The Fifth Chapter : Wood
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 twists her head. She wondered what Satsuki asked.
“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 his 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 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 speaking 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."
"Because it is a real ammunition, we need some fleet girls for guiding."
"So, I also asked the Kongou-san to do it again."
She pointed to the pier direction.
There was Kongou, Hiei, Haruna, and Kirishima.
Each of them is 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,’ Kagerou laughed.
Actually, someone said "As mischief is dangerous, so battleship girls must absolutely see".
As it’s four battleships, it can’t be said that it was regarded as dangerous so much.
"The other day was hard, but if we train well here, 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 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 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 came.
"Enemy on 10 degrees right!" Kagerou shouts.
Everyone said "Eh?"
"Raid attack practice, prepare!"
"I never hear 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 ship attacking ship shone.
"Enemy ship 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 become unsteady.
The deploying of the smokescreen become 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 become 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 is good to become 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 is contacting us. She seems to be able to see Atago well from her position. A waterspout approached the fleet instead of the dolls. Atago are 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.
Roughly, the fleet girls look around. Even though it was training, enemies were attacking, so some uneasy air was drifting.
"We will intercept Atago and Ushio will stay for support, The rest go to front, hold back Atago-san, in that chance then fire....... We will let the fleet escape. " Kageru said immediately.
“With only 5 people?”
"The opponent is only a heavy cruiser, hit and run away at once."
Even though it is inferior to a battleship, heavy cruiser has good firepower. Even if we make straight fight, the chances of winning are thin. Then we will rely on number.
"Ushio, I leave it to you."
"Eh...... Okay."
Although it was an unreliable and low voice, Kagerou glad that she responded for the time being.
"Surface action, here we go. Both sides advance, maximum battle speed!"
Suddenly, it was a loud sound from behind. It was shelling. Kagerou look back in a hurry and check with her binocular. She saw a ship. A heavy cruiser's silhouette. Wearing the same clothes and big breast as Atago. She looks gentle, but her shelling has no mercy.
"It's Takao-san!"
Kagerou is groaning. Because she’s fleet girls of the same class, it probably why she’s called by Atago. While the Atago is attacking from the front, Takao attack from behind. It was tactics. Although it’s common, but it’s effective when it's done. The fleet has been sandwiched.
Kagerou looked at the front then looked behind.
'What to do?! If we split our forces back and forth, we may be able to prevent both of them to wipe out the fleet, but it was also likely to fail. Although it increases the possibility of being able to counter-attack Atago if we used full force counter-attacks only to Atago, but it will allow Takao to attack us.'
The leader is Kagerou. She has to make a decision.
"... ... We’ll concentrate the attack ahead!" She said.
"We will fight back Atago-san and let the fleet escape, but someone may be attacked by Takao-san .......""You abandon us!?" An objection came from a surprising place.
It was Akebono who shouted.
"Even though the fleet is destroyed, you abandon us 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 is 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 us!"
Akebono’s making a fuss.
"You always say you are a friend!"
"It's strange for Akebono to say that. Because you're unmotivated, so don't intervene. "
“If you go with such poor girl, you will want to mouth 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.
“Because it’s annoying, then don’t do it from beginning!”
Anger was blown. It was an outburst energy.
Kagerou confused. The other fleet girls, too, are watching suprisedly.
"Because we will escort the fleet for Special Exercise, so let's not to stop doing this."
"You only need to decline! No one will hurt!"
"We are Fleet Girls, decline and you will not be one of them."
Kagerou is 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 trying to calm Akebono with her words somehow, but she wasn’t listening.
"After all, you also like that type. It's a pattern that you can not do anything and abandon your ally! It is clever if you do not do it from the beginning!"
"I will not abandon my friends!"
Kagerou wa furious. She returned Akebono yelling.
“Then I'll do it! This big idiot destroyer!”
"You are much idiot! Not just an idiot but also a cold hearted! "
"Well then, I’ll divide it in two! The last may 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 far 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 fist. Looking at it, Akebon says even more.
