Work Text:
Days off were rare for someone like the commander, who was always absorbed with work – in some shape or form. It should have been in the name – that the day was cleared of official duty – yet Tatsuya Yukimura found a way to get something done. Even if that meant using a bit of the morning for light paperwork, and even if it meant hosting a brief meeting with Belfast regarding the itinerary for August.
Still, he’d be wise not to complain. Time off to decompress, was still just that…
Valuable time off.
Even completing a little bit of his ongoing work satisfied him – and he used that knowledge to relax. It made it much easier to enjoy the views Hawaii had to offer; Port Pacific, the Kansen base he led, was just a few dozen kilometers from Honolulu. True to its reputation, the city had loads to offer – whether it was basking at a beach, or being the venue for a fun little shopping trip.
Observing the sea while stationed at Hawaii was also, say, different from doing so at the mainland Eagle Union. To the commander, it truly felt like there was nothing but water as far as the eye could see – perhaps natural, given that they were on an island. It changed a few key bits – namely how it felt when the breeze caressed his tan face. He always enjoyed that sensation, even if he loathed the oceans themselves – once upon a time.
Yuki leaned over to rest his forearms and hands atop a guard rail, letting his eyes soak in the scenery of the blue – above and below. Hawaii’s August heat was sharp; comfortably respecting this, was his attire – a navy blue polo, beige khakis, and brown moccasins. A pair of aviators, gold wristwatch, and a wooden bead bracelet on the opposite arm coordinated to finish his look; it was hot, but there were ways to remain stylish.
“Enjoying the breeze, commander?”
His head snapped to his right.
“… Sorry,” apologized the commander. “This… is a pretty nice view.”
There was a giggle. “Lucky for you, I’m proud of the shots I’ve taken. Just don’t go dozing off, okay?”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Boredom’s not possible when you’re around, Memphis.”
“Hah,” huffed the cruiser. “A good choice of words, but stale. You’d better make it up to me~.”
A smirk from the good admiral. “Would you like scrubbing with a side of paperwork?”
“Very funny,” replied Memphis as she rolled her eyes. “… I have snapped some great photos, though. Wanna see them now?”
“I don’t doubt that, but no.”
Memphis considered this. “… The screen on my camera’s too small?”
“Pretty much,” explained the commander. “Best viewed on a television or monitor, don’t you think?”
“Fair enough,” answered Memphis. The cruiser was an avid photographer, and this was their current outing – a photography trip Yuki had promised her several weeks ago. The day’s plan had been to sight-see, get lunch, and record the various tourist destinations and other attractions across the city. Memphis had swapped her usual clothes for a more relaxed look – a denim jacket over a white t-shirt, denim shorts, and a pair of black high-top sneakers. Admittedly, Yuki had cringed when he saw a gray scarf draped over her shoulders, but then he remembered how Kansen could actually tolerate this kind of heat. He’d have felt envy, if he felt envy at all – the ship-girls never truly stopped amazing him.
The commander considered this a trip with a respected friend and colleague.
The cruiser considered this a date.
… Well, the commander also considered it a date – if only partially – but really, the term itself wasn’t important. What was important was to spend time with someone he liked. Then again, he couldn’t say that part out loud. ‘Women can change as quickly as Chicago’s wind,’ or so the heavy cruiser herself would tell him.
Yuki’s gaze returned to the ocean. “… Any complaints about lunch?”
“If you were the type to suggest terrible food, Yuki, I wouldn’t have agreed to this.”
The commander took his arms off of the railing. “… I’m glad you enjoyed the scallop dish.”
“I disliked them before, but today changed that.” Memphis adjusted her baseball cap. “I honestly wasn’t expecting you’d remember.”
“I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I forgot,” reasoned the commander with a chuckle. “Sometimes, all it takes is one good restaurant.”
“Not what I was getting at, but okay.”
The commander blinked. “… What do you mean?”
“You are in charge of a naval base filled with several dozens, if not hundreds of ship-girls.” Memphis retorted with a scoff. “That’s not even counting the thousands of other port personnel, and dealing with all the politics that arise from it. You somehow manage all this at twenty-four years old… I wouldn’t be mad if you forgot, you know.”
Yuki stared at Memphis for a few seconds before looking back at the ocean. “Isn’t that natural, though? The more I spend time here, the more in-tune I am with everyone’s needs.”
