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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 2 Chapter 4 Part 2

「Yes, when you put it that way, it makes it even more difficult for me to answer it.」

Even as she tried her best to evade the question, Belfast pondered that question in a serious matter.

Edinburgh was currently acting as Acting Head Maid Royal Navy’s Dormitory.

This was the first time ever that she’s left everything in her care for the entire two weeks, and by her nature, it was hard for her to manage and organize things properly and without issue.

Belfast replied, imagining Edinburgh’s face rolling her eyes as she was giving it her best to work hard.

「My sister is not very good at doing her maid work. However, as a maid, my sister has many things that I do not have, and I am very envious of her because of that.」

It was just what she had at the top of her mind, without any lies or deception to it.

But for some reason, Dorsetshire twisted her neck while making a difficult face.

「……Hm? What’s wrong? Did something happen?」

Belfast peered into Dorsetshire’s face, wondering if something was wrong with her for her to make such an expression.

「No, it’s nothing like that, rest assured. It’s just that, you know…… I kind of expected to hear a much simpler answer from you, that is all.」

「A simpler answer?」

For a moment out there Belfast was wondering just what exactly was that supposed to mean.

「Well, to put it simply, I was wondering on what part of the Love-Hate spectrum you would place yourself when it comes to your sister. Something like that.」

「Well, if it is something like that, then of course I like my sister very much. That should go without saying.」

「No, no, no, that’s not it. That’s not it at all. Like, do you love her? Or perhaps do you hate her? That kind of thing.」

「Well, of course I love her dearly.」

「Hmm, that’s kind of different ‘love’, isn’t it? I still don’t think we are talking about the same thing.」

Belfast cocked her head slightly, clearly at a loss about what to do here.

Despite her utmost sincerity when it comes to her sister Edinburgh, Dorsetshire still seemed to be largely unconvinced.

「I don’t know how to say it, but…… You see, Belfast, even the answers that you are giving me seem to be…… well, way too perfect, you know?」

「So, does that mean that you find it hard to resonate with them?」

「It’s more like, hmm…… Your answers seem to be lacking something? Like, passion, for one? You just can’t seem to feel any feeling behind your words.」

「Passion? You mean, like, they lack a sufficient amount of heat?」

「It’s more like, your words are really low on calories.」

「Low on calories……?」

Belfast immediately took another sigh of frustration, wondering what exactly those cryptic words were supposed to mean.

「Could it be that…… You want to know if I feel about my sister the same way that you feel about yours, Dorsetshire-san? Because if that is the case here, then I’m afraid it would be really hard to relate to the way in which you are feeling, and……」

「N-No, no, no, no! That’s not it at all! And besides, can we drop that matter for the time being!?」

Dorsettshire shouted those words while blushing furiously.

「But, it’s just that…… I thought that since Belfast would always feel so calm and composed and rarely shows any emotions during her work, I was convinced that at least when it comes to your sister Edinburgh that you might be different ——」

At that exact moment, a loud rumbling sound resounded somewhere in the distance and way above the two shipgirls, effectively cutting their entire conversation short.

As expected, it looked like it was going to rain and that the storm would approach them at any moment now.

「Let us hurry for now! We might be able to get a little bit further before we get completely soaked, and ——」

But before Belfast could finish saying those words, huge raindrops started to hit her cheeks.

Apparently, the weather was not even going to give them enough time to talk leisurely and discuss some more things in greater detail, but Dorsetshire must have noticed this as well, because she raised her cruising speed and turned back towards the Head Maid in an instant.

「Belfast! At this rate we won’t be able to make it through! We must hurry!」

Belfast nodded her head at Dorsetshire’s words.

A moment later, a bright flash of lightning ran across the sky, followed by a loud roar of thunder.

Gradually, the rain became more and more intense, and before both of the shipgirls even knew it, large raindrops began to hit their skin and clothes painfully, and in no time, their bodies were completely soaked from head to toe.

Drops of water dripping down from their drenched hair ran down their temples and were falling into their eyes. Both of them advanced at maximum speed across the dark waters with their field of vision becoming more and more blurred, a feeling really similar to when you would open your eyes underwater.

For the sake of Dorsetshire, the two shipgirls decided to move on in a hurry.

「…… It would seem that luck is really not on my side today, seriously now.」

***

By the time they could finally see some small island where they could possibly take shelter from the rain, the storm had already passed and the sun was shining from behind the thick veil of clouds once more.

The two of them thought of mooring somewhere in order to dry their clothes, but since they were already in the waters controlled by the Home Port, and in just a little while they should be able to see the Academy building becoming visible in the distance.

Belfast glances at Dorsetshire who was right behind her.

「……Ugh… It’s so cold…… W-wait for me, Nee-san. Nee-san…… Nee-san…… Nee-san, Nee-san, Nee-san!!!」

Dorsetshire was saying that like a mantra over and over again, even though her teeth were cluttering because of her wet clothes and her whole body was shivering strongly. It was starting to get a little warmer with each day now, but the mid-March period was still a time of chilly winds being present more often than not.

And seeing Dorsetshire muttering the word “Nee-san” to herself over and over again like a maniac, it was not a sight that was making Belfast become able to relax and be at peace for the rest of the voyage back home.

Belfast, who thought so to herself like that, was also quite cold, and her drenched maid clothes were finally starting to become heavy and hinder her movements.

「Achoo!」

Unable to hold back a sneeze like that, Belfast let it out without any prior warning. She thought that she should wipe herself and change her clothes as soon as she gets back home, so that she would not catch any nasty colds.

After passing many smaller islands along the way, the two shipgirls were finally able to get a full view of the Home Port island.

「That is…… 」

Dorsetshire cried out loud at the sight of a little girl in the red hood waving her hand in their general direction while standing at the end of the pier.

「Aaahhh!! Belfast, you see this!? That’s my sister right there!! She came to greet me on coming back, just like she said she would!!」

Dorsetshire, who had been in fairly low spirits up until just now, suddenly got excited and way livelier when she saw her little sister Norfolk waiting for her at the pier, so she waved her hand back at her while Norfolk herself smiled at them with all of her might. It was truly touching to see the two sisters being so genuinely happy to see one another after such a long time.

As Belfast and Dorsetshire climbed up the pier in the harbor, Norfolk saw the two of them being all soaking wet and hurriedly handed them some towels that she happened to bring with herself, clearly anticipating that they would be needed..

「W-Welcome back……Y-you must be really cold from all that rain, so…… H-Here, have this.」

「Thank you, Nee-san! You’re the best!」

「Thank you very much, Norfolk-san.」

Dorsetshire and Belfast both expressed their gratitude towards Norfolk, and Norfolk’s cheeks blushed strongly in red in reaction to that.

「Y-You’re welcome……」

Seemingly embarrassed from being shown so much gratitude for such a small gesture, Norfolk tugged at the strings of her red hood and hid her face inside of it so that the two shipgirls would not be able to see her beet-red face.

「Belfast, let me introduce you to my little sister, Norfolk! Let’s have her accompany us next time we are going to be paired up for a mission, shall we?」