Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)
The Meaning of Luck (Part 1)
Part 1
The Naval District hosts several hot springs, but the”Bamboo Forest Soup [1]”
Ba the spring fro to the the froirls It was quite expansive, readily taking in over half the naval district's shi+pgirls with room to spare
”~hot springs really are the best”
Zuikaku s on the rocks in a pose of relaxation as she let out her praise
Due perhaps to the tehtfall, the pool in which Zuikaku soaked was shrouded in a cloud of white steam From who knohere came a sea breeze that clattered the baainst each other
”To be able to war water and (most iht, Shoukaku-nee?”
”Ohoh, Zuikaku is sounded irl by the day”
Shoukaku smiled happily
This was the fourth day since Zuikaku's first sortie After joint exercises with the other shi+pgirls, she had invited Shoukaku along to Bamboo Forest Soup Recently she had found herself enas in the Naval District or in the outlying tohenever she had the free tiue
Shoukaku had yet to display an ounce of reservation to her sister's whims Indeed, she see daily life
Shoukaku seeed in hot water up to her neck
During these four days, Zuikaku and Shoukaku had spent their days as before, training in the waters around the naval district
The rest of the shi+pgirls were no different, with sorties limited to those on patrol duty
The current attitude of relaxation belied the planned assault on Okinoshi+irls of the Naval District
The Operation would begin the day after to the participants, they would likely either advance on Okinoshi+ma as support for the Main Fleet or serve to suppress the Abyssals in other districts As such, it was important that they train as best as they could for now
Once Operations in the Okinoshi+ma Waters had successfully concluded and if Zuikaku had no change of heart, the adirl of the Naval District
Shoukaku continued with a voice now devoid of post-training fatigue
”Every shi+pgirl has beco to this naval district As said, the hot springs are extremely comfyon the other hands, perhaps it's because we could not experience this kind of thing as warshi+ps that we need to enjoy it so irls”
”Not to mention ere always on the seas as Warshi+ps, and all the showers used seawater”
Freshwater was incredibly valuable for a warshi+p, and as such the average seaman could only shoith seawater This was the case even for the new-model Shoukaku-class Standard Carriers and their improvements in comfort
(Although I don't hate life on the seas, it's still nice to be able to enjoy a bath like normal people)
As she stretched out her arms, Shoukaku spoke on:
”That's why I also enjoy hot springs To be able to bathe with you, Zuikaku, is wonderful Plus leisurely baths like these are great for re all the aches and pains”
”Ahahha We've gotten hit together quite a bit recently”
As Zuikaku's expertise advanced, so too did the difficulty of their exercises As the tere exposed to increasingly harsh conditions, the hits sustained had steadily increased
Although they were both hit with virtually the same number of shells, Zuikaku reckoned that she had still been a little better off thanks to her luck
While aware of the naiven to her in ”That War,” this war and that were two different things It would be dangerous to let down one's guard
Shoukaku smiled wistfully
”Yes However, you've gotten used to the rules of this world faster than I had ever projected, and you've allowed reat difference between 'That War' and the one here doesn't appear to have taken you by surprise”
”Hehe, it's 'cuz this Naval District's really comfy”
Zuikaku grinned contentedly
”The Naval District has over a hundred shi+pgirls--it's like a busy fahbors are friendly, and there are great hot springs everywherewith all that in mind, the difference betorlds isn't even that ireat”
”It's ih Zuikaku, since you've come, you've put on a few folds on your stomach”
”D-did I g-gain weight?”
Suddenly feeling a burst of cold sweat, Zuikaku sreat attention to these kind of things
”Ugh, but every day the food is so good that you feel like you gotta have the 'That War'”
Fro words
”That is a sign that you are neglecting your training You lack enough self-control as a shi+pgirl”
The speaker was Hiyou She, like Zuikaku, was soaking her legs in the hot water, her hair tied in a neat bun as if proclai
After Zuikaku's first deployment, Hiyou and Junyou often worked with Zuikaku and Shoukaku They had gone together to the hot springs after concluding training
The wounds Hiyou had sustained in battle had been completely healed, and her body now moved as if they had not even happened
Fro as reserve second-line troops like Zuikaku and company
Hiyou closed her eyes as if savoring the war with her usual seriousness
”Though they do have their appeal, being too carried away is a probleirls, after all, forever under the eyes of the world”
”There you go with all those rules and crap againHiyou, I always see you getting seconds”
”It's fine, after all I run a little thriftier than most carriers Listen up, the Hiyou-class used to be luxury liners--”
”Ahyahya--!”
