You grunt. It was too early for this. Why couldn’t she throw her mother hen act somewhere someone actually asked for it?

‘I’d like to see you try—’

No … it couldn’t be.

Your eyes fly open … and immediately come into contact with an irksome visage you hadn’t hoped to ever see again.

Kasumi stares back at you, bundled up in a coat. ‘What?’

>'This isn't funny, Shaman.' (Annoyed)
>'Kasumi? What? How? Huh?' (Confused)
>'I should've stopped at the first bottle.' (Dry)
>Write-In

>>2292667
>>'Kasumi? What? How? Huh?' (Confused)

>>2292667
>>Write-In
>Pinch her cheeks

"I'm not dreaming again, right?"

>>2292667
>'Kasumi? What? How? Huh?' (Confused)

>>2292669
Stop trying to anime your way through life.

>>2292667
>what
...that’s my line

>>2292673
no~

>>2292667
>kasumi? What? How? Huh? (Confused)

File: You're Such A Moron.gif (1.47 MB, 540x303)

1.47 MB GIF

‘Kasumi?’

She doesn’t say a word, only continuing to stare at you intently as you push yourself, your arms steadying you as you try to ascertain whether you were in some sort of lucid, oat-and-eggs-mixed haze dream. Your friend—who you hadn’t seen in person since your days in school—was seated in the style of seiza, her hands over her knees and a thick woolen coat over her person. She looked … just as tired as she was when you had last seen her, sitting down on that bench with all those books littered around. She put up a tough front about it, but you knew her—and the irony is palpable here—enough to know when it was just that; no matter how much of a glare she could muster to try to convince you otherwise.

Your confusion, however, was at its peak … and the prospect—not to mention the reality—of seeing someone who you had practically thrown to the wolves in your last personal encounter wasn’t something that you were quite prepared for.

However.

You were a Commander. You’d faced down beasts from the depths and tip-toed the very limits of sanity. This was child’s play compared to that.

‘What-How-Huh?’

That was you, all right. The very portrait of eloquence and comprehension.

They should be promoting you on your verbal skills alone.

‘Incredible,’ she rolls her eyes, pushing herself off her knees and pressing a hand to your bare chest. ‘Two and a half bottles and you’re already on a brain-damage shortlist.’

‘H-Hey!’

Despite your protests, however, you make no move to stop her.

‘Your heart rate seems normal enough,’ she replies mechanically, briefly reminding you of Ooyodo when she was making a report or evaluating a proposal. ‘Excessive consumption of alcohol usually has the patient experiencing irregularities, but you don’t look like you’re going to suffer from cardiac arrest in the next fifteen minutes, either … or I could be wrong and you’re just about to blow your guts all over your blanket in the next thirty seconds.’

‘Blowing—wait, hang on … Kasumi, what are you doing here?’

You grab her by the wrist, pulling her hand away from chest with your prosthetic. She winces slightly … and for a moment, you see a flash of something as she pulls her hand away, rubbing her wrist and fixing you with an annoyed glare after.

She stays silent for a moment, glancing at her wrist before redirecting her focus towards you. ‘Do you even remember last night?’

Last night? Of course you did. You had accepted the invite of the Sergeant, had a few bottles of sake and …

‘You were singing in the courtyard of your barracks. I believe the song of your choice was What’s New Pussycat in E-Minor. You’re welcome, by the way.’

>‘I never said thank you.’ (Annoyed)
>‘That doesn’t answer how you’re here.' (Confused)
>‘Oh man … sorry about that.’ (Embarrassed)
>Write-In

>>2292714
>‘Oh man … sorry about that.’ (Embarrassed)

"Was the sergeant still there?"

>>2292714
>oh man sorry about that. Thanks (embarrassed)

>>2292714
>‘That doesn’t answer how you’re here.' (Confused)

>>2292714
>‘Oh man … sorry about that.’ (Embarrassed)

>>2292714
>>‘Oh man … sorry about that.’ (Embarrassed)

File: Seiza.jpg (7 KB, 178x283)

7 KB JPG

You bury your head in your hands.

You couldn’t remember doing any of that … but it did answer why the lyrics to the song were so damn clear in your head right now.

‘Man,’ you sigh, unable to look her straight in the eye. ‘Sorry about that …’

‘You never struck me as the type to drink yourself into a chorus line,’ she snorts again, pulling herself back and sitting down again, ‘so I figure there was probably a legitimate reason your breath was reeking of at least two bottle of sake before the clock even struck ten on the town …’

‘I took an invite by an Army Sergeant for a friendly drink,’ you reveal, not remembering much else of your meeting other than a few casual exchanges, ‘that’s about it, really.’

She hums, raising an eyebrow just as you turn your head up to her. ‘I suggest, for your own benefit … you stick with something a little closer to your pallet. As much as I’d love to see you embarrass yourself on the streets and in front of your Command, as a Doctor, I highly doubt that your liver or the Admiralty would be having their arms open at the prospect of one of their’—she crinkles her nose slightly as she takes a brief pause—‘most able being reduced to a hungover mess with a breach at the border.’

You almost jump to your feet. ‘There’s a breach?!’

‘A hypothetical scenario,’ she sighs, rubbing her temples. It was amazing how much she and Akashi had in common.

‘Oh,’ you let out dumbly, rubbing the back of your neck as you feel your cheeks heat up.

Silence reigns once more.

You’re not sure what was more unbelievable. That Kasumi had, by some miracle, showed up in your quarters when you had believed her to be leagues away … or the fact that she hadn’t taken the opportunity to strangle you in your sleep. How the both of you had parted ways … it was hard for you to fathom that she’d be doing anything in your vicinity that didn’t involve two strong hands around your neck. However, considering how that other encounter had gone … perhaps you weren’t giving her enough credit on that front. She hadn’t hung you by the noose then (In fact, if you remembered correctly, she had assumed you were some hobo and had attempted to feed you), so there was little reason that she wanted to do it now.

‘I really want to strangle you, you know.’

All right, perhaps a little more than that.

‘I know,’ you let out quietly, trying to offer an apologetic smile her way. One that she, predictably, doesn’t return.

The awkwardness only rises with the aversion of her gaze, glancing around at anywhere but directly at you.

>‘I suppose an apology right now would only be getting me in more trouble …’
>‘So, uh … you made it into med school. That’s great. Always knew you’d make it.’
>‘Why … how are you, um … here?’
>‘Thanks for the help, but I need to get to work, I think.’
>Write-In

>>2292770
>‘Why … how are you, um … here?’

>>2292770
>‘Why … how are you, um … here?’

>>2292770
>>‘Why … how are you, um … here?’

Mechs got a killer headache. Hes calling it for this session.

See you guys later.

>>2292770
Thanks.
...

It’s good to see you.
And sorry.


And get well OP.

>>2292714
>‘Why … how are you, um … here?’

>>2292770
>>‘Why … how are you, um … here?’

File: Feet.jpg (108 KB, 850x1164)

108 KB JPG

‘Why,’ you cough into a fist, catching yourself before you continued with anything stupid from that train of thought before continuing, ‘I mean, um, how are you, um … here?’

If you were being honest, you were still unsure if this was a fever dream or a byproduct of the consumption of an alcohol intake above what you were used to. It was surreal—and you’d repeat that a thousand times in the next five minutes if you had to—to see her again. You would have thought that that experience that you had in your training would have given you a sort of cushion in building back up to this moment … but the span of mere days and the unexpected nature of her arrival had thrown any sort of assurance or preparation you thought you would have had out of the window.

This is, you supposed, what they meant by the difference between theory and application.

She lets out an annoyed huff, crossing her arms.

‘I’m a med student now,’ she starts, ‘and as one of the exceptional students in my year’—for some reason that sounded like an attempt at intimidation, coming from her—‘I made the short-list to attend a joint-program between my university and the Admiralty. I’m going to be here for the next three to four weeks under the joint program. You’re already acquainted with one of the participants to this program … Akashi-sensei? The KanMusu?’

‘Akashi?’ you let out in confusion. ‘What … I mean, she’s part of this? Why?’

You catch something.

‘Sensei?’

She lets out a sigh.

‘The program is a joint effort organized by the … Court of Admirals and the Congregation of Lords,’ she reveals further. ‘One of the terms of the agreement—the alliance—is a greater degree of transparency between the Admiralty and the health sector. The universities hope to pick up a thing or two in a study of KanMusu biology—mostly on the front of regeneration. Being a Commander, I think that you’re well aware just how much the physiology and reactivity of KanMusu to Fata Aqueous.’

‘Fairy’s Tears,’ you nod.

‘Fata Aqueous,’ she repeats insistently.

You don’t bother to argue. Your headache was enough of a front to keep busy on.

‘The joint program is meant to be a show of goodwill on the Admiralty’s part for the full backing of the Congregation of Lords if I’m reading my politics right,’ she sighs, ‘and Yokosuka’s base was chosen to be the … starting point in the administration of that goodwill.’

Your prosthetic raises up with a whirr, briefly catching her attention.

One of the joint fibres probably needed some more pressure.

‘Who let you in?’

‘Your … subordinates did,’ she frowns, gesturing with her hands to either side of her head. ‘The one with the … blue hair.’

‘Murakumo.’

‘That’s the one.’

You cover your head in your hands, peeking out between your fingers to see her still present, eyeing you most quizzically.

>>2293766
>'What?' (Self-Conscious)
>'So, a student at Kurosaki Research ... I think a congratulations is long overdue.' (Casual)
>'Wait, so you've been here since last night?'
>'Right, thanks for the patch-job. I think I have work to do.'
>Write-In

>>2293772
>>'What?' (Self-Conscious)

>>2293772
>'What?' (Self-Conscious)

>>2293772
>>'So, a student at Kurosaki Research ... I think a congratulations is long overdue.' (Casual)

>>2293772
>'What?' (Self-Conscious)
never seen a drunk navy commander?

