The others followed Yuuki closely as they continued through the void world.
At this rate, he suspected the Nikkes might eventually start competing with one another just for the privilege of spending time with him. Considering how affectionate everyone had become, it was probably only a matter of time before someone started reserving a place beside him.
Yuuki sighed.
Before forming the bond, these girls had been much more reserved. Even those who were naturally affectionate had maintained some distance, keeping their feelings to themselves or hiding behind their usual personalities.
Now, with their hearts connected to his, they had become far more comfortable around him.
Perhaps a little too comfortable.
They clung to him, teased him, and openly expressed their affection without worrying about what anyone else might think.
And he had a feeling things would only get worse.
Eventually, they arrived at the next crystal.
Yuuki stopped in front of it and examined the familiar figure suspended within.
"Ah, it's Alice."
Emma immediately sighed.
Velvet followed with another weary sigh, while Eunhwa rubbed her forehead. Even Privaty looked as though she was bracing herself for something troublesome.
Yuuki glanced at them.
"You all sound as though this isn't going to be a normal experience."
Ludmilla smiled faintly.
"It's better for you to discover the truth yourself, Commander."
She hesitated before adding quietly, "Alice had... a rather sad life."
Yuuki's expression softened.
"I see."
He placed his hand against the crystal.
The world around them dissolved, and the memories of Alice's past began to unfold.
Unlike Ludmilla's story, Alice's memories reached back to a childhood filled with hospitals, medical examinations, and constant supervision.
As a human, Alice had suffered a serious head injury when she was young. The damage affected how her brain processed reality, leaving her unable to reliably distinguish what she perceived from what existed around her.
Her condition made everyday life extraordinarily difficult.
She spent much of her childhood in hospitals, surrounded by doctors who monitored her condition. Her exposure to the outside world was severely limited, and the opportunities she had to experience an ordinary childhood were few and far between.
As time passed, her perception of reality became increasingly distorted.
The world she experienced was unlike the one everyone else saw. People struggled to understand her, and many came to regard her as strange or insane.
But Alice had found a refuge in stories.
Her favorite was Alice in Wonderland, a fairy tale she read more than two thousand times. With so little access to the outside world, the story became her constant companion, filling the lonely hours she spent in hospital rooms.
Its characters were familiar to her. Its fantastical world offered comfort when reality was confusing and frightening.
Eventually, Alice was approached by a doctor who spoke with her about becoming a Nikke.
Unbeknownst to Alice, the doctor intended to recruit her for Nikke conversion.
For Alice, however, the proposal represented something else entirely.
A chance to be reborn.
A chance to become someone new.
Someone who could leave her painful past behind and live as the main character of her beloved fairy tale.
She accepted.
And so, Alice became a Nikke.
Yet her transformation did not immediately erase the problems that had plagued her human life. The extensive medical procedures and experimentation she had endured had left her perception of reality deeply distorted.
Even after becoming a Nikke, Alice continued to view the world through the lens of her favorite story.
She imagined herself living in a wonderland, with Ludmilla as her Queen and Yuuki's counterpart in her adventures as her beloved Rabbity. The Rapture Queen became the dreaded Queen of Hearts, a villain who tormented others and needed to be defeated.
Her greatest wish was to defeat the Queen of Hearts alongside Rabbity and lead everyone to Elysium, where they could live happily ever after.
Despite her mature appearance, Alice retained a childlike innocence. She was cheerful, friendly, compassionate, and eager to help anyone she considered a friend.
She could be rather eccentric, too.
Her form-fitting spandex suit, which might have seemed unusual to someone unfamiliar with her condition, was actually designed to regulate her unusually high body temperature.
And she had a habit of sneaking combat rations whenever nobody was looking.
The memories continued, showing Alice's life as a member of Unlimited. Alongside Ludmilla, Tove, and Neve, she worked to protect remote areas and rescue Nikkes who had become lost on the surface.
Even amid the dangers of their missions, Alice held tightly to her fairy-tale worldview.
Then came the mission that changed everything.
The Unlimited squad attempted to reach Avrora's village, only to be ambushed by Raptures. Alice and her companions fought to survive, but their efforts ended in capture.
The last image showed Alice being taken away alongside the other members of Unlimited.
Then the memory shattered.
The fairy-tale landscape disappeared, leaving Yuuki and the others standing in the familiar grass field.
Ludmilla looked toward him.
"Most of the time, we simply play along with Alice's fantasies. We don't want to upset her, and her cheerful disposition can be rather infectious."
Her smile faded slightly.
"But we also pity her. Even after becoming a Nikke, she continued to see the world through the broken lens of her human life. She never truly escaped the condition that had affected her since childhood."
Yuuki nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand."
Emma, however, seemed troubled by something else.
"There's something I've noticed, though."
Yuuki turned toward her.
"What is it?"
"Alice has been unusually quiet since she woke up in the med bay."
Ludmilla nodded.
"I noticed it as well. When I asked whether anything was wrong, she insisted that she was fine. But she no longer speaks with the same cheerful enthusiasm she used to."
Vesti looked concerned.
"Now that you mention it... she really has been quieter."
Privaty frowned.
"Could something have happened during her treatment?"
Yuuki was about to answer when a familiar voice interrupted them.
"I'm sorry..."
Everyone turned.
Alice stood nearby, her ears lowered and her hands clasped nervously in front of her.
"I'm sorry if... my weirdness made everyone uncomfortable."
Ludmilla immediately approached her.
"Alice?"
Alice looked down at her hands.
"The medical machine... it healed my brain."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The illness is gone. I can... see everything properly now."
She swallowed.
"I can't see the fluffy bunnies floating around anymore. Or the strange skies. The Mad Hatter and everyone else... they're gone."
Vesti's eyes widened.
"The med bay cured her schizophrenia?"
Yuuki considered the situation carefully.
"I believe so. The med bay scans the body for abnormalities and repairs what it can. If Alice's condition was caused by damage to her brain, the treatment may have corrected it."
He looked at Alice with a thoughtful expression.
"In other words, we're seeing Alice after her condition has been treated. She can now perceive the world without the distortions that affected her before."
Alice nodded slowly.
"That's right..."
She attempted a smile, but it looked strained.
"I know it sounds strange, but... I kind of miss seeing the rabbits. And the Mad Hatter, and everyone else."
She rubbed her hands together nervously.
"I know they weren't real, but they were always there for me. They kept me company when I was lonely. They made the world feel less frightening."
Her voice grew quieter.
"And now that I can see everything clearly, I feel awkward around everyone. I can see your faces properly, and I understand what things really look like. I just... don't know how to act anymore."
She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Ludmilla stepped forward and gently embraced her.
"Oh, Alice..."
Alice stiffened in surprise before slowly returning the hug.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Not to us."
"But..."
"No buts."
Ludmilla stroked her hair gently.
"You don't need to feel ashamed of what you experienced. Those memories were part of your life, and they helped you endure things that would have been difficult for anyone."
Alice's eyes glistened.