With an excited shout and the ie pillar of water burst in front of Hiyou's eyes As would be expected, countless little droplets found their ways onto Hiyou as well
”Sheeeeiit, hot springs are the best! I feel all warmed up already! Don't'ya think so too, Hiyou?”
”Before that, don't you have so you need to say to me?”
Hiyou asked with a hint of irritation, her face dripping ater
”Sohed herself at another bathhouse and her face changed color~?”
”! Junyou! You saw it?! Didn't you say you were going to another bathhouse?”
”You were lookin' around all sneaky like That's why I had to follow you and take a peek Only needed one to figure out as goin' on!”
”I,I' care of your body”
”Hiyou and I used to be luxury liners, so we looove western meals! Not only has Hiyou been to every western restaurant in the vicinity, but she's eaten every dish on the menu!”
”J-junyou!”
”While researching onmyodo at the shrines and monasteries, Hiyou's always ht up in worldly desires hiyou~?”
”Junyou, sisters like you!”
An enraged Hiyou stood up frootten to cover herself with her towel as she and rounded on Junyou Suddenly sensing danger, Junyou hurriedly distanced herself
”If we're talking about worldly desires, isn't Junyou the sa ht, you're part of the problem!”
”If you don't want to drink then don't drink~!”
”Well, it's because Houshou-nee's bar food is too good! If someone invites me it'd be rude to refuse!”
”That's nothin' to be ashamed about!”
”There are still sos you shouldn't talk about!”
”Well I row a bit of a beer belly, but yo boobs will grow to normal size too, you know!”
”Hold on, what are you i?!”
Hiyou ran after the fleeing Junyou, who nis at this point
Shoukaku ards to the ruckus around her Zuikaku, meanwhile, looked to Shoukaku's chest and then her own before sighing with a bitter smile
(Why is it that sisters have such a big differencespeaking of which, how are shi+pgirl chest sizes decided?)
To put it more subtly, the difference in e Given that theirwere virtually identical, why did this happen?
Zuikaku wanted to ask not only Shoukaku, but also the Naval District's o That required a certain amount of bravery, however, that she had not yet found
”Then again, though, Junyou has a point--though it's a little contradictory, one shouldn't be over-concerned about this kind of thing as well”
Shoukaku spoke as if to herself, all the while splashi+ng hot water on her arms
”We becairls, after all, so it'd be a waste not to enjoy the perks”
(Not just to save the world, but to save ourselves, huh”
Because of their transfor through the daily life they could not even have iined as warshi+ps
From the overall mood in the naval district, there didn't appear to be any shi+pgirls dissatisfied with the current arrangeirls were of the opposite sentiment
Maybe this was a salvation of its own To enjoy the ti everyday life with coirls would not have dared to ask for in the past
(in that sense, Shoukaku-nee once told me that our objective is to 'save the Hearts of our comrades', but)
Last time they had sortied, Shoukaku had indeed told her that
(Do I have so wounds in my heart? And Shoukaku-nee, too)
Zuikaku sneakily glanced at Shoukaku's expression--she seemed quite relaxed, contentment written across her face with expression unclouded
(Perhaps the current Shoukaku-nee has already gone through this)
The entrance opened with a clatter, and Zuikaku turned to the doorway
”Akagi-senpai, Kaga-senpai!”
Akagi and Kaga entered the bathhouse, clutching their oels
”Ah, you all are here as well Thank you for your work”
After dousing herself in hot water, Akagi sat down near Zuikaku with a soft sa did the same without a word, while Shoukaku nodded to them respectfully
Zuikaku felt her heart race Akagi aside, neither Zuikaku nor Kaga would have forgotten what had happened when she had first joined While Zuikaku held no grudge towards Kaga, she had no idea how to approach this Senpai On another note, it was also because of her first sortie that she had finally understood the a's words
It seea had yet to focus on Zuikaku and Shoukaku, staring with grai their resolve--
(It's worrying, as expected)
Akagi and Kaga were also part of the Okinoshi+hts were probably also focused there
Zuikaku had heard a few rumors about the enemies in the Okinoshi+ma waters
According to the rua and the rest of the main force had been worn out and forced to retreat by the picket fleets before eventhe e--it would likely be quite difficult to reach the anchorage where the main force resided
(Akagi-senpai and Kaga-senpai are going to have to head towards that place and destroy an eneer than the ones before)
What Akagi and Kaga were thinking about was all conjecture, but Zuikaku kneould be unwise to bring up this topic For Akagi and Kaga, the next battle was a battle for revenge--and one that could not be lost at that
The grily, however, the one who broke the silence was Kaga
”Zuikaku”
”Y-yeargh!”
