Part 1
Kagerou strained her eyes.
The waves were calm, but the weather was slightly cloudy. It was the opposite of ‘Fine weather with some high tides.’ It was not as serious as the ongoing battle, though.
Was there an enemy presence in front of her? The Abyssal Fleet would appear suddenly, so you needed to be careful. That's why the girls were drilled by the importance of being vigilant. The moment you let your guard down, battleship class would make its appearance, the moment you failed to spot them, 16-inch shells would be raining down. There were countless examples of ships that had disappeared into the sea because they failed to keep a watchful eye.
Their name was the Abyssal Fleet. Appearing from nowhere and ravaging the seas, humanity's greatest enemy.
No one knows when they first appeared. To say that you suddenly realized that they existed was not far from the truth. The Abyssal Fleet devoured every ship that passed by, tearing up marine traffic routes. Many ships were reduced to scraps and disappeared to the bottom of the sea.
There was no one who could fight them. No, there's no one but the girls.
They were the shipgirls. Armed with weapons that could oppose the Abyssal Fleet, running around the sea to seize victory, the guardian of mankind.
Shipgirls were proud titles given to only select girls.
Among those shipgirls, Kagerou in particular was said to be a quite small, nimble, and resolute destroyer girl.
She clutched her newly-issued binoculars, and once again stared intently ahead.
There's nothing but the calm, shimmering blue ocean before her. Nothing. Probably nothing.
As a destroyer shipgirl, she couldn't afford to make mistakes. She's completely different from the seaplane-carrying cruisers or battleships who seemed fine even after taking two or three hits. The only thing she could use for reconnaissance was her two eyes, and if she, by any chance, was hit even by a near miss,[1] she would die. So, she had to be careful and cautious.
Her two feet, attached on the sea surface, slightly trembled.
The tension was affecting her legs as well. Usually, she wouldn't be this nervous, but just for today, the circumstances were different. The two main engines, which she wore like shoes, were in good shape, but repeatedly letting out rattling noises. The maintenance staff was being stingy with the oil. Thanks to that, it amplified the emotional turmoil in her heart, and she started getting distracted. This wouldn't have happened had she checked it by herself beforehand, but she overslept, which was unfortunate of her. Sleeping while remembering the taste of the red bean soup she ate last night had resulted in this mess.
“Please be a little bit quieter, okay?” She whispered to her main engines to calm it down. Then, she muttered, “Both sides, half ahead.”
She could feel how her body moved like she was skating forward.
Wind caressed her face. She could feel the fluttering ribbons on her hair. It was a pleasant and refreshing feeling. For a moment, she could forget the anxiety in her heart.
Suddenly, she shook her head. It was not the time to enjoy herself. Despite appearances, she was still the Kagerou-class nameship. Her bright, cheerful, and optimistic personality were her redeeming features. She couldn't forget her initial goal.
Once again, she began continuing her observation, opening her eyes wide to be vigilant.
The sea surface in front of her was bubbling. Though it was far ahead, she could see that the sea was beginning to change like boiling water. Then, the whole area changed color.
The moment she realized it, the Abyssal Fleet appeared there.
Dark hull with fangs growing from their mouth. Round insect-like eyes. You could tell at a glance that they were an existence that was hostile toward mankind.
Spread out across the entire horizon, almost too numerous to count.
The moment Kagerou looked directly at it, she yelled.
“Abyssal Fleet sighted! It's a terrifying number! Uh, it's like that ‘Seven enemies covering three seas’[2] thing! The sea color is covered black with enemies!”
The reply on the radio was quick.
(Hm? What is Kagerou talking about?)
“I said it's seven enemies covering three seas!”
(Don't play around. Give me the exact number.)
“It's really a lot! I'm not lying!”
The one on the other side of the radio, Shiranui, was composed as usual, but on her side, Kagerou felt overwhelmed. It was not like she used famous lines to try to sound cool. They appeared in a number that could only be described as such. It was like salmon running upstream, though the enemy isn't as cute as that.
They were swimming while splashing water. The exact term was sailing, but the shipgirls described it as ‘swimming.’ They had sunken, dark colored eyes as of now. It turned blue once they were in combat. Human eyes turned bloodshot when agitated, but it was the opposite for those guys.
Kagerou judged that she could handle it. Signaling Hou-R (120 degrees to the right), she moved away while crossing the Abyssal Fleet course. Shiranui's indifferent reply was correct. If they hadn't noticed her, she had to report their exact number.
She started to count them one by one.
“Enemy destroyers, I-class, eight! Ro-class, sixteen! Ha-class…”
Whoever the first person to classify Abyssal Fleet in iroha alphabetical order[3] had to be either a genius or a drunkard. It was more refined than aiueo order, but sometimes it became confusing and jumbled up.
The moment she was about to reach a total of thirty counts, Abyssal Fleet's eyes suddenly light up.
From dark to blue. The glaring brilliance was reflected on the sea surface and made it look surprisingly large. Every last of them was staring at Kagerou.
