A-kun: Been a long while... Focused on another book, really... I'm so sorry for the inconvenience I've caused and my procrastination rearing it's absolutely ugly mug at it's worse. Literally nearing the end of the book...(?)

So again, I'm sorry, and let us start the chapter, shall we? Enjoy.

=================

16 Hours.

Oh, goddamn it, it's happening again... Why is this godforsaken cube always interrupting me at the most times?!

I shook my head, and slowly got up. And my right, uninjured hand was doing a lot of the heavy-lifting... But I look at the ground as I got up... It looked... Familiar.

And I look a bit to my left, and it confirmed it with the autumn leaves. This is the same sequence I experienced not too long ago. Well, the good kind. The other one, best not to remember.

I quickly snapped my face upright and looked at the distance, the same trees, the clean road, and a house right at the end of this street.

I do remember that I got walled off by the cube... And... God, I was so sure there was something else that stuck out.

Gah, no use thinking it's here, wasting time, let's just try to get there to see what's up...

I was still quite unsure if the barrier is now gone, so I opted to take a sprint and run to the end of the street. No more hesitation anymore, last time I did, I got walled off, didn't get to hear important information, all that stuff.

If there was anything I've learned with this white Cube, it's pretty impatient when it comes to these sequences.

"God, take the wheel..."

I stepped back, and now ran straight while I face away, my arm's already beaten up, but not my face...! I've committed to not hurt myself anymore, so I'll keep to my word.

Except I'm already charging right shoulder first into thi-

"OWWWW!"

My eyes shut, and as I open it, my face was mere inches off the ground and I felt something awful on my right arm. I looked at my shoulder and there were rough rashes everywhere and some blood was spilling out.

"Ow..." I whimpered before I looked up, back to the house. Still there. Oh, the car's still here. I begrudgingly stood up and walked to the car at a leisurely pace.

I lean on the back side door, tending to my rashes, and I take a glance inside the car. Was also messy. I guess I'm still no different here than now, that's for sure.

First off, I spot a guitar in the backseats. Not easy to miss. Another was a hanger that has my army uniform, judging from the camo design, just hanging from the driver seat's headrest... Okay, that concludes the backseats. Man, this is the thing I would be doing when I'm back to my home world?

Honestly... Away from everything that's happening right now...

I let out a sigh and turn my head to the other side to check the driver seat. I immediately saw a sunlight cover and a picture in one of those plastic pockets... Oh... Never mind that... As I face away.

But when I looked back, suddenly there was a sticker right in the center of the car window.

"Accept.

Be Content...

And Stay...?"

...what?

Then a deafening honk rang to my left and multiple unassuming vans roll up. I was even more confused.

The vans start surrounding the car and the doors swing open as a cascade of men ran out with "sketchy-looking" attire, but the most prominent one was the usage of an ugly mask on all of these men and some wearing glasses.

And then I felt a deep cut in my left elbow partnered with the sounds of glass shattering, making me turn around to see the men had sledgehammers and destroyed the windows of it, to my right others opened the trunk and spilled gasoline on it and lit it on fire.

I tried to move to stop them, but at the worst time, the barrier is rearing its ugly barrier again.

I pushed myself even harder... Well, I tried, since the damn barrier is so restricting now to my movement, I can't even move a step.

Staring helplessly to the men who walked up to the house and started to shoot up the house. Breaking the windows, even torching the lawn with fire. These guys are such maniacs.

Then I realized who was in that house. As the other "me" got dragged out of the house, and a camera man started recording the scene.

"This is what we do to American pigs!" A thick Russian accent was immediately apparent with this guy's voice, after that he took out his gun and pointed it...

"WAIT!"

I looked at my lifeless body of mine, as everyone walks away...

"CASTER!"

I jumped, and turned around to see who it was...

For it was a... Tree bark? I looked a bit to my left, my guitar is here...

"I'm... Back." I silently muttered, looking at my hands, shaking from the shock of what I just witnessed.

"Well, if it was trying to be explicit... I guess that cube got its point across..."

"...But what the actual hell was that...?"

=================

15 Hours.

"Commander, why the solemn look?"

"Yeah, Commander. Did someone hurt you?"

Caster kept walking on the beaches of the northern part of the island without responding to both of those questions, still staring at the clean sand.

But the girls right behind him are the towering New Jersey, and Prinz Hienrich. Both of them immediately trying to find the guy as their first order of business after arriving to the island.

Caster is now a well-known name among the ship-girls outside the base and in the fight for humanity's survival.

But these particular two are the most proactive in their approach. With both of them getting along with each other so fast, they both agreed to share time with him to know him better and better.

Caster, himself, gets that they're new to the base, but doesn't get the "why". Also, they're pretty terrible at reading the mood.

If his unresponsiveness was any indication of his sour mood.

And their heights compared to Caster, the guy might need to look up just to see their faces. And in a way, it wasn't helping as well.

"I'm going to be your protector, Commander, don't you worry!" Hienrich wrapped her arms around him, that made New Jersey pout. And with Caster not even making a reaction to the hug, just a side-eye glance and that is it.

So far, aside from the 2 throwing question after question to him with him not responding to any single one of them, he's also experienced a pretty forward gesture towards him as well, not just limited to hugging like Hienrich just did.

This pretty much reminded him of Akagi... And not for long, he remembered what she said on the top of that mountain.

'Am I ever going to decide...?'

He shook it off. As he heard New Jersey blurted out something: "Commander, do you mind hanging out with me? Or the both of us, if you don't mind." She said while not looking at him directly, as if it's just an off-hand statement.

'These two are not going to leave my tail for sure...'

But he looked to his left and Akashi's store was in view.

"Girls, I'm going to Akashi's store, follow me if you want." He stated. The first words he said to the 2 since walking on the beach. As he transitions his walk to a sprint and Hienrich followed, while New Jersey, wasn't just content with just running, she had to show off as she summoned her rigging, flung herself into the air with her cannons and landing near the store without much effort. Also ruining a particular spot on the beach now.

He couldn't help but smile and nearly laugh at her jump, but Jersey was so happy by the reaction, she reached her hands and pull him to an embrace. With his face firmly in her breasts.

"Don'tcha just love this sort of stuff?"

He tried to answer, but it was really muffled as New Jersey didn't wanna let go. With Prinz tossing a smirk at Jersey's way.

She then lightened up the hug and Caster, after breathing heavily, he went into the store, with Akashi typing on a keyboard on her computer.

"Akashi."

Akashi turned around and was scared for her life that someone just came into the store just unprompted.

"Nya...? What do you want, nya?"

"I want to take a look with our resources as of late. See if I can make sense with our really high spending over the past weeks."

"Okay, nya." As she kicked a spot under her desk and a hidden staircase showed itself. With Caster, New Jersey, and Hienrich left speechless.

"Glad that I made you guys shocked, nya. It took so long to build this. Come in, nya." Akashi moved her head, pointing down the stairs and there lies a massive blast door, almost looking like it's made for vaults.

"I feel like half the resources were just used on the labor of making this underground. Especially for this damn door..."

He thought in his mind on how would this even fit in that entrance they just went through because ain't no way the door was made from scratch.

