Vampire flashed a toothy grin. "Sister Cali, you know, what kind of person someone will become can actually be seen from their blood. Want me to take a bit and analyze it?"
Her two little fangs were surprisingly sharp. California shrank her neck. "Let's… not do that."
Vampire then sweetly greeted Tirpitz, receiving a half-hearted "mm" in response.
"Commander, hold me. I'm so sleepy."
With a dainty and soft Vampire in his arms, Hikaru wasn't exactly eager to hold Tirpitz too. He pretended not to hear her and walked out still carrying Vampire.
Once Vampire had been introduced to everyone, and Tirpitz still hadn't come out, Hikaru had no choice but to entrust Vampire to Lexington and head back in.
Tirpitz was curled up in the chair, head tilted to the side, already asleep.
Hikaru pinched her nose, watching as confusion slowly appeared on her face from the lack of air… then complete stillness.
No way. A shipgirl suffocating? Especially one as powerful as Tirpitz?
He poked her waist, her face, her chest. Fascinating. One more poke.
"If you poke me again, I won't be responsible for what happens."
Hikaru glanced at her—Tirpitz had her eyes closed again, playing dead.
"If you're awake, then get up. Everyone's waiting."
"No. I want a kiss before I get up."
Hikaru was startled. "Where'd you get that idea?"
"You ask too many questions. I saw it in a manga and wanted to try."
Well, there's no loss here. Hikaru leaned in and captured her lips, bullying her thoroughly. His hands weren't exactly well-behaved either.
Tirpitz's body really was amazing. Honestly, the feel was even better than his Lexington—not that he could ever say that aloud, or she'd be heartbroken.
Remembering the others were still waiting outside, he reluctantly let her go. "There, satisfied?"
Tirpitz stretched out her arms. "Commander, carry me."
He sighed, helpless. Carrying her again, his annoyance flared and he smacked her rear a few times.
Tirpitz rubbed her butt, looking aggrieved. "Why hit me again?"
"If I didn't come back, were you just going to sleep through the whole day?"
Her tone was certain. "You would've come."
Hikaru was speechless for a moment. He stroked her cheek. "Silly Tirpitz."
She giggled. "I'm going to 'ascend' tonight—pull an all-nighter reading manga. In exchange, you can grope my chest. Good deal, right?"
"Hmph. I'm going to do that whether you allow it or not. And not just grope, I'll fondle—and lick too!" Hikaru pinched her cheek, both annoyed and amused. "Tirpitz, you useless girl!"
Tirpitz let out a couple content sounds while curled up in his arms. "Commander, hurry up and bring Big Sis here too."
"I'm working on it."
"Then we can be matching sisters. If she doesn't agree, I'll knock her out, tie her up, and hold her hands down for you—on the bed, in the bath, even on top of me. When our sidekick Prinz Eugen gets here, she can help push—"
"AAHHH, stop right there!" Hikaru roared, aggressively mushing Tirpitz's soft face into funny shapes. "You need to stop reading those doujinshi! Especially the ones with your sister!"
Tirpitz didn't back down, mumbling through squished cheeks, "Puh, you lewd scumbag man."
Hikaru froze, then flipped her over and gave her another firm spanking.
Outside, Lexington had brought the others over. Hearing Hikaru's roar and Tirpitz's cries, her expression twitched. She said to a shocked Cumberland, "Don't be fooled—those two are actually very close."
Cumberland nodded thoughtfully. A deeply passionate… sadomasochistic relationship?
…
Messing with Tirpitz was just a little fun on the side. On the third day after Vampire's arrival, Hikaru received an emergency mobilization order.
The Abyssals had launched their attack.
He instructed Glowworm, Vampire, and California to guard the base while he prepared for deployment with the other three shipgirls.
California had really wanted to come along for the experience, but she was still low level—catching a stray bullet on the battlefield could easily sink her.
Vampire was even more fragile, and had only just arrived. Fortunately, she had Glowworm the little mage to play with, so she wouldn't be too lonely.
Glowworm might be strong, but her Fearless Headbutt was a melee, single-target move. In a battlefield of tens of thousands of shipgirls, using it would be like tossing a lamb to the wolves. So for safety's sake, she stayed home too.
(End of Chapter)
[+50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[p@treon.com/BellAshelia]
[Thanks for your support!]