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The commander looked at the invitation that was delivered to him by hand. It was very official, and even was pressed with Nagato’s personal seal. For something like that, he absolutely would open it immediately. Part of the invitation was written in her native language, and the other half was written in English. It was respectful, but also to the point.
The commander folded it up and then looked at Unzen. “A flower-viewing event?”
“Lady Nagato thought that now might be a good time to sit down and reflect on what has come and gone so far.” Unzen replied. “And the reason I agreed to deliver the invitation was that I happen to agree with her. I think everyone needs to take some time away from their immediate worldly concerns to meditate on higher things.” Unzen smiled sweetly at him. “So, I would also ask you to attend, commander.”
“While I’m sure that the Sakura gardens are beautiful, I have something to ask.” He began. “We’re at a crucial point. Plans for eliminating Arbiter Hermit are being quickly finalized with Observer’s help, and everyone’s working to get briefed and organized. Are you sure that now is the time to do this?”
“Commander.” Unzen replied. “It is precisely because we are at a crucial point that something like this is the most necessary. A great undertaking requires a clear and uncluttered mind so that one’s vision is uncluttered and the goal can be approached with complete focus. While I understand it is impractical for you to spend some days of sequestration on a mountain retreat, this is my general view on the matter.”
The commander handed the invitation back to Unzen. “Very well, I’ll be showing up, and I’ll be bringing King George and Matilda with me. I hope you don’t mind the possibility of a baby not being able to grasp the intended serenity of the event.”
“Nagato had already anticipated such a thing.” Unzen replied, and then gave the commander a bow. “We look forward to your attendance, commander.”
The commander decided to head right home after getting the invitation. He would have to let King George know what the family plans were.
There was one more thing. “Unzen?”
“Yes, commander?” Unzen hadn’t even turned to leave- She had somehow anticipated that the commander might have another question.
“There’s someone else I’d like you to invite.” He said. “…She may not really understand the purpose of this event, or even the purpose of an invitation, but I’d like her to try to experience this event with the rest of us. If she puts up an appearance of being hesitant, tell her that The Commander Humankind would like her to be there.”
Unzen bowed once more. “I know who you mean, commander. Rest assured, I will do as you ask.”
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King George was ready for this.
The commander never really kept tabs on his wife’s clothes shopping- After all, she earned her own money as a representative of the Royal Navy, and she seemed almost excited to show off something new that she had picked up. However, this brought something back into focus, as her matrimonial excellency was someone who only wore fancy dresses and similar clothes only once in a great while.
Even now she asked for his help with putting on the sorts of formalwear she was expected to have for things like the Queen’s balls, while at any other time she preferred her uniform.
But thankfully, he had experience with dressing others up in just this sort of thing.
King George smiled as the commander helped her put on the kimono correctly. “This is an interesting skill for you to have, but I wonder how you acquired it?”
He nodded, and worked to make sure that everything was placed just right. “Houshou made one for me when I was here. She felt that a commander of the fleet shouldn’t go without something nice to wear when the Sakura Empire called on him for special occasions. Plus, I think she just wanted to be nice to me.”
“That is something one cannot discount when Houshou is concerned.” King George V replied. “But I’m not sure that entirely explains how you managed to become skillful at dressing up a woman in such a thing.”
Alex blushed a bit. “…Friedrich had received a similar gift at some point, and she couldn’t make heads or tails of it herself.” He replied. “So, she asked me to help dress her at least a couple of times until she understood it herself.”
King George held still while her husband did his thing, and even held one of the folds in place as he did work elsewhere. “I had thought she wasn’t the sort of person who needed help from others, so it was something she merely passed down.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He said. “But either way, neither one of us thought to make a big deal of me dressing her up like that. I guess that’s just because of the way that we ended up seeing each other over time.” The commander then began work on the sash. “…She does seem to have gotten involved with Houshou, however, but I guess they both have something in common- Houshou considers herself mother to all of the Sakura carriers.”
“Is that so?” King George looked up for a moment. “…I guess she may well be more restrained about such things than Friedrich.”
“I think Houshou knows they might not take it especially well.” He said as he made sure to wrap it nice and tight. “Even aside from all the others, I think that the only people who Akagi allows to dote on her are me, Kaga, and Amagi.” He paused. “…She’s intensely selective about that sort of thing.”
“This reminds me of something I’ve been thinking about for a while.” King George said, making sure not to move in any way that would interrupt Alex. “Did you ever find out why Akagi has such an attachment to you?”