“Heh.” Memphis twirled her hair a bit. “… Don’t get too cocky. We still have many trials ahead of us.”
A smile from the good admiral. “… Just another day at the office.”
The cruiser winced. “Oh, please. We’re on vacation – don’t bring that up so casually.”
“Aren’t you the one who accumulates all-nighters like it’s nobody’s business?”
Memphis shrugged as she moved closer to the barrier. “… What can I say? I don’t have much time to relax, compared to some of the others – I am a researcher as well, after all.”
There was a pause from the commander before he replied. “… Thanks for that.”
The cruiser shook her head. “It’s just my duty. Though, I expect you to praise me like that more.”
“I can do that.”
“Only because I deserve it, I hope~.” Memphis teased. “… And not for some other reason.”
The commander cast his eyes down. “… Look, Memphis.”
“Yes?”
Yuki took a few seconds to inspect the camera Memphis had around her neck – suspended from a black-and-teal strap. To his knowledge, the cruiser had made the purchase after their most recent operation; he wouldn’t forget something like that, because he remembered checking the price after she had texted the commander about it.
Though the Kansen were compensated very handsomely for their service, the thought of spending several thousand on electronics made him shudder. It led him to a rather humble conclusion – Memphis took photography as seriously as any other line of work.
Which meant that she was dead serious about this outing, and the commander frankly adored that kind of effort.
“… It wasn’t too long ago that we beat the First and Third Carrier Divisions,” stated Yuki. “Kinda hard to believe it was last October, right?”
Memphis sighed. “… As I said, commander, we’re on-”
“It’s relevant, don’t worry.”
The cruiser pursed her lips. “… Then, you were saying?”
“Akagi, and Kaga…” The commander began as he locked eyes with Memphis. “Souryū, and Hiryū… Kongou and her sisters. They’re all priceless members of our fleet now. Friends, even. Yet it wasn’t too long ago that they were our enemies.”
The cruiser shrugged. “… Well, yeah. What about it?”
“The same technology that lets us build the Kansen, is the same technology that lets us revive them.”
Memphis nodded. “That is the power of science. We still have ways to go, but, things once thought to be miracles are now simply… possibilities.”
“Well, I’m just grateful,” acknowledged the commander as he adjusted his aviators. “… For people like you.”
“I know you are, and whatever else you wish to say, I’m flattered.” Memphis answered. “… Stay at my side, and I guarantee you’ll learn more. Heh.”
“… And I don’t mean as a soldier, Memphis.” The commander went on. “You’ve been a scientist for much longer than you’ve known me for, and I know you have another sister at the mainland who’s contributed a lot herself.”
She blinked. “You mean Marblehead?”
“Yeah.”
Memphis shrugged with a smile. “I see. I suppose that’s not surprising.”
“Well, Cubetech Engineering is also what I studied,” remarked Yuki. “Cadets being able to get a complete education… is what I consider essential.”
Memphis adjusted her bangs. “… That certainly explains a few things. It takes a lot of diligence to get that degree.”
The commander shifted in place uncomfortably. “… I had a lot of time on my hands.”
“I’m sure you did, but still – this is the end result.” The cruiser said as she leaned back against the rail. “… What subject did you struggle with the most?”
There was no hesitation from the commander. “Applications of Quantum Cryptography.”
Memphis burst into a giggle. “Oh, God. Not even you were immune to that topic, I see.”
There was a nod. “… It was the only blemish on my otherwise perfect transcript.”
“Uh…? Do I even want to know?”
Yuki frowned a little. “I got an A, but all my other grades were A-pluses.”
The cruiser paused for a few seconds before replying, looking hard at her commander. “… You sure are capable, commander. Was there anything you weren’t good at?”
The commander looked away with a defeated smile. “Making friends.”
Memphis straightened herself. “… That’s the biggest surprise I’ve heard. You, who managed to persuade the Sakura girls into joining the fleet… What, you really didn’t have anyone?”
“I, uh… don’t want to talk about it further.”
The cruiser sighed. “… If I may, Yuki?”
“Yeah?”
Memphis turned to face the ocean again. “Your time at the academy had nothing to do with the Seneca Incident, right?”
“… Yeah.”
“Then why not open up a little?”
Silence.
Memphis clicked her tongue once. “… My apologies. If it’s that painful to think about, don’t force the issue.”
