The Commander stood inside his destroyed office, overlooking the interior that was left. There was neither rubble nor dirt left in the room, even if the scars of battle were still plain to see. The Bulins had been quick to clean up any debris that had formed from the broken glass and splinters in preparations for repairs, making the room clash violently between its destruction and cleanliness.

Behind him were three shipgirls watching him in turn, silently spending their time together with him in hidden bliss. He had asked them to not disturb his thoughts, a command they followed without hesitation. They were more than aware of the bad mood he had found himself in, making them all act in a way that would limit the fallout of his ire to them specifically. The source of that foul mood was not the reason they thought it was, but it did not particularly help either.

That reason was the forceful addition of more secretarial shipgirls without his consultation, as well as the removal of Belfast's own post. That's not to say that it hadn't left the Commander with a bitter taste in his mouth, but he was also willing to overlook it to a point.

He knew it had been done for his own wellbeing, his safety especially. Hell, it was even the most logical thing to do after what had happened. But that it wasn't done through his orders made him a little bit on edge.

It was these thoughts that made the shipgirls behind him more than compliant with any of his wishes. They did not want to personally impose, to worsen his already bad mood and have it directed at them. So he was allowed to stand there in complete silence, thinking.

Thinking, that's what he had done under these days on medical surveillance, and it didn't seem that it would stop any time either. Preparations had slowly become completed in the background and in turn, only left him with a minimal amount of work and boredom.

Shipgirls from every part of the island visited him to combat that restlessness, making sure to take care of him as much as a man could ever possibly be taken care of. But it never took away the feelings of being bed-bound, trapped in one's own head as the room he occupied, unable to pass the time in any meaningful manner. Well, he did get a few documents to look over by the shipgirls. but there was nothing noteworthy about them, perfect from top to bottom and as such, didn't need corrections.

There had been other things that bothered him however, things that had crept up in the back of his mind as he had pondered in his time alone, the real reason for why he couldn't find joy in the past few days. It concerned the attack made by that single Siren, Observer Alpha. Nothing made sense about it, nothing at all.

Impersonation when not needed, at least not in how she used it. She could've taken him right then and there, no conversation needed… Especially with that kiss as well. And when she was found out, caught straight in the open, did she neither escape nor fulfill that objective, choosing again to hold a conversation.

Was her objective not him? She had told Belfast that she needed to prove herself if he remembered correctly. But if the reason she came was simply to fight a shipgirl, even Belfast specifically, needed the Siren only to await her assignment to a mission at sea. To walk through this many hurdles to do something that would otherwise be easy to accomplish made little sense to him, none in fact.

And that was the reason it bugged him. She had to have had a reason, one he couldn't understand, even after several days of speculating about it. He had thought that going back to the spot where everything had happened would open up something more to him, perhaps a locked memory that would open as quickly stepped into the room. But nothing had come up, leaving him only frustrated.

The Commander walked up to the gigantic hole that was still left in the wall to overlook the ocean beyond, much to the shipgirls discomfort, all three of them moving slowly forward to make sure they would catch him if he were to stumble and fall. But he was no fool, making sure to steady himself as he grabbed a hold of the construction that was still steadfast.

He gazed out towards the horizon and the sky above in a futile attempt to spot anything of note. He couldn't lie to himself, a small amount of paranoia had taken a strong grip over his heart, the theories he had growing ever wilder by the day. What disturbed him the most was that this attack indicated that they had some form of intelligence on the island, even though they never had any former indication that they did.

From where did they watch? What tool did they have to pinpoint the information the way they had done? The Commander had nearly quadrupled the scouting missions around the island yet no sign of any espionage operation was found. It almost felt frustrating in a way, the way he knew enough and nothing at all, still powerless all the same.

He took a deep breath, relinquishing the toxic feelings brewing underneath his skin, and calmed his heart. He had plenty of theories, now he just needed to pick the most plausible and plan accordingly.

He turned around, speaking matter of factly to the girls before him, already tired from a day that had just begun.

"I want to talk to Belfast. I have yet to hear her story in person… And I want to ask a few questions as well."

To say that the island had been in complete disarray would be an understatement. Investigations, search missions, and an increase in security overall. Some were from the Commander's directives. Others, much more informally, the shipgirls.

The fire of rage from the event that had passed still burned, but none could of course match her own.

