Saratoga was sitting with her teammates at a canteen table during dinner, the time now being 6:43 p.m. as her fleet had recently checked out of the docks after their intense training session this afternoon.
Ayanami had taken the longest to recover, since a large-caliber shell hitting her in the chest and causing several bones to crack certainly took some time to recover from.
And while Saratoga was still a little bitter that she couldn't protect her teammates, she could at least find some solace in the fact that it was a training shell, which meant that Ayanami wasn't missing a large chunk of her chest and wasn't bleeding out too badly before she hit the docks.
She looked down at her dinner which was three bowls of instant noodles, extra servings being served to carriers and battleships in order to fill their massive appetites, the 1st Fleet happily slurping down their own serving of noodles.
It took some time for her to learn how to use chopsticks and she had considered using a fork to eat the noodles, but when in Rome...
And while it took her a while to learn how to use chopsticks, her advanced learning capabilities allowed her to pick up on its nuances fairly quickly, and she was now able to at least use them without making a fool of herself.
She was finishing her food when she saw that a group of ship girls were headed towards their table, eventually identifying them as the 8th Fleet and Bismarck, who was chatting with Akitsu Maru animatedly, the foreign battleship holding something in her hand as she looked to Saratoga, the Lexington-Class carrier realizing that she was the one Bismarck wanted to talk to, although Akashi's glance in Shigure's direction meant that the repair ship also wanted to talk to Shigure.
Pushing away her empty bowls as she looked up at the Bismarck-Class battleship, she saw that the fast battleship was elated to get the chance to talk to her, her assertive voice greeting her in German as she said what Saratoga assumed was "good day."
Before introducing herself in Japanese.
"I am Bismarck, the nameship of the Bismarck-class battleships. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Extending a hand to greet her, Saratoga returned the heartfelt handshake as she understood that despite being a German battleship who fought for the Nazis, Bismarck strongly disapproved of their ideology and was only wearing this uniform solely for the sake of formalities.
The 8th Fleet made themselves comfortable by grabbing nearby seats and seating themselves down wherever they pleased, Kiso sitting with Naka and Jintsuu while Akashi predictably sat down beside Shigure, Bismarck and Akitsu Maru sitting down beside Saratoga as Akitsu Maru explained their reasons for approaching her.
"We wanted to welcome you to the base.
But we realized that buying you something was rather tacky, since anyone could do that without much thought. We decided to make something for you as a gift, even though we understand that it's a belated one. Bismarck-chan, show her the product of our hard work!"
Bismarck nodded as she handed her the item which she held in her hand, Bismarck and Akitsu Maru giving her warm smiles as she did so.
Saratoga received a laminated piece of A4 paper, and on it was an impressive recreation of a very familiar comic cover of one of America's most popular heroes, albeit with her replacing Captain America on the hand drawn cover.
It was an accurately-rendered alternative version of Captain America Comics #1 , with the title being changed to,
"CAPTAIN SARATOGA"
And she saw that she was the one who was on the comic cover, punching Bismarck out in lieu of Captain America decking Hitler in the face with a nasty right hook.
She was holding a shield which was colored like the American flag in her left hand, and Saratoga, Bismarck and the small crowd of what she assumed to be German ship girls were all wearing their respective uniforms, Saratoga's fuming expression being vented through her punch to a shocked Bismarck's face, maps of America lying around the room and a live feed of U.S. munitions factories being blown up.
Two ship girls wore identical uniforms, dark blue berets and one-piece sailor uniforms with white trimmings with small anchor attachments above each thigh as well as high-collar undershirts underneath their uniforms, and they were firing a Russian PPSh-41 sub-machine gun and a pistol at her.
One possessed silky chestnut-auburn hair and similarly-colored eyes, along with locks of slightly longer hair swaying beside her face, the black ribbon on her beret reading, "Z3"
As she fired her PPSh-41 sub-machine gun with a fierce expression, while her sister ship, "Z1", had short silver hair and light-blue pupils, her eyes opened in surprise as she fired her pistol.
