Hyper Ooichi and Nuinui 15

It would have been a normal morning, if not for the delivery of a TV far bigger than I needed to my room. I had insisted I ordered no such thing and had tried to refuse it, until it was pointed out to me that apparently they had been purchased for every room.

“Oh, isn't this impressive Shiranui?”

It covered up some of my photographs when mounted on the bureau.

“I didn't really need this...”

Ooi seems oblivious to my response, her eyes lit up with excitement as she turns the television on, marveling at the picture quality and sound.  It's a complete change from her countenance only a few days earlier.  I don't regret my decision. Ooi is clicking through the channels before leaving it on a music channel.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9NSR-2DwM]

I remember her face vividly. It was more than one of sadness, it was one of complete defeat. Like she had given up on life. In retrospect I never really had a choice; to turn her away would be morally wrong thing to do.  I regret asking her such a blunt and insensitive question.  I never want to see such a face on her again.  She... Ooi... Ooi was the first person to ever give me a present.  Well, maybe that's not entirely true. Kagerou has given things to me before, but I can't really describe why it's different.  Perhaps it's that Kagerou is more of family than anything else, our ship class's big sister.  I never expected anything in return for the meager assistance I had provided to Ooi that day.  Yet there she was, handing me a gift.  I knew at that moment, I had to reach out, to establish a connection with her; a friendship.  Kagerou always told me that I needed to spend more time with others.  I never understood her reasoning at the time, but maybe now I can see what she was getting at.

It was a peaceful morning.

- - -


The morning passed by.  I could almost describe it as idyllic.  I went over to bathroom mirror and straightened out my ribbon. “Do you wish to go to lunch now, Ooi?” I called to her over the TV.

“Oh! Yeah. That sounds good.”

We leave my [our] room into the stunning midday sun.

“Chikuuumaaa~, Chikuuumaaaaa~” Tone's distinct voice calls out from below.  They must have been released this morning. We take the stairs down the to the ground floor to see Tone and Chikuma both in swimwear, sitting on lawn-chairs out in the sun. I don't really get it. Chikuma raises her sunglasses to look over at her sister. “What is it, Tone nee-san?”

“I would like... a square watermelon.”

“Eh? Watermelons are always round though.”

“Well, usually, but I saw a square watermelon, they exist for sure!”

“Tone Nee-san... Are you lying to me?” Chikuma tilts her head forward to peer at Tone.

“Tsh! Of course not, I wouldn't lie to my sister. I was enlightened to the existence of square watermelons from the television!” Tone exclaims this proudly, as if nothing could prove her wrong.

I decided to try and help clear things up. “You can't just take everything you see on the television as fact.”

Tone stands up to look at me and points her thumb at her chest. “I will not be doubted! It was a not an illusion! They were being sold at a market. I saw it during one of those advertisements. You know, the ones that are interrupted by some silly drama or cartoon occasionally.”

“What's so special about a square watermelon anyway?” Ooi asks.

Tone's antics pause for a moment, the boilers in her head going at full steam. “Kkhhh! Gaaah... Well they must be amazing! And delicious! Why else would they be so expensive?”  Chikuma steps infront of Tone, grabing both her hands; prompting Tone to look up at her sister.  “I'll be sure to do my best to get it for you, Tone nee-san”

“Chii- Chiiikuuumaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

My attention isn't towards the two aviation cruisers, rather what's behind them. A submarine with a short mop of peach hair carrying what appears... to... be... a square-ish watermelon. Ooi Nudges me slightly

“Oh my, Shiranui, is that what they're talking about?”

Before I can tell her the mistake she's just made, Tone and Chikuma both turn their heads to see the cubical fruit.

“Eh?”    “Ah...”

The submarine notices the deathly gazes she's receiving and turns her head to face the two cruisers.  “W-w-what do you want from me, dechi?”

“There it is Chikuma! It does exist! I must have some!” Tone wastes no time standing around and immediately sets off towards the submarine

“N-NOOOOOO LEAVE ME ALONE DECHIII” Goya herself sprints off away from the approaching cruiser, still tightly hugging the watermelon.

“Tone nee-saan! Wait for me!” Chikuma calls after her sister.

- - -

We got our food and found seats across from a glum looking Yuudachi, an expression very unusual for her.  She barely acknowledges us as we greet her.  Ooi's looking at me and flicks her eyes towards Yuudachi.  Ah.  I see. “Uhm, Yuudachi. Is everything alright?” I ask her.  She stops eating her potatoes for a moment.