But she also carried sadness as well, her time with the Commander becoming ever more tainted by the presence of both Vestal and Helena. Though she was still certain she shone brighter than them both.

Vestal was too much of a coward to take any real action in the open while Helena was nothing more than a delusional dreamer. Of course, she hid it well, playing along with the little doll house that had been created, but one could sometimes see her losing her focus from time to time as she stroked her radar with a smile that did not belong to her features.

Well, delusions and fantasies would be the only thing she would ever get, making the shipgirl almost feel sad for her. Perhaps she would take the chance to kiss the Commander in front of her someday, marking her territory. The expression she'd make did create butterflies in her stomach, she couldn't deny that. Though that would only be secondary to making sure that she would know that the Commander was hers, and hers only.

But the restrictions encompassed her as well sadly, forbidding her from acting in a way she truly wanted. Though if she could truly do what she so desired would the Commander be nothing more than a mumbling mess in a pool of their own fluids. He would probably fight it at first but she wouldn't complain. It was nothing that a few ropes or even her own strength couldn't fix. The drugs he had been under these past few days had also seemed quite effective, maybe some of those as well?

Her dreaming was disturbed by a strong poke to her side, making her nearly yelp in surprise. It was Vestal that had been the culprit. Her gaze was a combination of both disgust and anger, knowing full well what had caused the thing she needed to point out.

She held out a small handkerchief, speaking in the softest tones she could muster at that moment, all to make sure that the Commander wouldn't hear.

"Atago, you're… leaking."

There were a lot more appropriate things one should give Atago at that moment concerning Vestal's opinion, a cyanide pill for one. She was his guardian angel, she would protect him from the things one couldn't see and people one could grab right on the throat. To rape him with her eyes, should she just feed her medicine to heighten her blood pressure to the point where she could never see again? It was enticing, unbelievably so. But she could only swallow the bile in her throat in the end, the shipgirl before her having technically done no wrong in the name of the accords once again.

"Oh my, it seems I am~. Thank you for pointing it out, it seems I still seem to have a problem holding myself back."

Atago took the handkerchief with a light touch and began to clean herself up. It was hard to do it in any graceful way as they walked, but she didn't really try to hide it either, the Commander still quite busy in his own head to notice anything going on behind him.

Helena had noticed the accident quicker than Vestal. Though her eyes were nothing more than hollow as they stared murder into her assigned companion.

"Just don't do anything Irrational, please... I don't want to spot you alone with the Commander like that."

Atago put a hand up to her mouth as if to hold in a laugh. Her eyes spoke a different story however, their sharpness matching even the blade on her hips.

"Well, aren't you serious? But don't you girls go around and worry, I won't do anything too outlandish~"

The conversation ended there, none of the three wanting to continue it. There was also the threat of the Commander sobering up, and there wasn't any good explanation of why they were at each other's throats when they otherwise showed nothing but friendly cooperation.

Though the soured mood of the shipgirls lifted ever so slightly as they walked down their stone path, relishing in the spotlight they found themselves in. Because even though they were walking alone did not mean they were without company. They were watched, observed for every second that went past. The shipgirls around the island were jealous, though surprisingly patient as well.

With the expansion of the secretary corps was also the Commander's authority undermined somewhat. He was the one which had chosen who would stand beside him, a thing the shipgirls had now taken over.

He hadn't put up much of a fuss about it either, cementing for them that he secretly wanted it, even if that was far from the real truth. It had simply not mattered in the context he was afraid of, that being the responsibility of the workload.

This release of responsibility also gave way for more freedom, though one that also invited conflict. Everyone wanted to be beside him, and not everyone could. But their time would come, and with the numbers of secretaries increasing, only heightened their chance to be picked. Besides, a more cordial system would be implemented after all of this was over, one simple and fair where no one could complain.

But for now, had they been chosen by the Council, a thing they happily thanked them for. Because now they had the chance to spend time with their absolute loved one, to try and covertly and slowly win over the heart they so desired. And when no one was looking, when they once in a blue moon evaded all stares of jealousy that existed on this island, could they take some more risky actions…

Once they reached the royal navy dorm noted the shipgirls almost immediately how a maid was always present. They didn't interact with them much, but each of them made sure to greet their "Master" with affection in their voice, making sure to look sideways in annoyance at the group of shipgirls following him when he wasn't looking. A thing the shipgirls returned without hesitation, a great animosity shown towards every new meeting.