>>2293772
>'So, a student at Kurosaki Research ... I think a congratulations is long overdue.' (Casual)

“You did it.”

>>2293772
>'What?' (Self-Conscious)

File: congratulations.gif (203 KB, 680x365)

203 KB GIF

>>2293772
>>'So, a student at Kurosaki Research ... I think a congratulations is long overdue.' (Casual)

>>2293772
>>'So, a student at Kurosaki Research ... I think a congratulations is long overdue.' (Casual)

>>2293789
""""Navy""""

>>2293775
>>2293783
>>2293789
>>2293798

>>2293787
>>2293791
>>2293801
>>2293804

Flipping coin. Oh shit, not looking forward to this.

File: Kasumi Kasumi.jpg (158 KB, 639x715)

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‘So, a student at Kurosaki Research, huh?’ you let out a low, friendly whistle. ‘I think a congratulations is long overdue.’

‘I don’t expect one, coming from you,’ she snipes, turning up her nose, ‘but I’ll take it.’

You grimace. You deserved that much, at the very least.

She doesn’t say a word for a while … and neither do you. The awkwardness of the situation finally sets in after an easy first few minutes. After everything that had happened between the both of you (One thing, but it practically counted as everything after being left to fester after all this time) it was hard to just sit down and talk. Kasumi, in real life … was nothing like that projection that you had talked with—that you had bought you coffee and bagels under the assumption your were some drug-ridden hobo. It was hard when it wasn’t put on a platter and had someone pushing you towards it when your feet went numb … but you supposed that was the difference between the ideal and the truth.

Reconciling one with the other wasn’t an option.

‘Between the both of us, though, you made the bigger leap,’ she smirks. ‘Commander of the Admiralty … that’s something to put on the wall, isn’t it?’

‘It’s a bigger responsibility, yeah, but … you’re the one actually putting in the hours through medical school. I don’t think I’d survive five minutes, never mind five years of that.’

Her smirk widens.

‘I—’

She cuts herself off, bringing her hand to her mouth, before peering at you with furrowed brows.

‘What?’

‘I never said I attended Kurosaki Research.’

Of course she did. She'd told you ...

Uh-oh.

>Write-In

>>2293894
>"I took a wild guess."
>Attempt to maintain poker face

>>2293894
>well you i allways though you would aim as high as you could, so.. (bluff)

>>2293894
>One of the MPs said they saw some kids who look like pre-med students. I didn't know you were one of them. Is Kurosaki Research the only one taking part?"

>>2293899
>>"I took a wild guess."

>>2293894
>>2293933
this

>>2293899
>>2293935

>>2293933
>>2293945
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

>>2293894
>>2293933
This

File: Utaha-02.gif (1.08 MB, 500x281)

1.08 MB GIF

You had to cover your tracks.

Or rather, it was already beyond the covering of tracks and now your only hope was to accelerate beyond your limits and hope she didn’t have a second gear on that hound-like mind of hers. You wrack your brain for a solution, for anything to throw the scent off your person. The things that one slip-up could give way to were staggering: that you’d actually projected yourself with help from your teacher some hundred miles and change into her subconscious; that you’d allied yourself with a faction (If it could even be called that) that both side of the ISSF-Admiralty tiff had a mutual dislike towards; that you’d kept things quiet from the one man who had trusted you enough to hand over someone who was effectively his daughter into your fresh hands; that the First Admiral was involved … and that wasn’t even going into the repercussions for your tutor.

You had to think fast.

‘I … took a wild guess?’

For a moment, there is silence.

And then …

I suppose if I terminate the biological algorithm that enables the neurons to project its ideas into your lower jaw and tongue, it would be a net gain for all of existence, wouldn’t it?

‘Are you,’ she adopts a disgusted face, tensing up ever so slightly, ‘are you … stalking me?’

Now that was just uncalled for.

You hadn’t so much as looked her up since that fateful day. Why did she think you saw her as something worth bothering now if you hadn’t when you were still ironing your uniform’s blazer?

>‘Sure, like I have time to look up your name in the yellow pages between my MASH visits and risking my neck.’ (Sarcasm)
>‘What? No!’ (Indignant)
>‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’ (Hurt)
>‘Look, Kasumi … it’s, uh, classified, how I know.’ (Try to be vague)
>Write-In

>>2294033
>>‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’ (Hurt)

>>2294033
>‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’ (Hurt)

>>2294033
>One of the MPs said they saw some kids who look like pre-med students. I didn't know you were one of them. Is Kurosaki Research the only one taking part?
This sounds like it would work, and fits the guess angle, plus
>‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’ (Hurt)

>>2294033
>

>>2294033
>‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’ (Hurt)

>>2294033
>>‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’ (Hurt)

File: Animated.gif (1.21 MB, 540x304)

1.21 MB GIF

‘Do you honestly think that lowly of me?’

‘Funny,’ she lets out curtly, folding her hands over her lap. ‘That’s what I said to you the last time we spoke.’

You’d replayed this conversation in your head more than a few times. In your effort to save your brain from turning into a vegetable from your own callous—and amorous—behaviour, you’d reforged a connection that you hadn’t known you still valued as much as you did. You rub your prosthetic, feeling more appropriate by the second … and finally realizing the weight of all the circumstances that had led up to the now. She hadn’t seen you for years. The last time that you’d even seen each other was in the aftermath of your decision to recite the facts of the case rather than to come to her defence. She was more than likely overworked, had more than likely endured a multiple hour journey with a bunch of fellow medical students that were probably pushing insanity’s buttons by the second … and had come to discover that you—her formerly fat disloyal excuse of a friend—drunk and disorderly and unwittingly appealing to the professional throes of her ethics while stirring up personal vendettas she probably harboured and tried to move on from since that meeting.

‘I deserve that,’ you sigh in agreement, nodding.

‘Good,’ she lets out patiently. ‘That means the alcohol’s clearing up.’

‘You know I don’t, right?’ you let out quickly, before moving to clarify your position. ‘I mean I …’

You sigh.

You actually hope that the Shaman would burst out from a wall somewhere and say that this was all some weird test he cooked up to punish you for … drinking too much or sleeping with too many of your subordinates. You’d much rather take a lashing from a curmudgeonly old man than you did actually facing down Kasumi with the confession to end all confessions. To her credit, however, she didn’t seem to push or rush … nor did she look like she was about to pick up that table and bash you on the head for all those years where words had been left unsaid.

‘I don’t think that lowly of you, Kasumi … and I should’ve stood up for you,’ you say softly. ‘I don’t expect you to … accept that as an excuse, nor do I mean for it to be, but … I should’ve been your friend instead of trying my hand at being a grown-up.’

She doesn’t reply, turning up her nose and tapping her hands on her lap in response to your attempt.

‘And I’m … for what it’s worth, I think that you’ll definitely kill it—urgh, bad choice of words,’ you smack your prosthetic into your face … painfully, grumbling under your breath as you try to collect your thoughts. ‘I think that you’ll definitely do well as Doctor. I’m happy that you’ve made it this far.’

Kasumi doesn’t say a word, rocking in place as she appeared to try and digest your thoughts.

‘So … how did you know I was attending Kurosaki?’

>>2294198
>Try to lie (Roll a 1d6 each)
>Tell the truth
>Write-In

>>2294201
>Tell the truth
We just have to make sure she knows to not tell ANYONE. Assuming she even believes us.

>>2294201
>Tell the truth
>Write-In
“But i need you to promise not to breath a word to anyone else.”

>>2294201
>Tell the truth
Honestly fuck it, were a magical eyed, metal armed commander of a division of super powered humanized, reincarnated ships given sentience by magical monks and literal fairies. If she doesn't believe us, that's on her.

>>2294201
>>Write-In
I didn't, just an educated guess based on the fact that we were best friends before. And that no matter how much times passes and things may change, the ideals and pinciples as well as dreams we hold most likely wouldnt change much

>>2294218

>>2294222
>>2294218
>>2294211
just tell her what she needs to know
no need to tell her about the Shaman being a Heretic

>>2294201
>>2294218
this but tell her what we did. Not how we did.

Like "Theres some parts of why I that happened that I cant tell you. And all I can do is ask you to trust me."

Resuming session in about half an hour.

File: Crazy.gif (571 KB, 500x283)

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‘You’re not going to believe me if I, uh, told you.’

‘Try me.’

You sigh, considering your answer. There was no way that you were going to divulge that you were harbouring someone whose mere presence would only result in the further splintering of the Admiralty. Even if Kasumi didn’t have a face to her name in this context—and it wasn’t that you couldn’t trust her (you think)—to reveal the tidbit of information that ascertained as to the how of the knowledge was something that you couldn’t bear to invove her in. A slip here and there … and the moment her name came up, it’d be curtains.

However.

You’d come too far to just tell a simply lie. Plus, it wasn’t as if Kasumi couldn’t pick apart your words one by one if she so much as found a loose thread. The only thing you could down, really … was pray that she didn’t try to read into your explanation too much.

‘Well, um, uh,’ ‘I kind of, um … Kasumi, do you believe in, um … I got a word for it, I think … the red string of fate?’

She immediately recoils in disgust, holding up an arm as if to shield herself from your (non-existent?) wickedness.

You quickly scramble for an apology.

‘N-No, not like that!’

‘You really have been stalking me all this time, haven’t you?’

She clutches herself, running her arms up and down as her eyes go wide and blank, staring fearfully at you as though you were about to tear her apart and feast on her corpse. You pinch the bridge of your nose, gritting your teeth.

‘I really, really haven’t—and could you please stop going back to that hypothesis?’

