The news of USS Juneau's death had not yet reached all the Azur Lane factions. Including the Eagle Union. This was because she sank in a foreign sea that Azur Lane was still mapping, with several ships conducting observations either alone or together. Both on the surface and underwater.
The news was actually received first by Iron Blood. Through U-556, who was conducting underwater observations. Accompanied by I-13 from the Sakura Empire. These two pink and blue submarines found some gleaming rigging metal on the coral, near a foreign island. They dove deeper, and saw a familiar face lying at the bottom of the water with her destroyed rigging. The weight of the rigging kept her submerged in the cold water, sinking peacefully.
U-556 recognized that sweet face, and the shape of the rigging and clothes that, although torn, still reflected who she was.
"Juneau....." she said softly in her heart, her voice seemingly suppressed by the water pressure. Using hand signals, U-556 called I-13 down. I-13, who was looking around, turned and headed towards U-556. The Iron Blood U-Boat pointed downwards, to the location where USS Juneau rested forever underwater.
I-13 froze. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat. Air bubbles escaped her mouth unconsciously in shock. Seeing USS Juneau heavily damaged and sunk. But how, and by whom? That was what they were both thinking.
Not long after, they realized something was moving above them. A large shadow passed by. A large and wide ship, passing at medium speed right above their surface. U-556 invited I-13 to peek upwards, and I-13 agreed. They slowly ascended, peeking out. Only their heads emerged above the water's surface.
In their sight, a foreign ship was visible. Like a carrier type, but wider. With planes neatly lined up on top of it. Without propellers. Its shape was foreign.
U-556 narrowed her eyes.
"I was told, the base received a guest, a foreign shipgirl with characteristics of an aviation ship and planes like that..." she said softly. "The shape is similar... but not entirely the same."
I-13 stared at the ship with resentment.
"Whatever it is, we must report it. We cannot let our comrade's death go unavenged. Bastard..." I-13 said with a tone of suppressed emotion.
Then U-556 activated the radio on her rigging. Contacting the Iron Blood faction.
Located in the Iron Blood archive library.
Bismarck was selecting books to read. Besides Bismarck, Graf Spee was sitting reading a book at the reading table. Then there was Z23 Nimi who was asking Friedrich der Grosse about a recipe book.
While seriously looking at the numbers and book codes, suddenly the library door burst open. Causing a loud noise. Startling everyone there. Prinz Eugen looked hurried, her breathing irregular.
"Bismarck!!!! Juneau has sunk!!!" shouted Eugen.
Everyone in the room immediately turned their heads.
Bismarck, who was holding a book, was startled. The book she was holding fell. She stared stiffly at Eugen. Z23 Nimi covered her mouth with both hands, shocked. Graf Spee turned her head slowly. Friedrich der Grosse glared sharply at Eugen.
"What?" Bismarck said softly.
"Attacked by a foreign ship," Eugen continued quickly. "U-556 found her. Rigging destroyed. No signs of survival."
Silence.
"The characteristics of the ship..." Eugen paused for a moment. "Similar to our guest. But... not entirely the same."
Before she could continue, Bismarck was already moving. She passed Eugen without a word. Her steps were fast. Heavy. The exit door was THROWN OPEN so hard it hit the wall. She walked out with emotions that could no longer be contained.
----------------
Meanwhile, at the Sakura Empire pier. The atmosphere was turning into the late afternoon. Izumo and Nagato sat together in a gazebo on the beach near the pier buildings. They were discussing a few things Izumo knew about her world.
"So, the difference between aircraft carriers in my world and here, besides the planes, is a technology called radar. As far as I know, most aircraft carriers here rely on visual sight. Meanwhile, I myself can utilize my radar to detect anyone at unseen distances," Izumo explained to Nagato. Nagato was drinking avocado juice made by Akashi, who had suddenly made juice for the two of them before returning to her room.
"Hmm... interesting, I think Akagi and Kaga are the ones you should tell," replied Nagato.
"Haha... It's fine, Lady Nagato. I'm just happy to share with anyone. Especially since you all welcomed me warmly, I thought I would be alone here. Only with Jolly and Akaneko. Sailing in foreign seas," said Izumo.
