>>158472
>‘Sure, I’m hungry anyway.’
We may as well try it. We should convince Nagato to try something other than gruel while we're at it.

>>158472
>‘Sure, I’m hungry anyway.’
Mamiya's is great.
I hope.

>>158472
>‘Sure, I’m hungry anyway.’

>>158472
>‘Sure, I’m hungry anyway.’

>>158472
>‘Sure, I’m hungry anyway.’

>>158472
>‘Sure, I’m hungry anyway.’
If only because of Mamiya

File: No She's Not Dressed Like(...).jpg (86 KB, 600x800)

86 KB JPG

Your stomach grumbles, answering for you.

Nagato chuckles again, holding out a hand. You cock your head to one side, before realizing that she wants you to take it. You reach out your prosthetic awkwardly and hold it, feeling the cold sensation even with your mechanical limb – truly a wonder, it is. The both of you walk silently; for some reason, Nagato’s pace has died down, and she struggles a bit to keep up with you this time. It’s strange and a little surreal, having to hold the hand of one of the most capable soldiers under your command, but more than that, really…

You think that it’s nice to have a reliable friend like Nagato around you. Or, at least, you think you’re friends; she’s been rather supportive of you throughout your time here, after all.

‘Commander, you were a cook, right?’ Nagato asks.

‘Yup,’ you feel a tinge of pride at being recognized, ‘I specialized in foreign dishes, but I could whip up some local fare if you’d like… but, you know,’ you look forwards, seeing small groups of people beginning to appear – you realize you were slowly approaching the night hub of Yokosuka, ‘I’m not exactly sure about what you girls do eat. I’m kinda worried the Squad’ll give me a one star rating if I make it wrong.’

Nagato looks at you, confused.

‘What’s a one star rating?’

‘It means that… my food tastes terrible.’ You frown, finding it hard to describe it properly to Nagato. ‘It’s a scale, you know, the more stars you get, the better your food tastes.’

‘Oh,’ Nagato frowns as you make your way past a few of the personnel and MPs, who grow bug-eyed as you walk past them. You couldn’t blame them. You’d find it hard to believe that you were a Commander, too; she grips your hand a little tighter as you find your way to Mamiya’s, ‘I wouldn’t know. We don’t have something like that around here.’

The both of you make your way past groups of MPs and personnel, who continue to give you gazes of annoyance and the shaking of heads for some reason. You rationalize that it’s because they’re either pumped full of sake or had a helping of bad food.

You arrive in front of Mamiya’s, where an unfamiliar woman bows customers, KanMusu and personnel alike, away. She looked tidy for someone in such a run-down area, with black hair in a ponytail and large bow to match. She was a little on the healthy side, even with the serving apron she had donned. She strangely reminded you of Houshou.

Nagato lets out a cry of joy as she practically tackles the woman.

‘Irako!’

‘Nagato!’

‘You’re alive!’

‘For the moment!’ The woman, Irako, returns the bear hug she was engulfed in; Nagato takes a step back, and you can see tears of joy on her face. ‘You. You’re alive! I thought they’d gotten you.’

Nagato sniffs, rubbing her eyes.

>Introduce yourself (Jokingly/Formally/Casually)
>Let Nagato introduce you

>>158708
>Introduce yourself (Casually)

>Filename
It's ok Mech, I like that pic too.

>>158708
>Introduce yourself (Casually)

File: 86d023d2173ff93a8a98f771c(...).jpg (353 KB, 700x955)

353 KB JPG

>>158708
>Introduce yourself (Casually)

>filename
Understandable

>>158708
>reliable friend
>friends
We have entered The Zone

>Introduce yourself(Casually)

>>158708
>Introduce yourself (Casually)

i can see us sliping into a good conversation with irako and mamiya, we are all cooks after all

even if both of them beat us soundly in all ways

File: archerdangerzone.jpg (83 KB, 695x382)

83 KB JPG

>>158761
The Danger Zone?

>>158708
>Let Nagato introduce you

>>158761
OOC: The Commander doesn't believe in the friendzone. He believes in friends. Also, come on, he's a self-conscious lard bucket. He's not going to automatically think Nagato, of all people, his subordinate, a model soldier as well as his confidant has the sizzling hots for him. inb4 it's too real bruh

>>158778
>life till now can be described as one long friendzone
>doesn't recognize the friendzone as being anything but the natural state of things.

makes sense.

>>158778
Does he believe in >>158766 ?

>>158832
deep.

File: Yeah She Can't Believe It(...).jpg (590 KB, 850x1200)

590 KB JPG

The girl doesn’t seem military, or rather, doesn’t look like it. In fact, she reminded you a lot of a school lunch lady, only a little – a lot – prettier. Walking over to both of them, you give a short bow before giving your best smile of greeting.

‘Nice to meet you,’ you hold out a hand, which Irako looks at with confusion. You look to Nagato for help, but she’s too busy sniffing into a handkerchief she’s apparently kept in the her cleavage for special occasions, ‘I’m Nagato’s Commander. Heard you guys cook a mean gruel here.’

‘Commander?’

Irako frowns, looking from the honking Nagato and back to you, disbelieving.

‘Sir, there’s no restriction on entry into Mamiya’s,’ she gestures you towards the entrance to the admittedly loud bistro, ‘you don’t have to fib to get entry. Just walk right in.’ She motions with very opaque movements, as though she was pushing an invisible pram. ‘I recommend you take one of the lighter meals for your palate.’ She makes a spritely hop, and even with the denial of your rank, you can’t help but be amused.

‘Irako, this actually is my Commander.’ Nagato affirms, stepping right next to you.

Irako laughs. Loudly, in fact. So loud that some passers by, you notice, give her a look and shake their heads as they walk away. You scratch the back of your head, wondering just how to respond.

‘Nagato, you don’t have to vouch for him.’ Irako smiles kindly at her friend, putting a hand on her shoulder. ‘Like I said, entry isn’t restricted. Just watch what you’re ordering in here.’ She shows all her teeth, and you can see that it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘But come on in! Come in!’

‘Irako,’ Nagato puts both hands on her friend’s shoulder, steadying her smaller form. You amusedly watch them both, your hands in your pockets as Nagato, her face warmer and more neutral than friendly, repeats herself. ‘He is my Commander. I transferred to his Division from the Guard two days ago.’

Irako visibly stiffens. You wonder whether or not to cut in, but end up leaving yourself out of it. As hungry as you were, you really didn’t want to deal with a woman that was this… manic. Nagato, smiling, nods at her and Irako once again turns to you. A strange back and forth occurs; Irako looks to you, then back to Nagato, who nods, then back to you, then back to a nodding Nagato.

Irako practically explodes.

‘HIM?! YOU?! HIS?!’

Just when you think that the woman couldn’t get any louder, she does, and the next thing you know, with the gathering crowd, Irako practically teleports herself behind you, forcefully shoving you into the shop. From the corner of your eye, you see a chuckling Nagato following.

In the bustle of the shop, Irako dashes past the restaurant counter, leaving you confused.

‘MAMIYA! MAMIYA!’

Nagato walks up right next to you, chuckling.

>‘What was that about?’
>‘She’s… something.’

>>158886
>‘What was that about?’

>>158886
>‘What was that about?’

>>158886
>‘What was that about?’

>>158886
>‘What was that about?’
I like this girl. She's fun to fluster.

>>158886
>‘She’s… something.’
Your Irako is fun.

>>158886
>>‘What was that about?’

File: useless pasta fairies.png (408 KB, 504x549)

408 KB PNG

>>158886
>‘MAMIYA! MAMIYA!’
I'm just imagining her going "Mamma mia!"

>>158978
We should teach them how to make a spicy meatball.

File: Meet Irako.png (546 KB, 600x800)

546 KB PNG

You look to the counter before turning to Nagato, your expression of bewilderment more at the front than ever before. Nagato’s friend was strange – manic, cheery and friendly, but most definitely strange. However, whatever your feelings on the matter, what caught your curiosity more was the exchange that had occurred between her and Irako.

From the room that you, the Grand Lieutenant and the Admiral had your unofficial meeting, even with the din going over with the bustle of the place – again, mostly KanMusu who were snacking on relatively normal-looking meals, you can hear several yells and the clanging of kitchenware against each other. You move over slightly, going to closer to Nagato so you wouldn’t block anyone on the way out.

‘What was that about?’ You frown, looking over to her.

‘Oh, it’s nothing, sir.’ Nagato waves it off casually. You don’t feel like it’s nothing, but don’t press the issue. She continues without your prodding, however, ‘It’s just some girl talk.’

You choose not to delve further. Your head would probably explode if you tried to wrap your head around that subject. You look around to find a place to sit, but with the place as bustling as it is, you find it hard to see a place that you – and Nagato, of course – could set yourself down.

You don’t have to scan for long, however, as within the minute, as Irako, seemingly from hyperspace itself, pops before you, here green eyes shining with a light you’d only seen once in your life – and even then, only in a mirror. She doesn’t say a word, with a smile so curved it wouldn’t look out of place on a mathematics exam; Irako grabs your hand without warning, and then Nagato’s. dragging the both of you with surprising strength to a table… with people at it.

‘Move.’ Irako sets her hands on the end of the table. Her tone has an edge to it. A very, very jagged edge.

‘What, lady?’ A man, who could probably pass for a model if he was a civilian, throws an exasperated look at all three of you. ‘We ain’t even got our dessert yet!’

‘I have a Commander here!’ She snaps a finger in your direction; they look at you, surprised. You wave at them nervously, ‘He needs this table for an urgent debriefing on matters that concern the security of this town and the Abyssal threat that looms on us all!’

‘But we ordered chocolate cake!’ One of the other patrons whines.

Irako growls in frustration, slamming her hands on the table.

‘I SAID MOVE IT, SOLDIER!’

There’s no debate. They’re up in a flash and gone in one, right out the door. You blink in disbelief as Irako hums as though nothing happened, picking up the empty plates.

‘Sit down! Sit down! I’ll be with you both shortly!’ She says in a sing-song voice, going back behind the counter with the plates.

