"—Argghh—!"
The moment the ion beam pierced Orochi's heart, the backlash surged through its link.
Akagi and Kaga staggered as one.
Pain—raw, searing, inescapable—ripped through their bodies as if the strike had hit them directly. Their connection to the warship turned the damage into something intimate… something felt.
Kaga dropped to one knee, clutching her chest, breath unsteady.
"Th-this… pressure—!"
But beside her—
Akagi laughed.
Soft at first.
Then rising.
Unhinged. Exhilarated.
"Ahh… so this is how it feels…" she whispered, her voice trembling not with fear—but something far more dangerous. "Orochi… is crying…"
Her fingers tightened, nails biting into her own skin as her eyes gleamed.
"And yet… it's still alive."
Kaga staggered, one hand bracing against a shattered console.
"A direct hit… to the reactor…!" she gasped.
Akagi dropped to one knee, her breath uneven—but even through the pain…
She smiled.
Below them, the damage was catastrophic.
The central deck had been torn open, a molten shaft plunging straight down into the ship's core. Systems failed all at once—guns, shields, targeting arrays—everything went dark in cascading shutdowns.
Orochi… had been silenced.
===============
Above them, the devastation was absolute.
The ion strike had carved a perfect shaft through the carrier—armor, bulkheads, weapon systems—everything along its path erased or rendered useless. The blast had struck directly above the reactor core.
Every major system—
Offline.
Guns silenced.
Defenses crippled.
The beast had been forced to its knees.
—
"Girls, hold fire. Standby."
Yuuki's command cut across every channel.
"—Yes!"
Instantly, the battlefield stilled.
Firehawks disengaged their attack runs, peeling away into holding patterns. Orcas and Barracudas throttled down, maintaining distance. Even the massive Lionheart bombers drifted back, their payloads untouched.
On another vector—
Illustrious ceased all offensive output, her earlier precision strikes having already dismantled Orochi's anti-air grid.
Unicorn followed suit, recalling the Harbinger Gunships into a silent hover formation.
The sky, once filled with fire…
Went still.
=============
From afar, the Thermopylae Command Carrier loomed like a silent overseer.
On its bridge—
They watched.
Belfast stood composed in her partial armor, though her gaze sharpened ever so slightly.
Illustrious lowered her hand slowly after issuing the final strike orders, her expression calm—but intent.
Yorktown watched the tactical display, eyes reflecting the aftermath calculation.
And Laffey—for once—was fully awake.
They had seen this before.
Not at one percent.
But at full authorization.
Eight converging beams and final direct strike.
A Siren research facility—
Erased from existence.
What Yuuki had just used… was a fraction.
A restraint.
Because he wanted something from that battlefield.
—
Through the smoking breach, Yuuki descended.
The molten edges of the shaft glowed around him as he dropped straight into the exposed interior, his suit compensating for heat and instability. Behind him, ten Legion units followed in tight formation—silent, lethal shadows.
He landed with a heavy thud just outside the reactor chamber.
The damage was worse up close.
Critical.
Barely contained.
He exhaled slowly, scanning the destruction.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "Any more than one percent…"
His gaze traced the ruptured core.
"…and this thing would've been split clean through."
Yuuki stepped forward toward the reactor chamber.
Smoke curled through the air. Systems sparked weakly. The self-destruct countdown still echoed faintly in the background.
Not over yet.
He rolled his shoulders once.
"Alright," he said quietly.
"Let's shut this thing down."
Yuuki stepped into the reactor chamber—and stopped.
Amid the wreckage, she was waiting.
A lone figure, barely held together by will.
One arm. One eye. Four tails flickering weakly behind her. The once-pristine white kimono of the Sakura Empire was torn and scorched, its emblem stained with ash and blood. Her runway rigging burned in a dim, unstable blue—failing, but not yet extinguished.
Still standing.
Still defiant.
"You must be Kaga," Yuuki said, voice steady behind the iron mask.
Kaga's remaining eye locked onto him—sharp, unyielding.
"So… you know my name."
Even now, there was pride in her voice. Authority.
"I will give you one chance," she said, each word edged with steel. "Leave this place. If you value your fleet—your planes, your machines—turn back."
A pause.
"I will not say it again."
Yuuki regarded her for a moment.
Then—
"Just because you ask," he replied calmly, an energy blade igniting from his arm in a surge of brilliant, searing light, "doesn't mean I'll comply."
The chamber hummed with tension.
Kaga's expression hardened.
"Then," she said quietly, "you choose death."
With a flick of her hand, paper talismans scattered into the air—transforming mid-flight into World War II-era aircraft, engines roaring to life as they dove toward him in a desperate assault.
Yuuki didn't move.
"Legion."
His escorts reacted instantly.
Missiles streaked upward. Anti-air fire erupted. One by one, the incoming planes were obliterated before they could even close the distance—bursts of fire lighting the ruined chamber.
Kaga's jaw tightened.
"Coward!" she snapped, launching forward despite her injuries. "Face me!"
She charged—unbalanced, but relentless.
More planes, more desperation.
Yuuki stepped in.
A single shift in position.
A clean strike—
His blade carved through her rigging.
"—Arrghh!!"
The backlash hit instantly. Kaga's body convulsed as the damage translated directly into her, blood spilling from her side as her systems failed completely.
She collapsed hard against the deck.
Still—
She tried to rise.
One arm trembling. Body shaking. Breath ragged.
With a broken snarl, she lunged, katana swinging wildly.
Yuuki met it without effort.
A flash of light—
Her blade split in two.
The broken steel clattered uselessly across the floor.
The faint glow of her rigging flickered… then died.
One final repulsor pulse—
Low output.
Controlled.
Enough.
Kaga was thrown back, landing flat against the cold metal, her strength finally giving out.
Silence.
Yuuki stepped forward, then stopped.
He looked down at her.
There was no threat left.
Only defiance.
"Stand down," he said, voice quieter now. "Final warning."
He turned away.
This wasn't a fight anymore.
—
But then—
A hand grabbed his iron boot. He was a fully armored man while she is a downed shipgirl. She didn't even unmasked him.
Weak.
Shaking.
Still refusing.
"Coward…" Kaga rasped, struggling even to lift her head. "Face me…"
Yuuki paused.
Behind him, her grip tightened as much as it could—refusing to let him walk away.
=========
Far away, through the live feed—
Atago lowered her gaze.
Takao's expression hardened, but her eyes betrayed her.
They knew her.
They understood exactly what this meant.
This wasn't strategy.
This wasn't survival.
This was pride.
And Kaga… would rather break than surrender.
===========
Yuuki didn't stop.
His steps echoed, steady and unhurried, as he walked past her toward the reactor core.
Behind him—
"You coward!!" Kaga's voice cracked, raw with fury and desperation. "You don't even have the guts to finish me?!"
No answer.
"Why don't you just kill me?!"
He paused—just for a fraction of a second. Without even turning....
"The weak don't get to choose how they die."
He didn't look back.
He kept walking.
For a moment—
There was only silence.
Then—
Something in her snapped.
"Weak…?"