Saratoga could see that a ship girl who was dressed up like Bismarck occupied the bottom left of the cover page, wearing a peaked cap and the same red-black-grey uniform with an Iron Cross on her shoulders, long blonde hair tied up in low twin-tails with anchors holding them in place.
Standing closer to the foreground, Saratoga could see that whoever this ship girl was, she was holding a Luger pistol which was used by the Nazis in World War 2, the bullet bouncing off of Saratoga's shield as Saratoga braved the hail of bullets in order to deliver a sucker punch to Bismarck, likely chosen to be the embodiment of the Nazi regime in this alternate cover.
In a corner was another ship girl, a paler version of Bismarck in every sense of the word as her uniform was a white-red-black color scheme, a peaked cap covering her blonde hair as the dark visor almost covered her blue eyes her extended sideburns swayed gracefully, her hair also tied up in small but long ponytails behind her head.
Her uniform top was white, along with a red-white capelet with a flared-out high collar which was held together by a steel anchor and a red-black striped tie with an Iron Cross proudly displayed on it, and her black miniskirt was barely covering her jet black leggings.
Like Z1 and the ship girl in the foreground, Saratoga could see that this ship girl was firing her pistol whilst standing beside another swastika which was displayed on the wall, and was adjacent to the live feed of a U.S. munitions factory exploding.
A ship girl was seated before the screen and was wearing headsets, wearing a black-grey attire as a strangely-shaped cap which fitted underneath the headset's headband, her metallic choker extending an antenna upwards near where her left shoulder was, and her little metallic-grey jacket covered her one-piece dress and was connected to her thick shoulder-length gloves, providing protection against the chilling northern seas.
Her pale hair reached down to her elbows, and there were hints in the picture to prove that she was wearing black leggings, the ship girl facing away from Saratoga and was looking at the screen before her.
There was also a footnote which was written in the signature comics book font,
Also
CAPTAIN
SARATOGA'S
YOUNG ALLY,
O'BANNON
And showed a ship girl with bright auburn-red hair reaching down to her neck, styled in a way which flared out a little before curling in a little at the ends, her red eyes shining with enthusiasm as she wore a pink-colored four-leaved clover hair pin with the captions "CAN DO" written on it, saluting the reader with a white shoulder glove-covered hand and a brilliant smile.
Saratoga felt a sense of awe and gratefulness upon seeing that her comrades, some of whom she had never met before, had done their best to try and help her overcome her loneliness by helping out in any way they could, Bismarck tucking a hair behind her ear as she proudly explained the piece of art to everyone who gazed down at Bismarck and Akitsu Maru's handiwork with impressed looks in their eyes.
"It is quite the honor to be depicted as the ship girl who punched me in the face, even if it's in a fictional work. We wanted to help you feel a little better even if you're alone in our base, and we wanted to recreate a famous American comic cover in your image with me and the Kriegsmarine. This is Lebe," Pointing to the silver-hair little girl, "Max," Shifting her finger to Lebe's sister ship, also a girl, "Graf Zeppelin,"
Pointing at the ship girl who stood at a corner and was wearing a white-red-black color scheme, "Prinz Eugen,"
The ship girl who shot at Saratoga's shield, "And U-511."
And the ship girl wearing a headset and looked away at the television screen.
Akitsu Maru clapped while sitting beside Bismarck, explaining how they did their best to illustrate this picture and the ship girls in it accurately, either by memory or through the internet.
"Well, Bismarck-chan searched her memory archives in order to draw these German ship girls in all their glory. And when we weren't sure what the American ship girl looked like, we hit the internet in order to help fill in the blanks!"
