Zuihou will sink again if things go on like this...
I need to do something...
Anything...
I don't want to lose her again...
Pull her out of the operation.
She doesn't need to go into battle.
She only needs to stay by my side.
Before I knew it, I was standing right in front of the docks. I entered the changing room and placed the maintenance sign at the entrance. This way, no one will disturb us. It's a little awkward discussing such a topic while a girl is having a bath. Well, in this case she is getting her injuries treated but it's still taking place in the baths. Shouhou said she was depressed. It's definitely because I shouted at her earlier.
I knocked on the door leading to the baths,
"Zuihou, you wanted to talk?"
...No answer. I knocked again.
"Zuihou, it's me. You there?"
Once again, there is no answer...
She is ignoring me, isn't she? Once more, if she doesn't respond, that means she doesn't want to talk to me now,
"Zuihou, can you hear me?"
"Hyah! Y-yeah?" (Zuihou)
There she is. Thank God.
"You okay in there? I called you but you didn't answer."
"I'm fine. Sorry. I was just holding my breath underwater." (Zuihou)
That explains why she didn't reply before. At least I know the reason.
"I heard you wanted to talk now?"
"Eh? I didn't say such a thing." (Zuihou)
Oi, Shouhou. You tricked me. Oh well,
"Is that so? Erm... Since I'm here now, can I discuss something with you? If it's a bad time, we can do it once you are repaired."
"I-it's fine. We can talk now." (Zuihou)
...Even though I'm the one that asked to talk, I have no idea how to start. Erm... Ah. Whatever. Let's just get to the point.
"Zuihou, I-"
"Admiral-" (Zuihou)
Ah.
"You can go first."
"No. You go first. I insist." (Zuihou)
Then,
"I'm sorry for shouting at you earlier. It's just that... It pains me to see you get injured that badly."
"It's okay. You were just worried, that's all." (Zuihou)
Do it! Say it!
"Zuihou, the operation may only get even more dangerous and unpredictable from here on out. You understand that right?"
"Yes. I understand." (Zuihou)
"That's why, I'm pulling you out of the operation entirely. Ryuujou will replace you."
"Eh?" (Zuihou)
"Ryuujou can carry more planes and is slightly faster than you. The fleet will be reinforced and you don't have to get hurt anymore. I will make the necessary arrangements immediately."
Please agree with me. I'm just trying to protect you.
"A-Admiral... What are you saying?!" (Zuihou)
"You don't have to participate in this operation anymore. You can help me with the reports and the planning. I still have to create a few contingency plans for EO."
This will do. You just need to stay by my side.
"Admiral, wait!" (Zuihou)
"I will see you tomorrow in my office."
"Wait! Ouch!" (Zuihou)
The sound of Zuihou shouting and something crashing onto the floor made me turn around. What's going on inside? I slammed the door open,
"Zuihou!"
In front of one the medical baths, a body laid motionlessly on the ground. I immediately rushed to her side,
"Zuihou! Hey!"
Her porcelain white body was covered in bruises, burnt marks and cuts. The large gush on her leg is still oozing blood.
"What are you doing on the outside? Hurry up and get back into the bath."
"Ad-" (Zuihou)
"Hm? Ad?"
"Admiral you idiot!" (Zuihou)
A tuft of hair entered my vision before something hard hit me in the nose,
"Ow!"
"What are you saying?! What do you mean you are taking me out of the operation?!" (Zuihou)
Ouch. That really hurts...
"It's... just as I said. I'm removing you from the operation."
"For what? For a couple of small injuries like this?! That's why you want to anchor me in base while the others are out there fighting?! Don't underestimate me! This much is nothing!" (Zuihou)
"How can you say that it's nothing?! Even a minor injury on the battlefield can become fatal. The battlefield is a cruel and unpredictable place. Look at yourself! You are literally bleeding from head to toe!"
"It's just a couple of burns and a scratch." (Zuihou)
"A scratch?! Your leg is cut open! Look!"
"It's just a flesh wound. A little bath will fix me up in no time!" (Zuihou)
"A bath won't bring you back to life if you are sunk!"
I grabbed Zuihou's shoulder and stared straight into her amber eyes,
"Once you sink, there is no getting you back. I can't lose you again!"
My eyes is beginning to burn and my chest is aching.
"I can't lose you. I want you to stay by my side. Please. Just remain with me as the cute girl I always love. I don't want to lose you. Not again."
Why can't you just listen to me?
"Admiral..." (Zuihou)
"I can't... Not again... Zuihou, I love you... I haven't learnt anything about you... I want to protect you..."
Please... Just stay with me...
I know what I'm doing is wrong and selfish. Anchoring Zuihou in base while the others risk their lives fighting a never-ending battle outside. But I can't beat the thought of losing the woman I love and losing the precious days and memories we spent together once again. I don't want to experience that ever again. Zuihou, and maybe everyone else in the entire base, might hate me for this. But so long as I can protect both of them at the same time, it's worth it to me.
I don't care about status, the war, my reputation, or anything else. So long as the one I loved is alive and well with me, that's all I need. That's enough for me.
The air was silent. Zuihou just stared blankly at me.
"Zuihou?"
"Wh-what did you just said?" (Zuihou)
"Eh?"
"Just now... Say it again." (Zuihou)
"I haven't learnt anything about you?"
"Before that! You said something else before that part." (Zuihou)
What is she-?
...!!!
Hold on! Did I just-?!
It suddenly dawned on me that I had just those three words to her...
