The moment they realized they had been recognized, the two cloaked figures turned.
Instinctively.
Immediately.
As if planning to disappear into the crowd.
Then Rapi stepped into their path.
Not threatening.
Not aggressive.
Simply standing there.
Blocking the only exit.
"Sister Mary."
The usually stoic Nikke's voice softened.
"Wait."
The older woman froze.
Then slowly lowered her head.
"...Rapi."
The way she spoke the name carried years of familiarity.
Years of memories.
Years of shared history.
Nearby—
Soda's eyes widened.
Then she immediately ran forward.
"Pepper!"
The younger woman flinched.
Caught.
Neon stared.
Then pointed.
"No way."
The entire medical station gradually grew quiet.
Because the Nikkes recognized them.
Not as strangers.
Not as travelers.
But as people they once knew.
People they respected.
Yuuki approached.
Curious.
Confused.
Watching the emotional reunion unfold.
"These two are?"
Ade answered immediately.
"Our doctor and nurse."
The commander blinked.
Then looked at the two women again.
Nayuta stepped forward.
The silver-haired Nikke's expression unusually serious.
"These are the ones this humble one sought."
She gestured toward them.
"Mary."
Then toward the younger woman.
"And Pepper."
The villagers watched quietly.
Not understanding.
But sensing the importance.
Mary sighed.
A tired sigh.
The kind carried by someone who had spent years running.
Years hiding.
Years surviving.
Then she slowly removed her hood.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
One of her eyes was clouded.
Sightless.
Damaged beyond normal recovery.
Akagi froze.
For a brief moment—
The fox carrier saw a reflection of herself.
The blindness.
The injury.
The years spent carrying a wound.
The same quiet acceptance.
Meanwhile Pepper removed her hood as well.
Gasps followed.
A large scar crossed part of her face.
Old explosive damage.
The kind left by a battlefield.
The kind that never truly healed.
The villagers looked horrified.
The Nikkes looked heartbroken.
Yuuki simply looked at them.
Then quietly asked—
"How long?"
Mary understood immediately.
Her hand moved toward her damaged eye.
"A long time."
Pepper touched her scar.
"Years."
Silence followed.
Mary looked toward the portable med bays.
Toward Vestal.
Toward Akashi.
Toward the impossible technology.
Toward healed villagers walking away smiling.
Then she laughed.
A small laugh.
Not happy.
Not bitter.
Simply tired.
"When we saw what you were doing..."
Pepper lowered her gaze.
"We tried not to be recognized."
The confession surprised everyone.
"Why?"
Yuuki asked.
Mary looked around.
At the villagers.
At the patients.
At the healed children.
Then toward Vestal.
"Because they're the real doctors."
The repair ship immediately frowned.
Mary continued.
"We aren't."
Pepper nodded.
"We help people."
A pause.
"We reduce pain."
Another pause.
"But that's all."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"We can't heal them."
Mary lowered her head.
"We couldn't even heal ourselves."
The words hit harder than any accusation.
Because everyone present understood.
These were medical Nikkes.
People whose purpose was helping others.
Saving lives.
Treating wounds.
Offering hope.
And yet—
They had spent years carrying injuries they couldn't fix.
Anis finally exploded.
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE RECOGNIZED YOU!"
The crowd jumped.
Mary blinked.
Pepper blinked.
Anis pointed dramatically.
"You're our doctors for goodness sake!"
The blonde Nikke looked genuinely upset.
"You treated people."
"You helped people."
"You stayed here helping villagers when nobody asked you to."
Anis pointed toward the line of patients.
"LOOK AT THEM."
The villagers immediately looked nervous.
Anis didn't care.
"You call yourselves failures?"
Pepper visibly flinched.
Anis folded her arms.
"If somebody patched me up when I was hurt..."
A pause.
"If somebody stayed with me when I was scared..."
Another pause.
"If somebody made my pain hurt less..."
The Nikke pointed toward Mary.
"That's a doctor."
Silence followed.
Even Neon nodded.
"Yeah."
The energetic Nikke surprisingly looked serious.
"You were helping people this entire time."
Soda's eyes had already become watery.
"You always helped everyone."
Pepper looked away.
Unable to meet their eyes.
Then Vestal approached.
The chief medical ship stood before them.
Not as a superior.
Not as a replacement.
Not as someone judging them.
But as a fellow healer.
Vestal gently adjusted her glasses.
Then smiled.
"You know."
Mary looked up.
"In my experience..."
The older shipgirl glanced toward the villagers.
The patients.
The children.
The families.
"The people who worry most about whether they're good doctors..."
A gentle smile appeared.
"Usually are."
For the first time since revealing herself—
Mary's remaining eye began to water.
And beside her—
Pepper finally stopped trying to leave.
Mary barely had time to react before Vestal and Rapi each took one of her arms.
"G-Girls?"
"Nope."
Rapi's answer came immediately.
The Nikke rarely showed this much emotion.
Which made it impossible to refuse.
"We're healing you."
Mary blinked.
"Rapi—"
"No."
"At least let me—"
"No."
The former doctor stared.
"...You've become stubborn."
"Learned from Anis."
"Hey!"
Anis immediately protested.
The surrounding crowd laughed.
Meanwhile Vestal smiled warmly.
The repair ship extended her hand.
"I am Vestal."
Mary looked at her.
"Repair ship of the Global Defense Initiative."
Then with pride—
"Former Eagle Union."
The older healer's smile widened.
"We're currently recruiting staff members for our medical division."
Mary stared.
"...Recruiting?"
"Very aggressively."
Vestal replied.
Akashi immediately appeared beside them.
"Nyaa!"
The green-haired repair ship proudly pointed at herself.
"I am Akashi."
Then dramatically—
"Former Sakura Empire repair ship, nyaa!"
Another pose.
"Current Global Defense Initiative repair ship, nyaa!"
Another pose.
"Current doctor, nyaa!"
Then she immediately grabbed Mary's hand.
"Pleased to meet again, Nikke doctor, nyaa!"
Mary looked overwhelmed.
A little.
A lot.
Nearby, Rapi's expression softened.
Something rare.
Something precious.
"We missed you."
Mary froze.
The Nikke continued.
"Our old Mary."
A faint smile appeared.
"The one that could scare people by opening one eye."
Several Nikkes immediately laughed.
Even Pepper snorted.
Mary looked offended.
"I do not scare people."
Anis pointed.
"You absolutely scare people."
"I do not."
"You once stared at Neon for three minutes."
Neon immediately pointed.
"I thought I was dying."
The entire square erupted into laughter.
Even Mary failed to maintain her composure.
A reluctant smile escaped.
For the first time—
The years of exhaustion seemed lighter.
Rapi gently squeezed her arm.
"Come with us."
The usually reserved Nikke looked directly into her remaining eye.
"We've been waiting."
The words struck harder than anything else.
Because Mary realized something.
Nobody was angry.
Nobody blamed her.
Nobody accused her of disappearing.
They were simply happy she was alive.
Her remaining dark-purple eye grew moist.
For a moment she couldn't speak.
Then her gaze drifted.
Toward the medical station.
Toward the villagers.
Toward the shipgirls.
Toward the Nikkes.
Then finally—
Toward Yuuki.
The man standing quietly among them.
The source.
The reason she and Pepper had come.
Because days ago—
Both of them had felt it.
A warmth.
A strange feeling spreading across the Autumn Isles.
A feeling impossible to ignore.
The same feeling Nayuta had described.
The same feeling that had drawn them here.
Now she finally understood.
The warmth wasn't a place.
It was a person.
Yuuki simply smiled.
A normal smile.
Nothing special.
Yet somehow—
It made sense.
Then Mary finally asked.
"You're him?"
Yuuki tilted his head.
"Him?"
"The source."
The square became quiet.
"The warmth."
Mary looked around.
"The reason all of this happened."
The restored homes.
The water.
The medicine.
The treasure.
The smiles.
Then she looked back at him.
"...Thank you."