Saratoga nodded as she turned to look at Akitsu Maru and Bismarck to thank them both for their efforts to help make her feel welcome, clearly succeeding as Nagato had helped her out with her past, Shigure and the 1st Fleet befriending and working with her, and comrades whom she hadn't met yet going the extra mile to make her feel at home, even when they were under no obligation to do so.
It really touched her heart, to see everyone try to be her friend even after being their enemy in the past, something which could've driven a wedge between them before she even stepped foot in this base.
It was a legitimate fear which made her initially fearful of reaching out to anyone, but after seeing everyone genuinely try to befriend her, it really allowed her to see them in a new light and allow herself to believe in their sincerity.
"Thank you, Bismarck-san, Akitsu Maru-san. But if I may ask, you're so familiar with how your fellow ship girls look like because you're from Germany, aren't you? But assuming that you're from Germany, is there a reason why you're stationed here in Japan, instead of back in your homeland?"
Wrong move.
Bismarck's smile stretched a little, her right eye twitching a little while every ship girl at the table held their breath, Akitsu Maru interjecting on Bismarck's behalf to explain everything.
"Well, Bismarck was bought by Admiral Haru when her previous base's Admiral decided that she would serve Admiral Haru better than she could her German commanders."
Akitsu Maru, now looking a lot less scary than when she was sortieing due to the lack of blood on her makeup and her uniform, looked down proudly at her work and promptly changed the subject, Bismarck recovering quick enough to fold her arms underneath her bosom, puffing out her chest and shooting Saratoga a forgiving smile as the amphibious assault ship spoke.
"Well, judging by your expression, you're happy with our work. I'm glad! We didn't want you to feel lonely, and while some of us thought it's best to create something from the heart, we also wanted to help ease your loneliness by recreating something American, something you would be familiar with. Kiso, being an avid comic and manga reader, suggested that Bismarck and I draw the issue cover of Captain America punching Hitler in the face, but with you and Bismarck. Bismarck gladly allowed herself to be portrayed as the one to be punched if it would make you feel better, and I'm glad it worked!"
Saratoga tilted her head in agreement, looking at a smiling Kiso as the torpedo cruiser met her gaze and shot her a warm gaze befitting that of a caring senior, Saratoga looking the occupants of the table as she thanked them all from the bottom of her heart for doing everything they could to make her feel welcome.
"Thank you. Everyone. I must thank you all for doing so much for me."
But Haruna responded to that, being one of the level-headed ship girls who could be counted on to say something sensible in times like this.
"But I thought we, the ship girls of Yokosuka, are all already family. In bond, if not in class. I don't think there's a need to thank us for doing all this for you, since you're already one of us."
Saratoga blinked upon hearing that, suddenly lowering her head abashedly in order to focus on the "Captain Saratoga" comic cover, a strange feeling welling up in her throat as she tried to contain her relieved smile.
It wasn't the kind of uncomfortable feeling which was soon accompanied by crying, but it was the kind which accompanied intense happiness, and while she understood the fact that they didn't think too much of this act of kindness, to her, who was the only foreigner…
Well, looking at a smiling but confused Bismarck who couldn't read her thoughts, Saratoga realized that she wasn't exactly the only foreign ship here in Yokosuka, but it was at least safe to say that she was the only American ship girl here.
She explained herself to everyone as she looked around the table, giving a heartfelt talk about how she felt.
"Well, it may not seem much to you all, but I was initially afraid that everyone would want to ostracize me for being American.
But Shigure being my friend, the carriers helping me get acquainted with how carriers of the modern age fight, and the Combined Fleet fighting alongside me to help take down Abyssals, it really means a lot to me. Compared to what I imagine would've happened because of our bitter past together, I was really thankful that none of my fears and concerns became reality."
Naka nodded, leaning in as she consoled the Lexington-Class carrier with a sad smile.
"Well, we understand that the past should stay in the past. You're in an almost entirely unique situation, and if we were to try and push you away, it would do nobody any favors except to weaken this base, since we need everyone to work together in order to maximize the combined potential of every ship girl in Yokosuka. It may sound like we're repeating ourselves here, but we really mean it when we say that you're one of us now."