“No idea.” He said. “When I first came here, I was too afraid to ask, and that meant I never did. That’s the whole story. I guess I’ll find some time to ask her about it.”
“You ought to.” She said. “She would be glad to tell you, I’m sure.”
Alex finished dressing King George. There was no doubt that Akagi would be very enthusiastic about explaining everything.
Eventually, he finished up and looked at his handiwork.
Houshou had made something lavish for his wife. The vivid red kimono was embroidered with a pattern of the Golden Lion of the Royal Navy, and a green sash to match her ever-present ring. It had a fur-lined collar to match the decoration of her cape, and fit comfortably around her figure. Alex would say it was a beautiful piece of work, but it was made more so by being on King George.
“So, how does it look?” She asked.
Alex put an arm around her waist, and leaned upwards to give her a kiss on her cheek.
King George smiled. “I see I hardly needed to ask.” She looked at herself. “…I assume it won’t be too much to help me arrange my hair, of course.”
“Of course.” He said. Her long, blonde hair had been wonderful even before she let it grow out more during her pregnancy.
But even as he worked with her soft tresses, an odd thought came to mind- If King George V was so gifted, what might HMS Lion be like, if she were manifested?
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Kearsarge held out her arms as she let Houshou help put on her kimono, white with a pattern of pink cherry blossoms with a violet sash to match her eyes. The aviation battleship did know how to put it on herself, but Houshou seemed to enjoy helping her put it on. That's what her sensors were telling her, anyways. "This invitation is extended every year?"
"Mmmmhm!" Houshou said. "But you don't need a special excuse to wear this when you come here. You deserve to wear nice things, after all."
"Oh..." Kearsarge watched Houshou with her violet eyes, and let the carrier adjust things until they were just right.
Atago arrived soon enough, the cruiser equally dressed up. "Hello~ Just dropping off what you asked me to get, and... Oh!" She put her hands together. "Ahhhh... We're dressing up Kearsarge today?"
Houshou giggled. "She came by and asked me to. I know she can do this herself, but she wanted me to."
The cruiser giggled. "She can probably tell that you like it. Besides, it's cute~" Atago found a place to sit comfortably. "This is her first flower viewing with us, isn't it?"
Kearsarge nodded. "This is the first such occasion, and I felt it would be useful to my experience to accept the invitation. The commander said this is not a difficult place to be sociable."
Houshou finished up. "The commander is right, of course, especially at an event where the entire point is to relax and reflect for a while." Houshou then took a step back. "There, you're all ready to go whenever you like." She then turned to Atago. "Now, since you also like to be fashionable, what do you think?"
Atago's ears twitched a little, and she giggled. "Hehe... Perhaps someone might think our Kearsarge is also a lovely flower worth viewing~"
Kearsarge blushed a little, and Houshou waved her off. "Come now, let's not embarrass her so much before the event has even started."
“I don’t mean to embarrass, just be truthful.” Atago said. “One of these days, she will fully understand what love means, and when that happens, someone is going to become very lucky~”
Houshou chuckled, and began putting the final touches on Kearsarge by brushing her white hair. “Oh, I see what you’re getting at… But let’s not push her- By letting it come naturally, it will be all the more beautiful.”
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The main Sakura gardens were always lovely. The commander wondered exactly who was behind maintaining them, but when he considered the Sakura ethos, he wondered if most of the Sakuran ships did it in turns at one time or another. He could hardly imagine that it was entirely the work of someone like Hanazuki, so he was sure that dozens of ships may have been involved in doing this in their off-hours. It could in part be the work of the more disciplined ones like Maya or Takao, and even in part the work of those with a head for romance, like Taihou or Akagi. Even then, there was the possibility that it was tended to those who preferred more meditative activities, like Amagi, Unzen, and more.
Whatever the case, when Nagato wanted to hold a flower viewing there was plenty to view, and plenty of people to view it.
“Pour me another one, Zuizui!”
Zuikaku smiled, and poured another drink for Kumano while Shoukaku looked on with a smile. Even though this event was originally made for serene contemplation, it was more popularly seen as a time to kick back and relax. Kumano knocked back a cup and followed it up with her usual sharp-toothed grin. “Hey, Suzusis! You want any of this? It’s good stuff?”
Suzuya giggled. “Oh, no, not right now. There’s still plenty of daylight left. But you can do what you like- After all, you can count on Zuikaku to take care of you no matter what you need~”
Shoukaku giggled into her sleeve as she sat still, looking for all the world like a proper lady when compared to her sister and her rowdy oni partners. “Ah, it’s good to see that Zuizui keeps such cheerful company these days. I’m afraid our senpais can be both obsessive and dour at times, so no doubt your company is more delightful.”
