27 Epilogue

Several years already passed since that battle that cost Kimura life. In that time a lot of things already happens at Yokosuka. A lot of Admiral fired because they never give a good result by sinking a lot of Ship Girl. And with that, a lot of military funds are used on bringing a new Ship Girl rather than building on new territory.

Meanwhile, Viltus and Haruto becomes more famous and reach the rank 'Captain' in those span of time, something only Shiro could achieve in the past. The reason is really simple, both of them are the gems there and could bring a good result in most of their operation. But, Viltus always get a warning because he always brings a lot of Ship Girl to one operation and that really drains the resources. But, because he always gives a reasonable reason, the higher-up let him do it.

But after a big incident at Yokosuka, Shiro ask Mo to transfer Viltus and Haruto to Kure. After a long talk, both of them transferred there together with their crews, mechanics, and Ship Girls. And one of the Ship Girl that being sent to Yokosuka is Aoba.

And today, Aoba wakes up from her sleep and looks around her room. Her room is a mess with her cloth scattered across the room, a lot of paper on the floor, and photo on the wall. She then scratches her head and says,

"Well... If Shiro, Hayate, or Viltus do an inspection here, they will kill Aoba instantly..."

Aoba then checks on her schedule for a while and knows that Shiro and Hayate are really busy with something else and Viltus is in good mood right now. She then remembers that she has a meeting with Viltus to talk about something important. She then stands up and starts to take a bath. After she finished, she combs her hair and takes a necklace with Kimura's ring as the ornament. After that she says,

"Today Aoba will find a good scoop!"

She then looks at the altar at the side of her room and smiles at it. She then says,

"Kimura, Aoba must go now. Aoba has something else to do."

After that, she leaves the room and takes her camera with her. When she walks around the corridor, she meets with Houshou and says,

"Good morning, Houshou!"

"Ara... Good morning, Aoba. You are really energetic today. What happen?" says Houshou

"Well, Viltus says that he has some important information that he will share with Aoba. An information that even Aoba can't get from Haruto, Shiro, or Hayate," explains Aoba

Houshou really surprised to hear that and quite worried about something. She then says,

"Just be careful with it, Aoba. Admiral Yanagi is in a foul mood right now."

"Don't worry! If something bad happens, Aoba will run away as fast as Aoba could!"

Houshou then laughs a little bit and waves at Aoba that start to walk again. Aoba passed a lot of people from Kure and greet most of them until she arrives at the administration building. She enters the building and asks about Viltus whereabout. After hearing the answer, she immediately walks towards his room. After she arrived at the door, Aoba knocks on the door and she hears,

"You could enter now, Aoba."

Aoba enters the room and greets Viltus,

"Good morning, Viltus!"

"Good morning, annoying paparazzi," says Viltus as he sits down on his chair

Viltus then searching for something there and Aoba looks at the Viltus hand. She could see a ring on Viltus ring finger and smiles at him. After that, Viltus takes out the document and says,

"I believe it is really hard to find this information about the new Admiral and Ship Girl for Kure. Isn't that right, Aoba?"

"Yes, that's right," says Aoba

"Then, I will help you. In exchange, I need you to take some photo of someone."

"Another photo? Who the one that you want to take? Taihou? Hibiki? Ryuujou? Shigure? Aren't you already meet them every day?"

Viltus then hits Aoba head and says,

"That one for Neo. I must find him another photo of her."

"Neo?! Wait... That means Aoba must take her photo!" says Aoba

"Could you do that? I will not dispatch Military Police to hunt you for this time."

"Aoba will do that... As long you could make sure that Aoba will safe from her!"

"You don't need to worry."

"If you say so."

Viltus then laughs a little and continues,

"Thank you very much, Aoba. I really appreciate it."

"Uuuuuhhhh..."

"And then this is the document that you want to see, right? I took them from Shiro's room back then. Except for the Ship Girl document that is sent directly from Yokosuka to me because it is using the German language." says Viltus as he gives Aoba the document.

"Wait... Did you say that you take this document from Shiro's room?" asks Aoba with a worried face.

"You don't need to worry. As long Shiro didn't know it, everything will be alright."

Aoba takes the document with a worried face and then looks on the profile inside the document regarding the Ship Girl and new Admiral. Aoba then says,

"The first Admiral looks like really terrifying, on par with you."

"What do you mean by that?" ask Viltus

"Well... He has a cold gaze, just like you."

"Is it? I believe we are different."

"It's just you, Admiral."

"Baaah... Whatever."

"And the second one... Wow... Aoba can't believe this that we will get a new woman Admiral."

"Woman? You didn't look at the Ship Girl document, right?"

"Nope."

"Just I thought..."

Aoba really puzzled with Viltus comment and continues to look at the document. She then says,

"You know this Ship Girl is a beauty. Her blonde hair is a plus point!"

"..."

"For some reason, Aoba will envy her with her beauty."

"I will bet that Haruto will fall in love with her."

"Ahahahahahaha... Wait, that's mean I am on the losing side then?"

Both of them then laugh together and Aoba returns the document to Viltus. Viltus then says,

"Then, I must return this document without Shiro..."

"Without what, V.I.L.T.U.S?" ask someone

Hearing that voice, Viltus and Aoba didn't move an inch. Both of them didn't dare to look at the door because they know the death angel already stands there. Viltus peeks a little bit and sees Shiro smiles at them and stands on the door. Viltus then asks her with a scared face,

"Ahahahahahah... Big Sis... since when are you there?"

