Our Bonds

I flipped to the next page of the report and continued reading. Never have I ever felt this excited reading a report. It's about the blue Abyssal pod that crashed onto our shores and was brought over to Ominato Guard District a few weeks ago. According to the researchers at Ominato, the material that made up the pod has the same durability as the Abyssals, meaning it is impervious to normal man-made weaponry like bullets and rockets. Don't even mention about torpedos, not even a SSM-1B anti-ship missile can make a scratch on it.

After soaking it in liquid nitrogen for two weeks, they were able to safely cut it open and discovered an Abyssal Submarine So-class inside the pod. Naturally, the Abyssal was dead when they dissected the pod. But that's not the point. The point is, for the first time in history, this Abyssal did not turn into dust. Though dead, we finally have a specimen to research on!

This is a massive breakthrough in this war. I can't believe I'm saying this but I hope more of those pods will get washed up. That way we would be able to obtain more specimens to research and experiment on. If we are able to crack the code on what makes them so tough, how to kill them, where they come from, how this whole system works, we may be able to end this war and save the shipgirls. If we are able to engineer some type of weapon to beat the Abyssals, we humans can help in the war effort and fight together with the shipgirls. We will no longer have a passive role.

Well, at least that's what I want. The others might be unwilling but I personally want to participate with my girls on the frontline. It's risky, but I believe that's the least we should do as their superiors. A Commander should lead at the front, not hide in a bunker and give orders through a monitor. I'm not saying I hate my current position, being in a safe and comfortable place is good and all, but I hate the mini heart attack I always suffer when I watch my precious girls go out and fight. My heart breaks a bit when they come back in a bad shape. Apart from leading them from the back, I want to fight alongside with them.

I'm not in the position to say or do anything. All I can do is just wait and hope something changes while I'm still alive and in service. If only I still had that Nambu pistol Zuihou-chan modified for me to kill her. That thing broke apart a few days later. I didn't get the chance to take it apart and examine it. It was such a pretty gun too.

...

Eh? Hold on. Now that I think about it, how did she modify it to make it so that the bullets can penetrate her armour? A normal naval gun can't even scratch, more less so with a pistol from the Taisho era. But after Zuihou-chan infused it with her tendrils while in her Abyssal form, it become an Abyssal killer for a moment. How? Did she use her Abyssal powers to change the characteristics of the gun? Or was it the Abyssal cells that changed the gun? Going by this concept, does that mean if we infuse live Abyssal parts into normal weapons, they can become Abyssal killers? I should at least inform Ominato and HQ about this. If this little hypothesis of mine works, maybe we can hasten the research and production of anti-abyssal weapons suitable for human use.

I picked up a pen and worked on the first draft. This will just be a short report. I am not making it a long one.

There was a knock on the door,

"Admiral, can I come in?" (???)

Shigure is here.

"Come on in."

I can hear the door open and footsteps approaching me,

"Are you busy? I'm not bothering you, am I?" (Shigure?)

"No, you're not. I'm just writing a small draft for a report I'm going to make later. How was prac- oh..."

I looked up from my work to discover that this isn't Shigure, but rather, her smaller counterpart, Shigure-chan. Their voices are the same, I couldn't tell the difference.

"Oh?" (Shigure-chan)

"Sorry. I thought you were Shigure back then."

"You thought I was onee-chan? Well, we are the same after all." (Shigure-chan)

I don't have to guess why Shigure-chan is here. I can write this draft later. It's not that important. I put down my pen and her into my arms,

"Come here."

"Eh? Are you sure? Aren't you busy?" (Shigure-chan)

"That thing wasn't necessary. I can do it hence and when I like. Come on."

I motioned my fingers for her to come to me.

"Then, pardon me." (Shigure-chan)

Shigure-chan sat on my lap, and I proceed to indulge her.

"There. There. You like it here, don't you?"

I pet her, stroked her chin and rubbed her cheeks. There is a spot on her head which Shigure-chan likes being touched. It's right next to her red hair clip. She melts the instant I touch that spot.

"Say, Admiral, can I ask you something?" (Shigure-chan)

"What is it?"

