Light faded away completely.
The Royal Navy girls slowly opened their eyes after the teleportation ended, only to immediately freeze in place.
Before them was an actual island.
Real grass moved beneath the wind. Trees swayed gently near the shoreline. Waves rolled softly against the beach while the large pagoda tower stood proudly near the center of the island.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
After spending ten years wandering endless empty seas with nothing but silence around them, the sight of real land felt almost unreal.
Cygnet's eyes widened as she slowly stepped forward. "…There's actual grass…"
Comet spun around in place while staring at everything around her with sparkling eyes. "There's trees! And flowers! And paths!"
Foxhound quietly stared toward the horizon while her expression softened little by little. "I forgot what land even felt like…"
Southampton crouched down slowly before touching the grass with trembling fingers. "…It's real…"
Leander closed her eyes briefly while the wind brushed against her hair. "We truly aren't alone anymore…"
Even Sussex looked shaken despite trying to maintain composure.
Yuuki quietly watched all of them taking in the scenery.
Honestly, he could understand their reactions.
Ten years trapped in endless water and silence would make even the smallest things precious again.
As the girls slowly calmed themselves, Yuuki glanced around the island.
Strangely, Amagi and the Sakura shipgirls were nowhere nearby.
"They probably brought the little destroyers around the island already," Yuuki muttered with a faint smile.
He could easily imagine Mutsuki and the others dragging Amagi everywhere while asking endless questions.
Just as the Royal Navy girls continued admiring the island—
another familiar voice suddenly echoed nearby.
"Servant! You finally decided to visit your queen!"
Yuuki immediately recognized the voice.
A familiar small figure marched proudly toward them with royal confidence.
Queen Elizabeth.
Walking beside her were Valiant, Warspite, Kent, Suffolk, and Repulse.
The moment the newly arrived Royal Navy girls saw them—
their eyes widened completely.
"Your Majesty!"
Southampton immediately ran forward first while the others followed right behind her.
Queen Elizabeth froze in surprise. "W-Wait…"
Cygnet and Comet quickly gathered around Valiant and Warspite with visible relief on their faces.
Foxhound looked like she might cry at any moment.
Leander visibly relaxed for the first time since arriving.
Meanwhile, Kent and Suffolk immediately spotted Sussex and Shropshire.
"SUSSEX!"
"SHROPSHIRE!"
The two London-class sisters were immediately pulled into tight hugs before they could react properly.
"Kent…"
"Suffolk…"
Shropshire looked genuinely stunned before finally hugging them back tightly.
Sussex tried maintaining composure at first, but the moment Suffolk hugged her harder, her expression softened completely.
"You two are alive… sort of..."
Kent laughed weakly despite tears forming in her eyes. "So are you…"
Nearby, Warspite quietly approached Southampton.
The Town Class cruiser stared at her silently for a brief moment before finally speaking.
"…Yes, it is been a while. Head Knight."
Her voice softened slightly.
"It truly has been a while."
Valiant crossed her arms proudly while trying her absolute best not to look emotional.
"Hmph. Naturally the Royal Navy's elite would survive despite in this void world."
Her voice cracked slightly anyway.
Queen Elizabeth meanwhile looked completely overwhelmed while staring at all the familiar faces gathered around her.
"…You girls…"
Her expression slowly softened.
"You truly made it…"
Yuuki quietly stepped back again to give them space.
Once more, the island became lively.
Voices echoed everywhere.
Laughter mixed together with crying and relief.
Every group he rescued changed the island more and more.
What once felt like a lonely resting place slowly began feeling like a home waiting for everyone to return.
Southampton stepped forward before Queen Elizabeth and bowed her head properly.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty… We were unable to remain beside you and protect the others."
Her voice carried visible guilt.
Nearby, Cygnet, Crescent, and Comet also lowered their heads slightly.
Repulse quickly moved toward the younger C-class destroyers afterward, visibly relieved seeing familiar faces again.
"You girls really survived…"
Comet nodded quickly while trying not to cry. "We heard the Commander's voice…"
Crescent rubbed her eyes awkwardly while pretending she was completely fine.
Cygnet simply looked happy enough to stay close to Repulse quietly.
Queen Elizabeth meanwhile looked toward Southampton before gently sighing.
"The late Commander already did his best to keep all of you safe."
Her expression softened slightly.
"Even if we ultimately fell during the attack on the base… some of our people still escaped."
The small queen slowly looked around at the gathered Royal Navy girls.
"Even if we now reunite in this world as the fallen…"
There was sadness in her voice.
But also relief.
Because at least they were together again.
Then Queen Elizabeth turned toward Yuuki.
"Servant."
Yuuki looked toward her.
"I expect to be revived eventually," she declared proudly despite the circumstances. "I still intend to recover all of my lost subjects."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Already working on it, Elly."
Queen Elizabeth immediately puffed her cheeks.
"Do not call your queen 'Elly.'"
"You're tiny enough for it."
"SERVANT!"
Warspite quietly covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Yuuki grinned slightly before sighing afterward.
"This world's technology is ridiculous though. It's basically rocket science mixed with black magic at this point."
He rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
"I'll need time to crack everything properly."
Hood stepped beside him gracefully.
"I am certain you will succeed eventually, kind sir."
Yuuki glanced toward her.
"You really have a lot of faith in me."
Hood smiled warmly.
"You continue proving that faith correct."
Nearby, Leander slowly stepped forward before bowing toward him politely.
"Commander…"
Yuuki immediately looked toward her.
"I wish to ask something selfish."
"Go ahead."
Leander lowered her gaze slightly.
"My sisters… Achilles and Ajax…"
Her voice softened noticeably when speaking their names.
"If they have survived somewhere… please find them."
Then she hesitated briefly.
"And if they have fallen…"
Her hands tightened slightly together.
"…Please save their cubes at least."
Yuuki looked at her quietly for a moment before nodding firmly.
"I will. If they're dead... I'll bring them here to be reunited with you."
Leander's eyes widened slightly.
Then she smiled gently.
"…Thank you. I was hoping for the former."
Yuuki glanced around afterward at the gathered Royal Navy girls.
"So far, I've managed to recover the Queen Elizabeth-class, the C-class, and the B-class groups completely."
Southampton looked genuinely surprised hearing it summarized like that.
"There are that many already…"
"There'll be more eventually," Yuuki said calmly.
Foxhound smiled faintly afterward.
"Then we'll wait."