Saratoga nodded meekly in order to signal her understanding of Naka's words, and Akashi looked down at Shigure as she asked with a fair bit of interest in their recent endeavors.
"Well now. Did she say that you defeated an Abyssal Demon by yourselves? That's quite the accomplishment for a fleet that's been created recently and consists of ship girls who haven't worked together yet."
Ayanami clarified Saratoga's statement and the circumstances surrounding their victory.
"Well, we were training with the Infiltration Fleet, so our victory wasn't exactly an impossible feat for us to accomplish. We lost a third of our members after four rounds of Abyssal horde mode, and none of us did enough research to know that the Anchorage Demon was capable of firing a hyper beam at us, which took out another ship girl."
"But you won anyway."
Ayanami nodded, and Akashi took a sip from Shigure's cup of water, earning her a sideways glance from the Shiratsuyu-Class destroyer as the repair ship stuck to her word.
"Then none of it matters. More training and sorties can help reduce the amount of casualties, but the bottom line is that you were able to kill the Anchorage Demon."
Haruna explained how they might feel that their victory wasn't truly a victory due to the condition they were in afterwards.
"We managed to sink an Abyssal Demon and many Abyssals, although I do admit we could have done so with far less casualties if we had more time to train up and improve ourselves. We are in no position to boast of our victory when we've done so poorly, and in the presence of a superior fleet."
But Hayasui leaned to address the 1st Fleet, adding on to Akashi's words about the Combined Fleet's performance.
"You girls should learn to believe in your own abilities, take more credit for your victories and stop comparing yourself to other fleets. You're not wrong to say that you could have done much better, but you don't consider how much worse you could have done. A win's a win. And Akashi-chan doesn't give out compliments so easily, so just nod along and accept it."
Saratoga and the 1st Fleet nodded in acknowledgement, the entire base's attention being drawn to the buzzing of the P.A. system which allowed either the Coordinators or Admiral Haru to talk to the entire base, Saratoga realizing it was the latter as the Admiral's female voice resonated throughout the canteen.
"Hey, everyone. I'd just like to let everyone know that we have scheduled another land-warfare training session on the 22nd.
For those of you who either don't know or forgot what this training session is about, we're going to teach you how to swim, fire a firearm and throw a grenade, amongst others, in order to teach you the basics of land warfare."
Saratoga looked around confusedly as ship girls around her sighed, the Lexington-Class carrier asking Bismarck about what the hell was going on.
"Pardon my ignorance, but what is everyone talking about?"
Bismarck explained how because of the Abyssals unexpectedly attacking them in the past, the world governments ordered that every ship girl be taught land combat tactics and how to use a firearm in order not to be caught off-guard again.
"Well, because of the Abyssal land invasion back in 2007, the various governments of the world all mandated that all ship girls be taught how to fight like a human soldier, like learning how to swim, use a firearm and dig trenches, as well as learning how land and sea-based combat differed in order to fight on both fronts.
But since the Abyssals don't look like they've been planning another land assault for several years, these training sessions were held less and less frequently in order not to waste time teaching us things which we may never utilize. However, it's still mandatory, so I suppose the Admiral's hosting another one of these before Central starts asking questions about her not holding a refresher course."
Naka turned to look at Saratoga as she asked about how much of a coincidence Saratoga asking Admiral Haru for some swimming lessons suddenly caused the Admiral to announce that another land-combat training session be held again.
"Saratoga-san, do you think that you asking for a swimming session was why the Admiral decided to host a land-warfare training session? I suppose it's really been a while since we've had one of these training sessions, but I remember that one thing which is taught in this session is swimming, and our request might have inspired her to hold another land-warfare training session just for the heck of it?"