Even though the Commander was busy with the thoughts in his head, he was sure to make small talk with everyone he met. From questions about their personal life to one's more professional in nature. He tried his best to integrate his secretaries into the conversations as well, especially when it came to Atago. He wanted every shipgirl on the island to get along, even former enemies. A thing that sometimes required a helping hand, one he was sure to give in a quest that no one would feel left outside.

It wasn't a surprise for the shipgirls that he did this, nor was it a secret that he had done so before. They found it cute, endearing in a way, that he would think that they would care for anyone besides himself. But they played along with it, gladly creating the reality he thought he lived in. So when they weren't trying to kill each other with their eyes were pleasantries happily exchanged, both parties acting like friends from way back when. And this play occurred one after the other until they finally found the one the Commander had been searching for; Belfast.

The maid was seemingly enjoying a small snack with her younger counterpart, the steam from their two teacups beside them rising slowly towards the ceiling. The room was quite large, though filled to the brim with bookshelves, leaving only a few places open. There, were small round tables scattered about, making it possible to both read and enjoy a small treat like they now did.

The pair noticed the group as soon as they entered, looking over quickly at the sound of approaching steps. Neither made any formal attempt to greet the group, finding it simpler to await their complete arrival instead of having to speak up so that their voice would reach them.

But as they neared cleared Belfast her throat with a final sip of her tea and spoke, a clear and happy tone filling the air.

"Good day, Master. Why do I owe the pleasure today?"

As Belfast had asked her question swallowed Bel a bite she had taken from a small cookie held in her hands. She gazed over at the Commander, switching between the man himself and his arm wrapped in bandages. A thing that filled her with worry, needing to ask a question of her own before he could answer Belfast's.

"Is it really okay for you to be up and walking, Master? I don't want you to accidentally hurt yourself more than you already are."

The Commander tried to gather as big of a smile as he could towards Bel, trying to show strength and energy in an attempt to lessen the apparent damage of his injury.

He reached out with his free hand and ruffled her hair lightly, overcompensating in such a way that the happy mood he portrayed seemed only like a shallow charade.

"You don't have to worry about me, Bel. You're too young to waste time on that… As for your question, Belfast. Is it okay if I borrow you for half an hour? I have a few questions that I didn't feel were answered properly in the report that was handed to me."

Belfast was slightly surprised at this but accepted the idea rather quickly. Though her thoughts lingered on her smaller companion, and the company besides the Commander as well.

"Well, I certainly am not against it. But by borrow do you perhaps mean…"

She let her words drift off as if she was at loss for words, but what she really wanted was for the Commander to confirm her understanding of his words without sounding too desperate.

"Yes, alone. Only if it's okay with Little Bel here of course. But I'm sure the friendly shipgirls behind me would make up for any lost company."

The words that were meant to encourage the little girl before him had the opposite effect on the ones behind, none finding the prospect of that deal all too enticing.

"Alone… would be a bit too much for us to agree to, Commander."

Atago's tone of voice was not a happy one, though not entirely displeased either, walking a thin line where she made her unhappiness known but with a softened blow.

The Commander looked over at her, Helena, and Vestal, noticing their apprehension that was quite clearly on display and sighed internally.

"Then how about you stay behind and keep Bel here company at least, Atago. I feel bad already separating these two, I would feel horrible if that also meant leaving Bel completely left alone."

Atago was not amused in the slightest. One could almost see the figurative blood vessel pooping on her forehead. Why had the Commander such a need to be difficult, dancing around, trying to make her goals just a bit harder?

And harder to achieve would they become as both Vestal and Helena supported his compromise without much delay, the former placing her hand on Atago's shoulder in a show of support.

"Well, that would be much easier to stomach, Commander. I'm sure they'll both enjoy each other's company without any problems."

He simply nodded at that.

"Yes, I think so as well. Are you fine with that, Bel? You won't feel left out if we go out for half an hour?"

Bel didn't meet his eyes as he asked that question, staring straight forward towards her mother seeking silent guidance. It wasn't really needed, she knew what her bigger half wanted, but it was necessary to play the part she needed to play. And as she got her message turned the smaller shipgirl up to the Commander, their eyes pleasantly meeting each other for a peaceful moment.