"Okay, with this big door, what is behind this?" He held the door handle on the vault door... Caster had never tried opening a Vault Door before, let alone see one. But he tried, twisting the wheel at the center, while Akashi put the password and the door slowly opened on its own.

Behind it... Which was still a lot of resources. And it was also now housing the Research Lab for PR ships.

He was still kind of worried that they're burning through resources too fast. But Akashi interject with saying that he has so many girls that it'll make up for it in time.

"Yeah, Commander. I bet everyone in your fleet is working really hard for you."

He acknowledged her statement, followed with: "How could I ever repay them..."

Right behind him, New Jersey and Prinz Hienrich exchanged smirks with each other while Akashi caught the whole exchange.

"Okay, I think I'll come back to this soon, but I'll take my leave. Thanks for showing me this, Akashi." He waved and smiled at Akashi as she did likewise. And walked out back the ladder with Akashi feeling nervous for her Commander.

'Nya... I think something's bad is going to happen to him, nya...'

=================

14 Hours.

Belfast has not gotten Caster back into the office building yet as she's allowed him to stay out a bit more longer since he's being obedient in his recovery process.

And other girls outside the secretary circle jumped at the chance to get him to their gatherings.

And one such gathering is happening around the port. As the girls managed to build a bar. And it wasn't a small building either, it was kind of big for a bar. But his skepticism about this being a "bar" was the architecture. And literally the neon sign outside of it to make it noticeable at night.

"I guess they weren't lying on the bar part... But omitted some details." He sighed, as he leaned on the wall next to the entrance.

"Will I ever get actual control over the finances here?"

He slowly walked into the club awkwardly. He is literally a grown man, but felt as if he wasn't gonna fit in to this clu- bar... He might be right in his nervousness however.

He sheepishly opened the door into the bar. He immediately saw the bar. And Shoukaku was behind it and spotted him first. And she immediately let everyone know that he's in the bar.

He took deep breathes and walked in, in his best trying to fit in hopelessly. As every single girl in the bar was looking at him...

The guy knows most of the girls in the bar currently. Hornet, Lexington, Formidable, Victorious, Choukai, Mikasa, Admiral Hi-

'Wait, Hipper's here? Didn't expect that.'

Not only that, there was some new faces that hasn't seen before. But someone immediately walked up to Caster and greeted him.

"Welcome, Commander! You look tired, come sit down!" Allen M. Sumner grabbed Caster's hand and pulled him towards a table with girls already sitting on it.

'Don't get nervous now, I got this... Do I?'

He got forcibly sat down at the left table with Allen Sumner,

I-19, (A-kun: Is she even allowed to be here?)

Penelope, and Admiral Hipper. Quite the personalities on this table.

The some girls from the other tables were disappointed that he didn't sit down on their table but was willing to let the girls currently on his table to talk to him.

As for Caster the view from his spot was a stage at the center with some poles on it. 'Yeah... I'm for sure the target audience here...'

While he was still sheepishly staring around the place, Admiral Hipper, Penelope, and I-19 were all gazing at Caster, seemingly in a trance.

And it only took Allen coming back to the table to finally set the mood straight.

"Here some OJ for you, Commander! And one for myself too! You're paying for this, okay?" She threw a quirky smirk, which completely worked since Caster just shrugged...

"Why did you put this idiot right on our table?" Hipper snapped out of Caster's spell and freaked out that he's closer to her than he's ever been.

"Ms. Hipper, please don't disrespect Commander like that." Penelope took a sip of her juice. "Have we met, Commander? My name's Penelope of the Arethusa-class. I do at least hope you remember my name." Meanwhile, Hipper pouted and drank her shot, and poured herself another one.

"That's noted, Penelope. Quite the challenge you've given me. Nice to meet you, though." He smiled, which made someone jump on his arm, wrapping it.

"Commaaandeeer! I'm I-19! I've been waiting for sooooo long to see you!" I-19 introduced herself in more ways that one, as being the girl who wrapped herself in one of his arms. "I've been trying to find your office, but no one wants to help me... Can you please help me?"

Caster in response, put one finger on the lips of I-19. "Ask around some more. You'll find your way eventually." As she pouted in response, and gripped herself tighter on his right arm.

While that was all happening, he started to stare at Hipper downing another shot of liquor. Hipper quickly noticed.

"What are you looking at, idiot?"

Penelope, and Sumner was curious and started at the Commander for a response. But neither of them got anything from him. He just kept staring at Hipper while she was slowly unable to drink anything any more because of the embarrassment. And a small smirk from Caster to Hipper made her lose it and she immediately left the establishment, bringing the bottle of liquor with her, making Shoukaku the bartender, chase after her.

Caster was lightly chuckled after the fact. "She really can't handle it, can she?"

"Wow, Commander. You really made a lady leave, that's no good..." Sumner remarked and he apologized right after, stating that Hipper was just asking to get teased by him.

"Commander, tease me as well as praise me too!" I-19 spoke up. Now cranking her physical affection way up by wrapping her arms around his waists.

"Penelope, if you want to start contributing, find Hood so she can put you on the schedule of commissions, yes? That also goes to you I-19, and you, Sumner..." Caster started to headpat the redhead' head. Which made her snuggle even more.

"Excuse me, but can I borrow him for a little bit? Thank you so much..." Said a voice, coming from behind him. Turning around, it was St. Louis. He took him by his other arm and slowly brought him up. I-19, was saddened at the sight of him leaving, as Penelope was quick to comfort the girl.

"Thanks for the free OJ, Commander! I'll see you again soon!" Allen Sumner gave gratitude, even though she just dug into his personal funds.

But now he was led by St. Louis to the table on the very right, very near to the walls of the place. He was surrounded by Lexington, Formidable, Victorious, St. Louis herself, and Honolulu.

He had nothing to say to these girls, so he had the conversation come to him instead...

"So how are you, good-looking? Care for a drink?" She sipped some of her champagne and poured herself another glass-full before passing it to Caster himself.

He looked at the glass... And hesitantly picked it up.

'I have to drink this to not make myself look weird as hell!' He thought.

So with no hesitation, he drank the champagne in one go... It didn't taste as bad as he thought.

"Oh, that's pretty nice, actually..."

The girls didn't respond to anything that he said, which further made the moment awkward, but some girls were already telling a million things with just their stares into his eyes... And Caster for sure did not miss those signals they were giving him...

But his response was to look at his watch, and was immediately trying to think of what to do next, until someone else called to him. It was Shoukaku, and he did not hesitate to move spots as Shoukaku in his eyes, was a bit more approachable than those girls.

13 Hours.

He sat down, but he sat next to Zuikaku to his left, face planted to the table, possibly drunk. Beside her was Mikasa and Hornet who was talking to each other, and to his right was...

He hasn't seen her before... So he just minded his business.

"Commander, nice of you to actually come here." Shoukaku greeted before giving him a glass of alcohol before he declined, passing it to the girl to his right...

"I'm just here because when Belfast told me about this place, I didn't believe it. Who is responsible on letting this building be built without my permission?" He squinted a little at Shoukaku, expecting an answer.

