reddish evening blues.
An Autumn homecoming with Commander Harune and Zuikaku. Azur Lane OC fanfiction.
In this fic's setting, assume Azur Lane's timeline is in modern days.
It was a calm Autumn evening, as the cold wind blows through with the leaves. The said leaves from the trees in the neighborhood park of the rusty cityside had started to spread up in the colors of bright red, showing the nature of the season. The spreading of the color red throughout the park had reminded the young female Commander with the day she had met Zuikaku.
Sighing softly, Harune readjusts her dark-colored scarf. She’s feeling sentimental since she hasn’t been home here for a while since she had her position as one of the Sakura Nation’s Commanders,. Slapping her own cheek a little in an attempt to get her gears running, she had to make sure this homecoming would be a good one. Though technically she came here for her job, an exchange she couldn’t really speak up right now– they just happened to be near her old home and her father had requested her to come back to their old home during the stay.
“Commander, you okay?”
At least, she’s not alone. Zuikaku stared at her worriedly, tilting her head a little as she returned from her tiny sidequest of getting them a drink from a vending machine.
“I–I’m fine,” She answered, awkwardly. “Also– don’t call me ‘Commander’ here. We got special privileges thanks to my dad, but we must keep our identity undercover and not be that obvious—”
“There’s no one here. It doesn’t matter that much, right?” Zuikaku sat next to her on the bench and leaned down “But then— better be safe, right, Harune?”
Zuikaku grinned as she called her name, and the young commander felt her heart skips a beat. Even though her parents are pretty much calm to the fact that their daughter probably prefers women, she felt like that she’d end up being sent to a matchmaker for an Omiai if they knew who she actually was crushing on seriously. It’s hard enough to keep calm returning home with her crush, let alone keeping her feelings a secret.
“Harune?”
At least Zuikaku is dumb enough to not notice her feelings yet. Well, she’s all about ‘Shoukaku-nee’ so she’s a bit jealous—
“I’m fine, Zui-chan“, is the only thing Harune can answer for now, before she continued. “Was just thinking what should we get for dinner, since Mom told us to get one around here– no one in this neighborhood would dare do anything to her daughter, anyway. Well, a KAN-SEN like you probably will be fine without normal food, but if you have anything you want to eat, do tell me.”
“Then, how about Takoyaki? You always said the takoyaki in your hometown is the best, right?”
“Won’t that’ll be too little for dinner?”
“You don’t eat much anyway, it’s fine, isn’t it?” Zuikaku reminiscences the time where Commander Harune only took a little of the lunch portion, or sometimes even skipped it for rations.
“Fine.” Harune sighed. “I knew a shop I trusted around here. Let’s go— what’s that hand for?”
Zuikaku had her hand extended to her. Harune might know what this gesture means, yet she finds it hard to believe.
“It’s your hometown, you should escort me for once.”
“E—e—eh?! Y–You mean l– like holding hands—”
“Of course! It’s fine, isn’t it, Commander— ah, no! Harune!”
She couldn’t stop blushing all the way to the familiar streets, wondering if someone would see them as a couple. She’s glad Zuikaku is dumb enough to not notice her feelings, yet it’s also embarrassing. Though, there aren’t that many people around…
However, when they reached the peculiar corner of the shopping district she had known to be her favorite Takoyaki spot, Harune’s embarrassment had been washed down with another uncomfortable feeling.
“Huh? Doesn’t look like they’re open. Excuse me….”
It wasn’t here anymore. The shop wasn’t open and doesn’t look like it just took its rest for a while. Harune knew since it’s already abandoned, torn down and that old man of an owner wouldn’t let even his banner to be tilted even a little.
“It’s useless, Zuikaku. Let’s just get back. This shop is no longer—” Harune grabbed her hand, and that’s when a shaking voice of an old woman called out her name.
“Harune-chan? You’re Harune-chan from the Nanakura’s, right?”
Harune turned around. It was the old woman from the candy shop next to this, another of her favorite. She knew her.
“It’s been a while,” Harune said, bowing down a little. Zuikaku just followed her movement before waving awkwardly.
“No need to be that formal.” The old woman chuckles a little “And that girl is…?”
“She’s my friend.” Harune declared before Zuikaku could’ve leaked anything unnecessary.