“They found me! Shiranui—”
The moment she shouted, the Abyssal Fleet's hull flashed, and Kagerou reflexively swallowed her words.
“—Enemy opened fire!”
Shells were raining down from the sky.
“Kyaaaah!!”
Columns of water splashes emerged around her.
“Okay… That's enough.”
Beep. A buzzer resounded in the bay of Kure.
“The training is over.”
The Abyssal Fleet-shaped dummies were retrieved while being connected with string. On the surface of the sea where Kagerou had been until now, there were several wooden logs floating in place of shells. It wouldn't kill you even if it hit, but it would still hurt. It would also look like a comedic skit too, which was embarrassing.
“Kagerou, please come ashore.”
Jintsuu, a light cruiser clad in orange uniform, was calling her with a handheld microphone. Next to Jintsuu, stationed in front of the radio, was her partner Shiranui.
Kagerou, her head covered in seawater, muttered “Yes…” as she approached the pier.
She went ashore with a hop. The rigging was heavy, but her wet uniform was making it even heavier. It kind of weighed her spirit down.
There, Jintsuu was already waiting for her.
With her beautiful black hair, she looked like a woman who appeared in cosmetics commercials. At a first glance, she looked timid, and in fact, the way she spoke was gentle, however, the truth was she was a very brave, caring, and kind elder sister. Kagerou had set her sights on becoming like her someday.
Jintsuu looked at the notepad on her hand.
“Let's see… The result of the training this time was… not very satisfactory… There was one and a half second delay before you detected the Abyssal Fleet, and the report after the detection was inaccurate… That's unusual.”
With a glance, Jintsuu looked at her.
“Is there something you're worried about?”
“Err…”
Kagerou's reaction made Jintsuu seemingly sad.
“Or was it because of my guidance? Perhaps like, I made a mistake and put Kagerou-san in a difficult situation?”
“N-no, no, it's not like that.”
“Afterall, I am just the second ship of the Sendai-class. I am really different from the energetic Kagerou-class, am I not?”
“No, that's not true!”
Kagerou panickedly denied it. Jintsuu's guidance was never wrong, not even once. She believed that everything she had learned until now was thanks to her.
Jintsuu's face light up enthusiastically.
“Well, if you insist, then, I understand.”
“Yes.”
“Then… Whose fault is it?” Jintsuu said while tilting her head.
Kagerou faltered. This was why the woman in front of her was so scary. She could see right through her heart accurately. First, she said that her guidance was the cause of the problem, making her deny it, and then she addressed the core of the problem.
It was a single ship training, so she couldn't blame others. Though it was a little cloudy, the visibility was good, so she couldn't blame the weather too. Kagerou meekly confessed, “The fault… is on me.”
“And why is that?”
“I'm a little preoccupied with the stuff for tomorrow.”
She laughed, ‘Ehehe,’ attempting an embarrassed smile.
Though she wasn't scolded, she was warned.
“No, that's not good. If you're not careful, the Abyssal Fleet might be able to destroy you, and if you're distracted, your fleet might be wiped out. Moreover,” Jintsuu added, “what if Kagerou is ordered to escort a convoy? You will be in a situation where you have to be the first to discover the enemy and attack them. Enemy detection is the foundation for everything. Don't just rely on seaplanes, have the guts to try to spot the Abyssal Fleet by yourself.”
“Yes…”
She was dejected and hung her head down in shame. There was nothing she could argue.
“That's good. Well then, Kagerou-san, your training at Kure is now over. Starting tomorrow, you will be working at Yokosuka. Please perform your duty properly,” Jintsuu smiled. “Destroyers are our pride, after all.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Kagerou saluted in a more enthusiastic manner than before.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Jintsuu leaving the pier.
She had no excuse for being distracted, but there was a reason for that. Starting tomorrow, Kagerou would join Yokosuka Naval District,[4] leaving Kure Naval District she was accustomed to. Because of that, she had been feeling restless since this morning.
The reassignment order came yesterday. It shouldn't have been so sudden like that, but something in the organization structure hindered the paperwork so it didn't arrive until the last minute. Thanks to that, she didn't even have the time to be sentimental about her parting with her friends, and in the end, they said ‘It’s near Tokyo, so send us something nice,’ to which she agreed to promise. She wondered if the so-called Shipgirls Deployment Restructuring was the government's plot to empty their wallets so that they couldn't leave the organization.
Although, she was treated to sweet red-bean soup in exchange for a parting gift, which she was able to eat to her heart's content. It had its own merit and demerit, however.
And Jintsuu didn't cut corners on the training until the very end either, saying “Well then, let's celebrate your reassignment, shall we?” Kagerou tried to believe that it was a sign of affection as well.
Kagerou and Shiranui were the only ones left on the spacious pier.
Even though they were alone, or perhaps because they were alone, Shiranui treated her with the same blunt manner as usual.
“Going to Yoko District as the first thing to do tomorrow is really hasty, isn't it?" Shiranui tilted her head, “What might be the reason?”