His hand that still rested on the top of her head ruffled her hair with that movement, the few strands that came loose from it trying in vain to block her sparkling eyes, shining even brighter than the smile resting on her lips. At that moment in time became Bel the cutest girl on earth, scorching her adorable face into the memory of everyone present.

"I'll be fine here, Master. Really. Have a fulfilling time with Ms. Belfast, I'll await her return here."

That was the go-ahead everyone waited for. Well, except Atago, the shipgirl nearly boiling over with anger as she watched them leave. She stood there like a statue, even after the door they left through closed, as Bel watched over her with uncertainty in turn.

There was no warning for the quick violent movements that followed, however. She practically fell down into the chair that Belfast had just left, becoming almost limp in the way she portrayed herself, her legs and arms strewn out as she let her head rest completely backwards.

What followed was another phase where she seemed to freeze over, only the sound of ragged breathing escaping the shipgirl, breathing that slowly became heavier from a jaw that went more and more clenched. But it all made way for relaxation in time, a final long breath stabilizing her.

Atago slowly looked over at Bel, her brown bangs lightly covering her hazel eyes that carried a deadly gaze.

"...Why do you help her?"

An expected question that would bring anyone else confusion. One Bel made sure was plain to see on her features.

"I… I am sorry, Ms. Atago… I don't understand the question."

"I'm asking you how you can stomach yourself acting like a third wheel."

Atago's answer came immediately, irritation fueling her non-existent patience.

"There wouldn't be a day that went by that I wouldn't feel disgusted with helping another shipgirl. Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Bel acted stumped as if she was completely shocked at Atago's words. Taking multiple attempts in starting her sentence, averting her eyes as she answered.

"I'm… I'm not particularly helping her in any way though. Even so, Isn't helping someone a thing you would usually assume correct?"

A heavy sigh came from the bigger shipgirl as she turned towards the smaller, crossing her legs as she fixed her sitting posture.

"Then let me ask you a different question. Do you love the Commander?"

That question was a dangerous one, Bel knew it. Like walking on a thousand shards of glass without shoes on, you were never safe. So Bel was unable to answer yet again, though this time by simply not saying a word, making Atago chuckle just a bit.

"Oh, you don't have to be afraid. Just answer truthfully. No consequences this time, promise."

How uncomfortable this situation had become for Bel. She could never truly believe Atago's words, the mouth they left carrying as much poison as the smile that rested upon her lips. They both knew the answer to that question was a dangerous one, no matter how one would answer. But Atago's previous anger only made that become lost to confusion, making the want of the bigger shipgirl the only thing on Bel's mind, just as the want of the smaller was on Atago's.

"I believe… My feelings are the same as every other shipgirl on this island, Ms. Atago."

A bitter truth said with a trained pleasant tune, bringing an awkward pause to their conversation as they observed one another. Bel looked for danger as Atago looked for cracks, anything that reveal the truth around the facade the small girl so proudly displayed.

"My, My…What safe answers you're giving."

Bel couldn't tell if Atago was disappointed in that fact, or if she simply found it as humoring as before. But as the conversation continued, would Bel almost sense a form of concern from the shipgirl before her. A twisted one, but a concern nonetheless. Though if it was directed at her was still anyone's guess.

"There is a rumor going around the base, have you heard about it?"

Rumors… There were more than plenty of those. Schemes, badmouthing, anything related to the shipgirls endless search to get the upper hand against one another. Baseless and well-founded alike. To ask for one in particular without any more guidance would be fruitless, making Bel only shake her head at Atago's question.

"We've gotten a little family here on the island apparently, with a longing mother finding her lost daughter. I didn't want to believe it at first, but seeing how you're acting here made me rethink. Now I must only wonder why the daughter is acting the way she is…"

Atago's smile grew a bit as she saw the reaction Bel gave, the hair on her nape rising slightly. The fracturing of her perfect image had begun.

"I'm sorry, I know nothing about that."

And so she delivered her final strike.

"My my, Really? Well, it's not like it matters, because I've heard that the mother won't live for much longer anyway."

She had said it in an aloof way, not really paying attention to her smaller companion as she stared into nothing particular. But as she spared a look across the table greeted only pure darkness her, one that only reminded her of a certain Sakura carrier. Satisfaction filled her, her hunch had proved correct after all.

"My, what beautiful eyes you have, Bel…"