Yuuki slowly closed his eyes.
The moonlit world around him faded.
The voices of Hornet, Hood, and Amagi became distant.
Then—
He reached inward.
Toward the countless threads connecting hearts.
Toward the warmth.
Toward the light.
Just as he had done before.
The same way he had once called out to the lost shipgirls drifting within the Void World.
The same way he became a beacon in the darkness.
Then—
A pulse.
A connection.
Faint.
Distant.
But real.
Yuuki took a breath.
And spoke.
"Shokaku..."
His voice echoed through darkness.
Through metal corridors.
Through suffering.
Through isolation.
"Can you hear me?"
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
Weak.
Disbelieving.
"...Can you hear me?"
Another pause.
Then—
"Who... is this?"
Back in the Void World, Hornet immediately brightened.
"Ah!"
"She heard you!"
Yuuki focused harder.
The connection strengthened.
"Shokaku."
"My name is Yukihira Yuuki."
The darkness around the distant voice trembled.
"Global Defense Initiative High Commander."
Then softly—
"The one who called upon the shipgirls."
Silence.
Then—
A sharp intake of breath.
"...Ah..."
The single sound carried disbelief.
Hope.
Relief.
Then Yuuki smiled softly.
"Is Zuikaku with you?"
Immediately—
"Yes."
The voice became emotional.
"She can hear you too."
Then another voice joined.
Softer.
Younger.
Hopeful.
"Shokaku-nee..."
"...is this really...?"
Yuuki heard a shaky laugh.
A laugh on the verge of tears.
Then another voice appeared.
"We can hear you as well."
Then another.
"This is..."
"Hiryuu."
"And my sister."
"Souryuu."
Back in the Void World—
Amagi's ears visibly perked upward.
Immediately.
Meanwhile Hood softly smiled.
They were alive.
All four were alive.
Yuuki's expression softened.
"I am currently with Amagi."
The reaction was immediate.
"...Amagi-san?"
Disbelief.
Hope.
Emotion.
"She's alive?"
Yuuki smiled.
"Very much alive."
Nearby—
Amagi quietly wiped the corner of one eye.
Then softly waved despite knowing they couldn't see her.
"Many more are here as well."
Yuuki continued.
"Hood."
"Warspite."
"Elizabeth."
"Hornet."
The carrier immediately waved both hands excitedly.
"They can't see you."
"I know."
Then more gently—
"Right now only my voice can reach you."
For several moments—
No one spoke.
Then finally—
Shokaku's voice trembled.
"...Our voices are finally being heard."
The words hit everyone hard.
Because they carried years of loneliness behind them.
Years of believing nobody knew where they were.
Years of wondering whether rescue would ever come.
Then quietly—
Almost pleading—
"Please..."
"...come to our aid."
Yuuki's answer came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
"I will."
Simple.
Certain.
Absolute.
Then more softly—
"It will take two days."
The distant voices became silent.
Listening.
Holding onto every word.
Yuuki continued.
"My fleet is currently moving toward another objective."
"Once that's complete..."
"...we're coming for you."
Then gently—
"Can you wait for me?"
Silence.
Then—
A shaky laugh.
It came from Zuikaku.
Then another.
Hiryuu.
Then Souryuu.
Finally—
Shokaku spoke.
And despite everything she had endured—
Her voice sounded stronger than before.
"Commander."
Yuuki listened.
"We've waited years."
The darkness around the connection seemed to tremble.
Not from despair.
From hope.
Then softly—
"Two more days is nothing."
Another voice joined.
Zuikaku.
This time laughing through tears.
"Don't take too long."
Hiryuu immediately spoke afterward.
"You better show up."
Souryuu added quietly.
"We'll be waiting."
Back in the Void World—
Amagi smiled.
Proud.
Relieved.
Like an older sister finally hearing from family she thought lost.
Meanwhile—
Hornet hugged Yuuki's arm tighter.
And Hood quietly closed her eyes.
Because for the first time in years—
Four lost shipgirls no longer felt abandoned.
They knew.
Someone was coming.
Someone heard them.
Someone remembered.
And sometimes—
Hope was the strongest weapon of all.
Yuuki focused once more.
The connection with Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiryuu, and Souryuu gradually faded.
Not broken.
Simply resting.
They had hope now.
They knew rescue was coming.
Now—
He reached farther.
Toward two other lights.
Two Royal Navy signatures.
Fainter.
But still burning.
"Centaur..."
The darkness rippled.
"Albion..."
Then softly—
"Can you hear me?"
Silence.
A heartbeat passed.
Then suddenly—
A gasp.
A trembling voice.
"Y-Yes..."
The response came immediately.
Followed by another.
"Great Heavens..."
The second voice sounded on the verge of tears.
"Yes!"
Then another voice hurriedly spoke.
"Sis!"
"Someone heard us!"
Back in the Void World, Hood visibly smiled.
The connection was stable.
Yuuki relaxed slightly.
"Are you two alright?"
The answer came after a brief pause.
"Imprisoned."
Centaur's voice remained composed despite everything.
"But we are alive."
Albion quietly added—
"We heard your conversation with the Sakura carriers."
Then introducing themselves properly despite their circumstances.
"Centaur-class light aircraft carrier, Centaur."
"And my sister Albion."
Yuuki smiled.
"Greetings."
The sisters immediately straightened instinctively.
Even imprisoned.
Even exhausted.
Royal Navy discipline endured.
Then Yuuki continued.
"My dear Lady Hood sends her regards."
The reaction was immediate.
"...Lady Hood?"
Albion sounded genuinely stunned.
"The legendary Great Elder?"
Nearby—
Hood nearly choked on her tea.
"My my."
Meanwhile Hornet immediately started laughing.
"Great Elder!"
Hood sighed.
"I am not that old."
Amagi looked away suspiciously.
Clearly hiding amusement.
Back in the connection—
Yuuki laughed softly.
"Well."
"If that's how you regard her..."
"Then yes."
"She's here with me."
The sisters immediately became emotional.
Then Yuuki continued.
"We are contacting you from the Void World."
"Only my voice can reach you."
"However..."
A small smile appeared.
"Queen Elizabeth is here as well."
This time both sisters froze.
"The Queen..."
Albion whispered.
Then softly—
"She told us to escape."
Centaur's voice lowered.
"Back then."
"We were among those she ordered away from danger."
Then quietly—
"We are ashamed she stayed behind while we escaped."
The guilt was obvious.
Even after all these years.
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"It doesn't matter."
His voice became firm.
"She is safe."
The sisters fell silent.
Awaiting resurrection."
A shaky breath escaped Centaur.
Then Yuuki smiled.
"And she'll be thrilled to learn her subjects are still alive."
Nearby—
Elizabeth immediately crossed her arms.
"Hmph."
Though the moisture in her eyes betrayed her.
Then Yuuki's expression sharpened.
"Now."
The connection grew brighter.
"Let me come save you."
Silence.
Then a soft laugh.
This time from Albion.
"We will wait."
Centaur softly agreed.
"Two days is not a long time."
Then more quietly—
"We have endured far longer."
Yuuki frowned slightly.
"Something about your situation concerns me."
Centaur understood immediately.
"The prison."
"Yes."
There was a pause.
Then she explained.
"We are trapped inside a mental space."
"Not unlike a dream."
Albion continued.
"Our consciousness remains active."
"While our physical bodies are suspended."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes.
"Suspended where?"
The answer chilled everyone listening.
"Inside cubic containment chambers."
Then softly—
"A forced coma."
The realization struck immediately.
The Raptures weren't simply imprisoning them.
They were storing them.
Transporting them.
Like cargo.
Yuuki's expression hardened.
Then Centaur continued.
"The Wisdom Cubes cannot be corrupted."
"So the Raptures abandoned direct conversion attempts."
Albion quietly added—
"They intend to transport us elsewhere."
Yuuki immediately asked.
"Where?"
Silence.
Then—
"A Siren facility."
The atmosphere in the Void World changed instantly.
Even Hood's smile vanished.
Amagi's ears flattened.
Hornet's grip on Yuuki's arm tightened.
Because everyone understood the implications.
If the Mother Whale reached its destination—
The situation could become infinitely worse.
Yuuki's voice became calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Then that's not happening."
The sisters immediately listened.
Yuuki continued.
"We're already moving."
"The Mother Whale is making a pass near our current objective."
Then firmly—
"We're intercepting it."
Hope blossomed immediately through the connection.
Then Yuuki smiled.
"It won't reach that facility."
The sisters remained silent.
Listening.
Believing.
Then softly—
"Because we're getting to you first."
For several moments nobody spoke.
Then Albion laughed.
A genuine laugh.
The first in years.
Centaur's voice trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
Relief.
"We shall await your arrival, Commander."
Yuuki nodded.
"Hold on a little longer."
The connection slowly began fading.
The sisters' final words reaching him before the link weakened.