Kaga's fingers dug into the scorched metal beneath her, trembling.
Her breath came unevenly, chest heaving—not just from pain, but from something far deeper.
"Weak…?"
Her pride—shattered, bleeding, humiliated—refused to accept it.
"…I am… not… weak…"
With a strained gasp, she forced her body forward.
Her knees dragged uselessly. Her torn side bled freely. One arm—her only arm—pulled her across the floor inch by inch, leaving a faint trail behind.
Still—
She moved.
The Iron Legions watched.
They did nothing.
No interference.
No mercy.
No acknowledgment.
Because to them—
She was no longer a threat.
=====
"Bastard!!"
Her voice rose again, cracking under the weight of her own desperation.
"Then kill me!!"
Her hand slammed forward, barely catching her weight before she collapsed again.
"Kill me!!"
Yuuki didn't stop.
Didn't answer.
The distance between them widened.
Each second stretching longer than the last.
Her movements slowed.
Her strength drained.
Her voice… faltered.
"…please…"
The word barely carried.
Barely existed.
"…just… kill me…"
Her head dipped.
Tears slipped freely, falling to the cold steel beneath her.
The fire was gone.
The pride—cracked.
And in its place—
Only a quiet, unbearable grief.
Tears spilled freely now, cutting through soot and blood.
The proud carrier of the First Division—the unyielding fox who stood beside Akagi—was gone in that moment.
All that remained…
Was someone who had lost everything.
"Waaah…!"
The sob tore out of her, uncontrollable, shaking her entire body as she curled slightly against the cold metal floor.
No dignity.
No composure.
Only grief.
Only defeat.
=======
From the distant command carrier, the feed continued in silence.
Atago turned away first, her usual composure slipping as she covered her eyes.
"…that's enough…"
Takao didn't move.
But her jaw tightened, her gaze fixed—until it, too, faltered.
Kaga…
The pride of the Sakura Empire.
Reduced to this.
Begging for death.
It wasn't something they could bear to watch.
The others didn't say anything. It was hard to see someone they looked up to reduced to this.
=========
Inside Orochi—
Yuuki reached the threshold of the reactor chamber.
He stopped again.
Not because of her voice.
But because of what lay ahead.
The failing core pulsed violently, unstable, moments away from catastrophic detonation if left unchecked.
Behind him, Kaga's sobs echoed faintly through the broken corridors.
He didn't look back.
Didn't speak.
Didn't acknowledge it.
Because if he did—
He might hesitate.
And right now—
Hesitation would kill everyone.
Yuuki knew it.
And he knew something else too—
Kaga wasn't just broken.
She was buying time.
Even if it meant shattering her pride to do it.
======
The blast doors groaned as he forced them open.
Metal screamed against metal before giving way—
Revealing the heart of Orochi.
The reactor chamber pulsed like a dying star. Cracked conduits spat arcs of unstable energy. The core itself flickered erratically, its containment barely holding as the self-destruct sequence ticked closer to completion.
And there—
At its center—
She waited.
Akagi.
She was barely recognizable.
Her once flawless presence was gone—replaced by something… fractured.
One eye dimmed but still burning with intent. Her kimono torn and stained. Her tails—broken, uneven, some barely manifesting at all. Even her remaining ear twitched weakly, as if struggling to maintain form.
Yet—
She was smiling.
"Ku… ku… ku…"
A soft, unhinged laugh echoed through the chamber as her gaze fixed on Yuuki's armored form.
From afar, through the feed—
Atago froze.
Takao's breath caught.
Even Illustrious and Enterprise fell silent.
This…
This was not the Akagi they knew.
"Ah…" Akagi's voice was soft, almost affectionate, despite the ruin around her. "So the hero of the Diving Eagle finally arrives…"
Her visible eye narrowed slightly, glinting with something between amusement and exhaustion.
"…Even my dear sister couldn't stop you."
Yuuki didn't answer.
Didn't react.
Didn't even slow his pace.
His gaze swept past her—already assessing the reactor, the control interfaces, the failing stabilizers.
Priorities.
Always priorities.
Akagi watched him in silence for a moment.
Then—
She laughed again.
Quieter this time.
"Not even a word…?" she murmured. "How cold."
A faint tilt of her head.
"…Or perhaps… you simply don't see me as worth speaking to anymore? Who wanted to spoke with a broken carrier?"
Still—
Nothing from him.
No challenge.
No insult.
No acknowledgment.
Just movement.
Straight toward the core.
For the first time—
Akagi's smile wavered.
Only slightly.
"…I see."
Her voice dropped, softer now. Not mocking.
Understanding.
"You're not here for me."
A pause.
"…You're here to take everything away. Taking Amagi away from me..."
Behind her, the reactor pulsed violently—countdown continuing, unstable, inevitable.
And yet—
Yuuki walked forward like it didn't matter.
Like she didn't matter.
That—
More than anything—
Made her expression change.
Just a little.
The cracked Wisdom Cube in Akagi's hand pulsed faintly, unstable but alive.
"Amagi-nee-sama… just a little more… just a little more…" Her voice trembled, caught between hope and madness. "I can finally see you…"
The light bled into her rigging.
It answered.
Fragments of her runway ignited, red and fractured, barely holding form as it manifested around her. Paper talismans scattered from her sleeve, fluttering like dying petals, then snapping into shape.
Zero fighters screamed into existence, engines roaring as they dove straight toward him.
"This time…" she whispered, lifting her gaze to the unmoving figure. "This time, I will not fail."
Her expression twisted into something desperate.
"Then please die, hero-san. A sacrifice for my beloved Amagi!"
She cast her hand forward.
The swarm descended.
Yuuki did not even slow down.
A soft mechanical whirr sounded as his shoulder systems unfolded. Targeting locked instantly.
A storm answered.
Missiles streaked upward in precise bursts. The minigun spun to life with a deafening roar, tracers tearing through the air. One by one, then all at once, the incoming planes were shredded mid-flight.
Fire. Shrapnel. Silence.
Nothing reached him.
Not even close.
Akagi froze.
Her hand still outstretched.
The space between them remained untouched, unchallenged.
Her attack meant nothing.
Yuuki kept walking.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Past the wreckage.
Toward the reactor.
"…Why…?"
Her voice cracked.
"…why… why… why can't you just die?!"
No answer.
Her breathing hitched, the glow of the cube flickering wildly in her grasp.
"Why do you want to take Amagi-nee-sama away from me?!"
Her voice rose, breaking completely now.
"That's all I want! Just her! Just once more!"
The reactor behind her pulsed violently, its unstable light washing the chamber in erratic flashes, as if mirroring her unraveling will.
Still, Yuuki did not stop.
Akagi's breathing grew shallow.
Her grip tightened.
Slowly, deliberately—
She drew her katana.
The old blade trembled in her hand, yet she forced what remained of her power into it. The fractured glow of her rigging flared one last time, her tails flickering like dying embers.
If this was the end—
Then she would meet it as herself.
Yuuki's energy blade ignited in response, a clean arc of burning light forming along his arm.
No words.
No warning.
He moved.
Thrusters roared.
