[SF Novel] Aoi-san of the New Komorebi Manor, Episode 24: The Distance Between Them Closes on the Deck of the Destroyer Atago

The distance between them closes on the deck of the destroyer Atago

Ayano and Aoi decided to go visit the destroyer at the port.
It is the scenery of Hashikata Port, where spring is almost here.

Well then, please enjoy.
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[Estimated reading time: 8 minutes]

The line at the port

The scent of the sea suddenly drifts on the early spring breeze.
Aoi was at Hashikata Port with Ayano.

Ayano was sweating due to the unseasonably warm weather.
"It's a bit hot."

Days with large temperature fluctuations continue, making it difficult to choose clothes. It is a bit windy today, but warm.

Aoi was also dressed for spring to blend in with her surroundings, but
she thought she might have been better off wearing something lighter.

Usually, there are only ferries connecting the islands, but
today there is a line at the quay.

People's gazes were fixed on the large ship moored there.

Destroyer Atago

The destroyer "Atago."
It is an Aegis ship of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Now, the Atago was pulling its sleek, dark gray form
up to the quay.

The gangway has been lowered.
This line is for the ship tour.

While looking at it, unlike Ayano,
Aoi felt a tinge of anxiety.

Knowing it was useless, she tucked her hair into her beret.

The sensor array that looks just like hair would automatically
sense all the information in the surroundings.
The Self-Defense Force personnel would surely know
that she is a humanoid.

...And destroyers have many classified matters.

Unaware of Aoi's worries, Ayano
was telling Aoi all sorts of
information that was publicly available on the internet.

Focusing on that
seemed like the best shielding effect.

I'm free now that the exams are over.

"Aoi-chan, let's go see the escort ship."

At Ayano's voice, Aoi, who had been reading a book a little way off,
was surprised.

"Are you interested in escort ships, Ayano?"
"Not really, but I'm free."
"Ah, because the exams are over, right?"
"Yes, they are over."

Saying that, she showed me the news
about the escort ship currently docked.

"It looks like we can tour it, so
it might be interesting."

Two months have passed since coming to Komorebi Manor.

Recently, Ayano has seemed much more settled.

She quit the supermarket and is working part-time at Minami's bar
and Cafe Komorebi.

When she decided on that,
Ayano told Aoi that she wanted to get used to interacting with people.

Working at night meant there was a concern about running into Akira,
but Ayano said she wanted to work at Minami's place.

A humanoid with graceful movements

The transfer station, Mint City Station,
had a moderate crowd.

Aoi dodged the flow of people
heading in different directions quite naturally.

It wasn't until they were on the train that Ayano noticed
the smooth movements that were completely different
from the humanoids found everywhere else.

"…Aoi-chan."
"Yes?"
"Aoi-chan, you're strange."
"I believe I am quite normal, though...?"
"Overall, you seem less like a humanoid"
"and more like something else entirely."

Aoi thought about how to respond.
"Would you like to check?"
She intentionally pressed herself close.

Aoi stared intently at Ayano, who let out an "Eh?"

Seeing Ayano blush slightly and look away,
Aoi said, "I'm just joking."

Aoi's false nails

"…Those are beautiful false nails."
Having found a way to change the subject, Ayano
looked at the false nails Aoi was wearing.

They featured an intricate nail art design.

"I made them myself. Thank you."

When asked to make some for her next time, Aoi said,
that although Ayano's hands had slender fingers and small nails,
she would make something for her.

Slowing down, the train pulled into Hashikata Port Station
with a clattering sound.
As they stepped onto the platform, there was a faint scent of the sea.

As I thought, something is different.

Ayano was a little captivated watching Aoi walk beside her.

Tall and slender, Aoi
walked briskly with her back straight.

Aoi walked just like a human,
and she was actually quite fast.

The way she moved her body wasn't awkward at all.

When she caught up, Ayano said,
"Your body movements are different from a normal humanoid."
"No, they are normal. It is the specification closest to a human."

"O-oh, I heard that Shinichi-san made you."
"That man is an eccentric the likes of which history has rarely seen.
He is also quite extraordinary as an engineer."

"I see."

Actually, I came from space.

While walking straight ahead, Aoi turned her head
and stared at Ayano.

Aoi's smile erases the noise from around Ayano.

“Ayano, this is a secret.”
“Eh?!” Ayano stops in her tracks, surprised, and turns to face her.

“I am an agent of aliens who have come to invade Earth.”

“…That is incorrect.”
Surprised by Ayano's unexpectedly calm reply, she asks,
“Ayano, why is that?”
“If that were true, you wouldn't look like a small frog.”
Aoi starts laughing this time.

“…Ayano, you watch too much anime.”

Wait, could she be a humanoid?

After the line moved for 30 minutes, it was finally their turn.

Let's see, Ayano Narita-san, right?
And this is… Aoi Sato-san.

The Self-Defense Force officer at the reception desk tilts her head as she looks at Aoi.

Could you be a humanoid?

