High School Fleet (ハイスクール・フリート)

It'll pass by any minute now, Moka!

Yeah!

There it is!

Hey!

Isn't it amazing, Mike?!

Hey!

They waved!

Moka, let's definitely, definitely,

become Blue Mermaids!

Yeah!

Live on the sea!

Protect the sea!

Sail the sea!

That's...

...the Blue Mermaids!

Nine Years Later

And that's when...

C...

C...

Oh, a cat!

Ow...

- I'm sorry! Are you okay?! - I'm fine.

Sheesh.

Watch where you're going.

I'm so unlucky.

Grab my hand!

No thanks! I'm good at swimming fully-clothed.

You're soaked.

Drenched.

And I've got the entrance ceremony to go to.

You're unlucky, huh?

I don't want to hear it from you!

Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School 21st Entrance Ceremony

Your underwear and uniform are dry!

I'll leave them here.

I ironed them, too.

Thank goodness you'll be able to make it in time.

Anyway, now we know banana peels really are slippery.

I'm going to change, so would you leave?

Sorry, sorry!

Since we're both going to the same school, I hope we can get along!

Mom? Do I look good in my uniform?

Moka!

Mike!

The ceremony is about to begin.

I've already had quite a day.

I thought you might not make it in time.

Sorry, sorry!

You never change, Mike.

It's been a long time.

Since elementary school, right?

Yeah.

I guess they announce the classes at the end.

I hope we're assigned to the same ship, Moka.

The entrance ceremony will begin shortly.

Yeah.

New students, line up.

Principal Munetani would like to say a few words.

Everyone, congratulations on your admittance.

I am the this school's prinicipal Mayuki Munetani.

You have all achieved excellent results in classroom learning and practical skills,

and now you are students of Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School.

Your nautical training will begin right away,

but I urge you to overcome all difficulties

and become outstanding Blue Mermaids.

Wow, wow!

Moka, the Musashi!

Extra-large Direct Training Ship Musashi Captain Moeka China Deputy-Captain Shouko Murano

And you're the captain!

That's great!

But Mike, you've become a captain, too.

Of the Harekaze.

But the Harekaze is a destroyer-class ship.

They don't even officially call my position "captain."

Still, a captain is a captain.

As a smaller ship,

you can get to know every inch of it, so that's good, too.

I see. When it comes to actual number of crew members,

Musashi and Harekaze have the same, huh?

Although it's automated to a certain degree,

large ships are tough to handle.

Though worth doing.

I hope it'll be ok with me as captain.

I only studied the captain's job while prepping for the exams!

I'm sure you'll make a fine captain, Mike.

Look. There's the Harekaze.

It's kind of cute.

So that's going to be my home.

We're finally reunited, only to be separated again.

It's okay. We'll be on different ships, but sailing on the same sea.

Mike.

We'll both make new friends,

me on the Harekaze and you on the Musashi.

You're right. Comrades at sea are all family, right?

Let's do our best, graduate, and become Blue Mermaids!

Right!

Live on the sea!

Protect the sea!

Sail the sea!

That's the Blue Mermaids!

The Blue Mermaids' motto!

That brings back memories.

We used to say that too when we were kids.

Nautical training starts right after the entrance ceremony, huh?

We have to stow our luggage, then report to our respective ships' classroom.

The cat from before!

It seems kind of arrogant.

Someone called it "Isoroku" earlier.

Isoroku?

I guess the cat hangs out in this area.

You have more of a captain's air than me, Isoroku.

Where's the Hiei docked again?

They said Pier Three.

We'd better get our luggage and then go to class.

Huh? That's the farthest one from here!

Right!

Then I'll see you in two weeks, after nautical training is over, right?

Yep. Two weeks will go by before we know it.

So I'll see you soon!

Welcome to the Harekaze Good luck! New students!!

Organization & Orderliness

We're in the same class!

Why the Harekaze?

I'm one of the leftovers.

Ms. Munetani.

Long time no see.

Cheer up.

It must be some mistake that you didn't become captain.

Because your grades are top class.

We're on the same ship!

I'm unlucky.

Maybe it's fate.

It isn't fate!

I'm Misaki Akeno.

Your names are?

- Ms. Munetani, do you know her? - No! She's a complete stranger.

Harekaze Destroyer Captain Akeno Misaki Deputy-Captain Mashiro Munetani

Ms. Munetani? Mashiro Munetani?

You're the deputy-captain, right?

And you are?

- I'm the assistant engineer... - Hiromi Kuroki?

Yeah.

Nice to meet you.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Misaki... Akeno...

Let's all do our best.

Harekaze

Harekaze class. Is every crew member here?

Captain!

Yes!

Captain?!

Rise!

I'm Furushou, your instructor.

From today, you're high school students, and so, you'll embark on nautical training.

I'm sure there will be tough times,

but there's a saying, "A calm sea never made a skillful sailor."

When you help your comrades, endure severe weather,

and ride out the rough waves,

all of you will have grown even more.

When you've returned to land, I can't wait to meet you as fine sailors.

I look forward to it!

All right, all hands, prepare to set sail.

Welcome to the Harekaze Good luck! New students!!

Welcome to the Harekaze Good luck! New students!!

Excuse me, Instructor Furushou!

What is it, Ms. Misaki?

Um, why was I chosen as the captain?

I mean, my grades weren't so great that I should be captain.

Then let me ask you, what is your ideal captain?

Well...

Something like the father of the ship.

And, comrades on a ship are family!

Then become that.

Become a captain who's worthy of the Harekaze.

Huh? Isoroku?

A cat?

Cute!

Again?!

Did you... I mean, Captain, did you bring it aboard?

I think it boarded on its own.

We have to prepare to set sail!

What do we do about the cat?!

We can't take it off now and it'll kill any rats, so I say we leave it be.

Excuse me?! We're going to sail with a cat?!

Then Isoroku can be the admiral!

And it outranks me?!

That's right!

I'm Captain Misaki Akeno. I look forward to working with you.

I'm Deputy-Captain Mashiro Munetani.

I am the secretary, Kouko Nosa.

I'm Torpedo Officer Mei Irizaki.

I'm sorry! I'm late!

I'm so sorry!