A single burst—
A single, decisive strike.
Stab.
The energy blade pierced cleanly through her abdomen.
Akagi's body jolted—
Then stilled.
Her katana slipped from her grasp, clattering uselessly against the metal.
For a brief moment, she remained standing—
Held there only by the force of the strike.
Then—
She leaned forward.
Her head came to rest lightly against his shoulder.
"…This wasn't even a fair fight… hero-san…"
Her voice was faint. Fragile.
"…Even I… Akagi… couldn't beat… you…"
A shallow breath.
"…Even with… Orochi…"
Her words faltered, fading in and out.
"…we still… couldn't… defeat your faction…"
A weak, broken laugh escaped her lips.
"…even after… reducing those Sirens… to scrap…"
The light dimmed.
Yuuki deactivated his blade.
The energy vanished instantly.
Without support, her body slid from him—
Falling.
Rolling down the fractured steps of the reactor platform until she came to a stop below.
The cracked Wisdom Cube slipped from her hand, skidding across the floor before coming to rest not far from her.
Her fingers twitched.
Weak.
Barely moving.
Reaching.
"…Amagi… nee… sama…"
At the top of the stairs, Yuuki stood still for a second.
Looking down.
No expression visible behind the iron mask.
No words.
Then he turned.
Toward the reactor.
The core pulsed violently, seconds from catastrophic failure.
He moved without hesitation, hands already interfacing with the control systems.
Override.
Shutdown.
Containment.
One by one, the systems obeyed.
The countdown ceased.
The reactor dimmed.
The violent glow faded into a low, controlled hum.
Orochi fell silent.
The thunder of guns faded. Systems powered down one after another. The oppressive hum of war gave way to something far heavier—
Stillness.
"…Amagi… nee… sama…"
Akagi's voice barely carried.
Yuuki descended the metal steps, each footfall echoing in the hollow chamber.
Below—
Kaga was still moving.
Dragging herself forward with her remaining arm, leaving a thin trail of blood across the cold steel. Every motion looked like it should have been her last, and yet—
She continued.
"…Nee… sama…"
At last, she reached her.
Her trembling hand found Akagi's, gripping it tightly, as if letting go would mean losing her forever.
"Kaga... I am... sorry... for .. dragging.. you.. into this..."
"Nee-sama... I'll stay... even if means... death..."
The two of them, broken and bleeding, clung to the same fading hope.
Yuuki stepped closer.
His gaze fell on the cracked Wisdom Cube lying nearby.
He bent down—
And picked it up.
The faint glow pulsed weakly within his grasp.
Akagi's eye widened.
"Hero-san.. please…give it… back…"
Her voice trembled, barely holding together.
"…please… don't take… her… away from us…"
Her fingers twitched weakly toward him, unable to reach.
"…she's all we… have left…"
A shallow breath.
"…please… have mercy…"
"...Nee-sama…" Kaga's voice broke as she held Akagi's hand tighter.
"Please… lord… please…" she whispered, her pride long shattered. "Give it back… let us… die with her…"
Yuuki said nothing.
Not a word.
He simply stood there, the cube in his hand.
The silence stretched.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
==========
From the distant command carrier—
Atago turned away again, unable to bear the sight any longer.
"…I can't…"
Takao followed, her expression tight, controlled—but her eyes said enough.
This was not battle anymore.
This was something else entirely.
Enterprise watched in silence.
She had faced them before—Akagi and Kaga at their peak, unyielding, terrifying, magnificent in battle. Enemies worthy of respect.
This…
This was something else.
She said nothing.
Because there was nothing she could say.
===============
Back in the chamber—
Two sisters, once the pride of an empire, now reduced to broken pleas.
And one man—
Standing between them and the last thing they believed they had left.
Yuuki moved.
No hesitation.
No words.
He walked forward and knelt beside them, placing the cracked Wisdom Cube gently into Akagi's trembling hand.
For a moment—
She simply stared at it.
Then—
Her fingers closed weakly around it.
"…Thank… you…" her voice barely formed the words. "…for showing… kindness… in… our last… moments…"
Kaga tightened her grip on her sister's hand.
"…Amagi-nee-sama…" she whispered, tears slipping silently. "…we're coming home…"
The faint glow of the cube pulsed between them.
Then—
Stillness.
Not death.
But quiet.
A fragile, exhausted silence.
Yuuki rose slowly.
His gaze lingered on them for a brief second—
Then shifted.
He activated a compact device from his armor. Gizmo repair beam.
Soft light emitted as he aimed it toward their wounds. Energy flowed steadily, sealing torn flesh, stabilizing what little strength remained in their bodies.
Not saving them fully.
But not letting them die either.
His eyes returned to the cube.
A long breath escaped him.
"…Jarvis," he said quietly, "prepare to take over."
"Understood, sir."
With a hiss, sections of his armor disengaged around his hand, exposing it.
Bare.
Unprotected.
He reached down—
And touched the cube.
The reaction was immediate.
A violent surge of energy erupted from it, arcing through his body.
Electricity crackled across the chamber—
His body tensed—
Then convulsed.
This wasn't the first time.
But it didn't make it any easier.
"Sir—!"
JARVIS reacted instantly.
The armor sealed back around him, systems taking over as Yuuki's consciousness slipped away.
His body steadied—
But only because the suit held it upright.
Eyes dimmed behind the visor.
Unresponsive.
"Autonomous control engaged," JARVIS announced, voice now carrying a sharper edge.
The man inside the armor—
Was no longer the one in control.
And in the quiet reactor chamber—
The aftermath deepened.
Not with explosions.
Not with war.
But with consequences that had only just begun.
====================
Both Kaga and Akagi opened their eyes—
To silence.
No flames. No pain. No weight pressing against their bodies. The battlefield was gone, replaced by a vast, endless calm ocean and sky.
They stood whole again.
Uninjured.
Untouched.
Their forms restored to what they once were—before war, before loss, before everything fractured.
Calm and composed.
Kaga looked at her hands, flexing her fingers slowly.
"…Are we… dead?"
Akagi's gaze drifted across the empty horizon, her voice calm for the first time in a long while.
"I believe so…"
A brief pause.
"So this is death…"
"It is."
The voice came gently.
Familiar.
They turned.
===
"Amagi-nee-sama…"
"Kaga… Akagi…"
Amagi stood before them.
Graceful. Whole. Radiant in a way that felt both real and distant at the same time. Her long dark-brown hair flowed behind her, fox ears poised atop her head, her calm purple eyes watching them with quiet understanding.
For a moment—
Neither sister moved.
Then—
Akagi stepped forward—
SLAP.
The sound echoed sharply.
Akagi's head snapped to the side, her hand slowly rising to her cheek.
"Amagi… nee-sama…"
Amagi's expression was firm.
"You just had to do it, didn't you?"
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
"I saw everything."
Akagi froze.
"I did not die," Amagi continued softly. "I remained… without a body. I saw your choices. Your obsession. Your suffering."
Her gaze shifted slightly.
"You used Orochi again."
A faint exhale.
"This is the second time."
"Amagi-nee-sama…" Akagi's voice trembled.
