Kagerou, Batsubyoushimasu! Volume 1 Chapter 5 : Wood Part 1

Kagerou, Batsubyoushimasu! Volume 1 Chapter 5 : Wood

Chapter 5 : Wood

Part 1

And all training in the next day. The next day aswell. Even the next day. Fatigue accumulated, in the middle of the night, they collapsed and didn't move even a bit. But, there are significant meaning of repeating the training. The longer you don't do anything else, the more the skill will go down drastically.

“Hmmm…?”

Kagerou twisted her head. She wondered what Satsuki muttered.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it's somewhat smooth," then she laughed ‘Ahaha.’

The fleet movement goes smoothly. Today, 14th DesDiv used a stuffed toy that was supposed to be a fleet and was repeating escort training. Until now, it didn't go well. They also often hit the fleet, and it felt awful. Their movement became more agile, they even able to feel a good sense within the fleet.
There's no point of showing troublesome attitude that will only ends in vain. For a moment it was doubtful whether if everyone was replaced by another person.

"Satsuki has also improved a lot. Hey, is your fleet movement already better than me?"

"It's because Kagerou teach me how to do it."

"I do not think so, it was due to Satsuki efforts."

"Yeah, actually, I practice alone in the middle of the night," Satsuki laugh like she was embarrassed.

"But it's not only me. Everyone did it on their own. "

Nagatsuki will do shelling. The model of the Abyssal ship that had attacked the fleet was wrapped in a water pillars.

“That’s it.”

Kagerou is impressed. Satsuki pierced it’s flank.

"Well, the result has come. "

Arare voices which issued 之-Movement echoed. Her little voice is same as ever, but at crucial times she had do it properly. Ushio also has become quicker at the 之-Movement . While admiring, Kagerou still wondered.

"Why are everyone motivated, I wonder? "

"Why not?" Satsuki was looking at her as she grinned.

It is a good thing to improve the teamwork of the destroyers. But there is still something missing. Kagerou turned her eyes prior to that, Akebono seemed to be bored.

"Hey Akebono, show me your motivation, don’t you think it would be nice to show? "

"Why I should show my motivation to you?"

That is awful feeling to listen to Akebono.

"It can’t be helped, in the the first place. "

"But isn’t it nice to be number one? It's fun"

"I didn’t have that kind of interest."

‘This girl, I really can’t do anything to her,’ Kagerou thought.

At a point, although the attitude of showing out hostility by speaking is disappeared, it was hard to say their distance shortened. She tried not to think about Akebono for a while. Whether she complains, they aim for higher target.

"Well, today we will do fleet escort through the end," Kagerou told everyone.

"Because there is no more day for the Special Exercise, let's improve even a little here and aim for the first place."

"If you say that way, would we also do shelling and torpedo attack?"

Listening to Nagatsuki, Kagerou admitted.

"Yeah, if you don’t do it all, it's meaningless."

"We need some fleet girls for guiding, since it's live-ammunition."

"That's why I also asked the Kongou-san sisters to do it again."

She pointed to the pier direction.

There was Kongou, Hiei, Haruna, and Kirishima.

Each of them were staring here with a wonderful appearance.

Kongou had a tea cup today as well.

“You did it well.”

“Well, if you asked me to do it, I’d like to talk to Atago-san.”

‘Hahaha,’ then Kagerou laughed.

Actually, someone said "Since mischief is dangerous, so battleship girls must absolutely be watching".

Since it's the four battleships, it can’t be said that it was regarded dangerous so much.

"The other day was hard, but if we train well here, the Kongou sister will be impressed, so we can make a point of it and it will be a topic in the navy base."

Kagerou clapped her hands and put a fighting spirit.

“Then let's do our best!”

Everyone move towards their position. The fleet role, as usual, with "Zekamashi" written in it, was a renshouhou cannon dolls. In the real escorting mission, the ship is much bigger, there are so many figures if it becomes a fleet. The fleet girls position are separated quite away from each other. The space between the dolls and the others separated as much as possible, to make sure there’s not much difference from the reality.

But, there's no use worrying about it now. It is an opportunity to show off the results of the training so far to the Kongou-class sisters.

The towing function switched on. When the dolls got a random movement as time went on, the fleet's course change. Kagerou and the others must follow it.

“Ready.”

Kagerou arrived at her position.