Oh my god!! I can't believe myself! TPO, Keita! TPO! Get it in your damn head, you flipping moron! This is not the time or place to confess! Confessing to an injured girl while she is having a bath?! What kind of set-up is this? What kind of idiot are you?
Furthermore, it has only been slightly over a month since I told her that I'm not really ready to move on just yet. And now I'm like this?
"Admiral..." (Zuihou)
Zuihou stared at me with longing eyes.
Ah, screw it. I was going to say it sooner or later. It doesn't change the fact that I love Zuihou. I didn't managed to say it before. Since I have the chance, I will regret it if I don't say it this time.
"I love you, Zuihou. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Zuihou covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes teared up. She suddenly pounced on me and made me fall backwards onto the floor,
"Woah. Zuihou, don't make sudden movements like that. You are injured."
Zuihou buried her face in my chest. I can feel her trembling and hear some sniffling noises. Is she crying? I knew it. This is the bad time and place to make my confession. Since she is naked right now, I have no idea where to touch, let alone look.
"Am I dreaming?" (Zuihou)
"What?"
"I thought I had to give up after you told me about my predecessors' death. But I'm so glad I didn't have to. When you said you wanted to learn more about me, I was elated. When you touched my body, it felt like a dream come true. Even for a moment. And now..." (Zuihou)
Zuihou looked up at me. Her face covered in tears and snot,
"Six years... I have waited six years for this moment! I'm so happy! So so happy!" (Zuihou)
She hugged me tightly as she kicked her legs in the air.
"Admiral, I love you! I love you so much...!! Please make me your girlfriend...!" (Zuihou)
I did notice that Zuihou was interested in me for quite a while now. But because of my past, I was afraid to acknowledge it. No. That's a lie. I wasn't afraid. I just didn't want to acknowledge it. I wanted to take the next step forward, but I just felt I can't. Even though I told myself to move on, the old Zuihou still remains in my heart. I don't know why, but I felt as though she would disappear if I acknowledged this girl's feelings. It was stupid and I know it. But I just couldn't do it. As much as I love Zuihou, I still wanted to hold on to the feelings I had for a girl that no longer exist in this world.
And now, I have the current Zuihou in front of me, elated over what I felt was a simple but botched confession. Then again, this is just one of the many aspects I love about Zuihou. Her sweet voice, her fondness for planes, her reactions whenever I tease her, the time we spent together, her beauty, her cuteness... I could name more but it will take all day. But right now...
I placed a hand on Zuihou's cheek and wiped a tear off her eye,
"Me too. Please let me be your boyfriend."
"Yeah! Please take care of me, Admiral!" (Zuihou)
Zuihou smiled gleefully. Blood dripped from her head and onto my uniform.
Wait. Blood?
"Hey!"
I immediately scooped her up and put her back into the medical bath. The timer on the screen flickered to life and began the repair countdown.
Christ! What the hell am I doing? She is injured for Pete's sake!
"Gosh. You should know better than to aggravate your wounds. Don't they hurt?"
"Heehee. I was too happy to care~" (Zuihou)
Zuihou smiled gleefully.
"By the way, about what I said earlier..."
"Nope. I'm not going to sit back and let the others have their fun." (Zuihou)
"War isn't fun. You know that very well. I don't want to lose you. Especially not after today."
"I told you before. I won't let it go like Cape Engano." (Zuihou)
"That's what... she said last time as well."
"I'm not like my predecessor. I have more experience. The planes we have now are stronger than before. You have always protected me. Protected us. Your strategies help to ensure our safety and victory. That's why, no matter the circumstance, I will definitely come home to you." (Zuihou)
"But I..."
Zuihou reached her hand out to touch mine,
"With your support, I will definitely return home to Admiral's side. Along with everyone else. I promise you." (Zuihou)
I can't say anything. I can only look at that angelic face in front of me.
Looks like she won't budge on my decision. She is right. As much as I hate it, my role is to support them from the backlines. I should have known better.
"Haah. It can't be help. I will let you continue participating in the operation but if I feel your life is in grave danger, I'm pulling you out immediately."
"Okay~" (Zuihou)
I will need to think of new contingency plans and how the rescue fleet is going to pull them out if things go south. Basically, the same thing I have been doing all these years.
I looked at Zuihou as she soaked herself in the bath. She looks so beautiful despite her injuries. Zuihou covered her petite chest with her tiny hands and turned her body away. She blushed,
"U-um... When you stare at me that much, it's a bit embarrassing." (Zuihou)
"Ah. Sorry. I can't help it."
"Actually, now that I think about it, this whole situation is embarrassing. Why are you in the baths?!"
"Oh, now you choose to turn all level-headed."
"Geez! Get out. For my first time, I rather not do it in the baths." (Zuihou)
"Oh, now I'm curious. Where do you prefer to have your first time?"
Zuihou's face and ears turned redder than before. She splashed some water on me,
"Pervert! Hurry up and get out already." (Zuihou)
I chuckled as I stood back up. Before I walked out of the docks, I turned around to look at her once more,
"I wonder who is pervert now."
"~~~!!!" (Zuihou)
"Then again, I also love that lewd part of you."
I heard a loud thud and felt the door shake a bit. I think she just threw something at me.
My heart is still beating loudly against my ribs. I can't help but break into a silly grin.
A chapter of my life with Zuihou... I'm so excited!
If you are watching us from above, please, give us your blessing.
Although it wasn't what I had intended, I'm glad I made this decision.
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*Chapter 42: Decision to take the next step*