Suzuya put her hands on the blanket. “Of course. After all, we do try not to be troublesome, right?”
Zuikaku poured a drink for herself. “Hah, well, maybe you try, but even if you are trouble, it’s the kind of trouble that’s no problem for me to handle- Besides, there are lots of ways I want to get stronger, and you can’t get stronger without being tested.”
Kumano scooted over and squeezed against Zuikaku. “Hah! But you also need a rest day for that, right? Work to hard and you grind yourself to powder.” She snuggled up against the younger crane. “Just relax and let yourself feel goood~”
Zuikaku blushed a bit, but her older sister had something to add. “Aha… I’m going to have to agree with Kumano, Zuizui.” Shoukaku poured herself a drink next. “You should always find time to let others be good to you. After all, there are more pleasures in life than battle and my tempura.”
“I don’t want to forget your help, Shoukaku-nee…” Zuikaku added.
“Tomorrow, you may have to fight.” Shoukaku said. “But now, you have two lovely girls who want to give you all their time. Enjoy everything they offer.”
“Everything, huh…?”
“Everything!” Kumano said, and seated herself in Zuikaku’s lap. The carrier squeaked a little, but put her arms around Kumano’s waist without any hint of nerves. Regardless of other appearances, Zuikaku had grown close to the playful oni sisters. “Everything during the party, and everything after~”
“Oh, you’re planning on having us do something after?” Zuikaku said.
“Of course~” Suzuya added. “The party ends at the evening, but that just might be when the real fun begins~”
Zuikaku turned a bright red. “Sh-shoukaku-nee!”
Shoukaku took out her flute, feeling some new inspiration come by thanks to the romantic travails of her impulsive sister.. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure these girls are something you can handle, as you said yourself~”
Elsewhere, people were being somewhat more sedate.
“Something to drink?” Hanazuki asked.
Admiral Hipper pouted. “I’m not my sister you know, so don’t expect me to just down a bottle.”
The fox-woman giggled as she sat with Admiral Hipper under one of the blooming trees. “Oh, don’t worry about if I do or don’t know who I’m talking to. Just one cup for you will be enough for me.” She sat dutifully beside the Iron Blood cruiser. “So, are you glad that I asked you to help with the preparations, or no?”
“Huh?” She huffed. “…Since you’re the only person who asks me to do this kind of thing, I guess I had to say yes. Not even my sisters appreciate the art the way that we do.”
“Is that so~” Hanazuki scooted closer to her partner. “Blucher always seems delighted when she sees what you’re doing.”
Hipper sighed. “Blucher just likes pretty things.” Hipper looked to the side a bit. “…The way Blucher turned out is why Eugen and I agreed to protect her- Even if we don’t always agree on most things, that’s one thing we’re sure about.”
Hanazuki’s tail swished back and forth on the blanket. “Mmm… So you grump and complain, but in the end, you still feel affection towards your sisters, hm?”
“The one sister who doesn’t need my help is Talinn- She’s responsible enough to earn being grumpy about having to be the responsible one.” Hipper sighed as she looked up at the cherry blossoms.
Hanazuki smiled. “There’s little to worry about. You put so much work into helping us getting the event ready, that I was sure it would go well.
“Yeah, well, I thought something might go wrong because I put a whole lot of work into this along with the rest of you.” Admiral Hipper folded her arms. “…At least you know what you’re doing.”
“Hehe…” Hanazuki leaned against Admiral Hipper. “Since I seem to know what I’m doing, won’t you take the drink I’m offering you?”
“…Yeah.” Hipper took the cup in her hand.
“Speaking of which, what is your sister up to?”
She gestured with her head over to another set of revelers- Eugen, Kii, and Izumo were all sharing a spot under the blossoms with Albert, as the others were away on business. “She’ll be all right. Albert might not even have to help her home if he’s lucky.”
“Mmm…” She brushed her tail over Hipper’s back. “So, time for you to relax, then~”
One of the stranger sets of visitors to attend the event was the recently arrived Sirens- Unzen had insisted on inviting them, even if she conceded that they would sit separately. Observer, Compiler, and Omitter were all there, as well as the computer and attacked backup device that held Purifier’s Intelligence Matrix. All four of them had a drinking cup set up in front of them, as well as a fifth cup set on a stand for the absent Tester. Unzen had insisted on that, too. While Observer thought it unnecessary, she allowed it as a matter of decorum, which these people seemed to find important
Purifier, if she had a means to speak, would always be talking.