Yuuki rubbed the back of his head.
"Honestly?"
Mary waited.
"I just fixed a few problems."
Several shipgirls immediately laughed.
"A few."
Enterprise repeated.
"Just a few."
Yorktown agreed.
Kaguya hid her smile behind her fan.
The villagers looked toward the restored reservoir.
The repaired homes.
The miracle fields.
The medical station.
Then back toward Yuuki.
Their expressions clearly said:
That is not a few.
Meanwhile—
Neon had already located her next target.
Pepper.
The pink-haired Nikke was attempting a tactical retreat.
It failed.
Immediately.
Because Neon shoved her forward.
"Go."
Pepper stumbled.
"N-Neon."
The energetic Nikke folded her arms.
"No escaping."
Soda nodded vigorously beside her.
"Absolutely no escaping."
Pepper looked between them.
Then toward Vestal.
Then toward Akashi.
Then toward the med bays.
Then toward the line of patients.
Then back toward her old friends.
The hesitation was obvious.
Years of isolation.
Years of surviving.
Years of telling herself she wasn't needed anymore.
Hard habits to break.
Then Soda quietly reached forward.
And grabbed her hand.
A simple gesture.
The pink-haired Nikke froze.
"We missed you too."
Pepper's eyes widened.
Then lowered.
And for the first time—
The nurse stopped trying to run away.
While nearby—
Vestal was already examining Mary's damaged eye.
Akashi was staring at Pepper's facial scars.
The two repair ships exchanged a glance.
Then simultaneously smiled.
The kind of smile doctors make when they see a difficult case.
Not because it is impossible.
But because they already know how to fix it.
"Good news, nyaa."
Akashi announced.
Pepper immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
The repair ship grinned.
"We can fix that."
Mary and Pepper were guided toward one of the portable med bays.
At first they hesitated.
Years of experience had taught them not to expect miracles.
Not for themselves.
For patients?
Certainly.
For strangers?
Maybe.
For themselves?
Never.
Yet Vestal wasn't taking no for an answer.
Neither was Akashi.
Neither was Rapi.
Nor Neon.
Nor Soda.
Nor practically everyone else.
Eventually the two Nikkes surrendered.
The portable med bay unfolded fully.
Its polished surface reflected the evening sunlight.
Advanced diagnostic systems activated.
Soft lights illuminated its interior.
The technology was centuries beyond anything either of them had ever encountered.
Mary stared.
"What exactly is this?"
Belfast calmly adjusted the controls.
"A medical device."
The answer was technically correct.
And completely insufficient.
The chief maid smiled politely.
"A very advanced medical device."
That explanation wasn't much better.
Akashi nodded proudly.
"Very expensive, nyaa."
Mary wasn't sure if that helped.
Soon the two Nikkes entered separate chambers.
The transparent lids slowly closed.
Soft blue light filled the interior.
Then the scanners activated.
Diagnostic results streamed across holographic displays.
Vestal immediately reviewed them.
Years of accumulated damage.
Untreated injuries.
Neural trauma.
Scarring.
Chronic stress.
Nutritional deficiencies.
Residual corruption damage.
And countless smaller issues neither woman had even noticed anymore.
The list continued.
And continued.
And continued.
Vestal sighed.
"How were you two still functioning?"
Mary weakly smiled.
"Professionally."
Even Belfast nearly laughed.
Then the reconstruction sequence began.
Soft light surrounded Mary's damaged eye.
Nanoscopic medical systems activated.
Rebuilding.
Repairing.
Restoring.
Years of damage gradually disappeared.
Meanwhile Pepper's facial injuries underwent the same process.
Scar tissue dissolved.
Damaged nerves regenerated.
Destroyed tissue reconstructed.
The med bays worked silently.
Effortlessly.
As if repairing years of suffering was the most ordinary thing in the world.
Outside—
Everyone waited.
Soda squeezed her hands nervously.
Neon paced.
Rapi stood quietly.
Nayuta watched with a small smile.
Even the villagers seemed invested.
Because over the last few years—
Mary and Pepper had helped them countless times.
Now it was their turn to be helped.
Eventually—
The reconstruction finished.
The lids slowly opened.
Silence followed.
Mary blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then froze.
Because for the first time in years—
She could see.
Completely.
Both eyes.
The world appeared sharper.
Brighter.
Clearer.
Color flooded back into her vision.
Depth returned.
Perspective returned.
Sight returned.
Her hands immediately touched her face.
The repaired eye.
The restored vision.
Then tears appeared.
"I..."
Her voice broke.
"I can see."
The words came out barely above a whisper.
Rapi's expression immediately softened.
Soda covered her mouth.
Neon stopped pacing.
Even Vestal smiled.
Nearby—
Pepper slowly reached toward her own face.
Her fingers touched smooth skin.
No scar.
No damaged tissue.
No lingering pain.
Nothing.
The injury she had carried for years was simply gone.
Pepper stared at her reflection in the med bay's polished surface.
Then stared harder.
Then touched her cheek again.
And again.
As if afraid it might disappear.
Then she turned toward Mary.
The pink-haired Nikke's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"It's gone..."
Her voice cracked.
"Mary..."
More tears followed.
"It's gone."
The dam finally broke.
Pepper began crying.
Not quietly.
Not politely.
Years of fear.
Years of pain.
Years of pretending everything was fine.
Years of accepting injuries she believed would never heal.
All of it came rushing out.
Mary immediately hugged her.
And then Mary started crying too.
The two medical Nikkes stood there.
Holding each other.
Laughing.
Crying.
Unable to decide which emotion to express first.
Nearby—
Soda had already started crying.
Neon was pretending not to cry.
She was failing.
Rapi simply looked away slightly.
Giving them privacy.
Though the faint smile on her face remained.
Then Vestal checked the final diagnostic report.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting."
Akashi leaned over.
"Nyaa?"
The repair ship pointed toward the display.
Not only had the physical injuries been repaired.
The med bay had also suppressed years of accumulated trauma.
The memories remained.
But the overwhelming emotional damage attached to them had been neutralized.
No panic.
No flashbacks.
No nightmares.
Only memories.
Painful ones.
But manageable.
Pepper slowly realized it first.
The explosion.
The screams.
The fear.
The memories remained.
Yet somehow—
They no longer controlled her.
She looked stunned.
Mary experienced the same realization.
Years of guilt.
Years of self-blame.
Years of helplessness.
Still remembered.
Yet no longer crushing.
For the first time in a very long time—
They felt light.
Healthy.
Whole.
Then Yuuki quietly approached.
The two Nikkes looked toward him.
Neither knowing exactly what to say.
Because how do you thank someone for giving back something you thought was lost forever?
Eventually Mary smiled.
A real smile.
Not the tired one.
Not the professional one.
A genuine one.
And Pepper's tears never stopped.
Only now—
They were tears of relief.
Mary and Pepper were still trying to process everything that had happened when Yuuki walked over carrying two cases from his inventory.
The cases unfolded with a mechanical click.
Inside rested two advanced medical gauntlets.
Sleek.
Compact.
Designed around the same principles as the equipment used by Vestal and Akashi.
Pepper blinked.
Mary stared.
Yuuki picked up the first one.
Then gently attached it to Mary's wrist.
The device immediately synchronized.
Soft blue lights illuminated along its surface.
The second followed shortly after.
Pepper watched in silence as the gauntlet secured itself around her arm.
The medical Nikkes looked at the equipment.
Then toward Vestal.
Then Akashi.
Then back at Yuuki.
"These are..."
Mary quietly spoke.
"GIZMO medical platforms."
Yuuki nodded.
"Similar to the ones Vestal and Akashi use."
Pepper carefully examined hers.
"The same technology?"
"Modified."
Yuuki answered.
Then smiled.
"I disabled a few functions."
Akashi immediately coughed.
"Nyaa."
Vestal looked away.
Mary narrowed her eyes.
"What functions?"
Yuuki pointed toward Akashi.
"Let's just say our repair ships occasionally weaponize their medical equipment."