Cygnet nodded quickly.
"We waited ten years already."
Comet smiled brightly. "A little longer is fine."
Queen Elizabeth crossed her arms proudly.
"Indeed. We are Royal Navy. We possess patience."
"Some of you possess patience," Valiant corrected quietly while glancing toward Kent.
"Hey!"
Yuuki chuckled softly before looking toward Hood again.
"My lady."
"Yes, kind sir?"
"Mind showing the new arrivals around the island for me? It's quite empty since everything is still locked."
Hood placed a hand gently over her chest and bowed slightly.
"It would be an honor."
Honestly—
seeing Hood naturally step into the role of guiding and comforting the others suited her perfectly.
The elegant battlecruiser already looked more alive than when he first found her alone in the void.
"Commander…"
Yuuki turned slightly.
"Sussex?"
The heavy cruiser stood there quietly for a moment before lowering her head slightly.
"I am sorry for the terrible first impression earlier."
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Nah. As long as you don't suddenly turn full tsundere mode again, we're good."
Sussex immediately turned slightly red.
"I-I was not—"
Then she stopped herself midway.
A few seconds passed before she sighed softly instead.
"…Right."
That alone already showed improvement.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Honestly, once you stopped trying to act hostile, you actually made a pretty solid first impression."
Sussex blinked slightly.
"Because now I understand your intentions properly."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly hearing that.
"Then…" Sussex hesitated briefly. "You do not mind me having high expectations of you?"
Yuuki shrugged casually.
"As long as you don't throw harsh words around while doing it, I don't mind."
Then he pointed lightly toward her.
"Just be straightforward. Calm. Honest."
Sussex nodded quietly.
"…Thank you."
Nearby, Hood watched the interaction with visible approval in her eyes.
"It appears you are adapting already, Sussex."
Sussex straightened slightly.
"Yes, Lady Hood."
Then her expression softened.
"All thanks to your guidance."
Hood smiled gently.
"Some lessons require harsh words in order to wake someone up properly."
Sussex lowered her head slightly again.
"…Yes."
Then Hood added calmly,
"However, harshness should only exist when truly necessary."
Yuuki immediately pointed at Hood afterward.
"See? That's the difference."
Sussex blinked.
"Hm?"
"When Hood gets strict," Yuuki explained, "it actually feels meaningful because she's normally kind."
Hood softly blinked in surprise.
Yuuki continued casually.
"But if someone acts harsh constantly, eventually people stop listening and just get annoyed instead."
Southampton immediately looked away because that was absolutely directed at Sussex again.
Sussex looked mildly embarrassed.
"…Understood."
Then after a brief pause—
she looked toward Yuuki properly again.
"I will improve."
Yuuki smiled lightly.
"That's all anyone can ask."
For the first time since meeting him—
Sussex genuinely smiled without restraint or awkward hostility hiding behind it.
And honestly—
it suited her far better than the fake cold attitude ever did.
Suddenly, Hood's smile changed slightly.
It became elegant.
Dangerously elegant.
Before Yuuki could react—
she suddenly grabbed Sussex gently by the shoulder and pulled her aside.
"Lady Hood…?" Sussex blinked in confusion.
"A small prelude," Hood answered calmly.
Yuuki immediately narrowed his eyes.
"…Oh no."
Then—
"HANDSOMEEE!!!"
A blur crashed directly into him.
"URRGGHH—!"
Yuuki got tackled so hard he nearly flipped backward onto the grass.
For a second, his soul practically left his body.
"What's the license plate number of the truck that hit me…"
Above him—
Hornet grinned brightly.
"Hah! I knew you'd come back to me eventually!"
"Nety…"
"My, my," Hood spoke elegantly while already turning away with Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Navy girls. "Why don't you take her along while I show the others around the island?"
Queen Elizabeth immediately burst into laughter at Yuuki's suffering.
Valiant tried not to laugh and failed.
Some of the newer girls looked worried, but Hood simply reassured them gently.
"There is nothing to worry about." Hood spoke before turning to him. "Kind sir, do remember on closeness with other women."
"Yes, my lady." Yuuki, still lying halfway on the grass, weakly raised a thumbs up.
"I'm alive…"
Hornet laughed before pulling him back up onto his feet easily.
"You really tough, handsome."
Then Yuuki blinked slightly.
"…Wait."
Hornet tilted her head.
"What?"
"You took your hairclips off?"
Hornet touched her hair instinctively.
Her blonde hair now flowed more freely behind her shoulders instead of being restrained neatly.
"Yeah," she admitted casually. "Pretty nice, right?"
Yuuki looked at her properly for a moment.
Honestly—
without the clips, the resemblance became more noticeable.
"Yeah."
Hornet blinked.
"You kinda look more like Enty or Hana now. Especially with your hair down."
Hornet laughed awkwardly afterward.
"Well… back then, girls always looked up to them more."
Her smile softened slightly.
"Hana was classy and lady-like. Enty had that serious hero aura."
Then she shrugged.
"And me?"
Hornet grinned weakly.
"I was the loud rowdy one."
Yuuki quietly listened.
"I didn't really have their charisma," Hornet admitted honestly. "So it can't be helped if people liked them more back then."
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"You don't need to be like them."
Hornet paused.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"I've met all three of you now."
That made her eyes widen slightly.
"And honestly? You all shine differently."
Hornet quietly listened.
"Hana has her way. Enty has hers."
Then he looked directly at her.
"So do you."
Hornet visibly froze for a second.
"You really don't mind my rowdy side?"
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Honestly? I'm used to it already."
Then his expression softened.
"And besides…"
Hornet blinked.
"Hana and Laffey were the first shipgirls I met in the real world."
Hornet quietly listened.
"But you?"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"You were the first one I met in the void."
Hornet's expression slowly changed.
"Through you, my voice reached everyone else."
A brief pause followed.
"So yeah…"
Yuuki scratched his cheek lightly.
"You're kind of special to me too."
Hornet immediately turned bright red.
"H-Handsome…"
Then she covered part of her face dramatically.
"Keep acting cool like this and I'm seriously gonna fall harder for ya."
Yuuki laughed.
"Well, letting your hair down suits you."
Then he smiled warmly.
"You're pretty in your own way, Nety."
Hornet looked completely defeated after that.
"Handsome… you're making me blush too much…"
Yuuki chuckled softly before changing the topic slightly.
"Anyway."
Hornet looked up again.
"Want to come with me and find the Eagle Union girls?"
