Albatross Sky_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 3] Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. ②

If you haven't read Season 1, please start here first ↓

[Part 3] Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. French author and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ②

They arrived at a popular seafood izakaya. The fact that they were able to get a reservation on the day of, in the middle of a weekday, probably helped. The others hadn't arrived yet, and Yuuhi went into the restroom to touch up her makeup.

"I really am... nervous, aren't I?"

Even though they had already finished greeting each other's parents, meeting a best friend was a different position entirely. She tried to psych herself up not to make any blunders, but then reminded herself that he didn't want to show his best friend a fake version of himself.

When she returned to the front of the private room, she heard laughter coming from inside. It seemed they had arrived while she was away. Yuuhi took a deep breath and opened the door to the room.
Besides Toshio, the people inside were, unexpectedly, a man who seemed to be his best friend and a woman accompanying him.

"Wait? Toshio-senpai's guest is, of all things, a girl!?"
"Hey, hey, are you serious? You said you were going to play around for the rest of your life."

The two of them looked stunned, as if they hadn't expected Toshio's guest to be a woman. Yuuhi straightened her posture, reflexively almost saluted, and hurriedly stopped herself.

"U-um, I'm Yuuhi Kamizuki, and I'm currently seeing Toshio-san! Nice to meet you!"

Saying that, she bowed deeply and ended up giving a formal military salute.

"You don't have to be so formal with these two."

Toshio laughed as he took Yuuhi's hand and urged her to sit next to him.

"Let me introduce her. This is my precious girlfriend, Lieutenant Junior Grade Yuuhi Kamizuki, who is also my partner at work. She's a female fighter pilot."

He pulled her into his shoulder. It was a little embarrassing in front of others.

"I can't believe it, Toshio-senpai has a specific girlfriend..."
"She's incredibly cute and a nice girl... It's too good for Toshio."

Toshio pouted at the two of them for their lack of restraint.

"You guys, what do you think I am?"
"The incarnation of the Kama Sutra."
"An enemy of women. An indiscriminate stallion."

Even though she didn't quite understand the meaning, she couldn't help but burst out laughing at their perfectly synchronized, cold-blooded response.

"Um, please tell me a lot about the Toshio I don't know today."

As she bowed her head again, the woman said, "You're so cute!" while shaking her head with both hands on her cheeks. Toshio hugged Yuuhi as if to protect her from them.

"Yuuhi, take what these guys say with a grain of salt. You guys, introduce yourselves!"
"What's this? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

The man sighed with a laugh and turned his face back toward the setting sun.

Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Junior Grade Kamizuki. I am Lieutenant Kazuma Makimura, Operations Officer of the JS Ashigara, Escort Division 2, Escort Flotilla 2. And this is Wakaba Miyama, Lieutenant Junior Grade, a navigation officer on the same ship.
Hey, is that all?
There is an order to things, you know.

Wakaba voiced her dissatisfaction at Makimura's brief introduction.

Yeah, yeah. I want to know why you two, who were like cats and dogs, are here together.
Like cats and dogs?
Yuuhi tilted her head, looking at the two who seemed to get along so well.

Yeah. Every time these two saw each other, they would argue about something, and every time they caused trouble, I, as the student leader, would be called in and forced to write apology letters.

Toshio sat with his cheek in his hand, looking sulky.

That did happen, didn't it?
Yeah, those were the days.
You guys...
Well, before we start catching up, let's order some drinks and food.

As Makimura paused the conversation, Toshio agreed and picked up the menu. They ordered food and drinks while making small talk, and the four of them toasted with the draft beers that were brought to the table.

So, shall we get back to the point? Makimura-kun.
Don't call me that, it's creepy.

Makimura gave a bitter smile and glanced at Wakaba.

Well, it's a long story, but... actually, we've been dating for a year and a half.
...Huh!? Seriously!?
Toshio's jaw dropped.

See, I told you he'd be surprised, Senpai.

Wakaba wore a smug expression, looking like she had pulled off a prank.

And here is the main point: we're engaged. We'll register our marriage as soon as we get back to Sasebo.

At this further surprise announcement, Toshio slapped his knee and shook his head.

You got me, seriously? Man, I'm speechless, but congratulations, anyway.

Toshio and Makimura clinked their mugs together and, in perfect sync, both downed their drinks in one go. It was a bold way of drinking that Yuuhi had never seen from Toshio before.

Thanks. Today, it's Toshio's treat.
Thanks, Toshio-senpai.
Hey! You caused me so much trouble back in our student days, so it's only right that you treat me now that you're engaged!
I am very grateful for your help back then.
Yes, yes, you are forgiven.

Toshio, who is usually good at acting spoiled with his seniors, was being teased mercilessly by his best friend and his junior.