Shoukaku waved her hands, denying any involvement in this. She might be partly responsible, but he didn't think that Shoukaku would be type of person would agree to this building. So he hesitantly let her off without further questions.

But then the girl that he didn't know the name of, raised her head. She starts looking around with a really tired look in her eyes, but when she faced to her left and saw Caster, she flinched at the sight, with her eyes widened.

"Umm... Commander... Nice to meet you." She lowered her head meekly...

He took a glance at her attire, and concluded she's definitely Eagle Union... "Nice to meet you too. Can I ask for your name?"

"My name's Essex of the Essex-class..."

"Edrich Caster. Are you okay? You seem you've had too much to drink." He smiled, trying to make conversation.

Essex didn't really had her gusto that she would always show when she would introduced herself... And now, she looks... Embarrassed?

'Is this the person that Enterprise likes?!' Essex told herself, freaking out, whilst trying to keep her cool as well keeping up a conversation with him.

"Essex-class... I remember always seeing you or one of your sisters as support back in my world... I lived in your era, technically."

She was immediately curious with the remark.

"Granted, I'm like nearly a year removed from my world, so my memory could be failing me here big-time."

"No, Commander. That makes me excited. I wanna help you as much as I can!" Essex suddenly had her energy back.

He smiled, and nodded to her excitement. "Yeah. You'll absolutely get your chance. I'm personally biased, so I'll give you as much things to do with or without as possible."

She was elated to be given such an opportunity as soon as she stepped into the base. She'll be side-by-side with Enterprise, maybe perhaps she can finally use it to impress her, and everyone else...

"I'm back... Who is this?"

"Oh, You're back Tallinn." Shoukaku passed a glass of water to both Essex and Caster to drink before turning around to face her.

But then, drunk Zuikaku woke up from her slumber and literally had no control over her body, she looked dizzy and Shoukaku immediately pointed it out as she was about to fall to the floor.

"Ooh... Careful there."

Caster was barely able to catch her before she fell to the ground. But then his injured arm really started to hurt due to Zuikaku's weight and Mikasa immediately helped her as Caster was getting her up on his own.

"Commander, are you okay...?" Mikasa tended to Caster after getting Zuikaku in a much more stable position. where falling off the chair, is not one of those positions.

"Just don't mind me. The open wounds are pretty much covered, the bones is just the recurring problem I'm having..." He leaned on the table, letting out a big sigh.

Zuikaku then surprised everyone, by falling again, but leaning on Caster, and wrapping her arms around him, and staring at him straight to his soul.

"Zuikaku!" Mikasa yelped, blushing from the sight.

"She's absolutely drunk..." He muttered, as he waited for Zuikaku to do something. "Can I move...?"

"No."

'Well, that was candid.' Caster thought.

"Don't leave me~~~" Zuikaku leaned much more closer to Caster. And Mikasa wanted to pull her away, but even she wasn't sure if she can move drunk Zuikaku.

Caster did not make a response. Only nodding to her. His 'hand' are "frozen", so to speak. The situation's difficult enough to move with one hand, but if he tries to touch her while drunk, it might spur more chaos more than he can handle. Or at least, that's his rationale on not responding nor moving.

"Shoukaku... How long as he been a womanizer?" Tallinn asked Shoukaku if this is a normal occurrence in the base. And Shoukaku dropped the straight-forward answer.

"Well, judging how girls from all factions are all over him, he's probably been a womanizer since the start." She giggled.

Caster heard that interaction and gave them both a glare. 'I haven't... Nevermind.'

But that look-away for one second and suddenly, her face suddenly appeared close to his face. And his eyes widen.

"Mikasa...????!" Caster's getting a lot more concerned with the situation.

Mikasa sprung into action, but Zuikaku, visibly red from his view, still kept pushing her lips towards Caster. And they both fell to the floor. Nearly knocking out Caster.

12 Hours.

Caster went to the bathroom and checked on his arm and wiped himself off from that accident. He really wanted to be mad, but he was dealing with a drunk Zuikaku. 'How could anyone deal with that?' He asked himself...

After wiping some more with tissues, throwing them, and washing his hands, he was finally out of the bathroom. Less enthusiastic than ever.

But he still had the night all to himself, and coming back to the office/bedroom is not the way to go out. He looked at his watch, 10:43 PM. Not that late... But had that gut feeling that Belfast might be out looking for him now...

He shrugged off that thought and started to look around the place, and he saw one more table that he has not gone to yet. And it was filled with very imposing women... Possibly more so than the table that had Formidable, Victorious, and St. Louis. Those same 3 girls have left for rest for tomorrow's commissions.

'Okay, let's go sit on that table now. Let's not be a wimp like I did last time.' He talked himself up to walk over that table and sit on one of the tables.

"Oh, Commander. How are you doing?" Tirpitz tipped her hat and Caster did the same.

The table consisted of Tirpitz, Choukai,

Noshiro and-

Nürnberg.

Other than Tirpitz, he was mostly comfortable with everyone else. Tirpitz especially asked about his injured arm and its condition. Again, like he said earlier, he answered that his arms does not have any visible deep scars anymore and the bones are the only issue that is still persists.

He then brought up the newcomers on the table. Noshiro and Nürnberg. He asked both of them to introduce.

Both of them did just that, they're still a bit more shy than usual. Again, they've both heard of this guy before and his achievements. So they're a bit intimidated.

"M-My name is Nürnberg, starting today, I'll serve you to the best of my abilities." She meekly lowered her head.

"Alright. Welcome, and your contributions will be appreciated."

"I'm the new arrival, Noshiro. Hopefully I can prove my worth to you. Since you really don't have to..." She quietly murmured the last part.

Caster caught that immediately. "Aw, why so?"

"I really haven't seen you do the feats that you've done, but I've heard of them... Way too many times actually." She pondered on the first few days on the port.

"Your achievements is undeniable, but in my short time, I feel like it's less praising, and more worshipping than anything..." Tirpitz bluntly stated her opinion on the matter.

"I've seen fair amount of coddling and "putting me on a pedestal" type of stuff before in my time in the Army." He responded with a smile. "I never let it get to me. My job's not done yet. I'll only feel deserving of those type of praises when this thing's over."

He smiled before he stood up and took his leave.

He's had enough of this establishment now and kinda wants to leave but there was a door right next of the bar that no one really paid attention to.

Not only that, he got permission from Shoukaku that he can go around everywhere he wants to be. And under the justification that he's not coming back here again, he opened the door slowly and walked in.

It was just a corridor with a room at the end of it.

"Housekeeping...?" Caster said after closing the door.

But at the end of the hallway, he saw a bunny ear peeking at the corner. And then a girl... And soon as they made eye contact, the girl immediately pulled back.

Caster chuckled, before walking to the end of the hallway. "Well damn, I'm ugly."

He looked at the ground, preparing himself for what he's about to see, and judging the bunny ears, and the nature of this club, he's mentally preparing himself.

But then got pulled in to a tight hug.

His face was muffled, buried in someone's bosom.

Soon he managed to break free... And was not expecting who he saw.

"N-New Jersey? What is this?" Caster stammered through his disbelief of what he's seeing. And the while New Jersey giving him a smug smile.

