Once the fleet returned, I sent the injured Zuihou to the docks along with Shouhou. Even though the enemy was a tough one, it's barely a miracle that we only suffered a single injury.
Even though she was supposed to be the lucky one.
"Now then, let's talk."
"Grr..." (CA Yuudachi)
I have the four Crimson Axis shipgirls sit down in front of me in the launch bay. Fusou and Yamashiro are the only ones in a Seiza position, while the other two are still tied up in Murasame's chains.
"Let me introduce myself, I'm Keita, Admiral of this Naval District. Let's have a little chat."
"Hah. Chat? So is this how people of this world initiate a conversation? Tying little girls up and forcing them on the ground." (CA Yukikaze)
"I'm not going to bother retorting about that last part but you're right."
I looked at Murasame and gave a nod. The chains holding Yuudachi and Yukikaze unwrapped themselves and returned back into Murasame's sleeves.
"There. But if you come at me, I will have Murasame wrap you up again."
"Will you really return Shigure to us?" (CA Fusou)
"Kawakaze already told you. We didn't capture Shigure. She just came barging in on her own accord and wouldn't leave. Besides, it all depends on her, whether or not she wants to return to you guys."
"Why did she leave? Is it because I ate her pudding the other day? I already apologized!" (CA Yuudachi)
"I don't think she will leave for something that trivial. Or maybe she might." (CA Yamashiro)
I sat on the floor in front of them,
"Do any of you know what the Nishimura Fleet is? 1Y3BH? Or the Battle of Surigao Strait?"
The four girls gave each other puzzled looks. As expected.
"Shigure did mention something about that before. She said she missed us, even though we just met her."
"I'm sure you heard that the war you lot are fighting actually happened in this world once, right?"
"N-no. Priestess Akagi did not mention any of that. She just gave us the other to look for the rest of the fleet and to find Shigure." (CA Fusou)
What a surprise. Akagi seems to be hiding information from them. That's a typical villain troupe.
"What is this Nishimura Fleet thing you mentioned earlier?" (CA Yamashiro)
"Are you sure you want to know about it?"
"It's related to Shigure's behavior. Please tell us." (CA Fusou)
Looks like I need to give them a small history lesson,
"The Nishimura Fleet was made up of Battleships Yamashiro, Fusou, Aviation Cruiser Mogami, Destroyers Michishio, Asagumo, Yamagumo and Shigure. Their task was to cut through the Surigao Strait and enter Leyte Gulf to assist the Kurita Fleet. However, they didn't make it. 25 October, 1944. That is the date that Fusou, Yamashiro, Mogami, Michishio, Asagumo and Yamagumo sunk in a battle against the Americans. Shigure was the only survivor."
Fusou and Yamashiro widened their eyes. Of course. It must be shocking to hear that you were supposed to be dead.
"That was over 80 years ago. The war continued until Japan fell and surrendered. In your words, the Sakura Empire lost."
"That's..." (CA Yuudachi)
"Ridiculous? Sadly, that's the historical truth. Shigure knew about it. How? I don't know either. She expressed sadness when she said none of you remembered. She even cried in her sleep once in a while."
The last part was sort of an overexaggeration but whatever,
"So... We were destined to lose the war in the first place?" (CA Fusou)
"If your world was following our history, yeah. You guys were bound to lose and die in vain."
"But we were winning! There's no way we could lose!" (CA Yukikaze)
"That's what my ancestors thought too at first. Japan is winning. Japan is the strongest. The emperor is the greatest. In the end, Japan was burnt and defeated. Ships were destroyed as the navy lost battle after battle. Millions of lives were lost."
The air was silent.
"Shigure knew all these? Then why didn't she tell us?! Why didn't she try to discuss this with us?! Does she not trust us?!" (CA Yuudachi)
Tears filled Yuudachi's eyes. Her ears and tail stood on end,
"Are we really that untrustworthy as her friends...?" (CA Yukikaze)
"Only Shigure can answer that. Whether or not she wants to return to you, that's up to her."
Kawakaze came running towards me as I got up,
"Admiral, I found her. She is at the beach playing with Shigure and Yamashiro." (Kawakaze)
"Huh? But I'm over here." (CA Yamashiro)
"You should know by now that there is another version of you in this world. Anyway, I will bring you to your Shigure. But I want you guys to stay hidden until I give the signal."
"Why?" (CA Yuudachi)
"I understand how you want to see and hug your friend immediately but you may scare her off if you just charge at her. Besides, if you are there, do you think she will just tell you how she feels?"
I led the four of them to the beach. Sure enough, Shiggy was at the beach with Shigure and Yamashiro. The three of them in their swimsuits, playing with a beach ball while Fusou sits under an umbrella, watching them.
"Those two ladies..." (CA Fusou)
"They're this world's version of you two. The one under the umbrella is Fusou. That is Yamashiro. And that girl is this world's version of Shigure."
"That's... me..." (CA Yamashiro)
"Shigure looks like she is having fun..." (CA Yuudachi)
"She is. She is playing everyday. Even I get dragged along with her games sometimes." (Murasame)
"You won't believe how many times Shigure and I have to listen to Yamashiro's rants."
"So? Do you still think we kidnapped your beloved Shigure?" (Kawakaze)
"That's..." (CA Yuudachi)
"I will go talk to her first. After that, it's up to you guys to convince her to go back."
I walked out from behind the beach shed we are using as cover and approached the group.
