Empire's Sunset

For a while, only the sound of a bamboo whisk scratching against the bowl could be heard in the teahouse.

Hood paid attention to how Nagato prepared the tea. Her movements were precise and measured, despite her admission that this would be the first time she would prepare tea for a guest. If she weren't told, Hood wouldn't even think of such a possibility—and she admired the girl more for it.

Yet, having gone through a quick study on tea ceremony etiquette the day before after learning of Nagato's personal invitation, Hood allowed her admiration to go unvoiced—for now, at least.

"May you find this tea to your liking," Nagato spoke as she offered Hood the bowl with foamy green tea in it. She received it with a bow and hushed gratitude—even without holding it close, she could sense the pleasant, grassy aroma. She took a few sips and placed the bowl on the tatami.

"My deepest gratitude for the tea, Lady Nagato. It's among the best I ever had, if I say so myself. Very exquisite and refreshing," Hood bowed again.

"I thank you for your kind words. Please, just call me Nagato, Hood-san," she said.

Hearing those words and seeing Nagato with a relaxed smile without a trace of her solemn self moments ago proved to be a pleasant surprise for Hood.

Everything about her was enviably youthful—the gleam in her eyes and the light flushing of her cheeks. She was no jaded veteran nor someone carrying a burden—she was an ordinary girl, and they were kindred spirits.

"Ah, very well, I'll call you Nagato, then," Hood smiled back. "And I'm sorry the Commander cannot fulfill your invitation. He is—"

"—currently indisposed with stomach problems after eating raw fish, so I heard. May he be well soon," Nagato finished for her, her tone suggesting she was more amused by the news than she let on.

"Oh, I do hope so."

"And I must ask…how is that kimono? Are you comfortable in it?"

Hood looked at her attire. As Nagato put it before, that dark blue kimono was a welcome gift and was without a doubt tailor-made for her, splendidly decorated in Royal Navy symbols. While she understood that the Japanese were hospitable folk, the lengths they went to welcome guests had left her amazed—Nagato had reminded her of that again today.

"Yes, I found it very comfortable and well-made, too."

"I see… I'm glad," Nagato sighed in relief. Just outside, the sun was setting, and a warm, orange glow streamed through the window and filled the room.

Hood realized it was conduct unbecoming of a lady to stare into Nagato's face as she did now, but something in how she watched the sun going down had her drawn into it. She was caught red-handed in doing so; having to suffer Nagato's entertained smile, Hood regretted her momentary lapse in self-control.

"The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?"

Her tone was that of an understated resignation, tinged with a touch of wistfulness—it almost sounded like a sigh of acceptance.

"Ah, I certainly agree with that."

"And do forgive me for asking this, but would you lend an ear to my tale of regrets?"

Nagato's smile continued to be pleasant, yet that only served to make her request all the more jarring. But Hood eventually nodded.

"For a time, the sunset was a symbol—the end of an era. The end of the Empire and its people's fortune. A sign that we will fade away—and that I've failed to stop it despite everything I did."

She paused, and Hood nodded again, telling her to go on.

"Wallowing in regret and having lost my reason to exist, I thus came to believe that I should disappear along with it."

"...But then…?"

"...Just like she did before, Mikasa dai-senpai pulled me out of my self-imposed prison. She made me remember that nothing is permanent. After the sunset comes the sunrise. And now, seeing the people rising again in this ever-changing world, I'm finally able to let go of my regrets. I will live for them…for the friends I've made. For myself."

As Nagato concluded her tale, she bowed her head.

"Thank you for listening to my story."

She looked up upon hearing Hood chuckling.

"Old regrets over past failures and indignity…Might you think that we're kindred spirits after all?"

"In truth, I do. But forgive me for being presumptuous," Nagato bowed her head again.

"Oh, don't worry. I feel the same. I had my fair share of regrets. For allowing things to go the way they did on the Denmark Strait, for one…and then finding out that the sun had finally set on the British Empire…you couldn't help but feel some kind of loss there. But now I know what to live for—a life not amidst any upheaval, learning valuable lessons for the future, and most importantly, meeting past friends…and making new ones. Maybe I should go on another world cruise…"

As she spoke, Hood threw a knowing smile at Nagato, who had that youthful shine again, even as the glow from the outside grew softer and the day descended into twilight.

"I would be honored to call you a friend, Hood-san."

"Likewise, Nagato. And I hope to extend my friendship to all of you as well."

"Ah, then we could meet again tomorrow; I will bring the others—Mutsu, Kawakaze…everyone."

"Oh my, I do look forward to another meeting. Hopefully, by then, the Commander would have recovered."

"I hope so. I should send him some medicine—though perhaps it is for the best I refrain from revealing what's in it."

They shared a laugh at that, rose on their feet, and bowed at each other before parting ways.