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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part 10

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Translator: Kurehashi Aiko

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PART 10

 

 

Seeing Belfast being so flustered and stumbling for words like that, San Diego frowned her brows even more now.

 

[Belfast-san, are you not going to try and go down the Idol path for this event as well? You must have been chosen by the careful deliberation of all the members of the Royal Navy, so because of that surely you must have thought of something that you think is going to let you win, right? That’s what being a representative is all about, wouldn’t you agree?]

 

[W-Well, when you are putting it like that, I mean…… Basically, it is like that, but it is also entirely different.]

 

[Huh? Different? So, what’s the difference here?]

 

With each passing moment San Diego’s face was creeping its way towards Belfast closer and closer.

 

Overwhelmed by the sheer strength of how pushy she could be about stuff like that, Belfast finally decided to give up and just give it to her straight.

 

[Umm, this is –––––– Royal Navy…… is not going down the Idol route! And that’s final!]

 

[Huh? Is that so? Is that how it is?]

 

As soon as Belfast spilled the beans like that, San Diego put her hands behind her head and turned around, seemingly in a gesture of disappointment.

 

[Oh well, so that’s how it is, huh. Then, could you at least tell me what is it that you are going to do?]

 

[I…… I haven’t been able to think of anything just yet.]

 

[Huh? Seriously now?]

 

San Diego then stood in place, seemingly in a daze.

 

[Geez, what the hell are you even doing!? The competition is tomorrow, you know? Tomorrow!]

 

[I know, but…… It’s just that…… I honestly don’t know what it is that I should be doing…… No matter how hard I try to ponder the idea, nothing comes to mind……]

 

Even though she originally thought it might be a bad idea to talk about a matter of such an importance like that with her contest rival, especially a day before the actual competition, right now Belfast did not even care about that. She just wanted to share all of her worries with someone who would be willing to listen to her troubles.

 

[I was originally thinking of doing something that would feel the most natural for me as a maid. However, the more I was thinking about it, the more and more complicated that issue was becoming, and before I even realized it, I had lost sight of my original goal.]

 

[Oh, so it’s something like that, huh? I guess everyone has a moment like that every now and then.]

 

Now, even though San Diego said something like that, Belfast had an inkling that she did not really understand what seemed to be bothering her at all. The way in which the Eagle Union’s Light Cruiser was singing here was unmistakably natural, and she didn’t seem like she was consciously wondering about what she should do, or how she was supposed to go about it. So Belfast’s troubles must have been something completely incomprehensible to her.

 

[In the first place, this is going to be my very first time standing on top of a stage quite like that, so I have no prior experience with performances like that. So even if this is something completely natural for you, for someone like me it is something I need to seriously ponder and deliberate…… And I don’t think I have the necessary strength for that……]

 

Hearing Belfast’s story just now, San Diego shook her head.

 

[No, I don’t think that’s quite it.]

 

[Huh?]

 

[You see, when it comes to me, the thing that matters the most about any sort of performance is whether or not you are having fun doing it. Sure, inexperience is something that can set you back a little bit, it is not a barrier that cannot be overcome.]

 

When San Diego said something like that so bluntly and so naturally, Belfast could not help it but to stare at her in disbelief.

 

[I should be thinking more about having fun during the performance…… But how exactly am I even supposed to do that?]

 

[Hmm, I wouldn’t be really able to tell you, since honestly I have never really given that matter that much of a thought. But how about trying to change the stage to be more to your liking?]

 

[Changing it to my liking? Are we even allowed to do that? And how would that even work?]

 

When Belfast cocked her head in puzzlement because she was having trouble with understanding the meaning behind San Diego’s words, San Diego herself started to dance brilliantly while spinning on the spot.

 

[This place is really lovely, wouldn’t you agree? It was actually Saracchi who recommended it to me first. She said that I should come here whenever I need to clear my mind of any useless thoughts and just go for a change of pace. So I come here from time to time, having fun on my own, dancing just like that. But you know –––––– Kyah!]

 

As San Diego tripped and nearly fell over to the ground, Belfast hurriedly grabbed her by the hand and lifted her up just in the nick of time.

 

[Are you okay?]

 

[Y-Yeah, I’m fine! I just wanted to test whether you would react properly to this, Belfast-san!]

 

Even though that line just now seemed to be mighty suspicious to Belfast, she slowly let go of San Diego’s hand without actually saying anything to that.

 

[You see, when it comes to me, I think that my strongest point is just how energetic I am in general.]

 

San Diego straightens her posture and stares straight at the moon up in the night sky.

 

[Initially it was said that only Saracchi was supposed to appear on the stage for this year’s contest, so I decided to run for the position because I wanted the Commander to see me sparkling on stage, no matter what everyone else would think.]

 

San Diego continued speaking as she stared at Belfast with her eyes sparkling bright.

 

[And if I want to shine the brightest of all people, I have no other option but to win this thing. And that is precisely why I do not intend to lose to anyone tomorrow. I’m sure of it!]

 

She then giggled innocently at her own words, a gesture that made even someone like Belfast smile warmly and earnestly.

 

It was also at that moment that Belfast honestly thought that maybe San Diego was able to understand her troubles, even if only just a little bit.

 

And just looking at her cheerful figure was more than enough to make Belfast smile and become happy as well.

 

[Fuwaah…… Alright, I think it’s high time for me to get some much needed sleep in preparation for tomorrow. It is a pretty big day, after all.]

 

While opening her mouth and yawning in a mighty way, San Diego said so and flipped her dress, and she started walking towards the Eagle Union’s dormitory or somewhere else in its general direction.

 

[Be seeing you, Belfast-san! And see you on the stage tomorrow!]

 

[Umm!]

 

[Hm?]

 

Belfast opened her mouth and tried to stop San Diego from leaving, the expression on her face being truly apologetic right about now.

 

[It’s about that time earlier today…… I’m sorry that I pulled out the loudspeaker’s cable like that.]

 

For a moment out there San Diego seemed to be frozen solid, and then, all of a sudden she burst out laughing.

 

[Hahaha, oh, about that? Yeah, I don’t really care! It’s already water under the bridge anyways! Bye now! It was really fun talking to you today!]

 

She then waved her hand for goodbye, and Belfast held her hand up in the air and kept on shaking it until she could no longer see San Diego in the distance.

 

Belfast, who was now left all alone for a while on top of the breakwater, and then she murmured those words to herself, feeling the night breeze.

 

[Certainly, this breakwater is a very pleasant place to be on a night like this.]

 

Thinking that she might not yet be able to actually get some sleep, Belfast eventually returned to the Royal Navy’s Dormitory and headed to her usual place of work.

 

After turning on the lights in the pitch-black kitchen and sitting on a small chair, Belfast leaned over the cooking table and took a deep breath.

 

“When I’m in this place, for some reason I feel the most calm.]

 

The Head Maid would never actually think that she would be able to feel so calmed and relaxed in an empty kitchen late at night.

 

[But I guess that this is also my very first experience just like that.]

 

She then let out a small chuckle and laughed.

 

Belfast then turned her face, which had been buried in her arms until now, to the side and stared at the fire inside the lantern for a little while.

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