Days after arriving at the naval base, Dante gazes at the sea from the pier at night, haunted by memories.
"Why not seek more power? Sparda's power."
"Power controls all. Without it, you protect nothing—not even yourself."
"That's worthy of the main event?"
"My soul demands more power."
"This is mine. Only Sparda's true heir should wield it."
"Go. You don't want to be swallowed by the demon world. I'm fine here, in our father's homeland—"
"Admiral," Akagi calls.
Dante turns to see Akagi and Kaga.
"What's up?"
"We wanted to talk," Akagi says.
"Studying going well?" Kaga asks.
"Locked in a room daily. Sick of it. Can't even get pizza."
"We enjoyed it after," Kaga says.
"Come to gloat?"
"…No."
"(This jerk…)" Dante thinks.
"Kaga-san, stop it," Akagi scolds.
"Sorry," Kaga says.
"I need to tell you about Inazuma," Akagi says.
"Yeah?"
Kaga explains, "You know we're born through construction."
"Yeah."
"We can be reborn countless times, but without inherited memories. A new self."
"So that's why you acted weird around Inazuma," Dante says.
"…Yes," Akagi confirms.
"Forget it. Tell the other four."
"You can't just forget. You've never lost someone dear," Kaga snaps.
"Kaga-san!" Akagi gasps.
"I've lost plenty. Dad, Mom, people who helped me, my brother… all gone," Dante says.
"!?" Akagi and Kaga freeze.
"I'm not saying forget them. Death's unchangeable. What matters is what you do next."
"Thank you for calling us human," Akagi says.
"No big deal."
"It saved us. Few see us as people," Akagi says.
"Really?"
"Yes. We're ships to the navy and society," Kaga says.
"How do they see weapons in you? I'm off to bed. Studying's exhausting," Dante says, leaving. His back looks lonely.
"Kaga-san, don't say that again. He's our savior," Akagi says.
"…Sorry."
"Apologize to him. Let's sleep."
"Right."
Next Day
"Basic duties are done," Ooyodo says.
Dante slumps over the desk. A knock.
"Admiral," Akagi and Kaga enter.
"Done?" Akagi asks.
"Basics, yes," Ooyodo replies.
"Admiral, Mamiya and Houshou want us in the cafeteria. It's almost lunch," Akagi says.
"Let's go," Ooyodo agrees.
"Admiral," Kaga stops him.
Dante waits silently.
"I'm sorry for yesterday," Kaga bows deeply.
"No biggie," Dante grins, soft on women and kids.
"What happened?" Ooyodo asks.
"Nothing major," Akagi says with a wry smile.
They head to the cafeteria, where Mamiya, Houshou, Akashi, and Inazuma wait.
"Sit," Mamiya says.
They sit. Mamiya and Houshou bring food.
"That smell…!" Dante exclaims.
It's pizza.
"You wanted it, so we studied how to make it," Houshou says.
"It was tough," Mamiya adds.
"Looks yummy!" Inazuma says.
"Careful, it's hot," Houshou warns.
"Yes!" Inazuma nods.
Pizza sparks a Dante vs. First Carrier Division eating contest, turning the cafeteria chaotic until Houshou's shout calms it.
Now, post-meal break.
"Admiral, let's build ships this afternoon," Ooyodo says.
"Got it."
"I'll join," Akashi offers.
"Others?" Dante asks.
"Training at the exercise yard?" Akagi suggests.
"Cool. I'll check out shipgirl training later."
Workshop
"Here's where we build?" Dante asks.
"Yes. Construction, weapon development, and sortie docks are here," Akashi explains.
"Got it. What's that?" Dante spots fairies, who scatter upon seeing him.
"Even here, I'm hated…"
"What'd you do to them?" Akashi glares.
"Nothing…"
"Let's build," Ooyodo says.
"Shipgirls come from this, right?"
"Yes. Insert materials and start. But materials are also for supplies, so plan carefully—" Akashi says.
Click!
Dante starts the machine mid-explanation.
"You're doing it already! Were you listening!?" Akashi snaps.
"Uh… yeah?"
"What was that pause?" Ooyodo asks.
"(So worried…)" Akashi thinks.
"(This is bad…)" Ooyodo thinks.
A timer appears.
"That's when it finishes," Akashi says. "How many materials did you use?"
"Dunno, just tossed some in. Hah!"
"(I hate this guy!)" Akashi thinks.
"(So much anxiety…)" Ooyodo thinks.
"Use this for instant builds," Akashi says, showing a quick-build material.
"How's it work?"
"Like this!" Akashi activates it, flames enveloping the machine.
"Flashy."
The timer hits zero. A shipgirl emerges.
"Kuma-class light cruiser, Kitakami. You the Admiral?"
"Yup."
"Cool, nice to meet ya."
