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

The dark sky wasn't enveloping just the Azur Lane base, but the other island strongholds that the other factions resided in. And one of those islands is Sakura Empire's.

Outgunned, out-planned, outnumbered, and out-manned.

Their environment that they once called home is falling apart. Standing in and even nearby the island felt standing in a melting pot.

The once lush, green forests now look like charred hell-scape, and debris is filling the streets from the destruction that the Sirens caused before Nagato and her compatriots arrived.

Once they arrived, the defense was not powerful enough to push the Sirens back, but only prolong their survival.

And at the center of it all, Nagato, is she's still checking her surroundings, commanding her comrades, and still fighting the Sirens to still save her home.

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

Nagato's legs are about to give up on her, as the fire kept coming at her, Takao, and Hiei, being her guardians, deflecting every shell and counter-attacking thereafter as she tries to keep herself alive.

The numbers were dwindling, but it wasn't on the Siren's side. More girls are getting gravely injured, exiting the battle with shreds of their life.

But the red pillars of light returned and Nagato and her peers next to her lowered their guard. Enveloping the Sirens.

"Nagato-sama, should we reposition once again?"

She was too busy looking at the sky to hear her question. As the light dissipated the Sirens are just gone.

And as they let the silence fill the air for a couple seconds, Takao and Hiei let out a sigh of relief.

Hiei turned to look at Nagato, "Nagato-sama, I need to check up on my sisters to see if they're still alive. Please let me go find them."

With her rugged breathing, she let out a faint "Yes." before Hiei speeds off. With the battle over, her legs finally give out, and her body goes as well. She would've sunk if weren't for Takao's quick instincts, catching her. She took a good look at her, her face reminded her of someone she once held dear and near...

Her own body is starting to give up on her also, but she persists... She looks up into the dark sky. "Atago-oneechan... I'm still alive."

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

"Woooooo!!!!"

SPIKE!

The ball hit the ground so hard, that the volleyball ended up on a roof of one of the dorms nearby. Luckily not hitting one of the many windows of the building as it happened a lot back then.

"Don't just go for the ball every time. We want some fun ourselves, New Jersey!" Cleveland hit her sides, as she flinched at the act.

New Jersey was about to hit her waists as well until all of the girls on the volleyball court heard a door open that knocked the wind out of all of them.

"CASTER'S AWAKE!!!"

Everyone outside dropped whatever they're doing and funneled through the door, excited to see him for the 1st time in 4 days.

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

What they're met with however, wasn't flattering nor exciting in the least.

"Hey..." his demeanor meek, as he gives off a weak wave to the girls seeing him.

"Commander... Are you feeling okay?"

He leaned back on his wheelchair, as he struggled to cross his arms, "Feeling great, honestly." The sarcasm got his desired reaction.

Though some girls were a bit queasy as they see a black smudge on his stomach.

Belfast got behind the wheelchair, and looked at her Commander for a second. But with a nod from the Commander, Belfast started to push him out the door.

"Jokes aside girls, I'm now okay." as he looks to one of the many girls inside the room. "Please be patient with me, and soon, you'll have me full-time." a smile and a wink as he gets pushed out the door.

"Commander..."

"I'm so glad that I joined this fleet!" she turns around and runs out the door. "Wait for me!!!"

As the girls make noise around the Commander's office, elsewhere on the island, a lot of Sakura Empire members are situated at one specific building.

"Doi te kure, nya..." A green cat, pushes through Yuudachi and Kako with Shiranui while also pulling medical equipment on a cart with Shiranui getting the short end of the stick being at the back pushing the heavy side. The girls in their proximity scattered to give them space and one Takao rushed to help both girls pull the equipment towards...

"How will this help Nagato-sama?"

Akashi opted to turn on switches on the machine instead of responding. And some of the girls behind the machine spotted Shiranui pulling out a Wisdom Cube from inside her robe passing it to Akashi as she struggled to put it into the machine.

But as soon as the cube was in the machine, it worked it's magic immediately. Both Nagato and the machine permeated a blue glow.

Almost everyone in the room started to hold on to the girl next to them, with their breaths withheld in anticipation and a lot of them went outside and peeked from there.

The ones who stayed, like Takao watched Shiranui take out a tablet and taps away on it, with her having no idea what she's doing as she wipes off a bead of sweat on the side of her forehead. But the operation seemed to be over with both Nagato and the machine's glow dissipated.

"What exactly did you do..?" Takao asked Akashi once again as she came and sits down overlooking Nagato.

"Well..." The cat paused, "To put it simply, I'm using the Wisdom Cube to heal Nagato-sama."

Takao had more questions to ask, but she felt a hand touch her thighs and this made her jump.

"Takao..."

"Nagato-sama." Akashi sat down along with Shiranui. "Are you okay, nya?"

"Where am I?"

"Back at the Commander's base, Nagato-sama." Takao leans over and gives Nagato a warm embrace.

Every girl who was outside started to pour in, wanting to see Nagato finally awake from 4 days of being unconscious.

Shimakaze leaned over to Akashi. "That machine made 4 days in a coma look like nothing. Why did it took so long to use it on Nagato-sama?"

This sent a shiver through Akashi, who didn't notice Shimakaze was right next to her the whole time.

"Um..." as she rubs her ears with her long-sleeved coat. "I... Used it on the Commander. To help him recover, nya." Her hesitation for that response keyed in on her apprehensiveness of answering the question.

And lo and behold, Shimakaze's reaction was just what she feared.

"You put a Wisdom Cube into the Commander?!" Shimakaze blurted out, before Shiranui's hand came from behind to cover her mouth. As she lets out muffled noises in a panic.

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

"Commander's organ donation operation was very successful.

"But it's going to take a while for him to learn to live with his new digestive system." shivering as she mentions the last part.

"Until he gets used to it, he's gonna look skinny until then." said Vestal, leaning back on her chair with her clipboard close to her. "But you don't need to worry about him as Perseus, Akashi and I will be on the lookout."

Enterprise, Akagi, Hood, breathe a sigh of relief.

"However though, Akashi did something to him that I didn't get to watch happen. But said that will boost his healing factor." she rubbed her chin. "Though I have my suspicions, but she's been the most hard-working ship behind the scenes that I think if her claims are true, he'll be out of the wheelchair in 4 to 5 days."

"What up, ladies?"

All 4 girls turn around to see Caster with New Jersey on the handle bars behind him. He still looks kind of battered but has enough energy now to be back to his witty self.

"What happened when I was go―"

He gets pushed away from the room, with a crowd of girls following New Jersey. Akagi gives chase, as Enterprise and Hood both calmly walk out the room.

Not even a day passed, the girls have a plan in place to have themselves the Commander by pushing him around on his wheelchair. A different girl every 30 minutes or an hour if some girls are really pushing their luck.

Caster went ahead with this idea and wanted some of the girls that haven't introduced themselves to him to come to him, and it being a one-way ticket to always be around him, literally glued to him. It's a pretty sweet deal that many girls took up to make their first impressions to him and vice versa.