Zuikaku's words came out oddly due to shock Maybe her senpai had heard her previous words and was about to give her a sound lecture--fear flashed across Zuikaku's mind
”While Akagi and Kaga are out, the Naval District will be in your care”
”Y-yes! I'm really sorryeh?”
Kaga see slowly
”We have yet to figure out when and where the abyssals appear In the worst case scenario, the naval district itself may come under attack If that time comes it will be your job to protect the naval district and the other shi+pgirls”
”But I”
”This battle will involve not just us, but soirls You, the Shoukaku-class, will be the only standard carriers left behind 'Our skills are still rusty' will not work as an excuse if the Abyssals attack”
”…………”
”Therefore, we leave the naval district to you You tho have returned froht of the 'future Main Fleet'”
Kaga eyed Zuikaku--there was no disdain in her eyes now, only trust
In that case, one would have to respond in kind--Zuikaku nodded with vigor
”Yes I will do my best!”
”Then we look forwards to it”
Kaga's gaze returned to the water
Her words appeared to have softened the i joined in
”Akagi, reallysorry, Zuikaku This is the only way Kaga kno to praise other people”
”Praise?”
”When you first joined the battle, she was very uneasyhearing that you had returned bearing wounds she had abandoned training to look for you But she watched from a distance, so you may not have noticed”
”I,is that so?”
”Akagi Your words areme uncomfortable”
Kaga looked away, her face red--it was true, then
Kaga gently nudged Kaga's shoulder as she spoke to Zuikaku with a laugh
”That's why, Zuikaku, you should also work hard and reciprocate Kaga's expectations I, too, have expectations for you as well”
”Y,yes! Thank you, senpai!”
Akagi nodded and looked towards Shoukaku
”We'll be relying on Shoukaku as well Perhaps it may be that you till become the naval district's last hope”
”Yes, I understand”
Shoukaku inclined her head forcefully
”I will pray for the safety of you Senpai Additionally, regarding the enee in Okinoshi+ma”
”Leave it to me We will put the 1stCarDiv's pride and put an end to the enemy threat”
Akagi and Shoukaku quietly exchanged glances The agreehted a fire in Zuikaku's heart
At this tii suddenly darted towards Zuikaku and Shoukaku as she whispered to each of them
”Also, if Hiyou and Junyou ask you guys to go to that Western Restaurant, i senpai, you heard everything earlier?”
Akagi bared her arm with an amused expression as Zuikaku expressed her shock
”I am one of the elders of this Naval District, after all The words of my Kouhai can't escape my ears”
”No, what I meant”
”Akagi loves eating, and as such she is quite ada out”
Kaga cut in from the side
”That's why she always keeps her ears out for rumors about delicious restaurants If you have questions about dieting, you can also ask Akagi--she knows quite a bit, you know”
”H-hold on, Kaga!”
”Hmhman eye for an eye”
A bare trace of a sa's face
Zuikaku and Shoukaku also burst into laughter It was a well-known fact that Akagi was the naval district's well-known gour about it added a new dimension to the joke
(Not only Hiyou and Junyou, but Kaga-senpai and Akag-senpai also trust each other)
Zuikaku looked to Shoukaku as she santly
”I need to quickly earn Shoukaku-nee's trust as well)
In another corner of the bathhouse, Hiyou and Junyou's verbal and physical riposte continued, but Zuikaku decided to act as if she had not noticed
Part 2
Six shi+pgirls skated on the seas around Okinoshi+ to split the seas
Today was the third day since the assault had coirls of theinto attack formation
This group of six crossing the seas was the first fleet--the fleet's best-trained elite
The other irls waited onboard the coh
”things have been going pretty well--”
Fast Battleshi+p Kongou spoke up, relaxed and confident frouard
”We've broken through three fleets, and we're lucky to have escaped any da way better than last time--!”