"We'll be waiting."
"Please come home safely as well."
Then—
The connection dimmed.
Leaving only moonlight.
"Consort! What in the manner happened just now?!"
Yuuki turned around.
And immediately froze.
"...Why are all of you here?"
The plaza around the tower was packed.
Royal Navy.
Eagle Union.
Iron Blood.
Sakura Empire.
Dragon Empery.
Every shipgirl he had rescued so far seemed to have gathered.
Even some destroyers were peeking from behind larger shipgirls.
Meanwhile—
Queen Elizabeth stood at the front alongside Valiant.
Arms crossed.
Looking extremely interested.
"We heard everything, Commander."
The calm voice came from Yat Sen.
The Dragon Empery cruiser adjusted her sleeve before continuing.
"At first it felt like voices appearing inside our minds."
Then softly smiling.
"So naturally everyone followed them."
Hornet immediately raised her hand.
"Proudly taking responsibility."
Yuuki pointed at her.
"This is your fault."
"It is."
The carrier looked completely unashamed.
Nearby—
Hood softly laughed.
"I must admit I did not expect everyone to eavesdrop."
"Neither did I."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
"Turns out the Void World doesn't exactly have privacy settings."
That immediately earned several confused looks.
Then he sighed.
"Basically..."
"The moment I establish a connection."
"The entire Void World can hear it."
Realization spread through the crowd.
Then immediately—
Several Sakura girls became interested.
"So everyone heard?"
"Everything?"
"Even the rescue promises?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Apparently."
Then pointing upward.
"And if they're close enough on the other side..."
"...they can hear each other too."
The entire crowd collectively paused.
Then—
"It's literally a giant group chat."
Hornet.
Yuuki pointed again.
"Stop making modern comparisons."
"No."
Meanwhile—
Yat Sen thoughtfully folded her arms.
"So from what I understand..."
The Dragon Empery strategist looked toward him.
"These shipgirls aren't dead."
"No."
"They're alive."
"Yes."
"Conscious?"
"Yes."
The crowd became quiet.
Then Yat Sen slowly nodded.
"I see."
Yuuki continued.
"Their minds are effectively trapped in a contained mental space."
"They can think."
"Remember."
"Dream."
"Talk."
"But their physical bodies remain suspended elsewhere."
The atmosphere became more serious.
Then Centaur's explanation came back to him.
"Cubic containment chambers."
Several shipgirls frowned.
The image wasn't pleasant.
Then Yuuki continued.
"They described it as a forced coma."
Silence followed.
Then softly—
"They're prisoners."
The words carried weight.
Because everyone present knew exactly what that meant.
Years.
Perhaps longer.
Trapped.
Unable to move.
Unable to escape.
Waiting.
Then from the Sakura side—
Amagi's voice remained calm.
"But they still possess hope."
Several shipgirls nodded.
Because they had heard it themselves.
The relief.
The joy.
The disbelief when the carriers realized someone was finally coming.
Then Elizabeth quietly spoke.
"...They sounded lonely."
The crowd fell silent.
Because she was right.
Even after all their composure—
The thing everyone remembered most was how desperately happy they sounded simply to be heard.
Then Yuuki smiled softly.
"They're holding on."
Then he reached farther into the darkness.
Toward two more lights.
Steady.
Close together.
One protective.
One gentle.
Just as Hornet had described.
Yuuki focused.
Then softly called out.
"Pennsylvania..."
A pause.
"Arizona..."
Silence.
Then—
A voice answered.
Strong.
Steady.
"We're here."
Another followed.
Softer.
Gentler.
"We can hear you..."
Back in the Void World, Hornet immediately perked up.
"That's them!"
Even Hood smiled.
Meanwhile Yuuki felt relief wash over him.
They were alive.
Both of them.
"Are you alright?"
Pennsylvania answered first.
"Alive and well."
Then immediately correcting herself.
"Well... relatively speaking."
A dry chuckle followed.
"We're still trapped inside our own heads."
Arizona softly added.
"But we're together."
That alone seemed to matter more than anything.
Then Yuuki asked.
"What kind of place are you trapped in?"
This time Arizona answered.
"A peaceful one."
Her voice sounded surprisingly calm.
"A place of quiet skies."
Then softly—
"It helps."
Pennsylvania immediately added.
"And Ari's doing okay."
The protective tone was obvious.
Even now.
Even imprisoned.
Hornet had been right.
Pennsylvania never stopped looking after her sister.
Then Pennsylvania's voice became curious.
"So."
"The owner of the voice actually exists."
Yuuki laughed.
"Last time I checked."
Pennsylvania snorted.
"We heard your conversations."
"With the Sakura girls."
"The Royal Navy girls."
Then softly—
"They trust you."
Yuuki paused.
"Apparently."
Arizona giggled quietly.
A surprisingly warm sound.
Then Yuuki smiled.
"I've heard a lot about both of you from Hornet."
Immediately—
Arizona brightened.
"Netty's there too?"
The nickname made Hornet grin.
"Yeah, she miss you two."
Then Pennsylvania spoke again.
This time introducing herself properly.
"Pennsylvania."
"Pride of the Pennsylvania-class."
Then her voice carried a hint of playful confidence.
"Lead ship of an improved Nevada-class design."
"I've sortied through more operations than I can count."
Then proudly—
"You can definitely depend on me."
Yuuki immediately smiled.
"Hornet calls you Penny."
Silence.
Immediately suspicious silence.
Then Pennsylvania answered.
"...Netty talks too much."
Hornet burst out laughing.
"She didn't deny it!"
Pennsylvania ignored her completely.
Then after a moment—
"Penny is for friends."
Yuuki smiled.
"Is that so?"
"It is."
Then unexpectedly—
Pennsylvania grew quieter.
More thoughtful.
"I've never met you."
The darkness around the connection seemed to soften.
"But..."
She hesitated.
Searching for the words.
Then finally—
"I can feel it."
Yuuki blinked.
"The warmth."
Pennsylvania's voice became honest.
No bravado.
No tough-girl act.
Just sincerity.
"The same thing everyone here else keeps talking about other than your voice."
Nearby—
Hornet smiled knowingly.
Because now Pennsylvania understood too.
The connection.
The light.
The warmth that drew people toward him.
Then Pennsylvania softly laughed.
"If Hornet trusts you..."
A pause.
Then—
"If you rescue me and Ari..."
Arizona immediately gasped.
"Sis."
"What?"
"You're doing it."
"No I'm not."
"You're absolutely doing it."
Pennsylvania immediately ignored her.
Failed completely.
Then continuing—
"...I'll let you call me Penny."
Victory achieved.
Hornet immediately cheered.
"YES!"
Pennsylvania groaned.
"Netty must have heard that."
Arizona giggled.
Yuuki smiled slightly at Pennsylvania's words.
"Improved Nevada-class, huh?"
Pennsylvania immediately sounded curious.
"Why?"
Yuuki chuckled.
"Because I actually have the Nevada sisters with me."
Silence.
Then—
"...What?"
That response came from both Pennsylvania and Arizona.
Simultaneously.
"The Nevada sisters? They perished 15 years ago." Pennsylvania asked.
"The actual Nevada sisters?"
Yuuki nodded instinctively before remembering they couldn't see him.
"Yep. Both of them. Their cubes recovered from the headquarters alongside Ranger."
"Teacher Ranger as well?" Arizona happily spoke.
Then smiling—
"You said everyone in the Void World can hear us."
Pennsylvania immediately understood.
"Oh."
Then her voice softened.
"...Nevada?"
A familiar voice immediately answered from nearby.
Nevada had apparently appeared during the conversation.
"She said hi."
Arizona's voice immediately trembled.
"...Big sister."
Silence followed.
The kind of silence that only happened when people thought they'd never hear each other again.
Then Nevada laughed.
A rough but warm laugh.
"Well I'll be damned."
Pennsylvania immediately laughed too.
"Still alive, old lady?"
"She and Oklahoma still kicking." Yuuki smiled.
"Good."
Then quieter—
"Missed you."
Nearby—
Oklahoma had tears in her eyes already.
She wasn't even trying to hide them.
Arizona softly spoke.
"Big sisters..."
Her voice became emotional.
"We missed you."
Oklahoma immediately wiped her eyes.
"Darn it..."
Nevada crossed her arms.
Trying and failing to remain composed.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki quietly smiled.
Because this was exactly why he wanted to contact them.
Not strategy.
Not intelligence.
Family.
Then Pennsylvania laughed.
"Looks like Netty made this possible."
Immediately—
Hornet pointed at herself proudly.
"That's me."
Pennsylvania obviously couldn't hear her.
Which only made it funnier.
Then Pennsylvania continued.
"Quite clingy, isn't she?"
Hornet gasped dramatically.
"I am not."
Everyone ignored her.
Arizona giggled softly.
"She was always like that."
Yuuki laughed.