‘Is it really, though? Talking about that kind of thing …’

It was now your turn to glare at her.

‘You’re implying that I’d find you worth stalking,’

‘Well, that’s—what do you mean worth stalking?’

‘You—look, do you want the explanation or not?’

‘Fine!’

If nothing else, you were glad that she had put her arms back down.

‘I got into a bit of trouble some time back,’ you continue, a slight scowl on your face. ‘I wasn’t able to … commandeer my Division at full capacity and I had to … find a solution, a patch job. I didn’t come into this job with my credentials plated with gold stars and I’m … I guess I’m still feeling my way through details even now. Cutting the fat on that … I kind of needed a solution to that. I couldn’t do my job if I wasn’t able to straighten myself out on that end, so, uh … I did what you’d call a little soul-searching, I guess?’

You pause, consider it for a moment.

‘Yeah, definitely soul-searching.’

She tilts her head as she creases her brows in confusion. ‘What?’

‘I don’t know if you understand this, but I had to spiritually level myself up … and the only way to do that was, um, to fix a part of me that was, uh, for lack of better word … connected to you.’

‘Ha?’

You sigh, less than enthusiastic in following through with the rest of your explanation.

‘You know how people say that you can still be connected even when you’re a million miles apart? That’s … um, what we are—what humans are, I guess. Everyone we come into contact with, who touched our lives, for good or for bad … I think that they’re with us, you know, so long as we carry them. So for … some reason, I had to … look back on our connection. Our relationship … and whether to break it or to keep it. It was ... everything that I didn’t want to see about myself wrapped in one package and tossed aside. I really … I really considered it, you know … that it’d be an easy fix. It’d be easy. It wasn’t as if I thought we were going to ever see each other again, right?’

She gives a nod. You don’t think she fully comprehends your words, however. Regardless, you decide to continue.

‘Well, I was given a choice of sorts: sever whatever we had apart … fix myself up quick and have it over and done with or … not to. Keep everything that happened between us. The good … and especially the bad times. There wasn’t any happiness for me on there … just some bad memories that I could really, really do without.’

‘So what did you do?’

You cross your arms, giving a self-assured nod as you reply to her question. ‘I chose to keep ‘em, of course.’

She stares at you flatly, clearly unimpressed.

‘What’s with that “of course I did” attitude?’

‘I was stupid back then,’ you let out a small, wry laugh, ‘but … I know better than to trade everything that I’d ever been through with you for some silly shortcut.’

She looks thoughtful as you glance at her, lightly biting her bottom lip as she weighed your words.

‘So this … connection is how you were able to … read my mind?’

‘I wouldn’t call it reading your mind,’ you clarify further, ‘but I was able to … I think connect’s the word … our minds, our souls or whatever and … well, it was enough to see you.’

‘How?’

‘Magic, I guess,’ you answer nonchalantly, giving a shrug for good measure. ‘I don’t know the finer details of my art, but … I was able to see you—or at least I think I was able to see you—sleeping on the bench in a waiting room in Kurosaki. I’m not even sure if that was a thing, you know … there was also this part where you bought me a bunch of food and thought I was hobo trying to mooch drugs—’

You immediately feel the impact of something hard on your head, wincing and turning up to see that your friend had closed the distance between the both of you, her whole body trembling and her face pink with something. Anger? Embarrassment?

‘H-Hey!’

Thankfully, you’re able to catch both her wrists before she’s able to do any more damage.

‘YOU ACTUALLY WERE IN MY HEAD! I KNEW I FELT SOMETHING WAS OFF!’

‘I wasn’t in your head,’ you pause, wondering briefly if that really was the case. ‘I think.’

That didn’t appear to appease her anymore than a dog biscuit would, as you gather all the remnants of your hungover-burnt strength in supporting the full weight of her body as she—if she hadn’t before—tries to put her mitts on what you perceive could either be an attempt to strangle all the remainders of life out of you or to claw your eyeballs out from your eye-sockets and put them in a jar as a trophy.

‘They gave you super psychic powers, didn’t you? You’ve been using them to spy on me in my sleep …’

‘Kasumi, even if I did have super psychic powers, don’t you think that I’d have bigger priorities to sort out than to try to look you up?’

‘I knew there was something weird about that nap I took … I was wondering if there was something wrong with me … imagining’—she grunts, placing more of her weight off her legs and onto your person—‘you all thinned up and looking some like some weird hobo with a robot arm and an eyepatch like you were some sort of stupid kids fantasy!’

Your mouth goes agape as the words strike into your heart. ‘That’s uncalled for!’

The lapse is concentration is enough.

She falls onto you, the full brunt of her form smacking you right underneath your diaphragm, rendering you immobile as she practically coils either side of her thighs against your ribs, her eyes twinkling like a madwoman who had just cornered her quarry.

You try to get up again … only to find that your strength had been sapped from the struggle enough that she only needed one hand to keep you from flipping her off your torso. You find your eyes widening with fear as her knees press into your ribcage, one hand raised and bearing down like the talons of a vulture, swooping down to tear their prey apart.

>Write-In

>>2294720
>>Write-In
we take the hits but say in a timid voice to please try to be gentle

File: 1370148619568[1].png (54 KB, 315x320)

54 KB PNG

>>2294720
Close eyes.
“...be gentle.”

>mfw

>>2294730
>>2294728
YES

>>2294728
>>2294730
Why the hell not

>>2294720
Parry with our prosthetic.

File: 0Dt7Vhl.png (3 KB, 238x252)

3 KB PNG

>>2294728
>>2294730
>>2294731
>>2294733
Just who is my player base?

>>2294736
A bunch of silly people.

>>2294736
degenerates who have a thing for AGGRESIVE handholding

>>2294736
you're still asking that?

>>2294720
Tank it.

then...

>...feeling better now?

File: Utsukushi.gif (1.33 MB, 500x281)

1.33 MB GIF

‘Do you have anything left to say for yourself?’

You give a nervous smile.

‘Be gentle?’

You let out a yelp as she makes good on her advantage, flicking your forehead with more force than her supple—no, you did not just think that—body could have managed with you on the defensive. All at once, you feel that the screws in your brain turning again … complete with sound, this time, for good measure. You whimper pathetically, bringing your hands to your head as you hold back the tears. What had you done to—no, that was a given … but did it really have to come with a hangover that all but sapped your strength? You were as weak as a baby, feeling your bladder acting up and banging against the walls of your torso and the weight of a friend who refused to listen to reason and all too willing to make her own conclusion pinning you down with the weight of her pelvis and upwards.

‘What do you say?’

That was it.

‘What do I say?’ you let out, sounding surprisingly squeakier than usual. ‘You barge into my room, interrogate me on a base assumption, soften my hangover only to bring it up again and … and pin me down in my own barracks! Is it just me or is that question unwarranted and redundant given the circumstances?’

Her eyes widen slightly, but she gives no response to your accusation but for the slight softening of her features.

‘Ah, you’ve really developed a prideful complex in the years you’ve been out of my sight,’ she sighs, shrugging … and wearing a smile so smug that you can’t help but fashion your gaze into a glare. ‘Who knew that the ego down there had room to grow?’

‘Really? Right now?’

‘Why not?’ she smiles brightly, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘Why would I let an opportunity like this pass me by after all these years?’

‘Ah, you seem like more the type to sic the orderlies with crushes on you on my ass just to prove a—OW!’

You whimper as you rub her forehead, cursing with the realization that you’d left yourself wide open to such a strike. Kasumi’s coat heaves up and down with her breath as her hum courses through her being … and by extension, yours. This was Kasumi, all right … a little more playful than you remembered, a little more physical, too … but this was definitely Kasumi; even if it was at her worst.

You could remember having your butt thrown by her at that self-defence demonstration again, seeing that you were caught in a disadvantaged situation such as this.

‘What are you looking at.’

She hums again … uncomfortably bouncing on your diaphragm, causing you hack.

‘You’ve lost weight, huh?’

>Push her off (Roll a 1d6 each)
>‘You’ve gained weight.’ (Shoot right back)
>‘They’re keeping me on a strict diet … not much to get on a food run around here, anyway.’ (Defeated)
>‘Yeah, yeah, whatever.’ (Try to ignore her)
>Write-In

>>2294846
>>Write-In
"Actually taking time to workout at the local gym, military life does encourage you to do so. The tears probably helped somehow, I think."

>>2294846
>I'm doing what I can. Now, could you please disentangle yourself from me? I do have to make myself presentable for work, you know.

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>2294846
>Push her off.

>>2294857
write in time

>>2294846
>>2294857
This.

And squint at her. “Have yooou been exercising? Sure doesnt feel like it.”

>>2294876
This

>>2294857

>>2294846
This>>2294857

>>2294857
This one

File: Best Friend of Yours.gif (2.82 MB, 500x280)

2.82 MB GIF

‘I’ve been trying to keep in line with the requirements of my post,’ you answer, staring up the ceiling. ‘Hitting the gym and all that jazz … the Tears helped a bit, I think.’

‘Must be nice, being a beneficiary of the quarter of the human populace who has a positive reaction to the substance,’ she comments nonchalantly. ‘Thought, to be fair, I heard that without it, you wouldn’t have been a Commander at all, would you?’

‘Yeah, yeah’ you grunt, trying to wriggle your way out from underneath her … only to find that your strength and articulation hadn’t reached the point where escape was a possibility. ‘Although I could hardly say the same for you …’

‘Whatever do you mean by that?’

‘If I’ve taken some off, you’ve definitely skipped quite a—’

You let out a squeak, drawing in a sharp intake of breath as Kasumi’s thighs push your ribcage inwards. Perhaps that wasn’t the smartest of measures; you wanted her off you … but not with a crushed sternum with a punctured lung. For a human, she definitely had something going on with down there—she could probably give Nachi a run for her money … de-powered, of course. A KanMusu was still a KanMusu, after all.

