"Hey… you okay?"
Yuuki's voice was calm as he looked toward Anis and Neon after the explosions faded.
Anis rubbed the back of her neck lightly before nodding.
"Yeah. Honestly… it didn't feel as bad as I thought it would."
Neon looked down at her hands for a moment before speaking too.
"Same here."
Yuuki gave a small nod.
"Probably because of the Med Bay."
That got the others' attention again.
"The Med Bay didn't erase your memories," he explained. "You still remember what happened. But it repaired the trauma damage tied to them."
Rapi listened quietly while Ade and Soda did too.
"It heals the mind," Yuuki continued. "Not by deleting the past, but by stopping the trauma from controlling you."
Anis blinked slowly.
"So that's why…"
Yuuki nodded.
"The memories are still there. They're just not poisoning you anymore."
He gave a small shrug.
"Eventually, those memories become more embarrassing or annoying than painful."
Neon stared quietly for a second before laughing weakly.
"We really were cured…"
"Yeah."
Anis looked over at Neon and smiled slightly.
"I noticed it yesterday."
Neon blinked. "Huh?"
"You started talking about guns again."
The field quieted slightly.
Anis crossed her arms while smiling softly.
"Back there… you never talked about them anymore. Not once."
Neon lowered her eyes slightly.
"But yesterday?" Anis continued. "The moment Commander showed us weapons, you went full gun nut again. Back in the hospital when he shows you that Volt weapon thingy."
Neon immediately looked embarrassed. "W-wait—"
"You have no idea how long I waited to see that side of you again."
"…Anis…"
The joking tone was gone now.
It sounded genuine.
Rapi stepped closer quietly.
"You two alright?"
Anis nodded immediately this time.
"Yeah. Honestly? Better than alright."
She glanced toward where the dummy used to stand.
"I thought I'd completely lose it seeing that bastard again."
Neon nodded slowly beside her.
"But… it didn't hurt like I thought it would."
There was still anger.
Still disgust.
But no longer the crushing helplessness attached to it.
No panic.
No fear.
Just memories.
Bad ones.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Looks like the Med Bay did its job."
Neon looked around the training range again before laughing softly.
"Seriously… that thing is amazing."
Ade and Soda listened quietly nearby.
Soda spoke first.
"…Maybe that's why we can smile normally now."
Ade nodded slowly.
"Before this… even sleeping felt difficult sometimes."
Belfast gently squeezed their shoulders reassuringly.
"You no longer need to carry that burden alone."
The two maids looked calmer hearing that.
Yuuki looked around the training field quietly before speaking again.
"You girls aren't the only ones who went through hell."
His eyes shifted toward the shipgirls nearby.
"The shipgirls suffered heavily too."
Several of them went quiet at that.
Yuuki pointed lightly toward Akagi and Kaga.
"Look at those two foxes. They were the craziest out of the bunch at one point."
"Shikikan-sama," Akagi complained immediately.
"You literally almost nuked us in the name of your fallen sister."
Akagi puffed her cheeks while Kaga looked away awkwardly.
"…We were grieving," Kaga muttered quietly.
Yuuki sighed softly but smiled afterward.
"But they recovered. No longer the same girls that fought us."
His gaze moved across the others.
"Same with Enterprise. Yorktown. Belfast. All of them carried trauma one way or another."
Enterprise stayed silent but didn't deny it.
Yorktown smiled faintly.
Belfast lowered her eyes slightly.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"The Med Bay didn't erase who they were. It just gave them the ability to breathe again."
The group quieted.
Then Anis let out a small laugh through her nose.
"Heh… you really aren't bad, Commander."
She looked away slightly afterward.
"Thanks though. For giving me, Rapi, and Neon a second chance."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Anytime."
He reached over and patted her head casually.
Anis immediately stiffened.
Then her cheeks started turning red.
"H-hey…"
Neon immediately noticed.
"OOOH."
"Shut up."
Rapi looked away politely like she saw absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile, Ade and Soda slowly approached next.
The two maids bowed their heads slightly.
"Master," Ade said softly, "thank you again for rescuing us."
Soda nodded beside her.
"We really are grateful…"
Ade looked down for a moment before continuing.
"We admit… we hated our captor."
Her voice trembled slightly at the memory.
"But now… we don't really feel the need to hold onto that anger anymore."
Soda nodded slowly.
"It just feels… over."
Then Ade looked up again, uncertainty finally showing.
"Please don't throw us away…"
That made several girls glance toward Yuuki.
His answer came immediately.
"Don't worry, Ade. Soda."
His voice was calm but firm.
"I won't. Ever."
The tension in their shoulders eased almost instantly.
Yuuki crossed his arms lightly afterward.
"And honestly? You're not the only ones who were healed."
He gave a small shrug.
"Take me for example. If you knew half the things I've been through, you'd probably wonder how I stayed sane."
That made a few of them blink.
Even Anis looked surprised.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward.
"The same goes for the shipgirls. Most of them wouldn't be able to smile like this anymore without treatment."
The girls looked around quietly after hearing that.
At Yorktown laughing softly with Enterprise.
At San Diego loudly talking to Nimi.
At Laffey sleeping peacefully instead of restlessly.
At Akagi smiling again with Atago instead of drowning in obsession and grief.
It really was different.
Rapi lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you again, Commander."
Soda bowed quickly afterward.
"Thank you too, Master. Please allow us to serve you properly."
Ade nodded beside her.
"Master's satisfaction is our number one priority."
Yuuki sweatdropped slightly. "That sounds way too serious."
Then Anis scratched her cheek lightly while looking away.
"And… thanks for granting my selfish wish too."
"No problem."
For a brief moment—
things felt unusually calm.
Then—
"SHIKIKAN-SAMAAAA~~~"
Everyone immediately knew who it was before turning.
Akagi launched herself directly toward Yuuki.
He barely had enough time to react before catching her instinctively in a princess carry.
"You don't leave your Akagi behind while talking to other women," she complained dramatically while hugging him tightly.
Yuuki looked completely resigned already.
"…Here we go again."
Akagi happily buried herself closer against him anyway.
Kaga sighed quietly nearby. "She recovered mentally. Unfortunately, she also recovered romantically."
"Same as you," He shot Kaga and the latter blush.
"At full power," Enterprise added quietly.
Yorktown laughed softly while several others shook their heads.
Neon leaned toward Anis and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"She's intense."
Anis nodded seriously. "Terrifyingly intense."
Akagi immediately glared at them while still being carried.
"Akagi heard that."
"See?" Anis pointed. "Terrifying."
Yuuki sighed once more while holding the overly affectionate fox carrier carefully.
But despite the chaos—
despite the teasing—
despite Akagi refusing to let go—
the atmosphere felt warm.
Comfortable.
Alive.
And for people who had spent so long surviving instead of living—
that feeling mattered more than any training simulation ever could.
"Thanks to Vestal and Akashi," Yuuki continued while looking toward the two support shipgirls, "more and more shipgirls and Nikkes will eventually recover completely."
Vestal smiled softly at that.
Akashi puffed her chest proudly. "Nyaa~ leave it to genius Akashi."
The others laughed lightly while Yuuki shook his head.
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"Well…"
He raised his hand and the simulation created something..
"I have one last thing to show you girls."
That immediately regained everyone's attention.
"This one isn't standard equipment."
Yuuki pulled out an odd-looking metallic beacon device. Compact, angular, with glowing blue lines running across its surface.
Even the shipgirls who had seen many of his weapons before went quiet.
"This time," Yuuki said calmly, "Eldridge will do the honors."
Eldridge blinked slowly while sitting beside him.
"…me?"
Yuuki nodded and gently set Akagi back onto the ground before kneeling slightly to Eldridge's level.
"You just place this near the targets once I told you."
He pointed toward the field.
Two simulation dummies slowly appeared.
El Moro.
Magnifico.
The mood shifted instantly again.
"This," Yuuki said while holding up the beacon, "is the GS-2 Godsend Satellite Targeting Device."
Several girls immediately looked confused.
Then Yorktown's expression changed slightly.
Enterprise recognized it too.
Belfast went completely still.
Illustrious looked far more serious now.
Atago and Takao exchanged glances.
They knew because they seen him use it during the battle against Orochi.
Yuuki continued calmly.
"Otherwise known as an Ion Cannon Beacon."
The newer girls blinked.
"…An ion what?" Anis asked slowly.
Yuuki pointed upward casually.
"This beacon guides an orbital ion cannon strike onto a target."
He tapped the small device lightly.
"Right now, there are six ion cannon satellites orbiting Earth. Since this is only a simulation hall, Jarvis can recreate similar results safely."
Silence followed.
Neon stared at him like her brain stopped processing halfway through the sentence.
"…Orbital?"
Yuuki nodded once.
"The same weapon I used to punch a hole through Orochi."
That immediately stunned the newer girls again.
Even Avrora widened her eyes slightly.
Eldridge quietly accepted the beacon from Yuuki while everyone else tried processing the information.
Anis slowly pointed at the tiny device in Eldridge's hands.
"That little thing calls down a satellite laser?"
"Basically," Yuuki answered casually. "Yeah. GDI has orbital laser systems. One of our superweapons."