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

Akashi came into his office, late at night to give him get him up to speed on the news around the port.

"I shouldn't be awake at this time, Akashi. What is it?"

"Your healing factor will make that faster, nya."

"Say what-"

"Anyway, Commander. The repairs from the destruction of the Dreadnought has been going faster than I expected, nya. The damaged buildings are already fixed, they just need furniture once again, nya."

"Yeah... Where do we get those extra funds? I don't we can just go on commissions now that the war is over. That'll make us look like mercenaries. With a fleet this powerful, ugh..." He felt disgust as he thought of it.

"Don't you worry, nya. We're not running out of funds anytime soon. In fact, what I'm receiving now, is more than what we get from commissions back then."

The piqued his interest. "Wait. What? What do you mean by that?"

A smug grin formed on her face. "We've cleared the items, nya. Just be ready for tomorrow, Commander."

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

The sight of so many envelopes and gift-wrapped presents in his office baffled the hell out of the Commander. "Christmas has already passed, what's going with these things on my desk?"

'Is this what Akashi meant?'

"Commander, our final win against the Sirens isn't just news for us, that type of news can reach all around the globe.

"This isn't from us, Commander. This is from the people that you saved." said Hood.

"It's never singular, Hood. You should know me by now. It's a collective effort." said Caster as he tries to pry open one of one of the wrapped gifts on his desk.

The door abruptly opens with Belfast followed by Sheffield with trays of food for both Hood and Caster.

As both maids put their trays on the table, while waiting for a response from the Commander, Bel caught Caster staring at the food.

"Commander?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, I just realized now that I haven't ate anything since yesterday." putting back the gift he failed to pry open back on his desk.

Belfast and Hood was taken aback at the revelation. And Sheffield... Is being Sheffield.

"I haven't heard my new stomach growl or anything. Nor I feel hungry. But I'll eat for good measure." As he receives his lunch for today. Fried rice with skirt steak, with some vegetable soup on the side. As the cooks think he should be receiving good, filling meals as he recovers and to slightly counter-act the massive weight loss Caster is going through.

He starts eating his meal. Loving every bite of it. But he remembers something, as Belfast gives him a glass of water. "I haven't heard from the Sakura Empire side of things, and I heard Nagato days before was in a coma. Is she okay?"

"She's fully conscious since yesterday. So the same day that your operation was finished." Hood replied after she takes a bite out of her own meal. "She's still taking her time getting her legs back under her."

Caster soon finished his meal after the interaction. He feels around his stomach with his left hand, and his face caused Hood and Bel to raise eyebrows. Caster noticed it not too long after.

He smiled, "I'm sorry. That was a hearty meal, but I feel... Hollow." he closes his eyes for a second. "It's like I didn't eat at all."

"We'll push you to Vestal after this, is that okay, Commander?" asked Belfast.

"Of course. No problem with that."

Lunch ended and Caster was sent straight to Vestal for examination, and after getting the go-ahead, Along with Hood, and Cleveland getting her turn pushing Caster, he had a question on his mind as they left the med-bay.

"This is really weird..."

"What's weird, Commander?" asked Cleveland.

"I've pointed out earlier that I haven't seen much Sakura Empire girls from yesterday, even today, but asides from you," he pointed at Hood, "Belfast, and Sheffield, I haven't seen any Royal Navy members either. Oh god, even Ironblood members, I haven't seen much yet."

Hood puts a hand on his shoulder. "I can't speak for the Ironblood members, but I do know my faction is organizing something."

Caster was intrigued and so is Cleveland. Who seemed unaware.

"There's a banquet coming as soon as you're able to leave your wheelchair."

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

Caster is now back in his office alone. One of the rare moments in his time in the wheelchair that he's alone with his thoughts. But he tries to duck down and open a locked drawer with a locked safe behind it.

He reaches for something on top of the drawer space, and pulled out a piece of paper with a 6 number combination. He puts it in and the safe opens.

"It's been a while..." he says as he stares at the contents of the safe.

A pile of gems. Built up slowly from countless commissions from the war. Akashi back then was also a relentless sales-cat trying to make him use it. He didn't let his urges get the better of him and hid it properly from the cat, and now he's looking at quite the pile of gems.

And the war is now over. Granted, these gems could still be used to buy useful and 'premium' wares from Akashi, but he's always had this mindset of 'value purchases' with his gems that even now, he's still frugal.

But knowing what Hood dropped earlier in the day, these gems are of no use to him. But he could see these gems some use for the girls instead.

"Screw it, I hope the girls will like this." says after reaching for his tablet, and calling Akashi to his office. 'I wonder what she'll use these gems for now that she's getting them.'

Akashi soon arrived, looking very tired.

"Akashi... You don't look good. Tired, perhaps?" stating his observations to her.

"There's so much donation to still check through, nya. But it's a lot of funds, so I can't complain, nya..." said Akashi with yawning and rubbing her eyes as she said it.

Caster pushed himself to get closer to Akashi and signaled him to sit on the couch. As she does so, Caster stops at the side of the couch.

"Well, you're about to receive a lot more." The statement, he sees Akashi's ears perk up,

"Nya..?" Akashi peeked over the couch as she heard creaking from the wheelchair's wheels, as Caster is grabbing something below his desk.

Then she heard something that is all too familiar. Her ears start to twitch.

He came back to her with a bag. Akashi leaped on the chance, and 'helped' Caster by taking the bag since it was heavy for him to carry.

"You're giving this to me, nya?" She observed one of many gems in the bag. Her eyes started to sparkle.

"Have you heard of the banquet happening soon?"

"Nya, Commander."

"Well... I'll try to give back to all of the girls in the port." said Caster, and she tilts her head to the side. "So here's what I want you to do with these..."

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

"Akashi? What is this?" Hornet says as she puts something in front of her, looking at is entirety.

"It's... Exactly what you think it is, nya."

"Yeah, I know, but where did this dress come from? I don't think I've ordered from you in some time now." she eyes it up and down, "This looks so pretty!"

"Courtesy of the Commander, nya."

"What?!"

"I was planning to use another dress, but this instead might be the one I'll wear for the banquet." said Yorktown, with a big smile on her face. "Is this only for us?"

"For those specific dress, yes, nya." as she writes something on her notebook. "But every girl in the port is getting a dress for the banquet, as per his request, nya."

"Even the little destroyers?" asked Hornet..?

"W-well, he did say every girl in the port, nya." as she did a shrug. "I haven't thought of that yet. I'll plan something else for them, nya."

Then a sound of a door opening got all 3 girls' attention and out comes Enterprise.

"Um... How do I look?" asked Enterprise, in a tone that is very much screaming 'embarrassed' as she pulls some cloth to see how good it looks on her.

Yorktown covered her mouth, while Hornet was taken aback at this daring outfit.

The silence from both sisters though didn't help Enty however. "Did he suggest this outfit?"

The cat only shook her head.

"I mean... If you're going for the Commander's heart, you might as well go all out." said Yorktown.

