When Unicorn heard the monster wanted Yu-chan, she hugged the trembling pet to her chest. "Don't eat Yu-chan! It's just fat and greasy; you'll get indigestion and an upset stomach."
Yu-chan nodded frantically, sucking in air to puff its cheeks and belly even bigger.
"True, indigestion would ruin my health. How troublesome—can't eat this, can't eat that…" Yukikaze pressed a hand to her forehead in mock distress.
"Then let us go!" Unicorn proposed, relieved the monster had given up on Yu-chan.
"Fine—I'll just make you edible. I'll wash you first, then liposuction the fat off your pegasus, and finally gobble you both without tummy trouble." Yukikaze beamed.
The outrageous plan left Unicorn and Yu-chan stunned: they would still be eaten after all.
"Yu-chan, it seems we're doomed today," Unicorn sobbed.
"Heh-heh-heh—then I'll dig in!" Yukikaze's shadow loomed as she stepped closer.
She tapped Unicorn's shoulder. Already on edge, Unicorn fainted on the spot, collapsing spread-eagle on the sand, eyes spinning.
Yukikaze prodded the unconscious girl. "Seriously? Fainting from a tap—what a scaredy-cat."
The culprit felt zero guilt; clearly Unicorn's cowardice was at fault, not her.
Half an hour later Unicorn stirred. "Is this heaven? Am I dead? Heaven has the same blue sky…"
Seeing her think she'd died and gone to paradise, Yukikaze sighed, wondering if she'd scared the girl senseless.
Unicorn stood and noticed a Silver-Haired Girl. Taking her for a fellow soul, she greeted her cheerfully. "Hey! Did you die and come here too? I'm Unicorn, a Royal Navy light carrier Ship Girl—nice to meet you."
"I'm not dead, and this isn't heaven," Yukikaze corrected hastily.
"I understand—newly dead always deny it. Don't worry, you'll accept it soon." Unicorn spoke like a seasoned ghost.
"Accept nothing! We're alive, on your island—snap out of it!" Yukikaze grabbed her shoulders and shook.
"Stop the nonsense. If this isn't heaven, is it hell? Hell wouldn't be this pretty. Wake up and face reality!" Unicorn shot back.
"Good grief—look around! This is the very island you live on." Yukikaze's head throbbed.
"How thoughtful of heaven to recreate my island," Unicorn murmured, still convinced.
"Alright, truth time: I'm the deep-sea monster who tried to eat you. Don't you recognize me?"
"Nope. I was too scared and kept my eyes shut. All I remember is the monster had white hair like yours," Unicorn recalled.
"Then you must remember its voice," Yukikaze hinted.
Listening carefully, Yukikaze's voice really did sound exactly like those Deep-Sea monsters. Unicorn exclaimed in surprise, "It really is! So you really are one of those monsters—hehehe! Heaven has eyes! Bet you didn't expect this! Even after you swallowed me, you still died. Let me guess—was it Sister Azuma and the others who finished you off?"
"I told you not to swallow me. Regretting it now, huh? But why would a wicked Deep-Sea like you end up in heaven after dying? Monsters like you should be in hell!"
The remark made veins pop on Yukikaze's forehead. Too fed-up to explain, she decided to prove with action that this wasn't heaven—and that Unicorn was very much alive. She reached out and pinched Unicorn's soft, snow-white right cheek.
"Ow! That hurts! What are you doing? Let go, you Deep-Sea bully!" Tears streamed down as Yukikaze's pinch stung.
"Hurts, doesn't it? Good. Would a dead person in heaven feel pain? No. So you're not dead!" Yukikaze let go and stated matter-of-factly.
"So I'm still alive! But you said you'd swallow me. Why spare me? Oh! I get it—you found your conscience and decided to turn over a new leaf and become a peace-loving Deep-Sea." Clasping her hands, Unicorn praised her own cleverness.
Smiling, Unicorn reached out and patted Yukikaze's head. "Good girl. If you know you were wrong, you're still a good kid. Everyone will forgive you."
"Meow~" The gentle head-pat felt so nice Yukikaze's eyes narrowed—then she snapped awake and slapped Unicorn's hand away.
"Don't pat my head! I'm not a child anymore! Yukikaze is an adult now!" Face flushed, she shouted, "And I'm not Deep-Sea—I'm a Sakura Empire Destroyer Ship Girl named Yukikaze. Remember that!"
Hearing she wasn't Deep-Sea, Unicorn studied her again. Only her hair resembled Deep-Sea traits—no crimson eyes, no terrifying fangs.
So the person before her wasn't Deep-Sea but a Ship Girl like herself.
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