"Haah, are you willing to hit? Please try. Kagerou-class can’t do anything you know!?”
Slap.
Dry sound echoed on the sea.
Akebono holds down her cheek. She stunned.
It was the same for Kagerou. She stared 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 is dazzling while holding tears in his eyes. It was her that we gave a slap to 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 I don’t mind being obedient and I get fight if I get angry.' Because it's on the sea, the footing is bad by the outsider viewpoint, at such time, Fleet Girl's Navigation Stabilizer were exerting tremendous power, contributing to the conflict of their owners. It is an tacit understanding that you can’t fire, but conversely you can do anything else. The cuteness of making a mark in 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 is within the imagination, but Ushio's is also considerable. Her scolding was as if to clear the 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 hits the mouth. [TL's note : What the hell Nagatsuki?]
“You bastard!”
Nagatsuki, whose face was red, joined the group. The torpedo tube sways like a sword, Mutsuki-class is weak because it was poorly balanced and the manufacturer was suspected for lying for not receiving new orders.
Akebono was kicked. Next to her, Ushio also was about to grab her. Instead, it’s Arare. She was joining the fight before long. It seems that the previous punch hit. You can see the seriousness from the fact that that Fleet Girl’s hat has been put on the back. I have never seen her angry so much at Kure. In an attempt to compensate for the disadvantage of her small build, she is kicking out a tornado-like kick.
"Uwaa, great. You're stressed up. "
Satsuki who tried to remain a spectator the sidelines was also dragged. Turned upside down, her face was thrusted into the sea surface. Her eyes when she got up is lifted, whoever was hit her. Apparently, it’s a slender but trained muscular body. There may be a secret pride that won’t her let 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 is in the middle of training and she's likely mourning to God.
"Hey, stop! Heavy cruisers and battleship people are watching! Stop…” Saying that, Kagerou's face was struck by training torpedo that struck by someone from somewhere. Kagerou was knocked down by the somersault hit.
She barely held her ground.
She slowly picked up the fallen torpedoes.
"Th... These stupid people!"
Any reason was gone 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 at far 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 after a while.” Takao looks at Atago.
“What to do?”
"Yeah ... it's my duty as a secretary ship to stop them."
Atago exhales. Takao heard it.
"How are you going to stop them?"
"Like this," Atago with her 20.3 cm guns turned to the Fleet Girls who were fighting. "Okay everyooone. If you don't stop within three seconds, I’ll shoot okaaay? One, two…” She said while smiling.
“Three.”
When Takao thought that she 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 sits at her desk. She doesn't seem to be particularly astonished. It is the same smile as usual. It was strange and scary to staring without turning.
"...This time is a deplorabe event but..."
Atago opened her mouth. Kagerou heart's 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 nothing 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 the armour being removed and being used as material for improvement and be thrown out from the Naval District. Your name and face photo will 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 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. I 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 to chatter. 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 in the outside.
Kagerou slipped her mouth instantaneously.
“No matter how you look at it, that is a good fortune for a quarrel punishment.’
"Kagerou-san, I'm going to make punishment for you a bit heavier. Because you’re the leader."
“Wh, why I’m the one….!”
“Be quiet.”
In a clear tone and glint in her 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 seems 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.’
‘It has become vain.’
‘I did a quarrel in front of Atago. I kicked 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 that can be labeled in the lowest rank Fleet Girl as 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 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 the letter to Shiranui. It turned out to be sad, knowing that they all were meaningless.’
Kagerou was depressed. Tears appear in her eyes.
"U…u…uuu…... "
Even if I tried to endure it, it didn’t stop.
"I’m… sorry... everyone ..."
Those who heard it stop 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. I realized that it’s shameful to cry in public, but I 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 lost, my emotions is overflowing endlessly. My immaturity, my heartlessness, my heart is 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 I there’s no Kagerou! 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's enjoying to be left behind. There's no human being who's happily exposing 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 standing still from the sight.
"I don't like destroyers because of this..."
No tears 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.]