"Why, Akagi?" Amagi asked, not angrily—but deeply, painfully sincere. "Why couldn't you let go?"
Her eyes softened—but her words did not.
"Instead of living… you chose to chase the dead. You dragged Kaga with you. You ignored the voice that called to us."
Akagi's lips parted—
But no words came.
"I… I…"
Her shoulders trembled.
"I missed you so much…"
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Honest.
Amagi closed her eyes briefly.
A quiet sigh escaped her.
"Scolding you won't fix what's been done…"
She stepped forward—
And pulled both of them into an embrace.
"It is… good to see you again."
That was enough.
"Amagi… nee—"
Akagi broke first.
Then Kaga.
Both of them clung to her, their composure collapsing completely as sobs finally poured out—unrestrained, unguarded.
"Waaah…!"
All the pain.
All the years.
All the weight they carried—
Released in that moment.
Amagi held them gently, one hand resting on each of their heads.
Her expression softened, though a trace of weariness remained.
"…You two haven't changed at all," she murmured quietly.
A faint, bittersweet smile touched her lips.
"And… I'm relieved for that."
She closed her eyes, holding them a little tighter.
Even if only for this moment—
They were together again.
===========
"Ehem… I hope I'm not interrupting."
The voice did not belong to the quiet, yet it did not shatter it either. It slipped in—calm, measured, almost courteous.
Akagi and Kaga stiffened at once.
Amagi's arms loosened around them as all three turned toward the source.
A man stood several paces away.
Dark hair, composed posture, a long coat resting naturally over his shoulders as if untouched by the emptiness around him. There was no distortion in his presence, no instability like the rest of the void—he stood there as if this place acknowledged him.
Kaga's gaze sharpened immediately, instinct returning despite the peace of this realm.
"Who are you…?" she demanded, her voice steady again, no longer the broken whisper from before. "And how are you able to stand here?"
Behind the man, something faint lingered—an echo of a presence, subtle yet unmistakably aware.
"Yuuki-sama… it seems the plan has succeeded."
The man exhaled quietly, as if releasing tension he had been holding for a long time.
"…Yeah. Longer than I wanted. There were moments I nearly scrapped the whole thing." His eyes shifted toward the two foxes, calm but direct. "But in the end, this was the only method that had any chance of working against these two foolish foxes."
Amagi tilted her head slightly, her expression softening with quiet amusement.
"My… you speak rather boldly, considering I am one of those 'foxes' you refer to."
Yuuki met her gaze without hesitation.
"I'm aware."
A soft, almost nostalgic laugh escaped her.
"Fufu… it truly has been some time, Yuuki-sama."
"Pfftt.. only a few hours.. since we just met."
Akagi's eyes narrowed slightly, confusion overtaking her exhaustion.
"…Amagi-nee-sama," she said slowly, "you speak as though you know this man."
Kaga glanced between them, her expression equally uncertain.
Amagi turned her attention back to her sisters, her voice gentle but deliberate.
"Tell me… did either of you ever hear the voice that called out to us?"
Kaga's expression shifted first.
"…I did," she admitted after a moment. "Faintly. Distant. I couldn't understand it fully… but it was there. Calling out to me." Her eyes flicked briefly toward Akagi. "She never listened. She refused anything that wasn't you."
Akagi's lips parted slightly, but no denial came.
Amagi nodded, as if confirming something long understood.
"Then allow me to clarify what you could not see."
She turned back toward the man.
"This is Yuuki-sama."
A small pause followed—intentional.
"…or perhaps a title you would recognize more clearly."
Her gaze softened, carrying both weight and meaning.
"Shikikan-sama."
The reaction was immediate.
"Shikikan-sama?!" both Akagi and Kaga spoke at once, disbelief overtaking them. They remembered their old commander perished during the attack.
"The old commander is gone," Amagi said plainly.
Yuuki lifted a hand lightly, almost dismissing the weight of the title. "What remains of the fleet—what remains of all of you—needed direction. So I brought that call to bring you to my faction."
Kaga's eyes sharpened again, but this time with realization.
"The new faction…?" she murmured.
Yuuki nodded once.
"The Diving Eagle. The ones you saw bombing your ship."
The name struck them both.
Akagi's gaze lowered slightly, her voice quieter now.
"…The one who fought us."
"Yeah," Yuuki replied without embellishment. "That was me."
There was no pride in his tone. No need to assert it.
Just fact.
"I didn't speak during the fight," he continued, glancing briefly at Amagi. "That was part of the agreement we made."
Amagi stepped forward slightly, her presence calm yet resolute.
"I was the one who reached him first," she said. "When I realized what you had become… and what you intended to do."
Her eyes rested on Akagi.
"I asked him to stop you."
The words settled heavily between them.
Akagi's breath caught.
"…You… asked for that…?" she whispered, unable to fully process it.
Amagi did not hesitate.
"Yes."
Kaga's expression tightened.
"…Why would you do that?" she asked, though her voice lacked the edge it once carried.
Amagi's gaze softened, but her answer did not waver.
"Because nothing else would have worked."
Yuuki crossed his arms, his tone direct but not harsh.
"You weren't going to stop," he said. "Not because you couldn't—but because you refused to. Everything became secondary to your obsession. Allies, enemies, consequences… none of it mattered to you anymore."
Akagi lowered her gaze further.
There was no argument left.
Yuuki continued, quieter now.
"So we removed your ability to keep going."
Kaga's breath slowed, her thoughts catching up.
"…You broke us…" she said, not as an accusation—but as realization.
Amagi stepped closer, closing the distance between them once more.
"Yes," she said gently. "Because this… was the only place where you would finally stop."
Her hand lifted slightly, as if to reach them again.
"The only place where you would finally listen."
Silence followed.
Not empty—
But full.
Full of everything that had been avoided, denied, and buried for so long.
Akagi's shoulders trembled faintly.
Her voice, when it came, was quiet—stripped of everything it once carried.
"…I didn't hear you…"
Amagi's expression softened even further.
"I know."
No anger.
No blame.
Only understanding.
And for the first time in a very long while—
Akagi did not resist it.
"You know… I could have helped you, if you had come to me."
Yuuki's voice was calm, carrying neither accusation nor pride—just a quiet statement of fact.
He let out a small breath and shook his head slightly.
"But that's irrelevant now. I only sent out the call a week ago… and only recently found a method to bring shipgirls back."
There was a brief pause, as if he was organizing his thoughts.
"Anyway…"
He straightened, then bowed—formal, deliberate.
"Global Defense Initiative High Commander, Yukihira Yuuki. It's a pleasure to properly meet both of you."
"Global Defense Initiative?" Kaga wondered. Is that the name of his faction?
The Diving Eagle? Isn't it just Eagle Union.
"Yukihira…?" Akagi repeated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you from the Sakura Empire?"
Yuuki shook his head.
"No. I'm not from your world at all."
That answer alone shifted the atmosphere.
"My faction isn't Eagle Union, nor Sakura Empire, nor anything you recognize. It's a global defense force—from my world." He spoke evenly, letting the information settle. "In my world, what you call the Sakura Empire… is known as Japan."