”After all, ere beaten to sub the main force”
Kirishi+ memories of the past
”But I think this ti up some real firepower”
”That's right The 1stBatDiv [3]'s 姐妹[4] are so reliable--!”
Kongou glanced behind Kirishi+ou had called the 1stBatDiv 姐妹[5], armed to the teeth with ato-class Battleshi+ps, Nagato, and the 2nd shi+p Mutsu
Aro as fast as 33 knots; juxtaposed to theht 41cm and had a maximuato-class orld's strongest battleshi+ps, taking two places a 7 Battleshi+ps They were their nation's pride; in ”That War,” their specifications had led to the as the Main Force
The Nagato-class' value had not changed, even airls; they were the truirl's leaders
In response to Kongou's words, Nagato responded with the stolid air of a career soldier
”I understand This engage-awaited Fleet Decisive Battle Leave brawling with their Battleshi+ps to me--I will make sure to meet your expectations”
”Being able deploy's not too bad It'll be worth it, even if we get a little hurt”
Mutsu picked up where Nagato trailed off She seeato, friendly and approachable
Unlike the Kongou, both Nagato and Mutsu had never been able to take part in the Brawl of the Battlewagons, greeting their end as disappointments and misfits This applied especially to Mutsu, whose end cah an ammunition explosion that sank her in port--a true misfortune It was exactly because of this that their words bore such weight
”Even so, we'll need air support in order to keep up our firepower If the enemy takes the skies, on't be able to spot with our seaplanes”
”We'll be counting on you today as well, Akagi, Kaga”
”Understood”
Taking the field once a besides her before responding
”This time around, we in the main fleet have pushed our skills to the limits in preparation for this battle I shall bet the 1stCarDno, the shi+pgirl's pride on this battle We cannot fail”
”I'd prefer not to dwell on what happens if we fail--”
Kongou's grimaced
As the Ade would have to be neutralized before the Western Seas Sector could be attacked The Western Seas Sector was an incredibly bountiful resource area--if this war had to be won, a transport route would have to be established to the region The Abyssals, endlessly strea from the botton
Should the Okinoshi+n fail, however, this whole plan would just be cart without a horse
”Taking the Western Seas to secure supplies for a long war, securing the rear and driving the ene contact with the other isolated nations and then uniting all of humanity's power for the decisive battle--these are our current objectives”
Kirishi+aze sharpened as her words turned towards the future
”But should we fail here and exhaust our strength and resources on the Western Seas' doorstep, our assault will grind to a halt The initiative will fall upon the abyssals and their eventual counteroffensive, all of which will culminate in final defeat--”
”The enele both the homeland and the western seas--from just that we can tell that they willthey can to halt our offensive”
Akagi responded solemnly
”Up till now, the enemy's hurriedly thrown the to concentrate their force If we let up the attack and give theer”
”That developet--”
Kongou shrugged
Though her words were full of levity, theirwere far deeper Even if the early battles are successes, defeat at the decisive battlethe initiative, followed by collapse--just like what had happened in ”That War”
”--No, there won't be any problem”
Nagato's calrim conversation at its root
”In order to avoid the same mistakes, we've entrusted the entirety of our memories to the Adirls and so cannot verify the veracity of our reater ”
”Plus until now the shi+pgirl escort fleets have been pretty successful”
Mutsu joined in as if just recently enlightened
The light cruiser and destroyer shi+pgirls in charge of fleet escort duty had been toiling not only to maintain the flow ofroutes to the Western Seas
Even if hu escort tactics and routes would require time--there would be no point if the resources could not be brought back to the ho ”That War”, their houre out how to make use of their resource dumps--memories of those tactics came from those valuable lessons
In order to ht cruisers and destroyers toiled everyday on these tasks Of course, quite a few light cruisers and destroyers fought on the front lines, but the second line was as important as the first
”Even in the last days of'That War', e the h lack of fuel, they still fought to protect the convoys until the very end”
Nagato continued, full of emotion
”This tiht”
”In order to avoid this fate, we must succeed”
Akagi took over oncepoint at Midway of ”That War,” Akagi ato's words the most
”Froher Perhaps ill needat the Naval District daily In order that they will have battles to fight”
”I've heard”
Nagato had already figured out Akagi's implication
”It'd be great if we could train her to be our trump card”
Akagi looked to Kaga, who looked aardly
At that htened
”Scout Seaplanes reporting, ene in on our position!”
