The sound of taiko drums and flutes echoed into the night sky. Although there are fairies playing those drums, most of the melody is coming from the PA system. The beach and field are covered in stores and lanterns, with Shipgirls walking around in a myriad of colour thanks to the Yukatas they are wearing. Even though it's early Autumn, it is still pretty hot. Good enough for a belated summer festival.
"Hey! Let's go catch some goldfish!" (Etorofu)
"Ah! Wait for me! Etorofu-chan!" (Matsuwa)
"Fuah! Ramune is delicious~ Nothing beats Japan after all!" (Suzuya)
"Do they sell wine here?" (Pola)
'You just drank an entire bottle earlier! Ah. They have pasta and coffee here. Wafu pasta? Sounds delicious." (Zara)
I watched the girls play and frolic about, enjoying the festivities. It's so lively here. As it should be.
"Admiral~ Guess who~" (???)
My vision suddenly got dark as a very familiar voice appeared behind me.
"I wonder who is behind me. Just kidding. Are you having fun, Shioi?"
"Hehe. Ding ding ding. Correct~" (Shioi)
Shioi playfully hopped in front of me. She was wearing a red yukata with vine and floral patterns. Tucked in her obi is a blue hand fan with the kanji for 'Ice' on it. In her hand was pink Yo-yo Tsuri.
"A new one? It looks good on you."
"Really? Thank you, Admiral. Yours fits you perfectly as well." (Shioi)
Shioi did a little spin, showing off her new Yukata
"How is it?"
"It's fun, of course. It feels like it's even livelier this year." (Shioi)
"Well, we did have more people joining us."
"Hey, hey. Admiral, buy me a mask." (Shioi)
"Can't you buy it yourself? You have the money, right?"
"Aw~ Come on. Just indulge me on this, please." (Shioi)
"Alright alright."
Shioi pulled me along as we made our way to mask store at the the courtyard. A wide selection of mask are on display. There are samurai masks, oni masks, tengu mask, all kinds of masks in different designs and colors.
"I want this one." (Shioi)
Shioi picked a white Hannya mask. Weird choice but okay.
"Are you sure you want that?"
"Yeah. The craftsmanship is beautiful." (Shioi)
The fairy manning the store smiled and said something to Shioi. Or that is what I think it's doing. I can't hear anything.
"Thank you so much. Admiral, fairy-san says she will give us a discount if we buy two." (Shioi)
The fairy looks very proud of itself.
"Deal. Which one should I pick?"
It's either the Ultraman Dyna one or the samurai one.
Of course, I picked the Ultraman Dyna one. Yes, I know it's childish but I grew up watching that series. It's my favourite in the franchise.
"Oh. Wow. The craftsmanship is really good."
It's nothing like those cheap plastic one that scratches your face if you wear them wrong. This one is tough but soft to touch.
I paid the fairy for the masks and continued our little tour around the stores. At first, Shioi wore the mask over her face. But then, she decided to wear it on the left side of her head.
"Can't see?"
"No. I just don't want to scare the little ones with we pass them." (Shioi)
"I don't think- Actually, yeah. You're right."
Last year, Matsuwa pissed herself and cried after being traumatised by Akashi wearing a tengu mask. Etorofu also froze in fear when she saw Akashi in that mask.
"Is this year's Natsu Matsuri bigger than last?" (Shioi)
"You think so? It's the same as the previous years. Maybe it's because of the stage."
"Yeah. Definitely because of the stage." (Shioi)
Right in the middle of the courtyard, there is an Odori stage. It's for the main highlight event for this year's summer festival.
I pet her head,
"Come on. Let's keep walking."
"Ah! Shioi!" (Goya)
As we walked, we were spotted by Goya and the other submarine girls. They are at Mamiya's candy apple store. Ro ran towards us and grabbed Shioi's hand.
"Admiral, Guten Abend! Shioi-chan, let's go play!" (Ro)
"Eh? Oh. Sure! Admiral, I will see you later." (Shioi)
"If we meet each other again."
Ro ran with Shioi back to the others, almost falling down in the process. Thank god she seems fine.
"Admiral, Guten Abend!" ( Prinz Eugen)
Prinz Eugen skipped towards me excitedly, with a purple drawstring pouch in one hand and a candy apple in the other.. Her purple yukata had Beer patterns on it.
"Yo. Having fun?"
"Yes! I love summer festivals!" (Prinz Eugen)
"Look at you. You've got a bit of red syrup on your cheek."
I took out a tissue from my pocket and wiped her cheek.
"Da-danke." (Prinz Eugen)
"What flavour did Mamiya come with this time?"
"Oh. This? It's a beer-infused candy apple. It's delicious!" (Prinz Eugen)
"She is not selling those to the young ones right?"