The talk continued on between the sisters, while Akashi left them to their own devices. And marched on to get the dresses delivered to every girl in the port.

Akashi had way more on her plate that even Shiranui's help isn't gonna make it stress-free for both of them. But seeing the reactions of the girls she's feeling a good bit of satisfaction as she picked & mostly made those outfit for the girls.

She's still finding a bit of trouble getting the dresses to everyone as again, almost all of the Royal Navy girls are missing from the base, and all of Ironblood is also gone from the port, back to their home for a little while.

But the gesture from Caster, already made his shining reputation to the girls even better for everyone. It didn't matter who you are, even if the girl(s) hasn't even met Caster face-to-face, you received a dress regardless. The PR ships though appreciated this gesture the most.

As for the next location, Akashi is going to the Sakura Empire part of the port, to find the majority of the missing girls from her checklist.

Coincidentally, a massive hot spring has finally opened after the battle with the Observer, and for the past few days, has getting a lot of traffic. Always close to being full capacity.

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

In the next day, following the green-light again from Vestal, and Akashi herself, Caster is now cleared to discard the wheelchair is now able to walk on his own.

Looking at his figure he's lost quite a bit of weight even though he's trying to eat little by little each day. But as celebration for Caster's able-ness to walk once again, King George and Belfast made him the best meal he's had (possibly) ever.

And with this development, the banquet's preparation can finally get underway.

And more importantly, his life post-Siren War has started as well.

Coming back to his office, with almost nothing on his desk, he goes to his bed behind him, looking out the window.

'This post-war life is already feeling a bit weird.'

'I just pick a pen out of habit when I come back here after lunch. But now, for the foreseeable future, I'm not gonna be doing that anymore.'

'I can't even make myself busy with the financial state of the base either. As Akashi has proven herself to be more than capable financier for the entire base. Even she's investing some of the money we have... Like, how does she do it?'

'Is there anything else to do other than... Enjoying myself?'

He hears the ringtone of his tablet and he gets off the bed and takes it out from his desk's drawers.

A text from Bremerton.

"There's a hot spring open at the Sakura Empire's side of the port. Wanna go?" As a picture of the hot spring accompanied the message.

'The timing of this is pretty on the nose...' a shiver passes through him as he thought about this invitation.

He couldn't let Bremmy left on read so he replied with: "I might." Soon after that, he turned off his tablet and back on his bed.

And the more he lingered on it, the more he was in terror on what precedents he might set if he actually goes.

'More likely than not, is they're probably not gonna have a male-only hot spring. It'd be a waste of space since one of Akagi's attitude would probably invade in there anyway.'

'Either way, if I accept it, I'm basically agreeing to walk into a tornado, or another natural disaster.'

Either it'll be a relaxing, and stressful hot spring bath at best, or his 'cherry' getting popped at worst.

And that thought alone terrified him.

And so he's going for it anyway.

But now knowing the implications, he decided to prepare himself. Not just physically, but mentally.

So for the next hour or so Caster would sit on his bed, eyes closed, and taking deep breaths every few seconds. Clearing his mind of any invading and repulsive thoughts.

He's so keyed in to his meditation time is that multiple girls have gotten a sneak peek of what he's up to. And all of them, from confusion, just left him alone.

And one last deep breath from him, he got up from his bed, and taking his hat from his desk and leaving...

By the window.

Now he was immediately outside of the building, and moved towards one of the southern ends of the base.

"Ah... It's truly has been a while." smiling, as he sees his destination in view. "Why didn't the girls actually put this submarine in a much more secure spot? Guess I'll never know." running up to it and getting on top of it.

He opened up the latched and climbed down on the ladder. "I do hope that I'm still able to maneuver this thing again. Last time I was in this is when I fought the Sakura Empire..."

"Has it been that long? Holy..." he got down, the lights lit up in the submarine, as all of it's equipment. Like it was expecting him to arrive. And all of it's blue-tinted lights, and awesome-looking tech, there was a yellow spot on the ground, and it came from the ladder.

He looked up, "Oh, god. I forgot."

After closing the hatch, and getting back down, he soon got to the place that steers the submarine.

"I'm taking this 'hiding from the girls' mentality a bit too far, am I?" he sighed, as he looks around, pressing buttons from the nearby computers to get the submarine... Submerged. (tsk.)

He opened the navigation module of the submarine, and it's interface, now it a holographic style. "So it wasn't left untouched. Interesting." It's not the only thing that's new though, there's some new shiny features like auto-pilot.

His eyebrow raised. "Auto-piloting a submarine... Isn't that a bad idea?" Knowing that, he still goes for it anyway as he picked his destination.

And the submarine is off the shore.

He looks at his left and see there's now a protective glass on the edge of the submarine.

The view isn't flattering, it's just water, but some lights up front is making a little bit better... But now there's also a holographic display there as well, and so Caster walks over to this new interface. And after analyzing for a few seconds, he found something that piqued his interest.

"'Stealth' mode?" he trails off, "I mean, what's the worse that can happen?"

click.

"OH GOD!"

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

In the hallways outside of the Commander's office, the building had already a lot of traffic before the war ended, but it has now since exploded afterwards. With a lot of the girls just walking into Caster's office like it's nobody's business. Not that he didn't allow it in the first place, but the sound of the door opening in his office for each passing day has becoming more apparent.

And some girls has made it a habit of just waltzing into his office whenever they stumble themselves into this certain building.

But one Bremerton, is peeking into the office with the intention to follow-up on her request while taking Baltimore with her. Who seemed embarrassed about the whole ordeal.

"Weird, he's not there." said Bremmy as she leaned on the door, taking out her phone.

"Did you really have to get Commander to come with us?"

"It's not everyday that Commander responds to one's DM, never-mind considering an invitation to go on a hot spring." said Bremerton. "Soon enough, his time will be taken over by other girls, so let's at least get some time with him."

Baltimore moves her head to the side, dodging Bremmy's face, looking in to the empty office. "Well, if he's gone, then he must be-"

"He's going." Her sister said as she bolts off, interrupting her sister and leaving her to try to catch up to her. It was no problem for her though, catching her before leaving the building.

"Is he actually going there right now?" asked Baltimore, as she toggled on her rigging, following her sister, and jumping into the water and started cruising to the northern part of the island.

"Yeah. He's there right now! Let's get there quick!"

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

The submarine reemerged, the latch was left open, sun shining down upon the island, and Caster hobbled himself to a nearby tree to lean on, taking deep breaths to calm himself down.

"What the heck was that stealth mode? That wasn't stealth, it was just disappearing into thin air." he said in between breaths. But before he can complain more, he heard sounds of commotion behind him. So he turned around and observed the scene.

As he expected he's gotten his destination on the mark as the oriental houses and chiseled cement pathways were the first things that he saw. He saw some girls that he hasn't met before, but to his left was a familiar building.

"Oh, damn. It's the ramen shop." Reminiscing the last time he was here. He wasn't exactly hungry, but he thought he could get away with eating something before going to the hot spring.

