This was a mysterious and hard-to-describe feeling. Humans often say you cannot choose your birth, but in a way, shipgirls do choose — before they are born, they already recognize their destined admiral for eternity.
It was a resonance and fusion at the soul level. Across the frozen wilderness of countless millennia, neither early nor late, her soul was born at the perfect moment for that one other traveler who matched her, to begin this grand adventure called life.
California puffed up her cheeks at the thought.
She was just one of many shipgirls, but the admiral was her entire world.
And now, another little sister was coming to steal part of that warmth. Sure, their admiral wasn't anything particularly special, but still, she felt annoyed.
Decision made — when the new girl arrived, she'd have to call her Big Sister. And she'd make sure to… discipline her properly!
In California's view, the resource mist in front of Hikaru had already started to give off faint golden light....
Inside the Commander's Office of the distant, half-illusory Windridge Naval Base, Lexington was frowning.
She was still wearing the Love Blue wedding dress from the day she married her admiral. Normally, she would carefully keep that dress stored away, terrified of damaging it. But ever since her admiral disappeared, she had kept wearing it. In her heart, she thought that maybe this way, she could strengthen the bond between them, even if only a little.
After all, she had been the one who chased after him wearing a wedding dress back then, a desperate move that left her no way to back out. If he had rejected her, how would she have ever faced the others again?
Admiral, do you still think of your Lexington?
Lying listlessly on the desk was a girl who looked quite a bit like Lexington, only younger—like a high schooler. It was her sister, Saratoga.
Saratoga, though looking half-asleep now, was notorious for causing trouble and blaming her sister. Right after Lexington received the ring, Saratoga had immediately forced a wedding of her own by showing up in a hastily-made wedding dress and cornering their admiral. They really were sisters in every way.
"Hmph, he didn't summon you but took Fletcher instead. He doesn't love you anymore. You should divorce him, Sis," Saratoga teased.
"Stop spouting nonsense," Lexington shot her sister a glare. "Has Yat Sen not arrived yet?"
As if summoned by the mention of her name, Yat Sen, dressed elegantly in a traditional qipao, entered the office with a group of shipgirls in tow.
"Sorry for the wait, Lady Lexington," Yat Sen smiled gently and motioned for Ning Hai and Ping Hai to set down cosmetic supplies.
These two little sisters were Yat Sen's capable assistants. The easiest way to tell them apart was remembering, Ping Hai isn't flat, Ning Hai is flat.
"Make some room, Sara. Don't just flop on the desk like a dead fish."
Saratoga reluctantly stood up, squinting suspiciously at the crowd. What are all of you here for?
Blue-haired Prinz Eugen was dragging a visibly reluctant Bismarck along.
Zuikaku had brought her sister Shoukaku, another pair of famous siblings. Though Zuikaku had arrived at the base earlier and even gotten the wedding ring, leaving her sister with nothing but hand-me-downs.
Hood, holding her signature cup of tea, sat on the sofa as if she owned the place.
Vittorio Veneto had been shoved in by a group of noisy Italian destroyers.
Washington, carrying her massive axe, stood menacingly in the corner.
The office was soon packed full, and it was Zuikaku who explained to Saratoga, "Don't get the wrong idea. We're just here with Yat Sen. We asked her to help us with our makeup."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The reason they had all come to Yat Sen started a few days ago. First, Hikaru summoned Glowworm, then Fletcher. But more importantly, the deep soul connection they felt with their admiral had never been clearer. Their admiral had returned—and he was working hard to bring them all back.
Suddenly, life returned to Windridge. Hood had even dusted off the tea set, and Yat Sen had made herself a brand-new, breathtaking qipao.
But everyone wanted more—they wanted their first meeting with their admiral to be perfect. So they had all gathered around Yat Sen, hoping for her magic touch.
Even the proud Bismarck had been dragged here by Prinz Eugen.
Hood sipped her tea, grumbling in her heart: Tch, acting all reluctant… What a cunning cat!
Why Yat Sen? Because her makeup skills were second to none in the base, and more importantly, she shared the same cultural background as their admiral. The way she did makeup would surely be the most appealing to him.
With so many people lining up, today was Lexington's turn for Yat Sen's magic.
Saratoga, who had no idea about any of this, blinked and asked sweetly, "Yat Sen-sis, can you do my makeup too?"
Yat Sen focused on her task, while Ping Hai crossed her arms and declared righteously, "Nope! You need to line up. The waiting list is booked all the way to the month after next!"
Saratoga pouted, "Sis! Why didn't you tell me? If you don't explain, you'll lose me forever!"
Lexington smiled gently. "Silly, I thought you already knew. Forgive me, won't you?"
That's your punishment for sneaking off with my wedding dress last time, Sara.
Saratoga sighed in defeat. "Fine, I forgive you. But as compensation, you have to promise we'll never be apart. No matter what the admiral says, we have to go together!"
Lexington's blue eyes sparkled. "Of course, we'll never be apart."
…Although, if the admiral can only summon one of us at a time… Well, that's not my fault, right? As his wife, I can't exactly refuse him…
Just as that thought crossed her mind, Lexington suddenly felt her heart tremble—as if someone far away was thinking of her.
She instinctively touched the wedding ring on her finger. As the admiral's official wife, if the others' affection for him was at 100, hers was at 200. Their connection was the strongest of all.
Could it be… is the admiral thinking of me right now? Lexington wondered, dazed. But she dared not get her hopes up too high, for fear of greater disappointment.
Meanwhile, the makeup session had almost finished. Yat Sen carefully shaped Lexington's eyebrows and added a five-petal blue plum blossom in the center of her forehead, making her look even more radiant than a blooming flower.
(End of Chapter)
[+50 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]