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During the time of his stint as an Army Commander, he, and his fellow soldier friend would watch some great movies. Besides the occasional laughs and some childish mocking of one particular bad character, he would soon come across a series that he would love to see it again.

That one scene would have an effect on him for a long, long time.  To be precise, a scene from all the famous TV series Game of Thrones. It came in the first season, first episode too. A character named Tyrion Lannister. Met a guy who is like him an outcast in Jon Show the Bastard. Both were accused of some lies that destroyed their reputation. 

When he met him, trying to sympathize with him, he said one of the quotes that changed and effectively erased any type of ego Caster may have back then:

"Never forget who you are, the rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor and it can never be used to hurt you."

The smallest character in Game of Thrones. But still delivered an inspiration quote so big that it changed Caster right then and there and still owes to that quote to this day. 

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After some bad denial tactics from Caster, he is trying his damn hardest to put the responsibilities onto others. Very uncharacteristic for a Commander. But he's trying his best to stay humble and down to earth as possible but the girl didn't have any of it.

"It's you! You're gonna be our new leader? Don't you get it yet?" The violet-haired girl raised her voice a little bit to the Commander.

Caster was dumbfounded. To the point that his brain was shut down. He just fought a long, hard war and won, and he's gonna fight again. He's in slight denial. Saying: 

"I-I... Really? That's ludicrous. You just pick me and not somebody else?" Caster said to the violet-haired girl.

"Don't worry, Commander. We'll be all here supporting you." Javelin spoke up. Smiling at Caster.

'Well, ain't that cute.' Caster thought because... She smiled, quite adorably. 

"Anyway, you can get up on your bed now." The other violet-haired girl said to Caster.

Caster was happy that he's not in this hospital bed anymore. Since he's pretty fearful of getting injured. Formerly an Army Commander, he can't in any circumstances get yourself hurt or let anyone know about your injury. It's an unwritten rule amongst great leaders. And he can't let himself get hurt anytime soon. 

Caster got up on his bed and he's shaking his feet for a little bit. To see if they are responding. Caster has a habit of doing weird things on the fly. And most of the soldiers notice it but not for Caster for some reason.

"What's your name? I really haven't got anyone's names yet." 

"Oh, my name is Vestal. The head nurse and repair ship of Azur Lane." The violet-haired girl named Vestal bowed in front of the Commander. 

'Repair ship? What? Well, that basically means "mechanic". Caster thought. 'And she's literally the only one that gave her name.' 

"U-uh, just don't bow to me... I'm not used to this kind of formality just yet. Give me time." Caster scratched his head and slight embarrassment. 

"That's fine. I know it's a bit overwhelming." Vestal smiled and she was looking kinda shy. 

Caster nodded with a smile that got the attention in the whole room. He had a pretty heart-warming smile. And I mean, anyone can make someone or even the ENTIRE room better with a good smile. 

But Caster noticed something was off. As he panned his head around 360 degrees style, he's in a room full of girls and no male in sight. 

'W-what?! No males here? All personnel here is girls? It's not that I have a problem. It's just I'm never gonna get used to this.' Caster thought. And he's pretty much explained his 2nd mind-blown moment of the day. 

Back in the Army's training camps, Caster, back when he was a Drill Sergeant, he would supervise the new cadets. It always has a cycle. As per his observations through the 1 and a half year he served before getting promoted. It would always start from: 

1. Getting disappointed as hell with the new Cadets.

2. Mood swings getting to Caster. Making him a bipolar Drill Sergeant.

3. Slightly impressed as the Cadets finally adapt to the harsh training regiment of the soon-to-be Army Rangers. 

4. And lastly, a full-on getting impressed as the Graduates finally finish their 4-month training program.

RINSE, AND REPEAT.

One time though, he was tasked to oversee a female platoon with a female officer at the helm. He would always look on with slight nervousness. He didn't know those female Cadets would be pretty menacing themselves. They work hard in workouts, drills, obstacle courses. And at one point, he told the male platoon he was supposed to oversee to take on the female platoon on a "friendly" competition with an obstacle course that was dependent on time.

But those moments are from the past. And he's forced to face reality. That he's forced to face that the next days, months, or even years that he'll be working with these women in the room. 

"What time is it now?" He asked Javelin as he was walking out of the room. 

"I don't really know, Commander. I don't see a clock anywhere." Javelin said to Caster. As he sighed and as he wondered what to do now.

"So. What shall we go in this fine... Afternoon? I still don't know the time." 

Caster is still thinking about what to do now. Now, he's here and he's absolutely confused. But he is in the "Azur Lane" Headquarters or whatever Vestal was saying earlier. He's still overwhelmed by the sheer amount of happenings that happened in one morning. He feels exhausted by just thinking about it.

"Hey, since you don't know how to navigate here, why don't I give you a tour of the base?" Javelin suggested. And what a suggestion it was. As Caster's face lit up in slight excitement. 

"That isn't a bad idea. Let's do it. Where shall we start?" Caster looked at Javelin. 

"Oh! The cafeteria! That's a really good place! Hornet makes the best food there!" Javelin grabbed Caster by the hand and led him to the cafeteria.