And so he makes his way to the shop.

"Good afternoo- Commander?!" as she did her normal greeting by habit until looking to see that it was Caster. The other girl in the kitchen were perturbed and left to look at him along with all of the customers who was just enjoying their meal.

"Milord!" said Yamashiro as she gulps down the last bits of soup from her bowl and made her way to him as he sat down. "I'm so happy that you're finally okay!" rubbing her face to his coat as she received some headpats.

"I didn't expect you to come by here again. I thought you were still in your wheelchair." Hiei stated, while putting the toppings into a bowl.

"I was... Until today. I got cleared to finally walk again." letting out a good ol' smile. "Anyway, I want a ramen..."

He then stopped.

'Do I tell them I'm going to the hot spring?'

'Wait, where even is the hot spring?'

"Here, Commander." as Hiei gave the bowl to her Commander, and he was surprised to see that the bowl was bigger than he expected. His confused face said it all. "We can all tell you lost a lot of weight. So please, eat up."

He could only nod for a response and starts eating the ramen.

"You seemed to show up all on your own, Commander. What are you supposed to be doing here?" asked Hiei as she was cleaning off a bowl from Yamashiro.

The question made him stop eating for a second, but continued eating.

Everyone was a bit confused at this, but the girls thought that he was hungry, so they let him keep going.

"Perhaps maybe he's going to the hot spring." The voice coming from the corner of the store.

As he slurped the end of a noodle, he wiped his mouth and looked at her. "I haven't met you, have I? Your intel gathering abilities are good, but I didn't know you were a psychic as well."

"So was I right?"

"...yeah." taking the bowl and started to gulp down the remaining soup present in the ramen as he knew what's coming next.

"Since you're going alone... Can you accompany me, Commander?" asked Hiei, covering her mouth with a towel. "We're gonna close early today."

"Milord, come with me as well!" Yamashiro's tail wagging aggressively as she said it.

He put down his bowl and as soon as he did it, something soft made contact to his left arm.

"Commander~~" said I-19. Cuddling as hard as Yamashiro. "If you come with me, I'll show you some of my massage techniques."

Hiei took the bowl away from him as he couldn't even do it himself now with two cat-girls snuggling him, but even worse now is that he's trapped, and as the word got out, more and more girls started to crowd the store to see him and Hiei really had to close earlier than expected.

In the end, with a whole crowd of girls beside Caster, they all went up to the hot spring.

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

"We landed pretty close where the hot spring is." said Bremerton as she disengages her rigging and disappears, along with her sister who is still behind her.

"How close exactly?" asked Baltimore, as they reached the cobble pathways.

"Up... There." pointing at a building with a massive bamboo walls around it, lights bright enough to see from afar.

But it was halfway up the massive staircase where the main Sakura Empire shrine for this port lies as well as the observation deck where anyone can see the sun setting.

"First to the building?" Bremerton stretched out her legs and hopping a little bit.

A smile formed on her sister's face. "Go." as she took off.

"Wait! No countdown!?" Bremmy's left scrambling and ran.

But as both were racing to the building, they and everyone else in the area started to hear droning noises.

The noises got more closer until it was deafening, both Baltimore and Bremerton looked to their right to see what the fuss is.

And it was literal plane flying up, speeding past Baltimore and Bremerton, but seeing someone on the wing that clearly had red accents on their outfit. And then jumping off straight past the bamboo walls and sounds of splashing can be heard from Baltimore's position.

Also a lot of screaming as well.

And both Eagle Union cruisers just stopped in shock for what both of them just witnessed.

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

"What the hell was that!?" his eyes wide open, and the vice grip of the girls clinging to him getting tighter. The screaming afterwards didn't exactly help the feeling.

But the scene at the hot spring has somehow gotten more crowded with Caster in the building. What a surprise. He's heard over hundreds of requests already of him joining in the girls side of the hot spring as they're 'okay with it' but he just smiled and kept saying that 'I'll think about it.'

Wading through the crowd of girls, he reached the reception table. No one's manning it.

"Commander, this place is just a free-for-all, you know?" Chikuma remarked. "Now, where will you go?"

"WHERE IS HE!?" The bamboo door busted open with a voice that everyone in the building knew who it was. Of course, Caster is very much familiar with the voice as well.

The girls in the reception area knew he was there, and they started to group up together to cover him...

He looked at them, and winked. "Thank you, ladies."

As everyone swooned at that rizz, Chikuma wasn't done informing. "There's a men's part of the hot spring, and it's custom made to make you as relaxed as possible, Commander." pointing to another door to their right.

"Uh..." Not sure of what to say next, he walked forward closer to the door. "Thank you, Chikuma. Glad to have met you." giving her his signature smile as he went into the door.

But after he closed the door, and looked at his hot spring, it looked better than how Chikuma described it.

A dry area upon he can shower himself with a pail, a changing room and of course, a massive, steaming hot spring right at the center past the dry area.

Even for a few seconds of just admiring the view, he's already hearing noises from the other side of the wall to his left... Which was taller than usual... Almost the same height as the walls around the place.

"Let's just relax..." He soon did his preparations and after that, he didn't waste a second and got into the hot spring.

He felt like he was burning at first but after a minute he felt that it is now okay to put his upper torso into the spring water.

"There wasn't a lock on that door when I closed it..." he already felt uneasy knowing that fact. "I'm just gonna be paranoid of that fact now."

He soon positioned himself in front of that door so whenever a shameless girl did come in, he'd be the first thing they'll see. He knew the rules of the game, no matter how high of a authority he is, in a game of resisting the other, he'll always lose to their superior strength.

So the best way in his eyes is just to keep his actions self-restrained to at least keep his image of being a gentleman intact.

'They'll be gentle to me with my still recovering stomach... Right?'

'Right?'

The noises from the other side of the wall hasn't stopped though, and took this as an opportunity to look about the wall to see if someone is tryna catch him in 20/20 eyesight.

And sure he was, he saw a camera lens peeking above the wall, and looking behind him, he caught someone actually up there, but panicked and ducked down as soon as he looked at their direction.

He paused for a second, looked at the size of the hot spring he's indulged in, and thought to himself.

'Do I go for it?'

'Ah, whatever. Let's cause some chaos.'

He started chuckling. "You know girls, if what you desire is right within your reach. Why let this bamboo wall stop you?"

"I mean, you could just leave and come here by the door. That'd be the polite option." with his tone of voice making sure that everybody past the wall heard it.

The chatter soon subsided... And his focus went to the door, expecting them to funnel through.

...

But he heard something so loud that it pierced his ear, and snapped his head back to the wall. And a hand was through it.

And after that, all hell broke loose, some of the girls just blew up parts of the wall with their rigging and the ones who managed to get through first, got to jump in first with Caster, splashing and making a mess out of the entire place.

The girls around him started to slowly inch over to their 'prey', until he held up his hand.

"My stomach still looks bad, girls. I'd suggest not touching me there. Don't spoil me that hard."