"She was actually the first Void World shipgirl I met after Hana."
For a few moments, the conversation remained warm.
Comfortable.
Then Pennsylvania suddenly paused.
"...Wait."
Yuuki blinked.
"What?"
The battleship's voice became suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"You called Yorktown Hana."
Silence.
Nearby in the Void World—
Hornet immediately covered her mouth.
"Oh no."
Hood looked away.
Amagi suddenly found the clouds fascinating.
Yuuki immediately realized where this was going.
Pennsylvania continued.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like a detective uncovering a conspiracy.
"Hana."
"The nickname only people close to Yorktown use."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
Then Pennsylvania sounded genuinely shocked.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it was for anyone to get close to Yorktown?"
Nearby—
Nevada laughed.
"She's got a point."
Pennsylvania continued.
"Yorktown is basically the Mother of the Eagle Union."
Then firmly—
"No man gets close to her without passing half the Eagle Union fleet first. Even our old commander is careful around her."
Hornet immediately burst out laughing.
"HALF?"
"Okay, most of it."
The carrier looked even more pleased.
"That's actually accurate."
Pennsylvania was silent for a moment.
Then realization struck.
A very dangerous realization.
"...Wait."
Yuuki immediately knew he was doomed.
Then Pennsylvania continued.
"You called Hornet Netty."
Hornet immediately pointed at herself proudly.
"Yep."
Pennsylvania ignored her completely.
Then—
Another realization.
"Waaaait."
Yuuki slowly closed his eyes.
Because he knew exactly what was coming next.
Pennsylvania's voice became even more suspicious.
"...Do you call Enterprise Enty too?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Yuuki's survival instincts suggested lying.
Unfortunately—
Everyone connected to him could feel the truth.
"...Uhh."
Pennsylvania immediately laughed.
A full laugh.
The kind that came from discovering something incredibly entertaining.
"YOU DO."
Nearby—
Hornet completely lost it.
"Hahahaha!"
Amagi softly covered her smile behind her sleeve.
Even Hood looked moments away from laughing.
Pennsylvania immediately pointed.
"I knew it."
Then dramatically—
"You're that close to all of them?!"
Yuuki sighed.
"It sounds worse when you say it out loud."
"It absolutely does not."
"It absolutely does."
Then Pennsylvania continued connecting the dots.
"Hana."
"Enty."
"Netty."
Her voice became more amused with every second.
"What happened while we were gone?"
Nearby—
Arizona was quietly giggling now.
Actually giggling.
Something Pennsylvania hadn't heard in a very long time.
Then softly—
"I think I understand."
Pennsylvania immediately agreed.
"Oh I definitely understand."
Then teasingly—
"You don't hand out those nicknames unless someone is very special."
Yuuki immediately pointed.
"That's not how it happened."
Pennsylvania laughed.
"Sure."
"It isn't."
Nearby—
Hornet was clutching her stomach.
"Poor Handsome."
"Nobody warned him."
Nevada nodded.
"The Eagle Union gossip network is terrifying."
"HEY."
"It's true."
Meanwhile—
The greatest blessing for Yuuki at that moment was that Enterprise wasn't present.
Because if the stoic carrier had heard this conversation—
She would likely be standing somewhere silently overheating.
Unable to form coherent sentences.
Which somehow made the situation funnier.
Pennsylvania finally laughed again.
Then warmly—
"Well."
"If Hana trusts you."
"If Enty trusts you."
"If Netty trusts you."
The teasing gradually faded.
Leaving sincerity behind.
Then softly—
"I think Ari and I can trust you too."
The atmosphere immediately softened again.
And despite the embarrassment—
Yuuki couldn't help smiling.
Because for the first time in years—
Pennsylvania and Arizona were laughing.
"Netty..."
"Yep." Hornet replied despite her voice is absent to Pennsylvania.
The older battleship laughed.
"Sounds like Netty giving you a hard time, Commander."
Then her voice softened.
"Tell her..."
There was a pause.
Then quietly—
"Tell her Ari and I miss her annoying voice."
Hornet immediately froze.
The grin vanished.
Leaving behind genuine emotion.
Then Arizona softly added.
"We really do."
Nearby—
Hornet smiled.
A little shakily.
Then wiped her eyes.
"Yeah..."
Even though they couldn't hear her.
"I missed you two as well."
The atmosphere remained warm afterward.
Then Arizona introduced herself properly.
"I am Arizona."
"The second ship of the Pennsylvania-class battleships."
Then softly—
"Born in summer."
Yuuki smiled.
"I remember hearing about a song."
Arizona became quiet.
"'Tears of Arizona.'"
A pause.
Then she softly nodded.
"Yes."
"The song is about me."
Then looking away.
"Though..."
A small sad smile appeared in her voice.
"It is a little sad to call them tears."
Everyone understood immediately.
Pearl Harbor.
Loss.
Memories.
Pain.
The things Arizona still carried.
Then Yuuki gently spoke.
"I know."
The connection became quiet.
Listening.
Then softly—
"But once I rescue you..."
Arizona blinked.
Yuuki continued.
"...I promise I'll help you be happy again."
Immediate silence.
Then—
"Eep."
Arizona froze.
Completely.
Nearby—
Hornet immediately burst out laughing.
"Oh wow."
Then pointing at Yuuki.
"Handsome."
"You're already proposing to Ari? Despite having me, Hana and Enty?"
Yuuki immediately groaned.
"That's not what I meant."
"Sure. Be sure to ask Penny and Hana for their blessings. Hana is our fleet's mom after all."
"Hornet."
"Sure."
The carrier's grin widened.
Meanwhile—
Arizona was still trying to recover.
Pennsylvania immediately came to her rescue.
Or attempted to.
Though she sounded amused.
"My my."
"Pretty bold."
Yuuki sighed.
"I meant helping with her trauma."
"Oh."
Pennsylvania paused.
Then coughed.
"Right."
"That."
The battleship immediately became more serious.
"Ehem."
Then quietly—
"Ari still has nightmares."
The atmosphere softened.
Pennsylvania's protective tone returned.
"Sometimes she says she can still hear them."
Yuuki listened silently.
"The crew."
"The screams."
"The chaos."
Then softly—
"The memories never completely left."
Arizona remained quiet.
Not denying it.
Not hiding it.
Simply accepting it.
Then Yuuki's voice became gentle.
"Arizona."
She looked up instinctively.
"Those memories will always be part of you."
The connection remained silent.
Listening.
"But they don't have to keep hurting you forever."
Arizona froze.
Because nobody had ever phrased it that way before.
Not forgetting.
Not erasing.
Healing.
Then Yuuki smiled.
"When I rescue you..."
His voice carried complete certainty.
"We'll help you carry those memories."
Not remove them.
Not bury them.
Simply carry them together.
Arizona's eyes slowly filled with tears.
For the first time in years—
The burden felt lighter.
And beside her—
Pennsylvania quietly smiled.
Because for the first time since their capture—
Someone wasn't just promising rescue.
Someone was promising a future afterward.
Then softly—
"We'll be waiting, Commander."
Yuuki's smile softened.
"I know."
Then more gently—
"Just hold on a little longer."
Pennsylvania answered immediately.
"Don't worry."
The confidence in her voice returned.
"I've protected Ari this long."
Then warmly—
"I can manage two more days."
Arizona quietly agreed.
"We'll be here."
The connection slowly dimmed.
Yet neither fear nor despair remained.
Only anticipation.
Because now—
Ten shipgirls had heard his voice.
Ten shipgirls knew rescue was coming.
And somewhere deep inside the Mother Whale—
Hope had finally arrived.
=====
The connection finally faded.
Pennsylvania and Arizona's voices disappeared into the distance.
But unlike before—
There was hope now.
They knew rescue was coming.
They knew they weren't forgotten.
And most importantly—
They knew they weren't alone.
Yuuki slowly opened his eyes.
Then immediately groaned.
"Man..."
"That was intense."
Nearby—
Hornet immediately nodded.
"Yeah."
"Especially the part where Penny discovered your nickname collection."
Yuuki immediately pointed at her.
"This is your fault."
"Huh?"
Then—
Pinch.
"Ack!"
Hornet's cheek was caught between his fingers.
"Handsome!"
"Netty."
"Handsome!"
"You started it."
The carrier immediately puffed her cheeks.
"Spare your poor gal."
"No."
"Mercy."
"No."
"Compassion."
"No."
"Hornet rights."
"Definitely no."
Nearby—
Amagi quietly sipped tea.
Hood calmly adjusted her gloves.
Both watching.
Waiting.
Yuuki smiled.
"I think I'll leave your punishment to these two."
Hornet froze.
Absolutely froze.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
She turned toward Amagi and Hood.
"...Ladies?"
The fox strategist smiled.
Which somehow made it worse.
Meanwhile Hood's smile became incredibly elegant.
Also worse.
"No."