Pepper stared.
"What?"
Akashi immediately became defensive.
"Nyaa! Self-defense!"
"Nyaa!"
Mary slowly looked back toward her gauntlet.
Then wisely decided not to ask further questions.
Yuuki folded his arms.
"You can introduce yourselves properly later."
The commander pointed toward the village square.
The line was still enormous.
At least two hundred Tsukimimi remained waiting.
Children.
Farmers.
Families.
Elders.
The medical effort wasn't finished.
Not even close.
"For now."
Yuuki smiled.
"We have work."
Mary followed his gaze.
The line.
The patients.
The villagers.
The people who needed help.
Something warm settled inside her chest.
For years she had survived.
For years she had hidden.
For years she had merely endured.
Now—
For the first time in a long time—
She felt useful again.
Needed again.
Pepper felt the same.
Then Yuuki looked directly at them.
"I already have two shipgirl doctors."
Vestal straightened proudly.
Akashi struck a pose.
"Nyaa."
Then the commander smiled.
"Now I have two Nikke doctors too."
The simple statement hit harder than expected.
Not former doctors.
Not failed doctors.
Not ex-doctors.
Doctors.
Present tense.
Mary lowered her head slightly.
Pepper's eyes became watery again.
Then Yuuki turned toward everyone else.
"Let's do our best helping our doctors, everyone!"
"Okay!"
The response came immediately.
From shipgirls.
From Nikkes.
From Bulins.
From practically everyone nearby.
The village square exploded into activity once more.
Mary found herself guiding patients into treatment stations.
Pepper immediately began assisting children.
The new medical gauntlets worked beautifully.
Minor illnesses disappeared.
Pain faded.
Injuries healed.
Their confidence returned rapidly.
Soon they were moving through patients almost as naturally as Vestal and Akashi.
The villagers noticed.
The line moved faster.
The atmosphere grew lighter.
The fear gradually disappeared.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki joined the effort himself.
The commander moved from station to station.
Helping with diagnostics.
Directing patients.
Operating equipment.
Transporting supplies.
Anis stared.
"Commander."
"What?"
"How do you know how to use all this?"
Yuuki shrugged.
"I've spent enough time getting injured."
Rapi immediately nodded.
That sounded believable.
Nearby—
Kaguya quietly assisted as well.
The fox woman's healing magic shimmered through the air.
Golden spiritual energy flowed around injured villagers.
Children especially loved her.
At first they had been intimidated.
The ten tails.
The legends.
The stories.
Now?
The same children were asking if they could touch her tails.
Kaguya was discovering this was much harder to defend against than Sirens.
Meanwhile the adults slowly grew comfortable around her as well.
The distance between ruler and villager gradually disappeared.
The guardian of the Autumn Isles was becoming part of the community again.
High above—
Esche quietly watched.
The fairy remained hidden from most eyes.
Content to stay unseen.
Yet when nobody was looking—
Tiny silver lights drifted from her fingertips.
A child's cough vanished.
An elderly farmer's aching joints eased.
A sleeping infant breathed easier.
Small acts.
Quiet acts.
The fairy preferred it that way.
No attention.
No praise.
Just helping.
As the afternoon passed—
The medical line steadily shrank.
Villagers left healthier.
Happier.
Smiling.
The square filled with laughter.
Conversation.
Relief.
Hope.
And at the center of it all—
Four doctors worked side by side.
Two shipgirls.
Two Nikkes.
Different worlds.
Different origins.
Different histories.
Yet united by the same purpose.
Helping people.
For Mary and Pepper—
It felt like coming home.
"Nyaa..."
Akashi immediately collapsed sideways onto the grass.
The repair ship used Vestal as a pillow without permission.
"I am tired, nyaa..."
Vestal sighed.
Yet didn't move away.
After treating over three hundred villagers in a single morning, she was too exhausted to argue.
The village square had transformed completely.
What had begun as a medical emergency had become something closer to a celebration.
Every Tsukimimi had received a checkup.
Every illness had been examined.
Every injury treated.
Every child evaluated.
Every elder cared for.
Even Mary looked slightly stunned.
She sat beneath a tree, watching villagers laugh and smile.
Watching children run around without pain.
Watching families reunite.
She had spent years helping people survive.
Today—
She had helped people heal.
There was a difference.
A big one.
Nearby, the villagers had refused to let the visitors leave hungry.
Large cooking pots had appeared.
Wooden tables.
Fresh vegetables.
Carrot stew.
Carrot bread.
Carrot cakes.
Carrot tea.
Carrot dumplings.
Carrot everything.
Anis stared at the menu.
Then at the carrots.
Then at the carrots again.
"...I think these people really like carrots."
"They are rabbit people."
Rapi replied.
"Fair point."
Soon every shipgirl and Nikke was sitting on the grass.
Enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
The cool breeze.
The scent of food.
And the satisfying exhaustion that came after helping others.
Eventually Mary stood.
Then walked toward Yuuki.
The black-haired Nikke stopped before him.
Then bowed respectfully.
"My name is Mary."
Her voice carried quiet dignity.
"Former outpost doctor for the forward Nikke forces."
Then added—
"Seraphim Squad."
Before Yuuki could answer—
Neon immediately pointed.
"She's our doctor!"
Mary blinked.
Anis immediately pointed too.
"Scary doctor!"
Rapi nodded.
"Very scary."
Soda raised her hand.
"We usually tried not to see her."
Ade nodded.
"It was healthier."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Ho?"
Mary sighed.
A very familiar sigh.
"I may have had a reputation."
"A reputation?"
Anis pointed dramatically.
"Commander."
The blonde Nikke leaned closer.
"If Mary wanted to see you."
A pause.
"You were already in trouble."
Neon nodded vigorously.
"Lots of trouble."
Soda shivered.
"Medical trouble."
Ade giggled.
"The scary kind."
Mary rubbed her forehead.
"It wasn't that bad."
Everyone stared at her.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Mary sighed again.
"It was that bad."
The group immediately nodded.
Yuuki laughed.
"No worries."
The commander pointed toward Vestal.
"Even Vestal can be scary when she's angry."
Vestal immediately looked up.
"Commander."
The smile on her face became dangerous.
"Teasing your doctor is how you receive unnecessary injections."
Yuuki immediately sat up straighter.
"My apologies."
The surrounding shipgirls burst out laughing.
Nearby, Pepper nervously raised her hand.
"Ah."
Everyone looked toward her.
The pink-haired Nikke immediately became flustered.
"I-I'm Pepper."
She bowed.
"I'm the nurse."
Then pointed toward Mary.
"She's the doctor."
Then pointed toward herself.
"And I'm the nurse."
Anis nodded.
"We usually saw Pepper first."
Neon agreed.
"If you saw Mary."
A pause.
"Things were already bad."
Pepper immediately nodded.
"That's true."
Mary looked offended.
Again.
Then—
The black-haired Nikke slowly opened both eyes.
Silence.
Anis immediately took a step backward.
Neon followed.
Instinctively.
Mary didn't even say anything.
She simply looked at them.
The reaction was automatic.
"Scary Mary."
Anis whispered.
"Scary Mary."
Neon agreed.
The former doctor narrowed her eyes slightly.
The two Nikkes moved another step backward.
The entire group exploded into laughter.
Even Yuuki nearly choked on his stew.
Ade covered her mouth.
Trying—and failing—not to laugh.
"We missed that look."
Soda nodded.
"A lot."
Pepper giggled.
Mary looked around.
At the laughing Nikkes.
The smiling shipgirls.
The villagers enjoying their meal.
The restored village.
Then slowly—
A smile appeared.
A real one.
The kind she hadn't worn in years.
And for the first time since arriving on the Autumn Isles—
Mary stopped feeling like someone who had lost her place.
Because sitting among everyone here—
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
Villagers.
Friends.
She finally felt like she belonged again.
Yuuki smiled as the atmosphere settled into something far more relaxed.
The crisis was over.
The patients had been treated.
