Our Bonds

"Ughh... so tired..."

"It's not even 11 o'clock clock yet. Come on, just hang in there a bit more till lunch time."

I get that Shigure is trying cheer me on, but I can neither focus nor stay awake. I just find myself melting on the table in an awkward position, since there's this girl getting comfortable on my lap and being squished by me.

"Ehehe~ Admiral's so warm."

Zuihou is still in child mode. That person did say she would be like this after her fever. With Shouhou on a four day expedition, I have to take care of her in this state. Even so, this behaviour is quite unexpected. I was thinking she would be more playful and hyperactive like a child, not being quiet and getting content with just being close to me.

"So how long will she be like this?"

"Hmm? I called to ask him again. He said the next time she sleeps, everything will be back to normal."

And that's when it gets interesting. They actually remember what they had done. I wonder what sorts of reactions would I get?

"Admiral is having some weird thoughts again..."

"Hmm?"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yeah right."

"Come on. You are confusing Zuihou."

"Just hurry up and finish your work!"

"Work!"

"See. Even Zuihou is asking you to do work."

"She is just copying you!"

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Good thing today's paperwork are just resource reports. If it was action plans and battle reports, I won't even last. While Shigure helps me, Yuudachi is here entertaining Zuihou by drawing with her using crayons. They look like sisters playing together. I wonder what is she drawing. A little peek should be fine.

A type 99 bomber with its landing gear. Of course. Why wouldn't it be?

"Admiral, look look! Zuihou made this!"

Now she is speaking in third-person? Right, kids do that sometime.

"Wow! That's beautiful. You are good at this, Zuihou!"

"YAY! Admiral praised me!"

I feel a little fluffy inside. Is this what it is like to have a child?

"Admiral-san, what about Yuudachi's?

Yuudachi showed me hers. I think she doesn't want to be left outs What she drew was a picture of a warship launching torpedos. It looks pretty good though.

"It's nice. You draw pretty well too."

I said as I rubbed her head. She didn't say anything, just quietly enjoying the rub.

"Muu~"

I felt a something on my lap. A hand in the shape of a paw. It belonged to Shigure, staring at me with begging eyes.

"Alright alright. Here."

I gave her a head pat as well. Both Yuudachi and Shigure really act like puppies.

One child and two puppies. Not a bad way to live.

After a while, Zuihou fell asleep on my lap. Shigure and Yuudachi also fell asleep huddled in one corner. Those two woke up early along with me, so this is expected. I'm tired too, but there's work to be done and I can't really move at the moment. I'm going to reach my limit soon.

"Ughh. I'm out. Sorry, Zuihou but I'm going to use you as a dakimakura(body pillow) for a while."

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Nn... I just had a awfully realistic dream. Admiral was giving me so much attention. It was fun but weird. It feels warm somehow. Huh? Isn't this the office? Something is holding me up.

I looked behind me and saw a wall of white with some gold buttons in the middle. Hugging my waist was a pair of... big hands...? So I'm on...!!!

"Ad-Admiral?! What are you doing?"

Ah! He is sleeping? That's a relief. If he found out I was awake who knows what he would do to me. Then again, Admiral's sleeping face is so cute! It would be great if I could get a better angle but I can't get out of his grip. Was Admiral always this strong? Wait, that means that wasn't a dream?!

I looked around the room and spotted Shigure and Yuudachi sleeping in one corner. Both of them were in my dream. I was drawing something with Yuudachi while Shigure was helping Admiral. On the table was a picture of a type 99 bomber drawn in colour pencil.

KYAAA!!! So it wasn't a dream after all!!! Why did I do all those things?! I can't remember anything before that!

"Zuihou?"

Huh?

"Sorry. I fell asleep. You were struggling so much. You want get off now?"

He thinks I'm still like that?

"Zuihou?"

Eep! I can look at him directly. It's so embarrassing!

"What's wrong?"

Please just leave me alone!

"Are you feeling unwell? Or did you remember what happened?"

Eh?

I turned to look at Admiral. He had a mischievous grin on his face. He found out!!!

"W-when did you?"

"Ah. So I was right!"

"You tricked me?!"

"I thought about it after you didn't answer me and tried to look away. Also, your face is red."

"Let me go!"

"Nope."

He gripped even tighter. I can't even get away.

"Both Zuihous are so cute."

"What the heck are you saying?! And let me go already!"