She’s back in thirty seconds flat.

‘So, tell me! Tell me!’

She is definitely strange.

>Let Nagato take point
>‘Tell you what?’

>>159042
>Let Nagato take point

>>159042
>‘Tell you what?’
Why do I have a feeling I know where this is going.

>>159042
>‘Tell you what?’

>>159062
Out of curiosity, what direction do you think this is heading in?

>>159042
>‘Tell you what?’

>>159042
>>Let Nagato take point

>>159042
>>‘Tell you what?’

>>159071
Question, does the Court have laws about fraternization between officers and subordinates?

>>159042
>Let Nagato take point

>>159088
Sexual relations are explicitly prohibited along with the standard harassment laws being present. Court of Admirals doesn't have a care after the girl retires. Yokosuka's Admiral views them as family more than subordinates, though, having fought with many KanMusu for more than a decade, so he kind of encourages his personnel to be friendly with the KanMusu and treat them with respect and care instead of emotionless machines like the normies do. So long as you don't... you know, do anything unwarranted.

File: Spoiler Image (22 KB, 275x275)

22 KB JPG

>>159102
lewd

File: Akatsuki Showing Off.jpg (159 KB, 1228x1592)

159 KB JPG

>>159102
>A lot of them are hot women who get used in recruitment posters
>Treat them like emotionless machines
Sounds about right

But really there's still the whole existential question of whether they are ships or girls? Or is that more public perception of the shipgirls?

>>159145
The Admiralty may be ruthless, but they take care of the girls. I can vouch on them for that, even if it may not seem like it right now. The staff, crew, most of them treat the KanMusu like sisters-in-arms.

The civilians? Not so much. Kiyoshimo can attest to that.

>>159154
So what happens when a shipgirl retires? Do they just go on living like a regular civilian?

>>159160
Yup. Usually it's after a significant service, though. Retirement is a big plot point, so if it's okay with you, I'd like to stay clear of it for now

File: Untameable Mustang.png (1.52 MB, 1374x2000)

1.52 MB PNG

‘Tell you what?’

Irako had put down some iced water for you to drink, which you gladly do; you hadn’t had anything since yesterday. She rolls her eyes at you; for a moment you wonder if it was insubordination if one was a non-assigned surplus unit.

‘How the both of you ended up together, of course!’

A splash of red colors your cheeks as the absurdity of the question hits you harder than a ton of bricks. You set down the glass, your eyes wide as you address her.

‘Ex – excuse me?’

‘How’d you end up with her in your Division?’

That sounded more appropriate, really.

‘I… selected her application.’ You say simply.

‘Oh.’ Irako throws a sly glance at Nagato, ‘You applied, huh?’ Irako giggles almost maliciously, leaning over to her friend – your subordinate, ‘The Untameable Mustang of the Advance Guard applied.’

You frown. Now you were most definitely lost. And Nagato… is redder than radish.

‘Sorry, but what’re you talking about?’

Irako looks at you as though it’s the most obvious thing ever.

‘Our Nagato here has a notorious reputation among us KanMusu.’ Irako says, slinging an arm around her now-red friend. ‘She’s one of the longest serving KanMusu to never be attached to a Commander. A lot of us find an attachment or service for at least a year, but Nagato? She’s always put herself with the Advance Guard. Some of us even called her Admiral’s Favorite back in Ominato.’

‘I despise that title.’ Nagato grumbles, looking away from the both of you.

‘You earned it. You kept rejecting every single Commander that wanted you! Even that really cool one with the great hair!’

‘He didn’t follow dress regs. I can’t put myself with someone who can’t even bother to look decent in the company of Command.’

‘He had a stellar record!’

‘He was a pretty boy.’

‘See? Picky.’ You find yourself agreeing with Irako… who now throws you a sly look, ‘But you; you, Commander. You. She applied to your Division. In all my life knowing this girl from the time she kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shins to when I discovered she had a crush on that backup singer for that boyband, I would never thought that she would apply to work under you.’

‘Thank you?’

Irako’s sly look suddenly morphs into a sad one, and she wipes away at the edge of her eyes with a tissue.

‘Momma’s so proud.’ Irako squeaks, to which Nagato glares. ‘Now if only Yamato and Musashi would – !’ Irako stops, sitting in a chair; after a while, she raises her head to Nagato, ‘Have you heard from them?’

‘I've tried, but...’

A somber mood comes upon the table, even with the din of the other KanMusu. Irako then bows to the both of you, leaving the table to attend to something else. You open the small menu.

>‘Untameable Mustang?’
>‘Yamato and Musashi?’
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’
>Check out the food

>>159287
>‘Yamato and Musashi?’

>>159287
>>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

>>159287
>‘Untameable Mustang?’

>>159287
>‘Untameable Mustang?’

>>159287
‘How the both of you ended up together, of course!’
Yep. Exactly the question I saw coming.

>‘Yamato and Musashi?’
Oh how I wish for these 2. Especially Yamato.

>>159287
>‘Yamato and Musashi?’

>>159287
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’
No wonder she gets along with the admiral.

>>159287
>‘Yamato and Musashi?’

>>159287
>‘Yamato and Musashi?’

Who knows, maybe we can keep our eyes and ears open for anything related when we pick missions or run across anything.

File: yamato demonstrates her p(...).gif (2.72 MB, 600x513)

2.72 MB GIF

>>159309
You want a hotel that's too expensive to sortie?

File: image.png (419 KB, 551x640)

419 KB PNG

>>159509
Yes

>>159287
>‘Untameable Mustang?’

Sucks that there's no Sakawa around for Nagato's sake

File: 50609488_p0.jpg (372 KB, 1240x1753)

372 KB JPG

When, QM?

>>160272
NagatoxAdmiralxHoushou?

File: Crossroads Club.jpg (146 KB, 1000x849)

146 KB JPG

>>160183
Might as well bring in Pringles and all the rest, get a drinking club going

File: Nagato vs Godzilla.png (734 KB, 650x912)

734 KB PNG

>>160183
Wait, nukes were never developed in this world. Crossroads never happened.

>>160422
Well, time for QM to figure this out.

>>160422
The KanMusu are from our world. However, a lot of the girls had time to get over their "death".

>>160324
Yes Sakawa and Pudding.

File: 50609488_p4.jpg (184 KB, 800x600)

184 KB JPG

>>160317
not quite

What's the basis for the Nagato x Houshou shipping?

File: Mutsu Is A Fourth Wheel B(...).jpg (1.89 MB, 3181x1566)

1.89 MB JPG

It’s hard not to notice Nagato’s visibly deflated expression.

‘Your friends?’

‘The best.’ Nagato smiles fondly. ‘Back when at Ominato, my first station, we were called the Untouchables.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t actually know why.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘It was a nickname base personnel spread around for us. We thought it was… pretty cool to have it back then.’

She taps the table, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.

‘Musashi’s probably as loyal as anyone could be.’ She recalls. ‘She was always had my back.’ Nagato giggles, looking over to you with a certain life in her eyes. ‘There was this one awesome time, I… I wanted really badly to sneak out and go to a fun fair in the district over; thing is, in Ominato, we had a punch clock system to make sure we did our duties. Forces, Departments and Guards don’t report to anyone but the Admiral, you know, so it was up to us to fill in. I was late sneaking back – the buses were running late, and I knew I was in trouble,’ she holds a large grin now, ‘guess what happened?’

‘She punched in for you?’

‘No. She filled in for me.’ Nagato reveals. ‘Literally filled in for me. She put on my clothes, my gear and went up to the Admiral, reporting for duty, pretending to be me. He went “Oi, Nagato, you’ve got quite a tan, eh? Too much sun, I reckon?”!’

You guffaw, and Nagato laughs brightly.

‘Musashi went, “Well, sir, I think a new look would be good for me!” and he went “Well, you’re a good soldier, I won’t be questioning your methods so long as you bring me results! And tell that dang girl Musashi to start putting a top on when you see her!”.’

‘Ever since then I’ve always had a uniform set that had a bit of sag to them.’ She gives a quick tug of her top.

‘Yamato… well, she was very motherly. You’d think she and Houshou were related if you didn’t know she and Musashi were sisters.’ She then goes on with a confident, rough tone, ‘She’s one of the best damn shots in the Admiralty. I don’t think there’re many that could take her record for multiple target practice down.’

‘How about you?’

‘Not quite there yet.’ Nagato winks.

Then you get to the crux of the matter.

‘What happened to them?’

‘I don’t know,’ she says honestly, ‘I’ve been trying to get in contact with them since the attack, but Maizuru and Ominato have had little communication with the rebuilding effort. All I know is that… they were out at sea before the attack. I haven’t had any…’

Nagato trails off, and reflexively, you put a hand over your friend’s in assurance.

‘Hey. I’m sure they’re okay. If you put that much trust in them… you should trust that they’ll be taking care of themselves.’

For some reason, she squeezes your hand back.

>‘Untameable Mustang?’
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’
>Check out the food

>>161006
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

Also, for a bunch of guys that don't want to romance Nagato, you guys sure are making an effort and being receptive to her.

>>161006
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

>>161006
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

>>161019
>implying I don't want to romance Nagato
Not yet, though. We have to reach bearmode at least.

>>161019
To be fair, she's being quite receptive to us. Plus it is still day 2, we'll have plenty of other potential routes to take, I'm sure.

>>161006
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

>>161006
>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

>>161006
>>‘You kicked the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

File: Recounting Memories.png (361 KB, 748x713)

361 KB PNG

You feel the need to change the topic to a more light-hearted one. You don’t know if you could handle an emotional BB-Class KanMusu right now, even if it is Nagato. Especially because it’s Nagato.

‘So what’s this that she said about you kicking the Grand Lieutenant in the shin?’

‘Can we not talk about that, please?’ Nagato grows beet red again.

‘Come on, I’m curious. You kicked that guy in the shin?’

‘No, not… the current Grand Lieutenant.’ She indicates. ‘His predecessor.’