“Here we go. Don’t leave the fleet!”

In accordance with the the dolls advance, Kagerou and the others also sailed. After a while the towed ship maneuvered. Turn to the right in the same way. Then return the rudder, this time to the left. Next to the left is right. They was doing the 之-character movement.

The fleet girls din’t collide. There is no collision. They weren't off guard as before. To keep distance of each other position, they pay attention to the surroundings.

“How’s it Kagerou? I can do it, too, right?” Satsuki said.

"Good," Kagerou replied. Everyone else is also the same.

Akebono who was the only one complaining, also plays her role properly.

Kaguro looked ahead. It is almost time for the next stage.

A shadow is visible on the sea surface. It's here.

"Enemy on 10 degrees right!" Kagerou shouts.

Everyone said "Eh?"

"Raid attack practice, prepare!"

"I never heard about it!?"

"If I said about that, we might not do the training."

When Satsuki's complaint was shutted down, Kagerou increased the speed of the main machine.

"I will let the fleet escape. Nagatsuki, smokescreen!"

“Me?”

“Hurry up!”

As Nagatsuki moved forward, she began trying to spread a smokescreen between the attacking ship and the fleet. Suddenly, the attacking ship shone.

"Enemy ship is firing!"

Kagerou gave a warning. Water spout around Nagatsuki. It is not a flashy thing because it is a simulation bullet, but it still hurts after it hits.

Nagatsuki's cruising speed become unsteady.

The deployment of the smokescreen was incomplete.

"Nagatsuki, come back!"

Satsuki who came back from the front poked Kagerou.

“Hey, the one who attacked us, isn’t it Atago-san?”

“Eh?”

In answer, Kagerou look using binocular. It was a fleet girl wearing a blue uniform who have been acting as the enemy and attacking. The size of that breast is certainly Atago’s.

"Why is she… She only told me that she’ll introduce someone who can act as the enemy!"

"Kagerou, you liked it right?"

"Be careful, I don’t think Atago-san is holding back."

Satsuki returns to her usual position. Nagatsuki also came back drenched.

The smokescreen remained halfway and it was already clear.

"An enemy ship is approaching ......"

Arare was contacting them. She seems to be able to see Atago well from her position. A waterspout approached the escort instead of the dolls. Atago was shelling happily. Kagerou wonder if she’s excited to be able to participate in the training. By the way, she felt like this when she played the role of an enemy ship.

The fleet girls look around frantically. Even though it was training, enemies were attacking, so some uneasy air was drifting.

"We will intercept Atago. Ushio will stay for support, the rest go ahead, hold back Atago-san, then fire if there's any chance....... We will let the fleet escape. " Kageru said immediately.

“With only 5 people?”

"The opponent is only a heavy cruiser, just hit and run away once it's done."

Even though it was inferior to a battleship, heavy cruiser has good firepower. Even if they fight it directly, the chance of winning was thin. In that case, they would rely on numbers.

"Ushio, I leave it to you."

"Eh...... Okay."

Although it was an unreliable and quiet voice, Kagerou was glad that she responded for the time being.

"Surface action, here we go. Both sides advance, maximum battle speed!"

Suddenly, there was a loud sound from behind. A shelling. Kagerou looked back in a hurry and checked it with her binocular. She saw a ship. A heavy cruiser's silhouette. Wearing the same clothes and the same big breast as Atago. She looked gentle, but her shelling has no mercy.

"It's Takao-san!"

Kagerou was groaning. Probably because she’s a fleet girl of the same class, she was called by Atago. While Atago was attacking from the front, Takao attacked from behind. It's pincer attack. Although it’s common, it’s effective when it's done. The fleet has been sandwiched.

Kagerou looked to the front then looked behind.

'What should I do?! If we split our forces, we may be able to prevent both of them to wipe out our fleet, but it's also likely to fail. Although we can increases the possibility of being able to strike back if we used full force only to Atago, but that will allow Takao to attack us.'

The leader was Kagerou. She has to make a decision.

"... ... We’ll concentrate the attack ahead!" She said.

"We will strike back Atago-san and let the fleet escape, but someone might be attacked by Takao-san ......."

"You will abandon them!?" An objection came from a surprising place.

It was Akebono who shouted.

"Even though the fleet will be destroyed, you will abandon them and escape!? Both escort and the fleet should be saved."