"But I was seeing everyone differently..."
Ludmilla paused.
Then she asked carefully, "Alice, how did you see us before?"
Alice blinked, momentarily distracted by the question.
"Well..."
She looked up at Ludmilla.
"Queen, you looked like a woman wearing a beautiful green dress!"
Ludmilla stared at her.
"...A green dress?"
Alice nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! You were my Queen!"
She then glanced toward the others.
"Tove looked like a talking lion, and Neve looked like a talking bear!"
Emma blinked.
"A lion and a bear?"
"Ehee... yes!"
Alice gave an embarrassed giggle.
"It was really awkward when I realized what everyone actually looked like. I kept thinking about how I had been talking to a queen, a lion, and a bear all this time!"
For a moment, Ludmilla could only stare at her.
Then she sighed and covered her face with one hand.
"I see..."
Velvet struggled to suppress a laugh, while Privaty turned away to hide her smile.
Even Eunhwa's expression twitched.
Yuuki, meanwhile, couldn't help chuckling.
"Well, at least now we know why you kept calling Ludmilla your Queen."
Alice's face turned pink.
"R-Rabbity! Don't laugh at me!"
Yuuki raised both hands.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm not laughing at you. I just think it's interesting."
He looked at her more gently.
"Alice, you don't have to force yourself to act the way you used to. Your condition has changed, and naturally, the way you experience the world has changed with it. It may take time to get used to everything."
Alice looked uncertain.
"But what if I'm not the same Alice anymore?"
Yuuki smiled.
"You're still Alice. You still have your memories, your feelings, and all the experiences that made you who you are. You haven't lost those just because your perception of reality has changed."
He paused.
"And you don't have to abandon your love for fairy tales, either. You can still enjoy Alice in Wonderland. You can still imagine wonderful adventures and give people silly names if they don't mind."
Alice's eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
"Of course. You just have a clearer understanding of what's real now. That doesn't mean you have to throw away everything that brought you happiness."
Ludmilla nodded.
"Your imagination is still yours, Alice. You don't need to be ashamed of it."
Emma smiled warmly.
"And you don't have to figure everything out today. We'll help you adjust. Plus, fantasy and reality is a little distorted right now. Shipgirls, Nikkes, bunny people, a witch with ten fox tails and I don't know what else. So, we can't blame you for seeing things are quite odd."
Alice looked around at the faces of her friends.
The world was different now. The fluffy rabbits were gone, the skies no longer behaved strangely, and the people around her looked nothing like the characters she had imagined them to be.
Yet they were still here.
Ludmilla was still her Queen, even if she wasn't literally a queen from a fairy tale. Tove and Neve were still her beloved companions, even if neither of them was a talking animal.
And Rabbity was still standing before her, smiling patiently.
Alice took a shaky breath.
"...Okay."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I'll try."
Yuuki nodded approvingly.
"That's all you need to do."
Alice looked up at him, her expression gradually brightening.
"Then... can I still call you Rabbity?"
Yuuki paused.
He glanced at Ludmilla, who was already smiling knowingly.
Then he sighed.
"Somehow, I knew you were going to ask that."
Alice clasped her hands together.
"Please?"
Yuuki shook his head, unable to suppress a smile.
"Fine. You can keep calling me Rabbity."
Alice beamed.
"Ehee! Thank you, Rabbity!"
Ludmilla watched the exchange with visible relief. Alice still had a great deal to adjust to, but the spark of happiness in her eyes was returning.
Perhaps her wonderland had changed.
But that didn't mean she had to face the new world alone.
Yuuki looked at Alice, who was still standing beside Ludmilla. The girl's expression had brightened considerably, and the spark of excitement in her eyes had returned.
"Still want to join my army of rabbits and defeat the evil Queen?"
Alice's eyes immediately lit up.
"Yes! Please take me with you, Rabbity!"
She paused, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"Although... it's not actually an army of rabbits, is it?"
Yuuki smirked.
"Pfft. We have rabbit people, you know."
Alice froze.
"...Wait. They exist?!"
Ludmilla turned toward him in surprise.
"They do?!"
Yuuki nodded casually.
"Yes. You can ask Rapi, Anis, Neon, Ade, Soda, Cocoa, and Nayuta. Mary and Pepper have been there, too. We've visited their sanctuary before. It's one of the Blue Zones currently protected by GDI in this world."
He paused before continuing.
"They're remnants of the Sakura Empire. You've already met Souryuu and Hiryuu, after all. They're Tsukimimi, or bunnies—people with rabbit ears."
Alice stared at him, her mouth hanging open.
"They're real?! I thought I was seeing things when I met those two!"
Ludmilla looked equally bewildered.
"Commander, you're telling me that an entire race of people with rabbit ears exists?"
"Pretty much."
Yuuki shrugged as though he were discussing something completely ordinary.
"Of course, rabbit people aren't the only ones. You've seen Kaguya, Akagi, Kaga, and Amagi with their fox tails. Shoukaku and Zuikaku have wings, while the Takao sisters have wolf ears. Akashi has cat ears."
He gestured vaguely toward the world around them.
"Most of the Sakura are half-beasts because of their mutations. Depending on whom you meet, you might encounter people with rabbit ears, fox tails, wings, or even feline features."
Alice fell silent.
Her mind was clearly struggling to process everything he had just told her.
There were actual rabbit people.
People with fox tails.
People with wings and wolf ears.
And she had already met some of them without realizing they were real!
Yuuki chuckled at her bewildered expression.
"You might be cured, Alice, but the world itself is hardly any less strange than what you used to see. I was just as surprised as you when I first met Takao and Atago."
Ludmilla slowly turned toward him.
"You're saying you were surprised to discover that people with animal ears and tails existed? What about when you turned into an alien?"
Yuuki gave her a sidelong glance.
"Of course I was surprised! I wasn't expecting to encounter any of this when I came to this world. And the whole alien thing was just my attempt to make sense of what was happening to me."
Alice's ears perked up.
"Ehee! Then, Rabbity, please take me to visit the Tsukimimi one day! I want to see that bunnies really do exist!"
Yuuki smiled.
"I will. If you're interested, you can start by talking to Souryuu and Hiryuu. I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you about their people."
Alice's excitement briefly gave way to nervousness. She clasped her hands together and looked up at him.
"Do you think they'll want to be friends with me?"
"Of course they will."
Yuuki answered without hesitation.
"Just go and talk to them. You won't know until you try, right?"
Alice considered his words before her smile gradually returned.
"You're right, Rabbity!"
She bounced excitedly on her heels.
"Then I'll meet the Tsukimimi, make lots of bunny friends, and help your army defeat the evil Queen of Hearts!"
Yuuki chuckled.
"One adventure at a time, Alice."
"Ehee! Okay!"
Ludmilla watched Alice's renewed enthusiasm with a fond smile. Then she turned toward Yuuki, her expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity.