Crying shame. It would have been nice to know that your Battleship had a hand in giving that particular man a limp for days.

‘It’s kind of surprising to me, you have a pretty good record as a soldier.’ You say honestly. ‘No infractions or anything. How’d this not get on your record?’

Nagato takes a serious expression, recalling the incident in question.

‘Because he was harassing Yamato after her first command of the Advance Guard and the Court ruled he was in the wrong.’ She says matter-of-factly. ‘Yamato, that girl… well, she’s great and all that, but she can’t stand up for herself. We failed an objective badly on one mission, classified, sir, you know how it is and he waltzed into the Ominato office and just grilled her.’

She trembles slightly, gripping her fists into balls, a strong grit of her teeth visible.

‘Waste of space; incompetent; unnecessary and surplus to the Admiralty’s needs; threatened to strip her of her posting and ship her to an outpost; make an example of her as the poster girl of under-performance.’ Nagato grows more agitated as she tells the story. ‘Then Yamato started crying when he brought up the losses on the mission… and he told her to stop the crocodile tears, you hunk of junk.’

She looks straight at you with a fire you’d seen a few times already.

‘I kicked him in the shin. He broke a few bones.’ Then she lets out a small smile, tapping the table. ‘He was given an honorable discharge in the review of the case.’

‘For calling her a…?’

Nagato bites her lip, as if hesitant to share the details.

‘It’s a very sensitive thing for us,’ She quickly adds, ‘you have to understand, sir, to be called… junk… is the worst possible thing you can say to a KanMusu.’

You nod, you didn’t get the sensitivity, but Nagato had conveyed the severity of the word just as well. Something did catch your attention in all that, and you hope that you could get a little more detail from her.

‘Why did she fail that mission? Beginner blues?’ You could relate, after all.

Nagato shakes her head.

‘No, it’s because…’ It takes her a while, but she manages to go on, looking dead straight at you. ‘Yamato thought that our lives were worth more than the objective.’

You find that even though you’d never met this Yamato, you wouldn’t mind getting to know her at all.

>‘Untameable Mustang?’
>Check out the food

>>161152
>Check out the food

>>161152
>‘Untameable Mustang?’

We must be doing a pretty good job if we haven't been kicked in the Shin and haven't made Kanmusu cry after a failed mission.

>>161161
You owe Nachi a punch in the face

>>161152
>‘Untameable Mustang?’

>>161163
Better get to it as soon as she's better

>>161164
Pray your features don't get messed up, serrah

>>161152
>Check out the food

>>161168
All that fat would probably act as a jello shield

>>161152
>Check out the food

>>161152
>Check out the food

>>161152
>Check out the food
keep the ‘Untameable Mustang’ for later when she doesn't expect it.

File: Enjoy Commander.jpg (824 KB, 1200x1694)

824 KB JPG

You leaf through the menu, raising your eyebrows at how standard the fare is – but then realizing that, being on a front line, it probably couldn’t afford much else. Most of it consists of light, one-person meals, but something catches your interest – namely, the yellow stars next to a few of the items on the menu. You move to ask Nagato, but noticing Irako coming back, decide to ask her instead.

‘Irako-san, what are these stars mean? Are they the chef’s choice?’

‘Oh, no. They’re… KanMusu meals. You wouldn’t like them, Commander.’

‘What’s so different about them?’ You frown; this was an opportunity to find out just what KanMusu ate proper.

Irako bites her lip, hesitant.

‘They’re… different.’

‘Well, I’m curious.’ You say with a finality. ‘Do you mind if I try one? What do you recommend?’

‘Anything that doesn’t have a star next to it.’

‘Come on, it can’t be that bad.’

Irako looks like she’s struggling with herself, but in the end, lets out a defeated sigh.

‘All right. I’ll… bring something out for you.’ She throws a glance to Nagato. ‘It’s his choice.’

You choose to ignore that.

It takes quite a while – about half an hour, in fact, but Irako maneuvers herself expertly through the crowd later with a moderately-sized plate on a tray, humming happily. She sets it right in front of you, and you immediately recognize the dish.

‘Thanks. Fried rice, huh?’ You take a whiff; it was fresh, a bit strong, but not bad at all, ‘Smells great; no meat?’

Irako apologetically smiles.

‘No supply, so we had to make do.’

You give her a nod, to which she returns. You take a spoon from one of the cutlery stands, digging into the meal. The both of them expectantly watch you as you start, much to your annoyance.

It’s okay.

‘Huh, not so – !’

Why was everything so dry? Why was your throat so itchy? Why did it feel like your eyes wanted to sink into your brain? Why was the world spinning and why weren’t you swimming in a lagoon when your lips and tongue and throat so demanded it? You struggle, you twitch… and feel the cool, refreshing wetness pouring down your throat as Irako, almost lazily, fills your throat with water.

‘What is in this?!’

‘Tanaka Salt.’ Irako says flatly. ‘We mix it in pretty much everything we eat. We need about fifty times the average amount of saltiness to get the taste out of food – our tastebuds are almost always shot. We dip our vegetables in liquid salt, our grain, everything. If we don’t, we pretty much just taste leaves.’

‘That’s horrible.’ You manage to breathe out.

‘Not really, it’s just different.’ Irako shrugs. ‘You can take the whole jug, Commander. You’re not the first one to try – don’t get up, you’ll faint.’

‘Commander?’

‘My eyelids feel like they’re going to implode.’

>‘You can have the rest, Nagato.’
>‘I should’ve listened.’
>Write-In

>>161536
>This means something.

File: Tanaka's_Salt_Farm.jpg (158 KB, 450x300)

158 KB JPG

>>161536
>Tanaka Salt
kek

>‘I should’ve listened.’

>>161542
I should add that all write-ins should have context and intent at the words as a line or sentence with none of the above is open to abuse.

>>161536
>"Well, chalk that up as experience." Pick something that won't kill you.

>>161536
[x] '... Why not tell me that instead of "They’re… different."'

>>161536
This >>161559 and ‘You can have the rest, Nagato.’

>>161559
>"Well, chalk that up as experience."

> '... Why not tell me that instead of "They’re… different."'

A combination of the two would be good. Kind of wondering why they didn't explain it. I'm assuming they weren't trying to haze the Commander, and it's literally as simple as, "We have a weak sense of taste, so all of our food is really, really salty."

Not really a criticism, but I swear, despite the fact that the Kanmusu in this world have been around for (apparently) quite some time, it's like they are all variations of broken, stunted, or just plain problematic in really weird ways for no real good reason.

I think we're in for a very painful time, trying to address the various problems with our girls.

File: incoming kongou.jpg (488 KB, 1021x800)

488 KB JPG

>>161671
>it's like they are all variations of broken, stunted, or just plain problematic in really weird ways for no real good reason
Kongou is teitoku-sexual because she blew up with two admirals on board. Weird, broken, and stunted are all understatements.

And I think Nagato and Irako really did do it at the Commander's expense, while also demonstrating to him "our basic is your poisonous".

>>161536
>Write-In
"Well you gotta try everything at least once"

>>161680
>Kongou is teitoku-sexual because she blew up with two admirals on board

Oh, I'm not talking about the "regular" weirdness that goes along with canon Kanmusu. Stuff like Kongou is par for the course.

I was talking about our QM's version of the Kanmusu, although admittedly we've only had 6 threads to learn about so far. The version we have are really...weird, for lack of a better term.

It's just kind of an observation on my part.

>And I think Nagato and Irako really did do it at the Commander's expense

I could maybe see Irako doing it, although she doesn't seem to be laughing or enjoying Commander's discomfort. Why not just say it's salty, and give us the explanation beforehand?

Nagato, on the other hand, should have known better considering everything we've been through, the practical joke (in bad taste) that Tenryuu pulled, and the talk we had on the beach. She knows we're pretty earnest and straightforward.

Why not just say Kanmusu food is super salty?

This vaguely ties into what an anon mentioned before about us having to pick doors blindly in this quest. I'd be all for us dying of salt if we had been told, and we decided to be foolishly macho and eat it anyways.

>>161690

I should add that considering the fact that we're one of the minority that reacted positively with the Fairy Tears, I'm slightly surprised we didn't simply eat the fried rice and shrug, saying "Hmm, it's sort of salty, but am I missing something?" Not sure if we completely qualify as 100% human anymore.

We even have Kanmusu metal in us! On us. Sorta. Maybe?

>>161694
>>161690
Maybe they're not actually telling the whole truth, and the explanation of Tanaka's Salt is just a cover they give for humans who pry into their appetites?

>>161690
Because it's not salty. It uses Tanaka Salt to bring out the flavour, but what it does is gives you a painfully dry sensation and a rough pain in the throat that has you begging for water as a neutralising agent. It's not salty. It just uses Tanaka Salt at a concentrated level.

If you told someone "Don't try it, it's salty" most people would just scoff and try it anyway. However, for this reason, trying Mamiya's food has become a sort of "dare you to eat it" among personnel. Much to the chagrin of the KanMusu.

Also, there's a cultural pride in your food, so they were, if you read the statements in previous threads. They like their food that way.

>>161699
>Because it's not salty. It uses Tanaka Salt to bring out the flavour

I sort of understand what you're saying, except Irako just said Kanmusu need fifty times the amount of saltiness to get taste out of food.

>If you told someone "Don't try it, it's salty"

I also understand what you're saying. What I don't understand is why neither of the Kanmusu even tried to say this at least once. Salt poisoning is a real thing.

I should mention that considering the salt level required, Kanmusu food is somewhat toxic to humans. Simply taking in too much normal table salt or soy sauce can poison humans, let alone a "concentrated" Tanaka salt.

>>161699
>>161718

Just as reference, I looked it up since I vaguely remembered a story about it, and there's documentation of a teen drinking a quart of soy sauce on a dare and ending up in a coma.

And that's regular salt in the soy sauce.

Not trying to cause trouble, just mystified since it's not on the same level as eating something spicy. Too much salt is just plain dangerous.

>>161723
I guess that's where the Fairy Tears come in to help us stay alive.

