Albatross Sky_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 4] To have a successful marriage, one must fall in love many times, always with the same person. ④
If you have not read Season 1, please read it from here first ↓
[Part 4] To have a successful marriage, one must fall in love many times, always with the same person. American female author Mignon McLaughlin ④
As I sat down in the seat of honor that had been kept open for me, while being nudged by everyone, a draft beer was immediately brought over.
"Alright, shall we begin? You two, give us a greeting!"
At Katsuno's command, the two of us stood up straight.
"Well then... I, Lieutenant Toshio Kadoma of the Nagato Air Group Fighter Squadron, and my wife, formerly Kamizuki, now Sunao Kadoma, also a Lieutenant Junior Grade, have officially registered our marriage as of today!"
Ohhh!? A buzz of excitement rose up.
"We are still both inexperienced, but we ask for your continued guidance and support!"
Following Toshio, Sunao gave her greeting, and as we both bowed deeply, cheers of "Woo-ee!" went up, and we were blessed with grand applause. After that, Suganuma led the toast, and the banquet began.
Immediately, I was bombarded with questions and teasing from the people I felt comfortable with. Up until now, other than that bucket shower incident, we hadn't openly gushed about each other in front of everyone, so it was an embarrassing yet happy time. Before long, as the alcohol flowed, the veterans—Katsuno, Mizushima, Kakizaki, and Suganuma—began to lecture us on the secrets of married life, mixed with their own complaints.
Toshio was used to this kind of thing, and while dragging in the annoyed Gyobu, he activated the secret of the "Sa-Shi-Su-Se-So" responses to keep the superiors in good spirits while gradually pulling Sunao away.
Misuzu, who understood the situation, and Sana, who was about to retire for marriage, guided Sunao away to start a girls' party. I was grilled by the usual familiar faces about everything that had happened since the voyage. Even though I was supposed to be the highest in rank, since we were all women, there was no mercy in their digging. While blushing, I was made to confess various things, and once the excitement died down, it turned into the usual session of gushing and complaining.
As someone who had always been bad at socializing and had been somewhat isolated during my time at Chitose, I still couldn't believe I was chatting so happily with everyone. That was undoubtedly thanks to Misuzu, who actively dragged me out in front of everyone, and Toshio, who had always given me his smile since we first met.
That was precisely why a new seed of worry had sprouted now that we were married.
"Come to think of it, the two of you were an open secret at Atsugi and Nagato until now, but since you're married, does that mean one of you will be transferred?"
I pricked up my ears at the conversation drifting over from the men's circle. The one asking was Kiyose. His girlfriend was also a female pilot of a P-1 patrol aircraft in the 3rd Air Group based at the same Atsugi base, so perhaps he was concerned? Yes, it was an unwritten rule of the Self-Defense Forces that if you were a married couple, you couldn't be in the same unit. It was the law that one of you would be transferred upon marriage. Usually, it meant a transfer to a different unit on the same base, but the only other fighter unit in the Maritime Self-Defense Force besides "Nagato" was the "Mutsu" Air Group Fighter Squadron at the Omura Base in Nagasaki.
Therefore, if a transfer happened, even though we had just gotten married, I would be separated from him between Atsugi and Nagasaki, and if I were the one transferred, I would also be separated from Misuzu.
"It's fine. A few years ago, the Ministry established a policy of significant reductions, citing that transfers and living away from family place a heavy burden on staff and their families. Recruiting is becoming difficult enough as it is."
Katsuno's powerful words.
"So, the order is to basically make considerations so that even officer couples don't have to live apart. Besides, you two are stronger as a fighting force when you're together. We have plans to increase the number of pilots and aircraft, so there will be no transfers for the time being. I've already reported that to the Maritime Staff Office."
I let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s great, Yuhi-san.”
“Yeah! It looks like I can still stay with everyone, too.”
I hold hands with my friends and rejoice.
“Though, it might become difficult to keep flying as a pair from here on out. Kamizuki—no, Kadoma—needs to have a wingman of her own soon, and since Toshi is a National Defense Academy graduate, he’ll be rotated into ground duty every few years once he’s over thirty. After I turned thirty, I spent two years at Ichigaya and three years at Yokota. Keep that in mind.”
“Understood.”
Toshio nods as if it were a matter of course. While he is the strongest fighter pilot, he is also expected to walk the path of a senior commander.
The relief was short-lived. An indescribable sense of sadness crossed Yuhi’s heart.
*
On the way back, Katsuno’s wife, Rumi, came to pick us up in her Alphard. After dropping off the kids who had rushed over from Yokosuka at the station first, we headed back to the barracks.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s always like this when we go out for drinks.”
Rumi laughs it off, but feeling truly sorry, the two of us thanked the Katsuno couple profusely before getting out of the car.
“Rumi-san is such a wonderful person.”
“She is. Since she’s so reliable, we have to make sure not to rely on her too much.”
“You’re right.”
As the car turned the corner of the building, we bowed our heads once more and climbed the stairs. Since we had drunk too much again, as soon as we returned to our new home, we took a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and shared it. After catching my breath, I decided to bring up something that had been bothering me.
“...Are you okay with it, Toshio? That... ground duty thing.”
“Okay with it?”
Toshio took off his jacket, hung it on a hanger, and put it in the closet.
“It’s not about being okay with it or not; I’ve always known that’s how it is. I watched my parents go through it for a long time, too.”
Now that he mentioned it, that was true. He was raised by a couple who were both JSDF officers. Transfers and living apart every few years must have been a daily occurrence for him. But.
“I... just can’t imagine it. You doing desk work, Toshio.”
Just as much as I am in love with him as a woman, I am in love with him as a pilot, so I couldn’t quite process it.
Toshio smiles, takes off my jacket as well, and puts it in the closet.
“Oh, thank you.”
“Do you know what the best thing that ever happened in my life is, Yuhi?”
“Huh?”
He hugged Yuhi from behind as she stood there, bewildered by his question.
"That I was able to become a married couple with you, Yuhi."
His sweet whisper made her brain melt in an instant. His cheek rubbing against hers felt wonderful.
"O-oh. ...Then, what's the second one?"
"There is no second. The greatest shock of my life was meeting you that day, Yuhi. And the happiest thing in my life was becoming your lover."
She burst into laughter. It was so sweet that it made her feel ticklish.
"Geez, that's all about me. Where did the part about becoming a pilot go?"
"It's true that I met you because I became a pilot. I am grateful for that, but being a pilot is merely a means for me to walk through life. I believe what's important is the purpose and meaning of living that life."
"Ah..."
She remembered it now, for the first time since she had clashed with him in the ACM.
"I found something I must protect here. Even if it costs me my life. That is why I will not go easy on you, Yuhi."
Since that day, he hadn't wavered in the slightest. He had just kept moving forward, his eyes fixed on that one point.
"I just want to keep protecting your smile, Yuhi. From now on, forever. So, whether I'm a pilot or working on the ground, I will just give my all to the role I've been given."
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"...Is it okay for my husband to be this cool...?"
It was no use. She was falling in love with him more and more. Hopelessly so.
"Thank you for taking my hand. I will cherish you for the rest of my life."
She nodded, and he gently wiped away her tears with his finger. Guided by his large hand, Yuhi pressed her lips to her husband's.
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Albatross Sky_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 1] Love is an action. We were born with the power to love. Even so, we must train it like a muscle. ① | Kyo