Our Bonds

"Um... I mean..." (Zuihou)

"I had a feeling that was the case, but I'm happy that Zuihou-chan personally told me." (Houshou)

"I expected you to choose a busty one." (Rondo)

"What made you think that?"

The both of us explained everything, from the events leading up to our relationship together and how we wanted to keep it a secret.

"So that means, including us, only 3 people know about the two of you so far?" (Houshou)

"Maybe Tatsuta know about us as well, but that girl is as unpredictable as she can get. And Shouhou knowing about is this girl's fault!"

"Ow! I'm sorry!"(Zuihou)

I let go of Zuihou's head, who immediately went straight for her mother's protection. I watched as the puppy-eyed Zuihou gets petted by the ever kind and caring Houshou.

"You do know this can't be kept secret for long, don't you? Once you're married, everyone will find out." (Rondo)

"Marry?!" (Zuihou)

"Of course I know that. I already have plans to tell everyone, but not so soon."

"Admiral and I are getting married..." (Zuihou)

"Great. She is letting her imagination run wild again."

"Ahahaha. Yeah, she tends to do that a lot." (Houshou)

Leaving Zuihou in her dreamland, the three of us continued to chat. So far as they know, there aren't any large-scale operation happening soon. So we still have time to replenish and stock up on essentials. There also plans for Azur Lane to build an international base in the same area as Brunei Anchorage. With new shipgirls, they have to expand elsewhere. That tiny island off the coast of Maizuru is not big enough, especially when most of the big guns are gathered there.

"Any other abnormalities in area?"

"Based on the reports I read there are none so far." (Rondo)

"We went to check out the island with the giant Sakura tree last week. That place has already been taken over by nature. The houses are covered in plants and a lot of cute animals roaming around." (Houshou)

"There were other similar islands like that. So HQ is trying figure out ways to transform those islands." (Rondo)

"What do you mean?"

"Like, make it into resort or something. That's what someone proposed at yesterday's meeting." (Rondo)

"Isn't it a bit weird to have a resort in the middle of nowhere?"

"Apparently Akatsuki's fleet found one near Sasebo. Rather, it just appeared recently." (Rondo

"You're telling me an entire island grew out of nowhere overnight?"

"Ridiculous, right? That's what I thought at first. Then, I went to check it out and what do know, you can really see a giant Sakura tree from the bay." (Rondo)

"Didn't you say there weren't any abnormalities in the area?"

"Well, that happened two weeks ago. So it wasn't based on the reports each of you guys sent." (Rondo)

A resort near Sasebo... It's an interesting idea, but the fact that we don't know much about that kind of island makes it risky. Sending an exploration fleet there is one thing, but what do we do if something unexpected happens. When Yahagi's rescue fleet went there, all communication system's were cut off. Wait...

"Houshou-san,"

"Yes?" (Houshou)

"When you investigated that island, was there anything off?"

"Hmm... Now that you mentioned it, the reception wasn't clear." (Houshou)

"Yeah. And the video transmission was grainy." (Rondo)

"Was it the same for you too?" (Houshou)

"No. Everything was dark. Apart from the SOS fairy, everything else wasn't working." (Zuihou)

It's possible that the island has its own magnetic field, jamming up all of our communication systems. The fairies use a separate type of system to communicate with on another. But... Houshou said that the transmissions weren't clear.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" (Rondo)

"What? That we are going to explore the islands?"

"Yep. Specifically, us." (Rondo)

"Huh?" (Zuihou)

"What do you mean?" (Houshou)

This guy... He is clearly aiming for it.

"Are we allowed to do that?"

"I'm a Grand Admiral. I'll make sure of it." (Rondo)

"Just letting you know, I'm not as fit as I'm used to be."

"As if you were ever fit before." (Rondo)

"You prick. I'm in."

"Huh? Huh? What are you guys talking about?" (Zuihou)

"An exploration of course." (Rondo)

"Oh. Which fleet is going to do it?" (Houshou)

Oh right. They don't know our plan yet

"None of you are going."

"Huh?" (Zuihou)

"Don't tell me..." (Houshou)

It's decided. We are going to check out the island ourselves. It's time for us to shine.