Atago approached with a dangerous smile.
First, she glanced at Laffey and Ibuki, who were holding hands with Jack, her smile unwavering.
This poor little sister had finally received the Commander's love, and as an elder sister, she was genuinely happy for her.
Then she looked at Takao, who stood like a subordinate.
Clearly, a certain self-aware and reserved martial artist, unable to save face, could only stand by as a guard.
Heh! Shipgirls are indeed judged by their completion time. Takao, you should just be a good little sister!
The complex internal monologue didn't take much time.
After all, being in Sakura Empire, the most intense battleground for the Commander, high-speed thinking was just a basic skill.
Then, Atago gracefully bowed to Jack, two patches of snow-white skin inadvertently showcasing their power.
"This humble one has been waiting for you for a long time, my beloved Commander~"
Jack appreciated the view generously.
Then he raised a question.
"I've kept you waiting, Atago. Ibuki said you were practicing swordsmanship here?"
So impressive! Unmoved by my temptation, truly worthy of being the Commander!
Takao glared at Atago.
Atago pulled her open top together.
Alright! It's just giving the Commander a little treat, why so nervous~
Atago winked seductively at Jack: There will be many more opportunities later, I'll show the Commander then~
"Yes, Commander, would you like to observe?"
"Why not? I have nothing else to do, and it's a good opportunity for me to learn more about you."
Jack temporarily ignored the squabble between these Takao-class heavy cruiser sisters and led Laffey and Ibuki towards the spectator seats.
Takao intended to follow him, but suddenly a wooden sword blocked her way.
Atago smiled and said to her.
"A solo demonstration isn't very exciting, Takao. Would you like to show your prowess to the Commander with your sister?"
Takao frowned.
This woman, is she getting too carried away in front of the Commander!
"Atago, I'm the first ship!"
"Oh my, but I was completed earlier~"
"Hmph! It's just completion time, that doesn't mean anything... No more talk, let's see the truth with our skills!"
Both for the sisterly rivalry and to show off in front of the Commander.
Takao walked to the sword rack and took down a wooden sword.
...
"Are these two sisters always so explosive?"
It was Jack's first time seeing Takao and Atago in reality. He, who didn't usually pay much attention to background stories, had this question.
Ibuki shook her head.
"Usually, both of my elder sisters are very gentle and amiable, but for them to be so confrontational today, I think the reason must be with Master."
"Is that so... Then it makes sense."
Jack mused, looked at the two in the arena, then hugged Ibuki's cheek and said.
"Thanks for clarifying, our little Ibuki gets a kiss as a reward."
Smooch~
A kiss landed.
Ibuki shyly lowered her head, her sweet smile seeming to melt.
Crack! x2
Two wooden swords simultaneously made sounds of being unable to bear the strain.
"Oh my, it seems they've been left for too long, the quality of the training equipment has deteriorated. I'll go get a new one first."
Atago turned and left with a forced smile.
Takao glanced at the wooden sword in her hand, which was also nearly broken, and silently followed behind her.
"Me too!"
Soon.
The two, having retrieved their weapons, stood in the center of the dojo again.
This duel, she absolutely could not lose to this annoying sister in front of the Commander!
The two shared the same conviction, both believing they were the elder sister, then simultaneously stepped forward.
Clang!
The wooden swords clashed, emitting a crisp sound.
Clang clang!
Several consecutive attacks and defenses, identical moves, made their battle particularly intense.
Because they could both anticipate the direction of each other's next swing.
Clang!
Once again, the wooden swords connected, their faces close, eyes filled with intense fighting spirit.
"You're really not holding back, Takao~"
"You're the same, Atago, and also, I'm the elder sister!"
After exchanging harsh words, the two quickly retreated.
Just countering each other's moves like this wouldn't work, they had to change their tactics!
Takao thought.
She then moved to the side, her movements unpredictable.
Suddenly!
She thrust her blade directly into Atago's blind spot.
Atago adjusted her breathing, blocked with the side of her vertically held sword, redirecting Takao's attack towards the ground.
However, this move by Takao was merely a feint; she twisted her wrist, changing the thrust into an upward slash, increasing the force from 30% to 80%.
Clang!
Atago had not expected Takao to suddenly strike like that; her sword-wielding hands were knocked high into the air, revealing a huge opening.
Evil, Be, Gone!
A red glow flashed in Takao's eyes, and she unconsciously used the Azure Lane version of "Mana Burst," a condensed, unreleased red energy blade heading straight for Atago.
Boom!
At the critical moment,
Jack flashed into the battlefield, and Takao's strike landed directly on his forearm.
Crack~
The wooden sword snapped, and the string in Takao's heart also broke.
"Commander!"
"Master!"
Atago and Ibuki immediately reacted, rushing to embrace Jack.
With soft, warm jade in his arms, Jack's arm, raised to block, remained completely still.
He looked as if his spirit had been severed by that single strike.
"Did I... kill Commander?"
Takao dropped the hilt of the wooden sword, covering her head in pain and weeping bitterly.
"Wuwu~"
Ibuki couldn't hold back and also started crying.
Atago was slightly stronger, but she was merely putting on a brave face, tears welling up in her eyes.
Just as everyone was immersed in the sorrowful atmosphere,
Laffey walked over.
She glanced at the "expressionless" Jack and said,
"Commander... is tricking Shipgirls again~ Bad~"
"Trick?"
Atago was momentarily stunned.
Then she noticed the light returning to Jack's eyes, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.
"You found out, Little Laffey."
"Mmhmm~"
Laffey proudly lifted her head.
"Eh?"
Ibuki was still a bit confused about the situation, one hand on Jack's chest: "It's warm... Master, Master isn't dead!"
However, the most emotional person on the scene was undoubtedly Takao, who had thought she accidentally killed Commander and almost went full Meta.
She cried and laughed, wiping away her tears, and pounced towards Jack.
"Commander!!"
Jack held Takao tightly.
He felt her little heart still trembling even beneath the heavily padded front armor.
"Don't worry, it was just a normal attack without Shipgear, it can't hurt me."
"But... but Commander, you looked so just now!"
"I acted it well, didn't I!"
Jack wiped away Takao's tears.
"As Little Laffey said, I'm a bad Commander who tricks Shipgirls, and I definitely wasn't trying to 'test the waters' by sacrificing myself to tell you that food tastes better when shared, seeing your'sisterly affection'!"
"Shared... tastes better..."
Takao murmured, her thoughts clearer than ever before.
"I understand! Commander means that Atago and I are originally sisters, there's no need to fight over ownership of Commander, being together is the happiest!"
Takao & Atago 3.jpg
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