That immediately brightened her expression.
"I could bring Hood earlier, so I should be able to bring you too."
Hornet grinned immediately.
"Don't mind if I do!"
Then without hesitation—
she hugged him tightly from behind as Yuuki began accessing his map to teleport them.
Yuuki could feel her fingers lightly touching her now-unclipped hair afterward.
Hornet smiled quietly to herself.
Maybe…
she really would leave her hair down from now on.
Because for the first time—
someone looked at her as simply Hornet.
Not Enterprise's sister.
Not Yorktown's shadow.
Just her.
And honestly—
that made her happier than she expected.
"Shall we?"
Hornet's smile immediately brightened again.
"Yes, we shall, handsome!"
She happily wrapped her arms around him from behind again, resting comfortably against his back while trying very hard not to smile too much.
Unfortunately for her—
the blush on her face completely gave her away.
Yuuki could already tell something changed slightly.
Usually, Hornet hid her feelings behind jokes, teasing, and playful flirting.
Compared to Yorktown's warmth or Enterprise's quiet sincerity, Hornet always acted like the carefree one.
The loud one.
The playful one.
The easygoing sister.
But now—
while holding onto him quietly—
there was something more genuine behind it.
And honestly?
Hornet herself realized it too.
Maybe she did not want to lose anymore.
Not to Enterprise.
Not to Yorktown.
Not when it came to him.
For once—
she wanted him to see her seriously too.
Yuuki glanced slightly over his shoulder.
"You okay back there?"
Hornet immediately grinned again despite the lingering blush.
"Never better."
Then she hugged him slightly tighter.
"Just don't drop me into the ocean this time."
"No promises."
"HEY!"
Yuuki laughed softly before activating the teleportation once more.
Light spread beneath their feet.
The island slowly distorted around them.
Hornet instinctively tightened her hold on him slightly as space itself twisted once again.
Then—
both of them vanished from the island together.
=================
"Wait," Hornet blinked while still holding onto him from behind after the teleportation finished. "I didn't know you could bring me along like this."
Yuuki looked around the new section of the void sea before answering.
"I only figured it out today with Hood."
Hornet tilted her head slightly.
"So you can just teleport around now?"
"Not exactly." Yuuki shook his head. "I can only teleport to shipgirls connected to cubes I'm already linked with."
Hornet nodded slowly.
"So basically the cube network thingy."
"Pretty much."
Then—
"HORNET!"
Hornet immediately froze.
"Eeeppp…"
Yuuki blinked.
The blonde carrier instantly hid behind him.
"…Teach Langley…"
Yuuki turned slightly.
"Teach Langley?"
Hornet whispered dramatically from behind his shoulder.
"One of my teachers together with Ranger."
A pause.
"She's scary."
The approaching carrier adjusted her glasses immediately.
"Did you just call me scary?"
Hornet immediately tightened her grip on Yuuki's coat.
"Handsome, protect me."
Yuuki looked amused already.
Langley sighed deeply while approaching them properly.
"Hiding behind a man already. You truly have not changed at all."
"Cut me some slack, teach…"
Langley crossed her arms with the exhausted expression of someone who had dealt with Hornet's nonsense for years already.
Unlike the other Eagle Union carriers, Langley carried herself more like a strict instructor than a frontline warrior. Her glasses, formal posture, and teacher-like demeanor made it easy to understand why Hornet reacted like a student caught skipping class.
Yuuki quietly chuckled.
Honestly—
the situation reminded him a little too much of Hood lecturing Sussex earlier.
Even the energy felt similar.
One strict woman.
One panicking troublemaker.
Hornet noticed his expression immediately.
"Handsome, don't laugh at my suffering."
"I'm trying not to."
"You're failing."
Langley adjusted her glasses again before finally studying Yuuki properly.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
"Wait…"
Hornet immediately looked nervous again.
"You are the one who spoke to us before."
Yuuki nodded lightly.
"Yeah. Commander Yuuki."
Langley immediately straightened herself properly afterward.
"Langley-class aircraft carrier, Langley. Hull Number CV-1."
Her expression shifted into full instructor mode instantly.
"I am the Eagle Union's first aircraft carrier. The very beginning of Eagle Union carrier operations itself."
Hornet quietly whispered toward Yuuki.
"Here we go…"
Langley ignored her completely.
"I do not consider my own combat ability particularly outstanding," she admitted honestly, "however, I have trained numerous exceptional pilots over the years."
Then she proudly adjusted her glasses again.
"The Eagle Union carrier legacy began with me."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"So basically you're the eldest teacher of the carrier fleet."
Langley nodded proudly.
"That is correct."
Then Hornet casually added—
"She hates carrots though."
Langley slowly turned her head.
"Hoooo…"
"Hornet."
"Eeep."
Yuuki immediately laughed.
"Nice to meet you, Langley."
Her attention returned toward him.
"I already met Ranger before this," Yuuki continued. "So it's nice meeting another teacher."
That seemed to soften Langley slightly.
"I see…"
Then she looked at him carefully again.
"To have Yorktown and Enterprise following you alongside Belfast…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly in evaluation.
"You must be quite capable."
Before Yuuki could answer—
Hornet proudly jumped in.
"Teach, he's the High Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
Langley blinked.
"The what?"
"You probably don't know," Hornet continued casually, "that he leads the ridiculous elite faction with flying battleships, orbital weapons, giant laser cannons, and enough firepower to terrify everyone."
Yuuki immediately rubbed his forehead.
"Hornet…"
"He can literally call down orbital lasers from space."
"Huh?!"
Langley stared directly at Yuuki now.
Yuuki sighed.
"…Way to undersell it."
Hornet grinned proudly.
"I'm helping you out, handsome!"
"You absolutely are not. We're here to make friends, Netty. Not scaring anyone."
Langley adjusted her glasses again, clearly trying to process that information.
"I… see…"
Then she coughed softly.
"My apologies for underestimating you initially."
Yuuki waved his hand casually.
"No worries."
Then he smiled slightly.
"It's honestly nice meeting fellow teachers anyway."
That earned a faint smile from Langley.
Before the conversation could continue—
another voice suddenly echoed nearby.
"Teach Langley!"
Everyone turned.
A small girl hurried toward them before suddenly stopping after seeing Hornet.
"…Hornet?!"
Hornet blinked in surprise.
"Raleigh?"
The smaller cruiser immediately ran forward and hugged her tightly.