The village was celebrating.
And now everyone could finally breathe.
Mary sat quietly beside Pepper, holding a bowl of carrot stew.
Her restored vision occasionally drifted toward the shipgirls gathered across the grass.
Even now, she was having difficulty accepting it.
They were real.
Not historical records.
Not old stories.
Not rumors.
Not legends.
Shipgirls.
Actual shipgirls.
Sitting under a tree.
Arguing over stew.
Playing with children.
And somehow working alongside Nikkes.
The world had become very strange.
Yuuki noticed her staring.
"Still processing it?"
Mary nodded honestly.
"A little."
The doctor looked toward Yorktown.
Then Enterprise.
Then Belfast.
Then Illustrious.
Then Akagi.
Then Kaga.
Her gaze slowly moved across the gathering.
"These are really shipgirls."
"Yup."
Yuuki nodded.
"The genuine article."
Pepper looked equally fascinated.
"I thought they were myths."
Enterprise nearly laughed.
"We get that a lot."
Nearby, Akagi looked mildly offended.
"Myths?"
Kaga calmly sipped tea.
"You have been asleep for ten years."
"A fair point."
Akagi admitted.
The group laughed.
Yuuki stretched slightly.
"Well."
The commander gestured toward the gathering.
"Welcome to the Global Defense Initiative."
Mary blinked.
Pepper blinked.
Then both sat up straighter.
"Welcome?"
Pepper repeated.
Yuuki nodded.
"I already have two shipgirl doctors."
He pointed toward Vestal and Akashi.
Akashi immediately posed.
"Nyaa."
Vestal pretended not to know her.
"And now I have four doctors."
Mary froze.
Pepper froze.
The simple statement carried more weight than Yuuki probably realized.
Not refugees.
Not guests.
Not survivors.
Members.
Part of the team.
Part of something again.
Pepper smiled.
A small smile.
But a genuine one.
Mary lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you."
Yuuki waved it off.
"You can get to know everyone later."
Then Mary noticed another familiar figure.
"Nayuta?"
The silver-haired Nikke looked up from where she had been helping distribute food.
"Tis I."
Pepper immediately straightened.
Mary did the same.
The two former medical Nikkes looked genuinely surprised.
"Nayuta of Pioneer?"
"It is an honor."
Pepper said immediately.
Nayuta looked embarrassed.
"This humble one is merely a Nikke."
"No."
Mary shook her head.
"You're one of the Pilgrims."
The respect in her voice was unmistakable.
Yuuki chuckled.
"Actually."
He pointed toward Nayuta.
"That's the clone."
The two women blinked.
"The clone?"
"Yup."
Yuuki nodded.
"We'll recover the original the day after tomorrow."
Pepper's eyes widened.
"You can do that?"
"That's the plan."
The casual answer somehow made it more shocking.
Nearby, Kaguya sat beneath a tree surrounded by curious Tsukimimi children.
Several were attempting to count her tails.
Poorly.
Pepper noticed her immediately.
Then froze.
"Wait."
Mary followed her gaze.
Then froze as well.
"Lady Kaguya?"
The villagers had spent half the day talking about her.
The savior of the Autumn Isles.
The guardian spirit.
The legendary fox.
And there she was.
Feeding carrot cake to a child.
Kaguya noticed them looking.
Then smiled warmly.
"Good morrow."
The two Nikkes immediately became nervous.
Pepper nearly bowed.
"We heard stories about you."
"Aye?"
Kaguya tapped her fan lightly.
"I hope they were kind stories."
The nearby Tsukimimi immediately nodded.
"Very kind!"
The fox woman looked pleased.
Yuuki smiled.
"She's an Arcane shipgirl."
Mary tilted her head.
"Arcane?"
"Magic."
Yuuki answered.
The doctor blinked.
"Magic?"
"Magic."
Pepper blinked too.
"Actual magic?"
"Actual magic."
The two Nikkes looked at Kaguya.
Then at Yuuki.
Then back at Kaguya.
Then gave up questioning reality.
Today had already included flying islands.
Magic.
Shipgirls.
Advanced medical technology.
And miracle fertilizer.
At this point magic wasn't even in the top five strangest things.
Yuuki leaned back against the tree.
"The others are normal shipgirls."
Several shipgirls immediately looked offended.
"Normal?"
Hipper asked.
"Relatively normal."
Yuuki corrected.
"That's worse."
The group laughed.
Eventually Pepper looked toward him.
A question lingering in her mind.
"You've introduced everyone."
The nurse smiled.
"But you haven't introduced yourself properly."
The commander blinked.
Then laughed.
"Fair point."
He stood.
The afternoon breeze drifted through the village.
The celebration continued around them.
Children played.
Villagers laughed.
The reservoir shimmered in the distance.
"My name is Yukihira Yuuki."
Mary and Pepper listened carefully.
"High Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
The title carried weight.
Yet somehow his tone remained casual.
Then he smiled.
"And their commander."
The shipgirls nearby nodded.
The Nikkes nodded too.
Not because they were ordered to.
But because they trusted him.
Mary noticed that immediately.
The way Yorktown looked at him.
The way Belfast smiled.
The way Rapi stood nearby.
The way Nayuta spoke of him.
The way the villagers already admired him.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't authority alone.
It was trust.
Something earned.
She finally understood why she and Pepper had followed that mysterious warmth all the way to the Autumn Isles.
Because for the first time in years—
They had found a place worth believing in.
"Ah, Commander."
Yorktown suddenly remembered something.
The carrier looked up from her bowl of stew.
"You haven't told us yet who gets to stay behind."
The surrounding shipgirls immediately became quiet.
"...Stay behind?"
Javelin blinked.
"Someone is staying here?"
Neon looked alarmed.
"No."
Anis immediately shook her head.
"I refuse."
Everyone looked at her.
"What?"
The blonde Nikke pointed at Yuuki.
"We just got here."
Then pointed at herself.
"I'm not getting abandoned on Bunny Island."
"Bunny Island?"
Pepper blinked.
"It has an actual name."
Anis ignored that.
The others began exchanging looks.
Because somebody would have to oversee the outpost.
The drone hives.
The farming network.
The water infrastructure.
The future trade routes.
Then everyone slowly realized something.
Nobody wanted to be separated.
Not from their friends.
Not from the fleet.
Not from the commander.
Akagi's tails immediately puffed up.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
"Absolutely not."
Kaga nodded.
"Agreed."
Enterprise folded her arms.
"We've only been reunited recently."
Even Belfast looked reluctant.
Fortunately—
Yuuki laughed.
"Relax."
Everyone paused.
The commander shook his head.
"It won't be any of you."
The collective relief was immediate.
"Oh."
Javelin relaxed.
"Oh thank goodness."
Neon sighed.
Akagi's tails returned to normal.
Yuuki pointed toward the group.
"You girls are core members now."
That immediately earned several smiles.
"Besides."
The commander continued.
"Once I establish Chrono Jumps between the Autumn Isles and our home island, travel becomes trivial."
The group listened.
"You'll still come here."
The commander began listing possibilities.
"Trade escorts."
Yorktown nodded.
"Security contracts."
Rapi nodded.
"Island defense."
Enterprise nodded.
"Medical support."
Vestal immediately nodded.
"Tourism."
Anis looked interested.
"Tourism sounds fun."
"So does the food."
Neon added.
The Tsukimimi nearby looked pleased.
Yuuki smiled.
"So nobody is being separated permanently."
The atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Then Yorktown tilted her head.
"Then who?"
The commander grinned.
"I have someone in mind."
The expression immediately worried several people.
Especially Nayuta.
"Whenever thou makest that face..."
The silver-haired Nikke sighed.
"...someone's life is about to become interesting."
Yuuki didn't deny it.
Instead—
He activated his communicator.
A familiar face appeared.
"Yo, Verg."
The hologram immediately responded.
"Sup?"
The vice commander looked exhausted.
Behind him, multiple researchers could be seen running around.
Holographic displays floated everywhere.