>>161718
Take the approach to their food as similar as to what Indians take to theirs. They'll warn you off, but if you insult their food, you might be run out of the town. For comparison. Kan Musu food sensation is, for this reason, prepared meticulously by chefs and other KanMusu.

It's not just about taste, either. Tanaka Salt helps with the digestion and conversion of their meals into an alternative energy tap from which Fairy's Tears uses to draw on in order to heal them up.

Irako is just using the closest terminology she can to describe the meal. Food culture in KanMusus are fundamentally Indian, and you don't want spouting that your food is dangerous as fuck on a regular basis.

That's how it is.

>>161694
It's an exoskeleton to compensate for the lack of recovered motor skills from having your arm turned into a chewable lollipop back then.

>>161725
>‘What’s so different about them?’
"I put a pound of salt in it."

>>161725
>you don't want spouting that your food is dangerous as fuck on a regular basis.
I'd stop my lactose intolerant [red]friend[/red] that's about to order a cheese with a fancy name. It won't probably help MC open up about his hallucinations.


>be MC
>don't know soldiers eat pure salt
>learnt to drive rare military thingy
>apply to be a cook
>fail
It makes sense.

>>161725
>Food culture in KanMusus are fundamentally Indian, and you don't want spouting that your food is dangerous as fuck on a regular basis.

Personally, it would have made more sense for the Navy to say there were special additives or exotic minerals that were required in the Kanmusu diet and had them eat meals on-base, but that's just me.

The Japanese military as a whole immensely likes to codify and label things to hell, it wouldn't have surprised me for them to label the salt for Kanmusu as "Kanmusu Enrichment Chemical KEC-01" or something similarly ominous-sounding.

Anyways as you say, that's how it is.

>>161744
The Admiralty is content giving them nutritional supplements. In fact, for the first few years, protein and carb and vitamin substances are all that they fed the first KanMusu. Flavor is a real luxury. It is to be addressed, of course, later. The Admiralty doesn't generally bother with luxuries for the KanMusu other than retirement after service

File: image.jpg (60 KB, 640x960)

60 KB JPG

>>161750
>Flavor is a real luxury.

As a chef, this bothers me on a fundamental level.

File: KanColleViewer_2016-05-07(...).png (206 KB, 352x288)

206 KB PNG

>>161536
>Tanaka Salt.
Top kek.
I eat it on a regular basis though, pic related.

Also
>‘I should’ve listened.’

>>161829
Well, it's a luxury for KanMusu. Also, you guys are so spread apart in what to do, I'm writing up a storm here. Be back in 25

>>161741
>It won't probably help MC open up about his hallucinations.

That might actually be a concern, considering that the Kanmusu already have various problems and in some ways aren't exactly fit to be on duty.

Hopefully the girls who were in the tent have realized that our MC is different, for better or worse, and deserves better consideration in the future.

Considering our MC's issues, if the girls aren't careful and help him keep his head above water, they might turn him into a "Break the Cutie" meme.

Incidentally, kind of disappointed that Nachi and Tenryuu weren't more understanding about the classified details during the debrief, since they both have leadership experience and clearly realized something was amiss with what they saw.

Nachi especially should have known better and understood the MC's predicament immediately (rather than saying "can't tell us", she said "won't", meaning she was blaming the MC), since both her former posting and squadron information are completely classified.

>>161941
Nachi is understanding. She's just mega snarky about it. Observe: "Typical". Tenryuu, though, it's because she's never been through this kind of thing and really wants to get to the bottom to what's going on. She is a conspiracy theorist.

If Tenryuu had won the coin flip, the scene would have shown her understanding a bit more.

>>161954
>Nachi is understanding. She's just mega snarky about it. Observe: "Typical".

Eh, guess it didn't read that way to me, especially since she's been very aggressive toward us, rather than snarky in all of the interactions we've had with her so far.

Incidentally, just how experienced is Tenryuu? Her file said she had 10 years of experience, and was acting Sub-commander of several divisions occasionally - I had figured this meant she would be an old hand at these sort of situations.

Just trying to get a handle on where the various girls stand, since their files indicated a LOT of experience across the board except for possibly Samidare.

>>162079
Tenryuu has a lot of experience but only on expeditions and support in this setting, if I recall correctly. So no major or classified battles.

File: Angry Angry Ship Daughter.png (57 KB, 218x438)

57 KB PNG

Nagato rubs her temples, as you, her Commander, comically gulp down another jug of cold water. Over on the other tables, you hear the sound of other present personnel laughing as one of their own wolfs down a plate of, very likely, KanMusu food, only to topple in his chair. The other present KanMusu, sitting at other tables, throw occasional vicious glances at the personnel, before returning to their own meals.

‘Feeling better?’ Nagato offers; you nod, sighing.

‘Wanna have seconds?’ Irako grins toothily at you, to which you wave your hand. No, you did not.

A loud applause breaks from the other table, where five young men with a mound of barely-eaten plates of food laid before them. It was noticeable even from your view that they were having a ball there.

‘Come on! Order something else, man!’ One of them yells to his friend, who, laughing, raises his hand to do so.

Mamiya approaches them, but unlike her hospitable self in the day, she looked like she was in no mood to serve. Ever the dignified lady, she approaches them bows respectfully.

‘Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.’

‘Aw, come on, one more!’ One of them shove the menu into her chest roughly.

‘Please, sir, don’t – !’

‘Didn’t you hear, Mister? Leave already!’

A KanMusu, who could have passed for a middle school entrant, rises from her chair, shaking with rage. Her friends move to keep her in her seat, but she wasn’t having any of it.

‘Hey, little Daughter, we’re payin’ for this tripe, so the least that the good hostess can do is give us another plate.’ The loudest of the lot sneers.

‘You’re not even eating it!’ She indicates the uneaten piles, quivering, and… crying? ‘All you’re doing is playing with it like it’s – it’s a game or something! That’s food!’

‘This? Food?’ He laughs, raising a plate of barely-touched rice, ‘It’s ass! No sane person would come in here and expect a full stomach from ‘em! They all taste the same anyway: horrible!’

‘Th – Then order something you can eat! Stop making fun of what we have!’

He actually looks apologetic as he gets up from his seat with the plate. You relax, glad it was settled. He smiles at the girl for a moment, and walks over to Mamiya.

‘Calm down, Missy. I’m sorry, KanMusu Cook Lady, let me make it up to ya.’

There’s no warning – the man shoves the plate of rice into Mamiya’s chest, dirtying her and throwing her off-balance. Mamiya looks in shock, her eyes in tears as she picks at the sauce and rice that was all over her, struggling to keep it all from hitting the floor.

‘Mamiya!’

Irako rushes over to Mamiya, helping the tearful woman to her feet. The smaller KanMusu trembles, looking at the larger man.

‘You gonna kill me, little Daughter? Gonna blow me up? Can’t do any worse than when you let all those folks burn, huh?’

Nagato raises herself from her seat…

>Write-In: How Angry Are You?

File: 1391137567987.jpg (175 KB, 1024x732)

175 KB JPG

>>162083
Mad/10 - Time to stand up for some nice ships

>>162083
>They got what they deserve
>They can't even tell you you'll find it disgusting, just a star on the menu
>Your "friend" didn't either
>Even if they didn't want to tell, they could give you a menu of things you'll find palatable instead of half of them being too bland (for kanmusu) or too salty (for humans)

File: 1463435541939.jpg (27 KB, 500x500)

27 KB JPG

>>162083
This mad.

File: image.jpg (251 KB, 500x605)

251 KB JPG

>>162083
Oh hell naw.

>>162090
>Mad/10 - Time to stand up for some nice ships

Supporting this, although if it gets physical, it's likely to go badly for us unless the Kanmusu intervene.

Not really confident of our capability to intimidate or actually do something if a fight results, since we're pretty shit in the physical department.

If this keeps up, I'm going to start assuming that our MC somehow attracts bad luck and horrible situations just by breathing.

>>162090
>Time to stand up
Apart from the fact that I can only relate with the customers that are finding the food shitty, I veto that, because:
>>161536
>don’t get up, you’ll faint

>>162117
We've got a metal arm though. That shit will hurt when it connects with a nose.

I just hope we get a chance to roll for success.

>>162117
I don't even care if we get our ass kicked, so long as we hold up to our principles.

>>162123
>>162093
You do understand that we went out of our way to order that food, right? Plus both girls said that it would probably not be a good idea. If I decided to act that way any time someone served me food I didn't like, I would have no friends.

>>162123
>>don’t get up, you’ll faint

We already said we were feeling better in >>162083, when Nagato asked.

>>162124
>We've got a metal arm though. That shit will hurt when it connects with a nose.

We're not a fighter, we're overweight, and we're not fully recovered from being almost dead awhile ago. Bad combination for getting into a fight.

Not that I'm saying we shouldn't. I'm all for getting in the guy's face.

I just don't have very high hopes.


>>162138
>You do understand that we went out of our way to order that food, right?

I think the problem is, for some very weird reason, Nagato (or Irako, for that matter) couldn't just come out and say from the start, "It's really salty, people have tried to eat it, and they simply can't ."

We just kept being told it was different, which doesn't generally mean inedible.

File: 1299939653419.jpg (127 KB, 424x470)

127 KB JPG

>>162083
Stop Nagato before she murders them and get her to help you up.

You're a commander so you probably outrank those assholes. Scold them harshly and get them thrown into detention for causing a scene and disrupting public order, because you can.

>>162093
>>162123
>Irako warns you that you shouldn't eat that
>They tell you the food with a star is meant for kanmusu
>They probably weren't more clear in their explanation because it's your first time and Nagato can just eat the plate after you're done trying it, and it'll be easier and clearer if you experience it first hand
>Those people clearly know what they are ordering, they have a fucking pile of it
>They are clearly doing it on purpose to shit on the ship girls and make a scene
>He acts like an uncivilized brute

Are you being obtuse on purpose?
Even if it was his first plate of it and he didn't get warned, how the fuck is getting up and throwing the plate at someone who is acting politely at all relatable?

