Albatross Sky ~JSDF Love Story~ [Episode 5] He Who Loses His Wingman Is Tactically Defeated (2)

[Episode 5] He Who Loses His Wingman Is Tactically Defeated - Luftwaffe Ace Erich Alfred Hartmann (2)

"…Honestly, I don't know. I've never been in love before. I respect Toshio very much and I admire him, but it's not quite the same as being in love..."
"Respect and love are only a thin line apart. Do you want to know how to check?"
"Huh? Is there a way to do that?"
"It's simple. Just try imagining if you could do something naughty with him. If you can, it's love; if you can't, it's just respect. That's all. Oh? Yuhi? Hey!"

Misuzu shook Yuhi, whose soul had momentarily left her body due to the provocative content.

"Oh, you're at it. I'm done over here, so should I help?"
Hearing a voice from above, she snapped back to reality.
"Toshio..."

She looked up and felt a sudden jolt. Standing there was Toshio in a stylish yukata, the first time she had ever seen him in one. With Misuzu's words still fresh in her mind, she couldn't look him straight in the face.

"Good work! Say, doesn't Yuhi look cute in her yukata? It's a promotion celebration for First Lieutenant Kadoma, you know!"

Misuzu playfully snuggled up to Yuhi and placed her hands on her shoulders from behind.

"W-wait, Misuzu-chan!"

Embarrassed, she glanced up to see how he was reacting, only to find him staring at her blankly.

"...Cute."
"Huh?"
"Yuhi! Don't you dare leave my side today! Weird guys will try to approach you!"
"Eh? But I'm at the yo-yo fishing stall, and you're at the ring toss, right?"
"I'll have the captain change my assignment! Definitely!"

Having said that, Toshio ran off.

"Mixing business with pleasure... See? Didn't I tell you?"

Yuhi couldn't lift her head for a while, her face red to the tips of her ears.

*

The reception began with a kagami-biraki ceremony performed by the dispatch fleet commander and the U.S. Navy representative, and the interior of the Nagato was overflowing with naval personnel from various countries. The guests seemed fascinated by the venue, which had been arranged in the style of a Japanese summer festival. Circles of conversation formed here and there, and the crew was busy running around providing their signature hospitality.

And in the end, having somehow persuaded someone, Toshio was shamelessly charming the guests right next to Yuhi. Although, for Yuhi, who was not good at this kind of customer service, having him there was a huge help.

In the midst of all this, a beautiful blonde woman dressed in a U.S. Air Force uniform, not the U.S. Navy, appeared before Yuhi. She had no companion and seemed to be alone.

"Here you go. This is yo-yo fishing."

As Yuhi handed her the fishing paper, the woman peered at Toshio standing beside her.

"...Toshi?"

Toshio, addressed by name, turned around.

"Huh? ...Amy?"

The blonde beauty's face lit up in an instant.

“Toshi, it really is you! It's been so long!”
“Amy! It has been a while! What are you doing here, being in the Air Force?”

What kind of acquaintance were they? Even though it was the custom of this country, for some reason, my chest gave a sharp pang at the sight of Toshio's expression as he happily reunited with the blonde beauty with a hug, and I lightly pressed against it.

“I'm at Hickam now. I'll be participating in RIMPAC with the F-22. I even go to Kadena in Japan sometimes, you know?”
“Really? Unfortunately, I'm not in Naha right now. I transferred to Komatsu and then moved to the JMSDF. I'm at Atsugi now. But that's amazing, you're flying the world's strongest Raptor? You're still working hard as ever.”
“You seem to be doing well too. I've heard the rumors. You're one of the top pilots in the Japan Air Force now.”
“Haha. Who's saying that? Chris? He's at the 35th Fighter Wing in Misawa now. I see him occasionally.”
“You got me. I'm just happy to see you here, Toshi.”

As Toshio gently let her go, he then lightly pulled Yuuhi toward him by the shoulder.