"We'll take good care of you." Caster turned his head to reveal Belfast sending a whisper that gave him shivers. With her towel nearly off her body, and even that, he still had to look away since her 'rack' was in full view.

'Uh... Did I bite off more than I could chew?'

"But will you take good care of us...? Commander?" Shoukaku came up from behind and got Caster by the neck with her hands.

The chaos he asked for came to pass, but severely underestimated how the girls reacted to his offer. For his face is fully flustered for everyone to see.

And with emotions rare coming from him much less a flustered face, of course, it triggered the girls to go even further.

Their hands crawling to every part of his skin, to his chest, and to his face. Even some girls tried to sneak in a kiss.

And soon, he was smothered by the girls and time seemed to stop for the lucky guy.

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

"Hmmm..."

The room was well-lit, fancy decor all over the room, with a luxurious-looking beds to boot. The hustle and bustle of the girls is easily heard, as in front of one of the beds, Commander Caster, days later, looking at himself in a mirror, with a line of suits prepared for him for the banquet.

"Can I still..."

"No, Commander." said Formidable in a stern manner. Crossing her arms. Javelin next to her, face deadpanned.

The head maid sighed, "We know how much that suit is of importance to you, but the Maid Corp tried to polish the suit back to brand-new yesterday, none of our current methods worked.

"Each respective faction took their time to make a custom-made outfit. Let's please not waste their efforts. Please decide on it now. Tonight, we'll be leaving for the banquet's location."

He's heard the same words twice from her, and this time, he only nodded and started to ponder on his options.

As Belfast said, each faction has made their custom-made outfits/suits for Caster to wear. Up to him on what he wears.

Even the Ironblood got time to make him a suit. Weird since he hasn't heard from them for almost a week. As this is their first time making their presence known, but no Ironblood girl was on-base still.

"Do you think I'll piss at least one faction off if I choose an outfit? Seems like an inevitability, right?"

"You can't appease everyone, I'm sure you know that, Commander." Prince of Wales came into the room, hearing what he just said.

He looks over to her, and shrugged. "Touche." grabbing all 4 suits and going into the changing room. With everyone else in the room confused.

"Commander?" Belfast came close to the changing room's curtain. But was stopped from doing anything further as his hand came out of the curtain.

"Give me time." And after the girls give him time, he pulled aside the curtain to reveal his outfit.

The girls in the room, Formidable, Javelin, Belfast, and Wales, weren't quite sure what they were looking at first. Each of them recognized a part of his outfit, but the next clothing piece didn't belong to the same faction.

Perhaps...

"Did you just mix & match outfits from everyone?" asked Wales, only a nod from Caster. "To not piss off anyone?"

His eyes peel open. "No! That's not it." tidying his tie and jacket. "Don't tell anyone this, but I chose the best parts of each suit and mixed them together. And I didn't like any of them."

His head maid smiles in amusement, Javelin came closer and is gushing about the outfit, while both Formidable and Wales faces had a look of profound confusion, but weren't stopping him either.

"I'll have to go try makeup next."

"Any volunteers?"

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

It is now night-time, a whole armada of ships are settled on the ports letting girls on to lessen the ships roaming the sea at the same time. Thus making the navigation faster and easier for everyone.

Almost everyone at this point has already went off or about to leave the base. And some girls noted that they haven't seen their Commander leave.

But while everyone is getting bogged down in time with finding their Commander, the guy has already left. Without saying a word, coming with HMS Hood in a solo cruise to their destination.

She didn't manage to join the bath-house incident a few days ago, while overhearing the makeup offer that he made earlier in the day, best believe that in her first day back, she's making sure she'll be taking initiative.

In fact, they were already two hours out. And in that time, they've been talking a lot. And something has changed with her while they talked.

"You've always been so perceptive, Caster."

"You... Are something else tonight, Hood."

"Am I really...?"

The brooding silence of Caster as he leans over the railing looking forward of the HMS Hood, seeing the moon above him. "Like... Dropping my real name like that. I don't know why it's taking me this long to finally changing my tone around you, and the rest of the girls." he said smiling.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Like saying things that get a certain reaction from the girls. I just caused a massive problem back at the Sakura's part of the island."

"Maybe perhaps I've built up a 'seniority bias' towards you and the rest of the girls who were here first that I'm more able to just be Caster... Without the intimidating title of Commander behind it.

"That's why I haven't been... Staying still while you poke and prod into me."

Hood giggled. "You seem to be making your own moves yourself."

This got a smile out of him. "Yeah... Were they good?"

"I think it's sufficient enough." –as she slipped her hand into his– "But you're not just using me for practice, aren't you?"

"As much as I want this to be towards you, we both know that won't be the case." said Caster. Lowering his head as the wind passes him, the cold washing over his body.

"Where do I go from here?"

Hood leaned on the railing of her own battle-cruiser still holding his hand. Her eyebrow lifted. Waiting in silence.

"Conflict... And the Sirens kept us in check relationship-wise. Now that's gone, am I dumb to think that I'm scared of what peace will bring to our peaceful relationships? Hell, I might be the reason for the ruin of the port..."

Before he can doubt any further, he felt a bump from his back, and something wrapping his waist.

"Commander... No, Caster... It'll be alright." Her warmth passing to him. She could hear a sigh before turning around to look at her. Straight to her soul.

Under the moonlight, with their faces so close, she could feel it. And so did Caster. Her eyes close, her body trembling.

'You just want it so badly...' thinking, as he wrapped his arms around her, and gave her what she always wanted.

Unlike Akagi's or even Enterprise's attempts, this one had the fierceness of Akagi, but the tenderness of Enterprise. And he could feel it, as they parted. Breathing in and looking into both at each other's souls.

She went ahead and took off her small cape from her shoulders, and hid it. "It is my time... No, our time. My elegance vanishes when I'm with you... You're going to take responsibility for it.

"Show me your passion hidden behind those eyes." trailing her fingers up to his chin.

He took her by the arm, and the night continued... Passionately.

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

The morning came around, Caster had been sound asleep in a luxurious bed as his partner last night, Hood was sitting in a chair next to her prince, reading a book in peace.

Both reached their destination faster than the armada of ships that set out last night.

But the silence wouldn't last long, as she heard a door creaking open behind her. Making her turn around, and seeing someone whom she didn't expect to show up so soon.

"Greetings, Lady Hood."

"Oh, goodness me. I haven't seen your face since back at the royal castle." said Hood, closing her book and stood up to face her. "I hope her Majesty wasn't too much of a bother."

"No, not at all!" as Vanguard lowered her head in respect. "My time at the castle wasn't anything of note. Nor I have been through her Majesty's... Outbursts... As you've told me."

Hood smiled, as did Vanguard.

"But don't mind me, I have come back to Langston Palace see your legendary Commander..." –leaning to her left seeing the Commander having his nap- "...seems he's getting his rest."

Both women laughed about it and they continued to talk into the early morning. As the rest of the ships arrive at the palace, the girls flood the halls, and the collective noise around the castle and especially in his room got Caster to wake up.