"Don't worry. Only those who know the secret code can buy this." (Prinz Eugen)
"I see."
"Umm... Admiral?" (Prinz Eugen)
"What's up?"
"Do you want to walk together for a bit?" (Prinz Eugen)
"Sure."
The German girl beamed,
"Yay! Let's go to the beach area!" (Prinz Eugen)
"Hey. Don't run. You are going to break your sandals again."
The two of us went to visit the stores at the beach. We played at the goldfish scooping store, the balloon shooting game and bought Prinz Eugen a chocolate banana. Somehow, the way she ate that chocolate banana is making me feel things.
Okay, Keita, stop! Evil thoughts, begone!
"Oh.
We turned to Victorious, who was in her usual uniform.
"Hello, Victorious. Are you enjoying the festivities?"
"Yes. This is very much a new experience for me. We don't have such things back in Europe."
"Victorious-san, you are not wearing a Yukata? What a waste. You will look beautiful in one." (Prinz Eugen)
"It's not that I don't want to. I just don't have one, nor do I know how to wear it." (Victorious)
"We have a Yukata rental station in the field area. The fairies can help you put it one."
"That's right. This one is a rental too." (Prinz Eugen)
Prinz Eugen twirled to show off her Yukata.
"Ah. I got a great idea. Admiral, I will see you later at the stage." (Prinz Eugen)
"Hm? Okay?"
"Come on, Victorious-san, let's go pick a Yukata for you." (Prinz Eugen)
"Eh?
Before Victorious can finish her sentence, she was pulled along by Prinz Eugen.
"Oi! Don't run!"
Those sandals are not made for running. It will be bad if she fell and sprained her ankle again like last year. Or the years before that...
"Poi! Admiral-san!" (Yuudachi)
I turned around just in time to catch a flying Yuudachi. This girl always loves to lunge at me.
"Hey. That was dangerous."
"Ehehehe." (Yuudachi)
"Yuudachi, be careful not to dirty your Yukata. We need it for later." (Shigure)
Both girls have their hair tied up in a ponytail. Yuudachi was wearing a rose-patterned pink Yukata while Shigure has a blue one with a sakura pattern. Shigure is also holding onto a blue drawstring pouch.
"Admiral-san, lets play poi!" (Yuudachi)
"You two still have some time, right?"
"Yes. We will be gathering at 8.30pm for one last rehearsal before the main event." (Shigure)
"Then, let's have some fun till then."
As the more energetic and hyperactive Yuudachi run around and have fun in her own way, Shigure kept pace with me for some reason.
"Shigure, you can go wild too, you know?"
"I'm okay. Just walking with Admiral is fun enough." (Shigure)
I'm not sure how to respond to that.
"Hey hey. Let's eat some shaved ice!" (Yuudachi)
"Sure. Pick a flavour. I'll pay."
"Yay!" (Yuudachi)
"Thank you, Admiral." (Shigure)
Shigure picked a blueberry-flavoured shaved ice while her sister chose the watermelon one. For me, I got myself a chocolate one.
Oh dear... Maybe that was a bad choice. This is way too sweet for my liking.
"Ow ow ow~ My head..." (Yuudachi)
"~~~" (Shigure)
Both girls clutched their heads and kicked their legs. Looks like they got hit by the brain freeze.
"Look at my tongue. Is it green?" (Yuudachi)
"Woah. It's totally green."
"What about mine?" (Shigure)
Shigure stuck out her tongue for me.
"That's a lovely shade of blue."
"What about Admiral's?" (Yuudachi)
I stuck out my own tongue.
"It's brown." (Shigure)
"It's all brown poi." (Yuudachi)
"It is chocolate after all."
The three of us played a little while longer until it was time for them to go. They are going to meet up with the rest of the Shiratsuyu-class for one last rehearsal.
As I walked around, alone, some of the girls came up to greet me before continuing their playtime.
Ah. Finally. There she is.
Zuihou is with Shouhou and Ryuujou. The three of them are playing the sharpshooter game.
"Dang it. So close." (Ryuujou)
"It's okay. You almost got them all." (Zuihou)
"This kind of thing is easy for ya archery girls." (Ryuujou)
"Admiral, good evening." (Shouhou)
"Ohh. Ya' here." (Ryuujou)
"Hello there."
Shouhou is wearing a elegant blue-striped Yukata, Ryuujou with a goldfish-patterned pink Yukata. Zuihou is wearing a dark green Yukata with small purple and pink Sakura patterns.
"Admiral..." (Zuihou)
"Say, Zuihou, Ryuujou and I are going to catch some goldfish. Have fun." (Shouhou)
"Eh?" 9Zuihou)
"Huh? Oi. What are yo- hol' up! Stop pullin' me." (Ryuujou)
Shouhou left the 2 of us with Ryuujou in tow.
