End of The World (Azur Lane: Origins 3)

Chapter 10: Answers

After returning to HQ and submitting a report, I took a walk around the base to try and distract me from Brisbane. My walk took me from the main building, housing the commanders' and admiral's rooms and their offices and past the now largely abandoned sprawling dorms. From there I could see the infirmary and cafeteria and wandered down in the direction of the docks, passing the depot full of supplies on my way.

What were we supposed to do now? With Brisbane on the run and both the Airforce and our patrol fleets searching for her, I was on edge, waiting for the word. Everyone else I had seen appeared to be on edge as well. When would we have to fight Brisbane? Could we win? Would we even survive?

I vaguely registered my commander and Commander Misa on a nearby bench. I was abruptly pulled from my thoughts when I heard my commander say, 'You know what I want? To fall asleep with Kawakaze in my arms.' That was random. Wait!

Freezing in place, my face heating up very quickly, I slowly turned my head to see the commander leaning back on the bench with his hands behind his head and eyes closed. He probably didn't know I was here. Misa did, though.

'You like her that much?' Misa asked. She looked like she was enjoying this.

The commander nodded.

'Then confess to her!' I didn't hear anything after that; I was gone. But did the commander really say that? Does that mean he wants to... with me?

I was getting ready for bed after spending the rest of the day thinking about what the commander said. Surely I misheard him. But at least it distracted me from Brisbane. I jumped when someone knocked on my door. 'Y-yes?'

Jean Bart, Misa's secretary, opened the door and said, 'Commander Iyaki wants to see you.' She promptly left, closing the door behind her.

Cautiously, I knocked on the door of Commander Misa's office. My hand had barely left the door when she pulled me in. 'I'm sure you know why I called you hear this late, Kawakaze.'

'I don't.'

Commander Misa grinned. 'I know you heard what my brother said earlier.' Ah. So that is what this is about. 'I just thought I would ask you to give him his precious 'bed snuggles'.' ...What?

'Bed snuggles?' Was she talking about what I thought she was?

'Y'know, like a hug but lying down. That's why I call it 'bed snuggles'. But only to tease him. Nothing else.' So it wasn't what I first thought. 'Now, will you give him his precious 'bed snuggles'?' Commander Misa snickered every time she said the phrase.

'I guess I don't mind...' My voice was a lot quieter than before. I was practically mumbling.

Commander Misa clapped once. 'Great! His room is on the right at the end of the hallway.' With a wink, she added, 'good luck!'

I raised my hand to knock on the commander's door. Was this actually a good idea? What if Commander Misa set me up? She wouldn't do anything like that, right? With a deep breath, I let my hand fall against the door.

Almost immediately, the commander was standing in the door's place. 'How can I help you, Kawakaze?'

Suddenly, I felt very shy. 'I, uh, heard that you wanted to s-sleep with m-me in your a-arms and wanted to, er, tell you that I-I don't really m-mind...' My voice trailed off as I fiddled with my hands. I had been getting used to the feeling of heat in my face over the past month, as it had happened many times, but now I felt like my face was so hot it was about to melt.