However, a small commotion was seen approaching. Bismarck finally arrived there; she was blocked by Ashigara and Mogami. Seeing her angry state, they thought Bismarck was going to cause trouble there. Especially with Nagato, the leader of the Sakura Empire faction, present.
Nagato and Izumo heard the commotion; they turned around. Their fox ears twitched, sensing something was wrong. Bismarck was seen glaring sharply at Izumo.
"Lady Bismarck? Is there s-..." Before Izumo could finish asking Bismarck, who was walking towards her, suddenly in an instant, the world felt like it stopped beating. Her collar was pulled hard. Her body was shoved down onto the sand.
Izumo was shocked and confused. Nagato was also confused. She looked at Bismarck, who looked like she wanted to kill Izumo.
"Bismarck...." Nagato said.
"Silence!!!! This is my business," replied Bismarck. "What did you bring to this world, foreign aircraft carrier??" Bismarck said towards Izumo, who was confused and in pain. Her stomach was pressed by Bismarck's weight, making her choke.
"Uhk... uhk... Lady Bismarck, what is it?" Izumo answered haltingly.
"Explain. What did you bring to this world, Izumo," Bismarck said very sharply.
"Bismarck..." Nagato stepped forward.
"I told you, do not interfere, Sakura Empire Fox!!!" The voice cut in, sharp like steel drawn from its sheath.
Izumo froze. Her eyes trembled, trying to understand the situation that had changed too quickly.
"I-I... don't understand..."
"USS Juneau was attacked by a foreign ship. I received a radio transmission from a U-boat, U-556, who was being accompanied by a Sakura Empire submarine. They found Juneau's body sunk at the bottom of the sea. With destroyed rigging. Attacked by a foreign ship. The characteristics of the attacking ship are similar to the one currently at the Sakura Empire pier. The planes it carried, the color of the ship, and the shape of the tower. She is very similar to you, the submarine girls explained it," Bismarck elaborated.
Then silence.
The sea breeze felt colder.
"A ship carrying planes. Systems we do not recognize. Red shapes and colors." Bismarck leaned in slightly, her shadow looming. "Very... familiar."
Izumo's fingers trembled slightly.
"It wasn't... me..." her voice was soft, almost breaking. "I never....."
"Then who?" said Bismarck.
The question dropped like an anchor. Izumo fell silent. In her head, the pieces began to fall into place. The technology of her home world. Things that shouldn't be here.
And one possibility that slowly crept up like a shadow at the bottom of the sea.
"I... I don't know, but it resembles the characteristics of a ship from my world, but definitely not my comrade..." she whispered almost inaudibly.
Nagato finally spoke again, this time her voice was deeper.
"Bismarck. Let her go. I haven't even received the news of Juneau being killed, have you heard the information clearly? Calm yourself down," said Nagato while holding Bismarck's arm, which was almost choking Izumo.
Not hard. But enough to make the air feel oppressive. Until a few seconds passed. Finally, the battleship slowly backed away. The grip was released.
Izumo experienced tense shortness of breath and shock. Her breathing was still unstable. Bismarck stared at her for a long time. As if trying to read something that even Izumo herself didn't quite understand yet.
"If this is the doing of your home world," she said softly, "Then you are obligated to stop it. Because it has killed one of us."
She turned around without waiting for an answer. Her steps moved away, leaving Izumo lying on the beach sand. Something much deeper had been staked. Trust.
Izumo stood still. And for the first time since she arrived in this world, she began to fear what might have come along with her.
----------------
After Bismarck's brief confrontation, the atmosphere on the beach grew tense. No one dared to speak. Even the sound of the waves felt as though it were holding back.
Ashigara and Mogami, who were there, could only watch the furious Bismarck. They were also in shock after hearing the conversation about USS Juneau's death. Those words still hung in the air, heavy and hard to accept. They looked towards Nagato, who simply placed a forefinger to her lips.
A sign to stay calm.
A simple gesture, but enough to defuse a situation that was about to shatter.
Nagato sat next to Izumo, who remained lying on the sand, her gaze empty towards the sky. There was no focus in her eyes, just the twilight sky that she looked at without truly registering it.
Nagato saw eyes showing symptoms of depression, something not unfamiliar to her as a leader who had seen much loss.