"Commander, I believe I still have much to learn about this world. I spent most of my life confined to the Ark and the North. I knew little about what existed beyond them. Now, I'm learning that remnants of the Sakura Empire still exist. I had assumed those unusual features were exclusive to Shipgirls."
Yuuki gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Believe me, Ludmilla. You're not the only one. I was just as shocked as you are."
Eunhwa, Vesti, Emma, Privaty, and Velvet exchanged glances. They, too, had been fascinated by the Sakura Shipgirls' unusual appearances. Whenever they encountered them, it was difficult not to stare at their ears, tails, wings, and other features.
After all, none of the Sakura Shipgirls looked entirely human.
Even after spending time around them, the Nikkes still found their appearances intriguing.
Eunhwa folded her arms.
"I'll admit that I've stared at them more than once. It's difficult not to notice when someone has fox tails or animal ears."
"Same here!" Vesti admitted quietly.
Emma nodded with a warm smile. "They're certainly different from what we're used to."
Privaty looked away, trying to maintain her composure.
"Well, it's not as though you see people like that every day!"
Velvet grinned mischievously.
"Sounds like someone wants to touch a fluffy tail."
Privaty's face flushed.
"I-I never said that!"
Yuuki sighed as the others began laughing.
Alice, meanwhile, was already lost in thoughts of her next adventure. The prospect of meeting actual rabbit people had given her something new to look forward to, and she seemed eager to discover more about the world around her.
At this rate, bringing her to meet the Tsukimimi might be the easiest part of Yuuki's day.
The difficult part would probably be explaining why his so-called army of rabbits wasn't actually an army at all.
Yuuki turned toward Ludmilla.
"By the way, I noticed something in your memories. You have trouble with technology, don't you?"
Ludmilla sighed.
"Unfortunately, yes. I possess a unique ability to discharge electricity. Whenever I touch something that conducts electricity, I risk damaging it or rendering it inoperable."
She glanced at her gloved hands.
"My core constantly generates electrical discharges, making it difficult to handle electronic devices safely. I've had to be extremely careful about what I touch."
Yuuki listened thoughtfully before nodding.
"That's a powerful ability. Imagine if you could fully control and amplify it. You could supercharge your electrical discharge and blow Raptures apart with a mere touch. It would practically be a death sentence for anything unfortunate enough to get close to you."
Ludmilla gave him a weary look.
"That sounds impressive, Commander, but it's hardly convenient when I can't even handle ordinary electronics without worrying about breaking them."
"You're a lot like Eldridge."
Ludmilla blinked.
"Eldridge?"
"Remember that little blonde Destroyer who clings to me like a koala?"
Ludmilla nodded slowly.
"Ah, yes. I've seen her. Isn't she one of the troublemaker that follows you to the space station with Cinderella and that red headed girl?"
"That's the one. She's got a similar problem. Eldridge used to discharge electricity almost constantly, making it difficult for her to interact with others without accidentally shocking them. But after she connected with me, she learned to control her powers properly."
Yuuki smiled at the memory.
"Now she can hug people without electrocuting them."
He paused.
"Well, almost everyone. Sandy is a different story. That girl once survived a direct discharge from a Tesla Tower—a charge powerful enough to blow up a tank."
Ludmilla stared at him.
"...A Tesla Tower?"
"Don't ask."
Yuuki waved the question away before continuing.
"The important thing is that Eldridge can now control her electrical abilities. She's no longer constantly discharging electricity, and she can interact with people normally."
Ludmilla looked down at her gloved hands.
"Someone else had the same problem as me..."
Her voice grew quieter.
"And she managed to overcome it?"
"She did."
Yuuki regarded her thoughtfully.
"If your condition is similar to Eldridge's, connecting with me might have helped stabilize the abnormality in your core. Alternatively, the med bay might have repaired it during your treatment. Either way, there's a good chance you can control your powers now."
Ludmilla's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean... I might be able to touch things without damaging them?"
"There's only one way to find out."
For a moment, Ludmilla hesitated.
She had spent so long wearing gloves and avoiding unnecessary contact that the thought of touching someone without worrying about an accidental discharge felt almost unreal.
Even a simple gesture of affection had been something she had to deny herself.
She glanced at Yuuki's unarmored outstretched hand.
"Commander... may I?"
Yuuki smiled and held out his hand.
"Go ahead."
Slowly, Ludmilla removed one of her gloves.
Her bare hand trembled slightly as she reached toward him. She had grown accustomed to the familiar crackle of electricity whenever she touched conductive materials, and she instinctively expected the same thing to happen now.
But when her fingers touched Yuuki's hand, nothing happened.
No sparks.
No electrical discharge.
No sudden jolt.
Only the warmth of another person's hand against hers.
Ludmilla froze.
She turned her hand over, examining her fingers as though she couldn't believe they belonged to her.
"...It stopped."
Yuuki smiled.
"Looks like it worked."
Ludmilla gently tightened her grip around his hand.
She could feel his warmth. She could touch him without fear of hurting him, and there was no need for gloves to stand between them.
For years, she had lived with the constant worry that her abilities would make even the simplest interactions dangerous. She had learned to keep her distance, to be careful with every touch, and to accept that something as ordinary as holding another person's hand might be beyond her reach.
Now, that barrier was gone.
"Commander..."
Her voice trembled with emotion.
"I can touch you."
Yuuki's expression softened.
"Of course you can."
Ludmilla stared at their joined hands for another moment before looking up at him. Her eyes glistened, and a smile spread across her face.
Then, without another word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Yuuki barely had time to react before Ludmilla pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Thank you..."
She held him close, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
"Thank you so much, Commander."
Yuuki returned the hug, gently patting her back.
"You're welcome, Ludmilla."
She didn't let go.
In fact, she seemed determined to make up for every hug she had denied herself over the years.
And, judging by the way she tightened her arms around him, she had no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Unfortunately for Yuuki, the other girls noticed.
Emma's smile became noticeably strained.
Velvet narrowed her eyes playfully, already considering how to reclaim her place beside him.
Vesti looked at Ludmilla's embrace with unmistakable envy, while Privaty crossed her arms and turned her head away with a huff.
"Honestly..." Eunhwa muttered, watching the scene unfold. "One person discovers she can hug him safely, and suddenly everyone else has another reason to cling to the Commander."
"That's because hugs are wonderful!" Emma declared.
Velvet grinned.
"And now Ludmilla can finally enjoy them without worrying about turning her favorite person into a walking lightning rod."
"V-Velvet!" Privaty protested.
Yuuki glanced at the growing crowd of jealous Nikkes and sighed.
He had only wanted to check whether Ludmilla's condition had improved.
Somehow, he had just made himself the center of another competition for hugs.
Meanwhile, Ludmilla remained blissfully unaware of the commotion around her. She was too happy to care.
For once, she could hold someone close without fear.
And she intended to cherish every moment of it.
========
It took both Emma and Privaty to pry Ludmilla away from Yuuki.
"Come on, Ludmilla! Give the Commander some breathing room!" Emma urged, gently tugging at her arm.