"Since you say that you are going to return those document," answer Shiro as she smiles at Viltus

Viltus knows that Shiro will exterminate him right now and he knows that from the aura of Shiro. Shiro then looks at Viltus and says,

"You know... I wonder where I put those document before..."

"..."

"And now I know who the one that takes those document without my permission."

Viltus wants to run to the window, but he understands it is meaningless because of his room location. Shiro then asks him,

"So do you have any last word, Viltus?"

Viltus knows his time almost come and prepares himself for anything that Shiro will throw at him. Shiro then looks at Aoba and says,

"You could go out from this room, Aoba."

"Yes! Aoba will go out now!" shouts Aoba as she runs away from that room.

After she runs away, she could hear Viltus that shouts in agony with several things being thrown there. Aoba then prays for his safety and start to walk again. At least, she knows that Viltus will not die easily from his experience at Yokosuka, so she doesn't really care what happens next.

When she leaves the administration building, she meets with Taihou and says,

"Good morning, Taihou!"

"Good morning, Aoba."

Aoba then looks at Taihou for a while and then she knows something. She then says,

"It seems that you are the one who told Shiro about the location of the document. Is Aoba right?"

"Yes, I am. If only he hears my concern about that," says Taihou

"Ahahahahahaha... Aoba can't believe you sell him out to his sister."

"Well... Because she is his sister. That's why I must tell her, right?"

Aoba only laughs a little bit and then asks her,

"Oh... Do you know where Haruto is? Aoba didn't see him around at his office this morning."

"Probably he is with Sirene now. That's what I hear from Elisa before...."

"Ah... As usual, huh..."

Taihou then laughs a little bit and says,

"I think I must help Viltus now. I know that Shiro will beat him until he couldn't work tomorrow and after that he will complain to me about it."

"Alright! Oh... And tell him that Aoba really appreciate his help." says Aoba

Taihou nods and leaves Aoba. Aoba looks at Taihou and starts to walk again around the naval base to find any good news material. She walks around until noon and stops by at the park where she could see the vast sea. She stops there and looks at the sea. After that, she takes out the ring and says,

"Kimura... How are you? Are you alright there? Aoba hopes so... Oh, you know today Shiro is really mad at Viltus. Of course, you will not believe that! And the reason will make you surprised too. It is because Viltus stole one document from Shiro, something that you would do if you still here... Ehehehehehe."

Aoba then quiet for a while and then says,

"You know, it's been a long time since you die. And Aoba keeps moving forward to help humanity fight against Abyssal. In the meantime, Aoba meets a lot of new friends besides Viltus, Haruto, Shiro and the other... But, still, Aoba miss something. If only you still alive..."

Aoba then looks at the ring and mumbles, "Kimura..."

And when she says that name, tears start to fall from her eyes again. She immediately notices the tears and wipes it off. Not long after that, she could hear someone calls her name. She looks behind her and sees Kimura and one girl beside her. That girl is the mechanic name Sirene.

Sirene looks at Aoba and smiles at her. She then says,

"Ara... Are you crying again, Aoba?"

"Ahahahaha... Yes," says Aoba.

Aoba then wipes her tears once more and then she feels the two of them pats her head. She looks in front of her and then hears Haruto says,

"So... Is it about Kimura again, huh?"

"Yes..." answer Aoba.

"Haaaahhh... On this day several years ago, Kimura died in that battle."

Aoba looks at Haruto for a while and Sirene listens to Haruto to hear what will Haruto says next. Haruto then continues,

"After that mission, all of you act really weird... It looks like both of you are making a distance from me... You and Viltus."

"Aoba knows about that..." answer Aoba

"But, at least I quite happy that both of you already changed since that day... Especially you, Aoba."

"Huh?"

"And I believe, Kimura will really happy to see you continue to live with full energy." continues Haruto as he looks at the ring.

Aoba keeps quiet for a while and then she laughs. Sirene and Haruto smile at her until Aoba stops laughing. Aoba then looks at both of them and says,

"But it is really rare for both of you going out like this. Where are you going?"

"You know... I must meet with Viltus right now. The document regarding every Ship Girl armaments already finished and the new equipment from Germany already unpacked. I need his signature to continues the work." answer Sirene.

"Ah..."

"So, do you know where Viltus is? I know that he is taking a break today," ask Haruto

"Well... It is better for both of you not visit him now. Right now he is with Shiro..."

"Ugh... With Shiro? If she finds out that I am late to turn the document, I will be punished right away." says Sirene.

"Then, what will both of you do?"

"Maybe we will go to Mamiya. How about that, Admiral?" ask Sirene

"Haaaah... Alright... Alright... I will pay it." says Haruto

Aoba smiles at both of them and waves at them as they leave Aoba. Aoba then takes a deep breath and looks at the sky. She then lay on the ground and says,

"Aoba will continue your dream, Kimura. Aoba will make everyone smiles and Aoba will continue to smile too. And at the end, Aoba will create the photo that you hope for."

Aoba then closes her eyes and lets the wind blows her hair. After that, she stands up, takes the camera, and then looks at the sea. She then shouts,

"Aoba must go now, Kimura! See you later!"

~ The End ~