"What are you doing to Onee-chan every night that makes her feel like that?" (Shigure-chan)

My hands instantly stopped...

Alright. Calm down. Let's not jump to conclusions. It might be something else. It is definitely not that.

"What do you mean?"

I can see her ears turn red.

"Sometimes, at night, I get woken up by weird voices and feelings. I can hear Onee-chan saying 'I love Admiral' multiple times. My body feels hot... And it feels tingly down there... What are you doing to Onee-chan to make her project such things to me?"" (Shigure-chan)

It's definitely that! Why is she able to feel those things?! Oh, that's right. They are telepathically connected. But if that's the case, Zuihou-chan should be able to experience the same thing. For all I know, that girl is able to sleep through whatever I do to her older self.

That's not the point now. How can I get out of this situation? Shigure is staring at me, anticipating my answer. I don't want to corrupt such a young mind. I have to find a way out. Maybe change the topic.

"How was your training with Kashima today?"

"It was fun. I learnt how to detonate and spread my napalm. My range of attacks have widen." (Shigure-chan)

"Oh, that's great. I think it's time I assign some sorties to you."

"Really? Yay!" (Shigure-chan)

Phew. I think that managed to do the trick.

"So? What have you been doing to Onee-chan?" (Shigure-chan)

Or not.

"Umm..."

What should I do?

"Mew~" (???)

Let's see. Maybe distract her with more headpats? Yeah, I can try that.

"Mew~~" (???)

Worse comes to worse, I will have to give her a talk about how babies are made. And what is that sound? It sounds like a cat.

"Do you hear that?" (Shigure-chan)

"That strange meowing? How is it coming from? It's sounds pretty close."

I looked around my office. I don't see any cats around.

"Mew~~" (???)

It sounds really close. Almost as if it's coming from behind me.

I turned around to see a fluff ball with two beady eyes staring right back at me. Her little paws clinged onto the window sills, holding on for her dear life.

"Tina-chan!"

"Tina-chan!" (Shigure-chan)

The both of us quickly got up and saved the kitten from a potential fall.

"You naughty cat! This is the third floor! That was dangerous! And how did you climb all the way up here?"

I held the kitten in my hands as I scolded her. Tina-chan has been pretty athletic and playful nowadays. She will jump, run around, pounce on unsuspecting shipgirls, climb all over the place, and get herself stuck in all the weird places. The other day, she managed to get herself stuck in one of the base's decorative naval guns. Akashi had to dismantle the gun barrel in order to get the dusty kitten out of there.

"Gosh, why are you so naughty? Hey! No. Bad kitty! I'm the one that's angry, not you."

Tina-chan hissed and tried to bite my fingers. She tried to take a swipe at my face, but I held away.

"Mew~~" (Tina-chan)

Now she is trying pull on my heartstrings and act cute by giving me a sad look and meowing softly. This is how she keeps getting away with stuff. Reminds of a certain light aircraft carrier.

"Admiral, that's enough. Look, she is sorry for what she did." (Shigure-chan)

See? Shigure-chan fell for her act, hook, line and sinker.

"Mew~~" (Tina-chan)

"She saying she is sorry and she won't do it again. Right, Tina-chan?" (Shigure-chan)

"Mew~" (Tina-chan)

"Yeah yeah."

I don't see any use in scolding this creature. She probably doesn't even understand what I'm saying . Kittens are curious and playful animals after all.

Tina-chan ran jumped off the table and ran towards the door the instant I put her down. She start clawing on the door, trying to get out.

"I should take my leave as well." (Shigure-chan)

"You can stay longer if you like."

"I'm meeting Yamakaze-chan later. We are going to try out Mamiya-san's new dango set." (Shigure-chan)

"I see. Have fun. Say hi to Yamakaze for me."

Shigure-chan walked towards the and opened it for the kitten, who immediately rushed out once there isa small opening. Shigure-chan waved goodbye to me and shut the door behind her.

She is so cute. Alright. Back to work.

Before I can even pick up my pen, there was another knock on the door,

"Come in."

The door creaked open and the older Shigure peeked in,

"Admiral... Erm..." (Shigure)

Looks like my little report will have to wait,

"Come here, Shigure. I going to pamper you as long as you want."