Hornet immediately pointed.
"Wait."
Then looking back toward Yuuki.
"Handsome."
"You wouldn't."
"I would."
"HANDSOME."
Then immediately turning toward the other two.
"I've learned my lesson."
"No you haven't," Hood replied.
"That's fair."
Amagi calmly set down her teacup.
"Last time was educational."
Hornet visibly shuddered.
"Educational?"
Yuuki blinked.
"What did they do?"
Hornet pointed dramatically.
"They put a book on my head."
Silence.
Yuuki waited.
Hornet continued.
"...And a teacup."
Another pause.
Yuuki blinked.
"...That's it?"
"THAT'S IT?!"
Hornet looked genuinely traumatized.
"Do you have any idea how long they made me stay still?"
Amagi calmly answered.
"An hour."
"It was an hour and seventeen minutes."
Hood nodded.
"Your posture improved considerably."
"It was torture."
Nearby—
Nevada burst out laughing.
The entire situation was absurd.
Then Hornet immediately hid behind Yuuki.
Using him as a human shield.
"Protect me."
"No."
"You are my handsome."
"Not helping."
"You are literally my handsome."
Amagi sighed.
Hood sighed.
Then both women stood
He gently hugs her. "Go easy on her."
Hornet immediately latched onto Yuuki's arm.
Both hands.
Both legs.
Maximum cling mode activated.
"Handsome."
"No."
"You haven't even heard my request."
"I already know what it is."
Hornet dramatically pointed behind her.
Where both Hood and Amagi were calmly approaching.
Smiling.
Which somehow made them look even more dangerous.
"Please don't let them torture me."
Yuuki looked at the two women.
Then back at Hornet.
Then at the two women again.
Finally—
He shrugged.
"Well."
Hornet's eyes widened.
"Handsome."
"You're currently facing the Mother of the Royal Navy."
Hood smiled elegantly.
"And."
Yuuki pointed toward Amagi.
"The Sakura Empire's greatest strategist."
Amagi hid her smile behind her sleeve.
Yuuki nodded sagely.
"You don't have great odds."
Hornet looked genuinely betrayed.
"You're supposed to protect me."
"Normally yes."
Then smiling.
"But you don't have the Mother of the Eagle Union here to back you up."
Immediate devastation.
"Hana would save me."
Nearby—
Hood softly laughed.
"My dear Hornet."
"She absolutely would not."
Amagi nodded.
"Lady Yorktown would likely join us."
Hornet gasped.
"...Traitors."
Then clinging tighter to Yuuki.
Using him as a human shield.
Again.
Meanwhile—
Hood finally reached them.
The elegant battlecruiser smiled warmly.
Though her eyes carried unmistakable determination.
"Do not worry, dear sir."
Yuuki immediately became suspicious.
"Why do I feel like I should be worried?"
Hood ignored him.
Then gently looked toward Hornet.
"I shall properly train her."
Hornet immediately looked horrified.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Then Hood continued.
"So she may stand beside you as a proper lady."
Hornet pointed dramatically.
"I am already a lady."
Amagi softly coughed.
Hornet pointed at her too.
"You stay out of this."
"No."
Yuuki immediately laughed.
Then a horrifying mental image appeared.
And he couldn't stop himself.
"You know..."
Hood and Amagi looked toward him.
Hornet looked terrified.
Yuuki smiled.
"I'd actually be shocked."
"By what?" Hornet asked suspiciously.
Then he imagined it.
Really imagined it.
And immediately started laughing.
"Hornet."
"Handsome."
"You."
"Uh oh."
"Wearing a beautiful white dress."
"No."
"A sunhat."
"Absolutely not."
"Walking gracefully through a garden."
"HANDSOME."
"And suddenly speaking perfect Royal Navy English."
Nearby—
Hood nearly laughed into her glove.
Amagi's shoulders visibly shook.
Meanwhile Hornet looked personally attacked.
"I DON'T SOUND LIKE THAT."
Hood softly smiled.
"Not yet."
"HOODY."
Then Hood immediately adopted a flawless aristocratic posture.
"Lady Hornet."
The carrier already knew where this was going.
"No."
"Please introduce yourself."
"No."
"Properly."
"No."
Then Hood continued anyway.
"My name is Lady Hornet of the Eagle Union."
Hornet immediately covered her face.
"This is the worst day of my life."
Yuuki was laughing openly now.
Meanwhile Amagi calmly added fuel to the fire.
"Do not forget afternoon tea."
"HANDSOME SAVE ME."
"And proper posture."
"HANDSOME."
"And elegant speech."
"HANDSOME!"
Then Yuuki finally patted her head.
The carrier immediately looked hopeful.
Until he spoke.
"...Honestly?"
"Yeah?"
"I kind of want to see it happen."
Absolute betrayal.
Hornet stared at him.
Then slowly pointed.
"I take back every nice thing I said about you."
The entire garden erupted into laughter.
Even Hood.
Even Amagi.
And somewhere far away—
If Yorktown could somehow see this scene—
She would probably be laughing too.
"Okay... okay..."
Yuuki finally raised both hands in surrender.
"We'll let you off the hook for now."
Immediate victory.
Hornet froze.
Then her eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
"Really."
The carrier immediately launched herself at him.
Again.
At this point nobody even reacted.
It had become normal.
"You really do love me!"
Hornet wrapped herself around him like an affectionate missile.
Then proudly declared—
"I take back all the bad things I said about you."
Silence.
Yuuki slowly blinked.
"...Oh?"
Hornet froze.
The surrounding shipgirls immediately looked interested.
Very interested.
Then Yuuki tilted his head.
"You were talking behind my back?"
"Eep."
The carrier immediately looked guilty.
"No?"
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Hornet."
"...Yes?"
"I can read your heart."
Catastrophic damage.
Hornet's soul nearly left her body.
Nearby—
Amagi immediately hid her smile.
Hood looked moments away from laughing.
Even Warspite had to look away.
Hornet's voice became tiny.
"...I am sowwy?"
Then she attempted the most exaggeratedly adorable expression imaginable.
Complete with puppy eyes.
The result was devastating.
The entire group burst into laughter.
Even Hood.
Even Amagi.
Even the usually regal Elizabeth sighed while covering her face.
"Oh dear."
Valiant immediately pointed.
"That shouldn't have worked."
"But it did," Warspite replied.
Nearby—
Elizabeth visibly shuddered.
Then muttered quietly.
"As long as I don't have to undergo Lady Hood's etiquette training again."
Hood's smile immediately turned toward her.
"My Queen?"
"...Nothing."
The response came instantly.
Because everyone knew.
Absolutely everyone knew.
Even the Elizabeth-class sisters did not argue with Hood when she entered full instructor mode.
The battlecruiser had earned her reputation honestly.
After all—
Titles weren't given lightly.
And among the Royal Navy—
Hood truly carried the presence of a mother.
The woman everyone listened to.
The one who kept everyone together.
The one who quietly guided the fleet.
Then Yuuki finally patted Hornet's head.
The carrier immediately relaxed.
"There."
Hornet looked up hopefully.
"We're good?"
"We're good."
Then smiling softly—
"Besides."
Hornet perked up.
Yuuki looked around at the gathered shipgirls.
Royal Navy.
Sakura Empire.
Eagle Union.
Iron Blood.
All smiling.
All waiting.
Then gently—
"I love all of you."
The effect was immediate.
Critical emotional damage across multiple factions.
Amagi's ears twitched.
Hood's smile softened.
Elizabeth immediately looked away.
Warspite coughed.
Hornet looked victorious.
Then Yuuki pointed at her.
"Also."
"Hm?"
"Don't forget."
Hornet immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
"Hood and Amagi are the ones who actually let you off the hook."
The carrier froze.
Then slowly turned.
Both women smiled.
Warmly.
Patiently.
Terrifyingly.
"...Temporary reprieve?"
"Temporary reprieve," Hood confirmed.
Hornet immediately hid behind Yuuki again.
The others laughed.
Then gradually—
The atmosphere settled.
The joking faded.
Because there was still unfinished business.
Yuuki's expression became more focused.
More serious.
The names returned to his thoughts.
Three names.
Three powerful shipgirls.
Three Iron Blood legends.
He slowly closed his eyes.
The warmth of the Void World gathered around him once more.
Then quietly spoke.
"Now..."
Everyone looked toward him.
Yuuki focused on the distant lights waiting somewhere inside the Mother Whale.
Lights carrying immense strength.
Immense presence.
And likely immense concern for their fleets.
Then softly—
"Let's see if I can reach Friedrich..."
A brief pause.
"Hindenburg."
Another.
"And Mecklenburg."
The surrounding shipgirls fell silent.
Because if the others represented hope—
These three represented something else entirely.
The return of some of Iron Blood's greatest pillars.
And somewhere in the darkness beyond the Void World—
Three distant lights waited to answer.
.