The entire table looked towards her, and Saratoga gulped as she faced down twelve ship girls who awaited her answer, and she was thankful that Admiral Haru's voice was there to distract everyone as she looked up at the speakers, everyone eventually following suit as Admiral Haru asked of them.
"Well, since today's the 30th of April, so the date of this training session is scheduled to be on the 22th of May. So take the time to pick out a swimsuit, since we'll be holding lessons in order to help teach you or help you improve your swimming skills. We're already preparing the entire base to take a day off in order to allow us to conduct this training session for all ship girls without much fuss. This is mandatory, so everyone has to attend."
Saratoga could feel the suffocating tension of the pregnant pause which filled the entire canteen, everyone waiting for the Admiral to say something.
And Admiral Haru didn't disappoint.
"I hereby use my Admiral powers to lay down a decree to make it compulsory for every ship class other than the destroyer class to wear a two piece bikini, or a sling bikini. No exceptions."
Everyone in the silent canteen erupted into unsynchronized "Aww man!"s, as though they were already waiting for the other shoe to drop the second Admiral Haru shifted her focus onto the swimming lessons, a slight commotion sounding out on the speakers before Admiral Haru spoke again, now sounding as though she were struggling against someone else as she exclaimed while being further away from the microphone,
"Nagato?! I know you're taller than me, but I insist that you give me back my microphone!"
And Nagato's voice sounding as though she were struggling against her own commander as she spoke into the microphone.
"Belay that last order. Admiral, stop climbing on me—"
Before the speaker cut to silence, everyone pausing for five entire seconds before resuming their respective conversations, Saratoga furrowing her brows at how everyone decided to conveniently ignore Nagato's last words as Akitsu Maru commented.
"Well, shit. I guess we all have to go shopping for new swimsuits, because the only thing I have which comes close to being considered 'swimwear' is a striped, form-fitting top and pants."
Akashi asked, "Is it the old-fashioned one with long sleeves and legs, and is colored black and white to make you look like a fucking zebra?"
Akitsu Maru nodded, and Akashi added, "Oh wait. It also makes you look like a prisoner, too."
And upon hearing that, Akitsu Maru's expression morphed into a lazy one as she broke out into an extremely sarcastic laugh while she used her gloved left hand to give Akashi the middle finger, every member of the 8th Fleet breaking out into a fit of laughter while the 1st Fleet sat around them silently, unsure of how to respond to such a joke.
Hayasui commented on how she really needed to update her wardrobe, the 8th Fleet now looking to be a little more invested in the conversation.
"Well, I have to agree with the others here.
It does make you look extremely conspicuous in comparison to, about 90 percent of the ship girl population who wears modern swimsuits.
I suppose living in a bizarre age where revealing more of your body is the norm, I suppose we have no choice but to comply."
Jintsuu explained to everyone their plans to go to the city after their sortie in order to get swimsuits in order for Saratoga to participate in the swimming lessons, leaning in as she spoke.
"Well, the members of the 1st Fleet, both old and new, are going on a trip to the nearby town in order to help Saratoga-san get a swimsuit, as well as to stock up on whatever we need..You're welcome to join us."
But Akitsu Maru politely declined, explaining that they didn't want to bother the two fleets with their presence, explaining.
"Well, that's mighty kind of you. But we really wouldn't want to force both your fleets to accompany us everywhere and make things awkward when none of us know how to maintain a conversation with you all. It's best if we do our shopping by ourselves, please understand."
Jintsuu nodded in order to acknowledge this, but Shigure tried to steer the conversation back on the right track by commenting.
"Getting some more training, even if it's in the form of land-based combat, is good for us. Not only is it a chance to learn more about new weapons and tactics, but we have powerful memories which help us recall these training sessions accurately.
It may be overkill to spend an entire day learning about the basics regarding how one should be a land soldier, but I suppose it'll be worth it."
Bismarck then questioned inquiringly, looking a little confused as to why this training session was held now, when they had to prepare for the large-scale battle that was to come.