With the gentle aura of a leader, she hugged the heavily shocked Izumo. Her movements were slow, warm, as if trying to pull Izumo back from the emptiness that was beginning to swallow her.
"Calm down, my beautiful fox. This is not your fault. The enemy might have followed you after crossing dimensions, but it's not certain they share the same goal. I believe that since you arrived, you have given a non-hostile impression, even becoming close to the shipgirls here," Nagato said soothingly, her voice soft but carrying a comforting weight.
Izumo was silent for a few moments. Her breathing was still unstable.
"If my presence only takes the lives of your comrades... I probably shouldn't be here," said Izumo. Her voice was soft, almost like a whisper to herself. "I'm sorry, Lady Nagato," she continued while trying to get up and release Nagato's hug, even though her movements felt heavy. "I will return to my ship first."
"Won't you stay the night at the Sakura Empire dormitory?" offered Nagato. Ashigara and Mogami also looked at Izumo. Waiting for an answer, considering they were both responsible for the condition of the Sakura Empire dorms.
Izumo shook her head slowly.
"No, thank you, Lady Nagato. Let me spend the night on my ship. After that confrontation just now, I already feel like I can't be trusted that easily," answered Izumo. She smiled slightly, but the smile felt fragile. "It's better if I'm on my ship."
She walked away towards her ship. Her steps weren't rushed, but felt heavy, as if every step was filled with thoughts she couldn't let go of.
Jolly and Akaneko were seen waiting next to the boarding stairs of the ship. They had directly witnessed how Izumo was almost "blown up" by one of the Azur Lane faction leaders. They were both silent, not knowing what to say.
"If you want to ask for my help later, you can meet me at the Sakura Empire shrine. I am always there," said Nagato.
Izumo responded with a faint smile. Without looking back any longer, she continued her steps towards the ship.
And for the first time since she arrived in this world...
She chose to distance herself.
----------------
In the ship's command room, Izumo sat silently in front of the ship's helm. Several monitors appeared to be on—navigation sections, radar, as well as the ship's condition. Izumo sat still.
Akaneko herself seemed to be on her lap. She was lying affectionately on Izumo's lap. Izumo simply stroked her hair gently. As if that was the only thing that could keep her smiling.
"Izumo, don't you want to eat? I'll cook something," Jolly said to Izumo.
Izumo glanced at Jolly.
"There might still be some fish from our catch. Just cook that, and we'll eat together," answered Izumo with a smile, but her eyes showed something different. A disappointment and despair.
Jolly noticed that. At least she was willing to replenish her energy. Jolly left, exiting the command room towards the kitchen. But in the middle of the hallway, she met the four destroyer friends they had first encountered: Ayanami, Javelin, Laffey, and Z23 Nimi.
"Big sis Jolly, how is Big sis Izumo's condition?" Javelin asked anxiously.
"She's alright. I want to make her dinner now. Well, at least she can still get hungry," answered Jolly with a smile.
"Thank goodness, but I heard some unpleasant news. The news is spreading among all the Sakura shipgirls. Senior Bismarck almost made Izumo into a sunken ship," said Ayanami.
"Yes, I was shocked myself while in the library. Seeing Senior Bismarck's attitude, suddenly leaving with explosive anger. That battleship indeed needs to calm down once in a while. It's understandable, though, hearing that one of us died attacked by an enemy made her frantic," said Nimi.
"Laffey will help Big sis Jolly... cook," said Laffey while giving a salute with a sleepy expression.
"Thank you for your concern. But I think, let's not bother her for now, okay? She is strong, she just needs time to think by herself. Tomorrow her mental state will recover, you'll see for yourselves how determined she is. I'm a living witness who can vouch for that," said Jolly. "Now who wants to help me cook?"
"We're in!!!!!!" the four of them said in unison.
And the five of them headed together to the kitchen on the JS Izumo ship.
----------------
At night in the Azur Lane central command building. Several Royal Navy shipgirls in maid customs were seen sweeping, cleaning the room. The atmosphere seemed quiet, but it was different in the joint meeting room of all Azur Lane factions. There, tension peaked and was in an unusual situation. No tea parties. No light chatter. Only tension hung in the air like a storm cloud that hadn't yet broken.