After a bit of running down the hallway, they got the cafeteria. Caster wasn't impressed nor disgusted by the look of it. It was clean, compact, with many tables for more than 35+ people. He wasn't surprised at all. But what's surprising is the number of girls who were in that cafeteria. For once in his life, he felt like an "outcast" amongst the ship girls in the cafeteria. 

And he got even more scared when all of the girls in the cafeteria all snapped their head to Caster. Who was still nervous. But he played it off by looking somewhere else. 

'This is such a bad idea! Why are you ALL staring at me?!' Caster said to himself with terror. Further adding to his confusion and probably losing his self-confidence in himself.

However, Javelin is a keen observer. She read' Caster's body language and Caster was pretty easy to read. She took notice of Caster's nervousness and she barged in to help calm the Army Commander down.

"D-don't look at them, Commander," Javelin told Caster. But he suddenly didn't respond still doesn't wanna look at the direction of the tables where the girls are still staring at him. Noticing that her words didn't work, she told her fellow ship-girls, that they should not stare at him too much or he'll never move from his spot.

"You can move now, Gee, you are a really nervous guy." Javelin commented on the sudden nervousness that Caster displayed.

"Imagine you in my shoes, I'm pretty sure you'll also crumble with what it felt like millions of eyes staring at me. It was scary." Caster retorted. Finally getting his calm demeanor back.

Javelin and Caster walked up to the area where the food is being served. And the kitchen staff also looked at Caster with slight confusion, shock, and many other emotions that made Caster uncomfortable. But fortunately, they all look back to their places as they continue making food. Did I mention that the food smelled good? They were pretty talented in many other aspects too.

"Speaking of which, I'm going there to eat something later. The food smelled good." Caster smiled as he left the building into the sweltering hot sun this afternoon. But it was starting to calm down bit by bit. 

"See? I'll join you! I haven't eaten anything since the early morning when I was deployed." Javelin repeated Caster's statement. 

They walked to more buildings as they watch the waves go by and they chatted longer than the tour itself. Until they were interrupted.

"Ahem. Are you the "otherworlder"?" A green-haired that has features of a cat appeared in front of Caster and Javelin, interrupting their conversation.

Caster, however, didn't get to respond. He was already processing so much as he looks at the girl in front of him. And his attention was put on the cat-ears. The confusion keeps adding up. 

'Now, there's Neko ship girls here now?' Caster mentally facepalmed. But he made a mental note in his brain that he'll see more surprises and he shouldn't be surprised anymore.

Caster felt a body part just moved on his own... What is that you ask? It's his hand reaching on the head of the cat. But Caster pulled his arm right back to avoid anything bad happening to him. Self-control at it's finest. 

"Akashi! Why are you here?" Javelin asked the green-haired girl who is named Akashi.

"I'm here to also introduce the Commander, nya." Akashi told Javelin.

"Oh? Really? What do you do here?" Caster asked. 

"I'm the manager of the resources here," Akashi answered.

"Like a treasurer right?" 

"Like that... I guess."

Caster knew what she was implying. She didn't know that word at all. No big deal. 

"So, you're coming along with the tour?" Caster asked Akashi again.

"Of course, nya. Come along." Akashi left the two and the two were forced to follow her.

'Not gonna lie, that "nya" at the end of her every sentence is kinda... How do you say it? Cringe? Yeah, it was that word. I hope nobody gets pissed by that. Especially Akashi herself.' Caster thought of the possibilities. If there's girls that have animal features in this world, who else? He's sure that there are more girls that have that same features or more. 

To spare you time, the Caster was introduced to the warehouses where he saw a good amount of resources. But not enough to keep a base running for too long. And he made another mental note that he needs to get that resources more and more to keep the base from running out. 

He saw the shops, where they can get a profit from. Which was very surprising again for Caster. Saying: 'they can run businesses? Okay, I've seen it all now.' 

And of course, he got a good view of the Akashi's personal shop. Where she sells pretty bizarre stuff there. Though Caster doesn't know what those things are. He saw weapons, but the rest was unidentifiable junk. 

"That's the whole base for now. There's more. But this is the place that you want to give a bit more attention to. It's hard to already manage without a good leader in place." Akashi sighed before going inside her shop.

Caster was again, knew what she was implying. And he just sighed at the moment he becomes a Commander in an, even more, larger force. 

"I'll see you later, nya," Akashi said as she grabbed something in her shop.

Now, with Caster and Javelin left to their own devices, they decided to go back to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Because both of them are incredibly hungry.

As they were walking back to the cafeteria, they noticed three girls who were running in their direction, and going straight at them! 

"Why are you 3 running? Getting some cardio in?" Caster joked. Wanting someone to react. 

"No... Are you guys done with your tour, Commander?" Z23 spoke up.

"Uh, yes. The important stuff has been out of the way." Caster commented on the just-finished tour.

"Commander... Have you ate something yet?" Laffey lazily said. Making Caster chuckle a little bit.

"N-no. You wanna also join perhaps?" Caster asked the 3.

And of course, they all said yes. I mean, who wouldn't agree on food? Vegans? (A-kun: Oh, god, THEY'RE COMING FOR ME!) 