An instant reaction from the commander. “Thank you for understanding.”
Memphis cringed. Her aim had been to nudge the commander in the right direction, but she wasn’t able to get the response she wanted. Then again, she knew better than to press further – and, frankly, the explanation was probably very simple.
The Siren attack, which had obliterated Yuki’s hometown several years ago, had forced him to deal with scars on his psyche for the rest of his life. Even now, as the commander of Port Pacific, he battled with it.
This was also his way of saying, ‘let’s leave the past in the past’.
So, Memphis obliged – but let him know her thoughts on the matter.
“I will say this, though, commander.”
“… Yeah?”
“At this point, most of us are already familiar with your file,” clarified Memphis. “It isn’t difficult to figure out that you’re trying to move on – however it may manifest. So I won’t bring it up again.”
“… Thanks.”
“And, yet…” Memphis folded her arms. “… There must have been times you’re still nostalgic about… right?”
“Well, I do still have some good memories.”
A smile from the cruiser. “Okay. Then let’s talk about those, if you’re okay with it.”
“… Fine by me. What would you like to know?”
“Well, you’ve seen it already, right?” Memphis said as her arms returned to her sides. “How curious everyone is about you. Believe me. You took to all of us as though it were the most natural thing in the world. And then, you infuriated a good few of us when you suggested the Sakura girls be revived… but the next thing I knew, Washington and Amagi are having barbecue together.”
“And I could have never accomplished any of that on my own.”
“True.” Memphis answered with a giggle. “But, I wonder… if it were anyone else in your shoes, would they have done the same thing? I suppose it matters little, though. It’s you that’s my commander.”
“… I take your words to mean you appreciate me.”
Memphis hummed. “Oh, you’re still disappointing in some respects, commander~. Think of something to cheer me up, why don’t you?”
The commander scoffed and gazed up at the sky. “… Well, what was it that you wanted to know?”
“The man who keeps bringing the port closer together… is the same man who says he had an awful academy experience,” remarked Memphis. “You know why I invited you here? Because I respect that drive of yours.”
“… People grow up all the time, Memphis.” Yuki deflected with a slight blush. “Actions speak louder than words ever could.”
The cruiser smirked. “That’s the truth, isn’t it? Well, your actions led you here – on a trip with me – so, congrats.”
At the moment, Memphis was careful to avoid using the word ‘date’. Being too on-the-nose would spoil the atmosphere she had painstakingly created.
Yuki took a moment before replying. “… Memphis.”
“Hm?”
“Your sisters, as well as several other Cubetech researchers… they all helped refine the Kansen Construction Machine, right? Over the years?”
“… Of course.”
“When we first went to war with the Crimson Axis, the directive was to neutralize and retrieve their riggings. You do this with the right ordnance calculations.” The commander recounted. “… I went a step further and recommended we revive the Sakura girls as soon as possible, instead of kicking the can down the road.”
“Uh-huh.”
“… Yet if it weren’t for you, my plan wouldn’t have worked.”
Memphis blinked. “Um…”
“That’s why I’m grateful to you, Memphis,” acknowledged Yuki. “… You, Ingraham, Raleigh, and Yuubari. Plus, all the countless others who gave those girls a new lease at life, and… for getting Akagi her long-lost sister back.”
Memphis felt her heart flutter. There was something about the commander stressing the cruiser’s importance, that shook her to her core.
He hadn’t been lying.
He really did see her as more than just a soldier.
“W-Well, commander…” The cruiser cleared her throat. “I’m glad you see it my way! We all have different roles to play, and we’re all good at different things – aren’t we? We’ll do whatever necessary to keep our friends safe.”
“That we will.”
“H-Hang on a minute!” Memphis balked. “This isn’t supposed to be about work, no matter how compelling you make it!”
Yuki giggled. “Okay, okay. But don’t forget, okay?”
Memphis blushed. “… I won’t. Don’t worry about that.”
Well, commander – this won’t do. You couldn’t make me forget – even if you wanted to.
Yuki nodded. “So, what did you want to ask me?”
“… Ever been on an outing like this, commander?”
The commander sighed. “… Only with Prince of Wales one time, and Illustrious another.”
The cruiser twirled her hair in thought. “… Sounds like fun.”
“But, I guess those weren’t the times you were asking about.”
