Commander's Rounds

Entry 67: Foch the Magnificent

It was a sunny morning at Azur Lane, which meant that the ships were out and about, and getting into the kinds of things that people with strong personalities and competing desires got into. Such as at the bakery, where there was an altercation between Akagi and Nürnberg that Kaga was watching with her own brand of detached amusement.

"J-Just give it to me! I was reaching for it first!" Said Nürnberg.

"Hm~ Perhaps, but I'm the one who snatched it first." Said Akagi, who was now in possession of the last of the melon bread. "Perhaps your 'superior Iron Blood engineering' needs a little tune-up? Or somehow you've forgotten that I'm a master of morning raids? Which is it, I wonder..."

Nurnberg reached for it, but Akagi quickly pulled it away. "No, just give it back, you sneaky fox! I need it!"

Akagi put on her mischievous grin "Oh ho! Need it? Now, this is interesting." She held the precious bread in both of her hands. "All right, entertain me. Tell me why I should surrender this prize to you, and we'll just see what tale you have to tell."

"B-Because it's not for me, it's for my older sister!" She took a deep breath so that she could explain herself. "You see, Leipzig isn't the healthiest ship... She doesn't faint like she used to but, well, she'll never really be in perfect health. But she really likes melon bread, so when she's not feeling well, having some cheers her up... So..."

Akagi's fuzzy ears perked up. "Hm? Well, if that's the case..." She walked over to the register, and bought the bread.

"Akagi!" Nürnberg pleaded.

Kaga smiled a bit. "No mercy for the weak, is that it, partner?"

However, when Akagi turned to face Nürnberg, her grin was gone, and she thrust the bag with the bread towards the Iron Blood cruiser. "Here."

"Huh?" Nürnberg slowly reached towards the bag, not quite sure what was going on.

Akagi pushed the bag into Nürnberg's hands. "It's yours, I'm giving it to you. Just take it and go..." She trailed off for a moment. "...Take care of your sister."

Nürnberg was still confused, but decided not to look too closely at this sudden bout of good fortune. She took the bag in her hands and scurried off before anything even weirder happened.

Kaga watched Nürnberg leave in a hurry. "I guess then, we can take this as proof that Akagi of the Sakura Empire can be terrifying even when she's kind."

Akagi smiled, and shrugged. "It is a way that suits me."

Elsewhere, and later that morning, the main square had become a bit crowded because Foch was putting on a show- and since said show happened to involve knives, it gathered a great deal of interest. Ships were always interested in other ships displaying their skills, whether it was related to their purpose or not. And Foch had a lot to show for her efforts- The flamboyant, playful ship was a natural performer.

The cruiser plucked all of the knives out of the target she had set up. "...Of course, all of that was just child's play." She hopped on the platform that she had set up, and started juggling her various throwing knives. "Let's add a little spice to the show, and for that, I'll need a volunteer."

The commander and Albert were also in attendance. The commander knew such a show was going to happen, and wanted to see it for himself, plus he had business with her. Albert, on the other hand, was just curious about what the commotion was. and decided to have a look.

This curiosity of his would put him front and center. Foch casually caught all of her knives in one hand, and then pointed them at the junior officer. "You there, you look pretty new around here! Want to come up here and test your nerve?"