"Hornet! You're really here!"
Yuuki quietly watched the reunion while Langley sighed softly in relief again.
Hornet smiled warmly while patting Raleigh's head.
"You're still tiny."
"I am not tiny!"
Then Raleigh noticed Yuuki nearby and immediately straightened herself nervously.
"This is…"
Langley gestured toward him.
"The one who spoke to us. The Commander."
Raleigh immediately stiffened.
"Eeep…"
Then she quickly introduced herself.
"I-I'm Raleigh. Training officer of the Omaha-class fleet."
Yuuki smiled gently.
"Nice to meet you."
Before Raleigh could calm down—
another girl suddenly arrived behind her.
"Yo sis!"
Raleigh immediately groaned.
"Stop saying 'yo' all the time…"
Then she pointed dramatically.
"This is the Commander!"
The green-haired cruiser immediately grinned brightly.
"Omaha-class cruiser Omaha! Greetings, Commander!"
She proudly placed her hands on her hips.
"You could say I'm a fleet veteran~"
Then she leaned slightly closer mischievously.
"So since this is our first meeting, shouldn't you celebrate by giving me some kind of gift?"
SMACK.
Raleigh immediately karate chopped her sister's head.
"Ow!"
"Stop asking the Commander for gifts immediately!"
Omaha rubbed her head dramatically.
"Kidding, kidding…"
Then she grinned again anyway.
"Omaha has officially arrived!"
She proudly puffed herself up slightly.
"I may have been born after the First World War, but I've got enough reconnaissance experience to fill an encyclopedia!"
Yuuki chuckled softly.
"You're pretty amusing."
The moment he looked at her—
Omaha suddenly panicked.
"M-My belly isn't fat at all, Commander!"
Yuuki blinked.
"…I wasn't even looking there."
"Ah! Don't look at it!"
"I literally was not!"
Omaha immediately turned red from embarrassment anyway while Hornet burst out laughing beside him.
Yuuki sighed helplessly.
Honestly—
the Eagle Union girls really did feel different from the Royal Navy.
Louder.
More chaotic.
But somehow—
warmer in their own way too.
"Sis Omaha! You ran really fast… pant… pant…"
Another girl hurried toward the group while trying to catch her breath.
Then she suddenly froze.
"Eh? Hornet?!"
Hornet grinned immediately.
"Sup, Richmond."
The blonde cruiser blinked several times before finally noticing Yuuki standing nearby.
"…Who's this?"
Hornet pointed directly at him.
"He's literally the guy talking to us through the vault."
Richmond's eyes widened instantly.
"Eeep… that's HIM?!"
She immediately straightened herself awkwardly.
"I-I'm Richmond of the Omaha-class!"
Then she nervously rubbed the back of her head.
"Because I'm an older model, I mostly handled escort and transport missions…"
Her voice softened slightly afterward.
"My performance isn't exactly amazing, but… I've seen a lot over the years."
Then she smiled warmly.
"So feel free to ask me stuff whenever you need help~"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Nice to meet you, Richmond."
Richmond visibly relaxed afterward.
"Hit me up whenever you want!"
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Sure."
Then he glanced between Omaha, Raleigh, and Richmond.
"You Omaha sisters are pretty entertaining."
"Thank you, thank you~" Omaha proudly bowed dramatically.
Then—
two much smaller girls slowly approached nearby.
Both wore matching sailor uniforms with little golden beaver insignias pinned neatly to their chests.
One had green braided hair with golden eyes.
The other had darker purple hair and looked significantly less enthusiastic about existing.
Hornet immediately recognized them.
"Hoo… the Beaver kids."
Yuuki blinked.
"Beaver?"
Hornet nodded.
"Little Beaver Squadron."
Then she pointed at the two smaller destroyers.
"Though only two of them are here right now."
Langley stepped forward slightly.
"They are good children."
Then she turned toward the girls more firmly.
"You two. Introduce yourselves properly."
The two smaller destroyers immediately stiffened.
"The Commander came all the way here personally."
Hornet quietly whispered toward Yuuki afterward.
"They've apparently been practicing introductions for a while now."
Yuuki immediately felt bad for them.
The nervous purple-haired destroyer trembled slightly before speaking.
"H-Huh…? C-C-Commander…"
Her hands tightened together nervously.
"H-Hello… Spence… really wanted to talk to you…"
Her voice shook more with every sentence.
"B-But I didn't have the courage…"
Then she quickly bowed her head.
"I-I'm Spence from the Little Beavers…"
She genuinely looked close to crying from nervousness alone.
Yuuki immediately softened his expression.
"Hey, relax."
Spence slowly looked up.
"You did fine."
That alone visibly calmed her a little.
Then—
the other destroyer clicked her tongue quietly.
"Tsk."
Yuuki immediately looked toward her.
"Greetings are annoying."
Her tone sounded bored and irritated despite clearly forcing herself to stand there properly anyway.
"But I guess it's basic manners…"
Then she sighed dramatically.
"Hello, Commander. I'm Foote."
Langley immediately narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Foote."
The smaller destroyer stiffened.
"That attitude will make the Commander dislike you."
Foote looked away slightly afterward.
"…I'm Foote. One of the Fletcher-class Little Beavers."
Hornet quietly leaned toward Yuuki.
"She definitely has family issues."
Foote immediately glared at her.
"You think YOU have family problems?"
Then she pointed at herself dramatically.
"Try remembering thirty older sisters and nearly a hundred younger ones."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Honestly that sounds horrifying."
"See?"
Hornet laughed afterward.
"She's basically a kid who thinks she matured too early."
"Tsk."
Yuuki tilted his head slightly while observing Foote more carefully.
"A gloomy type?"
Hornet shook her head immediately.
"Nope."
Then she smirked.
"She hides embarrassment behind attitude."
Foote immediately turned slightly red.
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Langley sighed softly while adjusting her glasses again.
"Foote struggles with expressing herself honestly."
Yuuki immediately remembered Sussex.
"…Ah."
Hornet grinned mischievously afterward.
"Just make sure she never meets Hood."
Langley blinked at Yuuki.
"…Lady Hood? You found the Legendary HMS Hood?"
Hornet immediately laughed.
"Yeah. He did. I heard Hood lectured Sussex so hard earlier that the poor girl nearly evolved into a better person on the spot."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
"Hornet…"
"What? I'm telling the truth."
Then Hornet dramatically placed a hand over her chest.
"She even chewed MY ears off for hugging you."