“Hey, Compiler, could you tip my camera up? I‘m only looking across the lawn here.”
Compiler slowly turned her head towards the laptop that housed Purifier. “This is merely an observation of foliage. And besides, didn’t you say previously that you didn’t want to waste time with some petals?”
“Yeah, well, if I’m going to be dragged to a flower viewing, I might as well view some pretty flowers. Now chop-chop, honey!”
Compiler adjusted Purifier’s camera until she was satisfied.
Observer was the only one who was tressed for the occasion. Her tentacles lay flat in repose as she was dressed in a black and white kimono that Melissa had scrounged up from somewhere- Probably a return or a trade-in of some kind. She turned her eyes on the bright pink of the cherry blossoms. “I understand the theoretical significance of this event. But is the practical purpose to just sit here and think? I guess they may require a moment of silence to compute matters.”
“Yeah, well, I heard you’re also supposed to do things like this.” Omitter cleared her throat even though she had no biological means to do so, stood up, and then put on what Observer considered an attempt (not necessarily a success) at a dramatic poet voice.
“To flower, bloom and fall
They say the ideal warrior does each beautifully
But of those who are enchanted by the beauty of ten thousand falling petals
Who dares to look upon and contemplate
The bare and gnarled branches left behind?”
Omitter sat back down. “Or something like that.”
Compiler turned her head towards Omitter. “Your attempt at composition was both unexpected and atypically socially appropriate.”
Omitter huffed. “What do you mean unexpected?! Poetry is in my fucking soul!”
At that moment, Observer’s eyes caught an unlikely event. A single cherry petal fell from the blossoming tree they were sitting under and slowly floated its way down into the cup reserved for the absent Tester.
Observer had occasionally devoted some time to considering the demise of Tester, and how the fifth member of their team met her end. Tester had meticulously calculated herself into oblivion- her perfect mathematics had led her to be destroyed in an unlikely event where a supposedly timid cruiser performed analysis far beyond her previously observed capacity and laid Tester’s defenses bare.
She began to suspect, however, that Unzen had invited them here precisely to contemplate their own mortality now that they could no longer rely on the system that had supported them without question for so long.
Tester was gone. After working together for fifty years, she was gone, killed by the belief that math and calculation could determine absolutely anything.
Observer didn’t want to die, and especially not like that. Though she was not someone who had a strong sense of embarrassment, managing to somehow logic herself into destruction was not ideal.
The commander, on the other hand, sat with King George V. He had made sure to pay his respects to Nagato (as well as give her some Chorley cakes that King Goerge had baked). Dido was also there to help mind Matilda while the four were there.
Once everyone was settled, Choukai stopped by to deliver food and drink, while dressed in a maid uniform of her own, but they were not otherwise disturbed as they settled in.
Before he paid attention to anything else, the commander looked around to see who else was enjoying themselves. It turned out that a lot of the shipgirls, when given the opportunity to take a break and sit under the cherry blossoms, just couldn’t resist Nagato’s invitation, and so they were sitting, talking between themselves, or just outright sleeping under the multitude of trees regardless of anything else that might be going on around them.
The commander arranged himself comfortably. While Nagato tried to maintain a professional distance, she did know him well enough to know what he needed, sometimes even before he did.
King George noticed this. “Looks like you’re enjoying yourself already.”
“Even if it’s the opposite of what someone would conventionally call exciting, yes.” He said. “I’m not about to live Unzen’s life, but sometimes you really need to slow down and look around to see where you are.”
Dido passed Matilda into King George’s arms, and the baby made her usual noises as she tried to grab at the folds in her mother’s kimono. King George soon relaxed. “Two island nations with a fondness for relaxing with tea, hm?”
The commander shook his head. “You know, I’m willing to bet you’re not the only one who has drawn this kind of parallel.”
“It feels like it should come naturally.” She said as she got fully settled. “I am glad that you decided to take Unzen’s advice.”
“I think I’m going to agree with you.” He poured tea for himself, King George, and Dido, if mainly to remind her that she was a part of this too. “I also hope that the other guest accepted Unzen’s invitation.”
“Another guest?”
“Levi.” He said. “If she’s here to explore, then maybe this will help illuminate our condition for her. There are certain philosophical underpinnings that might help her understand us and what we do. I think, anyways.”
“Mmm.” King Goerge simply went.