Not only that, there's 2 more bunny girls in the room with her.

"You like this, don'tcha?"

He soon heard the words that Tallinn and Shoukaku were saying about him being a womanizer hours ago, and in response, he started to step away slowly.

"Since you're the one who came here, you're ain't going anywhere." New Jersey declared as she took Caster's uninjured hand and yanked him to sit on the couch.

Caster might've underestimated New Jersey's strength. 'She's just pulled me like I was a toy, what the hell?!'

But he can finally see the whole room now, and the couch across from him he saw the same girl who peeked and hid from him. With her grabbing a part of her hair and hiding her face from him.

He shot a smile at her, waving his hand. Trying to make her comfortable around his presence. But it just seemed to not work as she looked away.

"Sup, Commander! The name's San Francisco!" San Fran said as she ambushed Caster from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her face exceedingly close to his face.

Then he looked up at New Jersey as she pouted.

"Oh, yeah. Jersey's making it no secret that she's very fascinated with you, Commander. You're a lucky guy."

Caster still made no expression or a sign of a reaction from those statements.

A-kun: He's really sticking to his sigma male grindset, huh?

And maybe perhaps his lack of reaction to statements like those is one of the reasons why Jersey's is fascinated with him in the first place.

San Francisco let go of her hands from his neck and showed her own outfit to Caster.

"FYI, Jersey did the brave decision to leave her Admiral, and join you." San Francisco just casually saying something with a lot of implications.

"Wait, stop." Caster took a second to process it. "You... Left your Admiral?

New Jersey sat down right next to him, and slowly nodded. She just started acting passive.

"Well, since Jersey over here doesn't wanna spill the reason, she left because of your legendary status. And some of us followed her." San Fran sat right next to Caster as well.

"And about your former Admiral?" He asked a follow-up question.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I did like my former Admiral very much. But the fleet that my Admiral commanded didn't even want to battle the Sirens and focused more on homeland defense. And in time, the base got lazy, even my Admiral got lazy... And when I heard your victories with the remnants of the Eagle Union, and how you kept winning fighting the Sirens head-on, I just had to take the chance to come here so I can actually use my talents in battle."

He wasn't sure on how to take this new information... He was flattered of course, that the legendary battleship, New Jersey, preferred him over an Admiral.

And he wasn't losing out on this chance to wield another legendary ship's talents.

"Noted. I'm very flattered that you chose me over your former Admiral. And your wishes, are granted. You're getting a good spot in the front-lines of battles." He affirmed New Jersey's wishes to be used in battle.

But he was kind of disappointed with that Admiral that New Jersey was talking about also.

"Also, how is your Admiral still alive and kicking if what you say is true, him turning lazy, and all that? The Sirens would've nuked that base if they knew." He asked both Jersey and San Fran and all both of them can answer is a shrug.

"Well, anyway... One more question, why you, and Prinz Hienrich are so adamant with trying to join me wherever I go?" He asked the most important question for him, as he was getting concerned with their behaviour. Even Enterprise, and even Akagi of all people wouldn't do that.

The question was met with an awkward pause... But then San Francisco looked at Boise, and New Jersey stood up, kabedon'd Caster, trapping him as she came closer.

"Because..." Both of their eyes lock into a deep stare.

"I like you..."

His eyes widened.

"Just kiddin~"

"Yeah, I expected that."

"But..."

"Huh?" Caster looked confused.

"It won't take much before I do..." She gave him a smile... A different kind.

Caster tried calling the bluff. "Okay then. You are going to have to prove it to me that you're not bluffing to my face."

Then he realized something right after. New Jersey is wearing a bunny suit. San Francisco and even the girl over on the other couch is wearing a bunny suit... Then it hit him...

It's only him, and 3 bunny girls. In a club.

He gulped...

New Jersey smiled, "I accept the challenge." she turned to the other 2, and said: "I got this."

San Francisco just remarked before she left with the other girl: "Have fun, Commander. This isn't gonna be the last time she'll do this." Then a wink right after.

New Jersey slowly trailed her fingers up Caster's chin, directing his face to hers and her alone. "Eyes on me, Commander."

Caster was not prepared for what is gonna happen to him in the next hour.

11 Hours.

Caster opened the door slowly, still wiping off something off his face. Most of it sweat, from being that room, and something else...

Shoukaku was the first one to spot him. And was astounded that he was still awake at this time.

The club was now mostly empty as the girls get their rest for the night. Shoukaku, and Zuikaku are the only girls in the building now. And well, New Jersey... Who was still in the backroom, who knows what she's doing right now? But Caster couldn't care less. He wanted out of this place.

"Commander... Your face... It looks red. Did something happen in there?" Shoukaku with the astute observation made Caster scramble to compose himself.

Only silence was met. But Caster managed to come up with something. "Eh, the ventilation in that room was not good at all. That turned into an oven real quick."

Shoukaku was hesitant to accept that reasoning, but it kinda made sense. But right now she's more concerned with Zuikaku. Who is still drunk, and has not recovered still.

"Anyway. Is Zuikaku sleeping here now? I mean, I can carry her back to the dorms." Caster pointed at the drunk Zui, Shoukaku was surprised at the offer.

"Commander, your arm."

In response, he removed the sling that wrapped around his left arm. "Ah... That's much better."

He started to slowly move his left shoulder. As Vestal pointed back then that it was the most damaged part of his body. It's been a few months since that injury report. And most of the damage has been healed, and it's not at the threat of disconnecting from his body anymore.

"Commander, don't be irresponsible again..." Shoukaku shot a glare at Caster. His eyes widen.

He sighed, and relented. He put back his sling. "Okay, just get New Jersey to carry Zuikaku back, yes?"

Shoukaku nodded, as Caster was walking towards the exit. But then stopped to look at Zuikaku. He gave her a head-pat before leaving.

The older crane quickly move out of the bar and looked into the backroom to check if his concerns of "bad ventilation" was him telling the truth.

But she managed to catch New Jersey changing attire from her bunny outfit to her normal attire.

"Oh, hello, Shoukaku-san." New Jersey greeted Shoukaku with glee. The crane was not amused.

"What did you do to Caster?" Shoukaku demanded an answer.

"Well..." New Jersey, started to act weirdly...

=================

Caster dusted himself off before starting to walk back to his office. But behind the club, there was someone waiting for him.

"Commander... I was wondering if you were ever gonna come out of that place." She revealed her face after putting back her hat on.

"Oh, Tirpitz... Um, long story in there, I don't wanna talk about it." Caster shook his head.

"Anyway, come with me. I got called, and this is our only chance."

Tirpitz and Caster took off to get there as fast as they can. The 2 have been talking, and Tirpitz is done hiding this operation behind Caster's back.

Caster on the other hand, has still no idea what Tirpitz wants him to find out. The only thing that he remembers, in her words, "Something important that's been happening in a while." And there was really nothing to lose for him here, so he just accepted the offer without resistance.

But they're now inside one of the many buildings of the Azur Lane base. Specifically, the one building that has the one room that the most dedicated of girls to Caster meets.

