"Understood. The Fifth Carrier Division has received and completed the Flagship's order. We will withdraw after recovering our carrier-based aircraft."
Shoukaku replied to Mutsu.
Mutsu nodded her small head, then bounced away.
Zuikaku was a bit puzzled.
"Shoukaku-nee, why are you using such a formal tone?"
"Nothing, I just feel a bit uneasy, as if I missed something."
"Huh?"
Zuikaku was even more confused.
"If there's really something wrong with your hull, you should go see Akashi. Her fees are a bit expensive, but her medical skills are quite good."
"It's fine, it's just a bit of unease. A little rest will do."
The two sisters walked side by side, heading towards the Shipgirl dormitory in Sakura Empire Port.
After walking for about ten minutes.
Shoukaku suddenly looked up and glanced in a certain direction.
"Zuikaku, that direction... where is that?"
Zuikaku followed her gaze.
"That's the Navy Cafeteria, Shoukaku-nee. Are you really okay? There's still time to detour to Akashi's little shop, you know."
"No! I'm talking about the building a bit further away!"
Confirmed!
There was indeed a feeling of her heart thumping, just like... just like when Commander gave her the long-awaited Ring of Oath.
"Hmm... A bit further than that would be the Kendo Dojo, I guess. It's normal for you not to be familiar with it since you don't really use swords or similar weapons, Shoukaku-nee. I, on the other hand, often go there to spar with Ibuki and them."
"Swordsmanship..."
Shoukaku glanced at the katana at Zuikaku's waist, then looked towards the Kendo Dojo again.
"Good! Then let's try it after a long time, swordsmanship."
With that, Shoukaku walked in that direction.
"Eh? Why so sudden...?"
Zuikaku was truly baffled, but remembering that her older sister often foresaw things, she let her go ahead.
[Although what she foresaw was usually not very good stuff]
"Did you just say something, ZU! I! KA! KU!"
"No! I absolutely did not say anything about Shoukaku-nee being a jinx!"
"Hmph! Although I don't use swords much, today I'll show you why an older sister is an older sister!!"
"No, Shoukaku-nee! I really didn't mean it!"
The figures of the two gradually receded, disappearing into the end of the Sakura Empire's characteristic stone-paved street.
...
After a short journey.
The two sisters of the Fifth Carrier Division arrived at the Kendo Dojo.
On their way, they also passed a courtyard where cherry blossom petals were scattered all over the ground.
However, their destination was clearly the dojo, so they didn't pay attention to these anomalies.
Swish!
Pulling open the dojo door, what met their eyes was the chaotic scene caused when Jack took Takao's strike.
"Are you sword practitioners usually this rough?"
Facing her older sister's questioning gaze, Zuikaku really wanted to say no.
But the words just wouldn't come out.
After all, the Shipgirls who use swords are indeed quite... violent.
"It must be an accident! An accident! Normally, we control our strength, because if we damage the facilities, it will be deducted from our monthly salary!"
For the Port.
Shipgirls are soldiers, and in a sense, public servants.
Although there aren't many consumption facilities here, a financial system does exist.
Shoukaku looked at her younger sister suspiciously, then walked towards the changing room.
"I'm going to change. Are you coming?"
"I'll tidy up the floor first. I know where the repair materials are!"
How are you so skilled at this!
How many times have you, Takao, and Ibuki repaired the dojo facilities!
Shoukaku was internally complaining wildly.
But the one opposite her was her younger sister, not Akagi, so she reined in her sharp tongue.
"See you later, Zuikaku."
"Hehe, see you later, Shoukaku-nee!"
...
Changing room.
Ever since Shoukaku walked in, the feeling of unease had become even more pronounced.
Especially with the noise from next door.
Hmm? Next door?
Shoukaku was halfway through changing when she finally noticed the blind spot.
Inside the dojo, Zuikaku was clanging and clattering, repairing the floor, so the noise was too loud to notice. But once she entered the changing room, she heard several familiar voices.
"It sounds like Senior, and Takao, Atago, and them... What are they doing next door?"
Shoukaku put the dojo uniform she was about to put on aside, walked to the wall, and listened intently.
Forbidden knowledge came from beyond the wall.
[Wow~ As expected of Senior, she actually swallowed it all in one go! Takao, hurry and learn from her!]
[Gulp~ Gulp~ (Proud ☆)]
[I-I surrender!]
[Master's expression looks so comfortable, should Ibuki also...]
[Laffey... doesn't recommend doing that... because your mouth will be very sore...]
[Eh? Laffey, how do you know?]
[Laffey... doesn't want to say...]
"Guh!"
Shoukaku let out a sound like a defeated dog, kneeling on the floor in dejected prostration.
So that's it, this is where the anxiety comes from... If the mission she had accepted back then was to investigate the meteor's landing point instead of reconnoitering the surroundings, then it would have been her and Zuikaku inside, wouldn't it?
This truly was fate's doing, a trick of destiny!
Lamenting unfair fate, Shoukaku leaned against the wall, using the interactions between Commander and other Shipgirls as a side dish, entertaining herself.
Dojo, Japanese-style room, changing room.
Three rooms separated by only one wall, yet they had starkly different temperatures.
...
"Heave-ho! Finally done. I've worked up a sweat, so I might as well go to the bathroom and take a shower."
Zuikaku wiped away non-existent fragrant sweat.
After all, it was a Shipgirl's body; this much exercise wasn't enough to make her sweat. She simply wanted to take a shower.
So Zuikaku stripped herself clean right outside the door.
"Why has Shoukaku-nee been in there for so long and hasn't come out? Hmm, if she sees me like this, undressing before even entering the bathroom, she'll definitely lecture me again. I'd better take a detour!"
The various rooms in the dojo were basically interconnected.
By going through the window of the Japanese-style room, one could reach the corridor outside the door, then skip the changing room and climb over the wall to the bathroom, which was the hot spring.
Having made up her mind, Zuikaku rushed straight for the Japanese-style room.
With a clang, she pushed open the door!
"Huh?"
Atago on the left, Takao on the right, Ibuki in front, Laffey behind, and a Senior Mikasa actively eating.
And... a certain Commander with an expression of enjoyment...
What kind of hellish scene is this! Zuikaku, have I been infected with Shinano's daydreaming?!
"Th-that... I'm sorry for disturbing! I'll leave right away!"
Zuikaku bowed, and her well-endowed frontal armor rippled magnificently.
"Hmph! You disturbed us and you think you can just leave? Come here!"
Jack let out a cold snort, summoning several vines that directly wrapped around Zuikaku.
Whack! Whack!
Arms, thighs, slender waist, all struck.
Zuikaku was pulled into the battlefield with three parts resistance and seven parts anticipation.
Jack's figure flickered, and a faint afterimage seemed to appear due to his'speed', and he also fed Zuikaku...
Zuikaku: "Gulp~ Gulp~"
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