‘Ho? I’m not sure I quite heard that?’

‘All right, fine,’ you growl, ‘you’ve proved your point … can you get off me already?’

‘Testy, aren’t you?’

‘Only when—’

The door breaks down with a bang … and you find at least two thirds of your Division toppling over with the door, its hinges a distant memory as it crashes onto the aged wooden floor. Both you and Kasumi turn to the grunting tangle of masses on the floor, Nagato at the bottom with Shigure under one arm; Houshou somehow with her legs pointing up to the air as Murakumo sat on the group like they were some off piece of KanMusu-made furniture … with LEIA and Musashi all tangled up and pressed against the wooden doorway with Tenryuu the first of the lot to regain their bearings, standing up and holding her hands as though cleansing herself of all responsibility for this particular accident. You could also make out Takao trying in vain to stay hidden behind the doorway … but her pronounced chest jutting out gave too much away for her to be even remotely effective in doing so.

You stare at your subordinates, the protocol of discipline already playing on the tip of your tongue … before realizing that you had a full-blown human woman crushing your ribcage on your chest with something you hoped was merely body heat pulsing against your sternum.

As the lone, sane voice in the compound, you take it upon yourself to carry yourself with the poise and professionalism befitting your decision.

Gathering your strength, you slide slightly from underneath Kasumi, so much so she rested closer to your pelvis and enabled you to slightly raise your torso..

‘Everyone, this is Kasumi.’

No one smiled.

END INTERLUDE

>>2294928
Cute as fuck

File: A53093F0-505F-465E-B51F-0(...).jpg (33 KB, 300x283)

33 KB JPG

>>2294928
>Gathering your strength, you slide slightly from underneath Kasumi, so much so she rested closer to your pelvis

Lood and cute

>>2294928
Good thing Samidare isn't here to see this.

>>2294928
Well at least their eavesdropping will mean commander has slightly less explaining nobody would take at face value to do.

>>2294950
She's too pure for this shit

>>2294928
Heh

>>2294981
The only one whos not here who is.

Kaga is just away and Iowa is probably raiding the fridge.

Also
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/237981914110230528/411553544664252416/The_Tragedy_of_Darth_Mechanic.png

>>2295004
Mech a cute too

>>2295004
>Iowa is probably raiding the fridge.

Just what do you take her for?

>>2295872
American boat.

Disclaimer: I know she's not American in-quest.

File: Kancolle_ffe9b3_6068495.jpg (59 KB, 480x699)

59 KB JPG

>>2295872

File: She Won't Be Interfering.gif (1.97 MB, 500x281)

1.97 MB GIF

You’d rushed out of the shower and had planted yourself in your chair. The laundry team hadn’t come to pick up your dump for the last few days, leaving you with a pair of slacks and a white t-shirt that was still wet from your rushed shower. Your attendants weren’t here yet, save for LEIA, who was upstairs singing up a storm with Samidare and Murakumo. The latter had gained an appreciation for her music and the former just decided that singing along in the shower was more worthy of her talents than smacking you with an oak branch thinking it was some sort of miracle cure. The leftover dampness was making the already-significant chill all the more uncomfortable, and the towel on your head wasn’t doing you any favours.

Neither was the bathrobe-clad form of your friend, who had her bottom planted on your table as she hummed an odd tune, more than likely to aggravate you than it was to entertain herself. It looked to be a nice cool day otherwise … but Kasumi’s presence—not to mention her lack of delicacy—was already threatening to derail that particular hope.

‘Don’t you have some place to be right now?’ you question loudly, picking up a piece of paper and scribbling your to-do list for the day. ‘I’m sure that there’re quite a few civilians out there who could use some TLC from a doctor. Heaven knows we’re running short there.’

‘I’m not allowed to practice medical procedure without a supervisor or the permission of the hospital or a legitimate overseeing body,’ she declares mechanically. ‘Would you rather have a med student deciding the right dosage or would you actually want someone with proper medical experience doing the job.’

‘I won’t argue with you there,’ you snort, a smirk making its way to the corners of your lips. ‘However, if I remember correctly, you weren’t too fond of rules ei—’

The sound of a door slamming open … and the successive rustle of items hitting the floor has you looking up to see another bathrobe-clade figure—LEIA—rushing to your two attendants, standing in the doorway with their usual collection of files, stationery and folders, helping your lanky attendant first and then picking up her boyfriend’s dropped satchel before marching towards you.

‘Sorry about that, sir!’

‘No problem, gentleman.’

Both your attendants turn their gazes to Kasumi, frowning.

‘Who’s the babe?’

Your bulky attendant is given a quick smack to the back of his head.

‘Attendants, this is an old friend of mine; Kasumi; she’s just here as part of a research entourage … so don’t mind her. She won’t be too much bother … I hope.’

Kasumi says nothing to support your assumption.

As you peer at the doorway to the common room, you make out no less than four pairs of eyes peering from the edges of the doorway in curiosity.

You rub your temples, feeling that this was going to be a long, long morning.

>>2296226
POINTS AVAILABLE: 4/5
>District Duties [2/3]
>Supplementary Duties [1/2]
>Division Duties [3/4]
>Base Duties [1/2]

>>2296235
>3 division
>1 base
Division gets us upgrades for kanmusu, right? Because I remember that that's still something we need to focus on to prepare for midgame missions.

>>2296247
this
need them upgrades

>>2296235
District Duties: 2
Supplementary Duties: 1
Base Duties: 1

>>2296247
Division is Combat Cooldown -1.

Considering that we only have 2 ships in combat cooldown mode, I think we can hold off for now.

>>2296235
District Duties 2
Supplementary Duties 1
Base Duties 1

>>2296247
Division gives you a chance for upgrades, yeah. Also Duties have a flat 30 percent chance at increasing based on my new calculator so you guys don't stress over what goes up or stays down. When it reaches zero, it will stay zero until the end of the week.

>>2296247
>>2296252

PAPERWORK BONUSES:

You get paperwork each day. The workload is thus.

DISTRICT: 3 POINTS
SUPPLEMENTARY: 2 POINTS
DIVISION: 4 POINTS
BASE: 2 POINTS

Each day you will be allocated a number of points based on the difficulty of your last mission from 2 points (lowest difficulty) to 5 points (highest difficulty), which you can use to your liking. Each and every one of the paperwork stacks will increase every day on a chance basis (1d2) to see if the stack replenishes the next day. When they reach “0”, you will be given a chance/set acquisition of certain bonuses to help you with your quest. Once it reaches the maximum number of points, however, there will be a (1d3) to increase further, to which there will be a penalty. They replenish to full after reaching 0. Once reaching 0, however, they will not be subject to the increase penalty for the day. The penalties and rewards are as follows:

REWARDS:
District: INCREASED INCOME/SMALL CHANCE FOR A NEW SHOP
Supplementary: CONVERSATION OPTIONS MIGHT BE MADE AVAILABLE WITH NPCS
Division: COMBAT COOLDOWN -1
Base: TEMPORARY COMBAT BONUSES
PENALTIES:
District: DECREASED INCOME/INCREASED SECURITY RISK/DECREASE IN WORKERS
Supplementary: CONVERSATION OPTIONS MIGHT BE UNAVAILABLE, NPCS LESS OPEN
Division: NO PENALTY (Unless Hard Mode enabled)
Base: PENALTY (-1/-2/-3) ON ATTRITION

from
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D6xlxpzfqF_rC2iemL-OGhFkNK4uiy8PZdvjkkdVBPU/edit

>>2296262
Sorry, I meant to say decreasing things in GENERAL, Division INCLUDED, gives a chance at getting an upgrade from doing a good job.

>>2296262
Ah damn.

>>2296235
If thats the case, I withdraw my vote >>2296257 and vote for >>2296247

>>2296264
>Each day you will be allocated a number of points based on the difficulty of your last mission from 2 points (lowest difficulty) to 5 points (highest difficulty), which you can use to your liking. Each and every one of the paperwork stacks will increase every day on a chance basis (1d2) to see if the stack replenishes the next day. When they reach “0”, you will be given a chance/set acquisition of certain bonuses to help you with your quest. Once it reaches the maximum number of points, however, there will be a (1d3) to increase further, to which there will be a penalty. They replenish to full after reaching 0. Once reaching 0, however, they will not be subject to the increase penalty for the day. The penalties and rewards are as follows:

This has been updated. I see no point in rapid replenishment if it's just going to reset to full by Monday.

REVISED SCHEDULE for GM reference

POINTS AVAILABLE: 0/5
>District Duties [2/3]
>Supplementary Duties [1/2]
>Division Duties [0/4]
>Base Duties [0/2]

And that means Musashi only needs 1 day until she's back on her feet.

>>2296449
Reminder to fellow players for immediate things to do
>Finish dojo mission because fuck me we're almost done
>getting them orphans off the street and making priest less of a butt
>army stuff because qm hints to sweet shit
>Doing more duties with admiral and friends
>get /fit/
>"Nagato, why do you notice us so hard?"
In order of immediate need
Thank you

Mech's PC is having a fit.

We'll be right back after these messages.

Windows update has decided right now would be a good time to rape Mechs PC

>>2296476
What about Takao's book drive and Ashigara's bookmark?

>>2297476
Those are important, just not as immediate, though we should do the bookdrive when we've successfully finished dojo and orphan saving, since we should start talking to admiral more anyway.

>>2297483
I say we should go find the VA later and find out where ikazuchi is. And then also ask him at the same time if theres anything we can help with.

>>2297485
Or just ask him directly for her assistance as a teacher. She is his subordinate after all.