>>162138 >>162145
>MC: ‘No one’s died from this, right?’
>‘No, but...’ [...] ‘try not to be so hard on Mamiya if it’s… not to your liking. She tries, she really does.’
so maybe not so tasty? That's not a warning that it's poison.

>I recommend you take one of the lighter meals for your palate.
>You wouldn’t like them
Still not "you'll puke, your biology is different". No mention of "a ton of salt".

I can't relate to the restaurant that doesn't manage to get the message through. It feels like a joke at the MC's expense and no one's laughing. That's a shitty restaurant, and it will certainly upset people to be mocked like that. Maybe they need some shitters making a scene to understand they'll have to plainly state on the menu "tons of salt".

>>162152
There are human meals... they're the ones without stars next to them. You're so insistent in-Universe because you want to make Shigure her casserole and want to know what's so different about KanMusu food. You're a cook by trade previously, so taste is a better indicator than word of mouth. The place serves human food. The quality of that, though, is unknown to you at the present time.

>>162155
we gonna need help for the casserole then

also
>>162083
1 million suns out 10

>>162152
>I can't relate to the restaurant
You don't have to relate to the restaurant at all, it could well be their fault.

What you should be angry about, or at least not relate to, is the reaction of the customers. If they didn't get warned, they should have gone to the chef and complained that their dish is full of salt, demand an explanation and have the dish made again or their money returned. Not order 10 more plates of the same, laugh through the whole thing and then insult and throw the dish at the chef. That's a shitty human being, maybe they need to have their face punched in to understand they'll have to act like civilized people and not angry monkeys in a restaurant.

File: Spoiler Image (120 KB, 1200x864)

120 KB JPG

You’re not angry.

You’re not even in the restaurant.

You see Nachi, Tenryuu and Shigure. You’ve been here before. Abyssals closing in, those corrupted creatures from the compound charge. You don’t know what you see anymore. Teeth, claws, tails seem to interchange with every movement. A pulse beats through you as one moment you’re in Aquarius’s corridors, in another you’re in the ocean, a tail-whip of hair most definitely not yours spinning as you fire off blasts from your hand cannon.

A pulse goes through you. Once, then, twice, and it washes over you like wave. You feel tranquil. At peace.

And as the restaurant and the two tearful KanMusu come into view, you realize, that yes…

You are angry.

You put an arm to Nagato, who looks in you in bewilderment. Then, you get up and march right to the spectacle. Nagato follows you from behind as this time your strides keep ahead of her. You help Mamiya to her feet, giving her a caring push away from the rugged-looking man with Irako, grasping onto her now-ruined apron; before she can say anything, you nod her off.

The pulse goes through you again.

‘Apologize.’ You say simply.

‘For what?’ He raises his nose to you, crossing his arms. He’s about your height, but a lot more built, and fitter. For some reason, you don’t care, ‘I’m paying good money for this, man.’ He takes out his wallet. ‘See? I ain’t diner dashin’.’

‘He’s a Commander, man, back down.’

‘He ain’t gonna do jack.’ He smirks, flicking a grain of rice onto you. ‘We’re volunteers. Without us helpin’ around, this place falls apart. Your Admiral fucked up bad, Commander. He’s scratchin’ at the doggy door. The Lord’s got shit on him and if he screws up an inch, you bet your ass the lot of y’all’ll be sleepin’ on the roadside!’

‘Get yourselves out of here before I call the M – !’

You feel it. The blow to the gut that gets you on all fours. It takes quite a bit to keep yourself from throwing something up.

‘Commander!’

‘Call what?’ He grabs your hair, craning your neck painfully.. Some of his friends laugh, some of them raising themselves to placate him. ‘Can’t even fight your own battles, fatass? Need the big bad MPs to keep your shit afloat? This is your Commander, everyone! This BIG!’

Don’t say it.

‘FAT!’

Don’t you dare.

‘LOSE – !’

The pulse bursts.

You grab his wrist. Hard. He curses something fierce, pulling hard on your neck, but your grip is stronger… angrier. You close your fist around his wrist, making him yelp in pain all sorts of profanity leaves his lips; there’s a ripple in your fingertips. Something in his hand was gone. He drops to his knees, crying out to his friends. You’re on both your feet, pressing his hand forwards.

Your thumb grinds deeper.

He calls your all sorts of things.

But he doesn’t call you Loser.

>‘Apologize.’
>‘You were saying?’

File: 50609488_p23.jpg (284 KB, 620x874)

284 KB JPG

>>160974
Does there need to be one?

>>162253
>"Stand the fuck down. NOW!"

>>162253
>‘Apologize.’

>>162253
>‘Apologize.’

It's what we asked him to do, it's what we want. No needless words, no swearing like >>162267.

Just one word.

>>162253
>‘You were saying?’

We're not being civil with this guy.

>>162253
>‘Apologize.’

>>162261
I imagined more Nagato x Sakawa shipping

>>162253
>take your pills

>>162253
>‘Apologize.’

>>162253
>"Apologize"

>>162253
>‘Apologize.’

>>162253
>‘Apologize.’

>>162253
>Break his face with your prosthetic for assaulting a superior officer, you've got witnesses.

File: Apology accepted.jpg (609 KB, 1200x1697)

609 KB JPG

The pulse dies down, and with it, your anger. Your focus returns, seemingly sharper than ever before. The man struggles, on his knees, spitting out all sorts of things, but your grip remains. It’s one of the perks of having a Kantai Metal prosthetic. His lip quivers as you press harder on a softer part of his wrist… the one where you know has something…

‘STOP! STOP!’

Damaged.

‘What do you say?’ You ask coolly, and he tries to raise himself, throwing you a dirty look.

‘Sorry.’

‘No.’ You press harder; he cries out harder as his friends beg for his release, but pay them no heed. ‘You say please.’

‘I’ll report you, you – ARGH!’ You turn your arm slightly, glaring deep into his eyes. ‘PLEASE! PLEASE!’

‘You’re drunk.’

‘I didn’t touch a damn bottle, you – !’ You press his hand downwards. ‘I’M DRUNK! I’M DRUNK! I DRANK THE WELL DRY!’

‘You were drunk and disorderly. I was asked by your friends to restrain you as you were making very obscene gestures to the KanMusu which included,’ you rub your thumb against his wrist again, making him cry, ‘coercing them to accompany you to your quarters,’ you continue calmly, ‘and inappropriately touching the male patrons of this establishment as they passed by your seat.’

He nods dumbly and desperately. You regard his stunned friends.

‘Isn’t that right, gentlemen?’

‘Yes, sir!’

‘Totally!’

‘I can still feel his hand on my ass!’

‘Very inappropriate! Thank you, sir, for keeping him in check.’

‘Now… what do you say?’ You look down at him again.

‘Please?’

You shake your head.

‘Now… you apologize.’ You look back to see Irako holding to a stunned Mamiya, gesturing for her to accompany her over. You then turn to the small KanMusu, gesturing at her to step forward as well. They stand in front of the man, right next to you. You encourage, ‘Go on, Mr Drunk and Disorderly.’

‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… done that. I’m sorry. I won’t come back here.’

‘It’s all right; you’re welcome here so long as this doesn’t happen again.’

Mamiya's words surprise you.

‘And that you promise to not order from the KanMusu menu. I understand that you don’t like it, but…’ She nods to the table, ‘I do not like to see food go to waste, sir.’

‘Y – Yes, ma’am.’

‘Have you paid for your food, sir?’

‘N – Not yet, ma’am.’ He reaches for his wallet with his free hand, dropping it. Mamiya picks it up, pulling out a few notes and putting them in her pouch before nodding at you.

You let go.

‘Try not to grope your friends on the way home.’

Several patrons snicker loudly, but the group pays it no heed. They’re out the door… and gone.

‘Commander?’

You feel a hand on your shoulder, turning to see Irako with an expression you can’t quite place.

‘Do you have a brother?’

>Write-In

>>162423
>"I used to."

>>162423

This >>162432

>>162423
>No, just an older sister. She's the demanding type.

>>162423
>"No."

>>162423
>"I used to."

>>162423
>"Umm..No?"

>>162423
>'Have you met him?'

>>162423
>"I used to."

File: Cryingzuchi.jpg (86 KB, 736x800)

86 KB JPG

You give Irako a small smile, ‘I used to.’

Irako, eyes wide, apologizes profusely, bowing up and down in rapid fashion. After being sufficiently amused, you pat her on the shoulder, making her stop. You shoot her a grin, rubbing the back of your head.

‘I’m kidding, Irako.’

Irako’s response is to smile back… but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes or seem the least bit honest. In fact… you’d go as far to say it seems sad. She rubs a shoulder awkwardly.

‘Oh.’ She says softly, dusting herself off, ‘I’m sorry, I thought…’ she looks to the entrance of the restaurant, a wistful manner ‘I lost a sister too, you know…’

You wish you could kick yourself at the back of the head – instead, you mimic Irako’s own rapid bowing, apologizing for your insensitivity. After some time doing so, you come face-to-face with Irako’s mischievous smile and tilt of head. Realization dawns on you.

‘Kidding, Commander.’ She smirks, slapping your back. ‘You are just too easy.’

‘Commander.’ You turn to Mamiya, who breaks into a respectful bow to you. Flustered, you motion at her to resume her stance.

‘Mamiya-san, there’s no need to – !’

‘Thank you very much for that.’ For some reason, Mamiya’s gesture flusters you greatly; embarrassed, you yourself break into a bow. ‘Please, if there’s anything I can do for you, you are most welcome to ask it of me.’

‘No, no, um, it’s no problem.’ You scratch the back of your head, unused to all the attention. While it had been nice to do a good turn for the day, the very actions you had undertaken felt unreal. Standing up for yourself; breaking a man’s wrist; taking charge, even. ‘I was just glad to be of help.’

The next thing you say, at least, you say with conviction.

‘I can’t stand bullies.’

You look over to the KanMusu that had stood, small as she was. Brown haired and jumpy but very much defiant. There was a roughness to her that you could see, even with that tiny frame.