A small pause.
"But the language remains the same."
Then—
He switched.
Flawlessly.
If it's easier, I can speak like this instead.
The transition was seamless—tone, structure, nuance. Not just learned, but natural.
Akagi's eyes widened slightly.
Kaga's expression shifted in quiet surprise.
Even Amagi let out a soft, impressed hum.
"Ara… that certainly simplifies things," Amagi replied smoothly in Japanese, her tone light as she turned back toward her sisters.
Then her expression softened.
"However… your presence here is only temporary."
Akagi immediately shook her head.
"No… we don't want to leave," she said, stepping closer to her. "We want to stay here—with you."
Kaga didn't speak—but her silence agreed.
Amagi sighed gently, though there was no frustration in it.
"…You're misunderstanding something important."
She raised a hand slightly, as if to ground them.
"I am not dead."
That alone made both of them freeze.
"I exist—just without a physical body. The cube you were holding… that is where I reside."
Akagi's grip instinctively tightened in memory.
"You can speak to me through it," Amagi continued. "I will hear you clearly."
A faint smile.
"I simply cannot respond."
Kaga exhaled quietly, a hint of dry humor returning to her voice.
"…So you did hear everything Akagi said all this time."
Amagi gave her a knowing look.
"…Yes."
Akagi immediately looked away.
"…I see…"
There was no denial now.
Only quiet embarrassment—and something softer.
Amagi then turned slightly, her gaze moving between the two of them… before settling gently.
"Which is why…"
She paused, letting her words carry weight.
"…instead of running from the world—why not face it properly?"
Her eyes shifted toward Yuuki.
"And why not help Shikikan-sama… find a way to bring me back?"
Silence followed.
Not heavy this time—
But uncertain.
Hope—
Something neither of them had allowed themselves to feel for a long time—
Slowly began to take shape.
"I found a way."
Yuuki's voice carried a quiet certainty now—not speculation, not theory.
"I already recovered the schematics to reconstruct the revival system from the old headquarters. The original machine was destroyed during the nuclear strike, but the data survived. GDI is already working on reverse engineering it."
He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully.
"The issue isn't knowledge anymore. It's materials. The system requires components we don't currently have access to—at least not in sufficient quantity or purity. And until we rebuild a functional core unit, the process can't be completed."
His gaze shifted slightly, thoughtful.
"But once it's operational… we'll be able to bring back a large number of shipgirls. We recovered a significant amount of Wisdom Cubes from the ruins."
That was the moment everything changed.
Akagi moved.
Fast.
She closed the distance instantly and collided into him, grabbing onto him without hesitation.
"You found a way…?" her voice shook. "You found a way to bring Nee-sama back?!"
Yuuki steadied himself but didn't resist.
Instead, he raised a hand and gently placed it on her head.
"I did," he said simply. "I just can't build it yet. Not without the right materials. But we'll figure it out."
Akagi trembled.
Then—
"…Thank you…"
Yuuki blinked slightly.
"Huh?"
Her grip tightened.
"…Thank you… for trying to save Nee-sama…"
Her voice broke, but this time it wasn't despair.
It was relief.
Yuuki's expression softened, just slightly, as he continued patting her head.
"…Well," he said, almost casually, "sorry for stabbing you earlier. That was the only way to snap you out of it."
Akagi let out a small, tearful laugh.
Then Yuuki's gaze shifted toward Kaga.
"…And you," he added, "sorry for cutting through your rigging."
Kaga let out a quiet breath, her composure far more stable now.
"Ufufu… it seems I have been thoroughly defeated," she admitted. There was no bitterness in her tone—only acceptance. "You are the first man to bring me down so completely."
Her eyes met his directly.
"When I return to my full strength… I would like to duel you properly."
A faint smirk touched Yuuki's lips.
"Sure. I'll take you up on that."
==
Amagi watched the exchange quietly, warmth returning to her expression.
"Then, Akagi. Kaga." Her voice was gentle, but carried purpose. "Why not assist Shikikan-sama?"
Both sisters looked at her.
"Help him," she continued, "in his effort to restore what was lost. Not just for me—but for everyone."
The words settled deeply.
But hesitation remained.
Kaga spoke first.
"…After everything we've done…"
Her voice was steady—but uncertain in a way it had never been before.
"…would Shikikan-sama even accept us?"
Akagi's grip on Yuuki loosened slightly, but she didn't step away. The same question lingered in her eyes.
==
Yuuki didn't answer immediately.
He looked at both of them—
Properly, this time.
Not as enemies.
Not as threats.
But as they were now.
Then he spoke.
"If I only accepted people who never made mistakes…"
A brief pause.
"…I wouldn't have a fleet."
His tone remained calm.
Matter-of-fact.
"You two caused damage, yeah. A lot of it."
No sugarcoating.
No dismissal.
"But you also stopped and its not like you did any damage to my fleet so it was kind of unfair to your part since we destroy Orochi's guns and all while you didn't even take out any of my assets."
Another pause.
"And right now—you're choosing to move forward instead of repeating it."
He gave a small shrug.
"That's enough for me. So… welcome to the GDI. All three of you."
The words landed almost too easily.
Akagi blinked.
Kaga's ears twitched slightly.
"…Eh… just like that?" Akagi asked, clearly caught off guard.
Yuuki gave a small nod, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yup."
A brief pause.
"—With one condition."
Kaga narrowed her eyes slightly, her composure returning in full.
"…What condition?"
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"Orochi," he said plainly. "I'm taking it."
That made both of them pause.
"You… want Orochi?" Akagi repeated, almost incredulous.
Yuuki's expression shifted—just a little. Not excitement exactly, but unmistakable interest.
"Heck yeah," he said, completely unapologetic. "A super battleship like that doesn't just get scrapped. Sure, it's in rough shape right now, but structurally? Still viable."
He began gesturing lightly as he spoke, already thinking ahead.
"Repairs, system overhauls, some redesign work. Replace the unstable Siren tech components with something more… controllable. New paint, new crest—definitely changing that. And a few upgrades while I'm at it."
A faint smirk.
"I'm planning to make it the flagship of the GDI Second Fleet."
Akagi stared at him for a moment—
Then let out a quiet breath.
"…Then take it."
Her tone carried no attachment now.
"That thing… has only ever brought trouble. Even at its peak, it couldn't secure victory back then."
Her gaze lowered slightly.
"And now… we couldn't even use it properly."
Kaga nodded once, her voice calm, grounded.
"If it can serve a purpose beyond destruction… then it is better in your hands."
There was no resistance.
No hesitation.
Just acceptance.
===
Amagi watched the exchange with a soft, approving expression.
"…That is a far better fate for it," she said gently. "A weapon that once existed only to destroy… given a new role."
Her gaze shifted to Yuuki.
"And perhaps… a new meaning as well."
===
Yuuki gave a small nod.
"Yeah," he said. "That's the idea."
He looked at the three of them again—not as enemies, not as remnants of a failed past—
But as part of what came next.
"Then it's settled."
A brief pause.
