Our Bonds

"NOOO!" (Yuudachi)

"Yuudachi, calm down!"

"No! Don't come any closer! I already surrendered poi!" (Yuudachi)

While holding a meeting with Azur Lane about yesterday's mission, Yuudachi suddenly freaked out when a shipgirl with silver hair tied into a ponytail entered the room. Her trauma must have been triggered.

"Sorry, but could you leave the room for a while?"

"Why is this happening?" (Silver hair girl)

"Portland, please." (Commander)

Portland, so that's her name. No it makes sense.

"Shh... calm down. It's alright. It's alright."

I kept repeating the same thing while holding Yuudachi down and stroking her head. She is still thrashing about. This will take a while.

Portland did as she was told and left the room. She seems confused towards the whole situation. Can't really blame her. The girls here don't have a chance to confront their past while those in Azur Lane mix around with one another.

"It's okay. It's okay. Good girl."

"Uugh... *sniff*" (Yuudachi)

Yuudachi clasp onto my shirt as she tries to control herself. She is slowly settling down. This is the first time I have seen Yuudachi act up like this. The usual happy and hyperactive Yuudachi is acting like a small, scared puppy.

I kept hugging her and stroking her head until I could not hear anymore crying sounds. All I could hear was her steady breathing. Did she fall asleep? That was fast.

"Sorry about all this."

"It's all right. It was my fault too. I shouldn't have brought any Eagle Union shipgirls here." (Commander)

"That's fine. I can't expect you to compromise all the time. Come on, let's continue."

"With her sleeping like that?" (Commander)

"Don't worry. Yuudachi is a heavy sleeper. She won't wake up so soon. In the meantime, why not let your girls explore the district? Just stay away from the dorms and the practice area. That's where all of them hang out."

"Okay. You girls heard him. You can roam around the place but don't enter the dorms and practice area. And try not to scare anyone. The girls here don't have experience in dealing with Eagle Union and Royal Navy girls. Belfast, I'll leave you in charge." (Commander)

"Roger. Come on, let's go" (Belfast)

Belfast led the others out of the room. Since she is their so-called head maid, things should be under control, right?

"Now, where were we?"

"We were talking about Project Orochi." (Commander)

"Oh right. It was originally piloted by the Sakura Empire, right? And now you believe that the 5th carrier division might be attempting to revive."

"Exactly. The Sirens can be controlled with something called a 'blackbox'. It's actually a mental cube, the same material my girls are made out of. The Orochi is a dangerous thing created by the Sirens. I don't want to know what happens if it's finished." (Commander)

"So now, we need to locate their hideout first."

"Azur Lane will handle that part." (Commander)

"We will provide support as well. My land-based aircrafts should be able to survey the area. We will come up with a plan once we locate them."

"Sorry for dragging you into this." (Commander)

"Stop apologizing. I have decided to be involved anyway. For now, take some time to relax here. Mamiya provides some pretty delicious snacks. My treat."

"I'll take you up on that. So we are done?" (Commander)

"Yep. We can continue after those 2 rebels are located."

"It's great to have such an ally like you." (Commander)

"I expect you to return the favor, all right?"

"Of course I will." (Commander)

"Meet me at Mamiyas. You can ask my girls for directions. I need to bring this sleepyhead back to her room first."

"See you there." (Commander)

----------------------

Phew that was tiring.

I carried Yuudachi all the way back to her room. She wasn't that heavy, but she was in my arms for a long time.

And someone has been watching me this whole time...

I can see a white sleeve sticking out from a corner of the hallway.

What is that girl doing?

I walked towards her.

"Zuihou, what are you doing?"

"!!!"

Ah, she ran away again.