"I’m not abandoning you. But if we divide into two, we may be wiped out. So to survive even a little....... "

"Heartless. Why don’t you even try!"

"What? I’m trying to do it."

Kagerou was suspicous, Akebono did not exactly show any enthusiasm until just before, but she began to get angry as a sudden fire.

"I’m trying to save the fleet!"

"You didn’t! You said to abandon the fleet!"

Akebono’s making a fuss.

"You always say you are a friend!"

"It's strange for Akebono to say that. Because you're unmotivated, don't intervene. "

“If you go with such poor girl, you will want to say something about it! After all, it’s impossible for you guys to escort.”

“It’s not impossible. Hey, when we discussing this, the time will only flow…”

Akebono put her face closer to Kagerou.

“If it’s annoying, then don’t do it from the start!”

Her anger was blown. It was an outburst energy.

Kagerou was confused. The other fleet girls, too, were watching suprisedly.

"Since we escorted the fleet for Special Exercise, let's not to stop doing this."

"You only need to decline! So that no one will be hurt!"

"We are Fleet Girls, if decline, you will not be one of them."

Kagerou was gradually irritated. 'Why does this girl make such noise? Is it so bad to have an escort mission? To the point that I became detestable?'

“Ah, Akebono-chan……”

Ushio was trying to calm Akebono with her words somehow, but she wasn’t listening.

"After all, you're also like that. It's a pattern where you can't do anything then abandon your ally! It's better if you don't do it from the start!"

"I will not abandon my friends!"

Kagerou was furious. She returned Akebono yelling.

“I'll do it then! This big idiot destroyer!”

"You are much more idiot! Not just an idiot but also cold hearted! "

"Then I’ll divide it in two! The last one might be annihilated, but then I will continue to tell you that it’s your fault!"

“There’s no such courage within the Kagerou-class! Coward!”

“Who’s the coward?!”

Kagerou turned red before her eyes.

'My head is dizzy because of anger. Do we have to work hard so much with this girl!? Is there any other Destroyer like this?! Even if we can talk with everyone else, we can’t do anything to this girl.'

'I have made an effort to understand her somehow, but it’s almost impossible.'

'I do not know', Kagerou was clenching her fist. Looking at it, Akebon said even more.

"Haah, so you want to hit me? Please try. Kagerou-class can’t do anything, you know!?”

Slap.

Dry sound echoed on the sea.

Akebono held down her cheek. She was stunned.

It was the same for Kagerou. She stared at her own hand in spite of herself.

It was not Kagerou who raised her hand to Akebono. She hasn’t done anything. Even though she did not do anything, the sound rang.

“Akebono-chan… come on…”

Ushio was dazzling while holding tears in her eyes. It was her who slapped Akebono.

"Selfishness’ only ...!!"



Akebono had been agape, but immediately she lifted her eyes and shouted.

“You did it!”

She hit Ushio.

As a ship girl, of course they won't mind being obedient, but they would fight if they got angry. Because it's on the sea, the footing was bad by the outsider viewpoint, at such time, the Fleet Girl's Navigation Stabilizer were exerting tremendous power, contributing to the conflict of their owners. It was an tacit understanding that you couldn't fire, but conversely you could do anything else. The cuteness of making a mark from the slap immediately disappears, fist and fist collided each other. The equipment that has been dressed up turned into a blunt object as that happen.

Punch, kick. Punch, kick. Kick then show off to kick again. Akebono's rampage was within the imagination, but Ushio's was also notable. Her scolding was as if to clear a past depression.

Akebono's punch grazed Ushio. And the absentmindedly Arare got hit by it.

“Hurt…”

"What did you do!"

It was Nagatsuki who’s in rage. "I will give Arare a hand..." Nagatsuki said, the kick hit someone mouth. [TL's note : What the hell Nagatsuki?]

“You bastard!”

Nagatsuki, whose face was red, joined the group. The torpedo tube swayed like a sword, Mutsuki-class was weak because it was poorly balanced and the manufacturer was suspected for lying of not receiving new orders.

Akebono was kicked. Next to her, Ushio also was about to grab her. Instead, it was Arare. She was joining the fight before long. It seemed that the previous punch hit her. You could see the seriousness from the fact that that the Fleet Girl’s hat has been put on her back. Kagerou have never seen her angry so much at Kure. In an attempt to compensate for the disadvantage of her small build, she was kicking out a tornado-like kick.