"That's right! You can't monopolize him just because you can hug him now!" Privaty added, grabbing her other arm.
"But I haven't finished yet!" Ludmilla protested, reluctant to release Yuuki.
"Finished what?!" Privaty exclaimed. "You've been hugging him this entire time!"
Eventually, Ludmilla had no choice but to let go.
Even then, she looked rather reluctant to put some distance between them.
Still, the discovery had changed everything for her. She could touch others without worrying about accidentally discharging electricity or freezing them with her powers. The gloves she had worn for so long were no longer necessary to protect those around her.
She could even hug Alice safely.
When Alice eagerly wrapped her arms around Ludmilla, the older woman stiffened in surprise before returning the embrace.
"Ehee! Queen, you're so warm!"
Ludmilla smiled and gently patted her head.
"Yes, Alice. And you can hug me whenever you wish."
For someone who had spent so long afraid of getting close to others, being able to accept such simple affection was a tremendous relief. She no longer had to hold herself apart from the people she cared about.
Yuuki watched the two of them with a satisfied smile.
Then he clapped his hands to regain everyone's attention.
"Okay, okay. We still have three more crystals to deal with."
The girls turned toward him.
"Besides," he continued, "I can sense that the hospital is full of Shipgirls and Nikkes waiting for us. The longer we take, the more anxious they'll become. Especially Amagi, Hood, Elly, Yat Sen, and Hornet."
Ludmilla straightened her posture, though her smile remained.
"You're right, Commander. We shouldn't keep them waiting unnecessarily."
She hesitated before asking, "But... do you think Elizabeth and Eldridge would be willing to befriend me?"
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Elizabeth might be pompous, but she won't throw her weight around just because she's royalty. Just go and talk to her. I think you two might get along."
Ludmilla nodded thoughtfully. As a noblewoman herself, perhaps she could find common ground with the Queen of the Royal Navy.
"And Eldridge?" she asked.
Yuuki chuckled.
"With Eldridge, all you need to do is offer her a good hug. Before you know it, she'll be clinging to you like a koala."
Ludmilla's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
She smiled to herself.
Two new friends, perhaps? One a fellow noblewoman, the other an adorable little Destroyer who loved hugs.
And now that she could embrace others without fear, she was confident she could give Eldridge a very good hug indeed.
"Then I'll look forward to meeting them properly," she declared.
Yuuki nodded.
"Good. Now, let's keep moving."
The group continued through the void until they reached the next crystal.
Yuuki stopped in front of it.
"Tove."
He glanced at the others, who nodded in acknowledgment.
Then he placed his hand against the crystal.
The surroundings dissolved, and the memories of Tove's life unfolded before them.
Unlike Alice, Tove's memories weren't filled with a fantastical wonderland. Instead, they revealed the harsh reality of someone who had been forced to survive in a world that had shown her little kindness.
Tove had been a Northern orphan.
Like Emma, Velvet, and so many other children from the North, she had been cast aside by a society that considered her birthplace a mark of inferiority. With no one willing to offer her shelter or protection, she had been left to fend for herself.
The Ark's freezing winter proved unforgiving.
Tove had tried to survive, but she lacked the necessary skills and experience. She didn't know how to find adequate shelter, secure warmth, or protect herself from the cold.
Her efforts weren't enough.
Eventually, she succumbed to the freezing temperatures and died alone.
The sight made Emma's expression darken. Velvet's playful smile disappeared, while Vesti lowered her gaze.
Another Northern child abandoned by a world that should have protected her.
But Tove's story didn't end there.
After being resurrected as a Nikke, she became determined to ensure that she would never be helpless again.
She began studying survival techniques obsessively.
Anything she could find about wilderness survival, shelter construction, fire-making, food gathering, navigation, or improvised equipment became valuable to her. She absorbed information from books, manuals, and whatever other resources she could get her hands on.
Over time, she accumulated an astonishing amount of theoretical knowledge.
Unfortunately, knowing how to survive and actually surviving were two very different things.
Tove had an encyclopedia's worth of survival knowledge, but very little practical experience. She could explain the theory behind constructing a shelter, yet struggle when she had to build one herself. She knew which techniques were supposed to work, but applying them under real conditions often produced disastrous results.
And despite her enthusiasm, she continued to make mistakes.
Even after joining Unlimited as its mechanic, her survival skills remained a work in progress.
The memories showed several incidents in which Tove attempted to put her knowledge into practice, only for things to go wrong in increasingly ridiculous ways.
Ludmilla could only sigh as she watched.
"Tove..."
There was no anger in her voice, only exasperation mixed with genuine concern.
"That girl really does try her best."
Yuuki couldn't help smiling.
"She certainly does."
Despite her lack of practical experience, Tove was far from useless. In fact, she was remarkably resourceful when it came to improvisation.
Give her a collection of discarded parts, scraps of metal, or whatever happened to be lying around, and she could often turn them into useful tools or makeshift gadgets. Her mechanical aptitude allowed her to create solutions from materials that others might have considered worthless.
In that regard, Yuuki thought she would get along exceptionally well with the two Akashis and the other mechanically inclined Shipgirls.
The thought of Tove and Akashi working together was almost amusing.
They could probably build something extraordinary.
Or accidentally create a machine that nobody else could figure out how to turn off.
Perhaps both.
The memories also revealed that Tove's shortcomings weren't limited to her practical skills.
Some aspects of wilderness survival still made her uncomfortable. Eating insects, relying on instinct, and adapting to unfamiliar environments were all things she struggled with. She tended to rely on what she had learned from books rather than trusting her own judgment.
Yet she wasn't incapable of improvement.
Tove was a fast learner when she received proper guidance, and her sociable, outgoing personality made it easy for her to work with others. She wasn't afraid to ask questions, seek advice, or try again after making mistakes.
More importantly, she genuinely wanted to help.
Having only recently joined Unlimited, Tove was eager to prove herself. She wanted to put her survival knowledge to practical use, support her squadmates, and ensure that she would be someone they could depend on when danger struck.
Unfortunately, enthusiasm alone couldn't replace experience.
The memories ended with Tove continuing to study and experiment, determined to become the survival expert she wanted to be.
The scene dissolved, and the group found themselves back in the void.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Yuuki crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"So, Tove knows almost everything there is to know about survival..."
He paused.
"...Except how to survive."
Ludmilla let out a long, weary sigh.
"That is a rather accurate summary, Commander."
Emma covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Velvet grinned.
"Well, at least she's good at making gadgets. Maybe she can build something to help herself survive."
"That would defeat the purpose of learning survival skills," Eunhwa pointed out dryly.
"Not if the gadget works!" Velvet replied cheerfully.
Vesti giggled softly, while Privaty shook her head.
Yuuki chuckled along with them.
"Tove has the right attitude. She just needs proper field training and someone who can help her turn all that theoretical knowledge into practical experience."
He glanced toward the next crystal.
"With the right guidance, I'm sure she'll get there."
Ludmilla nodded.
"She has always tried her best. She deserves the opportunity to prove herself."