"Once you're back… we've got a lot of work to do."
"So, as the one who called out to you… I'd like to formally invite the three of you to join the GDI."
Yuuki folded his arms, then added with a faintly amused look,
"Mind telling me your names?"
—
Akagi stepped forward first.
Despite everything that had happened, her posture straightened, her presence returning—proud, radiant, unmistakably herself.
She bowed gracefully.
"I am the glorious Akagi, pride of the peerless First Carrier Division," she declared, her voice rich with confidence once more. "With my air wings, I shall overcome any battlefield—as long as you are with me."
She lifted her gaze, eyes shimmering.
"As gratitude for saving my beloved sister Amagi… I shall devote myself to you, Commander. As long as we are together."
—
Yuuki blinked.
"…Uh, what?"
—
Kaga sighed softly, one hand rising to her temple.
"She still retains that… obsessive aspect of her personality," she said, glancing sideways at Akagi. "Now that Amagi's revival is assured, that fixation has simply shifted."
A small pause.
"…To you, Shikikan-sama."
—
Yuuki stared.
"The heck?! I just met her—and I stabbed her!"
—
Akagi stepped closer.
Far too close.
"We finally meet properly, Shikikan-sama," she said softly, her tone turning almost dreamy. "And when I recall the moment you pierced me…"
She placed a hand lightly against her chest.
"…it feels like nectar overflowing with love."
Yuuki's expression flattened instantly.
"…That is not a normal sentence."
Akagi's gaze drifted slightly past him, narrowing.
"However…" she continued, her voice sweet—but edged. "There appear to be… far too many unnecessary presences within your fleet."
A faint, dangerous smile formed.
"Please allow me to tidy things up… before we deepen our relationship. Hehehe~"
"Nope. Absolutely not."
Yuuki moved instantly.
He reached out and grabbed her ear.
Firmly but softly.
—
"Ah—Shikikan-sama?!"
Akagi froze, her entire body going rigid. The mix of pain and pleasure.
"No," Yuuki said flatly, holding her in place like a misbehaving cat. "Bad fox. We are not doing that."
Kaga looked on, completely unfazed.
"…Effective," she murmured.
Akagi's earlier intensity melted almost immediately, replaced by a flustered, disoriented expression. Finally, someone knows how to touch her ears.
"Sh-Shikikan-sama… that is… you just know how to touch it… Akagi likes it.."
—
"…Yeah, I've had practice with my cat," Yuuki muttered.
—
Amagi watched the scene with a hand lightly covering her mouth, clearly entertained.
"My… you even know how to handle Akagi's ears, Shikikan-sama."
There was a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"That's quite impressive."
She wondered if she made mistakes, he might grabbed her ears as well. If Akagi loves it, then..
How does it feel?
—
Yuuki looked at Akagi.
Still holding her ear.
Still watching her behave.
"Eheee... keep touching it, Shikikan-sama." Akagi purrs.
Then sighed.
"…Okay."
A beat.
"I'm starting to regret saving her."
"Well then, Shikikan-sama… allow me to properly introduce myself."
Amagi stepped forward with quiet elegance, her composure completely restored. She gave a graceful bow, every movement refined and natural.
"I am Amagi… the elder sister of these two, and the nameship of the Amagi-class battlecruisers."
When she rose, her expression carried warmth—gentle, composed, and far more grounded than either of her sisters.
"Please feel free to rely on me," she added softly. "You may ask anything of me."
A faint, playful glint touched her eyes.
"I would even permit you to touch my ears… should you so desire."
—
"...Nee-sama?"
Akagi blinked, momentarily thrown off.
"You're not… coughing?"
Kaga's gaze sharpened as well.
"…You're right."
Amagi paused.
Then, as if realizing it for the first time herself, she brought a hand lightly to her chest.
"…You're correct."
There was no strain in her breathing.
No lingering weakness.
The constant, quiet suffering that had once defined her… was gone.
"…That shouldn't be possible," she murmured, clearly surprised. "Even here, I expected the condition of my cube to persist…"
Her gaze shifted slightly.
"…Did someone repair it?"
—
Yuuki scratched his cheek casually.
"Ah… yeah. That was probably me."
Three pairs of eyes locked onto him instantly.
"…You what?" Kaga asked, voice flat.
"I repaired it," Yuuki repeated, as if it were obvious. "Well—more like I used my repair beam on it."
He gestured lightly.
"It was cracked, right? I assumed I damaged it somehow when… you know…" he glanced briefly at Akagi, "…stab incident."
Akagi looked away, pretending that didn't happen.
"So before coming here, I fired the repair beam at the cube," he continued. "The crack disappeared, so I figured it worked."
He paused.
Then noticed all three of them staring at him.
"…Is that… not something I was supposed to do?"
—
Amagi moved.
Without warning.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Yuuki froze.
"…Eh?"
"Thank you…" her voice came softly, close—sincere in a way that carried weight far beyond the words. "You have no idea how long I endured… with a fractured existence like that…"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…You've given me relief I had long since accepted I would never feel again."
Then—
She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
—
"Amagi."
Kaga's tone was calm—but pointed.
—
Amagi pulled back slightly, though her expression remained warm—almost teasing now.
"Perhaps…" she said lightly, "…I should consider making you my destined one, Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki blinked again.
"…I feel like I'm walking into something dangerous."
—
"And as a reward…"
Before he could react, Amagi gently took his hand—
And guided it upward.
Soft fur brushed against his palm.
Her ear.
"Ufuu…" she let out a quiet, pleased sound. "You truly do know how to handle our ears…"
—
Yuuki stood there.
Hand on Amagi's ear.
Akagi watching closely.
Kaga observing silently.
—
"…Okay," he said after a long pause.
"I am definitely in danger but, it's really soft.... It's not bad to have this once a while."
"Amagi-nee-sama!" Akagi stepped forward immediately, slipping between them with a possessive edge in her voice. "Shikikan-sama is mine. Right,Shikikan-sama?"
Her eyes locked onto him—dangerously soft, but unmistakably territorial.
—
Yuuki didn't even acknowledge it.
Instead, he shifted his gaze past her.
Straight to Kaga.
"I'm really hoping you're the normal one here."
—
Kaga froze for a fraction of a second.
Then—
A faint blush crept across her cheeks.
Not from embarrassment alone—but from recognition.
This was the man who defeated her.
The one she had fought with everything she had.
The one she… had begged.
"…Please forget that," she said quietly, her voice losing its usual sharpness. "What I said… back then."
Her eyes lowered slightly.
"…when I asked you to kill me."
—
Yuuki's expression softened just a little.
"…Sorry about that."
He didn't elaborate.
Didn't justify it.
Just acknowledged it.
—
Kaga straightened slowly, regaining her composure piece by piece.
"I am Kaga," she said, more formally now. "First Carrier Division."
Her tone steadied, returning to its disciplined clarity.
"I was originally designed as a battleship… but fate had other plans for me."
A brief pause.
"Enemies?" she continued, her gaze sharpening slightly. "I destroy them. Not for pleasure… but because it is my duty."
Then—
Her eyes met his directly.