‘I – I’m sorry for dragging you into that, Division Commander, sir!’ She bows as Irako had done.

‘Hey, it’s okay.’

‘Commander, please don’t punish her!’ One of her friends, who looked remarkably like her, steps forward.

‘Why would I punish her?’

‘Civilian.' A silver-haired girl walks up to you 'Ikazuchi believes she has violated the tenets of the Daughters by initiating conflict with a civilian. She is awaiting your judgment… but I beg leniency for her, too.’

You feel awkward, rubbing the back of your neck.

‘Hey, look – !’

‘I’m sorry! I want to taste things too, you know!’

‘Ikazuchi-chan!’

‘They’re right! We can’t taste anything else but salt! And what we eat they just look at like it’s just plain wrong and they laugh at us!’ She sobs into her sleeves. ‘We didn’t choose to be like this! We want to taste sweets and spices too and – and – !’

>Hug her
>Assure her
>Bring her to attention

>>162606
>Hug her

>>162606
>Assure her

>>162606
>>Assure her

>>162606
>Assure her

>>162606
>Hug her
How good a cook is the commander?
maybe he could try to make something with the help from some of the girls

>>162606
>Hug her

>>162648
I'm hoping there's some way to make food that they can taste that doesn't taste like salt. It hurts my soul to imagine only being able to taste one flavor.

>>162606
4th desdiv are cute as well. I sure hope the commander can handle the Tanaka salt when he makes the casserole for our division.

>Hug her

Inb4 sekuhara nanodesu

>>162616
Changing my vote to
>Hug her

File: Cryingzuchi 2 Electric Bo(...).jpg (208 KB, 1433x1200)

208 KB JPG

‘Ikazuchi, was it?’

She nods, rubbing her sleeves to her eyes. You put a hand on her shoulder, not smiling, but affirming.

‘Ikazuchi, I’m not going to punish you.’ You nod at her as she raises her gaze to meet yours. ‘I’m proud of you for standing up to that man.’

‘But I couldn’t do anything…’ She murmurs, stealing a glance to Mamiya, who was with Irako. ‘And I got Mamiya-san all messed up…’

‘You stood up. Even if you were fighting a losing battle you stood up for what you thought was right.’ You say with a bit more conviction, putting both hands on her arms. ‘I don’t know much about KanMusu foods or likes, but you like Mamiya-san’s food, don’t you?’

She nods enthusiatically.

‘Then you did good, girlfriend.’ You pull back your prosthetic, turning it into a fist. Ikazuchi, confused, looks from you to your hand… before bumping it with her own, smiling. ‘Besides, I doubt he’d be in one piece if you were allowed to run wild on him.’

All of them look appalled at the idea.

‘Harming a human is a no-no.’ The silver-haired one says, waving her hand in front of her face.

You frown, a little amused.

‘It didn’t turn out so badly for Nagato. She broke a few bones and – !’

You feel a chill go down your spine, turning around to see the Untameable Mustang herself, glaring up a storm at you. She does not, for one second, look the least bit happy you had allowed that tale to leak.

‘Commander.’

You quickly cease your tale, getting up to full height. The Destroyers bow again, going back to their table. Around you, you notice that the number of patrons had significantly gone down since you left your seat. There were even fewer members of personnel, voluntary or otherwise, around.

Your stomach grumbles, reminding you that you hadn’t had a decent meal yet.

‘Mamiya, I don’t know if this is a good time, but…’

Mamiya giggles, beginning to clear up after the departed party.

‘I’ll whip something up…’

‘No, no, Mamiya, you go get changed. This big boy’s on me.’ Irako would have none of it, however, pushing Mamiya towards the storage door; rather roughly, you might add. She turns her head back to you as she walks past the counter, smiling brightly, ‘So, knocking on death’s door or bland?’

You laugh loudly.

‘Bland.’

Irako nods and winks, and the both of them are back in the kitchen, out of sight.

You and Nagato return to your table, where you notice that her expression, while always serious, had a certain angry quality to it right now. You don’t question it, and sit in silence with her, looking through the menu to pass the time. It’s not long, however, until Nagato breaks it.

And when she speaks you most definitely know she is angry at you.

‘So, is your ego satisfied or do you want to go and find some gangbangers and show them who’s boss?’

>‘Harsh.’
>‘Excuse me?’
>‘I think I did okay.’

>>162738
>‘I think I did okay
I regret nothing!

>>162738
>‘Excuse me?’
ouch.

>>162747
Your self-proclaimed girlfriend is worried for you, okay. You were up against /fit/ incarnate.

>>162755
Still regret nothing.

>>162738
>>‘I regret nothing. Besides, having some Kanmusu tech on hand is pretty helpful.'

>>162738
>I regret nothing.

>>162738
>‘I think I did okay

>>162738
>‘I think I did okay.’

>>162755
Also
>Self-proclaimed girlfriend
Girl, we met you like 2-3 days ago. Slow the hell down.

>>162738
>I think I did okay.’

>>162809
You met her two weeks ago on the bus. She saved your ass and drew a smiley face on your cast. You've only recently gotten to know her, though.

>>162833
I have a question. Back when we were on the bus and we had different options for describing the person sitting next to us, which girl would it have been for the different options?

>>162833
Nagato a cute!
Why does she likes us so much?

File: U-511's protected smile.png (440 KB, 600x600)

440 KB PNG

>>162867
Something something protect that smile

>>162738
>‘Harsh.’
Though I see where she's coming from. That was quite the reaction.

>>162738
>I regret nothing.

>>162738
>‘I think I did okay.’

"Besides, it wasn't about my ego at all. Can't have much of one after this disaster of a day."

Um, why are we letting things that Nagato just told us in confidence slip so easily? It was important enough that the Court had to rule on it, and she had been reluctant to talk about it from the start.

Mechanic, please stop tripping us up needlessly, I promise we will mess up just fine with the options we are given. Anons like to play hero or say/do stupid things without it being done for them.

I'd like to think we aren't so thoughtless a Commander that we can't keep our mouth shut on private details.

>>163404
OOC: Because it's funny and inconsequential

>>162913
Because, despite the odds stacked against you and having every right to bolt the other way, you risked everything to save those people, even if you couldn't get to most of them. Plus, in that angry haze of yours, you kinda doki-doki'd her... a bit. Just a tiny bit.

She's a little confused, a lot worried, because she does like you as a person. But it's just been two weeks and any affection is about level and nothing too over.

Unfortunately, you see her as a really cool new friend more than a subordinate. You're not quite into this gig yet. You're just spouting clichés at the moment.

>>164439
>Just a tiny bit.
>>162755
I'm getting mixed signals here.
>

>>164637
I meant girlfriend in the clique sense. In the same context you called Ikazuchi, if that makes it clearer. She considers herself part of your "posse".

>>164375
>Because it's funny and inconsequential

Then as my advice to you, maybe you should stop writing conflicting things in the quest that make for a very inconsistent MC and story. Yes, even the small funny things that you say don't matter.

Look, you have some good ideas, but in all honesty, our character, the writing, and the story are both inconsistent and a mess.

I wrote a whole bunch of feedback, but decided to delete most of it. Not really worth it, judging from your responses so far.

Bottom line, characters and story need to be consistent, and choices need to matter. Our MC is far too ignorant about the Kanmusu despite having applied to be a Commander, even if he failed. He's been too cool and collected with the Kanmusu at times, in direct contrast to the mess he is emotionally and mentally.

Too many options are ending up inconsequential, or effectively blind choices which frustrate player choice.

Anyways, best of luck with your quest.

File: no-fun.jpg (85 KB, 425x450)

85 KB JPG

>>165559
It was a single line of dialogue, dude.

>>165681
Pretty much. It's a shout to those anime scenes where the MC says something about one of his friends that he finds hilarious and then turns around to see that buddy cracking his knuckles, only without the rocket uppercut.

>>165822
Well I guess the problem there is that such a stock scene doesn't mesh with the tone. Or that the way the scene was written doesn't get the tone of the scene down, with the way anime has sound and cartoony visual shorthands to get things across.

>>165559
Thanks, it's nice seeing some criticism. It feels lonely sometimes.

>>165681
Our character a few threads ago wasn't well defined. Now, he is a hydra that has acted according to opposite traits (iirc out of the audience's control).
"Pick a door" was done twice already by OP (once that didn't matter much for where to go to sleep, and once for how to invade the supply depot, maybe gain intel and manage the mission).
We already had our quota of a "joke" that breaks immersion in this thread: "comically gulp down another jug". It wasn't comic, it was awkward.

>>165849
>comically gulp down another jug
It's just a line dude. And not even really a joke I think, just a descriptor for how much water the MC is chugging.

>breaks immersion in this thread
How exactly?

>once that didn't matter much for where to go to sleep
The consequence was about what kind of foot us and our division get off on.

>he is a hydra that has acted according to opposite traits
Which parts exactly? I almost want to agree with you, but I can't think of specific examples of contradictory personality.

If I had any criticism so far, it's that a load of choices feel either inconsequential or like blind guesses whose effects are totally out of our control. If that's the goal, then it's working, but feels frustrating as all hell.

>>165838
Duly noted. I'll keep the tone more even next time. It is hard to do it given the characters limit, so I'll revise it a bit more.

>>165849
You I know are just shitposting. But I'll humor you. There are things in life you can handle, and some things you can't, and some things that take getting used to. You're a failed applicant, a civvy, who's been thrust into a dream job that isn't all that dreamy after all. It comes with responsibilities, perks and a ton of work.

When you see the MC acting all collected, it's when he has, or believes he has, a grasp of the situation. He's very much in over his head. He's a loser that dreams bigger than be should, and surprise, he actually ends up with the real deal.

Think a more empathetic version of Gorman from Aliens with a dash of intern anxiety. It's hard to translate given the limited space, but I put a summary of predefined characteristics from the initial actions undertaken on the bus scene. That was essentially the character build part, so to speak.