“Indeed. I did mean before you were a cadet.”
The commander shrugged. “… I mean, before I was eighteen, I was an ordinary teenager. Working a teenager’s job, and attending high school.”
The cruiser shook her head. “Don’t be like that, Yuki. Adolescence is still part of life, right?”
Yuki pondered this for a moment. “… You’re right. Sorry. But, really, it wasn’t all that.”
Memphis flipped her hair. “… Really?”
“Really.”
Looks like it was time to be more direct. “Let’s backtrack a bit, then. Before you were a cadet, you never went out with a girl like this?”
Yuki scratched his cheek. “… Well, yeah. I hadn’t. I never met anyone I liked, at high school.”
“But you did have a crush at some point, did you not?”
“I mean, I did. Fantasies are just fantasies, though.”
“… Wow,” huffed Memphis. “You must have been one of those ‘too mature for his age’ types.”
Yuki sighed. “… Like I said, my adolescence wasn’t all that. It’s healthier to gravitate towards the things that actually interest you, right?”
“I suppose so. But are you seriously saying you’ve never experienced love?”
“I mean… I have.”
The cruiser’s brows arched up. “Oh? Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Like I said, though – people should only gravitate towards things that actually interest them.”
“… What does that mean, exactly?”
“It means I did have a girlfriend. Once.”
Well, that was blunt.
“… You didn’t meet her at school, commander?”
The commander’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “… Met her online, as a matter of fact.”
“… Oh.”
“Mhm,” nodded the commander. “I had just turned seventeen, and it was on an anime forum. We got to talking, and soon became close friends. Video called and everything – and both of our parents were fine with it.”
Memphis scratched her cheek a bit. “So, uh… what happened?”
The commander rubbed his neck. “… Okay, I guess I should start from the top.”
“Please do.”
“Her name was Annie – a girl from the Northern Parliament.” The commander recounted his tale. “We were the same age, but Annie was the withdrawn type. Didn’t have that many friends at school. But online, she was snappy, funny, and pretty knowledgeable. Especially with languages – she knew five of them, including English. It always kinda felt like she was happier on the internet.”
“She told you that herself, Yuki?”
“… Well, she never said it directly, but that’s the vibe I got.”
Memphis considered this. “I’m no psychiatrist, but it doesn’t sound like you’re too bothered about not being around her.”
“I mean, we did break up…”
Memphis pursed her lips. “… I suppose you did.”
“Oh, but it was amicable. No hard feelings at all.”
There was a mild sigh of relief from the cruiser. “… Glad to hear that.”
“Despite her bellyaching, she was a pretty studious girl,” noted Yuki. “We started talking less and less, and began drifting apart. I didn’t bother saying anything, because I always thought it’d be way too awkward.”
“Perhaps it would have, but…”
Memphis’ voice trailed off. She wanted to add something – how not communicating kills – but then it dawned to her that Yuki probably already knew that. After all, he now held a post where not communicating actually would kill.
All the same, though, Yuki raised a brow. “But?”
Memphis waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s nothing. You were saying?”
“… Well, when it came time for our senior year, we broke up. This was the September of 2013.”
“… Sorry, Yuki.”
“Life goes on, as they say,” commented the commander. “I guess the craziest bit about all this, is that I didn’t actually feel bad after.”
Memphis blinked. “Huh?”
“Well, we were seniors…” Yuki explained. “… And I knew she had ambitions of pursuing a Master’s someday. From that angle, I actually felt a bit relieved.”
There was genuine surprise from Memphis. “What? You felt relief?”
Yuki shrugged. “… No matter how you slice it, the fact remained that we were thousands of miles from each other.”
The cruiser managed to regain her composure. “Oh, well, I mean… I suppose you aren’t wrong. Still, this is genuinely a first – the internet is truly a powerful tool, isn’t it? Getting to connect with people who share your views and interests.”
“And we did talk about meeting up, but I guess we both knew that temporary visits were just that – temporary.”
The cruiser’s expression stiffened. “… Then, do you still remain in contact with her?”
“She sent me condolences after, uh… you-know-what.”
Memphis covered her eyes with her baseball cap for a few seconds, choosing to not speak. Fortunately for her, the commander broke their impromptu silence – with more gratifying news.
“… She also congratulated me on my new post,” affirmed Yuki. “She was pretty perplexed at first, though.”
