Glowworm jumped up. "I want to sleep with Sister Lexington!"
Thud!
California pressed Glowworm down with one hand. "You're sharing a room with Fletcher. I'm sleeping with Sister Lexington."
Glowworm grabbed her head in frustration and, burying her face, charged toward California. Of course, they were just playing—if they were serious, someone would really get hurt.
Watching the two fool around, Hikaru sighed. Back when he rented this place, he'd been too conservative. Now with five shipgirls under his roof, arranging space was getting tricky. With him needing to rotate sleeping arrangements, it was even more of a headache.
Who would've thought that in just a month or two, the fleet would grow this much?
Once the base was built, everyone would have their own room—or better yet, their own suite. But with that still far off, what could he do for now?
He did have over a hundred million on hand… Maybe it was time to consider buying a building?
One thing at a time, Hikaru told himself. Right now, his priority was spending quality time with Tirpitz.
Lexington brought in a wooden bathtub while California and Fletcher filled it with hot water.
Hikaru tested the temperature. It was a bit too hot for his liking, but his wife insisted that girls needed hotter baths.
Clapping his hands, Hikaru called out, "Hey, Glowworm, didn't you buy flower petals today? Bring them over."
Glowworm pouted. As a brave little knight, she didn't really get why baths needed flower petals. But since it was the Commander's request, she saluted and dashed off to get them.
Tirpitz stood by the window, gazing out at the garden. The storm had passed without them noticing, leaving the courtyard littered with golden petals from the osmanthus tree.
"We'll be staying here for about a year. Do you like this room?" Hikaru asked as he walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
North Cape flinched slightly and replied coldly, "Commander, you should behave yourself."
Just then, Glowworm returned with a basket. "Commander, here's the petals!"
Hikaru glanced at the basket—full of osmanthus petals. He waved his hand. "My bad, I should've been clearer. I meant the dried rose petals. Go ask Lexington."
Glowworm sniffed the petals, giggled, and dashed off again, calling out for Sister Lexington.
"You know, having such an energetic little girl around really brightens up the place. Did you have a childhood like that, Tirpitz?"
"I've always been like this since I was born. If you want to know what I was like as a kid, just look at Lil' Bitts."
Lil' Bitts—young Tirpitz. A cute little girl who loved games and manga.
Hikaru gazed at her profile. "But your sister told me you used to be like that, too—a carefree little girl. She said she liked that version of you."
"People grow up," Tirpitz pulled away from his hand. "Childhood always seems tied to summer… When you disappeared, summer ended."
"Summer will come again. I'll wait for it with you."
Knock knock knock! Glowworm returned. "I got the petals!"
Hikaru took the dried rose petals and sprinkled them generously into the tub. He returned the basket, ruffling her hair. "Off to bed now, it's getting late."
Glowworm rubbed her head against his hand and happily scampered off.
Locking the door behind her, Hikaru made a gesture. "Would you like me to help you undress, my Queen?"
Tirpitz didn't move. "I'm taking a bath. Why aren't you leaving?"
If it weren't for the bond of the vow ring, Hikaru probably wouldn't have dared push this far. But after living with Lexington for a month, he had come to understand what shipgirls—especially married ones—needed most from their Commander.
He smiled softly and embraced her. "I'm not leaving. I'm your husband, and I want to bathe with you, scrub your back until it's rosy, and then…"
Blushing slightly, Tirpitz pushed him onto the bed and covered him with a blanket. "If you dare peek, I'll… I'll…"
She trailed off, leaving the threat unfinished. Hikaru, buried in the faintly sun-scented blanket, could hear the rustling of curtains being drawn and clothes being removed, followed by the sound of water splashing as she stepped into the tub.
He could vaguely hear voices in the living room—Lexington's and someone else's, though the words were indistinct.
Feeling a rare warmth fill his chest, Hikaru whispered, "Tirpitz, my dear wife, are you sure you don't want me to scrub your back? I used to do it all the time for you guys—I'm really good at it."
"No."
"Alright then. I'll just visit the base for a bit. When I get back, I hope you're already in my arms, all squeaky clean."