Magic crystals.
Rapture components.
Ancient golem fragments.
The research division was clearly in full operation.
"Still researching the magic golems, crystals, and Raptures?"
Yuuki asked.
Vergil snorted.
"Yeah."
He pointed behind him.
"Everyone's going full speed after finally getting some rest."
Then folded his arms.
"What do you need?"
Yuuki pointed toward the surrounding islands.
"Observation Post Nanocore Set."
Vergil immediately understood.
"Oh."
A grin appeared.
"Forward operating base."
"Exactly."
The vice commander nodded.
"Current location?"
"High enough to control the surrounding islands."
Yuuki pointed toward the distant horizon.
"The Isles are fertile."
"The trade routes are promising."
"The position is strategic."
Then smiled.
"I intend to make the Autumn Isles the first Blue Zone under GDI protection."
Several shipgirls exchanged impressed looks.
Blue Zone.
A protected region.
A safe region.
A region where civilization could rebuild.
Vergil nodded.
"Good choice."
The vice commander immediately began typing.
"Let's see."
He started listing equipment.
"I'll send an Observation Post."
"Hm."
Yuuki nodded.
"GDI Council Administration Building."
"Four Advanced Instant Generators."
"Four Drone Hives."
"12 Tower Cores."
"And 12 Defender Cores."
"Advanced Crystal Shield and Stealth Generator."
"Advanced Gap Generator."
"Finally, a Spysat Uplink."
Yuuki grinned.
"Sounds good."
The surrounding shipgirls were impressed.
Yet somehow it sounded important.
Then Vergil paused.
"Question."
"Hm?"
"Who's running it?"
The vice commander leaned forward.
"Someone needs to oversee everything."
"Already have someone in mind."
"Oh?"
The shipgirls leaned in.
Nikkes leaned in.
Even Kaguya became curious.
Yuuki smiled.
"Can you contact Kirino Yuu for me?"
The reaction from Vergil was immediate.
"..."
"..."
"...Dude."
"What?"
"Why don't you contact her yourself?"
The vice commander looked genuinely confused.
"That mad doctor tries to talk to you every day."
"More like examine me!"
Several girls immediately looked interested.
"Mad doctor?"
Enterprise and Yorktown repeated.
Akagi's eyes narrowed.
"Mad doctor?"
Yuuki immediately regretted asking in public.
Vergil continued.
"She's also the head of the GDI Health Division."
The vice commander shrugged.
"She's been begging to get deployed in the field."
"For research."
Yuuki deadpanned.
"More like finding research subjects."
Vergil corrected.
The shipgirls became suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"I don't want her dissecting my shipgirls."
Yuuki replied.
"Or Nikkes."
"Or the rabbit people."
Vergil laughed.
"Just tell her not to."
"That's not reassuring."
Rapi muttered.
"Give me a minute."
The communication temporarily muted.
Everyone stared at Yuuki.
"Commander."
Enterprise spoke.
"Should we be worried?"
"No."
A pause.
"Probably."
That answer made things worse.
Several minutes later—
Vergil returned.
The grin on his face immediately worried everyone.
"Dude."
Yuuki sighed.
"What now?"
"Great news."
"That's never good."
Vergil ignored him.
"She agreed."
Several girls immediately groaned.
"Of course she did."
Yuuki muttered.
Vergil laughed.
"She's already packing."
The commander covered his face.
"Oh no."
"She'll arrive aboard the Philadelphia from the Little Doctor."
Vergil continued.
"Then transfer to the Autumn Isles this afternoon."
The vice commander smirked.
"Congratulations."
"Your outpost administrator has been found."
The communication ended.
Silence followed.
Then Yorktown looked toward Yuuki.
"How bad is it?"
The commander stared into the distance.
Thinking.
Remembering.
Regretting.
Then finally answered.
"Let's just say..."
A pause.
"If she starts asking for blood samples."
Everyone immediately became concerned.
"...run."
Fortunately for everyone involved, Kirino Yuu would not be arriving immediately.
Which meant there was still time to relax before whatever chaos the head of GDI Health Division inevitably brought with her.
Yuuki stretched.
The long day was finally catching up to him.
They had liberated a village.
Defeated pirates.
Restored a water supply.
Established future agriculture.
Healed three hundred villagers.
Recruited two doctors.
And planned an entire forward operating base on this very island.
All before evening.
"Honestly."
The commander sighed.
"I'm tired."
The response was immediate.
"Agreed."
Rapi nodded.
"Very agreed."
Anis added.
"Nyaa..."
Akashi had somehow become a puddle.
Vestal wasn't doing much better.
Even Enterprise looked ready for a break.
Then Yuuki smiled.
"Let's freshen up."
Several shipgirls immediately looked interested.
"Oh?"
Illustrious smiled.
"Fortunately."
Prince of Wales spoke.
"Avrora and I already reserved accommodations."
The Royal Navy battleship nodded toward the village.
"A rather lovely inn."
Avrora smiled softly.
"We anticipated this possibility, beloved."
Yuuki laughed.
"Thanks, Wales."
The battleship inclined her head.
"You're welcome."
"And thank you, Avrora."
The Northern Parliament cruiser smiled warmly.
"It was nothing."
Then Yuuki looked toward the exhausted group.
"Let's head to the hot springs."
That immediately got everyone's attention.
"A hot spring?"
Akagi blinked.
"Actual hot springs?"
Kaga asked. They have hot springs back in the Home Island but, ir doesn't beat natural hot springs.
The Tsukimimi nearby nodded enthusiastically.
The village's springs were famous.
Fed by the same mountain system that supplied the reservoir.
Naturally heated.
Crystal clear.
Surrounded by orange forests.
The perfect place to relax.
Anis immediately stood up.
"I support this plan."
Neon raised her hand.
"Seconded."
Even Rapi looked interested.
Which was rare.
Soon the entire group began making their way toward the inn.
The villagers waved as they passed.
Children ran alongside them.
Several elders thanked Kaguya again.
Others thanked Vestal and Akashi.
Mary quietly watched all of it.
The gratitude.
The smiles.
The happiness.
Then something occurred to her.
The black-haired Nikke slowed slightly.
"Commander."
Yuuki looked toward her.
"Hm?"
Mary glanced toward Pepper.
Then back toward the village.
"If we leave..."
Her voice became quieter.
"The people here..."
The concern was obvious.
For years she and Pepper had helped the villagers.
Limited though they were.
Leaving felt wrong.
Yuuki understood immediately.
"Don't worry."
The commander smiled.
"Kirino Yuu is an exceptionally good doctor."
Mary looked unconvinced.
Yuuki continued.
"She can treat hundreds of patients in a very short time."
The doctor blinked.
"Hundreds?"
"Yes."
Pepper blinked too.
"By herself?"
"More or less."
The two Nikkes exchanged looks.
Then looked back toward Yuuki.
The commander shrugged.
"She's the head of GDI Health Division."
A pause.
"Her skills are no joke."
Neither was her reputation.
But Yuuki wisely omitted that part.
Eventually Mary nodded.
"Understood."
Then she looked toward Pepper.
The pink-haired nurse nodded as well.
"Then we should retrieve our belongings."
Immediately—
Anis stood up.
"We're coming."
Neon followed.
"Obviously."
Rapi rose as well.
"Let's go."
Mary blinked.
"You don't have to."
"We do."
Anis answered immediately.
"We finally found you."
The blonde Nikke folded her arms.
"We're not letting you disappear again."
Pepper looked touched.
Embarrassed.
But mostly touched.
Yuuki reached into his inventory.
Then produced a small metallic cube.
The object unfolded slightly.
Revealing faint dimensional storage markings.
Mary caught it carefully.
"This is?"
"A dimensional cube."
The two Nikkes stared.
Of course it was.
At this point they were no longer surprised by impossible technology.
Mostly.
Yuuki smiled.
"Bring the important things."
The cube expanded slightly in Mary's hands.
"We'll get you new equipment later."
Pepper looked down at the cube.