The four faction leaders sat in their respective seats. Nagato from the Sakura Empire, Bismarck from Iron Blood, Enterprise representing the Eagle Union, and Queen Elizabeth as the symbol of the Royal Navy. Each faction leader was accompanied by two shipgirls.
Nagato was accompanied by Kaga and Hyuuga. Enterprise was accompanied by Essex and Yorktown. Bismarck was accompanied by Graf Spee and Algerie. Queen Elizabeth was accompanied by Hood and Prince of Wales.
These four factions were holding an emergency meeting, regarding the information of USS Juneau's sinking on her way back from patrol and being attacked by a foreign ship.
In the middle of the table, a recording projection began to play from a box made by Akashi. Where every Azur Lane shipgirl who went on patrol carried a device to record some strange incidents they encountered in this world, which would be discussed by all factions.
Static sound. Then a picture.
A vast sky, a flash of fire, and in one moment an explosion. The recording was from Enterprise.
"That plane does not belong to us. Nor does it belong to the Sirens," said Enterprise with a flat tone. "Its speed is high, almost impossible to catch with the eye. If it weren't for its straight trajectory... even I wouldn't have been sure I could shoot it down."
Essex and Yorktown stood behind her, silent, but clearly reinforcing that statement. Their eyes also focused intently on the recording from Enterprise.
"Its technology is far above our current standards," continued Enterprise. "And that was only one unit."
Silence. That last sentence hung in the air. One unit was enough to overwhelm one of the strongest aircraft carriers.
Bismarck opened her mouth. Her tone was low. Restrained. But clearly pressing.
"A coincidence?" said Bismarck. Her gaze shifted towards Nagato. "...or a consequence of the 'guest' you are protecting?"
The room immediately heated up. Nagato did not answer right away. She closed her eyes for a moment. Her fox ears twitched, a sign she was calming herself down. Listening to Bismarck's sharp words. Exhaling softly. Then she opened them again. Her gaze was calm but deep.
"Bismarck," she said softly. "You are too quick to draw a line between two things that are not necessarily connected."
"Not necessarily?" Bismarck retorted quickly. "A shipgirl from another world appears. Not long after, an enemy with similar characteristics appears and sinks one of us."
Her hands clenched on the table.
"How many more must die before 'not necessarily' becomes 'too late'?" shouted Bismarck rather loudly. She glared sharply at Nagato.
The air felt heavy.
"Enough."
The voice came from Queen Elizabeth. But it wasn't enough to stop the pressure that had formed. Meanwhile, Nagato, who was usually calm and quiet, finally moved. Her hands, which were initially calm, now pressed against the table.
THUD.
Not loud, but tiny cracks appeared because of it. Enough to make all eyes turn to her. Her fox ears tensed slightly. Her gaze went straight to Bismarck.
"And you," she said, this time more firmly. "Have crossed your bounds."
Silence.
Even Bismarck did not answer immediately.
"Drawing a weapon on our guest in our territory," continued Nagato. "Without proof. Without control."
Her tone remained calm. But it was cold now, like a leader protecting what they must protect.
"If we immediately answer every fear with violence, then we are no different from the enemies we face," said Nagato firmly.
A few seconds passed. The tension reached its peak. Enterprise stepped forward slightly.
"This argument will not bring Juneau back, you know that. Stop it. We are Azur Lane. We must unite," said Enterprise.
All eyes turned to her.
"The facts we have are simple," she continued. "The enemy uses technology we do not understand, and Izumo certainly understands that technology. Because from the observation of the two submarines from Iron Blood and the Sakura Empire who found Juneau's body, the aircraft carrier resembled the physical characteristics of Izumo's ship, even if it was just a silhouette."
She looked at all the leaders.
"We can suspect her. Or... we can utilize her," she added.
Everyone fell silent.
"Izumo has an obligation to help," added Enterprise. "Not as a suspect. But as the only bridge we currently have."
Outside that room, far from the meeting table and the sound of debate, on the deck of the JS Izumo ship. Izumo stood alone. The night sea breeze blew her long hair gently.
Her eyes looked far to the horizon. Sparkling stars could be seen over the sea, decorating the dark sky.