Memphis chuckled. “Even though it was all over the news?”
“Yeah, even then…”
“… So, how is she doing now?”
“She got accepted into the program she wanted,” said the commander with a warm smile. “In two years, she’ll be a Master of Linguistics.”
The cruiser returned his smile. “… That’s good to know. She’s trying very hard, isn’t she?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you’d better work even harder, commander~.” Memphis pressed. “… But with such great influences in your life, it’d be impossible not to – right?”
She was correct, of course. The commander had gotten help every step throughout his life – from his long-parted family, from his instructors, from his ex, and now from his Kansen companions.
Yuki turned to lock eyes with the cruiser. “Then keep following me, Memphis. I will always put you in the best possible position to succeed. I swear it.”
“You will, won’t you?” Memphis giggled. “Then, you’d better not lose sight of me.”
“I won’t.”
“Glad to hear it.”
The commander leaned against the railing. “So, uh…”
“What’s up?”
“… How about you? Who was your first love?”
The cruiser glanced off to the side. “Hmph~.”
“… Don’t feel like answering?”
“Do you expect every girl to just kiss and tell, Yuki?” Memphis teased. “… But, that’s the first time anyone’s ever expressed interest in something like that, so…”
“… You really don’t have to, if you don’t feel like it.”
The cruiser looked out into the ocean. “It was several years ago. You were probably just entering your teens, actually.”
“Interesting.”
Memphis rolled her eyes. “I haven’t even started yet…”
“I’ll shut up, then.”
The cruiser sighed softly. “… I was out bar hopping in Nashville. It was close to a college, so I happened to meet several students.”
“… You were there for business, or?”
Memphis shrugged. “Curiosity, mainly. I suppose experiencing the college nightlife was something important to me, despite not being… well, mortal.”
“I think I follow.”
“College students and alcohol don’t really make a great mix, though.”
“… I think I follow.”
“And being a Kansen means that you’re always somehow in the public eye,” remarked Memphis. “… Some people recognized me from the get-go, and since I was at a bar, the corny pick-up lines started flooding in.”
The commander smiled nervously. “Er…”
“And that was from both men and women,” explained Memphis with a sigh. “College kids can be a pretty silly bunch.”
Yuki shook his head. “… So, how does this all end?”
Memphis paused for a few moments before answering. “… He was twenty-one at the time. A junior. He approached me, and was a pretty good conversationalist. He studied accounting, and was pretty passionate about his field.”
“Sounds like he didn’t let the booze get to him.”
There was a brief giggle. “Yeah, I suppose so. Though, it was fairly obvious – he was treating me differently because I was a ship-girl. Still, that wasn’t so bad… he liked what I had to say, and listened to me.”
“… That’s good to hear.”
“Long story short… we became closer, and started dating. We did the typical couple things. I was happy, and so was he.”
“So… what happened?”
The cruiser flipped her hair. “… He broke up with me over text.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yuki’s eyes then widened in horror when he processed what he was just told.
“WAIT, WHAT?!”
Memphis was unflinching. “And he was very truthful about it, too.”
The commander managed to recover some of his poise. “Truth… truthful about what, exactly…?”
Memphis closed her eyes and exhaled. “The novelty of dating a ship-girl wore off. He realized on his own – that we had completely different paths in life. And… I suppose I couldn’t fault him for that. He said he was happy, but that happiness only lasted for so long.”
“Still, though!” Yuki exclaimed. “Text?!”
“He said, and I quote, ‘meeting up will only interfere with your schedule and duties’.”
“… Huh?”
The cruiser adjusted her baseball cap. “… That’s when I knew he was telling the truth. He brought attention to something substantial in my life, rather than flooding my notifs with flowery words – with little to no substance.”
“… Well, when you put it that way, I can see the logic.”
“Besides, what was I going to do? Dress up immaculately, only to discover he’s moving on with his life?”
“… That is hard to argue with…”
“It was still upsetting, and I grieved afterwards,” noted Memphis with a wistful sigh. “And yet, as you said… life goes on.”
“… Do you still think about him?”
Memphis rolled her eyes. “What do you think this conversation was?”
Yuki adjusted his aviators. “Besides now, of course…”
“… Well, it’s impossible to forget your first love, isn’t it?”
“… You got that right.”
“It’s not something I feel the need to hide, but I won’t go telling just about anyone.”