Then quietly smiled.
Because suddenly—
For the first time in years—
She wasn't packing for survival.
She was packing for a new beginning.
And as the five Nikkes headed toward their old residence to collect the last remnants of their previous lives—
The rest of the fleet continued toward the inn.
Awaiting warm baths.
Comfortable beds.
And perhaps a few peaceful hours before Kirino Yuu arrived and inevitably transformed the Autumn Isles into her newest research obsession.
==========
The clinic sat near the edge of the village.
Small.
Modest.
Weathered by ten years of use.
Compared to the medical facilities aboard the Daedalus, it was primitive.
Compared to what most people on the surface had?
It was a miracle.
Mary quietly unlocked the door.
The wooden hinges creaked.
The familiar scent of dried herbs immediately greeted them.
Neon stepped inside first.
Then froze.
"This is it?"
The clinic consisted of only a few rooms.
Wooden shelves.
Traditional medicines.
Drying herbs.
Simple surgical tools.
Patient beds.
Handwritten records.
No advanced scanners.
No medical drones.
No diagnostic systems.
No reconstruction chambers.
Just medicine.
Knowledge.
And two people trying their best.
Pepper smiled softly.
"We did what we could."
Anis looked around.
The more she looked—
The more impressed she became.
The place was humble.
Yet every shelf was organized.
Every bottle labeled.
Every patient journal carefully stored.
This wasn't a temporary shelter.
This was a clinic built by people who genuinely cared.
Mary walked toward a cabinet.
Opening it.
Inside rested hundreds of handwritten notes.
Patient records.
Treatment schedules.
Village health reports.
She carefully placed them into the dimensional cube.
The storage device swallowed the documents effortlessly.
The former doctor paused.
Then quietly laughed.
"This would've saved us years of carrying supplies."
Neon nodded.
"Commander technology is cheating."
Nobody argued.
As they continued packing, Rapi's eyes settled on a wall.
Photographs.
Drawings.
Notes from villagers.
Children's thank-you letters.
Handmade gifts.
Many were over a decade old.
The Nikke quietly smiled.
"They really loved you."
Mary's movements slowed.
Pepper looked away slightly.
"We weren't that special."
Anis immediately pointed toward the wall.
"There are literally three hundred thank-you notes."
"..."
"Maybe a little special."
Pepper admitted.
The group laughed.
As they packed, the conversation gradually turned toward the past.
"We arrived here ten years ago."
Mary finally spoke.
Her hand brushed against an old medical journal.
"The Ark shut down our Nikke functions."
The memories returned.
"The surface was chaos."
"Raptures."
Pepper added quietly.
"Sirens."
"No communication."
"No support."
"No way home."
The nurse packed several old books.
"We found a ship."
"Stole a ship."
Mary corrected.
"We borrowed a ship."
Pepper countered.
Anis immediately pointed.
"You stole a ship."
The nurse pouted.
"It was an emergency."
"Still theft."
The argument somehow felt normal.
Comforting.
Eventually Mary continued.
"We drifted for weeks."
"Then we found this place."
The doctor looked out the window.
Toward the village beyond.
"It was peaceful."
A faint smile appeared.
"The villagers accepted us."
"They shared food."
Pepper added.
"They built us this clinic."
"They trusted us."
Silence followed.
Then Mary's expression darkened slightly.
"For five years."
Everyone knew what came next.
"The pirates."
The room became quieter.
Mary folded her arms.
"At first nothing seemed wrong."
"The villagers trusted them."
"They trusted everyone."
The doctor sighed.
"Then people started getting sick."
"Crops failed."
Pepper added.
"Animals died."
"The water became scarce."
The nurse looked toward the mountains.
"We knew something was wrong."
Mary nodded.
"We just couldn't prove it."
Then she smiled slightly.
"The Commander figured it out immediately."
Anis grinned.
"Of course he did."
Mary shook her head.
"No."
"The reservoir."
"The water."
"The farming."
"The questions he asked."
Then she laughed softly.
"I think he figured it out the moment he asked the small yellow drill girl to investigate."
"Purin."
Neon nodded proudly.
"Small drill girl solves all problems."
The statement somehow sounded believable.
Eventually the conversation shifted again.
Rapi's gaze settled on Mary's restored eye.
The injury was completely gone.
Yet the memories remained.
"How did it happen?"
The room grew quiet.
Mary instinctively touched the eye.
Then answered honestly.
"Rapture attack."
A pause.
"I lost my eye."
Pepper touched her own cheek.
"The same battle."
"My face."
Neither spoke for several moments.
The memories were painful.
Yet no longer overwhelming.
The med bay had taken care of that.
"If we'd made it back to the Ark..."
Mary said.
"We would've been repaired."
The doctor laughed bitterly.
"But everything collapsed."
"The surface became a battlefield."
"Raptures."
"Sirens."
"No safe roads."
"No rescue."
"So we survived."
Simple words.
Heavy meaning.
Rapi quietly nodded.
"We're all in the same boat."
Mary looked toward her.
The Nikke rarely spoke about herself.
Yet now she continued.
"I was separated from Anis."
"Neon."
"My squad."
The memories surfaced.
"For ten years."
Anis looked away.
Neon became unusually quiet.
Rapi's voice remained calm.
"I ended up in a small village."
Then a small smile appeared.
"That's where I met Avrora."
Mary blinked.
"The Northern Parliament shipgirl?"
"Yeah."
The absurdity of the statement somehow felt normal now.
Meanwhile Anis folded her arms.
"We ended up as slaves."
Pepper froze.
"What?"
Neon nodded.
"Not fun."
The room fell silent.
Then Anis smiled.
"But do you know when we got reunited?"
Mary shook her head.
"Last week."
The former doctor's eyes widened.
"Last week?"
Anis nodded.
"Me."
"Rapi."
"Neon."
Then pointed toward herself.
"Ade."
"Soda."
"And a day later we found Cocoa."
Neon grinned.
"Then a Nayuta clone."
Pepper stared.
Mary stared.
The timeline sounded ridiculous.
Years apart.
Reunited in days.
Then both slowly realized something.
The same thing that had happened to them.
The same warmth.
The same pull.
The same impossible chain of reunions.
One by one.
Lost people were finding each other again.
And somehow—
At the center of it all—
Was a certain Commander currently heading toward a hot spring, completely unaware that his habit of collecting strays was rapidly becoming legendary.
The clinic became quiet.
The only sounds were the rustling of papers and the distant laughter of villagers celebrating outside.
Mary and Pepper sat motionless.
Processing everything they had just heard.
"A week ago..."
Mary repeated softly.
Her restored eye narrowed thoughtfully.
"We felt it too."
The doctor looked toward the window.
Toward the distant village.
Toward the sky beyond.
"A light."
Pepper nodded.
"It was warm."
"A comforting warmth."
"It felt..."
The nurse struggled to describe it.
"Like hope."
Neither woman had understood it at the time.
Only that they wanted to follow it.
To find its source.
To know what it was.
The problem was simple.
They couldn't leave.
The villagers needed them.
"If we left."
Mary quietly said.
"There would be nobody."
The doctor looked around the clinic.
"We stayed."
Pepper smiled faintly.
"We thought we were imagining things."
Then she looked toward Rapi.
"But all of you felt it too?"
The former Counters nodded.
"Yeah."
Anis sat atop a cabinet.
Swinging her legs.
"We followed it."
Neon grinned.
"Best decision ever."
The two medical Nikkes exchanged glances.
Then Mary frowned.
"Wait."
Her gaze settled on Rapi.
"You three."
Then toward the absent maids.
"Ade."
"Soda."
"Cocoa."
Then Nayuta.
"Why did all of you have that same light?"
The question lingered.
Then Anis answered.
"The Commander's blood."
Silence.
Mary blinked.
Pepper blinked.
"...What?"
"The Commander's blood."
Anis repeated.
The two doctors stared.
Then stared harder.
Then looked at each other.
Then back at Anis.
"Explain."