>>2297502

I dont think the VA would directly order her yo participate in the class as an instructor. Probably only encourage so we’d still have to speak with her.

File: Kasumi Best Friend.jpg (7 KB, 299x168)

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‘Good job everyone,’ you clap your hands, offering your encouragement as the last bit of paperwork is rounded up.

LEIA—now thankfully clad in something more reasonable—throws up her arms, letting out weak whoop as her boyfriend picks up her part of the work. You wouldn’t so far as declare that everything was over and done with—it was still the middle of the week—but you could at least take solace in the fact that you’d gotten the more annoying parts of your task out of the way. It was just about lunch time now … and since your attendants had lacked to bring any of their usual treats today, you were looking forward to going to Mamiya’s or even the plaza to pick up something to much on … or failing that, raiding your pantry or freezer to make something before you went on your way.

‘Oh, you done already?’

You let out a tired sigh, turning your head up and thinning your lips at the sight of Kasumi … who hadn’t so much as shifted out of her bathrobe. She’d taken the courteous route and had gone upstairs in about two hours of you getting into your work—with the trail of curious KanMusu scrambling after her for details, but that was neither here nor there—leaving you to do your job interrupted … but you’d been proven wrong in thinking that she’d actually take that extra mile and left with the rest of the KanMusu. You’d seen Houshou and Nagato leave with Shigure and Nachi … and Tenryuu was probably up before you were, since you hadn’t so much as made hair or nose of her since you’d headed for the showers.

You’re thankful that despite all that, Kasumi was still a human woman and still had a measure of embarrassment at seeing the naked form of the human male. You’re not sure how you’d react if she’d actually tried to pull a Nachi or Houshou on you. It’d be too weird. It’d be like those cartoons where the pretty childhood friend pushed it to the next level.

Too silly, even for this world.

‘Sir, the Admiral wants to see you today … or if you can’t, he’d like you to measure up a meeting for tomorrow or the day after,’ your lanky attendant reads off a piece of paper, catching your attention. ‘Not sure if it’s urgent, but, uh, he emphasized that you at least check in with him before the end of the week.’

‘Noted, attendant.’

Your stomach grumbles, much to your embarrassment.

‘Sorry, Commander,’ your bulky attendant gives an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of his neck as LEIA gave a casual salute and went through the doorway. ‘We kinda—’

‘It’s fine,’ you wave it off, garnering two salutes. ‘Have a good lunch, you two.’

Your two attendants rush off with LEIA, heading to Heaven knew where. Maybe you should—

Wait, where had Kasumi gone?

The light clang of kitchenware has you turning in your chair, seeing your childhood friend already raiding your pantry as though it was her own, bent over and dragging out your sack of rations without so much as a warning.

‘Kasumi, what’re you doing?’

‘You haven’t had eaten anything, right? Not good to have an empty stomach after a hangover.’

You frown, getting off your seat. ‘That doesn’t answer what you’re doing.’

‘Making lunch,’ she answers, throwing a casual glance over her shoulder. ‘What does it look like I’m doing?’

>‘Hang on, I’m the one with cooking experience here … and this is my kitchen anyway.’
>‘Hold that thought, I’m going to go out to get some food anyway.’
>‘Um, uh … carry on, then.’
>Write-In

>>2297550
>>Write-In
>help her make lunch

>>2297550
>>2297556
This

>>2297550
>‘Um, uh … carry on, then.’

If she wants to step up, Let her. I wanna see her mad cooking skills.

>>2297550
This>>2297556

>>2297550
>>2297556
this~

Must have been a while since they last cooked together. Otherwise Commander must have always been the one cooking and Kasumi must have tried to pick it up in the years when they were apart.

>>2297556
>>2297569
>Try to steer you away
>For some reason it only makes the route more appealing

I think this question will be relevant until the end of time: Who is my player base?

>>2297571
If you wanted to do so, cooking was the wrong choice!

Remember, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! And Commander, as a cook, understands completely the feeling of wanting to cook for someone you care about.

>>2297556
also this

>>2297571
Well, she implied that she was making lunch for us, so you shoulda seen this one coming. I'm just worried that she can't cook for whatever reason.

>>2297571
What do you mean, route. We’re just being a nice guy to our friend. There’s nothing untoward in the route of friendship.

File: Oh You Want To Help Me Th(...).gif (1.51 MB, 500x281)

1.51 MB GIF

You get up from your chair, stepping over towards Kasumi, who was already picking up the stock from the freezer and placing them on the old counter. Kasumi’s expression was as focused as ever, picking up the utensils and laying them up next to the packed vegetables, protein supplements, meat and broth packs. She didn’t even seem to notice that you were right next to her … that is, until you closed the door shut with a loud thud, prompting her to turn towards you in surprise.

‘What are you doing?’ she asks coolly, picking up one of the packets and giving it a scrutinizing gaze.

‘I thought I’d give you a hand,’ you reply, picking up one of the bowls and placing the grater inside before setting it next to the stove. ‘Whatever it is that you’re making, I think that two hands’ll be able to do more than one, right?’

‘Go and sit back down,’ she shoots back, tearing open one of the packets. ‘I’m not so helpless around the kitchen that I can’t cook up a decent lunch … besides, you haven’t had anything and still have some beer in your gut. You’ll end up doing more permanent damage to yourself trying to do anymore than you have.’

You frown.

That honestly sounded like some bullshit.

‘I think that’s baseless … so what are you—’

She picks up the knife by the handle, throwing a serene smile as the tip of her finger ran against the spine of the knife.

‘I am making lunch for you,’ she declares sweetly. ‘I’m sure that it wouldn’t be that hard to accommodate a friend’s request, would it?’

You consider your options.

That knife looked quite … sharp.

>‘I’m going out for lunch, then. See you.’
>‘Okay, uh … I’ll just … sit down then. Over there.’
>‘I, uh, I use to be a cook. I think I can afford a few tips, you know?’
>Write-In

>>2297596
>>‘Okay, uh … I’ll just … sit down then. Over there.’

>>2297596
>>Write-In
Hold the knife blade with two fingers of the metal arm.

"Well then you can cook for me. And I'll cook for you. Thats fair?"

File: forced romances.jpg (26 KB, 480x269)

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>>2297596
>Hold the knife blade with two fingers of the metal arm.
>"Well then you can cook for me. And I'll cook for you. Thats fair?"
Fuck it

>>2297596
>‘Okay, uh … I’ll just … sit down then. Over there.’
Why not let her have her moment? She loves him so, soo much

File: 1464005023048.gif (2.02 MB, 300x226)

2.02 MB GIF

>>2297613
STOP TAUNTING ME

File: 1346636499693.png (645 KB, 1000x715)

645 KB PNG

>>2297615

>>2297597
>>2297613

>>2297601
>>2297603

Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

File: Tell Me A Story.jpg (292 KB, 1572x1782)

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You let out a breath that you hadn’t known you were holding, taking a step back. It wasn’t that you feared being stabbed in the gut—you were quite sure you had been through worse—but Kasumi’s smile promised that if you so much as tried to muscle in on territory she had (wrongly) claimed as hers, you would never be forgiven or hear the end of it. Raising your hands, you pensively take a step back, trying your best not to aggravate or provoke her. Seemingly satisfied by this, she goes back to her work, leaving you going back to the counter and pulling a stool. You’d forgotten how assertive she could be when she put her mind to it. Despite having a little more height on her person and a more mature demeanour than you’d remembered of her, Kasumi was still the same at her core. Still obsessed, still driven and still unwilling to compromise when she had her stance set on something. You’re reminded of how hard it was to keep up with her back then. She wasn’t by any means cruel or unfriendly, but she had a tendency that you found hard to follow as her friend: an unwillingness to back down or choose her battles. You’d known her for years … and there were only two incidents that you could name from heart where she had.

When she’d been passed over from the badminton team and …

When you didn’t have her back.

‘You’re not cooking up some poison back there, are you?’

‘If I wanted to poison you,’ she shoots you a bored gaze over her shoulder, ‘don’t you think I would have laced that cocktail back then?’

Something hits you.

‘Wait, did you raid the pantry when I was asleep?’

‘Just took a few eggs and boiled some water,’ she reveals nonchalantly. ‘The rest I carry around.’

You frown, finding yourself only confused further. ‘Why would you carry the ingredients for a hangover cocktail around?’

‘I’m a med student.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Do you know how much we chug down? I think half my group is made up of hedonists.’

You tilt your head, considering it for a moment. You couldn’t refute that; not after seeing how wild college was for your formative years.

It’s not long before she has the food all done. Two big patties with considerable cuts of bread each. While they weren’t as big or oily as the ones from Mamiya’s, you were not in the position to negotiate a re-size of your serving … neither did you have it in you to point out the attributes it was lacking compared to your usual fare of served food. You weren’t even aware you were that hungry, picking up the burger with a word of thanks and biting down on the hot sandwich with gusto.

You hear Kasumi chuckle as she takes her place next to you, biting a small chunk out of her own sandwich. There was tomato sauce and some onion, but sadly a lack of pickles.

‘So,’ she begins, ‘are you going to tell me the story or not?’

‘Of what?’

She gestures to your arm, unwittingly flicking some crumbs onto your shoulder.

>>2297641
>'Nope.' (Bluntly deny)
>'It's stupid, really ...' (Tell the story)
>'Only if you're willing to share your story.' (Bargain)
>Write-In

>>2297643
>>'It's stupid, really ...' (Tell the story)

>>2297643
>'It's stupid, really ...' (Tell the story)

No need for bargaining. Just tell her. And then ask her in return.

>>2297643
>'It's stupid, really ...' (Tell the story)

>>2297645
Yeah, that's kind of what that option is for. An exchange of stories instead of you pouring it all out.