“Yes.”
“We are required to check, so please come this way.”
Giving a smile to the worried-looking Ayano,
Aoi follows the female Self-Defense Force officer.

She undergoes a body check,
and declares that she has no external memory
and no function to relay information.

“I will accompany you inside the ship just in case.”
With that, a female Self-Defense Force officer around 40
ends up following the two of them.

Ayano looked uncomfortable at first,
but she seems to have calmed down as they toured the ship.

Escort ship curry

The inside of the escort ship is narrow.
Equipment is packed tightly everywhere,
and the corridors are crowded with people coming and going.

What surprised Ayano was the
sheet art in the captain's cabin.

The folded sheets
looked like an art object.

In the gunroom (officers' mess),
we were able to eat a special menu.

“...It’s curry. Doesn’t your sense of what day it is get thrown off?”
“It’s fine.”

“What are you talking about?”
Ayano, who was eating quickly out of consideration for Aoi,
asked Aoi while drinking water.

“Ayano, today is Sunday.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“In the Self-Defense Forces, which carry on the traditions of the Navy,
it is decided that curry is served on ships on Fridays.”

“Could it be that the kitchen staff just wants to take it easy on Fridays?”
The female Self-Defense official laughed, saying, “No way.”
“It’s because it’s hard to keep track of the days while at sea.”

The wind felt on the deck

The accompanying female Self-Defense official said apologetically.

“I will guide you to the bridge from here,
but humanoids are prohibited.”
“But we’re friends.”

Aoi said to the dissatisfied-looking Ayano.
“This can’t be helped. I will wait
on the foredeck, Ayano.”

After that, Ayano went up the gangway to the bridge.

Surprisingly, she was in a good mood and taking pictures everywhere.

Aoi felt relieved at the sight.
The sunlight sparkled on the blue sea of Hashikata Port as seen from the ship.
The breeze felt pleasant.

The waves were calm, a sign that spring was almost here.

Ayano’s sources of information and interests

Aoi, having reunited with Ayano,
looked at the Vertical Launching System (VLS) unit.

“Is this the VLS??”
Aoi laughed at Ayano’s confused expression.
On the outside, it just looked like square lids
lined up in rows and columns.

“Isn’t it supposed to be a bunch of cannons lined up like this?”
The “cannon” Ayano pointed at was the Mk 45 5-inch gun.

“This one, too, is it a cannon or...”
“Haha, I see. So that’s where Ayano gets her information.”
Saying that, Aoi laughed without reservation.

“Aoi-chan? Are you making fun of me?”
“You probably have an image of things like
Space Battleship Yamato, right, Ayano?”
“Is that bad? I thought there would be cannons.”

The female Self-Defense official also said with a smile,
“This is actually scarier than that cannon,
and there are missiles inside those square lids.”

"Huh?"

Watching that exchange,
Aoi secretly thought that perhaps Ayano's goal was just to go out with her,
and she hadn't actually been interested in the warship.

After all, she loves medieval Europe
and is fond of novels set in other worlds.

Shiraishi's Work Site

At that moment, a familiar voice called out to the two of them.
"Oh, you two are here too?"

It was Shiraishi, wearing a helmet.
"Shiraishi-san."
Aoi looked happy.
"Oh, Aoi-san. Long time no see."
"Yes."
"I just finished the meeting for the departure."

"It's time for the tugs, then."
"Well, this is my job, after all."

Look, he said, pointing out toward the open sea,
where an unfamiliar tugboat was bobbing in the water.

Brand new white cloth was wrapped
around its tire fenders.

"I have to push and pull, but I can't get it dirty."
"Tugboat work is tough, isn't it?"

When Aoi said that, Shiraishi laughed heartily.
"Even this is a customer-facing business. I know the ropes."

For one thing, Shiraishi said, looking up at the escort ship's massive funnel,

"The main engine of this ship has too much horsepower.
Even if I go at a super slow dead slow,
it'll damage the quay," he laughed again.

Aoi put on a surprised face.
"Does it really have that much horsepower?"
"Oh, come on. You know all about that already."

Laughed off by Shiraishi, Aoi felt relieved.

"Well then," he said, waving cheerfully,
and Shiraishi walked lightly down the gangway.

The scent of the tide carried on the wind suddenly grew stronger.

You were totally ignoring me, weren't you!

Ayano glares at Aoi slightly.
"I knew it, you know everything, don't you?"
"...Well, what could you be talking about?"
"You know everything about this ship, and you were just letting me talk while I did my research, weren't you?"

"No, I was listening with all my might."
"Liar!"
"I had everything I already knew sealed away in my memory while I listened. Whether you believe that or not is up to you, Ayano."

Ayano puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, but it was only for a moment, and she said that if that was what she was saying, she would choose to believe her.

"That is a good attitude to have."
When Aoi said that, Ayano stuck out her tongue and said, "You're mean, Aoi-chan."

The short winter ends, and spring arrives.
The breeze was already a spring wind.

When Ayano first appeared

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