That word alone made several of them tense slightly.
"Superweapons?" Neon repeated.
"How many does GDI even have?" Rapi asked carefully.
Yuuki thought for a moment.
"A lot."
The way he said it somehow made it worse.
"Currently active systems include the Ion Cannon network, orbital strike bombardment systems, and the Rod of God."
The newer girls blinked.
"…The what?" Anis asked slowly.
Yuuki answered casually like he was discussing weather.
"A tungsten rod dropped from orbit."
A pause.
"With enough impact force to rival a nuclear strike."
The entire group went completely silent.
Even San Diego stopped talking.
Neon stared blankly. "That sounds illegal."
"It probably is somewhere."
Anis pointed at him slowly.
"So… you're basically a walking apocalypse."
Yuuki shrugged.
"More like a walking superweapon platform."
"That is NOT better."
Even the shipgirls who already knew him well looked mildly uncomfortable hearing the full explanation said out loud.
Enterprise eventually broke the silence first.
"The Ion Cannon Strike, Commander…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What level of firepower are we talking about exactly?"
Yuuki answered calmly.
"This demonstration is capped at one percent output."
Neon blinked.
"…One percent?"
"Yes."
Yuuki casually gestured around the simulation field.
"If I fired at ten percent power, this entire base disappears instantly."
Silence.
Yuuki continued anyway.
"Twenty-five percent is enough to erase larger military bases."
Nobody interrupted him anymore.
"Fifty percent can destroy an entire district."
The sheer scale of that settled heavily across the room.
Even Rapi looked disturbed now.
Anis slowly lowered her hand.
"…What kind of world did you come from…"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"One where everyone kept trying to outdo each other in destructive capability."
Then he continued more quietly.
"So we never go beyond ten percent anymore."
Yorktown crossed her arms slightly.
Belfast lowered her eyes.
Illustrious stayed silent.
"…Anymore?" Anis repeated nervously.
Yuuki nodded once.
"We used twenty-five percent once."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
"It happened during the rescue operation for Belfast and Illustrious."
Belfast quietly closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Yuuki looked toward the simulation horizon slightly.
"We used it against a Siren stronghold."
A pause.
"It erased the entire island. Leaving the island intact but the base on it? Wiped out."
Nobody spoke afterward.
Not immediately.
Because the terrifying part wasn't that Yuuki said it dramatically.
It was the opposite.
He said it casually.
Like someone describing something he never wanted to repeat again.
Yorktown finally spoke quietly.
"I remember seeing eight lasers descended from the sky"
Illustrious lowered her gaze. "Converging into a single point…"
Belfast nodded once. "Then, a larger laser descended then... explosion.. In just a moment, everything was wiped out. The island was entirely bare. Master said, it only wiped out the island's building leaving natural being intact."
Even Laffey muttered softly from where she sat.
"…really big boom…"
The newer girls slowly looked back toward Yuuki again.
Not with fear.
But realization.
The man joking with them moments ago—
the same man letting them throw grenades and rockets around—
also carried weapons capable of erasing islands from orbit.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Even Neon looked stunned now.
"You're kidding…"
The newer girls stared at Yuuki differently now.
Not fear exactly.
But realization.
The scale of the technology he carried.
Then Atago looked toward him carefully.
"Then… if you truly wanted to destroy Orochi back then…"
Yuuki finished her sentence calmly.
"I could have."
Silence again.
Then his expression softened slightly as he glanced toward Akagi and Kaga.
"But I wanted to save them. I promised Amagi after all."
Akagi froze slightly.
Kaga looked down quietly.
"So one percent was enough," Yuuki continued. "Just enough to punch through Orochi's heart without vaporizing everything around it. Enough for me to enter it to confront these two."
For once—
Akagi said nothing dramatic.
No teasing.
No possessiveness.
She simply looked at him quietly.
Because she understood exactly what he meant.
He could have ended everything instantly.
But instead—
he chose the harder option.
To save them.
"Well," Yuuki said casually as he gently patted Akagi's head again.
Akagi immediately leaned into it happily, tails swaying behind her.
"Everyone got saved in the end."
He shrugged lightly.
"I got the Super Battleship Orochi."
Another pat.
"And both Akagi and Kaga are here too."
Akagi smiled softly at that while Kaga quietly looked away, though there was the faintest softness in her expression.
For a moment—
the group simply looked at him.
And the realization slowly settled deeper.
This man—
the one joking with them, teaching them weapons, letting them play with rockets and simulations—
also possessed the capability to erase islands from existence.
Maybe worse.
And yet—
he chose not to.
The thought lingered quietly among the girls.
If someone like him truly wanted power, domination, conquest—
who could realistically stop him?
The Sirens?
The Raptures?
Humanity?
Probably not.
But instead—
he spent his time rescuing broken people, building homes for shipgirls and Nikkes, teaching them how to laugh again, and making anti-gravity pranks because he thought it was funny.
The contrast felt almost unreal.
Rapi was the first to fully understand it.
Her eyes lowered slightly in thought.
"He could've forced everything," she realized quietly.
Yorktown understood too. She understood when he saved her and Laffey.
Enterprise as well.
Even Avrora looked at Yuuki differently now.
Not out of fear.
But respect.
Because power alone was easy.
Choosing restraint when you possessed overwhelming power—
that was something else entirely.
Yuuki eventually noticed everyone staring.
"…What?"
The girls immediately looked away or coughed awkwardly.
"Oh, it's nothing," Anis answered quickly.
Neon nodded way too fast. "Yep. Totally nothing."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes slightly. "That sounds suspicious."
Anis scratched her cheek before grinning.
"…You're kinda cool, Commander."
That broke the strange tension instantly.
San Diego immediately nodded. "I don't really understand it but, super cool."
Neon pointed dramatically. "Orbital laser cool."
"Please don't make that a category."
Too late.
Anis laughed. "You literally have satellite death beams."
Akagi hugged his arm possessively again, tails swaying proudly behind her.
"And Shikikan-sama still chooses Akagi over world domination~"
"Kaga sighed quietly beside her. "Akagi-neesama… that is not the point."
"It is a very important point."
Yuuki sweatdropped slightly before shaking his head.
"Seriously though, I don't want to rule the world."
That answer surprised some of the newer girls more than the superweapons did.
Yuuki looked around at all of them before continuing more quietly.
"I just want to collect shipgirls and Nikke girls and live together as one big family."
The atmosphere softened almost immediately.
Then Yuuki's expression dimmed slightly.
The joking tone vanished completely.
"I already lost hundreds of men and women back in my world."
The atmosphere changed instantly. Even the loudest girls quieted down without anyone needing to tell them.
Yuuki looked toward the distance for a moment before continuing.
"They died because of a stupid decision made by the higher ups of my world. We were manipulated into storming a temple because we believed a terrorist was hiding there."
His voice stayed calm, but that calmness only made the story heavier.
"We thought we were ending a war before it could grow worse. Instead, we triggered the end of the world."
The girls listened silently.
"There was Liquid Tiberium inside the temple. We didn't know. They authorized an Ion Cannon strike."
A pause followed.
"The temple exploded."
Nobody interrupted him as he shows the hologram of Temple of Nod in Sarajevo. Hit by an Ion Cannon Strike as it created a devastating Tiberium explosion that detonated twenty five percent of all Tiberium crystals. Plunge the world into poisonous radiation and incinerating human life of the Forgotten, Nod and GDI as well as innocent bystanders. Almost hundreds of thousands of lives extinguished in a single act.
"The explosion caused a chain reaction across the planet."
His eyes lowered slightly afterward.
"Twenty-five percent of the world's population died."
The weight of those words settled heavily across the training field.
Yuuki continued quietly.
"Everyone around me died."
Another pause.
"Except me."
The silence afterward felt suffocating.
Not because anyone feared him.
But because they finally understood what kind of burden he carried behind the relaxed smiles, teasing jokes, and casual attitude.
The terrifying weapons.
The orbital cannons.
The obsession with protecting everyone.
It all made sense now.
His shipgirls looked at him quietly. The Nikkes did too.
Nobody looked away.
Nobody judged him.
Yuuki eventually lifted his gaze toward them again.
"So honestly…"
A faint tired smile appeared.
"You girls might not be the men and women I once led, but now? You're the ones I care about. I'll protect you as I would protect the GDI."
That line hit far harder than any explosion they witnessed all day.
Because there was nothing grand or dramatic about it.
It was simply honest.
The silence that followed was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence shared by people who finally understood someone better.
None of them missed the exhaustion hidden behind his words.
The guilt.
The loneliness.
The fear of losing people again.
"Master…" Belfast spoke softly.
Yuuki looked toward her and gave a faint smile.
"Sorry, Bel. I guess I tend to remember things at some times."
Belfast gently shook her head. She was among the ones who heard his past.
"There is nothing to apologize for, Master."
Enterprise quietly lowered her eyes. Yorktown's expression softened noticeably. Atago and Takao as well as Illustrious knows about it.
They are the one who listened to him.
Even Rapi relaxed slightly after hearing the full story. The stern Nikke finally understood that Yuuki's protectiveness did not come from control or possessiveness.
It came from grief.
Ade and Soda looked especially affected.