"Ehee... I really did try my best, you know."
A familiar voice came from behind them.
Everyone turned to see Tove standing nearby, scratching her cheek with an embarrassed smile.
"I guess I'm still not cut out for survival."
Yuuki chuckled and reached over to pat her head.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Tove. Knowing survival techniques and actually applying them are two different things. You need practical experience to understand how to adapt those techniques to the situation you're facing."
Tove tilted her head.
"Then... what's the first thing I should do when I'm out in the wilderness? Build a shelter?"
"Not quite. First, assess your surroundings and secure a source of safe drinking water. Then, depending on the environment and conditions, get a fire going, find food, and build a modest shelter. You don't need to construct a luxury cabin in the middle of nowhere."
"Ehhh? But wouldn't a better shelter be safer?"
"Not if you waste all your energy building it before taking care of your immediate needs. You have to prioritize and adapt to your surroundings. A simple shelter that protects you from the elements is better than an elaborate one you never finish."
Tove listened intently, her eyes practically sparkling as she absorbed his advice.
"If we're ever out in the wilderness together, I'll teach you some practical survival techniques. With enough experience, you could even learn guerrilla warfare."
Tove blinked.
"You mentioned that before, Commander."
"That's right. Guerrilla warfare is about using your surroundings, improvising with whatever you have, and exploiting your enemy's weaknesses. Sometimes, the things you find lying around can be more useful than the weapons you brought with you."
Yuuki grinned.
"You could turn junk into a weapon of mass destruction."
Tove's expression brightened immediately.
"Ehee! Now that sounds interesting!"
Yuuki laughed.
"Let's test your imagination, then. Suppose you have an audio-mode player, a Power Ejector, an Overclocked Rotor, and a bunch of metal discs. What would you do with them?"
Tove didn't hesitate.
"Merge them together and create a weapon called the CD Launcher!"
Yuuki stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing.
"Pfft! That's one way to put it. I'd prefer calling it the Discos Locos."
Tove tilted her head.
"Discos Locos?"
"Yeah. Your memories show that you're pretty good at making makeshift gadgets. You might not be the best wilderness survivalist yet, but your ability to improvise with whatever you can find is genuinely impressive."
Tove scratched her cheek, looking pleased with the compliment.
"Ehee... I've always been good at that. I just make whatever I can with the materials available. It's how I learned to get by."
"Exactly."
Yuuki gave her another gentle pat on the head.
"Maybe you've been focusing on the wrong things. You keep trying to become the perfect wilderness survivalist, but you're overlooking one of your greatest strengths: making useful things out of seemingly useless junk."
Tove blinked.
"You mean I should focus more on building gadgets?"
"Why not? We have advanced weapons and all sorts of sophisticated equipment, but that doesn't mean we can rely on them every single time. Equipment can break, supplies can run out, and sometimes you'll find yourself in a situation where your usual tools simply aren't available."
He gestured toward her.
"That's where your creativity comes in. If you can turn discarded parts into a useful tool, repair equipment with limited resources, or build something that gives your squad an advantage, that's a survival skill in its own right."
Tove's expression grew thoughtful.
"So... even if I can't build a proper shelter or find food in the wilderness, I can still help my squad by making things?"
"Of course. Don't misunderstand me, though. Wilderness survival is still worth learning, and you should keep practicing. But you don't have to master every aspect of it to prove your worth."
Yuuki smiled warmly.
"You have a home now, Tove. You have people who care about you, and you don't have to spend every waking moment preparing to survive on your own. You can learn at your own pace instead of treating every mistake as a failure."
Tove fell silent.
For so long, she had tried to compensate for her lack of practical survival skills by studying more, memorizing more, and pushing herself to become the survivalist she believed she needed to be.
She had wanted to ensure that she would never be helpless again.
Yet, somewhere along the way, she had started measuring her worth by how well she could survive in the wilderness.
Perhaps Yuuki was right.
She didn't need to excel at everything. She simply needed to find the best way to use what she already had.
Tove looked up at him, her eyes shining with renewed determination.
"Then, Commander... can you teach me more?"
Yuuki smiled.
"More what?"
"Everything! Wilderness survival, improvisation, making gadgets... all of it!" She clenched her fists enthusiastically. "I want to learn how to survive out there, even if there's only a small chance I'll ever need those skills!"
Yuuki chuckled at her renewed enthusiasm.
"It's not useless, Tove. You could still need those skills during missions, especially if you end up separated from your squad or stranded somewhere without supplies. Knowing how to find water, make a fire, and improvise equipment can save your life."
He paused before adding, "Although, knowing GDI, I'll probably provide you with plenty of advanced equipment to make your missions easier."
Tove's eyes widened.
"Advanced equipment?"
"Yes. Tools, survival kits, portable fabrication equipment, makeshift capsule homes, and whatever else we can develop to support your work. But I want you to understand how things work, too. Technology is useful, but knowing how to improvise when it fails is even better."
Tove beamed.
"Ehee! Then I'll become the best survivalist and gadget maker ever!"
Yuuki laughed.
"One step at a time, Tove. Let's start with the basics before you try building another Discos Locos."
"Hey! But the CD Launcher is a great idea!"
"That's exactly what worries me."
The others burst into laughter.
Even Ludmilla couldn't help smiling at Tove's enthusiasm.
"Don't worry, Tove," Emma assured her. "I can teach you some things about surviving on the surface. I've had plenty of experience dealing with its harsh conditions."
Vesti nodded shyly.
"I can help, too. We've spent a long time out there, so there are things you can only learn through experience."
Eunhwa folded her arms.
"I can teach you how to assess threats, manage supplies, and make decisions under pressure. Knowing how to survive isn't just about finding food and building shelter. You also need to recognize danger before it becomes a problem."
Privaty nodded in agreement.
"Velvet and I have our own experience with surviving on the surface. We can teach you how to stay alert, avoid ambushes, and make the most of limited resources."
Velvet grinned.
"And if all else fails, we can always help you turn that pile of junk into something the enemy will regret encountering!"
"That's not quite what I meant," Privaty muttered.
"Close enough!"
Tove looked around at them, visibly moved.
All this time, she had been trying to improve herself through solitary study, believing that she had to overcome her shortcomings on her own. Now, she had an entire group of people willing to share their experience and help her learn.
And with her bond to Yuuki, she felt an even stronger determination to improve.
It wasn't just about proving herself anymore.
She wanted to become someone her squad could depend on. Someone who could help her friends survive dangerous missions and ensure that everyone made it home safely.
"Ehee... Thank you, everyone!"
Yuuki smiled and gave her one final pat on the head.
"That's what we're here for. We'll teach you what we can, and you'll learn through practice. Just remember that making mistakes is part of the process. What matters is that you learn from them."
Tove nodded firmly.
"I will, Commander! I'll keep learning until I can handle myself out there!"
"Good. Just don't blow yourself up while experimenting with your gadgets."
Tove puffed out her cheeks.
