (Zuihou-chan)

"Your welcome. Now, for starters, want to see some pictures of Keita when he was young?" (Mom)

My mom took out an album. The three of them had their eyes lit up when my mom said that,

"Yes, please!" (Zuihou, Zuihou-chan, Shigure)

"No! Stop!"