Simulated Lanes

Chapter 27 - Mirrored Fate

After more resting and having his much needed breakfast, (Y/n) and Belfast walked through the hallway of the Azur Lane base. Oddly, there are no one nearby, as if there are only him and the maid alone, as they're on their way to the main office.

"To be honest, I'm not ready to face Miss Hood, after... y'know." (Y/n) admits.

"I understand how you feel. But you have to understand just how much Hood worried about you." Belfast affirmed.

"I know. It's just..." (Y/n) stopped as he contemplates about what's to come. "I have my reason to fight. I have no other choice."

Belfast look at him, noticing that he's clenching his hands.

"I'm sure that she will understand." Belfast said. "All I ask of you is to not hiding anymore secrets to her. She deserves the whole truth."

With (Y/n) nodding, the two finally arrived at the door that leads to the main office. (Y/n) slowly reach the doorknob, looking at Belfast one last time before letting out a sigh, in which he opens the door and enters the office.

"Excuse me..." He said weakly as he closes the door. Inside lies the lone Hood, who has been expecting him for some time. On the desk is the briefcase that contains the Gashats that Kuroto managed to rescue.

"(Y/n)..." Hood begin. "Please, sit down." Her tone is a mix between an order and a plea, making the boy do what she said.

There was silence between the two, as if either of them are waiting for the other to start. In the end, Hood then said this:

"Are you aware of our commander?" She said it in a calm yet trembling tone. "He was the one who lead us Shipgirls when the war between us and the Sirens began. He was an outstanding man, who cared for us and always attentive to our needs.

"But then... he perished." Hood stopped for a moment to see (Y/n)'s reaction, in which his eyes went wide upon hearing it. "The Siren... fired a barrage of lasers towards our commander, as their last ditch effort. They succeeded at that, and our commander fell into the bottom of the sea...

We did not found his body, but the only thing we found... was his burnt cap..."

Hood slowly shed some tears, unable to hold her grief towards her commander.

"Do you understand now? The same fate almost befell to you, and you're just an outsider who had nothing to do with our war! I never wanted you to join us! I wanted to bring you home, so that you will never have to see the horrors of war!"

Thus, Hood broke down crying, unable to contain her grief any longer.

"Yet here you are, fighting in the frontlines as Snipe! Disregarding your own safety to fight against the Crimson Axis and the Sirens! Do you realize just how worried I am for you?!"

Hood continued to cry as she's unable to comprehend her words. It's clear that she's overly worried towards the boy, who again, almost shared the same fate as her former commander. For the boy however, he's stunned to hear the revelation, and it made him feel even more guilty for making Hood worry about him.

As the shipgirl continue to cry, (Y/n) had enough of wallowing into his guilt, and went to her side, hugging her. He stood there for a while, waiting for Hood to calm herself down.

"... I want to say sorry, but I know that it won't cut it." He finally said. "And I don't have any excuses, but I have my reason..."

"And I promise that I will explain everything. No more secrets or lies. Only the truth."

Hood then looked up to (Y/n), who's eyes only show sincerity and regrets. Hood understood why he had to do it, seeing just how dire the entire situation is.