Yuuki's consciousness reached farther.
Past Pennsylvania.
Past Arizona.
Past the Royal Navy carriers.
Toward a presence unlike the others.
Not brighter.
Not stronger.
But...
Warmer.
Ancient.
Comforting.
Like a hearth in the middle of winter.
Then—
A voice answered immediately.
As though she had been waiting.
As though she already knew who was calling.
"Ah..."
The voice was soft.
Elegant.
Motherly.
"Child..."
A gentle laugh followed.
"You finally contacted me."
The effect was immediate.
Around Yuuki—
The Iron Blood shipgirls froze.
Then tears appeared almost instantly.
Köln covered her mouth.
Königsberg's eyes widened.
Karlsruhe looked seconds away from crying.
Even shy Leipzig visibly trembled.
Nearby—
The little destroyers—
Z18,
Z19,
Z20,
and Z21—
were already crying openly.
Because to many Iron Blood shipgirls—
There were leaders.
There were heroes.
And then there was Friedrich.
Their mother.
The woman who made even the fiercest Iron Blood vessels feel safe.
Yuuki smiled softly.
"Mind saying hello to your children?"
A pause.
Then Friedrich's voice became gentler still.
"My children?"
Yuuki nodded.
"They're here."
"They can hear you."
Then softly—
"You can't hear them."
"Only I can speak to you."
"But your voice is projected throughout the Inner World."
Then naming them one by one.
"Köln."
"Königsberg."
"Karlsruhe."
"Leipzig."
Then looking toward the destroyers.
"Z18."
"Z19."
"Z20."
"Z21."
Silence followed.
A long silence.
Not because Friedrich lacked words.
But because she was emotional.
Then—
A soft breath.
"My children..."
The warmth in her voice nearly broke the Iron Blood girls completely.
Köln wiped her eyes.
Konigsberg looked away.
Leipzig openly cried.
Then Friedrich spoke again.
"Forgive your mother."
The words struck hard.
"Forgive me for remaining alive while you passed on."
Immediately—
The girls shook their heads.
"No..."
"Mother..."
"Don't..."
But she couldn't hear them.
Only Yuuki could.
Then Friedrich continued.
"My greatest wish was always to protect you."
Her voice softened.
"And yet fate separated us."
The little destroyers were crying openly now.
Even Karlsruhe wiped her eyes.
Then—
The Mother of Iron Blood smiled.
A smile everyone could hear.
Warm.
Patient.
Unwavering.
"However..."
The atmosphere changed.
Hope replacing sadness.
"I shall await your return."
Then lovingly—
"When you are revived."
"One day."
"We shall meet again."
Köln nodded immediately.
Unable to speak.
Unable to stop crying.
But nodding all the same.
Because for years—
The Mother of Iron Blood had been gone.
And now—
She was speaking to them again.
Still waiting.
Still loving them.
Still believing they would come home.
The emotional atmosphere surrounding the Iron Blood girls gradually softened.
Tears remained.
But now they were accompanied by smiles.
Because Friedrich was here.
Alive.
Waiting.
Then the elegant voice spoke once more.
"I am Friedrich der Große."
Friedrich der Große's voice carried the same warmth that had comforted generations of Iron Blood shipgirls.
"Prototype H-class battleship of Iron Blood."
Then softly—
"The one many of my children came to regard as their mother."
A gentle laugh followed.
"You may refer to me as your mother as well, should you desire."
Nearby—
The Iron Blood girls immediately perked up.
Because that absolutely sounded like Friedrich.
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ah..."
The surrounding shipgirls suddenly became very interested.
"That depends."
Friedrich hummed curiously.
"Oh?"
Yuuki immediately realized this was a trap.
Too late.
"I am already engaged to the Mother of the Eagle Union."
A pause.
Then correcting himself.
"Hana."
Another pause.
"...I mean Yorktown."
From somewhere nearby—
Hornet immediately burst out laughing.
"There it is again."
Yuuki ignored her.
Then continued.
"And the Mother of the Royal Navy."
"Hood."
Silence.
Then Friedrich laughed.
A warm.
Musical laugh.
The kind that somehow made everyone feel comfortable.
"My child..."
The title alone made several Iron Blood girls emotional again.
"Are you telling me..."
Then teasingly—
"That you desire yet another mother among your fiancées?"
Yuuki immediately pointed.
"I did not say that."
Friedrich completely ignored the defense.
Then softly—
"Besides."
Her voice became gentler.
"In matters of the heart..."
A pause.
Then warmly—
"I am already married to you."
Critical damage.
Across multiple factions.
Hornet fell over laughing.
Amagi covered her smile.
Even Hood nearly choked on her tea.
Meanwhile—
The Iron Blood girls reacted immediately.
Konigsberg pointed dramatically.
"I knew it."
Yuuki groaned.
Königsberg grinned.
"Commander."
Then teasingly—
"You even managed to charm our mother?"
Nearby—
Karlsruhe looked impressed.
The little Z destroyers looked amazed.
Leipzig tried and failed to hide her smile.
Then Konigsberg continued.
"You sly fox."
Yuuki pointed at her.
"That's not how this happened."
"It absolutely is."
"No."
"Yes."
Meanwhile—
Köln simply sighed.
Deeply.
The sigh of someone who had long accepted reality.
"At this point..."
She rubbed her forehead.
"I am no longer surprised."
Hornet immediately nodded.
"See?"
"Even Köln agrees."
"I did not say that."
"You implied it."
"I absolutely did not."
Back within the connection—
Friedrich's laughter continued softly.
Then her voice became warm once more.
"My children seem happy."
The Iron Blood girls immediately became quiet.
Listening.
Then Friedrich continued.
"That alone eases this mother's heart."
The teasing faded.
Leaving behind simple affection.
Simple love.
The kind only a mother could give.
Then softly—
"Take care of them for me, child."
Yuuki smiled.
"I already am."
Friedrich hummed happily.
"Yes."
"I can feel that."
And hearing those words—
The Iron Blood girls smiled.
Because their mother had noticed.
Because she approved.
And because for the first time in years—
The family felt whole again despite from afar.
The warm atmosphere created by Friedrich's presence lingered.
Then—
Another voice cut into the connection.
Sharp.
Confident.
Possessive.
"Hold it, Mother."
Immediately—
Several Iron Blood girls recognized the voice.
Konigsberg blinked.
Karlsruhe groaned.
Köln rubbed her forehead.
"...Hindenburg."
A new presence emerged beside Friedrich's warmth.
Unlike Friedrich—
This one felt like a storm.
Pride.
Confidence.
Danger.
And a very large ego.
Then the voice spoke again.
"So."
There was obvious scrutiny in her tone.
"Was it you who summoned me?"
Yuuki blinked.
"I suppose?"
The voice hummed.
Suspicious.
Evaluating.
Then—
"You."
The word sounded like an accusation.
"A human."
A pause.
Then almost incredulously—
"The one Mother accepted?"
Nearby—
Friedrich merely smiled.
Entirely amused.
Then the newcomer continued.
"You are my Commander?"
Another pause.
Then surprisingly—
"Very well."
The Iron Blood girls immediately looked shocked.
That was fast.
Hindenburg continued.
"I shall temporarily allow this contract between shipgirl and human."
Yuuki immediately raised an eyebrow.
"Temporarily?"
"Do not become arrogant."
There it was.
The Hindenburg everyone expected.
Then proudly—
"I am Hindenburg."
Hindenburg's voice carried enough confidence for an entire fleet.
"Iron Blood heavy cruiser."
Then dismissively—
"Shipgirls such as myself are apparently referred to as blueprint ships."
A pause.
Then—
"A title I could not care less about."
Nearby—
Konigsberg laughed.
"Yep."
"That's definitely her."
Then Hindenburg continued.
"As long as you prove your strength."
"And do not bore me."
The last part sounded especially important.
"I shall obey the contract we have established."
Then proudly—
"You are now my contractor."
Yuuki blinked.
"Contractor?"
"Correct."
The surrounding shipgirls immediately exchanged looks.
Then—
Friedrich laughed.
A full motherly laugh.
"My my."
"Hindenburg."
The cruiser immediately became defensive.
"What?"
Then Friedrich casually revealed the truth.
"My child merely wishes to become a succubus."
Immediate devastation.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
Hornet exploded.
"HAAHAHAHAHA!"
Konigsberg nearly fell over.
Karlsruhe was crying from laughter.
Even Hood looked moments away from losing composure.
Meanwhile—
Hindenburg immediately protested.
"Mother."
Her voice carried genuine embarrassment.
"I am a demon."
"Of course, dear."
Friedrich answered instantly.
"My contractor is my human pet."
Nearby—
The laughter became even worse.
"HUMAN PET?"
Hornet was no longer capable of functioning.
Amagi covered her face.
Even Friedrich sounded amused now.
"Yes, dear."
The battleship's tone carried infinite patience.