"Commander... There's Edinburgh on the door. What will you do?" Tirpitz asked Caster as they peek their heads out of a corner to see Edinburgh guarding one of the doors in the long corridor of dorm rooms.

He smirked... He pulled out a walkie-talkie, and tapped a button on it. Tirpitz was confused.

"Now, we wait."

And so they waited, and backup arrived.

It was the 4 starters. They were playing video games when he called and Z23 was already sleeping but woken up by the call and dragged along.

Tirpitz was even more confused but decided to not object.

"Z23? You seem you have just woken up." Caster pointed out her drowsiness.

Z23 was out of it... Not responding for a second until Javelin tapped her head.

"commander... what is it...?" Z23 wiped her eyes for a second before yawning.

'Oh, man. I feel bad for waking her up.' Caster thought before tapping Javelin's shoulders.

"Can you get her back to your dorm and let her sleep? I didn't mean to wake her up. I'm sorry."

Javelin nodded, and took Z23 by the shoulder and both walked back to their room.

"As for you two, can you peek around the corner?" He signaled both Ayanami and Laffey...

Both look beyond the corner, and saw the same as Tirpitz and Caster just earlier. Edinburgh, standing in front of a door.

They both turn back to Caster, awaiting instructions. Well, Laffey was about to fall asleep.

"Okay, here's the plan..."

=================

"Edinburgh-san..." Ayanami lightly tackled Edinburgh, surprising her as she did not see her coming at all.

And then Laffey clung on the maid's dress. Overwhelming her.

"Laffey is having trouble sleeping... Actually... I'm having trouble sleeping too, desu..." Ayanami told their situation.

"I'm always seeing you in lobby when I play games at night, maybe you both should stop playing so much at night." Edinburgh revealed that she also a gamer after all maid duties in the day.

And there was a pause, as if Ayanami was not expecting that response at all. But she kept on going.

"Please, help us sleep in our dorms, desu." She looked up at her with her usual blank stare and Edinburgh sighed...

Edinburgh relented. "Okay... Lead me there." As Ayanami and Laffey take each of her hands and lead her away from the door she's supposed to be guarding...

=================

At the opposite side of the corridor, Caster and Tirpitz peek their heads around the corner. Caster with a huge smile on his face, and Tirpitz with still same, blank look. But in disbelief on how that worked.

"Commander, I'd suggest not doing that next time..." said Tirpitz as they both started walking to the door that Edinburgh once guarded.

He smiled in response and gave her a shrug. She didn't quite understood what he meant, but she went into the door first.

Caster did not follow right after though, instead, he sat at the side of the door. Tirpitz finally told him the things that happened from a week ago. All the things they've done in the background, without his knowledge. And the intentions behind it were.

And he pondered on how he should react to that information. It was for the sake of his happiness, yes, but with the beating they've gotten trying to reach that goal, it was boneheaded to say the least.

But all the thinking went nowhere so he just opened the door. Surprising everyone behind it.

As he steps in, he's looking at all the girls present in the room...

The aforementioned Tirpitz, Enterprise, Hornet, Belfast, Illustrious, Prinz Eugen, Akagi without Kaga... Still no sighting of her, and King George V... A weird appearance by her... But was surprised on she also cares too for him.

'She wasn't that forward nor I got many interactions with her, but this is a pleasant surprise.' He thought...

The sight of Caster, everyone was shocked. How could he possibly knew they were meeting up here?

"I led him here. There is no use hiding it from the Commander anymore. Besides, I think it's a bit disingenuous that we've been doing this behind his back." Tirpitz confessed, ready to take the blow.

"That is all true, BUT, don't get mad at her, for the love of god." He held his hands up as he moves to the floor and sat down.

"But I gotta say, I am beyond flattered that you girls would go such lengths for me. Though the things you girls been doing with my knowledge is a bit weird and frankly, a bit frustrating."

"So I want to end this by telling you girls straight up what I want to be happy."

"For all my time here, I've been all but ignorant on all of your advances. Some more than others, admittedly..."

"I thought I was doing the right thing, but I realized I wasn't just commanding soldiers anymore who would follow my instructions, no questions asked."

"But I realize that I'm playing a different ballgame at this point. I'm leading girls. Powerful ones. Adding to that, girls who might have feels towards me..."

"Don't mistake me as a dense person, I have known, been aware, and silently acknowledged all of these advances."

"So... Maybe after we end this conflict, maybe..."

"I'll open my heart for once."

9 Hours.

8 Hours.

7 Hours.

6 Hours.

Caster has only slept for 4 hours and he literally fell asleep in the dorm room where he made that speech to the girls.

To say that the girls were surprised and excited in response to his speech is putting it lightly.

Most of the girls in the room just heard from HIS mouth, that he's willing to love once the war is over.

Caster woke up with a pile of girls all around him as he slept on the floor. Enterprise and Akagi, Belfast, Tirpitz for some reason, on the side of the bed, sleeping sitting up, just near the pile.

And...

"Be careful what you wish for, Commander Caster..." said as she winked seductively.

Prinz Eugen.

=================

With all the new arrivals flocking towards him, it's getting a lot more overwhelming for Commander to start keeping up with the girls.

And it's slowly starting to show, back when it was only the 3 main factions of Eagle Union, Royal Navy and Sakura Empire, he was able to make time to at least introduce himself to every girl in the base.

But now, that task is now nigh impossible. With the public knowing him, but not knowing his name, to his notoriety with ship girls around the world is enough is to make them come here to the base and volunteer themselves to see this unit of a Commander leading Azur Lane victory after victory with New Jersey as a significant example.

And in response to all of this is possibly the secretaries. A smaller circle of girls that he can confide to whenever things get hard. It might not have been his intention when he suggested the idea.

But that has been the result of it.

And now, Caster is in his office, 4 hours of sleep, just finished his paperwork for the morning, and mentally dead.

And even after all of that, he's somehow has the willpower to still work on his book...

He wanted something to brighten up his day... He's been writing on that book for an hour now.

Fortunately for him, all of the secretaries are in the office, except for Independence who is always doing field work in Caster's place.

He spun his chair to see what's happening beyond his desk.

The 4 starters are on the couch and it looks like they're having a drawing contest.

Hood and Zuikaku are chatting while drinking tea like the elegant ladies that they are.

And Long Island and Yamashiro being themselves... They're eccentric to say the least.

He cleared his throat before speaking: "Can the 4 destroyers come here for a second? I have a fun activity to suggest."

His words got the attention of the whole room but the 4 starters that he called, stopped and listened to the Commander after walking up to him.

"You remember the surveys that you did way back then?"

The 4 immediately knew what he was talking about. Their first activity for Caster.

"Do you wanna do it again, Commander?!" Javelin exclaimed, excited to do it again with all the new ships in the base.

"But what are we surveying for now?

Caster gave himself a good minute to think about it. He implored the 3 starters to also think of something as well.

After giving it some thought for a minute and nearly falling asleep in his desk, he couldn't think of anything new.

And neither did the 4 starters. Well, ideas that actually make sense.

But one question from Caster to the starters was he to get an idea.

"What was the topic about on the last survey? I don't remember anymore. So many things happened since." He rubbed his cheek.