Yuuki immediately looked at her.
"You were literally clinging onto me."
"And I'll do it again."
Hornet proudly hugged his arm immediately afterward.
"She can't stop me from loving my man!"
The entire group froze.
Richmond slowly looked toward Yuuki.
"…Your man?"
Raleigh looked stunned.
Spence nearly short-circuited from shock.
Foote stared blankly.
Langley slowly adjusted her glasses again.
Then sighed deeply.
"…Hornet."
"What?"
"You are absolutely impossible."
Hornet grinned proudly anyway while Yuuki quietly accepted his fate once again.
Langley adjusted her glasses before sighing deeply.
"You openly challenge Lady Hood's authority now."
Hornet puffed her chest proudly.
"Crazy in love with my man."
Then she immediately hugged Yuuki tightly from behind again.
Yuuki looked completely exhausted already.
"…Please ignore her."
"I refuse," Hornet answered instantly.
Langley wisely chose not to continue that conversation.
Instead, she looked toward Foote again.
"Please forgive her behavior, Commander. Foote tends to rely on harsh words too often."
Yuuki nodded slightly.
"Yeah. Sussex did the exact same thing earlier. Hornet is right about Hood demolished her harsh attitude."
Foote blinked slightly hearing that.
"So I'm not writing her off over it. More like saving her before Hood does. Trust me, you don't want to be scold by her."
Foote quietly looked away.
Yuuki crossed his arms afterward before speaking more directly.
"Foote."
The small destroyer stiffened slightly.
"Harsh words won't get you anywhere."
Foote clicked her tongue quietly again.
"Tsk…"
Yuuki immediately pointed at her.
"See? That."
Foote looked mildly annoyed now.
"I'm not going to excuse it just because you look young."
The atmosphere became quieter afterward.
Even Hornet stopped joking for once.
Yuuki's voice stayed calm.
"But right now, you're basically pushing people away before they can even get close."
Foote stayed silent.
"You throw harsh words around like you expect people to magically understand your real feelings underneath."
His expression softened slightly afterward.
"But most people won't."
Foote slowly lowered her eyes slightly.
"They'll just assume you dislike them."
Spence quietly looked worried nearby.
Raleigh and Richmond also stayed silent now.
Yuuki continued anyway.
"And then when people eventually avoid you because of that…"
He sighed lightly.
"You end up hating them for leaving."
Foote visibly flinched slightly.
Yuuki looked directly at her now.
"Honestly?"
A pause followed.
"That's kind of selfish."
Foote stiffened.
"And kind of jerk behavior too."
The small destroyer immediately clenched her fists slightly afterward.
For a second, Yuuki thought she might snap back at him.
Instead—
her voice came out smaller than before.
"…I know."
Everyone blinked slightly.
Foote avoided looking at anyone directly.
"I know I'm annoying."
Her earlier attitude weakened noticeably now.
"But if I act normal…"
She hesitated briefly.
"…People ignore me anyway."
That completely changed the mood.
Hornet's expression softened slightly.
Langley quietly sighed.
Yuuki immediately understood now.
Foote wasn't trying to be cruel because she enjoyed it.
She was trying to force reactions out of people.
Negative attention still felt better than being forgotten.
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck slightly before crouching down closer to her height.
"Foote."
She slowly looked toward him.
"You don't need to stab people verbally just to make yourself noticeable."
Foote stayed quiet.
"People remember kindness a lot longer than attitude."
Then he smiled faintly.
"And honestly? You're already memorable enough."
Foote blinked slightly.
"You're part of the Little Beavers. A squad these girls clearly cared about."
Spence nodded quickly beside her.
"Y-Yes…"
Yuuki continued calmly.
"So stop acting like you need to prove your existence by being difficult."
Foote's expression slowly weakened further.
Then quietly—
"…I'll try."
Yuuki smiled slightly.
"That's good enough for me."
Hornet immediately leaned down beside him afterward.
"Awww."
Foote immediately panicked again.
"D-Don't make this emotional."
"Too late," Hornet grinned.
Foote immediately covered part of her face in embarrassment while Richmond laughed softly nearby.
Langley sighed again.
But this time—
there was visible relief behind it.
Spence was tearing up and Yuuki pats her head for it to ease the little one.
"Awww… never thought I'd see a Commander capable of talking Foote down like that."
Two more Eagle Union cruisers approached while laughing lightly among themselves.
Richmond immediately pointed at Yuuki afterward.
"More importantly…"
She stared at Hornet still attached behind him.
"How are you carrying her around like that so casually?"
Yuuki looked completely used to it already.
"Nah. I adapted."
Hornet proudly tightened her hug.
"See? Handsome likes me."
"I said adapted. Not survived."
Hornet gasped dramatically.
Then she suddenly pointed ahead.
"Hoooo… Pensa!"
The pink-haired cruiser immediately puffed her cheeks.
"It's Pensacola!"
Hornet grinned mischievously.
"Still better than OK-Pensa."
Yuuki blinked.
"…OK-Pensa?"
The green-haired girl beside Pensacola burst out laughing immediately.
"Hah. She got you there."
Pensacola immediately looked offended.
"I do NOT say okay that much!"
"Hoo…" Hornet looked toward Yuuki dramatically. "She says 'OK' so often that sometimes it appears completely out of context."
Yuuki looked genuinely curious now.
"…Really?"
Pensacola immediately panicked.
"O-OK, maybe a little—"
The entire group stared at her.
Pensacola froze.
"…Oh no."
Hornet immediately burst out laughing.
"See?!"
Even Yuuki laughed now.
"Alright, that was kind of perfect."
The green-haired cruiser beside Pensacola smirked smugly.
"Told you."
Pensacola immediately pointed accusingly at her sister.
"You're one to talk, Salty."
Hornet instantly joined in.
"Hah! Salty!"
The green-haired cruiser immediately snapped.
"It's Salt Lake City!"
Hornet shrugged casually.
"Too long. Salty's easier."
Salt Lake City visibly twitched.
"You absolutely do that on purpose."
"Yes."
Langley meanwhile looked increasingly tired while observing the two sisters.
"You two…"
The teacher adjusted her glasses again.
"How many times must I remind you not to dress so revealingly?"
Both sisters immediately looked away.
"Oh come on, Teach," Salt Lake City complained. "It's not like we can magically change our default outfits."
Then she looked directly toward Yuuki confidently.
"And besides, Commander probably doesn't mind."