"I wouldn't do that!"
Everyone stared at her.
She hesitated.
"...Probably."
The group burst into laughter again.
For all her shortcomings, Tove had never stopped trying. She had spent her life searching for ways to become stronger and more capable, determined never to be helpless again.
Now, she finally had people willing to teach her—not because she was failing, but because they believed she could improve. Her connection to Yuuki had given her another reason to keep learning: the desire to survive, protect her companions, and return home alongside them.
And perhaps, with the right guidance, Tove would discover that survival wasn't just about enduring the wilderness.
Sometimes, it was about learning to trust your companions, recognizing your own strengths, and making something useful out of whatever life left in your hands.
Yuuki turned toward Eunhwa and nudged her with his elbow.
"Oh? Someone has finally decided to trust other people."
Eunhwa gave him a sidelong glance.
"I'm not that kind of person anymore, Commander. Besides, Tove might be terrible at surviving in the wilderness, but she's probably a better guerrilla fighter than any of us when it comes to improvisation."
Yuuki nodded in agreement.
"True. She's a fast learner, too. I expected her to ask me how to build the Discos Locos, but she figured it out on her own."
Tove beamed at the praise.
"Ehee! I can make all sorts of things if you give me enough parts!"
Eunhwa folded her arms, then smirked at Yuuki.
"Speaking of which, what else can you create, Commander?"
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Why? Planning to steal some ideas?"
"Perhaps." Eunhwa's smirk widened. "I'm curious about what kind of ridiculous inventions you've come up with."
Yuuki chuckled.
"Have you ever heard of making a minigun out of motorcycle parts?"
Eunhwa blinked.
"A minigun... from motorcycle parts?"
"Something like that."
Her eyes lit up with genuine interest.
"Intriguing."
Yuuki gave her an amused look.
"Careful, Eunhwa. If you keep looking at me like that, people might think you're trying to monopolize my time."
"I'm simply interested in the technology, Commander."
"Of course."
He gave her a knowing smile.
Eunhwa sighed, already regretting engaging in the conversation.
Then Emma suddenly gasped.
"Ah! Eunhwa is sneakily snatching the Commander away!"
"I am not," Eunhwa replied flatly.
She attempted to fold her arms again, only to realize that one of them was still wrapped around Yuuki's arm.
She stared at her own hand.
There was a brief silence.
"...Maybe."
Emma burst into laughter.
Velvet covered her mouth, barely containing her amusement, while Privaty looked as though she had just witnessed a crime against common sense.
Vesti, meanwhile, grinned mischievously.
"Perv."
Eunhwa's head snapped toward her.
"You!"
Vesti giggled and immediately darted behind Ludmilla, using the taller woman as a shield.
"Queen, protect me!"
Ludmilla blinked at the sudden request before sighing.
"Vesti, I believe you brought this upon yourself."
"But Eunhwa is scary!"
"Come out from behind Ludmilla!" Eunhwa demanded.
"Nope!"
Yuuki watched the exchange with an amused smile.
Eunhwa might insist that she had changed, but apparently, she still had a mischievous side. And now that she was comfortable enough to tease him openly, she seemed to have developed a habit of getting caught in her own antics.
He glanced down at her arm, which she had yet to release.
"Eunhwa?"
"What?"
"You're still holding me."
She immediately let go.
"...It was an accident."
"Of course it was."
Yuuki's knowing grin only made her scowl harder.
"Commander, if you have time to tease me, you have time to explain how to build that minigun."
"See? Now you're trying to monopolize my time again."
"Would you stop that?!"
The others erupted into laughter, while Vesti peeked out from behind Ludmilla and stuck her tongue out at Eunhwa.
Eunhwa noticed.
"Vesti, you're going to regret that."
"Ehee!"
Vesti quickly hid again.
Yuuki shook his head, chuckling to himself.
He had a feeling that teaching Tove survival skills would be the least troublesome part of their training program.
Dealing with these girls, on the other hand, was going to require an entirely different kind of survival expertise.
"Okay, okay... mind letting me go? I'm not a teddy bear."
Yuuki looked down at the girls clinging to him from either side, his expression somewhere between exasperation and resignation.
Ludmilla raised an eyebrow.
"You let Eugen call you a teddy bear!"
"That's different!"
"How so?" Ludmilla asked, sounding genuinely curious. "If Eugen can call you her teddy bear, then surely we can have you as our teddy bear as well."
"Figuratively, not literally!"
"DON'T CARE!" Velvet declared cheerfully, tightening her embrace.
Yuuki stared at her.
"Velvet, that defeats the entire purpose of what I just said!"
Emma giggled while Vesti continued clinging to his other side. Even Privaty seemed to be considering whether she could join in without making it too obvious that she wanted a hug herself.
Eunhwa, meanwhile, studied Yuuki with a thoughtful expression.
"Commander, would you mind if I applied for the bodyguard position?"
Yuuki glanced at her.
"Sorry about that. Someone already beat you to it. She hasn't been revived yet, but she secured the position in advance."
Eunhwa raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"Warspite. A Royal Navy fast dreadnought and battleship. She's Elizabeth's sister."
He paused before adding, "She's not as pompous as Elizabeth, but she's extremely strong and fast with a sword. She's also quite protective of the people she cares about."
Eunhwa considered that for a moment.
"A sword-wielding battleship who has already claimed the bodyguard position before being revived?"
"Pretty much."
"Hmph. I'll have to see how capable she is when we meet."
Yuuki gave her an amused look.
"You're welcome to test your skills against hers, but don't complain if you lose."
Eunhwa scoffed.
"I never complain about losing to someone who's genuinely stronger than me. Plus, you won't mind if I watch you as a sniper. Which is something I am good at."
"A sniper bodyguard? That's reassuring."
"Commander!"
Yuuki laughed before raising both hands.
"All right, that's enough. Everyone, release me."
"But you're so comfortable!" Emma protested.
"You're warm, too!" Vesti added.
"Like a teddy bear," Velvet concluded.
Yuuki closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
I really need to stop letting them get away with this.
He gently disentangled himself from the girls before anyone could find another excuse to cling to him.
"Come on. We still have one more member of Unlimited to find."
Ludmilla straightened immediately.
"Neve."
"That's right."
Yuuki started walking toward the final crystal, leaving the girls no choice but to follow.
He wasn't about to let them turn him into a communal teddy bear before they had even finished their mission.
Besides, Neve was waiting.
And if her memories were anything like the others', she deserved their attention just as much as the rest of Unlimited.
============
Yuuki finally managed to free himself from the girls' relentless affection and led the group toward the last crystal belonging to Unlimited.
Neve.
After this, only Diane's memories would remain—the final one among the ten Nikkes who had synchronized with him.
Yuuki stopped before the crystal and studied the sleeping figure inside.
"All right. Let's see what Neve's story is."
He placed his hand against the crystal.
The world dissolved around them, and Neve's memories began to unfold.