”What's their strength?” Akagi inquired immediately
They were still soe--the eneht to be like those they had met before--picket forces or ht to be cruisers and destroyers With this current force, it probably wouldn't be hard to remove them--
Having finished coi with an expression of shock
”Enemy fleet composition--three carriers, one battleshi+p, two destroyers One of the shi+ps seeolden aura I don't think we've ever seen anything like this before!”
”How can that be?! To run into hitherto-unknown abyssals--isn't this taking a mistake too far?!”
Kirishi+ma spoke, face drahite
It had already been confirer forirls as the Elite er than these two classes, it had not been recorded yet
Moreover, from previous reports on abyssal fleets, mystery or new abyssal shi+ps nore
And yet this ti the Main Fleet were already showing newtype vessels--just this alone was enough to unnerve the veteran shi+pgirls
Adding to that, the enemy fleet consisted of three carriers, two battleshi+ps, and two destroyers--the sath as a standard Main Force fleet With this, there was no way to tell as lying in wait at the anchorage
”reminds me of the first ti the Line at the Nansei/Southwest Islands--!”
In spite of the sweat that beaded her forehead, Kongou grinned fearlessly
The Nansei/Southwest Island Line Cao--it had been the first carrier battle between the shi+pgirls and the abyssals Having cleaned up the seas around the Naval District, it had been the shi+pgirl's first major barrier in preparation for the assault on the Southwest/Nansei Islands
Tothe loith excitement
”Oy ye fuggin cunts, let's go glass soies! Git those fookin' spitfires in the air--!”
”The flagshi+p is a!”
”Understood First wave, prepare to launch!”
Though Kaga's face was as serene as always, she roared with a vigor that showed she, too, was itching for a fight, letting fly with her carrier planes
Akagi, too, was the same The enemy had three carriers, one of which was an as-of-yet unknown Wo-class--the perfect enemy for a standard carrier
To deploy a new Wo-class as a gate guard--what kind of eneh their minds, but only ht now
”Stick to the plan--as soon as we launch our first wave, Kongou and co air superiority and prioritize the carriers!”
”Right on--! You 'erd her ya fookin' wankers, follow me--!”
”Understood, Onee-sama!”
”Mutsu, let's go!”
”Understood! Let's pick out one of them carriers!”
As Akagi and Kaga's first wave assembled and launched, the four battleshi+ps, too, launched into their attack
Part 3
”Ohhhso this is it”
An awestruck Zuikaku took in the sight around her as she spoke with a voice of praise
The work area consisted ofFrom several of their roofs issued tendrils of black sround, personnel [6] scurried to and fro
The smell of metal assailed the nostrils, reinforced with a persistent undertone of sh it faced the sea like the Naval District, not a whiff of the smell of the sea penetrated
”That's right This is the Naval District's factories--a second Naval District for us”
Walking alongside Zuikaku, Shoukaku turned to explain
Generally speaking, shi+pgirls sealed their souls into their equipment--nobody observed or quantified this, nor did the shi+pgirls feel it, but there seemed no other reasonable explanation--and then released it in battle
However, as they could not perform maintenance, repairs or develops were left up to the Naval District Factory Zuikaku didn't know the details, but the shi+pgirls' carrier planes--including Zuikaku's arrows, Hiyou's shi+kigami and the like--were, like shells and torpedos, manufactured and resupplied here
”Originally ere supposed to live on base in a nearby Navy Port's command headquarters But you heard the coirls to live like humans, our daily lives were moved to the current naval district”
”Of course, staying here would be fairly boring Shopping would be difficult from here”
Most likely in order to preserve secrecy or to provide some measure of protection from Abyssal attack, the Naval District was ensconced deep in the harbor, quite far away from either the Naval District or the Train Station Even Zuikaku and Shoukaku could only reach the factories on bus and foot
Today, Shoukaku had brought Zuikaku to the naval district factories for a tour as a part of understanding this world