Yuuki immediately pointed behind him.
"I already have one attached to me causing enough problems."
"Hornet is not a problem," Hornet protested immediately while hugging him tighter.
"You literally weaponize flirting."
"Correct."
Salt Lake City laughed afterward before introducing herself properly.
"Well then. I'm Salt Lake City, heavy cruiser."
She proudly placed her hands on her hips.
"You think I expose too much? I gotta maintain this waist somehow, you know?"
Yuuki immediately looked exhausted.
"…I am surrounded by chaos."
"OKOK, my turn!"
Pensacola immediately stepped forward energetically.
"I'm Pensacola!"
Then she paused awkwardly.
"I have a little sister named Salt Lake City…"
Salt Lake City slowly looked toward her.
"…We can literally see that."
Pensacola ignored her.
"I also helped out Yorktown and Hornet before…"
Then she scratched her cheek slightly.
"Actually, I'm not very good at introductions…"
A pause.
"Oh well! Just leave things to me and everything'll be OK!"
The moment she said it—
the entire group immediately stared at her again.
Pensacola froze.
"…I walked into that one, didn't I?"
"Yes," everyone answered at once.
Even Langley sighed.
Yuuki shook his head afterward before answering Salt Lake City honestly.
"And yes. I do mind."
Salt Lake City blinked immediately.
Yuuki calmly pointed toward both Pensacola sisters.
"Dress appropriately once you're revived."
Then he added casually—
"I already met Hood."
The moment that name came out—
both sisters froze.
"And trust me," Yuuki continued, "you absolutely do not want her seeing you dressed like that."
"Eeepp!"
The Pensacola sisters visibly shivered together.
Even Hornet winced slightly.
Richmond immediately looked away.
Langley adjusted her glasses with visible satisfaction.
The reputation of Hood apparently traveled terrifyingly fast.
"The legendary ethics teacher…" Pensacola whispered dramatically.
"The one even Eagle Union girls are scared of…" Salt Lake City muttered.
Hornet nodded seriously behind Yuuki.
"She can lecture your soul directly out of your body."
Yuuki sighed.
"She's not THAT scary."
Every Eagle Union girl nearby slowly looked toward him.
Yuuki paused.
"…Okay maybe a little."
Langley coughed softly afterward.
"Lady Hood possesses very proper standards."
"I heard she corrected Sussex earlier from the Royal Navy ladies," Hornet added proudly.
Pensacola blinked.
"Sussex? That grumpy Royal Navy cruiser?"
"Not grumpy anymore," Hornet grinned. "Hood basically forcefully evolved her into a healthier person."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
"That is not how psychology works."
"It worked though."
Honestly—
it kind of did.
Yuuki pointed behind himself again afterward.
"This one already causes me enough trouble already."
Hornet immediately grinned proudly while still hanging onto him.
"See? He cares for his gal!"
"That is absolutely not what I meant."
"Yes it is."
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is."
Langley meanwhile looked completely vindicated now.
"See?"
The Pensacola sisters sighed dramatically together.
"…Fine…"
Salt Lake City crossed her arms afterward.
"We'll behave and dress properly."
Pensacola nodded quickly beside her.
"OK… we'll try."
The moment she said it—
everyone stared at her again.
Pensacola slowly covered her face in defeat.
"…I hate all of you."
Hornet laughed loudly behind Yuuki while Langley sighed for what felt like the hundredth time today.
Then—
"Heh. Looks like the whole crew's here."
Another energetic voice suddenly entered the conversation.
A white-haired destroyer casually walked right into the middle of the group before circling around Yuuki curiously like she was inspecting him.
"Hey! You're the Commander, right?"
Yuuki blinked slightly.
The girl grinned brightly.
"I'm Downes. Nice meeting ya!"
She looked far rougher around the edges compared to the Royal Navy girls. Bandages, tattered accessories, uneven socks, fingerless gloves—
everything about her screamed reckless troublemaker.
Hornet immediately recognized her.
"Yo, Downes!"
Downes turned immediately.
"Hornet!"
Then she grinned.
"You're doing alright!"
Hornet proudly pointed toward Yuuki.
"Obviously. Handsome found me."
Yuuki sighed quietly.
"I feel like I adopted a hyperactive carrier."
"Too late. You're stuck with me now."
Before Yuuki could answer—
another voice casually came from directly behind him.
"Yooo."
"AH!"
Yuuki nearly jumped slightly before turning around.
A pink-haired destroyer lazily waved at him while standing far too close.
Hornet burst out laughing immediately.
"McCall! Stop sneaking up on people!"
The destroyer yawned slightly before shrugging.
"I wasn't sneaking."
Then she looked toward Yuuki.
"I'm McCall. Third ship of the Gridley-class."
Her tone sounded calm and relaxed compared to Downes' energetic attitude.
"There's not really much special about me."
Then she rubbed the back of her head slightly.
"Honestly, I'm mostly just relieved knowing my sisters are okay despite all of us technically being dead."
Yuuki quietly looked at her for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Yeah."
McCall blinked.
Yuuki's expression softened slightly afterward.
"I think most of you care more about finding your families than yourselves."
That made both destroyers pause slightly.
Downes laughed first.
"Well duh."
Then she proudly crossed her arms.
"That's kinda what family does."
McCall nodded quietly.
"Pretty much."
Yuuki honestly found the Eagle Union girls interesting.
Compared to the elegance of the Royal Navy or the emotional intensity of the Sakura Empire—
the Eagle Union girls felt… grounded.
Relaxed.
Honest.
Like a big chaotic family trying to stay together somehow.
Downes suddenly leaned closer toward him afterward.
"So you're really the guy reviving everyone?"
Yuuki scratched his cheek lightly.
"Working on it."
"Hah. Nice."
Then she casually pointed toward herself.
"Make sure you revive me looking cool though."
Yuuki blinked.
"…You're dead and THAT'S your concern?"
"Obviously."
Hornet immediately joined in.
"See? That's why I like these girls."
Yuuki sighed helplessly.
"You Eagle Union girls really don't stress normally, huh?"
McCall shrugged lazily.
"If we think too hard about being dead for ten years, we'll just get depressed."
A brief silence followed.
Then Downes grinned again immediately.
"So we just don't."
Honestly—
Yuuki could not even argue against that logic.
"Well," Yuuki spoke while looking around the endless calm sea surrounding them, "at least I'm here now to bring all of you somewhere safe."