Mary demanded.
Rapi sighed.
"We consumed it."
The doctor immediately looked concerned.
"You consumed his blood?"
The answer sounded increasingly questionable.
"There's context."
Neon quickly added.
"There had better be."
Mary replied.
Eventually Rapi explained.
The NIMPH.
The Ark.
The restrictions.
The control mechanisms.
The chains every Nikke carried.
Then the freedom that followed.
Mary listened.
Pepper listened.
Neither interrupted.
When the explanation finished—
Neither spoke for several moments.
"Full control..."
Mary whispered.
The doctor instinctively touched the back of her neck.
Where the invisible shadow of the Ark still lingered.
The control she had accepted for years.
The chains she pretended not to notice.
"They're gone?"
Rapi nodded.
"Completely."
Pepper looked stunned.
"The Ark can't control you anymore?"
"No."
"Track you?"
"No."
"Command you?"
"No."
The nurse looked down.
Almost afraid to ask.
"And in exchange?"
The room became quieter.
Rapi smiled slightly.
"We chose."
Mary looked confused.
"Chose?"
Anis nodded.
"The Commander never forced us."
Neon folded her arms.
"Not once."
"He gave us a choice."
The three Nikkes looked toward the floor.
Then smiled.
"And we stayed."
The sincerity was impossible to miss.
Mary slowly processed that.
Freedom.
Actual freedom.
Not transferred ownership.
Not another master.
A choice.
Then Pepper quietly asked—
"Bound?"
The word felt heavy.
Rapi nodded.
"Bound."
"But not by orders."
The Nikke touched her chest.
"Here."
The meaning was obvious.
Their hearts.
Their trust.
Their loyalty.
Their choice.
Then came the part that truly unsettled the two doctors.
"He can read us."
Anis admitted.
Mary blinked.
"What?"
"As we can read him."
Pepper nearly dropped a box.
"You can read his thoughts?"
"Not exactly."
Rapi corrected.
"We feel him."
"His emotions."
"His worries."
"His happiness."
Neon grinned.
"His embarrassment."
The blonde Nikke laughed.
"Especially his embarrassment."
Mary sat down heavily.
This was becoming increasingly absurd.
Then came the final revelation.
"He can see our pasts."
The room fell silent.
Completely silent.
Mary froze.
Pepper froze.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Because unlike the other revelations—
This one struck somewhere deeper.
Somewhere painful.
The doctor lowered her gaze.
Her hands tightened slightly.
Pepper noticed.
Because she felt exactly the same.
Past lives.
Past mistakes.
Past regrets.
Past sins.
Things they never spoke about.
Things they never wanted to speak about.
Memories buried beneath years of survival.
The possibility of someone seeing all of it—
Without barriers.
Without lies.
Without hiding.
It was terrifying.
Mary stared at the floor.
"If I do this..."
The words came slowly.
"If I become free..."
She already knew the answer.
Rapi remained honest.
"You'll have to stop hiding. We did the same thing. Our past lives bare for him and us to accept. When that happens, the light ease us. Giving us the feeling of true freedom."
Silence.
The doctor closed her eyes.
Pepper looked away.
Neither liked the answer.
Yet neither could deny the temptation.
Freedom.
Real freedom.
To be human again.
After ten years.
The chance to sever the Ark's control forever.
To never again be a puppet.
To never again fear a command from afar.
To truly belong to themselves.
To follow someone that guaranteed their safety.
The price?
Being honest.
Being seen.
Allowing someone to know everything.
The good.
And the bad.
Pepper slowly sat beside Mary.
The two women exchanged a look.
No words were needed.
They had survived together.
Suffered together.
Hidden together.
If this path existed—
They would walk it together as well.
Outside, the village continued celebrating.
Inside the clinic—
Two doctors quietly contemplated a choice that would change their lives forever.
And for the first time in many years—
The future no longer felt frightening.
Only uncertain.
And perhaps—
Just a little hopeful.
========
For the first time since arriving on the Autumn Isles, there was nothing demanding Yuuki's immediate attention.
No pirates.
No Sirens.
No Raptures.
No medical emergencies.
No strategic meetings.
No rescue operations.
Just silence.
Steam drifted lazily across the surface of the hot spring.
Autumn leaves occasionally floated down from the surrounding trees.
The distant sounds of the village festival echoed softly through the mountains.
Yuuki leaned back against a smooth stone.
The hot water eased the tension from his shoulders.
"Alone for once."
He smiled.
It was a rare thing.
A very rare thing.
Usually someone was looking for him.
A report.
A mission.
A question.
A crisis.
A shipgirl.
A Nikke.
A fairy.
Or Vergil informing him about something exploding in a laboratory.
Today?
Nothing.
Just peace.
Meanwhile, in the women's section separated by a high bamboo wall, the atmosphere was considerably less peaceful.
Several shipgirls were enjoying the springs.
Others simply relaxed after an exhausting day.
The smaller destroyers had claimed one corner of the bath and transformed it into their own little playground.
Javelin splashed water.
Laffey floated half asleep.
Unicorn quietly enjoyed the warm water.
Nimi attempted to maintain order.
With limited success.
Nearby, Yorktown rested against a stone.
Enterprise beside her.
For once neither carrier looked prepared for battle.
Belfast enjoyed a cup of tea someone had somehow provided.
No one questioned how.
Illustrious sighed contentedly.
"This is lovely."
"It is."
Yorktown agreed.
Akagi rested nearby.
Kaga beside her.
Even the fox sisters looked more relaxed than usual.
Kaguya floated lazily in the water.
Her tails spread comfortably behind her.
Several Tsukimimi children had spent the last hour asking if they were real.
She had found the experience surprisingly enjoyable.
A lot of laughter.
The shipgirls and Nikkes were clearly enjoying themselves.
Ade sat quietly near the edge of the spring, letting the warm water soothe her tired muscles.
The usually diligent maid looked more relaxed than Yuuki had ever seen.
Nearby, Soda happily splashed her hands through the water.
"This is wonderful!"
Cocoa nodded enthusiastically.
"Best bath ever."
The three maids had spent the entire morning helping villagers.
Now they finally had a chance to rest.
Vestal sighed contentedly.
The doctor leaned against a stone.
"No patients."
A pause.
"No paperwork."
Another pause.
"No emergencies."
She looked genuinely emotional.
Akashi floated nearby.
Half asleep.
"Nyaa..."
The repair ship had somehow found a floating wooden tray and was using it as a pillow.
"Nyaa..."
Nobody was entirely sure if she was awake.
Prince of Wales sat gracefully near the deeper section.
The Royal battleship enjoyed the tranquility.
Across from her, Avrora smiled softly.
The Northern Parliament cruiser watched the evening sky reflected upon the water.
"It is peaceful."
"Very."
Wales agreed.
Nearby, Sandy had somehow convinced several Tsukimimi children to teach her local songs.
Nobody knew how.
The destroyers had immediately joined in.
The Bulins were having their own adventure.
Purin.
Bulin.
And Kurin.
The three sisters had discovered that hot spring water made excellent splash ammunition.
"Purin attack!"
A wave splashed across the surface.
"Kurin counterattack!"
Another followed.
"Bulin victory!"
Nobody knew what victory meant in this context.
The sisters certainly didn't.
The resulting splash soaked Sandy.
The idol immediately declared war.
Several minutes later—
The entire corner of the spring had descended into friendly chaos.
Avrora watched quietly.
Then smiled.
"It appears they have endless energy."
"No matter the situation."
Wales agreed.
Even Akashi opened one eye.
"Nyaa."
Then closed it again.
Across the spring, Ade and Cocoa watched the Bulins chase Sandy around.
The sight made them laugh.
For a moment—
Nobody worried about tomorrow.
Not the Mother Whale.
Not the rescue mission.
Not the Sirens.
Not the Raptures.
Just friends enjoying a peaceful evening together.
Further away—
Anis stretched.
"This."
The Nikke declared.
"Is the best mission ever."
