Azur Lane: Rebirth

Ch5: My Roommate Roon

I've only been with the girls in Iron Blood for a week and yet we've somewhat fallen into a mutual state of tolerance. They don't quite trust me as yet but no longer eye me with blatant suspicion. Part of this might be due to my self-proclaimed roommate, Roon, but I suspect there's more to the situation than meets the eye.

In any eventuality, as I take my seat in Marseille's dormitory cafeteria, I find myself uneasy. Where is Roon? Since that time we spent together, we'd become nigh inseparable so why's she not attempting to pester me today? 

Looking around for some sign of her presence, I find everyone sneaking glances my way as though I'm some sort of criminal. 

Me: WHAT?

My shout, accompanied by my fists slamming into the metallic table, garners the attention of the entire room.

Me: If you find my face so interesting, perhaps you want a closer look?

Bismark: Hey now, aren't we all friends here?

Me: Perhaps if you treated me as such I won't need to-

Bismark: Are you truly that worried about her?

Huh?

Me: Huh?

I eye Bismark warily as she takes a seat, opposite me at my table. She doesn't have a food tray nor does she show signs of being interested in a meal which means only one thing. Her purpose here is me.

Me: What are you talking about?

Bismark: Roon, of course.

I feign ignorance but she continues, unperturbed. 

Bismark: You've definitely noticed by now that she's not around.

Me: You make it sound as though she's missing.

Bismark: She is.

A jolt of electricity fires down my spine but my years of training in the Royal Navy enable me to suppress the flood of emotions threatening to cloud my judgement. Calm and collected as ever, I offer my response.

Me: How could Roon suddenly go missing? She's rather hard to miss.

Bismark: It is true that Roon's personality makes it quite difficult for her to blend in...however, it remains that she's gone missing.

Me: Where was she last seen?

Bismark: Near the dorms.

I stand at that and begin walking away when Bismark grabs ahold of my hand.

Bismark: Don't do anything brash.

I scoff at her comment before pulling my hand free and leaving the cafeteria. 

The minute I'm outside, I glimpse what seems like Roon's hair ducking around a corner and take off after her but when I get there no one is in sight.

Finding the entire situation strange, I decide against chasing shadows and instead begin making my way back to my room. 

Bismark: What..are you doing?

Me: Going to bed.

Bismark: It's midday! Moreover, aren't you worried about Roon?

Me: I doubt there's anything nearby that could harm her enough for me to be worried. Besides, knowing her my time is better spent sleeping.

She looks at me as if I'd just spoken words declared to be the very peak of heresy but I don't care enough about her opinions of me to even attempt to clarify. Instead, I dismiss our conversation as is and continue towards my room.

Once at the door, however, I hesitate. What if something really happened to her? She might be a personality and a half but she's still my roommate and the only one in this base who doesn't hate me on a fundamental level...

Me: Could they have done something to her?

I cover my mouth, realising that I've spoken my thoughts out loud but as I look around for any eavesdroppers, I find that I'm still all alone.

Sigh

I push the door open, stepping in to reveal Roon attempting to sneak out of my room.

Me: ROON!!!

She freezes in place like a cat caught with its paws in the jar and as my eyes scan her body, they lock on to the panty curled between her fingers...my panty!

Me: What are you-

Roon: I-it's not what it looks like!

I deploy my forward armaments.

Roon: I can explain!

I can't imagine I was actually worried about this...this...ugh!!!