Nimi perked up as she remembered, "It was about your intimidating aura, if I can recall."

Then it hit him.

Caster has more or less still have that intimidating aura around him even when he's not trying to be serious. Well, he was made aware of it and tried to pull it back after he learned about the last survey results, but it's creeping back again.

And with the massive influx of new girls in the base and meeting a whole lot of them, Caster suggested to do that same survey.

5 Hours.

The girls couldn't really say anything to dispute that. And so they dusted off the last survey results that was sitting in the starters dorm.

They weren't expecting to pull out an old memory from the start of Caster's Commander duties... As the girls cherished this memory as the catalyst of getting to know their new Commander more.

But now, the questions are getting reused, as they found not much benefit adding more.

Or so they thought. With some input from the rest of the Secretary posse, they got some more in-depth questions in there.

Speaking of which, with the massive fleet that Caster now commands he can't expect to be leading every single one of them. And this was the same conundrum that the secretaries find themselves in also.

But with the wide reach of factions, with having one member of each faction, and with diligence from everyone, the survey was started.

On Z23's side, she talked to most of her Ironblood comrades.

"Um... I don't think he's scary at all. He's pretty nice, I still don't get the chance to get near him though." Spee rubbed her chin, while trying to pull up her scarf to hide her mouth...

"I can help you with that, Spee. Come with me next morning." Z23 offered her a chance. Which Spee accepted.

Few minutes later, Z23 found Prinz Hienrich in the kitchen and walked up to her, as she was baking something.

"Prinz Hienrich, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead, girl!" She smiled at Z23, before looking back into the oven, watching.

"Do you like Commander Caster, in terms of his management of the fleet?"

"Yeah... He's cute."

Z23 froze... And looked at Hienrich. And then Prinz caught her looking. She raised an eyebrow.

"What? Did I say something weird?"

A few seconds of awkwardness was cut off by Z23 just waving her hands sheepishly. "No...! No problems here!"

Z23 quickly tried to walk away and list down what she said. But as she was walking farther, she overheard the name "Caster" from Hienrich in the kitchen...

But onwards. To Tirpitz and Prinz Eugen.

"..." Tirpitz, sat there silent as she held her hat and used it to cover her eyes. Eugen, sat there smiling at Tirpitz the whole time.

"Zed... You wanna know what your Commander said to us yesterday?" Eugen answered to her with a question. And she was confused. But she agreed, not knowing what Eugen is about to say to Z23.

Tirpitz quickly realized this, and she felt even more anxious. As Eugen is already whispering in Nimi's ear.

Nimi immediately blushed, and covered her face with her clipboard. With Eugen relishing the cute reaction from her. Tirpitz still, was not amused, but not surprised.

=================

But away from Z23 for now, and go with the Royal Navy and Eagle Union newcomers with Javelin & Laffey respectively. Laffey isn't exactly to be trusted to keep track of the girls she's surveying, so Javelin's there as well.

First was the duo of Baltimore and Bremerton.

"Commander's pretty good. We haven't talked to him since we met, but should we give him a visit, don't you think, sis?" Bremerton called out to her sister, who was changing clothes.

"He's gonna visit here?!" Baltimore shouted from a distance.

"No, we're gonna give HIM a visit!" She shouted back...

Both went back and forth and then Baltimore finished changing clothes and gave her answer.

"Commander's pretty good..." Baltimore remarked... While looking at Bremerton's smug smile at her, and slowly... Hid her face from Javelin and Laffey.

Bremerton, now teasing her. And Javelin and Laffey just slowly left to let them do whatever they're doing.

Their search went outside, and they found:

Shangri-La. Which Caster has mentioned a few times, due to the animal conservation plot of land she had, and was looking forward to meeting here.

She arrived days ago, a bit later than Essex... But she hasn't met the Commander yet. But finally, Shangri-La and the last 2 ships accompanying her. Which was...

Bunker Hill and...

Intrepid are now in the base.

Javelin greeted them and told her that the Commander has been looking forward to them meeting. She was a bit apprehensive of just hearing the word 'Commander', but communications with Essex and other aces of Eagle Union she calmed and got Bunker Hill and Intrepid to follow her to the office.

Right after, Laffey just slept like a rock, passed her to Edinburgh, and Javelin was left on her own. But she decided to interview the girls in her faction.

Taking a shortcut to the southern shores of the base, she found the Royal Navy's buildings and dorms while more is being built near it.

She found Hood, watching something. Javelin came to see what's up, and it's her Majesty's Queen Elizabeth herself, playing a chess match with...

Valiant.

She wanted to talk to Valiant about the survey, but by the looks of it, even Hood not speaking, and is just watching along. So she left to go somewhere else.

And she found King George V just chilling on her own at a bench, looking at a volleyball court.

"Hm? The Commander is very likeable, yes. He can cook too, I like that about him the most."

"Not only that, I do see why girls, including you like him. He's pretty handsome for our commander. You sure are lucky, Javelin." She giggled before Javelin was a blushing mess.

4 Hours...

Ayanami had done the most progress along with Yamashiro. even with the most populated Faction in the island, they managed to fit 60+ girls' answers into an hour.

It was tiring, but after eating ramen, both of them are ready to finish the job.

And they were about to talk to the top dogs of Sakura Empire.

First off:

Shimakaze...

"Oh, I've seen him before! He looks really cool. But I don't get a chance to get close since he's always surrounded by that Ironblood and Eagle Union girl. They're huge!" She answered, and then started to ramble on and on and Ayanami and Yamashiro out of politeness, just let her keep going.

Next...

"He sure sounds like a really good person from what I've heard from everyone here."

"Commander-sama is even cooler in person!" Yamashiro remarked.

"I will assess his worthiness when I see it myself. No amount of praise from everyone here will make think differently." She huffed.

Both Yamashiro and Ayanami nodded and instructed to see Caster for herself.

And finally, the last two. In a shrine on top of a mountain, the feeling being high up in the Azur Lane island reminds them of their own mountain on their soil. And in there, was:

Nagato and Akagi... With Nagato trying to comfort Akagi, due to the Kaga missing and still no signs of her even days after the operation.

Both Ayanami and Yamashiro hesitated to even ask them the questions pertaining to the survey, but Nagato allowed them to still ask the questions.

"Commander Caster has definitely proven himself worthy, and I don't think it'll take long before Tosa realizes that."

After Nagato gave her answer, the 3 of them all looked at Akagi. Who buried her face in Nagato's clothes.

The 3 were surprised by this. Akagi would never present herself this way at all, and they might've seen a side of her they'll never see again.

But Nagato has a suggestion for her. "Akagi, how about you go to Caster himself, and tell him what you feel?"

"...I already did..." Akagi answered in a murmur. Ayanami and Yamashiro couldn't hear it, but Nagato did.

"I'm sure your persistence will pay off."

Akagi huffed, and got up and walked off.

"I'm sure she'll be okay. Why are you still here, you two? Is your survey done yet?" Nagato tilted her head.

"Yes, desu."

"Yes, Nagato-sama!"

Both lowered their head in respect before leaving.

3 Hours..

With great planning, and quick execution the survey was already done and the results are being tallied by the secretaries outside, under a tree surrounded with green. With Caster himself secretly watching from a distance.