"Ah. Admiral." (Shigure)
"Yo. Having fun?"
"Ah. Human! Yep. We are having fun!" (CA Shigure)
"I'm already tired. Switch with me." (Yamashiro)
"Too bad. I'm not here to play."
This is a long overdue talk.
"Shiggy, don't you want to go back to the Sakura Empire?"
Shiggy froze for a bit. Her tail stopped wagging and became slack. Her ears drooped as she squeezed the ball in her hands.
"You have stayed for quite a while now. Don't you miss your friends? I'm sure they're looking for you as well."
"I... do. I miss them... But when I think about what will happen to them... I just..." (CA Shigure)
"Shiggy, why did you come to see Yamashiro and Fusou? Is it because they remembers? Is that it?"
"That's... part of it. The Fusou and Yamashiro back home don't know anything. I don't think they will listen to me if I say they are going to die... I'm scared to lose them again." (CA Shigure)
"So... You plan to just ignore them and leave them to their own fate?"
"That's not it! I just... I don't know what to do." (CA Shigure)
Shiggy looked down and squeezed the ball even tighter. Water droplets fall onto the ball and slid off,
"I really don't know what to do..." (CA Shigure)
"..." (Shigure)
"Then, there's only one way, right?" (Yamashiro)
Oh? Yamashiro wants to pitch in?
"Fight. Screw fate. Fight and take control of your destiny." (Yamashiro)
Okay. Never mind.
"Yama-"
"Yamashiro is right. If you don't want history to repeat itself, you need to fight it." (Fusou)
Fusou walked towards us. Fusou, you too? I thought you are the sane one.
Actually, no. They have a point. That's what everyone here has been doing this whole time.
"Shiggy, you are the only one who has knowledge of what will happen. You know the outcome. Only you can stop it. " (Fusou)
"Shigure... There is no changing the past. But seeing the past for what it truly is can help us change the future." (Shigure)
"Everyone..." (CA Shigure)
"Shigure, right now, things are changing. Things might not happen according to how you remember it. Besides, did this happen?" (Yamashiro)
Yamashiro pointed towards the beachfront. Standing a few metres from us were the four Sakura Empire animal girls, faces covered in tears and snot.
"Everyone?!" (CA Shigure)
"Shigure!" (CA Yuudachi and Yukikaze)
The two dog-girls charged and tackled Shiggy to the ground.
"Oi. Murasame, Kawakaze!"
"You didn't specify what's the signal!" (Kawakaze)
"Besides, isn't the timing perfect?" (Murasame)
"Gree- *sniff* Greetings. I am the Sakura Empire's first super-dreadnought, Fusou. This my little sister, Yamashiro. Tha- Thank you for taking care of our Shigure." (CA Fusou)
"Onee-sama with cat ears..." (Yamashiro)
"Yamashiro." (Fusou)
"You guys are heavy!" (CA Shigure)
Shiggy sat up, with her two friends still clinging onto her.
"Shigure..." (CA Yamashiro)
"Yamashiro.. Fusou..." (CA Shigure)
"Now then, we will leave it to you guys to discuss things. I'm sure you all have a lot of things to say." (Yamashiro)
"There is an empty room in the Battleship dormitory. The one next to yours, Shiggy. You can have a chat there." (Fusou)
"Ah. Wai-" (CA Shigure)
Shiggy stretched out her hand. The Sakura Empire Yamashiro held onto to Shiggy's hand,
"Shigure, talk to us. Please?" (CA Yamashiro)
"...Yamashiro... Everyone... I'm sorry!" (CA Shigure)
The five of them hugged as they cried while we walked away. It's all up to them now.
"Do you think she will leave?" (Yamashiro)
"Who knows? Like we said, it's all up to her." (Fusou)
"If she does, the base will get a lot quieter." (Murasame)
Somehow, it felt like I didn't do or say much.
"Admiral, what's wrong?" (Shigure)
"Nothing."
"Admiral is sulking because he wanted to be the one to convince Shiggy to leave. Ow ow ow!" (Kawakaze)
I pulled Kawakaze's cheek,
"Shut up. That wasn't my intention at all."
"Is that true?" (Shigure)
"Well, sorry for stealing your thunder then~" (Yamashiro)
"No. It's not. Look what you have done!"
"Ow ow ow! Don't pull my cheeks!" (Kawakaze)
At the corner of my eye, I spotted someone walking in our direction,
"Shouhou,"
"Ah. Admiral." (Shouhou)
"How's Zuihou?"
"She is... doing fine. She needs to be in the docks for another 12 hours." (Shouhou)
"I see."
"What happened?" (Fusou)
"Torpedo. Her injuries were massive." (Murasame)
"Admiral, Zuihou wants to talk to you." (Shouhou)
"Got it. I want to talk to her as well. I will do it once she is out of the docks."
"I think it will be better if you talk to her now. She has been despondent the whole time." (Shouhou)
"She is in docks. I can't possibly just go in there."
"You can just do it behind the door. I can understand her being depressed. A maiden's heart is a fragile thing." (Kawakaze)
"Somehow it's weird hearing that from you."
"What?! I'm a girl too!" (Kawakaze)
"Admiral..." (Shouhou)
Shouhou looked at me, begging me with her eyes. I can do nothing but sigh,
"I get it. I will go speak to her now."
"Thank you, Admiral." (Shouhou)
I make my way over to the docks. It's earlier than I intended but I want to discuss with her about this operation.
And possibly, her removal from this operation entirely.