From Akigumo's Sketchbook 1: Brave New World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2yzMhNkgsk
Alternatively, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KMzDVf2Bx4

I love this naval base.

I remember when I first came here after I returned. The old crane gantries, sentry outposts, flak pits and administration buildings that I know from back then were gone. So much has changed over the years; at first I didn’t recognize that this was, in fact, my old home. But as soon as I went into the docks, the old familiar memories started rushing back: the light waves washing against my hull while I was docked, the hum and bustle of dock workers doing maintenance on me and my sisters, the flurry of supply trucks ferrying fuel and provisions across the base’s paved roads, and the measured steps of the officers and enlisted men that went about their way across the base. Suddenly I was back in 1941, back when things were so simple, and the war was a fire in the distance that I didn’t care about.

I hated going back. It reminded me of my humiliating defeat at the hands of a submarine. I dreaded thinking how my countrymen would judge me as a failure. I was a Kagerou-class, one of the finest destroyers ever made for His Imperial Majesty’s navy. I helped sink the Hornet, the carrier that dared to strike our home at a time when we ruled the Pacific waves. I was certain that I wasn’t really welcome at Yokosuka anymore, but what I saw caught me by surprise.

Admiral Goto was there at the docks. He was the first to greet me as I anchored. He was a really big guy, and very intimidating to boot; I was certain that he would give me a thorough dressing down. Oddly though, he sounded very relieved to see me, like a father waiting for his daughter who was late in coming home from school. He was patient enough in listening to the circumstances of my return, and instead of giving me a disciplinary action he gave me my new orders as a member of the modern Maritime Defense Forces. Throughout the whole debriefing, he had this tired but content smile on his face.

Everything about the new Yokosuka was alien to me. I was shocked to find that the Americans now share the port with us, and what’s more, Japan is relying heavily on the United States for defense assistance. The Old and Proud Navy is gone, I remember telling myself so many times on my first few weeks here. I felt so detached from everyone here, and I spent most of the time outside sorties to myself. I didn’t feel like I belong at the base anymore.

It’s funny when you realize that wallowing in your own self-pity keeps you from seeing the people who are worried about your well-being. The Admiral has been very professional with me, but I can feel his concern. Kongou and her sisters always invite me for tea, and it’s only recently that I’ve actually come to enjoy those small breaks. I get words of encouragement from Akagi whenever she passes me in the cafeteria, and her sister Kaga does so too, in her roundabout way. The other destroyer girls have been helping me to adapt to the changing times, and now I fully appreciate the help they’ve extended to me.

I guess I managed to make a full recovery after being able to meet up with the girls of Carrier Division 5 again. Shoukaku was warm all around, and even after how many times I brushed her off with my gloom-and-doom attitude, she would still be there with that warm smile of hers. Her sister, meanwhile, tended to pick on me good-naturedly, and was actually the one who suggested I pick up a hobby to help me get along. I then remembered when my crew drew sketches of Hornet’s demise, and suddenly, inspiration struck.

I started out sketching the dockside to get a feel of it. Before long, I moved on to adding more detail to my work, accentuating colors, adjusting shadings, even personally applying beta inking. Eventually, I leveled up to adding people in my drawings, and slowly but surely I started to do my own coloring as well. I saw Yokosuka in a whole new light thanks to this, and the people in it are no longer just ‘people’ to me. They’ve become my family, and I’ve learned to appreciate their company more. Little by little, I've come to appreciate their company, and now I feel much closer to everyone here.

It’s always refreshing to go home from a successful escort mission and be able to spend time alone at my desk, scribbling away something interesting that caught my eye during the day. Like a pod of dolphins racing and jumping across the water, the short-lived dusk of a January day at sea, or people waving at us while we pass by a fishing boat or a beach. At times, people would catch me while I’m still sketching, and I’d feel pretty embarrassed whenever they praise me for what I’m doing. I’ve actually received a couple of compliments from the local SDF sailors who suggest I should get into the doujin manga business when I can. Following that, I’ve actually managed to score a spot as an artist for a small circle that does shoujo manga. Maybe I can go do that full-time when the war is over?

Being able to immortalize these memories with my drawings helps me appreciate the value of being able to return to Yokosuka after any sortie. I’m glad that I have a place to call home. The times may have changed, the old Yokosuka may have come and gone, and the people that I used to know may no longer be here, but it is still my homeport all the same. The docks, the facilities, the ships, and most importantly, the people, make it beautiful. I will fight tooth and nail to make sure it stays that way. After all, I can’t leave this place until I’ve completed my greatest masterpiece, right?