“… Mhm.”
Memphis smirked. “… Consider yourself lucky.”
“Sure I’m lucky,” replied the commander. “… To hear a good friend of mine was dumped over text. Are you serious?”
“Hmph, seems like we need to improve your manners,” retorted the cruiser. “I have a book for that sort of thing, you know!”
“Direct me to the book.” Yuki chuckled. “… I’ll show you the section where it says it’s lame to get dumped over the phone, and any response is perfectly valid.”
Touché. “… Well, Yuki, you are correct about many things – but I suppose you really do have a good head on your shoulders.”
“… Like I said. I try.”
“You are trying your hardest to move past your hardships,” affirmed Memphis. “… But in doing so, do you think it’s okay to simply forget?”
Zero hesitation from the commander. “No.”
“… Good.”
“I’ll never forget, but that doesn’t mean I have to ruminate.”
“… Seems like I was right about you,” muttered Memphis under her breath.
“Hm? Did you say something?”
“Pay it no mind, commander,” dismissed the cruiser. “… I’m glad we got to spend time together.”
Yuki smiled softly. “… And the feeling is mutual.”
Memphis twirled her hair a bit. “What do you make of this outing, Yuki?”
Yuki blinked. “… Uh, well…”
“Your next words are pretty important, so picky wisely~.”
Yuki took off his sunglasses. “… Listen.”
Memphis straightened herself. “What is it?”
“I think you’re strong, smart, and gorgeous to boot. Let’s go out again.”
The cruiser hummed. Memphis appreciated banter, jokes, and hyping herself up – but sometimes, it felt good to be told what she knew of herself.
But, even then, she still found ways to hold the atmosphere.
“… Is that so? I’m flattered, but that’ll get you nowhere~.”
Yuki smirked. “No, but maybe a good serving of spreadsheets will.”
“I’ll do that – as long as you develop these photos.” Memphis said as she pointed to her camera. “All by yourself.”
Yuki rubbed his neck. “You’d… sabotage your own developments?”
Memphis giggled. “Perhaps I trust your capabilities, commander. You can figure it out, can’t you?”
A difficult offer to refuse. Yuki was always looking for ways to get closer to his friends, and this felt like a golden opportunity.
“Sounds like a plan,” acknowledged Yuki. “… Though, can you recommend me a cheaper camera?”
The cruiser tilted her head to the side. “… Cheaper camera?”
“I saw the price tag on yours.”
“… Aren’t you an OF-7?”
“I do hope you’ll forgive me,” requested Yuki with a sheepish grin. “… Everyone’s budgets are different.”
“Hm, that they are.” Memphis folded her arms in thought. “… The Daikon XMC-1, then. It should serve you well – as an amateur.”
Yuki pulled out his phone to type that in. “The XMC-1… there.”
“Quick as always, I see.”
Yuki put his phone away. “… Wouldn’t wanna forget.”
A playful scoff from the cruiser. “… Well, Yuki, I’d say it’s time to head back. Ready to go?”
Yuki checked his wristwatch. “… Mhm, let’s go back.”
Memphis reached for the blue gym bag next to her feet. “… Uh, say… you weren’t actually serious about the spreadsheets, right?”
Yuki smiled. “It all depends on your response.”
The cruiser sighed. “… You know what, you could use a crash course in editing.”
There was a laugh. “Looking forward to it.”
A taxi ride later, Memphis and the commander had reached the checkpoint that led into the base. The two had traversed to the front of the Union dorms, back on foot – chatting away about the day’s events. Yuki had suggested they try another recipe of scallop, but Memphis had countered with lobster. Which was fine by him – hard to say no to quality shellfish. The cruiser had also put away her baseball cap inside her bag – at this point, it was more of an annoying ornament.
“So, commander.”
“Yeah?”
“You had fun, right?” Memphis twirled her hair a bit. “Of course you did, since you were with me~.”
Yuki nodded. “I did. And, well… thanks for hanging out with me.”
“Just don’t forget about my suggestion,” requested Memphis. “… You wanted a camera, so I picked one out for you.”
“Hey now, I haven’t even bought it yet.”
“… Ah, by the way. Online orders only – they don’t sell it in stores anymore.”
The commander rubbed his chin. “Well, that makes things simpler, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” replied Memphis. “Whatever the case, though, I look forward to the day you get to my level.”
