Recalling that night afterwards.
He and they still remembered it as a night where "blood flowed like a river."
...
Yuudachi's Memoir.
"Everyone... why aren't you eating anymore? Oh, it seems the Commander has started talking. Then I'll... mm, I'll reluctantly put my paws down."
"Talismans... Oath... Ah! Yuudachi knows, I made an oath with the Commander before! That's proof that Yuudachi can be forgiven even if I cause trouble, something that lets the Commander pat my head anytime!"
"Kiss? Why do that, everyone, it's so strange... Ah! C-Commander is walking towards Yuudachi, woof!"
Yuudachi let out a puppy-like yelp, then took a few steps back.
Jack stopped in time.
"Hmm, I see. Yuudachi doesn't like kissing, so is a head pat okay?"
No kiss?
Yuudachi was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied.
"Head pat, yes! K... kiss too!"
Although Yuudachi didn't understand the meaning of a kiss, since everyone else had it, she didn't want to be excluded.
"Alright then, together, is that okay?"
"Mmh... okay."
Yuudachi agreed.
She felt an inexplicable anticipation in her heart, and a never-before-felt acceleration of her heartbeat.
Finally, four lips met.
Yuudachi's eyes widened, feeling a joy ten, no, even nine times greater than eating delicious food.
She threw herself into it, as if savoring her favorite lollipop.
"Commander~"
After the kiss ended, Yuudachi called out to Jack again.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Yuudachi?"
"Ugh, even though I still don't quite understand why it keeps jumping here, but—Yuudachi still wants to say, I love the Commander the most, most, most!"
After saying this, Yuudachi saw her beloved Commander smile.
And he even patted her head several more times.
Head pats felt good and also meant approval.
Yuudachi thought so.
So she also stood on her tiptoes and placed her hand on Jack's head.
Their eyes met, and the scene was frozen there.
...
Taihou's memoirs.
"Lost, completely lost!"
"That smell on Akagi, there's no mistaking it, it's the Commander's XX smell."
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Why didn't Taihou think of it? That despicable Akagi would definitely sneak attack while her older sister was the Secretary Ship!"
"If only Taihou had been there, even if I couldn't stop Akagi's scheme, at least I could have gotten a drop or two of XX!"
At the dinner that night, Taihou practically shoveled down two or three bites of rice in regret.
"Kiss? Heh heh, too naive, Akagi must be laughing at us now!"
Resentment emanated from Taihou's shoulders, scaring the surrounding Shipgirls into stepping back.
Only one person did not retreat.
"Are you feeling injustice over the arrangements of fate?"
"Grand Sage... Heh heh, you've come to watch my joke too, huh."
"I am not watching anyone's joke, nor do I find your actions comical. Jealousy is common to all, even I have felt similar emotions towards Shinano, who received favor earlier."
"Shinano..."
Taihou scoffed, "Very well, Taihou has one more object of jealousy."
"You silly child, why can't you break out of fixed thinking? Think about it, which is deeper for you: liking the Commander or being jealous of Akagi?"
"That goes without saying! It must be liking the Commander—"
Taihou suddenly froze.
Unzen smiled, "It seems you've understood. Hmm, as a reward for the task of guiding a Shipgirl sister, I'm sure the Commander will grant Unzen an entire day of exclusive companionship in his dreams."
At these words, Taihou's expression became even more spectacular.
Isn't this like failing to be depressed, but instead having someone take it as a merit to claim a reward, causing herself to become even more depressed?
No! How can I, Taihou, be such a useless Shipgirl! There must be a way... a way to make a splash!
Taihou gritted her teeth, watching one sister after another receive the Oath Kiss.
Some were shy, some were bold.
Some were normal kisses, and some involved little tricks to give benefits.
But... it wasn't enough!
Just by looking at Akagi occasionally stroking her lower abdomen, one knew that she definitely had a lot of "stuff" in her belly!
Just a kiss would definitely mean losing!
Taihou liked the Commander, but she also didn't want to lose to Akagi.
She wouldn't be depressed anymore, but she definitely had to find a way to get *that* from the Commander too.
Thus, it was so.
Taihou finally came up with a solution as Jack was about to reach her.
—That is, to act naturally, using every means to charm the Commander! To pour a raging fire onto this somewhat subtle kiss convention!
Kiss convention? Who cares about that? That was Torikai's proposed oath ceremony, not hers, Taihou's.
So, in what was supposed to be the Navy Cafeteria for dining, a scene occurred that made the Shipgirls' faces flush.
Taihou swayed her body, displaying her sensual side to Commander Jack, her non-existent tail Warped up, and she asked in a sweet voice.
"Commander-sama~ Please allow Taihou to massage your face with this next~"
"Taihou, you always cause trouble for me."
"Oh? Commander-sama doesn't want to? Hehe, if Commander-sama and Taihou switch places, Taihou doesn't mind, you know?~"
Rather, after switching, it would be even more to her liking.
Jack stared at Taihou, scrutinizing her for a long time, then sighed deeply.
"No matter what, such a grand 'welcome party' isn't something I alone can decide."
Jack closed his eyes, and through his eternal companion connection with the dozens of Shipgirls present, he sent a "message."
[What is about to happen will transcend your human-like ethical principles, and it is also the new worldview that is destined to be established in the future. Do you... wish to proceed?]
The Shipgirls who understood his meaning all answered him in their minds with flushed faces; the answer was to continue.
Those who didn't understand also followed the footsteps of the former after Jack sent a slightly "stimulating" photo.
Vaguely.
Jack seemed to hear a non-existent system authentication sound.
[Impact authentication, all passed! Permission granted to open!]
"So... then let's fight!"
Jack waved one hand, and with a rumble, a storm descended.
It directly cleared all the fashion worn by the Shipgirls present, turning them into equal and free beings.
...
This battle was a battle of bravery.
For he, a single soldier, faced enemies tens of times his own.
This battle was a battle of certain victory.
By the will of God, by the spring of God, the dignity of God shall be defended.
This battle was a battle of sacrifice.
Under the long spear, blood flowed like a river, and looking across the battlefield, none survived.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
No one could escape this war from its very beginning; in the end, only one would remain to reach that magnificent peak.
...
The next morning, or was it the morning of the third day?
Such things were already indistinguishable.
But seeing all those who had already knelt and fallen, the young man merely scoffed, "Sakura Empire Shipgirls, nothing more than this, hmph~"
-------------------------------
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