U-um, congratulations on your engagement! I'll chip in for the gift with Toshio today, too!

When the two of them looked blank for a moment at Yuhi's words, Wakaba couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Thanks for the celebration, Kamizuki-san. But let's split the bill today, okay? That was just our usual group banter."
"Was it just banter?"
"How could it be anything else!"

Toshio retorts to Makimura. A scene that shows their relationship from their National Defense Academy days.

"You're really cute, Kamizuki-san. I'm not good with stiff formalities, so can I call you Yuhi-chan?"
"Yes! Of course!"
"Great. You can call me Wakaba."
"Yes. Nice to meet you, Wakaba-san."

Hmm, Wakaba stared at Yuhi and nodded.

"No wonder Toshio-senpai fell for you. Senpai, it was love at first sight, right?"
"Eh? How did you know?"
"I can tell. You're the type who is incredibly serious, stoic, and a hard worker—someone who wasn't around him before. You hit on her the moment you met, didn't you?"
"H-how do you know that much!?"

When Toshio and Yuhi looked at each other in surprise, Wakaba shook her shoulders in amusement.

"Ahaha. There's no way I could know. I just looked into your recent situation beforehand using my Atsugi information network."
"What, you scared me... wait, who is this information network?"
"There's only one person it could be."
Makimura interjected while downing his beer mug.

"Gyobu, huh. That guy."
"Bingo. Gyobu-senpai said about Yuhi-chan, 'At first I wondered, but she's got guts, she might be perfect for Toshi.'"
"Eh? Ash said that? He always makes fun of me, calling me a 'kid'."
"He actually acknowledges you quite a bit behind your back, Yuhi."

Toshio patted Yuhi on the head. She couldn't hide her surprise at the fact she was learning for the first time.

"Well, Gyobu-senpai isn't very honest about things. He's a good guy at heart, though."
"You guys are all the same as ever."
"You all are really close. I'm envious."

A relationship where they understand each other from the bottom of their hearts. Seeing Toshio and Gyobu's relationship, she often feels jealous of Gyobu, but in the harsh and severe environment of the "military," comrades who have eaten from the same pot and shared joys and sorrows are truly irreplaceable.

"Yuhi-chan, you're from the Air Academy, right? I hear the bonds between comrades there are strong too?"
"I'm not good at socializing. I had people I got along with, but I didn't have many friends."
"Misuzu is your best friend, right?"

Toshio squeezed her hand tightly.

"Yeah. But Misuzu-chan took the lead, so we became close. I can't really approach people myself..."
"Friends aren't about quantity, it's about quality. So, let's be friends. Of course, I'll invite you to the wedding, along with Toshio-senpai."
"Eh? Is that okay?"
"Of course! But first, a girls' night out. I'll introduce you to my best friend."
"Your best friend, is it Ai?"

When Makimura asked, Wakaba tapped his arm lightly.

"Obviously. Who else would it be? She's in the Ground Self-Defense Force, but I'll coordinate it."
"Thank you! I'd love to."
"Seriously? I'm worried, so I'm coming too."

Wakaba waved her hand at the flustered Toshio.

"That wouldn't be a girls' night out, would it? It's fine. Ai is a martial arts expert, so she can protect us if it comes to that."
"Don't rely on others. She's an elite at the Ground Staff Office, so she's in Ichigaya, right? When are you going to meet when you're heading back to Sasebo?"
Makimura brought his mug to his mouth with a look of disbelief.

"It's a little ways off, but we're going back to Kazuma's parents' house in Asaka for the New Year holidays, right? Ai is from Narimasu, so we'll meet in Tokyo. That's fine, right, Yuhi-chan?"
"No way. For the New Year holidays, we're going to my parents' house for the first half, and Yuhi's parents' house for the second half."

Oh, is that so? ...Wait, I haven't heard anything about that.

It was so funny that I had to hold back from bursting into laughter.

"Tch, what a shame. Well, I'll introduce you to Ai at the wedding then!"
"I'd love that!"

From there, Wakaba and Yuhi started getting excited talking about the wedding. The two men didn't seem able to keep up with this kind of conversation, so they just nodded along appropriately. Then, the sliding door opened with a clatter, and a female staff member poked her head in.

"Excuse me, we are about to prepare the fish from the tank. Would you like to come and take a look?"
"Wow, Yuhi-chan, let's go!"
"Yeah! Toshio, are you coming too?"
"We're fine. You two go ahead."

They probably wanted to have a long-overdue catch-up with Makimura. Understanding this, Yuhi left the private room with Wakaba.


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Next Chapter Albatross Sky_Season 2 ~JSDF Love Story~ [Part 3] Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. ③ | Kyo

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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 have to train it like a muscle. ① | Kyo