Seeing their usually playful and relaxed master speak so openly made their hearts ache slightly.
Soda quietly held her hands near her chest while Ade lowered her gaze softly.
Both of them blushed faintly, not out of embarrassment, but because the sincerity in his voice reached them deeply.
Akagi slowly loosened her hold on his arm.
For once, she did not interrupt with teasing or jealousy.
She simply leaned against him quietly.
Kaga stepped a little closer as well.
Yorktown eventually spoke in a soft voice.
"You've been carrying all of that alone this whole time…"
Yuuki gave a small shrug.
"Not anymore."
That answer alone made several girls smile faintly.
Because despite the pain he carried, despite the destruction he survived, he was no longer alone.
And for someone who outlived the end of his world, perhaps that mattered more than any superweapon ever could.
Because in the end—
despite the terrifying orbital weapons, impossible technology, and absurd military power—
Yuuki never treated any of them like assets.
Not shipgirls.
Not Nikkes.
Not soldiers.
He treated them like people.
And for many of them—
that mattered more than they could properly put into words.
Akagi hugged his arm tighter afterward, though this time more gently.
"…Then Akagi will stay with Shikikan-sama forever."
Kaga sighed softly but stepped closer too.
"…As will I."
Neon crossed her arms while grinning. "Guess we got adopted into the GDI. We'll help you find the other Nikkes as repayment for giving us a home."
Anis laughed. "That sounds insane out loud."
"Yet accurate," Rapi admitted quietly.
Yuuki eventually clapped his hands once, shifting the mood before things became too emotional again.
"Alright."
He pointed toward the far end of the simulation field.
"Let's move back to a safe distance."
That immediately got their attention again.
"Safe distance?" Anis repeated suspiciously.
Yuuki nodded casually.
"I'll demonstrate one last thing before dinner."
Atago narrowed her eyes. "Every time you say that, Shikikan-sama... something explodes."
"…That is statistically accurate."
The girls slowly started moving with him toward the barracks area, farther from the center of the field.
Even the shipgirls who already knew Yuuki well were paying attention now.
Because when someone capable of erasing islands says "safe distance"—
you listen.
Soon everyone gathered near the barracks, sitting or standing together while Yuuki walked further ahead alone.
The evening light from the simulation sky stretched across the field quietly.
The training day was nearly over.
But somehow—
the final lesson felt different from the rest.
"Eldridge," Yuuki said calmly while handing her the beacon, "once you get near those two fat idiots, place the beacon, press eight-zero-zero-eight-five and then hashtag to arm it, then run back here."
Eldridge nodded obediently.
"…okay…"
Then she slowly floated off toward the targets, her small body drifting above the ground while carrying something capable of calling destruction from the heavens.
Yorktown rubbed her forehead slightly.
"You really could've picked a better password."
Yuuki looked entirely unapologetic.
"No."
Several girls sighed at once.
Even Rapi looked mildly disappointed.
Eldridge eventually reached the targets and quietly placed the beacon between the dummy copies of El Moro and Magnifico.
Then she pressed the activation sequence.
"Ion Cannon Beacon deployed."
The mechanical voice echoed clearly across the simulation field.
Crisp.
Absolute.
And immediately afterward—
something answered.
"Warning. Ion Cannon Satellite approaching. Please evacuate target area."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Even the girls who already witnessed the Ion Cannon before straightened slightly.
Above them—
the sky reacted first.
Dark clouds spiraled unnaturally fast overhead, swallowing the fading sunlight in seconds. Thunder rolled continuously across the heavens, not as separate cracks, but as one endless roar.
The air itself began to change.
It prickled against their skin.
Electric.
Heavy.
Even Yuuki's suit registered the rising ionization levels.
Then—
rain fell.
Cold.
Sudden.
Violent.
The droplets hissed faintly against heated surfaces while the clouds above churned like the sky itself was opening.
"Countdown initiated. You have thirty seconds."
Eldridge immediately floated back toward Yuuki.
The moment she reached him, he pulled her safely into his embrace without taking his eyes off the sky.
The others watched silently now.
Nobody joked anymore.
Nobody moved.
Because instinctively—
they all understood something overwhelming was about to descend.
"Twenty-five."
The beacon below began glowing brighter.
A faint blue pulse.
"Twenty."
The rain intensified further.
Thunder screamed overhead.
Even the simulation field trembled slightly.
Neon unconsciously stepped closer to Anis.
Soda held tightly onto Ade's sleeve.
Unicorn quietly moved closer toward Wales.
The shipgirls remained calmer—
but even they looked tense.
Because unlike the others—
some of them already knew what was coming.
"Fifteen."
Something appeared above the clouds.
At first it looked like a distortion.
Then—
a point of impossible brightness.
The sky itself seemed to bend around it.
Yuuki stood perfectly still.
Watching.
Waiting.
"Ion Cannon strike imminent."
Then—
a thin line of light pierced through the clouds.
Perfectly straight.
Perfectly precise.
It connected directly to the beacon below.
Around the beam, ionized particles spiraled violently, forming a luminous column stretching from orbit itself.
It looked less like a weapon—
and more like judgment descending from the heavens.
"Ten…"
The air screamed louder.
"Nine…"
The ground vibrated harder now.
"Eight…"
Several girls instinctively held their breath.
"Seven…"
The beam intensified.
"Six…"
The rain evaporated before touching the growing light.
"Five…"
Thunder became deafening.
"Four…"
The clouds themselves glowed blue-white.
"Three…"
The entire field shook violently.
"Two…"
The light became unbearable.
"One."
For a single suspended heartbeat—
everything stopped.
Then—
"Zero."
Yuuki moved instantly, pulling Eldridge closer against him as the world detonated.
A colossal beam of pure ionized energy crashed down from orbit.
There was no conventional explosion at first.
No fire.
No shockwave.
Only annihilation.
Everything inside the beam simply ceased to exist.
The dummy targets vanished instantly.
The ground beneath them disappeared.
Matter erased cleanly within the perfect column of light.
Then—
the delayed impact arrived.
BOOOOOOOOM.
The shockwave erupted outward violently.
The entire simulation hall trembled under the force as thunder and light consumed the battlefield.
The beam continued for several seconds more, roaring like the wrath of a god before finally fading upward back into the heavens.
Silence followed afterward.
Heavy silence.
Rain still fell softly from the darkened sky.
Steam rose from the impact point.
Where the targets once stood—
there was now only a massive glowing crater.
Nothing else remained.
Absolutely nothing.
The girls stared silently at the destruction.
Neon's mouth hung slightly open.
Anis looked completely speechless for once.
Rapi stared at the crater with stunned eyes.
Even Avrora looked shaken.
The shipgirls who had witnessed it before remained calmer—
but the newer girls finally understood now.
This was not just a powerful weapon.
This was a weapon capable of erasing armies.
Cities.
Entire civilizations.
Yuuki slowly exhaled afterward while gently patting Eldridge's head.
"…And that," he said calmly, "was one percent."
Yuuki looked over the massive glowing crater one last time before clapping his hands lightly.
"Well, that concludes today's Skirmish Training."
The dark clouds slowly faded above them as the simulation stabilized again. The rain weakened until only scattered droplets remained.
"We'll cover something else next time we come here," Yuuki continued while the field slowly restored itself again. "There are still plenty of weapons and systems left to show you girls later."
Neon immediately reacted.
"There's MORE?"
Yuuki looked at her flatly.
"Yes, Neon. Humanity unfortunately spent centuries inventing new ways to blow things up."
"…Beautiful."
Rapi sighed quietly.
Yuuki continued anyway.
"But for now, this should be enough to get everyone started."
Several girls nodded tiredly.
Honestly, after pistols, sniper rifles, assault rifles, rocket launchers, anti-vehicle missiles, grenades, anti-gravity fields, stealth tools, Heroic Mode, Overdrive, and orbital ion cannons—
their brains were already overloaded enough for one day.
Then—
"Shikikan-sama…"
Yuuki turned slightly.
"Yes, Takao?"
Takao stepped forward calmly.
Unlike earlier, her expression looked serious now.
"I have a selfish request as well."
That immediately caused reactions nearby.
Yuuki sighed softly.
"First Anis. Now you too?"
Takao nodded once.
"Yes."
Atago smiled knowingly from the side while Akagi narrowed her eyes suspiciously already.
Yuuki crossed his arms lightly.
"So, what is it?"
Takao lowered her head respectfully.
"Please spar with me."
The moment those words left her mouth—
several girls reacted immediately.
"Oh?"
"That sounds fun."
"Takao wants a duel?"
Even Neon looked interested instantly.
Yuuki blinked once.
Then he looked at Takao more carefully.
Takao met his gaze directly.
No teasing.
No embarrassment.
Just sincerity.
Yuuki eventually sighed quietly through his nose.
"You really are a battle junkie underneath all that discipline."
Takao's cheeks reddened faintly.
"I simply wish to understand your strength personally."
Atago laughed softly. "Ara~ Takao has been curious since Magellan."
Enterprise folded her arms quietly. "I was wondering when someone would ask."
Yorktown nodded slightly. "Honestly, I'm curious too."
Akagi immediately tightened her hold around Yuuki's arm again.