And of course he's going to be all over the place. No one in life is defined by one mood. You're not going to approach everything with swagger and you're not going to fold at pressure at every turn. I myself fuck up practical stuff, but put me in my zone for a speech and I'm there.

Thanks for the shitpost if it is one. And please stop trying to derail votes by writing in when the prompt isn't present.

>>165957
Thanks about that last part. I was feeling a bit indecisive on if I was restricting too much. I'll meditate on it. Appreciated, again.

Then again, this is only Day 2. We're barely past the tutorial levels, so to speak. You really want a lot more cause-effect? Asking here.

File: cameron stare.jpg (63 KB, 612x996)

63 KB JPG

>>166047
>We're barely past the tutorial levels
Let's see how the choices go after this. I'll give my opinion later.

File: 50609488_p3.jpg (499 KB, 1352x1913)

499 KB JPG

>>162289
nah

>>166090
So is that a yay or a nay on your part?

>>166107
Tentative nay for now.

>>162289
I think it's because Nagato and Houshou both worked together during the Battle of Midway, while Nagato and Sakawa only met each other during crossroads.

That, and I think there's more appeal in the image of a smaller but older woman with a younger but stronger woman.

>>165957
>How exactly?
Everything is serious business. thread 3:
>Interpersonal drama starts becoming a shitty romcom
>OOC:I assure you that it will not head in that direction. You have my word on that.

>Which parts exactly?
exactly those that >>165559 pointed out and that you skipped... Does the MC stand for himself or not? Does he know shit about this war?

>>166016
>You I know are just shitposting
Fuck you kindky, I'm the dude that spent too much time writing feedback on thread 2 and 3. I'm the dude that pointed out you loved blind door choice and unreliable OOC speech. When I'm the one constantly speaking up, I wonder if I'm an asshole or if the rest of the audience've internalized peer pressure.

>You're a failed applicant
see >>161741 : learn to pilot not-a-plane, don't know what's eaten, apply as cook. It's just incoherent.

>And please stop trying to derail votes
>derail
kthxbye, please keep requesting criticism and ignore it. have fun and don't forget that MC has 60% chance to forget taking his pills tonight.

>>166047
make shorter posts and take less decisions on our stead.

File: 1441769397403.jpg (68 KB, 431x450)

68 KB JPG

>>166166
>All this whining about an anonymous quest on the fucking internet.

Who the fuck hurt you?

File: umi is tired of your shit.jpg (23 KB, 600x338)

23 KB JPG

>>166181
Do you have any actual response that isn't shitposting?

>>166185
I probably would if I cared about the arguments being brought up. I just think a lot of it seems more than a little bit pointless. Many of the criticisms are of things that have little impact on the story as a whole. But mostly I'm doing it because I use shitposting to fill the void of bitter depression in my life.

>>166166
>apply as cook
Wait, I thought it was only that he had experience being a cook, and that he applied to be a commander but failed, and that cooking for the Kanmusu was just a nice thing he wants to do.

>>166166
You may have been giving criticism then, but your request for unnecessary additions, given the length available, is not helping. Your character isn't static. He's struggling to adapt.

>Romcom
It's just a guy going out for a pick me up. If that qualifies as romance for you, I don't know what to say. I'm throwing the guy a bone here, because fucking Hell, he's been through enough shit.

And you know what happens when you throw shit all the time? It gets BORING. It's a breather between missions. You're even going to a point at taking a snipe at Nagato and Mamiya when the character, historically a cook, is very insistent to try food.

For goodness sakes, you even thought that the rude guy was relatable. What in the world is wrong with you? I've seen two fucks pull that kind of racist crap and what the Hell - relatable? That can't be anything but a shitpost.

And I did take your advice on the pills. That first prompt was just to see which branch of the story you would take. You may not be a shitposter, but your last few posts have been useless as feedback.

On another note, we'll get back to resource decisions soon, but whatever the Hell you think this is a romcom route I'm taking when it's essentially a night out that went a little off-rails.

I put the words in red. There is no romance yet. Nagato is just being supportive as Hell because, hey, she thinks the Commander is worth someone to stick by. Like that other guy said, this is essentially the first time MC has taken the spotlight, and it's overwhelming. You knew this when you picked up thread 1.

Then bye, then. Sorry whatever your expectation was wasn't met.

>>166251
You applied to be official KanMusu personnel and spaghettid the audition by thinking your cooking skills would scrape you through.

The proctors and the now-dead Vice Admiral obviously, weren't amused. The audition was for a 16 day period.

But hey, they're all dead and you're the only guy who applied, failed and lived.

>>166016
>It is hard to do it given the characters limit

>>166284
>given the length available

Are you unwilling to break a lengthy update into two or more posts? /tg/ has a lower character limit and multi-post updates tend to be the norm for quests over there. You can drop a >cont. so we know there's more coming.

File: Please Be Honest With Me.jpg (45 KB, 400x425)

45 KB JPG

You recoil visibly at the words.

‘I think I did okay,’ you reply, but as the words leave your mouth, you realize that it wasn’t so much as it was to Nagato, but more to you. You try to go on, but find that you can’t, her eyes looking at you seriously, the mumble, ‘I did okay.’

‘Commander,’ there’s a frosty tinge to Nagato’s voice – one you didn’t like one bit, ‘did you go out there to help Mamiya… or did you go out there to prove something?’

Something inside you snaps.

‘Does it matter if it’s either one?’

Nagato looks at you neutrally, and suddenly you wonder just who is actually in charge here.

‘Not to anyone else.’

She doesn’t look angry, she looks serious and expectant, but her expression doesn’t reflect her voice at all. You find yourself impressed with her control, but at the same time, like a child caught with his hand in the proverbial jar.

‘Look, I – !’ You struggle to go on, but manage anyway. ‘I saw her in trouble. I got angry and went up there. Things… escalated.’ You mumble again, just enough for her to hear, ‘But I handled it, all right?’

There’s a small twitch on Nagato’s lips.

‘You did. Pretty well, in fact.’ There’s some amusement, but it disappears in an instant, ‘But when you held him down, was that for Mamiya? Or was it for you?’

‘It’s…’

There are many things you want to say, but find that every one of them, at face value, iseither a lie or deflective. You couldn’t do that with Nagato, nor your team… no more than you could do it to yourself.

‘You know what? You’re right.’ You admit, and it feels painful to do so, ‘I was angry, and I went out there to prove myself; not just to me, but to my word.’ You go on, ‘Nagato, I don’t think you fully recognize this, but I am your Commander.’ You clench your left hand into a fist, ‘But if I sat down in this chair, for my sake or to just not care and watched someone get treated that low and look the other way? I might as well spit on my fatigues and drown myself.’

That was a truth.

‘So you know what? You’re right. I didn’t go out there for Mamiya’s sake. I did it because I promised myself the day I fit in this uniform that I’d go out there and make it the best that I could and that, as your Commander, Nagato, and that if it was ever one thing it would be to back up my own words.’

You look into her eyes – her expression doesn’t change. Somehow, to you, it doesn’t matter.

‘I told the Division that I’d be happy with them so long as they had each other’s backs.’ You finally look away. ‘If I can’t stick to one rule… what else do I have?’

You sigh heavily.

‘I’m sorry if I upset you. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear.’

You feel a something over your prosthetic, and see that Nagato’s hand had found a place.

She gives you a gentle nod.

Irako walks back out, two identical bowls on a tray.

TBC

>>166430
It's mostly because I'm usually about 600-1k over the character limit. I find it too annoying to double post without disrupting flow, so unless I really need to stretch a scene, I trim the fat. I'll try to change up the style, see how it goes.

File: Food.jpg (38 KB, 600x400)

38 KB JPG

‘Food’s here!’ Irako chirps happily, putting both bowls before you.

‘That was fast.’ You peer into the bowl, finding your eyes widening as you look at the moist texture of several white buns. ‘Are these bao?’

‘You darn right they are, sir!’ Irako huffs her chest proudly. ‘Fresh from the steam oven!’

‘Why are there two bowls?’ You frown. It was a bit odd to have two half-filled bowls.

‘One’s apparently coconut jam… and the other’s red bean. We thought you’d be a little hungry after that little escapade.’

That was an understatement; really.

‘I’m famished.’

Irako grins widely, giving you a friendly pat on the back.

‘Then dig in!’

You do, and find that despite the claims of it being bland, it doesn’t do half bad for your taste buds. It certainly doesn’t throw you for a loop like the rice had done, at the very least. At the second bao, you throw a glance to Nagato, who has her arms crossed, her head down and thinking.

‘Want one?’

She gives you a look. You apologetically set down a bao.

‘Right.’

However, she does reach for you plate – barely touched, and without another word, starts where you left off. You want to protest that the meal isn’t as fresh as it was before and it was essentially left overs, but Nagato’s already munching into it before you can get a word in. You muse that she looks content enough.

‘How is it?’ You ask, now wolfing down your third.

‘A little cold.’ Nagato wipes at her chin, gesturing to your own meal. ‘How about yours?’

‘Not bad.’

The rest of the night goes off without incident. There are no heavy conversations, nothing serious. Irako joins you midway through your meal, however, regaling her own experiences she left Nagato’s posting. You learn a great deal about KanMusu cooking and preparation.

Tanaka Salt featured heavily in anything that involved luxury dishes – which was pretty much anything that required a kitchen, as the KanMusu lived on tasteless nutrition supplements for the first half of the war. You put the information at the back of your mind – otherwise, the cooking was the same. Only that you had to dip everything in it prior to firing up the wok enhance the flavor. Specialist cooks were only recently hired in the last few years to keep KanMusu morale up.

No wonder your cooking didn’t impress them one bit. You feel a bit sheepish now, actually.

It’s not long until you’re out into the night air again, waving goodbye to your new friend. You and Nagato walk wordlessly to the barracks – there wasn’t much else to talk about; you can’t tell for her, but you find yourself exhausted by the time you turn the knob.

You bid Nagato a good night, at which she gives you a gentle reminder to take your medicine. As you open the door to your room, you pop a pill, and drop onto the empty mattress.