Unwavering.
"But now…"
There was something different there.
"…having faced you…"
A subtle shift in her posture.
"…I acknowledge you."
Another pause.
"You are a worthy opponent."
Her voice softened—just slightly.
"…Very well. I am yours."
—
Yuuki blinked.
"…Okay, I need clarification."
He pointed lightly at her.
"'Yours' as in… rival? Or—something else?"
—
Kaga didn't look away.
"Depends on how you interpret it."
A faint, almost teasing undertone slipped through.
Barely noticeable.
But there.
—
Silence.
—
Yuuki looked at her.
Then at Akagi.
Then at Amagi.
Then back at Kaga.
—
He exhaled.
Slowly.
"I give up."
A beat.
"You three are definitely sisters."
Yuuki dragged a hand down his face, shoulders slumping just a little as the weight of it all finally caught up.
"The royal family wanted to claim me… a maid tried to straighten me out… a noble lady lectured my posture… someone treated me like a pillow… I somehow became a 'big brother' figure… then a 'special first shipgirl'… someone else offered me a soft landing…"
Hearing this, Akagi growls in jealousy before she mutters. "So... many pests have claimed their hands on him."
He glanced at the three fox sisters in front of him.
"…and now three foxes want to chew me."
A long pause.
"…What kind of world did I stumble into?"
—
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
"Fufu…"
Amagi was the first to react, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she covered her mouth.
"Well… when you put it that way, Shikikan-sama, it does sound rather overwhelming."
Her eyes softened, clearly amused.
"But perhaps that simply means you are… someone worth gathering around."
—
"Chew you?" Akagi tilted her head, smiling sweetly—but her eyes glinted. "That sounds far too crude."
She stepped closer again, far too comfortable.
"I would prefer something more… refined."
—
"Akagi-nee-sama."
Kaga's voice cut in, calm but firm.
Then she glanced at Yuuki.
"…Though, I cannot deny the pattern," she admitted. "You seem to attract… strong personalities."
A brief pause.
"…Unavoidably."
—
Yuuki sighed.
"That's one way to put it."
—
Amagi stepped slightly closer, her presence far gentler than the others.
"You did not merely stumble into this world," she said softly. "You stepped into a place shaped by conflict, loss… and bonds that refuse to fade."
Her gaze held his.
"And now… you are at the center of it."
—
Yuuki looked at her.
Then at Akagi.
Then at Kaga.
—
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"That explains why my life suddenly got ten times more complicated."
—
Akagi smiled.
Kaga closed her eyes briefly.
Amagi simply watched him with quiet understanding.
—
Because complicated or not—
He wasn't getting out of it anymore.
A soft glow began to gather around Yuuki.
Then—
It spread.
Akagi and Kaga were caught in it as well, their forms outlined in the same rising light. Only Amagi remained untouched, standing just beyond its reach.
Kaga looked down at her hands as they shimmered.
"…What is this?"
Yuuki exhaled quietly, already understanding.
"It means we're being pulled back."
His gaze shifted toward them.
"…Time to leave."
—
Akagi's eyes widened.
"But—Amagi-nee-sama—!"
She reached forward instinctively, as if she could stop it.
Amagi simply smiled.
"It's alright, Akagi."
Her voice was calm. Reassuring.
"I am alive… even without a body. You can still speak to me through the cube."
A small pause.
"…Though, I would appreciate a bit more peace and quiet this time."
A faint teasing note slipped in.
"I have endured years of your nonstop talking, after all."
—
"Muu…" Akagi puffed slightly, clearly dissatisfied—but she didn't argue further.
—
Amagi's gaze shifted to Kaga.
"Kaga… take care of her."
Kaga straightened immediately.
"Leave it to me, Nee-sama."
There was no hesitation.
—
Then Amagi looked at both of them.
"Do not worry," she continued gently. "Shikikan-sama has already found the path forward. Gather what he needs… and soon…"
Her smile softened.
"…we will meet again."
—
"…Nee-sama…" Akagi's voice trembled, but this time it wasn't despair.
It was longing—
Tempered with hope.
—
Amagi's attention finally turned to Yuuki.
"Shikikan-sama…"
There was something deeper in her gaze now. Not playful. Not teasing.
Earnest.
"Please take care of my sisters."
A brief pause.
"I look forward to the day we meet again… when you bring me back."
Her voice softened further.
"As the one who saved me… who repaired me…"
She stepped closer.
"…it is only natural that I devote myself to you."
Yuuki immediately raised a hand slightly.
"No, no—hold on, I—"
—
"Hush."
Amagi closed the distance.
Her finger gently pressed against him for a moment—
Then she leaned in.
A soft kiss landed on his cheek.
—
"Once a fox finds a scent she likes…" she whispered lightly, "…she never lets it go."
—
Yuuki blinked.
"…That is not reassuring."
—
Amagi smiled—calm, confident.
"Do not worry. When we meet again… I will show you properly."
A faint pause.
"…Until then, please take care of these two foolish foxes."
—
Yuuki let out a long sigh.
"…Yeah. Yeah, alright."
—
The light intensified.
Wrapping around him.
Around Akagi.
Around Kaga.
Pulling them away from the still, quiet void.
—
Akagi reached out one last time.
Kaga lowered her head slightly in respect.
—
"Till we meet again… Amagi."
—
The light swallowed them.
And they were gone.
—
Amagi remained alone.
The silence returned.
But this time—
It was no longer empty.
She closed her eyes, a soft smile lingering.
And waited.
For the day she would return—
Not as a memory.
But as herself.
=========
Yuuki's consciousness returned slowly.
A soft hum. Sterile air. Familiar lighting.
His eyes opened—
White ceiling.
Clean panels.
Subtle machinery humming in the background.
"…Med bay…"
Recognition settled in almost immediately.
The healing zone aboard the Command Carrier.
—
"Shikikan-sama!"
"Commander!"
"Master!"
Before he could even sit up, three figures closed in—warmth, pressure, and relief all at once as they wrapped around him.
Yuuki blinked, momentarily overwhelmed.
"…Atago? Hana? Bel?"
—
"At last…" Takao's voice came from the side, steadier but no less relieved. "You gave us quite the scare."
She crossed her arms, though her posture had softened.
"Vestal, Yorktown, and Enterprise found you inside your armor. According to JARVIS, you had already lost consciousness."
A slight pause.
"…The suit brought you back here."
—
Yuuki exhaled slowly.
"I see…"
His hand shifted slightly—
And he felt it.
Something resting in his palm.
Warm.
Stable.
He raised it slightly.
The Wisdom Cube.
Fully restored.
—
"Shikikan-sama…?" Takao's voice softened as she stepped closer. "That cube…"
Yuuki looked at it quietly for a moment before answering.
"…Amagi's."
—
Takao's expression changed instantly.
The usual sharpness faded.
"…Amagi-san…"
A quiet breath.
"…She still lives."
—
Yuuki nodded faintly.
—
Then something clicked.
"Wait…"
His gaze shifted across the room.
"…Those two—"
—
On the far side of the med bay—
Vestal was at work.