"Shikikan-sama belongs to Akagi, not sparring sessions."
Kaga sighed beside her. "That is not how sparring works."
Takao remained respectful the entire time.
"If you refuse, I will understand."
Yuuki looked at her for a few seconds before glancing around the destroyed training field.
Then he sighed.
"…You know what? Fine."
Takao's eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes," Yuuki finally answered.
He gently patted Akagi's head again, signaling her to release his arm.
Akagi reluctantly let go while pouting softly. "Shikikan-sama better not flirt during the duel…"
"I'm literally about to get hit by a sword."
"That does not answer Akagi's concern."
Kaga sighed quietly nearby while the others laughed softly.
Yuuki stepped forward onto the restored field.
Then—
snap.
The battlefield repaired itself instantly.
Destroyed terrain reformed. Burn marks vanished. Cracked ground sealed itself smooth again.
But one thing remained.
The rain.
Cold droplets continued falling beneath the dark clouds left behind by the Ion Cannon strike.
Thunder still rolled quietly overhead in the distance.
The atmosphere changed completely.
What was once a training ground now felt like the stage of an old warrior's duel.
Takao stepped forward calmly across from him.
The rain slid across her dark hair and shoulders while her hand rested lightly near her katana.
No rigging.
No overwhelming artillery.
Just steel against steel.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
Then he summoned his own blade.
The katana materialized into his hand in flickering particles before fully forming.
Elegant.
Ancient.
Deadly.
The tsuka carried traditional gold wrappings intertwined with black ornaments. The octagonal tsuba bore ornate dragon motifs worked into bronze metalwork, while intricate carvings traveled subtly along the blade itself.
Most striking of all was the dragon relief carved near the hilt.
Even standing still, the sword carried presence.
Neon blinked slowly.
"…Okay that sword is cool."
Atago's eyes widened slightly with genuine appreciation.
"That is a beautiful blade…"
Even Takao visibly focused harder the moment the katana appeared.
Because unlike firearms or orbital weapons—
this felt personal.
Yuuki slowly lowered the blade into stance.
"Let's do this properly."
Takao nodded once.
"Thank you, Shikikan-sama."
Rain dripped quietly between them.
The others instinctively stepped back further now.
Even the loudest among them stayed silent.
Because the atmosphere itself demanded respect.
Yuuki adjusted his footing calmly.
"Duel me the way your origin intended."
Takao's expression sharpened instantly.
A swordswoman's duel.
No tricks.
No technology.
Just skill.
Thunder rumbled overhead again.
Yuuki relaxed his shoulders slightly while holding the katana low.
"Anytime now…"
Across from him, Takao slowly exhaled and steadied herself.
She did not underestimate him.
Not after everything she witnessed today.
Not after seeing the terrifying power he carried.
But strangely—
that was not what pressured her most.
It was the calmness in his stance.
The confidence.
The feeling that even now—
he was holding back.
The rain continued falling softly around them while both swordsmen stood motionless.
Waiting.
Watching.
Breathing.
The world around them seemed to fade.
Even Neon stopped talking.
Even Akagi remained quiet.
All attention centered on the two standing beneath the storm-darkened sky.
Then—
Takao moved first.
Fast.
Her blade flashed from its sheath in a clean silver arc aimed directly toward Yuuki's centerline.
Rain continued pouring across the restored battlefield while steel clashed again and again beneath the storm-darkened sky.
But something quickly became obvious.
Yuuki still had not drawn his blade.
The katana remained sheathed at his waist.
Every attack Takao launched—
every precise slash, thrust, and upward cut—
was either dodged cleanly or deflected using nothing but the sheath itself.
CLANG.
Takao's blade struck the lacquered sheath again before sliding away harmlessly.
Yuuki stepped aside smoothly, avoiding the follow-up strike by mere inches.
His movements were relaxed.
Controlled.
Almost effortless.
Another slash came from Takao's left.
Yuuki intercepted it again using the sheath alone before pivoting around her strike entirely.
Water splashed violently beneath their feet as Takao turned sharply and attacked again without pause.
Faster this time.
More serious.
The watching girls could already tell.
Takao was no longer testing him.
She was genuinely trying to pressure him.
Yet Yuuki still refused to draw the blade.
Atago narrowed her eyes slightly while watching.
"He's reading her completely…"
Enterprise quietly nodded.
Yorktown folded her arms. "Takao's attacks are getting sharper."
Rapi watched carefully as well. "…But Commander hasn't attacked once."
That was the terrifying part.
Yuuki wasn't overpowering Takao through brute force.
He was simply controlling the flow of the duel entirely.
Takao swung downward again.
CLANG.
Yuuki caught the strike sideways with the sheath before smoothly redirecting the blade past his shoulder.
Their faces briefly came within inches of each other.
Rainwater dripped from Takao's hair as she stared directly into his calm eyes.
"Shikikan-sama," she said while stepping back into stance, "fight me properly."
Yuuki tilted his head slightly.
"I am."
Takao tightened her grip slightly.
"Then…" Her voice lowered. "Am I not worthy enough for you to draw your blade?"
That question changed the atmosphere immediately.
Several girls looked toward Yuuki quietly afterward.
Even Akagi stopped speaking.
Takao's pride as a swordswoman was obvious now.
This was no longer just a spar.
For her—
this was about acknowledgment.
Respect.
Yuuki looked at her silently for several seconds while rain continued falling around them.
Then—
he smiled faintly.
"You misunderstand."
Takao narrowed her eyes slightly.
Yuuki slowly raised the sheathed katana between them.
"I'm not keeping the blade sheathed because you're weak."
Thunder rumbled softly overhead.
"I'm keeping it sheathed because if I draw it…"
For the first time since the duel began—
the calmness in his eyes sharpened.
"…the duel ends too quickly."
"Plus, drawing it would be the intent to kill... I won't hurt you..."
Silence.
Even the rain somehow felt quieter afterward.
Takao stared at him.
Not offended.
Not angry.
Excited.
Atago immediately covered her smile slightly. "Ara…"
Enterprise quietly exhaled through her nose.
Yorktown shook her head faintly. "That sounded incredibly cool."
Neon whispered toward Anis. "Okay, that was cool."
"Extremely cool."
Takao slowly lowered her stance slightly.
Then—
she smiled.
A small one.
Rare.
"Then please," she said while rain slid down the edge of her blade, "show me."
Yuuki looked at her quietly.
Then—
his thumb pushed lightly against the guard.
SHING.
The sound of steel leaving the sheath cut through the rain itself.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The moment Yuuki fully drew the blade, the duel changed completely.
Takao felt it instantly.
Before, he had been calm.
Relaxed.
Now—
he felt dangerous.
Rain poured harder across the battlefield while the two swords clashed again beneath the dark sky.
CLANG.
Takao attacked first, her blade cutting cleanly through the rain toward Yuuki's shoulder.
Yuuki moved only slightly.
Barely enough.
His sword intercepted hers with minimal motion before redirecting the strike away entirely.
Takao immediately followed with another attack.
Then another.
Then another.
Fast.
Precise.
Disciplined.
Every strike carried years of mastery behind it.
And Yuuki acknowledged that.
Takao truly was an expert swordswoman.
Among the shipgirls, few could match her discipline and blade control.
But—
not enough.
Not enough to stand on equal ground with him.
Yuuki's movements were terrifyingly efficient.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary force.
Every step was perfectly measured.
Every parry happened at the smallest possible angle.
Even when defending, it felt like he controlled the battlefield itself.
CLANG.
Takao's blade slid away again.
Yuuki countered instantly.
A single slash.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing exaggerated.
Yet the moment his blade moved—
Takao's instincts screamed.
Danger.
Real danger.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Overdrive activated instantly.
Time slowed around her perception.
The rain stretched into elongated streaks.
Thunder became distant.
Her thoughts accelerated sharply.
And only because of that—
she barely managed to evade.
Yuuki's blade passed inches from her body.
The pressure from the swing alone sliced through strands of wet hair drifting beside her face.
Takao immediately widened the distance between them afterward.
The watching girls reacted instantly.
"She used Overdrive just to dodge that?" Neon asked in disbelief.
Rapi narrowed her eyes seriously now.
"…Commander wasn't attacking seriously before."
Enterprise quietly watched the duel without blinking.
Yorktown folded her arms tighter.
Even Atago's playful expression faded slightly.
Because they all saw it too.
Yuuki was still holding back.
Takao steadied her breathing while rain dripped from the edge of her blade.
Her heartbeat had quickened.
Not from exhaustion.
From pressure.
The difference between them became painfully clear the moment he attacked properly.
Yuuki stood calmly several meters away.
His posture remained relaxed.
The katana rested naturally in his hand as if it weighed nothing at all.
"Good reaction," he said calmly.
Takao slowly exhaled.
"…That attack would have ended the duel."
Yuuki gave a small shrug.
"Yes."
No arrogance.
No pride.
Just fact.
That somehow made it scarier.
Takao tightened her grip slightly afterward.
Then—
she smiled again.
Not frustrated.
Not discouraged.
Excited.
Because for the first time in a very long while—
she was facing someone truly above her in swordsmanship.
And she wanted to reach that level.
She wanted to stand next to him.