"Uwaa, great. Now you've done it. "

Satsuki who tried to remain as a spectator on the sidelines was also dragged. Turned upside down, her face was thrusted into the sea surface. Her eyes when she got up was lifted, whoever hit her. Apparently, her body was a slender but trained muscular body. There might be a secret pride that wouldn't let her to be defeated by a regular destroyer girl. Everyone joined the fray with energy.

A street fight appeared even though it was above the sea level. Kagerou turned pale, she realized that she was in the middle of training and she's likely mourning to God.

"Hey, stop! The heavy cruisers and battleship sisters are watching! Stop…” While saying that, Kagerou's face was struck by training torpedo by someone from somewhere. Kagerou was knocked down by that somersault hit.

She barely held her ground.

She slowly picked up the fallen torpedoes.

"Th... These stupid people!"
She lost her reasoning and everything looked like an enemy. 'This world is hopeless and dark. If I don’t beat these guy I can’t be a bride for sure. If that’s the case, I would flatten out absolutely everything. All of you are the paving stones of my life.'

Kagerou, who threw a torpedo, entered the fight and there was none to stop her.
Atago who was looking from afar came. Next to her, Takao came close as well.
The two were staring at Kagerou and others fight in a state of astonishment.

“It’s strange. Quarrel between destroyers, I haven’t see it for a while.” Takao looked at Atago.
“What should we do?”

"Haah ... it's my duty as a secretary ship to stop them."
Atago exhaled. Takao listened to her.

"How are you going to stop them?"

"Like this," Atago, with her 20.3 cm guns, turned to the Fleet Girls who were fighting and said while smiling, "Okay everyooone. If you don't stop within three seconds, I’ll shoot okaaay? One, two…”

“Three.”

When Takao thought that Atago was strangely whispering, she had intended to shoot from the beginning. Kagerou and others were wrapped in a huge water pilar.

[TL Note : Let's call this a part, shall we? Because after this, the 14th DesDiv is likely to get some punishment from Atago because they all have been summoned to the Office
My bad, I should've cut the part right after the scolding from Atago]

Yokosuka Naval District government office building. Secretary ship Atago's room.
The members of the 14th DesDiv had bruises in their faces and lined up with their heads wet.

Atago sat at her desk. She didn't seem to be particularly astonished. It was the same smile as usual. It was strange and scary to look at without averting your eyes.

"...This time is a deplorabe event but..."

Atago opened her mouth. Kagerou heart was pounding.

“U-uuh... you’re right.”

“Be quiet. I wouldn't say that there is no quarrel between Fleet Girls, but I believe that it was unheard of to have a fight in the middle of training and in front of the secretary ship."

“But…”

Her gaze leaped to glance at Kagerou. Contrary to the sharpness of the smile, she shook her mouth.

“Not only me, but Takao also witnessed it. Everyone of the Kongou-class, too. There are so many people looking at it, and none can be said to be innocent. Will you choose the punishment yourself? Or will you ask the admiral to decide?”

Everyone shuddered. It’s no longer just a report when it reached the admiral. Heavy detention was the pretty one, the worst was your armour being removed and being used as material for improvement and be thrown out from the Naval District. Your name and face photo would be circulated, and it would become a laughingstock.

Ushio opened her mouth.

"Th...that's my fault..."

This was the starting point, and everyone started to talk as if a dam has just burst.

“I don’t want to enter the detention barrack! The one who started it was Akebono!”

"I was only involved. I am not responsible."

“...Being punished is…unpleasant…”
Akebono was silent. Kagerou was looking at the ceiling while being at a loss.
Atago sighed for the first time, seeing the destroyer Fleet Girls who offered their self-defense.

“...Good grief…”

The Destroyer Fleet girls was still continuing their chatter. The voices grow louder and louder.
Atago said in astonishment.

“That’s right. If you want the fight in the middle of training to be overlooked, you have to be disciplined. Fortunately, because no one was seriously injured, so I don’t mind, but going out is prohibited for the time being.”

‘Eh?’ voice. Even though there are food and entertainment facillities in the Naval District, but still, it’s more relaxing outside.

Kagerou slipped her mouth in an instant.