Neve was a member of Unlimited, the squad responsible for patrolling the frozen North, investigating Rapture incursions, and guiding lost Nikkes and commanders back to the Ark.
Among the members of Unlimited, however, Neve was rather unusual.
She was obsessed with polar bears.
Not merely interested in them. Not simply fond of their appearance.
She was absolutely fascinated by them.
Neve had devoted an extraordinary amount of time to studying polar bears, memorizing their behavior, habits, physical characteristics, and preferred environments. She knew an astonishing amount about the animals and had made it her lifelong dream to encounter one in the wild.
More than anything, she wanted to hug one.
To pursue that dream, she had adopted a distinctive appearance, dressing in a polar bear-inspired outfit and imitating their behaviors whenever possible.
She even incorporated hibernation into her lifestyle.
Whenever she wasn't searching for polar bears or carrying out a mission, Neve could often be found sleeping.
Much like Frima, she seemed to regard sleep as one of life's greatest pleasures.
Unfortunately, this habit made her an unconventional member of Unlimited. While Ludmilla, Alice, and Tove worked together, Neve frequently operated independently because she would occasionally disappear into a long slumber.
Yet Ludmilla rarely gave her too much grief over it.
Neve was surprisingly capable when it came to tracking lost Nikkes. Her extraordinary sense of smell allowed her to locate people who might otherwise have been impossible to find, and she was skilled enough to complete her assignments despite her peculiar habits.
As long as she got the job done, Ludmilla was willing to tolerate her sleeping arrangements.
The memories continued, revealing the origins of Neve's obsession.
Unlike Alice, whose human life had been shaped by a medical condition and a childhood spent in hospitals, Neve's past involved a different kind of experiment.
She had been a test subject.
The people responsible for her treatment had attempted to incorporate a portion of polar bear DNA into her biological makeup, creating a human-animal hybrid similar in principle to the mutations found among the women of the Sakura Empire.
The experiment was designed to give Neve certain characteristics associated with polar bears, particularly their extraordinary sense of smell.
In other words, Neve had been engineered to possess a biological structure that incorporated remnants of polar bear DNA.
And the experiment had worked.
Even before becoming a Nikke, Neve had been aware of her unusual origins. She had spent much of her childhood reading about polar bears, studying everything she could find about the animals.
Her fascination had grown alongside her knowledge.
She learned about their habitats, their hunting behavior, their incredible sense of smell, and their ability to survive in freezing environments. The more she discovered, the more she wanted to see one with her own eyes.
There was just one problem.
Neve never realized that polar bears had become extinct.
She had spent years pursuing a dream that the world could no longer fulfill.
Yet she never gave up searching.
She continued to study polar bears, convinced that somewhere in the frozen wilderness, she might finally find one.
Then the memories took a darker turn.
Neve's enhanced sense of smell had come at a terrible cost.
Her human brain struggled to process the overwhelming sensory information produced by her altered biology. What should have been an extraordinary ability became a constant burden as her senses pushed beyond what her nervous system could safely handle.
Eventually, an experiment went wrong.
The sensory overload overwhelmed her brain, and Neve died.
The scene was brief, but its implications were clear.
She had been modified in pursuit of an experimental ability, yet the people responsible had failed to ensure that her body could withstand the consequences.
Emma's expression darkened.
"Another experiment..."
Velvet's smile vanished.
"Just how many people were they willing to sacrifice for their research?"
Nobody answered.
The memories continued.
Neve was eventually revived as a Nikke, and the conversion proved that the experiment had not been entirely unsuccessful.
Her new body could withstand the sensory input that had overwhelmed her human brain. The polar bear DNA remained within her biological makeup, allowing her to retain her extraordinary sense of smell.
However, the transformation also brought unexpected complications.
Neve's polar bear characteristics had become more pronounced. Her altered biology now affected her behavior, including her overwhelming tendency to sleep.
Unlike Shipgirls, who could often treat hibernation as little more than an extended slumber, Neve had difficulty controlling the instinctive demands of her modified body.
Her need for sleep could be excessive.
She might fall asleep when she should have been awake, remain asleep longer than intended, or struggle to stay alert even when she had something important to accomplish.
It wasn't simply laziness.
Her body was responding to biological traits that she had never fully learned to control.
And yet, despite these difficulties, Neve had developed an impressive combat ability.
One of her skills, Bear Power, allowed her to draw upon the ferocity associated with polar bears, greatly increasing her attack power.
When activated, her usually sleepy demeanor could give way to overwhelming aggression. The same Nikke who preferred curling up for a nap could become a formidable combatant capable of tearing through enemies with tremendous force.
The contrast was striking.
A sleepy polar bear enthusiast who could barely resist the urge to hibernate, yet possessed the power to unleash a terrifying assault when provoked.
The memories eventually returned to Neve's life with Unlimited.
She continued to search the frozen North for polar bears, following every lead and investigating every place that might offer a chance of finding one.
She knew almost everything there was to know about them.
She had the enhanced sense of smell that should have made finding them easier.
And she possessed the determination to keep searching for as long as necessary.
But she had never found one.
Her dream remained unfulfilled, and she continued to sleep whenever she wasn't searching or working.
Still, Neve was a friendly person. She got along well with her squadmates, and her unusual habits rarely stopped her from helping others.
There was only one reliable way to earn her displeasure.
Wake her up before she was ready.
The memories faded, and the frozen landscape disappeared.
Yuuki and the others found themselves back in the void, standing before Neve's crystal.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Yuuki sighed.
"So, Neve was another experimental subject. They gave her polar bear DNA, enhanced her sense of smell, and ended up creating someone whose human body couldn't handle the sensory overload."
Ludmilla nodded solemnly.
"That is correct. Neve rarely speaks about her human life, but her fascination with polar bears has always been a defining part of her personality."
Yuuki rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Her Nikke body seems to have resolved the sensory overload, but the biological traits remain. The excessive sleeping might be a consequence of how her modified physiology works."
"Which explains why she can sleep for such long periods," Emma observed.
"And why waking her up is such a terrible idea," Velvet added with a grin.
Ludmilla sighed.
"Indeed. I would strongly advise against doing so unless absolutely necessary."
Yuuki chuckled before his expression turned thoughtful.
"There is something else, though. Neve has spent her entire life searching for polar bears without knowing that they no longer exist."
Alice's ears drooped.
"Poor Neve..."
She looked toward the crystal.
"She just wants to meet one and give it a hug."
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah. And she deserves to know the truth."
He paused, then shook his head.
"Actually, that's not entirely true."
Ludmilla regarded him curiously.
"Commander, are you suggesting that GDI might be able to help her find a polar bear?"
"I told you that GDI has plenty of bears, including polar bears, living in a separate dimension. We mainly use that environment to train bears as scouts."
Everyone stared at him.
Ludmilla blinked.
"You have an entire dimension containing bears?"
"Among other things."
Yuuki shrugged as though this were perfectly ordinary.
"The polar bears aren't prisoners, either. They're free to roam around. We simply train them to recognize us as allies and work alongside our forces as scouts."
