Mikasa paced in the courtyard corridor.
A few minutes later, a messy scene came into view.
"Hmm? Why are there so many petals on the ground... Could it be that the visitor from beyond descended from here?"
Cherry blossoms, as the national flower of Sakura Empire in the original world, were naturally everywhere in this port area.
Although the Shipgirls, after resurrecting in this world, were entirely new species with little connection to that original world's nation, relevant cultural traditions were preserved.
These flowers were typically delicate and easily withered, but they wouldn't become bare like this in an instant.
Mikasa walked to the center of the petal cluster.
Large and small footprints came into view.
"Two people, and one has a physique similar to a destroyer... The destroyers who returned with the team this time were only Shimakaze, Yuudachi, and Ayanami, if I recall correctly. Of course, it could also be a petite battleship like Mutsu..."
Mikasa scratched the back of her head, somewhat puzzled.
"Forget it, I'm really not good at these deductions. I'll go to the Kendo Dojo and ask Takao and the others if they found anything!"
Having made up her mind, Mikasa walked towards the Kendo Dojo.
...
Soon, upon reaching her destination, Mikasa found that the large Kendo Dojo was devoid of any Shipgirl.
"No! There are broken sword handles on the ground, and the floor is cracked... Did a battle happen?!"
Mikasa tightened her grip on her military sword.
"There seems to be a sound coming from nearby..."
Mikasa pushed back her hair and listened intently—
"So intense... my waist, it's going to break..."
"Wuwu~~ Master~"
"As a martial artist, I will not... Ah!... succumb to mere bodily instincts... Hmm~..."
"Commander... Laffey... is going to break again~~"
"Hiss!"
Mikasa gasped.
What did she hear! Someone was doing something improper in the port area!
No, no! That's not the point. Just now, a destroyer's voice seemed to say 'Commander'?
Mikasa was sure she hadn't misheard.
So she moved a little closer to the source of the sound.
The sound... became clearer and clearer...
"Squish~ squish~"
"Yes! Right there, Commander, a little harder! Wait, Takao, what are you doing, don't suddenly come closer... Mmm~ Chu~"
"Chu~ Hehe~ Commander and Atago, everyone together... Hehe, I'm truly so happy~~"
"Master! Sister Takao is broken! Al-although Ibuki doesn't have much sanity left either... But! Please save Sister Takao!"
"Commander... Laffey... my ship body is going to fall apart~"
Inside and outside the Japanese-style room, completely different temperatures were distinguished.
Mikasa clutched her chest, pressing her ear tightly against the wall.
Just on the other side of a wall's thickness was Jack and the four married Shipgirls' party time.
How strange, even though I'm only hearing their voices, why is even my body... starting to feel hot?
...
Ten-odd minutes later.
The commotion inside the Japanese-style room gradually ceased.
Mikasa, however, still didn't take that step, didn't enter the room.
Whoosh!
The door of the Japanese-style room suddenly swung open; without support, Mikasa fell forward due to physical force.
In her panic, this Senior from the Meiji era grabbed a support.
Sliiiide~
"Huh?"
She didn't get a good grip and slipped, falling to the ground.
"Cough cough, Mikasa, eavesdropping outside the door isn't a good habit~"
"Com-Commander?!"
Mikasa quickly stood up, only to see Jack's body like that of an ancient Greek hero.
Hiss!
With a body like this, was he still the Commander who used to lie on her lap for a lap pillow...? He's grown so much!
"Mikasa?"
"Ah!"
Mikasa came back to her senses, finding Jack's hand already close to her face.
Thump thump!
Usually very reliable, but occasionally showing a girlish demeanor, the Senior took two steps back.
"Com-Com... Commander! Wh-what are you trying to do?!"
"Where did your mind go? I just wanted to wave my hand in front of you to remind you that you were distracted."
"Phew~ Is that so? I thought..."
—"Thought what? Could the Commander eat the Senior?!"
Suddenly, Atago emerged from behind Jack, only her neck and above visible.
Jack felt his back attacked by a pair of heavy external armors, while two long legs were vigorously jumping onto him.
Left with no choice, Jack hooked his hands back and carried Atago on his back.
"Oh my, Commander has such good stamina. He can still carry me even after battling with us sisters for so long. Atago truly loves it!"
Atago's two jade-like feet passed through Jack's waist, rubbing a Rasengan.
Mikasa: "..."
Today's juniors are too amazing!
Not wearing clothes and flirting in front of others?
"Are you... truly our Commander?"
Jack smiled.
It's the real deal, unless you can find a second person with a sworn mental link to you.
This sentence was not spoken aloud.
Instead, it was conveyed through the Commander's ability to connect to the Shipgirls' mental network.
This was an ability Jack automatically unlocked after arriving in the Azure Lane World.
Just as Genshin Impact granted him the original seven elemental powers (the god's eye was merely a guiding and filtering tool), Azure Lane also had its gifts.
This gift was the ability to amplify Shipgirl abilities and the mental network link ability to communicate and command battles with Shipgirls from a distance.
Mikasa was startled for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
"I apologize, Commander, I'm not doubting your identity. It's just that the scene before me is truly too fantastical. I never thought that with the Commander's human body, you could satisfy the... physiological needs of so many Shipgirls simultaneously."
"But this is still far from my limit!"
Jack hinted at her.
Just then, Takao crawled over, mimicking a dog. Jack reached out to caress her, but she bit his finger, her expression already broken.
Atago on his back, Takao accompanying him.
Such a scene gave Mikasa a huge mental shock.
Then, as if having made some kind of decision, she closed the door with her foot.
Whoosh!
The door closed.
Mikasa asked, "Can your gathering... add one more person?"
Squish~
Jack pulled his finger out of Takao's mouth, wiped it clean on Atago's waist, and then extended his hand to Mikasa.
"Absolutely!"
...
At the same moment.
Sakura Empire Port Bay Area.
The two sisters of the Fifth Carrier Division, Shoukaku and Zuikaku, were currently on a reconnaissance mission.
"Shoukaku-nee, it seems there are no other traces. Should we continue searching?"
"Yes, continue. Until Nagato issues the next mission, we must diligently complete our duties. We cannot be like certain 'Seniors' of the First Carrier Division who give up halfway."
"Aye, aye, I understand~"
Zuikaku nodded, then continued to launch her carrier-based aircraft to scout the safety of the surrounding sea area.
The two sisters, one along the longitudinal axis and one along the transverse axis, conducted a three-dimensional, all-encompassing search for anomalies near the Skyfaller.
Da da da~
A petite girl, clad in battleship cannons, walked in.
"Shoukaku, Zuikaku, my sister said you don't need to search anymore. You can go back and rest."
The Shipgirl who arrived was Mutsu, the second ship of the Flagship Nagato.
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