To Thaw a Lost Heart

Where Danger Lies

The sun shines brightly and the kansens on a day off are enjoying basking under the sunlight and the calm breeze at least relaxes their worries. As for Tirpitz, she deliberately fixates her gaze on the nearby beach to avoid the gentle smile observing her subtle movements.

"Does this feel awkward?" Yorktown softly asks

Yorktown pulls herself a bit, genuinely concerned after Tirpitz is quieter than usual and could barely make eye contact with her.

".....It's not" Tirpitz looks at her
"Then....."
"It's just that, I'm not the type to easily strike a conversation" Tirpitz clarifies to avoid misunderstandings
"Ah, you're not used at socializing after all. It must be hard ever since you were detained and lost your emotions....."
"....."

The reminder of the one year of bitterness confined in a steel prison located at a scorching heat valley only reminds Tirpitz of Bismarck refusing to even look at her when she got arrested. Tirpitz's hands resting close to each other on top of a round table, tenses until she reflexively clenches her hands tightly.

"I just wanted to speak with you because I learned you deeply hated Bismarck because she caused your condition and imprisonment" Yorktown notices
"Why do you care?"
"I'm the eldest sister who always looks after my two younger sisters. That's why I feel awful when you sever your relationship with Bismarck and became hostile"
"......" Tirpitz lowers her gaze on her hands

As much as Tirpitz wants to outright voice out how much she blames Bismarck, she couldn't find the motivation in front of Yorktown. The latter is genuinely concerned, without any malice or hidden motive. It's rare for her to encounter someone "soft and gentle", especially that she barely has any faith in humanity and performs her duties because she doesn't care enough to question.

"You two never met before and when this life gave you two a chance.....it ended up this way" Yorktown intertwines her fingers
"She did this knowing full well of the consequences. Of course she wouldn't care enough to reconsider because I'm the one who would pay the price"

Tirpitz moves her right hand to lift a bit of her left sleeve, displaying the steel cuffs tightly locked on her wrists. Faint energy flows in the thin lines running across the restraints suppressing the chill she emits from killing normal people.

"It's not just as simple as taking away a limb to spare the rest of the body. That selfish bastard robbed me of my emotions" Tirpitz couldn't bring out her anger

As a result, she could only express through a cold and distant voice. She only has the unpleasant memory to push her away from Bismarck. There's no forgiveness in her mind after even her hatred is stripped from her.

"A sister is someone you can trust and rely on because they're family. I thought there was a chance we could build that relationship because we never had the chance.....but in the end, she was only full of pride" Tirpitz squeezes her wrists
"You feel disappointed. I mean, how you would probably feel....." Yorktown isn't sure how to describe it
"Bismarck only cared about fighting and her ideals. She never looked past herself. After all, she couldn't even see enough to care about how I would feel"

In Tirpitz's mind, she briefly recalls a moment where she's standing right behind Bismarck and is about to say something. Seeing Bismarck is completely focused on what's in front of her without even looking back, Tirpitz shuts her mouth close and turns away in dismay.

"In her eyes, I was just a soldier whom she expects to fight until I die for good. She didn't see me as an individual but a soldier who has no right to complain" Tirpitz continues to voice out her past bitterness
"Is that what she showed to you or is that what you believed?" Yorktown tilts her head
"......."
"Tirpitz, you mustn't make assumptions when you two didn't even communicate about the issue"
"I told her that if I were to suffer a mortal injury, I wish to die naturally. Instead, she toyed with my life and restored me in this cursed state"