“Oh, I don’t have that kind of time on my hands…”
“You’ll find a way. Don’t worry~.”
He considered this for a moment. “… But I might really be strapped for time.”
“That’s quitter talk, commander~. Do you want to disappoint me?”
Yuki sighed. “… Fine, how do I begin?”
Memphis giggled. “… I’ll get you started some other day, okay?”
There was a smile. “… Okay.”
“And…” Memphis took a deep breath and exhaled. “You’d better stick close to me, all right?”
“It’s… not like I’m going anywhere.”
The cruiser inched closer to him. “… Perhaps not, but there’s something I need to say.”
“Eh?”
“Commander, it’s obvious to most that you’re fighting this inner struggle you might not ever overcome.” Memphis asserted. “In spite of that, though, you keep pushing yourself for our sake and remain true to your principles. You don’t need words to describe it.”
Yuki didn’t say anything. Instead, he opted to simply narrow his eyes. Memphis took his silence as a cue to finish what she wanted to say.
“… It helped though, right? Reminiscing about the better parts of your life.”
Yuki finally managed a nod. “… Yeah, it did.”
“Rely on me more, commander. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“I… knew that from the start. You’re just that kind of person.”
A soft chuckle escaped Memphis’ lips as she briefly observed her surroundings. There was no one in sight – presumably camped at their stations, or taking the time to relax elsewhere. Her roommate, Raleigh, was away on commission – and wouldn’t return until the following afternoon.
Right now, there was no one to interrupt her time with the commander.
Memphis considered Yuki’s words, inching even closer to him. “Is that so, commander? Perhaps you’ve been gawking a bit too often~.”
No verbal response from the commander. He managed the most bashful smile he could, and his eyes darted to the side.
Cute, Memphis thought.
He was cute.
“… Not like I mind, though,” murmured the cruiser under her breath.
And she really didn’t. At this range, the commander’s features grabbed her attention – and kept it. She had been walking with him all day, but conversation had a way of dulling one’s senses to the immediate. Probably for the best, lest she risk gawking herself.
But now, she couldn’t help it.
Her eyes wandered from the commander’s own, and down across his body. The commander and Memphis were the same height, so it made observing him up close fairly trivial. Yuki had a moderately chiseled face, broad shoulders, and toned limbs – doubtlessly the result of countless gym sessions, and from his training. Perhaps ‘model’ was pushing it, but the cruiser felt a knot in her chest all the same – Yuki took care of his appearance and body, and it certainly showed with the way he dressed. He understood colour coordination – his short, styled black hair meshed perfectly with the blue of his top and the beige of his pants. The aviators were now tucked in front of his shirt, but those definitely weren’t for the sun – he had brought them, because he knew he’d look good in them.
Capable, confident, and highly approachable.
Yuki was the ideal commander, Memphis thought.
And it was a sincere thought.
She couldn’t get carried away, though. If she stared any longer, she’d ruin the atmosphere she worked so hard to build. And she couldn’t have that.
No. Now was the time to seal the deal.
“… I want to go out again, too.”
The commander snapped his head back to look at Memphis. “… Oh!”
The cruiser giggled smugly. “Who can blame you for being so captivated by me?”
“Then let’s do this again, someday.”
“Hm, that’s a fine idea~.”
“… Oh, uh… glad to hear it.”
Memphis put her gym bag down. “… There’s just one problem, though.”
“… Huh?”
“Indeed,” answered the cruiser as she closed the gap between herself and Yuki. “Today isn’t over… right?”
Yuki raised a brow. “… Hm?”
Memphis smirked and snaked her left arm around Yuki’s waist, using her free hand to gently caress his chest. The commander’s cheeks flushed themselves pink as a mild shiver shot down his spine, eyes glowing with astonishment. An amused chuckle left the cruiser’s mouth as her digits drifted down his torso – eventually finding his midsection.
“Getting up to me this closely?” Memphis sneered playfully. “… How does my hair smell?”
The cruiser’s pulse quickened as her index finger traced a little path across his abs. Yuki didn’t say anything – or, more accurately, he couldn't say anything. All Memphis was met with was the mild quiver of his lips.
You’re so cute, commander.
Her questions continued. “Does it remind you of the sea breeze…?”
Yuki gulped, but still couldn’t find the words. He could only manage a nod.