“Kinda [tlnote: poi].  It's just Shigure. She's... not doing alright.”
“Oh, unfortunate. Do you need help with anything?”
“No, it's fine.”

Well, seems like that's it then. I'm about to bite into my lunch when I feel an impact on my shin. “Oww...”  Did Ooi do that? I take a look at her and she's giving me this incredulous look. I shrug and quietly whisper “What?” to her. She just rolls her eyes at me. I don't get it.  She leans over the table a bit to talk to Yuudachi.

“Does this have something to do with Kitakami? I know she was was b-” Yuudachi interupts her.
“She was there, but It wasn't really her fault, poi.”
“What happened?”  Ooi asks back.
“Eh, why don't you just talk to Kitakami?” Yuudachi sounds a bit annoyed.  Ooi looks a little unsure of how to follow up.  “Well, I just wanted the whole story.”  Yuudachi seems to be appeased by that answer and takes a mouthful of food in before replying back.  “She was attacked by some of those annoying dogs the Americans brought over.  Ended up hiding in a tree threatening to... kill herself.  I think Kitakami and the yankee admiral tried to help her out.  I guess it wasn't a very sturdy tree as it ended up breaking and knocking Shigure out.  I'm not entirely sure where she is now.”

Ooi looks relieved. I guess she didn't want Kitakami to be responsible for that altercation? “I hope you can clear things up with her, Yuudachi.”
“ Yeah, thanks.”

That short conversation ended up being all that was spoken until Yuudachi left, having already been about halfway through her meal when we first sat down.  Ooi is the first to say something:  “I'm really glad Kitakami didn't do anything bad.  I guess I'm just being presumptuous again.”
“I'm surprised you can care about her even now.” The screech of fork on plate.
“I... I could never hate her.” Comes Ooi's carefully measured voice.


 I'm not very good at this sort of thing.
- - -

As we exist the defac we both stand on the concrete steps for a moment, surveying the area.  An average amount of traffic for late afternoon it seems.  I notice Ooi seems to be looking down... around at my hand? When I try and make eye contact with her she seems to find something interesting in the opposite direction.  I take the lead down the steps, and I hear the sounds of Ooi's footsteps behind me.  We pass by a few familiar faces walking on the sidewalk, including a frustrated looking Zuikaku, who had asked us if we had seen her sister.  Her face seemed to grow more gaunt and distressed when we told we had not seen Shoukaku around.  I'm watching a few sailors argue across the street as we continue towards our housing when I notice Ooi has stopped moving.  I notice the reason why she stopped soon enough.   About 50 meters away I see the unmistakable olive green uniform on a girl, the same one as Ooi's. “I'm going to talk to her.” She says suddenly, walking forward. The two figures stop about 10 meters infront of me, well within hearing distance. Those two have always been together, but probably never like this; a confrontation. “Hello Kitakami!” Comes Ooi's cheeful voice. Kitakami doesn't even turn to look at her, stopping perpendicular to Ooi.

“What do you want?”
Ooi isn't put off by her curt response.  “I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“Do you have anything important to tell me?” Kitakami almost sounds bored, still not looking at Ooi.
“I'm sorry for causing trouble earlier, but I just wanted to know if maybe... we could go have lunch together tomorrow? We could even go o-”
“No.” Kitakami finally turns to look at Ooi. “You've already found someone else to leech off of. Why are you trying to bother me still?”
Ooi is trying hard to keep it together, her legs shaking. “But we... I don't know what... I still l-”
“We're through.” Ooi's body goes limp, her  hands that she held to her chest dangle, her head slumped down.  Kitakami starts to walk away from her coming towards me.

Her face... [no] It's just like before. My fists and jaw clench tight, my vision blurs all but Kitakami. Why? Why is she doing this.  [I let Ooi make that face again]  I don't even remember the kind of expression Kitakami had on. As she passes I hold out my hand, blocking her path. Kitakami furors her eyebrows, looking at me. “What do YOU want?”

“Why are you doing this?” My voice is louder than I expected.
“Huh?” Not defiant, but confused.
“I don't know the details of your falling-out with Ooi. I do now that she has not said a single negative thing about you.”
“...And?”
“AND yet you treat her like she is nothing, merely a piece of garbage that happened to roll in front of your path.  She clearly still cares a lot about you, yet you can't even show her a modicum of respect?”