>>2297643
>'It's stupid, really ...' (Tell the story)

>>2297648
Yea but it doesnt seem right bargaining for the exchange. Just tell and then ask in return.

>>2297643
>>'It's stupid, really ...' (Tell the story)

File: Arm.jpg (23 KB, 676x486)

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‘It’s, uh, a little stupid, really.’

Well, it wasn’t exactly stupid … but in retrospect, you realize that it was a stupid idea to think that you would have any sort of chance going up against a collection of I-Class Destroyers that could chew through the hull of a Navy boat without so much as a hint of effort. Still … it wasn’t as if you—or the Old Man—were given a plethora of options back then. You had to get the people out of there somehow … and the only thing around back then was a bicycle and some iron bars.

‘I don’t believe that.’

‘Huh?’

‘Nothing you can get up to is just a little stupid.’

You chuckle, biting another chunk out of your burger.

‘Yeah,’ you nod in agreement, ‘you’re right about that.’

It wasn’t a good memory.

It didn’t haunt your dreams or anything, but remembering that an I-Class Destroyer had its teeth gnawing your arm down right to the bone wasn’t something that you’d vote in for a repeat experience. Not to mention being dragged out to sea to be … whatever it was that the Abyssals had planned for the humans. You didn’t want to know and no part of you wanted a hand in solving that mystery. It was one thing to face those things through the eyes of the KanMusu. It was another thing to actually want to re-live the encounter.

‘Abyssals,’ you answer simply. ‘Yokosuka was under attack several weeks ago … I think you saw that on the news, right? I was there. The Admiralty had one of their big drives to short-list the candidates who had the potential to take on the reins … hopefully stash them in the reserves. They’d gone a lot further ahead than they ever did before … and despite my, uh … talents, I didn’t make the cut. I was about to head back inland and try to beg for my job back when the attack happened. Lost my arm then, trying to be a hero … almost got it chewed off by an I-Class trying to save some of the townsfolk. Don’t know how many got away, but, well … I got dragged out in exchange. The KanMusu found me—Nagato among ‘em, and they got me patched up as well as they could have. Something about my nerves and muscles being too banged up to properly be fixed. So they made do with … this.’

You raise your prosthetic, feeling the magical link between you and the metal shell.

‘It’s useful, I give you that.’

Indeed. Very useful.

‘I can imagine,’ she lets out quietly. ‘So is that how you ended up being a Commander?’

‘I wouldn’t say it’s a prize-winning story for the ages, but … by virtue of being the only one left alive who could actually interface with KanMusu, they didn’t have much of a choice.’

The Admiral had told you as much during your first meeting.

Not the first choice.

‘The KanMusu …’

‘Huh?’

‘They seem to like you enough.’

There’s a glint in her eyes. You just can’t tell of what.

>Write-In

File: fingerguns.gif (1.44 MB, 724x856)

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>>2297687
>You know it, babe.

>>2297687
>I'd like to think so. I certainly have come to appreciate them more and in greater depth than how my former fanboy infatuation went.
har har
all hands, brace for impact; damage control crews on high alert

>>2297687
“Yes... the link between us means there arent many secrets after we’ve been in each other’s head.

And we have gone through hell and high water. Literally. Together.”

>>2297693
I actually like this one. It has all the corniness I can exploit.

>>2297687
This>>2297692

>>2297693
Supporting

>>2297687
Yeah lets do this>>2297693

>>2297693
If it inspires the GM, then I am all for it

Guys I'm going to be ending the session here as I have dinner plans. You have a good night/evening/morning wherever you are.

>>2297709
G'night mech. Thanks for running.

>>2297720
No problem. Take care until I get back.

>>2297693
all the ham and corn

>>2297687

>>2297693
This

File: Talking With My Ex Besty.gif (926 KB, 500x281)

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You wear a small grimace, remembering your first day on the job. She probably wouldn’t have had the same idea if she’d seen you try to organize this band of misfits for what would turn out to be a blind bag dive. It was also, however, a testament to just how far you’d come.

‘The link—The Stream. The stronger it is, the better they—the better we—fight. It also has the side-effect—or at least I think it’s a side effect—to that … well, your mind, your soul becomes an open book both ways. It’s not much about mind-reading, but your emotions, your thoughts, the sensations, they mix and meld until you’re not able to tell what’s you and what’s not. Figuratively speaking, of course. I’m kind of trained to tell that difference and if you so much as can’t control the rate you risk getting brain damage from the overload, but … well, that’s what it is. There’s not much to hide between the both of you. The link practically makes me … one of them, in a sense. I won’t pretend to know all of the nuances and the details, but when you’re that close? On that spot in the Stream? There’s just … nothing between you and them. That trust pushes you to fight—that you’re doing it as much as you are for yourself or you them.’

She snickers thickly, chewing her burger.

‘Sounds like something, all right.’

‘It’s … a little more than that. It’s like … you’re not assured being with them. You know damn well that they could probably do better than you, too, but … you work it out. It’s a relationship, I guess. That things are bad as they can get and as good as they’ll ever and be there’s no throwing it out the window. You realize that you don’t want to … that this is a fight that you have to give as good as you can get and push beyond your limits. You become better than the you that you were yesterday. It’s painful and sometimes you just want to throw it in, I won’t shy away from that … but when you forge something and realize that when you’ve gone through Hell and high water in the most literal sense together, you don’t need to look anywhere else to find a good back by your side.’

‘Aren’t you poetic?’

‘I don’t claim to be stand-up material, but I do have my moments,’ you smirk right back, ‘and well, hindsight never becomes irrelevant.’

She wears a small, wistful smile, propping her arms on the counter and staring at the wall.

‘Yeah, it doesn’t.’

She then turns to you, wearing a curious expression.

‘Would you mind if I ask you a personal question?’

‘Depends on the question,’ you reply, raising an eyebrow.

‘The kind a friend that was left in the lurch by the other friend is entitled to ask.’

Ouch.

She hesitates, if only for a moment. ‘Are you … sleeping with any of them?’

>>2303039
>‘It’s part of my duties to tend to the Carriers. That includes in that sense too, yes.’ (Professional)
>‘What? No!’ (Deny)
>‘What’s bringing this on?’ (Confused)
>‘Um, uh … yes. How could you tell?’ (Admit)
>Write-In

>>2303039
>‘Um, uh … yes. How could you tell?’ (Admit)
absolutely degenerate? yes
worth it? beyond all doubt

>>2303040
>>‘Um, uh … yes. How could you tell?’ (Admit)

>>2303040
>‘Um, uh … yes. How could you tell?’ (Admit)
>Jelly?

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>>2303040
>>‘What’s bringing this on?’ (Confused)

>>2303046
>>2303059
>>2303067
On the bright side, an early game over isn't bad and we've had a good 2 years running this. Thank you for forgetting:

>Fucking KanMusu isn't something you openly admit to on the sly
>Only Carriers are given this exception
>There is a Submarine still lurking around

It's been a great run anyways.

>>2303040
>>‘What’s bringing this on?’ (Confused)

>>2303040
>What’s bringing this on?’ (Confused)

>>2303166
>>2303170
Sorry you two. Already mid-way typing the prompt.

>>2303040
>‘It’s part of my duties to tend to the Carriers. That includes in that sense too, yes.’ (Professional)
>‘What’s bringing this on?’ (Confused)

>>2303176
Mech come on, I literally just got home.

>>2303176
I ain't even in your fucking discord and miss half theses. Don't fucking bitch if you just do it in discord.

>>2303224
In this case, he's dumbfounded that the first three votes apparently forgot to keep screwing the non-carriers a secret.

>>2303246
One of our fucking attendants is screwing a shipgirl ain't he? Whelp, I know my fucking lesson now lurk until I finally join the discord.

>>2303246
This. After several warnings from NPCs and from me over TWO years, people forget THIS. HOW could people forget THIS? I am DUMBFOUNDED. All my intricate traps and the thing that gets the game thrown down the cliff is the need to reveal to someone that you're hopping it up with a bunch of KanMusu that aren't designated for it. HOW does that happen? It's not like I even put up a deceptive front. EVERYONE warned you.

How do you think that makes ME feel?

>>2303262
>Friends with Shipgirl=/=boning her

>>2303262
None of them are though. Fatty's got a girlfriend, and Lanky's got a long-distance girlfriend. There was light teasing between Lanky and Yamato, but neither are screwing each other.

>>2303262
>One of our attendants is screwing a Shipgirl
What? News to me. Only one who did in-quest other than you is Vice-Admiral and he called it off precisely because of the shitstorm. Even the Ominato Commander knows better ... and he LIKES Katori.

So this is news to me ... unless you're talking about Yamato. Lanky has a girlfriend, man. He's talked about it quite a few times.

>>2303280
Then I have confused the fuck outta who is dating who. I apologize for shite memory and the clear inability to fucking follow this quest in proper fashion.

>>2303288
No problem. Don't worry about my ranting. This is me mostly raging that my intricate attempts at game-overing don't work at all but the player base practically waltzes into a wall when I put up a "WALL HERE" sign. Can you imagine as an experienced DM/GM having a table of that?

MECH, can we word it in a way where we only admit to screwing carriers?

>>2303293
Yes actually. I've been in a few groups with players who have done that and

>>2303295
>‘It’s part of my duties to tend to the Carriers. That includes in that sense too, yes.’ (Professional)

This exists, so no.

>>2303293
>Can you imagine as an experienced DM/GM having a table of that?

Been there actually, players can show a fearsome amount of aptitude and incompetence.

>>2303293
It is a thing that happens all the time. This is usually avoided by GMs advising on things they might have forgotten.

>>2303040
>‘What’s bringing this on?’ (Confused)

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Your eyes widen in surprise.