Izumo seemed out of focus. She was as if trying to see something that wasn't even there.
"...I have to..." she whispered softly.
But the sentence was never finished. The sea in front of her remained vast. And for the first time, she didn't know if she was part of the answer or actually part of the problem.
****************
Narrator's POV
The next morning, the sky looked bright. Too bright, for a farewell. The main Azur Lane pier was filled with shipgirls from various factions. There were no differences in flag colors. There was no distance between camps. Everyone stood in the same silent line. Everyone wore all-black clothing and accessories. The main Azur Lane flag was hoisted on all the docked ships.
In their hands, there were flower baskets. White, pink, and some pale blue. One by one, the flowers were dropped into the sea.
Slowly.
Without a sound.
Only the sound of small waves receiving the petals, carrying them away from the pier, towards the vast sea that had now become USS Juneau's resting place. They were on the side of the pier where the USS Juneau usually docked.
Javelin looked down deeply. Laffey stood still, her eyes half-open, but this time she wasn't asleep. Ayanami closed her eyes, gripping the flower a little tighter before finally letting it go. Enterprise stood at the very front.
Silent. Unmoving. But her presence alone was enough of a tribute.
From afar, on the deck of the JS Izumo ship, Izumo stood alone. She did not come closer or go down. Just watching from afar. Her hands gripped the deck railing, trembling slightly.
The flower petals falling into the sea looked small from where she stood. But every single flower that fell felt heavy.
"...I'm sorry..." she whispered softly.
Unconsciously, her tears fell. No one heard, and perhaps it wasn't intended for anyone there anyway.
****************
Shifting to the Sakura Empire Shrine.
The atmosphere was different. After conducting the flower scattering together, all the shipgirls returned to their respective dormitories, and some went back to their duties.
But in the shrine, there was only the sound of the wind moving the leaves, and the gentle splash of water flowing around the shrine. A perfect place to meditate.
Nagato sat cross-legged. Her battleship rigging, which was huge and imposing, was active, strongly contrasting with her form as a small and elegant shipgirl. Her eyes were closed, in meditation, calming her mind from the waves that hadn't stopped coming since yesterday.
Slow footsteps were heard. Her fox ears twitched, detecting the sound. Someone was coming.
Nagato slowly opened her eyes. Izumo stood there. She stood still, then sat on the floor in front of Nagato.
Bowing slightly.
"...sorry to intrude," she said softly.
Nagato did not answer right away. She just observed Izumo's face, her eyes, and the burden clearly visible there.
"I want to help," said Izumo directly, without small talk.
Izumo lifted her face. Her gaze was no longer empty like before. Still tired and heavy, but there was something different.
Determination.
"I don't know for sure who they are, but if that enemy comes from the same place as me," she continued softly, "then I cannot just stand by."
The wind blew gently between them, moving the edges of their kimonos.
Nagato closed her eyes for a moment, pondering and weighing things. Then opened them again.
"If you wish to stand with us," she said calmly, "then you will not only face the enemy."
Her gaze was deep.
"You must also face doubt," Nagato added.
Izumo did not answer, but she didn't avert her gaze. Her eyes showed strong determination.
"I will permit you," continued Nagato, "but on one condition."
Izumo tensed slightly.
"Prove it," said Nagato. One word, but heavy. "Prove that you are not a threat to this world. Not just to me... but to all factions."
Silence for a moment.
Izumo nodded slowly, but surely.
"I also want to... learn," said Izumo.
Nagato slightly raised her eyebrows.
"Engage mode, like all of you," Izumo continued. "If I am to fight in this world... I must understand how to fight here."
Nagato remained silent for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"For that... meet Akagi and Kaga. They understand the manifestation of our power the best." She added, "And for the rigging equipment... you can ask Akashi for help. The Wisdom Cube is not something you can ignore."
Izumo bowed deeply.
"Thank you," she said.
She turned around. Her steps this time were no longer hesitant.
Outside the shrine, the wind blew harder. As if carrying something new into Izumo's heart. A decision had been made.
Not to run away.
Not to regret.
But to prove that her presence in this world was not to destroy, but to stand up and protect.
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To Be Continued
Next Chapter: I Will Fight
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