They got nearly 90% of the girls in the whole base with the remaining 10 were either missing, or currently on a commission.

But the secretaries also need to be included in here. So the girls one by one said their remarks about Caster, and all of a sudden, Caster was interested to hear about what they have to say.

It took a while for them to write up their answers and Caster was almost caught watching them, but held out long enough that he was able to finally hear their answers.

"I'll go first." says Hood. "I've seen Caster since the beginning, all the battles I've participated, and he's changed from when I first met him. Not all were good though."

"He does lack the elegance and decorum that a normal Commander has, but I do think he's still a gentlemen, but honestly, without his head-strong personality and some stubbornness, I wouldn't like him as much as I do."

It was now Yamashiro's turn since she's next to Hood, and when she realized it, she got nervous fast.

"Um..! I'm really happy that Commander-sama chose me to be his secretary, even though I'm very clumsy, and being around him all the time makes me really happy and I'm learning a lot by just seeing him work so hard."

Independence's next.

"I didn't write much, but I found Hood's answer interesting. He does not fit with my vision of a Commander should be. He's laid back, tries to make unfunny jokes, but at times, especially when I first met him, his aura is truly distinct from anyone I've taken orders for. He's imposing when he so chooses. But I think he doesn't like being that guy. Overall, he's a very likeable Commander. But I haven't seen him battle still. I want to see if your stories of him are true."

Zuikaku's turn.

"Um..." As she immediately got hit with nerves. "I'm struggling to find something to bring up about him that really speaks to me. The Operation Snowstorm incident, when he suddenly fought Observer Beta head-on... But all I think of it in the end is that Caster is truly one of a kind. And I think we should appreciate him while he's still here. We're getting closer to the end of the war, and it's a toss-up if he'll be still here after."

Everyone agreed on Zuikaku's sentiment. But now, Long Island is next. Or rather she was right to Zuikaku, but now suddenly gone from the spot. But the note was still left on the ground. And Javelin picked it up.

"Commander is..." And the note just cuts off from there. There was small strokes of the pen at some places, but all of them have no clue what she's trying to say.

As for Caster, he heard literally everything, but then got taken away forcefully.

But asides that, the starters wanted to tell their feelings after they told the results to Caster. And all was well.

After a bit of time tallying the remaining responses and some organizing, the girls are now done, they still need to find Long Island for her answer, but the girls are opting instead to go to the cafeteria first before reporting to Caster in his office. The girls have done this survey without breaks nor stopping to eat. Their urgency to Caster's wishes is admirable.

The secretaries grabbed their gourmet snacks from the cafeteria, with Zuikaku double-checking the tallies, and they finally arrive to the office, where there was no Caster inside, instead, it was the entire Maid Corps, tasked to making the office sparkly clean.

Everyone was surprised, especially Hood, who then asked: "If you are all here, then who is tending to Her Majesty?"

"King George V." answered Newcastle.

"Then where is the Commander?"

"We taken him away to the emergency room to finally get his surgery today." Belfast answered.

=================

And just like Belfast said, he's outside of the emergency room, waiting for Vestal and the accompanying girls who would be helping her with the surgery.

Admittedly, Caster is very nervous not only because of the surgery prospects themselves, but because right next to him on both sides is Enterprise and Akagi. Sandwiched right between them.

Ever since of his declaration, he's been hounded by these 2 specifically. But for things to not go out of hand quickly, he is talking about his surgery to them both.

"Not gonna lie to you two, I'm pretty scared." He spoke candidly about his feelings of surgery. "And in fact, in all my time in the military, this is literally my first time having surgery at all."

Both Enterprise and Akagi were surprised.

"How is even that possible? You fight alongside your soldiers in wars too in your world right?" Enterprise asked.

"Of course, this is my Caster, after all. He truly fights like it's his last." Akagi started rubbing her skin onto him, ticking off Enterprise.

"Well the reason for that, is that my luck that I have, I also had that type of luck back in my world as well. I was a very fortunate soldier. I had this idea in my head that whenever I step in, my luck gets passed on to everyone else and we all get luckier as a result and have a better chance of winning."

"Your similarities to Amagi just keep writing itself, does it? It just makes me love more." Akagi she while caressing his face.

"I may never know, but I appreciate those words." He smiled at Akagi which clicked something in her, but Enterprise has had enough and held her back from doing something to Caster.

Caster was unfazed, and kept on talking.

"Maybe also because that I was much more careful back in the day. I have drilled principles into my head so I wouldn't even have a chance of getting hurt. Clearly, those same principles are thrown out the window this time."

"I think it's just that the Sirens are just an interesting enemy for me to fight. It's weird."

Both girls stopped when they heard his response, Enterprise, flicked her finger at Caster's forehead.

"Commander, humanity themselves cannot contend with the Sirens, so they made us to even the playing field. So humanity don't have to risk their lives. And the same rule should be applied to you." Enterprise said sternly.

"Yes, Commander. I am always in awe when I see you out there fighting with us, but you worry me sick whenever I don't know where you are." Akagi threw out her hands past Enterprise and wrap around Caster. "I don't wanna ever see you get hurt. Say, whenever you are out in battle, I feel like I can do the best job protecting your life out there."

"I don't think so. After spending time for myself, I'm far more confident now than I was months ago. He won't even get a scratch on my watch."

Akagi was not amused at worst and mad at best. And both of them glare at each other while Caster is also not amused with the situation he's in. Until he tapped both of their chests, with varying reactions from both girls. Enterprise being really flustered, but not really against it, while Akagi pulled his arm, wanting him to feel out her chest even more.

'I just made it worse, good job me.' He thought before clearing his throat.

"Girls, you are the very best of your respective faction. Instead of arguing who's the sole person who is keeping me alive, why not both? Then I can actually feel confident I'm not gonna get hurt." The response from him made both of them reconsider things. He is right, but both of their desires is to keep him for themselves and themselves only.

The two didn't seem to have a response, but Enterprise, whether she was doing this on purpose, hugged Caster's arm. Akagi was not too far behind to do the same.

"...You know, you girls can share right?"

But before any of them can respond from his peculiar statement, Vestal came out of the room. Informing Caster that the machines that they're using to the surgery is now ready and the shoulder repair injury can finally begin.

She also suggested that doing it now the better since the time duration of the surgery can vary greatly.

And since he's been pouring his courage up for this moment, it's now time to go. But before that...

"We don't have much time here, you two. Do what you want before I go." He asked both Enterprise and Akagi. As Vestal walks into the emergency room again to check the equipment twofold.

Akagi used this opportunity to deliver her most aggressive move towards Caster yet.

As she wrapped her hands around his neck, slowly and pushed her lips to meet his. Officially taking Caster's first kiss.

Enterprise was absolutely floored when she saw this right in front of her eyes. Shocked to the point of being frozen in her spot. And she couldn't seem to look away.

Caster was even more surprised that she is. With his eyes wide open as he feels her tongue dominate his, and doing to little to no resistance.

And after savouring every second of that kiss, Akagi pulled away, licking her lips. In an obvious attempt at seducing him. While delivering a smug smile at Enterprise. And at that point, Akagi promptly left and was in bliss.