Thunder rolled across the heavens again while rain continued pouring between them.
Then Takao lowered her stance once more.
This time—
seriously.
"Haaa!!"
Takao lunged forward again through the rain, her blade cutting downward with everything she had left.
The attack was fast.
Sharp.
Beautifully executed.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
Not because he underestimated her.
But because he respected anyone willing to challenge someone stronger than themselves without fear.
Steel clashed one final time.
CLANG.
Then—
with a single precise motion—
Yuuki shifted his blade.
Takao's eyes widened.
Her sword was redirected completely before a sharp upward impact struck the side of her weapon.
The force ripped the katana cleanly from her hands.
The blade spun through the rain before landing several meters away.
THUNK.
The sword embedded itself upright into the ground.
Silence followed afterward except for the sound of rain.
Takao stood frozen for a moment while water dripped quietly from her hair and fingertips.
Yuuki slowly lowered his blade.
"Admirable, Takao."
Takao looked toward her empty hands.
Then—
she smiled.
A genuine one.
"I lost against someone who surpassed me."
Yuuki slid his katana back into its sheath with a soft click.
"That doesn't mean you can't catch up."
Takao looked at him immediately after hearing that.
"Then…"
She stepped forward before lowering herself respectfully.
"You would not mind training me?"
The others blinked.
Takao lowered her head further.
"Please take me as your disciple."
"Oh?"
Yuuki raised an eyebrow slightly.
Takao lifted her gaze again, determination clear in her eyes despite the rain running down her face.
"So that one day… I may surpass you."
Atago immediately burst in from the side dramatically.
"Takao-chan, no fair!"
The tension instantly cracked apart.
Takao looked mildly embarrassed but stayed serious.
Yuuki sighed softly while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Good luck with that goal."
Takao did not even hesitate.
"Please acknowledge me then, Sensei."
Several girls immediately reacted.
"OHHH."
"She actually said it."
"Takao got serious."
Even Enterprise looked mildly amused now.
Yuuki stared at Takao for a few seconds before finally giving up.
"…Ah, fine."
Takao's eyes brightened slightly.
"If we have free time," Yuuki continued, "I don't mind training you."
Then he glanced toward Atago.
"And you too, Atago."
Atago immediately smiled brightly.
"Ara~ then Atago will become stronger under Shikikan-sama too~"
Takao bowed her head respectfully again.
"Thank you, Sensei."
Yuuki immediately pointed at her.
"You are absolutely abusing that title already."
"No, Sensei."
"…You said it again."
The others laughed softly while the rain continued falling around them.
Then Atago suddenly raised a finger innocently.
"Also… ear rubs?"
Yuuki stared at her silently.
Takao quietly looked away but did not deny wanting them too.
Even Akagi narrowed her eyes immediately.
"Shikikan-sama's ear rubs are limited resources."
"At this point you girls sound like cats," Anis muttered.
"We are foxes," Akagi corrected immediately.
Atago smiled sweetly.
"So, Sensei?"
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"Okay. Okay."
That was all the permission needed.
Atago immediately moved beside him happily while Takao tried maintaining dignity despite clearly looking pleased too.
The others laughed quietly watching the proud heavy cruiser who moments ago fought seriously in the rain now standing patiently for headpats and ear rubs.
Yuuki shook his head while gently rubbing Takao and Atago's ears one at a time.
Takao closed her eyes slightly despite trying to stay composed.
Atago looked entirely too happy.
Neon stared at the scene in disbelief.
"…How did the cool sword duel turn into this?"
Anis crossed her arms.
"Honestly? I think this is normal around here now."
And somehow—
she was completely right.
As Yuuki walked back toward the group through the rain, Takao and Atago followed beside him looking entirely satisfied with themselves.
Takao especially looked calmer now.
Content.
She had sparred with him properly, gained acknowledgment from someone she respected deeply, and somehow managed to secure sword training from him too.
For Takao—
that was already more than enough.
Anis suddenly spoke up as she walked beside him together with Takao.
"Ho… you're actually pretty strong, Commander. And that's without the armor."
Takao quietly nodded beside her.
She had seen enough personally to know that statement was an understatement.
Yuuki simply shrugged lightly.
"I am strong," he admitted honestly. "But I'm not the type to throw everything I have into every fight."
He glanced ahead calmly.
"I prefer efficiency. Minimal effort for maximum results. That's what the armor and abilities are for."
Anis blinked. "That sounds unfair."
"It is unfair."
Takao looked toward him quietly.
Yuuki continued.
"If you noticed, I almost never handle missions completely by myself."
The girls listening nearby slowly quieted.
"Back then, I could've easily left Laffey and Yorktown behind while rescuing Belfast and Illustrious."
Yorktown's eyes shifted slightly.
"Or left them all here while I rescued Atago, Takao, Enterprise, Vestal, Unicorn…"
He paused briefly.
"I could control the entire fleet while fighting on the front line alone."
That was not arrogance.
The way he said it—
calmly—
made it sound worse.
Because they all knew he was telling the truth.
Enterprise lowered her gaze slightly.
Takao remained silent.
Belfast quietly folded her hands together.
"But if I did that…" Yuuki continued softly, "…then all of you would never grow stronger."
The atmosphere shifted.
"You'd stay behind me forever. Watching instead of fighting."
His voice remained calm, but there was something heavier beneath it now.
"A gilded cage."
Anis frowned slightly.
Yuuki looked toward the girls around him.
"You'd become trophies. Rare collectibles."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Objects instead of people."
Silence followed.
The rescued girls understood immediately.
Enterprise remembered how many times he could've solved everything himself.
Yorktown remembered watching him deliberately hold back.
Belfast remembered him trusting them even in dangerous situations.
Atago and Takao both knew firsthand he could overpower enemies alone if he truly wanted to.
Yet—
he still chose to let them fight beside him.
Not because he needed them to.
But because he wanted them to grow.
"So during missions," Yuuki continued, "I let my girls fight. I guide them instead."
He smiled faintly.
"I know I can solve things myself."
A pause.
"But I don't want you girls trapped behind me forever."
Takao quietly looked down at her hand resting near her sword.
"You know my abilities," Yuuki said calmly. "You know what I can do."
Then his tone sharpened slightly.
"But don't mistake that as permission to stay behind me."
That line landed hard.
"I'll give you the tools. The advantages. The knowledge."
He looked across all of them.
"But your battles are still yours to fight."
Yuuki's voice lowered slightly afterward.
"I won't always be the hand that catches you when you fall."
A brief pause.
"But I will be the hand that pulls you back up."
No one spoke immediately after that.
Because they understood.
Really understood.
Then—
Yuuki glanced toward Takao.
"I accepted Takao as my disciple for a reason."
Takao's eyes widened slightly.
"One day," Yuuki continued calmly, "the things I teach her won't just be for training. Not just something she learned."
He smiled faintly.
"She'll use them in her own battles."
Takao slowly tightened her grip slightly against her side.
Not from pressure.
But pride.
Quiet pride.
Nearby—
Yorktown exchanged a glance with Belfast.
Belfast's expression softened slightly.
Yorktown sighed quietly through her nose before smiling faintly.
"…That's exactly like him."
Belfast nodded gently.
"Yes."
Enterprise quietly looked toward Yuuki for a moment longer before lowering her eyes again.
Atago smiled softly.
Takao stood a little straighter.
Even the other ship girls— Avrora, Vestal, Akashi, Nimi, Wales, Unicorn, Laffey, San Diego, Eldridge, Akagi and Kaga.
Rapi, Anis, Neon, Ade, Soda—
understood what kind of commander stood before them now.
Not someone who wanted obedient dolls.
Not someone who wanted helpless followers.
But someone who genuinely wanted them to become strong enough to stand beside him themselves.
The atmosphere became strangely quiet afterward.
Not awkward.
Just… warm.
Because the girls understood something important now.
Yuuki never treated them like collectibles.
Not trophies.
Not decorations.
Not weapons to place on a shelf and protect forever.
He genuinely wanted them to live.
To grow.
To become stronger with their own hands.
And somehow—
that realization hit harder than any compliment.
Yorktown lowered her gaze slightly, a faint blush touching her cheeks.
Enterprise looked away quietly, though the softened expression on her face gave her away immediately.
Belfast's calm smile became gentler than usual.
Takao looked visibly affected, though she tried to maintain her composure. The slight redness on her face betrayed her anyway.
Atago smiled softly while watching him from the side.
"Ara~ our Shikikan really knows how to say dangerous things~"
Yuuki blinked. "Dangerous?"
"To a woman's heart?" Atago teased lightly.
That only made several others blush harder.
Illustrious covered her smile politely with her hand.
Wales quietly looked away as well.
Even Vestal shook her head softly with a helpless smile.
Akagi stared at Yuuki for a long moment before her tails swayed happily behind her as she clings to him from behind.
"Shikikan won't let his beloved Akagi felt weak… Don't worry, Akagi will be strong for you alone."
Kaga closed her eyes briefly. "…He truly means it."
The Nikkes reacted too.
Rapi looked thoughtful, but there was warmth in her expression now.
Anis crossed her arms while smirking slightly. "Okay, I get why everyone here is attached to you now."
