User blog:Tadano Hitoshi/Ragtag Hustle Kancolle Edition - Every Hustle 7: A New Year for New Beginnings

(Wow, I'm slowing down quite considerably.)

The Naval Base's New Year
''The start of a new year. It is a holiday universally observed by every nation in the world. However for every nation they have their own customs on celebrating it.''

''Though, there are also universally known reasons why one would not celebrate it. Or rather, they would have joined in the celebrations - if they were not down with sickness on the day itself, that is.''

''Such an example would be this man. A man who observes his duty as an "Admiral" in a certain "naval base" governing his "shipgirls", is sitting on his bed, having a phone call.''

And there is a panicked scream from the other side of the call.

Phone call: "ADMIRAL!? ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"

Admiral: "Yes...*sniff* gah. Sorry if I sounded weird. My nose is getting all stuffy and drippy, and I'm feeling rather groggy. It's also rather hard to breathe in this state. I don't think I can make it to the naval base for our New Year outing today, sorry... Yes, yes. I'll have my rest. ... Just don't let anyone disturb my workspace, thanks. Just proceed with the usual patrols... and yes, please switch our expedition routines with the appropriate routes, we're running low on bauxite and steel... *sniff, wheeze* Yes, yes. That was my error. If there isn't anything else to ask, then I'll hang up. Good day and do your best for today's missions as well. ... Wait, today is a holiday, I forgot about it. I'm sorry... please tell everyone to take their time off accordingly."

And so he ends the call.

Admiral: (Great. Just when I promised to be there for the New Year celebrations. Not only was I absent when the clock struck midnight for outstation ops, right after that I just had to be down with a cold. This is pretty embarrassing. ... Come to think of it, there has been a lot going on in the base as of late, shenaningans aside...)

--

At the Naval Base
The Admiral's office, Ooyodo and the rest of the shipgirls after learning of Admiral's absence.

Ooyodo: "... And there you have it..."

Needless to say, the shipgirls are not very happy the Admiral isn't in.

Yuudachi: "I was planning to have him play hanetsuki with us-poi..."

Shigure: "Too bad..."

Haruna: (looking very dejected) "Haruna... accepting orders to standby..."

Akagi: "And this is the first New Year he should be celebrating with us..."

Kaga: "It's quite unfortunate he had to be ill on such a day like this."

Maya: "The hell? It's New Years and guy's got the gall to fall sick. Oh well, he better rest up."

Kiso: "Well, what do you expect with him anyways. He even forgot today's a holiday in his sickness."

Sendai: "Tch... I was just planning for a himehajime (姫始め). Both kinds, of course."

Kashima: (leering at Sendai) "... What do you mean by both kinds...?"

Ooyodo: "This is quite unfortunate... we'll have to proceed for our first temple visit of the year (hatsumoude, 初詣) without him."

Mutsu: (pouting a bit before realizing something) "Hmph... come to think of it, though, do we know where he lives off the naval base?"

(beat)

Ooyodo: "Uh..."

Ooyodo's cryptic response catches the attention of everyone present in the room.

Ooyodo: "W-why is everyone looking at me? You don't suppose I knew where he is right now, do you...?"

Kiso: "... Well, why not. After all, Ooyodo, even before I got assigned to this naval base, you're the one who led him the way here after fetching him at the airport, right?"

Ooyodo: "That doesn't mean I knew about the details of his lodging though!"

Kiso: "But as part of the base management surely you'd be privy to such information, don't you...? Surely his address is there in your database."

Ooyodo: (looking away) "T-that's classified information. I'm not supposed to be looking at it for personal purposes."

Akagi: "... You don't suppose we can't make this into a 'visiting a sick personnel' trip, do you? There are rules that lets us do that, if I'm not mistaken?"

Ooyodo: "To think I have to hear you of all people saying this, Akagi-san..."

Akagi: "But of course. He is our Admiral after all."

Kaga: "Akagi-san is right. As he is our admiral, it is just right that we show concern for the person. He's the pillar of our morale after all."

Ooyodo: "Kaga-san, you too...?"

Mutsu: "You see, this Onee-san doesn't like it if she can't at least know how her Admiral is doing." (winks)

Haruna: "I want to see how Admiral is doing! I'm curious!"

''All of a sudden, the door to the office slams open. There are several shipgirls behind it and they all stumble down into the room, but some shipgirls stands in front of the rest. While being the loudest.''

Ashigara: "The Admiral is down with flu!? What about the shrine visit!?"

Kongou: "Sick, you say? Well then, it's time for a visit-NE! At times like this having COMPANY is also important-DESS!"

The office was soon engulfed in an uproar regarding the Admiral's absence.

Kiso: "... And there you have it. We sure have a number of people over here wanting to know how he is doing, though."

Ooyodo: (exasperatedly) "Uuugghhh... to be facing such coercion from not just one, but several capital ships... but still, this is way too many people... all right, all right. I give. Just please give me a break... and a moment to plan the trip..."

--

[ to be continued in a later edit ]