“There’s this movie I bought lately,” whispered Memphis with a faint snicker, hand sliding up to his chest. “… Let’s go back to my room, and watch it together…”
Memphis closed her eyes and slowly leaned her head forward.
Her lips were going to meet his.
… But they never did.
Yuki hurriedly broke free from Memphis’ clinch and staggered a step back. A look of hurt flashed across the cruiser’s face as the commander trained his eyes down, and kept his hands close to his chest.
An awkward silence promptly descended.
Memphis tried to break it, but her chin trembled.
“C-Commander…”
Yuki’s head shot back up.
“Thank you. I had a lot of fun today. Take care on your way home,” he uttered in rapid succession.
Never mind the fact that they were already in front of the Union dorms.
The commander hastily spun on his heel, and quickly walked away.
Memphis could only hang her head in shame.
Days off were rare for someone like the commander, but today, he had made sure to take it easy.
He had thrown off his outfit the minute he returned to his room – changing into a white tank top and black shorts. He had also elected to remain there until tomorrow – laying on his bed, and staring at the ceiling.
Everyone needed their alone time, and tending to the fleet was still exhausting.
Without enough rest, nobody could function the way they wanted.
And he needed every bit of that rest, because his heart still raced from the day’s encounter. It had only been a few hours, but the knot in his stomach hadn’t left.
No, he wasn’t upset with Memphis. If anything, he was upset with himself.
If you were in his shoes, would you reject the advances of a beautiful woman?
If so, what circumstances would lead to such a decision?
For what it was worth, he would tell you it was fine; that you should only go at your own pace. Opportunities are, by in large, only as exciting as one’s ability to seize them.
And how would your life change if you did seize it?
What steps would you take to maintain what came after?
What kinds of conflict might arise from taking such a chance?
I overthought this.
I hurt her.
She’s gorgeous. Why’d I let her down?
But I’m scared to get that close.
I might lose her.
I don’t want to lose her, so I’ll throw myself at my work.
As this port’s leader, I must…
To make things less awkward between them, he would need to find a way first.
But he wouldn’t need to, because the buzzing of his phone roused him from his thoughts.
He reached for his phone. Plastered on its screen was a Juustagram notification – a message from none other than Memphis herself.
He gulped, but prepared his heart for what she might have to say.
…
Memphis: Yuki, I want to apologize for putting you on the spot today.
Memphis: It was wrong of me, and I should have simply asked first.
Memphis: But… I really do like you.
Memphis: I know this is selfish of me, but I want to keep seeing you.
Yukimura T: I like you, too.
Memphis: Huh…?
Yukimura T: But today made me realize that I’m not ready for a relationship. Even though I might want one, and even though I might even dream of getting married. Someday.
Yukimura T: Whenever I think of having a significant other, I battle fears that I might lose them. You said you know my file, and I think you’re smart enough to put two and two together. I’m sorry. I like you, but I can’t be with you. I’m not that person.
Yukimura T: Relationships involve happy and content people. I’m just not there yet, no matter what anyone else might say.
Yukimura T: So, if it’s all the same to you… please forget about any future dates.
Yukimura T: And I really do appreciate your personal company, and your service to the port. You’ve been nothing but exemplary.
Memphis: I see.
Memphis: I appreciate your honesty.
Memphis: … Please let me just say that this is why I like you.
Memphis: One of many reasons.
Memphis: I will always be here to escort you.
Yukimura T: Thank you for reaching out to me. It means a lot.
Memphis: You’re welcome. That is all I wanted to say… I apologize again. And good night.
…
Yuki exhaled in relief as he put his phone away.
The sad part about dreams was that you needed to be asleep to enjoy them.
For those who weren’t insomniacs, dreams required effortless sleep. Yet to make them reality, people sometimes needed to put forth sleepless efforts.
That’s why they were dreams – the mental depiction of the life you wanted to lead.
Dreams of protecting his friends. His family.
Dreams of being asked out.
Dreams of playing, laughing, and crying together.
Dreams of getting engaged...
Dreams of getting married...
Effort was the only thing standing between himself and his aspirations. Effort, and lots of continued counseling.
And he swore to it, because he was the commander of Azur Lane.
FIN.
The Commander’s Ex
- Cast -
The Commander/Tatsuya Yukimura – Kōsuke Toriumi
USS Memphis – Hekiru Shiina