Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Chapter 18: Reminisce

February 19, 1942

A volley of .30-06 flies across the field, landing in the target fixed at the other end. All 8 land right on target.

'Either my aim is getting better, or that BWC makes bullets fly truer. Maybe both.'

Ray: "Hey, Boss! How're they handling?"

"Surprisingly well!" I leap off the tree I was stationed in. "I feel like the M1 got more accurate! Now, if only the Army can make a scope that doesn't fog up like ass..."

Ray: "Yeah, if only... Oh!"

"...?"

Ray: "I haven't seen Z23 around. What happened to her?"

"Laffey and Z23 are doing recon around the Solomon Sea. We've been having some skirmishes around there and the Union is asking us to help them out. Since, if you aren't in the Azur Lane, you use normal ships, not kansen. They could at least have a kansen act as an advisor or something, but no!"

Ray: "Well, what do you expect from the States?"

"...Good point."

Ray: "So... when'll Z23 be back?"

"Nimi'll be back in... 2 weeks? Honestly, not sure."

Ray: "So I have to wait to apologize to her...?"

"I mean, you could've done so last week, when she was still around. She left like on the 15th."

Ray: "I know! It's just... It would've felt awkward just showing up on my first day and... I just got scared of her reaction."

"Yeah, I can tell."

Ray: "*Sigh* Before all of... that, Nimi and I were real close. Had things not gone down the way they did, I'm sure we'd be unstoppable. But now..."

"...You missed what you used to have."

Ray: "How were you able to tell?"

"Dude, look at me. My parents are dead, you know that?"

Ray: "Yeah, it's kinda well-known you have no family."

"Thanks, asshole. Well, let me tell you how it all went down that day... on my 7th birthday. At least, what I can remember."

Ray: "God, that must've been depressing."

--

That day, June 19, 1928

Port Angeles, Washington

I sit atop the pier overlooking the Pacific, wind rustling in my hair.

I haven't seen Mum or Dad at all today, but it's my birthday, so they're probably planning something.

???: "Oh! Jason-XXX!"

I turn around and see those two girls, XXXXX and XXX, waving at me. XXX looks away, embarrassed at her partner's outburst. Both look far older than when I first saw them, XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX, XX XXXX'XX XXXXXX, XXX XXXXXX.

"Heya, girls!"

XXXXX: "Happy Birthday!"

XXX: "Y-yeah! Happy Birthday."

"Thanks, you two!" I chuckle. "Shouldn't you be with XXX XXXXXXX? (S)He'll [?] get concerned if you two aren't around." I'm can't remember if this person was a guy or girl, whoever they were.

XXXXX: "Ah, (s)he won't care. (S)He's too busy preparing for XXX XXXXXX XXXX XX XXX XXXXXX XXXXXX."

"Yeah, makes sense. Wait, when'll that be?"