The Annoyed Momousagi

West Blue, First Branch Base.

It was dusk. Outside the window, the twilight was hazy, and fiery clouds sprawled freely across the sky, forming a magnificent sight.

Having finally finished a day's work, Momousagi, looking slightly weary, was receiving an old friend from Marine Headquarters in the restaurant.

"Tokikake" Tokikake.

"Time really flies, Gion."

The weathered-looking middle-aged man with a cigarette in his mouth set his cowboy hat aside and looked at Momousagi across from him with deep emotion. "Ever since you took up your post in West Blue, we haven't seen each other. It's been a year already, hasn't it?"

"Only ten months."

Momousagi chuckled softly and took a small sip of tea. "What brought you here?"

Although Tokikake's repeated, poorly timed confessions back at Marine Headquarters had left her both amused and exasperated, and eventually annoyed and disgusted as they became more frequent,

the two had, after all, been comrades and friends for many years. After she and Noah officially confirmed their relationship on the day of the promotion ceremony, and with Tokikake behaving himself much better afterward,

the friendship between them had gradually begun to warm up again.

"I didn't want to come either. It's just that several troublesome people have appeared in West Blue lately, and things have been a little unsettled."

At the mention of this, Tokikake immediately looked miserable and began sighing heavily. "And they're active in waters far from your First Branch. Marine Headquarters was worried you might not be able to handle it alone, so I had no choice but to make the trip..."

He appeared to be complaining, but in truth he was taking credit before his former goddess. His acting was quite seasoned, worthy of a face as old as his.

Momousagi silently smiled as she swirled her teacup.

"What