The commander sat down under the blossoms, looking up. All the care that was put into these trees paid off for this moment- Everything was in bloom, a perfect pink, the branches swaying in the gentle breeze. A few petals scattered here and there. Enough to provoke notice and thought but not so much as to become irritating. It’s no wonder that the Sakura islands took their name from this tree, or that they placed such cultural importance on it- It was a reminder that everything, no matter how magnificent, was also temporary.
The commander didn’t know how long he had been sitting there quietly, but…
“The extension of presence from the Commander Humankind.”
The commander turned to look, and there was Levi, dressed as she usually was. No one really blamed her, though, as clothes were likely still a very new concept. Unzen came with her, and put on a smile. “Hello, commander. The additional guest decided to accept our invitation.”
King George looked at Levi. “Oh! Well, let her sit down, if she likes.”
Levi understood this, and did decide to sit down, even if her movements remained stiff and oddly mechanical. Unzen also took a seat.
“The explanation of the social aggregation event, flower viewing.” Levi said simply.
The commander nodded. “From what I understand, it’s a very old custom.” He said. “At least, as we consider things old, you might have a different scale of that sort of thing. It was something that was originally started by rulers, but became popular with all kinds of people over time.” He paused. “People also began to compare the cherry blossom to life itself, being beautiful but fleeting.”
Levi tilted her head a bit, the commander wondering whether she was having trouble with the idea of government or the idea of life being fleeting.
Unzen decided to take over from there. “Ah… If you will permit me, commander?” She sat down by Levi as well. “You see, one of the things humans have been drawn to contemplate is that life ends, and it ends after not many years even in the grand scheme of our small history.”
Levi now stared at Unzen, but the sage continued unperturbed. “In truth, we don’t know how long you have been alive, and maybe you don’t know how to relate it to us. But if humans seem odd to you, it is because they live such short lives- There are things that seem impossible to wait out, so when there is a drive to do something, it is always now- Because, very quickly and suddenly, now may turn to never.”
The commander sat upright. “…Well, I’m sure I understand that, but I think Levi may need time to think about it. But I think she can at least appreciate the novel sights of our universe, or something.”
King George giggled. “From what I understand, this is the perfect place for that kind of talk.”
Matilda, understanding none of this, simply tugged on King George’s clothes a little more while making noises, and King Goerge kissed her daughter on the forehead to make sure she wasn't forgotten.
The next time the commander looked at Levi, she saw something unexpected. Levi was looking up at the trees, her unshakable gaze fixed on the cherry blossoms, as though she was trying her best to take in the sight so completely that she wouldn’t be able to forget it.
At least, that’s how it appeared to him- Who knew what she was thinking about what she had seen of their world?
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The party wound down towards the evening, with everyone going their separate way. Some of the shipgirls headed back to their rooms, while others headed back to others’ rooms for some reason or another.
Unzen had her evening business before heading off to the less-populated parts of the island to be with her own thoughts. After all, Shinano had secretly invited her to her room, and she wasn’t about to turn that down, either.
Once she arrived, Unzen carefully opened and shut the sliding screen that separated her bedroom from the other parts of her home, but she was surprised to find Shinano sitting completely upright rather than lying down, especially since the day was coming to an end. She sat down in front of Shinano. “You asked for me?”
“This one did.” She said. “The commander means to destroy the one among them who blights the mind. The very thing that makes her powerful also makes her vulnerable, as the realm of dreams exists without respect to time and space. To exercise that power will be supremely dangerous for me to do on my own, so I must ask you to take a great risk with me.”
Unzen scooted closer. “What do you mean to do?”
“…The last time this one fought against her, it took the most supreme effort to drive her from the commander’s mind, but her destruction escaped my grasp- Hermit’s strength was too great for me to dare pursue her.” Shinano half-closed her eyes. “But I know of your meditative nature and supreme insight, and with that, I may be able to carry you with me. But if we fail, we will not be able to escape.” Shinano put her hands in her lap. “Only this one is obligated to go, but will you come?”
Unzen remained quiet for a moment, and then she took her sword and placed it at her own feet. “Regardless of my philosophy of escaping worldly attachments, I still recognize I owe much to Yamato, so I would protect her sisters. Regardless of the danger, you can count on me to act without hesitation.”
“Mm…” Shinano nodded, and then finally lay down on her bed. “Good… There is but one more I will call upon who knows well the way of dreams, and with her assistance, we may yet be able to overturn that creature who will not even allow humans to have their own dreams.” She yawned a little. “…this is all I wished to ask of you.”
“Of course.” Unzen stood up and bowed. “May your dreams be untroubled.”
And then Unzen left Shinano to sleep.