Tomorrow couldn’t come sooner.

[END OF DAY 2]

>>166849
Looking forward to Kaga waking us up tomorrow.

It's been an enjoyable quest so far.

File: Punished Commander A Fall(...).jpg (319 KB, 1280x574)

319 KB JPG

>>166849
Let's hope next mission doesn't go to shit.

File: Spoiler Image (1.2 MB, 1428x1119)

1.2 MB PNG

‘Commander.’

You grumble, turning. Whoever that was, better shut up now.

‘Commander.’

As you turn yourself away from the voice, you hear a grumble… followed by the vision of the Admiral shaking his head at you in disappointment. You crack open an eye to see that it’s in the morning, and you had work to do.

‘I’m up, I’m up.’

You turn around, to see… a naked woman. Neat.

‘Ka – GAH!’ You practically shriek, hitting your head against the wall, recoiling, ‘What in the world?!’

Kaga crosses her arms over her now-revealed chest, looking at you with disdain. Meanwhile, you look away in annoyance – not expecting though certainly not unwelcome to it to see your assigned CVs scarred, yet well-contoured figure first thing in the morning. You get up, still looking away from her.

‘The attendants are are downstairs.’ She says, opening the closet to take out some clothing. ‘I believe they have some things to go over with you.’ You turn to Kaga, keeping eye-contact. ‘That’s a good look, by the way.’

‘What?’

‘A uniform that doubles as sleepwear.’ She smirks at you; you find yourself not quite caring for her lack of dress now, sending her an annoyed glare. ‘You are truly an innovator, sir.’

‘It is way too early for your snark.’ You sigh, getting up from the mattress.

‘I’m the total package, sir.’ She wiggles her… good Heavens. You bite your lip and count backwards from a million, wondering why your legs hadn’t bolted for the door. ‘I told you the store room had sleeping bags.’ Now she sounds annoyed. ‘You hug in your sleep.’

‘I… what? You weren’t in here last night.’

Kaga stops from putting on her first article of clothing and marches right up to you, crossing her arms as though you were in the wrong. Blindsided, you stagger slightly back, but meet her eye-to-eye anyway.

‘I was corresponding with the sky force. Had to work overtime.’ She says matter-of-factly ‘I told you to get a sleeping bag, sir. I don’t understand why you wanted the mattress so badly. You take over half of it.’

She pokes your belly. Once, then, twice, and smirks. Still naked, still snarky.

‘Just try it, make one more – !’

‘Houshou told me how it went.’ She gives you a look of understanding. ‘Must have been something for them to end up like that… but they’re all safe now, and that’s what matters doesn’t it, sir?’

Kaga walks back to the wardrobe, shaking her… you sigh, running a hand through your hair. Well, there went your annoyance.

‘Kaga.’

‘Yes, sir?’ She turns to you with the look of utmost seriousness, ‘Did you find it?’

She raises her pinky finger, wiggling it.

There is no emotion, there is peace

>'I... what?'
>‘How’s the injury coming along?’
>‘What do you mean working overtime? I didn’t schedule any overtime.’
>‘What did they want? The attendants, I mean.'

>>167666
>'I... what?'

>>167666
>‘How’s the injury coming along?’

She didn't disappoint. Nice devil triples.

>>167737
OOC: Asking for a bit of help here, but do you know where I can find, I quote "Smart, witty but very vulgar and penis-centric" jokes? 9gag and imgur are turning up nothing.

>>167744
Browse any anime-centric boards, they are obsessed with cocks.

Or just google, really.

>>167666
>‘How’s the injury coming along?’

>>167666
>>‘How’s the injury coming along?’

>>167666
>'I... what?'

>>167666
>‘How’s the injury coming along?’

File: QM Fucking Hell Man This (...).jpg (160 KB, 884x776)

160 KB JPG

‘How’s the injury coming along?’

From what you knew from Kaga’s file, she was already in recovery prior to her transfer. Most KanMusu didn’t take much for fighting fit, so a recovery warning itself was a surprising piece of information to receive from a transfer file.

Kaga turns to you, at least with a brassiere on this time – for all the good it did, so you find it marginally less embarrassing to look at her. It’s a decidedly small margin, though.

She smirks at you mischievously, tying her thick hair up in her usual side-tail.

‘Curious, Commander?’

You’re not falling for it this time, keeping on point.

‘Worried.’ You say truthfully.

Kaga’s expression goes back into her stoic demeanor. She looks like she’s struggling with something, before finally relenting. She closes the distance with you somewhat, gesturing with her hands for you to approach her; you hesitantly get to your feet.

‘Come here.’

You approach her slowly, until you’re barely a foot away from her.

Without warning, she strikes, putting both hands on your shoulder and bringing you to your knees. In shock, your eyes grow wide as she turns your head to the left, pulling you towards her – !

'Ka - !'

‘They ripped me apart.’ You can feel, hear every breath, every tiny shiver Kaga makes from your position… but it’s the shaken voice of hers that rings clearest.

‘Worked their way just nicely, too. Tore me inside out.’ She traces her rough fingers against the side of your head, your cheek brushing against warm skin and your nose taking in a deep scent. ‘Got me right here.’ She indicates her pelvic area, and you feel something moving… and pulsing inside. ‘I think I was bleeding – holding my guts in – for two, three hours. It was stupid mistake on my part – strayed from the team and into a pincer.

‘I shouldn’t be alive, by all accounts.’

As if in response, your prosthetic twitches.

A warm breath escapes Kaga, and you take in more than just her scent with the shift of your head. Her fingers, roughly textured, are surprisingly ginger with you.

‘Recovery is currently at 80 percent. Muscles fully-formed and walking isn’t a problem. Other functions… well, I’m not so sure myself.’

You feel the blissful roll of her thumbs against your head, and a shiver goes up your spine.

‘But if you’re curious enough… well, you’re already down there, sir.’

Something inside you cries out and dies down in one breath; Kaga releases her hold on you, but her hands still rest to either side of your head.

‘Commander?’

You raise yourself to full height, looking at her dead in the eye.

‘I’m sorry.’ You rub your prosthetic. ‘I think I get the… feeling.’

‘Did you have your cuckoo blown off?’

‘No, my arm, obv – !’

‘Because, you know… it’d explain so much.’

She wiggles her pinky again.

>‘I… what?’
>‘What do you mean overtime?’
>’What did the attendants want?’

>>168009
>>’What did the attendants want?’

>>168009
>‘I… what?’

>>168009
>‘I… what?’

>>168009
>‘I… what?’
You lost me.

>>168051
>>168073
>>168089
You're asking about how she knew you hugged in your sleep.

>>168102
Right

>>168009
>’What did the attendants want?’

>>168009
>‘I… what?’

>>168009
>’What did the attendants want?’

File: b0a2696295e949de08f3f61b1(...).jpg (54 KB, 650x650)

54 KB JPG

>>166142
>smaller but older woman with a younger but stronger woman
You're thinking of Houshou and Yamato. The KanColle fandom tends toward having the launch date of a ship be their birthday, which means that Nagato is older than Houshou by 2 years. The reason for the pairing according to the artist is that Houshou and Nagato both involved in a training operation to Taiwan in 1926 (Taisho 15/大正15).

http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/966947/55

File: Halal Or Haram Lets Rock.jpg (33 KB, 539x403)

33 KB JPG

‘I… what do you mean I hug in my sleep?’

Kaga looks at you, now, thankfully with a full set of underwear on, at least. There’s a certain impatience and annoyance that flashes in her eyes, as if you’d just asked a stupid question. Maybe; but it’s an honest question, at least.

‘You hug in your sleep.’ She answers, wrapping her arms around some invisible pillar, ‘Like a boa.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ You frown.

Kaga lets ot a tired sigh, walking over to you. You wonder whether or not to bolt this time, but again, she’s too quick – Kaga has her arms around you like a… boa. You feel the front contours to her form, but now too stunned, you find yourself unable to move.

As nice as it is to have her faux-nuzzling into your chest, the military man in you grabs her by the shoulders… and find no success at pushing her off, or pulling her off for that matter. This goes on for about a minute, until your brain, a little more fired up, re-connects to your vocal capacity.

‘Kaga.’ You struggle, keeping a neutral face and your eyes on the open wardrobe. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Demonstrating, sir.’ She says simply. She still doesn’t let go, though.

You sigh, defeated, and take your hands off her shoulder.

‘Let go of me, please.’

She does, going back to the wardrobe to pick out more of her clothes. You run a hand through your hair, wondering just why your temples are awash with sweat and heat when something else, then, hits you like a jet at full throttle.

‘You got into the mattress with me in it?’

She makes an affirmative sound. You find your knees buckling, like a brick stack without a foundation.

‘Why?’.

She gives you that same unamused look she always did, only a little more dismissive.

‘I wasn’t going to sleep on the floor.’ She says, with a hint of exasperation. ‘How do you think it would reflect on your character? I’m only looking out for you, sir.’ At the back of your head, you think that it's a little more self-serving for her than that, ‘You might want to borrow this when you have a shower.’

She tosses you a bottle. You catch it, turning it over to see just what it is.

‘Kaga, this is women’s shampoo.’ You raise an eyebrow, unamused.

‘Commander, I thought you’d be smarter than that.’ She gives a small smirk, ‘Women’s is just code name for heavy duty odor killing.’

You prepare a retort, but…

‘Huh.’

It made sense.

Kaga walks over to you again, still in her underwear, of course, and puts her elbow on your shoulder, leaning on you. Her features grow slightly mischievous as she leans in to your ear...

‘It also makes good on those lonely nights between the – !’

You hold up a hand.

‘Okay, now you’re just messing.’

You realize that it’s the first time ever you saw two rows of teeth so white.

>‘What did you mean by overtime?’
>‘What did the attendants want?’

>>171118
>‘What did the attendants want?’

>>171118
>>‘What did the attendants want?’

>>171118
>‘What did the attendants want?’

>>171118
>>‘What did the attendants want?’

>>171118
>‘What did the attendants want?’