Our Bonds

"Admiral, how many minutes left?" (???)

The young destroyer started drooling as she stared at the cup ramen.

"It hasn't even been 30 seconds yet!" (???)

The man that just responded to the destroyer is the Admiral of Yokosuka. The hungry destroyer is Hatsuzuki, one of the elusive Akizuki-class destroyers. This is the first time I've seen one. She also has those 'ear-flaps' on her hair like Yuudachi and Shigure.

"Are the Akizuki-class destroyers like this?"

"Yeah. They are an extremely hungry bunch and will cry tears of joy even from the taste of cheap food." (Kure)

"Is that so?"

From what I remembered, the Akizuki-class destroyers barely had enough food on board during the great war. Maybe that's what brought about their personality.

"Admiral, how about now?" (Hatsuzuki)

"Not yet. Just a little longer." (Yokosuka)

"Do you always bring cup ramen around with you?"

"Yeah. For the sake of this girl." (Yokosuka)

He rubbed Hatsuzuki's head.

"Mmh~" (Hatsuzuki)

"Anyway, let's get down to business. Do you have the sample with you?"

"Here it is."

I placed a flask of glowing blue liquid on the table. This liquid came from the docks. When Yuudachi and Shigure washed off the dust they got from the exploding Mental Cube, the water turned blue and started glowing. Akashi drained all the water and stored all of it in some barrel. The Shiratsuyu-classs sisters took another bath just to make sure there isn't any of that same dust on them.

Yokosuka's Admiral opened up the cup ramen, signalling to Hatsuzuki that it's ready to eat, while keeping his eye on the flask.

Wow. It's true. Hatsuzuki is crying as she ate ate her ramen.

"Not so fast. No one is going to steal your food." (Yokosuka)

He slowly picked the flask up and examined it closely.

"So this is filled with Mental Cube particles. Interesting." (Yokosuka)

"It's extremely diluted though. But the particles are there. Azur Lane shared the data with HQ. Whatever information that was decimated down to us matches the components in this flask. In fact, we have a few barrels of these."

"Are these dangerous?" (Yokosuka)

"Only to our shipgirls. It doesn't seem to have any effect of humans or the girls from Azur Lane."

"I will go back and see what our research team can do. I can take this, right?" (Yokosuka)

"Yeah. That's why I called you here anyway."

To become an Admiral, one needs to attend the Naval Training School. Even so, only a few selected ones become Admirals of their own Naval District, the rest either quit or join the research or Engineering team. Yokosuka is the only Naval District to have dedicated research and engineering teams.

"Admiral, can I ask for seconds?" (Hatsuzuki)

"You want more?! Sorry, but I can go to the Mamiya's store here? This girl is still hungry." (Yokosuka)

"Go ahead, but I'm not treating you. I already burnt a hole in my wallet taking care of Azur Lane's destroyers two weeks ago."

"I know. I read your report. By the way, you ran away last time but have you found your chosen one?" (Yokosuka)

"Ugh this again?"

"Of course. You are the only Admiral who hasn't ringed a shipgirl yet. The others already have a harem." (Yokosuka)

"Even if I have one, I'm not telling you!"

"Come on. I know you have a lover by now. She is from your main fleet, right? Is it Suzuya? Or Agano?" (Yokosuka)

Why are you singling out the big ones?

"Or do you prefer smaller ones? Like Zuihou?" (Yokosuka)

Right answer, but I ain't going to tell you that.

"Enough already. Now go. Hatsuzuki is starving already."

"Admiral..." (Hatsuzuki)

"Ah. Sorry Hatsuzuki. Now let's go get some food. This is not the end. I'm going to find out sooner or later!" (Yokosuka)

"Yeah yeah."

I waved goodbye to the duo. Phew. Thankfully Hatsuzuki was here. If not, I might have let something slip out.

"You can come out now."

My bedroom door slowly creaked open. Zuihou peeked out from her hiding place.

"You didn't need to hide anyway."

"Ehehe. It just happened." (Zuihou)

"Now, let's continue where we left off."

"Eh? Wait..." (Zuihou)

Right. Before Yokosuka's Admiral came, we were about to kiss. I didn't expect him to show up this early in the morning. Because of that, our activity was cut short. And there was such a great mood too.

"Geez. It can't be help." (Zuihou)

As our lips touched, the warm and fuzzy feeling swelled up from within.