Neon immediately agreed.
"We liberated a village."
"Found doctors."
"Got free food."
"And now hot springs."
The blonde Nikke folded her arms.
"I vote all future missions include hot springs."
Rapi surprisingly didn't disagree.
Nearby, Mary and Pepper were still adjusting to everything.
The two doctors sat quietly together.
The warm water easing aches they had carried for years.
Aches they no longer needed to endure.
Pepper touched her cheek unconsciously.
Still amazed the scar was gone.
Mary blinked.
Both eyes functioning perfectly.
Still unfamiliar after so long.
Neither woman spoke.
They simply enjoyed the feeling.
Being healthy.
Being safe.
Being surrounded by people who cared.
It felt strange.
Good.
But strange.
Eventually Yorktown glanced toward the bamboo divider separating the baths.
"Hm."
Enterprise noticed.
"What?"
Yorktown smiled faintly.
"For once."
The carrier leaned back.
"He actually has some quiet time."
Several girls looked toward the divider.
Then laughed.
Because it was true.
For perhaps the first time in weeks—
Nobody was asking the Commander for anything.
No questions.
No emergencies.
No disasters.
Just a peaceful evening.
On the other side of the wall, Yuuki remained completely unaware of the conversation.
Still soaking quietly.
Still enjoying the silence.
For now.
Because everyone present knew one thing with absolute certainty.
The moment Kirino Yuu arrived on the Autumn Isles—
Peace would become considerably harder to find.
====
The peaceful atmosphere of the hot springs lasted until a familiar voice echoed over the partition.
"Commander! Can we join you?"
Anis shouted.
Yuuki immediately answered.
"No."
"Aww."
The blonde Nikke pouted.
"It might be fun."
"This is not mixed bathing."
Then, much more quietly—
"Thank God."
The commander sank slightly deeper into the water.
Unfortunately for him, the shipgirls heard that.
Several giggles immediately followed.
"Teddy bear."
Eugen's teasing voice carried over the wall.
"If you want, you can look."
Yuuki nearly choked.
"You are not helping."
The Iron Blood heavy cruiser laughed.
"You've already seen all of me."
"Not directly."
"Details."
Nearby, Kaguya dramatically rose from the water.
Her tails lazily swaying behind her.
"Dearest!"
The fox woman pointed her fan toward the partition.
"Thou should bathe with thy wife!"
"No."
Immediately another voice appeared.
"Shikikan-sama should bathe with Akagi!"
Akagi's tails fluffed proudly.
"I could scrub his back."
"No."
Kaga quietly nodded.
"That sounds reasonable."
"No."
The commander was losing this battle rapidly.
Then Anis spotted another target.
"Oh?"
A mischievous grin appeared.
"Well, Mom?"
Yorktown blinked.
The entire hot spring became quiet.
"...Mom?"
Anis nodded.
"You wanted time with the Commander too."
Yorktown immediately turned red.
"Anis."
The carrier's voice carried a rare warning tone.
"Don't."
The blonde Nikke was completely fearless.
"Mom's blushing."
"ANIS."
Enterprise immediately covered her face.
Belfast tried very hard not to laugh.
Illustrious failed completely.
Even Prince of Wales smiled into her teacup.
Yorktown took a deep breath.
Attempting to regain composure.
Then finally answered.
"No."
The carrier looked toward the partition.
A soft smile appearing.
"I'd rather do that after we're married."
Silence followed.
Complete silence.
Then—
Several shipgirls suddenly became very interested in the water.
Akagi's ears twitched.
Kaga looked away.
Illustrious blushed.
Belfast's cheeks gained the faintest hint of color.
Even Eugen paused her teasing.
Because Yorktown had said it so naturally.
So honestly.
So sincerely.
Eventually, one by one—
The others nodded.
"Agreed."
Illustrious smiled softly.
"A lady should wait."
Belfast added.
Prince of Wales nodded.
"Indeed."
Even Akagi reluctantly folded her arms.
"...Fine."
Kaguya dramatically sighed.
"Such restraint."
The fox woman leaned back into the water.
"'Tis both admirable and frustrating."
On the other side of the partition, Yuuki quietly covered his face.
Because somehow—
The conversation had gone from hot springs to marriage in under two minutes.
And judging by the embarrassed smiles coming from nearly every shipgirl—
Nobody objected to Yorktown's statement.
Which somehow made the Commander even more embarrassed than before.
The women's side immediately erupted into laughter.
Just friends enjoying a peaceful evening together beneath the autumn sky.
The hot springs had done wonders for everyone's mood.
Clean.
Relaxed.
Warm.
For the first time all day, nobody was rushing anywhere.
Yuuki sat on the inn's wooden veranda wearing a dark yukata.
A glass of cold milk rested in his hand.
The cool evening breeze drifted through the Autumn Isles.
Orange leaves occasionally floated past.
One by one, the others joined him.
Yorktown sat beside Enterprise.
Belfast carried tea.
Illustrious looked positively radiant after the bath.
Akagi and Kaga sat together.
The maids chatted quietly.
The Nikkes looked far more relaxed than they had all week.
Even Mary and Pepper seemed lighter.
As though years had been lifted from their shoulders.
Eventually Esche fluttered down.
The fairy landed gracefully on the railing.
Her silver wings shimmered beneath the evening sky.
Yuuki smiled.
"Oh."
The commander rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry we didn't go to Laurelin today."
The fairy blinked.
Then smiled warmly.
"Oh, do not worry, Great Hero."
The title still made Yuuki sigh.
"She is still there."
Esche looked toward the distant horizon.
"Waiting."
Then smiled.
"We can take our time."
The fairy seemed strangely unconcerned.
Almost as if she already knew Laurelin wasn't going anywhere.
Yuuki nodded.
"Tomorrow then."
The group settled into a comfortable silence.
Until—
"Sir."
Jarvis' voice suddenly echoed through Yuuki's communicator.
The commander's eyes narrowed immediately.
"Report."
"Something has breached the lower atmosphere."
The relaxed atmosphere instantly vanished.
Yorktown sat up.
Enterprise's expression sharpened.
Akagi's ears twitched.
Rapi immediately reached for her weapon.
Yuuki stood.
"Designation?"
A brief pause followed.
Then Jarvis answered.
"Friendly."
Everyone blinked.
Yuuki blinked.
"Friendly?"
"GDI designation confirmed."
Now everyone looked confused.
"How?"
Jarvis sounded equally confused.
"Object originated from the Philadelphia."
Yuuki frowned.
"The carrier?"
"Affirmative."
Then Jarvis continued.
"Subject launched from a drop pod."
"..."
"...Why?"
Neon asked.
Nobody had an answer.
"Upon entering the atmosphere, the pod halted."
Yuuki immediately knew where this was going.
"Oh no."
"The subject then exited the pod and accelerated toward your position."
"Oh no."
Yuuki repeated.
Vergil's grin earlier suddenly made sense.
Very unfortunate sense.
"Where is it now?"
A brief pause.
Then Jarvis answered.
"Almost here."
"EVERYONE MOVE."
Yuuki immediately bolted from the veranda.
The others followed.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
Fairy.
Everyone rushed outside.
The villagers looked up.
Confused.
Then—
A sonic boom echoed across the Autumn Isles.
The clouds split.
A streak of blue-white light tore across the sky.
The object crossed the horizon in seconds.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
The ground shook.
Dust erupted.
Trees swayed.
Several Tsukimimi screamed.
The impact crater formed just outside the village.
Silence followed.
A figure slowly emerged from the dust cloud.
Armored.
Heavily armored.
One knee planted against the ground.
One fist resting on the earth.
A perfect superhero landing.
Neon immediately pointed.
"THAT'S A SUPERHERO LANDING!"
"Yes, Neon."
Rapi sighed.
"It is."
Steam vented from the armor.
Mechanical systems hissed.
Power cores hummed.
The dust slowly cleared.
Yuuki stared.
Then covered his face.
"Oh no."
Because he recognized that armor.