Faraway from the Deep Sea: De Capo

Growing Memories

The eerily quiet world is free of Sirens.....and humans like. My enormous body freely curls up on a snowy plain with frozen like in my sight. Then there's Enterprise leaning on my curled body while she relaxes her feet on my tail

"You really like using me to relax......" I weakly groan
"You're warm as a toaster"
"I'm not a toaster....." I weakly snort steam
"Well, you're warm even if we're out in the middle of winter"

As she gazes into the cloudy sky dropping faint snow, I lift my head too and my supposed gentle hum sounds like a revving engine. This mechanical shell can be annoying for me too.

"How long.....has its been?" I ask her while I gaze at the sky
"I no longer count the days....." Enterprise reaches out for the sky
"Yet you still long for the old days"
"I still do even after I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter anymore"

What's supposed to be a relaxing mood is now a depressing one when we both try to refresh the old days. I guess we're still clinging to the past, but we believe we've moved on.

"I like to play with everyone again......."

My whole body reverberates and the bright orange gaps on my body glow brighter.

"Even if everyone is gone, I'll still accompany you because I know how lonely you can get" Enterprise taps my steel body
"Hmph" I turn my head away
"You're still what they call a tsundere"

I don't want to admit she's right. So long as I have someone to walk alongside me, I wouldn't care about mundane days like these. The person who I initially thought to be the mundane "hero of justice" ended up piquing my interest enough to witness her resolve and the end of her journey.

"Welt, do you think there are us that are happy out there? One that's living a normal life" Enterprise closes her eyes
"Yes. There are worlds where Azur Lane still exists and another where you're just a regular woman" I confirm to her
"I wonder what it feels like to be a normal human and not a kansen....."

I've met the Enterprise in a mundane world. In that world, she's still the kind and just woman I still know but she cheerfully smiles often and is completely content with her life. She has no wishes to bear and responsibilities to shoulder. No one is placing all those burdens on her, so she's free to be her own person outside the war. Humans made Enterprise lonely and a sacrificial hero. That's why I got angry at them.....

"Welt, you never had anyone since the beginning, right?" Enterprise faintly smiles
"........" I couldn't say anything
"That's why I'll stay with you until this world comes to an end"
"........"
"At least this way.....you don't have to walk this path alone"

I remember. In a faraway timeline, it's Enterprise who first told me how lonely I am. When no one could, she slapped me to her senses......erm, by that I mean bomb me to kingdom come until I calm down. Of all the kansens I've met, she was the only one who wanted to understand me. Ever since then, that instinct to search for her has been persistent.

"Can you promise me something?" Enterprise stares at me
"What is it?"
"The next time we meet, promise me we won't make the same mistake"
"......" I'm a bit shocked
"We're full of regrets, so I want the next version of us to go without regrets. At least this way, we can sit here and smile without longing to correct past mistakes"
"I can promise you.....but I cannot guarantee how long it will take" I solemnly reply"
"It's fine. You have all the time in the world unlike us humans who live tragically short lives"

Yes, I'm aware even Enterprise won't last forever like me. In the unknown future, she will leave me too and I'll be lonely in this desolate world until this universe destroys itself. I can speed up the process by mimicking a supernova, but I want to cherish the world my friend protected until the very end.