Careful. Precise.
Under Belfast's composed guidance, medical systems hummed steadily as advanced restoration procedures took place.
Akagi.
Kaga.
Both laid on adjacent beds.
Their bodies were no longer broken.
No missing arm.
No damaged eye.
No torn rigging.
Their forms were being fully restored—cellular regeneration reconstructing what had been lost, their tails regrown, their presence stabilized.
They looked…
Whole again.
Not the shattered figures from Orochi.
Not the desperate foxes from before.
But the proud carriers they once were.
—
Yuuki watched in silence for a moment.
Then exhaled quietly.
"…Good."
—
Nearby—
More beds.
More familiar faces.
Prince of Wales rested calmly, her injuries already treated, simply awaiting consciousness.
San Diego lay sprawled in an unusually quiet state—rare for her.
Eldridge remained still, faint electrical traces occasionally flickering around her.
All three—alive.
Recovering.
—
And then—
Yuuki's eyes shifted further.
To a quiet corner of the room.
Where someone sat beside another bed.
—
Laffey
Half-asleep as usual.
Yet—
Unmoving.
Watching.
—
On the bed beside her—
Z23
"Nimi."
—
Yuuki's gaze lingered there.
The first Ironblood ship in his fleet.
Recovered.
Safe.
—
The room was quiet.
But not empty.
—
It was full of survivors.
Of second chances.
Of everything that had nearly been lost—
And somehow wasn't.
—
Yuuki leaned back slightly against the bed, still holding the cube.
Amagi's cube.
Warm.
Alive.
—
"…Yeah," Yuuki murmured.
With a steadying hand from Belfast and Yorktown, he pushed himself upright. The lingering heaviness in his body hadn't fully faded, but it was manageable.
In front of him—
A tray.
Thirteen Wisdom Cubes.
Neatly arranged.
Quiet.
Waiting.
—
Yuuki's gaze lingered over them, one by one.
These weren't just objects.
They were lives.
—
Among them—
Three from the Ironblood light cruisers:
Karlsruhe
Köln
Königsberg
Recovered intact.
Dormant—but stable.
—
From the Eagle Union:
Nevada
Oklahoma
Ranger
Familiar names.
Veterans.
—
From the Royal Navy:
Suffolk
Kent
Repulse
Belfast's gaze softened slightly at that group.
Her people.
Her responsibility.
—
And finally—
From the Sakura Empire:
Fusou
Yamashiro
Junyou
Hiyou
Yuuki exhaled slowly.
"…That's quite the lineup…"
—
Then—
He looked up.
"What happened to Orochi?"
—
Belfast answered smoothly.
"It remains afloat, Commander. Lord Vergil has already deployed a stealth generator over the vessel. It is currently undetectable."
A slight pause.
"Shall we scuttle it?"
—
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"No. Absolutely not."
He rubbed his temple slightly.
"Vergil would kill me if you did. He wants to study it—and I want to repurpose it."
His tone sharpened just a bit.
"JARVIS. Disable any remaining tracking systems on that ship. I don't want Sirens tracing it back here."
"At once, sir."
—
Yuuki leaned back slightly, rolling his shoulder once.
"How long was I out?"
—
"A few hours," Yorktown replied gently, still holding his hand.
Her grip was steady.
Grounding.
—
"I see…"
Yuuki nodded faintly.
Then—
A pause.
—
"…Well," he said, shifting his legs off the bed, "after all that…"
A small, tired smile appeared.
"…I'm kind of starving."
He glanced around the room.
"Anyone up for food?"
—
For a brief moment—
Silence.
—
Then—
The tension finally broke.
Not completely.
But enough.
—
Because for the first time since the battle—
Things felt… normal.
===========
"Shikikan-sama…"
The voice was soft, but steady.
Yuuki turned.
Akagi had awakened.
Her eyes adjusted slowly to the med bay lights as Vestal leaned over her, checking her condition with careful precision.
"…You are the support ship… Vestal…" Akagi murmured, still regaining her strength.
Vestal gave a gentle smile.
"It's been a while, Akagi. Please stay still. I need to make sure everything has been properly restored. You've endured quite a lot."
Kaga slowly lifted her arm.
It responded.
Whole. Restored.
"…My arm… It's back."
Her gaze shifted toward Akagi.
"Nee-sama…Your eye… it's back…"
Akagi flexed her fingers, her posture composed once more.
"…Yes. Fully restored."
A moment passed.
Then her expression changed.
"…Wait… where is Amagi-nee-sama's cube?"
"Right here."
Yuuki stepped closer, holding it in his hand.
The cube emitted a faint, stable glow.
Akagi's eyes softened immediately.
"Shikikan-sama…"
Yuuki reached out and gently took her hand.
"She's fine. She just needs peace and quiet, remember?"
Akagi nodded slowly.
"…Yes… please keep her safe, Shikikan-sama…"
Kaga closed her eyes briefly.
"We will rest for now."
Akagi, even weakened, gave a faint smile.
"…Once I am fully recovered… we can continue discussing our love…"
Yuuki immediately raised his hand as the other girls eyed him.
"No. Rest first."
Kaga looked at him steadily.
"Once I am healed, we will duel again, Shikikan-sama. I will not accept that defeat so easily."
Yuuki sighed.
"You too. Rest first."
He turned to Vestal.
"Make sure they stay in bed until they are fully healed."
Vestal nodded enthusiastically.
"Leave it to me, Commander. This med bay is incredible. There are so many systems and tools here… I could spend all day studying it."
Yuuki gave a small smile.
"Take your time. You're my doctor."
He straightened, his tone shifting back to command.
"Everyone, prepare. I'm going to Chronoshift the fleet along with Orochi. The Sirens will be here soon if they aren't already."
His gaze swept across the room.
"We've already secured everything from headquarters. No reason to stay. Well, we did blow the research lab."
"Shikikan-sama~" Atago leaned slightly closer. "Onee-san still needs her ear rubs~"
Yuuki exhaled.
"…You really are spoiled."
Then a small smirk formed.
"We go home first. Then food. Then ear rubs."
"Yatta~!"
Yorktown smiled gently.
"Commander… you really do indulge everyone."
Yuuki glanced at her.
"I have to, Hana."
Enterprise folded her arms, though her tone softened.
"…Not bad for my first day under you. It's good working with you, Commander."
Yuuki nodded, then paused.
"You, Hana, and Bel are still in your armor."
They exchanged looks.
"…We don't know how to take it off," Yorktown admitted.
Yuuki chuckled.
"There's a release button behind your neck. Press it and the armor will disassemble."
He added casually, "Preferably in private. Unless you want to show me."
"Perv…" Yorktown pouted.
Belfast placed a hand over her chest calmly.
"My master, a maid is devoted to you. I would not mind."
"Commander…" Enterprise muttered, slightly flustered.
"Oh my…" Illustrious smiled warmly.
"Shikikan-sama!" Atago and Takao protested together.
Yuuki raised both hands.
"Kidding."
He turned toward the exit, already moving.
"Come on."
A small smile lingered.
"Let's go home."
And without hesitation, they followed.