“Let me introduce you. This is Ensign Yuuhi Kouzuki of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. She is my precious wingman. Yuuhi, this is Amy Baker of the Air Force... she's a Lieutenant now. We were in the same training course together while studying in the U.S.”

Precious... that meant 'important,' right? The tension that had been stiffening my heart at Toshio's introduction began to ease.

“Nice to meet you, Ensign. I'm Amy from the 19th Fighter Squadron.”
“Nice to meet you too. I'm Yuuhi Kouzuki of the Nagato Fighter Squadron.”

I took her offered hand and shook it firmly. Deep blue eyes that seemed to draw me in, a straight bridge of the nose, translucent white skin, and a slender, tall figure. I gasped at a beauty that even I, as a woman, couldn't help but admire.

“Hey Toshi! Admiral Murdoch of the Pacific Fleet wants to see you. Come over here!”

At the sudden loud voice of Katsuno, Yuuhi let go of the handshake.

“Oh, seriously? Sorry, Yuuhi. I'll be right back.”
“Oh, yeah. It's fine here.”

What could be the reason a U.S. Navy Admiral would want to meet a single pilot from the allied forces? It seemed there were still many sides to him that Yuuhi didn't know.

“So, what should I do with this?”
“Oh, um, you hook this hook onto the rubber ring and lift it up.”

Asked by Amy, I hurriedly taught her how to fish for yo-yos.

“But since this part is paper, it'll get wet and break from the weight.”
“The game is to lift as many as you can without breaking it. It's okay, even if it breaks, I'll give you one anyway.”
“That's very exciting. I understand, I'll give it a try.”

She squatted down on the spot. What kind of relationship did they have? I couldn't help but be curious.

She said she was flying an F-22 Raptor, didn't she?

The F-22 Raptor, the world's strongest air dominance fighter, which the U.S. refused to export even to allied nations in order to ensure absolute air superiority around the world.

Because of its extremely high cost, the total production number was less than two hundred even in the U.S., and as a result, only a handful of top pilots were allowed to sit in the seat.
She must surely possess considerable skill. Thinking about the reason Toshio fell for me, I wondered if he hadn't been interested in her back then?

"Yay! I caught one!"
"Wow, that's amazing!"
"I'm going to aim for this one next. It has such a beautiful pattern."

She was frolicking with a charming smile. I could never make a smile like that.

"Hey, Toshi called you 'precious' earlier. Are you two lovers?"
"Eh?"

I was shaken by the unexpected question. When I looked up, Amy was staring straight at me.

"N-no, it's not like that..."
"I see. That's good. Then I don't need to hold back with you, right?"
"That is..."
"I liked him. But back then, I didn't have the luxury for that at all. By the time I finally settled down, he had already returned to his country. I understand the meaning of the Japanese phrase 'ichigo ichie' that he used to say so well now."

Amy's words made my heart skip a beat. It's the same as me right now. And as long as we are JSDF officers for whom transfers are the norm, there is no guarantee that I can be with Toshio forever.

"I caught another one! I'm lucky today. With this momentum, maybe I'll ask him out on a date next time we're off."

No words came out. I don't want that. Toshio going out with another woman. But I have no right to tie him down when I haven't been able to clarify my own attitude even after all this time.

"Oh, Amy, that's amazing. You caught two?"

Toshio, who had returned, raised his voice in admiration.

"It's so much fun. By the way, Toshi, do you have time on your next day off? I'll show you around Hawaii."
"Eh? But for my next day off, I was going to go shopping at Ala Moana with Yuuhi..."
"Since you've come all this way, you two should go together. It's a reunion after a long time, isn't it?"
"Yuuhi?"
"I'm going to go get more yo-yos. Lieutenant Amy, please enjoy yourself."

Yuuhi averted her eyes from him and left the spot as if running away.

I'm an idiot. I'm the worst.

Was it self-loathing or regret? Yuuhi wiped away the tears that had welled up so no one would see.

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