The Eagle Union girls quietly listened.
"You've probably been stuck staring at this empty ocean every single day for years."
Pensacola immediately nodded.
"Yeah. We definitely were."
Raleigh sighed softly.
"It gets really quiet…"
Richmond scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"After a while you kinda stop noticing time passing."
Salt Lake City crossed her arms.
"Honestly, the silence was the worst part."
Nearby, Spence quietly nodded in agreement while holding onto Foote's sleeve slightly.
Downes stretched her arms behind her head dramatically.
"I thought I was gonna lose my mind from boredom eventually."
Foote clicked her tongue softly.
"…I already did."
McCall lazily shrugged.
"I mostly slept whenever possible."
Langley sighed afterward.
"Keeping morale stable became increasingly difficult over the years."
Omaha looked toward Yuuki afterward with a much softer expression than before.
"So yeah…"
She smiled slightly.
"Thanks for coming to get us."
The others quietly nodded too.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward.
"Come on then."
The girls looked toward him again.
"I'll bring all of you somewhere better."
Then he pointed casually behind himself with his thumb.
"Ranger, Nevada, and Oklahoma are already there."
That immediately brightened several expressions.
"Teach Ranger's alive?!" Langley looked genuinely relieved.
"Oklahoma too?" Downes grinned.
Yuuki nodded.
"And this one behind me is already living there comfortably."
Hornet immediately tightened her hug proudly.
"Hey. Your girl is special."
Yuuki sighed.
"You appointed yourself into that role."
"Correct."
Then Yuuki looked toward everyone again.
"Alright. Hold onto me."
The Eagle Union girls immediately began gathering closer.
"I'll teleport everyone over."
"HIS BACK IS MINE THOUGH!" Hornet declared dramatically while clinging onto him possessively.
Langley immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Hornet."
"What?"
"You are behaving like an overexcited teenager."
Hornet gasped dramatically.
"I AM an overexcited teenager."
"…Fair point."
Even Langley could not argue against that.
Pensacola quietly leaned toward Salt Lake City afterward.
"I think she's serious about him."
Salt Lake City deadpanned immediately.
"She literally announced herself as 'his girl' three times already."
"True."
Meanwhile, Spence nervously approached Yuuki.
"U-Umm… where should we hold on…?"
Before Yuuki could answer—
Hornet immediately pointed.
"Anywhere except my spot."
"HORNET," Langley warned instantly.
Yuuki rubbed his forehead again.
"Just ignore her and grab my coat or sleeve or something."
The girls slowly gathered around him afterward.
Spence carefully held onto part of his sleeve.
Foote awkwardly grabbed the edge of his coat while pretending she absolutely did not care.
Downes casually grabbed his shoulder.
McCall lazily held onto Langley instead.
Pensacola and Salt Lake City held his arms while Richmond helped Raleigh closer.
Once everyone settled—
Yuuki activated the teleportation again.
Light spread beneath their feet.
The endless calm sea distorted around them once more.
And together—
the Eagle Union girls vanished from the empty void at last.
====================
The light faded once more.
This time—
the Eagle Union girls found themselves standing on solid land beneath a warm sky.
An actual island stretched around them.
Trees swayed gently with the wind while fruits hung from branches nearby. Grass covered the open ground, and in the distance stood the large pagoda tower that served as the current shelter for the rescued shipgirls.
For a moment—
everyone simply stared quietly.
Even if the island was still mostly empty—
it already felt infinitely better than the endless dead sea they had wandered for ten years.
Downes immediately stretched her arms upward dramatically.
"THERE'S ACTUAL DIRT HERE!"
McCall crouched slightly and touched the grass lazily.
"…Feels weird."
Richmond slowly looked around with wide eyes.
"There's really a whole island…"
Pensacola smiled softly afterward.
"Honestly? I don't even care if there's nothing here yet."
Salt Lake City nodded quietly.
"At least it's alive."
Spence looked toward the trees nervously.
"…There's fruits…"
Foote crossed her arms while trying not to sound emotional.
"…Better than staring at water forever."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"There's not much here yet."
Then he pointed toward the pagoda tower in the distance.
"But at least there's land, food, shelter, and people."
Hornet proudly leaned against him from behind again.
"And me."
"You are not part of the island package."
"I should be."
Then—
"YOOOO YOUNG'UN!"
A loud familiar voice suddenly echoed across the island.
Several Eagle Union girls immediately turned around.
Nevada came walking toward them alongside Oklahoma and Ranger.
The moment the newcomers recognized them—
the atmosphere exploded instantly.
"RANGER!"
"Teach Langley!"
"Oklahoma!"
Several girls immediately ran toward them.
Langley visibly relaxed the moment she saw Ranger standing there alive and well.
Ranger grinned warmly.
"Took you all long enough."
Langley actually smiled slightly afterward.
"…It is good seeing you again."
Meanwhile Oklahoma nearly got tackled by Downes and Omaha together.
"Oklahomaaaa!"
"Hey hey! Easy there!" Oklahoma laughed while trying not to fall over from the sudden hugs.
Nevada meanwhile crossed her arms proudly while grinning at Yuuki.
"Well done, young'un."
Yuuki shrugged casually.
"Just doing search and rescue."
Hornet immediately pointed at him proudly.
"He's being modest again."
Ranger looked around afterward at the growing crowd of Eagle Union girls gathering together.
Then she laughed softly.
"Well…"
Her expression softened.
"Looks like the whole gang's finally coming together."
Pensacola nodded quietly.
"Not everyone…"
A brief silence followed.
Then Oklahoma smiled warmly.
"But still…"
She looked around at everyone reunited together.
"…Strength in numbers."
That immediately lifted the mood again.
Downes grinned.
"Hah! We're rebuilding the Eagle Union one chaotic idiot at a time!"
"Please do not phrase it like that," Langley sighed.
"Too late," Hornet laughed.
Nearby, Spence quietly looked toward Yuuki again.
"…Commander…"
Yuuki turned toward her.
"Thank you."
Then Foote looked away awkwardly before muttering quieter than usual—
"…Yeah. Thanks."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
Honestly—
seeing these girls reunited again made all the trouble worth it.
Nevada smiled warmly while watching the growing group of Eagle Union girls reuniting together.
"Thanks, young'un…"
Her voice softened afterward.
"Really. Thanks for bringing the family back together again."
Nearby, Oklahoma happily hugged several of the destroyers at once while laughing.