There's no quick witty comeback from Kitakami, a look nearing remorse shows on her features.
“It doesn't really matter.” Her response does nothing to quench me. As I take a step forward Kitakami also steps back in turn. My voice drops to an intense whisper.   “Until you can apologize to her, I don't want you anywhere near her.”  She doesn't reply aside from a skeptical look.  I continue on, “You will not be near her, you will not let her see  or hear you, and you will certainly not talk to her at all. Do you understand?”
“You're joking, right?”
I repeat myself slowly. “Do. You. Understand?”
“And what are you going to do if I don't?”
“I will remove you from the area.”

For the first time in our meeting Kitakami's demeanor turns serious. We lock gazes and the world outside us seems to stop. If there were sakura petals blowing in the wind it would be the beginning of a cliché samurai duel.  Her hands tense up, betraying a will to fight. I ready my left hand to draw the concealed stiletto I carry on my hip, for an occasion such as this. I won't be baited into attacking first.

But the attack never comes, Kitakami's shoulders slump down, and she mutters something inaudible before moving around me. The only thing I hear from her is a “Fine.” as she walks past [strike her].

- - -

I don't remember the journey back to our room. All I remember is grabbing Ooi's hand and almost pulling her along. She's sitting on the edge of the lower bunk, eye's glazed over.  I need... to do something... nngh. I suddenly feel a little nauseous and hot. I go into the bathroom and flip the light on, revealing my flushed face in the mirror.  I rip my neck ribbon off, and take off my vest before unbuttoning a few of my shirt's top buttons.  It's not until I splash water on my face do I realize how quickly I'm breathing. I look at my reflection, taking deep breathes until I feel a sense of calm again.  I don't understand. These are all... Post combat stress symptoms. I've been in pitched battles before and never felt this way. Why now?

I walk back into the other room. Ooi's in the same place. I can't just do nothing.

…

Maybe I should talk about something?

…

Oh, I'm going to put a mark in the rug with all this pacing.

I clear my throat, guess I'll just talk about... “You know, I've always thought myself as a weapon. I thought it was obvious, we're still warships after all.” Still no response from Ooi.  “But I still recognized the duality of my situation.  Normal weapons don't have the same kind of will or choices like we do. That's why I turned to history... I tried to find some sort of... moral compass.”

I'm just rambling at this point. But I don't know what else to do.

“I don't really know if I learned anything useful.”  I took a seat next to Ooi, the bed bouncing slightly. Maybe silence was best? It was a few minutes before anything else happened.

“Kitakami was the first person I met.” Ooi's voice is quiet at first, but grows in intensity as she continues on.  “I just remember being on a beach, looking for anyone, and then she was there. She grabbed my hands and told me that she would watch out for me and teach me.  I felt like I knew her name before she even said anything.  We did everything together.  Kitakami was never unkind to me.  Yet... something happened. Someone changed. Maybe both of us.  I eventually I got to know more and more people.  I felt that Kitakami was somehow stagnating.  Like that once I was able to take care of myself she lost her purpose.  I wanted to repay her. For both of us to be happy.  Maybe I was too pushy...” Ooi's tone turns to one of anger and annoyance.  “Kitakami seemed to react to everything with either apathy or dislike!  I can't even remember the last time we... held hands.” Ooi leans back on the bed,  bouncing her legs off the side. “It's so pathetic, but even now I wish we were still together. Even though I'm next to someone who probably cares just as much as she did.  I guess I'm just a selfish girl.”

What is she talking about?

Is she talking about me?  Guhnuinuinui... Just keep cool.

“I don't mind... indulging you.” Like that? [Yeah] Perfect.

Ooi shoots up, sitting up straight, looking right at me, redder than a fresh apple.  “D-don't joke around like that...”

- - - -
Ooi's mood quickly improved after that. I have to get ready for my own... private sortie. They put on camoflague for land operations right? Music drifts into the bathroom from the speakers. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KeWr8WPQ_s] I take some of the black facepaint and streak it across my forehead and nose.

“Shiranui that isn't how you use make-up. Do you need some help?” I jump a little bit. I didn't know she was over my shoulder.

“N-no I don't need... I'm not putting on make-up.  It's... concealment. I'm going on a-uh. Sneaking mission. The use of stealth is required.”