"I'm Ooyodo."
"Akashi. Hey!"
"Yo," Kitakami says.
"Big baby for a newborn," Dante quips.
"Baby!?" Kitakami retorts.
"Shipgirls emerge grown, varying by class," Ooyodo explains.
"From adults to kids," Akashi adds.
"Even old ladies?" Dante asks.
"No, not that far," Ooyodo says.
"Barely daughters then," Akashi says.
They smile wryly.
"Akashi, show Kitakami the dorms and other areas," Dante says.
"Got it!"
"Ooyodo, take me to the exercise yard."
"This way."
Exercise Yard
Inazuma trains on water, watched by Houshou.
"Amazing! Standing on water!" Dante says.
"Rigging lets us move on sea," Ooyodo explains.
"Making kids fight, huh?"
"They're shipgirls. They can handle Deep Sea Fleet," Ooyodo says.
"Poor kids…"
"?"
"Kids should play, not fight."
"True. I hope that era comes soon."
"Hey, Admiral," Houshou calls.
"How's it going?"
"Inazuma's doing great."
"Keep it up!" Dante shouts.
"I will!" Inazuma replies.
"Where's Akagi?"
"At the archery range for carriers," Houshou says.
"Let's go?" Ooyodo asks.
"Yeah."
Archery Range
"Admiral, we've been waiting," Akagi says.
"Don't mind us, keep going."
Akagi draws her bow, firing an arrow that becomes a fighter plane, shooting the target.
"Hell yeah! It turned into a plane! Impressive!" Dante claps.
Kaga fires next, her arrow also becoming a plane.
"How do arrows become planes?" Dante asks.
"Carriers use arrows or shikigami as mediums for fighters, controlling air battles to win," Akagi explains.
"Some use shikigami," Kaga adds.
"Pretty cool," Dante says, intrigued but clueless about shikigami.
"Admiral, we have more to see," Ooyodo says.
"Hold on."
Dante draws his guns.
"Admiral?" Ooyodo questions.
Akagi and Kaga freeze.
Dante aims at a distant sea target and fires. The bullet hits dead center, despite the distance. The shipgirls, with superhuman vision, see it.
"Amazing…" Ooyodo says.
"Impressive, Admiral," Akagi says.
"Honored by the praise," Dante smirks.
Kaga feels the gap in their skills. Reading wind, hitting a barely visible target perfectly.
"We're leaving. Keep it up," Dante says.
"See you," Ooyodo adds.
Akagi and Kaga resume training.
"What's wrong?" Akagi asks.
"Who is he?" Kaga wonders.
"Our Admiral. Let's keep up," Akagi smiles.
"Yes."
Repair Dock
"This is the repair dock. Injured shipgirls heal here," Ooyodo says.
"What's inside?"
"A bath."
"A bath?"
"The water has special compounds. Healing time varies. Quick-repair materials speed it up."
"Got it."
"It's also a regular bath."
"Oh…"
Command Room
"This is for fleet orders," Ooyodo says.
"Smaller than I thought."
"Really?"
"Hmm…"
"That's the main areas."
"Back to the office then."
Dante lounges in the office, feet on the desk. A knock. Mamiya and Kitakami enter.
"Tea and snacks," Mamiya says.
"Thanks."
"I'm here too," Kitakami says.
"Not with Akashi?"
"She showed me around. Mamiya was heading here, so I tagged along."
"Green tea's not bad," Dante says, sipping.
"Thanks," Mamiya says.
"Nap time," Dante says, dozing.
"Always like this?" Kitakami asks.
"…Yes," Ooyodo says, troubled.
"He's not bad," Mamiya adds.
"Dunno yet," Kitakami says.
"He told Akagi and Kaga, 'You're not weapons. You're human. Tears are a human right,'" Mamiya recounts.
"Pretty cool," Kitakami says.
"The old Admiral saw us as weapons. Those words saved us," Mamiya says.
"So you'll like it here, Kitakami," Ooyodo says.
"Yeah."
Dante, eyes closed, might be listening or asleep.
At night, during Kitakami's welcome dinner, they eat.
"Heard you fight demons, Admiral," Kitakami says.
"Yup."
"Like a comic."
"Not fun. They don't follow human rules."
"Hmm."
"Tomorrow's plans?" Ooyodo asks.
"Same as today," Dante says.
"No sortie?" Akagi asks.
"No urgent missions. We're fine. Akashi, build two more tomorrow."
"Class?"
"Destroyers."
"Got it!"
"What about me?" Kitakami asks.
"Train with Inazuma."
"A destroyer?"
"You decide that too?" Dante asks.
"You're the Admiral," Ooyodo says firmly.
"What a hassle."
"Battles will intensify, needing more hands," Houshou adds.
"Seriously…"
The day ends with chatter.
