Minato meets his ex-girlfriend

"..."

"Don't look so sad, do you still want to stay with your sister?"

"Of course I hope so. I like my sister the most."

"Then show some spirit."

The commander said dryly.

He also wanted to say the cool words that the male protagonist of a galgame says when he comforts the female character, but after he tried it once on his childhood sweetheart, the childhood sweetheart said that he looked disgusting, so he never tried it again.

Galgame is just a man's fantasy. The reality is that there is never enough room for fat guys to breathe.

"Thank you."

Zuikaku smiled, and the commander was even fascinated by this smile.

Although I despaired of this smile after that.

Zuikaku said: "はKわりか?"

Did she say it was over?

The people of Sakura always like to omit the subject. Like now, does she mean that the topic is over, or the relationship between the two people?

Whatever happens, the commander has already thought of the answer.

“Yes.”

This was the first time the commander used Japanese in a formal communication with Zuikaku, and he hoped that she could understand.

That's all.

"There's nothing to do today, you can go back and rest."

“…But there are still a lot of documents, right?”

"It's okay, it will be done soon."

The commander became more and more impressed with his ability to tell lies with open eyes.

Zuikaku: "I'll help you."

"..."

Hearing Zuikaku volunteer to help, the commander hesitated.

"Is it because you want to avoid suspicion?" Zuikaku suddenly said.

"what?"

"Because we had various relationships before, we need to keep our distance... and so on." Zuikaku said.

It was true, but the commander still didn't expect that Zuikaku would say this on his own initiative.

"Always keeping your distance means you care about the past, right? It proves you're still feeling guilty. If you really want to prove it, you should continue working as usual."

Zuikaku said, "It's just working together, nothing else."

"……I see."

The commander nodded.

The fact that Zuikaku took the initiative to bring up this matter shows that he really doesn't care about what happened in the past.

After Zuikaku joined the work, it only took half an hour.

She's so efficient! Zuikaku is still as good as before. I even feel like it wouldn't be a problem for me to resign as long as she's around.

“If you quit, where will you go?”

"..."

The commander felt like his mind was being read.

"If you really quit, I will find you back even if I have to go to hell."

"It won't be a big problem if I quit. The headquarters will pay me well, so there's no need to chase me to hell."

“That’s not the reason.”

Zuikaku shook his head and suddenly said, "Do you still like the older sister type?"

"what are you saying?"

"Is it still hidden in the folder of 'Main Ships of the Donghuang Navy during World War II' on Drive D?"

"!!!"

"It seems to be the same as before."

Zuikaku smiled charmingly, "You're still as easy to understand as before. After all, you're a boy who liked me."

The commander's mouth twitched, but he still stood up expressionlessly.

My stomach still feels a little uncomfortable, but I'd better go to bed early.

"Hello, Commander."

"what happened?"

"Oyasumi~"

"OK, good night."

Chapter 17 Zuikaku Kaiji

The third day since Zuikaku took office.

Today's secretary ship is Z2.

Originally according to the schedule, today's secretary ship should be Harman.

But something happened yesterday that caught his attention. On the second day after Zuikaku took office, the commander conducted an aircraft carrier combat readiness exercise as required, and some unexpected events occurred.

The strength displayed by Zuikaku was beyond his imagination. She was probably the most highly trained aircraft carrier in the world, bar none.

Z2 will be the secretary ship today because she is the calmest ship girl in the South Sea Port area.

They are going to review yesterday's combat readiness exercise.

"Zuihe's opponent is Shokaku. Based on their performance over the past few days, the two should be equally strong. Zuikaku may even be slightly weaker than Shokaku."

The commander said, "Yesterday, Zuikaku easily defeated Shokaku."

"Yes."

Z2 added, "And Shokaku's fleet also has the Akizuki-class destroyers as escorts. The Akizuki-class destroyers have the best air defense capabilities in our port area."

But in the end, he still lost.

"call……"

The commander took a deep breath and asked, "Are the results of the analysis out?"

"Out."

Z2 hesitated for a moment, "Level 162."

"..."

The commander narrowed his eyes, "I remember that Shokaku's training level is only 98, right?"

"Yes, I calculated it twelve times based on the parameters. Zuikaku's actual training level is between 158 and 165, and the average is 162."

"Incredible."

The commander sighed, "This level of training should have been changed to level 2?"

"Yes, Zuikaku's armor durability during the combat readiness exercise was impressive. She should have been upgraded to an armored aircraft carrier by the Kai-2 level."

"Tsk."

There are currently only two ship girls in the world that are recognized to have the second-level modified parameters.

One is the Royal Navy's patron saint, Warspite. Although she has only been modified once, she has anti-submarine characteristics after the modification.

If the commander had not been invited to see it with his own eyes at the Royal Military Exercise, he would never have believed it.

Half a year ago, the Warspite level was 147.

The other is Sakura Empire's Super Cruiser Azuma, who was born as a colorful ship and cannot retire. As Sakura Empire's trump card, she lives in seclusion and no one knows her level of training so far.

Although the Little Santiago is also a colorful boat, it cannot compare to these two modified boats.

Around the world, Kancolle Kai 2 is just a legend.

The first transformation can greatly enhance the ship's capabilities in all aspects, while the second transformation can add new features to the ship.

For example, the anti-submarine function of the Warspite Kai-2, or the Zuikaku Kai-2 which is suspected to be upgraded to an armored aircraft carrier.

Zuikaku is probably the world's first Kai-2 aircraft carrier. Before we get the specific parameters of Agatsuma, it is not an exaggeration to say that she is the second in the world after Warspite.

"So a new question arises, if Zuikaku really changes to level 2."

The commander held his forehead, "Why did Zuikaku deliberately lose to Shokaku the other day?"

“Maybe he’s concerned about his sister.” Z2 said.

"What about yesterday? Why did she suddenly stop caring about her sister and defeat Shokaku?"

"This……"

"Oh, I don't understand."

The commander muttered to himself.

Rather than reviewing the exercise, it is more like reviewing people's hearts.

Human hearts are far more complicated than the outcomes of victory or defeat that can be calculated using formulas alone.

Zuikaku's predecessor as admiral was Yoshino Yurika, a member of the Imperial Japanese Army.

The "Red Axis" formed by the Sakura Empire and the Iron Blood is on the opposite side of the "Azur Lane".

If we connect Zuikaku's behavior with the Yoshino lilies and the cherry blossoms...

"Anyway."

The commander put on his navy cap and took down his navy robe from the hanger.

It was late autumn and the weather was already cold. The commander put on his military uniform and adjusted his collar in front of the mirror.

"Let's go check on Shokaku in the infirmary."

………………

Infirmary.

"…I had a nightmare." Shokaku said.

“Worse than reality?”

The commander poured tea for Shokaku. He knew that Shokaku was not in a good condition.

It has always been like this since I was a child.

Just like this time, when Shokaku was injured during the military exercise, it would have been better to go to the hot springs and drain the water, but she chose to come to the infirmary.

The commander knew that she just wanted a place to be alone.

“…Really.”

Shokaku: "Please let me escape for a while."

"Are you okay with your health?"

"We should be able to resume work tomorrow."

"I can give you two more days off this time."

"Hey hey hey..."

Shokaku lay on the bed, tilting his head to look at the commander, "You really care about me, Shiro."