"How are my remodelled clothes?" (Zuihou)
Zuihou spun around, showing off her new outfit for the umpteenth time. It's the same Miko outfit she wore but in camo green. She really likes it. It has been a week since Zuihou returned and quite a few things have happened. After returning from Alfonsino, I spent the next two days with her, pampering her until I'm sure she is okay. She was shaken up a little but recovered soon after. We had some more run-ins with those black ships but since they don't belong to anyone and are a potential threat, we gave them the Abyssal treatment. After sinking the fourth ship, Zuihou started growing, indicating that she is finally ready to be remodelled. It took so long, even Shigure who came back home at the same time as Zuihou had already gotten her Kai Ni months ago. Her Kai form is more or less the same as her original form, but with a larger plane capacity, faster speeds, and stronger firepower. Oh, and a higher voice as well. Her outfit is now green with a camouflage pattern, reminiscent of the camouflage pattern used on her flight deck during the war. She won't stop gushing about it.
Enterprise and gang reached Brunei Anchorage within two days after we left. They stopped by one of the islands to rest before marching on to Brunei Anchorage. Enterprise then reunited with her sister. The Hornet we know, though a different version, recognized Enterprise instantly and went in for a hug. Even before the other one reacted.
I haven't heard much news from them since but I do know the guy Hornet, the bikini-clad one, brought in is still unconscious. The report states his condition has stabilized but still in a comatose state.
Zuihou looked at me with glimmering eyes. She is waiting for my answer,
"It looks good on you."
"Ehehe~ Let's do our best with today's work!" (Zuihou)
"Don't wanna."
"Come on. Let's get to work." (Zuihou)
Zuihou pulled my arm, trying to get me off the sofa. With everything that went on last week, I want to slack for at least two days. I have a backlog of manga and anime to clear. I would have cleared it in a day if I were still a kid.
"First!" (???)
The door swung open, revealing Shiratsuyu and her sisters. It was their turn to run an expedition today. The fleet has Shiratsuyu, Shigure, Murasame, Yuudachi, Kawakaze and Umikaze.
"Is that a new game poi? Yuudachi wants to join too poi!" (Yuudachi)
"We are not playing!" (Zuihou)
"Alright alright. Just a moment."
I got up and headed to the sofa,
"Your report?"
"Yes. Along with the usual amount, we managed to get some buckets and crating materials for new equipment!" (Shiratsuyu)
"We already packed the items into their respective sheds. The data should come in with the reports later on." (Shigure)
"Thank you. So, Kawakaze, mind explaining yourself before I contact the military police?"
"I knew you would say that!" (Kawakaze)
Gripping Kawakaze 's skirt is a small girl, about the same height, maybe a head shorter, as Satsuki. Wearing a red and white miko-esque outfit that exposes her pale shoulders, she has long raven hair with gold hair clips that look like a bird roosting on a flower resting on both sides of her bangs and a serious expression. Attached to her are a pair of large grey riggings, each with two 410mm cannons and 3 sets of secondary guns. Each of her cannons have a red and white ceremonial rope tied around its base, with white Shide paper streamers attached to them. A pagoda-like structure, which is probably as tall as her, stood erect from behind her. One thing that stands out is those pair of black animal ears on her head. Is she a cosplayer?
"Come on, introduce yourself." (Kawakaze)
"I am called Nagato, flagship of the Sakura Empire's Combined Fleet. I am the manifestation of the soul of the Sakura Empire, the pride and glory of her warrior spirit. As a Big Seven, I am also the symbol of an era. Open your eyes and bask in my radiance... " (Nagato?)
The leader of the Sakura Empire, huh. I was right. She is a cosplayer with eighth-grader syndrome. A small girl like her couldn't have the strength to carry such heavy looking equipment on her back. They must have been made of cardboard. I must applaud her knowledge of Nagato being part of the Big 7 though. Not many kids nowadays know about the war and Nagato's title.
"That's cute. You made these things yourself? You are so creative and talented."
I looked at Kawakaze,
"Kawakaze, even if the girl is attached to you, you can't just bring a civilian into a military base. You should have taken her to the police and let them find her parents."
"That's not it!" (Kawakaze)
"Hey, human. Are you making fun of me? I am a super dreadnought Battleship! The leader of the Sakura Empire! I will not stand for this disrespect!" (Nagato)
"Erm... Admiral, this girl might be speaking the truth. She isn't a civilian. We found her wandering around the base perimeter." (Shigure)
"So she was standing on the water? Like you girls."
The six sisters nod.
"Meaning she is a shipgirl?"
They nodded again. Goddamn it. I didn't want to believe what I just heard. So this is the supposedly leader of the Sakura Empire. I expected the Nagato of their world to be a more dignified, tough, battle hardened woman. The last thing I expected was a loli. Still, I find it hard to believe this is the Nagato of the other world.
"Alright. Prove to me that you are Nagato."
"Eh?" (Everyone)
"Are you challenging me?" (Nagato)
"Sure, it looks like you have the equipment but the Nagato I know does not look like you. You could be a cosplayer or something."
"What is a cosplayer? Never mind. Pray tell. What is your image of my namesake like?" (Nagato)
I pulled out the last drawer and took out our IJN registry. Nagato was given the ID 001 so her picture is pretty easy to find.
"This is the Nagato we are familiar with."
I showed the battleship's picture to the otherworlder. Her ears widened and ears twitched,
"This is Nagato?!" (Nagato)
"Yep. I don't think I need to tell you the difference between you two."
"So cool... Akagi was telling the truth. This really is another world." (Nagato)
"I already know that there are people like you, but I still can't believe it. It's not like in anime where the characters can easily accept the whole come from another world reasoning."
"What is anime?" (Nagato)
You know, I have my suspicions about these otherworld shipgirls. Enterprise couldn't remember fighting in Midway. This Nagato doesn't know what is anime. The girls here all know about these things.
"Nagato-chan, what era do you think it is now?"
"Don't add a chan to my name! Aren't we still in the Showa era? (Nagato-chan)
"Nagato-chan, that's wrong. It's the Reiwa era now." (Zuihou)
"Huh? Reiwa?" (Nagato-chan)
That confirms it.
"I'm not sure how the war was progressing back in your world or whether it's the same as ours but it's over now. The war ended more than 60 years ago."
"That's... Did our people win?" (Nagato-chan)
The room was silent.
"Nagato-chan, we lost. The enemy won."
"Most of us died back then. This is technically our second life in this realm." (Kawakaze)
Kawakaze wore a sombre expression. The little girl looked at Kawakaze and seem to understand completely.
"N...no way. That can't... Then... What was the point...? Kh!" (Nagato-chan)
Nagato-chan let go of Kawakaze skirt and rushed out of the office, slamming the doors of their hinges along the way. Okay, I wasn't quite expecting the doors to break off like that.
"Nagato-chan!" (Kawakaze)
Kawakaze ran after the little girl.
"Should we..." (Zuihou)
Tch. I think I said too much.
"Let's go."
Zuihou and I left the office to chase after the little Dreadnought Battleship.