At the start of the war, the United States was at a disadvantage against Japan.
USS Helena had witnessed the horrors of Pearl Harbor and paid her respects to the souls lost at Ironbottom Sound.
One by one, her seniors and companions sank before her eyes. The two US light cruisers that went down in the war—USS Atlanta and USS Juneau—were both lost in battles Helena took part in.
Juneau carried a particularly tragic tale: the five Sullivan brothers, who all served aboard her, were killed in that same battle.
Helena had always known that the day of her own sinking would come.
But she hadn't expected it to come so soon—so soon that even her advanced radar couldn't detect the faintest glimmer of victory on the horizon.
This would be the end.
Her own gunfire during a nighttime battle revealed her position. Sixteen torpedoes were fired at the source of the muzzle flashes. Helena was hit by three. The first severed her bow, the other two split her amidships. She sank that very night.
What a regret—that she never lived to see the day of victory.
She was also the last standard light cruiser the US Navy lost in World War II.
Hikaru didn't open his eyes right away.
He was still absorbing the memories he had just seen.
Those memories were what shaped the character of the shipgirl.
Forged in the fire of war, Helena's steel memories created a shipgirl unusually mature for a light cruiser. Her personality reflected a quiet acceptance of her tragic fate—a warrior angel who had long understood what would come.
Her homeland was behind her—it was time to serve.
That phrase fit Helena perfectly. Her young shoulders had carried responsibilities far too heavy, but she bore them with grace.
Hikaru opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Yamato.
The girl was sitting cross-legged on the floor with a bowl in hand, chewing on a fish tail. Hard to miss, honestly.
Then—he saw Helena.
What caught his eye first wasn't her face, but her incredible figure—far beyond that of most light cruisers, and even some battleships. Then came her long, flowing, seaweed-blue hair that reached all the way to her waist.
Hikaru felt his blood pressure spike.
Helena was wearing a swimsuit!
It was the "Heart of the Ocean" skin from the game—a 3D outfit with interactive features. Hikaru had poked that skin more times than he could count.
Because of that teasing behavior, he'd been scolded countless times by his other shipgirls.
He quickly turned his head away in embarrassment. Helena's outfit was just two small pieces of bikini—the blinding whiteness made his eyes spin.
Helena, however, gently but firmly turned his head back.
She leaned forward with a soft smile. "Commander, Helena has returned. You promised me we'd start our romance training together—let's begin today!"
Wha—?!
Hikaru was stunned.
It wasn't the romance that shocked him—he actually had promised this before. Back when he'd dreamed of the base, Helena had brought up how his poking habits had become a topic of gossip.
Feeling responsible, Hikaru had agreed to give a real relationship a try.
At the time, even Lion had demanded to be given equal treatment.
What shocked him now was Helena's personality.
Wasn't she supposed to be the calm, elegant older-sister type with a trace of tragedy?
Why did she suddenly feel like a lovestruck fool?!
Before Hikaru could even make sense of it, Bismarck frowned and spoke up. "Helena, put on some clothes. Are you planning to go swimming tonight?"
Even though Bismarck was from the German line, Helena glanced at the quietly smiling Lexington, then shrank back a bit. Obediently, she took a long coat from Fletcher.
Fletcher herself wasn't too fond of wearing much in the bedroom, but after getting pounded by a few iron fists, she now carried a few jackets with her at all times.
The coat was a bit small for Helena—barely covering her thighs, and a tight squeeze up top—but it was enough to keep her decent.
Yamato slurped the last bit of fish tail and asked curiously, "Helena… light cruiser?"
Helena gave her a sidelong glance. She didn't recognize this girl, but her scent was deeply unpleasant.
The scent of a rival—the Japanese fleet.
Helena didn't answer, but Yamato felt a chill down her neck.
Killing intent?!
How could she feel threatened by a light cruiser?!
Hikaru watched the whole scene, chuckling silently to himself.
Helena was a level 110 light cruiser—stronger in combat than even Fletcher at the same level. Of course Yamato would feel intimidated.
Just then, Lexington spoke up. "Commander, it's getting late. Do you still plan to continue the summoning?"
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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