His yawn got everyone in the room with him stiffen up. As he wiped his eyes to knock out the drowsiness, he took note the girls in the room.

Formidable, Prince of Wales, King George V, Belfast, Howe, Drake, Cheshire, Warspite,

and a face that he hasn't seen before. Not only that, almost all of the Maid Corp is present in the room. Belfast and co.

"Had a good sleep?"

Hood crept up to Caster from behind and whispered in his ear. Giving him shivers, looking away to hide his flushed face.

And while no one's the wiser, Hood wrapped an arm around his with a smile that was more sultry than endearing.

As soon as the other girls looked at him, Hood changed her demeanor on a dime. That made Caster feel a certain tension in the room.

In a bid to not cause chaos again, he greeted everyone of the girls, gave some embraces on others and left the room. With Hood right behind him.

And immediately girls started to come up to him. Greeting him, giving them a good ol' hug, or the occasional selfie with a girl to keep as a cherished memory or posting it on Juustagram as a trophy of sorts.

And even now that the war is over, he's still meeting new girls that he hasn't met yet in his tenure. 'Girls show up faster before Akashi can make in-depth reports of them.'

But for the next 2 hours, that's all he was seen doing.

As soon as he got room to breathe, he then decided to get his breakfast to the royal mess hall. And right after, he slipped away to go outside.

Caster himself was still unaware where he's ended up, so as he gets some distance in the grassy field he's now in, he turned around to look at the building he just went out of.

"Oh." a smile formed on his face, "Langston Castle." chuckling as he said it. "How did not cross my mind the first 2 hours?"

He felt a powerful breeze pass through him, taking a deep breath, he laid down on the grass. And a wave of satisfaction enveloped the Commander.

It felt like the silence would continue, but of course, it had to be interrupted with two familiar faces.

"Hey there, Commander!" A girl sat next to him to his right. It's Prinz Heinrich. First time seeing a Ironblood member in the past week.

'In all the hours I spent in there, I still haven't seen a girl from the Ironblood till now. Okay, this is getting concerning.'

And her good friend, New Jersey to his left. Upon which he smothered him seeing him in his compromised position.

"I wasn't there at the bathhouse, and I also heard that you're the initiator of the events there." said New Jersey, getting her face really close to him.

His once stoic face now looked the one of denial. And this read from New Jersey told her everything she needed to know.

Heinrich wasn't just letting New Jersey have all the fun. Laying down with Caster, but not making the same forward moves that NJ is doing.

And neither does the other girls, more specifically, Enterprise, Akagi, and Hood managed to catch Caster with these two.

"What the hell you think you're doing...?" Akagi snarled, as Heinrich, stood up to excuse herself, but New Jersey does not plan to move.

Akagi tries to get in there shamelessly, Enterprise wasn't willing to stop her, neither does Hood, but what the latter did calm her down to let Caster relax a bit more.

"You left early yesterday, Commander." Enterprise blurted, crossing her arms. "We wasted a lot of time trying to find you. Now, who did you leave with?"

Caster gave a second to look at the girl who nabbed him for a night, and then looked away with no ones noticing.

Enterprise's eyebrow raised as she still waited for an answer. But how long it's taking, she might have a suspicion.

He yawned once again, "It's with a girl, I can tell you that much. But I'm not gonna rat them out. She played it well, and I'm not gonna cause them torment from everyone at port."

"One thing I'll say though, I'm much more willing now to grant your selfish requests... To a certain degree.

"But not jus-"

"Good morning..." A voice came from behind, and as they all turned around, They could see massive rigging around a small kitsune. It's Nagato.

Caster sprung back up, and bowed before her. "Have you just arrived?"

"Yes. Coming from the Ironblood island." Nagato answered. As Heinrich's cheery face earlier is now wiped off her. Nagato caught this change, and took a deep breath.

"Seems that most of each faction leaders are here. Call upon the others. I have urgent news coming from Ironblood." said Nagato, turning around and going back into the castle. "We'll need a secure room."

Caster waited for everyone to go first, because he saw Heinrich's face. But everyone else seemed frozen until he himself moves first.

So begrudgingly, he goes on first, following Nagato to the chosen room to break the news. Bad news. He can feel it in the air that Nagato's exuding.

While waiting for the other important girls from each faction, his mind started to go through the possibilities. But as he thought deeper, the outcomes in his head all came out more terrifying to him, and so he went ahead to tracing back his steps.

The room now added Belfast, Prince of Wales, King George V, Yorktown, Hornet, and Takao.

But a wumpth stopped him, as the door closes with a click to go along as the girls are finally gathered around Nagato. Standing before them as they either sat down or kept standing.

"Good morning to you all, I apologize if the rest of the Sakura Empire members aren't here yet, home repairs is still our number one priority. The rest will arrive later in the day.

"But other than that, that's not what I'm here for." she said, sitting down, resting her tails.

"The Commander and others have known already, but to those who are unaware, I've just arrived from the Ironblood's fortress."

...

...

...

The silence, and the look on Nagato's face... Caster glanced, and he notices...

Tears?

"W-we..." Nagato sobbed. Now being held by Takao. "Lost...

"Tirpitz."

Everyone didn't know what to make of this news, but here's one who reacted immediately after.

Prinz Heinrich. Who laid her head on New Jersey's shoulders. With the sounds of muffled sobbing and NJ comforting her.

'The last person from the Ironblood I saw... Tirpitz.' His eye twitched.

'That... Was the last time...'

His vision started to look blurred... Watery. Taking a finger to his eye and letting the tear flow down his fingers, to his hand.

After a minute to finally let the news process through everyone, nothing but cries filled the room. Even the ever fearsome Akagi was spilling her tears. Hood got emotional herself, while Enterprise lowered her cap.

'I don't care...'

'You saved the world. Tirpitz.'

'"The Ironblood fights till their last breath."'

'She died the way she wanted...'

'I hope her sister is proud.'

"This party... Let's make sure that..." sobbing through his lines, "It's to celebrate the memory and actions she made to win the war."

"I'm gonna need a second." he mumbled, being the first to leave the room.

He passed by many girls on his way outside. As much as the girls tried to give chase, he soon got out of the castle and into the streets.

The powerful wind present earlier was still around, walking in the middle of bridge connecting the castle and everything else in mainland. Wiping off his tears as he goes.

"I fucking..." -interrupting himself by hitting his own head- "Hate myself for not learning it sooner."

"Do I... Even have time to see her to be buried?"

"No, Commander."

His body recoiled, and his heart-rate spiked. After which he dropped to the floor...

...If Prinz Heinrich wasn't able to save him there. In which she did. Catching him before hitting the floor.

"Oh my god, Commander, are you okay?" said Heinrich with concern. As she re-positions Caster for her to see his face.

He's somehow still conscious, but his breathing rhythm's irregular...

Heinrich sat there frozen, now knowing what to do. Running back to the castle sounds like an idea but Caster kept saying: "I'll be alright. Just... Let me... Breathe."

"Breathe...

"Breathe..."