"But why is Admiral Haru holding this training session now? We need to train up for the large-scale battle to come, and I don't think we need to learn about these land-based combat tactics since we're not going to use them anytime soon, right?"
The 8th Fleet immediately lapsed into silence, Saratoga noting that even Shigure became deathly quiet and made things extremely uncomfortable for the rest of the ship girls at the table, the Lexington-Class carrier suddenly feeling like there was something which the 8th Fleet and Shigure knew about while she didn't.
She surmised that it may have something to do with the battle with the Southern War Princess, since she knew that Shigure was in the Backup Fleet, and it might have something to do with what they learnt in that battle which made them remain silent after listening to Bismarck's comment.
Eventually Akashi answered in an extremely cryptic tone, yet heavily inferred that the worst was yet to come, and they had to prepare for every eventuality.
"Well, Bismarck. Without divulging any classified information, I must remind you that the Abyssals haven't sprung anything new on us for almost a decade now. I recommend that you take this training session particularly seriously."
Saratoga gulped at the insinuation, and she could see that everyone got the hint that something else may be at work here, and Kiso decided to change the subject by shifting the focus back onto the new 1st Fleet, a clumsy transition into another topic which did not go unnoticed by the ship girls at the table, but it was not an unwelcome one.
"Well, the land-based training session will occur after your sortie on the 14th of May, so you still have time to get a swimsuit for Saratoga-san, and we still have enough time to prepare for whatever comes next."
Saratoga heard Akashi leaning in to talk to Shigure privately, and she could only make out a few words which the repair ship muttered to the Shiratsuyu-Class destroyer, " … not exactly wrong.
The Abyssal's body is capable of …"
Before Bismarck drowned out their voice by asking about why the 1st Fleet was sortieing with the Infiltration Fleet, asking Haruna as Saratoga politely listened to their conversation.
"And if I may ask, Haruna-san, why is your fleet sortieing with the Infiltration Fleet?"
Haruna nodded understandingly as she replied honestly, a warm smile gracing her face as she returned the battleship's gaze.
"We're to escort the Infiltration Fleet out of the Safety Zone, allowing them to perform their duties while in enemy waters under the cover of night. We were training in order to determine our limits and improve on whatever weaknesses we might identify when we review our performance."
Saratoga nodded, understanding that whatever the Infiltration Fleet were up to, they had to be escorted out of the Safety Zone without taking too much damage. And while she wasn't happy that her teammates were taken out by the Abyssal bots, she was satisfied that they could defeat the Abyssal Demon in their first session together, something which Akashi commended them for accomplishing.
She could hear Naka commenting on their performance as she exclaimed whilst standing up, causing her chair to scrape back on the canteen floor.
"Well, I admit we could have done a lot better and could do without the high casualty count, myself included. But we'll get better!"
Hayasui lifted an eyebrow to ask her about their ability to sortie in the upcoming large-scale battle, Saratoga noting the concern in the fleet oiler's expression as she did so.
"Well, are you capable of sortieing in the large-scale battle that is to come? Because even though we need the extra firepower and manpower, we certainly don't want you to sortie with us when your fleet isn't strong enough to defend itself against the Abyssal armada, which will be out to sink you."
Ayanami responded, echoing the 1st Fleet's thoughts as she spoke up and explained how they intended to train some more, as their other members likely were.
"Even though we are willing to join you on the front lines, our abilities and teamwork are certainly not up to par, since we lost four ship girls while defeating several Abyssal fleets and a Demon, while I believe only Hatsuzuki-san slipped into unconsciousness in your battle with the Southern War Princess. There's still quite a ways for us to go, and we understand our limits well enough to only request for a supporting role. And while our fleet's composition may be temporary, I believe that our other members, Hiei, Tenryuu, Tatsuta and Junyou-san, are using the time given to them to improve themselves and become stronger."
