Why Midway's bombardment ships followed the carriers

Why were the Japanese battleship and cruiser bombardment forces behind the carriers at Midway?

The carriers were supposed to scout, screen, and prepare the battlefield so the bombardment force could approach with information.

Putting battleships and cruisers ahead might divert American aircraft onto them and spare the carriers some attacks. It would also invert the Japanese operational plan. The carrier force was the reconnaissance and forward-screening element intended to find danger, suppress Midway, and prepare the battlespace. Surface bombardment ships followed so that they could approach with information instead of moving blind into the objective area.