This continued for a few minutes until Caster regained his consciousness and able to stand up on his feet.

"I'm very sorry for that, Heinrich. But at the same time, you're the one who made collapse." said Caster as he poked at Heinrich's hip and making her flinch.

"I'm so sorry, Commander. I watched you run away, and I didn't wanna leave you alone." wrapping her arms around him.

"You're the only Ironblood girl I've seen all week. Can I still mourn for Tirpitz at your fortress?" Caster asked, turning to face Heinrich.

"Commander... We didn't find her body. We suspect that the black hole got to her, but one thing I could say is that, we can mourn for her anywhere, and everywhere." Heinrich walked passed Caster as she said it.

"Besides, I'm willing to bet that Tirpitz knew that the war was won with the black hole." turning back around, and lean forward at Caster. "Shouldn't we be celebrating that instead? Just like you told everyone?"

Her tone sounded cheery, but her face wasn't in sync, as Caster detected a tear in her eye, and wiped it off her.

"Yeah... That's..." lowering his head and he sighed. "I wish... I could've known sooner."

"Don't worry."

Caster saw his hand got taken by Heinrich and he immediately looks back at her.

"I know a place where we could ease our sadness." A smile on her face, they move past the bridge.

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

"What the hell is this...?"

"What do you mean, Commander? You should know this better than I do."

"Yeah, this is an amusement park." he huffed, "But out of everything we could've gone to?"

Stopping at the entrance, Heinrich turned around to face him. "It wasn't far, and I've wanted to go to one of these ever since Spee told me an experience here."

The banter between them got some people's attention, more likely staring at Heinrich's height, but they soon admit themselves into the park.

And as soon as they were in, a crowd of people is what they saw as they passed through the gate. A multitude of colors everywhere they looked and with distant screams of joy (fear?) from the rides.

Heinrich couldn't be more happier finally getting a chance to be in a theme park, and at the same time, getting precious alone time with her Commander. Hitting the jackpot, so to speak.

Caster however was still taking all of this commotion in. And he's back with his poker face like he's always done.

And Heinrich noticed his face...

'This is it...' a grin forming on her face. 'Nagato's news definitely shook him bad... I'll make sure that won't last for long!'

'It'll be the best date he'll have.'

Caster saw his hand taken again by Heinrich, and looking at her with a big smile on her face, she took him along the park.

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

Clang!

"Congratulations!" an employee handed Caster a small plush toy, still a frozen look on his face. And he turned around to give Heinrich the plush, but turns out she also won something for him as well.

Heinrich soon gave her plushie to him as she took his. Trying to avoid eye contact. "T-thank you, Commander."

After a pause, Caster cleared his throat. "We're well outside of anything military-related, Heinrich. You can call me Caster. I'll have to get used to getting called that more anyways."

"Okay... Caster." she said with a hint of hesitation. 'I feel strange saying that...'

"I do feel warmer though..."

"Pardon?"

Her trance was snapped and shook his questions off. Caster was amused at her reaction, but went forward on his own, with her right behind him.

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

"Oh my god, you can even see the castle from here!?" Prinz leaned against the window of the carriage, looking at Langston Palace from afar at the peak of the Ferris wheel.

"...I apologize, Heinrich."

The sudden remark made her turn back to look at him. "Hmm? Why?"

"I should be more happy than I am right now..." he said leaning back, "But it just seems that I can't do it."

"Comman- I mean, Caster..." In trying to call her Commander by his real name, Heinrich's face flushed red, with him able to see it. "No matter what I'll do, that news will always stick to you. And it's okay to still be sad about it.

"You don't know the extent of how happy I am to be able to even do this with you, together." she said, moving closer to him.

Their faces closer, both of them feeling each other's breathing. "You make everyone so happy with your presence alone."

Caster looks away from her. "I'll try to be more active for you after this."

Before anything else happens, the carriage shook, and the door soon opened.

"Come on. We have more rides to partake." taking out his hand and lending it to Heinrich. Which she happily took.

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

At this point, they've rode on many attractions now. At least six more after the Ferris wheel. And as both of them exerted their energy on enjoying those rides, both of them are getting hungry. Caster in particular, and so, while Heinrich is getting something for both of them, he's taking a gander at items at a gift shop.

"Hey there." Startled with a voice he can't recognize, he slowly turned around to see two women.

Both women eyed him up and down as he's confused, trying to rationalize why they would choose to disturb him instead of anyone else.

"Can you take a picture of us?" One of the women passed him her phone, and both of them picked a spot and made a pose.

This situation screamed bizarre for him but out of respect, he let it slide.

"3... 2... 1..." He counted down along with a hand signal before taking the picture.

After some more, both women came back to him, took back the phone and giggled to each other. While Caster was ready to go back to the gift sho-

"Hey, why don't you take a photo with us?"

His face twitched, his eyebrow raised and looked back at them with that exact face.

"Why should I?"

"You seem to be on your own, why don't you have fun with us?" One of them flaunted their hair to catch his attention.

"We'll make your trip here unforgettable~" said the other woman in a sultry tone. But unlike the girls that he commands in battle, he wasn't affected, nor amused.

'Is hooking up in a amusement park is a new thing that this new world allows?'

While he's still trying to piece together what's happening, his silence prompts the women to come closer to him, slowly backing him into a corner.

But as he looks around for something to stall with, he saw something behind the women, with gave him a smile.

"Um... Who are you?"

The women turned around to see Prinz Heinrich. Almost twice as tall as her.

"What do you think you're doing to my Commander?" her face tilted slightly to the side, but her tone was backed with uncharacteristic hostility.

"I think it's none of your business." One of them scoffed, as the other moved closer to Caster.

"Actually..." -freeing himself and returning back to where he belongs- "I think it's very much is our business."

He tapped on Heinrich's legs which got her attention.

"Is she your girlfrien-" One of the women interjected, until they were interrupted with shock.

As Heinrich leaned over, thinking Caster needed something of her, he pulled on her tie, and pulled her to a kiss on the cheek.

"I respect the attempt, but I belong to her, thank you very much." Even when he rejected the two women, Caster still made it non-confrontational, and soon the women walked away.

After they disappeared into the crowd, Caster knew what he had to say to her. "I'm very sorry there. They were trying to get me to come with them..."

Heinrich's face is beet red and unable to even form a response.

"...But I have a feeling that you secretly liked it."

'Oh, god. Why did I say that?!?!' he thought to himself, panicking after that statement.

Heinrich's blush became even redder as he said that uncharacteristic remark.

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

To say that the date had become awkward after that interaction would be putting it lightly. Heinrich didn't even get to give Caster the ice cream that she bought for him as she dropped it with Caster's bold move.

He did make up for it buying hot-dog sandwiches out of his own pocket, but sitting on a bench together, Heinrich still hasn't said anything to him.

"Commander... You're so unfair..." Heinrich, even with the noise of the crowd, can hear her own heart beating faster than she could handle. "I thought that you have just confessed to me."

"If it were that easy, I would've married one of you girls by now."