Tirpitz didn't reply. She sank deeper into the tub, swirling the petals and blowing little bubbles on the water's surface.
It's so warm… because you're here with me.
Hikaru's visit to the base lasted a little longer than usual, mainly because he had to spend quite a bit of time smoothing things over.
Everyone knew he could summon randomly, but summoning Lexington and then immediately summoning North Cape made it look like blatant favoritism.
The German faction, by extension, became a target of petty jealousy—especially when a certain British destroyer started calling Bismarck's cat "pirate cat" to her face.
When Hikaru arrived, the Germans were momentarily forgotten as all the blame shifted to him. Surrounded and bombarded with demands, he had no choice but to sign ten "Playdate Contracts" to be raffled off. The winners would get one day with him when they arrived at his side. It was the only way to settle the matter.
Leipzig, a light cruiser from the German faction, was lucky enough to win one. Naturally, Hindenburg and H-39 demanded she hand it over to their big sister Bismarck, while the Americans and British protested that the lottery was rigged. Leipzig herself suggested auctioning it off, which prompted the Japanese to start scheming how to grab it for their destroyers. The entire office descended into chaos.
Bismarck took the chance to pull Hikaru aside and fuss over her sister.
"She loves to sleep in, at least twelve hours a day. She's obsessed with video games—you should play with her if you can. She secretly adores cats, even though she won't admit it. She hates going outside, hates fighting, hates talking to strangers. She loves warm hugs, but she's too scared of rejection to ask for them… Oh, and she really loves me, you know."
Normally strict and military-like, Bismarck's eyes softened and sparkled as she talked about her little sister. There really was nothing more universal than a big sister's love.
Hikaru wrote a reply on a slip of paper: Bismarck, how could your little sister be without you? I look forward to the day you come to my side. When that happens, let me ruffle your hair—my little cat. I've always liked you, Bismarck. My cat.
Bismarck blushed faintly as she read it, tore off the paper, tucked it close to her chest, and hurried out of the room.
Her shadow, Prinz Eugen, tried to sneak a peek at the notebook but found nothing. She looked up, realized Bismarck was already gone, and quickly chased after her. As she passed by Hood, she couldn't resist throwing out, "Proud Brit, blind as ever, instant defeat."
Hood exploded with rage, dragging Prince of Wales along, trying to get her to back her up.
Hikaru had heard enough. The German and British rivalry was as old as the game itself, and Hood's defeat by Bismarck was the ultimate black mark.
Letting his focus slip back to the present, Hikaru realized the lights were off, and the cool autumn wind howled outside the window. But none of that could reach the cozy warmth inside.
Somehow, Hikaru was already tucked into bed, with a warm body nestled in his arms.
Turning his head, he met a pair of faintly glowing red eyes.
"Can't sleep?"
Tirpitz shook her head.
"Me neither. Let's talk, about your sister, about Prinz Eugen… Is Hindenburg always that intense? Did your sister really put Oscar up to bullying Hood's big orange cat? Oh, and Leipzig—she loves money so much, I bet she's secretly saving up for some grand plan…"
"I just want to hear you talk…"
Hikaru turned on his side, hugging Tirpitz closer without holding anything back.
"Is my embrace comfortable?"
"Your arm will get numb soon."
"Holding my favorite Tirpitz? I could hold you all night without getting tired."
Tirpitz averted her eyes, gently resting her head on his shoulder. "It's… okay, I guess. Not as good as my sister's."
She was wearing a thin nightgown, and Hikaru could feel every bit of her youthful softness and warmth. Tirpitz was slightly plump in all the right ways—holding her felt like cradling a little bear in spring.
Wrapping his arm around her back, Hikaru gently stroked her. At first, her body was stiff, but soon, she relaxed completely.
"Tomorrow, let's go shopping," Hikaru whispered. "We'll order some custom bookshelves to hold all your favorite manga. I'll buy you a room full of Bismarck plushies. We'll get some old-school game consoles to play together, level up, and beat bosses. What kind of games do you like?"
After a long pause, Tirpitz answered softly, "Classic story-driven ones… with collection achievements."
[End of Chapter]
[50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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