"You are absolutely a terrifying demon."
The sarcasm was subtle.
Which somehow made it deadlier.
"Mother."
"Yes, dear?"
"I am serious."
"I know."
"No, truly."
"I know."
Yuuki finally rubbed his forehead.
This was getting out of control.
Then Hindenburg suddenly pointed at him.
Or at least everyone imagined she was.
"Contractor."
"What?"
"Do not laugh."
"I'm trying."
"Try harder."
Unfortunately—
The moment she said that—
Everyone laughed again.
Even Yuuki.
Then from beside Friedrich came another quiet voice.
One carrying equal strength.
But significantly more exhaustion.
"...I knew this would happen."
A sigh echoed through the connection.
Mecklenburg.
Apparently witnessing the entire disaster unfold.
And regretting every second of it.
Meanwhile Friedrich simply smiled.
Watching her children interact.
Watching laughter return.
And for the first time in years—
The Mother of Iron Blood felt at peace.
Yuuki blinked.
"Wait."
Then looked toward Friedrich.
"Blueprint ships?"
The Mother of Iron Blood softly laughed.
"My child."
Her voice carried the patience of a mother explaining something to a curious son.
"We are what Azur Lane once called Priority Ships."
Immediately—
Kaguya's ears perked up from nearby.
Meanwhile several shipgirls listened carefully.
Because even among them—
Priority Ships were legends.
Yuuki frowned thoughtfully.
"Kaguya mentioned Priority Ships before."
Then remembering.
"But I thought Azur Lane Headquarters lost the ability to create them when the headquarters was destroyed."
Friedrich hummed approvingly.
"A reasonable assumption."
Then gently corrected him.
"But not entirely accurate."
The Iron Blood girls immediately listened.
Even Hornet stopped fooling around.
Then Friedrich explained.
"Before the fall of Headquarters..."
"There were already completed blueprint projects."
"They had physical bodies."
"Wisdom Cubes."
"Rigging."
Everything necessary.
Then softly—
"We were distributed among the factions for safekeeping."
Yuuki blinked.
"So you already existed."
"Indeed."
Then proudly—
"All of us had already been born."
The atmosphere became thoughtful.
Then Friedrich continued.
"We were separated into two categories."
"Priority."
"And Decisive."
Nearby—
Konigsberg nodded.
The little Z destroyers listened carefully.
Then Friedrich elaborated.
"Priority Ships were already capable of rivaling Sirens."
A pause.
Then—
"Decisive Ships surpassed even them."
Several girls visibly reacted.
Because that was an absurd statement.
Even by Azur Lane standards.
Then Friedrich sighed softly.
"I was traveling to reunite the scattered Priority and Decisive ships."
The warmth in her voice remained.
"To rebuild our fractured family."
"To reorganize after ten years of separation."
Then quietly—
"But the Mother Whale interrupted those plans."
Yuuki nodded slowly.
Then another thought occurred to him.
"Kaguya."
Silence.
Friedrich blinked.
"Hm?"
Yuuki pointed toward the purple-haired fox currently watching from nearby.
"What about Kaguya?"
The three Iron Blood ships became quiet.
Then—
Hindenburg answered first.
"Kaguya?"
Her tone carried genuine confusion.
"We do not know that name."
Yuuki blinked.
"What?"
Hindenburg immediately sounded offended.
"Contractor."
"We know every Priority Ship."
Every Priority Ship."
Friedrich nodded.
"As well as every Decisive Ship."
Yuuki frowned.
"Then why does she call herself a Special Priority Ship?"
Silence.
Then—
A third voice finally joined the conversation.
A dramatic voice.
A very dramatic voice.
"Arcane Ships."
Everyone turned.
Because apparently the third Iron Blood ship had decided now was the perfect time for her introduction.
"I am the Nachthexe!"
The declaration echoed dramatically through the connection.
Nearby—
Konigsberg immediately groaned.
Karlsruhe laughed.
Köln looked tired already.
Then the newcomer continued.
"I am the Iron Blood battleship Mecklenburg!"
Mecklenburg's voice carried enough theatrical energy for an entire concert.
"Listen!"
Then dramatically—
"To the symphony of boiling blood and madness!"
Yuuki blinked.
"What?"
She wasn't finished.
"To the poem of electric guitars and drums in tandem that pierces the heavens!"
Hornet immediately whispered.
"I like her."
Then Mecklenburg continued anyway.
"As my witchly powers surge!"
"To the lofty sky realm shall I ascend!"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Yuuki stared.
The shipgirls stared.
Even Pennsylvania and Arizona listening through the connection seemed confused.
Then finally—
"...Uhh."
A pause.
Then another.
"...What?"
Nearby—
Friedrich sighed.
The sigh of a mother who had seen this countless times.
"My child."
"Yes?"
"Please amuse her."
Yuuki blinked.
"What?"
Friedrich smiled.
"She is attempting to be a witch."
Immediate devastation.
Mecklenburg gasped.
"Mother!"
"You are."
"It is part of my aesthetic."
Nearby—
Hornet collapsed laughing.
Hindenburg groaned.
"Please stop encouraging her."
"I am not encouraging her."
"You absolutely are."
Meanwhile—
Yuuki finally understood.
Priority Ships.
Decisive Ships.
And now—
Apparently Arcane Ships.
Then his gaze slowly drifted toward Kaguya.
Who simply smiled mysteriously.
As if she knew something the others didn't.
And judging by Friedrich's reaction—
That mystery might be even older than Azur Lane itself.
"Mother!"
Mecklenburg immediately sounded scandalized.
"I do not 'try' to be a witch!"
A pause.
Then Friedrich's warm voice answered.
"Yes, dear."
The Iron Blood mother didn't miss a beat.
"You are trying very hard to be a witch."
Nearby—
Hornet completely lost control again.
Konigsberg laughed so hard she nearly fell over.
Even Hindenburg sounded embarrassed on Mecklenburg's behalf.
Then Friedrich delivered the final blow.
"Tis a shame she was born as a Decisive Ship."
Critical damage.
"Uuuuuuwwww..."
Mecklenburg's pitiful pout could practically be heard through the connection.
"Hmph!"
Then dramatically—
"So even the famed Commander wishes to be free of the shackles of gravity..."
Yuuki blinked.
"I have no problem flying."
The witch persona immediately faltered.
"D-Do you... really?"
The sudden uncertainty caught everyone off guard.
Then Mecklenburg quickly recovered.
"W-Well!"
"If you acknowledge my abilities..."
Her confidence returned.
"I might very well lend you this flying machine blessed with witchly powers!"
Yuuki smiled.
"Haha."
"Okay."
The battleship immediately perked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
Then chuckling—
"Let's do that after I rescue you."
Immediate success.
Mecklenburg sounded delighted.
Then Yuuki tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Actually."
"Hm?"
"You seem to know more about Arcane Ships."
The witch immediately straightened.
This was clearly her favorite topic.
"Ah!"
"Of course!"
Then proudly—
"Arcane Ships are a unique evolution."
The others listened.
Even Friedrich remained quiet.
Allowing Mecklenburg to explain.
"Priority Ships."
"Decisive Ships."
Then dramatically—
"And Arcane Ships."
Her voice carried genuine excitement now.
"Arcane Ships are vessels whose Wisdom Cubes were infused with magical energy."
Yuuki's interest immediately increased.
Meanwhile—
Hornet whispered.
"Oh."
"She's actually being serious."
Even Hindenburg sounded surprised.
Then Mecklenburg continued.
"Decisive Ships are already beyond most conventional shipgirls."
A pause.
Then proudly—
"But Arcane Ships surpass even us."
The atmosphere became thoughtful.
Then the witch's excitement returned.
"When I heard you possessed one..."
Yuuki already knew who she meant.
"Kaguya."
"Exactly!"
Mecklenburg sounded genuinely thrilled.
"A shipgirl constructed using magical principles."
"A vessel capable of manipulating magical energy naturally."
Then excitedly—
"Do you know how rare that is?!"
Yuuki laughed.
"I figured she was special."
"Special?"
Mecklenburg immediately protested.
"Special is an understatement."
Nearby—
Friedrich softly laughed.
The witch was completely absorbed now.
Then Mecklenburg suddenly remembered something.
"Oh!"
"When you rescue me..."
Her voice carried obvious anticipation.
"Please introduce me to Miss Kaguya!"
Hornet immediately grinned.
"You just want to compare magical powers."
"...Perhaps."
"Perhaps?"
"...Definitely."
The entire group laughed.
Then Yuuki leaned back slightly.
Listening to the three Iron Blood legends.
One mother.
One self-proclaimed demon.
One witch enthusiast.
Then smiling—
"Hmm."
"Interesting bunch."
Friedrich laughed softly.
Hindenburg scoffed.
Mecklenburg proudly accepted it as a compliment.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki couldn't help smiling.