"Thanks a lot, Commander!"
Yuuki smiled faintly before gently patting Spence and Foote on the head as they stood nearby.
Spence immediately froze from the sudden affection before quietly turning red.
Foote tried acting annoyed.
"…Tsk."
But she did not move away.
Yuuki could already tell she secretly liked the attention anyway.
Seeing all the Eagle Union girls gathered together on the island made something inside him ease slightly.
The island no longer felt empty.
Every group he rescued filled the silence a little more.
The Royal Navy girls now had companions.
The Sakura girls had their sisters again.
And now the Eagle Union girls were beginning to reunite too.
Yuuki quietly exhaled.
"…Still got ten more girls to bring back here."
Hornet immediately looked toward him.
"Already leavin' again?"
Yuuki nodded slightly.
"For a little while."
Then he looked toward her with a faint smile.
"Mind showing everyone around for me, Netty?"
Hornet blinked slightly after hearing the nickname again.
"…Netty."
Yuuki shrugged.
"You don't like it?"
Hornet immediately looked away.
"N-No, I do…"
Then she puffed her cheeks slightly afterward.
"Still sounds weird hearing it from ya."
Yuuki chuckled softly.
"Well?"
Hornet crossed her arms dramatically before sighing.
"Fine. I'll escort the girls around."
Then quieter—
"Leavin' your girl behind already…"
Yuuki laughed lightly.
"Just for a moment."
Hornet watched him quietly for a few seconds afterward.
Then—
"…Hey, handsome."
"Hm?"
Her expression softened noticeably now that nobody was loudly interrupting them.
"Did you really mean it earlier?"
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"When you said I'm special to you…"
Her voice became quieter.
"You really don't treat me differently because of my sisters?"
For once—
there was no joking in her tone.
No teasing.
No playful flirting.
Just honest uncertainty.
Yuuki answered immediately.
"No."
Hornet slowly looked up again.
"You're special to me because you're you."
That made her freeze slightly.
Yuuki smiled faintly afterward.
"You were the first one who answered me in the void."
He looked around at the gathered Eagle Union girls nearby.
"The first one who carried my voice to everyone else."
Then he looked back at her directly.
"So honestly?"
His expression softened slightly.
"A lot of this became possible because of you."
Hornet stared at him quietly.
"So you don't have to compare yourself to Yorktown or Enterprise."
A brief pause followed.
"You're already important to me as Hornet."
For once—
Hornet completely lost her usual composure.
"…Is that so…?"
Yuuki tilted his head slightly.
"You don't believe me, Netty?"
Hornet immediately panicked.
"No! I mean—I do!"
Her face turned bright red almost instantly.
"I totally believe you, handsome!"
Then she awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck while laughing nervously.
"Ehee…"
Yuuki blinked once.
"…Huh."
Hornet immediately looked away harder.
"I-I'll escort the girls around now!"
Then she quickly turned around before anyone could see her face properly.
Yuuki watched her go for a second before quietly laughing to himself.
"Huh…"
He smiled faintly afterward.
"Embarrassed all of a sudden."
"Thanks a lot, Commander!"
The Eagle Union girls waved toward him as they slowly followed Hornet, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Ranger toward the pagoda tower.
Some openly smiled.
Some waved excitedly.
A few even blew kisses toward him playfully.
Pensacola shouted "Everything'll be OK!" one last time before Salt Lake City dragged her away in embarrassment.
Yuuki laughed softly while watching them leave.
Hornet, however—
never turned back.
But honestly, she did not need to.
Even from behind, Yuuki could clearly see how red her ears and face had become.
"…Huh."
Yuuki quietly smiled to himself.
Looks like the teasing carrier finally got overwhelmed herself.
Then suddenly—
two soft hands covered his eyes from behind.
"Guess who~?"
Yuuki immediately sighed.
"Konigsberg."
"Eh?"
The girl behind him sounded disappointed immediately.
"Koln," another voice spoke nearby in exasperation, "please stop letting her do that to the Kommandant."
Konigsberg removed her hands while puffing her cheeks dramatically.
"You're no fun, sis."
Another girl laughed softly nearby.
"Haha… that ruined the surprise immediately."
Yuuki turned around toward the three Iron Blood girls standing there.
"Hey, you three."
Koln immediately bowed politely.
"Herr Kommandant."
Compared to Konigsberg's playful attitude, Koln remained composed and disciplined as usual.
"We just finished exploring the island."
Karlsruhe smiled gently beside her.
"There's still a lot of fruits and places we haven't seen yet."
Then Koln adjusted her posture slightly.
"We also heard you brought ten Sakura girls, eleven Royal Navy girls, and another ten Eagle Union girls back already."
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah."
Konigsberg crossed her arms dramatically afterward.
"So naturally…"
Her eyes sparkled slightly.
"We became curious whether you found anyone from our old faction."
Yuuki paused briefly while thinking.
Then slowly—
"…Leipzig and four Z-girls."
All three girls immediately reacted.
"Leipzig?!"
Yuuki blinked.
"You know her?"
Koln nodded quickly.
"Yes. First ship of the Leipzig-class."
Then her expression softened with visible concern.
"She was always physically weak."
Karlsruhe sighed softly afterward.
"She barely ate properly even back then…"
Konigsberg nodded too, though much quieter now.
"She faints really easily…"
Koln looked directly at Yuuki afterward.
"Once she's revived someday…"
Her tone became unusually serious.
"…Please make sure she eats properly."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Sure."
Then more gently—
"I promise."
The three Iron Blood girls visibly relaxed after hearing that.
Yuuki crossed his arms casually afterward.
"So…"
The girls looked toward him again.
"Want to come with me?"
Konigsberg blinked.
"Hm?"
"I'm pretty sure the others would feel better seeing familiar faces around. Especially the little children."
Then Yuuki smiled slightly.
"And honestly?"
He looked toward Koln.
"You girls deserve reunions too."
For a moment—
the three Iron Blood cruisers quietly looked at each other.
Then Konigsberg grinned brightly first.
"Oho~ another rescue mission?"
Karlsruhe laughed softly.
"I would like that."
Koln bowed her head slightly afterward.
"Then we shall accompany you, Herr Kommandant."
Yuuki nodded.
"Good."
Then after a brief pause—
he smirked slightly.
"Just don't cover my eyes again while teleporting."
Konigsberg immediately looked innocent.
"I would never."
Koln sighed instantly.
"She absolutely would."