18 Promise

A man stands at the pier as he looking at the command ship that already disembarks from the port. The man then closes his eyes and says,

"In the original story, I shouldn't show up here..."

The man then smiles a little bit and then looks at the sky. He continues,

"But because this writer has something else in his mind, I'm included into this mess... What a drag."

He then stretches his arms a little bit and then says,

"The battle where everything starts. The time where I always look at this world at each line. The time where every misery in this world started..."

After that, he smirks and says,

"They still not know about me and the meaning of me shown up here. But, sooner or later they will know..."

He aware of something and then looks behind him. He smiles again, but this time his smile like a maniac that find his new toys. He then says,

"Who am I? You don't need to know right now. But, I will be back with another story though. Why am I here? Just checking them out, that's all."

He then bows to someone and says,

"Then, see you later. My dear reader."

With that, he vanished into the thin air. Meanwhile, Kimura already sits down on the chair inside the command room inside his ship. He looks really focus and quiet. He even didn't bother to ask again regarding what happens with Viltus. Not only him that stay quiet, Aoba, Uzuki, and Yayoi also quiet and looks at the sea in front of them. All of them are waiting for their direction at this mission. And because of the tense, they didn't act like normally they do. Even, Kimura didn't bring his beloved camera with him. Until he gets the report that he could dispatch his ship to joins the offensive division.

Kimura stands up and says,

"Admiral Okazaki Kimura to the System. Start the engine towards coordinate specified in the document with speed of 35 knots. Make sure the position of our ship with other ship more than 5 Km."

The ship starts to move and Kimura takes a deep breath. He then looks outside the room and he really worried about the weather. He remembers about the weather report and because of that he mumbles,

'The sky is really dark... Is it because of Viltus' premonition?'

After that, he sits down again waiting for his ship to arrive at the destination. While the ship moving, Kimura and his Ship Girl didn't talk to each other as they are really focused on the mission. Even Kimura didn't tease Aoba and Uzuki didn't play with Yayoi. They know this mission will be really hard for all of them and they need their energy to focus.

Until Kimura receive an order from Mo,

"Every Admiral, send your Ship Girl to the coordinate of meeting with the reconnaissance division. They will give their information about the enemy and will help you in the battle. The defensive division already sends their planes to cover their movement there."

After hearing that, Kimura stands up and looks at Aoba, Uzuki, and Yayoi. He then says,

"Before that, I need to call Viltus first. I believe he could tell us first regarding their reconnaissance mission."

"But, isn't Admiral Ichijo already orders us to meet with his units?" ask Uzuki

"If we know the enemy first, we could warn the other about the enemy that was already seen by his units," answer Kimura

"That's one way to do it. And that could make everything faster when we already know the enemy first," says Aoba

Kimura smiles at Aoba and then he says,

"Admiral Okazaki Kimura to the system, please call Admiral Viltus Amarov's command ship."

The four of them are waiting for an answer until they hear Viltus asks,

"What is it, Kimura? Do you already arrive at the destination?"

"Yes, I am," answer Kimura

"Did you already send your Ship Girl out?"

"No, I am not."

"Then..."

"Viltus, could you tell me about the enemy at the position 100-500 km from offensive division?"

"Just I thought you will ask that."

"Just tell me, Viltus. Ahahahahaha."

"Alright. At least Harusame and the other already find two division of I-Class and Ha-Class Destroyer, three division of To-Class Light Cruiser and one division Ri-Class Heavy Cruiser at 250 KM from offensive division location. Each division consists of 12 ships, so please proceed with cautions."

"Is there any enemy Carrier or Battleship around there?"

"Battleship could attack from afar, while Carrier could launch their ship from far away. That's why we expand our search area until 500-700 KM from offensive division location."

"Thank you very much, Viltus. Please continue your works. I hope your unit could give us more information regarding the enemy later."

"Of course, Kimura. See you soon."

"Yes, See you soon."

The communication between Kimura and Viltus already ended and Kimura looks at the three Ship Girl. He then says,

"All of you already hear that from Viltus regarding the enemy composition. Please warn the other regarding the enemy. I hope all of you could fight back and come back in one piece."

Aoba, Uzuki, and Yayoi nod to him and start to leave the room. But, before Aoba leave, Kimura calls her. Aoba stops, asks the other Ship Girl to go first, and then looks at Kimura. She asks,

"What is it, Kimura?"

"Well... Ummm..."

Kimura takes a deep breath and tries to says something. But nothing comes out from his mouth after he sees Aoba's face. When he prepares himself to confess his feeling, the system tells him,

"Admiral Okazaki, please send your Ship Girl ASAP."

Kimura sighs and sees Aoba that laughs a little bit. Aoba then says,

"Kimura, Aoba will go now, rather than they scold you again."

"Yeah. And be careful out there Aoba. After all, we will hold that party again this night to celebrate our victory."

"Ok!"

When Aoba start to walk again, Kimura says,

"Ah... One more thing, I will give my camera to you."

"Eh? Is that so?" ask Aoba with a surprised face

"Yes."

"Thank you, Kimura."

Aoba runs towards Kimura and hugs him for a while. After that, she runs to the lower deck to prepare herself. Kimura then sighs and says,

"I just say it that I will give my camera to her. Then, I will confess my feeling to her later after this operation."

He then smiles a little bit and says,

"But, I will chicken out again today. Could I do it later? And what about when I give her the ring? Uuuuhhh... Maybe I will ask Viltus, Haruto, Akihiko, and Megumi for suggestion again."

Kimura then laughs a little bit and sits down in the chair to prepare himself for the battle that will start soon.