Because somewhere back in the real world—
Kaguya was likely asleep.
Curled up beside Akagi after winning yet another game of shogi.
Completely unaware that three powerful Iron Blood ships were discussing her.
One curious.
One confused.
And one extremely excited to meet her.
Then Yuuki imagined the future.
Kaguya.
Friedrich.
Hindenburg.
Mecklenburg.
All in the same room.
There was a brief pause.
Then he immediately decided that was a future problem.
A very large future problem.
One he would gladly accept.
Because before any of that could happen—
He had a Mother Whale to intercept.
And sixteen shipgirls and Nikkes waiting to be brought home.
The connection remained stable.
Warm.
Hopeful.
For the first time in years, Friedrich, Hindenburg, and Mecklenburg weren't merely surviving.
They were talking.
Laughing.
Planning for the future.
Then Friedrich's gentle voice echoed once more.
"We shall await your arrival, child."
The words carried complete confidence.
Not hope.
Certainty.
As though rescue was already inevitable.
Then Hindenburg spoke.
Naturally sounding proud.
"Contractor."
Yuuki already knew where this was going.
"Yes?"
"We shall properly meet once our contract is formalized."
Yuuki rubbed his forehead.
"Uh huh."
Nearby—
Hornet immediately whispered.
"She's already claiming him."
Köln sighed.
"Please don't encourage her."
Meanwhile—
Mecklenburg suddenly interrupted.
"Commander!"
The energy level immediately increased.
"Let's build a flying machine together after you rescue me!"
Yuuki blinked.
"What?"
The witch enthusiast sounded incredibly excited.
"I wish to learn magic from Lady Kaguya!"
Then dramatically—
"So I may improve my flying machine!"
Nearby—
Hindenburg sighed.
Friedrich smiled.
Clearly accustomed to this.
Then Yuuki became curious.
"Actually."
"Hm?"
"What kind of flying machine do you want to build?"
Silence.
Then—
A very serious answer.
"A flying broomstick."
The entire Void World went silent.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Then Mecklenburg proudly continued.
"Like a witch."
Meanwhile Yuuki finally understood everything.
"Oh."
A pause.
Then nodding.
"Oh, no wonder."
Mecklenburg immediately perked up.
"You understand!"
"Now I do."
The witch sounded genuinely emotional.
"It has always been my dream."
Then quietly—
"To ride through the sky on a broomstick."
The atmosphere became unexpectedly wholesome.
Then Yuuki casually answered.
"We have those."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Silence.
Then—
"...What?"
The word came from Mecklenburg.
Hindenburg.
And Friedrich.
Simultaneously.
Yuuki blinked.
"The flying broomsticks?"
"Yes."
Mecklenburg sounded like her brain had stopped functioning.
"You..."
A pause.
"Have..."
Another pause.
"Flying broomsticks?"
"Yup."
The witch immediately looked ready to ascend into another dimension.
Then Yuuki continued.
"Not magical."
"But technological."
Nearby—
Hornet already knew what was coming.
And was trying not to laugh.
Then Yuuki explained.
"Hover technology."
"Miniaturized thrust systems."
"Arc reactor power supplies."
"Anti-gravity systems."
Then smiling.
"And a little imagination."
Mecklenburg was completely silent.
Processing.
Then—
"You made actual flying broomsticks."
"Yes."
"...For military applications?"
"No."
"...Research?"
"No."
Then Yuuki smiled.
"We made them for fun."
Immediate devastation.
Somewhere inside the Mother Whale—
Mecklenburg's soul left her body.
"FOR FUN?"
Hornet completely lost control.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Even Friedrich laughed openly.
Meanwhile Hindenburg sounded offended on Mecklenburg's behalf.
"You spent years pursuing your dream."
"I KNOW!"
"And they built one recreationally."
"I KNOW!"
Yuuki continued.
Unhelpfully.
"We even added custom effects."
The witch froze.
"...Effects?"
"Colored trails."
The silence became dangerous.
Then—
"Colored."
"Trails."
"Yes."
Mecklenburg sounded one sentence away from a breakdown.
Then Yuuki delivered the finishing blow.
"We modeled some after broomsticks from Harry Potter. The best one was the Firebolt Supreme."
Critical hit.
Super effective.
The witch was gone.
Completely gone.
Nearby—
Even Amagi was laughing now.
Then Yuuki continued.
"Oh."
"We also host Quidditch tournaments."
Silence.
Then—
"...What."
"Using anti-booby suits and broomsticks."
A pause.
Then casually—
"Pretty fun."
Mecklenburg immediately pointed.
Though nobody could see it.
"Commander."
"Yes?"
"When you rescue me."
Her voice carried absolute determination.
"I require one."
Yuuki laughed.
"Done."
"No."
She sounded deadly serious.
"I require ten."
Nearby—
Friedrich softly sighed.
"My child."
"Mother."
"You are becoming excited."
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"I have found my people."
The entire group burst into laughter.
And for the first time since her capture—
Mecklenburg wasn't thinking about imprisonment.
Or the Mother Whale.
Or survival.
She was imagining herself riding a flying broomstick beside Kaguya.
A dream she never thought possible.
Only to discover someone had already built it.
For fun.
"Just wait two more days."
Yuuki smiled toward the fading connection.
"We'll be there."
Immediately—
Mecklenburg sounded ready to explode with excitement.
"I can't wait!"
Friedrich's warm laughter followed.
"We shall be waiting, child."
Then Hindenburg's voice cut in one last time.
"Do not forget our contract, Contractor."
Yuuki sighed.
"I won't."
"Good."
The satisfaction in her voice was obvious.
Then—
The connection faded.
The lights of Friedrich, Hindenburg, and Mecklenburg slowly disappeared into the distance.
Leaving only the moonlit fields of the Void World behind.
For a few moments—
Nobody spoke.
Then Hood quietly cleared her throat.
"My dear sir."
Yuuki looked toward her.
The elegant battlecruiser's expression was unusually curious.
"Do you truly mean it?"
"Hm?"
"The flying broomsticks."
Immediate interest spread through the gathered shipgirls.
Even Amagi looked intrigued.
Then Yuuki shrugged.
"Sure."
He opened his inventory.
A flash of light appeared.
And suddenly—
A broomstick materialized in his hands.
Silence.
The shipgirls stared.
It looked exactly like what a witch would ride.
Polished handle.
Elegant design.
Sleek construction.
Then Hornet immediately pointed.
"No way."
Even Hood blinked.
"...You actually have one."
Yuuki nodded.
"This is the fastest model we developed."
Then proudly—
"The Firebolt Supreme."
The name alone caused Mecklenburg's distant scream of excitement to somehow echo in everyone's imagination.
Then Yuuki continued.
"Based on old Harry Potter media."
Nearby—
Amagi tilted her head.
"So it truly is a broomstick."
"Technically."
Yuuki tapped the side of it.
"It's actually a hover vehicle disguised as a broom."
Then explaining further—
"Anti-gravity systems."
"Compact hover engines."
"Arc-reactor power supply."
"No magic involved."
Hornet immediately walked around it.
Examining it.
"That's ridiculous."
"Correct."
"And you built it anyway."
"Also correct."
Then Yuuki casually sat sideways on the broom.
The shipgirls immediately focused.
The broom slowly rose from the ground.
Floating effortlessly.
Several girls gasped.
Then—
Yuuki leaned forward.
The broom accelerated.
Smoothly.
Silently.
Gliding through the air.
The shipgirls watched in amazement.
Then he shifted into a proper riding posture.
And vanished.
BOOM!
A streak of light shot across the night sky.
Trails of glowing energy streamed behind him like a meteor.
The Firebolt Supreme carved brilliant arcs through the darkness.
Looping.
Diving.
Climbing.
The colorful trail remained suspended behind him.
Painting the sky.
"WHAAAAAT?!"
Hornet's voice echoed across the field.
Even Hood looked genuinely impressed.
Amagi's ears perked upward.
Elizabeth stared.
Valiant pointed dramatically.
"I REQUIRE ONE."
Warspite simply crossed her arms.
Though the tiny smile on her face gave her away.
Then Yuuki finally descended.
The broom slowing gracefully before touching the grass.
The glowing trail slowly faded behind him.
Silence.
Then—
Hornet immediately grabbed him.
"You never showed us this!"
"I forgot."
"HOW DO YOU FORGET FLYING BROOMSTICKS?"
"Easy."
"I have orbital cannons."
"...Fair."
The carrier couldn't even argue with that.
Then Hood approached.
Examining the broom.
"My."
"It is rather elegant."
Yuuki nodded.
"It is."
Then casually—
"Also incredibly impractical."
Several girls blinked.
"What?"
Yuuki shrugged.
"It has no armor."
"No shields."
"No weapons."
Then tapping the broom.
"It's basically a sports vehicle."
Immediate devastation.
"You built flying broomsticks."
"Yes."