"Your sister would make a great wingman."
"She didn't have to do that though." (Zuihou)
"You look beautiful."
"Th-thank you." (Zuihou)
As much as I want to spend the whole time with Zuihou, we need to remain incognito. We have to play it cool for now.
"Want to go get some Takoyaki?"
"Okay."
We went to the Takoyaki store. The fairy manning it said something which made Zuihou embarrassed,
"Stop! That was years ago! And they still look like Akashiyaki." (Zuihou)
"Are you talking about when you couldn't tell the difference between Akashiyaki and Takoyaki?"
"They are almost the same thing. Both use octopus legs and shaped like balls." (Zuihou)
We sat at the chairs, eating the takoyaki we bought. Zuihou got her self a normal one while I got the cheesy one.
"Speaking of which, I never had Akashiyaki before."
"I can make some for you. It's delicious." (Zuihou)
"I can't wait."
Zuihou had this huge grin,
"Yeah! Look forward to it!" (Zuihou)
"M-may I have your attention pl-please? I-in 5 minutes, we are going to start th-the bo- Waaah! I can't do this!" (Yamakaze from the PA)
There was feedback on the mic for a bit. Looks like Yamakaze was supposed to make the announcement but she got embarrassed.
"Hai Hai! Attention please~ In 5 minutes, we are going to start our Bon-odori dance. Please come to the main stage at the field and join us. It will be fun. See you there~" (Murasame from the PA)
"Yuudachi wants to sa-" (Yuudachi from the PA)
What are they doing?
"Are you going to dance?"
Zuihou licked the sauce off her fingers before wiping them with a napkin.
"Yes. It's a Bon-odori." (Zuihou)
"Then, let's go."
We both walked to the field where the stage is set up. I'm guessing everyone is going to dance since the stores are beginning to empty themselves of both customers and shopkeepers. There is already a large crowd surrounding the stage by the time Zuihou and I got there.
The lanterns turned on as the sound of drums begin to play. All 10 Shiratsuyu-class sisters took to the stage in their colourful Yukata and begin to sing. This is what they have been practicing for the entire week. This year, they are the stars of this festival. The playlist they curated this year have traditional songs like Tankobushi, Tokyo Awa Odori, post-war dances such as D*reamon Ondo and P*kemon Ondo, and the very recent one created by the IJN.
"Everyone, are you having fun?!" (Shiratsuyu)
Everyone cheered in unison.
"This is will be final song! A song made for us Shipgirls!" (Suzukaze)
"Kanmusu ondo!" (Shiratsuyu sisters)
A cheerful and upbeat tune played as the 10 sister sang and dance. The dance steps are pretty simple. It mainly involves what I can only describe as 'swimming and waving'. A fitting dance for girls who spend most of their time at sea.
As soon as the song ended, right on cue, the sky was lit up with beautiful fireworks. I can hear the girls cheer and see them watch the firework display in awe.
"Tamaya!!" (Tokitsukaze)
"Kagiya!!!" (Fubuki)
"It's so beautiful...!" (Shioi)
"Wow...!" (Prinz Eugen)
This summer festival... is a huge success.
After the festival, the crowd began to disperse. The festival is essentially over, but some of the girls still want to play at the stores. As per usual, I walked up the hill, with a pack of sparklers a bucket of water in hand.
"Hello. I'm here again."
I greeted the two cairns overlooking the base and sea.
"Did you enjoy the fireworks? The fairies went all out this year. Even if you didn't, I brought some sparklers. Let's play for a bit."
I placed one at each cairn and light them up. I watched as the sparks flew all over the place.
"I knew I would find you here." (Zuihou)
"Woah! Oh, Zuihou."
That surprised me.
"So this is my senpai." (Zuihou)
Zuihou squat down next to me.
"Yeah... I wanted to introduce you to her sooner or later. Well, you kind of seen her before."
"That's right." (Zuihou)
Zuihou put her hands together in a praying gesture and closed her eyes,
"Don't worry. I will take care of him in your place." (Zuihou)
"You taking care of me? What are you talking about?"
"It's true though. You can't live without me. Hyaah!" (Zuihou)
I ruffled her hair,
"Since when did you get so cheeky? You little squirt."
"Ufufufu~" (Zuihou)
The sparklers sputtered as the last bit of ember fell off onto the ground. I looked at the bright full moon which is hanging in the sky.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
"Yeah." (Zuihou)
I don't think she gets it. Such a cheesy line would, of course, go over her head.
I felt something grab my hand,
"The moon is beautiful. Daisuki~" (Zuihou)
She smiled at me as she said that. I can feel my face burning up a little.
"You talking about the moon or me?"
"Who knows~? Ehehe~" (Zuihou)
Our fingers intertwined as we watched the moon and the 5 glittering stars around it.