Ishikawa Hideaki

[Yaoquizque]

It was another dull afternoon in that depressing year, hours passing by slowly. A bottle of expensive whiskey in front of him, his feet rested on that expensive desk in front of him, Ishikawa was staring at a screen displaying a message. The fine Admiral looked currently torn between anger and sadness as he grabbed the bottle to take a generous sip directly from it.
Some disturbing noise coming from the anteroom that was serving as his orderly's office however made him stop in the middle of that solemn gesture. He was still holding that bottle, trying to listen carefully, when the door suddenly opened, revealing Vice-Admiral Sakamoto and, behind him, Kurosawa whose concern, if not fight, could be read on her face in a distressing way.

The Admiral embraced the scene slowly, before eventually stepping in. He then turned his head as to see the secretary with his peripheral vision, and said :
"Leave us."
Kurosawa reached the handle, closing the door slowly after having looked at Ishikawa with concern.

Ishikawa slowly narrowed his eyes and put down the bottle on the table in front of him. "Greetings, vice admiral. I was not told you'd be making a visit today." With a quiet sigh, he rose from his chair as he looked at Sakamoto. "Well, what has happened that made you show up unannounced? How can I help you?"

The unexpected guest stared at him for a while before sighing. He slightly lowered his head before rubbing the top of his skull thoughtfully.
"Hai, hai... It's a suprise visit." he said, eventually making his way towards the desk to face Ishikawa. He grabbed the bottle to take a look at the label, then stared again at Ishikawa.
The younger man managed to stare back for a while before sighing heavily and sitting down on his chair again. "I would offer you a glass, but I think we should go somewhere else first."

The vice admiral looked behind him to find a chair and sat back himself. Leaning forward, he joined his hands before his mouth, looking at the ceiling thoughtfully. Sometimes his eyes were moving to gaze at Ishikawa before returning to the ceiling. Eventually, he asked :
"Ishikawa, do you want to be discharged?" He made a gesture before Ishikawa could reply, as to indicate him he was not over "This is not a rethorical question. I'm genuinely curious. You're smart enough to know how unacceptable this is, correct? You are in charge of a Battleship, in one of the most dangerous system of Kusari. Hundreds of people depend on you. You know that."

Ishikawa furrowed his brows as he looked at the vice admiral, thinking for a few seconds after hearing what he had to say. "Surely you don't mean that. They don't depend on me. I'm a glorified figurehead, a young face you can put on recruitment posters. Nothing happens in this system, Sakamoto. The aliens are smart enough to not take the obvious approach through Hiroshima and I do not have the forces to attack their lair. So I just sit and wait, day in, day out." He sighed quietly and leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. "Do I want to be discharged? The thought has crossed my mind. Maybe a demotion then?" He shook his head and turned his head back to Sakamoto. "I'm telling you this, because I've known for a long time, friend. This job has squeezed the life out of me."

Sakamoto rubbed the top of his skull thoughtfully again.
"Is that so? Is it truly simply about the monotony of this assignment?"
He leaned back, studying Ishikawa shortly.
"I came here because I heard some disturbing rumors. And if even I got a wind about it, others persons definitely will have heard them. You know... It might sound odd, but I always considered you as a..." He made a pause, chuckling silently "A son, or a younger brother, perhaps. I'm well aware how much you disliked me lecturing you as I'm doing right now. Sometimes, it is necessary, however... Sadly."

Suddenly, the man approached the desk
"I know you. You are trying to belittle your importance and the critical nature of Battleship Sado's operations in the system. Would you have preferred to command Nagumo? Forced to order your men to kill people you fought alongside with during Seto war?"
He rubbed his chin, staring at Ishikawa thoughtfully once more.
"No...There is something else. Tell me, Hideaki. What is the matter?"
"Does there really have to be something else? Kusari is breaking apart around me, yet all I can do is sit and watch. I know how difficult your job is, but do you think feeling powerless is any better?" He groaned quietly and looked at the door, being quite sure that Kurosawa would be listening from the other side. "There's nothing else, Sakamoto. I have nothing else in life other than this job anyway."
"I see... Nothing else." replied Sakamoto thoughtfully.
"Yet, you used to have a relationship with that Commander... Whose name I don't recall. What happened to her?"

Ishikawa simply gave him a wry smile at her mention. "Really? I doubt you have forgotten her name, Sakamoto. She's gone. Has resigned from the Naval Forces and left Kusari."
"Those troubles of yours didn't appear shortly after she left, naturally?" pondered his guest politely as he was studying him.
Ishikawa averted his gaze once more, looking over at the left wall. "Her departure just made things more.. complicated. But I should get over that."
"I hope you will. Today, it's me entering in that office unannounced. What about tomorrow? One of your subordinates? Or even worse, Tokkeitai?" Sakamoto gave a hint of a shrug.
"Though... Are you certain... Hai.. Sanada was it? That's a renowned house. I heard Takahashi mentioning it caused quite some concern to the Admiralty, back then... But she did not resign. Do you know why she left?"
He sighed heavily once more and looked back at Sakamoto. "Do we really have to discuss this? She left because of her unresolved family problems. But she doesn't try resolving them either."
"If you don't talk about this with me, with whom will you? It helps to let it out sometimes, Hideaki." asserted quietly Sakamoto, looking down at the desk.
"Well, nobody of course. I don't see how anyone could help Sanada with her problems and make her come back. And the other option is just for me to get over her, and that's what I'm trying to do."

Sakamoto reflected shortly, before pondering :
"Perhaps I should ask the Admirals circle to replace you temporarily... Looks like to me you have personal issues to sort. And I do not want to have to hear you were sanctioned for improper behavior in the next weeks.."
He smiled in a reassuring way.
"Take some time off to recenter yourself and to redefine your priorities. When you will return... Well... It will still be time to affect you somewhere else if Sado is an unbearable burden."

Ishikawa frowned slightly as he looked back at Sakamoto. "If you think that's for the best, vice admiral. I can live with a temporary leave, but I'm honestly too proud to simply give up on an assignment.."
"I'm convinced it's best indeed. I'm certain you are strong willed enough to overcome this unfortunate situation you are currently facing..."

The admiral rose, giving Ishikawa the hint of a head bow. He walked towards the door, eventually making a pause when his palm reached the door handle.
"If the issue is with the family... You could still try to defuse it by meeting them. This might not be an easy task however. Those noble houses are almost impossible to approach. Unless... Maybe you personally know a relative of Commander Sanada..?"
The admiral nodded, before adding as he was leaving the room.
"Feel free to hop into a fighter as soon as you're not sick anymore. I will take care of things here before your substitute takes over."

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