"And didn't arm them."
"Correct."
Hornet looked personally offended.
Then Yuuki continued.
"It gets worse."
"There is worse?"
"You need a pilot license."
The shipgirls collectively groaned.
Then Yuuki explained.
"No windshield."
"Wind resistance becomes horrible at high speed."
"Requires special goggles."
"Requires flight training."
"And if you mess up..."
A pause.
Then—
"You crash."
Immediate concern.
Hornet slowly lowered her hand.
"...Okay maybe the license is a good idea."
"Exactly."
Then Yuuki smiled.
"Still fun though."
Nearby—
Amagi watched the broom thoughtfully.
Hood looked fascinated.
Elizabeth was already imagining Royal Navy broom races.
And somewhere inside the Mother Whale—
If Mecklenburg had heard this demonstration—
She probably would have started counting the minutes until rescue.
Because apparently—
Her lifelong dream already existed.
And not only did it exist—
The Commander used it for recreation.
Yuuki was about to put the Firebolt Supreme away.
Then paused.
"Hmm."
The gathered shipgirls immediately became suspicious.
That sound usually meant he had an idea.
And Yuuki's ideas tended to be dangerous.
Or expensive.
Sometimes both.
Then several flashes of light appeared.
One.
Two.
Three.
Soon—
An entire rack of broomsticks stood neatly on the grass.
Simpler than the Firebolt Supreme.
Simpler.
Clearly training models.
The shipgirls immediately crowded around them.
Hornet was first.
Of course.
"Oh no."
Hood immediately recognized the expression.
"Dear sir."
"What?"
"I believe you have created a problem."
Yuuki ignored her.
Then pointed toward the practice brooms.
"You girls can use these."
Silence.
Then—
"WE CAN?"
The destroyers immediately appeared from nowhere.
Nobody knew how.
Yuuki nodded.
"They're training models."
"Lower speed."
"Safety limiters."
"No crazy acceleration."
Hornet immediately hugged one.
"When do we get faster ones?"
"You don't even have a license."
"I'll get one."
Then Yuuki continued.
"Once you're revived and properly certified..."
He tapped the Firebolt Supreme.
"You can move up to the faster versions."
The excitement across the gathered shipgirls was immediate.
Even Warspite looked interested.
Though she pretended otherwise.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki materialized a small instruction manual.
And handed it over.
"Everything you need is inside."
Then after a pause—
"...Or wait until I return and give you lessons."
Several girls immediately perked up.
"Lessons?"
"Yes."
"Practical lessons?"
"Yes."
The excitement somehow increased.
Then Yuuki sighed.
"And please be careful."
Everyone nodded.
Then he added—
"The saddle area can become painful without proper protection."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then Hornet blinked.
"...What?"
Yuuki pointed at the broom.
"Long flights."
"High speeds."
"Constant vibration."
"Trust me."
The veterans immediately understood.
The younger shipgirls did not.
Then Hood quietly coughed into her glove.
Amagi's ears twitched.
Several girls blushed.
Hornet slowly lowered the broom.
"...I suddenly respect pilots more."
"Good."
Meanwhile—
The destroyers had already begun arguing over who got which broom.
Valiant wanted hers customized.
Elizabeth wanted a royal version.
Warspite claimed she didn't care.
Nobody believed her.
And somewhere inside the Mother Whale—
Mecklenburg was likely seconds away from ascending to another plane of existence if she ever learned practice models already existed.
Yuuki smiled.
The scene was peaceful.
Warm.
Normal.
Then—
The familiar glow appeared around him.
A soft golden light.
Gentle.
Comforting.
The sign that his time in the Void World was nearing its end.
Several shipgirls immediately noticed.
The excitement around the broomsticks slowly quieted.
Because everyone knew what it meant.
He would be leaving soon.
Returning to reality.
Returning to the Daedalus.
Returning to the coming battles.
Then—
Before anyone else could react—
Hood moved.
The elegant battlecruiser stepped forward.
Then wrapped her arms around him.
Holding him close.
Not possessively.
Not desperately.
Just warmly.
Like someone who wanted to remember the feeling for a little longer.
"My dear sir."
Her voice was soft.
Affectionate.
"I suppose this means our time is ending for tonight."
Yuuki smiled.
"For tonight."
Nearby—
The other shipgirls immediately pouted.
Especially Hornet.
"Unfair."
"Very."
Then—
Another pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.
Amagi.
The fox strategist rested her cheek against his shoulder.
Her tails swaying gently.
"Then permit this one to be selfish for a moment."
The softness in her voice surprised even some of the others.
Then quietly—
"You have given us much tonight."
Her embrace tightened slightly.
"You gave hope to the imprisoned."
"You reunited families."
"You made our children smile."
Then softly—
"And somehow introduced flying broomsticks."
The last part drew laughter from everyone.
Even Hood.
Even Yuuki.
Then silence settled once more.
Comfortable silence.
The kind shared between people who no longer needed many words.
Around them—
The shipgirls watched.
Some smiling.
Some pouting.
Some already planning how to steal a broomstick once revived.
But all of them understood one thing.
The glow meant he would leave.
Yet none of them were afraid anymore.
Because now they knew.
He always came back.
And in two days—
He wouldn't just return to them.
He would bring sixteen more people home.
The line somehow continued.
Yuuki had long since accepted that escape was impossible.
The moment one shipgirl finished, another stepped forward.
First came Downes.
Arms folded.
Trying to look cool.
Trying and failing.
"You don't have to."
Yuuki smiled.
"But you want one."
Downes immediately looked away.
"...Maybe."
The forehead kiss she received immediately destroyed whatever defense she had prepared.
"Yeah, okay."
Then she quickly retreated before anyone noticed her smile.
Unfortunately everyone noticed.
Next came Foote.
"Tsk."
The destroyer crossed her arms.
"You don't have to."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"..."
"...Foote."
"..."
The destroyer groaned.
"Fine."
Everyone laughed as she stepped forward anyway.
Then came McCall.
Much easier.
Much less argumentative.
She simply smiled and received her reward before quietly stepping aside.
Nearby—
Nevada laughed loudly.
"Well now."
The battleship crossed her arms.
"I won't reject a kiss from a young'un."
"Oho?"
"Don't oho me."
She received one anyway.
Then proudly declared herself the winner.
Beside her—
Oklahoma giggled happily.
"Ehee~"
The cheerful battleship looked delighted before she had even received hers.
Then immediately hugged Nevada afterward.
Nearby—
Omaha stepped forward.
Calmly.
Patiently.
Enjoying the atmosphere.
Then Yuuki suddenly pointed.
"Wait."
Omaha blinked.
"What?"
Yuuki grinned.
"A kiss for my OK girl?"
The reaction was immediate.
Oklahoma laughed.
Hornet laughed.
Half the fleet laughed.
Meanwhile—
Pensacola pointed at him.
"I hate you."
"You laughed."
"I still hate you."
"You definitely laughed."
Pensacola pouted.
Which only made everyone laugh harder.
Nearby—
Raleigh quietly enjoyed the chaos.
Then came the teachers.
Which was dangerous.
Because teachers always found loopholes.
First—
Langley adjusted her glasses.
"I wouldn't mind receiving one every now and then."
Yuuki nodded.
Then immediately counterattacked.
"Only if you finish your carrots."
The teacher froze.
Nearby—
The fleet exploded into laughter.
"Commander!"
Langley looked genuinely betrayed.
"Not the carrots."
"The carrots, Langley."
"I teach aircraft carriers."
"And you still need your vegetables."
The argument was lost before it began.
Then she received her forehead kiss.
And immediately looked much less annoyed.
"Fine."
Then quietly—
"...Still not eating carrots."
"Langley."
"No."
Next came Ranger.
The teacher smiled knowingly.
"A kiss for your teacher?"
Yuuki laughed.
"You already knew that would work."
"Of course."
The veteran teacher looked entirely pleased with herself afterward.
Nearby—
Richmond and Salt Lake City patiently waited their turns.
Both enjoying the warmth around them.
Then—
A quieter voice spoke.
Spence.
The destroyer's smile was gentle.
Small.
Hopeful.
Yuuki immediately noticed.
"What is it?"
Spence looked down for a moment.
Then softly—
"We'll reunite with them one day."
The atmosphere became quieter.
More emotional.
"I want to see everyone again."
Then smiling.
"The whole Beaver Squad."
The laughter faded.
Replaced by warmth.
Because everyone understood.
This wasn't about a kiss.
It wasn't about rewards.
It was about hope.
About reunion.
About family.
Yuuki gently patted her head before giving her a forehead kiss.
"We will."
Spence looked up.
Yuuki smiled.
"We'll find them."
"One by one."
"Just like we're finding everyone else."
Spence's eyes brightened.
Then she nodded firmly.
"Okay."
Around them—
The moonlit plaza remained alive with laughter.
With teasing.
With promises.