Neon nodded immediately. "Commander has protagonist energy."
"…I don't even know what that means."
"It means girls fall for you naturally."
"Neon," Rapi sighed quietly.
Ade smiled softly beside Soda.
"He really sees everyone properly…"
Soda nodded quickly. "Not like tools… I don't mind getting stronger for our master, Ade."
That line lingered.
Because for some of them—
that was exactly how they had been treated before.
Tools.
Assets.
Disposable weapons.
But Yuuki—
even when he talked about combat—
always talked about helping them stand on their own.
Not keeping them dependent.
Not making them weaker.
Then both of them nodded slightly.
"Commander," Yorktown began carefully, "it seems you are granting selfish wishes now?"
"Personal wishes," Belfast corrected gently beside her.
Yuuki blinked once.
"Did I?"
Yorktown immediately pointed toward Anis and Takao.
"First Anis. Then Takao."
Belfast smiled softly.
"Master, you should be fair to everyone."
That sentence alone immediately caused reactions.
Several girls looked toward Yuuki with growing interest.
Akagi's tails perked up instantly.
Neon gasped dramatically.
San Diego raised her hand immediately like a classroom student.
Even Rapi looked slightly interested now.
"Then…" Yorktown continued calmly, "we have personal wishes as well."
Yuuki immediately raised both hands defensively.
"Hold on."
Too late.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The girls started whispering among themselves already.
Anis suddenly froze.
"…Ah, dang."
Everyone looked toward her.
She sighed dramatically while pointing at herself.
"I already used mine."
Neon immediately burst out laughing.
"You wasted yours on revenge bombing."
"It was emotionally important."
"Fair."
Takao quietly stood nearby looking entirely unbothered.
Honestly, she had no regrets whatsoever.
She sparred with Yuuki.
Spent personal time with him.
Became his disciple.
Received ear rubs.
From her perspective—
that was an excellent wish.
Yuuki rubbed his forehead slightly while looking at the growing number of hopeful faces staring at him now.
"…You girls are making this dangerous."
Akagi immediately hugged his arm again.
"Shikikan-sama cannot back out now~ Akagi will make sure she wish that will satisfy both of us."
"I am not even sure what you mean."
Kaga sighed quietly. "You opened this door yourself."
Enterprise crossed her arms calmly.
"You did say yes already."
Yorktown smiled faintly.
"Commander, there is no escape anymore."
Even Belfast looked mildly amused now.
Yuuki stared at the entire group before finally surrendering.
"…Okay. Okay."
That instantly caused excitement.
"You may each ask for one personal wish."
San Diego nearly cheered.
Neon looked spiritually fulfilled again somehow.
Soda and Ade exchanged surprised looks.
Even Avrora looked quietly happy hearing that.
Yuuki quickly raised a finger afterward though.
"Within reason."
The girls immediately deflated slightly.
"Don't ask for impossible things," Yuuki continued. "If it's within my capabilities, I'll do my best."
Anis crossed her arms dramatically. "So no asking for orbital laser ownership."
"Absolutely not."
Akashi raised her hand immediately. "What about unlimited credits, nya?"
"No."
Neon pointed upward dramatically. "A giant gun?"
"We are not building you a railgun. We already have far superior than that."
"…Yet," Rapi muttered quietly.
Yuuki narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That sounded dangerous."
The others laughed softly while rain continued falling around them.
Then Yuuki sighed and pointed toward all of them.
"Think your wishes through properly first. Don't rush it."
Atago smiled sweetly beside Takao.
"Then Atago will think very carefully~"
Akagi narrowed her eyes immediately. "Akagi must prepare strategically."
"Why does that sound threatening?" Anis muttered.
Takao quietly looked thoughtful already.
Enterprise remained silent, though Yorktown noticed the distant look in her eyes.
Belfast lowered her gaze slightly as if considering something important too.
Even the Nikkes looked genuinely happy now.
Not because of material things.
But because Yuuki offering personal wishes meant something simple.
He was listening to them.
Seeing them.
Treating each of them as individuals instead of soldiers under his command.
And honestly—
that mattered far more than the wishes themselves.
Belfast quietly smiled to herself after hearing Yuuki's decision.
A single personal wish.
Something just for herself.
And judging from the faint softness in her expression, she already had one in mind.
Yorktown noticed it immediately from beside her and smiled faintly as well.
Around them, the others slowly began realizing the full meaning behind Yuuki's words.
Every shipgirl.
Every Nikke.
Every single one under his care.
Enterprise, Yorktown, Belfast, Illustrious, Atago, Akagi, Kaga, Nimi, Wales, Vestal, Unicorn, Akashi, Laffey, San Diego, Eldridge, Avrora—
Even the Bulins.
Bulin, Purin, and Kurin immediately looked excited the moment they realized they counted too.
"Buliiin?!"
"We get wishes too?!"
"Commander-sama is generous, bulin!"
The Nikkes looked equally surprised.
Rapi.
Anis.
Neon.
Ade.
Soda.
Even they were included without hesitation.
Nobody was excluded.
Nobody treated differently.
The realization warmed the atmosphere noticeably despite the cold rain still falling around them.
Then—
Yuuki looked toward Anis again.
"But…"
Anis blinked.
"The thing before with El Moro?"
Yuuki shrugged lightly.
"That one was on me."
Anis stared at him.
"So you still get your personal wish too."
For a second—
Anis genuinely looked caught off guard.
Then her mood immediately brightened again.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Yuuki pointed at her warningly afterward.
"But think carefully this time."
Neon immediately leaned toward her.
"Please don't waste it on explosives."
"No promises."
Rapi sighed quietly. "I already know this will become problematic."
Anis crossed her arms proudly anyway.
"Heh. Guess I got lucky."
Takao quietly stood nearby without complaint. Plus, she started the personal wish request.
Honestly, she already looked entirely satisfied with what she received today.
Swordsmanship guidance from Yuuki himself already meant more to her than almost any material reward.
Yuuki looked across the entire group afterward.
"Think your wishes through properly."
His tone softened slightly.
"Don't waste them on something meaningless you'll regret later."
That line caused several girls to grow thoughtful immediately.
Akagi's tails slowly swayed while she clearly started plotting something dangerous.
Kaga noticed instantly.
"…I do not trust that expression."
"At all," Enterprise added quietly.
Atago smiled softly to herself while Takao appeared deeply contemplative now.
Belfast lowered her gaze slightly again, fingers lightly touching the glowing brooch Yuuki gave her earlier.
Yorktown looked toward the rain quietly.
Illustrious smiled gently.
Even Rapi seemed more thoughtful than before.
Because deep down—
they all understood something.
The wishes themselves were not the important part.
It was the fact Yuuki wanted to grant them something personal.
Something meaningful as people precious to him.
And for many of them—
that alone already felt like a wish granted.
"Don't worry, Sensei," Takao said calmly while standing beside him. "You can handle it."
Yuuki immediately looked at her.
"You started this."
Takao actually smiled slightly at that.
"Yes."
Yuuki sighed dramatically before smiling back anyway.
Honestly, Takao looked extremely satisfied already.
She had gained acknowledgment from him.
Earned the right to train under him.
Managed to call him "Sensei."
And somehow secured ear rubs afterward without losing dignity entirely.
From her perspective, today had been a complete victory despite technically losing the duel.
Atago leaned closer toward her sister with a teasing smile.
"Takao-chan looks very happy~"
Takao immediately straightened slightly. "I am merely satisfied with today's lesson."
"Very happy," Atago corrected.
Takao chose silence instead.
Nearby, Yuuki looked across the entire group again with growing concern.
The more he thought about it—
the more dangerous this personal wish idea became.
Especially with this particular group.
Akagi already looked like she was planning something catastrophic.
Akashi probably wanted enough credits to destabilize economies.
Neon was absolutely going to ask for weapons.
San Diego looked capable of requesting something completely nonsensical.
And the Bulins—
the Bulins worried him the most for some reason.
Takao quietly observed his increasingly troubled expression.
Then she spoke again.
"I only hope nobody requests something absurd."
The moment she said that—
multiple girls immediately looked away suspiciously.
Yuuki slowly narrowed his eyes.
"That reaction concerns me."
Neon whistled innocently.
Anis suddenly found the rain very interesting.
Akagi smiled far too sweetly.
Akashi quietly tried sneaking backward.
Yorktown sighed softly. "Commander, I think you may have created a problem for yourself."
"A very large one," Enterprise added.
Belfast covered a small smile politely behind her hand.
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
"…I should've added more rules on those wishes."
"Too late now, Sensei," Takao said calmly.
"But, there's nothing said that I can't say no if it's to absurd."
Yuuki pointed at her immediately.
"You are enjoying this way too much."
Takao actually looked slightly pleased hearing that.
Atago laughed softly beside her.
Even the usually stoic cruiser seemed more relaxed now.
The rain slowly weakened around them while the restored battlefield glowed faintly beneath the storm clouds overhead.
It had been a long day.
A chaotic one.
Explosions.
Weapons training.
Rocket launchers.
Ion Cannons.
Sword duels.
Trauma healing.
And somehow—
despite all of it—
the atmosphere now felt warm.
Comfortable.
Like a family slowly settling into place.