‘Um,’ you hesitate to continue, ‘uh, how could you tell I was sleeping with them?’

Her expression goes immediately stiff as she looks away, biting her lip. ‘I didn’t, but … I suspected, I guess. You were always looking at the KanMusu posters so I guess the idea that you would … didn’t seem too much of a stretch to get to a conclusion. Still, I … well, they seem nice, I suppose. Nagato … right?’

‘Eh?’

‘She seems your type,’ she smirks … although it does look a little forced.

‘Well, yeah,’ you pause. ‘Most of the time, anyway.’

You let out a laugh … but for some reason it doesn’t seem to fit the new mood.

Whatever the new mood was.

She goes back to eating her meal, not saying a word. You wish to say something to her, but … you’re unsure what to, really. The atmosphere had taken a turn for the odd and you couldn’t well make out just what her expression entailed, but she didn’t seem to be happy … nor was she upset. If there was anything you could make out from what she wore, it was that she looked … thoughtful. Neither of you talk to each other, munching down on your meals. You’re not sure what you could do to break the silence, nor does Kasumi. She’s a fast eater, as are you … and it’s not long before your plates are mostly clean of the bread and meat that had been set upon them.

‘I need to get going,’ she declares, wearing a small smile as she pushes her plate away. ‘I think I’m running late for roll call … do you mind washing up?’

‘Sure, I—’

She doesn’t wait for your answer, pushing her stool back towards the counter and rushing upstairs. Probably to get changed. There wasn’t anything else to do but comply at this point, and you go over to the sink, pouring some soap and washing up. Kasumi wasn’t acting oddly … but you supposed that the reveal that you were sleeping with the KanMusu in your Division was a little bit of a … shock. You don’t blame her … at least not that much. KanMusu weren’t all that welcome after all those promises … and even back then, she seemed reluctant to prop them up as much as you did. Not that she was the type to do it for anything else, however. Kasumi always had a cold eye on the present.

‘Hey,’ you hear a voice call out, just as you place the dishes on the rack.

You turn around to see Kasumi in what appeared to be jeans and scrubs, a bag slung over her back.

‘Leaving already?’

‘I told you,’ she smiles softly, ‘I’m running late for roll call.’

‘Don’t be a stranger, okay?’

She lets out a sigh, weakly raising a hand. ‘I won’t.’

Kasumi turns on her heel, leaving the barracks without further ceremony. Drying your hands, you turn back to the sink, eager to make sure—

Wait, how’d everything get so dark?

‘Guess who?’

>Who?

>>2303354
>>Who?
Nagato
all we can do now is pray to RNG
and do anything we can to stack the deck in our favor

>>2303354
>>Who?
nagato

>>2303354
>>Who?
Takao.

Everyone else left in the morning

>>2303354
>Dechi

>>2303360
>>2303367
>>2303370
>>2303372
You guys can re-vote. I should have specified (Division Only)

>>2303373
>Musashi

>>2303354
>Musashi
This feels like her

>>2303354
>Samidare

>>2303373
Samidare

>>2303373
>Samidare

>>2303373
>>Samidare

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‘I know it’s you, Samidare,’ you chuckle, pulling her palms off your eyes and turning to face her. Indeed, there she was, looking as chipper as she ever. ‘Don’t you have some double duty to pull today?’

‘Nope! Yuubari-san said that everything was back in order, so I thought, well, I thought I could spend the day with you instead!’

You tilt your head, confused. Was she propositioning a day … accompanying you doing your usual mundane by-the-clock check-ups?

‘Spend it together with me?’

‘Yeah,’ she echoes enthusiastically, before taking a step back and scratching the side of her cheek. ‘I mean, sorry sir, but, Shigu-nee and Iowa-san talked about the stuff that you got up to when we weren’t around … and I’m kinda … I’m really, really interested in seeing you work!’

You make a face. That sounded so … dry of her.

‘All right,’ you cross your arms, staring down at the blue-haired KanMusu. ‘What’s this really about?’

She opens her mouth … before looking down and twiddling her thumbs. ‘I … a lot of the girls say that I’m not … not up to the standard to do anything more than lead a Patrol, I—and I know that I can, but right now I … I can’t. Shigu-nee says it’s because I can’t carry myself properly and try to act like a Sentai hero … and I thought you’d let me follow you around so I could …’

She bites her lips, looking hesitant to continue.

‘So I could … see how you work and maybe learn a few things.’

‘Me?’

She nods energetically. ‘Yeah! Everyone seems to like you … even Nachi-san and Tenryuu-san.’

You hear something break, somewhere in the beyond.

‘So, uh … could I, sir?’

>‘Sorry, Samidare … maybe some other time.’ (Deny her)
>‘Sure, but, well, only if you promise to pay attention.’ (Allow her)

>>2303699
>>‘Sure, but, well, only if you promise to pay attention.’ (Allow her)

>>2303699
>>‘Sure, but, well, only if you promise to pay attention.’ (Allow her)

>>2303699
>>‘Sure, but, well, only if you promise to pay attention.’ (Allow her)

>>2303699
>‘Sure, but, well, only if you promise to pay attention.’ (Allow her)

>>2303699
>‘Sure, but, well, only if you promise to pay attention.’ (Allow her)

She will sit on our shoulders the whole day.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I'm willing to re-negotiate the terms of your current crash course to a premature game over because I want to feel like I've beaten you rather than stew over your corpses from an accident on the level of pulling a lever that has a clear "DO NOT" sign on it. However, I'm not a total asshole on this front (For the reason above), so I am going to change the format so that the dice will be as minimal a factor in possible in your current free-fall:

1. I will announce the decision that will break or make your game by the [CRITICAL ENCOUNTER] announcement when it comes, so you will be prepared for it.
2. It WILL come next thread. You've set that yourself.
3. You can choose whether to maneuver through dialogue options to escape or if you wish to use straight-up dice. There will be no write-ins for this [CRITICAL ENCOUNTER]. If you wish to do the former, TELL ME NOW or I will go to the dice by default.
>a. Do not further piss off the one you encounter in that [CRITICAL ENCOUNTER]
>b. Remain professional
>c. Remember that despite your antics, your ass is on a very hot plate.
>d. READ UP on your PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS with people from the ADMIRALTY and what you have picked up from them, but only if you wish to switch back to the dialogue options instead of the dice. Considering your track record, both might as well be 50-50 on odds.

That's your warning.

>>2303734
Well shit, I finally catch up and everyone else manages to fuck it up
For the love of god people, don't ruin this

I'll give you guys some time to digest this and continue later.

>>2303734
im going for dialogue

So folks are leaning towards dialogue.

I guess we should go and drag out our old case files and figure out who to deal with the board again.

>>2303266
In anons defense, I’m guessing people simply assumed that Kasumi, of all people, could be trusted.

Early on in this quests life, I dropped this quest because I thought what the QM was going for wasn't my thing. Reading through the archives proved me wrong somewhat, as while I thought this was going to be a boatfu simulator, it turned out otherwise. Guess what I'm trying to say is, good on you QM for making such a unique interpretation on the kancolle world.

Your players are very special though.

>>2305283
fucking this

Kind of busy with work right now. I'll run around ... this afternoon, I suppose. For reference, it's about 9.30 in the morning where I am right now. So about 1ish, after 12 would be about about right? See you then.

It's been a good 2 years. Anti-climactic,
but what can you do?

>>2305843
Realistically, what are the odds the less idiotic of us can actually get out of this?

>>2306002
i give us 50/50

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>>2306030
I only just found this quest and caught up in the past few days, if we get a game over because a couple stupid anons decided to confess to Kasumi I'm gonna be fucking pissed

>>2306078
us players are dumber then dirt with a memory of a goldfish
we had to fuck up sometime sooner or later

About 45 minutes until session commencement.

>>2305283
They are. One moment they're outmaneuvering death traps and the next they're walking head long into a wet floor sign. It makes me wonder if anime protagonists don't actually have a sort of truth to them.

>>2306390
On one hand, at least they practiced what they preached to the cheating army private, in the other hand, it's like two years worth of exposition and world building has not yet taught them to be cautious about sticking it into boats.
I bet we die in the most anti-climactic, non-abyssal way possible

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You think about it for a moment.

It was true that the past reports pegged Samidare to be a potential team leader under the right guidance, but that wasn’t—no, no, that was wrong. That was right up your chain of responsibilities. Samidare looked up to you enough that she had considered you as an example on what to do and what not to do at the top as a Commander—as a leader—and considering that one of the most prominent attributes that should be in the possession of someone in your position and responsibilities was to improve and bring out the best of what and who you had under your banner. If Samidare wanted to get anywhere in her career (And you meant that in the most depressing sense), she couldn’t be at the back just barking orders like you did. After all, rapport was a thing … and you’d be stupid to deny the opportunity to strengthen the bonds you had already established by trying exemplify her very perception of you.

‘I don’t know, Samidare,’ you raise your eyebrow, crossing your arms as you stare down at the short young woman. ‘Is there anything that I do that’s really that interesting?’

She pauses, tapping her chin. ‘I … I don’t know, but if Nachi-san—’

You hear something crack somewhere. Maybe you should ask for the maintenance crew to have another look-see around.

‘If Nachi-san thinks that you’re a good Commander … then I think that seeing you work’ll teach me a lot about being a leader!’

You shrug, smirking at your defeat.

‘All right,’ you tussle her hair. ‘Why not?’

She throws up a fist, letting out a cheer.

4/4
>EXECUTE TASK (Specify)
>Look for KanMusu (Specify)
>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
>Visit Location (Specify)
>District Management
>Wander
>Write-In

>>2306506
>>EXECUTE TASK (Specify)
>Kung fu fighting
time to look for the VA to find Zuchi

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>>2306506
>EXECUTE TASK (Specify)
>Kung-Fu FIghting
Find VA, get him/ask him to recruit Plasma-chan

>>2306506
>>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
Admiral

Hes specifically asked to see us. Best get to seeing him soon.