Caster's reaction to the kiss was not too surprising, scratch that, it was very surprising, he touched his lips, and looks to be visibly red from the kiss, looking away from them. All without saying a word.

Enterprise was immediately jealous of not only the kiss, but of how Akagi just did it so fearlessly. She wrapped her hands around his waists, getting closer to him.

Caster couldn't seem to resist her advances either, still shocked from what happened earlier, his guard was fully down and Enterprise noticed that.

Enterprise is mad that Akagi she took Caster's first kiss, but now she wants her piece. And after mustering her courage and a gulp,

Vestal came out the door, now impatient that Caster hasn't gone in yet. But what she saw would shock her.

Enterprise, took Caster's face by its cheeks and goes for a passionate kiss of her own. Suffice it to say, ever since the Sakura Empire victory, she's been silently fantasizing this for so long.

Caster, still a blushing mess is now getting dizzy from the sudden acts of love from both CV aces, but this time there was forewarning that Enterprise was gonna go for it out of jealousy. So it wasn't quite one-sided anymore. And he was able to savour it as well.

Vestal was a blushing mess as well from the sight. But unlike Enterprise, she can still move and use it to her advantage she did, as she's completely done with looking at the sight as she summoned her rigging, and grabbed Caster from behind, by the hips, going into the emergency room, interrupting their moment.

It didn't really matter to Enterprise though, as she is in total bliss.

2 Hours...

In a certain, special room in one of the buildings of the Royal Navy dorms, housed the PR ships. Currently, there are 7 of them.

Neptune, Saint Louis, Roon and Gascogne (somewhat) as the first batch of PR help coming into the fleet, Ironblood's own researched and built PR with Friedrich De Grosse, who is not in the room currently, and the last 2 who were made weeks ago was Cheshire and Drake.

They are the best as ships, as a weapon, can get. And the girls between these riggings knows that as well. A certain proficiency in eliminating Sirens, and the absurdity of their guns makes them a killing machine.

As much as the girls know their capabilities on that front, and as well as the Commander, Caster due to the sheer volume of things that the 3 major factions has brought upon his office, he acknowledges that the PR class is there, but the PR class has kinda been on their own ever since the first batch came around and the remaining few who would come after.

The group is leaderless in a sense, as there was no one to appoint them in certain sorties in the day, and sometimes barging into commission teams unannounced.

The only involvement a PR shipgirl had outside of sorties is with Roon. For obvious reasons, of course. And very recently, Saint Louis. Who has been the catalyst of making Caster aware of the group again.

And for the most part, Louis' actions on Caster has left and impression again. And once again reminded of their existence.

But after that interaction from a week ago, and after retelling the story to Neptune, she felt disappointed that's what it would take for him to acknowledge their existence. But also realized that the problem might not be fixed if the Caster or themselves make an effort to meet and interact with each other more often.

But in the silence of the room, Cheshire busted open the door, with Drake tailing her. Getting everyone's attention in the room.

"Owner-san, is getting his shoulder surgery today!" Cheshire said, immediately defusing any tense air within the room. "I sure hope he's gonna be okay."

"I do hope that Iris Libre's blessing is guiding him towards a successful surgery."

"Shoulder surgery analysis... Chances of success... Predicted at 80%..." Gascogne had something to say to the conversation... "Emotion detected: Worry."

Roon was sitting near the corner of the room, just evaluating everyone, and a thought came into her head when the topic of Caster's lack of attention to the PR ships came up.

Caster has shown to be silently apprehensive of the behaviours that the Yanderes of the port has shown to him. And while Akagi kept at it since Caster wasn't gonna verbally scold her for this behaviour, Roon, meanwhile has noticed it from his calls of help whenever she shows up in his bedroom, and a plethora of things she's done in her time in the base.

She hates that he's so adverse to her advances but also, she wants to change for him... But the thing first, Caster has to go understand why Roon acts the way she does, and only then she can start changing for the better.

But even reaching to that point without him running away from her is a problem all in its own. And this almost ticks off Roon. FDG suddenly appeared right in front of her. As she just arrived into the room just to take a look at Roon. She got there at the right time, before Roon felt any more violent emotions.

She scoffed at the sight of FDG, and promptly left the room as to leave her with her own thoughts, FDG stubbornly followed her as to Roon's dismay.

All the while, Cheshire and Drake has joined Neptune and Saint Louis to talk about ideas on what they could do on the issue of Caster's attention.

Neptune has blankly said that if he's a good Commander, he'll be able to make time for them. Slot themselves in to commission teams and get his attention that way.

Drake though... She has an idea, but she doesn't think she can do it herself, she isn't outgoing enough for it. But you know who is outgoing? The "cat"-girl right next to her.

She whispered an idea to Cheshire only for her to announce: "Drake has an idea!" as she waltzed out of the room... Neptune and Saint Louis give Drake a stare as she's embarrassed.

Drake waves her hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it, it'll be between me and Cheshire for now, but I do think my plan can work..."

1 Hour...

It's been an hour since Caster has started his shoulder surgery, and as soon as it started, it got announced on Juustagram, and everyone is now in high alert, and worried.

And what made it worse is that the news of Observer's revival, spurred everyone into high alert for the past day now. And most of them are already outside their dorms, and outside patrolling the shores with weapons fully loaded, expecting an attack soon.

On the other hand, Akashi has probably completely turned away from her greedy tendencies and actually allocated the resources gotten from commissions to green-light a secret project to construct a backup Control Room underground, fully kitted out with things to help protect the island. The deflector shields, the hidden cannons, etc. And for the past week(s), the monitors has been mostly in there to learn the controls of it, and for the past few days, monitor every single irregularity on nearby shores and on high alert for the worst case scenario.

The deflector shields was now turned on, as they heard reports that the weather turning awry, and from what it seems from live video footage, it would be the case.

A pre-recorded voice message from Hood played on the many megaphones around the island.

"Caster has been the person that has led us to this point. But remember, because of him, we are all united in one banner once again. Caster has done the hard part for us. Together, let us finish what he started. God bless Azur Lane, and may the God of Victory, ble-"

Then it was abruptly stopped by a explosion on the deflector shield, and immediately, the alarm systems go off in all the main buildings and the remaining girls inside the dorms suit up, and leave their buildings to finish the war. And to protect humanity one last time.

It's well understood that Caster will mostly likely force himself back into battle as soon as he's done with the surgery. But it's still mostly unknown when he's going to be done. He might not join the battle at all.

But the fate of the battle does not need to be put in his hands anymore.

Azur Lane is truly united once again. And together, with or without him, they can achieve anything.

A massive red pillar appeared from the sky.

The battle is only beginning.

A-kun: I'll never write anything close to this ever again. This breaks of record of Word Count in a single chapter. What the hell is wrong with me man???? UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Anyway, finally done. Took half a year to make one chapter. What a loser. Hope you enjoy. And I got the whole battle planned out now, just need to write it. So no more 6 month wait for another chapter.

...I hope.

Anyway, have a good day reading!

Word Count: 12121 Words.

12:01 AM
06/26/2022