Yuuki looked around at the exhausted but satisfied group before finally sighing softly.
"Alright. Let's head home, everyone."
The moment he said home, several girls smiled faintly without even realizing it.
"Dinner's at my place tonight."
That immediately improved the mood further.
Then Yuuki looked toward Belfast and Yorktown.
"Bel. Hana. Mind helping me with the cooking?"
Belfast smiled gently and bowed her head slightly.
"Of course, Master."
Yorktown nodded beside her. "I don't mind helping."
The moment they agreed—
the floodgates opened.
"Let me help as well, Sensei," Takao immediately added. Getting used to the new calling for him.
"I will assist too," Enterprise spoke calmly.
Illustrious smiled softly. "I would like to help as well."
"Big brother…" Unicorn nervously raised her hand slightly. "I want to help too…"
Yuuki blinked once.
Then Rapi stepped forward too.
"Can I help?"
That surprised him slightly.
Then—
almost everyone started speaking at once.
"Akagi can cook for Shikikan-sama."
"Atago is confident in her cooking~"
"Laffey can… probably stay awake…"
"Nyaa! Akashi can supervise."
"That means eat ingredients," Yorktown muttered.
"Commander, I can help carry supplies," Anis added.
Neon raised her hand dramatically. "I volunteer for taste testing."
"That sounds dangerous," Rapi sighed.
"Ade and I can handle cleaning and preparation," Soda said quickly.
"We are maids after all," Ade added proudly.
Even Avrora quietly spoke up.
"If allowed… I would like to help too, beloved."
Yuuki stared at the suddenly enthusiastic crowd surrounding him.
Then he looked toward Belfast.
Belfast merely smiled knowingly.
"You have lost control again, Master."
"…I can see that."
Even the Bulins joined in.
"Bulin can help too!"
"Purin can carry things!"
"Kurin wants snacks, bulin!"
Yuuki rubbed his forehead while trying not to laugh.
"We are cooking dinner, not launching a military operation."
"Too late," Anis said immediately.
"It already sounds like one."
Enterprise quietly nodded in agreement.
Takao stood calmly beside Yuuki while still looking unusually content after the duel.
Honestly, the entire atmosphere felt different now.
Lighter.
Warmer.
Not like soldiers returning from training.
But like a family deciding to make dinner together after a long day.
Yuuki eventually gave up resisting.
"…Fine."
That instantly caused cheers and excited chatter.
"But there are rules."
The girls immediately quieted slightly.
"No explosions."
Neon looked offended.
"No experimental cooking."
Akashi slowly lowered her paw.
"And nobody touches the kitchen drones without permission."
Anis immediately pointed at Neon.
"Those rules exist because of her, don't they?"
"…Maybe."
The group slowly began heading back together through the fading rain afterward.
Some talked about the training.
Some discussed weapons.
Some were already planning wishes.
Others simply enjoyed walking together quietly.
Yuuki stayed near the center of the group while the girls naturally gathered around him.
Not because they were ordered to.
But because they wanted to.
And honestly—
after everything he lost in his old world—
this noisy, chaotic, affectionate mess of shipgirls and Nikkes following him home felt strangely precious.
"Jarvis, disengage simulation."
"Simulation ending."
The firing range dissolved almost instantly.
Targets vanished into particles. The damaged terrain restored itself one final time before the entire battlefield faded away. The warm lighting of the MCV training facility returned as the metallic walls of the VR hall reappeared around them.
The sudden silence felt strange after hours of explosions.
Several girls stretched immediately after returning to reality.
Neon looked disappointed the rockets were gone.
Anis cracked her shoulders. "Okay… that was honestly exhausting."
Rapi adjusted herself slightly while letting out a slow breath. "The simulation strain feels surprisingly real."
Yorktown rubbed her temple lightly. "Heroic Mode and Overdrive together take more focus than expected."
Takao nodded quietly in agreement.
Yuuki crossed his arms loosely.
"Well, training's over for today."
That immediately earned relieved reactions from some of them.
"Why don't all of you freshen up first? We still have around two hours before dinner."
That got immediate approval from the tired group.
Even San Diego looked ready to collapse.
"Bath… then food…"
Laffey was already half asleep standing up again.
Nimi sighed beside her. "…I'm dragging her back to the room."
"You've basically adopted her at this point," Anis muttered.
"I did not."
"You carry her around constantly."
"…That is different."
The girls slowly began heading back through the MCV headquarters together. Their earlier excitement had mellowed into relaxed exhaustion after an entire afternoon of nonstop training.
Yuuki led them through the halls before the group eventually separated toward their assigned rooms.
However—
not everyone left.
Belfast remained standing nearby.
So did Ade and Soda.
Yorktown and Enterprise stayed too.
Illustrious smiled softly while Atago and Takao quietly lingered beside the group.
Yuuki blinked.
"…Why are you girls still here?"
Belfast looked at him calmly.
"Master."
Yuuki immediately sensed danger.
"…Yes?"
"You planned to cook by yourself again?"
"…I have drones helping."
"Master."
"…Yes…"
Yorktown stepped in gently before Belfast escalated further.
"Then allow us to help you."
Enterprise quietly nodded beside her.
Illustrious smiled softly. "It would be more enjoyable together."
Atago laughed lightly. "Ara~ preparing dinner with everyone sounds nice."
Takao gave a small nod. "We can assist."
Ade immediately straightened slightly. "We would also like to help if allowed."
Soda nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
Yuuki sighed in defeat.
"…Fine."
Belfast looked mildly victorious already.
"You can use my clothing generator and bathroom first to freshen up."
Soda blinked. "Your bathroom?"
Illustrious smiled softly. "It is rather spacious."
"The quarters are basically my temporary home," Yuuki explained while leading them toward his section of the MCV. "It's designed for long deployments."
As they entered his quarters, the girls quietly looked around again despite already seeing parts of it before.
The atmosphere felt lived in.
Comfortable.
Not overly luxurious, more like overly advanced. Warm enough to feel like an actual home instead of a military room.
Belfast was already mentally planning kitchen organization.
Ade and Soda quietly admired the setup, especially the kitchen space.
"This place is huge…" Soda whispered.
Yuuki leaned lightly against the wall while watching them settle in.
Honestly—
he could let the drones prepare everything.
Perfectly too.
But—
with everyone together like this—
cooking by hand somehow felt better.
======================
Rain quietly struck against the tall glass windows of the luxurious prison-like room, creating a soft rhythm that only made the silence inside feel heavier.
Outside, the island looked beautiful.
Warm lights illuminated expensive pathways lined with gardens and marble statues. Large estates stood proudly near the cliffs overlooking the sea. To outsiders, this place would have resembled paradise reserved for the wealthy and powerful.
But inside this room, the atmosphere felt suffocating.
A white-haired woman slowly entered while carrying a tray of food carefully in trembling hands.
Bruises remained visible beneath the edges of her sleeves. One side of her cheek still carried fading discoloration from recent violence. Her once-proud smile had weakened into something fragile and forced.
"Eugen…?"
The blonde woman resting against the bed slowly turned her head toward her younger sister.
The sight alone was painful.
Both of her legs were gone beneath the blanket covering her lower body. Thick scars stretched across her arms and shoulder. One ugly wound marked her cheek permanently. Even sitting upright appeared exhausting for her now.
Once, Admiral Hipper had been proud, sharp-tongued, and difficult to intimidate.
Now she looked exhausted.
Broken.
Prinz Eugen carefully placed the tray nearby before sitting beside the bed quietly.
"Hipper…"
Admiral Hipper slowly studied her sister's face.
She still remembered the old Eugen vividly.
Playful.
Teasing.
Confident.
The woman who constantly smiled even in difficult situations.
But the girl sitting beside her now only carried traces of that former self.
Tired eyes.
Bruised skin.
Fear hidden beneath obedience.
"Do you really have to do this?" Hipper asked softly.
Eugen lowered her gaze slightly afterward.
"I have to, sis…"
Her voice sounded hollow.
"We belong to him now."
Then more bitterly—
"To this island."
Hipper's hand slowly tightened against the blanket covering her ruined body.
"The humans here are monsters…"
Eugen quietly laughed weakly, though no humor remained in it anymore.
"I know."
Then her expression darkened further.
"I should have known better."
She originally brought Hipper here hoping they could disappear peacefully from the world after the war.
Instead, they were captured.
Broken.
Sold like property to wealthy criminals hiding far away from civilization.
"Your situation will only become worse after tomorrow…" Hipper whispered painfully.
Eugen visibly stiffened slightly.
"…Please."
Hipper's voice weakened further.
"I do not want to watch you suffer anymore."
Eugen quietly stared at her own trembling hands afterward.
"What other choice do I have?"
Then her voice cracked slightly.
"Look at me."
A weak bitter smile appeared briefly.
"The miracle of the Third Reich…"
Her exhausted eyes lowered.
"Reduced into this…"
Hipper quietly looked away afterward.
Pain settled heavily between them.
Then Hipper spoke again in a quieter voice.
"I wish we could find Tallinn…"
"…And Blücher…"
Eugen's expression softened painfully.
"So do I."
Then anger briefly surfaced beneath her exhaustion.