>>2306506
>>>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
admiral

>>2306506
>Seek out Officer/Staff
Admiral

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You exit the barracks and close the door behind you, Samidare prancing about on the compound. You’d already decided where to take your display of “true leadership” with Samidare. If she wanted to see you work, then she’d have to endure the minute details in all their boring glory. There were still quite a few things to sort out, of course, but considering that this little thing had been on your mind for quite some time … you might as well get it out of the way. Maybe she could pick up a thing or two along the way.

‘All right,’ you declare, stretching your arms overhead as Samidare rushes to catch up with you. ‘First thing on the agenda … we’re going to go see the Vice-Admiral.’

Samidare makes a confused sound, prompting you to turn downwards. ‘The Vice-Admiral?’

‘Yup,’ you re-confirm, stepping out onto the sidewalk. ‘The Vice-Admiral. I got a few things to settle with him first.’

‘Settle? Admiralty business, no doubt!’

You let out a chuckle, placing your hands in your pockets. It was cold, all right. Looking at Samidare, you wondered if she even knew the meaning of uncomfortable weather … or any of the KanMusu, for that matter.

‘Well, more like Division business,’ you shrug, walking past several coils of cables, currently unattended. It looked like your street was particularly empty today … then again, it was just about lunch time.

‘Division business?’

‘Murakumo’s going to be running a class on melee weaponry soon,’ you reveal. ‘I need the Vice-Admiral to, uh … help me convince Ikazuchi, I guess.’

‘Is that really part of your job as a Commander, sir?’

‘What?’

‘Doing unofficial things like that?’

>‘No.’ (Blunt)
>‘No, but … I consider myself beholden to the requests of my Division. If they need my help, well … I have to.’ (Caring)
>‘Not really, but Murakumo’ll probably nag me if I don’t.’ (Joke)
>‘It isn’t, really … but as someone in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile if it improves things, is there?’ (Teach)
>Write-In

>>2306606
>>‘It isn’t, really … but as someone in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile if it improves things, is there?’ (Teach)

>>2306606
>‘It isn’t, really … but as someone in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile if it improves things, is there?’ (Teach)
Sami's gonna be a shonen hero by the end of this huh

>>2306606
>>‘It isn’t, really … but as someone in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile if it improves things, is there?’ (Teach)

>>2306606
>>‘It isn’t, really … but as someone in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile if it improves things, is there?’ (Teach)

>>2306606
>‘It isn’t, really … but as someone in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile if it improves things, is there?’ (Teach)

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‘It isn’t, really,’ you let out honestly, ‘but when you’re in charge, there’s nothing wrong with going that extra mile, is there?’

She tilts her head as you spy a car—a car with a person in it—zoom by. It had been quite a while since you’d seen someone do some driving around here. You absently wonder if there’d be more people coming back.

‘Extra mile?’

You turn back to Samidare, gesturing for her to continue following you.

‘Yeah, it’s when you do things that don’t directly correlate to your job description.’

‘Oh, I know that,’ she nods quickly, staring up at you in curiosity, ‘but … why do you do it?’

‘Well,’ you pause, thinking how you could best convey your message, ‘there’s an old saying where you need to show people the type of standard that you want them to meet … but at the same time you don’t want to be suckered to do things you don’t really need to do. As your Commander, my responsibilities are solely to keep you and the rest of the Division in a combat-ready situation with minimal distraction or anything else that’ll effect performance. But, well, people are strange. They’re not correlating into the same … parameters as a textbook would tell you to follow up on. You can do everything by the book and be a fine Officer and you’ll still be a horrible leader.’

‘Eh?’

‘You can’t just bark orders and expect people to listen,’ you declare, glad that you were able to finally simplify it … somewhat. ‘That’s not what anyone who knows anything about it would practice. You need to command that respect … sometimes you need to go beyond what the books tell you to do and actually show that you’re willing to get in the muck and fill the details to earn it at all. You didn’t listen to a word I said when I first took command, didn’t you?’

She stops in her tracks, staring at you with a determined expression.

‘N-No! I-I definitely did, sir!’

You’d forgotten just who you were talking to.

‘Uh,’ you rub the back of your neck, trying to find the right words, ‘well, you … probably didn’t think of me as anything anymore than a guy in a suit that was put in charge, right?’

She looks down in guilt.

‘I …’

‘Well, it’s not something you get in an instant,’ you follow up quickly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, ‘and I have to admit, it took me more than a few tries to get it right … and it’ll probably take you a few until anyone under your command will listen to you.’

‘Because I’m short?’

It takes a lot of you to hold that laughter back.

‘Because it’s something you have to earn … and you can’t just bark orders and wear snazzy suits to get that respect or just have a medal pinned on you. Sometimes you gotta dive right in just like the shmuck who’s under your command. Shows that you’re not just all talk and business.’

‘Do you … enjoy it? Being a Commander?’

>>2306696
>'To be frank, I ... I do think I'm a little over my head sometimes. Makes me wish I hadn't left the kitchen at all.'
>'Don't care much for the hat ... but I can say that as far as this Division goes, they can't assemble me better team.'
>'It's not about if I enjoy it. It's a job that I have to do. When no one else steps up ... you have to ask yourself why not you?'
>'It's a lot more interesting than being in the kitchen all day, I'll give it that much.'
>Write-In

>>2306696
>>'It's a lot more interesting than being in the kitchen all day, I'll give it that much.'

>>2306699
>>'It's a lot more interesting than being in the kitchen all day, I'll give it that much.'
being in a kitchen doesnt get you a magic eye
and a bitchin robot arm, granted the price for both of them was painful as shit

>>2306696
“Its hard work with our lives always on the line and constantly worrying for your safe returns.”

Ruffle her hair.

“ But I can’t see myself doing anything else. At least until the war is over.”

>>2306699
>>'It's not about if I enjoy it. It's a job that I have to do. When no one else steps up ... you have to ask yourself why not you?'

>>2306699
>I suppose I do. But that alone is not enough of a reason to be doing this. After what we’ve been through, I can’t imagine shirking back no matter whether I enjoyed this or not. I couldn’t do this to myself or to any of you guys.

>>2306699
>>'Don't care much for the hat ... but I can say that as far as this Division goes, they can't assemble me better team.'

>>2306699
>>2306724
>>2306743
these.

>>2306699
This
>>2306724
>>2306743

>>2306699
>'It's not about if I enjoy it. It's a job that I have to do. When no one else steps up ... you have to ask yourself why not you?'
>'It's a lot more interesting than being in the kitchen all day, I'll give it that much.'

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You give a light-hearted chuckle, placing your left hand on her head and throwing her a smirk.

‘It’s a lot more interesting than being in the kitchen,’ you comment, giving her hair another tussle, much to her chagrin. ‘Definitely a lot more interesting compared to cooking up some fries and serving up an order, I tell ya. The eye and the arm’s something you won’t get back there.’

She only smiles brightly in response.

The both of you talk a little more. Mostly about Samidare’s scheduling and how she was doing. You hadn’t had the opportunity to chat with her for quite a while … and the majority of her encounters with you involved her and her sister somehow being able to sneak into your room without so much as getting a peep out of you. Not that you minded, of course; Samidare and Shigure needed all the support that they could get … and ten years of war only meant that they needed more than what they were afforded. She talks about how she and Shigure were on better terms right now … even if she didn’t see where Shigure was coming from with her odd streak in regards to their sisterhood (You did, of course, but spelling it out for Samidare would mean turning Shigure against you). She was apparently a lot happier working under you than she was compared to her previous posting … mostly because you were the only Commander or Vice-Admiral that allowed her to be deployed in a direct combat situation.

You also learn a lot of just what the Forces operated by.

Unpiloted KanMusu running defensive routes most of the time, they were sub-divided into first response units and expeditionary forces in any other instance. The latter mostly when the ISSF was part of the Admiralty—when the Shamans were still around barking orders alongside the Admirals—but these days, the need for them had all but evaporated … especially with the summoning modules going dormant in the last few years. You don’t even remember the last KanMusu that was officially summoned by Taiyouga’s Admiralty branch.

That didn’t mean that the Forces weren’t running, of course, but these days … they merely acted as early warning systems for the rest of the Admiralty’s brigade.

You enter the Yokosuka Headquarters, seeing that quite a bit of the base had been restored. While the repairs weren’t quite complete … there did seem an aspect of tidiness to the compound now. The grass was properly planted—and mowed—and the there was tarmac set up. It also made the Vice-Admiral’s temporary office easier to spot without all that mess.

Walking up the ramp, you knock on the door.

‘Come in.’

You walk inside to see the Vice-Admiral with his feet on his desk, messily chomping on what looked like … soy, tofu and rice.

‘Commander,’ he begins thickly, throwing up a casual salute. ‘What can I do you for?’

You also notice that he hadn’t bothered cleaning his boots in quite some time.

>>2306760
>'Nothing a good wife couldn't do better, sir.' (Snipe)
>'Sorry to interrupt on your lunch, Vice-Admiral, but I didn't know when else I could catch you.' (Formal)
>'When's the last time you washed up?' (Informal)
>Write-In

>>2306762
>>'Sorry to interrupt on your lunch, Vice-Admiral, but I didn't know when else I could catch you.' (Formal)

>>2306762
>>'Sorry to interrupt on your lunch, Vice-Admiral, but I didn't know when else I could catch you.' (Formal)

>>2306762
>'Sorry to interrupt on your lunch, Vice-Admiral, but I didn't know when else I could catch you.' (Formal)