“It's because the new model destroyers are energetic. They want one of us too.”
‘Ahaha,’ Kagerou laughed.
In terms of which were the newest, there's the Yuugumo-class succeeding the Kagerou-class, but she decided to boast.
In fact, her armament was practically sparkling. She was equipped with 12.7cm guns and a quadruple torpedo tube. The gun was the vibrant twin mount model, and the torpedoes were capable of sinking ships with just one hit. These weapons were brand new and should prove to be reliable in a real battle without a doubt. It was a pity that she had to leave these in Kure because of the reassignment to Yokosuka Naval District, but she should be receiving them again soon.
“They must be really in need of me, I'm sure of it.”
“Kagerou's very energetic and positive attitude is certainly a rare charm. Perhaps even Yokosuka needed something like that.”
“Doesn't that mean that I'm only needed because of my role to liven up the atmosphere rather than because of my performance?”
“I don't think it's because of such an impressive reason.”
“Hey!” Kagerou laughed in spite of these words. “I wonder what kind of place Yokosuka is. It should be as big as Kure, isn't it?”
“Most likely, it’s a place that is obsessed with discipline that befits its status. You can't say the ‘We've finally met!’[5] thing immediately after you took over your post. If you do that, they will probably get angry at you, shouting ‘Don’t mess with me!’ and throw you into Tokyo Bay.”
“Whoa, that sounds strict. As expected of Yokosuka.”
Shiranui said to Kagerou, who shrugged in fear, “You should use Shiranui's manner of speaking.”
“Oh, the ‘Guidance and encouragement’[6] stuff…”
“That way, you won't get scolded out of the blue, unlike the casual manner Kagerou usually speaks.”
It made sense, so Kagerou decided that she would use it.
“Why don't Shiranui also come with me to Yoko District?”
“Shiranui enjoys the waters in Kure.”
Shiranui, who was in front of her, was also a Kagerou-class, having the same armaments as her. They were friends who had trained together. It was a pity that they had to part from each other.
“How lonely. It's a farewell to everyone else as well, isn't it?”
“It can't be helped.”
There were other destroyers who trained under Jintsuu as well. Their figures were nowhere to be seen now, probably because they already had a thorough farewell party for her yesterday. They were probably working on their classroom work, or laying around drinking ramune.[7]
Shiranui said while retaining her blunt manner, “There are shipgirls over there, too. They're our friends all the same. You will surely get along with them.”
“I wish there'll be a nice girl like Shiranui there.”
“… I wonder about that."
She turned her face away. A slight blush on the face of this indifferent shipgirl could be seen, it seemed.
Kagerou looked at the sea. The sky in Kure was high and the waves of the Seto Inland Sea were calm. What about the Miura Peninsula, which lay far, far away? Yokosuka awaited her there.
She returned her gaze back.
“Well then, I have an early day tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“I'll write you a letter from there.”
“That's not needed.”
“Oi!”
Shiranui replied to Kagerou's complaint with a deadpan expression, “I am joking.”
“Geez.”
“Kagerou as well, please don't cry and scream just because Shiranui isn't around. You are not allowed to shoot your allies, or to do ginbai,[8] or to throw yourself off the Kannonzaki Lighthouse out of loneliness.”
“I won't do that!”
She shouted. From tomorrow onwards, they wouldn't be able to have this kind of conversation.
Suddenly, Kagerou's heart was filled with emotions, and she hugged Shiranui tightly. It was an act that came very naturally to her.
“See you later, Shiranui.”
“Yes,” Shiranui slowly and carefully hugged her back. She did it with more force than Kagerou. “Take care.”
The two embraced each other in the deserted port of Kure.
Their 12.7cm twin gun mounts collided with each other, making a sound like tinkling bells.
Note :
[1] : A near-miss is an attack which does not cause a direct hit or damage but which could result in damage or loss under different circumstances. Example is like bombs that dropped really close to ships but the explosion failed to deal damage to said ship.
>You mean near-hits.
>I suppose I do.
>But what they said was near-misses. Doesn't near-beer mean something which is nearly beer, but not quite?
>Yes.
>So a near-miss ought to mean something which is nearly a miss? In other words, a hit?
>Quite. But don’t blame me.
— Punch, 2 July 1941
[2] : It is said that there's a line like this in the Battle of Okinawa movie, but I haven't watched the movie so I'm not sure.
[3] : Iroha alphabetical order is the Japanese alphabetical order, it is originally a poem if I recall correctly.
[4] : Naval District for more literal approach. It's also kinda cool for me.
[5] : Kagerou's in-game introduction line.
[6] : Shiranui's in-game introduction line.
[7] : Carbonated soft drinks. Usually lemon flavored, but can be any flavor.
[8] : A practice in Imperial Japanese Navy (and maybe Army as well) to directly ask the cook or the one in charge of supply for some stuff that by regulation shouldn't be possible to get, it's like bribing, I guess?
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