“Uh, Grandma. What happened to this shop?” Zuikaku, however, asked her first. The old woman’s expression turned into a gaze of sadness, with a little frown as she gazed to the old shop.
“It’s been closed for two years now.” She said with her thick accent. “The owner had passed away. His son had joined the army for the war, you know, right? Then he got a heart attack when he found out that his son had died on the battlefield… and passed away. With no successor, the shop had closed.”
“I…see…” Zuikaku said. The longing gaze of the old woman had been a sad one that she couldn’t even begin to imagine how Harune felt in the same state. Especially after knowing it like this. She held her hand tight.
“Harune-chan, I heard you’re following your father’s path in the navy, right?” The old woman said. “Do you have to? I mean, if you could’ve just got married to someone, you’ll be safer… Some people around here secretly blamed your family for the prolonged war, but at least I and some others know Harune-chan is innocent and you can—”
“I can’t.” Harune quickly answer. Zuikaku noticed Harune’s slight shaking tone of voice. “I’m sorry. I am as guilty as my family. But we’re doing our best to stop it too. Zui-chan, let’s just leave.”
The old, classic house of Nanakura stood there as it was years ago. It made Harune reminiscence the days she had forgotten. The days where she innocently proclaims she’d be as ‘cool’ like her father as an admiral. She wondered if that was a right thing. She wouldn’t just go and marry as the old woman said, yet she felt if she was bad for picking this path…
Of course, Zuikaku didn’t know her Commander’s thoughts of that as she just watched her lie down the tatami floor, gazing up to the ceiling emptily. She does understand a few things, though.
One, they end up getting canned foods for dinner and Harune didn’t even finish her plate and let her finish the rest. Two, Harune had been acting strange since they came home from the shopping district since that encounter happened. Three, she had to do something, she’d feel bad for her Commander, and it made her uncomfortable seeing her moping like that. She felt strange feelings for her, seeing her unusual face has been letting her heartbeat rate becomes unusual— one she wouldn’t recognize just yet.
“C—Commander– no, Harune!”
“Yes?”
“You okay?” Zuikaku asked.
“…I’m not, to be honest.” Harune sighed. “It’s not your fault, don’t worry. Just leave me alone and rest first—”
“I can’t!” Zuikaku declared. “Um, I think… Err… Come here for a hug; if that might make you feel better!”
Harune raised herself up, dumbfounded at Zuikaku’s blushing face as she opened her arms for a calming hug. She felt calm just seeing that face of hers, that she broke out to a giggle.
“Thank you, Zuikaku. I guess I’ll take the offer.” Harune giggled as she dropped herself to Zuikaku’s arms, replying her hug. It’s embarrassing, but she felt calm.
“There, there.” Zuikaku pats her head slowly. “S–sorry! I’m not treating you as a kid, it’s just– something Shoukaku-nee did to me if I’m feeling horrible…”
“I know. Sorry for letting you worry” Harune giggles. “Let me stay like this for a while, and I’ll be alright, I promise! I just… think too much of the whole ordeal so I’ll be okay with it after this long hug.”
“Well, just don’t think too much of hard things… well, I know it might be related to your job, but you’re home right now, so relax before it, okay?”
“I’m glad it’s you here, Zuikaku.”
“Huh? What did you say? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
Harune smiled, though Zuikaku doesn’t notice from her position.
“Nothing.”
Meanwhile, at the base…
“Uuuh… homecoming with the adorable Commander Harune-sama… that damned Zuikaku…. how should I eliminate her when she returned?” Taihou bit her fingertips in anger. She wasn’t chosen to escort her on the visit, and she still feels frustrated upon it, it seems.
“I know! I’ll pull a prank so badly on her when she returned… Fufu… Just wait for it, you meddling crane—”
“Ahem. Excuse me, Taihou? You’re late for our arranged lesson.”
And suddenly, Shoukaku pops out with a smile on her face.
“GYAAA, SHOUKAKU! WHERE ARE YOU POPPING FROM—”
“Let’s go now.” Shoukaku’s smiling face turned grim. “Also, if you dared to plan some strange pranks on Zuikaku, I won’t forgive you at all~”
Strange screams can be heard in the lesson room afterward.