Morning
Dante sleeps on the office sofa. Akagi and Kaga wake him.
"Admiral, wake up."
"…It's early."
"You didn't come for breakfast," Akagi says.
"Everyone's hungry waiting. And put on a shirt. Why're you half-naked?" Kaga asks.
"Slept after a bath."
"(Winter, and he's not cold? Always in just a coat…)" Kaga thinks.
"(Naked wandering's a problem. Talk to Houshou?)" Akagi thinks.
Kaga sighs. They head to the cafeteria, where others wait.
"Finally up," Houshou says.
Dante sits, eyeing Inazuma. "Early riser, huh?"
"Praised by Commander!" Inazuma beams.
"Nice," Ooyodo smiles.
"Let's eat, I'm starving!" Kitakami says.
"Itadakimasu!"
"Hey, Akashi," Dante says.
"Yeah?"
"Can you make me rigging?"
Pfft! Everyone spits out food.
"Gross…" Dante says.
"Cough! Rigging!? You'll carry cannons?" Akashi asks.
"Nah, just wanna walk on water. Cool experience."
He sounds excited.
"Humans don't use rigging," Akashi says.
"You're human too."
"Well, we're ships—oh!" Akashi recalls his words.
"Normal humans can't," she corrects.
"No issue then."
"Huh?"
"I'm not normal."
"?" The shipgirls are puzzled, their meaning dawning later.
"What's that mean?" Akashi asks.
"Later. Can you make it?"
"Never done it, but sounds fun. I'll try!"
"Do it. Thanks for breakfast." Dante leaves. "Don't wake me."
"Commander's going to sea?" Inazuma asks.
"He's crazy. Even demon fighters can't use rigging," Kitakami says.
"Maybe not," Kaga says.
"Huh?"
"Seeing him fight demons, he might pull it off," Akagi says.
They don't seem to be joking.
"Really…?"
Noon, Office
"Lunchtime, Admiral," Ooyodo says.
"Already?"
"New shipgirls are here."
"Let's go."
Cafeteria
Two new shipgirls wait.
"Akatsuki and Tatsuta," Ooyodo introduces.
"You're the Commander? Treat me like a lady!" Akatsuki says.
"Tatsuta, nice to meet you~," Tatsuta says.
"Akatsuki, first of Akatsuki-class destroyers. Tatsuta, second of Tenryuu-class light cruisers," Ooyodo explains.
"Nice to meet ya." Dante stares at Akatsuki.
"?"
"A lady, huh?"
"Yes!"
"Hah! You're still a kid."
"I'm not a kid!"
"Sure, little lady."
"Hmph!" Akatsuki puffs up, missing the sarcasm.
"Akatsuki's my sister!" Inazuma says.
"Nice to meet your sis," Dante says.
"Yay!"
"Is Tenryuu here?" Tatsuta asks.
"Nope."
"Wanna meet her soon~."
"Soon enough."
"Afternoon plans?" Ooyodo asks.
"Facility tour done?"
"This morning," Akatsuki says.
"Train with Inazuma and Kitakami."
"Got it!" Akatsuki says.
"Okay~," Tatsuta says.
"Where's Akashi?"
"Working on your rigging," Kitakami says.
"I'll bring her food," Mamiya says.
"Let's eat."
Lunch done, afternoon begins.
Office
Dante works quietly. Akashi bursts in.
"Admiral! It's done!"
"Hell yeah!"
"Test it at the exercise yard."
Exercise Yard
Akatsuki, Inazuma, Kitakami, Tatsuta, and Houshou train. Kitakami spots them.
"Admiral, it's ready?"
"Test run time."
Dante wears leg-only rigging. The shipgirls watch nervously.
"I'm on water!" Dante says.
Akashi explains usage. "That's it. Go!"
"On it."
BOOM!
Dante rockets off, splashing water.
"…"
Akashi, behind him, is soaked.
"…Achoo!"
Dante yells, "YEEHAW!"
"Akashi-san, you okay!?" Houshou asks.
Dante returns. "What's up, Akashi? Swam in your clothes? Hah!"
"Your fault!" Akashi snaps.
"Sorry," Dante says, grinning.
"(Not sorry at all…)" Akashi thinks.
"Amazing, Commander!" Inazuma says.
"Way too wild," Kitakami says.
"Impressive~," Tatsuta says.
Akatsuki's speechless.
"Be careful next time," Houshou says.
"Sorry," Dante surrenders with raised hands.
"What was that noise!?" Akagi and Kaga arrive.
"Look!" Dante shows the rigging.
"Please!" Akagi says.
Akashi feels dread.
BOOM!
Dante speeds off, soaking everyone.
"…"
"Admiral!" Houshou roars.
Dante gets a two-hour lecture from Houshou.
"(Houshou's scary when mad, like Mom…)"