Unryuu nodded, commenting on how they shouldn't worry about the large-scale battle when they had another upcoming sortie, and they had to focus on surviving the sortie with the Infiltration Fleet before worrying about anything else.
"You need to understand that while it's better for us if you join the battle, understand that we're not so short-staffed to absolutely require you to participate in this battle as a main fleet who fights on the front lines. You have a sortie with the Infiltration Fleet, and you need to focus on that sortie since it occurs about two weeks from now. The large-scale battle will occur after that, so you will have more time to improve yourselves and reconsider your final role in this battle."
Unryuu then turned to Akitsu Maru, asking her own teammate about what she had to say regarding the 1st Fleet's upcoming sortie.
"Well, Akitsu Maru? You've given Saratoga-san a welcome gift, do you have any words to send Saratoga-san off on her first sortie?"
Akitsu Maru was then put on the spot as every pair of eyes at the table turned to her, and in classic Akitsu Maru fashion, she managed to lighten the mood by choosing to quote a phrase which might have drawn the ire of others in another situation.
However, in this case…
"What do you want me to say as parting words? Um… 'God himself couldn't sink this ship.'?"
As Akitsu Maru scrunched up her face in a confused smile, shrugged and said the first words which came to her mind, the 8th Fleet all burst out into laughter as Akitsu Maru blurted out the words which no ship girl wanted to hear, Akashi displaying her middle finger to flip her off while wearing a shit-eating grin, Bismarck smirking as she exclaimed in German before explaining how that phrase was an omen of doom.
"My God."
"That's one hell of a death flag to raise, especially for us ship girls who often sail the seven seas."
While Saratoga was trying to rein in her laughter as she remarked over the noise.
"I got it. I got that reference."
And they all eventually paused their rambunctious laughter long enough for Shigure to point out to everyone, being the bright and precocious little ship girl which Saratoga had known her to be as the Shiratsuyu-Class destroyer remarked.
"But there's no harm in saying that phrase. Because then we would need to watch out for icebergs, which, to my knowledge, are practically non-existent in this part of the world, a French-Canadian female singer singing 'My Heart Will Go On' on the ocean, and the ghost of Leonardo DiCaprio inexplicably calling himself 'Jack' for some reason. All three occurrences seem highly implausible, Akitsu Maru-san, and none of us being named 'Titanic' helps us out a lot too."
But Unryuu, barely suppressing a smirk, added onto Shigure's over-analysis of Akitsu Maru's words, commenting about the new American comrade which they had brought back to this base.
"Yes. Although with the sudden appearance of Saratoga-san, I wouldn't exactly discount the possibility of a French-speaking Canadian ship girl appearing in our base. Lightning does strike the same place twice, after all."
Everyone burst out into another bout of lively and unbridled laughter, Kiso miming the action of flinging something at Akitsu Maru with her entire arm as she mocked in jest.
"Get fucking owned, bitch! Ahaha!"
Hayasui was wiping away the tears which were forming in the corners of her eyes, Akitsu Maru wearing a wide grin on her face despite lowering her gaze and lazily shifting her head about as she spoke offhandedly.
"Alright, now I just want to fucking kill myself…"
Saratoga, upon hearing the 8th Fleet's morbid jokes and Shigure's over-analysis of Akitsu Maru's comments, couldn't help but laugh along with the 8th and 1st Fleet, now understanding that eccentric the ship girls of the 8th Fleet may be, deep down, they were still human.
And even if everything about them, from their personalities to their sense of humor, was off-kilter and often deviated from the norm, Saratoga could see that their awkward but straightforward attempts to befriend and be closer to her were sincere.
And while she could do with a little less dark humor and swearing, Saratoga could start to see the beginnings of a unique friendship start to form between them.
It was admittedly lonely to be the only American here in Japan, but as a ship girl and a soldier, it wasn't hard for her to see that there was a place for her here in Yokosuka, along with other ship girls who fought alongside her.