“No matter how you look at it, that is a good fortune for a quarrel punishment.’
"Kagerou-san, I'm going to make the punishment for you a bit heavier. Because you’re the leader."

“Wh, why I’m the one….!”

“Be quiet.”

With a clear tone and glint in Atago eyes, Kagerou lost her word.

"You may leave."

Everybody went out from the Atago’s room to the corridor.
Remained silent, they headed towards the Destroyer Dormitory from the government office building.
Everybody had an atmosphere that indicated it’s troublesome to open their mouth.
It seemed so troublesome to even walk.
Kagerou narrowed her eyes at the sunlight and looked up at the sky.

‘It is fine. It's late evening, but the sky is still blue. Surely this blue sky would continue as far as the Kure port. Beautiful and pure air color.’

‘Everything ended in vain.’

‘I did a quarrel in front of Atago. I kicked someone in front of Takao. I took a kick in front of Kongou, screamed in front of Hiei, grabbed each other in front of Haruna, and sprinkled by seawater in front of Kirishima.’

‘There is no way to stand a good reputation with a such thing. It’s a level where we can be labeled in the lowest rank of the Fleet Girl as a stupid destroyer team that had beaten each other fellow's. And that's why it's barbaric. The worst thing was that I can’t handle it in my group.’

‘I was full of motivation in the morning. In front of a secretary ship and battleships, I should have been making a decision to show nice things this time.’

‘Nevertheless, why did this happen?’

Kagerou was dominated by emptiness. Her heart was hollow and empty.
Suddenly, emotions welled up.
It was sadness.

‘I believed that what I did until now, what I learned at Etajima, what I trained at Kure, was that it would work everywhere. I've sworn to do my best in my letter to Shiranui. It turned out to be sad, knowing that they all were meaningless.’

Kagerou was depressed. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"U…u…uuu…... "

Even if she tried to endure it, it didn’t stop.

"I’m… sorry... everyone ..."

Those who heard it stopped on their feet. Kagerou said in tears.

"I am... I'm an idiot.... I'm just putting fruitless effort... I've sworn to do my best, but I can't do anything... I'm just forcing..."

Emotions came out one after another. She realized that it’s shameful to cry in public, but she could not stop it anymore.

"Even both Nagatsuki and Arare are... doing it properly... Satsuki too, Ushio too, and Akebono too... Everyone, everyone are splendid destroyers..... I am... because I am not doing it properly... because I’m annoying... Even though I’m the leader... Even though I’m a destroyer…”
She's crying. The tears dropped and wet the ground.

"I’m sorry... I’m really sorry..."

The feeling of tension vanished, her emotions was overflowing endlessly. Her immaturity, her heartlessness, her heart was bursting.
Kagerou could only express those feelings by crying.
The Fleet Girls were staring at Kagerou.
" That's not true!"

Suddenly Nagatsuki said.

“It should be me who should've apologize. Kagerou was so kind to me ... I still wasn’t confident in myself. I’m…”

She also shed tears.
The other Fleet Girls too, they were shouting unanimously.

"I ... I was absolutely alone if Kagerou wasn't there! Kagerou gave me confidence!"

"This is true even for me. Because Kagerou-san guided me... so far......!"

"... Kagerou isn't bad ... I’m sure..."
Satsuki, Ushio, and Arare too were all crying. Being moved by Kagerou words, they were pouring tears in their eyes.
There’s no human being who enjoyed to be left behind. There's no human being who will happily expose their shame.
Everyone was frustated.
They didn't like the 14th DesDiv being labeled as a loser.
They hugged each other spontaneously. They were crying while holding each other.
Only a girl was keeping her distance.
Being left from the sight while standing still.

"I don't like destroyers because of this..."

No tears has risen in Akebono’s eyes. No one could get a glimpse of movement of her heart.

[19/03/2019 TL's Note : Okay that's it. Next will be the Special Exercise, okay? I apologize for cutting this part earlier.]

3 comments:

  1. I just wanted to say how awesome you are and how I'm glad someone picked up Kagerou-chan!

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    Replies
    1. Nah, I'm not so awesome as that since I'm still lacking in Japanese, but I'll try my best to translate this!
      It's kind of sad since TerminusTL stopped the translation so I always wondered should I decide to translate it too since I'm fall for Kagerou in the first time I read the LN

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    2. Doing it despite being not The Best, because who else if not you? How is it not awesome?

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