She immediately snapped her head towards him, as his head tilting up and his eyes looking up in the sky... "What... Do you mean?"

"I've found out very early on in my time of being the Commander, is that you girls like me so damn much that you'll probably raze anything to the ground as long it gets through to my heart.

"Never I have tried so hard to tip-toe around my words, my intentions behind those words, and how I act next to any particular girl, such as yourself." he said, giving her a side glance.

"You girls are amazing, beyond anything I could ask for. But that's the thing."

"If I choose one girl, I know the admiration I've gotten from everyone, I'll be breaking each and every one of those hearts."

"Knowing that... I'm stuck... Frozen. I wanna make you all happy, but as it stands, this is the best case scenario... And soon enough, time will run out."

He shook his head and rubbed his hair. "Sorry, I let myself ramble there, Heinri-"

Pulled into an warm embrace on a even warmer day, Heinrich rubbed Caster's head, feeling blissful, and a little embarrassed at the scene.

"I've never known that it was such a big thing for you in the first place...

"But your consideration alone of everyone in the port, that alone,

She leaned into his ear.

"Is what makes everyone fall for you."

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

The two are back at the castle at 5 PM, with a renewed understand of each other, but asides from the immediate interrogation of Caster and Heinrich of their whereabouts, it quickly died off, as the ball is close, and everyone is almost finished preparing.

Heinrich broke off with Caster to go to her faction-mates who have just arrived an hour ago, to prepare herself.

And Caster did the same, but with a 150% lot more girls around him instead.

But after he dressed himself of the suit he chose back in the base, there were a lot more girls in the room now than when he first walked into the changing room.

Surrounding him, there was one request that every girl wants to be granted.

"I'll make myself clear... I want you to be my escort, Commander." Prince of Wales requested candidly straight to his face.

"I mean... I have two hands..." A wide smile formed on his face.

"Who takes it first, is coming to bed with me tonight."

Caster knew once again, what his word meant but did it anyway just for the sake of inciting chaos. Afterwards he retracted the statement.

Before he can actually choose a girl however, the sun's now going down and everyone is starting to leave for the ball.

Caster had a personal, exclusive limo just for him to bring him to the Royal Castle of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. (rip lizzie)

But opening the door, he soon found out that he's not going alone.

Inside were Enterprise, New Jersey, Prinz Heinrich, Prince of Wales, and Shoukaku, and Zuikaku. With Belfast manning the wheel, but wishes badly to be in the back.

Dread was written all over his face, but the girls couldn't piece together why.

"Come in here, Commander." said Shoukaku. Patting an empty spot in between her and Enterprise.

Before he can even react to the request, he was stunned looking at Enterprise. At Enterprise couldn't take her eyes off him either. So both of them noticed each other's gaze and looked away.

Caster soon let himself in the limo. As he closes the door, it felt like he couldn't look in any direction without locking gaze with another girl.

Looking to his left, Shoukaku's gentle stare, to his right, Enterprise's bashful body language but yearning gaze.

And looking forward obviously, is not helping.

"I might not have time to tell you all at the ball, but you girls, all look amazing. Though getting surrounded like this is not exactly helping my heart-rate."

All of the girls giggle.

Caster noticed New Jersey on his left have a jolt, as she smiled at Wales. Before he can surmise their interaction, Wales got up, and leaned over to take Caster's personal space. Fully trapping him into his spot.

The other girls in the car didn't seem to mind nor stop this blatant attempt of seducing teasing him.

Instead, Shoukaku trapped his left hand from moving. Enterprise didn't seem to join, but she was certainly not stopping it.

"We still have long way to go to the Royal Castle, Commander. Let yourself relax, and we'll take care of the rest." said Shoukaku.

"What are you going to do to us, Commander... Caster~" said Wales... Her tone unheard from her before, made him shiver.

But also realized, this is still Wales. She could still snap out of it. 'She's a glass cannon...'

"I'm rather more interested on what you'll do to me, first..." said Caster as he sent a burning gaze to Wales.

'Right...?'

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

"I should be in that damn limo... I'll show those girls my fury after I get my deserved dance with him..." Akagi fumed, alone, leaning on a wall next to the table where the buffet is going to be served.

Looking at the girls guarding the buffet line, the girls are switching spots once again, Akagi has picked up on this pattern not too long ago, and her focus is on a particular deep bowl of fruit punch...

Watching her surroundings, she digs into her bosom and pulls out a small bottle which may or may not have suspicious labels on it.

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

The limo parked in front of the Royal Castle, but the girls in there all come out first.

All of them fixing some part of their outfit. Some fixing their hair, face, and particular girls like Wales, licking something off her lip.

All that's left is the man himself. His head hurts, but still managing to wipe off the very visible red marks on his face, tidying up his hair, and finally fixing his suit before stepping out of the limo. With everyone surrounding them, happy to see that they've finally arrived, and just there to look for Caster in the midst.

Belfast was right next to him as he came out. At a glance, her face told him everything he needed.

"I... Don't think I could ever see you girls the same way ever again..." he rubbed his face, and taking a deep breath. "Belfast."

Her face changed. "Yes, Master?"

"Words can't describe how much you've done for me.

"All the things in the background you've worked on for my comfort, you've taught me the basics of running an entire port. Letting my sanity intact with secretaries upon you were the first girl to make aware of such thing.

"All of those things are thanks to you. Your care was the thing that I was able to focus on the thing I am good at. Fighting.

"And yet all of that, in this entire time, I've never once said 'thank you.'"

He reaches out his hand to Belfast.

"I hope I don't spend my entire lifetime making it up to you, so I'll start immediately."

"Belfast. Would you like to be my first dance?"

Her hand slides into his, "It would be my pleasure." Both of them smile.

He looks forward and sees the blinding lights within the castle even from the outside. Then like a moth to a flame, he walks forward, holding Belfast's hand tight as she follows.

And the night, has truly started...

A-kun: This is it. This is the end. You've finally reached the end, reader. That's awesome. I never thought that Azur Lane of all franchises would be my biggest success as a writer. And I could only thank you all for making this book as much of a success that it is. And I'll use the experience I've gotten from making this book to become a much better writer in the future.

Don't worry. I'll be here for a lot longer.

Anyway, This cliffhanger kinda irks me. Since I could've written the ball event myself. But judging by how much you've scrolled to even get to this point, yeah... I think I can get myself some rest.

So I'll do something new for myself. (Forgive me in advance):

If this chapter gets 100 votes on it, I'll make a bonus chapter continuing this, and it'll be as more chaotic than any chapter I've written up to this point.

So... This is it for now, everyone. I'll see you in my next big project. I've been working on it for a while now. So stay tuned.

Thank you all for reading, and have a great day.

Word Count: 11,859 Words. (Close to my record...)

1:28 PM
2/4/23

Also, I have a Discord server. You can see me there occasionally with my really funny members (real)

here's some examples:

(wait)

A-anyway! Put this link in your browser, and you're basically in!

https://discord.gg/wWrfk66

I'll see you there!