"Why…"
Her fingers clenched tightly.
"Why are we forced to live like this…"
Before the conversation could continue further, the door slowly opened once more.
A pink-haired maid quietly entered carrying fresh bandages and medical supplies.
"Mistress Hipper…"
Admiral Hipper's expression softened slightly seeing her.
"Thank you, Cocoa."
The maid smiled weakly while approaching carefully.
"Are you feeling better today?"
Cocoa herself looked emotionally exhausted too.
Unlike the sisters, her wounds were not visible physically.
But loneliness and fear clearly weighed heavily on her.
"…Yes."
Then quietly—
"I just miss my friends…"
Hipper's expression softened further.
"Ade and Soda, correct?"
Cocoa nodded silently.
"I should have been captured together with them…"
Her voice trembled slightly afterward.
"At least we would still be together…"
Eugen quietly lowered her head.
"I am sorry you ended up serving my sister under these circumstances…"
Cocoa immediately shook her head gently.
"No…"
Then softly—
"She has always been kind to me."
Hipper quietly smiled faintly afterward.
Eugen attempted forcing a teasing smile again.
"You used to be much harsher, sis."
Then quieter—
"I actually miss that version of you."
Hipper slowly looked back toward the rain outside the window.
"I honestly do not know anymore, Eugen…"
Her voice sounded tired.
"Ten years is an unbearably long time."
Then her eyes slowly drifted downward toward the empty space beneath the blanket.
"Being trapped like this…"
A painful silence followed.
"I almost forgot what walking even feels like."
Eugen immediately looked away afterward.
Neither sister spoke for several moments.
Then Eugen quietly tried speaking again.
"Do you remember when we used to sail together under that Commander?"
Hipper sighed faintly.
"The dumbkopf…"
A weak bitter smile briefly appeared.
"Do not remind me."
Then quieter—
"He probably disliked me for always acting harshly."
Her fingers slowly tightened against the blanket again.
"…Perhaps this is my punishment."
Eugen immediately looked pained hearing that.
"Sis…"
But Hipper only continued staring toward the rain outside.
Then quietly—
"Did you hear that voice two weeks ago?"
Eugen froze slightly.
Of course she remembered.
That mysterious voice somehow reaching them across impossible distance.
Promising rescue.
Promising hope.
"…I did."
Then her exhausted expression weakened again.
"But hope is fragile, sis…"
Her tired eyes slowly lowered.
"And honestly…"
For the first time in years, Prinz Eugen sounded truly broken.
"…I am tired of hoping anymore."
Rain continued striking the windows as thunder echoed faintly outside the estate.
The room had barely recovered from its heavy silence when—
BANG!
The door slammed open violently.
"Oi… oi…"
A drunken voice dragged lazily through the room.
"Tomorrow is supposed to be a happy occasion for us."
Heavy footsteps staggered inside afterward.
"Seeing my fiancée looking this unhappy…"
A crooked grin spread across his face.
"…hurts my heart."
Pierre entered while dragging metal chains carelessly behind him.
He looked nothing like the proud nobles he constantly tried imitating.
His purple hair was messy and unkempt. Expensive clothing hung loosely around his thin body without dignity. Alcohol stained parts of his sleeves while the smell of liquor practically flooded the room around him.
Most unsettling of all—
his pale eyes carried the expression of a man who enjoyed power far too much.
The Sacred Tree crest glowing faintly on his right hand only made him look worse.
Eugen's expression instantly hardened.
"What do you want, Pierre?"
SLAP!
The sound echoed sharply through the room.
Eugen's head snapped sideways violently.
"Hng—!"
"Hipper!" Cocoa gasped in fear.
Admiral Hipper immediately tried pushing herself upward despite her injuries.
"EUGEN!"
But pain instantly stopped her movement.
Her damaged body could barely support itself anymore.
Cocoa quickly hid behind the bed while trembling.
Pierre slowly flexed his fingers afterward while glaring down at Eugen.
"You dare speak to me like that?"
His voice sharpened dangerously.
"You are supposed to become my wife tomorrow."
Then his grin widened disturbingly.
"You know what happens to your sister whenever you mouth off like that."
Eugen slowly turned back toward him.
Blood lingered at the corner of her lips.
Then—
she spat directly onto his face.
The room froze.
Pierre slowly wiped his cheek afterward.
Then smiled.
SLAP!
The second strike threw Eugen onto the floor beside the bed.
"I like it when they resist."
His voice carried genuine enjoyment now.
Hipper's hands trembled violently against the blanket.
"Stop…"
Pierre ignored her completely.
"Do not forget, Prinz Eugen…"
Then he grabbed her hair roughly before forcing her upward slightly.
"You are marrying me tomorrow."
Then he casually yanked the chain behind him.
Another figure stumbled painfully into the room before collapsing onto the floor crying.
Green eyes.
Purple hair.
A familiar Royal Navy destroyer uniform partially hidden beneath dirt and bruises.
Yuuki's fleet would have recognized her instantly.
"Javelin…"
Eugen's eyes widened in horror.
Pierre laughed softly afterward.
"A fair shipgirl like you two…"
Then he slowly looked between them greedily.
"A rare breed."
His grin widened further.
"You have no idea how much the nobles would pay for women like you."
Then suddenly—
he grabbed Eugen harshly by the mouth.
"You should feel grateful."
His voice lowered dangerously.
"That I am willing to care for both you…"
Then his eyes drifted toward Hipper.
"…and your crippled sister."
Hipper visibly shook with fury.
Pierre suddenly activated the glowing Sacred Tree mark on his hand.
Instantly—
Eugen froze.
Hipper gasped painfully.
Cocoa collapsed to her knees while clutching her throat.
Javelin cried out weakly beside them.
Invisible pressure tightened around their necks like unseen chains.
The women struggled desperately to breathe.
Pierre calmly watched them suffer.
"Remember your place."
His voice remained disturbingly casual.
Then his eyes settled on Eugen again.
"Be sure to hide those bruises tomorrow."
He smirked afterward.
"I do not want my bride looking ugly."
The pressure finally vanished moments later.
The girls immediately gasped for air desperately.
Pierre casually turned toward the doorway afterward.
"Sleep well, ladies."
Then he laughed softly.
"Tomorrow belongs to me."
The door slammed shut behind him.
Silence immediately consumed the room again afterward.
Only trembling breathing remained.
Eugen slowly pushed herself upward despite the pain in her face.
Then she immediately moved toward the crying girl collapsed on the floor.
"…Javelin."
The destroyer visibly trembled.
"I-I'm sorry…"
Tears continued falling from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Eugen…"
Eugen quietly helped lift her carefully into her arms.
Then softly—
"It's not your fault."
But even while saying those words—
Prinz Eugen sounded like somebody barely holding herself together anymore.
The old Eugen would have laughed through pain.
Would have teased danger directly to its face.
Would have smiled proudly even while cornered.
But ten years of captivity, humiliation, fear, and hopelessness had worn away even someone as strong as her.
And tomorrow—
whatever remained of her freedom would disappear completely.
The room stayed silent after Pierre left.
Only quiet crying and strained breathing remained beneath the sound of rain outside.
Javelin continued trembling while sitting weakly beside the bed. Cocoa quietly wrapped fresh bandages around Eugen's bruised cheek with shaking hands. Hipper remained motionless against the bed, fury and helplessness mixing painfully in her eyes.
Then—
Eugen remembered it again.
That voice.
The one that somehow reached across impossible distance weeks ago.
The one that spoke to them gently inside endless darkness.
At first, she wanted to ignore it.
Hope had become dangerous long ago.
Hope only made disappointment hurt worse.
But now—
looking at Hipper's ruined body.
Looking at terrified Cocoa.
Looking at Javelin trembling like a broken child dragged into hell—
Eugen no longer cared how fragile hope was.
Even false hope felt better than surrendering completely.
Slowly, she lowered herself beside the others.
Then quietly—
"All of you…"
Hipper looked toward her weakly.
Javelin slowly wiped her tears.
Cocoa remained silent.
Eugen closed her eyes briefly afterward.
Then softly—
"Let's try."
The room became quiet again.
Rain continued tapping softly against the windows.
And for the first time in years—
all four girls gathered together not out of fear…
but to reach outward desperately toward something unknown.
Javelin began crying again first.
"Please…"
Her trembling hands clenched tightly.
"Please let our voices be heard…"
Hipper quietly lowered her head afterward.
"To the one who called to us before…"
Her voice weakened painfully.
"…Please help us."
Cocoa quietly joined next while trying not to cry.
"Please…"
Then Eugen herself finally spoke.
Her exhausted voice trembled slightly.
"Prinz Eugen…"
Hipper softly followed.
"Admiral Hipper…"
Javelin whispered shakily afterward.
"Javelin…"
Then Cocoa quietly added her own name too.
"Cocoa…"
Silence briefly followed.
Then together—
"Please…"
"…Whoever you are…"
"…Save us…"
And somewhere far beyond the island…
beyond oceans…
beyond dimensions…
their desperate hope finally reached the one connected to their Wisdom Cubes.
The one chosen by this world to hear voices others never could.
The one who refused to abandon the dead.
Their plea crossed the void itself—
and found Yuuki.