They all arrived back at the cafeteria to eat some well-deserved food from the battle. And they all sat down on the left side of the cafeteria to avoid too many social interactions from the other ship girls. 

The word about the battle with the soon-to-be Commander of Azur Lane has spread like wildfire. Every ship girl knows about it now. Except for the ones who were deployed in a mission. The 3, Z23, Laffey, and Ayanami stayed shut about the battle, not very talkative, but Javelin told it to Vestal and the other girls when she was in the hospital room when Caster was still knocked out and didn't wake up yet. 

But they couldn't care less as the food they got was wonderful in all ways. And it got to the point where Caster was comparing the quality of the food to the chefs in the army camps he stayed in his other universe. Before getting here in a weird fashion.

"Yummy. Laffey is full." Laffey lazily sat back on her chair and was sliding off it.

"Laffey! Stop that! You're not having manners in front of the Commander!" Z23 scolded Laffey. Maybe too hard for a minor offense. But Caster didn't take it as an offense as he said:

"Let her be. I'm fine with it. Just don't get to the point where you just melted onto the floor." Caster told Z23 as she calmed down.

Ayanami, on the other hand, was still silent. Didn't said a word since the battle. Caster noticed the lack of interactions with the other 3. So Caster had to strike up a conversation with her.

"Are you okay there?" Caster looked at Ayanami who just finished her food. 

Ayanami didn't respond to Caster's question. Caster wasn't mad nor annoyed. But he needed a way to get her to talk. But the plans were interrupted when Z23, or "Zed", told something to Caster. 

"Since we're done eating, why don't we show you your living quarters? Or your office to be exact." Zed told Caster. Which got his attention real quick.

"I have my own office?" Caster said, surprised. To a conventional Commander, it wouldn't be a surprise, but this is a Commander who instead sat in the sidelines and watched his men go into perilous mission after mission, he joined them in the fights. He was getting introduced into new things left, right and infinity directions. 

"Okay, then. Are you girls ready to come with us?" Caster asked the girls.

They all nodded and all of them proceeded to go to the Commander's Office. And coincidentally, just passed it when Javelin pulled Caster into the cafeteria. The office was near the cafeteria so the Commander won't get tired running a marathon from the office to the cafeteria.

"Woah..." Caster was really excited, shocked, and happy as he saw the interior of the office. He never thought a room could be this looking good. A part of him kinda regrets not staying back and relax but a part of him also doubted that his higher-ups would give him a room this decked out. 

The girls all noticed Caster's expression and they all couldn't help but smile and particularly, Javelin, giggle due to the new Commander's expression. 

"Never thought a room couldn't get any better. And by the way, Can I ask one question?" Caster asked Z23.

"Ask as many questions you want, sir." Z23 took attention to Caster.

"Can I customize it when I have the chance to do it?" Caster asked Z23 in which she wasn't really prepared to answer that question. But she took her best bet.

"Yes, you can. I don't know where to ask though if you want it changed." Z23 answered with a bit of uncertainty in her tone.

"Commander is... Gonna stay here." As Laffey gravitates towards the sofas of the room and laid there. Planning to sleep.

Ayanami's presence is still non-existent. She's still not talking. But Caster shoved that thought aside for a bit and just looked at his table. Which was glistening... Sparkling. He was so impressed. 

He sat to his chair for a little bit. And he looked at the 3 starter ship girls still at the door.

"Why don't you sit down? It's a great atmosphere to relax." Caster insisted the girls go in. 

"We have some preparations to attend, Commander. I hope you don't mind." Z23 told Caster. As Javelin get Laffey off the sofa and the 4 left the office. And Caster's again alone.

He took a gander in the room, it was spacious but not too big that it would be a waste of space. It was proportioned just right. 

He was ready to think about what the hell is going on and think about what's he's gonna do now until a girl goes into the office.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion." A girl in maid's clothing when into the room. Bowing down in respect to Caster.

Caster shook his head. Because he was SHOOK. 

'There are maids in this world... WHAT?! I don't believe this?' Caster said to himself in disbelief. 

"U-uh... That's fine. Can you please introduce yourself?" Caster asked the beautiful lady. 

"My name is HMS Belfast. Or Belfast to lessen the formality." Belfast said to the Commander.

He thought of the real-life counterpart of HMS Belfast. He never knew that that ship would be THIS. 

"W-why are you here perhaps?" Caster asked.

"Why, I'm going to be your personal maid from this point on." Belfast nonchalantly says to Caster. Without acknowledging Caster's reaction.

"Okay, WHAT?!"

A-kun: Took a while to finish, I'm having fun writing these chapters so far! I know that I might lose steam sooner or later but I'm using ALL OF DAT steam to get as far as possible before I lose motivation or something. But anyway, see you guys next chapter, goodbye!

To erase confusion on the dialogue: 

"Hello, I'm Edrich Caster!" = Saying out loud. 

'Hello, I'm A-kun!' = Inner thoughts. Or talking in his mind. (I dunno how to describe this lol.)

Word Count: 3139 Words.

3/31/20
12:30 AM