Alice's eyes widened.
"Then... Neve really can meet a polar bear?"
"Absolutely."
Yuuki turned his attention back toward Neve's crystal.
"There's also the matter of her condition. Her altered biology reminds me of the Sakura Shipgirls. I suspect Yuu or Vestal could have helped stabilize it, but the med bay seems to have already done the job."
Ludmilla tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"The med bay corrected the abnormality in Neve's DNA. Her Nikke's human biology is dominant again, but she retains the enhanced traits inherited from the polar bear DNA."
He smiled.
"Essentially, she can keep the benefits of her polar bear abilities without having her biology interfere with her daily life. She should be able to live like a normal Nikke while retaining her enhanced senses and combat capabilities."
Ludmilla's expression softened.
"Neve would be overjoyed to hear that."
"I hope so. She might be pretty much like Laffey who can sleep excessively. Both might become sleeping buddies soon."
Before Yuuki could say anything else, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.
"Ehee... Burly Bear..."
Yuuki stiffened.
"...Neve?"
The sleepy Nikke had somehow appeared behind him without anyone noticing. She pressed her cheek against his back, inhaling deeply.
"Burly Bear smells really nice... So nice..."
She nuzzled against him.
"Oh, Burly Bear... you're so warm and cuddly."
Yuuki stared ahead for a moment.
"Oh... I forgot."
Eunhwa raised an eyebrow.
"Forgot what?"
Yuuki sighed.
"I'm apparently a little dangerous to the women of the Sakura Empire. They keep telling me that my scent is the best thing they've ever smelled."
Emma's eyes widened in realization.
"Is that why those foxes are always clinging to you?"
"Pretty much."
Velvet grinned.
"So, you're not just a teddy bear. You're a walking air freshener for beast girls."
"Please don't make it sound like that."
Neve tightened her embrace.
"You're the first thing I've ever liked more than polar bears."
Yuuki glanced over his shoulder.
"...I know."
But then Neve's arms loosened.
Her cheerful expression faded, and she lowered her head.
"I know... polar bears don't exist anymore."
Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant.
"But... when you said you have lots of them somewhere... I thought... maybe I really could see one after all."
Yuuki's expression softened.
"You will, Neve. I'll take you to the training dimension later. You can see as many polar bears as you want."
Her ears perked up.
"Really?"
"Really. You can watch them, learn more about their behavior, and even get close to them once our handlers confirm it's safe. They're being trained to work with us as scouts, but they're free to roam around their environment."
Neve stared at him, her eyes gradually brightening.
"I can really meet them..."
"Of course."
She hugged him again, though this time her embrace was gentler.
"Then... I have to keep trying. If I want to see a polar bear, I can't give up."
She hesitated.
"But I'm afraid I'll fall asleep before I get the chance..."
Yuuki blinked.
"Actually, I don't think that's going to be a problem anymore. Tell me, have you fallen asleep unexpectedly since your treatment?"
Neve paused to think.
"...No."
She looked surprised by her own answer.
"I can stay awake for much longer now. I haven't been feeling sleepy all the time."
Yuuki nodded.
"Then I guess the med bay did its job."
Ludmilla looked at him in astonishment.
"The med bay again? It corrected Alice's condition, and now it has helped Neve as well?"
"That's right. It corrected the abnormality in Neve's altered DNA, restoring the dominance of her Nikke's human biology while preserving the enhanced polar bear traits."
Yuuki explained patiently.
"Her body no longer has to struggle with the same excessive hibernation instinct. She retains her enhanced senses and the power derived from her polar bear DNA, but she can function much more like an ordinary Nikke."
Neve stared at him.
"That means... I can stay awake longer now?"
Yuuki smiled.
"Yep. Much more like a human. Stay up as long as you like but, try to get some sleep. I am pretty sure you'll be like Laffey. Might be sleeping buddies."
For a moment, Neve seemed unable to find the right words.
Then she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you!"
She pressed her cheek against his back again.
"Thank you, Burly Bear!"
Yuuki chuckled.
"Careful. You might start competing with Eugen over who gets to call me a bear."
Neve lifted her head.
"Eugen can call you Teddy..."
She gave him a sleepy, satisfied smile.
"I can call you Burly!"
Yuuki sighed.
"Somehow, I knew you were going to say that."
The others burst into laughter.
Ludmilla watched Neve's happiness with a warm smile. For years, her squadmate had chased a dream she believed was impossible, all while struggling with a condition she couldn't control.
Now, she had a real chance to meet the animals she adored—and the freedom to pursue that dream without being constantly dragged into an unwanted slumber.
For Neve, the world had just become a much bigger place.
"Neve can be useful from now on," Ludmilla remarked, watching her squadmate cling happily to Yuuki.
Yuuki nodded, then glanced at Neve.
"But do keep an eye on her. Now that she can stay awake as long as she wants, make sure she doesn't overdo it. You girls might be Nikkes, but you still need proper rest."
"Don't worry, Burly Bear! I'll sleep early!"
Yuuki gave her a skeptical look.
"Right... Somehow, I doubt that now that you're healed."
Neve simply giggled and hugged him tighter.
Curious, Yuuki turned toward Tove.
"How long did she usually sleep before?"
"Almost an entire day," Tove answered. "She would wake up for about an hour, then fall asleep again. We were worried about her, but none of us knew her DNA had been derived from polar bears."
The she paused.
"Wait. So, the reason she wanted to find polar bears was..."
"Polar bears instinctively seek out their own kind," he explained. "Neve's inherited instincts may have been driving her to search for them all this time. She wasn't simply obsessed with polar bears. Part of her was trying to find her own kind while struggling to control those instincts."
He glanced at Neve, who was still happily snuggling against him.
"Now that her condition has been corrected, she can finally live like a normal Nikke without those instincts constantly interfering with her life."
"Ehee... I can finally be useful!" Neve exclaimed.
She hugged him again, pressing her cheek against his back.
"Burly Bear... you smell so good."
Yuuki let out a long sigh.
"Looks like the Sakura women aren't the only ones I have to deal with."
He glanced at the girls surrounding him: Eunhwa, Emma, Vesti, Privaty, Velvet, Ludmilla, Tove, Alice, and now Neve.
Every one of them was connected to him through their synchronization. He could sense their happiness, their relief, and the emotional weight that had gradually lifted from their hearts. The changes to their bodies and the removal of the traumas that had haunted their memories had given them the opportunity to move forward with their lives.
They could finally begin again.
And Yuuki was genuinely happy for them.
There was just one small problem.
They had become incredibly clingy.
He looked down at Neve, who showed no intention of releasing him, then glanced at the other girls watching him with varying degrees of affection.
I really need some time alone.
He missed being able to enjoy a little peace and quiet without someone following him around.
Nowadays, he couldn't even leave for five minutes without having his girls watching his back.
At this rate, I'll need to schedule my private time in advance.
Yuuki sighed again.
Perhaps saving people from their pasts was easier than convincing them to give him some personal space.